POLICE hunt suspects who target Russian flags flying on vehicles.

Seems like some of the war has erupted over here in South Etobicoke.

Police say damages were inflicted to vehicles that were flying Russian flags at the Cineplex Theatre plaza and it may be a hate crime.

A sledgehammer was used to damage multiple vehicles in what is now being investigated as a hate crime, which took place in the Islington Avenue and The Queensway parking lot on March 5 at 10:27 p.m.

“The damaged vehicles had Russian flags displayed in their windshields,” officers of 22 Division said in a news release. “They damaged multiple parked vehicles, each using a sledgehammer.”

The assailants fled in a dark grey Acura, police said.

The two suspects are described as being in their late teens. One was wearing a grey sweater and the other a black sweater, according to police.

“After consultation with the Service’s specialized Hate Crime Unit, the investigation is being treated as a suspected hate motivated offence,” officers said.

Police allege a criminal offence was committed, such as assault or mischief, and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate.

The officer-in-charge will consult with a Crown Attorney. If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the Judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence, police said.

There has been a number of flag-defacing cases that has taken place in South Etobicoke since Russia invaded Ukraine. The most high profile case occurred at Future Bakery, where a pro-Ukrainian sign was defaced by those pro-Russian.

No charges has been laid in either incident..

EMAD with welcoming staff of Sav-On pharmacy at 880 Brown’s Line.

Good-natured pharmacist Emad Mankaruos is adding a range of health
services to help community residents with the expansion of his Alderwood
Medical Clinic.
His Sav-On Drug Mart, at 880 Brown’s Line, just south of Evans Avenue, has been serving the area, under three dif- ferent owners, for 65 years. He took over in 2003.
“We are the longest-serving pharmacy in the community,” Mankaruos says. “We are now expanding to better serve our clientele who love that we are in the area.”

THERE are four pharmacists in Emad’s family. Photos by Tom Godfrey.

He recently opened a ‘four-room mini-clinic’ and is making space available for a nutritionist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, op-
tometrist, hearing aid specialist, massage, medical spa and other specialists. Call him at a

phone number listed if you have working experience in any of the fields.
More than 500 patients weekly, mostly seniors, depend on the pharmacy for a range of services to maintain their health.
Mankaruos, who lives in Mississauga, loves his customers and they love him. “I love the people and area,” he insists. “The people are nice and I know many of the families.”

THE Pharmacist, or staff, is always there for customers.

The father of three has one daughter who is a pharmacist, and another interning to be- come one. His wife is also a pharmacist with her own store.

A pharmacist for 35 years, Mankaruos was trained back home in Egypt and in Saudi Arabia before moving to Canada on June 6, 1995.

“That was the happiest day in my life,” he says. “I chose Canada because
it is a land of opportunity. I am very grateful to God and Canada for my success.”

He studied pharmacy because ‘I love to help people relieve their pains and complaints.”

The store finances an internship program with students from a local high school and helps many local hockey teams and other charities.

Gifts to him from his many clients are proudly displayed on shelves along with his medicine. The store is busy and many patients and their families have been shopping there for decades. Many are from the Alderwood area.

The pharmacy was located at the Farm Boy mall across the street and relocated many years ago. It has many loyal customers whose families love the laid back service.

It takes about a dozen employees (photo-graphed above) to keep the clinic running smoothly and that their customers are well-
looked after.

Many long-time customers say they like the service and good-natured banter that takes place as they get served. The druggist says one of their doctors hasà been at the clinic for two decades. Sav-On Drug Mart can be reached at 647-FLU-4444 or visit www.savon.supplies

POLICE are searching for youths who took off after damaging vehicles.

You may want to check your car if parked in the Islington Ave. and The Queensway area.

Police were called to the parking lot of a bank and mall for reports of young people damaging vehicles.

Toronto Police said a ‘damage in progress’ call came in around 10:27 p.m. on March 2.

Police said there were “reports of kids striking cars with hammers.”

“Also damaging them with spray paint,” tweeted Toronto Police Operations Centre. “Have fled in a black or grey car.”

The vandals had fled the scene by the time police arrived.

It is not known how many cars were vandalized.

George, of Lakeshore Super Submarine, in Top 10 list of top city subs by Toronto Life magazine.

An almost 50-year New Toronto sub shop has been selected as one of the Top 10 sandwich shops in Toronto, according to a survey by Toronto Life magazine.

The popular magazine named in its Top 10 Lakeshore Super Submarine, at 2939 Lake Shore Blvd. W., in its February 10 sub-hopping issue.

“For the platonic ideal of the submarine sandwich, head to Lakeshore Super Submarine, a South Etobicoke time warp (you’ll see when you get there) where owner George Kozaris has been manning the counter for more than four decades,” Toronto Life touted.

GEORGE has been operating the business for 48 years and has outlasted some of the best including Goodyear,  Anaconda Steel, Campbell’s Soup and many others.

Writers Alex Baldinger and Rebecca Fleming described Kozaris’ sub as “a cloud-light bun comes stacked with cold cuts, cheese, tomato, white onion and shredded iceberg lettuce. Skip the mayo to let the tangy house vinaigrette shine.”

All that for less than $10 and the hockey one-liners are free.

Kozaris said he found out his shop had made it to the Top 10 list a couple days later from a customer.

“I was surprised,” he smiled as he sliced meat. “I am just being discovered after being here for 48 years in this same corner.”

He believes the secret to his success is the use of fresh meats, vegetables and keeping it affordable.

GEORGE’s top secret is fresh ingredients and lots of love for his almost 50-years of Sub Duty in New Toronto.

One are resident, Mike, said he has been living in the area for 15 and walked by the shop hundreds of times and never entered until he read the Toronto Life expose.

“I decided to give this place a try after reading the article,” Mike confessed. “I like it and have been back twice.”

YOU WOULD expect to run into Ritchie or Potsie from the Happy Days TV show in here.

Long-time customer Chris said he loves the hearty, meaty no-holds barred old-time sub.

“I want a sandwich that fills me up,” he said. “I have been coming here for maybe 20 years.”

The shop is straight out of the 1950s and you can get a huge sub for only $7, cash only please.

Lambo’s in Trinity Bellwoods was selected as the Number 1 sub shop in the city, followed by Mimico’s FBI Pizza, at 2336 Lake Shore Blvd. W., and in third position Good Behaviour sandwich shop, at 342 Westmoreland Ave. N.

Grandma Loves You, at 1084 Yonge St., was named number four, in fifth was Parkdale’s Chantecler Boucherie, at 1318 Queen St. W.,  and in sixth Elm Street Deli’s at  15 Elm St.

CHRIS Korwin Kuczynski places pro-Ukrainian signs and collects funds to help those in the war-torn nation. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Some signs are being placed in the community asking residents to support war-torn Ukraine and for the banning of Russian products.

Chris Korwin Kuczynski, chair of the Lakeshore Village BIA, is calling upon community residents to boycott Russian goods being sold in stores.

“We have to take a stand,” Korwin Kuczynski said as he placed pro-Ukraine signs in the New Toronto area. “We all have to stand up or this war will never stop.”

He and a network of others are working to obtain donations and urgent medical supplies to send to help people in Ukraine.

PEOPLE from across the world have united in support of Ukraine.

You can take your donations of funds or goods to La Crema Café, at 821 Brown’s Line, at Alderwood Plaza. They are accepting financial, medical and other goods, which will go to the Canadian Ukrainian groups to help others in their homeland.

Residents are urged to Support Ukraine and can support financially, with food, medications, medical supplies or bullet proof vests at the Ivan Franko Home at 767 Royal York Road.

The Humber Bay Shores Condominium has also set up donation bins in number of condos where items much-needed in Ukraine can be dropped off.

Please note that donations of funds are preferred since it can be transferred immediately to Ukraine, where workers can purchase the required goods.

If you want to send goods, some of the items badly-needed by Ukrainians include: medical supplies, bandages, gloves, cotton wool, tourniquets; medicines including Benadryl, Tylenol and Baby Tylenol, Ibuprofen, aspirin, Pepto-Bismol; First Aid supplies and kits; food like canned food, dried fruits, nuts, instant noodles, energy bars, pasta, biscuits, coffee,

Also much sought after are female sanitary goods, baby formula, diapers, wet wipes, towels, hygenic products as soap bars, toothpaste, mouth wash, shampoo, hair combs or roll-on deodorants.

Also in demand are inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, yoga mats, pillows, socks, underwear, warm almost new clothing, construction gloves, candles or flashlights, batteries.

All the goods will be picked up and distributed by organizations in Ukraine.

CHEF Ushmeet Bhutani founder of Koshaa

Chef Ushmeet Bhutani learned to cook from watching his mother as a child in the kitchen of their home in Bangalore, India.

Bhutani has since cooked for large hotel chains before founding Koshaa, at 2314 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Burlington Street, which specializes in tasty North Indian cuisine.

“We wanted to open our restaurant in West Toronto,” Bhutani explains. “We have our own recipes and our food is traditional North Indian flavour.”

He previously worked at the Bangalore Hilton Hotel before arriving in Canada in 2016. Bhutani then worked at the Four Seasons before founding Koshaa.

“We use the freshest vegetables and spices,” he insists. “Everything is produced locally and made from scratch.”

The restaurant is licensed for alcohol, is clean and comfortable. A lot of effort and finances went into restoring the interior. It has a nice outdoor patio that faces Lake Shore Blvd.  W.

“I always liked cooking for people,” he says. “I get satisfaction from looking at peoples’ faces after they have had a nice home-cooked meal.”

He likes the area and has been getting support from Mimico residents.

“People like our food because it is healthy and a home-cooked style that is modern,” Bhutani says. “We use less oil and butter and extract more flavour from our ingredients.”

A graduate of the George Brown College Culinary program, the chef hopes to make his regulars return for more healthy home-inspired meals, just as his mom made in Bangalore.

Popular dishes include: Amritsar fish fry, North-Indian-style fried fish fritters marinated in tangy masala: Chicken 65, a Southern Indian style crispy chicken tempered with curry leaves and mustard seeds.

People also enjoy the sizzling chicken tikka; chicken morsels marinated overnight in Balkan yogurt with authentic Indian spices; Tandoori Shrimps, flavoured with ginger, garlic and grilled to perfection.

Or Seekh Kebab, made from a smooth minced lamb mixture and seasoned with onions, tomatoes, and a combination of spices and Classic Paneer Tikka, made from Indian cottage cheese cubes, pepper and onions marinated with tandoori masala and baked.

Koshaa can be reached by telephone at 647-349-8424 or visit www.koshaa.ca

Toronto Police say its Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion (GDTI) project continues to make progress on several initiatives to ensure all areas of the force are updated with a gender diverse and trans inclusion lens.

The revised policies, procedures, orders, forms and training materials were presented at a virtual community consultation hosted by Chief James Ramer on January 19, police said.
This work has included a new Standard of Conduct requiring Toronto police members to show respect to trans and gender diverse people, new guidance on searches and housing trans and gender diverse people, guidance for news releases and expanding the definition of immediate family.

Officers will have to undergo a mandatory training on the changes.

The Service is  asking the community to provide feedback on how they would like police to be evaluated on the impact of this work. A survey is underway until April 20.
An essential part of the project involves gathering feedback from members of the community who are impacted the most, to ensure policy changes effectively meet their expectations, police say.

Members of the community are invited to participate in a second community consultation scheduled for March 23, with with more details to follow.

The catalyst for the Service’s Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project is a settlement with Boyd Kodak and the Ontario Human Rights Commission, reached after allegations of discrimination based on gender and gender identity were made against the Service.

For more information about the Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project, please visit www.tps.on.ca/trans-inclusion-project.

One of the oldest WWII veterans in Canada has passed away.

Private Ardwell “Art” Eyres, passed away on February 16. He would have been 98 in April.

Eyres loved Alderwood and lived most of his adult life there, where he raised his family. He lived independently in his home until a few months ago.

During the Second World War, Eyres served on a troopship that was responsible for bringing thousands of soldiers across the Atlantic to fight in Europe on D-Day.

Born in Cameron, Ontario, Eyres enlisted for the army on April 29, 1943—the same day he turned 19. When asked why he decided to join, his answer is simple. “That’s what you did.”

He was stationed in Halifax to serve on the troopship Ile de France as part of the Embarkation Transit Unit. “Troops would exit one train, do a roll call before loading onto the ship. Then another train would pull up and load more soldiers. This process continued until the boat was full.”

Eyres made 17 round trips across the Atlantic to transport thousands of troops, and at one point they were joined by performer Bing Crosby. Every trip was made without a convoy escort.

“We could go fast enough to outrun German subs,” Eyres recalled. “We had to change course every three minutes or so to help confuse the enemy.”

He was dubbed “Laddie” by his Regimental Sergeant Major while serving on a hospital ship called The Lady Nelson.

Eyres served for a year after the war ended. The Ile de France was responsible for bringing back 10,000 troops, which included wounded.

“People think that when the war was over, we just all left and went back to our previous lives, but there was a lot more to do,” he says.

On discharge from the army, Eyres settled in Alderwood, married and started a family.

He went to night school and eventually became an accountant. Eyres joined the Upper Canada Railway Society and would serve as club president.

He became interested in recording his family history and worked on his family tree, recording more than 1,000 names and going as far back as 1770.

Eyres returned to Halifax June to mark the 75th anniversary of D Day and the Battle of Normandy. “Canadians need to remember how important that day was” he said then. “For all the servicemen who landed on the beaches and flew over them. We had to honour the job they did.”

For his service, Eyres received the 1939 1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Victory Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Bar.

WE HAVE TO remember the many who died of COVID-19 and a memorial is planned. Courtesy photo.

The installation of a lovely memorial to mark and remember hundreds of South Etobicoke residents who passed away from COVID-19 in our community is being looked at.

The memorial, which is in the early stage of development, will be placed in New Toronto at the south east corner of Lake Shore Blvd.  W., and Fifth Street, where a fountain previously stood.

The flag is lowered to half-mast / half-staff as a sign of distress, mourning or respect.

Chris Korwin Kuczynski, Chair of the Board of the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area, said it will be simple memorial to remember those who died in our community.

“It is being looked at,” Korwin Kuczynski said. “We are trying to honour our dead.”

He expects the monument to be installed sometime next year if approved.

Members of St. Margaret’s Anglican Church New Toronto held a well-attended memorial service for those who passed from the pandemic last summer.

There are more than 500 members of our community who some officials say passed away due to COVID-19 related illness. The pandemic has killed more than 10,000 people in Ontario.

Some guidelines to fight the pandemic are finally being lifted as restaurant limits and vaccine passport.