St. Andrew's Market Opening This Summer

St. Andrew's market The St. Andrew's market was originally founded in 1837 to serve the rapidly-growing west end of Toronto. It was Toronto's third public market after St. Lawrence (1803) and St. Patrick (1837).

Now, in 2009, we are working to revive the St. Andrew's market at its original location, what is now St. Andrew's Park between Richmond and Adelaide, Brandt and Maud.

Organized by local residents and Farmer's Markets of Ontario, this Certified Farmer's Market will feature real farmers selling only what they produce themselves. It will run on Saturday mornings from June to October in the parking lot at the west side of the park.

Please send an email to standrewsmarket@gmail.com if you would like to be kept informed of news about the new market.

Wellington Place Neighbourhood Heritage Walk

Heratige Toronto is offering a walk of the Wellington Place Neighbourhood: details below and more info here:

Wellington Place Neighbourhood
Start: May 10 2009 - 1:30pm
End: May 10 2009 - 3:30pm

The diversity of Toronto's roles since its founding in 1793 are reflected in this vibrant downtown neighbourhood - evidence of our military past, Victorian residences, and buildings from the era as a manufacturing centre. See how the Wellington Place neighbourhood has successfully adapted to 200 years of changes.

Leaders: Marta O’Brien
Start Point: NE corner of Victoria Memorial Square, Wellington St W at Portland St, just east of Bathurst
Finish Point: Bathurst and Adelaide Streets
Length: Approx. 2 hours
Walk Difficulty: Average walk on sidewalks

Focus:
* historical
* architectural

URGENT! Strachan Ave Super-Bridge

A very important note from Joe's office - it's short notice, but *PLEASE* make the time to attend the meeting at Fort York tomorrow. This is a major - and potentially disasterous - problem for the community!

URGENT! Strachan Ave Super-Bridge


Dear neighbours,

MetroLinx is NOT listening!

At 8:30 this morning - one day before "MetroLinx's Open House" - I was informed that MetroLinx dropped the community's and City of Toronto's preferred option for the Strachan - At - Grade elimination. (See the City of Toronto Staff Report: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-16917.pdf).

Today, MetroLinx offers one sole solution -- a bridge that will tear at the urban fabric of our community. Not only does MetroLinx's sole "solution" force the closure of Douro Street and Wellington Street at Strachan Avenue, but it entails the erection of an ugly super structure (think another Gardiner Expressway?) smack in the middle of some of Toronto's most vibrant, historic, and creative neighbourhoods (Niagara Neighbourhood, Liberty Village, Exhibition Place, Fort York and the Waterfront).

As your Toronto City Councillor, I am surprised and disappointed that our alternative has been unilaterally dismissed. What can you do? In the first instance, you and your neighbours can attend the Open House - TOMORROW - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Fort York, Blue Barracks - 100 Garrison Road. Make our voices heard!

Please use these two links for more information:

http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/default.aspx

http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/community/open_house.aspx.



Sincerely,
Joe Pantalone
Deputy Mayor
City of Toronto
416-392-4009

Strachan Avenue Grade Separation Open House

From the councellor's office:

There will be a second Open House on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Fort York, Blue Barracks - 100 Garrison Road. Our ongoing efforts for the Strachan - At - Grade - Crossing are intended so that the solution reached is a helpful one, rather than a harmful one. You may want to attend the Open House. It will be helpful if you and other community members drop by and provide comments to emphasize how important it is to lower the rail corridor in order to maintain Strachan Ave and the urban fabric of our community.

Please use this link for more information: http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/default.aspx

The future of the Grade Separation at Strachan Ave will affect the area greatly. City Council has taken a strong position on lowering the grade but Metrolinx will ultimately make the decision. (See the City of Toronto Staff Report: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-16917.pdf).

Clean and Beautiful City Programs Open

From the city's website (http://www.toronto.ca/cleanandbeautiful/programs.htm):

Clean and Beautiful City programs actively bring together residents’ vision, community volunteers, contributions from organizations and businesses and City expertise to enhance and renew public spaces in Toronto’s neighbourhoods and streets. We actively contribute to numerous cleaning and beautification initiatives within the City and implement three types of projects:

Community Projects

* Do you want to plant a community garden?
* Do you want to paint a mural in your neighbourhood?
* Do you want to improve a public space near your home, work or school?

We help to find partners and resources for volunteers whose projects are selected. Join a growing list of individuals, community groups, not-for-profit organizations and local businesses from each of Toronto’s 44 wards whose projects have improved our city. Community-based projects should be visible, accessible, simple in design and execution, and easy to maintain.

Planning Meeting

Councillor Vaughan has organized a planning meeting regarding developments in his area: info below and flyer can be found here.


------------------
You are invited to Councillor Vaughan's Community Planning Meeting


Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., City Council Chambers



Councillor Vaughan would like to hear your feedback about proposed planning and development in the King-Spadina neighbourhood.

There will be presentations about the following projects:

- 355 King St W (at Blue Jays Way)
- 99 Blue Jays Way (at Mercer St.)
- OCAD building, 205 Richmond St W (at Duncan)

Let us know if you plan to attend, either by phone at 416-392-4044 or councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca.

More information about neighbourhood planning and development is available at www.adamvaughan.ca in the "Community Maps" section.

Notice of Commencement - Metrolinx

Metrolinx today issued a Notice of Commencement for the Georgetown South Service Expansion, including a Union-Pearson Rail Link, under the Province of Ontario’s Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP).

The Notice of Commencement marks the beginning of the formal TPAP process and the 120-day consultation period, which will end when a Notice of Completion is issued

As part of the formal 120-day consultation process, Metrolinx will:

§ prepare a draft Environmental Project Report. A copy of the first document may be downloaded from the Metrolinx’s website on April 14, 2009. The second document will be available in May 2009.

§ launch our Virtual Open House on April 15. Online, convenient, and open 24/7, the revised project details will be available to review, learn more and comment.

§ host two rounds of Open Houses. The first round scheduled for April 2009 will share information on current environmental conditions, scope of the preferred project, and identify changes as a result of public input. Please see the Open House Notice below for details.

§ continue to meet with community groups, residents associations and individual citizens to hear suggestions and local concerns.

For the Notice of Commencement:
Notice of Commencement.pdf

For the Open House Notice:
Open House Notice.pdf

For more information, please contact:

• Metrolinx, 20 Bay Street, Suite 901, Toronto, ON M5J 2N8

• www.metrolinx.com/gsse/

• 1-866-658-9890

• info@metrolinx.com

Fort York Pedestrian Bridge Environmental Assessment

The city is holding a public meeting regarding the environmental assessment for the Fort York Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge:


We invite you to attend the first of two Public Information Centre Meetings, to learn more about what is being considered for the Fort York Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge. Information on the work completed to date and next steps will be presented.

Date: Thursday April 16, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Niagara Public School, 222 Niagara Street (Gymnasium in Basement)

More info can be found here.