fall 2012
DESCRIPTION
Parkallen Fall 2012 Community NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Parkallen News
F A L L 2 0 1 2
In this issue:
Congratulations to our community garden
Meet your PCL executive: Sal Blair, Rink Manager
Park redevelopment update
Sustainability report
Pub night and movie night details
Shedtemberfest! Why not?
The next Parkallen
Community League meeting
has been scheduled for
September. This will be a
special general meeting
during which last year’s
books and next year’s budget
will be approved.
September 12
7 p.m.
Parkallen Hall
6510 – 111 Street
Special
meeting of the
community league
Parkallen wins Community
Garden Award Congratulations, Parkallen! Last month, Marlene Wurfel, along with eight bright-eyed Parkallen Sprouts, accepted the 2012 Edmonton in Bloom Community Garden Award from the City of Edmonton on behalf of the Parkallen Community Garden at City Hall. “We should be proud,” says Marlene, “we bested some very well-established and magnificent community gardens to receive this top award for the entire city. It’s especially amazing considering that our garden is only one year old!” The award is based on votes through an online poll. “People are responding to the unique vision of the Parkallen community garden—we’re doing something really different that makes us stand out. This community is tremendously supportive, and our online networks are more effective than we might realize.” Thanks to everyone who participated in making the Parkallen community garden grow! And thanks for your votes!
2 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
Sal Blair, Rink Manager is walking on tiptoes to get ready for the YWCA’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Why? We’ll let Sal explain: “I'm walking in high heels to
stand up against domestic violence and support YWCA Edmonton's violence prevention programs!” Last time we looked, Sal was pretty close to his fundraising goal. Click here to put this thing over the top.
Five questions
(Plus one )
Where did you grow up? I was born in Lansing, Michigan, but my family moved when I was two years old and I grew up in North Carolina. When did you move into Parkallen? I moved to Edmonton, and to Parkallen, in August 2011,just about a year ago today. What do like best about Parkallen? Parkallen appealed to me as a great location for transit to the university, with great facilities available to the community; the neighbourhood residents are committed to and concerned about the well-being of the area. Why do you volunteer for the community league? I was first introduced to members of the PCL during the September festival. I registered as a member and someone suggested that I attend their meetings. The initial attraction for me was the rink, which was only a five-minute walk outside my door (a huge change from growing up in NC, where many rinks were hours away). So I thought I could help keep it up and get involved in something I knew everyone would use and enjoy – me included! Who inspires you? My parents have always inspired me and have been so supportive throughout my life. Tell us one thing that people would be surprised to learn
about you….
The reason I moved from NC to Edmonton was to enroll in a PhD program studying fish physiology. But fly-fishing in and near the Canadian Rockies and being able to play hockey outdoors were two huge bonuses that solidified my decision.
Welcome Sal! And thank you for your work with the PCL!
Meet your
Community League
What kind of man moves into a community and immediately volunteers to manage the rink?
Takes time away from his summer off to answer daft questions? Signs up to wear and walk in
high heels for the Edmonton YWCA? Meet Salvatore Blair, Parkallen’s rink manager. He’s
that kind of man.
3 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
Park redevelopment update
We got off to a rough start, as our construction crews hit a water main and put the spray deck out of commission on a really hot day. But they were able to get it fixed the next morning, and ended up replacing a 50-year-old section of plumbing in the process. Little things like this are dipping into our contingency fund, so donations are still welcome!
Other updates:
The playground equipment has arrived and installation has begun. The beloved and still perfectly functional tire swing and swing sets have been donated to a playground that wants and needs them. The old playground sand is being recycled and mixed in with the dirt of the old toboggan hill. The construction crews will be re-sculpting that hill to accommodate more sledders this winter. It will remain at least as high as before, but with a wider starting ramp at the top. You may also notice mounds of dirt to the west of the family rink. There we are re-using some excavation dirt from another city site to build up a BMX bike track Big Toys, which is our playground manufacturer, uses recycled milk jugs to create this equipment. For our park, 54,840 milk jugs were recycled and 2,053 kg of scrap metal was reused
The construction probably won’t be completed until end of October. If you’d like to help with a grand opening event, please contact [email protected].
We need a few volunteers to make this happen. We’re excited to see the final project, and have the kids back in the playground enjoying themselves. Soon the only loud noises in the area will be children squealing with delight! Have a great fall. Nora Begoray and the rest of your dedicated park redevelopment team
4 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
On the south edge of Parkallen’s quaint Ellingson Park lies a community treasure that’s quietly blossoming as summer comes to a close. Last year the Parkallen
Diggers, a subcommittee of the Parkallen Community League (PCL), began digging with a purpose. In an attempt to bring our community together and to embrace a vision of sustainability, the Parkallen Diggers set out to create a garden. Beginning with sheet mulch, the garden quickly prospered as fruit trees, strawberries, day lilies, and bushes were added to the 400 m2 plot.
Following this year’s kick-off potluck and planning meeting in early May, the Parkallen Diggers continued their efforts to grow the community garden. Every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning these worker bees could be seen on 65 Avenue putting their hearts, souls, and smiles into fostering the vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
The garden now contains a large assortment of annual vegetables and beautiful sunflowers that greet passers-by. Twenty percent of the garden is dedicated to an herb spiral, a five-senses garden, and a pizza garden, all of which were planted and are cared for by the Parkallen Sprouts, a team of children who contribute to the garden. Marlene Wurfel, a Parkallen Digger executive and the PCL’s hall coordinator, established the Sprouts to help involve children in community activities. Her extraordinary efforts led to the securement of grant funding for the Sprouts’ projects. A number of permanent structures have been set up in the park to enhance the garden and its upkeep, including rain barrels, compost bins, and signage. A tool shed will soon be incorporated into the area as well! The garden is collectively cared for by community members, and the harvest is shared among them. It has prospered marvelously over the summer season and is something to be truly proud of. Portions of this year’s harvest will be donated to the Food Bank, and it’s expected that the amount of vegetables collected this season will far exceed the needs of its gardeners! In light of this success, a call was put out in mid-August to the broader community to share in the harvest. Now that neighbourhood residents have seen the thriving community garden and have enjoyed some of its produce, it’s hoped that even more people will be involved with the garden next year. The Parkallen Community Garden contains no individually owned plots, and there is no plot fee or wait list. New members are always welcome!
A big thank you to all of our volunteer gardeners and our committee!
Jessica Bateman, with files from Marlene Wurfel
Sustainability report : Parkallen community garden update
5 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
WANTED: COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS QUALIFICATIONS: YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.
REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities, in partnership with the Edmonton Police Service and the City of Edmonton, invites you to participate in the REACH EDMONTON COMMUNITY SAFETY CAMPAIGN coming to a neighbourhood near you this fall.
Ward 10 session: October 18, Blue Quill Community Hall, 11304 25th
Ave. For more info and to rsvp visit: reachedmonton.ca/your-community
6 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
Pub Night in
Parkallen
Come for a relaxed evening and get to know your neighbours.
October 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Parkallen Community League 6510-111 Street
$4 for Beer and Wine Bring Your Own Munchies!
7 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
8 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
Progressive Core Stability and Abdominal Training
With Barb Turner BPe - specialized, CSEP - CPT, AFLCA
All levels including older adults
welcome! Beginner class - $200
September 6 - December 27 Thursdays 6-7pm
Parkallen Community League Hall
65 ave and 111 st To register
email: [email protected] or call 780-686-1171
9 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
WARD F POOL PARTYparty in the pool, education policy on the deck
1030AM-1230 PM Scona Pool 10450 72 Ave NW
RSVP by Oct 1st [email protected]
www.michaeljanz.ca
25M SPRINT YOUR TRUSTEE! Beat Michael and he will donate $100 to the EPSB Foundation.
Public School Trustee Michael Janz
invites you and your family.
A gathering of community leagues & parent councils to celebrate the return of the school year!
Saturday October 6th 2012
11AM Short Program
12AM Swim Race
EPSB students vs Trustee Janz
Whole family health expands
Whole Family Health first opened its doors in Parkallen two years ago. This summer, they expanded their space, adding a new studio and doubling their treatment area. “Our success rate with our patients is very good,” says Cecil Horwitz, lead acupuncturist. “We believe that success reflects our approach. We promote and believe in the importance of the ‘three free therapies’: stress reduction, nutrition and exercise.
Using acupuncture, massage, nutrition, Chinese herbal medicine, and mind-body medicine, licensed acupuncturists and massage therapists treat and prevent a wide range of disorders, including pain, digestive problems, fertility and pregnancy related issues. While Whole Family Health is a general practice, the team has extensive postgraduate training in pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive medicine, helping women and children manage their unique challenges, from PMS to menopause, and from conception to labour and beyond.
The new studio offers a variety of classes, fertility and pre and postnatal yoga. With the expanded space, watch for new offerings, including some free classes!
For further information, drop in, or visit www.wholefamilyhealth.ca
10 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
The produce market at the Green & Gold Community garden, on the University of Alberta South Campus, will be open through the fall. The garden will have root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beets, onions), as well as lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, and squash, many varieties of herbs and flowers (all weather permitting). The garden is an initiative of the University’s School of Public Health and Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. Volunteers operate the garden and all of their time, and most of the seeds, plants and equipment used are donated. The vegetables, herbs and flowers are “spray-free” (no pesticides or artificial fertilizers are used). All money raised from the “sale” of garden produce goes to the Tubahumurize Association, a non-profit organization in Rwanda that provides socially and economically marginalized women with vocational training, counselling, life-skills coaching, health care education, and opportunities for sustainable income generating activities. Garden market hours are: Tuesday evenings (from 7:00pm to 8:30pm), and Saturdays (from 11:00 am to 1:00pm). For more information (including directions on how to find the garden) please check our web site at: http://bit.ly/greenandgold_garden To receive our weekly e-news during the growing season please sign up at: http://www.mailman.srv.ualberta.ca/mailman/listinfo/gggarden
Movie night at the
Parkallen Community League The last Friday of the month is movie night!
Two features! September 28
6pm Madagascar 3 and at 8pm The Hunger Games October 26 - TBA.
11 FALL 2012 PARKALLEN NEWS
Join the PCL Executive!
The Parkallen Community League Executive
is looking for volunteers for the following
positions:
Groundskeeper
Hall Maintenance
Membership
Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator
Sustainability Coordinator
Transportation
If you’re interested, contact
[email protected] to volunteer for any
of these positions, or to suggest a new one.
Meet new people. Learn new skills. Share
your talents. Make a difference in your
community.
Welcome Jessica Bateman, to the position of
Social Media Coordinator. Jessica joins
Michael and Anne on our communications team!
PARKALLEN NEWS
THE LAST PAGE
FALL 2012
President: Alex Clifford Vice-President: Sam Guffey Casino: Christie Roy Irving
Civics: Donna White Community Garden Coordinator: Robert Kirchner
Groundskeeper: VACANT Hall Coordinator: Marlene Wurfel
Hall Maintenance: VACANT Housing and Development: Jan Hardstaff
Membership: VACANT Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator: VACANT
Newsletter: Michael Hingston/Anne Pratt Park Redevelopment Committee: Nora Begoray
Programs and Social: Leanne Kohn Rink Manager: Sal Blair
Secretary: Allison Chevrette Soccer: Meghan Dunnigan
Social Media Coordinator: Jessica Bateman WELCOME South Campus Neighbourhood Coalition: Lawrie Seligman
Donna White Sustainability Coordinator: VACANT
Transportation: VACANT Treasurer: Brandon Golby
Website: Marc Pearce
Your Parkallen Community League Executive:
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Classified For Sale 2000 Buick Century. 211,000km. Very well maintained. $2500 Please contact Randy at 780-298-6431
Services Before/After school care required for our eight-year-old twin daughters attending Parkallen School in September. Please contact us at (780) 719-1947 or e-mail [email protected] if you are able to assist our family. Piano teacher in Allendale welcoming new students. Anita 780-437-2332 (see ad Page 7 ) Tutoring. Boost your grades or brush up on your high school math, biology or science. I am a knowledgeable and experienced tutor. Mario Pineda, Ph.D. [email protected]
Rooms wanted Have an extra room to let? Grad student searching for a room in a house in Parkallen starting December/January. Please email Sam at [email protected].
Important
information about
the 109th Street ARP
The 109 Street Area Redevelopment Plan will be brought to City Council on October 1, 2012. A review and analysis by the Garneau Community League will be posted on the Parkallen Website. Comments and concerns should be raised with your City Counsillor, Ward 10, Don Iveson This will be our last opportunity for input in