With only two weeks left, the market season is winding down. But it won’t be gone until we celebrate the harvest season with the our neighbours and the farmers. Harvestfest is happening this Thursday. Check out the poster for all the details!
The East Lynn Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 3-7:00 p.m. between June 4 – October 15 at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave. Stay up to date by visiting theEast Lynn Market Facebookpage or by following us on Twitter.
Unless you are on a serious news diet, you know about the Syrian refugee crisis. More than 4 million Syrians have fled a civil war in their country.
Regular citizens have been stepping forward to help. Last summer, a campaign to bring 1,000 Syrian refugees to the GTA was launched by community leaders in Toronto. It’s called Lifeline Syria, and its mission is to help other regular folk sponsor refugees just like Torontonians did in 1979, bringing 33,000 Indochinese boat people to the city and helping them settle.
So far, more than 200 groups of neighbours, church and synagogue congregants, school parent council members, etc. have come together and pledged to help sponsor Syrian families.
A few of those groups live in the east end. Check out the Ripple group, and the East-West Refugee Collective. Each group has to raise at least $27,000 for the family’s first year in Canada. So, if you are looking at an easy way to help, writing a cheque would be it. (Full disclosure: I am part of the East-West Refugee Collective.)
But maybe you want to do more than write a cheque! If so, Monday is your chance to learn more. Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon is holding an information night on Monday, October 5at 7 pm at Beach United Church(140 Wineva Ave.).
Both Alexandra Kotyk, the tireless force behind Lifeline Syria and Andrew Fitzgerald of the Ripple Refugee Project will be giving presentations about what’s involved in sponsoring a single refugee or refugee family. There will also be time at the end to mix and mingle with other east end groups that are forming.
Remember last year’s amazing Festival of Lights? We packed what seemed like most of the hood into East Lynn Park for a fantastic night of entertainment and lit up the park’s trees.
Zero Gravity Circus Fire Artist wowing the crowds at last year’s festival.
Our fabulous Fesitival lead, Angela, is back but needs our help to make this year’s event better than ever. You can sign up for a little or a lot–there’s something for whatever amount of time you can spare. Hang some posters, string some lights, hand out some treats.
Angela is holding the one and only meeting at her place this coming Monday, Oct. 5, 8 pm.RSVP to at Events@DECA.to and she’ll send you the location info. Can’t make the meeting? No problem. Just pick a job from below and claim it by emailing us at Events@DECA.to. Details below courtesy of Angela (who is both efficient like that AND understands that your time is precious).
Lighting Lead: Time Commitment Approx. 10 hours max.
Attend October 5 meeting to plan the event.
Work with DECA to secure a team of approx. 10 volunteers to put up holiday lights prior to the event on one weekend in November. It will require a rain date in case of poor weather.
Attend and manage the light installation on both ends of the park. Approx. 4 hours.
In the Spring (i.e end of April or early May) work with DECA to secure a team of approx. 10 volunteers to take down the lights and store them in the shed. Approx. 2 hours.
*If anyone is interested in volunteering for the light installation only, you can sign-up now. We need 10 volunteers.
Food Collection & Distribution Lead: Time Commitment Approx. 10 hours max.
Attend October 5 meeting to plan the event.
Work with food vendors. Approx. 1 hour
Pick-up supplies. Approx. 1 hour
Work with DECA to secure a team of approx. 12 volunteers to set-up and distribute food on the day of the event. It will be 3 volunteers x 2 tents x 2 hours. Each team will be able to sign-up for an hour or two hours to serve.
Set-up and tear down at the event. Attend and manage the light installation on both ends of the park. Approx. 4 hours.
Poster Hanging: Time Commitment Approx. 2 to 3 hours
Pick-up approx. 100+ posters and hang them up in stores, parks etc. across the neighbourhood between Monarch and Main in mid-November.
Coordinate poster hanging helpers (unless you want to do it yourself–think of the exercise opportunity!)
Entertainment Lead: Time Commitment Approx. 6 hours
Attend October 5 meeting to plan the event.
Talent has already been booked. On the day of the event you will be the key onsite contact to meet talent and provide directions as required. You will be responsible to ensure talent has whatever they require to perform and that entertainment flows smoothly. Approx. 4 hours.
November 28th (the big day!) – Set-up and Tear Down & Servers
2 hours (1 pm to 3 pm) x 6 volunteers – Set-up three tents (2 food/drink and 1 DECA), includes tables, banners and lights.
2 hours (6 pm to 8 pm) x 6 volunteers – Tear down three tents and accessories. Do a park clean-up.
1 or 2 hour shifts for food/drink servers – 3 volunteers x 2 tents x 2 hours = 12 people
10 volunteers for 1 to 2 hour shifts over a 4 hour period to hand lights in November.
The Pop-up Shop team would love to get some feedback on your local shopping habits, and DECA’s Danforth Gems event. Would you please take a few minutes to fill out our survey? It shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes and the results will help us better understand the impact of running these events.
Fall is that magical time of year when the leaves change, the days darken, and we all have to think about what kinds of activities we are going to undertake for the year. (If you are like me, you were frantically trying to sign up your kids for swimming lessons this morning at 7am!) Here are a few options in the neighbourhood…
East End Music Project
(non-profit music program for kids on Tuesdays)
Miranda from the East End Music Project sent this note along:
I run the East End Music Project (I do this out of LOVE as a volunteer), which is a very cool social purpose music school in the East End.
The project is taught by professional musicians and educators with instruction at a very high level. The social purpose part of it is that all the class fees are geared to income. Our focus is on collaboration and working together in the classes. It is a fabulous opportunity. I have a couple of spots available because I’ve hired more teachers to increase our capacity. We would love to have your families join us.
If you’ve ever thought about music lessons, this is a great way to get involved in a social purpose enterprise, support local musicians, and participate in something really special. Your kids will also get a stellar music experience. All classes are subsidized. No restrictions on who can apply! Check out www.eemp.ca to see what classes still have availability. Thanks!
Are you ready to sing?
Some locals, Sarah and Damaris, are starting a new choir and would like YOU to join! Registration form is here and some additional details are below.
Pegasus Studios
SO many classes, so little time. What can we say about Pegasus? It’s music, dance, art, choir, yoga – stuff for kids, adults, kids and adults together – if you don’t know about this neighbourhood institution, you should. www.pegasusstudios.com
Fitness
We have been so lucky to have so many new fitness-related businesses open up in this neighbourhood (coinciding nicely with the bakeries, ice cream shop and restaurants!). Here are some of them:
Our next DECA Board meeting will be next Monday, September 21 starting at 7:30pm. If you’d like to join us, drop us a line here and we can let you know where we’re meeting. Last time we enjoyed an hour at the beginning to meet & greet, but this time we will get right to it a 7:30pm because we have a lot to cover. All are welcome!
Caption: There are more reasons than ever to head to East Lynn Park on Sept. 19-20 for #DECAF15!
1. 7 Years, And We’re Bigger and Better Than Ever!
With more vendors, covering more artistic mediums than ever before, #DECAF15 is the best yet! Check out our new exhibitors and come by East Lynn Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19-20 and support some old favourites. More info here
2. Enjoy the Benefits of Shopping Local!
Did you know that almost 75 per cent of the money you spend shopping locally stays in your community? The majority of DECAF’s artisans and exhibitors have historically hailed from the east end of Toronto, so while you’re buying something you love, you’re also supporting your neighbours and community!
3. Check Out Unique Gifts!
Looking for that one-of-a-kind wedding gift? Scoping out a baby shower gift that will be a part of the family for years to come? DECAF is a wonderful opportunity to buy something unique and handmade that your friends and family will cherish (the holidays are just around the corner)!
4. Something For Everyone!
With dozens of artisans, working in many different mediums, from fine art to sculpture, to knit pieces and paint, DECAF15 truly has something for everyone to ooh and aww over! Come check out stained glass, custom portraits, photography, jewellery, children’s items, clothing, pottery and much, much more! Check out all the exhibitors here
5. Check Out One of Toronto’s Up-and-Coming Neighbourhoods!
Not from Danforth East? #DECAF15 is a fantastic opportunity to come check out an up-and-coming, lively part of Toronto that’s attracting tons of new residents and businesses every year! Make a morning or afternoon of it, and check out some of the local scenery in addition to the fair!
6. Community Supported! #DECAF15 is completely planned and run by community volunteers, and supported by DECA. Come by our booth, say hello, and let us know how we can make the 2016 event even better!
7. More Than Art!
Come for the art, and stay for the entertainment! #DECAF15 has a great selection of food vendors, children’s activities, musical performers, hula hoopers, live theatre, dancing, and even a puppet show!
____
Have we convinced you? How about a chance for some money to spend in East Lynn Park on Sept. 19-20?
CONTEST ALERT: Keep a watch out for posters advertising #DECAF15. Take a photo of the poster and tag @deca_arts on Twitter or Instagram. You could win a gift certificate to spend at the fair! The posters are on public message boards and inside retailers in Leslieville, Beaches, Danforth East and Riverdale neighbourhoods. Two prizes worth $50 each (no cash value) will be drawn at 5 p.m. ET on Wed. Sept. 16.
Spot a #DECAF15 poster, take a photo and tag it on Twitter or Instagram for a chance of win a prize!
