50TH ANNUAL FORSYTHIA FESTIVAL UPDATE
We’ve got SOOO MUCH Forsythia Festival news to share! First up though, big shout our to our tireless organizers, Carolyn Jarman, Katie Tozer and Shawna Pereira, who are pulling out all the stops to ensure that the 50th anniversary of the festival is one to remember – despite everything that’s going on!
- Our Festival ‘Experience Bags’ are a HUGE hit and the orders just keep coming in! Order yours now, before it’s too late at the Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival Shopify store.
- A big hurrah for our local retailers that have stepped up with loads of coupons, gift cards and more.
- There’s a fun secret ‘yellow stone’ project for kids going on in Wellesley Park.
- The Great “Think Spring” House decorating Challenge is starting – this weekend!
Hop on over to our dedicated update page to get the fully skinny on everything ‘Forsythia Festival’.
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CPA 2021 PLANT SWAP PLANNED FOR MAY 16
In 2020 the Cabbagetown Preservation Association couldn’t run the garden tour so they launched a Cabbagetown plant swap. Sadly they can’t do the garden tour this year either, so they are pleased to announce a 2nd Annual Neighbourhood Plant Swap. It’s a safe and sustainable way to celebrate spring and streetscapes and gardens of Cabbagetown.
Mark your calendars and start thinking of anything you need to split, cut or remove from your garden this spring. Houseplant cuttings are also welcome.
Please be sure to provide plant names and care instructions with your contributions. Social distancing and masks required.
Date: Sunday, May 16, Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Locations: 89 Winchester & Winchester Park
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A DOUBLE HELPING OF NEWS FROM GREEN THUMBS
Green Thumbs Growing Kids (GTGK) runs programs in our local school gardens that provide kids of all ages and all backgrounds with a variety of settings such as native/ naturalized plantings, meadow ecosystems, native tree species in their own mini-nurseries, and small-scale agriculture, including production of kid-friendly small fruits and vegetables, aerobic/thermal and worm composting.
This week Heather Wilberforce from GTGK shared two news items with us:
Their latest blog, entitled “A Special Garden Sign.”
Details of a special Mother’s Day garden themed gift basket that GTGK has created in celebration of all Mother’s.
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THERE’S STILL SPACE AT CABBAGETOWN FARMERS MARKET
The organisers of the ever popular Cabbagetown Farmers Market are ramping up for the season in Riverdale Park (Winchester and Sumach) and spaces are still available. If you’re interested just send an email to Katya, the market’s administrator at: katya@riverdaleurbanfarming.ca
Deadline: Friday, April 30th.
Trevor Wallace’s recent renovation took three months to execute but was in the offing for a full four years, reports Matthew Hague at the Globe and Mail.
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DON’T MESS WITH THE DON – LATEST NEWSLETTER
Don’t Mess with the Don was formed to advocate and address specific issues of unrelenting dumping of garbage and debris into the ravines of the Don.
We just received their April Newsletter to share with you all.
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SHERBOURNE HEALTH SEEKS BOARD DIRECTORS
We received an email from Cabbagetown resident Marcia Max Vesterfelt Kim:
Dear Neighbours – if you are seeking an opportunity to help those living in and near our community – please check out this posting with Sherbourne Health. It’s a great opportunity to work with an organization committed to helping people who may have been under-served by conventional health care.
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THINKING ABOUT HARDSCAPING YOUR FRONT YARD? THINK AGAIN
Wallace Immen from the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Committee shared a recent inquiry from a local resident:
“Question: Do residents need a permit or other permission to pave over their front lawn/garden area (even if it is not to create a parking space, for which my understating is a permit would definitely be required)?”
The heritage advisory committee responded to the question quite comprehensively.
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LIVE GREEN NEWS – APRIL 2021
Our friends at Live Green Toronto have issued an Earth Week Special Newsletter in recognition of Earth Day on Thursday April 22.
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HIGH PARK OPEN FOR CHERRY BLOSSOM – BUT THERE’S A CATCH
Toronto mayor John Tory has announced that the cherry blossoms in High Park in 2021 will, unlike 2020, remain open to the public throughout the blooming season — but there’s a catch, reports Mira Millerat BlogTO.
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CITY TO OFFER MORE VIRTUAL RECREATION PROGRAMS THIS SPRING
Toronto will continue to offer virtual recreation programs following what officials called a successful spring break series. The programs are expected to be delivered weekly beginning May 3 and are meant to provide live and interactive activities for children, youth and older adults. There are about 1,000 spaces available. Report by Katherine deClerq at CTV News.
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THOUGHTS ON GARDEN SUITES? THE CITY WANTS TO HEAR THEM
The Garden Suites Study is one of several studies that the City Planning Division is leading to expand housing options in Neighbourhoods.
The public consultation process is currently underway with the Garden + Suites Survey. As a next step, City Planning is hosting virtual community consultation meetings where residents can learn more, ask questions, and share comments about Garden Suites.
Meeting Details:
- Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 – Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2021 – Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2021 – Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
The meetings will be Online and phone-in only. To join pre-registration is required.
Additional information about the Garden + Suites study is available at the study website.
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CABBAGETOWN PHOTO CORNER
As we’re still barreling towards the 50th annual Forsythia Festival, we thought our delightful local Forsythia bushes deserved one more kick at the can. This time, delightfully dusted with the recent April 21 snow!
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VACCINE UPDATES
TWO LOCAL POP-UP CLINICS NOW OPEN
Two pop-up clinics have opened to serve the hotspot population in the M4X post code. They are located at St. James Town Wellesley Community Centre (WCC) and Regent Park 40 Oaks (Fred Victor). You can book appointments now at these clinic. The web site outlines eligibility criteria.
You can also visit vaccineTO.ca to check for appointments at other clinics.
AN UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR WONG TAM
Councillor Wong Tam has also shared a useful pharmacy vaccine tracker. Visit her website to find your closest pharmacy to book your appointment.
BLOOD CLOT RISKS LOW VS. OTHER MEDICINES, TRAVEL, SMOKING
“Blood clots are more common with just day-to-day living than they are with any of the vaccines, including AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson said Linda Dresser, an infectious diseases expert and assistant professor at the University of Toronto.” Report by Saba Aziz at Global News.