Cabbagetown South
September 2009 Newsletter
Safe Injection Site in our Community? The City of Toronto is thinking of having a Safe Injection Site in Toronto. Drug users will bring their drugs, which they will continue to buy from the street dealers, and inject them on the Site. The Police will not be permitted to stop them, or move them along. We believe the City will be looking at our neighbourhood, Ward 28, as a location for this site. For more information see www.cabbagetownsouth.ca In the Discussion Forum section of the website, you will find a letter from the President of Cabbagetown South, along with links to several recent articles that have appeared in the media recently. The Discussion Forum can be read by members of the general public. To post a comment, however, you must be a member. Make your voice heard on this important issue.
Community Meetings - All are welcome to our meetings, the second Wednesday of each month. Bring your concerns, ideas, and energy, or just come to get to know your neighbours - 7:00pm at the Ontario Bistro on the south side of Dundas at Ontario Street. Next meeting dates: October 14, November 11, December 9.
What we’ve done so far this year… In April - a Candlelight Historic Walk to celebrate Earth Hour. In May we went to the dogs with ‘Paws in the Parkette’ (more info below) In June - 'Project Chirp'. This was an evening at Ben Wicks restaurant that featured a wildlife habitat specialist with lots of information on designing gardens to attract songbirds. The Community Yard Sale took place in July thanks to volunteer organizer Sheena Hicks. August - our annual Garden Walk. Participants enjoyed a half-a-dozen gardens and ‘fore and after’ drinks. In between all these events we also sponsored the Community Clean up.
And what we've planned for the future…
•Þ Art Tour ‘Cabbagetown Art Salons’ – 6:30 to 12 midnight on Saturday, September 26th. $40 includes moveable feast + unique art + live jazz performance. Limit 50 tickets. Purchase tickets on the web or from: Susan at Dineen.susan@gmail.com or Patricia at 416.921.8286
•Þ Pumpkin Parade! – Get Creative! Carve a pumpkin! To reserve a pumpkin contact Dineen.susan@gmail.com Put your pumpkin lantern on your front step on October 30th between 7:30 and 9:J0 pm. Join our Spooky Hallowe’en historic walk and enjoy the Parade of Pumpkins! See website for more information. (Pumpkins have been donated.)
•Þ Christmas Cheer - December 9, 7pm – Ontario Bistro - $10/person. Cash bar.
•Þ Lighting of the Seasonal Tree – December 16th 6:30 PM in Ontario Parkette
Your Historic House - Cabbagetown South is one of Toronto’s oldest neighborhoods with some houses dating to before Confederation. To research the history of your house visit the City Archives on Spadina Road for building records, tax rolls, maps, etc. For more information, see http://www.toronto.ca/archives.
Graffiti – We're working hard to make this a ‘No Graffiti Zone’! In May we did a photo inventory of all graffiti in the area. In June we worked with local police and school children to remove graffiti from several local properties. Based on our photo inventory of worst offenders we delivered letters to 10 properties asking the property owner/manager to remove the graffiti. Some of the owners/managers have complied. Those that did not will be reported to the City Bylaw Officer. This will be an ongoing project for us. For updates on how we're doing, check out our website (click on Cabbagetown South Initiatives in our website).
HELP US MAKE CABBAGETOWN SOUTH A NO-GRAFFITI ZONE! REMOVE GRAFFITI IMMEDIATELY FROM YOUR PROPERTY!
All Saints – We persuaded The Friendship Centre to move the garbage bins from the sidewalk at Dundas/Sherbourne. All Saints has agreed to build a refuse area off Sherbourne to store rubbish and recyclables from the Church, the Friendship Centre, and the attached residential building. Volunteers from Cabbagetown South and XL Insurance helped to clean, plant and prune the gardens along Dundas by the church. For before and after pictures, click on Cabbagetown South Initiatives on our website.
Garbage – You don’t need to keep those unsightly bins that are too big to store in our small front yards. The City has agreed our neighborhood may use plastic bags. Call (416 392-BINS) to arrange for a pick up of the bin and the ability to use plastic.
Dumping – Report illegal dumping by emailing the Solid Waste Team at mlswaste@toronto.ca, or call the hotline at 416 392-0863.
Website – We have a great new website! Visit us at www.cabbagetownsouth.ca. Give your business some community exposure by advertising on the new website: business card ads cost $35 per year. Details are on the web site. No political advertising please.
Ontario Parkette –Our May event - Paws in the Parkettte - brought families and dog owners into the park in order to draw attention to the sad condition of the only public green space in the Cabbagetown South area! As a follow-up, we met with Parks and Recreation and Pam McConnell's office to discuss a facelift for the area. Several city orders were issued for work including changes to the seating, rehabilitation of the play area, and tree pruning. We are working with the City now to bring in vegetation that will attract songbirds and butterflies.
Membership Cabbagetown South is the residents’ association for the area bounded by Carlton, Shuter, Sherbourne and Parliament Streets. $10 per person per year.
Name(s):________________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________ Postal Code_______________
Telephone:____________________________ email: _________________________
Bring cash or cheque payable to Cabbagetown South Association to any meeting, or pay online securely with PayPal. To join online, go to our website and click on 'Member application'
Who to Call:
Councillor Pam McConnell undefined 416-392-7916 (councilor_mcconnell@toronto.ca)
MP Bob Rae - 416-954-2222 (Rae.B@parl.gc.ca)
MPP George Smitherman undefined 416-972-7683(gsmitherman.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org)
Police - Emergencies undefined 911
Police Non-emergencies 416-808-2222 (drugs, prostitution, etc.)
Find us at: http://www.cabbagetownsouth.ca OR info@cabbagetownsouth.ca
