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Getting Around The Neighbourhood

Making paper at the East Lynn Farmers' Market

Yes there is a farmers’ market this Thursday (Canada Day).  It’s the Strawberry Social special event.  There will be delectable strawberry treats courtesy of  Celena’s Bakery (thank you Celena’s!)  You can do the East York Canada Day Parade in the morning and then make your way to the market in the afternoon. Can’t think of a better way to celebrate your country and your community.

Woodbine Subway Station

In 2011, the TTC is making the Woodbine subway station more accessible by building a second exit and putting in two elevators.  You are invited to attend an open house information session to see the design and learn more about the project and the construction.  The open house is at the Coxwell Public Library  (at Danforth) on Tuesday, June 29th from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

If you can’t make it to the open house, you can contact the TTC at Woodbine.Station@ttc.ca or 416-393-4001

the 3/50 project

Thanks to Mary-Margaret McMahon for pointing us to this (American) website about ‘saving the brick and mortar our nation is built on.’  It asks the question, ‘what three independently-owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?’  It encourages you to shop local with some very interesting statistics.

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This Week At The Market

Market Bucks

What is the absolutely perfect teacher’s gift – one that they will surely appreciate and one that gives twice?  East Lynn Farmers’ Market Bucks are available at the DECA tent.  Get yours this week!

Papermaking

This week at 4:30 p.m. at the East Lynn Market, join Jenny Marston for paper-making.  Kids will learn how paper is made and will get to make their own paper designs.  Look for Jenny in the face-painting tent.

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Hello Summer

Merrill Bridge Road Park is now officially an off-leash dog park.  It took the group of dog-owners there two years to get the park redesigned.  Now there is somewhere close to East Lynn Park where people can take their dogs and not bother the kids.  Molson, above, is delighted.

Strawberry Canning

We started these ‘re-skilling’ sessions last year to take advantage of the local produce at our door step.  They were so successful we’re bringing them back this year.  First up?  Strawberries.  Learn how to bottle up that sweet taste of early summer and enjoy it all year long with Emerie from Bernadin at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23rd at the Danforth Mennonite Church at 2174 Danforth Ave. A donation of $5 is suggested.  RSVP to Mary-Margaret McMahon at spargy@rogers.com or at the DECA tent at the East Lynn Market.

Last Day Music Festival

Done With Dolls

Come celebrate the last day of school with some cool music, pizza and pop.  This Friday is the Last Day Music Festival at St. Brigid’s school yard.  This is a serious rock and roll show featuring the under 20 set.  It’s from 7 – 9:30 p.m. and a suggested donation of $5 gets you a slice of pizza and a drink.  If you take your kids, they just might think you’re cool.

Mosaic Does Jazz

The Danforth Mosaic BIA will once again be bringing some of Canada’s top jazz ensembles to the Coxwell Parkette every Wednesday from 6 – 9 p.m.  It starts July 7th with the Russ Little Trio.

Community Rise Up Basketball Tournament and BBQ

Speaking of the parkette this Saturday the Coxwell Parkette will be transformed into a basketball court.  There will be a live DJ and other performances as well as raffles and giveaways.  There will be adults and kids’ teams (though the deadline to enter a team has passed).  Fore more info, call 647-688-1627 or 647-444-7685.

Kiwanis Outdoor Pool

The re-opening of the pool at Stan Wadlow park is this Saturday beginning at noon.  There will be a leisure swim, family activities and a ribbon-cutting.  The pool has a new heating and filtration system, a new splash pad, accessibility enhancements and renovated change rooms including a family change room.  It’s at 373 Cedarvale.

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Farmers’ Market This Week and Next

This week’s market was simply delightful.  Thanks to Vera and Slavcia from the Cozy Cafe and Bakery (Woodbine and Danforth) for providing complementary, delicious hot cinnamon buns and marscapone cheese blintzes.  If you haven’t yet been to the bakery and cafe at 2075 Danforth, you really should drop in.  You will not be disappointed.

Next Week

Beginning next week, you can buy organic sausage on a bun.  Back by popular demand, Simply by Amanda soap-maker.  Also the 32 Spokes Cyclist Parade and  pilates in the park!

We still need volunteers to help set up and take down the tents at the market.  If you can offer half an hour either before or after the market, we could really really use some extra hands.  Let Shelley know at shelleydarling@yahoo.ca

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Wednesday Update

This week at the market…

In addition to the tasty delights of farm fresh meat, produce and honey (as if that weren’t enough)…

  • Sell out sale – we’re selling off the last of the Klean Kanteens from $5 – $10 and the Simply in Season cookbook $15.
  • Soap-making by Simply By Amanda – local artisan and soap-maker.

Tree Trauma

Speaking of East Lynn Park, you may have noticed that a couple of trees in the park were damaged this winter.  Two Ash trees were vandalized and burned  by people who set the sledding-safety haystacks on fire.  One of those trees is going to be removed and the other will be pruned.  It’s too bad to lose a big beautiful tree in our local park and serves as a reminder that we should all be vigilant about calling the police when we see people in the park doing naughty things.

Tree Tour

Speaking of trees, 13 folks joined in on the LEAF tree tour last week – taking notes and photos and learning more about the trees in our neighbourhood.  A few of them signed up to join DECA Woods – the team of DECA members who are working with U of T to survey our neighbourhood tree canopy and determine how best to keep it strong and healthy.  Want to know more?  Contact Mary-Margaret at spargy@rogers.com

DECA Bikes

Along with some of our DECA Bikers, Gledhill Public School is organizing a bike rally for its students on June 16th and 17th.  Students will take part in a ‘fun-packed’ morning of bike safety and maneuvering exercises as well as signalling, stopping, turning and other safe-biking skills.  Why am I telling you this?  Because if you would like to arrange such a bike rally at your school, DECA Bikes would like to help.

Contact Jamie at jamiethiers@gmail.com, Mary-Margaret at spargy@rogers.com or talk to them at the DECA Bikes booth at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market.  Don’t forget to bring your bike to the market for tune-up help and any matter of biking advice. (Oh and Mary-Margaret wants you to know that you can now get CAA service for your bike.)

DECA Bikes works with a few other east-end bike groups to advocate for biking and tonight (June 9th) that group of East End Cyclists is meeting at the East York Civic Centre at 7 p.m.   Want to know more or get involved?  Go forth to East York Civic Centre and prosper.

Earl Haig Family Resource Centre – Best Ever Garage Sale

This Saturday (June 12th) you’ll want to make your way to the GEHA (Greater Earl Haig Area) for the garage sales supporting the Family Resource Centre at Earl Haig School.

The centre is a drop-in for all families with young children and is a great place for parents and caregivers to go with young children to sing, do activities, visit with other adults and play.  Families on neighbouring streets are raising money to keep the centre open for another year.

The garage sales on Currie, Earl Haig Ave and Hillingdon will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by a kids’ bike parade at noon.  For more, contact Natlie at nhc@sfu.ca

Sports For Kids

First – I notice that Goodlife Fitness is offering free summer memberships for teens 14-17 for July and August during the day.  There is a Goodlife at Coxwell and Gerrard.  There is bike parking inside the club and a bus stop outside the front doors.

Second – If you miss out on the registration (tomorrow) for the City of Toronto summer programs, there is always Jack of Sports – now offering swim and summer camp programs at Monarch Park indoor pool.

Last Day Music Fest

Save the date – Friday, June 25th is the Last Day Music Festival.  This, rock and roll show will take place in the St. Brigid’s school yard (Glebeholme and Woodmount) from 7 – 10 p.m.  And get this?  The bands are seriously good bands – all made up of kids.  Want to see some great music performed by some young people with talent?  The whole thing will be hosted by 102 The Edge’s – Darrin.  Funds raised will go to support outreach projects at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church.

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Arts In The Neighbourhood

The FINAL deadline to apply for the Danforth East Arts Fair is Tuesday, June 15th. There are already a lot of great artists who have applied for this year’s fair so it looks like it will be even better than last year.  The application and fee ($175) must be submitted by June 15th.  For more information, contact deca.arts@gmail.com

Three Wishes Storytelling Festival – June 11th and 12th join Aubrey Davis, Deborah Dunleavy and Ruth Danzinger for stories, lively poems, chants and music for children and families.  There is one concert on Friday and three workshops and concerts and Saturday at Pegasus Studios (361 Glebeholme Blvd. 3 blocks north of Danforth, east of Coxwell).  Costs range from $5/person to $30/family depending on which event you attend.  For more info call 416-699-2608 or visit www.storytellersforchildren.ca

Danforth Mosaic BIA Family Fun Fest

Join your local Business Improvement Association on Saturday, June 12th at East Lynn Park for the Family Fun Fest.  There will be face painting, beading, boomerang decorating, clay sculpture, bouncy castles, Razzamatazz, clowns, african drumming and more.