Get Out and Plant Tomorrow!

You don't need to be a gardener to help out in what I assume is Vermont Square Park tomorrow morning.

Here's the scoop from the Seaton Village Facebook page:
"Please join the Seaton Village Residents' Association and park Supervisor, Brian Green planting bulbs this Saturday morning!

***We will also be putting up our new community noticeboard in the park 

Start time: 10:00am

Please bring a hand digger and gloves - it is going to be a bit brisque...."
Sound like a neighbourly way to spend a Saturday morning.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Seaton Villagers: Do You Want To Participate in Open Tuning?

I LOVE our neighbourhood! This was on the Seaton Village Facebook page:
"Calling all Musicians!

On June 21, 2014 the streets, porches, and alleyways of Toronto’s Seaton Village will come alive with music, as Opening[sic?] Tuning: A Free Music Festival takes over the neighbourhood from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 pm. Free performances will happen throughout the day at non-traditional indoor and outdoor venues. Seaton Village is bordered by Bathurst, Christie, Bloor, and Dupont.

Open Tuning is a 100% independent and community-driven festival, with zero corporate sponsorship or advertising. The goal of the festival is simple: to celebrate music through creating, performing, experiencing, and listening.

So we’ve got the idea, and we’ve got the neighbourhood. Now all we need are musicians!

We are looking for expressions of interest from musicians and bands who would like to be part of the 1st ever Open Tuning festival. Musicians of all ages, genres, and skill levels are invited to participate. This is a free festival, which makes this a non-paying gig, but it’s a great chance to share your love of music with the world.

If you would like to be a part of Open Tuning, or would like more information, please contact us at opentuningfestival@gmail.com.

And, please feel free to forward this notice on to your fellow music makers!

Taking place on June 21, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Open Tuning is a free music festival celebrating music through creating, performing, experiencing, and listening. Inspired by la fete de la musique in Paris, Open Tuning is a celebration of community, summer, and music. Each year, the festival will take place on a Saturday close to June 21.

For more information, please visit our Facebook page (opentuningfestival), or follow us on twitter at and Instagram at @opentuningfest."

Happy tuning!
Vanessa

FOUND: Orange Cat In Seaton Village

Is this your kitty? A kind samaritan in Seaton Village has taken it in out of the cold.
Details are on the Seaton Village Facebook page.
Fingers crossed for a happy reunion.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Crestfallen Lane? Interesting Street Name!

There's a movement afoot to name the lanes in Seaton Village so that emergency personnel can find garages more easily. (When they're on fire, it's pretty important.)
The Toronto Star wrote up the history behind one potential name: Crestfallen Lane. The fascinating story involves a horse saved from the glue factory; a pioneering doctor; and a diptheria outbreak.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Pumpkin Patch in Vermont Square Tomorrow Evening

The Pumpkin Patch is a go! 

Seaton Village Meeting Tonight

Seaton Villagers! Your neighbourhood group is meeting tonight at 7 pm at St. Alban's.
Agenda items include the Seaton Village LaneNaming Project, the Bathurst Street land use study and the David Suzuki Foundation's Homegrown National Park initiative.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Seaton Village LaneNaming Project

There is a movement afoot to name the 50 lanes in Seaton Village. 

Why?
"It is our hope that the process will acquaint people with Seaton’s history and character, encourage the use of our lanes, improve response from Emergency Services and City Works, as well as improve their attractiveness with the efforts of the residents."

The community project is still seeking input re: possible names, so put on your thinking caps!
Cheers,
Vanessa

Seaton Village Update

It's been lovely park weather, up until today.
Park construction is nearing completion at Vermont Square. There is an update on the Seaton Village website.
It's great to see years and years of effort pay off and near fruition. Everyone involved deserves a huge, "Thank you!"
Cheers,
Vanessa

Call for Artists for Local Show

Attention artists: this was on the Seaton Village Facebook page:

"Call for Artists for upcoming community art show. We are looking for local visual artists to show for 4 days. Registration is $100. Limited space please send us an email mongupta@hotmail.com with examples of your work.

Who ART thou? Who ART Thou, again? 29 November - 2 December 2012 Beit Zatoun Gallery 612 Markham St." Cheers, Vanessa

Keep An Eye Out Please...

This was on the Seaton Village Facebook page this a.m.
“WARNING! At 1:25 am today someone tried to break into our house on Vermont. They pried the frame of a fixed casement window using a crow bar or something similar. We awoke to the sound of exploding glass. This is highly unusual according to the police officers attending. Thieves do not use this technique, opting for quieter methods. According to Police several similar occurrences have happened nearby recently. Some of a potential sexual nature. The cops say the M.O. could be that of a sexual predator. It was certainly the act of someone careless and desperate and most probably very high. Please be on the alert and report any suspicious activity.”

Vanessa

Seaton Village Updates

The Seaton Village Residents' Association blog has bits of interesting news. Worth noting is that the hot water "scammers" are back in the area, knocking on doors. 
As well, bike theft always is an issue in our area, but there seems to be a spike lately.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Bracondale Estate

Interesting... Part of what we call Seaton Village was built and marketed as Bracondale Estate. I wondered why Bracondale? And since we live in the world of instant info, I soon found out it was named after "the Turners of Bracondale."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Porch Dances

Tonight is the debut of this year's Porch Dances in Seaton Village.
"Experience 15 residents of Seaton Village, Toronto perform five breathtaking new dance creations on the steps of their own homes."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Seaton Village Playground Open!

Cause for celebration! And I quote:

"Hi Everyone,
 Well we are so happy to announce Vermont Square Park playground is OPEN!
After an enormous push from the excellent crew at Mopal, the fences were strategically organized to section off the yet incomplete rubberized pathway so kids of all ages could come in and enjoy the majority of new playground over the long weekend.
Parks and Rec opened the wading pool yesterday morning anticipating a glorious afternoon opening of the playground.....hours will continue Monday through Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm.
The excitement was palpable as the kids lined up along the old fence line awaiting the go ahead from the construction team - their bodies poised and tingling for the few minutes it took to resituate the fence until they were given the thumbs up - then they flooded the playground - it was an awesome sight!
A few sections of the fence now remain isolating certain portions of the playground which will be complete next week, or those needing time to cure (the pathway) after the long weekend break. Some minor tweaks will also happen to some play elements, a small section of the fence, and the water pump will be hooked up ASAP.
 The Art Bench is slated for installation in July so the temporary fence will remain around this area intended for the bench. Thanks for your patience while this gets installed!
We realize you can't rip around the playground in the cushy and luxurious-feeling sand as you could on the old sand surface, but the SVRA and VSPRC really hope the beautiful new playground brings much joy and affords many wonderful adventures and memories as the old playground did for so many and for so long!
 A HUGE thanks goes to Plant Architect Inc., to Bob Duguid ( Toronto Parks Landscape Architect and project planner) who pulled some serious rabbits out of his hat to ensure the park opened on time, and to Mopal Construction Ltd for such an excellent job getting the job done! The SVRA and VSPRC would also like to thank Councillor Vaughan and his staff for their continual support and for providing the funds to allow this to happen!
 The Seaton Village Residents' Association website will be updated ASAP www.seatonvillage.ca - I'm going to take a much needed break now though first!
 Have an awesome LONG Pride and Canada day weekend :)

Jennifer

Seaton Village Residents' Association seatonvillage.ca Website for the Seaton Village Residents' Association

Seaton Village Historic Write Up

Seaton Village has a Facebook page with almost 200 members. It's a great, virtual gathering place. Anyway,  a neighbour recently posted about a history of Seaton Village available online that's quite interesting.
Happy reading!
Vanessa

Seaton Village Clean Up Suggestions Wanted

Community Clean Up day looms... April 21st, to be exact.

The Seaton Village Residents' Association would like your input:
"The SVRA is planning a Community Clean up event for April 21st = Community Clean up Day on our municipal calendars.
We would like area residents to nominate a laneway, sorely needing some loving, for cleanup on the 21st - this can include grafitti, garbage, garden waste or "junque" abandoned in the laneways.
Do you have a garage you want repainted or a with mural ?

LET US KNOW ASAP! Send us a message at seatonvillagetoronto@gmail.com... Spread the word, and please join us on April 21st - details coming SOON!"
Cheers,
Vanessa
PS Dont' forget Community Environment Day today at Central Tech. It starts at 10 am... might want to get there before it rains.

Vermont Square Renewal Begins April 2

Great news: after many years of talks, planning and meetings, work is set to begin April 2nd on the playground at Vermont Square Park in Seaton Village.

No word yet on when the hoarding will come down and the hordes will get to play in it... one step at a time.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Seaton Village Neighbourhood Walk

I was dismayed to read in the latest Seaton Village Residents' Association online update that a few "smash and grabs" occurred in the area last month.
In response, Councillor Adam Vaughan's office is organizing a January 12th walk through the neighbourhood.
Here are some details:
"The walk is being held during evening hours, to allow for participation after work and to better identify potential problem areas within the neighbourhood. Of particular interest will be the laneway behind Yarmouth Rd near Christie and Clinton Streets. Constable Gord Reid will lead the walk along with Supervisor Joe Magalhaes of Municipal Licensing and Standards. It has been advised that the walk will be open to the first 15 people (with some flexibility) in order to ensure the endeavour is focused and productive.

Please RSVP Rebecca Hewitt at Councillor Vaughan’s office: rhewitt@toronto.ca."
Vanessa

New Year, New Laneway Names

The Globe recently ran an article about naming laneways, including some in nearby Harbord Village.

It's an interesting read and mentions Seaton Village's laneway naming project.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Seaton Village News

There is a lengthy and interesting update on the Seaton Village Residents' Association website.
I didn't realize that a lot of neighbours knew the young mom, Jenna Morrison, who recently died while riding her bike. The SVRA post mentions a Facebook memorial page in her honour, as well an upcoming fundraising event to benefit her family.

Additional updates include planning issues news, a Vermont Square park renewal update and upcoming local events.

Cheers,
Vanessa