OFFICERS will be patrolling area lakeside and other parks in search of large gatherings.

OFFICERS on bikes will be searching for bonfires, booze and large gatherings.

Toronto Police officers say they will be patrolling South Etobicoke parks this long weekend to prevent large gatherings, boozy bonfires and careless fireworks.

This is a busy time for officers of 22 and 11 Divisions as they field complaints of large crowds, no masks or social distancing, large fires, many people drinking alcohol and the careless use of fireworks on Victoria Day.

Officers of 22 Division say people face large fines if caught in large groups. Police teams will be visiting local parks; including those at Humber Bay Shores, Col. Samuel Smith, Marie Curtis and others, which at certain times will have their parking lots shut.

City agencies including police, fire, parking and bylaw have effected “full force” enforcement in the past in response to thousands ignoring COVID-19 and flocking to lakefront beaches in Etobicoke and the city’s east end to illegally light bonfires and fireworks, drink alcohol and not social distance.

According to the City, residents setting off fireworks with members of their households on their own private property, can do so without a permit on Victoria Day and Canada Day.

A permit is needed from Toronto Fire Services to set off fireworks on all other days. However, these permit applications are not being accepted at this time due to the Province’s Stay-At-Home order.

Dedicated police teams in the last month have responded to at least 1,000 calls of people gathering indoors and outdoors, as the provincial stay-at-home order is still in effect.

The force on April 22 implemented 16 enforcement teams to respond to reports of large gatherings, which are currently prohibited.

“Our dedicated teams are attending more than 300 calls a week, a stark number which sadly doesn’t seem to be dropping despite repeated calls for people not to socialize,” Staff Superintendent Randy Carter said.

Police said the fines for individual organizers of events who violate gathering rules range from $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000, including one year in jail. Fines for those attending can range from $750 to $100,000 including up to one year in jail.

MANY AREA residents seem to love a new mural of rapper DMX on a New Toronto wall. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

A brilliant portrait of U.S. rapper DMX painted on the wall of a New Toronto building is getting a lot of attention these days.

The beautiful mural of DMX, born Earn Simmons, is professionally done and residents of the surrounding areas are taking notice.

Area businessman Rattan Gandhi says a steady stream of people, including many motorcycle riders, have been showing up to take selfies in front of the mural.

“There has been a steady stream of people showing up,” says Gandhi, whose Quick Refund Tax is next door. “I didn’t know who this guy was until they started showing up.”

The mural has the popular DMX looking out over a laneway just north of Sixth Street.

“It is beautiful,” says another man of the artwork. “A lot of people love this guy.”

The rapper died April 9 at White Plains Hospital in New York, a week after a heart attack. He was 50.

The three-time Grammy Award got his start in music back in the 1980s, performing with Ready Ron while serving time behind bars until he finally dedicated himself to music full-time in the 1990s.

At 14, Simmons began living on the streets of Yonkers to escape his mother’s abuse, sleeping in Salvation Army clothing bins and befriending stray dogs.

He eventually got signed to Columbia Records’ Ruffhouse imprint, and appeared on records with Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Mase and even the rock band Sum 41.

It wasn’t until ’98 that he truly broke out, when he released his Ruff Ryders debut studio album “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” to critical and mainstream acclaim.

The father of 15 children followed up that success quickly with a second album later the same year called “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood” that ended up hitting Number 1. At the time, he was the second rapper to release back-to-back albums in the same year, the first being Tupac.

His sound is described as abrasive, rough around the edges, but also catchy and great for parties. His third album hit that last point home with his single “Party Up (Up in Here),” which was another one of X’s notorious songs that helped him get major play on radio, in clubs and in movies.

He went on to star in a number of movies including Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, Never Die Alone and Last Hour.

Over the years, he was jailed 30 times and faced charges for weapons, drugs, DUI and tax evasion. He served time for some of those cases, but always continued his music career.

As he struggled with the law, X continued to crank out hits including the memorable “X Gon’ Give It to Ya,” “Where the Hood At?” and “Lord Give Me a Sign” as well as “We in Here.”

He really seemed to turn his life around in 2019 after ending a 12-month sentence for tax evasion. DMX had long battled substance abuse and it was at this point that he did his last rehab stint.

RIP DMX.

Community members are asked to help with naming these two peregrine falcons. Courtesy photos.

How about Moderna and Pfizer or Marner and Matthews as names for two baby falcons.

Community residents are being encouraged to send their choice of names to help name a pair of baby peregrine falcons.

The baby falcons hatched last month at Sun Life Financial Centre at Bloor and Islington, and the public’s input is sought to help name the hatchlings.

Bloor Islington Place in a social media post said it is “excited to welcome their resident peregrine falcons, Lucky and D’Arcy’s newborns on May 25.”

The names, as well as the sexes and weights of the newborns, will be revealed when a member of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation head to the top of the tower to attach a leg band to each chick.
“Due to COVID-19 restrictions currently in place, we will be foregoing a live banding and will be capturing footage and sharing instead,” organizers said.

The naming contest for the chicks runs until May 21 is open to all in the community.

“Submit a unisex name by commenting with your choice and why,” according to the promotion. “We will draw the winning names and introduce our new chicks next week.”

Some of the more popular entries submitted online so far includes: Moderna and Pfizer, Marner and Matthews, Kiwi and Apricot or Lightning and Feathers or Thistle and Fog.

The bands will help researchers keep track of the baby birds’ movements and survival with an identification number.

Banding is part of an international protocol to help conservationists collect data about falcon’s migratory patterns, survival and birth rates and has been taking place at this south Etobicoke site since 1997.

There are two other falcon sites in Etobicoke and 11 more in Toronto, but the one at Bloor and Islington Place can be viewed real time with the use of a falcon web cam.
The peregrine falcon nearly disappeared in Ontario in the 1960s due to a dangerous pesticide, DDT, leading to years of public attention and conservation efforts.

HISTORIC home at 98 Superior Ave. being demolished before hearing.

HISTORIC home being taken down in the early morning hours.The development of a controversial property at 98 Superior Avenue in Mimico is getting a new hearing.

The development of a controversial property at 98 Superior Avenue in Mimico is getting a new hearing.

Toronto researcher Charlotte Sheasby-Coleman in an online posting said the hearing will take place virtually before the City’s Committee of Adjustment on May 25.

“Our community tried its best to stop the demolition of this house which took place mere hours before it was to be designated by the Toronto Preservation Board,” Sheasby-Coleman wrote.

She said the demolition order was granted because the new owners put forward plans for a single-family dwelling with no variances which compelled the City to grant the demolition permit.

“The owners are now seeking to have their previous plans for a triplex with multiple variances approved,” she said.

Interested parties were to submit their support or opposition on this matter by May 17.

For more information email Sheasby-Coleman at c.sheasby@hotmail.com.

The old stone cottage at 98 Superior Avenue was one of three properties Toronto’s preservation board had considered adding to the city’s Heritage Register.

Members of the community had been protesting outside the Mimico home to prevent it from being demolished. It was knocked down in the early hours of Monday morning, a few days before a hearing could take place before the Board.

The house incorporates elements of the British-inspired cottage style, with symmetrically arranged principal elevation and stone cladding, as described in a city report supporting its preservation.

The stone of the cottage at 98 Superior Avenue was likely locally sourced from Mimico Creek, the report that recommended it be included in the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register found.

RYAN BLAIR has been taken off the streets, police said.

A violent man who was the target of a month long search by Toronto Police officers has been arrested.

 Ryan Blair, 24, of no fixed address, was arrested on May 17 by officers of 22 Division.

He was charged with three counts of assault, three counts of utter threats, six counts of fail to comply release order, seven counts of fail to comply probation order, mischief under, break and enter and possession of ammunition contrary to a prohibition order.

He appeared in College Park court on May 11 to face the charges.

The suspect was reported missing on April 28 in the Rathburn Rd. and Hwy 427 area.

At the time police said they were concerned for his safety.

No other details are available at this time.

MORE accessible dental care and prescriptions for seniors promised by the provincial government. Courtesy photo.

IMPROVED and affordable dental care and prescriptions are a big concern for seniors. Courtesy photo.

More help is coming to ailing seniors already struggling to pay their dental costs and prescription medications.

The Ontario government said they are updating the income eligibility thresholds for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and the Seniors Co-Payment Program to allow more of our most vulnerable seniors to have access to dental care and affordable prescription medications.

“Our government continues to support Ontario’s seniors by ensuring they have access to the quality dental care and the prescription medications they need,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Expanding access to these programs to even more low-income seniors builds on our government’s ongoing efforts to protect hospital capacity and will help improve the quality of life and well-being of low-income seniors.”

In 2019, the Ontario government launched the Ontario Seniors Dental Care program to provide free routine dental care for eligible low-income seniors across the province. The Seniors Co-Payment Program enables low-income seniors to access the medication they need with no annual deductible and a reduced co-payment for each prescription.

Starting August 1st, 2021, eligibility thresholds for both programs will be updated to reflect cost of living increases in Ontario and align with income support programs for seniors. Income thresholds will be updated for single Ontarians aged 65 and over, from $19,300 to $22,200, and for couples with a combined annual income, from $32,300 to $37,100. This will allow approximately 7,000 more seniors to access the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and 17,000 more seniors to access the Seniors Co-Payment Program in 2021-2022.

By ensuring seniors can access effective dental care and continue to afford the medications they need, the Ontario Seniors Dental Care and Seniors Co-Payment programs help to reduce unnecessary trips to the hospital and improve seniors’ quality of life. This further supports hospital capacity as Ontario continues to fight the third wave of COVID-19 and is a key component of the government’s plan to end hallway health care.

For the Seniors Co-Payment Program, seniors who are eligible under the new income thresholds are encouraged to apply now in advance of the start of the upcoming benefit year on August 1st, 2021. Applying early will help ensure eligible seniors receive the reduction in their drug deductible and co-payment on time to minimize the chance of out of pocket expenses. Once an application has been submitted, eligibility will be assessed to confirm enrollment for the year.

“We know that good oral health is linked to not only better physical health, but also better overall mental health,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “These programs help provide seniors with the dignity they deserve and help to improve their quality of life.”

ABOUT 2,000 nurses are being added to the health system by the Ontario government. Courtesy photo.

PLANS are underway to hire 2,000 nurses to help our ailing population. CTV photo.

Anyone who has been to one of our hospitals lately can see how short-staffed frontline workers are.

It is about time more badly-needed nurses are being added to the Ontario health care system.

The Ontario government is spending $35 million to add 2,000 nurses into the hospital system. The province is increasing enrollment in nursing education programs in publicly-assisted colleges and universities across the province.

The new spaces will be available for Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 cohorts and will introduce approximately 1,130 new practical nurses and 870 registered nurses into the health care system.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the gap between the current supply of nurses compared to Ontario’s current and future needs across the health care system. Today’s announcement is a significant step towards keeping pace with the rising demand for frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, especially in sectors where health care workers care for Ontario’s most vulnerable patients such as long-term care, home and community care and acute care.

“Our Government committed to ensuring residents in long-term care receive, on average, four hours of direct care per day,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care. “To make this a reality, tens of thousands of new staff need to be hired to provide this care — including registered nurses and practical nurses.”

She said “today’s investment supports our plan to shore up staffing in long-term care and address the need for nurses across the health care system.”

“This investment will also support the expansion of clinical education placements for nursing students and personal support worker students in the long-term care sector,” Fullerton said in a statement.

She said the investment will help long-term care homes ensure quality clinical placements in long-term care at a time when homes are facing severe staffing challenges. It will also provide registered nurses already in the long-term-care sector an opportunity to grow their careers by working as clinical experts and supervising new students.

“Nurses are a cornerstone of our health care system and are integral to Ontario’s fight against COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This investment will support and strengthen our nursing workforce and ensure patients can continue to receive high-quality care across our health system, including long-term care, home and community care and acute care.”

The government in its  2021 Ontario Budget is investing an additional $650 million in long‑term care in 2021–22, including more than $121 million to accelerate the training of nearly 9,000 personal support workers.

The province has also been working closely with the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health and a number of hospitals to develop specific mental health support services for frontline health care workers, which they can access in their day-to-day lives.