parkallen may 2013

Parkallen News

May 2013

In this issue…

• Letter from the Editor

• Meet your Community League

• Classified

Spring is here!No matter where you grew up – a warmer climate, a colder climate, a drier cli-mate, a damper climate, or right here in Edmonton – no one was prepared for this winter. It felt like it would never end. As of this writ-ing, things are looking good. The tulips and daffodils have poked their optimistic green fi ngers and toes out of the brown soil. Full little buds are stretching to open on the

tress and shrubs. Grass is dar-ing to dream in green again. And even though the mer-cury only reached 8 degrees today, we did have almost 15 hrs of daylight – most of it fi lled with sunshine. And the forecast looks great.

We went out to fi nd proof of spring 2013, and we found it. Our new neighbourhood mail carrier, Scott Ryland, is out in his shorts. People are rak-

ing their lawns. And fi ve-year old Danica Beschell created a lovely drawing of roses, a sunfl ower and a small but happy dandelion to keep us focused on the warming trend. Not looking forward to dandelions? At this point, I think we can all agree that fresh, green, life in bloom is a grand thing indeed.

Enjoy spring in Parkallen. See you out there!

2 3Parkallen News May 2013 May 2013 Parkallen News

A couple of weeks ago, while making small talk with a hairdresser, I mentioned working on the community newsletter. The young girl cutting my hair was surprised by this. “Like - you go around door to door and stuff? Really?” (She checked in for the truth, as though I had some reason to make that up) “You are so random. So awesome.” (I think that last statement was more to herself than to me) She stopped cutting for a moment and caught my eye in the mirror. She seemed to be studying me for traces of something. “Why?” she asked – and she seemed truly perplexed. “ What made you want to do that? I mean – I’ve never met one of those people before.”

One of those people? What people are we talking about, exactly, I wondered. I read an article in the Edmonton Journal last year in which a developer described a member of a community league, not far from Parkallen, as “one of these bat-s*@# crazy old broads.” If that’s how you describe a community league volunteer, then I guess I’m one of them. I expect the hip youngsters who make up the majority on the Parkallen community league will take offence though.

So, why? For our last newsletter, I spent a warm afternoon with the wonderful Parkallen Knitters, something I would never have made time

for otherwise. Last week I met the amazing family behind Anthony at Your Service for an upcoming issue, and today I spent an hour with Dhammika Jayawickrama at Buns & Roses. I went home with a bag of delicious food and one more story about the people in my community.

So, when people ask me why I volunteer for the community league, I know the answer - why don’t you?

Hope to see you at a league meeting soon. We need volunteers.

Anne Pratt

News editor

Crazy bat-s*@# old ladies


After 4.5 years of research, planning, design and construction, a whole new central Park Space is a fun place for kids of all ages. Through two phases we’ve added a family picnic area, a new spraydeck, playground, bmx area, tobogganing hill and pathways. We’ve also

upgraded signage and re-landscaped the play space.

Mud Sweat and Gears has come on board as an official sponsor of the Grand Opening.

Mark your calendars for June 2. Come and help us celebrate the completion of this amazing community project.

Park Grand Re-opening

Grand opening

PARK REDEVELOPMENT

Sunday, June 2 1:00 – 4:00 pm

at the new playgroundin Ellingson Park

6510 – 111 Street

Join us for an old time family picnic to celebrate the official opening of Parkallen’s

new playground and spraydeck.

Spraydeck Water Fun! try out the new bmx track!

Mud, sweat and gears bmx demo group!enter to Win a new BMX bike! hula hoops and badminton!

Everyone is welcome for food and fun activities. Hope to see you there!

Hosted by Servus Credit Union and Parkallen Community League.

For event details contact us at [email protected]

Parkallen Community

League

Annual General Meeting

It’s that time of year everyone. Joins us at the Parkallen AGM. Meet your league executive. Find out what we’ve been up to. Learn more about volunteering for the league.

We’re looking forward to meeting you!

Parkallen Community League Hall

June 2, 2013

4:30 pm


Warm wishes for the “Ice Lady” of southwest Edmonton

90th Birthday Party for Dorothy Tracey

Dorothy Tracey (née Tweddle) was born on May 30, 1923. She and her two brothers grew up in Clear Water where they attended Leduc High School. After graduation from McTavish Business College, she worked for some years at Underwood typewriters. On June 9, 1951, Dorothy married James Tracey, who would be her husband for 49 years until his death in 2000. They lived in a small apartment on Whyte Ave for two years before buying a home in Parkallen in June 1953. The going price for a house in Parkallen at the time was $10,500.00. There they raised five sons: Rob, Tom, Doug, Gerry and Ken.

With five growing boys, all active in community hockey, Dorothy found herself at the rink a lot. As the children grew a little older she volunteered

to manage booking for the hockey ice. Later, she was hired by the City of Edmonton to book ice for the entire southwest zone; she became known as “The Ice Lady” until she retired.

Dorothy and Mary Fisher started the Wednesday Knitters Group at the Parkallen Hall in the early 80’s and the group is still active today. It was a place to get together and socialize and knit at the same time. With the variety of knitting talents in the group they were able to knit for the needy. They donated numerous afghans, slippers, mitts, toques and sweaters to hospitals and homeless shelters. Dorothy’s talent was slippers and afghans; she also organized outings for the ladies such as trips to museums, restaurants, country drives and lunches at Rick and Alice’s.

Dorothy continued to live in her home in Parkallen until July 2006. When she got tired of cooking her own meals, she moved to a Seniors’ Center in Millwoods.

Dorothy is now a proud Grandma to 11, and Great Grandma to 6.

Happy Birthday Dorothy!

There is a come and go tea for Dorothy at the Parkallen Hall on May 25, 2013 from 2-4. Please drop by and say hello.


GREEN CIRCLE PRESCHOOL | 6703 112 STREET Ph 780.435.3129 | www.greencirclepreschool.com

Green Circle Preschool is going green for spring!Spring Garage Sale April 20 from 9–4 pmWe will recycle your gently used items during our Spring Garage Sale

at Parkallen Community Hall. Donations accepted April 19 from 7-9 pm

Electronics Recycling ProgramIn partnership with ThinkRecycle and GEEP Donations, we will collect

your old electronics for recycling. Donations accepted April 19 from 7-9 pm

Salisbury Greenhouses Gift CertificatesGreen up your yard this spring. Green Circle is selling Salisbury Gift cards again this year.

Available in $25, $50, $75 or $100 denominations. Available for purchase at the garage sale

on April 20 (cash only please), or email at: [email protected].

We love being part

of the community

& are grateful for your support!

Movie Night Movies are $5 each. Popcorn just 50 cents! Soft drinks cost a loonie. Between movies there will be a short dance party (to get the sillies out!). Kids should bring pillows or bean bag chairs to sit on. Want to help out? Contact Leanne at [email protected].

May 31

6 pm: Jack the Giant Slayer 8 pm: Escape from Planet Earth

Want to leave an impression?

We have had so many requests for adding engraved bricks that we’ve asked our project construction team to give us an estimate. If you missed it the fi rst time around, here’s how it works: you buy a brick for approximately $100 and we have it engraved with your name, your family’s names, or a commemorative phrase. It’s your choice. The brick becomes a lasting part of our new park and any proceeds would go to the community league. If enough people are interested, we will pursue this further.

Please let us know by email, before May 10, 2013: [email protected].


Buns & Roses back in business

“I think I’m in love…” that’s how one “Yelp” contributor starts her review praising Parkallen’s favorite bakery. Ten months after a devastating leak closed the shop, Buns & Roses is back in business. And that’s good news for everyone. Owned and run by Dhammika and Ann Jayawickrama, the bakery now offers a wide variety of specialized gluten-free and dairy-free products. “We like to add new things,” says Dhammika. “It keeps people interested. Our rice-flour brownies are one of our most popular items. And we now have a gluten- and dairy-free corn bread.” And that’s not all. Buns & Roses offers 16 different types of fresh bread, cookies, sweets and

granolas, including selections made with spelt and kamut. If sweets aren’t your weakness, there are savouries as well: baked and fried samosas, bulgar salad and hummus.

Sit at a tall table, or relax in an armchair; the hardest part of your visit will be choosing from the tempting array on offer. Most products are sweetened with honey, an expense Dhammika thinks is worth it for both flavor and nutrition. “My customers are more like family. Everyone is friendly.” It’s not hard to see why. Dhammika greats you with a wide smile. He is easy going with his staff, who are clearly devoted to the bakery.

Dhammika Jayawickrama learned his skills at hotel school

in his native Sri Lanka. He worked for a time as a chef there and in Italy, where he honed some of his bread-making abilities. “I love the work,” he says. “I did well in math and engineering in school, but I think I just wanted to do something different.” He laughs and his face lights up, “I don’t do it for the money – I do this for love.” And that’s probably why people come from all over the city for his baking. You can taste the love in every bite.

You’ll find Buns & Roses right across from Ellingson Park at 6519 - 111 street; open from Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 to 5:30 and on Saturday from 9:30 to 5:00.


Indoor Cycling Our Fee: $6.50/class

Their Fee: $16.00/class

ZUMBA Our Fee: $6.50/class

Their Fee: $14.00/class

780.492.1000 11610 65 Avenue www.savillecentre.ca

FREE PARKING FOR REGISTRANTS

ZUMBA


Meet your Community League

Where did you grow up?I grew up in the great state of Michigan, in a rural village in the southeast corner. We have re-ally close ties with the extended family, so we also spent a lot of time with them up in the north-west corner of the UP (Upper Peninsula), right by Wisconsin. Everyone in my family was ac-tive in school, church, and so-cial groups, so a sense of com-munity is really important to me.

When did you move into Parkallen? I moved to Parkallen in the late summer of 2011, just two short years ago, but I jumped right in to the community. Literally—at the community BBQ, a league

member convinced me to go in the dunk tank! That was fun, so I started helping with the League and took up the position of VP.

What do you like best about Parkallen? Defi nitely the sense of com-munity. It’s so much more than just a neighborhood. The people here are really nice, and they like to get together and be involved in shaping the community. I haven’t met all of my neighbors, but I’d like to; everyone I have met seems really great. Hey, other neighbors! Let’s meet. You can fi nd me at most commu-nity events, including the Park Grand Reopening on June 2.

Who inspires you? Truly, it’s a combination of self-actualization and taking inspiration from everything in life. Friends, family, especially my dad, and my wonder-ful girlfriend. Simply observing the world and how it works is inspiring! If you need inspira-tion, try helping with a vol-unteer organization—those people will inspire you!

Why do you volunteer for the community league?Originally I volunteered just because it’s my nature to do so. But the more I do, the bet-ter I feel. The other League volunteers do such a great job in the fi elds they love, and it inspires me to do more. Every time I see the real work that goes into our volunteers’ proj-ects, it makes me proud to be part of this community.

Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you.A surprising thing… Well, I’ve worked as a SCUBA diver for scientifi c research! I’ve dived for fi sh surveys, measur-ing coral growth, and even excavated an archaeologi-cal site inside a freshwater spring. It was pretty cool.

Sam Guffey, Parkallen Community League Vice-President

Hall Happenings for May 2013

Parkallen PlaygroupTuesdays 10:00 am -12:00 pm

Parkallen KnittersWednesdays 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm


men’s health mind & body

ACUPUNCTURE • MASSAGE • YOGA • CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE

pain

pediatricspregnancyfertility

780 756 7736 6523 111 Street www.wholefamilyhealth.ca


Register now for summer camps in ParkallenRegistration opens April 30th.

July 8-129:00-11:30am Green Thumbs Gardeners Ages 3-5 Registration code: 492624 $67

1:30-4:00pm Outdoor Adventure Ages 4-6 Registration code: 492627 $76

July 22-269:00-4:00pm X-Treme Action Camp Ages 9-12 Registration code: 492189 $208

August 6-9 9:00-11:30am Little Sports of All Sorts Ages 4-6 Registration code: 492649 $54

1:30-4:00pm Puppet Tales Ages 3-5 Registration code: 492655 $54

August 12-169:00-11:30am Heroes in Training Ages 4-9 Registration code: 492662 $67

1:30-4:00pm Dance to the Beat Ages 6-9 Registration code: 492688 $67


Hall MaintenanceThe Parkallen Community League needs a volunteer to assist with hall maintenance. If you are good with small repair jobs, and know who to call for large repair jobs, we’d love to hear from you.

You can reach us at [email protected]

Join us! We’re a ton of fun – honestly.

SWEATER SALE OPEN HOUSE Windsor Park Community Hall 11840 - 87 Ave. Saturday, June 15, 2013 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

hand knit scarves, hats, vests, sweaters…pima cotton/alpaca: adult & children sizes (custom orders available) PRICES $25.00 - $250.00 Minkha is a women's knitting cooperative. Save the Children Canada volunteers assist the Bolivian knitters by marketing the sweaters on a non-profit basis. Linda Haswell (780) 436-5732 www.minkhasweaters.com

Welcome to our new

executive members!

Teresa Khronman - Hall Coordinator

James Goldman – Community Garden Coordinator

Julie Beschell – Treasurer

Many many thanks to our outgoing members, Marlene Wurfel and Brandon Golby. Your choice to help out in your community made Parkallen a better place for all of us. See you soon!

12May 2013 Parkallen News

ClassifiedParkallen resident since 1990 and pet/house sitting for 12 years. Will shovel walks, bring in mail, water plants, take care of your pets while you are away. Contact Michele @780.434.7871. References available on request.

Found: ring with stone near Parkallen school. To claim please phone 780-435-0631 with a description

Your Parkallen Community League Executive:

President: Alex Clifford Vice-President: Sam Guffey

Casino: Christie Roy Irving Civics: Donna White

Community Garden Coordinator: James Goldman

Graphics: Lindsay Erickson Groundskeeper: VACANT

Hall Coordinator: Teresa Khronman Hall Maintenance: VACANT

Housing and Development: Jan Hardstaff Membership Coordinator: Sandra Stessun

Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator: VACANT Newsletter: 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 South Campus Neighbourhood Coalition:

Lawrie Seligman & Donna White Transportation: VACANT Treasurer: Julie Beschell Website: Marc Pearce

[email protected]@[email protected]@parkallen.ca

[email protected]@parkallen.ca

[email protected]@parkallen.ca

[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@parkallen.ca

[email protected]@[email protected]

parkallen may 2013

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