News in Brief

A free safe driving presentation for seniors will be held at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., on Monday, Jan. 23 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ‘You and the Road – Seniors Driving Safely & Pedestrian Safety’ will be led by Bob Annan, a retired 38-year veteran of the police service’s Hit and Run Squad. The event is brought to you by Accident Awareness, a not-for-profit corporation devoted to the prevention of motor vehicle collisions through education. For more information contact Evonne at 416-691-1113 ext. 222.
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Area young people who are interested in getting involved in the political process should make a point to attend the next Youth Advisory Meeting, hosted by Beaches/East York MP Matthew Kellway, at his Constituency Office, 155 Main St., on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. This is your chance to get your voice heard and influence what happens in Ottawa’s House of Commons. These meetings are held monthly. For more information email Elaine through matthew.kellway.c1a@parl.gc.ca or call 416-467-0860. Join the facebook group Youth Advisory (Beaches-East York).
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A Forum for a National Transit Strategy will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17 at D. A. Morrison Middle School, 271 Gledhill Ave. Join Beaches/East York MP Matthew Kellway for a panel discussion with Beaches-East York MPP Michael Prue (Finance Critic), Trinity/Spadina MP Olivia Chow (Critic for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) and Michael Roschlau, Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) President and CEO.
Registration begins at 6:30 with a 7 p.m. start time. For more information contact matthew.kellway.c1a@parl.gc.ca.
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Volunteers are needed to help out at Art of the Danforth, an annual large-scale multi-disciplinary art event taking place along Danforth Avenue between Woodbine and Greenwood Avenues. If you are interested in helping out, Volunteer Intake / Community Meetings will be held tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Danforth Coxwell Library, 1675 Danforth Ave., from 7 to 8 p.m. and on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 8 to 9 p.m. at LuSculpture Studio & Schools, 663 Greenwood Ave. Art of the Danforth runs from May 20 to June 10.
For more information email Cindy at info@eastdanforthcreative.com.
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The annual Kiwanis Music Festival will be held from Feb. 21 to March 2 and volunteers are needed to help make it all happen. If you enjoy music, here is your opportunity to get involved. Volunteers help adjudicators by collecting music from participants, preparing award certificates, recording results in the master program and phoning in end-of-session results to the Festival Office. Two training/refresher sessions will be held later this month.
For more information call Jane at 416-686-9008 or visit kiwanismusictoronto.org.
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Ward 32 Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon would like to hear from skating enthusiasts and history buffs about a couple of new ventures in the works. A Skating Path Work Group is being set up to gauge the interest and feasibility for a skating path – a ‘mini Rideau Canal skating trail’ – along the waterfront. The path would be similar to one in Etobicoke. Fundraising ideas would be welcome, and you don’t have to be a skater to partcipate.
McMahon would also like to establish a Ward 32 Historical Society. Contact her via email at councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca or phone 416-392-1376.
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Concerned Citizens of Quarry Lands Development (CCQLD) will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Rd., beginning at 7:30 p.m. The organization was formed in 2003 as a neighbourhood response to planned high-rise developments at the Quarry site. The AGM will present an update on recent events as well as a discussion on how best to move forward to ensure responsible development of the site. Local elected officials, along with representatives from Build Toronto, are expected to attend.
For more information visit ccqld.blogspot.com.
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Beach United Church at 140 Wineva Ave. is about to undergo renovations. The congregation has already moved to a temporary location at St. Aidan’s Church, making way for trucks and bulldozers to move in and begin work. On Saturday, Jan. 21 between 9 a.m. and noon, the public is invited to an ‘Under Renovation’ Information Session to get a sneak peek of what the church will look like when renovations are completed. The blueprints call for demoltion of one part of the church, ultimately creating a more flexible space by offering improved banquet and community meeting facilities, making the church more energy efficient and allowing for solar panels to be installed in the future.
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Rev. Bob Faris, Associate Minister at St. Andrew’s Church, King Street, will be the guest speaker at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church’s next Community Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Faris, who recently returned from a visit to the Middle East, will speak on ‘A Christian Response to the Palestinian/Israeli Impasse’ and will discuss efforts to seek a just and lasting peace. Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church is located at 31 Wood Glen Rd. at Kingston Road.
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The annual homage to Scottish poet Robbie Burns begins on Saturday, Jan. 14 when St. Paul’s United Church holds its fifth annual Robbie Burns Lunch at 200 McIntosh St. (in the Midland and Kingston Road area), beginning at noon. A $20 advance-only ticket gets you music, dancers and, of course, haggis. Call 416-261-4222 for tickets.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, 31 Wood Glen Rd., holds its Robbie Burns Dinner and Ceiliah at 5:30 p.m. This sell-out event features dinner, songs, readings, Highland and Scottish Country dancing, all for $30. For tickets call 416-699-3084.

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