Bloor West Village Residents Association

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure? It can be true! Bring your unwanted “stuff” to our local Community Environment Day, hosted by City Councillor Bill Saundercook. It’s coming to High Park Sunday, April 20/08, from 10am – 2pm.

The City will take all your used household items and make sure they get recycled or reused by folks who want and need them. Best of all, you’ll be keeping your junk out of the landfill, so everyone wins.

- Small household items like dishes and ornaments will go to Goodwill, along with books, linens and clothing.
Even broken VCRs, cell phones, computers and other electronics will be accepted to make sure they are properly recycled and/or disposed.
- You can drop off art supplies such as pencils, markers, crayons, yarn and fabric, as well as used buttons, costume jewellery and dress-up clothing. They will be donated to ArtsJunktion—a Toronto District School Board warehouse for teachers—and reused by creative young minds.
- Bring leftover cleaning supplies and solvents, motor oil, paint, old and unused medication, mercury thermometers/thermostats and pesticides. These items are household hazardous wastes and need safe disposal.
Check out the other areas of the 2008 Community Environment Days website for a detailed list of everything you can take to and get: http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/activities.htm

Don’t forget: Recycling containers are available for purchase, for exchange with broken ones. There are water efficiency tools for sale such as rain barrels and indoor kits.

There’s also the paint exchange—bring some in or take at look at what’s been dropped off and help yourself.

And of course, everyone’s favourite: the giant pile of FREE leaf compost. Come prepared with your own containers and shovels. Haul it away and spruce up your lawn, garden and flower beds.
All the Communty Environment Day needs is you.

So hit your closets, basements, attics and garages for all the goods you can spare and then get out to this major event.

Ursula Frankly Academy (known affectionately as UFA) is hosting its annual Spring Gala, slated this year for April 22nd – 7pm.
Hosting is comedian Simon Cotter – seen on CBC’s “Comics” and CTV’s “Comedy Now”. There will be performances by The Bad Dog Theatre “Toronto’s Home of Improv”; by Martha O’Neill, as seen at The Laugh Resort; and by Modesto Amegago, spectacular West African Dance and Drumming. Also featured local talent including the winners of UFA IDOL, UFA’s Spoken Word Artists, and Lorraine Linton.
Tickets for adults $20, for students $10, family packs available. Proceeds go UFA’s community projects including the renewal of landscaping at the UFA/Western Tech school at 146 Glendonynne.
For tickets please contact Rita at 416-393-0430 ext. 0

From our friends at World19

What will you be doing during Earth Hour?

Why not show your “green colours” by participating in a community candle-light walk along Bloor Street West?

Many individuals, businesses and governments around the world will be shutting off or reducing their power usage for one hour on the evening of Saturday, March 29th from 8-9 pm to symbolically but importantly demonstrate the need for greater public education and action on the environment. The Earth Hour Challenge is being organized internationally by the World Wildlife Federation.
Learn more at http://www.world19.com/

As a community, we too can make a difference. Let’s make a collective effort to show our commitment to reducing energy usage that results in greenhouse gases. Turn off your lights, TVs, radios and computers and then join your neighbours in Bloor West Village for a fun candle-light walk – and to make our own statement about the importance of protecting the environment to our community. During the walk, further ideas can be shared on positive actions we as a community can take to protect our neighbourhoods and our planet.

Here’s what you can do:

- Join us at the parking lot by No Frills in Bloor West Village at 7:45. Bring a candle and lighter/ match.
- Wear something green (and warm).
- We will walk west to the corner of Bloor and Jane at 8pm rain or moonlight
- Remember to shut off your lights, etc.

Here’s what else you can do:

- Bring your family, friends and pets
- Ask businesses on the Bloor West strip to dim their lights/ host candle light dinners for the one hour
- Consider how you can reduce your energy usage year round.

For more information please call Christopher Holcroft at 416-760-8557.