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Happy Holidays 2017
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
SANTA’S COMING TO LONG BRANCH
SATURDAY DECEMBER 2ND
10am Start. From Dwight to Long Branch Ave.
EXCLUSIVE
An Interview with Mrs. Claus, p8
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Photo: ©Andrea Marchant, As It Happens Photography
Publishing our annual Holiday edition is always a lot of fun and this year is no different. We were lucky to sit down with the very busy Mrs. Claus to find out what she and her husband love most about visiting Long Branch. I hope you enjoy the interview ;) Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from my family to yours! Roger Tumminieri, Publisher
etobicokekakeshorepress@gmail.com (416) 788.0716 / LONGBRANCH.LIFE
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NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY 3509 Lake Shore Blvd W designerconsigners.ca
PRESERVING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF LONG BRANCH
From left to right: Christine Mercado, Doe Orser, Jenny Ribeiro, Bill Zufelt, Judy Gibson and Brian Liberty
A key step to preserving the unique character of what makes this lakeside Etobicoke community attractive was accomplished on October 23, when sixty-two Long Branch residents attended the first Annual General Meeting of the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA) at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101.
also Jenny Ribeiro, Doe Orser, and Bill Zufelt as Executive Members. The Membership also ratified the Association’s bylaws. Its mission is to Protect, Celebrate and Enhance the neighbourhood of the Village of Long Branch. Protect the physical character of Long Branch; Celebrate the neighbourhood and its heritage through events and community gatherings; and Enhance After comments from Peter Milczyn, the public realm and the quality of life MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and of the neighbourhood and broader Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes, in- community. cluding the presentation of a certificate from MPP Peter Milczyn to com- If you would like more information memorate the inaugural meeting, the about the Long Branch Neighbourmembership elected the Association’s hood Association, contact Co-Chairs first Board of Directors, namely Brian Christine Mercado or Brian Liberty by Liberty and Christine Mercado as Co- email at LongBranchTO@gmail.com. Chairs, Judy Gibson as Vice Chair, and
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AN INTERVIEW WITH MRS. CLAUS We had the privilege this year of interviewing none other than Mrs. Claus while she’s in town for the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade. Here’s what she had to say... ELP: There are so many things we want to know about you and your husband. Let’s start with when you arrived in Long Branch and what your stay has been like so far. Mrs. Claus: Well, I must say that Long Branch is our favourite place to visit this time of year. There’s so much to do here and the people are all very nice. We landed in mid-November so we would have some extra time to explore the neighbourhood. Nick and I just love to take walks along the lakefront path. We’ve discovered some great little shops and restaurants along the Lakeshore, too. ELP: That’s true, we do have a lot to be thankful for here in Long Branch. What are some of your favourite spots? Mrs. Claus: Nick is such a romantic. He’s been starting our mornings off by surprising me with croissants and pastries from Lale Bakery and coffee from Fair Grounds. Some days we take them down to Marie Curtis Park and enjoy our breakfast by the beach. He and I are big fans of burgers, so we’ve been over to Woody’s a couple of times for lunch. Nick was excited to see that they’re launching Woodfire Sandwich Company soon. I wonder if they’ll expand to the North Pole. We’ve been doing a fair bit of shopping while in town, so I’m also impressed to see a few new businesses have opened up. Nick and I picked up a few cool frames from Isabel at 3 For 1 Glasses, I learned a couple of make-up tips from 8
Val and Lori at Two Chicks & Some Lipstick, and we sat down with Diana at Forest Hill Real Estate. We’re thinking about buying some property and settling along the lake if we can afford it. Prices in Long Branch have gone up a lot since we last looked. We’re going to visit Travis at RBC to talk about our retirement options. It sure would be great to make Long Branch our summer home! ELP: Wow, your days have been really busy. How about your evenings? Mrs. Claus: Well, Nick loves his beer and comfort food so he particularly liked meeting Colby at T.J. O’Shea’s where we were treated to a great dinner. Such a snug little pub. Not many people know this, but Nick is an honorary member of Long Branch Masonic Lodge No. 632. He visited last Tuesday night and I took the opportunity to try out a kickboxing class at CKO Toronto. What a workout! Tina really puts you through the paces. In the spirit of keeping fit and healthy, Nick and I each got a flu shot. I got mine from Jon at Shoppers Drug Mart after my lunch with Louise at More Than Pies. Nick got his from Alex at Solara Pharmacy after his meeting at the Long Branch Legion with Carlos and the parade’s all-volunteer organizing committee. ELP: You’re really getting to know the neighbourhood. Are you excited for the parade? Mrs. Claus: We are! Out of all the parades, this is by far our favourite. Nick’s excited to skate with the children afterward in Sam Smith Park. Then it’s off to West Edge Community Church to see Pastor Matthew on Sunday morning before we head back to the North Pole to get ready for Christmas!
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DREAM, RISK, CREATE. Can I be honest? I have no idea what my purpose is. I’m just totally lost. That was my common angst for years. Because here’s the truth; the thing that makes us successful (job/business) often isn’t the thing that makes us fulfilled. We want to be fulfilled in life. And if I don’t know “what the point is” then it all seems pointless.
Here’s a secret; the first two questions have to do with you. The rest have to do with others. Second secret; the last answer is your response when people ask, “What do you do?” Try it out at your next gathering. Dream, Risk, Create.
So here are five questions that changed my life: 1. What’s your name? 2. What do you love to do? 3. Who do you do it for? 4. What do they need? 5. How do they change as a result of what you do? My answers... My name is Matthew Douglas. I love to create things that inspire people. I do it for those who feel they have nothing unique. They need to know that they matter and they have something. I help people find and emower themselves to create beauty in this world. So, chances are if you answered these you just discovered your purpose.
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Matthew Douglas Pastor at West Edge Community Church and Long Branch Resident 157 Lakeshore Rd W 905-274-6564 / @westedgecc www.westedge.org
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HOLIDAY HEALTH ADVICE FOR YOUR PETS
Here’s what to watch out for so we can keep your pets healthy during the holidays. The usual suspects you are likely familiar with include chocolate, coffee, alcoholic beverages, and onions as they cause mild to severe toxicities. Don’t forget that fatty foods should also be avoided. Even small amounts of dairy and meat fed to your dog can lead to pancreatitis. We have all been warned about poinsettias but Christmas tree water, mistletoe, and holly can also cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Lily ingestion
can cause kidney failure in cats so it’s best to avoid them in the home. Finally, remember holiday ornaments, tinsel, and ribbon aren’t toys! They not only irritate the gastrointestinal tract but also cause blockages in the intestines or stomach. Contact a veterinarian immediately if your pet has ingested any of the above or alternatively, the Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661) is also a great 24-hour resource. By: Dr. Vanessa Burghart DVM, MSc, BSc Medical Director VCA Lakeshore Animal Hospital
VCA LAKESHORE ANIMAL HOSPITAL T 905-278-4580 F 905-278-5838 872 Lakeshore Road E. www.vcacanada.com Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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LIFE & DEATH Remebrance: Mending the Living This fall I had the privilege of facilitating a memoir writing workshop for seniors. I was inspired by the writers’ courageous desire to share wisdom and offer their life experiences to the community they call home. These seniors, close to 100 men and women ranging in age from 65 to 85, were not interested in how they wanted to be remembered, which was a relief considering I’m a funeral director and prefer not to be perceived as a ghoul! Rather, workshop attendees sought to uncover the hidden meanings and common threads shaping their lives today. When attendees looked to the past they used three lens or worldviews: who they were then, who they are now, and who they still wish to become. Most people avoid examining their lives this way because the old adage holds forever true: the meaning of life is that it ends. In a culture that is so death- and grief-avoidant, the majority of us are only encouraged to look for life’s meaning as we face the long, lonely road of actively dying. Sadder still, as our life lens grows smaller and dimmer, we are often guided, and sometimes cajoled, to examine and evaluate our lives by what we have and what we will give away. If we are not our things and our achievements then what are we? What remains after we are gone? What do we want future generations to know? Memoir writers, whether a boisterous group of seniors at a workshop or a solitary writer transforming personal memories into universal feelings, understand that life is not long. Yet as long as we remember that our lives are intertwined and interdependent we can savour the beautiful tapestry 12
of life then, now, and to come. No matter your age, your contributions, your mobility or your regrets, we really are all in this together. When we take moments to remember not just those who have died, but also honour and mend who we’ve been in the past and what we still aspire to become, we extend a strong, loving hand into the future. We shine a loving light into the quiet dark and make a sacred agreement to act as a beautiful beacon: now, later, and forever. Brad Jones has been a funeral director for over 25 years. He is president and owner of commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Shore Blvd) in Etobicoke. On December 6th, Ridley Funeral Home is hosting its 18th annual Holidays and Hope Candlelight service; a free memorial event of music, reflection, and remembrance. To reserve your seat, contact Brad directly call 416.259.3705 or reach out by email to BradJones@RidleyFuneralHome.com.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Jonathan Nhan, RPh, CDE Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch 3464 Lake Shore Blvd W 416-255-5243 / @nhanjonathan
The Holiday season is here and with it come the many get-togethers with family and friends. Make sure that you stay healthy this season by getting a flu shot. All indicators point to a particularly nasty flu season this year and the flu shot is one of the easiest and best things that you can do to proactively keep yourself and family healthy. We are offering the flu shot during all opening hours. Just stop by the pharmacy and ask. No appointment necessary. Get some peace of mind so that you can focus on the important things at this busy time of year. www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/prescriptions
Mrs. Tumminieri’s QUICK & HEALTHY HOLIDAY PASTA
6 plum tomatoes 1 red onion 5 cloves of garlic 2 yellow peppers 2 packs of mushrooms 1 bunch of basil
Roughly chop all ingredients. Brown garlic in pan with extra virgin olive oil. Add all but basil to pan. Heat on medium for 5-7 mins. Add strained whole wheat pasta of your choice to pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Heat for 10 mins. Stir often. Garnish with basil. Serves 5. Enjoy!
The hustle and bustle of the Holiday season combined with a drop in temperature leaves you vulnerable to getting sick this time of year. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. As a naturopath, I can help you optimize your immune system naturally. Common treatments include dietary and lifestyle counselling, acupuncture and botanical, as well as nutritional therapy. Did you know that most employee benefits turn over on December 31st? That means just a few short weeks left to make the most of your benefits and take charge of your health! Come check out your local neighbourhood wellness clinic and see how we can help. P.S. we offer direct billing! 14
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Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND ONE Health Services 3515 Lake Shore Blvd W. / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca IG: @onehealthservices
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Shine Bright PORT CREDIT
157 Lakeshore rd w dec 15th 7-9pm
GIVE AN UNWRAPPED GIFT TO ‘TOYS FOR TOTS’ OR GROCERY GIFT CARD TO THE COMPASS FESTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS MUSIC BY TORONTO ARTIST
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