Littlefish opens at 10am this weekend

Locomotive coffee bake and sandwich cafe... open Sat the blog is told

 



 

CPR maintenance of way train in west Toronto yard north of Junction

CPR

Another Urban farming idea

A person by the name of Steve Turner, owner of Wangara Horticultural Supplies has invented these film grade poly very strong planter bags with handles, it seems primarily for tree farmers. yet they seem like a great idea for urban framing in backyards or condo balconies. Growing in some small yards in west Toronto yardsis daunting when attempting to plot out some space to grow, and have enough space to use the yard for child play, eating and entertaining.

These bags would allow the movement of plantings of veg and herbs around as needed.

These bags are from Australia and I do not think they are available in Canada, but they do not look difficult to cut and sew up.





Link to manufacture web site

Design helps with urban farming

As Toronto inches its way to an acceptance to urban farming. This author began to think about the different needs of urban farmers, such the ability to not annoy your neighbors with smells, noises, general sundry issues such as disposing of waste, bringing in food, for animals such as chickens.

And then I came across this a wonderful chicken and egg design, it would likely even be great on a condo balcony.




The nogg chicken coop is a modern chicken house that has been designed in the shape of an egg. It has been designed to house from 2-4 chickens and is to encourage domestic farming while adding a touch of playful elegance. The nogg sits beautifully in any garden, urban or rural environment and is designed to enhance and compliment it’s surroundings. The nogg aids and advocates the provenance of homegrown foods.

http://www.nogg.co

Volunteers for 2011 Junction Arts Festival



 



 

The Junction Arts Festival is looking for enthusiastic and friendly individuals to volunteer their time to help make this year’s festival a great success.  Volunteers need to be able to commit to at least one 5 hour shift during the weekend of September 10 -11, 2011.  Volunteers are an integral part of the festival and we must be able to rely on your commitment.  If you would like to be a part of event please download the PDF below and fillit out  then e-mail this application to info@junctionartsfest.com

Everyone can contribute their time, skills and knowledge through volunteeing, and their combined efforts can be a significant force for achieving  this years goal of making the festival a community owed event.

 

□       Set up and take down              □       Clean-up crew      □       Information Guides

□       Runners                                   □       Technical support          □       Face Painting

□       Facilitators of Kid Activities   □       Stage Crew                    □       Entertainment Assistance

□        if you have a particular interest in Volunteering  for particular just let us know

Link to  volunteer application  PDF

 

 

Park meeting plans park showing Wed July 6th Vine Parkette

 

between

6:30 and 8pm on Wednesday July 6th Vine Parkette

e parks manager,

Little Fish Opens at 9:00 am Sundays now

 

 

Little fish Opens at 9:00 am Sundays now, 3080 Dundas St W

Hopefully this note reminds this author of the time  so i don't have to call them every weekend

 

 

Junction Arts Festival 2011, in its traditional footprint as usual now as a community organized event

hey everyone,

Just to let everyone know the Junction Arts Festival 2011, in its traditional footprint as usual now as a community organized event is happening.

Everyone is welcome to have input,  help plan or simply email a suggestion in.    info@junctionartsfest.com

2011 greater Junction (Toronto) Arts Festival September 5 th to 14th

Whats different this year?  The festival is not affiliated with the local  BIA nor is the BIA a sponsor of the festival this year.

And it addition to the traditional footprint we will have satellite sites throughout the greater Junction area - in the Upper Junction, Junction Triangle, and other places around the Junction.

Why? for two reasons... it called the Junction Arts Festival.. so it's now all areas Junction.

Also so we can bang things into the ground and tie down larger works, a big problem for years as the city does not allow for the harming of the roadway.

The off-road locations will also allow artist over two weeks to build their works.

from the festival site.

New model artist model general details .

1. The festival will accept applications for 10  large sculptures, paintings, photographs works and offer 1000.00  to each artist, and the obtaining of materials and sundry issues such as materials transport, insurance etc.

1.b  large (ie we want them to bigger than a car, in any axis, on any plain, using square meters up to 750.

Until we get the complete info up you can email submissions up to info@junctionartsfest.com

 

2011 greater Junction (Toronto) Arts Festival September 5 th to 14th

• Home our home page


• Contact us

Go walkabout in the greater Junction

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vine Parkette Baseball diamond backdrop pull down video

Many thanks to a blog reader who sent in this video he took of the Vine Parkette Baseball diamond backdrop pull down.

This pull down is the start of reworking of the parkette in the old diamonds area of the park, read the related posts here.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMKfM0RcMDA

Baby Point Business Improvement Area to restore historic stone gates at the Jane and Annette streets intersection

wonderful..

The new Baby Point Business Improvement Area has moved into action quick. Formed just last year they have taken on a much needed restoration of the  historic stone gates at the Jane St. and Annette St.  intersection. For many years the wonderful gates sat lost. Yet they always were so beautiful they could  pull an awe inspiring glance when walking by or a catch of eye when driving by.



Further details are also available in a story published by the Villager:

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/1027480--bia-to-restore-baby-point-gates

Design Workshop for the “Sorauren Square” Wednesday, June 29, starting at 6:30 p.m.

 

Help take Sorauren Park to the “next level”...

Design Workshop for the “Sorauren Square”

Wednesday, June 29, starting at 6:30 p.m.


Food and drinks provided


Help plan — and name — the new “Sorauren Square” proposed for the “dead zone” of derelict land between the Sorauren Fieldhouse and the old linseed oil factory.

At this public design workshop, we’ll look at town squares in other cities and countries, review the existing Sorauren Master Plan concepts, and get drawing!

Sorauren Square is envisioned as a place for markets, festivals, concerts, shows, events and meeting neighbours on warm summer evenings.

If you like to draw and dream, or have ideas for this new public space, please come to our Design Workshop. RSVP to dbennet@sympatico.ca so we can plan our numbers.

“Sorauren Square” Design Workshop

Wednesday, June 29

6:30 p.m. at the Sorauren Fieldhouse


50 Wabash Avenue


Light dinner and refreshments provided

Sponsored by the Wabash Building Society

http://www.soraurenpark.com

 

Back from the DNS attack at our hosting firm

just restarting the plugins etc and new posts thursday

Peggy Nash for a Canada Day BBQ in High Park from 12-2 on Friday July 1st

...from the Parkdale High-Park Member of Parliaments office

Join Parkdale High-Park Member of Parliament Peggy Nash for a Canada Day
BBQ in High Park from 12-2 on Friday July 1st.

There will be performances, community information tables and activities for all ages.
We will be located in the north end of the park, in Picnic Area 1 near the
Bloor Street entrance, close to High Park subway.

 




 

10:32pm Councillor Sarah Doucette requests public meeting with residents and park staff to view park plans

 

Vine Parkette Playground equipment public meeting coming up

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="attend the meeting have, have some input, have some fun "][/caption]

Councillor Sarah Doucette has just twittered  about a public meeting to review the park play equipment plans.

The blog will post the date when it gets the info

 

addition post outlining the issue with some good comments click here

[caption id="attachment_7958" align="aligncenter" width="444" caption="A photo from the last changeover to the current toddler equip, local residents spread the chips."][/caption]

Community contributions recognized inside Toronto article link

and some outtakes

full article here ERIN HATFIELD reporter for insidetoronto

• |


• Jun 20, 2011 - 8:04 AM

Ten community volunteers and five new businesses were recognized recently by Member of the Provincial Parliament for Parkdale-High Park Cheri DiNovo.

DiNovo recognized the honourees for their contributions in making the riding of Parkdale-High Park a better place, she said.

Volunteers honoured included: John Bowker, the owner of She Said Boom, on Roncesvalles Avenue, and a driving force behind the Roncesvalles Renewed project, and Tony Cauch, from the Roncesvalles Business Improvement Area, and a member of the board at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Also honoured at the ceremony was: Linda Clement and Martin Lennox from the Junction BIA; Gyongi Hamori, a volunteer in the Roma community; Garry and Sandra Melville, from the Warren Park Rate Payers Association; Tamira Sawatzky, a tenant advocate for Minto residents; Joanna Shepherd Zuk, the founder and co-leader of the Toronto West - Jane chapter of La Leche League Canada; Steve McNally, from the Bloor West Residents Association, who spearheaded the campaign for Annette Street Bike lane; and Gib Goodfellow, of the West Toronto Junction Historical Society.




 

Vine parkette Baseball diamond hits the dust today

well right now at 11:49am

 

 

But whats to replace it their seemingly is a lot of conversation over the current plans to place a new Jr play equipment centre in the area near where the the coming down baseball diamond is but little interest in getting involved as to what is going to be done.

Is the parkette to lose it wonderful green space?

 

Update 1:21 pm June 20th

A very good comment by reader John has been posted in the comments section of this post outlining the emails between the councilors office and himself, Click here to go to his comment.

Update 2 about the same time.

This author also wrote an email to the  councilor about the situation, asking for a public meeting about what can be done not what is being done.

The councilors office is correct there was public opinion fed into the process though an in park meeting - yet even then there was concern about the second phase.

But no matter that public forum was held coming up on over 4 years ago, times change in the Junction ..so so much since then...

is it all to hard to have another look before something is placed there for the next 20 years?

 

[caption id="attachment_7944" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The trucks the men"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_7945" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Pulling the concrete"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_7946" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="the foundations "][/caption]

Nice to see the drums lined up....

 

 

 

 

Universal Drum Reconditioning Company. 110 Glen Scarlett Rd. Toronto, ON M6N 1P4

 

Project Neutral Launch Saturday, June 18th 10 am - 11:15 am. in the Community Room, Annette Public Library, 145 Annette St.

[caption id="attachment_7931" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Click on photo to go to the site."][/caption]

 

The Junction has been selected as a pilot neighbourhood.
Please join us for the official launch of Project Neutral in the Junction.

Green 13 is partnering with Project Neutral and their objective is to create the first urban carbon neutral neighbourhood in Canada.

 

Bikeway Network - 2011 Update 1st consideration June 23 2011

 

This item will be considered by Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on June 23, 2011. It will be considered by City Council on July 12, 2011, subject to the actions of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.

The Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that:

 

1.         City Council endorse the direction and implementation of the Mayor's Bike Plan comprising a 100 km network of off-street bike trails and completion of critical on-street bike lane connections where the community supports them....

and where they do not impede traffic flow.

 

two areas where  they are in consideration in the greater wards 11,12,13,14 and greater Junction are...

 

3.         City Council approve modifications to the bicycle lanes on Dupont Street at the approach to the intersection with Lansdowne Avenue, to move the beginning of bicycle lanes from a point 30 metres east of Lansdowne Avenue to a point 70 metres west of Lansdowne Avenue.

 

4.         City Council provide direction regarding the installation of approved bicycle lanes on Bloor Street West, from Mill Road to Beamish Drive.

full report PDF link Bikeway Network - 2011 Update.pdf

 

Background Information

(June 9, 2011) Report and Appendices 1 to 7 from the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, on Bikeway Network - 2011 Update (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-38906.pdf)

Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council via Sarah Doucette @DoucetteWard13

 

 

American retailer Target adds The Junction to its lineup

 

Well the Junction gets a Target - a store that can cause  more than a few of the Junction people to drive to Buffalo to shop.

This author is wondering just what effect this will have on the store-scape  in the area, will it ring up customers from the local Walmart, Futureshop and the other big box stores in the area?

 

Will it create a greater retail diverse store class on the local Dundas St. West strip?

One area it will definitively have development effect on in the reworking of 43 Junction Road.

 

Toronto location – at a site being developed by Riocan Real Estate Investment Trust at the corner of Weston and St. Clair– was announced at the real estate company’s annual general meeting Wednesday.

....other interesting stories about this development.

 

Why Target's Canada Move Matters link

Sizing up which REITs will win from Target’s advance

 

Toronto Star Article - first urban carbon neutral neighbourhood

The Junction’s launch is the June18th at Annette Public Library, 145 Annette St., at 10 a.m.

Riverdale, Junction vie to become world’s first urban carbon neutral neighbourhood

David RiderUrban Affairs Bureau Chief - article link

If this was a reality show—The Biggest Carbon Loser, say — The Junction and Riverdale would be scheming against each other to claim neighbourhood supremacy.

Instead, they are trying, separately but ultimately together, to become the first carbon neutral urban communities on earth — green beacons in the struggle to prevent a global warming catastrophe.

It’s heady stuff — but first both communities must organize free trade coffee and other details for their Project Neutral launches next Saturday.

“We could get 40 people or we could get 200 and neither would surprise me,” says Sean Drygas, a leader of the east-end effort involving homes and businesses bounded by The Danforth and Pape, Logan and Langley Aves.

Rita Bijons has high hopes for the west, bounded by Annette St., Clendenan Ave., Runnymede Rd. and the CPR tracks, because her arrival on doorsteps with launch invitations already has residents thinking.

“Some are saying ‘My kids are terrible, they never turn off lights.’”

Project Neutral is the brainchild of Karen Nasmith, an urban planner who wants to broaden thegreenhouse gas focus from new green communities to drafty old houses and the lifestyles of those in them.

Research done by Nasmith and Project Neutral co-founder Julie Dzerowicz turned up rural communities — including Ashton Hayes, England, and Eden Mills, Ont. — trying to reduce their measurable carbon dioxide output to the level they absorb or offset. But there are no urban neighbourhoods, not anywhere.

“The irony is that most of us live in the mature neighbourhoods where the built environment represents at least 25 per cent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions,” Nasmith says. “So there’s huge potential.”

Project Neutral was launched with $10,400 from Toronto’s Live Green program. Fifteen neighbourhoods formally applied and the two were chosen.

After the launch, teams of 10 to 15 will survey homes and businesses to develop a baseline of emissions, develop a carbon footprint and identify reduction opportunities. In the fall they’ll have summits with experts offering strategies and solutions.

Then comes the next phase — an emissions reduction plan, with private and public sector partners, and implementation and the tracking of results.

The Riverdale team is comprised of a few groups that Nasmith suggested band together. Drygas, an executive with Maple Leaf Foods, says he’s eager to learn.

“We’re only talking about getting so that our emissions are stable, not reducing them. We have to do even better than neutral as a global civilization,” he says. “Anything the community sets its mind to is possible. I have enough faith in humanity that, when push comes to shove, civilization will step up.”

He envisions solar panels on slopes along the Don Valley Parkway, group shares in a wind turbine and maybe collective use of an electric or hybrid car from one of the auto share services.

The Junction group has an organizational head start because it is rooted in Green 13, a grassroots environmental group in Ward 13.

“Many of us have in our own homes made behaviour changes, or retrofitted, so a chance to come together as a community is a very hopeful thing, a very exciting thing,” says Bijons, a retired kindergarten teacher.

“I’m grabbed at my heart by climate change. I feel a fierce need to advocate for all those young lives I was privileged to be in touch with all those years.”

On a café patio, she and volunteer Japjeev (Jap) Bhasin rhyme off ideas ranging from caulking windows to homeowner loans that can be repaid with savings from reduced energy bills. Galvanizing neighbourhoods of roughly 1,000 households is expected to make going green more affordable through bulk purchasing.

The 350 citizens of Eden Mills near Guelph managed to shrink their overall carbon footprint by more than 13 per cent in three years, says resident Charles Simon. Half is from planting 30,000 trees, which absorb carbon dioxide, and half from conservation and green energy sources.

Mass tree-planting will be tough in Toronto, he says, but Eden Mills has no public transportation, while city living offers many alternatives to fume-spewing cars.

Simon is telling the Toronto teams to keep control in the hands of volunteers and, most importantly, keep it fun.

“It’s how you keep the enthusiasm up. We have meals together, and concerts, and they become fundraisers. And no finger pointing or preaching. That doesn’t help anybody.”

The Riverdale effort launches June 18 at Frankland Community Centre, 816 Logan Ave., at noon. The Junction’s launch is the same day at Annette Public Library, 145 Annette St., at 10 a.m.

The Star will periodically track the progress of both neighbourhoods

 

Huge fire on Mc Murray thankfully no one was hurt

Some the homes residents are on the Junctioneers veranda now.

Sad one of nicest multiple resident buildings in the area

Wish them all a quick return.


-




iphnm

Upper Junction community notice in parkette

A wonderful idea, a community notice board in local parkette just north of St Clair West on the west side of Weston Rd.

Wow wee! Junction Farm Fest site up -mark the date July 23, 2011

[caption id="attachment_7867" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Click on image to open their site"][/caption]

 

 

yes I am a bit giddy about this, I grew up in The Junction with cows walking down Dundas St West, an the ability to walk up to the stockyards and pet cow, pigs and goats. 

This is one great real Canadian project.

Junction's 1st Annual Farm Fest Where city meets farm July 23, 11-5

Junction's 1st Annual Farm Fest
Where city meets farm

A children’s educational event that focuses on local, sustainable agricultural production.
Learn about food production by interacting with local Ontario farmers.
Featuring an organic dairy cow, goats, hands on activities about wool spinning, pollination and more! 

WHEN: July 23, 11-5
WHERE: Toronto Police Service, 11 Division (209 Mavety St) & Junction Train Platform (2954 Dundas St W)

the groups email address junctionfarmfest@gmail.com.

Liberty Village June 5th 2011

Junction's 1st Annual Farm Fest. Coming to Toronto this summer!

 

[caption id="attachment_7846" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Junction Farm Fest on twitter"][/caption]

 

This author really likes this idea, twitter address http://twitter.com/#!/farmfestTO

Baby Point Gates BIA announcement coming this week.

just a lovely lovely logo eh!



 

BABY POINT GATES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA a (BIA)

TO UNVEIL MAJOR COMMUNITY PROJECT this Wednesaday, the blog will attend and provide reportage right after, well live from the event.

This is a new BIA just formed last year, with what seems an ambitions project going forth.

 

 

 

By the subway

Ever eat out - just too much - well this blog author does.

While me and my family more than regularly attend the local Junction restaurants, there quite a few wonderful places to try just out of the Junction and around the corner... Say the intersection of Annette St. And Runnymede Ave.

Yet pictured here is delightfully colorful place just beside the Dundas St. west subway. That's all to easy to miss.

 

 

- iph

 

TOTSTOCK Sunday June 19th, from 2-5pm, Sorauren Park YEA!

 

On Sunday June 19th, from 2-5pm, Sorauren Park, will be filled with the sounds, stories, food, games, and community-minded revelry of the third annual Totstock!

Last year’s Totstock! drew a crowd of about 3000 people. Given the high profile acts on this year’s bill, we expect an even larger audience this time around.

Sounds

Brent Bambury of CBC Radio will host a lineup on the Little Paper Main Stage that celebrates the variety of our city’s music scene: from indie-pop darlings, Hooded Fang, 11 year old Russell Rae Wellner, zany jazzers,Rambunctious, and under-aged rockers Eleven Toes, to the velvet tones ofOldies 990 and old-time-twang-with-a-modern-twist of Bellwoods Trinityand Hotcha!

Stories

Small Print Toronto will host a diverse array of local kids-lit heroes at theStory Tent. Don’t miss the creators of such wildly popular series asFranklin The Turtle (Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark) and Ninja Cowboy Bear (David Bruins and Hilary Leung), authors and performers Njacko Backo, Martha Jocelyn, Monica Kulling, Rina Singh, Heather Hartt-Sussman, Frank Viva and Nicola Winstanley, singer-songwriter Daddy Long Legs and a special appearance by Winnie-the-Pooh.

Super Cool Stuff

Want to create your own a kite? Dress up in a dragon costume? Build a grafitti city? Like to play games? Win prizes? You can do all this and more, thanks to the steadily growing number of local businesses and groups helping us out this year.

Proceeds from this year’s festival will be donated to the West End Food Coop.