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Come One Come All!

If you would like to get involved in your community, meet some cool people and have some fun, this is the news for you!  Herewith a call for volunteers and some ‘what’s happening’ information on a number of fronts.

Farmers Market

One of the wonderful things about the East Lynn Farmers’ Market is that it is more than a row of vegetable stalls, it’s an event every week.  We like to have music and face painting/children’s activities every week and we like to host special events.  Our market has always been about community – a way to bring neighbours together, increase foot traffic on the Danforth and strengthen the fabric of our neighbourhood.  If you have an idea for an event or activity at the Farmers’ Market, we’d like to hear about it.  We’ve had square dancing, unicycling, music of all kinds, theatre, storytelling, paper-making, movies, food demos, corn-shucking contests.  If you would like to help organize an event, please contact Catherine at catherine_porter(at)rogers.com.  Also contact Catherine if you would like to cook for the farmers this year.  If you are able to spare a few hours on a Thursday afternoon at the DECA tent being an all around helpful person, let her know that too.

Art of the Danforth 2012

The absolutely fabulous Art of the Danforth will be back in all it’s glory in…2012!  And Cindy sent me the note below to tell you a bit about what is in the works and how you can get involved.  And let me tell you – you want to meet interesting people in your neighbourhood – this group is the place to start.

Art of the Danforth is returning in May 2012  and we have some stuff to tell you!

In short….

·         We are now accepting applications from artists to fill three curatorial roles, as well as for initial project proposals for the 2012 event.  Deadline:  May 31.  Full details at www.artofthedanforth.com or email info@eastdanforthcreative.com

·         We are recruiting volunteers, especially those interested in taking on ongoing, important roles over the next year.

·         We are holding our first community meeting on Thursday, May 12  2011, 7 pm – 8:30 pm at LucSculpture Studio & Schools, 663 Greenwood (just north of Danforth).  All are invited!  RSVP to info@eastdanforthcreative.com

And now, the juicy details….

The Event

Art of the Danforth is a large scale multi-disciplinary art event held along Danforth between Greenwood & Woodbine.  Established in 2010, the first AoD broke new ground in bringing together artists & members of the community together in creative collaboration.  The next  Art of the Danforth will be held May 1 – 31, 2012.  The goals of the AoD 2012 are to:

·         Bring community members together through the creation of art

·         Increase the sense of history and engagement in the community

·         Explore the aesthetic possibilities of urban space

·         Increase pedestrian traffic down Danforth between Donlands & Woodbine

AoD 2012 is inclusive and open to all forms of artistic practice.  Free public exhibitions of art, site specfic installations and the popular Art in Stores program will run all month long, May 1 to May 31st.  In addition, performance (music, dance, theatre) activities will be presented on the weekends.  Finally, community workshops will be held leading up to and during the festival, allowing community members to participate in the creation of visual art exhibits and performances.

AoD 2012 is public and aims to transform as much public space as possible into venue for creativity. Please see our website for a preliminary list of potential spaces:  www.artofthedanforth.com

 Curatorial Proposal Submissions

Deadline: May 31, 2011 

We are currently accepting proposals for curators to present exhibitions in one of three regions within the event boundaries. See website for zone descriptions. Curators will be requested to address one or all of the goals of the event. Preference will be given to proposals which involve local community involvement and use of existing resources. Whimsy is encouraged.  Each curator / curatorial team will be given a budget of up to $3000 (including honorarium), to commission the creation of 4 – 8 public art projects that will stay up for the duration of the month of May 2012.  Projects in all media are encouraged, with particular emphasis given to works that involve community interaction and revitalize the neighbourhood.  At least 1 project must involve the input of community members.

To apply, please complete and submit the application, available online at www.artofthedanforth.com.  For more information email info@eastdanforthcreative.com

Project Proposals – Initial Call

Deadline: May 31, 2011

Art of the Danforth is currently accepting proposals from artists and art groups for visual art exhibits or installations, performing arts and community workshops series that will result in a visual art piece or performance for exhibition, for inclusion in the Art of the Danforth 2012.   Examples of projects and available locations are available online. Both new and pre-existing work will be accepted. Preference will be given to works that either involve the community or engage public space. Approved new work may be eligible for some funding.

To apply, please complete and submit the application, available online at www.artofthedanforth.com.  For more information email info@eastdanforthcreative.com

Volunteers Needed

We also are on the hunt for dedicated volunteers to take on major roles of responsibility for the next event.  In particular, we are seeking community-oriented individuals to fill the following major event roles:

·         Interactive Coordinator: responsible for envisioning & implementing social media outreach, i.e. updating facebook, twitter & website updates (wordpress)

·         Music/performance Coordinator: to help coordinate a world music showcase in East Lynn park.

·         Social Coordinator (i.e. “the party person”): responsible for planning & organizing entertaining activities to help us build community and balance our work with fun (not that we’re not fun already, of course)

We also need volunteers to team up with our planning committee to help with:  neighborhood outreach and promotional.  If interested in any of the above, email info@eastdanforthcreative.com, visit our website, or come to our community meeting on May 12.  And speaking of….

Community Meeting Thursday May 12

Interested in Art of the Danforth 2012? Thinking of volunteering or submitting a project but want to meet the event team first ?  Come out and chat with us at our first AoD community meeting:

Date & Time: Thursday, May 12th from 7 – 8:30 pm.

Location: LucSculpture Studio & Schools, 663 Greenwood Avenue (just north of Danforth)

Business Improvement Association Fun Fair

The Danforth Mosaic BIA will be hosting a fun fair on June 11 and 12 in East Lynn Park.  There will be inflatable things and games and many other fun activities.  They’re looking for volunteers to help out with all of those activities and more.  If you would like to know more or to kindly offer your services, contact the Chair, Litsa at litsakosta(at)gmail.com.

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Park People and Our New Website!

Drum rolll…….we have a beautiful, wonderful, practical, user-friendly, fabulous new website!  Hooray!  You can see it in all it’s glory here at www.danfortheast.ca.  Thank you very very much to Jay Lilley and Angela Matich for all of their hard work.  At the new and improved website you can access this blog, become a DECA member (yes – you get all this community spirit, information and volunteer labour for a mere $10/year), read our charter, by-laws and executive terms of reference, read meeting minutes and find information about everything that we do and how you might want to get involved.

DECA’s Parks Team

As you may remember, DECA has formed a new sub committee – the Parks group.  Its first task has been to do an inventory of the recreation facilities in our community.  We hope this will be useful for two reasons: first as a resource to our members and second to determine what facilities we have, what shape they’re in and if we should be doing something to improve them.  The Parks team is in the midst of this inventory and we’ll let you know when it’s available to take a look on our website.

Park People

Speaking of parks, DECA exec member, Catherine Porter went to a city-wide meeting of a new group called Park People: Toronto Alliance For Better Parks the other week and she sent along the dispatch below.  We are linking with the Park People because let’s face it -we’re Park People too.  While there she met Helen.  Helen lives in our neighbourhood and, with her sister, writes a gardening blog called Toronto Gardens.  Currently they have a post about the closing of Reeves Nursery on the Danforth, boo.

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Park People is a new lobby group for parks in the city, run by Dave Harvey, a former advisor on the environment to Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The group is meant to both lobby for parks and act as a resource to individual community park groups.  They want to help connect, inspire and navigate the bureaucracy – both inside the city government and out. Harvey is big on public-private partnerships, following the model of Tupper Thomas, a bigwig from Brooklyn who masterminded the turn around of a big park there called Prospect Point.

Prospect Point is the size of High Park, with a forest and man-made lake, carousel and sports fields. She secured funding from the private sector to redevelop parts of the park and pay for operating costs; and she oversees 6,000 volunteers who help do everything from tree maintenance to children’s education.

The basic plan for Park People, at least for now is:

* Provide a central resource for parks groups. Compile a master list of “Friends of” groups, and things they are doing, their expertise.

* Advertise park events through a Facebook page

* Host park talks, starting early this June, that tour different parks in the city and bring local expertise there to talk about how they achieved their goals. (ie. Jutta Mason can tell groups how to get a bake oven up and running; Greenwood Park can talk about community camp fires, etc.) The local group hosts the event and showcases its park to other groups who come to hear the speaker.

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Dealicious Deal Part Two

Yesterday it was Madame Gateaux, today, Dealicious is featuring Cozy Cafe and Bakery.

Scientists have been keeping a close eye on a world wide phenomenon.  It seems when tempted with the scent of freshly baked bread, human beings are lulled into a contented stupor.  It appears as though humans of every age are affected in the same manner by such stimulus.  Researchers have begun to consider the effect of adding certain ingredients, such as cinnamon, icing, fruit and even cheeses to the bread.  So far the results have been stunning. Do your part to further this important research with today’s Dealicious deal: For $10 You Get $20 Worth Of Fresh Baked Goods and More At Cozy Cafe And Bakery.

Nestled at the southwest corner of Danforth and Woodbine lies a true European haven, recently opened and boasting some of the freshest and most wholesome European treats the neighborhood is yet to taste. The venue is run by a twosome of extremely friendly and hospitable sisters, Verica and Slavica who bring you the best in Pastries, Baklava, Danishes and Cinnamon Buns amongst the divine baked goods on the menu. Whether you need a pick me up with some freshly brewed coffee accompanied by a crispy filo pastry or your soul is craving warm comfort food like Shepherd’s Pie and Lasagna, drop by Cozy Cafe and Bakery during these cold, winter days and immerse in scrumptious and mouth watering snacks and food.

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DECA Exec Meeting Tues Jan 25th 2011

Any DECA members are welcome to come to DECA executive meetings.  I will post the information about the next meeting in April.  Here are the minutes of the last meeting.

DECA Minutes Meeting Tuesday January 25th, 2011

In attendance: Natasha Granatstein, Rachel Jolicoeur, Mary Vallis Cowan, Lorraine Cheng, Catherine Porter, Shelley Darling, Anita Schretlen, Sheri Hebdon, Steve Wickens, Sarah Kiriliuk, Peter Schmiedehen, Bryan Spratley, Kim Dolan, Cameron Gunn, Angela Matich, Cindy Rozeboom, Honey Dacanay, Tom Howell, Melanie Thompson, Michelle Silver, Melanie Ramsay and Alison McMurray

 

 

An introduction with just the DECA executive took place from 7:30-8:00pm as it was our first meeting after the election.

 

Safety committee:

Community safety walk planned

Self Defense class at Dragonz martial arts date tba

recruits needed for this committee – please contact Rachel Jolicoeur if interested

 

Farmers’ Market:

No barricades this year which frees up time and energy for more planning with festivals

1 volunteer per festival, easier to plan

Volunteers needed to help at the DECA table at the market – 2 hour shifts

see Alison McMurray or Cath Porter

 

Business Revitalization:

Cozy Café in need of help in order to keep them operating

Marketing plan and lighting key points

upcoming facelifts:  Royal Beef

Catherine Porter would love to hear of any other hidden gems that could be put on the list

 

Arts Fair:

In it’s 3rd year, dates for 2011 – Sept 17-18th in East Lynn Park

volunteers needed see Mary Vallis Cowan

Especially want to have food this year either outsourced or as a fundraiser

Meeting at Mary’s house Feb 26 to help plan

 

BIA:

There is a new board and chair at the Danforth Mosaic BIA

DECA was not involved in the election process of the new board

Sarah K. was the liaison but has stepped down, Steve Wickens is interested in sitting in on meetings as an observer

The new chair will meet with Natasha and Steve and Sheri after the BIA meeting Jan 31st

 

Governance:

The terms of reference document needs to be updated

Sheri H. will email this out and invite comments

Want to clarify what is expected of members

Only DECA members can come to DECA meetings

 

Toronto East General Hospital:

DECA has been asked to give feedback on the renovation proposal for TEGH

many of the areas of the hospital are inefficient

DECA was asked to provide a letter of support for the renovation.  It did and it mentioned the importance of a new hospital to our community as well as suggesting ways that  TEGH could keep elements of historical importance such as the lobby in the design of the new hospital, including a multi-media archive that would be accessible to residents and honour those that have helped build the hospital through their generosity

Steve W. has also written a letter outlining the various elements of historical importance and has set up a date for DECA to tour the hospital

 

Website:

Angela M. has the website finished it just needs to be approved

There will be a paypal link and Peter will send her the membership form to be included

The pamphlet is also done but we need a printer to do the job

 

There is no Greening Committee, if someone is interested, please contact Natasha

 

Monarch Park

Steve W. would like to see improvements to Monarch Park especially the ice rink

He has met with Jutta Mason of Dufferin Grove to get ideas on how to make the rink more accessible to residents and more of a community space

He suggested a parks and rec committee to do an inventory of the spaces in the DECA area  – Steve, Cath, Sarah, Honey, Angela, Alison, Cameron, Cindy, Anita

Cindy R. will help by adding cultural arts spaces to that inventory

Future plan to map this on the DECA website

Cameron G. expressed an interest in getting a fire pit going in East Lynn park and/or Monarch park – committee will investigate further

Sarah K. noted that a renovation to Monarch Park would be a catalyst for the residents there who have not heard of DECA

A rink committee for Monarch park was also formed consisting of Steve, Catherine, and Sarah

the quality of the ice is not good (bare concrete) and it is underutilized there are also issues with ice time

 

Mural

BIA money is needed to get the project get done as the city is more apt to do business if a BIA is behind it

proposed mural on south side of Danforth – Toronto Honda wall

2012 –Art of Danforth would like to include a mural in the event

 

Reskilling

Melanie T. is taking over the committee, info to come

 

 

 

TTC bus barn update:

Brian S. updated us that with a new mayor and new councilor and Build Toronto involved there may be some movement on this site

DECA to be involved in the planning process to see the space become a jewel in the hood

 

East Danforth Creative Collective:

Cindy R. updated us that the group is now non-profit so they can apply for grants and fundraise for future projects

It is a loose artistic collective and Natasha is on the board

Planning stages – Global Danforth music festival with music, dance and visual arts drawing on some of the communities that live in the hood

Cath P recommended that we have a showcase of that at the Farmers market

 

meeting adjourned:  9:32pm

 

 

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Skating Party – FEBRUARY 13th

Geesh – who writes this stuff?

Skating Party – Sunday, February 13th

The Earl Beatty Community Centre Advisory Council is hosting its annual skating party this Sunday.  It’s at Monarch Park outdoor skating rink from 2-4 p.m.  There will be music, games, crazy scarf contest, prizes, free hot chocolate, coffee, tea and multitude of peanut-free baked goods.  Bring your own mug to help greenify the event  All are welcome.  Children under six must wear a CSA-approved helmet.  For more info, please contact Cindy Horton at the community centre at 416-392-0199.