Vol. 42 No. 8 October 2005 President’s Update Greetings! On Saturday
morning, October 15th at 11:00 a.m. we will be unveiling the first
of a planned 3 signs welcoming people to Markland Wood. The sign features our
new logo, which was unveiled at the Annual General Meeting in June. The first
sign will be located on the north side of Bloor Street, just west of Bloordale
United Church, before the Renforth Creek. The signs are intended to highlight
the Markland Wood area for the distinct neighbourhood that it is and to show
it as the furthest western point of the City of Toronto before crossing to or
from Mississauga. All residents are invited to join us for the 30-minute or so
unveiling on the morning of the 15th, where you will be able to
meet some of your Markland Homes Association (MHA) directors, as well as
Councillor Doug Holyday. After an
extended discussion by the Board, comments from residents, and the review of
plans for the coming years, it was decided, at the September meeting, to
increase the Markland Homes Association annual dues to $10. This will cover
the many activities that you have come to expect from the MHA on a year to
year basis, as well as allowing us to undertake special projects, such as the
Markland Wood sign mentioned above. Again, one of your directors will be
calling at your door over the next few weeks to collect
this annual membership payment. Please keep the $10 near your front door, so
it is convenient for you or a member of your family to reach it when one of us
stops by. When your director calls, feel free to talk to him or her about any
concerns or comments you may have. We value this time we have to meet the
residents and use the feedback to get a pulse on what is happening in the
community. Again, we thank you for your continued support. It encourages all
of our volunteers to continue doing those things that are in the best interest
of our community. One
of the areas to which MHA money goes is to the Annual Markland Wood
Scholarship Awards. Two $1,000 scholarships are awarded to college-bound
students, who display, among other things, a commitment in giving to the
community. Pictured on our cover are the winners of this year’s contest, Olena
Decock and Mark Donatelli. Olena has entered the University of
Ottawa to pursue an Honours Specialisation in French with a Major in
Communication and Media Studies. Mark has enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier
University, where he is planning to do a 5-year double degree programme in
Honours Business Administration and Honours Science in Computing and Computer
Electronics. Mark is looking forward to pursuing a career in finance,
accounting and management. The
Environmental Committee of the MHA held a community meeting on September 19th
to present some ideas for Markland Wood residents to consider and to receive
feedback on the level of interest in these ideas. Richard Boehnke, the
Chair of the Committee, will be following up on where the priorities of the
Committee should be. One particular issue of immediate interest is the plan
that is underway to allow a gas-fired power plant to be built just to the
south of Markland Wood, along the Mississauga-Etobicoke border.
See last month’s Marklander for more information. It is an important
issue and the MHA Board has pledged its support to the larger group, CHIP,
which was organized to challenge this seemingly flawed project.
As many of
you are aware, we launched our website, www.marklandwood.org
, this June. It is intended to be used as both an information and
communication tool for the benefit of the community. It is not a passive
website, but rather one that is updated regularly. We see it becoming more and
more used as time goes on and will allow us to communicate with the Markland
Wood community faster and more directly, if and when necessary. For those
without a computer, we will continue to use the Marklander,
as our primary source of information relevant to the Markland Wood community.
The MHA Board
is discussing the issues of vandalism and serious assaults in the area and
what approach we can take as a community. We are contacting the different
parties that we feel should be part of a taskforce and will have a separate
meeting in the near future on this topic. In the meantime, you will be
receiving another update from me on this subject, announcing when and where
this meeting is to take place. October
is fire prevention month. Take some time to review your premises for hazards.
Be sure your alarms are in working order. Make or update an inventory
list of your household items. Go over escape routes with the members of your
household and where to meet outside in the event of a fire. Perhaps you can
make this part of your routine for getting the house ready for winter.
October
also means Halloween, one of the best nights of the year in this community,
whether you go out with the little ones or greet the visitors at your door. It
is a three-hour long period of entertainment. Unfortunately, it can also be a
night for senseless vandalism. In addition to the usual vigilance exercised by
all, I would ask the young people of this neighbourhood to be leaders and look
out for their community by doing their part to prevent such vandalism from
occurring. Finally,
October is Thanksgiving. You only have to periodically review the news from
around the world to appreciate all that has been given to us here. Hoping you
have the opportunity to take some time on this weekend to reflect with your
family and friends on all that we have to be thankful for.
Best regards,
Patrick
Clifford President Markland
Homes Association 2005-2006
Board of Directors EXECUTIVE: PRESIDENT: Patrick Clifford VICE-PRESIDENT: Greg RohnSECRETARY: Anna
Schaefer TREASURER:
Gerard
Betsch DIRECTORS Richard Boehnke Brian Brennand Paul
Cavanagh
Bob
Cooke Bev
Evans Michael
Georgopoulos Bo
Lawrentiw Graham Maguire Paul Marano Don Matheson Diane
McLeod Tom Napier Peter
Sgro Romeo Sinopoli Associate Directors Stephen Blimkie, Helen Boehnke, Paul Cavanagh, Tamara Greene, Mary Lordan,
Ian Sillars, Irene Sillars, Donna Sokic, MP (Pierina) Stokes, Anne-Marie
Stoneburgh and Patti Thorne. A
letter from your VP I
feel privileged to take on the position of VP with your Markland Homes
Association. This is a wonderful
group of people working together, for a wonderful community.
Markland Wood is lucky to have such a strong group of people working
for the collective cause! My
family (wife Amelia, 7 year old daughter Stephanie and 4 year old son Jordan)
moved into Markland Wood 3 years ago. We
actually moved into Rose and Ed Kurak's old house.
Many of you may remember Rose and Ed from their years of involvement
with the MHA. We wanted to stay
in Etobicoke, and were drawn to this beautiful treed neighborhood, on the
recommendation of several friends who lived here.
Everyone we talked to was so enthusiastic about the
"community" feeling in Markland Wood.
The schools, the organized events, the unique geographical
characteristics and most of all - the people.
We were looking for a neighborhood with pride in itself.
Markland Wood has surpassed
all of our expectations. Everyone
that I speak to is enthusiastic about, and very happy with their home and
neighborhood. I was joking with a neighbor one day about winning a lottery. I
mentioned that if I won, I would stay in Markland Wood - maybe in a bigger
house or at least a renovated one! I
still believe this – there are other "nicer" neighborhoods in the
city, but I don't get the same sense of community when I visit them.
I have to believe (OK, maybe I am biased!) that a big part of this is
due to the hard work of the Markland Homes Association. The directors and all of the other residents who volunteer
their time and effort for different events and undertakings, believe in
Markland Wood, and have a singular purpose - to make this the best possible
neighborhood in which to live. The
MHA is renowned in the GTAA as one of the strongest and best organized rate
payers groups. Believe it or not, there are some rate payers’
organizations, run by one person, out of their basement!
We are all pro-active people who spend several hours of our busy lives
each month, to work on your behalf. The
monthly Marklander newsletter, the web site, the Christmas Caravan, the
Champagne Social, the annual Community Garage Sale, the Renforth Creek Clean
Up, the Scholarship, the committees working on airport
issues, development issues, political issues, environmental issues, and
promoting Markland Wood (I think you will like the new sign on Bloor St.!).
These all combine to define and strengthen Markland Wood. Even
if you have no interest in any of these things, I truly believe (and this
would be backed up by any of the area real estate agents), that these various
undertakings all help to increase the value of each and every home in Markland
Wood. So please give willingly
when the directors come knocking on your door for the annual dues.
We have increased the dues to $10.00, which I personally think is
fantastic value. None of us are
compensated in any way and all of the money raised, goes right back into the
community. Unbelievably,
there will still be some residents who refuse to pay, or complain that it is
too much, but thankfully they are a tiny percentage. And I am still proud to
work for each and every one of them, and you!
I look forward to see your smiling face at the door. Best
regards, Greg Rohn TORONTO POLICE SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT For
over twenty years, the Toronto Police Service has utilized an automated
computer dialing system to notify citizens regarding criminal activity in
their neighbourhood. The “Town Crier” as it is called, has also been used
to reach out to the general public for assistance in finding missing persons
or providing information in relation to serious criminal investigations, like
a homicide. Over this period of time, technology has evolved dramatically and
most homes and businesses today routinely make use of one or more computers. Electronic
mail or e-mail, as it is commonly referred to, is presently the means of
communication used by millions of people around the world. E-mail allows a
person to send or receive messages anywhere they have access to a computer.
E-mail allows a person to send photographs, print copies and reply quickly and
easily to any message received. More importantly from a police perspective,
e-mail allows a message to be sent out to an unlimited number of recipients
instantly. The auto-dialer presently being employed, can take up to one week
to contact the 13,000+ homes presently registered. These are
some of the reasons the computer automated dialer presently being used at No.
22 Division is slowly being phased out and replaced by e-mail. If you are
interested in continuing to receive up to date information on criminal
activity in your specific neighbourhood, as well as timely safety tips aimed
at keeping you and your family safe, please e-mail Allan Benson, Police
Constable # 6122, No.22 Division Crime Prevention Officer at crimeprevention22div@sympatico.ca
with the following information: NAME, ADDRESS, HOME
PHONE and E-MAIL ADDRESS
Note: Your
e-mail address will be kept confidential
and will not be visible to others
when a message is sent out. If you require further information regarding the
above, PC Allan Benson may be reached at 416 808-2208. The
MHA Webmaster’s Report I hope you
have had the opportunity to view your Markland Wood (www.MarklandWood.org)
website. The best screen setting to view the website is 1024 x 768 pixels.
Screen settings less than this may not show the pages as they were designed.
If needed you can also enlarge the font (text) size from the View
pull-down menu located in the upper left hand corner of your screen. Last month I
described some of the ‘Easter Eggs’ and the ‘Links’ page. This month I
would like to invite you to visit the Markland page, where you can read the
last month’s Marklander Newsletter and ‘Past Issues’, back to 1998. To
get to the Marklander, ‘Past Issues’ page, just click on the Marklander
icon (hot button) located on the right hand side of the screen, then click on
the ‘Past Issues’ icon at the top of the screen. Once you are viewing the
Past Issues page, you will see a table with a picture of the past Marklander
newsletters and a blue underlined date below. If you click on the picture, you
will open an Adobe Acrobat file most commonly called ‘PDF’. If you click
on the blue underlined text, you will open a text page. For those of you with
‘dial-up’ internet connections, I suggest just clicking on the blue
underlined text. Instructions are given at the top of the Marklander page to
download Adobe Acrobat, if you do not have this program installed on your
computer. I have
received many emails congratulating the MHA for this website. To date we have
received no complaints at all. Ease of navigation and the History page are
what people are commending us on. If you haven’t read the History page, you
are really missing an excellent view of the Markland Wood past. Bob Cooke, a
Markland resident researched and wrote most of the fantastic account of our
shared history. There is also an essay from the 1987 Marklander written by Pat
Murphy, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Marklander
newsletter. However, if there is anything you would like to see added to your
website, please send us your comments. Please, keep
sending emails with your thoughts, likes, dislikes, improvements and
suggestions. It’s your website and we want to make it work for you. Cheers, MHA Webmaster A letter to the Editor: I felt that I should write an open thank you letter to the members of
CHIP (The Coalition of Homeowners for Intelligent Power), led by Mississauga
resident Tony Jones. Several of
the directors of your MHA had the pleasure of working with this citizen's
group over the summer, in response to the proposed "Natural Gas"
power plant that may still be built (no decision at the time of this writing),
just southwest of Markland Wood. We were drawn to this issue at the beginning of the summer, and spent
many hours attending strategy meetings, an open house, a big rally, and
helping to formulate a coordinated response to the rather pathetic
environmental report put out by the developer Eastern Power Limited. Without getting into the endless details involved in this
proposal, I can only assure you that if the plant were to be built as proposed
by the proponent, and accepted by the Ontario government, it could have huge
detrimental environmental and health consequences for the surrounding
communities. In my opinion, this
is probably the most serious issue to face Markland Wood in many years.
I won't get into it here, but I would be happy to outline the many
flaws and potential hazards that we uncovered - please feel free to contact
me. I was struck by the great professionalism, expertise and organization
that CHIP put together on behalf of over 15,000 households in eastern
Mississauga and western Etobicoke. This
is not a case of NIMBY - these plants should not be built in ANYONE's back
yard! Because of this work, and
with little help from local politicians, it seems that CHIP may have thrown a
big enough wrench in this proposal, and exposed enough inconsistencies to at
least delay the start until a full environmental assessment is completed.
As a Markland Wood resident, I am thankful for that; my kid's are
thankful for that; my property value is thankful for that! Regards, Greg Rohn P.S. thanks so much to the several Markland residents who took up the
cause and spent time researching the issues and contributing greatly.
You know who you are! School
News Millwood
Junior School Welcome
back to a new and exciting year at Millwood! We hope everyone had a safe and
healthy summer. We were so pleased to renew acquaintances and meet with new
families at our yearly September barbecue.
This
year we welcome the following staff members who are returning from maternity
leave: Mrs. K. Murphy (Gr 3/4), Mrs. P. Pollock (Gr 2). We also welcome the
teachers who are replacing our teachers who are currently on maternity leave:
Mrs. N. McDonald for Mrs. L Gorman (Gr ½), Miss M. Lindberg for Ms. L.
McWilliam (Gr 4/5), Mrs. N. Wright and Mrs. S. Bien for Ms Parr (J.K./Prep).
These experienced teachers bring a variety of skills to their respective
positions. We
are also pleased to welcome additional support staff to the school this year.
Mrs. C. Gallo (F.G. in p.m.), Mme Choi (Gr ½ F.I.), Mrs. A. Polsinelli (Room
12) and Mrs. A. Griffith (CYW for room 18). Thank
you to all the staff, students and the community for their ongoing patience
during the extensive repair that has been done to the roof over the last
month. We are now ensured of a dry and safe winter for the occupants of the
school. One
of the reasons Millwood Junior School is a great school is the variety of
partnerships that occur between school, parents and the community.
Our School Council and Home and School Association provide excellent
opportunities for parents to become involved in school life. Please feel free
to inquire. We will keep you posted as to important information items and
activities on our outdoor sign. With
your co-operation and support, the staff and I look forward to a great year at
Millwood! Ms.
T. Carravetta, Principal St. Clement’s School St. Clement's school is holding a Fall Fun
Fair with a farmer's market. Come out on Saturday October 15th from 11-3. We'll be having a used book
sale, games, raffle, prizes, a bake sale and silent auction. Lots of
apples too!! There will be a live band and lots of fun for the whole
family. Silverthorn
Collegiate
Falling
Back into Step As school
starts up again, it is easy to see that some students got into the routine
faster than others. In fact, it’s hard not to become a bit disoriented
trying to find new classes—whether you’re a senior student or a new Grade
nine student. However, the
Grade Nines are not the only students that Silverthorn is extending a welcome
to. The newly elected Student Activity Counsel members deserve a warm
reception. They are Rachel Dineen and Vikas Patel as treasurer, Jocelyn Murphy
as publicity co-coordinator, Sarah Lee as social convenor, Farhan Akhtar and
Stephanie Kwon as vice-president and, last but not least, Marko Djurdjic as
president. In fact, they already held a barbeque on Friday, September 23rd,
with the money going to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Also, the
annual camp was successfully held at the end of September, from Monday,
September 26th to Friday, September 20th—Camp Manitou.
Usually, camp is held at the end of the year. However, the administrative
staff thought it would be more impacting to the Grade tens, if camp was held
earlier in the year. This would allow the Grade Tens
to exercise their skills learned at camp, such as team building, communication
skills, etc., while helping them realize that extra-curricular activities can
make school a fun place. This, in turn, encourages the Grade Tens to
participate more in and around the school community. And speaking
of what the school staff thinks, students have another strike against them.
Last year, Silverthorn did a study showing that students, who missed five
classes or less, did not fail class; those that missed more than five classes
had more potential to fail. With this new, concrete piece of information, the
administrative staff and teachers are now constantly stressing the importance
of class—to the annoyance of some of the students. Moreover,
clubs are also quickly starting up—Prefects being the most efficient. On
Friday, September 16th, the Grade Nine Dance was successfully held,
using a Hawaiian theme to enhance the festivities. The dance was a great way
for all the new students to get to know one another and feel comfortable in
their new school environment. In addition, Prefects also organized Photo Day
on Wednesday, September 21st and Grade Nine Curriculum Night on
Thursday, September 22nd. Both events were successful.
As well, Silverthorn’s Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) already began
to do well for the environment, by planting on Friday, September 23rd.
Sports teams
have started too, which include the tennis, cross-country, football, golf, and
others teams. Earlier this
month, guidance was the busiest part of the school, as students from all
grades came to change timetables. After
all the excitement of a new school year starting, classes are now
more regular and students are getting back into the groove of things. And
it’s easy to see that Silverthorn is in for another busy year. Veronica Quach Church
News
BLOORDALE UNITED CHURCH 4258 Bloor St. West. Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 1Z7 621-1710 Morning
services at 10:30 a.m. Regular
Sunday School and Youth Group meetings resume in September. Check our NEW
website for more details!! www.bloordale.ca
B.U.C.
Juniors Club Fun,
friends, faith for kids in grades 3, 4 and 5. Upcoming
Events Friday
October 14 Sports
Night 7-8:30 p.m.
in the church gymnasium Bring a
friend and wear comfortable sport shoes and shorts for an evening of high
energy action! Friday
November 11 Christmas
Outreach Project Work Session 7-8:30 p.m.
in room 13 Help others
in our community as we prepare gifts for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Bring a new unwrapped toy for the toy drive and learn how to prepare a
food hamper. More details to
follow by email. Bloordale
United Church A cool place
for kids to grow in faith ST. CLEMENT PARISH
Daily Masses:
Mon, Wed, Fri: 8:15 a.m.
Tues, Thurs:
7:00 p.m. Sat Mornings:
9:00 am Sunday
Masses: Saturday:
4:45 p.m. Sunday: 8:15
a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. Sacrament of
Reconciliation: Saturday: 9:30-10:00
a.m., 3:30-4:30 pm Congratulations
to Ms. Laura Payne who was fully initiated into the Catholic Church on
Saturday, September 24. Laura was
Confirmed and celebrated her first Holy Communion at St. Clement. May God bless her as she continues her journey of faith! The “Time
With God” Children’s Liturgy of the Word continues at the 10:00 a.m. Mass
on Sundays. Children 4-9 years
old are most welcome. Families that
missed the Parent Information Evening regarding the sacramental process for
First Reconciliation and First Communion are asked to contact the Parish
Office. Our first class will begin on Monday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the
Parish Hall. We are
offering this year, special Thanksgiving packages for families to work on with
their children at home. Add something more…… On the
Weekend of October 13/14, we will be collecting “school supplies – paper,
pens and pencils” for Dr. Simone’s mission.
Please bring your donation to the Parish Hall or to the front entrance.
On Sunday,
October 23, at the 11:30 Mass, Bishop John Boisonneau will celebrate a Rite of
Installation of Pastors for Msgr. John Murphy, our new Pastor. This Rite
serves to deepen the union between the community and their Pastor and their
faith in Jesus Christ. Lunch will
be served in the Parish Hall following this special celebration. Our third
annual All Saints Party will take place on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
Dress up as your favourite saint!!
Fr. John has something special planned for our young children.
All are welcome!!! Wednesday,
November 2, - All Souls Day – We will celebrate a Mass of Remembrance for
our deceased family and friends. We
also remember those who were buried from our Parish this past year. RENFORTH
BAPTIST CHURCH 621-1990 PASTOR - Rev. Godfrey Green 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 Craftspeople:
Book now for St. James United Church Craft Show. Saturday, November 12. Table rental $45. For more information, call 416-242-8277. 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 start
September 5th Sundays at 8:30 a.m. & 10:30
a.m. Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Also CHECK US OUT ON OUR WEB SITE 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 St.
Matthew’s Anglican Church 3962 Bloor
St. W. Etobicoke For more
information please call the church office. People and Places SCI
40th ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING !!!! All
Silverthorn graduates, alumni and their families are invited to join us on for
a BBQ Lunch and Football game to celebrate Silverthorn's 40th Anniversary. The
lunch will be served outside, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Silverthorn, near the
football field. The Football game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Please join us for fun, laughter, music, and visit with old friends, staff,
and students, and help us to cheer on our Silverthorn Spartans!!! 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 7:30 p.m. at Kingsway Lambton United Church, 85 The Kingsway. For further information call Nicole at (416) 231-8168. Parenting
and Family Literacy Program The Toronto District School
Board’s Parenting and Family Literacy Program will be open again starting
September 7. It is a free drop-in that operates in Eatonville Public School,
Monday to Friday: 8:30 - 12:30. Parents! Caregivers! Grandparents!
Bring your children, up to 6 years We have a complete childrens’
programme, including Music and Story time, snacktime, arts and crafts,
puzzles, books, toys! Drop in with your child any day! Parent and Tot Coffee Time continues on alternate Tuesday mornings at
9:15-11:15 a.m. in Room 13, Bloordale United Church. Next dates: Oct 11, 25
and November 8 Parents and caregivers of babies and
toddlers are invited to join in for casual conversation and a chance to meet
new friends. Coffee is provided, but please bring a snack for your little one.
For more information call Sylvia Szot at 626-2424. Parent Education Network 605 Royal York Road, Suite 108 Toronto, ON M8Y 4G5 Telephone: 255-8969 Fax:
255-4162 POSITIVE DISCIPLINE FOR PRE-TEENS For Parents
with pre-teens ages 9 to 13 years Begins
Tuesday, October 11th
Wellness
Institute, 954 Royal York Road, across from the Royal York Subway Station. 7:00 –9:00
p.m. $70 per
person and $105 per couple for 4-week course This evening
lecture series will present practical information to parents, which will
enable them to bring out the best in their - and themselves. Specific
issues like the struggle for independence, peer pressure, success in school,
and sibling rivalry will be addressed. Positive
Solutions to Managing Anger for Parents
A one-night
workshop on Wednesday, October 12th Humber Valley
United Church, 76 Anglesey Boulevard in Etobicoke 7:30 -9:00
p.m. $25 for
one-night workshop Learn
how to head off anger-inducing situations, avoid common traps, and identify
triggers - yours and your kids. Look at the hidden costs and benefits that
unknowingly keep you in the anger trap. INTERNET
SAFETY for FAMILIES
A one-night
workshop on Tuesday, October 25th Humber Valley
United Church, 76 Anglesey Boulevard in Etobicoke 7:30 –9:00
p.m. $25.00 for
one-night workshop The
presentation begins with a video entitled “A Stranger in our Home.”
It profiles two Canadian teens who each develop a relationship with someone
online that turns out to be different than what they thought. A
PowerPoint presentation follows that highlights key issues from the video.
Statistics involving young people online and safety strategies are discussed
to assist parents in monitoring their children. The Neilson
Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive, Etobicoke ON M9C 1V7 |
