Volunteer Speed Matching on FEBRUARY 16TH

The excitement of speed dating but with the warm fuzzy knowledge you are working towards good things for the whole community.

This even occurs outside our area, but will include organizations that work inside it.


Volunteer Action Centre is hosting a Volunteer Speed Matching event on

February 16th from 5.30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Flying Dog Restaurant on Marsland Drive in Waterloo.

Volunteer Speed Matching works exactly like speed dating where volunteer daters and community organizations have about 4 minutes to impress one another. Second dates are optional. There will also be an opportunity to network with representatives from over 25 organizations in the community.

Limited spaces are available and hence it’s important to register ASAP.
For more information and to register online please click on the following link:

http://volunteerkw.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=185

MHBPNA Programs at the Breithaupt Centre for 2009-10

Here is the schedule for programs offered at the Breithaupt Centre for the 2009 - 2010 season.

Clicking the title of this article will take you to the City of Kitchener Website. Leisure Magazine is available online there.

Click on the image below to get a larger view of the programs we offer.

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Special Offer for Holiday Season

I am writing to let you know about a special offer for you and your residents (and their friends and family!). We’re offering 50% off tickets for our upcoming Yuletide Spectacular concert on Saturday December 12^th at 2:30 PM at Centre In The Square.

Back by popular demand! This Yuletide Spectacular brings the magic of the holiday season to your family. Much-loved guest performers bring the music to life.

Brian Jackson, conductor

Marisa McIntyre, vocalist

Grand Philharmonic Choir

Synergy Bell Choir

Carousel Dance Company

Watch Larry Larson’s video blog about Yuletide Spectacular.

http://www.kwsymphony.ca/2009_10/pops/pops4.php#blog

Please get in touch with me if you would like more information about this special ticket offer.

Kind regards,

Stephanie

Stephanie Munger | Marketing Associate

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony kwsymphony.ca

Direct Telephone: 519 745 4711 ext. 288

kwsmarketing@kwsymphony.on.ca

W.A.L.E.S. celebration on Thursday, Dec 3rd, 2009

HI  EVERYONE,

W.A.L.E.S is CELEBRATING

International Day of

People with Disabilities,

With an open house.

All are welcome to drop  in between 10am-2pm on Thursday December 3^rd, 2009 to be a part of a day of us sharing our gifts and talents. There is also a  bake sale, jewelry sale  and model sale.

From W.A.L.E.S. Group at Extend-A-Family 91 Moore Ave Kitchener Ontario!

Schipplings Moves to Braun

The Record has published two stories recently concerning the Schippling’s Bicycle Service store on Duke Street West. It has been closed for over a year after its owner, John Burhatsky, became ill and passed away at 92. This store is certainly a landmark in the area. My wife and I bought our son a bike there years ago and I still use my Norco saddlebags I bought from John. This recent article brings the good news that Braun bicycle has purchased the Schippling name and inventory. So some of the history will be preserved.


It is still not clear what will happen to the building. According to this earlier article, the area is now zoned residential (since 1994) so it can only be sold as a residence or a business with a bike shop. We already have Brauns and Ziggys in downtown Kitchener, so it is unlikely another bike shop will open there. The building is unsuitable as a residence in its present condition. From a neighbourhood perspective, it would seem to make most sense for another small business to open there with an opportunity for an apartment or two. This would need some kind of zoning variance and the earlier article discusses how getting any variance is problematic. 


It now seems likely that with the name and inventory sold, the building itself could be sold to a developer who could renovate or level it altogether and build apartments. 


I think this shows it is tricky to use zoning regulations to build a neighbourhood the way we want.  Without the regulations, a small business could have more easily continued in the building and the area could have kept a building with a lot of history and nice memories. On the other hand, it could have been bought by a business we did not like who might have erected a garish sign. It is difficult to enforce taste and restraint.


Whatever happens I hope the existing building can be preserved. Whenever I drive, walk or cycle past I think of John Burhatsky sitting in the store dispensing advice and fixing a flat tire or two.


Ted Parkinson

Take the Survey

Take the Waterloo Region's Crime prevention Survey. Tell them what you think about topics like crime, victimization etc. You could win prizes as well. 


Visit their website at www.preventingcrime.ca 

Executive Elected, Constitution Passed!

The MHBPNA had our annual meeting on October 28th at the Breithaupt Centre. Three very important things happened:

1) Architect John MacDonald discussed how we might use the free cultural assessment we won at the Festival of Neighbourhoods in 2008. Several ideas were discussed and after researching some options we will meet again.

2) We elected an executive for the next year. President: Trudy Beaulne, Secretary: Laurie Donaldson, Co-Treasurers: Helen Lippert and Joan Lazarski, Communications Director: Ted Parkinson. We still have openings for Programs Director, Special Events Director and Partnerships Director. Please send us an email if you are interested. Descriptions for all positions can be found in our constitution.

3) We passed our constitution! The full text of our constitution has been uploaded to the MHBPNA Website. Click here to view it. We spent several meetings developing the constitution and modeled it on those used by other Kitchener neighbourhood associations. We believe it is clear, easy to understand and will provide a solid structure for our future initiatives.

MHBPNA General Membership Meeting, Wed, Oct 28, 2009

Our Neighbourhood Association is holding an important General Membership Meeting. The date and location are:

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Breithaupt Centre

6:30 - 9:30

Room 109

We have a special guest attending: Architect John MacDonald who will be discussing how we can proceed with a cultural assessment grant that we won from the 2008 Festival of Neighbourhoods.

Please attend this meeting and encourage others who live in the neighbourhood to come as well. We have been working on a very basic constitution and we need your support to implement it. Over the years, our association has helped many people and groups to offer courses at the Breithaupt centre, run events and to meet with other helpful individuals. The NA also works with the City of Kitchener to publish a newsletter and to support events and programming. Creating a constitution is one way to ensure our organization is transparent, accountable and easy to understand.

An organizational chart of our current neighbourhood association can be found on this page. Our boundaries can be found here.

Kitchener’s Festival of Neighbourhoods Finale, Oct 25th

This BLOG is all about our great neighbourhood. Throughout the year we post articles about what is going on, various events etc. You can look through the BLOG's history to find what has happened over the past several months.

The city of Kitchener is celebrating the past year with their Festival of Neighbourhoods finale at city hall on Sunday, Oct 25th. This event was advertised in our newsletter and it is described on the city's website on this page.

The city of Kitchener says: "Come celebrate with us! The finale takes place rain or shine on Sunday, October 25, 2009 starting at 1:00 pm. in the Rotunda at Kitchener City Hall. Registered Kitchener neighbourhoods are encouraged to come, share their experiences, and take part in the activities and award ceremony."

Throughout the past year our neighbourhood (and many others) has registered our events with the city (e.g. Lippert Park picnic, Jane's Walk, Duke Street Playground pot luck). During the FON finale there will be a draw for a $10, 000 grant. Each event a neighbourhood registers gives them a ballot for this finale draw.

Everyone is welcome to attend this event. We'll post on this BLOG the 2009 winner of the grant.

2009 Fall Newsletter uploaded

The fall 2009 MHBPNA newsletter has just been uploaded to our website. The physical copy has been delivered by volunteers but in case you've misplaced it, you can now read the electronic version.

To view/download the newsletter, click here.

Mom and Tot Drop-in: 9 - 11 am Wednesdays

Time Out Mom and Tot Drop-in

A Mt.Hope-Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Assoc. Program

At Grace Lutheran Church

136 Margaret Ave.

Kitchener

You and your children/grandchildren/daycare children are invited to join us

Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Our program gives children the opportunity to “get their wiggles out” with free play, learn social skills, use their imagination with craft activities, and play organized indoor games as well.

Refreshments are available.

Donations appreciated to help cover costs and activities associated with the program, however, first time visits are always free. Come check us out!

For more information, contact Laurie Donaldson at 519-886-5080

Wellington Street Reconstruction (Weber to Margaret Ave.) May to Sept, 2010

The following information comes from the City of Kitchener and we felt it was worth sharing with people in our neighbourhood:

Wellington Street reconstruction is schedule to begin, on or about, May 10, 2010, with an estimated completion date on or about September 30, 2010. You will be notified closer to the date construction is scheduled to start on your section of the street, and also how long access to your driveway will be affected.

The construction will upgrade the storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water mains. Curb and gutter, and sidewalks will be installed. Asphalt will be upgraded and all driveway ramps will be replaced.

Public Open House:

September 30, 2009

Margaret Avenue School

325 Louisa Street, Kitchener

6 pm to 8 pm.

Photography Contest -- get your pictures submitted!

There is a photo contest for the central area of Kitchener. This is a great opportunity for us all to share our view of the great place in which we live. Click here to see the website for details.

Where are we? Which streets belong to us?

When people first learn about the existance of the MHBPNA they usually ask "what are our boundaries?" "Do we live inside or outside those boundaries?"

Generally speaking, the boundaries are:

South: Victoria Street

West: King Street

East: Lancaster

North: Breithaupt Park and a little south of Union.

It's the north boundary that is most confusing, and we know that in the Kitchener/Waterloo area words like "north", "south", "east" and "west" in relation to directions are all very relative and open to debate.

If you look on the left margin of this BLOG (Helpful Links for Our Community), you will now see a link to a Google Map of our association's boundaries. This should help clarify things, although that "north" boundary is still ambiguous in some places. We try to be generous when we distribute the newsletter and there are no restrictions about who can take programs at the Breithaupt Centre.

Central Art Walk: Saturday October 24, 2009

The Central Art Walk was a big success last year. There were many different types of artists with paintings, sculpture, stained glass, pottery and more. The weather was good and it was fun to walk around the neighbourhood and meet so many different people. Some artists offered tea and cookies and other treats.

This year the folks who are organizing the art walk have made a large map of the artists (click here) and also have a website with artist portraits and detailed information (click here).

Fall 2009 Newsletter hits the streets

The Fall 2009 MHBPNA Newsletter has been printed by the kind folks at city hall and is now being distributed by volunteers around our neighbourhood. Please take time to read through it. There are some good articles and much information about ongoing activities.

We also uploaded the Summer 2009 newsletter here. We are maintaining a newsletter archive in case you forgot to read something and also to record some of the neighbourhood's history.

We are now gathering materials for the Winter 2009/2010 newsletter. If you have any stories or events you would like to contribute, please email mhbpna.news@gmail.com.

Optimist Carnival, August 12, 2009

Don't forget about the Optimist Carnival, August 12, 2009. Click on the image for a larger view of the poster and you can see all of the events that are planned. Come out and have some fun.

MHBPNA Honoured for 25 years of service

Recently, the Mt. Hope Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association was honoured for 25 years ofvolunteering and service to the community. In this photo, Mayor Carl Zehr (left) has presented a certificate of appreciation to Brian Steubing (middle) and Syd Gerhardt. The association's 25th anniversary was in 2008 and the presentation took place during a televised council meeting on June 15th, 2009.

We all look forward to another 25 years of neighbourhood events.

Summer newsletter delivery update

Thanks so much for the two kind people who volunteered to deliver the rest of our summer newsletters. Because of their efforts the streets around Hartwood Green are being covered. We'll also upload it to the MHBPNA website soon.

Festival of Neighbourhoods grand prize!

Festival of Neighbourhoods

Your neighbourhood could win

a $10,000 capital grant from the City of Kitchener

HOW ? Just hold an activity that brings neighbours together to

get to know one another better and register it. Go to:

http://www.kitchener.ca/award_prog/festival_neighbourhoods.html

for great resources and to register.

Festival of Neighbourhoods Kitchener Finale

Sunday, October 25, 2009, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Kitchener City Hall

Please join us for an afternoon of community connectedness and fun.

Come and enjoy: • Refreshments & family activities, • Stories & displays celebrating events & initiatives • Prizes & awards

It just might be Your Neighbourhood! Help Us Celebrate & Share Your Achievement!

July 20, 2009 Constitution Presentation, 7 pm

On July 20th, the Mount Hope Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association will be presenting our new constitution at the Breithaupt Centre. We have been working on this for several weeks and wish to present it to anyone in the neighbourhood who is interested. Please come out to this meeting at 7 pm (2nd Floor, Breithaupt Centre) and comment on the document. We need your support.

Summer Newsletter Delivery (volunteers needed)

The summer newsletter has been printed and is being distributed. If you haven't got one yet, there are a few at the Breithaupt Centre, and we'll be uploading it to our website (where we have an archive of newsletters).

However, we need more volunteers to distribute them. There is a large area around Hartwood Crescent that is sometimes distributed by the New Dawn school, but they are on summer break now. We depend on people in the neighbourhood to distribute, so if you can take a few for your street, or even a block or two around it, your neighbours will appreciate it.

Below is a list of streets that we need volunteers to deliver. If you can take some newsletters we'll drop them off for you. Please contact us at mhpbna.news@gmail.com.

* Heartwood Ave

* Raiter Ave

* East side of Weber North of Guelph street

* Ellis Ave North of Guelph street

* Ahrens Street North of Guelph street

* Brunswick Ave North of Guelph street

* Margaret Ave North of Guelph street

* South side of Fairfield Ave

* North side of Fairfield Ave between Margaret and Floyd

* Woodward Ave North of Guelph street

* Crestwood Ave North of Guelph street

* Floyd Ave North of Guelph street

* St. Leger Street between Guelph and Fairfield

* Edwin Street between Guelph and Fairfield

Lippert Park Picnic, Saturday, July 4, 2009

Join us on.....

Saturday, July 4th, 2009
12:00 pm - 3 pm
George Lippert Park
(on Weber St. between Louisa and Wilhelm Streets)

Games for kids, Draws to teens and adults, Tie dye your own t-shirt, Skateboard Park

Displays from Fire and Police Services, Talent Show, Food (small charge), Lots of FUN!

FON Newsletter, June 2009

The Festivel of Neighbourhoods (FON for those "in the know") has just published a short newsletter for June, 2009. I've uploaded it to our MHBPNA website. To view this newsletter as a PDF file, click here.

It's short, but has some interesting information about what's happening this summer, and things you can include in your events.

Remember, if you hold an event this summer, please register it with the FON so that it counts towards our entries in the final draw at the end of the summer for a grant.

Baby Sitting Training 11 - 16 years

MHBPNA is offering Baby Sitting Training at

Breithaupt Centre

Friday and Saturday

June 19 and 20

5:00 - 9:00

cost: $43.80

code: 70335

This is a Red Cross certificate program which teaches first aid skills, rights and responsibilities of babysitters, child development and activities to entertain children.

Constitution Building Meetings, June 8th and 22nd

Come join us in building a constitution for our Neighbourhood Association. This is necessary as we grow and more people become involved and engaged with their diverse interests. A constitution will ensure all voices are heard and will allow organized decision making. We will be meeting at the Breithaupt Centre on Monday, June 15th and Monday, June 22nd at 6:45 pm (room 201).

If you are interested in other association's constitutions, then go the city of Kitchener's page of Neighbourhood Associations (link is on the left hand side of this BLOG) and browse through their BLOGs and websites. We hope to keep our constitution simple but effective.

Free Films: June 5th and 6th at Kitchener City Hall

Our World Festival of Music & The Multicultural Cinema Club

present

2 FREE Film Screenings!

Young at Heart (2007)

June 5th and 6th at the Kitchener City Hall Council Chamber at 2:00 PM 

This film documents the true story of the final weeks of rehearsal for the Young at Heart Chorus in Northampton, MA, whose average age is 81, and many of whom must overcome health adversities to participate. Their music is unexpected, going against the stereotype of their age group, performing songs, for example, by James Brown, and Sonic Youth. Although they have toured Europe and sang for royalty, this account focuses on preparing new songs, not an easy endeavor, for a concert in their home town, which succeeds in spite of several real heart breaking events. 

Mamma Mia! (2008)

June 5th and 6th at the Kitchener City Hall Council Chamber at 4:30 PM

Mamma Mia! The Movie is a stage-to-film adaptation of the 1999 West End musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson. it became the highest-grossing film musical of all time. Meryl Streep heads the cast, playing the role of single mother Donna Sheridan. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård play the three possible fathers to Donna’s daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried).

For more information about this series, click here. 

Spotlight Festival in Kitchener, June 5 - 7

With 35 spOtlight activities, Kitchener covers everything from A (Artist studios) to Z (instrument petting zoo).

For more information on this diverse and FREE even, click here.

UW School of Pharmacy's Health and Healing Lecture Series

There are still some seats available for this week’s launch of the UW School of Pharmacy’s Health and Healing Lecture Series.  The inaugural lecture, being held Thursday, May 28 at 7:00pm, is titled Building a Healthier Future: Discovery and Innovation at the Health Sciences Campus.  Dr. Jake Thiessen will give an insider’s view of research going on at UW’s new downtown site.  For more details see http://www.pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca/pdfs/May28-2009-Public-Lecture-Building-a-Healthier-Future.pdf

Jane's Walk (continued)

This article continues the earlier Blog posting on the very successful MHBPNA Jane's Walk on May 2, 2009.

After George Lippert Park and the historic houses (and church) on Louisa, we looped around to the Mt. Hope cemetery and Wayne took us on a guided tour. I found this fascinating because I walk and bike through the cemetery all the time (often on the way to Central to purchase some of their fine produce or other wares). And I read some of the headstones, but with Wayne we walked through many areas where I hadn't wandered previously. He explained how we may not leave many marks while we are living, but a headstone is a permanent marker for all to see many years after we've gone.

Apparently there are no plots left to sell, but there are still a few interments for those that have been sold already. Originally there were two cemeteries, one Catholic and the other public, but over the years they were merged. When you walk through Mt. Hope you can see some of the different areas demarcated by different directions in which the headstones are facing. There will be an interview with Wayne (and more cemetery info) in the summer newsletter.

After the cemetery we walked over to Peltz avenue where Mark talked about different approaches to naturalizing front lawns. He also discussed how one of the initial attractions of 

Peltz was the prevalence of Norway Maples 

planted in rows along each boulevard. These trees look great, but are approaching their old age and are beginning to die out. Unfortunately, the city of Kitchener is not planning for the future by planting newer trees underneath the old ones. They are waiting for the tree to die, and then planting a new one with poor soil and little support. The young tree that Mark showed us had been planted there the previous year, but it looked in poor shape. Unfortunately, it seems like the city has money to purchase downtown properties, but very little to support tree planting and similar activities (we found out about the scarcity of resources at our earlier "eco restoration" meeting--see this blog posting). 

After Peltz avenue we walked down to the B.F. Goodrich Park where the walk officially ended. This park is on a hill very close to the intesection of Guelph Street and the railway tracks. Many people don't know that it is even there because you have to walk up a hill to find it. This was a possible site for eco-restoration and we've had a few suggestions for different types of plants that might add to the aesthetics of the area. Last fall, with all the construction along Guelph Street, a large retaining pond was created petween the park and the railway tracks. No warning was given about this pond, and no landscaping as been done, so this has been added to the agenda for the Neighbourhood Mobilization Alliance. We would like the city to property landscape it.

This walk came together very quicky after Mary suggested it at the eco-restoration meeting; several people volounteered and made it diverse and interesting from start to finish thereby demonstrating the vibrancy and good will that exists in the neighbourhood. I am looking forward to participating in next year's walk.

3rd Annual Duke Street Playground Potluck & Games Day

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Potluck dinner was great!

Thanks to everyone for bringing food,

yourselves and your family.

Over 50 people (large, medium and small) attended

We are missing a hot pink plastic long handled salad spoon. If you know where it is, please email mhbpna@gmail.com

Everybody Welcome

Music, Games, Food

Games start at 4 pm, Soccer for kids

Bocce, Kubs and more

Potluck at 5 pm

Being food to share (please label for vegetarians and those with

allergies) as well as bring your own plates, cutlery and drinks,

blankets or chair.

Kids must attend with adult.

Rain Location: St. Marks Lutheran Church, 825 King Street W, Kitchener

5 - 8 pm cost $2 per family.

Neighbourhood Association Meeting, Wed May 13th, 6:30 pm

If you are interested in our neighbourhood, then please come to our next association meeting on Wednesday, May 13th.

This meeting will be held in the Breithaupt Centre, room 109 at 6:30 pm. Come along, meet your neighbours and find out what is happening around our area.

The agenda includes:

• Info from previous meeting re: insurance, leading to terms of reference discussion
  
• Staff roles
  
• Role of NA in programs at Breithaupt Centre, and decision making as required for Fall Leisure submission
  
• Appointment of Treasurers (Joan Lazarski and Helen Lippert) per bank requirements
  
• Craft Night/Craft Activity proposal - partnering with Extend-A-Family
  

Jane's Walk a great success!

We had more than 20 people attend this first Jane's walk in our neighbourhood. It was really a lot of fun to meet new people, and chat with folks we already know. There was so much good will, and in addition to the official guides, many others filled in details they knew about the area, which is what the walk is all about. The tour started at 10 am, Saturday May 2nd in Lippert park.

People came because of this blog, posters that were put up everywhere, advertising on the www.janeswalk.com under the Kitchener area, and that thing called "word of mouth".

Helen Lippert (with help from Ken) discussed the history of the area, and the Lippert furniture factory, and the naming of the park (it was originally called Huron Park because there was a Huron Street planned for that space). It has evolved from being hidden behind trees (and sometimes dangerous) to the nicely landscaped area it is now with a community garden and yearly picnic.

Mary then took over the walk and we saw a few heritage houses along Louisa street. These are houses that the city designates as such because of

unique architectural features. For example, this house has the window on the top left, unique wooden carving under eves, and rounded windows on the first and second floors.

Anyone can read this list of houses and features kept by the city. It is up to the individual homeowner to apply for "official" heritage status which has some benefits. We walked past other houses of interest, and also the Sacred Heart Church at Louisa and Moore. I've walked, ridden my bike, and driven past this church many times, but on Saturday we all took the opportunity to observe its fine brickwork, and commemorative plaques.

More of the Jane's Walk summary soon....

Calling on Volunteers to help lead downtown orientation walk

This walk is for new students at the School of Pharmacy.

For information click here.

Jane's Walk on May 2, 10 am - noon

At our recent eco-restoration meeting (announced on this Blog) the idea came up that our neighbourhood should participate in Jane's Walk this year on May 2nd. Jane's Walk is named after the influential writer and activist Jane Jacobs.

We've put together a schedule for a walk in our neighbourhood with "guest speakers" for each stop.

1. Meet at Lippert Park (On Weber Street between Wilhelm and Louisa) at 10 am and learn about its history.
2. Walk up Louisa Street to learn about some Heritage Houses.
3. Walk to Mt. Hope cemetary and learn about some fascinating people buried there (we'll stay in the Moore street area so as not to roam too far).
4. Walk along Peltz Avenue and learn about naturalized landscaping and local area plants.
5. Finish up at B.F. Goodrich park to talk about eco restoration and anything else we can think of.

Children and bikes are welcome. It's all about the journey and the conversations along the way.

For a map of our local walk, click here.

For information about other walks in Kitchener, and around North America: click here.

Earth Day in Major Park, April 19, 2009

Sunday, April 19, 2009, 1 pm - 3 pm. 

Spend an hour or two with your neighbours, meet new friends, win prizes (gift certificates and T-shirts from Tim Hortons). 

We will have garbage bags and gloves for everyone to help clean up the park.

Major Park is located between Breithaupt and Wellington, one block west of Lancaster.

View Larger Map

Ecological Restoration Project, April 18th, 2009

Ecological Restoration Project

(Breithaupt Park, Major park, Uniroyal Goodrich Park, etc.)

Neighbours are invited to attend a design planning session hosted by UW graduate student, Katelyn Inlow. Come and make suggestions. Share ideas. Let us know how you envision an ecological restoration project in our neighbourhood. 

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009

Time: 12:00 (noon) - 3:00 p.m.

Location: Extend-A-Family, Boardroom

91 Moore Avenue, Kitchener

(former WCDSB office beside former Sacred Heart School)

Everyone is welcome!

April 18 Lane Clean Up

Celebrate Earth Day 

by joining us for a litter pick-up

Join in for a planned clean-up for the lane-ways that run from 

King toDuke, between Shanley, Louisa and Breithaupt

Date: April 18, 2009

Time: 9:45 am

Place: meet at 100 Louisa St.

Contacts:

Denis Pellerin (519) 742-1564

Stephen McDonald (519) 741-1170

Refreshments and hot dogs 

provided at about 12/12:30

You might win some prizes donated by Tim Hortons.

Have fun with your neighbours, 

and keep our Neighbourhood attractive, desirable, and safe!

Safe Neighbourhood Forum, Tuesday, April 14, 2009

WATERLOO REGION’S

SAFE NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM

Tuesday, April 14, 2009  7pm – 9pm

Waterloo Regional Council Chambers

150 Frederick Street, Kitchener

An interactive presentation and discussion on how to develop, implement, and maintain safety within your neighbourhood 

• Working with your community

• Community safety organizations

•What would you like to see in safe Waterloo Region?

For more information contact: 

Tim Osland tjosland@rogers.com (519) 748-7756 

waterloocommunitycouncil.com

Spring News Letter has arrived!

Thanks to many volounteers, the Spring MHBPNA newsletter has been printed and is being delivered to you now! We hope you will enjoy it, and possibly sign up to deliver future issues to your neighbourhood. It has also been uploaded to our website so you can keep reading those great articles.

Waterloo Region Block Parent Meeting, April 14, 2009

Region of Waterloo Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Region of Waterloo Building 
150 Frederick St., Tuesday, April 14, 7 - 9 PM 

Please r.s.v.p. to: "mhbpna@gmail.com" so they can plan seating.

Here is the tentative program: 
 
1. Welcome  
2. Purpose of the Forum 
3. Panel Presentation and Discussion (40 minutes) 
    Panel:   Block Parents, Neighbouhood Watch, Regional Police

      10-minute presentations from panelists, 10 minutes for a moderated Q&A session 
    Question: How is your organization improving neighbourhood safety and how can     local residents help you? 
4. Second Panel Presentation and Discussion (40 minutes) 
    Panel: By-law Officers from Waterloo, Cambridge, and Kitchener 
     10-minute presentations from panelists, 10 minutes for a moderated Q&A session 
   Question: What challenges do you see in maintaining safe and healthy neighbourhoods?  How    can the public help? 
5. General Brainstorming and Discussion (30 minutes) 
    Representatives from Regional Police, School Boards, and Social Agencies will be available  to hear suggestions and to answer questions 
6. Summary and Wrap-up 

Neighbourhood Mobilization Alliance (NMA) 2009 Meeting Dates

The NMA meets the third Wednesday of each month at Kitchener City Hall, in the Conestoga Room located on the main floor, unless otherwise stated.  Meetings are from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

April 15           May 20                 June 17             July 15                  August 19

September 16               October 21                    November 18              December 16

 

Downtown Community Forum, Tuesday March 24th, 2009

We are posting the following information on our BLOG because some members of our Mt Hope - Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association might be interested in various projects happening downtown. This forum looks to deliver a lot of helpful information about the downtown, which is very close to us.

TIME: 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: Mill-Courtland Community Centre
216 Mill Street, Kitchener
(corner of Mill & Stirling)

DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY FORUM
LET’S CELEBRATE OUR DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIPS!!

SHARE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITY
LEARN HOW IMPORTANT EACH OF OUR CONTRIBUTIONS IS TO THE ONGOING HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITIES

Representatives from Waterloo Region Police will talk about some of their projects and how we must continue to learn how to be more effective“eyes and ears” of our communities

We will hear what is happening with:
Business downtown,
The Kitchener Market,
New trends that are beginning to positively impact our downtown,
Landlords Program and how that will be expanding to include the Landlords on King Street

Call 741-2491 to register if you are in need of Childcare
Refreshments will be available

MHBPNA Website Launched

MHBPNA now has a website, thanks to Google Sites.

It is located here:

http://sites.google.com/site/mhbpna/Home

We've been adding meeting minutes, older newsletters and hope to make it a "one stop shopping" place for information about our neighbourhood and the people who volunteer to make it better.

Please email us at mhbpna@gmail.com if there is something else you'd like to see on the site, or on this blog.

You are Invited! April 18, 2009

Uniroyal Goodrich Park
Ecological Restoration Project

Neighbours are invited to attend a design planning session hosted by UW graduate student, Katelyn Inlow. Come share ideas and learn about ways that we can restore this park in our neighbourhood!

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time: 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm
Loaction: Extend-A-Family, Board Room
91 Moore Ave., Kitchener

Everyone is welcome!

Winter and Fall Newsletters are now ONLINE

We printed 5000 copies of our winter 2008-2009 newsletter and delivered them to your door. But perhaps you lost your copy, or recycled it, or didn't see it when it arrived. And you would still like to read about the "house of straw" or find out about the free cultural assessment our neighbourhood won. Now you can because this newsletter, and the Fall 2008 newsletter, are online. To view them click on this text.

Neighbourhood Association Meeting, February 25, 2009

The next MHBP Neighbourhood Association meeting is on Wednesday, February 25th at 7:35 pm in room 201 at the Breithaupt Centre.  

All interested are welcome to attend. See what is going on in our community.

For minutes from the last meeting (Monday, December 8th, 2008) please click here

To view the agenda for the current meeting, click here.

 

Vote for Kitchener Market Logo

It will no longer be "your" Kitchener Market, but you can still enjoy it and vote for its new logo here: 

www.kitchenermarket.ca

Winter Newsletter Hits the Streets

The MHBPNA winter newsletter is now being delivered to your home. We have several thousand residents living in this great downtown location so we always need help distributing it. If you can deliver some (even to just your own block) please email us at mhbpna.news@gmail.com. 

Read and enjoy the content produced by volounteers in your community and printed by the City of Kitchener.

Kitchener is seeking citizen advisors for Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF)

Two citizen advisors are being sought for the City of Kitchener's new $5 million Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) steering committee. Deadline for citizen advisor application is Jan. 30 by 5 p.m. 

The two citizen advisors will be members of the public who are environmental experts and/or community leaders with experience in granting organizations. A two-year commitment is required, with the evaluation work to occur in each of 2009 and 2010 between mid-February and mid-April.

The applicants must also be passionate about improving Kitchener's biophysical environment, and at least one of the two citizen advisors must provide environmental expertise in one or more of the following areas: 

·            Climate change;

·            Mitigation and/or adaptation;

·            Public awareness of environmental issues;

·            Air quality;

·            Energy use and efficiency;

·            Alternative energy sources;

·            Land trusts and natural lands management, and/or

·            Green transportation, walkable communities and alternatives to the automobile.

Nomination forms, submission information and further information about the LEAF steering committee can be found at www.kitchener.ca/leaf