Many Alderwood residents are in mourning for two beloved women as a police manhunt heats up to find accused killer Joseph Ayala hiding out in the community.

Toronto Police were up in the air and on the streets over Brown’s Line and Evans Avenue area on August 23 in search of Ayala who is accused of killing an 82-year-old grandmother and another 60-year-old woman.

Police were called just after 1 p.m. to the Sheldon and Silvercrest Avenues area to conduct a wellness check.

Homicide officers said the bodies of two females were found lifeless inside the home. The suspect is a relative of the females.

A police helicopter was in the air searching the ground, along with officers in cruisers, for any signs of the suspect.

“We are looking to locate the suspect and bring him in into custody,” said an officer.

The area around the Aldercrest Avenues home was sealed off with police tape as forensic officers and other crime-scene experts searched for clues.

An officer stood outside the home which is now a crime scene.

Some area residents said they are concerned as they have had issues with the suspect. They said he suffered from mental challenges, and sometimes he did not take his medication.

Neighbours and onlookers took to the streets to see what was taking place. Some identified the victims as the suspect’s mother and grandmother and that they shared the same home.

Police have not identified the victims but neighbours told the Star one woman was the suspect’s mother and the other was his grandmother, and that all three lived in the home together.

“My parents are worried,” a female Alderwood resident said. “We have to lock the door and be careful in case this guy is still around.”

Ayala, 33, is well known in the area and is described as a white male, 5-foot-11, with a shaved head.

Police said he is known to wear a cowboy boots, hat, a cowboy style jacket with tassels on the sleeve and black cowboy boots.

He was often seen by many in his cowboy gear walking on Brown’s Line. Many have seen him panhandling outside No Frills on Lake Shore Blvd. W.

No funeral details have been released at this time.

If you see him call 22 Division at 416-808-2200.

By the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association

Long Branch residents love their iconic trees.

Big Red is a towering 200-year-old Northern Red Oak and the first ever designated heritage tree in Long Branch.

It stands 33-meters tall at the corner of Park Blvd., and Long Branch Avenue, and sure has many stories to tell.

Big Red is one of the few remaining old red oaks in the area having survived a fire in 1958 which burned down the Long Branch Hotel.

Long Branch, originally named “Long Branch Park” after New Jersey’s famous seaside resort, was a popular getaway for Toronto city dwellers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Families purchased villa lots to build summer cottages, and visitors enjoyed recreational activities from boating and tennis to dancing and dining in outdoor pavilions.

This oak has witnessed the arrival of the Toronto and Mimico Electric Railway, the rise and decline of the resort community in Long Branch and the shift into Long Branch becoming an all-year round thriving neighbourhood.

Today, Big Red continues to watch over the neighbourhood, and towers over the Legion’s 101 Long Branch Cenotaph.

Here’s a blast from the past.

This deserted ‘black lawn jockey’ is a sign of a racist past and was photographed on a street in Alderwood.

At one time in the 1950s and 1960s there were many of them decorating suburban and rural yards in Canada and the U.S. They still do in some areas.

It is a symbol that brings back hard feelings for many Black residents and memories of slavery.

Most people today would never think of displaying one.

Experts said the statues were guideposts on the route of the Underground Railroad in the days preceding and during the U.S. Civil War.

Neither underground nor a railroad, the name refers to the series of safe houses from the Deep South to freedom in the northern states and Canada.

Green ribbons were allegedly tied to the arms of the statues to indicate safety, while red ribbons warned of danger and told the escaping slaves’ guide to keep going.

The jockey’s appearance signaled the availability of a place to sleep, a hot meal, or a change of horses. Escaping slaves would watch for telltale markings and patterns on the jockeys’ clothing that provided the roadmaps to safety and survival on the flight to freedom.

Also known as “The Faithful Groomsman,” some historians said it was commissioned by George Washington to honour a young black youth, Jocko Graves, who allegedly froze to death while holding a lantern to guide the American Continental Army safely back to winter barracks at night.

They are also reminders of a shameful period in U.S. history that led not only to the tragedy of civil war, but to the racial hatred and tensions that plague America to this day.

A manhunt for an urban cowboy is underway in the community.

Toronto Police were up in the air and on the streets over Brown’s Line and Evans Avenue area on August 23 in search of a man who is accused of killing two female relatives.
Police were called just after 1 p.m. to the Sheldon and Silvercrest Avenues area to conduct a wellness check.
Homicide officers said the bodies of two females were found lifeless inside the home.

A police helicopter took to the air searching the ground, along with officers in cruisers, in search of the suspect.
“We are looking to locate the suspect and bring him in into custody,” said an officer.
The area was sealed off with police tape as forensic officers and other crime-scene experts searched for clues.
Some area residents said they are concerned as they have had issues with the suspect, who some claim suffered from challenges.

Neighbours and onlookers took to the streets to see what was taking place. Some said the victims included the suspect’s mother and sister.
“My parents are worried,” a female Alderwood resident said. “We have to lock the door and be careful in case this guy is still around.”

Police held a press conference to provide an update to the nervous community.
Joseph Ayala, 33, is sought by police and is on the run.
He is a ‘relative’ of the victims and is described as a white male, 5-foot-11, with a shaved head.

Police said he is known to wear a cowboy boots, hat, a cowboy style jacket with tassels on the sleeve and black cowboy boots.
If you see him call 22 Division at 416-808-2200 or 911.

Sign up for one of 12 native trees for free.

The Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA) is urging area residents to register online now to receive a free tree.

Tree pickup is on September 14 at Colonel Sam Smith Park between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

There are 12 native tree and shrub species to choose from. Pre-registration is required by visiting https://www.lbna.ca/tree/ to place your order.

Some of the trees available includes: sugar maple, white pine, red oak, eastern white cedar, paper white birch, shrubs and others.

The face of Mimico is about to change and look more like Humber Bay Shores.

A proposal to build a 34-storey condo tower at 2405-2417 Lake Shore Blvd. W., has been given another green light for development that will change the area and open it up for more density.

Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley said in an update that a settlement has been reached on the file with the Ontario Land Tribunal.

She said full disclosure of an appeal board is still pending and more details will be released after a settlement hearing between parties.

A post on social media said the decision now goes before a settlement hearing, which is not contested because City council has voted to adopt the recommendation.

She said a 42-storey tower has been reduced to a 34-storey in height near the Amos Waites Park.

The tower ‘will be set further back on the subject site and has appropriate separation distance from the mid-rise building,” according to the update.

“The tower design does not result in negative shadow impacts on the neighbourhoods to the west,” it noted.

It said building heights will not provide shadows since there is transition to the park, lake and adjacent neighbourhoods.

The agreement stated the popular park will not be touched and there will be a nine-storey mid-rise building along Lake Shore Blvd. W., with a six-story street wall with improved massing.

A social post said two new public streets are planned for connectivity to the lake and Superior Avenue. The streets are in accordance to the Mimico by the Lake Secondary Plan.

Initially proposed were a 10-storey mid-rise building, an eight-storey base building including a mezzanine floor about 32,792 square metres in size, including 345.5 square metres of retail space on the ground floor.

Also planned were 471 residential apartment units (including 22 rental replacement units) in various unit sizes.

A number of low-rise apartments and some stores will be demolished and some rental replacement units are planned for those impacted.

Morley thanked the Mimico community for their support during the hearings as her office advocated for the local needs.

Residents are already complaining on social media about the high density and years of construction activity.

Michael Cherney said a 34 story building will create shadows for all the surrounding neighborhood home and buildings, Amos Waites Park and more.

“How you can allow 34 stories in an area approved in the Mimico By the Lake plan as 15 stories is absurd and of course will negatively impact your current residents,” he wrote.

Three young offenders are among four people arrested by Toronto Police accused of being guns-for-hire who waged war against unsuspecting tow truck drivers.

The 15 and 16-year-olds were arrested last month in connection to one homicide and 13 tow truck-related shootings that took place on Canada Day weekend, as others shot off fireworks.

A 17-year-old has also been charged after he allegedly opened fire on two parked tow trucks on May 15 near Markham Road and Steeles Avenue E. No one were in the vehicles.

Police said since January there has been 43 tow truck industry related shooting, arsons and firearm discharges in Toronto.

Glock weapon seized by police from teens.

Officers of a Tow Truck Task Force said a 15-year-old Oshawa boy, and 16-year-old from Stouffville, on July 15 were charged with first-degree murder in connection with what they say was a tow truck industry-related homicide.

Sulakshan Selvasingam, 28, was killed July 6 after being shot in a Scarborough parking lot.

Police allege the teens were responsible for 11 other shootings that took place between June 29 and July 14. Some 177 charges were laid in the arrests.

Detectives said gun crime decreased after the teens were arrested.

They also arrested a 33-year-old man from Oshawa, who police alleged paid the teen to commit the shooting.

They were paid by others to shoot the tow truck drivers or burn their trucks in an ongoing war in that industry.

Chief Myron Demkiw said shootings and firearm discharges in Toronto have increased by 50 per cent compared to last year and 14 per cent of that increase is due to an ongoing tow truck turf war.

Youth firearm arrests in Toronto have risen 161 per cent over the past two years, according to police data.

Many area residents are not happy with a plan by the City to install bike lanes on busy Parkside Drive citing gridlock caused by the lanes on Bloor Street W.

There is a plan to revamp Parkside Drive to include bike lanes with barriers, wider sidewalks, separate left-turn lanes, and reducing lanes from four to two; one in each direction.

A report by the City calls for the roadway will be reconfigured, upgraded and ‘support multi-modal travel options.’

Many motorists and small business owners complain the bike lanes and lane reduction on Bloor Street W., causes traffic congestion and loss of business.

Plans are also underway to install bike lanes on The Queensway to downtown linking with the Martin Goodman Trail.

Eventually the bicycle lanes will link most places in Toronto reducing lanes of traffic in an already congested city.

Police warn many motorists speed along Parkside Drive and an automated roadside camera there is one of the busiest in the City issuing thousands of tickets monthly.

There have also been many traffic accidents, including fatal, that have occurred on that strip of road due to speeding.

Still, others worry the changes will divert more traffic onto side streets, and create more traffic on a route that people take to Lake Shore Blvd. and the Gardiner Expressway.

There has been mixed reaction on social media about the impending bike lanes.

Some people note cyclists have also taken over High Park since traffic have been banned.

Others said speed bumps or other options can be installed to slow traffic down.

Some support of the idea of bike lanes before the street is fully reconstructed and congested.

One said Parkside is the only direct route to the highway in the west end with other streets in the area including High Park being more cycling and walking friendly.

The storm and flooding last month led to many peoples’ homes being flooded, including many residents in the South Etobicoke area.

Nine next door homes had their basements flooded which caused major drywall and other damages to the dwellings in the Judson Street and Harold Street area, near Royal York Road.

The stressed-out homeowners are still cleaning up and repairing damage or dealing with insurance companies to restore their homes, which they claim were built on a river bed.

“I believe something went terribly wrong with this underground waterway on July 16^th,” said long-time resident Al Moyseuk. “I believe the catch basin has been compromised and led or added to this tragedy.”

He said the residents have been seeking help from City officials with little luck. He took photos of the flood and damage to circulate to officials.

“The water was flowing like the Niagara River going over the Falls,” Moyseuk wrote. “The water continued to flow continuously even after the rain and flooding stopped.”

Resident Dan Irwin said his basement was flooded with almost a foot of water.

“Most of it has dried out now but there is drywall and other damages and it’s inevitable it will happen again,” said Irwin, who estimates from previous floods it will cost about $40,000 to rebuild and replace.

It’s a good day for wildlife.

September 4 is National Wildlife Day and Urban Nature Stores is taking a bold step to support Ontario’s diverse wildlife with their “Seeds of Kindness” campaign.

The proudly Canadian retailer is pledging 10% of all bird seed sales to Ontario Wildlife Rescue Centers, (OWRC) which are vital lifelines for injured and orphaned animals.

Urban Nature Stores is leading the way in backing the invaluable work of the OWRC, which are mostly run by volunteers and receive no government funding and rely on public generosity to rehabilitate and release wildlife back into their natural habitats.

“Urban Nature Store is proud to support the Seeds of Kindness program to bolster the incredible efforts of Wildlife Rescue Centers throughout Ontario. The work these organizations do is nothing short of lifesaving for countless birds and animals in need,” said Paul Oliver, Founder of Urban Nature Store.

Urban Nature Stores has become a sanctuary for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts alike, with nine retail locations across Ontario, from St. Catharines to Kingston and throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

There will be in-store information on local rescue centers and ways the public can contribute to these organizations.

“This initiative underscores the importance of community support in preserving Ontario’s wildlife,” Oliver said.

The OWR collaborates with over 50 Wildlife Rescue Centers across the province, serving as a critical link between the public and these centers.

OWR also provides essential resources, including food, medical supplies, and veterinary care, ensuring that these rescue centers can continue their lifesaving work.

You can also visit their online store, www.UrbanNatureStore.ca, offering high-quality bird feed, feeders, premium binoculars, and an array of nature-inspired gifts.

For more information call 416-987-5826 or email: paul@urbannaturestore.ca