The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Food Bank busy helping those recently laid off

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Daily Bread Food Bank volunteers are busy as users have spiked due to thousands of Toronto residents recently laid off, or who’ve lost their jobs, due to COVID-19.

Daily Bread officials say there has been a sharp rise in the use of food banks and a diminished capacity to deliver food since one in three food banks have shut down because they are operated from community spaces that were mandated to close, or run by seniors who are deemed high risk.

That leaves people on social assistance fewer options to access food, forcing them to travel further and ultimately put themselves, and those around them, at a higher risk of the virus.

“Food banks are being stretched to a breaking point,” says a Daily Bread release. “We are seeing growth in a new group of food bank clients and that is the thousands of recently unemployed.”

Daily Bread and more than 130 organizations have issued an open letter calling for the Ontario government to support low-income individuals during COVID-19 by increasing social assistance rates and stopping the claw-back of federal benefits.

Daily Bread’s Talia Bronstein says food bank use is a barometer of poverty, and food bank use has risen sharply as a result of COVID-19.

The agency says there has been a 53% jump in visits in the past few weeks to the Daily Bread’s on-site food bank on New Toronto St.

“We are trying to meet the everyday food needs of low-income Ontarians, rather than act as what we were set up to do – provide short-term food relief to tide people over when they faced an unexpected economic shock,” food bank officials say.

Prior to COVID-19, social assistance recipients made up over 60% of food bank use. Of those who received social assistance, 53% had been accessing food banks regularly for over 2 years, compared to only 42% of food bank clients with other income sources.

Daily Bread provides food support to about 66 food banks and 135 member agencies. They also provide homemade meals to agencies that operate shelters or drop-in programs, which feeds up to 5,000 people weekly across the city.

Residents are being urged to order goods online for drop off at the Daily Bread Food Bank, or make donations online at dailybread.ca

Lets all support our local businesses

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Area residents are being asked during these trying times to support their local merchants and shop locally.
Your local family-run or small businesses that you see every day have been hard hit by COVID-19, with many restaurants taking a huge hit and being forced to reduce hours or lay off staff during this era of take-out food and drinks.
Just take a look at the long line-ups at some major stores for groceries or other services and think again about frequenting your local mom-and-pop stores, where you can access your goods quickly curbside without safe-distance waiting in long lineups.
Many of the small businesses which have been here for a while, like many of the newer stores are threatened by the length of time the virus rages on.
So lets all do as much as we can to help our local businesses and the thousands of local people they employ and their families.

Dino’s offering free pizza to frontline COVID workers

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By WAYNE GIBSON

With a long history of being on The Queensway, Dino’s has expanded to a couple of new locations, one on Dundas Street West, the other on Kipling Avenue.
The popular Dino is well known for both delivering great tasting pizza, done in a wood burning oven—he was one of the first in Toronto—and his extensive charitable work on behalf of the homeless.
The colourful pizza maker is donating free pies to all frontline emergency personnel involved in the fight against COVID-19.
With his new Kipling location in a space formerly occupied by Via Napoli, he is now able to deliver the same great ‘wood-oven’ pizza he’s famous for, but with expanded ‘gourmet’ offerings and also full LLBO-service.
The new space offers an expanded dining experience that wasn’t allowed for given his space limitations at the original Queensway location.
Ever the edgy marketer, Dino has even named a few pizzas after Toronto personalities: Amy Pataki, Gill Deacon, and famously, Mayor John Tory (which was also a great way to entice Mr. Tory to attend the opening of his new Kipling location last month!).
But Dino’s is most about great tasting wood-oven pizza, along with an assortment of ‘pide’ offerings—‘pide’ being a pizza-like Turkish dish. Available for pasta lovers are a couple of penne offerings and a rigatoni; three traditional salads are also on the menu.
Make it a full lunch or dinner dining experience at Dino’s on Dundas: a choice of 31 different pizzas, or a pasta dish, along with wine or beer in a very pleasant dining room.
The colourful pizza maker donates many pies in a list of charities that he is involved in. He plans to travel across Canada giving away pizza to celebrate the role immigrants play in this country.
Dino’s Pizza locations includes 871 Kipling Ave., 820 The Queensway and 4923 Dundas St. W. Phone 416-259-0050.

What’s open, closed and safe things to do

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SHOW YOUR CANADIAN FLAGS TO SUPPORT health, emergency personnel and other front-line workers fighting to save lives in the war against COVID-19. Area residents are urged by some community leaders to adorn their windows or outside of their homes with our glorious flag. Kids at home from school can make their own Canadian flags rather than going outside to purchase one and risk exposure to the virus.
MOST ELDERLY PROGRAMS AT STOREFRONT HUMBER, 2445 Lake Shore Blvd. W., are cancelled with only essential services, like personal care, support, respite and maintenance coordination provided. All dining, foot clinic, adult day programs and elderly programs cancelled until April 20. For more info call 416-259-4207 or visit sfh@storefronthumber.ca
COVID-19 CHECK UP CENTRES get screened for COVID-19. An Assessment Centre is open at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in the Sunnyside building, 1st floor (entrance available on Sunnyside Ave.) There is also a centre at the Mississauga Hospital 15 Bronte College Court. If you have a dry cough, a temperature, feeling sick, tired or out of breath call your doctor for instructions and do not show up at the emergency ward of your hospital.
EVERY FRIDAY MORNING the Long Branch Baptist Church, at 3381 Lake Shore Blvd. W., offers a free clothing outlet from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for those in need of clothing for themselves or their families. You can also donate gently used clothes that others can use. Contact 416-251-1525. May be cancelled.
APRIL 19 FOR 16th ANNUAL COLONEL SAM SMITH PARK CLEAN-UP from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and join Watershed Champion Alan Roy, for the annual litter cleanup to help get rid of plastic bags, bottles, cans and other refuse along the trail. Event goes rain or shine and dress appropriately. Contact 416-661-6600 ext, 5575. Subject to cancellation due to COVID-19.
APRIL 26 SPRING LITTER CLEANUP AT MARIE CURTIS PARK for all ages takes place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Marie Curtis Park, 2 Forty Second Street. Join the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority and Friends of Marie Curtis Park for a nature hike and cleanup. Meet in the large parking lot near the lake on the west side of the creek. Subject to cancellation due to COVID-19. MARCH 28 ONTARIO POPS ORCHESTRA CONCERT nixed and rest of season cancelled due to the COVID19 situation. Programs will be incorporated in the upcoming season. Visit ontariopops.com for further information or queries.
APRIL 30 HISTORY WALKING TOUR OF COL. SAM SMITH PARK, at 29 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive, traces the history of the traditional lands of the Ojibwe Anishinabe, which was home of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital before it became the Humber College Lakeshore Campus. Tour runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Subject to cancellation due to COVID-19.
MAY 5 LANDSCAPING FOR BIRDS FROM6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Small Arms Inspection Building, 1352 Lake Shore Rd. E.,with expert Melissa Creasey to discover the most common and unique birds in your area. Learn how to attract them to your yard and how to keep them safe. For more information call 647-646-9695. Subject to cancellation due to COVID-19.
MAY 9 SPRING LITTER CLEANUP AT HUMBER BAY PARK from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Humber Bay Park, 2225 Lake Shore Blvd. W., with Friends of Humber Bay Park and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to clean up plastic bags, bottles and other items from the trail and shoreline. Goes rain or shine and dress appropriately. Subject to cancellation due to COVID-19.
MAY 23 SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL at Colonel Samuel Smith Park at Kipling Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W. Register to receive free trees to plant on private property. All is welcome to come out and enjoy the outdoors.
HAVEN ON THE QUEENSWAY HAS SHUT MOST of its programs and services due to COVID-19 but will continue to serve its food bank users by appointment and pick-up at their 1533 The Queensway office. Call 416-640-2005 to make arrangements to access the Haven food bank, First Care or other services still open.
LAMP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE LAKESHORE SITE open for essential services from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Single point of entry, screening protocol in place, routine and nonessential services booked at least 14-days prior. Telephone support as needed such as prescription renewals. Take away meals provided Monday to Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and on Saturdays. Harm reduction supplies available. Tax clinic suspended. information, newcomer services by phone. For more info call 416-252-6471 ext. 280 or 281 or visit www.lampchc.org. FRANKLIN HORNER COMMUNITY CENTRE is cancelled until further notice due to COVIO-19. Will reassess, like many other City agencies in April.

Tips on staying safe from COVID-19

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Here are some Toronto Public Health tips for staying safe from COVID 19
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
– Avoid close contact with people who are ill
– Stay home when you are ill
-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the garbage and wash your hands
– If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm
– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
– If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call Toronto Public Health
at 416-338-7600 and self-isolate.

COVID-19 aid for our ailing seniors

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South Etobicoke has one of the largest population of seniors in the City of Toronto and officials say some of them may require our help as we fend off COVID-19.
Residents are being asked to check up on their elderly neighbours and see if there is anything that they can do to assist them such as picking up groceries or items from the drug store.
‘Every trip that they don’t have to take helps to reduce their risk of getting sick,” according to Toronto Public Health officials.
They are reminding residents to only purchase what is needed and not to overbuy since it takes away from what is available for the most vulnerable in the community.
Pharmacist Soroush Nejati, of Lakeside Pharmasave Pharmacy, says many residents are suffering from loneliness and are encouraged to check up on friends, family, and other loved ones by phone or online platforms.
Some community agencies, like Storefront Humber, offer support to seniors including Meals on Wheels, friendly visiting, transportation to appointments, personal support, and adult day programs. Seniors and caregivers should check with the agencies to find out about service delivery.
Help is available at Toronto Seniors Helpline at 416-217-2077 or 1-877-621-2077, for support and referral to services.
For Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) home care call 310-2222 (no area code required) to find out about services in the area.
Or the Seniors Safety Line (Elder Abuse Ontario) is at 1-866-299-1011.

Etobicoke’s Raeven chase her volleyball dreams

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By CRAIG CHRISTIE

Etobicoke native Raeven Chase is making a name for herself in Michigan.
The numbers from Chase’s freshman season playing volleyball at Eastern Michigan University
(EMU) jump off the page: 147.5 points, 108 kills and 69 blocks. On top of that the graduate of Michael Power/St. Joseph High School was voted to the Mid-American Conference (MAC)
All-Freshman team.
But there is one award she is most proud of. “I made the Academic team and I’m on
the Dean’s List so that’s exciting,” Chase says.
Chase arrived at EMU in 2018 but sat out the first year. Although she wasn’t initially happy with the
decision it allowed her to practice and learn from her coaches and more experienced teammates.
“I got into the recruiting process super late and didn’t sign with EMU until late April (2018),” Chase says. At the time there was only one other school in the running for her talent but she attended a showcase tournament and after received about 13 scholarship offers, primarily from Division 2 or 3 schools.
EMU head volleyball coach Darcy Dorton first saw Chase on a YouTube video. “My first impression from the video was, ‘Wow, this kid has some serious potential’,” Dorton recalls. “Raeven has a lot of physical strengths: she is very tall (6’3”), surprisingly quick … light on her feet and has a very good vertical leap.”
With several key seniors graduating this year, Chase is being counted on to take a leadership role on the team.
“Off the court I feel I can be a better teammate by providing positive feedback and communicating with my teammates,” she says.
Dorton believes that having a young team will be an opportunity for Raeven since her teammates and the coaching staff will expect her to play a bigger role next year.
Chase will be heading to Vancouver to attend the Canadian women’s NextGen selection camp this summer. The tryout is for athletes who aspire to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
“Raeven is a promising young athlete who has the size to compete internationally,” says Shannon Winzer, Head Coach, NextGen National Team. “We hope to further evaluate her against the top talent from across the country.”
The science major is looking at physiotherapy as an option because she wants to work with athletes. Her coach however thinks she may have to put that on hold for a while.

Community alerted to fake $50 bills

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A Long Branch merchant is warning other small businesses to be on the lookout for fraudsters trying to circulate fake $50 bills in a bid to scam local store and business owners.
The well-known fast food store owner says he has intercepted three fake Canadian orange $50s in the last month from alleged thieves.
He shows one of the fake $50, in which you can feel a clear piece of plastic tape wrapped around the transparent, plastic section of the bill.
“I just take it away from them (fraudsters) and I tell them that I am calling the police,” the long-time area resident says. “They just take off.”
Community officers from 22 Division say they’re coming across many phoney bills and merchants and others have to look closely at the bills that they are accepting from customers.
“These guys are new to the area,” the store owner says. “I haven’t seen them here before.”
Police are warning business owners of an online telephone scam in which a caller claiming to be Customer Service agent claims their company is owned money for outstanding bills and services will be cut off unless they pay up, usually in bitcoins.

Tips for staying safe from COVID-19

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Here are some Toronto Public Health tips for staying safe from COVID 19
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
– Avoid close contact with people who are ill
– Stay home when you are ill
-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the garbage and wash your hands
– If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm
– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
– If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call Toronto Public Health
at 416-338-7600 and self-isolate.

Reeve Marie Curtis best known for park

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By TOM GODFREY
Hard-working Ann Marie Curtis was the first female reeve of Long Branch and is best remembered for a beautiful waterfront park that is named in her honour.
Curtis served as the reeve of Long Branch from 1953 to her retirement in 1962, and was the only woman to hold that job. She was also a member of Metro Toronto Council and the first woman on its executive.
A proud housewife, she worked hard to improve the life of residents and oversaw improvements to infrastructure in Long Branch as the installation of storm sewers, the paving of roads and planting of crab apple trees to help curb floods.
One of seven children, she was raised in St. Louis, Miss., and later moved to Long Branch, got married to husband Bryce, and worked in a hat factory.
Her friends swore her “political commentary was as crusty as the scrumptious apple pies she loved to bake.”
Curtis became involved in activism after seven teachers in the community were fired. She became president of the Home and School Association and successfully lobbied for more kindergarten classes.
She became frustrated that the incumbent reeve was “rubber-stamping’ the decisions of others and ran against him and won the position.
Curtis made a name for herself during Hurricane Hazel, which struck in October 1954, killing seven people and leaving 700 evacuated from their homes, trailers and streets.
Curtis was in charge of the relocation of flood victims and advocated for the conversion of a flood plain on which the devastated homes stood into parkland. Some 300 homes were demolished, along with the trailer park to create a 35-acre park.
The popular Curtis even delivered compensation checks personally to the flood victims.
She is still remembered for the Long Branch Arena, a new artificial ice rink which she opened In December 1962, despite issues with funding.
Curtis retired in 1962 and moved with Bryce to Flesherton. There she served for six years as secretary of the Association of Mayors and Reeves in Ontario, where she was a former president.
Curtis advocated in 1962 for the amalgamation of Long Branch with neighbouring villages Mimico and New Toronto, but the proposal went to the Ontario Municipal Board, which left the villages in place. The Ontario government amalgamated the three communities into Etobicoke in 1967.
She died in 2006 at the age of 94. The park that was destroyed by Hazel was named Marie Curtis Park in her honour in 1959. It is marked by a plaque and cairn. To top it off she was inducted into the Etobicoke Hall of Fame in 1988.