Vol. 41 No. 10 December 2004 A
Very
Merry
Christmas
from all the
Directors of the
Markland Homes
Association
Don't forget Our Annual
Markland Wood Christmas Caravan. Sunday, December
12th
401st.
Scouts Christmas Trees Bloordale
United Church Saturday
November 27-Sunday December 19 President's Update Seasons
Greetings! Representatives from the Toronto Police Service spoke at the October Monthly Meeting on the Parent Safety Program, currently going on at Millwood School. Area Supervisor Russell Crilly and his partner James Connolly described the program, whose goal is to provide for the safe arrival and departure of school-aged children and eliminate hazardous road conditions in school areas. Those of you who have experienced the Millwood School program know that safety is stressed over convenience. Parents are instructed to drop off their children in a safe zone and not cause problems with parking, etc. I can tell you first-hand that the parent volunteers do a wonderful job at Millwood in what would otherwise be a chaotic parking lot. The program is always looking for more volunteers and it is flexible, allowing each school to address their specific needs and concerns. Police support this program and will assist when required, during operational times as well as in the training of parents and students. St. Clement School was cited as another potential school which could use a program such as this. For those who feel the school could benefit from this program, there is a full information kit available from the Toronto Police Parking Enforcement Unit. You can contact either of the officers named above at 416-808-1617. The plan for developing the site at the Bloor/Mill intersection is circulating among the various councillors and committees and is expected to come up before council, sometime early in the New Year. As has been previously advised, those of you who have concerns or questions about this development are urged to contact the City Planning Office or Councillor Doug Holyday's Office at the Etobicoke Civic Centre. Speaking of the Etobicoke Civic Centre, it is potentially going to be moved from its present site at Burnhamthorpe and West Mall. I was invited, along with other ratepayers associations, to a meeting a couple of weeks ago where consultants to the City explained the City's plan to look at some of the former city halls, now under the megacity, and decide whether to relocate them, sell the property or refurbish them. Apparently, the current building housing the Etobicoke Civic Centre needs quite a bit of money to update it and bring it to current standards. One of the sites being considered for relocation is the former Westwood Theatre property. The bigger question for us is what will be the future use of the Etobicoke Civic Centre site, should it be vacated for another location. I will have more information to give you next month, after another meeting on this subject. Sunday, December 12th marks the annual Markland Wood Christmas Caravan. Please support the Christmas Caravan with a donation of clothes or non-perishable food items, by leaving them at your front door. Better yet, come out on Sunday the 12th of December and join us for a few hours, helping to gather these items or load them into the the truck. Last year's Caravan was truly memorable for the snow that fell that morning. It put everyone immediately in the spirit and provided a picturesque setting to a longtime Markland tradition. Marching along in the bright snow, throughout all the streets of the community, is a memory which stayed with me for many days afterward. To those families new to the area, who have young ones, be on the lookout for the white-bearded old man in the red suit, who will be helping us on this day as he makes his rounds to those homes that have their door open and a little one waving their hand. With the Christmas season upon us, make a little time to give or do something for others less fortunate. You will feel and be the better for it.
Wishing each of you and your families a Blessed Christmas! Patrick Clifford President Markland Homes Association Deadline for the December issue: Friday
December 17th. Airport Noise Complaints: (416) 247-7682 2004-2005 Board of
Directors EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT: Patrick Clifford, 8 The Green Pines VICE-PRESIDENT:
Tom Napier, 1 Markland Dr. SECRETARY: Diane Mcleod, 15 Aymarn Crt. TREASURER: Gerard Betsch, 14 Winsdale Road DIRECTORS Richard Boehnke, 67 Markland Dr. Brian Brennand, 2 Markland Dr. Paul Cavanagh, 1 Mountain Ash Crt.Bev Evans, 8 Winsdale Rd. Michael Georgopoulos, 21 Cosway Crt. Bo Lawrentiw, 110 Mill
Rd Paul Marano, 12 Markland
Drive Don Matheson, 30 Markwood Cr. Graham Maguire, 2 Broadfield Dr. Greg Rohn, 102 Mill Rd.Anna Schaefer, 33 Cherry Post Cr. Peter Sgro, 24 Arbroath Cr. Romeo Sinopoli, 95 Mill Rd. Associate Directors Stephen Blimkie, Helen Boehnke, Bob Cooke,
Tamara Greene, Mary Lordan, Ian Sillars, Irene Sillars, Donna Sokic, MP
(Pierina) Stokes, Anne-Marie Stoneburgh and Patti Thorne. A 401st Christmas Tree This year, if you're looking for that special tree, look no further than the 401st.
Scouts Christmas Trees at Bloordale United
Church Saturday November 27-Sunday December 19 The
tree lot will be open: Weeknights 6- 9 p.m. Saturdays 9:00 am.-6:00 pm. Sundays 12 noon- 6:00 pm. Once again, the Scouts will be selling
top quality Christmas trees. Chose from Scotch Pine, Balsam
Fir and Fraser Fir. With the generosity of the community,
we sell out every year. So come early! Please support the over 65 youth in our
Scout group. Merry Christmas and thank you very much. Christmas Caravan 2004 What a wonderful time of the
year to spend with family and friends and reflect on all that we have. This
is also the time to stop and think of the hungry and homeless and the ones in
need. Marklanders
should be very proud that we, in our small way, have helped feed the needy
for over 36 years. This year will be no different. On Sunday December 12th the residents of Markland Wood will continue their tradition of collecting non-perishable food items and clothing for distribution to several charities in Toronto. Our Caravan will visit every home in Markland Wood. Last
year we shared over 15,000 pounds of food, a truckload of clothes and over
$500. The charities that benefit are The Salvation Army, The Brothers of the
Good Shepherd, The Scott Mission.
The money is donated to The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund. The Caravan usually consists of a Police sound vehicle, a bright red Fire Truck, a transport truck, to sort and pack the food, and dozens of cheery elves and, of course, Santa! The parade starts at the Markland Wood Plaza at 9:00 a.m., where we greet new "Caravaners " and all the "old regulars ". We'll be visiting the north side of Bloor Street in the morning, and, after a break for lunch, we'll continue on the south side of Bloor Street. Our elves will be winding up and down every street, stopping at each home to pick up your bags of groceries and bringing them to the curbside for loading on the truck. Please don't disappoint our little elves. The more you contribute, the happier they'll be! We'll return to the plaza, tired but excited, around 3:30 p.m. Finally, we'll unload the many boxes of already sorted food into my garage for the charities to pick up on Monday morning. This all sounds pretty exciting doesn't it &..And it is. Just ask your neighbours. You can't imagine the joy we all feel when all is done. If you will not be home on the day of the Caravan, just leave you parcel on your porch or with a neighbour. We really will come to every door. Please make us work! We do this every year, because of the great need to help. What other group do you know that contributes like this and for as long as we have? Thirty-six years is a long time and we Marklanders do it proudly and cheerfully. We are always in need of volunteers, especially those with fresh legs in the afternoon. If you would like any further information, please contact any of the directors of your Homes Association, or myself. Thank you for your continued support and Merry Christmas to you all! See you at the
Caravan, Martin Ross Chair, Christmas Caravan From Tom's Desk Another year is just about to draw to a close. It's funny
how time just seems to fly by these days. Christmas is just around the corner
and that means lots of fun at the Markland
Wood Christmas Caravan. I really enjoy getting out with my neighbours,
collecting the goods, talking, cooking lunch on the barbeque at the Bloordale
United Church, and taking photographs for the Marklander. Our elected
representatives are encouraged to come out and join us for lunch and mingle
with the Markland residents. I understand they have
busy schedules, but I do hope they visit us for this very worthwhile and much
needed drive. So, I ask you to help out with the collection of clothing, food
and money to distribute to those in need. Councillor Doug Holyday has been getting a lot of radio airtime recently. I have heard him on many talk shows and news clips being interviewed on issues such as the homeless, garbage collection and immigration/refugee location issues. I take my hat off to Councillor Holyday for bringing these issues to the forefront. The Canadian government, which unfortunately does not share in the cost of their immigration and refugee policies, really does neglect Toronto. Housing and crime are just two issues associated with immigration and refugees. There are many more. Your municipal tax dollars go directly toward the funding to manage these issues. I also think Councillor Holyday has opened a hornets' nest, by discussing the homeless issue at Toronto City Hall. Whether you think he is right or wrong by wanting to keep the homeless moving along until they head to the city's supplied shelters, it is an important and growing issue and needs to have resolution. The Markland Wood trees keep growing bigger and bigger. The autumn colour this year was better than ever before. There were also a lot more leaves that fell. I have sympathy for the man in the collection truck, as I saw him driving throughout Markland Wood, well into the evening. Please be sure to have all of your leaves raked and other yard waste bagged before December 15th, as this is the last collection day. For those of you who are little bit late this year getting to the annual, backbreaking, leaf clean up, please be courteous to your neighbours. When the northwest winds come, the houses on the east ends of the streets get a massive collection from your trees on their yards. Please note that you are responsible for the curbs around your house. The street cleaner will not pick up leaves, so please try to clean your curb. If the leaf pile is too big or sits for too long, you could receive a warning or fine from our By-Law enforcement officers. Deciduous debris (leaves) also makes great compost. You can dig the leaves into the soil and the earthworms will do the rest. Come springtime, the leaves will be transformed into beautiful nutrient rich soil. The Markland Homes Association (MHA) collection drive for 2004 is now over. Thanks to all the Marklanders who paid their $7 annual dues on my route. For those who wish to support the MHA, please call one of the directors. Markland Wood is such a wonderful place to live and your membership fee helps us to keep it this way. Local schools and churches are having their holiday pageants again this year. You can read more about one such event, at Silverthorn Collegiate, in the Community Classified at the end of this issue. Please show your support by attending them. Some have a nominal charge to support their programmes. I hope to see you there. ¯You better watch out. You better not pout & Santa Claus is coming to town.¯ Do you know the names of the ten reindeer in the Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer' song? I'll give you a hint... Her name is Olive. Yes, ¯Olive the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names. ¯ I hope you have a great and safe holiday season. Please don't drink and drive. I'll see you in the New Year! Cheers, Tom Napier, VP-MHA Email: tlcnapier1@rogers.com Editor's Note: I
hope you'll forgive me for including this story. I know we had it in a few
Christmases ago, but it's such a good Christmas story and it's Canadian
content!
Hoodoo McFiggin's Christmas
by Stephen
Leacock, 1910 This Santa Claus
business is played out. It's sneaking, underhand method, and the sooner it's
exposed the better. For a parent to get up under cover of the
darkness of night and palm off a ten-cent necktie on a boy who had been
expecting a ten-dollar watch, and then say that an angel sent it to him, is
low, undeniably low. I had a good opportunity of observing how
the thing worked this Christmas, in the case of young Hoodoo McFiggin, the
son and heir of the McFiggins, at whose house I board. Hoodoo McFiggin is a good boy - a religious
boy. He had been given to understand that Santa Claus would bring nothing to
his father and mother because grown-up people don't get presents from the
angels. So he saved up all his pocket-money and bought a box of cigars for
his father and a seventy-five-cent diamond brooch for his mother. His own
fortunes he left in the hands of the angels. But he prayed. He prayed every
night for weeks that Santa Claus would bring him a pair of skates and a
puppy-dog and an air-gun and a bicycle and a Noah's ark and a sleigh and a
drum - altogether about a hundred and fifty dollars- worth of stuff. I went into Hoodoo's room quite early
Christmas morning. I had an idea that the scene would be interesting. I woke
him up and he sat up in bed, his eye glistening with radiant expectation, and
began hauling things out of his stocking. The first parcel was bulky; it was
done up quite loosely and had an odd look generally. "Ha! Ha!
" Hoodoo cried gleefully, as he
began undoing it. "I'll bet it's the puppy-dog, all wrapped up in paper! " And was it the puppy-dog? No, by no means.
It was a pair of nice, strong, number-four boots, laces and all, labelled "Hoodoo, from Santa Claus,
" and underneath... "95net. " The boy's jaw fell with delight. "It's
boots, " he said, and plunge in his hand again. He began hauling away at another parcel
with renewed hope on his face. This time the thing seemed like a little
round box. Hoodoo tore the paper off it with a feverish hand. He shook it;
something rattled inside. "It's a watch and chain! It's a watch and
chain!: he shouted. Then he pulled the lid off. And was it a watch and chain? No. It was a
box of nice, brand-new celluloid collars, a dozen of them all alike and all
his own size. The boy was so pleased that you could see
his face crack up with pleasure. He waited a few minutes until his intense
joy subsided. Then he tried again. This time the packet was long and hard. It
resisted the touch and had a sort of funnel shape. "It's a toy pistol! Said the boy, trembling
with excitement. "Gee! I hope there are lots of caps with
it! I'll fire some off now and wake up father. No, my poor child, you will not wake your
father with that. It is a useful thing, but it needs not caps and it fires no
bullets, and you cannot wake a sleeping man with a tooth-brush. Yes, it was a
tooth-brush - regular beauty, pure bone all through, and ticketed with a
little paper, "Hoodoo, from Santa Claus. " Again the expression of intense joy passed
over the boy's face, and the tears of gratitude started from his eye. He
wiped them away with his tooth-brush and passed on. The next packet was much larger and
evidently contained something soft and bulky. It had been too long to go into
the stocking and was tied outside. "I wonder what this is,
" Hoodoo mused, half
afraid to open it. Then his heart gave a great leap, and he forgot all his
other presents in the anticipation of this one. "It's a drum, all wrapped
up! " Drum nothing! It was pants - a pair of the
nicest little short pant - yellowish-brown short pants - with dear little
stripes of colour running across both ways, and here again Santa Claus had
written, "Hoodoo, from Santa Claus, one fort net. " But there was something
wrapped up in it. Oh, yes! There was a pair of braces wrapped up in it,
braces with a little steel sliding thing so that you could slide your pants
up to your neck, if you wanted to. The boy gave a dry sob of satisfaction.
Then he took out his last present. "It's a book, " he said, as he unwrapped
it. "I wonder if it is fairy stories or adventures. Oh, I hope it's
adventure! I'll read it all morning. " No, Hoodoo, it was not precisely
adventures. It was a small family Bible. Hoodoo had now seen all his
presents, and he arose and dressed. But he still had the fun of playing with
his toys. That is always the chief delight of Christmas morning. First he
played with his tooth-brush. He got a whole lot of water and brushed all his
teeth with it. This was huge. Then he played with his collars. He had no
end of fun with them, taking them all out one by one and swearing at them,
and then putting them back and swearing at the whole lot together. The next toy was his pants. He had immense
fun there, putting them on and taking them off again, and then trying to
guess which side was which by merely looking at them. After that he took his
book and read some adventures-called "Genesis " till breakfast-time. Then he went downstairs, and kissed his
father and mother. His father was smoking a cigar, and his mother had her new
brooch on. Hoodoo's face was thoughtful, and a light seemed to have broken in
upon his mind. Indeed, I think it altogether likely that next Christmas he
will hang on to his own money and take chances on what the angels bring. School
News Silverthorn Collegiate Millwood Junior School October and November have been very busy months at Millwood this year. Our enrolment remains consistent at about 485 students, 200 of which are in the French Immersion program. Already this year, students have participated in a Terry Fox Run, a Halloween Parade and Cookie Dough and Poinsettia Fundraising activities. We are also very pleased with this year's first attempt at the Cross Country Team. Many Millwood students made it to the finals at Centennial Park. Congratulations to all of our participants and to the teachers who supported their endeavours. Field Trips, which are sponsored by the Parent Council, have included trips to the Outdoor Field Studies Centre, The Toronto Symphony, The Royal Winter Fair and, for the first time ever, all kindergarten students traveled to Sprindale Farm for their first outing. We would like to thank all the parent volunteers who so willingly gave up their time to help on these outings. Please join us next month for our Holiday sing-a-long on Wednesday December 15th. Watch the display sign for more details
Ms. T. Carravetta,
Principal Church
News
Bloordale United Church 4258 Bloor St. West. Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 1Z7 621-1710 Morning
services on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with Sunday school
each week. Service conducted by Rev. Stephen Iverson. Sermon topics are as follows: December 5: Advent 2: "Cutting Corners " December 12: Advent 3: "Christmas Cantata " December 19: Advent 4: "Who is God? " Also, Sunday School Christmas Pageant December 24: Christmas Eve, 7:00 p.m. All ages Christmas Eve Celebration & Communion December 26: Guest Speaker OTHER EVENTS: The Ladies of the U.C.W. will be holding their Holly Tea & Bazaar, serving tea, coffee and scones with an opportunity to buy Christmas Cookies at the "Cookie Corner ". Price $4.00 per person. RENFORTH BAPTIST CHURCH 621-1990 ST. CLEMENT PARISH
NEWS MASS TIMES: SATURDAY EVENING at 4:45 p.m. SUNDAY at 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: SATURDAY 3:30-4:30 p.m. Congratulations to
the six boys and girls who have completed the Altar Server training and will
now join this ministry. Sunday, December 5: The 8th Annual Friends of St. Clement Christmas Luncheon brings several groups from inner city shelters and drop-in centres together for a great afternoon of food, music and fellowship. If you can assist us by donating food or beverages, or by helping us with the set up, clean up etc., please contact Frank or Doreen Zniderac at 695-2215,. Wednesday, December
8: An evening celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation will begin at 7:00 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Society will be collecting non-perishable food items during the weekend Masses of December 11 and 12. Tuesday, December 14: Our school and parish communities will gather for an Advent celebration beginning at 7:00 p.m. Our Christmas
Masses are: Friday, December 24: 7:00 p.m. and Midnight Mass Saturday, December 25: 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. Sunday, December 26: 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. Don't forget the Teddy Bear Picnic Bring the whole family out on Friday night, December 10th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Admission: $5/adult, $3/child (12 and under) Pizza & refreshments included See you in the St.
Clement Church hall on the 10th St.
James United Church
400 Burnhamthorpe Road,
Etobicoke (Just west of 427 on the south side of Burnhamthorpe Road.)
622-4113 Celebration Service 9:00 a.m.(includes Sunday School) Traditional Service 10:30 a.m.(includes Sunday
School, baby-sitting) Fellowship with tea or coffee after service The
Church of Christ the King 475 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke Just West of Hwy. 427 621-3630 M.M.P. 1st and 3rd Sunday Communion 2nd and 4th Sunday Regular Service Times December 12: The Wondrous Story A Visual & Musical Presentation Featuring the Combined Choirs of Christ
the King and St. Luke, East York December 19: Family
Hymn Sing & Party at 10:30 a.m. Also CHECK US OUT ON OUR WEB
SITE http://netcomsolutions-ont.com/Christ_King
800 Burnhamthorpe Road (just east of Mill Rd.) Etobicoke 622-9647 Reverend John Tenyenhuis St. Matthew's Anglican Church 3962 Bloor St. W. Etobicoke 416-231-4014 office@saintmatts.ca Services: Sundays at 8 & 10 a.m. Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. (BCP)
Upcoming Events:
A Dramatic reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol The CBC Radio presentation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Guest readers include: Deborah Drakeford (Soulpepper Theatre), Michael Hlinka and Nada Harcourt (CBC Radio & Television), Duncan Green and Bruce Gleeson. Saturday, December 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets $15, available by calling 416-231-4014.
Sundays in Advent Advent (meaning 'to come') is a time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus. Each Sunday during Advent we will be exploring both the challenge and importance of Peace, Hope, Love and Joy. Please join us for Worship at either our traditional 8:00 a.m. service or at the 10:00 a.m. Family Service (Nursery and Child Care available).
The Book Launch for "From Generation to Generation: A History of St. Matthew's", by Harry St. Clair Hilchey, will be held on Saturday December 4th at 5:00 p.m. It will be followed by a pot-luck dinner at 6:00 p.m. Archdeacon Hilchey's book commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the first service held in the church proper on December 24th 1954.
Christmas Eve - Friday, December 24th 4:30 p.m. Family Service of Holy Communion with a visual presentation of the Christmas Story and a visit from St. Nicholas! 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion with the Rt. Rev. Ann Tottenham. Join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ. All are welcome.
Christmas Day - Saturday, December 25th 10:00 a.m. Service of Holy Communion (BCP) People and Places Special Event at St. Clement Church Hall: Teddy Bear Picnic
ALL ARE WELCOME! Bring the whole family out on Friday night, December 10th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Admission: $5/adult, $3/child (12 and under) Pizza & refreshments included
Come and decorate a gingerbread house or cookie, personalize a Christmas ornament, meet friends, have fun
Raffle and Door Prizes! Beautiful Teddy Bears, personalized with your child's name, will also be available for sale. All profits will be donated to ShareLife See you in the St.
Clement Church hall on the 10th CENTENNIAL PARK SKATING CLUB invites you to join
us for our CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE to be held on Saturday December11 from
3:10-5:10 p.m. Our skating organization has been serving the Etobicoke area for 30
years and to celebrate Christmas 2004 we will be having a family and friend
skate. Joining us will be SANTA and Mrs. Clause and an elf or
two. Refreshments will be served and we will also have a small skating
demonstration to show our community what we do at Centennial Park Skating
Club. The Open House is free and we hope to see you there. Parenting and Family Literacy Program The Etobicoke
Newcomers Club for Women Are you new to the area? Interested in making new friendships? Join us on the first Tuesday of each month at Kingsway Lambton United Church, 85 The Kingsway. The club is a not for profit women's social organization and is affiliated with the National Newcomers' Council of Canada. Activities vary from bridge to book club, social gatherings and visits to many Toronto exhibits. We have several events for couples throughout the year. We are always open to new ideas and welcome the participation of new members. For further information call Vi at 416-237-0961. Parent and Tot
Coffee Time
At Bloordale United Church,
Room 13, on alternate Tuesday mornings between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Coffee is provided, but bring a snack for your
little one(s). Next date: December
14, continuing in January (date to be announced). Make a friend, bring a friend, be a friend. For more information,
call Karen
Miteff at 621-2293. |
