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All The News That’s Fit To…er..Send Out To Cyberspace

DECA 2012 – New and improved!  Now with fast action scrubbing power!  We’ll clean up your neighbourhood and your life!

The first executive meeting of 2012 will be Tuesday, January 24th at 7:30 p.m. E-mail me if you would like more information at natasha.granatstein(at)gmail.com

What’s Up With The Empty Storefronts? – That’s a question we’ve been trying to answer for years. We’ve heard all sorts of rumours, conjecture and conspiracy theories. Now, DECA’s own, Catherine Porter, is trying to get to the bottom of it for the benefit of all the main streets in this crazy town. Read the first instalment in her Toronto Star column here.

Coyotes – A coyote was spotted on the front lawn of 160 Coleridge Ave on Thursday night, just after midnight. Tell your cats to watch out.

Dollarama – Rumour has it that a Dollarama is slated to move into the space on the N.W. side of Woodbine and Danforth in the old Kresge’s/Ethiopian centre space.

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Then and Now – Beautiful Bioswales

Back on July 25, 2010 we wrote about a pilot bioswale project that, then DECA executive member, Mary-Margaret McMahon was spearheading with another DECA darling, Lillian Sammon.

Can you believe it?  It actually happened!  Mary-Margaret and Lillian pitched a few ideas to the City. The City chose the one they thought was most viable, installed it and footed the bill.

A bioswale is “a landscape element designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. It is filled vegetation, compost and/or stones. The water’s flow path, along with wide and shallow ditch, is designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale, helping trap pollutants and silt.”

Lead In The Water

Speaking of pollutants, and because we always have new people joining this community blog, I like to remind people about the issue of lead in the water. Old homes sometimes have lead pipes in the house or lead pipes from the street to your home. If you’ve never had your water tested (especially if you are pregnant, nursing or have young children) you may want to pick up a lead testing kit at the East York Civic Centre.  In the meantime, a few tips from Toronto Public Health  if you are concerned about lead in your water:

  • Flush the water first thing in the morning and after it’s been sitting for a while
  • Clean the aerator on your tap if you have one as lead can build up along with the rest of the guk
  • Use a filter that meets the NSF53 standard (It should say that on the box of the filter).  In my case that’s a PUR water filter.
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Out Of The Zone

I must admit to being ‘out of the zone’ of DECA diaries of late. It’s been the holidays, the goings on at Earl Beatty – from the ball ban to the potential closure of the community centre and heading out west for Christmas, I’ve just not been in blogging zone. In honour of being ‘out of the zone’ this post is full of stuff that is out of zone. We try to keep this blog very focused on the happenings that fall very close to DECA’s borders because as soon as you extend it a little bit, geographically or content-wise, things get out of hand pretty quickly. But, herewith a few out of zones.

The Projection Booth

This is a new rep theatre on Gerrard between Pape and Jones. It boasts art, schlock, indie and foreign films. It grew, according to the three owners, “out of a desire to support Canada’s vibrant filmmakers and create an intimate and unique theatre going experience. Since opening in August 2011, Projection Booth has become known for outside the box programming and a commitment to showcasing the best in independent and world cinema.”

They’ve got Bollywood Sundays, Super Punch Saturdays, Fright Night Fridays, documentaries and a full slate of other films to discover. They are also renting out the space (Toronto’s oldest running cinema, the website says) and looking for new films. Thanks to Cameron Tingley for sending this find our way. www.projectionbooth.moonfruit.com.

Oil Painting For Beginniners

If your news year’s resolution was to do something more creative or try something new, then maybe you need to check out Julie Glick’s oil painting classes. You might know Julie from her pet portraits, but she does so much more than that (as you can see above). Classes start in February and you can learn more about the classes and Julie at www.julieglick.com

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New Year’s Resolution: More Art

Volunteer Intake / Community Meetings in January

Are you interested in volunteering for Art of the Danforth 2012?   Want to know more about the event?  Please come to one of the following community meetings:

  • Tuesday, January 10, 7-8 pm at the Danforth Coxwell Public Library (upstairs), 1675 Danforth
  • Thursday, January 12, 8-9 pm LuSculpture Studio & Schools, 663 Greenwood Avenue

For more information, or if you want to volunteer but can`t make one of the above, contact Cindy at info@eastdanforthcreative.com