News in Brief

The Church of St. Nicholas Birch Cliff, Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre and Wimpy’s Restaurant are teaming up to present The Amazing Christmas Feast, an annual dinner for individuals or families in need, on Monday, Dec. 19. Guests will be treated to a free turkey dinner with all the trimmings at Wimpy’s, located at 1496 Kingston Rd., then are invited across the street to St. Nicholas Church for dessert and a visit from Santa. Children will receive a wrapped gift and a photo with the jolly gent. The Feast takes place from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
For more information call 416-691-0449 ext. 222, 416-396-4312 or 416-694-1557.
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A couple of local charities are benefiting this Christmas from the year-round fundraising efforts of the family at 9 Boardwalk Dr. Throughout the year, the family’s Charity Fundraising Committee collects beer and liquor bottles, then at Christmastime distributes the funds amongst a number of city charities. This year’s local recipients are St. Aidan’s Out of the Cold and the Red Door Family Shelter.
Number 9’s special Knitting Group has made items for Yard Sale for the Cure, Beach United Church and others.
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Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church is taking donations for disaster relief kits to be distributed by the Mennonite Central Committee. Bags or boxes are stocked with the bare necessities and delivered to people around the world who have been displaced by war, famine or flooding. The Mennonite Central Committee provides a list of items for each ‘kit’ (relief, school, Aids care, sewing, hygiene, infant care) on its website: www.mcc.org/kits/school. Fallingbrook Church will be accepting donations for these kits until Christmas. If you would like to donate email the church office at fboffice@rogers.com.
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Celebrate the winter solstice with the folks of Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation at a Solstice/ Yule Service on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. The service will start with drumming, a grounding ritual and the circle casting, followed by invocations of the four directions and the God and Goddess and a Burning Bowl ritual. Meditate and pray in the darkness, the rejoice as the light returns. There will be children’s stories, songs and activities. A holiday feast around a blazing Yule log completes the festivities. All ages are welcome at this inter-generational gathering. NUUC is located at 79 Hiawatha Rd., south of Gerrard Street and west of Coxwell Avenue. For more information call 416-686-6609 or visit www.nuuc.ca.
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If you’ve tied one on the night before, you may want to find out if exercise is the best antidote for a hangover by tying up your running shoes and heading over to the Boardwalk for the Hair of the Dog 9K Fun Run on Sunday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day). Registration starts at 10:30 at the Balmy Beach Club. For more information, or to sign up, visit www.balmybeachcanoe.com.
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If running isn’t your thing, how about skating? The city-run rinks at Kew Gardens and Monarch Park are now open. Lace up the skates and take the family for a spin.
For more information about hours and ice conditions, visit www.toronto.ca/parks/skating/outdoor-rinks.htm.
In the new year watch for your neighbours to start pulling out the garden hoses and flooding a lawn near you.
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The holiday season is stressful for many of us, but may be even more so for someone with a drinking problem. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with one another that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. AA runs meetings in our community and many more across the city. If you would like more information on how to get help, call 416-487-5591 or visit www.aatoronto.org.
If someone in your family suffers from alcoholism, you suffer too. For help and information about Al-Anon and Alateen Family Groups call 416-410-3809, 1-888-425-2666 or visit www.al-anon.alateen.on.ca.

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