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December 2013 - Parkallen Newsletter
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Parkallen News
December 2013
In this issue…
• Letter from the Editor
• Meet your Community League
• Hall Happenings
• Coloring Contest
• Classified
Looking back through the newsletters of 2013 I am reminded why I chose to volunteer for this job. Even though I still don’t know my neighbour’s last name (I know his first name) I have met many wonderful people in Parkallen, and learned sometimes surprising things about this community. I won’t call them highlights,
but some stories stick out for me. My afternoon with Deborah, Anthony and Mike of Anthony at your Service; having tea and cookies with the Parkallen Knitters; talking about art with Katherine Sicotte; having hotdogs at Snowfest and enjoying, vicariously due to my dread of all things icy, skating fun with children at the rink; the
sunflowers in the community garden and, of course, pub night!
My list barely scratches the surface of course. And we have only just begun to get know each other. In the year ahead I hope to meet many more people, and hear many more stories. Canadian writer Thomas King says “The truth about stories is, that’s all
A Community Made of Stories A Letter from the Editor
2Parkallen News December 2013
we are.” I’ve given that line a lot of thought in the past seven years since I first read his book, The Truth About Stories. The combatant in me wants to argue that this can’t possibly be true. Yet, every time I try to find an example of how we are more than “just stories”, I have to tell a story to prove
it. So, I concede the point. And since we are stories, every time we share one, we must become more than we were. So, what is your story? We want to hear it. Whether it’s about your business, your children, your pet, your past or your future, your story is part of Parkallen. In 2014, why not share it? Let’s build a
community of stories that as richly diverse and beautiful as Parkallen.
I wish you all a holiday filled with experiences that will become the stories of your life.
Cheers
Anne
3December 2013 Parkallen News
Meet your Community League
Where did you grow up? I was born in Edmonton. My parents still live in Lendrum in the home I grew up in.
When did you move to Parkallen?We moved to Parkallen in August of 2008, when we purchased my dad’s childhood home from my grandparents. I’ve always loved the area and the house holds a lot of sentimental value for me, so we jumped at the opportunity to raise our family in the home my dad grew up in.
What do you like best about this community?I spent a lot of time here growing up, so I have a lot of wonderful memories of playing outside here as a child. I’ve always loved the treelined streets and the people have always been very friendly and welcoming.
Who inspires you?I am inspired by the small business owners in our community. We have profiled many people in the newsletter who have created opportunities
for themselves to do what they love. As a small business owner myself, it is encouraging to see other people who are working for themselves and enjoying what they do.
Why do you volunteer for the Community League?When my daughter was born I felt it was important we get out and meet other families in the community. Volunteering with the league felt like a great way to get to know people while giving something back.
Working on the newsletter has also been a fantastic way to feel connected to what is happening in the community. I have really enjoyed helping to tell the stories of community members and local businesses.
Tell us one thing that most people would be surprised to know about you.There isn’t anything especially surprising, but I have been told that my hobbies are a little unusual for someone in their twenties. I enjoy shopping in thrift and antique stores, knitting, crochet, reading and baking.
Lindsay Erickson and her daughter Cassia.
Hall Happenings for December 2013
Parkallen Playgroup Mondays 1 pm - 3 pm
Girl Guides Tuesdays 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Parkallen Knitters Wednesdays 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
lindsayerickson
Graphics & layout for Parkallen News courtesy of:
780.707.0522 | www.lericksongraphics.com
4Parkallen News December 2013
S ta r t i ng Janua ry 9tht h u r s d a y s 7 3 0 - 8 3 0 p m
‘Dance, Tone, Stretch’ Fitness Classes designed to create elongated, toned bodies in a comfortable, relaxed, and encouraging atmosphere.
Expect unique movements inspired by dance conditioning exercises, a fun time, good music, and results.
We want to attract you to moving, and invite you to dance, tone, and stretch your way to a healthy, happy you!
CONTACT LAURA TO REGISTER@780-860-0282
w w w . l u r e a t t r a c t i n g y o u . c [email protected]
lureATTRACTING YOU
TO MOVING
Message from Michael Walters
This holiday season, I’m looking forward to spending time with my family. Last Christmas, I bought snowshoes for my wife, Kara, and my sons, Isaac and Samson. We’re excited about exploring some of the ravine trails and recharging for a busy 2014. I hope that you all have the opportunity to spend time with your loved ones this season.If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by email at [email protected], on Twitter (@waltersyeg), or on Facebook. -Michael
5December 2013 Parkallen News
REGISTRATIONINFORMATION:
Cost: $65 Course Code: 515362
Phone: 311
or online athttps://ereg.edmonton.ca
Space is limited –register now!
Babysitting Course For ages 11 – 17 years
Learn what it takes to be a greatbabysitter! This well rounded coursecovers basic child care, first aid, safety, and introduces participants to the importance of play in a child’s life.
Parkallen Community Hall (6510 – 111 Street)
Saturday, February 1st 9am-5pm
The course will be taught by a qualified instructor and will include role playing, brainstorming, and hands-on exercises.Certificates will be awarded upon successfulcompletion of the program.
Participants are encouraged to provide their own snacks, pens & paper.
6Parkallen News December 2013
ACUPUNCTURE • MASSAGE • YOGA
780 756 7736 6523 111 Street
www.wholefamilyhealth.ca
7December 2013 Parkallen News
In my last “from the permacul-ture patch” article I asked you to evaluate your relationship with your garden and with our community garden. In high summer, do you have a garden full of flowers but can only see the few weeds? Are you grate-ful the snow is concealing the state of your front yard? When you spot a garden gnome, does his look strike you as smug and reproachful? If your rela-tionship with gardening could be summed up by: “Ugh, I just haven’t been doing enough in the garden,” I asked you to stop sowing those particular seeds of shame and regret. Instead, let’s think of a garden as some-thing that is for people, that gives more than it demands. If a garden is taking more than it is giving, we’re doing it wrong.
“Yield” is an important concept
in permaculture. In order to de-sign a green space with inten-tion, we need to know what its purpose is. We need to know what we want our garden’s yield to be. Carrots? Beauty? Renewal? Fresh air?
What do you want from your green spaces?
If you want a private place that smells like spice lilies and sounds like wind chimes, where you can sit and sip sangria with your best friend, then make one of those, and don’t feel badly that you aren’t also growing enough turnips in that very spot to feed the masses.
If you want to fill a root cel-lar with carrots and potatoes, plant carrots and potatoes, and don’t feel bad that you’re not also growing a row of every type of vegetable ever culti-
vated by man, including lemon-grass, eggplant, and quinoa.
If you want a spot where the kids can make mud pies and kick a soccer ball, or where the dog can chew on some raw-hide, don’t worry if wedding parties don’t tend to crash your back yard for photo ops.
If you’re just learning to garden or are new to Zone 3, and you want to experiment with grow-ing cantaloupe, try growing cantaloupe, but be content that both cantaloupe and the knowledge that cantaloupe doesn’t grow very well here are a type of yield.
Do you want a quiet and pri-vate spot to feel the sun on your shoulders? A place to notice the seasons changing? Some-thing pretty to look at out your kitchen window while you do
What do you want from your garden?by Marlene Wurfel
8Parkallen News December 2013
Register now and start Preschool in January!
Call the Green Circle classroom at (780) 435-3129 to make an appointment to visit the classroom, meet the teacher and pick up a registration package.
For more information please visit our website at www.greencirclepreschool.com or call Jessie at (780) 977-3772 for more registration information.
“A place where friendships begin and children blossom”
dishes? One really beautiful tomato to make the best sand-wich ever each September? Someplace that renews and recharges your senses and your spirit? A physical challenge?
The really empowering thing about knowing what we want our gardens to yield is that it allows us to perform the es-sential calculation of: yield – investment = profit. Taking the time to calculate how our green spaces are benefitting us, or not, can help us make good decisions. We may need to repurpose our spaces and/or recalibrate our relationships with them. Making intentional choices can help us remove ourselves from the grim soldier-ing through of gardening as a chore, something we do be-cause we must, because that is the way it is done, because that is the suburban dream dreamed up before we got our particular chunk of it and that is the way it has always been dreamt.
What is important about a gar-
den to you? Is it how it looks to neighbours and to passersby? How it looks to you? How it feels to be in that space? Is your goal to spend as little time as pos-sible working outdoors? All or any of these are valid. Knowing what we want our “yield” to be helps us make good decisions about what we invest to obtain it. Yield is such a basic concept that it’s easy to overlook.
Is there a yield you want from the Parkallen Community Gar-den? Is it basil? Connections within your community? Soli-tude? To learn from more expe-rienced gardeners? To teach what you know to less experi-enced gardeners? To put some food on the family dinner table whether you are 4 or 44? The wherewithal to look the next smug and reproachful gnome you meet in the eye and say, “Look here, lil’ buddy, I helped make the Parkallen Community Garden awesome.”
If there is a yield you want from the PCG, I encourage you to go and get it. Take it. Plan to
take more from it than you give. Manage your time commitment – guiltlessly – to produce a posi-tive yield.
The Parkallen Community Gar-den is a unique, permaculture project and the rule book is still being written – by us, the Parkallen Community – on what the relationship between gar-dener and garden should look like. It’s up to us to create a healthy gardening community, and part of that, as individuals, is to consider what relationship we want to have with the com-munity garden and to take from it what will nurture and sustain us.
The PCG operates under con-sensus. Your ideas and feed-back are always welcome. E-mail [email protected] at any time of year to be placed on the Parkallen Com-munity Garden mailing list and to receive communications about all ages workbees and gardening events.
Northern River Yoga and Karate SchoolEnjoy a non-competitive, nurturing environment.Gain strength, health and self-defense skills.
- YAA Certified Yoga instructor- Elite, 6th degree Karate instructor
visit: threebattles.comphone: (780) 707-3693
9December 2013 Parkallen News
Parkallen’s Outdoor Rink is now hiring!
Interested in helping out your community? Interested in making some extra money this winter season? There are opportunities for you to become part of the outdoor rink staff this season by taking on the role of a rink shack supervisor or a rink snow remover! The season runs approximately fromDec 15 to mid- March (weather dependent). Snow removers are a necessity to help keep this neighborhood winter fun going all season and supervisors are critical for the shack to be open during these chilly months! If interested, please contact Sal Blair at [email protected] for more details and inquiries into the specific duties for each job!
10Parkallen News December 2013
Front Yards in Bloom WinterscapesThis new program challenges all Edmontonians to get outside, play in the snow and make our front yards beautiful! Create a winterscape in front of your house, community hall or school. Use snow, ice and natural elements, such as visible trees and shrubs. Get creative! Add some whimsy with colour, lights and textures. This contest is open to individuals and teams, including community leagues, youth groups and schools.Entering is simple! Check out program and contest details this January at frontyardsinbloom.ca, or edmonton.ca/winterscapes. Nominate your or someone else’s winterscape for an award by submitting a photo! Get your creative juices flowing! Gather your family and friends. This February, Make Something Wintry Edmonton!
11December 2013 Parkallen News
from Parkallen Community League!
Coloring ContestSubmit your Parkallen Community Hall coloring page to [email protected] with “Coloring Contest” in the subject line and your full name and age in the body of the email. Winners will be announced at our annual Winterfest.
12December 2013 Parkallen News
ClassifiedParkallen resident since 1990 and pet/house sitting for 12 years. Will shovel walks, bring in mail, water plants, take care of your pets while you are away. Contact Michele @780.434.7871. References available on request.
Your Parkallen Community League Executive: Co President: Alex Clifford [email protected]
Co President: Leanne Kohn [email protected]
Treasurer: Julie Beschell [email protected] Casino: Andrea Anielski [email protected] Membership: Sandra Stessun & Janet Mayhew [email protected]
Secretary: Allison Chevrette [email protected]
Past President: Nora Begoray [email protected]
Parks & Recreation Director: Meghan Dunnigan [email protected] Rink: Sal Blair [email protected] Soccer Coordinator: Meghan Dunnigan [email protected] Hall Coordinator: Jennifer Fedor [email protected] Hall Maintenance: David Begoray [email protected] Social Coordinator: Todd Beschell [email protected] Programs: Laurel Miyashita [email protected] Garden Coordinator: James Goldman [email protected]
Communications Director: Anne Pratt [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Anne Pratt [email protected] Website: Marc Pearce [email protected] Social Media Coordinator: Niall Mckenna [email protected] Graphics and Layout: Lindsay Erickson [email protected]
Neighborhood Development Director: Jesse Lafrance [email protected] SCNC Representatives: Donna White & Jarret Orchard [email protected] Civics Representative: Donna White [email protected] UACC Representative: Oliver Rossier Transportation: Andrea Anielski [email protected] Housing and Development: Jesse Lafrance [email protected]
Community Recreations Coordinator: Michael Goth [email protected]
