Sergio Morales and his wife, Cristina, (left) have been operating Allin Mikuna, an Alderwood store where they do things right and food is more than just a meal.

The family business make some of the healthiest products, and cater to vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free diets. All their products are nut free.

Morales and his staff are known for their great soups, either ready to go in a litre-sized jars, or in dry form, that is quick. Just add cold water, heat and enjoy.

“All our ingredients are fresh,” insists Morales. “There are no preservatives or anything artificial, just fresh ingredients.”

They do a thriving pickup and takeout business and some of their top meals ordered includes: All in a Bowl salad, spinach cheese empanada, mushroom empanada: vegan version made out of pulled pork; the Mexican on a bun; bean burger on homemade burger; king mushroom kiche and yellow split pea curry soup: with sweet potato and pumpkin.

“Our mission is to make healthy meals delicious and accessible to all,” Morales says. “Our soups in a jar are the perfect gift and panty item, our powder mixes are an easy way to get your nutrition.”

The family moved to Canada about 17 years ago from Chile and resettled in the Alderwood area, not far from their store.

Their line of food was developed by Cristina, who usually gave cooked items to family and friends for Christmas, a practice that grew.

They wanted to bring a part of their culture with them to Canada and chose the name Allin Mikuna, which means ‘bon appetit’ in Quechua, a language spoken by indigenous people in Chile.

“Our soups are vegan and have plenty of protein of their own but they can be modified to please the meat eaters in the family,” he says, adding that they visit many farmers’ markets in the summer.

Morales has assembled a popular ‘Care Package’ that features three soups, three seasoning mixes, two Amin Miski granola sweetened with only pure date paste and other goodies.

Proper social distancing is enforced and curbside pick-up available from December 21 to 24 during store hours.

Free deliveries to take place December 22 and December 23 to anywhere south of Highway 401, west of Park Lawn Rd., and east of Dixie Rd.

Allin Mikuna is located at 244 Brown’s Line. You can reach them by phone at 416-551-5169 or visit them or place orders at www.sales@allinmikuna.com

 

 

 

Many thanks for a job well done goes out to community realtor Graham Rowlands, whose South Etobicoke Community Facebook page, raised $22,355 for our local charities.

“I would love to be able to tag everyone who helped to make this possible,” Rowlands acknowledged. “Thank you to everyone who donated a prize, bid on auctions, made a donation to a charity or liked or shared the posts.”

He said $3,075 of the proceeds will go to LAMP Community Health Centre, $6,055 to Women’s Habitat, $2,650 to Lakeshore Arts, $3,430 to Haven on The Queensway, $3,285 for the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment and $3,860 to the Etobicoke Humane Society.

“Thank you to all the auction winners and bidders because without you no money would be raised for these great causes,” said Rowland, a sales rep for ReMax Professional Inc.

The fundraiser saw many small companies in the area donating goods or services which were auctioned online to raise funds.

Huge shout outs go to Kitchen On Sixth for donating many pies that were auctioned off, he said.

“This really was a community effort and shows just how we are able to do such amazing things when we all work together,” Rowlands said.

He is urging residents to: “get to know these organizations who do so much good in our community, look into getting involved and if you can support the businesses that helped make this all possible.”

“Thanks to Graham and his team for pressing though with a safe event,” Susan Carbone wrote online. “This event was not only to raise funds but also to raise awareness in our community.”

She said every organization has been working twice as hard with very little volunteers and staff through this pandemic to support the community.

James Taylor thanked Graham for taking on the project to ‘help our neighbours grow together in the face of uncertainty to help our local charities.’

Platinum sponsors included: Kris Made This, Tannis A. Waugh, Barrister and Solicitor, Food for Now & Financial Health Management Group, in addition to an anonymous matching partner.

Thank you also goes to The Stop, Mimico Plumbing, Mimico Creek Dental, Office146, Wallace Legal, Gina Kim Paralegal, Reverse Karma, DJ Dynamic (Tim Ellis), NB Life, Great Lakes Brewery, Lakeshore Village Chiropractic, For Friends, Elevate Literacy, Studio Kokoro, Training By Tania, Neatly Organized, Sanctuary Within Healing, Mooring Eats, Your Neighbourhood Barber, Funny Bones Games Lounge & Cafe, Jacqueline Terloar (artist), Pasquale Bros, Salon Allure Spa, Small Biz Sales Coach, Goodie Baskets, Bubbles and Squeak, Umana Health, Toronto Family Fitness, 3 For 1 Glasses, Only The Strong, Locomotion Music, Capter Two Photography, Crock-a-Doodle, Code Ninjas, Scholars Etobicoke, Jiji Visha Coaching, Carin and Sharin, Maria Sabanal, Black Collar Barber, Japan Reiki Studio and Homing.ca for all donating prizes for the auctions!

 

 

A quiet low-rise apartment just north of the Ontario Food Terminal is the scene of the largest single-day drugs and firearms seizure for Toronto Police.

The area near Park Lawn and Berry Rds., is quiet and favoured in South Etobicoke by parents for bringing up their young families and putting them through school.

But, an apartment on 70 Cloverhill Rd., has been the scene of much police activity recently as officers found an arsenal of illegal weapons and a record amount of drugs.

“This is typically a very quiet and residential neighbourhood that is primarily made up of detached homes, low-rise apartment buildings, parks, playgrounds, and elementary schools,” Insp. Tim Crone told a news conference on November 16.

A search warrant was executed at the property on November 17.

During the search, Crone said, police found 181 kilos of drugs with an estimated street value of $18,240,000, firearms, which were in plain sight of the officers, as well as ammunitions and firearm magazines.

In total, police seized 106 kilos of cocaine, 61 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, 5 kilos of fentanyl and 9 kilos of MDMA.

Also seized were 65 firearms, including 57 handguns and eight long-barreled and semi-automatic guns, more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition, and several high-capacity and extended ammunition magazines, according to police.

“We allege that these guns were destined for the street gang use and as such, presented a significant threat to public safety to all of our communities,” Supt. Domenic Sinopoli said.

An investigation began earlier this year when officers from 22 Division became aware of drug trafficking activity in the area.

Police are in the process of tracing the firearms. So far, 37 of the seized handguns have been traced to the U.S. and two were traced to Canada. Five of the long guns are from Canada.

The officers said the cache and drug stash is the biggest single-day seizure in the service’s history and noted the suspect has no record of drugs or firearms.

Police said the charges stem from the November search warrant.

One man, who was the registered tenant of the unit, has been charged.

Daniel Dubajic, 45, faces 78 weapons and drug-related charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 7.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact officers at 416-808-2200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

 

Surplus dealer Dave Shankman has pretty well seen most military insignia items in the last 68-years his family has been operating The New Toronto Surplus Centre Ltd.

The centre, at 2938 Lake Shore Blvd. W., at the corner of Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Islington Ave., is viewed by some as iconic, or historic, since it is in the middle of New Toronto.

It is the building on which a RCMP, with a horse, is painted in a popular mural with a large Canadian flag.

Shankman says the business was started by his father, after he returned home from WW11.

“My father served in the Korean War,” Shankman says proudly in honour of his dad. “He founded and ran the business until about 2010.”

The business is now said to be the oldest in New Toronto and it features roof and building architecture of an earlier era in Toronto.

“We are still busy in this line of work,” he says. “The weather is getting colder and people are coming in for winter gear.”

They carry a large range of military style winter shoes, jackets, gloves and other gear to keep you warm.

The interior of the store is from the 1950s and 60s with gear, clothing and other items everywhere, including military insignia like crests or badges, which are still popular in some circles.

There are hats, caps, vests, shoes and countless items hunters or anglers may require.

Shankman is proud that many films and TV productions have been shot in his store over the years, including Police Academy and Kung Fu; which are the ones he recall.

He loves the community and the people who have supported his family for the almost seven decades in business in the center of New Toronto.

The New Toronto Surplus Centre Ltd., can be reached at 416-251-3821.

 

More than $13,000 has been raised by supporters of The Old Sod Restaurant to help restore fate in humanity  after the popular bar was robbed of $7,000 earned from the sales of Christmas trees.

The local Bloor St. W. and Royal York Rd., pub was robbed on December 14 in what appears to be a ‘cash and grab’ incident that was captured by the bar’s security cameras.

The video shows a man, wearing a hoodie and mask, smashing the glass door with what appears to be a large rock. He then walks inside the bar and is seen calmly walking out with what looks like a drawer of the register that contains cash.

The pub had been hit hard, along with others in the area, by the COVID-19 lockdowns, and was earning extra income to stay afloat from tree sales, which has been brisk as residents made purchases to support their local pub.

“It was a smash and grab,” restaurant owner Ty Owens told reporters. “They broke our front windows, smashed our point-of-sale machines and stole one cash till and an empty cash till. That was our Christmas campaign cash. “

He said the brazen thief stole about $7,000.

Owens heard glass in the front door shattering and rushed downstairs around 1:15 a.m., only to have missed the thief by seconds.

“I had just missed them,” he said. “The Christmas trees are locked up in front of the door that leads into my residence, so if it wasn’t for those trees, I would have bumped directly into the criminal.”

He believes the crook bolted east on Bloor St. W., and may have had a getaway driver.

Owens is wondering if his pub was targeted because a Christmas tree campaign that was highly publicized on social media and by people in the community.

The bar has released security footage of the incident in hopes that someone from the public can identify the burglar.

Officers at nearby 22 Division said a report has been filed and the theft is being investigated.

Supporters of the pub’s Go Fund Me campaign have donated more than the $12,000, which the bar was expecting to raise to help with their loss.

“As a member of Old Fort York vintage motorcycle club we have spent many monthly social get togethers at The Sod and hope to spend many more,” wrote Robert Stevenson on a Go Fund Me post as he made a donation.

Carol and Moe Wicklander said the Old Sod has been trying to stay open in recent times.

‘Sorry to hear about your break-in,” they wrote. “You have been working so hard to keep afloat, hope this will help.”

Donations are still being accepted on Go Fund Me.

Correctional officers say they are concerned over the spread of COVID-19 in area jails.

Officers working at the Toronto South Detention Center say they worry about their health after 25 cases of COVID-19 were reported at the massive jail.

They are now taking all precautions available at work to avert a spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Solicitor General has confirmed that more than two dozen inmates at the Horner Ave. detention centre have tested positive for the virus.

There were seven cases at the maximum security jail the previous day.

“Those inmates are under droplet precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive appropriate medical care,” Ministry officials said in a statement.

They are working with Toronto Public Health to support contact tracing.

Meanwhile, it is reported that three inmates at the Toronto East Detention Centre have contracted the virus.

The ministry said it made operational changes across all provincial correctional facilities in the past few months.

Three inmates at the Toronto East Detention Centre have also contracted the virus. It is not known how many staff are affected by the pandemic.

Former Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Obed Cetoute was one of many volunteers helping Toronto Police, the TTC and Toys R Us Stuff the Bus with toys for the needy.

Cetoute, 37, played for the Argos from 2007 to 2009 before he was traded to the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.

“I look forward to giving back to the community,” Cetoute says during a December 13 toy drive. “It is something that we always did when I was with the Argos.”

The footballer lives in The Queensway and Kipling Ave. area and has been working for the last six years as a bus driver with the TTC.

He was a driver of the Stuff the Bus that was filled with toys, food and other items in hours.

“I love Etobicoke,” Cetoute vows. “This is a nice area and I have been living here for seven years.”

He loves the people who have welcomed him into the community.

The Montreal-born player was drafted in the fourth round with the 31st pick in the 2006 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft by the Argonauts and signed with the team in May 2007.

Cetoute was a quick wide receiver, who played under CFL star turned coach Pinball Clemons, for two years.

“I totally enjoyed playing with Pinball when he was coach,” he insists. “He was a great guy.”

At one point Cetoute was sent to a football camp in South Carolina for three weeks to train with high-performance players to help elevate his training and game.

He was traded to the Roughriders in June 2010 for Offensive Lineman Jonathan St. Pierre. He was released by the team in August 2011.

The athlete had missed most of the 2009 season due to injury.

The six-foot-two, 213-pounder played in 24 games and tallied 31 receptions for 461 yards and three touchdowns for the Argos.

The athlete played college football at Central Michigan and before that at Vanier College for the Cheetahs.

He was part of a Toronto Argos Stop the Violence Huddle Up Program in which he spoke about bullying to elementary schools and high schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Cetoute was also part of the team’s mentorship program for young people.

 

Long-time South Etobicoke resident Steve McNeil is taking to the ice again in less than a week for his ninth annual skate to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society in memory of his mom.

McNeil will be hitting the ice on December 15 to skate for 19 hours and 26 minutes at Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery, on Niagara on the Lake, to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s.

The fundraising effort is called Team 1926Skate and people can join him by clicking on his website www.1926Skate.com, where they can donate.

McNeil, 59, a mailman and recreational hockey referee, started his skate as a tribute to his mother, who died of the disease. She was born on December 15, 1926.

He is known to many in the community since he delivered their mail for years.

He says his 19-plus-hour effort is just one day in his life, but caregivers for people living with dementia spend that much time each day looking after their loved ones.

“COVID-19 has been devastating for seniors and their families,’ McNeil says. “More and more families are going to need the assistance that their local Alzheimer Societies can provide. That’s why this fundraising skate is so important.”

In the past two years McNeil has done his marathon skate 18 times in cities across Canada. The virus  has made it impossible for him to do that again this year. The Toronto marathons in the past have taken place on the ice at Nathan Phillips Square.

He is seeking to make December 15 National 1926 Skate Day for Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer Societies offer programs and support services for people living with dementia and their care partners. The funds raised through National 1926 Skate Day and Team 1926 Skate will help local Alzheimer Societies continue to provide virtual social and recreational programming to those who need help most.

Donations can be made through local Alzheimer Societies. People are asked to donate online $19.26, or more, to the website, or simply lace up their skates and come out to support National 1926 Skate Day.