Family in a Box

Have you ever had the thought that you wished your family was just "normal"?  That's the underlying theme in GNAG's most recent community theatre presentation "Family in a Box" which I saw (along with GCA Planning Committee chair, Bobby Galbreath and his wife Mackie) last night.

I have to hand it to the people who wrote the script (Glebe residents) and those acting.  It was a great representation of the daily challenges of family life: having dinner together, taking care of aging parents, focusing on school, relationships, shovelling snow (!).  I saw reflections of my daily life a few times, I saw friendly and support interactions between neighbours, and I had a rare glimpse into different perspectives (could that be how my kids really see me??).  I think theatre is great when you are still thinking about the play the next day, which I am.

The reflection of our neighbourhood was very well done, but I especially loved the very end, when one of the actors paid tribute to Eleanor Crowder.  Many readers will know that Eleanor has been a long-time driving force of community theatre here in the Glebe (and throughout Ottawa, of course).  As a result, many of us in the neighbourhood have the opportunity to express our creative selves, while the rest of us have the good fortune to enjoy the results of their creations.

Thanks GNAG, thanks to the actors, and thanks Eleanor for sharing your magical gifts with our community!

Christine

Swab to save a life

I feel very fortunate to live in a healthy community.  There are ample opportunities to be active, either as part of every day life or in a programmed activity in the Glebe.  We are surrounded by kids on bikes, runners, skiers and families involved in all kinds of recreation.

 

Given the general level of good health in our neighbourhood, I am always taken aback when one of our healthy neighbours is diagnosed with a serious disease.  Just last night I heard about someone in our neighbourhood, fit, active, a parent to two young children, diagnosed with Leukemia.  This post is a call to our community for help.

 

This Saturday, March 29th, there will be a Swab Event in support of finding a bone marrow donor for our neighbour, and for many other people suffering from Leukemia that need a bone marrow transplant.

In this Glebite's case, there is a desperate need for a bone marrow transplant, but given the individual has rare DNA, a match has not been found - even with the 22 million on the stem cell bank world wide! 

 

Stephen Beckta, and his wife Maureen, are hosting the Swabathon event at their Gezelig restaurant next Saturday, March 29th from 9:00am-1:00pm.   Please ask every  17 - 35 year old you know to please stop in at Gezelig for a very simple and painless Q-tip swab of your cheek and to please share (FB, Twitter, email, etc.) this information with as many people as possible in hopes that a match can be found for our neighbour.

 

Unfortunately, I've known a few people who have had serious illnesses.  At those times, I've seen our community come out in spades to provide support, be that with food, childcare or running errands.  This is another one of those times (I hope I don't see too many more).  And it is one of those times that defines a community for its care of each other.  Please swab!

 

Christine 

 

Theatre returns to the Avalon

Have you been to the Avalon Studio yet?  If not, it should rank high on your outing list!  It is the space above the Home Hardware(ish) on Bank Street, where, many years ago, the Avalon Theatre stood.  You may have noticed The Acting Company's sign on the sidewalk or door at some point. Chances are you have a child who takes a dance class there, or maybe an acting class.  But tonight was all about the adults!  Third Wall Theatre is currently presenting Harold Pinter's "The Dumb Waiter" in the Avalon Studio and I was able to go with five friends, in a crowd that totalled no more than 55.

This was my first Harold Pinter play, and I liked it so well I want to see more - not to mention my actress-neighbour Mary Ellis was in the play, and I always enjoy being so immersed in her character that I don't recognize her!  But I am even more excited about the simple fact that there is a place to see theatre right here in our neighbourhood (in addition to the community theatre produced each year by GNAG - speaking of which, do you have your tickets for "Family in a Box" yet?).  This is exactly the kind of business-diversity we need on Bank Street and is a great addition to Ottawa's cultural scene and programming space in the Glebe.

Kudos to co-founders Chris Ralph and John Muggleton and the rest of the Acting Company's team!  Thanks for the space for my daughter to learn dance and for me to connect with my love of live theatre!  And for all you blog readers, "The Dumb Waiter" is on March 23, March 28-30. 

Progress on Lansdowne traffic issues

Given the number of page views on my Lansdowne traffic-related blogs, and comments on my recent Glebe Report column about GCA's advocacy on the issue, I thought residents might be interested in an update of our meeting with the Mayor on Lansdowne traffic issues.   

The GCA (Brian Mitchell and myself), Ottawa South Community Association (Winnie Pietrykowski) and the Old Ottawa East Community Association (John Dance) met with the Mayor on March 3^rd.  Judging by the amount of time he spent with us (1 ½ hrs), his detailed knowledge of our area and our requests, and the number of City officials in attendance, it is clear that Mayor Watson places a high priority on the success of the Lansdowne development.  It is also clear that all parties are working with the best intentions to make Lansdowne a success and it was in this spirit that the meeting was arranged. 

 

While we were pleased to have had an opportunity to discuss the issues as we, the three communities most impacted by the development, understand them, it soon became clear that we have a completely different approach to planning for Lansdowne traffic than the City.  Based on our extensive community consultations (together, our community associations canvassed over 2,000 residents), we strongly believe that significant traffic measures should be implemented before Lansdowne opens.  The City strongly believes a “wait and see” approach is the most prudent, and monitoring once open makes the most sense. 

We presented our priority issues from the perspective of safety and security of children and pedestrians, active transportation to the Lansdowne site (in particular, connecting bridges) and establishing a buffer zone for the most impacted residents.  Brian’s excellent article in the Glebe Report outlines more of the specific requests (the same ones we’ve been advocating for at the Lansdowne Traffic Advisory Committee for the past year).  Although we made next to no progress on those requests, the Mayor did agree to some specific actions:

1. The City will look to advancing the building of the O’Connor bike lane;
2. At his regular meeting with the NCC president, the Mayor will advocate to move the construction of the signalized crossing for the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Fifth Avenue to summer (now currently planned for the fall);
3. Reducing the speed limit on Bank Street, from Riverdale to Chamberlain, from 50 km to 40 km/hr (the Mayor’s idea, in relation to Bank St Bridge safety);  and
4. Considering a request to reducing parking from 3 hrs to 1 hr along with a guest parking permit for Holmwood Avenue (east of Bank St), should a significant portion of residents be supportive, for a trial period of the first six months following the opening of Lansdowne;
5. Regarding pedestrian safety at Sunnyside and Bank, the City will implement the Pedestrian Safety Evaluation Program, which could include a workplan for the spring and summer to identify potential safety measures.

These actions represent some progress for our community, and we will continue to advocate for our other well-developed positions.  There are many questions regarding the City’s monitoring program, however, we will also participate in this process to make sure the impacts to the community are known and suggestions for improvements are made. 

We owe our thanks to much of this work  to Brian Mitchell and the members of the Traffic Committee for all of the work they have done so far.  I have great admiration for their level of knowledge and attention to the many traffic issues we have in our neighbourhood.

 See you in the 'hood,

Christine

New Life for The Pantry

Many of you have by now heard of the potential closing of The Pantry as a result of its lease with the City expiring in June of this year.  Over 800 people (Glebites and Pantry patrons from outside of the neighbourhood) signed a petition to keep it open, a number of people wrote letters to the Editor of the Glebe Report (there was also a very good article by Bob Brockelbank on the subject) and the GCA heard expressions of concerns from residents as well.

There are many things that connect such a large number of people in a meaningful way with The Pantry.  For 38 years, first Ilsa Kyssa and now Carolyn Best, have provided a cosy and reflective place to stop the crazy train of every day life, at least for long enough to have lunch.  The food they provide is intended to nourish body and soul with healthy ingredients and a menu to appeal to all tastes.  The Pantry has always sourced ingredients locally, composted and practiced good environmental habits.  Along the way, they've shared their knowledge of nutrition and environmentalism with the many who have shared their tables. 

But the Pantry hasn't been just about food - it's been a community gathering place, where friendships are nurtured and action plans are forged (for a more detailed history, see The Glebe Report, September 2010).  I am told this is where planning started for lobbies to keep our local schools and the community centre open, and that the GCA has used the Pantry for meetings in the past as well.  There are a variety of activities that go on after "Pantry hours," including homework club (where I love to find my kids at pick-up time!). 

The Pantry truly has been an important part of this community for a long time.  So why the need to end the lease? 

Bob Brockelbank's article in the December Glebe Report was very insightful regarding the City's administration of community centres and the challenges since amalgamation.  One of the challenges has to do with costs - in fact, community programming hours have been reduced as a result of this (the community centre previously was staffed until 9 p.m. but is now only staffed until 8:30 p.m. - the GCA and others must pay for staff if we want to use the centre beyond 8:30).  Another challenge has to do with space for programming (hopefully, as Bob notes, additional community space will become available with the Aberdeen Pavillion and Horticulture Buildings at Lansdowne Park).

These didn't seem like good enough reasons to accept the closure of the Pantry.  So, as has happened before, interested community parties got together to figure out a better solution. Carolyn Best (from the Pantry), Kate McCartney, Brad Sigouin and Mary Tsai Davies (from GNAG),  residents Elaine Marlin (former Glebe Report Editor) and Diane McIntyre (former GCA President) met with David Chernushenko (our Councillor) and myself to discuss a way forward.  They are in process of developing an arrangement with the City which would preserve the Pantry as a place for the community to meet and enjoy a healthy meal in a quiet, nurturing atmosphere, and meet the various needs of the Community Centre and the community at large.  This is still a work in progress, but I am confident a complete solution is near and that it will have wide community support.  Once complete, it should protect this valued community nurturing place well into the future.

On behalf of the community, I would like to express my gratitude to Diane, Elaine, Carolyn, Mary, Kate, Brad and David for their hard work on this issue.  Once the solution is all wrapped up, I know a great little tea room in the heart of the Glebe Community Centre where we can have lunch to celebrate!

See you at the Pantry!
Christine

Skating at Glebe St. James Rink

What better way to work off some of those extra cookies than to spend part of New Year's Day at the new Glebe St. James skating rink?  Mind you, it could have been a bit less cold, but with the Glebe St. James Tennis Club clubhouse to warm up in, the cold hardly mattered:

I was excited to see the rink being well used.  When we arrived, there was already a game of shinny underway, but there was still lots of space for other non-shinny players, young and older:

What I loved most of all was the rink and club as a community gathering space.  I met one resident who hadn't been on the ice in three years since a serious surgery who was just getting his skating legs back (seems they never left him!);  there was the mom who had been a figure skater growing up, who joined in the pick up game so she could learn to play hockey (looked to me like she held her own);   the three young girls who won my admiration for their hockey-playing skills (a sport not many girls played when I was younger);  and the dad I recognized from the school yard but had never had a chance to formally meet.  I was happy to be recognized from my picture which runs with my column in the Glebe Report - which confirmed for me that people are reading the column!

My husband's parents are visiting from New Brunswick and joined us on the rink.  I think they are happy that we are raising our family in a friendly community that values fresh air and active lifestyles enough to provide local opportunities to have fun together.

I want to extend a very big thank you to the people at Glebe St. James Tennis Club, GNAG, the GCA, the City of Ottawa and a number of other supporters for your initiative in developing this fantastic community resource.  Although my toes still haven't warmed up, I'm looking forward to many more hours of skating.

See you on the rink!
Christine

Holidays in the Glebe

I've been admiring the decorations and lights throughout the neighbourhood, so thought I would share some with you.  I hope readers have had a wonderful holiday season and wish everyone health and happiness for 2014!

 

See you in the 'hood!

Christine