Gr8 Projects Aw8

Business Revitalization Team – True Brew

Ask anyone who has been part of one of our Business Revitalization Team all-in days, it’s fun and it’s a great feeling to be part of real change on the Danforth. The latest project of the BRT is True Brew – the cafe just east of Woodbine on the north side of Danforth.  The big day is this Sunday and we need to get volunteers to help paint the ceiling!!  All we need is a few hours of your time from 10 a.m. – noon. True Brew will secure the supplies and provide drinks and snacks for the volunteers.  Send a note to catherine_porter@rogers.com if you can help out.

The Rail Garden

How cool is this?  These folks are working on a community garden along the railway line.

The goal of the Rail Garden is to serve the neighbourhood surrounding Monarch Park (Danforth/Gerrard Greenwood/Coxwell) by reclaiming unused public land and returning it to full use by the community. The Rail Garden will have garden plots that neighbours can tend individually, in families, or in small groups. If you want to support them or learn more or both, they’re having a fundraising community dinner at the Riverdale Hub this Saturday night. (As an aside, the Riverdale Hub is a very cool initiative that I haven’t told you about because it’s outside our zone, but trust me, and take a look at the website.)

Kidzone After School Program Presents…Puss In Boots Movie Night

Friday, March 23rd at 7 p.m – 8:35 p.m. at the Salvation Army on Cedarvale Ave. (behind Gledhill school).

$3 per adult, $2 per child (2-12 yrs.), Children under 2 are free. Refreshments Bar (popcorn, drinks, chocolate bars, etc.)

Origami For Pirates
If your child is the type who attends book launches and hob nobs with the Literati, then they will definitely want to attend the Origami For Pirates event at Silly Goose Kids . There will be stories at 2 and 3 p.m., activities and chance to meet the authors – The Brothers Leung. It’s all happening from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 25th.
 Project Picasso 

Toronto Police Division 55 is launching an anti-graffiti project  to target graffiti in our neighbourhood. They need YOU to report graffiti zones to Officer Stephen McGran (stephen.mcgran(at)torontopolice.on.ca) and Colleen Clarke (csc(at)colleenclarke.com). They will send out a team to paint over the graffiti.   The police will approach the store owner, if it is a retail outlet, get their written permission and cover it up.

 Lock It Or Lose It

Division 55 has revitalized a program called “Lock It or Lose It.”  Break and enters of either home or car are on the rise in 55 Division.  The message is clear: put your valuables out of sight. Take your GPS out of your car at night, don’t leave CD’s in plain view in your vehicle and lock your car doors.

In your home, lock your house whether you are working in the yard, at home or going on an errand, and certainly double check your doors before going to bed. Also, take your wallet, cell phone, purse and laptop upstairs with you at bedtime. Minimally don’t leave any of these items in sight from any window or glass doors.

If your house is under renovation, check in on it often as contractors order supplies, they’re left unguarded over night and then stolen.

When you are walking or driving around your neighborhood take note of goings on around you. Don’t take coming and going activities for granted. Report anything or anyone you see that appears out of the norm on your street. Watch for people checking house and car doors, jumping fences or hangers around. If you’re unsure, call it in, 416-808-5500 south of the Danforth, or 416-808-5400 if north of the Danforth.

Turn on your porch lights. Motion or light detectors on decks, driveways and verandas deter thieves.

55 Division Town Hall

Toronto Police Service’s 55 Division in partnership with its Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) will be hosting a series of Town Hall meetings in 2012.  The focus of these meetings is to enhance communication and develop stronger partnerships between our community members and the police.  The Toronto Police Service believes the goal of a successful CPLC is to ensure that effective policing and joint crime prevention programming is delivered throughout our many neighbourhoods.  Members of 55 Division need to hear, first hand, the policing concerns of our residents and respond accordingly to improve the quality of life within our division.

55 Division is comprised of four policing zones.  Each meeting will be dedicated to a zone and intend to address issues and concerns particular to that area.

The first meeting will be specific to 55 Division – Zone 4 and will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at Community Centre 55 at 7:00 p.m.  Residents and community members of 55 Division – Zone 4 are invited  to attend this meeting.  Zone 4 is south of Danforth to the lake, Woodbine Avenue to the west, and Victoria Park Avenue to the east.

The meeting will include a brief overview of the policing issues and initiatives within 55 Division, and will focus discussions on the designated zone. There will be an opportunity for a question and answer period, and community members are encouraged to interact with members of the division and members of the CPLC.


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.

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.