Dream Bakery for the Junction

here goes...

While we have a Vegan bakery- Bunners for which the community is so lucky, and which many people consider a luxury, there are many of us that are not so inclined to vegetarianism nor always super healthy treats or breads.   We have lots of emtpy store fronts in the Junction even whole  buildings, many of which would be great spaces for producing   beautiful, naturally leavened whole-grain bread, delectable seasonal preserves, and granola for all of us (ok not this author) crunchy-granola types! say one with a milling room where we can purchase fresh milled flour own flour from local grower farms. Plus, a wood-fired brick oven that can also be fired with biomass briquettes manufactured from spent grain from one of the local micro brewery's that are opening in the area, such as the Indie Ale House.

Operationally for success this would probably have to be a licensed  commercial kitchen  so the operator will be sell at farmers markets, wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores.

Please do come!

Here are some facebook links to the type of foodie establishments that would be great , these are example from the Chicago area

• Chicago Amateur Bread Bakers
  


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  Three Sisters Garden
  

  
  

  
  


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  Kings Hill Farm CSA and Market Garden
  

  
  

  
  


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  Snookelfritz Ice Cream Artistry
  

  
  

  
  

 

Budget with Councillors Perks and Doucette Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm - 9 pm at the Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West)

 

Councillors Perks and Doucette (Ward 1) are holding roundtable meetings hosting on the upcoming City of Toronto Budget.

The Councillors are saying the meeting is a workshop with residents and community leaders about how to protect and build the essential services which make Toronto great. Topics to include city services and delivering and funding same.

Date: Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Place: Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West), in the 3rd floor staff room.

They want people register though Councillor Perks' Office. by e-mailing councillor_perks@toronto.ca or calling 416-392-7919.

West End Food Co-op Cannery

Parkdale Residents Association AGM Thursday 1 December 2011 at 7 pm

The Annual General Meeting of the Parkdale Residents Association (PRA) is scheduled for Thursday 1 December 2011 at 7 pm in the May Robinson Auditorium at 20 West Lodge Avenue. At this meeting, the PRA customarily elects its Executive Officers and its Executive Committee for 2012. Any PRA member in attendance can put his or her name in nomination to join the Executive. We will also be presenting the annual President’s and Treasurer’s reports.

The special guests for this evening will be Superintendant Dave Vickers andSuperintendant Art Little of 14 Division (who have taken over on an interim basis for the recently retired Superintendant Ruth White) and Superintendant Peter Lennox and Inspector Brian Preston of 11 Division. They will be reviewing the changes in police service and responsibility resulting from the recent changes in divisional boundaries and specify how they affect Parkdale.

Also on hand will be Councillor Gord Perks who will review recent municipal developments and outline his priorities for the coming year. MPP Cheri DiNovo may also be on hand but has yet to confirm. I will be keeping you informed about the progress of this meeting and look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Shocking activity by city council members and staff

 

The blog wanted to highlight a particularity worrisome point brought out publicly by the  Toronto Public Space  (TPSI) group in their report on unprecedented policies that will allow the city to sell off the names of public spaces and bring in aggressive advertising into them, including parks and playgrounds. (see this post - its below this one)

Yet they are bringing local business Improvement associations (BIA's) into the decision-making and planning activities about these changes. That is right, the local retail store owners across the city are being consulted and allowed into the fold to decide how local parks are named and what advertising will go into them, Yes, big advertisers are involved too and their ads in parks and parkettes are probably not welcome also. But residents and community groups such as residents associations are not part of the consultation process.

"the inclusion of BIAs in a consultation process to the exclusion of all other stakeholders" [1. Toronto Public Space  (TPSI)]

Simply,  1st importance of the what the parks are to the community of people who use them is being removed from the people.

Hopefully the ethical BIA's in Toronto with see the folly of of being associated with this. BIA's are structured and created to improve retail streets and businesses within their areas.

 

Rabble.ca article on High Park Indian mounds (very detailed)

Much progress has been achieved during the summer of 2011 in the work to preserve the Snake Mound, one of 57 remaining ancient Iroquoian burial mounds in Toronto's High Park in danger of destruction from BMX bike activity. In April, a meeting was set up between the Taiaiako'on Historical Preservation Society [2](THPS) and Toronto City Councillor Sarah Doucette where she was presented with information about the Snake Mound, and that the City of Toronto's main archeologist Ron Williamson, who is working under a suspended license [3]. (This situation appears to have arisen because the license was not renewed, something that practicing archeologists are compelled to keep up with. The documentation of his license situation has been sent out to city officials by the THPS but the question has never been clarified as to the current state of his credentials, and it has not been denied. The Taiaiako'n Historic Preservation Society has a file which they claim shows that Williamson doesn't have a license, but most of this information does not exist online.)

Doucette said she would research the issue and then respond, however, there was no subsequent contact.

(Blog note: read full article for her efforts to find another area in the park for the BMX bikes)

In May, a group of residents local to High Park was formed called the Friends Of Snake Mound (FOSM) [4] to support the work done by the THPS. In the late spring, the two groups hosted an information event at Tinto's coffee house that garnered a flurry of media attention both good and bad. The mainstream media perpetuated the lack of scientific rigor and ethical handling of the situation by the city and Toronto Parks Board by parroting the position that there is no archeological site at Snake Mound [5].

Fortunately there was one point of agreement: that the BMX activity was destroying the natural environment. While many members of the BMX community have acknowledged the special environmental and historical value of the site, many others remain intransigent. Despite concerns within the Snake Mound-support community as to whether further changes in the landscape might adversely affect the site, it became evident that taking down the ramps was the only way to stop the greater danger of cycling. In order to see the site repaired, the Parks Board agreed that THPS could direct the dismantling of the bike ramps and reconstruction of the mound.


Complete article here

Wabash Building Society Stop park cuts! Meet Nov. 8 meeting tomorrow

from their notice...

Stop park cuts! Meet Nov. 8 at the Fieldhouse

Instead of cutting park budgets and staff, what would you do? The new Toronto-wide advocacy group Park People has prepared a list of draft ideas it would like to present and discuss with people who care about our parks.

Park People is coming to the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse on Nov. 8 to collect your feedback and provide input into an important report to be released in the coming weeks (see story below).

The evening starts with the Wabash Building Society giving a talk on Sorauren Park. The highlight will be discussing plans for a great new town square in the park. Come see the drawing and learn how we are moving forward on this very cool idea.You are invited... meet at the Fieldhouse in the park starting at 6:30 p.m. 

Sadly Hilary Bell, Community Leader, Passes

Reposted from Junction Triangle Community site

Sadly Hilary Bell died a few days ago due to cancer. Hilary was known in many circles for her tireless community work and advocacy for improving communities. She was involved in creating Railpath, the natural garden along Dundas, the murals under the Wallace Bridge to name but a few. She was a fair but formidable foe to developers, Metrolinx, and politicians when she needed to be but never lost her sense of humour and the desire for a hearty bike ride. This obit is provided by the family and there will be more news to follow. I note that the wonderful picture of Hilary was taken at the official opening of Railpath.

Hilary Bell was a long time member of the TWBCA Steering Committee

 

Further text at the Junction Triangle Community site (direct link to text about this tireless and trans-formative person.

Roncesvalles Village and Parkside benches/planters

 



 

So purposeful, so right for the area.

And because of the simple concrete manufacture quite inexpensive as street furniture goes.

Just brilliant design for people solution.

Roncesvalles Village BIA project 

 

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

 

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.

 

Roncesvalles Av. concrete laydown for tracks

West End Food Co-op Community Cannery June Workshops

Community Cannery June Workshops



their invite....

You are cordially invited to the June workshops from the Preserving Parkdale Project, a joint community cannery project of the West End Food Co-op and the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre. The first two workshops are:

Preserving Fruit: Friday, June 18th, 5 pm to 8 pm

Preserving and Pickling: Friday, June 25th, 5 pm to 8 pm

The workshops will be held at the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre at 1499 Queen Street West. Please pre-register at www.westendfood.coop or at the WEFC booth at the Sorauren Farmers Market, Monday 3-7.

Registration is $25 for WEFC members, or $30 for non-members. For inquiries, please contact info@westendfood.coop.

Come join us to preserve!

Sally Miller/ WEFC Coordinator

from their site....

The West End Food Co-operative (WEFC) is a nonprofit multi-stakeholder co-operative – with consumer, employee, and producer/supplier members. WEFC is committed to the development of community food culture in Toronto’s West End, and acts as a catalyst for local food security. This is accomplished through coordinating community driven food initiatives, such as the ongoing Sorauren Farmers’ Market, Parkdale community food mapping, and the new Parkdale Processing Project.

It's happening elsewhere, can it happen in Ward 13

The new Luna Park opened in Coney Island this weekend, just look at it - this must have been what Sunnyside amusement park would have looked like in the past.

If new York can rebuilt it maybe we should?

Link to History of Sunnyside Midway From Above c. 1949

All in on with Roncesvalles Ave and it's retailer signs

Roncesvalles Ave and it's retailer signs.

Talking a walk down the now non obstructed Roncesvalles Ave roadway, you may enjoy looking at mix of signs both advertorial and the placemarking ones (such as the wall mural above.

Combined with a whole lot of retailers who push out onto the street with flowers and veg, a spring walk along the st is quite enjoyable. The area is more rushed with walkers than the Junction but less than Bloor West Village.

Spring Fever Coming To Ronces May 15!

Come celebrate Spring on Roncesvalles Avenue!

All-day Sidewalk Sale from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Fun for the whole family from noon until 4:00:

Local musicians
Face painters
Craft Table
Bouncy Castles
Balloon Clowns
Flowers for mom
and a special Roncesvalles Village Treasure Hunt: win fabulous prizes!

Princes' Gates at Exhibition Place restoration update photo post

Working with funds from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund major work is being done restoring the gates.

PRA’s May 1st Parkdale Village Walk

from the Parkdale Residents Association...

Parkdale Village Walk: A Sense of History and Community

The Parkdale Residents Association invites you to join us in an exploration
of Parkdale on Saturday, May 1st, starting at 2 pm. The walk will begin
outside of the Parkdale Library at 1303 Queen St W.

This walk will be as diverse as the neighbourhood of Parkdale. Walkers will
be given a brief history of the Village of Parkdale as we begin in the Village
Square. From there, we will walk a small section of this “unique village
within a metropolis,” looking at and exploring the history, architecture,
green spaces, spiritual places, cultures and people that make this a true
melting pot. The walk ends back at the Village Square with light
refreshments in what was the Fire Hall and is now the Masaryk-Cowan
Community Recreation Centre.

A Parkdale Village Walk is one of the international Jane’s Walks, named in
honour of the late urban planner, Jane Jacobs.

The walk will last approximately 1 and 1/2 hours. The rain date is Sunday,
May 2nd, at 2 pm.

You may email info@parkdale.to or call 416-533-0044 for more
information.

West End Food Co-op Info Session

West End Food Co-op Info Session

WEFC is hosting information sessions for those interested in becoming co-op members, investors, supporters & learning more. The meetings will include:

* Public Education Sessions: learn about the co-op movement; local food markets & other exciting topics


* Bond Information and Sales: support your co-op financially and learn more about community bonds

* Co-op Updates & Member Feedback: Learn about WEFC activities & projects and get involved.

Date: Thursday, March 25th
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Tinto cafe, 89 Roncesvalles Avenue.
For more information contact: melissa@westendfood.coop

Dufferin Street Jog Elimination project photo Post update

See this post for detailed information