The pumpkins are coming! Pumpkin Parade on Saturday evening

Keep the Halloween spirit alive by bringing your jack-o-lantern to East Lynn Park for the annual Pumpkin Parade! Every year, we have hundreds of pumpkins lining the park, and it is MAGICAL. Pro tip: you don’t need to bring a jack-o-lantern to come enjoy the artistry and handiwork of your neighbours!

Anyone who is able is invited to stick around after the parade to help us throw the pumpkins into the compost bins. It’s a great workout and a fun way to help out your community and the environment!


Final Market of the Season, Stephenson GO access, Public Board Meeting

Final Market

It’s the Thanksgiving market at East Lynn this week and it’s also the final market of the year. Don’t let this one get away! Come and pick up fresh produce for your Thanksgiving meal.

The lineup this week…
Enjoy some live music with Amy Faba while the kids decorate a pumpkin for the holiday table at the Kids’ Zone!

Community Fridges is a Toronto-based initiative created to nourish communities and neighbours. Volunteers will be around to answer any questions you have about the organization and to collect donations for the fridges. The Bike Brigade will be delivering!

Sandees, Borrel and the Spice Drawer are the popup vendors making repeat appearances for Thursday and the beer this week comes from the Fairweather Brewery.

DECA will be at the market to answer questions you might have about the community or the market, and to give out produce bags. Stop by the display table to find out how you can get involved!

Safe Access to the Danforth GO station

DECA recently learned of a petition, addressed to Councillor Bradford, with a request that the City and Metrolinx collaborate to build a direct sidewalk path from Stephenson Avenue to the Danforth GO platform, with appropriate lighting and safety measures. This path would prevent dangerous crossings, improve visibility, create barrier free access for strollers, wheelchairs, mobility aids, and bikes, as well as strengthen neighborhood connections. 
DECA supports this petition and encourages community members to view the petition here: https://www.openpetition.org/ca/petition/online/safer-access-to-danforth-go-build-a-sidewalk-path-from-stephenson-ave

Public Board Meeting

Interested in participating more in DECA this fall? Join us at our public board meeting! We will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7-9 pm, at The Teaching Space, 2205 Danforth Ave.

 

2 Markets Left — come out to enjoy fall’s bounty!

It’s now officially fall and there are only TWO market days left at East Lynn so don’t let them slip past. This week it’s all about welcoming the new season!

The lineup…
Hey, kids! It’s October and that means Thanksgiving is around the corner. Come and show off your creativity at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market; decorate a pumpkin for your Thanksgiving table. Paints will be provided.

This might be your last chance to ask a Master Gardener what to do about your plants before the snow flies. Find out what you need to plant now for some spring colour, or what to do to put your garden to bed.

South Riverdale Community Health Centre will be on site, too. The non-profit, multi-service organization provides primary healthcare, social and community outreach services with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.

Come and hear Kristin Lindell, local songwriter and singer whose music is described as ‘down-to-earth folk shimmering with jazz.’

Pollen Pants Honey and Sandees are two fabulous popup vendors while Great Lakes Brewery is the beer to take home this week.

It’s time for the DECA Arts Fair! This weekend, Saturday and Sunday!

It’s that time of year again, when we usher in Fall with the Danforth East Arts Fair, happening this Saturday, Sept 20th from 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, Sept 21st from 10 AM to 5 PM, in East Lynn Park!

The Fair builds community by bringing together over 50 local artists and artisans, live music, kids activities and tasty treats, in an annual event you don’t want to miss!

Click Here for our Artist Directory and Map to see all the amazing artists and artisans at the Arts Fair this year!

This year we will have some delicious food vendors including Albion Hills FarmBhojan GarBorrel (Sunday only), Heavenly SandwichesLink HausPomerosa, The Pop Stand, and Twisted Tornado!

We will also have kids activities over the two days of the Fair from The Make Station,  Nancy LaliconScribble Me Silly and Mischief Makers.

Special thank you to all our wonderful sponsors who help make the event possible:  the Arts MarketCreate Art Studio, Danforth East WellnessManzer Hair StudioMelissa PerettiPegasus StudiosKarina Sadu & Co.Trust Realty Group, and Wag on the Danforth!

We are also grateful for the partnership and support of City Councillor Brad Bradford’s office.

We still need some volunteers to help  with set up/tear down and during the event – please sign up here

And, if you’re able, please bring donations of perishable or nonperishable food, goods or personal care items for 

See you in the park!

Market goodness, and a Neighbourhood Retail survey

Two items on your friendly neighbourhood agenda this week!

1. The Market

There’s something about fall that makes cooking exciting again. Perhaps it’s the earthy root vegetables and mushrooms that you can do so much with. Or the new crop of apples that crunch when you bite into them. After the hot summer, when working over a hot stove felt like a penance, it’s good to get creative again in the kitchen. The East Lynn Farmers’ Market is a great place to start.

The lineup this week…
Folk/pop duo Bailey and Nell perform their harmonies at the market this week. Bailey is an emerging songwriter who is originally from Newfoundland. His songs have remained faithful to his east coast roots but now include a nod to the city.

TheSPACE, the School of Performing Arts for the Community of East York, will be in the Kids’ Zone with pipe cleaner ballerina crafts with repurposed fabric samples, and with a tutu and ballet shoes on hand for kids to try on, too. TheSPACE is a full performing arts centre with a focus on building self esteem through the performance arts.

In the community booth, Pegasus is collecting fabric donations for their upcycling projects. Pegasus Community Project provides adults with developmental disabilities meaningful activities and community engagement to facilitate growth, dignity, and choice. Woodgreen is also back. For more than 80 years, Woodgreen has offered more than 75 different programs for seniors, adults, youth and families that help improve the well-being of the community.

Popup Vendors are Scawnz, known for the Pow Wow style tacos and their blanket dogs, and Charby’s Craft Sauces, makers of award-winning hot sauces and pepper jellies. Wash down your grub with a Muddy York beer, this week’s brewer.

As always, stop by the DECA booth and pick up some produce bags or have your market and neighbourhood questions answered.

2. City Planning – proposed changes to Neighbourhood Retail

Information regarding the City Planning proposals for Neighbourhood Retail & Services was recently shared with DECA, and we want to make sure your voice is heard.
Apart from looking at Major Street options, the proposed amendments permissions and parameters for small scale retail within neighbourhoods and for home-based businesses.  A survey on these topics is open until the end of the month and there are two virtual meetings this week. The virtual meetings require registration.
See the link below for the City Planning Information on Neighbourhood Retail & Services 

https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/planning-studies-initiatives/local-neighbourhood-retail-and-services/