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Market, TEGH Open House & Madness Party

Farmers’ Market this week: Cookstown Greens, Little Libraries and Kid Fun.

If you’ve ever wondered about the farms and farmers that bring you their produce each week, you’re not alone. We’ll be featuring snippets about each farm on the blog on a regular basis. Here’s some interesting facts about one of our vendors.

Cookstown Greens — The unique and rare array of organic vegetables from Cookstown Greens travel just under 100km to get to our market. Although they bring a different selection of produce each week depending on what’s in season, recently they’ve had Welsh onions, Roosevelt potatoes, baby fingerling potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes (which are apparently not from Jerusalem, nor are they artichokes), basil seedlings, pea shoots, micro-Asians, coriander seedlings, rainbow chard, baby salad greens and broccoli brassica. Cookstown Greens’ produce is available at a number of markets and retail shops in the GTA, but they love coming to our market because, as farmer Gilbert says, you can tell the community knows there is a market going on. So why not try some of their greens this week and let us know what you think?

Don’t forget to stop by the DECA booth. This week you can hear about the Little Free Libraries project. Maybe you’ll be the next person to open a library in Toronto?

For the little ones:

  • Kindermusick with Nadia will start at 3:30 p.m.
  • Crafts with Ms. Darling will take place at 4:30 p.m. This week Mrs. Darling is hosting a velvet art colouring party. Kids can make beautiful vivid, fuzzy greeting cards or bookmarks. Supplies generously donated by Silly Goose.
  • the gang from Silly Goose will be back at 5:30 p.m. for some fun park activities.
craft

TEGH Open House

And if you are looking for even more to do on Thursday evening, Toronto East General Hospital will be hosting a Community Open House from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Click here for more details.

Main Square Madness Party this Saturday

If that’s not enough community activity for you then you’ll want to check out the Main Square Madness Party on Saturday, July 14th hosted by Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon. The party includes bike tune up lessons from 32 Spokes & Bicycle Commons and the opportunity to help a gardening crew beautify the area, a local artist paint a mural and clean up litter with the councillor herself. Check out the flyer for more information.

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DECA Parks – Exciting developments from east to west

Thanks to Sarah K. for this update from DECA Parks!

There’s a lot going on in our DECA-area parks this summer and we wanted to provide an end-to-end update for our park-loving readers.

East-End DECA – Stephenson Park

First up we have Stephenson Park (one block south of Danforth and one block west of Main) a little-known green haven just inside of DECA’s eastern border.  This recreation space has a baseball diamond, a great playground, and a wading pool – there is as much fun to be had here as we would find in our beloved East Lynn Park.

DECA Board Member and renowned illustrator, Tak Bui, recently orchestrated a painting project on the wading pool surface, for which he generously volunteered his own amazing illustrations. The result is an ethereal watery illusion of sea creatures under the little ones’ feet – a perfect destination on a hot summer day!

This past winter, Tak also dreamed up a plan to transform a barren bit of tree-lawn on Stephenson Avenue into a mini-urban garden. The garden is now ready for planting, thanks to all the hard working volunteers who got down and dirty to make this project a reality.  See the before and after pics below. Props go out to Danforth Lumber for donating materials for the project!

Before
After

West-End DECA – Monarch Park 

On DECA’s western border we find the beautiful and busy Monarch Park (at the south end of Monarch Park Ave). The biggest news of late is that the water slide has finally re-opened after lying dormant for many, many years. As the mercury rises, folks from other ‘hoods in Toronto will be jealous of our local attraction. If you are 43” or higher, this super soaker will have you cooled off in no time!

Speaking of Monarch Park, a group of local residents have organized a Friends of Monarch Park group that will be spearheading future improvements within the park. After two community meetings, a Steering Committee has been formed and a number of sub-committees have been created. If you are interested in volunteering with this group, please visit the group’s Facebook page and let them know. You can also email them at friends.monarchpark(at)yahoo.ca.

And we bet you’re wondering what’s going on behind Monarch Park Collegiate, right? Last year, the TDSB approved the lease/sale of their athletic field for the construction of a state-of-the-art athletic facility for both students and the community. Monarch Park Stadium will include a field, track, clubhouse, field lighting, and a winter dome – click here for more information. Tentative completion date is fall 2012.

Please leave a comment telling everyone about your favourite DECA neighbourhood park!

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Big week of changes along the Danforth

It’s been a big week on the east end of our stretch of the Danforth.

It was hard not to notice a big hole in the ground where the former “Glossy” building stood days ago at the south-west corner of Danforth and Patricia/Gledhill. Rumour has it that Honda bought the property and will use it as another lot.  We also have it on good authority that they will be adding some trees!

Many of us have heard by now that there was a fire last weekend at the shwarma place on the south side of Danforth (formerly “G-Spot” and “The Danny”).  CityNews reported that one person was treated at the scene.  It appears that the damage was pretty extensive so we are glad that nobody was seriously injured. We also hope that folks living above were not impacted.  Nothing has been reported about what caused the fire, and we have no news about what will happen next in the space.

The spot that housed “Runway Plus” on the north side of Danforth (across from Value Village) was vacant for only a few weeks before a Wind Mobile store popped up this week.  Not only are they open, the sign in their window says that they are hiring!

Last, but not least, The Thai Room has opened up on the south side of Danforth, just west of Woodbine. If you look closely at the picture, you will note the banner offering 25% off for take-out and eat-in, and 20% off for delivery.  Early reports are that the food is fresh, the people are nice, and the dining room is lovely.  What a great option on days when it is just too hot to cook, or on days that you’re too tired to cook, or on days that end in “y’…
On an unrelated note, we just wanted to thank our friends at Better Bulk for rescuing the Farmer’s Market sign left out on Thursday night.  Further proof that we live in a great neighbourhood!
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Have your say! Golf range petition, 54 Division community consultation

Beach Fairway Golf Range needs your help to stay open

How many of us east-enders like to shoot balls or play mini golf at the Beach Fairway Golf Range, on Victoria Park south of Danforth? (If you haven’t visited, you’ve probably passed by numerous times and made a mental note to check it out soon!)

The owners lease the land from the City, and their lease will not be renewed to make way for housing and retail development.  The whole place is slated to close for good on October 12, 2012.

The owners are meeting with the Mayor on July 16, 2012, and have asked that surrounding neighbours sign a petition ASAP to show that we want to keep the golf range and mini putt!  Here are a few reasons why you should think about signing:

  • This is the only driving range in the City south of the 401 (other than the Docks, which is a different type of facility)
  • They have over 60,000 visits each year including 5700 kids (for mini golf) and 2500 seniors
  • They offer special rates to a variety of organizations that otherwise would not be able to offer golf to their members for rehabilitation and/or social outings.
  • They give free golf lessons for inner city kids

For more info or to offer support, click here to get to the webpage, and then click on “sign our online petition”.

Proposed Changes to 54 Division – Community Input Wanted

There are some proposed changes on the table that could really impact our police services.  Please see below for details about a community consultation with Councillor Janet Davis on July 31, 2012, and a survey that you can print and submit by email or in-person.

Survey: to be submitted before July 31, 2012

BUILDING THE FUTURE FACILITY OPTIONS FOR THE DELIVERY OF POLICE SERVICES

In 2012, in response to significant current and anticipated future fiscal pressures, the Chief’s Internal Organizational Review (CIOR) was established to “engage members of the Service to conduct reviews of operations, infrastructure, administration, business processes and organizational structure with the goal to better achieve our Service’s Mission while increasing public value by becoming more effective, efficient and economical”.

As part of the CIOR, the process the Service uses to determine its requirement for police facilities and the eventual retrofit and/or replacement of these facilities is being reviewed. The objective of this review is to establish a framework to identify and evaluate facility options that will balance the needs of the community and our Service members, all the while ensuring the most effective, efficient and economical delivery of police services in the long-term. This review is focusing on 13 Division and 54 Division as they are slated for replacement in the near-term capital budget.

In addition, any framework must ensure that the transition, regardless of the option recommended, is seamless and minimizes any short-term disruption. Maintaining, if not improving, the current level and quality of service to the community is a critical decision point; as such, it is not anticipated that overall front-line staffing would be reduced as a result.

Considering the needs of your community, what do you think are the three most important things to consider when making decisions about police facilities and/or divisional boundaries?

1.

2.

3.

Building new police stations in a new location within the division has been the traditional response to aging and/or inadequate police facilities; the Review Team has identified the following options for addressing the replacement of police stations. The identified options are as follows:

Option 1: Build a new station in a new location, while maintaining existing boundaries

Option 2: Close the existing station, realign divisional boundaries of surrounding divisions to incorporate all areas of the closed division, reassign officers to surrounding divisions Amalgamate two divisions (with or without boundary realignment) and build a new station

Option 3: Close the existing station, realign divisional boundaries of surrounding divisions to incorporate all areas of the closed division, reassign officers to surrounding divisions Amalgamate two divisions (with or without boundary realignment) and build a new station

Consider each of the above three options for addressing the replacement of police stations.

What do you think could be the most positive result of each option?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

What do you think could be the most negative result of each option?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

If you have any further comments, concerns or suggestions (e.g. a different option), please note them below.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

Please return your survey to: the front desk of 54 Division at 41 Cranfield Road, Toronto Or Electronically to Helen.Dixon(at)torontopolice.on.ca by July 31, 2012.

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Books & Bikes at the Market this week

BOOKS!

Two amazing local children’s book authors will be at the East Lynn Farmer’s Market this week (Thursday, July 5) showcasing their work.

The first is Tak Bui (also a DECA Board Member!). We’ve discussed Tak’s book, Spot the Difference, here before. It’s an amazing collection of bright search-and-find illustrations that challenge readers to compare pictures and find the difference. Each illustration is a rich mixture of compare-it images, wordplay (there’s a school of fish, complete with blackboard) and hilarious scenes that invite storytelling – an unlikely group of animals form a wild street corner jazz band – to keep young readers intrigued. With great expectations of all kinds, this book will keep children amused for hours on end. In his spare time, Tak’s been donating his talents around the neighbourhood, including creating murals and community gardens around Main and Stephenson, painting whales in the wading pool in Stephenson Park, and designing posters for DECA activities.

The second book is Robin Green‘s The Day After Yesterday.

When three sixth graders discover strange marbles in a weedy yard near their school, they get more than they bargained for. The marbles grant them visions of a lost century and a farmhouse where a teenage girl has just died. When one of the friends goes missing, the others decide the marbles are for more than visions. They have a friend to rescue, and not one but many lives depend on them.

At about 4:30 p.m. a representative from the Toronto Public Library will be on hand for story time in the park.

BIKES!

If you have yet to dust off your spokes for the summer or perhaps have rode so much that you’re in need of a tune-up, bring your bike to the market this week. The friendly riders from 32 Spokes will be there providing bike tune-ups.

Reminder: Don’t forget your picnic blanket and bathing suits! It should be a hot one on Thursday and the wading pool is open for business.

The East Lynn Farmer’s Market runs every Thursday from 3-7 p.m. between June-October at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave.

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DECA Trees

DECA is re-establishing its urban forestry group – DECA Trees.  A few tree-minded folks have come together to put some energy into making our trees healthy and vibrant. The first of the tree posts is below.  If you would like to get involved or know more about this group, contact Anne at ratherbeinagarden@gmail.com

Did you know that trees grow at night?

And to make that happen you have to water your local trees, especially the young ones (and maybe the poor dying tree down the block too).

Young Trees

Trees didn’t grow up wanting to be jammed into a barren hard packed narrow boulevard in the city  with dogs peeing on them- but here they are. You can’t correct the where- but you can help them survive and grow. Young trees need to be watered 2-3 times a week.

The finger test:  Stick your newly manicured nail a few inches into the ground near the tree. If it doesn’t feel damp – it needs water. You can also do a visual check and to see if  the leaves are wilting. If they are, the tree is in distress and should be watered a.s.a.p.

How Much? 

For a small tree- about 8-10 litres (about 2 gallons )  2-3 times a week. How hard is that?  It’s a great kid summer project and it’s very rewarding. The first year the tree is madly trying to establish a root system. Next year stand back and watch that tree grow ! (keep watering though).

Because of the narrow hard packed boulevard into which so many trees are planted the water will likely roll into the street, and not soak into the ground . You’ll have to use a drip method.  A hose left on a drip will give you enough water in about 20-60  minutes to adequately water the tree. Ideally water at the drip line. (The drip line is the area under the outer edge of the tree branches. There are tiny roots here that take up water for the tree as it drips off the leaves.)  Trunks don’t need water and wetting them can cause fungus growth and rot.

There – you’re done!  2-3 times a week.  Encourage your neighbour to do the same. And water other street trees that are being neglected. Here’s the bonus…carrying watering cans is great way to tone the triceps!