Mount Pleasant Apr 2016 - Mount Pleasant Community Association
Transcription
Mount Pleasant Apr 2016 - Mount Pleasant Community Association
The Official Newsletter of the Mt. Pleasant Community Association MOUNT PLEASANT www.mpca.ca APRIL 2016 @MountPleasantCA Like us on Facebook! PULSE Pamper your Palate April 9. See Page 5 for details. Call for Volunteers and Membership See Page 4 for details. Syrian Support Information Meeting April 5, 7pm in the Upper Hall. See page 6. 2016 MPCA Membership Renew Your Membership Now Do you qualify as a life member? Are you age 65 or older and been an MPCA member for 10 or more years? If so, you can qualify as an MPCA “life member.” This means you will not have to pay the annual membership free and will not need to send in a membership renewal form each year to maintain your active status. When you fill in your membership form this year, please indicate you are applying as a “life member.” If you renew online, choose the “pay by cheque” option and e-mail [email protected] to advise you are applying for a life membership. Are you a new resident of Mount Pleasant? If you move into Mount Pleasant during the membership year, you qualify for membership for the first year. When you fill in your membership form, please indicate you are applying as a “new resident” and provide the date you moved into Mount Pleasant. If you renew online, choose the “pay by cheque” option and e-mail [email protected] to advise you are applying as a new resident, indicating the date you moved into Mount Pleasant. MPCA Membership Benefits Whether you have children or not, rent or own, are older or younger, an MPCA membership brings lots of benefits. And at only $15.00 per family living in Mount Pleasant ($5.00 per family for seniors age 65 and older) it is the best deal in town. MPCA membership benefits: • Membership is an opportunity to support your community. • Only members can purchase monthly passes for the Mount Pleasant outdoor pool. • Swimming lessons at the Mount Pleasant outdoor pool are offered at a reduced cost for members • Hockey and ringette subsidies are available for members’ children • Members enjoy free public skating at the Mount Pleasant Sportsplex • Members receive discounted ticket prices for some community Special Events • Membership is required for participation in the Soccer and PlayGroup programs • Only MPCA members who are Mount Pleasant residents can vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and sit on the Board of Directors • Members receive e-mail notice of City matters affecting Mount Pleasant, upcoming Special Events, volunteer opportunities, and the AGM • Members may qualify for reduced group home and auto insurance rates (based on experience); go to ToolePeet MOUNT PLEASANT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Please complete this a cheque M P C form andAforward it with M A payable to: Mount this Pleasant Community Association Please complete form and forward it with a cheque payable to: Mount Pleasant Community Association 602 VE . NW, CCALGARY AB T2M 1N7 602 22 A .NW NW, , ,AB 1N71N7 60222 –A 22 Ave Calgary AB T2M T2M OUNT LEASANT OMMUNITY VE MEMBERSHIPS ARE VALID FROM SSOCIATION EMBERSHIP PPLICATION ALGARY SEPTEMBER 1 TO THE FOLLOWING AUGUST 31 MEMBERSHIPS ARE VALID FROM SEPTEMBER 1 TO THE FOLLOWING AUGUST 31 My Membership Type: Mount Pleasant Resident ($15.00/year/family) Senior, 65 and over ($5.00/year/family) New Resident or Life Members (free) Non-Resident ($25.00/year/family) Life Members are community residents age 65 and over who have been an MPCA member for at Membership Type: least 10 years. New Residents have lived in Mount Pleasant for less than 1 year. My Information (* Fields followed by an * are required): ount Pleasant Resident ($15.00/year/family) Senior, 65 and over ($5.00/year/fam Name of Primary Contact* ew Resident or Life Members (free) Name of Alternate Contact Non-Resident ($25.00/year/family) Members are community residents age 65 and over who have been an MPCA member Address* 10 years. for less than 1 year. PostalNew Code*Residents have lived in Mount Home Pleasant Phone* E-Mail Address* nformation FieldsCheque: followed by an * Cash: are required): $ Payment (* Attached: $ any community activities that are of interest to you and 2 My Interests (please check beside Mount April 2016 Pleasant PULSE your family): EXECUTIVE President ................ Murray Anderson, 403-289-5071 [email protected] Vice-President.............................................Jason Iverson [email protected] Secretary........................... Nora Spencer, 403-230-1649 [email protected] Treasurer.................................................. Sandra Jackson [email protected] DIRECTORS Past President .................... Roger Leach, 403-284-1719 [email protected] Playgroup .......................................... Brandy Hasselback [email protected]. Membership .............................................. Brittany Stahl [email protected] Sportsplex .......................... Roger Leach, 403-284-1719 [email protected] Hall ............................. Murray Anderson, 403-289-5071 [email protected] Swimming Pool .....................Jamie Reid, 403-992-7343 [email protected] Soccer ........................... Michael Back, 403-277-5549 [email protected] Grants .......................................Alta Scott, 403-617-1538 [email protected] Planning, Transportation & Land Use ..... Brenden Smith [email protected] Publicity ...................................................... Carole Broger [email protected] Special Events ................................................... Eric Filion [email protected] Green Initiatives ....................................... Matthew Crist [email protected] Hall Rentals 403-282-1314 [email protected] Email [email protected] Mount Pleasant Community Board meetings are on the third Tuesday at 7pm of every month in the Upper Hall, see www.mpca.ca for more details. Any community member with a current membership is more than welcome to attend. President’s Message The Community received its Casino cheque after the Alberta Gaming did its four month averaging. We came away with over $72,000 as our share, which no matter how you view it, it is a nice pay day for two days work. These funds will cover a lot of our administration expenses as well as cover much of the Seniors funding. Ones again a big thank you to Holly Sinclair for chairing the event and everybody that worked a shift, the community is better off for your efforts. Easter Sunday, March 27th from 10am to noon was our annual Easter Shell Hunt at the Upper Hall. Jean Sebastien Rioux planned a big party for all the kids in the community so I hoped you marked your calendar to attend. There will be a Syrian Support Information Meeting April 5th at 7pm. Linda O’Hanlon and Maryvonnen Farrand are gauging the support the community has for possibly sponsoring a refugee family for a year. If you are interested in helping please plan on attending and engage in the planning. Pamper Your Palate will take place April 9th in the Hall. Eric Filion is once again planning a wonderful evening of great food, wine and beers. Plan on coming out and meeting your neighbours and having a fun night out. If last years turn out is any indication you will need to buy your tickets early. Michael Back reports close to 400 players have registered to play soccer this spring which is another record. Thanks Michael for making soccer so popular in the community and giving the kids a place to showcase their talents. Have a Happy Easter and enjoy this wonderful weather. Murray Anderson, President, Mount Pleasant Community Association Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within any published article, report or submission reflect those of the author and should not be considered to reflect those of the community association. The information contained in this newsletter is believed to be accurate but is not warranted to be so. The community association does not endorse any person or persons advertising in this newsletter. Publication of these ads should not be considered an endorsement of any goods or services. MT. PLEASANT PULSE We publish ten issues per year in each of these fine communities: is the official newsletter of the Mount Pleasant Community Association Crescent Heights • Mt. Pleasant Renfrew • Bridgeland/Riverside Winston Heights & east Tuxedo Park Crossroads • Marlborough Park Marlborough • Rundle Proudly published by: Best Service Best Quality Best Value April 2016 Website: www.mpca.ca PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSLETTER! Printed using environmentally friendly vegatable-based inks and recycled paper. Mount Pleasant PULSE • discount levels up to 40% • target one or many communities • colour advertising available • reach your target market effectively • community newsletters contain the news that residents want to read For advertising information email [email protected] or call 403-276-8108. CASH CHEQUE 3 MPCA Community News Call For Volunteers And Members MPCA is organizing a membership drive in May to encourage community members and businesses to join the MPCA. Please contact [email protected] for more details and to join the drive! Boomers and Zoomers Next Lunch - Wednesday, April 27, 2016 My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninetyseven now, and we don’t know where the heck she is.- Ellen DeGeneres UTB Spring is finally here! Like you, the seniors are looking forward to getting outside to enjoy some fresh air, bocce, and horseshoes. I’m writing this in early March so sure hope you’re not reading it in the midst of a blizzard. We get together in the Upper Hall on the 4th Wednesday of each month (2nd Wednesday in December) for a delicious hot meal followed by entertainment that varies each month (speaker, conversation, movie, games, etc.). Our doors open at 11:30, lunch is served around noon, and the entertainment follows. If you’re age 60 or above and have difficulty getting out to socialize, please let us know and we’ll arrange a ride to and from each lunch for you. If you know anyone who fits this description, please let her/him know we can arrange a ride to the Hall. If you would like to be on our invitation list, please call (403) 289-8390 or email [email protected]. You can also take part if you’re approaching this age, if you wish to volunteer, or if you are accompanying a senior. Please pass this information on to anyone in the community who might enjoy the chance to get out for an adults-only social gathering. Don’t forget to save the 4th Wednesday of each month on your calendars now so you don’t miss any lunches. Be sure to register in advance to ensure there’s a seat available and we order enough food. MPCA Book Club Our April 26th book will be Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a secondrate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike. Our May 24th book will be To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. We meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Lower Hall, 602 22 Ave NW. Everyone is welcome to attend to enjoy discussing books (and snacks!) with those with similar interests in a fun, casual atmosphere. 4 Mount Pleasant PULSE April 2016 April 2016 Mount Pleasant PULSE 5 RENOVATIONS, DECKS ETC. Gutter Home reno, new construction, CABINETRY, decks, FENCES... All the things you NEED done but can’t or don’t want to do yourself. A timely, PROFESSIONAL, high quality service on every job! Call today to set up a free quote. *Local references and site viewing available. Tom Fairbrother at 403.614.2682 BUILDING ART Licensed, bonded and insured! Mount Pleasant Community News Business Membership in Good Standing Alpine Insurance and Financial Small Business Legal Centre Active Wednesdays Our strengthening and stretching activities continue in the Upper Hall of the MPCA Community Centre, 602 22 Ave. NW. These sessions benefit not only seniors but anyone with limited mobility or a lower fitness level. If you need some help and guidance to improve your physical fitness, this is where you can start. And if you’re looking for some social opportunities, we can help with that, too. We’re an energetic group of 13 this session. This means there are only 2 spots remaining at the subsidized rate of $7 per week if you sign up for all remaining classes. Drop in participants pay $12 per class. After lunch, we have our usual Wednesday afternoon games session: bridge, Scrabble, cribbage, bocce and horseshoes, even indoor badminton, or whatever game people wish to play. Please join us at 1:15, whether or not you take part in the exercise program. If you’d like to join our exercise class and/or come for games day, please contact Linda at (403) 289-8390 or [email protected]. Mount Pleasant Refugee Support Information Session, Tuesday, April 5th, 7 p.m. Don’t forget to come to the Upper Hall, 602 22 Ave. NW, on Tuesday, April 5th at 7 p.m. to learn about opportunities to volunteer with the refugees who’ve moved and are moving to Calgary. If enough Mount Pleasant residents are interested in becoming involved, MPCA will arrange to support a family living as close as possible to Mount Pleasant. If you have a rental property in our community or one easily accessible from Mount Pleasant, please get in touch. We also expect to need volunteers interested in: • sourcing home supplies and furnishings; • helping the family learn about shopping in Canada, setting up a 6 bank account, budgeting, job search skills, the transit system, social supports, and child care; • interpreter services; • English language practice; • helping the family register for health care coverage and find a doctor; • helping the family enroll children in school; • cultural adjustment; • recreational opportunities We expect to form teams of varying size for each activity with a coordinator for each team and an overall coordination team. If you can be a coordinator or help with any of these activities, please contact Linda O’Hanlon at either [email protected] or 403 289-8390 Green Report - Earth Day by Matt Crist – Green Initiatives Director Earth day is April 22, a day to celebrate the environment and to work towards protecting it for future generations. There are several events happening in Calgary for earth day. • Climb and Run for Wilderness held by the Alberta Wilderness Association is being held on April 23. The event is held at the Calgary Tower and raises awareness of wilderness, wildlife and wild water in Alberta. • April 12-15 is REAP’s (Respect for The Earth and All People) annual Earth Week Festival. Several events are going on around town. See www.belocal.org for more details. • April 20th Green Calgary is having their annual Earth Day event at the John Dutton Theatre from 5:30 pm to 8:30pm. Refreshments from local vendors will be provided, along with their AGM and a film screening. Also, don’t forget about our annual community cleanup on May 1 from 9am to 2pm! Ward 7 update by Druh Farrell The City of Calgary is moving quickly to mitigate the economic downturn with a number of endeavours, both short and long-term. Accelerating the pace of large construction projects can be an effec- Mount Pleasant PULSE April 2016 tive way to stimulate a struggling economy and increase employment. The City has identified a list of pre-approved projects that will create jobs and leave a lasting public benefit. The projects are divided into three buckets: new infrastructure, lifecycle maintenance and enhancement, and affordable housing. Flood mitigation measures to protect river communities and the City Centre are at the top of the priority list. Some capital projects, like enhancing community and recreation centres, can start right away, while others, like the Green Line LRT, will break ground only once community consultation is completed and funding is secured. The City will work with its community partners to construct new affordable housing units or purchase existing housing stock. While large-scale, transformational projects have their place, incremental micro-improvements are increasingly seen as a way to phase into large investments. I have long been a promoter of lowcost, high-reward projects to create opportunity and vibrancy, test new ideas, and solve urban problems. Quick projects such as pop-up parks, patios, and restaurants take little investment but add instant vitality. Pilots like cycle tracks or lane reversals help us test new concepts before making substantial political and financial commitments. Rules can be a barrier and sometimes the rule-makers just need to know when to get out of the way. While temporary projects can spark creative solutions, we must take a long-term approach with investments that are meant to last. Over the years I have seen both booms and busts used as excuses for shoddy design and workmanship. When the economy is booming we are in a rush to build, and success is measured by the speed of the planning process. During a downturn, we are afraid to be too demanding, for fear that that the opportunity will vanish. Calgary deserves better. In addition to the capital construction program, City Council is working with Calgary Economic Development on economic resiliency. Several projects have already been funded: • Marketing campaign to promote tourism • Buy-local campaign to promote local business • Real estate and economic diversification plan to attract head-offices and repurpose empty office space • Grant program to cover development permit fees for new and refurbished affordable housing The City of Calgary is doing its part to strengthen our economy. During hard times, we must manage carefully, but think ambitiously, and combine caution with optimistic long-term planning for the recovery. For people and pets with discerning tastes! 616 1st Avenue NE Ph: 403-229-DOGS Proposed Changes to Northwest Bus Routes Calgary Transit is considering changes to a large number of northwest bus routes. Of most concern are: • discontinuation of the 404 bus that serves our community, Crescent Heights, Rosedale, and Hounsfield Heights-Briar Hill; and • discontinuation of bus service north from 20th Ave. NW and 14th St. NW. The 404 bus is important to the many seniors in our communities who no longer drive and need access for medical appointments, groceries, personal care, and socializing. It is easy to say people need only walk 3 or more blocks to reach other bus routes but this isn’t easy to accomplish when sidewalks are icy and our balance isn’t what it used to be. Also, those alternate routes don’t take us directly to where we’ve set up our lives (e.g., medical and personal care appointments). Waiting in the cold to transfer to another bus isn’t pleasant at any age. This is an issue for more than seniors. Young mothers and nannies with children use this line to get to the mall, the library, or playgrounds. Students take it to get to school and home. People even use it for travel to and from work. But my main concern is for seniors who rely on this bus route. The route may not break even given the number of seniors’ bus passes used on it but this is not a reason to further isolate seniors in their homes. This disregards the contributions seniors have made to Calgary’s development. We can’t all afford to take taxis and can’t all walk even a few extra blocks. Continued on page 8 Weekly Lawn Care (Grass cut & trim) Call NOW to book your summer lawn care service! Power Raking • Aerating 403-650-1699 Junk removal services available! • Doggie deli and special order birthday cakes — gourmet, organic and hypoallergenic treats Close to Downtown, TransCanada Highway, Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, Bike Paths Wireless Internet Available • Breed collectibles • Unique gift items Comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere. Specials for visiting relatives! • Pet accessories, supplements, food Cat Friendly - Feline Paraphernalia Available! April 2016 Save the 404 Bus 315 - 11th Avenue NE Calgary, AB T2E 0Z2 (403) 804 - 4431 Mount Pleasant PULSE [email protected] Visit us at: www.hugheshouse.ca 7 Mount Pleasant Community News cont from page 7 Please check out all the changes being proposed at http://www. calgarytransit.com/2016ServiceReview and complete the online survey there. Playgroup Playgroup is fun, in rain or in sun. Friends meet and play, Monday through Friday! It’s not too late to join us this spring. If you’re a parent or caregiver of children aged 0-5 then Playgroup might be just the thing for you. It’s a great way to meet neighbours while keeping our little ones busy and happy. Our members are currently enjoying the brand new play structure and lots of new toys! We meet in the Lower Hall from 9:00am to 11:00am on weekdays. At the time of writing, there are openings on Wednesdays and Fridays. You can register through the MPCA website; just look for Playgroup. Rosemont School This year Rosemont School donated over 250 kilograms of food to the Mayor’s Food Drive! Furthermore, the Farm to School Program fundraiser resulted in a further 350 kilograms of food being donated to the Food Bank! Zumba and Rocks and Rings (indoor curling) were offered as part of our physical education program in the past months. Yoga is taking place each Thursday as part of an eight-week program. Carnaval saw grade 5 and 6 students organizing lunchtime events for students as a celebration of French-Canadian culture. Jeff Stockton has been working with our students on a storytelling residency and we look forward to a celebration of this work on April 14th! Kindergarten registration is well under way for September 2016. Please be sure to contact us if you live within our boundaries and plan to register your child for the fall. You can contact the school directly at 403-777-6230 Ext. 0. New! Cloverdale Paint discount Cloverdale Paint is now offering wholesale pricing to community association members and organizational members of the Federation of Calgary Communities! What does this mean for you? Whenever you need to buy paint you simply go to Cloverdale and say you are a “Federation of Calgary Communities Club Member” or present your up-to-date Crescent Heights community association card and you will receive more than 25% off paint and more than 15% off paint accessories! This wholesale pricing discount applies to everyone who sits on your board of directors as well as all residents who hold a membership with your community association. Your community association is run by your neighbours! GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY New Patients Always Welcome! Dr. Dale Rapske, BSc, DDS (Prof Corp.) - Serving Calgarians for over 30 Years - DEERFOOT DENTAL CENTRE • Oral Surgery • Teeth Whitening • White Fillings • Crown & Bridgework • Root Canal Treatment • Denturist On Site Direct-Billing to Insurance Available. Hours: Mon - Thur ............ 9am - 8pm Fri - Sat ..........by appointment 403-275-9255 901 - 64 Ave NE Deerfoot Mall www.deerfootdentalcentre.ca [email protected] 8 Mount Pleasant PULSE Mt Pleasant PULSE Newsletter Deadlines The PULSE community newsletter is published ten times per year. Dec and Jan are combined into a single issue; July and Aug are combined into a single issue. Editorial deadlines are the 10th of the month prior to issue month. Eg: The June issue editorial deadline is May 10th. NOTE: one exception - the Sept issue editorial deadline is Aug 1st. Sept issues are distributed earlier. Send your editorial submissions to: [email protected] For advertising info contact: [email protected] April 2016 Cal Cab April 2016 Mount Pleasant PULSE 9 CONNEC 10 Mount Pleasant PULSE April 2016 CTIONS April 2016 Mount Pleasant PULSE 11 Mount Pleasant Community News Green Line Upcoming drilling activity As part of the preliminary design for the Green Line project, the City will be conducting a geotechnical field investigation from March to April 2016. Geo technical drilling will occur along the length of Centre Street from downtown, around Prince’s Island Park, Memorial Drive and up to Stoney Trail. The majority of the work will be occurring on City owned property, however, some work will happen on private property owned by Impark; The City has been granted permission to access this area. This field investigation involves rigs drilling into the ground at specified locations to obtain subsurface information and extract soil samples. To accommodate the work, a number of parking stalls may be blocked off. About the Green Line The Green Line will be a 40 kilometre long transit line, extending from Seton in the southeast to Country Hills in the north. Once constructed, it will nearly double the size of Calgary’s current LRT network, providing almost 300,000 Calgarians with reliable and efficient transit service. The Green Line will not only move people from point A to point B – it will be a staple of the communities that it touches, creating Transit Oriented Development (TOD) areas where people can live, work and play in close proximity to public transit. Green Line stations will be built for low-floor trains, meaning they will be small in scale and seamlessly integrated into communities with strong walking and cycling connections to and from each station. Thank you for your patience while we undertake this technical work. For more information about the Green Line project, please visit www.calgary.ca/greenline or call 311. Community Cleanups Save Yourself a Trip to the Landfill - MPCA Cleanup May 1 Calgary Community Standards (formerly Animal & Bylaw Services) in partnership with Waste & Recycling Services and your community association is pleased to offer another year of Community Clean-ups for FREE of charge to Calgarians. A Community Cleanup is a day scheduled at your community centre where you can bring your household items that may not fit in your black, brown or blue carts like furniture or old fencing or items that fill up your carts too quickly or just an accumulation of items that are ready for the landfill. If you live in a multi-unit housing complex, we welcome you to bring your waste and recycling items to this event especially if it is closer than the designated community recycling depots. We are pleased to announce that 3 packer trucks will be provided this year (2 for waste and 1 for organic materials). Last year, 110 communities were served between April and October. Please check with your community association to see when your Community Clean-up has been booked and better yet, volunteer to help with the event which is held either on a Saturday or Sunday from 9 am – 2 pm. Your community association needs 15-20 volunteers to put on the event so 12 your assistance is greatly appreciated. Calgary Community Standards provides funds for food and refreshments for the volunteers, advertising and promotion, gloves, garbage bags and any other items used to help Clean-up. Please note, there are items that the City of Calgary’s packer trucks will not accept: • Tires, home appliances, paint, household chemicals, propane tanks, microwaves, car batteries, home electronics, liquids, metals and glass, railway ties. • Your Community Association usually enhances the event with recycling services such as electronics, metal, paper shredding and possible tire recycling and paint pickup (or you can take your cans of paint to any fire hall station). The Community Clean-ups provide a fantastic opportunity to work with your neighbours and community associations to Cleanup your yards and homes, parks, off-leash areas and sport playfields. Thank you for your commitment to help create healthy, safe and vibrant communities. For more information about the date set in your community, please call your Community Association or you can go to www.calgary.ca/cleanup for the full schedule and further details. CBC Calgary / Calgary Reads Big Book Sale One of Calgary’s most anticipated and attended events! More than 1,000,000 previously-loved books will be ready to be purchased and find new homes. This is a signature fundraising event for Calgary Reads. Our 14th annual event! Held at the Calgary Curling Club, 720 3rd St. NW, Calgary: Friday May 13 • 9am – 9pm Author reading 7pm Saturday May 14 • 9am – 9pm Back by popular demand! Shop to the musical sounds of Midnight Blue with cash wine bar 7 – 9pm. Sunday May 15 • 9am – 1pm Other special activities during the Big Book Sale will be announced on our website as they confirm: calgaryreads.com Donate books: We welcome donation of adult and children books for the book sale! (We do not accept encyclopedias, text books, Harlequin Romances, Readers’ Digests, book tapes, VHS, cassettes, 8tracks or magazines.) Book collection locations, dates and times: At Calgary Food Bank, 5000, 11th Street SE, Calgary: • Monday to Thursday April 25 to 28 - drop off at Door #3 from 8:30am – 7pm • Friday, April 29 - drop off at Door #3 from 8:30am – 3:30pm At Calgary Curling Club, 720 3rd St. NW, Calgary: • Thursday to Sunday May 3 to May 6 from 9am - 7pm sharp • Monday and Tuesday May 7 and 8 from 9am - 4 pm sharp Mount Pleasant PULSE April 2016 At Calgary Reads we build connections, strengthen networks, champion, involve and innovate—because we ALL have a role to play in creating a thriving community where all children can read with confidence and joy! Learn more: Calgaryreads.com Spring Street Sweeping Avalon City crews ready for spring street sweeping program Spring is just around the corner! That means the City’s annual Spring Clean-up is coming to neighbourhoods across Calgary. Spring Clean-up is an annual street sweeping program that removes sanding materials and debris that has accumulated on roads and along major sidewalks and boulevards during the winter months. The program, kicking off April 3, improves safety and mobility for Calgary motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. But you might see crews out there working hard before April 3: pre-sweeping has already begun, so we’re busy removing materials along roads and boulevards. This year, street sweeping will end by June 1. In order to make this happen, crews will be sweeping streets on a compressed schedule, working 7 days per week. Keeping Calgary clean is a collaborative effort. To make sure the program runs smoothly, we’re asking all Calgarians to help us make the city beautiful by removing vehicles and carts from city roads when they see street sweeping signs in their community. This year, that includes weekends. During the program, Calgarians can visit calgary.ca/sweep to: • Find answers to all of their questions on our FAQ • Visit a live map to track sweeper progress across the city • Learn if there will be a parking ban in their neighbourhood • Enter their address to confirm their street sweeping date. Make sure to visit the website to learn more about street sweeping, and watch for signs in your neighbourhood starting April 3. Storm Drains There are approximately 48,000 storm drains in Calgary. Last year, 311 received more than 1,600 calls related to storm drains and drainage issues including water ponding, pooling or ice build up and debris on storm drains. The City historically receives the majority of its storm drain –or ‘catch basin’- calls in March. Storm drains are the main way water gets into the underground pipe system. The metal grates that can be seen at the edge of the road are only a portion of the structure which is primarily under ground. Under the grates is a barrel that collects the water. The barrel is attached to a pipe that allows the water to be whisked away and eventually deposited in the river. If you see a storm drain clogged by debris or snow, and it is safe to do so, you may remove the debris to allow for water to run freely into the drain. If a storm drain is encased in ice, please contact 311 so it can be thawed with specialized equipment – do not attempt to remove the ice yourself. Also, do not attempt to clean a catch basin if it’s submerged in water. You cannot be sure if the grate is intact, presenting a safety risk. If the drain is covered in water, please contact 311. April 2016 RENFREW AUTO SERVICE Personalized service for your vehicle... Serving your community for over 21 years! FUEL SYSTEMS SERVICE Fuel system compents such as the intake manifold, injectors, combustion chamber and throttle valve should be cleaned before fuel economy or performance begins to suffer. • Brakes and Tune-ups • Fuel injection diagnostics • Oil/Lube/Filter • Coolant flush • Transmission and Power Steering flush • General Repairs • Vehicle Inspections • Brake flush • Tires/Batteries • New car and old car scheduled maintenance Owner: Earl Reimer 403-277-8621 1212 Edmonton Trail NE Mount Pleasant PULSE 13 14 Mount Pleasant PULSE April 2016 MPCA Business Memberships Available MPCA is looking to increase the involvement of community businesses to create goodwill and awareness among residents, businesses, and the community association. We have introduced business memberships to identify who the businesses are which wish to participate in MPCA activities and help build community spirit. A business membership costs only $100.00 per membership year (September to August). Please complete the application and send it with your cheque payable to MPCA today. MOUNT PLEASANT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Please complete and return, along with a $100.00 cheque payable to MPCA to: 602 22 Ave. NW, Calgary, AB T2M 1N7 Business Name: _______________________________ Street Address: _______________________________ Postal Code: _______________________________ Telephone: (403) ____________ Fax: (403) ____________ E-Mail: _________________________ Web Site: _______________________ Contact Name: _______________________________________ Mailing Address (if different from above): ________________________________________________ Main business activity: ______________________________________________________________ Are you interested in participating in a small business network?: Yes No Are you interested in supporting MPCA’s annual membership drive by donating a prize?: Yes No NEW LOCATION! Just across from Starbucks, to the east! BRIDGELAND DENTURE CENTRE • FULL & PARTIAL DENTURES • REPAIRS & RELINES WHILE YOU WAIT • SOCIAL SERVICES & VETERANS 100% COVERAGE • EMERGENCY DENTURE SERVICES • ALL INSURANCE PLANS WELCOME • SENIORS DISCOUNT Call Sam for Your Complimentary Consultation! Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Serving Your Community and Area for 20 years! For appointment call Sam at: 104, 180 - 9th Street NE April 2016 GST 266-5051 Mount Pleasant PULSE 15 Zacher