News in Brief (July 24)

ZooShare Biogas Co-operative Inc., a non-profit renewable energy group, will hold a Dog Waste Methane Project Information Session on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m. at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St. The Ward 32 Renewable Energy Committee, created by Ward 32 Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, has partnered with ZooShare for this initiative which will look at converting animal waste from area dog parks  into energy. Currently, ZooShare is building a 500 kW biogas plant at the Toronto Zoo. The plant will convert animal and food waste into electricity and heat fertilizer.
For more information visit ZooShare.ca, call Ronn Stevenson at 416-686-3923, ZooShare at 1-888-990-9095, or email info@zooshare.ca.
•
The city’s investigation into basement flooding in ‘Area 32’ – from the Don River to Victoria Park, and from Danforth to the lake – has concluded, and the resulting study will be available for review starting July 27, until Sept. 7, at the Beaches Library.
A number of recommendations have been offered by the consultants, including: continuing managing stormwater at the source (roofs, driveways, roads); continuing the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program; upgrading the capacity of combined and storm sewers; separating some combined sewers; installing some new catch-basins; reconfiguring storm sewer outfalls; and constructing relief sewers in spots. As part of the stormwater management plan, the median on Woodbine Avenue running north from Lakeshore Boulevard will be extended by 32.5 m over the coming month, to direct stormwater away from the homes on the east side of Woodbine.
•
The Hospital for Sick Children holds a special place in Beach resident Michelle Wan’s heart. Her daughter received life-saving surgery there when she was just two days old. Wan would like to give back to Sick Kids by holding a fundraising event called Twinkle Challenge. She has challenged herself to learn Mozart’s Twinkle Twinkle piano variations in less than two weeks and play it live on Friday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m. on the “Play Me I’m Yours” piano that has been housed in the hospital’s atrium as an art exhibit leading up to the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games. Her fundraising goal is $5,000 and the money will go to bladder/bowel stem cell research.
To find out how to donate, visit Wan’s facebook page at facebook.com/TwinkleChallenge, Sick Kids donation page at http://bit.ly/MwoBCJ, or her blog at mamaplaysmozart.blogspot.ca
•
Sunday, July 29 is Bike Day at the Leslieville Farmers’ Market. Get your bike washed or tuned up, donate a used bike to Charlie’s Freewheels youth program, and pick up info about safe cycling. There is also a contest in the offing: design a bike-board baguette carrier and win a prize.
Sunday, Aug. 12 is BaconFest! at the Market. Festivities include a Best Bacon Competition.
Leslieville Market is located at Jonathan Ashbridge Park, at the corner of Eastern and Coxwell Avenues, and runs every Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information visit the website at leslievillemarket.com.
•
The Gerrard-Woodbine Neighbourhood Association is holding a Name the ‘Hood vote in its neighbourhood. There are 21 names from which to choose and the winner will be announced at a community picnic on Saturday, Sept. 8. Take a look at the names and read the voting rules at gerrardwoodbine.com or send an email to GWNAcontact@gmail.com.
•
Join Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon for Family Movie Nights Under the Stars this summer. On Thursday, Aug. 16 watch Rio at East Lynn Park at 8:30 p.m. Fairmount Park will be showing Kung Fu Panda 2 on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 8:30 p.m. Tintin will be playing in Jonathan Ashbridge Park on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 15 take in Shrek the Third at Stephenson Park at 8 p.m. Bring your lawn chair. Popcorn will be available for $1 with proceeds going to the Friends of parks groups.
•
Area Tree Captains are needed to spread the word about the dangers of the Emerald Ash Borer. Volunteers are being recruited for Craven, Rhodes, Ashdale, Queen, Danforth and Sarah Ashbridge streets. Email councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca if you would like to get involved.
Tree maintenance, such as pruning dead or hazardous limbs, is currently being carried out on local streets. Visit toronto.ca/trees/operations.htm for more info.
•
Birch Cliff Heights Public School and Chine Drive Public School music teacher, Kevin Hrycay, is one of three winners of a national magazine’s Great Teacher Awards. The magazine, Canadian Family, received more than 500 nominations from across the country. Hrycay will receive $2,500 to use toward programmiing and supplies for his schools and will be featured in the September issue of the magazine.

---