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Vol. 40 No. 8 October 2003
President's Update Greetings! By the time you receive this, we will have been to the polls once already for the Province of Ontario Elections. Did you vote? If you did, did you take the time to know who and what you were voting for? If you did not vote, you lost the chance to express your opinion. But you have another opportunity… on November 10th… the City of Toronto Municipal Elections. Both of these elections have an impact both directly and indirectly on our community and thus we should care. Both elections have names on the ballot that you may recognize or have never heard of. Before dismissing the candidate, whose name is not recognized, perhaps we should seek out or ask what this person intends to do or change and how this will affect us and our community. Before voting for the familiar name or candidate, perhaps we should ask what has this person done for me or my community…lately. These representatives (their salaries, offices, travel and expenditures) are paid for directly by all of us. The Markland Homes Association (MHA) is working with another ratepayers association in Etobicoke, the Community of Rathburn-Grove Ratepayers or CORR, to put together one or two All Candidates Nights in late October. Depending on schedules and interest, there might be one for the mayoral candidates and one for the city councilor candidates. We will endeavour to inform you, probably by way of a flyer, should these be arranged. If you wish to help or be involved in the planning process, contact me or any one of the MHA Directors listed below. Speaking of our Directors, one of them will be coming to your door in the coming weeks to collect the annual $7 membership dues. Please leave the $7 somewhere near your front door, so it is convenient for you or one of your family to reach it when one of us stops by. Your $7 goes towards various activities in which the MHA is involved, such as providing Annual Scholarships, representing local community issues and concerns, hosting local events (such as All Candidates Meetings) and sponsoring children’s sports teams. (Our newsletter, the Marklander, is supported solely by proceeds from advertising). Remember, as a homeowner in the area, we are all members of the MHA. Pictured on our cover are the winners of this year’s Markland Wood Scholarships, Farid Gholizadeh, Brian Holland and Greg Overholt. Farid graduated this past June from Silverthorne Collegiate and is attending the Schulich School of Business at York University, where he is studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration. Brian is a grade 12 graduate of Michael Power/St. Joseph High School and has been accepted at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he plans to obtain his Bachelor of Business Administration. Greg, a grade 12 graduate of the Etobicoke School of the Arts, has enrolled in the Co-op program at Wilfrid Laurier University, and is pursuing a double major in Computer and Business Congratulations to the three of you and we wish you the best of luck as you begin your college studies. I would also like to thank the members of the Scholarship Committee, all Directors, who spent time in August reviewing the many submissions (which had been were previously blinded by a 3rd party) and making the difficult choices. October means Halloween. Halloween is the second most popular time of the year to decorate one’s house around an event and Markland Wood is no exception. Those of you who go out with your children will see some of these decorations and you will meet some of your neighbours. Those who stay at home will find a stream of entertainment coming to your door, as many of the kids go all out in dressing up. One of the subtle attributes of this neighbourhood is that it remains a safe place for Trick or Treaters. You should feel proud of this fact! October is also time for Thanksgiving. We have no shortage of things to reflect upon and be thankful for. Count your blessings. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Patrick J. Clifford President, Markland Homes Association
EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT: Patrick Clifford, 8 The Green Pines 621-7695 VICE-PRESIDENT: Tom Napier, 1 Markland Dr. 622-9630 SECRETARY: Don Matheson, 30 Markwood Cr. 621-4291 TREASURER: Gerard Betsch, 14 Winsdale Road 620-4896 DIRECTORS Richard Boehnke, 67 Markland Dr. 621-5089 Brian Brennand, 2 Markland Dr. 622-8011 Bev Evans, 8 Winsdale Rd. 621-2153 Bo Lawrentiw, 110 Mill Rd, 622-9522 Graham Maguire, 2 Broadfield Dr. 620-4398 Diane Mcleod, 15 Aymarn Crt. 622-2183 Associate Directors Stephen Blimkie, Helen Boehnke, Ian Sillars, Irene Sillars and Patti Thorne, Airport Noise Complaints: (416) 247-7682 From Tom’s Desk There are two very important topics that I ask you to consider this autumn: Autumn leaves and check your trees for any signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. Toronto has a zero tolerance policy for residents who rake their leaves to the curb and leave them there. Unfortunately, Markland Wood does not have a curbside leaf pick-up program. Another reason for disposing of your leaves quickly is to help prevent a leaf mold that infected our Maple trees this year. The black spotting, which caused the leaves to wither was evident throughout Markland this year. The mold is not fatal, but does weaken the tree’s resistance to other diseases. Disposing of the leaves in a timely manner will help keep this mold from spreading. Acceptable containers for leaf pick-up are the brown kraft paper bags or uncovered waste containers, such as garbage bins or bushel baskets. Toronto does not accept clear plastic bags for yard waste.
Reporting and contact information is: 416-392-2342 and 800-442-2342. You can read more about the Asian Longhorned Beetle at www.inspection.gc.ca or www.city.toronto.on.ca. Thanks, Tom Napier VP-MHA One Markland Drive 416-622-9630 Important Contact Information: Councillor Doug Holyday, Ward 2, 392-4002, Email: councillor_holyday@city.toronto.on.ca Hon. Chris Stockwell, MPP Etobicoke Centre, 695-1220, Email: chris_stockwellco@ontla.ola.org Hon Allen Rock, MP Etobicoke Centre, 231
2301, Email: Rock.A@parl.gc.ca Street Lighting - 395-4448 Roads & Sidewalks - 394-8615 Traffic - 416-394-8453 Emergency Medical Services - 392-9833 Police
- 808-2200 911 – For Real Emergencies! Toronto Department Web Site: http://www.toronto.ca/departments/ Down to Earth Paranoid and Prudent: Chaos looms, be prepared (written by William Thorsell, director and CEO of the Royal Ontario Museum. Globe
and Mail. Sept. 8) When
bad things happen, and it's a near miss, we tend to deny how serious it could
have been.
A high-speed fender bender. A slip on a mountain ledge. "Too close for
comfort" is
the phrase, and then we seek our comfort in getting as far away as possible
from the memory. So it
was with the blackout in Toronto last month, a dramatic but momentary insight
into the abyss, mercifully over in most areas within a day, giving only
glimpses of the horrors that might have been. Pushing those glimpses aside and
getting back to normal is, well, perfectly normal. But given the uncertainties
of the age, we owe it to ourselves to face the awful risks, and take just a
few of the prudent measures that could make the difference between a bad dream
and a certain nightmare. Let's start with water. People
living in most high-rise apartments lost water immediately with the power
outage, because water pressure in the city-wide system is insufficient to
reach the upper floors. High-rises pump water to upper floors, and most of
those pumps went down. The
rest of us enjoyed normal water service during the blackout, because the water
comes from reservoirs and arrives courtesy of gravity (some people even continued
watering lawns). But the reservoirs themselves require filling from the city's
water-treatment plants, and those plants lost power to their major pumps as well,
with no backup to keep them going. In an
interview on CBC Radio the morning after the blackout, Toronto water officials
indicated that reservoir levels had declined to less than 50 per cent by the
dead of night, and, had power not been quicklv restored, would have run to
bottom within a couple of days. No
water to drink for 2.5 million people living cheek by jowl. No water to flush
the toilets. No water for the fire hydrants. Threatened by accidents and
arsonists, and desperate for water, an entire city would go looking for it.
Happily, Toronto exists on a fresh-water lake, so options exist in bucket
brigades. But the scene would have become predictably ugly quickly. Let's talk about food. If
power had been out for two weeks, how would the food-supply system have coped?
No lights or refrigeration in the supermarkets. Panic buying where food was
available at all. How long would social peace last in the face of food
shortages in a city of 2.5 million people accustomed to ordering in and eating
out? Are
there any contingency plans for this eventuality? What agency would have
anything like the human resources to organize and administer food distribution
in the absence of power for a month? And let's talk about heat. If
the power went out for a month in January and most
of the city's furnaces with it, where would people stay? How would the city
deal with thousands of fireplaces and opportunistic fires in the absence of
fire hydrants? Without
heat (one day), water (three days) and food (five days), what would happen
to social order in a city of 2.5 million souls? Surely, with the terrorist and systemic
risks to our power supply—not to mention ice storms — and the horrifying
scenarios of social disorder that so easily come to mind, we should consider
these questions now and even urgently. Paranoia is not the same as prudence,
which is sometimes ignored so as not to Seem paranoiac. Water
is the most important thing, which suggests two immediate strategies: Reliable,
robust backup power capacity is essential to the water system, capable of keeping
it functional for at least 60 days. That should be a sine qua non
in all major cities.
And
households should stock drinking water sufficient for at least two weeks in the
event of system failures. The
same household-based rule should apply to food: a month's supply should be quite
easy to maintain and would take enormous stress off the social fabric in the
event of an extended blackout. Public campaigns should encourage these simple
precautions. Heat
is another matter. It would not be stupid for city people with fireplaces to maintain
a reasonable woodpile. It is essential that public authorities develop plans
to support many thousands more should power fail for weeks at -20C. And,
of course, the electronic money system will need to work, and everyone should
keep their car gas tanks topped up. Getting out of town with something akin to
cash could be the least of many evils. It is
easy to imagine an extended power outage, and quite within reasonable mea- sures
to avoid its most predictable horrors. Blame would be no substitute for
prudence. Tragedy would have no excuse. Editor’s Note: As I read this article, my blood ran cold and I wondered how well we would fare the next time (inevitable, I think). And I wondered how we would have managed in the dead of winter. I remembered how many of the reported stories dwelt on the fact that, in the dark and the heat of the night, people came out into the streets and talked and drank beer and wine together in the candlelight and, as a bonus, they were able to see the stars so clearly in the city for the first time that anyone could recall. Transplant this same situation to December or January or February (or any winter’s month) and it’s difficult to imagine that one could conjure up too many feel-good stories in this city. For us, the irony is that, by the time we arrived home at about 9 p.m., we had power back in Markland Wood and, as we came into our area, I felt such a relief and perhaps also a little smugness! Since then, how have we, as a family, reacted to this experience? We’ve done a little to cut back on our energy usage, for example, leaving less lights on, installing low energy fluorescent bulbs. However, we have always been pretty miserly with our energy usage. A few weeks ago, I was amused when I saw a TV ad extolling the virtue of turning the air conditioning up to 24C. When ours is on (and it’s not on a lot), it’s never below 26-27C. Conversely, in winter, it’s 20C while we’re in the house and awake and 17C when we’re out or asleep. Ah, the wonders of eiderdown! As a society, we are surrounded by constant reminders that even a fright like the “blackout of 2003” does little to alter people’s extraordinary wasteful approach to life. I recently drove my son to Canada’s Wonderland near Maple and was shocked to see the extent of the house building in the outskirts of Toronto, and the thing that struck me the most was the size of the houses. Apparently, people’s expectation of a reasonable size of house runs between 3000 and 4000 sq.ft. Does this foolish desire to own a dwelling twice as big as a normal family needs, come from the same place as the foolish desire to drive a vehicle twice as big, twice as heavy, twice as dangerous and half as energy efficient as any number of smaller vehicles on the road? I guess these trophies demonstrate to the world around us our position in society as a successful and strong family unit. “Yours
wants are not your needs, my dear.” We can now buy a fridge with a built-in computer terminal that will tell us when we’re running low on food! Recently, I read about a firm that provides a light for a toilet to indicate at night whether the seat is up or down! Some cars (luxury, of course) come with a Global Positioning system that can tell a driver how to get to his destination quickly, leaving all the other drivers missing this feature, stuck on our congested highways! What happens if we all get one of these? And if I hear the use of the word “luxury” one more time, related to anything, be it condominiums, cars, plasma TVs or whatever, I’m going to have a coronary!! Personally, improvements I’d like to see in a car include having a bumper that doesn’t cost $5000 dollars to fix in a slow-speed accident (a common occurrence nowadays)! Or a car that is designed so that, in a short period of time, its sides are not pockmarked from encounters with wayward shopping carts and car doors! Why don’t the insurance companies do something to influence the manufacturers? I could go on and on describing the kind of car I’d like and realize it was a 1986 Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. But I digress, again! This summer, we rented two cottages for a week, and one thing that strikes me is that we always load the car with far too much stuff, much of it remaining unused during the trip. The lesson learned from this short change in lifestyle is that, we really do need very little in our lives. Namely: Clean water (not bottled) Uncontaminated food Simple shelter Adequate heat (in winter) Having these things, we can stretch the list a bit and include the love of our family and the friendship of those around us. Much that we surround ourselves with, and “work damned hard for”, may be desired, but it certainly isn’t needed. If nothing else, the blackout has served to show us the fragile nature of our society and allowed us, if we let it, to distinguish our needs from our wants. The
conclusions are that: The world’s in a great big mess and we’re all responsible for it! There are no exceptions to conclusion 1. If you love your children, if you love this land, our earth, change something in your behaviour, in your lives, to help make things better. Next time, buy a smaller house/car/TV. Use less gas, whether on the roads or on the lawn. Turn the air-conditioner up or off, and the heater down (install a timed thermostat for both). Clean out or replace your furnace filter. Use less or, preferably, no pesticides/herbicides in the garden. Change your garden/lawn to reflect our changing climate and use less water. Drive less, shop locally. Ignore your children’s pleadings and refuse to upgrade your computer….it’s fast enough already. Tell them your doing it for them! The list is longer, but you all know
what I mean, so let’s just do it!
School News Millwood Junior School News We hope everyone in our community had a safe and healthy summer. As another school year begins, we welcome Mr. Collins to Millwood Junior School and thank him for taking on the role of Acting Vice-Principal, while Mrs. Caccamo is on maternity leave. We’d also like to welcome Ms. North, Ms. Murphy and Ms. Belcourt, as new teachers to Millwood! We hope they all find Millwood as wonderful a place as we do. Students, parents, teachers and staff kicked off the start of the new school year with the annual Welcome Back Barbecue the second week of September. The weather this year proved to be picture perfect and the food great! Parent volunteers organize the event each year to give everyone an opportunity to connect. On hand to greet parents were Ms. Keran McMullen, Principal and Mr. Dan Collins, Vice-Principal. While the children caught up with their friends and made some new ones, parents had the opportunity to meet teachers and mingle with other parents. For the children, a clown provided some magical entertainment. Winky, the police car, provided entertainment for others. The first Book Fair of the year was held in the gym, giving parents an opportunity to shop ahead for Christmas! The Home & School Association was out in full force selling memberships with a dozen free Krispy Kreme donuts. The group also sold Millwood Junior School T-shirts, produced this summer to mark the 40th anniversary of the school. The month of September has proven to be a very busy one. Aside from getting back to the routine, curriculum night brought out parents to classrooms to meet teachers and find out what is in store for their children this year. As usual, the teachers have prepared for a very stimulating year. Photo Day, which used to take place in October, came early this year. This will ensure that everyone gets his or her photographs in time for the holidays. It is amazing to see how much the children have grown over the summer. The Terry Fox Run will be taking place on October 10, with students and teachers participating to raise funds for cancer research. Last year, the school raised almost $4,000. We’ll have to wait and see if that amount will be topped this year! At Millwood, safety is promoted every day, but during Safe Awareness Week, the children are reminded how to keep safe and be responsible for themselves through the school’s YARFY code – You Are Responsible For Yourself. That week, for their own professional development, teachers will attend a Bullying Workshop. Make note of well-disguised Millwood students on the afternoon of Halloween, strutting around the school area in the annual Halloween Parade. They may come knocking at your door in the evening!
Larissa Bayrachny Silverthorn Collegiate Institute The “start” of school is officially over now that we’re in October. The grade nines were welcomed with a special dance just for them, organized by the Prefects. The theme was “Blackout Blitz” (we took recent events into account!) and the dance ran very smoothly. To encourage the grade nines to become involved in extra-curricular activities, the grade eleven leadership class ran a spirit assembly. All the clubs at SCI did a fun little skit to show what their club is about and to encourage the grade nines to get involved. Some of the larger clubs we have are as follows: S.A.C. – Student Advisory Council Prefects – largest service club at SCI S.A.A. – Spartan Athletic Association S.E.P.A. – Silverthorn Environmental Protection Agency S.A.I.D. – Students Against Impaired Driving Unity – multi-cultural club L.I.G.H.T. – Christian club School Newspaper - our newspaper is called SCI Vibes SCI’s motto is “Nil Veretur Veritas” – The Truth Fears Nothing. Our school colours are Garnet, Green and Silver. Our sports teams are up and running. Boys’ volleyball, girls’ and senior boys’ basketball, football, tennis and cross-country teams have all started their regular practices. We have dedicated Spartan athletes and coaches at the school as early as 7 a.m. and they sometimes stay past dinnertime in order to run practices, to help our teams achieve our potential. This year’s university fair was “jam-packed” as usual. Thousands of grade twelve students flocked to the Metro Convention Centre, in order to explore their university options. All the Ontario universities were represented. Grade twelve is an overwhelming year, so it’s best for students to start thinking about what’s after high school, as soon as they can, even making some choices in grade 10. There will be a college fair in October. SCI offers a co-operative work placement programme, which offers some students a chance to gain experience to help with career choices. The advice is always the same – do your best academically and round out your resume with extra-curricular activities and community work. Valerie
Foulkes Church News Bloordale United Church 4258 Bloor St. West. Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 1Z7 621-1710 Sunday,
October 5: World Wide Communion WELCOME REV. ALLAN BAKER Rev.
Allan Baker will be with us while we're waiting for our new minister to
arrive. Allan is an Intentional Interim Minister within the United Church of
Canada. He has completed successful intentional interim ministries at Ebenezer
United, and Birchcliff Heights in the Toronto-Scarborough Presbytery. Allan
has also served the church as Chair of the Christian Outreach Committee
in Scarborough Presbytery; as Chair of the World Affairs Committee of Toronto
Conference and he is presently on the Board of Scugog Camp. The thread of
social justice is tightly woven into his life and ministry. Allan and his family are long-term residents of Guildwood Village in Scarborough.
HALLOWEEN CARD PARTY Tuesday, October 28th Plan on putting together a
table or two. Enjoy dessert, cards, and
door prizes. Special Presentation for a
Grand Slam - bid and made. For tickets: Grace
Everett
621-8862 or Glenna
Hiebert
622-2335 TORONTO POLICE MALE CHORUS Monday,
November 17. 8:00 pm Tickets
$10. For
tickets call Jackie at 416-239-9419 St. James United Church 400 Burnhamthorpe Road, Etobicoke (Just west of 427 on the south side of Burnhamthorpe Road.) 622-4113 CRAFTSPEOPLE:
Book now for St. James United Church Craft Show,
Saturday, November 8th. Table rental $45. For more information call
(416) 242-8277 The Church of Christ the
King 475 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke Just West of the 427 621-3630 M.M.P:
1st and 3rd Sunday Communion:
2nd and 4th Sunday Gathering
NEW TIME AT 4:00 P.M. November 2nd and every 1st Sunday of the
month October
4: Edward Klassen in Concert 7:00 p.m.
as he plays the Paraguayan Folk Harp October
25: Rummage Sale. 9 a.m.-12 noon November
8: Christmas Bazaar 9 a.m.-12 noon October
4: Edward Klassen in Concert at 7:00
p.m. as he plays the Paraguayan Harp Please plan to attend Check out our website at: http://netcomsolutions-ont.com/Christ_King Rehoboth
Fellowship Christian Reformed Church 800 Burnhamthorpe Road (just east of Mill Rd.) Etobicoke 622-9647 Reverend John Tenyenhuis Hats Off To Christopher Zenko, for earning a 4-year US
Athletic/Academic Scholarship for baseball to Graceland University, Iowa.
Christopher is studying pre-med in hopes of one day becoming a plastic
surgeon. We wish you all the best. Love Mom, Dad, Mark, Lucas, Nanna and Anne.
People and Places 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 next meeting is on Oct 7th at 7:30 p.m. and will include a presentation, by a guest speaker, on bonsai plants. You’ll also have the opportunity of winning one of her creations in a raffle. 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 (beginning September 23rd) between 9:15-11:15
a.m. Coffee is provided, but bring a snack for your little one. Make
a friend, bring a friend, be a friend. For more information, call Karen
Miteff (416) 621-2293 Partners in Parenting presents Positive
Discipline How
to Achieve Family Harmony Reduce
stress of mornings and meal times Reduce
fighting Win
cooperation Understand
and reduce misbehaviour Create
a win/win atmosphere 7
weeks Mondays
7:15 – 9:30p.m. October 6th to Nov. 24th (no class October 13th) Course
Facilitators Barbara
McDonald & Karen Ashforth Host:
Mable Fables Bookstore 2939
Bloor St. West, three blocks east of Royal York rd. on the south side. Registration Limited Phone: 416 695-2889 Email: drmcdonald@sympatico.ca 38-51 Broadfield Dr., Etobicoke, Ont., M9C 5P2 Course Fee: Single $100/Couples $150 Text Extra: Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson (Available first night of course Arts Etobicoke
is a not for profit community arts council representing 65 Toronto West-based
Arts and Cultural Organizations in all disciplines. Established in 1973, Arts
Etobicoke's broad mandate is to enrich community life through the arts. Arts
Etobicoke provides our members and residents of the community with a wide
range of programmes and services. The Neilson Park Creative Centre 56 Neilson Drive, Etobicoke ON M9C 1V7 NEILSON
PARK CREATIVE CENTRE SEEKS NEW MEMBERS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NPCC is an amazing arts facility,
located nearby at 56 Neilson Drive. For 10 years the Centre has provided a
permanent home for 6 art organisations with, collectively, over 600 members.
Throughout the year a variety of programmes and activities are available While this not-for-profit Centre
operates under the direction of an administrator and a support staff, a
volunteer Board of Directors is its governing body, involved in Contact Indra-Kiesners Durnan at
416-251-0257 or email: ikiesners.durnan@rogers.com September
23 to October 12 In the Main Gallery: "Colourflo” Watercolours and acrylics by Jeanette Labelle, Irma Korozsi, Marjorie Francoz and Marie A. Prospero.
Calligraphic
Arts Guild of Toronto Recent works by the members of the guild
In the Hall Gallery: East
Central Ontario Art Association Annual Juried Show 2003 Paintings, drawings, serigraphs, framed batiks, collages and sculptures Opening Reception: Sunday, October 19 from 2 to 4 pm October
13 to November 2 In
the Main Gallery:
"Impressions" Recent works of members of the Etobicoke Printmakers November
4- 23 In
the Hall Gallery: Humber
Valley Art Club Exhibition Watercolours and fluid acrylics Information: 622-5294 Open:
Mon-Sat, 9-4 p.m. Tuesday,
7-9 p.m. Sunday,
noon to 4 p.m. Wheelchair
accessible. Free admission and parking. www.neilsonparkcreativecentre.com Email:
npcc@idirect.com MARKLANDER STAFF President: Patrick Clifford 621-7695 Editor: Graham Maguire 620-4398 Advertising: Brian Brennand 622-8011 Distribution: Richard Boehnke 621-5089 Setup Spalding Creative 255-9033 Printing Stu McNair 621-5272 Community Classified Wanted: Kids in
Markland Wood, to deliver the Marklander every month (except July and August).
Approximately 100 copies/ route at 10cents a copy! Call 621-5089 Nanny For Hire: Loving,
experienced, live-out Nanny with car, available immediately. Excellent
references. Please call Michelle
at (905) 624-0521 Rent-A-Kid If you need a good reliable 10-year-old to run errands for you, and for jobs such as mowin |
The
Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALHB)