Enjoying (and not enjoying) Your Neighbourhood

A miscellany of things to tell you about today…

Jack of Sports provides swim lessons and summer camps at various places around the city.  Now, it’s moving into our neighbourhood – at Monarch Park Collegiate (west of Coxwell, south of Danforth).   They run the Red Cross swim program.  It costs $160 for 10 lessons of 1 hour each and lessons will be starting at the end of June.  They’re also planning on offering summer camps.  For more info call 416-489-4777 or info@jackofsports.com

Environment Days

The Ward 31 Environment Day is Saturday, June 5th from 10-2 at Stan Wadlow Park at 373 Cedarvale Ave. Pick up free compost, buy native plants, exchange broken green bins and kitchen catchers, buy a rain barrel or water saver kit, learn about the city’s environmental programs, get free seeds, drop off hazardous waste and special recyclables, and much more.

Red Sable

Check out the paintings by Lisa Crouch, Ana Gribbons and Cynthia Noel during the month of June at Red Sable at 1765 Danforth.  The opening reception is Saturday, June 5th from 1 – 4 p.m.  Red Sable is open Thursday and Friday  11-6 and Saturday 12-5.  Call 416-436-3733 for more info.

Tree Tour

Want to learn how to distinguish a sugar  maple from a silver maple?  Join Lauren B  own from LEAF (Local Enhancement and  Appreciation of Forests) and learn how to  identify trees, the benefits of trees, the  challenges our urban forests face and ways    to help.

Meet on Sunday, June 6th at the Grinder  Cafe at 126 Main St. (south of Danforth).    The tour will take place from 1 – 3 p.m. Fore  more information, contact Mary-Margaret  McMahon at spargy@rogers.com

Car Wash

A group of people who live near the car wash at Aldridge and Danforth are getting very frustrated with the noise of the car wash and the noise and exhaust of the cars idling in the back lane waiting to use the car wash.  Linda has posted about it here on the blog and the residents there looking for any advice people may have about how to proceed.  They’ve formed a committee called the West Lynn – Aldridge Peace and Enjoyment Committee (because they’ve lost the peace and enjoyment of their yards).

Not To Brag But….

Since the only thing I do for DECA’s farmers’ market at East Lynn Park is to write about it and eat my way through it, I feel absolutely no need to be modest about it.  Thank you to Renata for pointing us to the fact that Toronto Life has put out it’s list of the best farmers markets in the city (the top eight) and guess which little community market appeared on it?   Yes, we made the list!

Why?  Because we have an incredible group of women who put in tons of volunteer hours to arrange the special events, work with the farmers, paint faces, set up tents, get permits, make caramel apples, organize buskers etc etc etc.  And because we have fabulous volunteers who cook for the farmers (a unique and much-loved piece of east Toronto hospitality) and pitch in whenever we need them.  And because a LOT of people come and shop there and hang out with their neighbours.  And because we have a terrific community vibe that the farmers thrive on and that makes going to the market an ongoing, community building event that helps people get to better know their neighbours and make our neighbourhood safer and more vibrant and at the same time supports local business by significantly increasing foot traffic on the Danforth.  Umm.  I think that’s all.

The market starts next Thursday (June 3rd).  This year, every day at 4:30 there will be a family-friendly activity.  And if you’re looking to sit down and just soak up the atmosphere, check out the new farmers’ market cafe.  Of course, we’ll still have all our special events – from the spring strawberry social right to the fall harvest pumpkin festival.

Gledhill Goings On

The Gledhill Family Movie Night is tomorrow (Thursday). They’re showing Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. Doors open at 6 p.m.  Showtime is 6:30 p.m. and it’s 90 minutes long.  The cost is $1 at the door and they’ll be selling popcorn.  All proceeds go to Gledhill’s breakfast program.  This is a family event.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  All families are welcome.

Want to know more about your school’s energy use? On May 25th at 7:30 p.m. Trustee, Sheila Cary-Meagher and Green Globes Energy Specialists are hosting an event that will help schools explore possible renewable energy projects.  The event is at 7:30 p.m. at the Gledhill Public School library.  RSVP to Mary-Margaret McMahon at spargy@rogers.com or 416-693-9276.

Guess Whose Running For City Council?

I suppose it had to happen eventually.

You get a bunch of community-minded people together and sooner or later one of them is going to try and play in the big leagues.

Mary-Margaret McMahon has been on the DECA executive since we were half a dozen people sitting around a dining room table.  She’s been instrumental in almost everything that DECA has become – from the farmers’ market to the countless environmental initiatives, from DECA Bikes to re-skilling workshops and so much more.  At least half of what you read on this blog comes straight from Mary-Margaret because she’s either organizing it or knows someone who is.

DECA is not a political organization.  It’s in our charter.  So you won’t see us endorsing one candidate over another in October’s municipal election. However, because she’s such an integral part of DECA, I thought you should know that Mary-Margaret is running in Ward 32 (south of the Danforth).  Her campaign launch party is Tuesday, May 18th at the Balmy Beech Club (1 Beech Ave – doors open at 7:30 – remarks at 8 p.m.)  RSVP to lauriesmith1025@gmail.com

Fun Fair and One Less Empty Storefront

The Earl Beatty Fun Fair is Saturday, May 29th from 10-3 p.m.  It promises “fun and games for all ages” so I assume that means there will be canasta.  The Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room will be there along with face painting , games, inflatable fun, silent auction and raffle, vendors and yes, the world famous (yes world famous) ball hockey tournamet.

And – in this space at the beginning of April I passed along a rumour that the former Wind Jammers store just east of Woodbine would be a Rogers store.  As is so often the case, I was wrong.  Susan at True Brew tells me the sign is up for a Mobilicity outlet.  I had the right product, wrong company.

Canada Post Grey Boxes

Honestly, nobody works harder for less money than Mary-Margaret McMahon.  Her latest feat?  She’s convinced Canada Post to let her get local schools to paint five grey graffiti-covered Canada Post relay boxes in a farmers’ market theme this spring.  One can only imagine the high pressure lobbying tactics and number of phone calls and e-mails exchanged with the good people at Canada Post that went into making this happen.

So, do you know of a graffiti-covered box that could use a paint job?  Let her know at spargy@rogers.com.