Annex Residents' Association Candidate Forums October 16 and 23

We're casting municipal ballots on Monday, October 27th and there are a lot of new faces in the mix.
I've had a lot of postcards dropped off and candidates knocking on my door, but hearing a candidate speak at a forum can provide a different type of insight.
The Annex Residents' Association is holding two election forums in conjunction with nearby residents' associations. 
Here's the scoop:
"Candidates Forums - October 16th and 23rd
The Annex Residents’ Association, together with our neighboring community organizations (the Harbord Village Residents’ Association, Huron Sussex Residents' Organization, Seaton Village Residents’ Association and the Bloor - Annex and the Harbord Street BIAs) is sponsoring two forums so the residents of Ward 20 can hear from their local candidates.
The forum to hear the candidates for Councillor for Ward 20:
Date: Thursday, October 16th
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Place: Trinity-St Paul’s Centre (Bloor Street W. at Robert)

The forum to hear the candidates for School Trustees for Ward 10 (our trustee ward) will take place a week later:
Date: Thursday, October 23rd
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Place: Trinity-St Paul’s Centre (Bloor Street W. at Robert)"

Cheers,
Vanessa

PS I can tell you how NOT to impress people while campaigning door-to-door: don't stand in front of people's living room windows, gesturing for them to go to their door, in advance of a candidate ringing the doorbell. Rude and intrusive! And not likely to result in a vote.

Annex Residents' Association Corn Roast Sept. 15th

Mark your calendars: the Annex Residents' Association is bringing a bit of country to

the city with a corn roast September 15th.
Here's the scoop:

"First Annual Annex Corn Roast  Sunday, September 15, 2013 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Rain or Shine Jean Sibelius Park Meet your Neighbours at the First Annual Annex Corn Roast. The Annex Residents' Association is inviting you to an end-of-summer corn roast at  Jean Sibelius Park, 50 Kendal Avenue (between Brunswick and Kendal, south of Dupont)  It's an informal event for the entire family, a chance to talk about Annex affairs,  and an opportunity to reconnect with your neighbours after the summer. So come and join us on Sunday, September 15, 4 - 6 p.m., rain or shine for free corn  and non-alcoholic refreshments. And bring your family!" Cheers, Vanessa

Volunteer Opportunities with the Annex Residents' Association

Happy Mother's Day!
Crisp day for it.
Our neighbourhood residents' association, the ARA, has put the call out for volunteers.
And I quote:

"Call for Volunteers!
Please come lend a hand in these two community endeavours

ARA TreesPlease Tree Survey Starting After Victoria Day
Please send me an email to let me know if you can help us this summer by accompanying and assisting one of our U of T Student Field Co-ordinators, whether it’s just for a few hours, a few days or even weekly throughout the summer months. We greatly appreciate your time and dedication to helping preserve our City’s and our neighbourhood’s urban forest. If you know of anyone else who can help us, please let me know. Everyone welcome! No experience is necessary.

Annex Festival on Bloor Sunday, June 9
The Annex Residents’ Association’s TreesPlease group is looking for volunteers to help staff our information table at this year’s Annex Festival on Bloor any time you might be available from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9. If you have an hour or two to spare, please do let me know."

Cheers,
Vanessa 

Annex Residents' Association on Facebook

The Annex Residents' Association has a spanking new website, plus a presence on Facebook.
Give them a "like" if you want to stay in the loop about area happenings.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Need Some Cool, Green Shade?

One of the best things about The Annex is its fabulous trees. Do I really need to tell you what they add to a neighbourhood? I don't think so.
But I'm delighted to tell you that TreesPlease of the Annex Residents' Association is making it easier and more affordable to plant a tree on your property.
Cheers,
Vanessa
PS don't forget about the Valentine's Day BBQ/Skate at Sibelius Square beginning at 4:30 pm today!

Neighbourhood Clean Up Battle November 24th

This in from the Annex Residents' Association:

"Fall Community Clean-Up! Saturday, November 24
 9:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Calling All Annex Residents!

Team Annex vs. Team Harbord Village

The year 2012 has been a year of great and noble competitions among the world's finest gladiators!

We have watched Europe battle for the Euro Cup!

We have cheered on our athletes as they rose to the glory at the London Summer Olympics!

And now, to wind up an historical year of global sportsmanship and athletic competition, the great citizens of the Annex have been challenged in an epic battle to determine which of our fine communities will win the inaugural (but still coveted) “Harbord Village Clean-Up Cup” by collecting the most litter and bringing out the most volunteers!

Members of both teams are asked to gather for coffee at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 9:45 a.m. on November 24. Clean-up starts at 10 a.m. followed by a complimentary lunch at 12 noon at Hot Docs. Bags and gloves are provided. 

Come out and be eligible for the wonderful prizes listed below to be awarded at 1 p.m.!

      1.         Miles Nadal JCC: 3 month membership at their Fitness Center plus a year's membership to their Film Society Screenings. Value: $500.

    2.       Splendido: 7-Course meal with Wine Pairings for each course. Value:$500.  

    3.       Sheraton Center Hotel: Weekend at Sheraton Center with complimentary breakfast and access to Sheraton Club Lounge for 2.  Value: Approximately $300.

    4.       Mirvish Productions: 2 War Horse Tickets for December 11/12 evening performance (7:30pm).  Value: Approx. $300.

    5.       Computer Systems Center:  Apple Personal Training Certificate. Value:$200. 

    6.       Hot Docs Film Festival: Gold Pack of 10 screenings: Value: Approximately $150.

    7.       Dollarama: $150 Gift Certificate.

    8.       Loire Restaurant: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    9.       Boulevard Café: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    10.     Harbord House: 2 $50 Gift Certificates.

    11.     93 Harbord: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    12.     DT Bistro: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    13.     Hey Lucy: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    14.     By the Way Café:  Dinner for 2 worth approx. $100 .

    15.     Harbord Room:  $100 Dinner Certificate.

    16.     Messis: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    17.     Pomegranate: $100 Dinner Certificate.

    18.     Second Cup: 2 Large Christmas Gift Baskets worth $50 each.

    19.     Pauper’s Pub: 2 $50 Gift Certificates.

    20.     Wright Real Estate: 2 tickets to TFC Game. Value: $100."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Trees Please Project Update

Oh, the glorious trees in our neighbourhood! And they really do shine this time of year; I love how the low-slanting, gentle autumn sunlight is filtered through crimson and gold.
It coats everything with mellow.
If you love our trees, too, you might like this tidbit from the Annex Residents' Association:
"This summer saw the successful completion of the second phase of a four-year program to take an inventory of all the trees in the Annex. Our objective is to develop an in-depth understanding of the current state of the urban forest in our community and assist the City in creating a management plan to maintain and improve the existing tree canopy.

The significant achievements this year were identification and location of Ash trees under attack by the Emerald Ash Borer.  We also identified 82 spots on private property where trees could be planted, and offered homeowners a $50 discount off the LEAF backyard tree planting price.  

More Volunteers are needed to help complete the project; if you would like to help but do not have time to Volunteer, you may make a financial donation.  Donations greater than $20 will receive a charitable donation receipt for tax purposes."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Oct. 2nd Meeting About Cycling In The Area

Annex cyclists: here's your chance to weigh in on cycling safety. This is from the Annex Residents' Association:
"Public Meeting Notice: Annex Cycling Meeting
The Annex Residents' Association (ARA) [is] holding a public meeting on cycling in the Annex.  
Have your say!
Date: Tuesday, October 2^nd
Time: 7pm
Location: MilesNadal Jewish Community Centre, 750 Spadina Avenue, Room 318
Please join members of the ARA to share your thoughts on 30km/hr speed limits on Annex roads, bike lanes on Bloor from Bathurst to Avenue Rd, and additonal cycling safety measures."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Annex Residents' Association Call For Volunteers

This rolled into my inbox from the ARA. It might interest you if you have a few spare hours during the next few weeks.
"Call For Volunteers
The Annex is one of the most desirable places to live in Toronto. The trees in the Annex form part of the City's urban forest and undeniably contribute to the charm of the neighbourhood. A recent report by the City of Toronto confirms our belief that trees add significant economic and ecological values to a community. However, it is clear the biodiversity and canopy of trees in the Annex are being depleted over time.

This year, a group called TreesPlease chaired by Michael Low, a member of the ARA has been formed to build and expand on the great pioneering work by Amanda McConnell and the "Grassroots Albany" group in 1994. TreesPlease have started a multi-year review of trees in the whole Annex community with the objective of developing a strategic plan to preserve existing trees and identify potential sites for planting of new trees. The actual identification and documentation of trees is being conducted by knowledgeable students from Urban Forestry, University of Toronto. Many community volunteers are currently helping us on this project; however, we urgently need more volunteers to help us over the last 3 weeks of this project. No experience is necessary; volunteers are trained on the job.

We need volunteers for the following shifts:

Weekdays:

9 am to 12 noon and/or 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm and/or 6:00pm to 8pm

July 12^th, 14^th, 15^th, 18^th, 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd

Weekends:

9 am to 12 noon and/or 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm

July 16^th, 17th, 23^rd, 24^th

Please let us know if you would be willing to help by sending an email with your contact information to ARATreesPlease@gmail.com . Thank you for your interest."

Federal Election Debate April 20th

I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that an election looms. As soon as it was announced, there were more election signs than spring flowers adorning neighbourhood laws.
If you're unsure about who to vote for, then this item might interest you.
And -- yeah! -- unlike some other debates, for this one the Green Party candidate is included.
Cheers,

Vanessa
"The Annex Residents’ Association
We invite you to an election forum by candidates for the Federal Election in the Trinity-Spadina riding co-sponsored by the ARA, moderated by Gus Sinclair, Chair, Harbord Village Residents' Association

Wednesday April 20, 2011
7:15 pm. - 9:00 p.m.
Trinity-St. Paul's Church
427 Bloor Street West

Confirmed participants are: Christine Innes - Liberal, Olivia Chow - NDP, Rachel Barney - Green Party, Gin Siow - Conservative
Co-sponsored by the: ARA, HVRA, HSRO, Harbord Street BIA, Bloor Annex BIA, and the Seaton Village Residents' Association."

Biking Info

Several biking tidbits in one post for this rainy a.m. It has been so pleasant to get back on my bike these days!
The picture above is shamelessly stolen from an update from the Toronto Cyclists Union. Here is the info about it:
"Prospect Park West Separated Bicycle lane in New York City: After implementation, compared to prior conditions without the bicycle lane, weekday cycling has tripled, sidewalk cycling fell from 46% to just 3%, motor vehicle speeding decreased by 55% and crashes causing injuries are down 63% for all road users."
If they can do it there, we can do it here. And why do we always follow and not lead?

The second tidbit is from the city of Toronto and will interest you if you have your bike locked up on the street all winter:
"Abandoned Bikes to be Tagged for Removal in early April
Cyclists should be aware that the period of annual Spring tagging of bicycles locked to post-and-rings or other street furniture and left to rust over the winter, will begin in early April.
Rusty and damaged bicycles will be tagged, giving the owners 7 days to remove them; after that, Solid Waste will remove the bikes and locks permanently in order to clear the public right-of-way and maintain availability of short-term bicycle parking.
If you wish to keep a bike that has been left outside long enough to rust, now is the time to remove it from the public right-of-way."

And I'm late with this last piece of news, but just in case you haven't heard, the Annex Residents' Association is proposing some interesting, bike-friendly changes to our neighbourhood that I fully support.
The one getting the most media attention is "1. Implement a bike lane on Bloor Street in the Annex from Avenue Road to Bathurst Street within one year, in conjunction with accelerated city-wide infrastructure for bicycle lanes, including along Bloor-Danforth."
All I can say is: YES!
You can read the full proposal on the group's website.
Happy cycling,
Vanessa

Annex Residents' Association

It's a new year and if you've made a resolution to become more involved in your community this year, the Annex Residents' Association would be a good place to start.

The next meeting is January 13 at 7:30 pm at the Annex Retirement Residence, 123 Spadina Rd.

Cheers,

Vanessa

ARA Upcoming Meeting and Tree Tour

The next Annex Residents' Association Meeting is September 26th at 7:30 pm.

The ARA is also sponsoring, along with LEAF, another Trees of the Annex tour. I already mentioned it, but now there are more details...

"TREES OF THE ANNEX

An educational tour of the special trees of the Annex

Sunday, September 26, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Rain or shine

Join Amanda Gomm and others from LEAF as we explore the historic and newly planted trees in the Annex. Meet in Taddle Creek Park and head west to observe historic trees and highlight ongoing efforts to restore and improve bio-diversity in our community.

To register: Free for ARA members, $10 for non-members space permitting.
Please send an email to:
louis.florence@utoronto.ca with names and number of people who will be attending. Space is limited so respond early!"

Cheers,

Vanesa

Mark Your Calendar: Oct. 12th Mayoral Debate

I got an email inviting members of the Annex Residents' Association to a Toronto Mayoral Candidates' Debate on Tuesday, October 12th at St. Paul's on Bloor.

Thought I'd tell you now, so that you can keep the date open.
The email implies that only members of the ARA are invited to the debate, so I headed to the website for clarification.

While surfing the ARA website, I was delighted to find the content beefed up. One new inclusion is a history of The Annex that is quite interesting.

So, happy reading and don't forget to mark your calendars!
Cheers,

Vanessa

Tour of Annex Trees July 17th

One of the big pluses in our area has got to be the trees... the huge amount, the beauty they add to our streetscapes and their maturity, which provides us with a great, leafy, green canopy.

The Annex Residents' Association is offering an "educational tour of the special trees of The Annex" on Saturday, July 17th from 11 am to 1 pm, rain or shine.

The tour, co-sponsored by LEAF, is $10, but free for ARA members. If the tour interests you, register now by email because space is limited.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Mayoral Candidates Debate and Annex Residents' Association Board Meeting

I checked out the Annex Residents' Association website to find out about the next meeting and stumbled across information about an upcoming Mayoral Candidates Debate.

The next board meeting is June 10th and the Candidates Debate is June 15th from 7 pm to 9:30 pm at Trinity St. Paul's Centre, 429 Bloor St. W -- opposite the Metro grocery store.

Here's the scoop:
"A discussion of the issues facing the City of Toronto, with Mayoral Candidates:

Rob Ford, Howard Gomberg, Giorgio Mammoliti, Joe Pantalone, Rocco Rossi and Sarah Thompson

Hosted by: Annex Residents’ Association; Bloor-Annex BIA; Christie-Ossington Residents’ Association; Harbord Street BIA; Harbord Village Residents’ Association; Huron Sussex Residents’ Organization; Palmerston Area Residents’ Association; Seaton Village Residents’ Association; Trinity-St.Paul’s Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts!"

Seems like a good way to hear the candidates in an intimate setting.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Residents' Association Meetings

If you've ever thought that you'd like to get more involved in your neighbourhood, a great place to start is the local residents' association.

The Seaton Village Residents' Association is meeting March 10th and the Annex Residents' Association is meeting March 11th.

Cheers,

Vanessa

A Tale of The Annex....

I was insanely busy this year during the May Jane's Walk weekend and could only squeeze in one walk with friends who live in the west end.
So I missed the one in our area, led by Bobbi Speck. But -- lucky us -- her story is posted in .pdf format on the Annex Residents' Association website.
Speck was one of the people who led the fight against the Spadina Expressway, which would have been disastrous for the Annex neighbourhood had it been built.
It's an interesting read!
Enjoy,
Vanessa