FoTBP Newsletter - Oct 12/2011

In this Newsletter:

1. FARMER'S MARKET UPDATE
2. ADOPT-A-TREE UPDATE
3. FoTBP Fall General Meeting - ALL WELCOME
4. WHAT'VE FRIENDS BEEN DOING?

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1. FARMER'S MARKET UPDATE - season ends October 25!

www.tbfm.ca for more info
Tuesdays, 3-7pm, rain or shine,
Dundas W & Shaw/Crawford in the park

Hard to believe just 2 more market Tuesdays left in the season!  Time flies when you are eating well.  The Autumn bounty fills the farmer's tables; take your pick of root vegetables, leafy greens, apples, bread, meats, cheese oh and so much more ;-).    We are still collecting signatures to help fend off the Mayor/Councillors from even considering raising the 'user fees' for farmers' markets.  D-Day will be coming in November, so big push to gather more awareness and signatures.  Email Councillors and let them know too.   Thank you for all your support!  If you can't come to sign at market, below are links to on-line petition and more information.

2. ADOPT-A-TREE UPDATE - season winding up
Forty-six new saplings were planted in the park this spring and summer -- plus we've noticed seven new Kentucky Coffee trees along Dundas Street in the past month for a total of 53 new trees in 2011.  A veritable treasure-trove of shade, oxygen and greenery for the future.  After a summer of drought -- a very tough inaugural year for the trees -- we seem to be in a nice wet fall (nice if you're a young tree).  The AAT program is winding down for the season and the water will be turned off any day now.  Sixty volunteers have adopted a tree or "cherry twins" (or more) and thanks to them almost all of the new trees received at least a 5-gallon (20 litres) watering every week.  The AAT program always has a few young trees that need attention or adopting so please do consider signing up through the website for next season.  (We're all volunteers so thanks for your patience if it takes abit of time to get back to you.) 

The AAT program will be re-organsing to accommodate the growth of the program -- come to the General Meeting if you're interested in getting more involved.

3. FALL GENERAL MEETING - Wednesday, October 26 - 7-8:30pm
Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park (FoTBP) fall general meeting will be held, as usual, at the Rec Centre.  All welcome and encouraged to attend.   Along with usual committee reports,  there'll be bikeway updates and new initiatives to consider (Art in the Park anyone?).  And ample opportunity for community members, like yourself to share ideas, discuss issues and get involved with us. Remember, it's all about keeping our park a clean, safe, urban greenspace to cherish for years to come.  The Agenda will be sent out at a later date.

If you have anything you'd like to present or discuss in particular, we can include it on the agenda.  Please send us an email or contact us through the website form no later than a week before the meeting for inclusion.

Please help us spread the word by POSTING A FLYER for this meeting in your condo, apartment building, laundromat or local hydro pole.  You can download a copy here.

4. WHAT'VE FRIENDS BEEN DOING?

WARD 19 ROUNDTABLE
Our new Councillor, Mike Layton, has invited one representative from each resident/park/BIA group to meet quarterly, to share and discuss ward-wide issues. The second ‘Roundtable’ took place October 12, and Carolyn Wong, Steering Committee of Friends, attended on our behalf.

PARK PEOPLE
FoTBP's Anna Hill has accepted the invitation of Dave Harvey, Executive Director of Park People, to be part of their newly created Advisory Group.  Park People is a new citizens organization dedicated to improving Toronto's parks.

SPREADING ROOTS CONFERENCE
FoTBP's Adopt a Tree Coordinator, Michaelle McLean, has been invited to participate on the "Engaging Communties" panel at the Spreading Roots Conference on Nov 4 (www.spreadingroots.ca).  The conference is dedicated to the urban forest.