Strathcona Centre Community League
December 2011 / January 2012 Newsletter

 

 

99th Street: A Contested Space

by Peigi Rockwel

Co-Chair, Strathcona Centre Community League Task Force

peigi.rockwell@gmail.com

780-436-2714

 

Community Meeting: Tuesday, December 6, 2011

4:00-8:00 p.m.

YESS Armoury

10310- 85 Avenue

 

A contested space runs through the heart of our community. For some, 99th Street is an arterial road dedicated to the commuter’s race to work and home again, while for others 99th is a community road which needs to be crossed regularly to get to school, the trails, the bakeries and the grocery store. For the commuter, efficiency and speed are the goal, but for our community, safety and walk-ability are not negotiable.

 

Unfortunately, the City came down on the side of the commuter when they refurbished the road this summer.A Community League Task Force was assembled to try to present alternatives to the city’s plans but were rebuffed, with the City insisting that the “ship had sailed” and there was no room for changes during the summertime construction.

 

The Task Force has continued to persist in the hope of making 99th Street a place where pedestrians can feel safe and comfortable. After months of discussion, the City has prepared concept designs to be presented to the community on Tuesday, December 6 from 4 to 8pm at the YESS Armoury. Task Force members are: co-chairs Murray Cann and Peigi Rockwell, Jan Olson, Jamie Thompson, Grant Moore, Don Spence and Gerald Zurek.

 

Trees are the main priority. The city won’t allow trees to be planted in the sidewalk but are willing to provide and maintain trees on private property. So, Task Force members are currently approaching property owners along 99th St. to take trees. There is $183,000 remaining from the Scona Hill tree budget which can be applied to this project.  The Transportation Department has earmarked $250,000 for other improvements and Councillor Ben Henderson has said that there will be additional money found if necessary.

 

Other ideas for improving the street include: historic light standards with banners, Strathcona garbage cans, bike racks, bollards (designed by community artists), historic bus shelters and a few attractive flower pots.

 

In addition, Task Force members have lobbied for a reduction of truck traffic by allowing the much wider 75th St to be fully opened to trucks.  This should happen early in the New Year. 

 

Reduced wait times at crosswalks, more time to cross, new traffic lights, speed limit signs and the Saskatchewan Drive crossing are currently being discussed.  Encouraging cars to park on both sides of the street on off-peak hours is also on the table.

 

Soccer Director(s) Needed

by Jeff Samsonow

President, Strathcona Centre Community League

jeffsamsonow@yahoo.com

 

In order to have your children play soccer in our neighbourhood next spring,we need a new soccer director. Without that, we cannot run the program locally.

 

Essentially, we need a parent, or parents and other volunteers, to organize the soccer program. That includes recruitment of referees and coaches, attending ESESA meetings, budgeting, keeping on top of the equipment and gear, and generally making sure Strathcona's young soccer players are having a great time playing the world's game.

 

We need one or more volunteers to run the soccer program, or your children will have to play in other neighbourhoods of the SE Zone in 2012.

 

Please let me, or any of the Strathcona Centre Community League board members, know if you can help keep soccer in Strathcona.

 

If we don't have anyone to organize soccer by the end of the year we will inform ESESA that Strathcona will not have a neighbourhood soccer program in 2012.

 

WINTERFEST

The annual WinterFest will be held at our community league and grounds in mid to late February 2012. Watch for more details in the new year.

 

 

Ice on Whyte

The Board of the Strathcona Centre Community League passed a motion on September 12, 2011 to co-sponsor the 2012 Ice on Whyte (IOW) Festival, by making our grounds and facilities available. The festival's new and improved home will be at End of Steel Park and the Strathcona Centre Community League.

The 2012 Ice on Whyte Festival in Old Strathcona will run from January 12 - 22, 2012. The festival site will be filled with beautiful ice carvings created by international artists, the GIANT ice slide, an interactive play area for children, a heated tent with hot beverages, live music and storytelling, ice carving workshops for school groups and much more.  

 

For more information, visit the Ice on Whyte website www.iceonwhyte.ca

 

 

Green Initiatives

 

Welcome to our new Green Initiative Director, Stephanie Carter! Stephanie is a LEED® Accredited Professional and a passionate Sustainable Building Materials Specialist. She is trained as an interior designer and, after working in the industry, recognized a need for a new support system to transition the current market to a more sustainable one. In 2006 she started her own consulting firm, EcoAmmo. Stephani was actively involved with creating the Alberta Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council in 2003 and remained on the board for six years.

 

If you have ideas to promote sustainability in our community, contact Stephanie at scarter@ecoammo.com

 

Mark this new date for the 3rd Annual Reuse Fair: May 26, 2012 (Saturday). The Reuse Fair is a one-day community event where unwanted but reusable household items will be collected and passed on to local charitable organizations. Waste is reduced and diverted from Edmonton’s landfill. For more information, contact the event coordinator, Dilshad, at 780-463-4864.

 

2011-2012 Memberships

 

If you missed the membership drive in your neighbourhood, you can contact one of the membership coordinators, Lois Hameister, loish@athabascau.ca, 780-439-5774, and Jeanie McDonnell, jeaniemc@telus.net, 780-433-0521.

Benefits of the Community League:


Membership fees are $20/family, $15/single, $5/senior. 

 

Community Planning and Civics

 

Grant Moore, Chair of the Community Planning and Civics Committee, maintains a database of building developments, planning and transportation issues, urban design projects, and community initiatives. If you would like more information, please contact Grant at 780-434-3772, email gfmarch@telusplanet.net

 

On September 28, 2011, the City of Edmonton announced that the Night Ride late night transportation pilot on Whyte Avenue will be delayed to January 2012. The pilot was originally scheduled to start September 2, 2011. The delay will give organizers the full 3 months originally planned for the pilot to operate and evaluate the impact of the service. It will also provide more time to share the evaluation criteria and plan with stakeholders and to better promote the initiative to potential passengers. For FAQs about the pilot project and the online survey results, visit the Responsible Hospitality Edmonton webpage on the City of Edmonton website.

  

Reporting Suspicious Activities and Incidents

People are highly encouraged to continue to report suspicious activity, including door-to-door scams, as police may see a need to dedicate more resources. The Strathcona Community League and EPS encourage you to call the EPS Complaints Line at 780-423-4567 to report any incidents.

 

Our Community Safety Director, Terry Gent, welcomes community feedback. His email is sconasafety@gmail.com The league might consider holding a forum on community concerns.

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is committed to innovative and responsive community policing. EPS has developed the Neighborhood Crime Mapping Website for the public to view crime in neighbourhoods across the city. http://crimemapping.edmontonpolice.ca/

By accessing this timely information on reported crime, you will be able to know what is happening in your neighbourhood. By knowing what is going on, we can work together to reduce and prevent crime.

For more information about community policing, visit www.edmontonpolice.ca/communitypolicing.aspx

Keep up to date with the latest Safety Information, resources, and success stories from grassroots crime prevention groups. www.edmonton.ca/safedmonton

 

Congratulations to Grey Cup Champion

Congratulations to BC Lions’ offensive guard Jon Hameister-Reis, son of Lois Hameister, Strathcona Centre Community League Membership Co-chair, and Ron Reis, on the team’s 2011 Grey Cup Championship! Following a four year career at Tulsa, the final two of which he was a dominant starter, Jon was selected by the BC Lions in the second round of the 2006 CFL Draft. Jon majored in Management at the University of Tulsa and has since earned his MBA. He lettered as a tight end and defensive end during his senior season at Strathcona High School in Edmonton. Jon also earned First Team All-Canada accolades while the Strathcona Lords posted an 11-0-1 record and won the city and provincial championship. The Canadian Press recently reported that Jon is turning one of his favourite foods into a business. He is opening a poutine shop in downtown Vancouver. Jon is a big fan of the Edmonton Oilers!

  

EDMONTON WEAVERS’ GUILD CLASSES

 

The Strathcona Centre Community League Hall, 10139 – 87 Avenue, is home of the Edmonton Weavers' Guild that encourages local weavers, spinners, dyers and felters to meet, exchange ideas and learn. For more information visit the Guild’s website at http://clubweb.interbaun.com/~ewg/ For general information: Call 780-425-9280, or email ewg@interbaun.com

 

Learn a new craft and be part of a revival in fibre arts. For more information about classes, workshops, registration, etc please contact Arlene at 780-462-6943 or
email her at arlenef@shaw.ca

 

Beginning Weaving

Learn to warp a four-harness table loom, read a pattern and weave a sampler and a project.
Fee:$ 200.00 (Materials for sampler included in course fee; students must supply materials for personal project). Loom loan available with damage deposit of $250)
March 5-April 30, 2012

8 Monday evenings, 6:30 pm - 9:30pm; no class April 9

 

Loom Controlled Shibori Scarf

You will weave a tencel scarf with gathering threads in it. When the scarf is woven, the gathering threads will be pulled tight and knotted to create a very dense pleated piece of cloth. This will be dyed or painted with another colour.

Fee: $105.00 (dyes included)
January 9-February 6, 2012

5 Monday evenings, 6:30pm-9:30pm, with Jan. 23 a studio evening

 

Beginner Spinning
Learn to prepare fibre for spinning. Learn how to spin using a spinning wheel.
Fee: $120.00 (Materials included).

Spinning wheel loan available with damage deposit cheque.
February 26 - March 18, 2012

4 Sunday afternoons, 1:00pm-4:00pm

 

Beginner Felting
 Learn the basics of this very hands-on fibre art. Make four projects and learn four different techniques of manipulating fibre into fabric. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a towel, plastic bag, lunch and enthusiasm!
Fee: $85.00 (Materials included)
Saturday, January 28, 2012

9:00am – 4:00pm

 

Feltscape

A Beginner Felting course or similar experience is pre-requisite for this workshop. Create your very own work of art to wow any wall, in this one-day workshop. Students will fibre-paint using a combination of wet and dry felting techniques to produce a piece that may be framed. All materials provided; however, you may wish to bring a picture to inspire your individual taste, continue a theme or just show your favourite colours. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a towel, plastic bag and lunch.
Fee: $120.00 which includes $40.00 for materials)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

9:00am-4:00pm
 

Snow Season Approaches

by Ben Henderson

Councillor, Ward 8

November-December 2011

 

It may still be autumn, but winter is fast approaching and many people have expressed concerns to me over issues that arose last snow season regarding winter road maintenance. 

 

During the summer, City Council approved the acquisition of 20 additional sander/plow trucks and 2 loader-snow blowers so as to better handle the accumulation of snow in residential areas.  At the same time, administration initiated a comprehensive review of its existing policies and procedures, and changes were made to the snow and ice policy to enhance service throughout the city.

 

This winter, crews will start work in residential areas as soon as priority routes are cleared.  Even if additional snowfall occurs while residential blading is taking place, equipment will not be removed from neighbourhoods until every area has received service.  Crews will still be blading to a 5 cm snowpack, but residential plowing down to bare pavement will be started if snow accumulation makes it impossible to keep the snowpack at that depth.  A new residential snow schedule map, accessible through the City’s website at www.edmonton.ca, will let you know exactly when you can expect work to take place on your street.

 

As you may have heard, another important change is the introduction of a snow event-based seasonal parking ban. This ban is for collector bus routes through residential areas. The ban will only be called as conditions require; once the 8-hour notice is given, those parked on the signed ‘Seasonal Parking Ban’ routes will have to remove their vehicles from the road.  Last season, many bus routes became dangerously narrow with vehicles hindering the flow of traffic. We have made a commitment that these collector roads be done within 48 hours, then the ban will be lifted. Although there might be some temporary inconvenience from time to time as citizens are asked to move their vehicles, it is essential that commuters, transit and emergency responders have unobstructed access to these routes.

 

Citizens can keep informed about seasonal parking bans and residential winter service from  local media and also by visiting www.edmonton.ca/winterroads. From that page you can sign up for email alerts, find out when crews will be servicing your community, and access other information that will help make this winter a much better experience.

 

Our Wonderful Winter City

by Ben Henderson

Councillor, Ward 8

January 2012

 

Winter took its time arriving, but Edmontonians are ushering in the season with more festivals and activities than ever!  As Edmontonians, we wear our winter hardiness like a badge of honour, and I have been working on the City of Edmonton’s WinterCity Strategy to highlight how we can further embrace winter and step into our role as a leading winter city we can all be proud of.

 

How do you celebrate Edmonton winters?  For the outdoor enthusiasts, both sides of the River Valley are lined with a natural belt of two dozen parks perfect for snowshoeing and snow angels.  There are 97 km of natural and groomed cross-country ski trails as well as downhill ski hills, toboggan hills, and picturesque skating rinks.  And don’t miss out on the beautiful northern lights in the evenings!

 

We are also very lucky to enjoy a number of new and returning winter festivals this year, most are free admission:

 

 

Edmonton also welcomes hockey teams and fans from nine countries for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship (Dec.26- Jan. 5; hockeycanada.ca). Go Canada Go!

 

With the Alberta blue skies and the bright sunlight reflecting off the white snow, get outside with friends and family and soak up some winter fun in Edmonton.

 

  

News from the Strathcona Branch of the Edmonton Public Library

8331- 104 Street

Phone: 780-496-1828


Strathcona Branch of the Edmonton Public Library and Strathcona Centre Community League are two of the member organizations of the Old Strathcona Area Community Council (OSAAC) that meets monthly to share information and discuss community issues. Ann Matheson is our league representative on OSAAC.  Joycelyn Jaca, Community Librarian, looks forward to attending a community league board meeting.

 

Established in 1913, Strathcona Branch is the oldest public library in Edmonton. It is important for its significance as the civic and architectural centerpiece of Old Strathcona.

 

Strathcona Branch hours are 10 am – 9 pm Monday to Thursday, 10 am – 6 pm Friday and Saturday, 1 pm – 5 pm Sunday. Check the calendar of programs and events for Strathcona and all library branches at www.epl.ca

 

Children’s Programs, New Time Slots in 2012

·         Family Storytime, Saturdays 10:30-11:00 am, January 7 to May 26, 2012,

Wednesdays, 6:30-7:00 p.m., January 11 to May 30, 2012

·         Sing Sign Laugh & Learn, drop-in, Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm, or 6:30 p.m.-7:30pm, January 12 to May 31, 2012

·         Baby Lap Time, drop in, Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m., or 2:00-2:30 pm, January 10 to May 29, 2012

We’ve got programs for adults, too!

 

 

City Services & General Information

 

Visit www.edmonton.ca/311 or call 311 for information and access to City of Edmonton programs and services such as:

 

·         Inspections, licenses, permits

311 agents are available 24 hours a day, every day.

Community League Wellness Program

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues and the City of Edmonton are pleased to offer the Community Wellness Program exclusively for community league members. 

The Community League Wellness Program offers community league members opportunity to purchase an annual pass or multiple admission pass packages to City of Edmonton sports and recreation facilities at a substantial savings. 

 

Annual Pass – Community League Members receive a 20% discount on Adult, Family, Child and Youth/Senior Annual Passes (applies to new purchases only).

 

Continuous Monthly Pass – Community League Members enjoy a 20% discount using a convenient Pre-Authorized Debit Program.

Multi Admission Pass – Community League Members receive a 15% on the City’s already discounted multi-admission pass (10+ visits)

Facilities and amenities include swimming pools, wave pool, dive tanks, whirlpools, fitness studios, cardio areas, weight rooms, racquetball, squash, badminton, tennis and basketball courts, indoor running tracks, gymnasiums and pro shops. Hours of operation are from 5:30 a.m. to midnight (hours vary according to facility).

Community league members who purchase the above passes will be issued a photo access card which is to be swiped at each admission. For more information, please call 311 or visit www.edmonton.ca/wellness