News in Brief

The Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) is holding a Solar and Community Power Seminar for BIAs, their members and local residents on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Rd. An initiative of TABIA’s greenTbiz program, the session will provide information to the community on the benefits of neighbourhood solar projects. The event is a combined effort of Ward 32 Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon’s Renewable Energy Committee, Beaches-East York MP Matthew Kellway’s East End Sustainability Network, and local BIAs and neighbourhood groups. For more information visit http://bit.ly/T3YTse.
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The East End Sustainability Network will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the East End Health Centre, 1619 Queen St. E. (at Coxwell Ave.), from 10 a.m. until noon. Anyone who is concerned about sustaining the urban environment is invited to come out to the meeting and find out how to get involved. For more information call MP Kellway’s constituency office at 416-467-0860 or email matthew.kellway.c1a@parl.gc.ca.
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Pick up a jack-o-lantern-worthy pumpkin on Saturday, Oct. 20 in front of Kew Beach Public School when the Welbanks Mortgage Group holds a free pumpkin giveaway. The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Other activities include a scary pumpkin carving contest, Halloween house decorating ideas, face painting and hot chocolate. You can also pick up a recipe for pumpkin pie. All funds raised from these activities will support the community. For more information call 416-698-9990.
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Soup, and lots of it, is being served at Woodbine Park, at the foot of Coxwell Avenue, on Sunday, Oct. 21. Soupstock is a local follow-up to its predecessor Foodstock where 28,000 people turned out last year to protest the proposed Mega Quarry in Melancthon Township, 100 km north of Toronto. Over 150 Canadian chefs will create dishes using ingredients donated by local farmers. George Stroumboulopoulos and musician Jeremy Taggart of Our Lady Peace will host the event. Musical guests include Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, Jesse Cook, Snowblink, the Paint Movement, Inlet Sound, Alysha Brillinger, Crissi Cochrane, Carmen Corcoz, Choir! Choir! Choir!, and Hobowally. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information visit soupstock.ca.
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A dinner to promote local food consumption will be held at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, 35 Wood Glen Rd., on Sunday, Oct. 21. On the menu for The Hundred Mile Dinner is ham, parsnip and carrot casserole, potato salad, coleslaw, sliced tomatoes, cider and apple crisp. All the food is locally sourced except for the sugar used in baking the apple crisp. The evening also includes a presentation on how you can create your own small vegetable garden at home. It’s all free and everyone is welcome to attend. Seating begins at 5:30 p.m. If you would like to attend, call the church at 416-699-3084.
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A Biking in the City Workshop will be held on Monday, Oct. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Main Street Library, 137 Main St. Facilitated by Cycle Toronto, a member-based city cycling advocacy group, the workshop will address everything you need to know about cycling in town including safe riding techniques, rules of the road, route selection, reasons to ride and obstacles to riding. For more information visit cycleto.ca/about.
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A lasting memento of the Kingston Road Village neighbourhood is now available in calendar form, and all proceeds from its purchase will go to Community Centre 55. The 2013 Kingston Road Village Calendar contains a business directory and features lots of photos of local venues, stores and watering holes, and historical pictures and information. Copies are $18.50 each and can be ordered via email at penny-condo@rogers.com or by phone at 416-691-4501.
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Community Centre 55 is offering Seniors’ Yoga Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Tuesday morning classes begin at 10 a.m. and the Thursday afternoon classes get underway at 1:15 p.m. There is a $20 per session fee. For more information call Program Director, Evonne Hossack, at 416-691-1113.
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Representatives from Greenpeace may be knocking on your door in the next couple of weeks. They are canvassing East End neighbourhoods until Oct. 31, seeking donations but also providing information about the organization and its many campaigns. The organization was founded in Canada 41 years ago and is the only environmental group with seats in the United Nations General Assembly. Canvassers will be clearly identified with name tags and will visit your home between 5 and 9 p.m. If you would like to become a member of Greenpeace or just want more information, visit greenpeace.ca

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