Thank you to everyone who decorated their balconies. They all are lovely.
Friday 23 December 2011
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Every night I look outside at all the lights people have been putting up on their balconies and tonight I decided to share. These are just a small sample of the decorated balconies and, unfortunately, I don't have a tripod and wasn't able to get a clear picture of balconies higher than the 4th floor.
I like these balconies because of the lights and decorations on all the windows. They both look bright and cheery.
Ditto for this balcony. Lights, glitter bows, an inflatable stack of presents, and candy canes.
This balcony is very bright. I love the lit candy canes and the hanging lit decorations.
I first noticed this balcony while walking down the street. It took until I was almost to the building before I realized the tree is outside on the balcony and not inside the window. There was another tree quite high up at 201 but I couldn't manage a photo. It's on the east side of the buildings if anyone wants to take a peek.
The top balcony here is gorgeous with it's wreath and colourful strands of lights, but if I was holding a contest for the best decorated balcony at White Oaks, the bottom balcony would be the clear winner. The lights, the garland around the door, the Christmas balls on the door, Santa, the snow scene on the windows... the whole balcony is amazing!
Thank you to everyone who decorated their balconies. They all are lovely.
Thank you to everyone who decorated their balconies. They all are lovely.
Thursday 22 December 2011
New Year's Eve Celebrations
If you are looking for something to do this New Year's Eve there are several choices in our area.
The Town of Whitby is holding a skating party at Iroquois Park Arena from 6 to 9pm. There will be free skating, ice painting, face painting, balloon animals, and a performance by the Whitby Figure Skating Club. For more information you can check out their website.
The City of Oshawa has two choices. Their family friendly party is being held at the Legends Centre near Harmony and Taunton Road. There are a bunch of free activities including swimming, skating, jumping castles, and entertainers (plus the not-further-described "and MORE"). This one is also running from 6 to 9pm with the doors opening at 5:45pm and the children's countdown at 8:45pm. There are two DRT busses in Oshawa that go to the Legends centre and the 916 Rossland bus goes by Brock and Taunton in Whitby (as does the 302 Brock bus which goes to Brock and Hwy 2). For more information you can check out their website.
The Royal Canadian Legion is also hosting a New Year's Eve Party in their branch at 471 Simcoe Street South. There will be live music from Roadhouse; tickets are $10 and the doors open at 7pm. For more information you can email br43leg@hotmail.com.
The Town of Ajax is holding a family New Year's Eve party at their community centre at 75 Centennial Road. It's $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and youths, and free for children three years old and under. They also have ice skating, balloon animals, and entertainers along with cupcakes and party favours. It runs from, surprise, 6 to 9pm with a juggling show at 7pm and the countdown at 9pm. You can check out their website for more information.
For those, like myself, who are without a vehicle there is free DRT service from 8pm on New Year's Eve until approximately 2am on New Year's Day (sponsored by DRT, OPG, and DRPS Board) on the following routes:
Pickering - 180 - 181 - 182 - 183
Ajax - 280 - 281 - 282 - 283
Whitby - 302 - 304 - 305 - 306 - 318
Oshawa - 401 - 402 - 403/403B - 406B - 407B - 408 - 409 - 410 - 411 - 412
Clarington - 501 - 502
Regional - 915 - 916
Durham Region Transit
Go Transit
The Town of Whitby is holding a skating party at Iroquois Park Arena from 6 to 9pm. There will be free skating, ice painting, face painting, balloon animals, and a performance by the Whitby Figure Skating Club. For more information you can check out their website.
The City of Oshawa has two choices. Their family friendly party is being held at the Legends Centre near Harmony and Taunton Road. There are a bunch of free activities including swimming, skating, jumping castles, and entertainers (plus the not-further-described "and MORE"). This one is also running from 6 to 9pm with the doors opening at 5:45pm and the children's countdown at 8:45pm. There are two DRT busses in Oshawa that go to the Legends centre and the 916 Rossland bus goes by Brock and Taunton in Whitby (as does the 302 Brock bus which goes to Brock and Hwy 2). For more information you can check out their website.
The Royal Canadian Legion is also hosting a New Year's Eve Party in their branch at 471 Simcoe Street South. There will be live music from Roadhouse; tickets are $10 and the doors open at 7pm. For more information you can email br43leg@hotmail.com.
The Town of Ajax is holding a family New Year's Eve party at their community centre at 75 Centennial Road. It's $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and youths, and free for children three years old and under. They also have ice skating, balloon animals, and entertainers along with cupcakes and party favours. It runs from, surprise, 6 to 9pm with a juggling show at 7pm and the countdown at 9pm. You can check out their website for more information.
For those, like myself, who are without a vehicle there is free DRT service from 8pm on New Year's Eve until approximately 2am on New Year's Day (sponsored by DRT, OPG, and DRPS Board) on the following routes:
Pickering - 180 - 181 - 182 - 183
Ajax - 280 - 281 - 282 - 283
Whitby - 302 - 304 - 305 - 306 - 318
Oshawa - 401 - 402 - 403/403B - 406B - 407B - 408 - 409 - 410 - 411 - 412
Clarington - 501 - 502
Regional - 915 - 916
Durham Region Transit
Go Transit
Monday 19 December 2011
December 7, 2011 Community Meeting
Ten people attended the December community group meeting, nine residents and our west ward councillor, Elizabeth Roy.
The Christmas party was discussed. On top of donations from local stores, a cheque for $200 was provided by the Town of Whitby Race Relations Committee (they also provide assistance for the July annual barbecue).
Four youths have been arrested and charged with the robbery and attack of the owner of a small convenience store on Michael Boulevard. One of the youths is from our community.
There was also talk about trying to set up Neighbourhood Watch in our buildings. This was discussed a few years ago and ultimately decided against as there needs to be 75% participation in order to be accepted. The 75% does not have to be all four buildings, or even one, it can be as small as a single floor. It will be discussed at further meetings in 2012.
Durham Regional Police are changing their patrols so more cars will be available in our area, this way we should have shorter response times. We're hoping to get a police officer in to attend a meeting (or more).
The town of Whitby is looking into renovating Jeffery Park and Central Park and we get to have some input into what should be done with the park(s). If this is of interest to you, please feel free to attend meetings. Currently the people who are sending information to the town are seniors with grown children. It would be wonderful if people who have children young enough to play at the park gave some ideas. The town is also looking into moving an underused bus shelter to the stop between 200 and 100. There was a shelter there until a few years ago when it blew down in a storm.
There is a group of children who literally run wild around the buildings. I have observed them a couple of times, running across Dundas Street between the traffic lights while both lights are green. Once was at rush hour and the kids were running in front of moving cars. The overwhelming consensus was that it wasn't our business and they didn't feel like "babysitting" children. If anyone has any ideas on what can be done, please feel free to leave a message or email me. Note, calling Children's Aid or the police only works if someone knows who these children are or where they live. I don't know who any of these children are or even which buildings they live in.
We currently have security. I know they are very elusive but they are apparently around (I have yet to see them). Our management has decided not to provide a phone number to tenants (something which was freely available with previous security companies) as they're worried that tenants might call for non-emergency problems like plumbing issues.
New tenants have to pay hydro and there are a lot of concerns regarding what they are paying. Several tenants have said they want to see their hydro meters. The community group is attempting to get someone from Stratacon to attend an upcoming meeting to explain how their bills are created.
Out of the nine tenants from the meeting, one is a college student, one is a middle aged mother of teenagers, and the rest are seniors living in 201. The handful that did not attend this meeting are also seniors from 201. This is not an accurate representation of our buildings. If you have concerns regarding the park at 101 (or the lack of playground equipment), accessible doors for wheelchairs and strollers, and activities for children please come out to the meetings and make your voice heard. Management does come to these meetings and does listen. However, right now all the management is hearing are the senior voices. We really need your help and your voice.
The Christmas party was discussed. On top of donations from local stores, a cheque for $200 was provided by the Town of Whitby Race Relations Committee (they also provide assistance for the July annual barbecue).
Four youths have been arrested and charged with the robbery and attack of the owner of a small convenience store on Michael Boulevard. One of the youths is from our community.
There was also talk about trying to set up Neighbourhood Watch in our buildings. This was discussed a few years ago and ultimately decided against as there needs to be 75% participation in order to be accepted. The 75% does not have to be all four buildings, or even one, it can be as small as a single floor. It will be discussed at further meetings in 2012.
Durham Regional Police are changing their patrols so more cars will be available in our area, this way we should have shorter response times. We're hoping to get a police officer in to attend a meeting (or more).
The town of Whitby is looking into renovating Jeffery Park and Central Park and we get to have some input into what should be done with the park(s). If this is of interest to you, please feel free to attend meetings. Currently the people who are sending information to the town are seniors with grown children. It would be wonderful if people who have children young enough to play at the park gave some ideas. The town is also looking into moving an underused bus shelter to the stop between 200 and 100. There was a shelter there until a few years ago when it blew down in a storm.
There is a group of children who literally run wild around the buildings. I have observed them a couple of times, running across Dundas Street between the traffic lights while both lights are green. Once was at rush hour and the kids were running in front of moving cars. The overwhelming consensus was that it wasn't our business and they didn't feel like "babysitting" children. If anyone has any ideas on what can be done, please feel free to leave a message or email me. Note, calling Children's Aid or the police only works if someone knows who these children are or where they live. I don't know who any of these children are or even which buildings they live in.
We currently have security. I know they are very elusive but they are apparently around (I have yet to see them). Our management has decided not to provide a phone number to tenants (something which was freely available with previous security companies) as they're worried that tenants might call for non-emergency problems like plumbing issues.
New tenants have to pay hydro and there are a lot of concerns regarding what they are paying. Several tenants have said they want to see their hydro meters. The community group is attempting to get someone from Stratacon to attend an upcoming meeting to explain how their bills are created.
Out of the nine tenants from the meeting, one is a college student, one is a middle aged mother of teenagers, and the rest are seniors living in 201. The handful that did not attend this meeting are also seniors from 201. This is not an accurate representation of our buildings. If you have concerns regarding the park at 101 (or the lack of playground equipment), accessible doors for wheelchairs and strollers, and activities for children please come out to the meetings and make your voice heard. Management does come to these meetings and does listen. However, right now all the management is hearing are the senior voices. We really need your help and your voice.
Sunday 18 December 2011
White Oaks Christmas Party
It was chaos in building 201 today as 50 children from our community signed up to attend our first Christmas party and visit Santa. The lobby held tables of goodies from nearby stores and the library had rows of cookies for the children to decorate and wooden figures to colour and take home. Every child received a small loot bag upon arrival.
The children were very intent on their decorating, whether it was a wooden Santa or a snowman cookie. I managed to pull a couple of childrens' attention away from their crafts long enough to ask one question. What are you going to ask Santa for this year? Nine year old Maddie had a hard time answering this question. Once Santa arrived she finally decided on a brown stuffed dog. Good choice Maddie, they require a lot less walking and feeding. Her friend Mackenzie immediately announced she wanted a video game. Any video game would do. Tevon wanted a beyblade. I mentioned that my son asked for a metal Beyblade Fusion and his eyes lit; I'm guessing my son's not the only one.
The photo on the left is a shot of one of the youngest children at the party, Mackenzie's little brother Jonathan, enjoying one of the cookies his Mom helped him decorate.
Here is Tevon holding two of the cookies he decorated. Both his Mom, Sharon, and Mackenzie and Jonathan's Mom, Penny, enjoyed the party. The crafts kept the kids entertained and there were cookies and snacks for all (including coffee... something most parents need by mid-afternoon).
There were several high school students in attendance, helping out with the children and gamely attempting to sing Christmas carols with me and another member of the White Oaks Community Group. The children, for the most part, ignored the singing. They'd join in for a favourite line or two then wander back to the craft tables. One young boy would have been happy if we sang nothing but Frosty the Snowman.
Eventually it came time for the main event. The man in red had been spotted and children were encouraged to head out to the lobby to wait for his arrival. A blanket was spread on the floor and the children settled to wait.
They didn't have long to wait before Santa arrived with his "reindog" and a sleigh full of toys.
Santa had his beard pulled over his nose and wig pulled down to his glasses. I thought he looked like he was heading off to join the Witness Protection Program but the kids didn't seem to notice. It made sense as he had three small children of his own at the party and no one wants to hear "Hey! That's not Santa! That's my Dad!" at a children's Christmas party. Thankfully they sat on his lap, none the wiser.
Every child in attendance had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and have as long a chat as they wanted. Once they all had their turn, their names were called out and every child was given a present with their name. Several opened their presents right away but most seemed willing to wait until they got home.
Here's Mackenzie, presumably asking Santa for her video game. She seemed quite happy with the board game she received.
It was great that so many children and parents in our community were able to attend and wonderful that so many companies were able to help out with donations of food, drinks, and toys. Hopefully our next community event will turn out just as well.
The photo on the left is a shot of one of the youngest children at the party, Mackenzie's little brother Jonathan, enjoying one of the cookies his Mom helped him decorate.
There were several high school students in attendance, helping out with the children and gamely attempting to sing Christmas carols with me and another member of the White Oaks Community Group. The children, for the most part, ignored the singing. They'd join in for a favourite line or two then wander back to the craft tables. One young boy would have been happy if we sang nothing but Frosty the Snowman.
Eventually it came time for the main event. The man in red had been spotted and children were encouraged to head out to the lobby to wait for his arrival. A blanket was spread on the floor and the children settled to wait.
Santa had his beard pulled over his nose and wig pulled down to his glasses. I thought he looked like he was heading off to join the Witness Protection Program but the kids didn't seem to notice. It made sense as he had three small children of his own at the party and no one wants to hear "Hey! That's not Santa! That's my Dad!" at a children's Christmas party. Thankfully they sat on his lap, none the wiser.
Every child in attendance had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and have as long a chat as they wanted. Once they all had their turn, their names were called out and every child was given a present with their name. Several opened their presents right away but most seemed willing to wait until they got home.
It was great that so many children and parents in our community were able to attend and wonderful that so many companies were able to help out with donations of food, drinks, and toys. Hopefully our next community event will turn out just as well.
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