Rebuilding High Park Playground

A number of you have asked about doing small fundraisers or making donations towards the reconstruction of the Jamie Bell Playground/High Park Adventure, which recently suffered damage due to arson.

At a public meeting at High Park Baptist Church, it came to light that there is some need for continued donations.

If you or your business is interested in doing a fundraiser or making a donation, please make a contribution through the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation:

http://www.torontoparksandtrees.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=22

This is a charitable foundation that partners with the City of Toronto to improve public parks.

The foundation can issue a tax receipt for any donation over $10.

If you are interested in getting more involved in the process, please contact Ward 13 Councillor Sarah Doucette at councillor_doucette@toronto.ca or (416) 392-4072.

Community Consultation Re: West Side of Roncesvalles

The City of Toronto is conducting a study regarding the west side of Roncesvalles Avenue, and its possible uses for small-scale retail, services and offices.

There is a Community Consultation meeting scheduled for April 19 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. Casimir’s Parish Hall at 156 Roncesvalles Avenue (between Garden and Fern) that you may wish to attend.

There are also opportunities to submit comments online or by phone.

The City is distributing the attached notice to residents throughout Roncesvalles Village. Please read below for more information.

The City of Toronto holds public consultations as one way to engage residents in the life of their city. We invite you to get involved.Planning Study for Roncesvalles Ave.: Potential Amendments to the Zoning By-law to permit Non-Residential Uses on the west side of Roncesvalles AvenueThe City is holding a Community Consultation meeting where you can learn more about the study, askquestions and share your comments.Details are as follows:Date: April 19, 2012Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMPlace: St. Casimir Parish Hall – 156 Roncesvalles Ave.ProposalStudy of the need for amendments to the Zoning By-law to permit small-scale retail, service and office uses on those lands on the West side of Roncesvalles Avenue currently designated as Neighbourhoods.To speak to the planner directly, contact Dan Nicholson, at (416) 395-7110 or dnichol2@toronto.ca . You may mail your comments to the planner at Toronto and East York District, 100 Queen St W Floor 18 E Toronto On, M5H 2N2. To provide comments online, use the link below.You may also contact Councillor Gord Perks , Ward 14, at (416) -392-7919Notice to correspondents:Personal information received at community consultation meetings or contained in correspondence with the City is collected under sections 8 and 136 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 specifically for creating a public record of information potentially relevant to making an informed decision. Questions about the collection of this information may be directed to the Planner listed above.Compliance with City Council policy respecting Notice may result in you receiving duplicate notices.Attendant Care Services can be made available with some advance notice.

High Park Zoo News

Friends of High Park Zoo needs volunteers Saturday, April 14^th and  Sunday, April 15^th from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, weather permitting.

Meet at the Llama Pen, south end of the Zoo.

Sign up for 3 or 6 hour shift, or just drop by for an hour or so.  You can help with the children’s activities, distribute leaflets in the park or chat to the crowds…..Save the Zoo!

We now need to raise $50K  for Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation – Save the Zoo  between April 10 and June 15^th.

We have folding rakes at the Zoo on weekends, donation $20.00 (see press release below)

I love the sparkly wreaths and the beautiful window boxes!

Cigarette Butts on Roncy

Please keep our street clean!  The new garbage cans have a receptacle for cigarette butts.  We also have some portable ashtrays so drop by and ask for one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jci7×1JFwmg&feature=relmfu

Volunteer Street Sweepers

A nice story in the Toronto Star from Ellen Moorhouse of the Review Theatre about neighbours not complaining but actually DOING!   http://www.thestar.com/article/1084349–trash-talk-a-clean-sweep-on-roncesvalles

Neighbourhood Jack ‘o’ Lanterns

Sorauren Park on November 1.  You MUST see this next year.  Neighbours bring their Halloween Jack ‘o’ Lanterns to the park on November 1 where they glow again another day.  Really something to see.  Check out this link from the Toronto Star and make sure to follow the link to the photo gallery.  Awesome.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1079758–jack-o-lanterns-live-to-glow-another-day

Roncesvalles Polish Festival

Follow this link for a schedule of events for this weekend’s Polish Festival on Roncesvalles.

http://polishfestival.ca/wp-content/uploads/rpf2011schedule.map.pdf

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, October 18 is “EAT TO THE BEAT”, a fundraiser in support of Willow Breast Cancer Support.  The event is held at Roy Thompson Hall and features over 60 female chefs, including Blue Plate’s own Julia Young!!!  Tickets are $150 and include all you can eat and drink, as well as a charitable receipt.  There is live music, a silent auction, and fabulous fancy dress.  The event has raised millions of dollars over the years.  I have participated in this event for years, as Blue Plate and, before that, as BOHO.  It is a tremendous amount of fun for all, and the food and wine are amazing.  For details, and to purchase tickets, go to www.eattothebeat.ca.

Wednesday, October 19 is “FEAST FOR THE FIGHT”, a fundraiser in support of The Canadian Cancer Society.  Participating restaurants, including Blue Plate, will be donating a percentage of that day’s sales.  For more information, go to www.feastforthefight.ca.  Call now to book your reservation!

Private Parties

Did you know that Blue Plate is available for your private party?  On Saturday we hosted a beautiful wedding luncheon.  The sun shone, the wine flowed and everyone was very happy!  The menu, arranged by special order with the wedding party, included shrimp dumplings with sambal aioli, vegetable spring rolls with hoisin sauce, pissaladiere, maple-chipotle glazed salmon, lemon herb-roasted chicken, grilled marinated vegetables, potato salad, Tuscan bread salad, lemon squares, chocolate brownies, oatmeal cherry cookies and fresh fruit.  We would be delighted to host your private function too!  Please call Melissa at 416-888-0432 to discuss your requirements.