tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55133144555097616112024-03-19T02:31:28.419-07:00Preserve Victoria Glen ParkVictoria Glen Park is a 7-acre forest between Snyder Avenue North and Dunke Street in Elmira, Ontario, beside the lane that leads down to the Kissing Bridge Trail. The Township of Woolwich proposed to "surplus" 2.6 acres of this bush for a residential development. Hundreds of area residents joined forces to convince Council that good stewardship of this natural space, used by hundreds in our community, could best be accomplished by preserving it as parkland.Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-48089196413060266742009-11-10T18:24:00.000-08:002009-11-10T18:33:14.091-08:00Unanimous Council Vote: No Development in the Woods!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzUEd9pB_Po0LI2ofoU0U_3CVMmWwitSjnjXenInp2MP5kUv244xSXY_NI8EDLt7gOsCsMZUpfvVVxhdb7ReTNzYg3l3TA7tvJomZsgWt3s6N97aplME89JCV2mEX96a3yi_-atSQYIo/s1600-h/100_2334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzUEd9pB_Po0LI2ofoU0U_3CVMmWwitSjnjXenInp2MP5kUv244xSXY_NI8EDLt7gOsCsMZUpfvVVxhdb7ReTNzYg3l3TA7tvJomZsgWt3s6N97aplME89JCV2mEX96a3yi_-atSQYIo/s200/100_2334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402668473881979522" border="0" /></a>Last week we sat through a 3 hour meeting with a dozen of impassioned speakers, followed by a "compromise" motion that would still have seen much development in some of the woods and grave danger to much of the rest.<br /><br />That was last week.<br />This is this week.<br /><br />Tonight, the Woolwich Council voted unanimously to accept the Staff memo recommending the land not be surplussed, no residential development be undertaken, and the land come under consideration for re-zoning later this year or early next when the Official Plan revision is undertaken.<br /><br />As one of the loyal supporters of Preserving Victoria Glen Park said, "we showed the community that when you feel strongly about something being right, you CAN affect political decisions!"<br /><br />Of course, we'll keep an eye on this, and everyone is encouraged to get involved in the Official Plan review when it comes around to make sure the woods is protected - which the council indicated was their intent, but they need to follow the correct "processes."<br /><br />In the meantime, though, WOOOO-HOOOOOO!Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-52763134561541867182009-11-10T08:56:00.001-08:002009-11-10T09:11:14.869-08:00Council still has to vote, BUT: Staff recommends NO development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGLcXtnYEo-AFCiPqSU_lWs6prKV6MAxag-erivjrNeAZ3pfjARovSuuyQtBfSq7Q8aAKzditeUUmjI5wdwgy4QHIhf2xN0ZS9rp3b3lBdBdef9FDdsUbJ7ej5rDD7JIQUGAEHKPXvNs/s1600-h/0857.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGLcXtnYEo-AFCiPqSU_lWs6prKV6MAxag-erivjrNeAZ3pfjARovSuuyQtBfSq7Q8aAKzditeUUmjI5wdwgy4QHIhf2xN0ZS9rp3b3lBdBdef9FDdsUbJ7ej5rDD7JIQUGAEHKPXvNs/s200/0857.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402521128360802738" border="0" /></a>In a memo from Woolwich Township staff to the council this morning, they made the following recommendation:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" name="OLE_LINK1"><span lang="EN-US">The consultation process for Victoria Glen clearly illustrated that the social, educational, spiritual, recreational, historical, ecological, and cultural value of the Township-owned parcels (Parcels 1, 2, and 3) cannot be outweighed by any funds that could be generated by the options described in this memorandum.<o:p></o:p></span></a></span> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p>Therefore, Staff recommend that Council support Option 4, as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-style: italic;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">do not declare the Township-owned lands (Parcels 1, 2, and 3) surplus;<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">do not proceed with residential development on Parcels 1, 2, and 3;<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">review the land-use designation of the Subject Lands as part of the Official Plan Review Process; and,<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">suspend negotiations for the Purchase of the Region-owned land (Parcels 2 and 4).</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p>Staff would like Council to note that the existing sanitary sewer in the unopened road allowance shown on Map 1 will be upgraded in the next few years which will create some level of disturbance to the general area.<span style=""> </span>Staff will communicate the timing of this project to Council and the public as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p style="font-style: italic;"></o:p><span style="font-style: italic;">Through the 2010 budget process Staff will report back to Council with options for managing the funding implications of not proceeding with the deposition of the Victoria Glen lands."</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">There will need to be a vote by council tonight, of course - but things are looking brighter than they have for a long time. The five-page memo was careful, thoughtful, and as thorough as they could be given the constraints Council put on the process.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Still: do come out tonight to the meeting at 7!<br />If all goes as it looks like it might, we can applaud Council for their wisdom in accepting the Staff proposal!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(The 5-page memo with the complete staff recommendations will be posted to the Woolwich Township website - <a href="http://www.woolwich.ca">www.woolwich.ca</a> - as soon as their "web person" can do it, according to staff. This should be sometime this afternoon yet.)</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><span style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-77212626315117764902009-11-09T18:31:00.000-08:002009-11-09T18:57:07.444-08:00Elmira map: showing recent & proposed development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZfuz-zo0nrkI-kO7XUP70OO-AhedNuC54HwUJRpDaebxYj-5RMUR2RklrlAYfOwzWhmhO0jzpDcAtiyL8ss91Ig7MGOn40n9j4fmp_x3p6hZiTLUlKncffPvNcjNlDrM1TCmxAO-2UU/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZfuz-zo0nrkI-kO7XUP70OO-AhedNuC54HwUJRpDaebxYj-5RMUR2RklrlAYfOwzWhmhO0jzpDcAtiyL8ss91Ig7MGOn40n9j4fmp_x3p6hZiTLUlKncffPvNcjNlDrM1TCmxAO-2UU/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402303574040534306" border="0" /></a><br />One of the "Friends of Victoria Glen Park" who is a wizard with various computer functions has put together this map, using the Google Maps satellite view of Elmira. The brightly coloured rectangle in the upper right is Victoria Glen Park -- the bright red section is the proposed development south of the upper trail in the woods. All the larger pink sections are sections that either have been developed in the last 10 years or so or are proposed for development in the near future.<br /><br />This prompts the BIG QUESTION: why do they need to sacrifice any of the Victoria Glen Park woods for the relatively few houses it would yield in the face of all the recent development (and the proposed 900 houses in the Lunor development west of town)?<br /><br />Oh yes, to pay for "capital projects."<br />Destroying part of the woods -- and putting at risk the rest -- for a one-time cash-out of the relatively small amount of $368,000 (which wouldn't even be realized until after a whole lot of spending for reports and infrastructure) just plain doesn't make sense.<br /><br />Here are links to the map, reproduced above, and to another of just the "subject lands" in the Township report -- note that widening the trail to the 66 feet required of a street will take up a fair bit of the parcel last week's vote established as land they wanted to save...:<br /><br /><!--NOVELL_REWRITER_OFF--><a class="weblink" href="http://elmira-ontario.notlong.com/" target="browserView">http://elmira-ontario.notlong.com</a><!--NOVELL_REWRITER_ON--><br /><!--NOVELL_REWRITER_OFF--><!--NOVELL_REWRITER_OFF--><a class="weblink" href="http://sobac.com/pvgp/#map" target="browserView">http://sobac.com/pvgp/#map</a><!--NOVELL_REWRITER_ON-->Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-22504344110694477102009-11-07T13:57:00.000-08:002009-11-07T13:58:54.619-08:00Keep on the pressure: Preserve ALL of Victoria Glen Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxoa5gPWyxunCyvet9YDceCPnGr_wFVL9ro5dcfLCMOFi6nVkR0d7AuY0KVdS9XUJClesxDySquOVCw5NQ7H9Ht6DY-wK9D6jBS3yFelfBGV1iDu3asN3QCfvGBAgqfU_sy1UkenCAh0/s1600-h/council+mtg+%233+full-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxoa5gPWyxunCyvet9YDceCPnGr_wFVL9ro5dcfLCMOFi6nVkR0d7AuY0KVdS9XUJClesxDySquOVCw5NQ7H9Ht6DY-wK9D6jBS3yFelfBGV1iDu3asN3QCfvGBAgqfU_sy1UkenCAh0/s400/council+mtg+%233+full-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401484423575098946" border="0" /></a>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-34355131997948613152009-11-06T11:20:00.001-08:002009-11-06T14:35:39.171-08:00Let's just hope so! (Remember: we can't let up yet!)<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76CGXD-ELMrTyOlJIdwx7jpyB0dVueVZCwh_03KYDtcpp58m-Ji-17yPTPCKXI5FABo4jsEpmfRqGclAI8FLBuMUeAScqYJFFqJ5NHUp3BabuLNs4RQ_0q4SVjdf5ZaFvhyphenhyphenSZJkKglnI/s1600-h/comic,+6+November.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76CGXD-ELMrTyOlJIdwx7jpyB0dVueVZCwh_03KYDtcpp58m-Ji-17yPTPCKXI5FABo4jsEpmfRqGclAI8FLBuMUeAScqYJFFqJ5NHUp3BabuLNs4RQ_0q4SVjdf5ZaFvhyphenhyphenSZJkKglnI/s400/comic,+6+November.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401072808512372978" border="0" /></a><strong>"Still on life support, it’s just a matter of time before the</strong><br /><strong> Victoria Glen project comes to the end of the line."<br /><br /></strong><div style="text-align: left;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;">(This is the "View From Here" cartoon in this week's Woolwich <span style="font-style: italic;">Observer</span>. Please come out to Tuesdays council meeting, where the final vote on this project will happen -- November 10, 7 pm -- to show that we really, really are serious that it is totally absurd to even consider developing ANY of Victoria Glen Park.)</strong><br /><strong></strong></div><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Add_Image" title="Add Image" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="addImage();" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);;ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Add Image" class="gl_photo" border="0" /></span></span></div>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-45409899045223605072009-11-04T10:33:00.000-08:002009-11-04T13:45:48.813-08:00Half a victory - Push is on to save ALL Victoria Glen Park from development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVzp301hqHV9N4OSiSGqNQ7nPGhL13FvntANY_jqyAoKXYzYR2dp46hoq0D8OZWTBIIYr6OqmttrNNfrMe4W_jzNIPezb55i2EPbyFVYlVzildsRIKj5ejtHL2YUaW4eQxGRUXyTeY1o/s1600-h/november+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVzp301hqHV9N4OSiSGqNQ7nPGhL13FvntANY_jqyAoKXYzYR2dp46hoq0D8OZWTBIIYr6OqmttrNNfrMe4W_jzNIPezb55i2EPbyFVYlVzildsRIKj5ejtHL2YUaW4eQxGRUXyTeY1o/s200/november+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400335260377772818" border="0" /></a>We spent more than three hours last night at the Woolwich Township Council "Committee of the Whole" meeting to act on the staff recommendations to develop Victoria Glen Park woodlands.<br /><br />Six people spoke who had registered ahead of time and at least that many came forward when the floor was opened to whoever wanted to speak. Presentations ranged from a thorough and technical hydrogeologic analysis rejecting the wisdom of the project to the high school student who had started the "<span style="font-size:100%;">THEY'RE TEARING DOWN ELMIRA'S FOREST ANYWAY! STOP THEM!!</span>" Facebook Group which had attracted, by the time of the meeting, more than 800 very vocal members. (As I write this, the membership is up to 909 members.)<br /><br />Staff members clarified and defended their information and processes.<br /><br />Council members attempted to indicate where their sympathies lay on the issue.<br /><br />It was a passionate and confusing meeting all around.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The high point:</span> When councillor Ruby Weber spoke about how her first introduction to Victoria Glen Park was on a bus trip organized by township staff a few years ago to look at possible surplus lands (in late fall, post-leaves) and she had thought it looked just like "scrub bush"; then, this summer, she actually came down and walked the trail across the top of the woods "one end to the other," she said, "many times." And she was struck by what she called the "magic" of our woods and finally understood what our fight was all about.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The low point:</span> Being lectured on how democracy and balanced planning operate by township staff -- as though we don't already KNOW these things as we have chosen to actively participate in the democratic process, providing that public input governments seem to always be so desperate for.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Some interesting points:</span><br />Sandra Shantz's observation that, if we save and re-zone ALL of the Victoria Glen Park woodlands, that would be roughly equal in acreage to Southwoods Park on the south edge of town; Gibson Park in the centre of town; and would provide an equivalent access to wooded park for people living on the north edge of town.<br /><br />Murray Martin's observation that an undisclosed number of unidentified people at an unidentified "function" have indicated that the minority "special interest" group such as the hundreds of people present at the meeting (and the thousands who have signed petitions) need to bow to the majority wishes, and that they support this development.<br /><br />The detail that, once Parcel 1 (north of the top trail) is taken out of the equation, the net profit to the township would be in the neighbourhood of $386,000 rather than the $1.4-1.9 million that had been estimated as profit for the whole project. (The profit for the remaining parcels would be so much lower because it would still COST @$1.4 million to develop that section).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The strange point - was it a low point or just a very confusing plateau?:</span> Trying to make sense of the "compromise" motion on the floor that proposed that the complete staff recommendations go ahead with the exception of excluding Parcel 1 from the process (this would still involve a lot of costly staff and consultant work). The confusion came with Mark Bauman's contention, as maker of the motion, that all he really wanted was township staff to spend "a little time" working on the negotiations with the Region to purchase the parcel next to Parcel 2, which is the only way any development would be practical.<br /><br />The motion passed: the three (male) non-Elmira councillors voted for it; the two (female) Elmira councillors voted against it, being very clear that they supported preserving ALL of the "subject lands".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The last points:</span><br />Mayor Strauss charged township staff with bringing back as much of the information that Councillor Bauman requested as they could to the November 10th meeting, next week, where the decision would be ratified.<br /><br />It is clear, so far at least, that the intention of the whole council at this point is to initiate the process to re-zone the Victoria Glen Park woods NORTH of the top trail as parkland.<br /><br />We left in a strange mix of euphoria at having saved half the woods, confusion over what was really happening with the compromise motion that was put forth, and determination to use this week to somehow ensure that next week's final vote, instead, begins the process to re-zone ALL of Victoria Glen Park as permanent parkland, accessible to all the public as that "magical" natural space we so treasure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The next point:</span> Next week's Tuesday meeting (November 10 at 7 pm) will include a final vote to ratify the compromise motion passed this evening. Or not. Delegations (speakers) are once again welcome (register by Thursday afternoon if you can) and we encourage EVERYONE to come out once again and bring our presence to bear on the decision-making process.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Thanks:</span> to everyone who came out to the meeting, wrote and phoned and emailed the township councillors, spread the news of what was happening, spoke at the meeting last night, spoke to the media, etc., etc., etc. You are legion!<br /><br />(And 1300 petition signatures + 900 people joining the Facebook protest group = at least 2000 people, 20% of Elmira's current population! A pretty good-sized sample of what very likely would turn out to be a majority if this were to be brought to a referendum!)<br /><br />[Special thanks to Laurie Jonkman for our wonderful new logo, above right, and for providing stickers of that logo to all the supporters of Victoria Glen Park at last night's council meeting.]Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-40859248735547934602009-11-02T12:20:00.000-08:002009-11-02T12:30:42.491-08:00Tomorrow's the day: Spread the word and be there!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fauLfhygP95ZOyz-YHCiF4jY6v99KLHlYqBc0xOk8ZtFkuE4wc7IDPRTeWMUK6VJPAZBNdC8z3kZdahgBKqoKdiV5H8F2ZRlQ9mfcUmwe79AGJ2c-6A2tWYB_rru9RXkQ3QbuGOoYPw/s1600-h/help.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fauLfhygP95ZOyz-YHCiF4jY6v99KLHlYqBc0xOk8ZtFkuE4wc7IDPRTeWMUK6VJPAZBNdC8z3kZdahgBKqoKdiV5H8F2ZRlQ9mfcUmwe79AGJ2c-6A2tWYB_rru9RXkQ3QbuGOoYPw/s320/help.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399606394442235874" border="0" /></a><br />The <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">council meeting </span>to consider the staff recommendation to "surplus" 62% of the Victoria Glen Park forest for residential development is tomorrow, Tuesday, <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">November 3rd at 6 pm</span> in the township hall on Church Street in Elmira.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">talk</span> to all your neighbours and friends and children. Tell them about the proposal and urge them to come to the council meeting.</li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">read</span> the report (link is over to the right on this page) so you know how weak and how greedy this proposal is</li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">come</span> to the meeting - the more people we have there showing that there is HUGE outrage about this issue, the better</li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">contact</span> the Woolwich mayor and councillors and let them know your opposition to development (there's a link, in the right column, to their contact emails and phone numbers)</li></ul>(By the way, the Facebook group, "<span style="font-size:100%;">THEY'RE TEARING DOWN ELMIRA'S FOREST ANYWAY! STOP THEM!!," now has 705 members.)<br /><br />Remember: the meeting is at 6 this Tuesday!<br /><br /></span><div class="profile_name_and_status"><span class="profile_icon"><img class="spritemap_icons sx_icons_group" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/z12E0/hash/8q2anwu7.gif" alt="" /></span></div>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-22645170991962086942009-10-31T13:50:00.000-07:002009-10-31T15:20:34.822-07:00Kids get right to the point: 533+ Facebook page members<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbtqbRur2h1vhGowBqeCgA8uE5OIbGv-Y7cZoXm-bS9PkobVbgqSUGAJU01fk82XVFcnaMCOwhdT61RPG4PAJdlV2Oxsl4EJibg3HSXPBb1ctm8-sDPAgc4xlKLmx1NfVq2UyxuVWX3g/s1600-h/100_2331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbtqbRur2h1vhGowBqeCgA8uE5OIbGv-Y7cZoXm-bS9PkobVbgqSUGAJU01fk82XVFcnaMCOwhdT61RPG4PAJdlV2Oxsl4EJibg3HSXPBb1ctm8-sDPAgc4xlKLmx1NfVq2UyxuVWX3g/s200/100_2331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398892462381889490" border="0" /></a>Well, last June, when all this absurdity finally became public, I put together a Facebook page called "Save Elmira's Victoria Glen Park" the same time I started this blog. There are 54 members of that group, with some polite reminiscences by people who had grown up nearby.<br /><br />I guess I'm old and not near forceful enough: one of the high school students who lives on the east side of the Victoria Glen Park forest started another Facebook page this week, this one called "THEY'RE TEARING DOWN ELMIRA'S FOREST ANYWAY! STOP THEM!!"<br /><br />He's already got 533 members and has had a pretty passionate online discussion going since last Tuesday - with lots of posts expressing young people's appreciation and valuing of the woods.<br /><br />Go visit if you can!<br />Sounds like more than a few of them plan to come to the meeting too.<br />Good!<br /><br />(Sample discussion posts:<br /><br />"<span class="UIStory_Message">that land is full of animals and walking trails. in the swinter you can skate on the creek. you can take a friend on date to the big white rock or watch the fish eat bugs. please dont take this from us."<br /></span><span class="UIIntentionalStory_Names" ft="{"type":"name"}"></span><span class="UIStory_Message"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />"</span>I talk to these guys and they're most courteous about listening. The trees, that is, not the people tearing them down.</span>"<span class="UIStory_Message"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />"</span>Nooo not the forest too many memories")</span>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-89268908970303865952009-10-31T11:13:00.000-07:002009-10-31T11:21:01.573-07:00New sets of photographs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1V1MX9XomY_69zTpR6E3y9XWUsU4ArGCwjANkIYbISUpxW076DjGk4rBL_4f6yM3pPGs10fBu-7gMio8Gc9LsSzcn1CTtnecUY-pktgDRUBrKcUvrV1FjG2LNfVj43eJ0wlVaDCbh_E/s1600-h/0803.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1V1MX9XomY_69zTpR6E3y9XWUsU4ArGCwjANkIYbISUpxW076DjGk4rBL_4f6yM3pPGs10fBu-7gMio8Gc9LsSzcn1CTtnecUY-pktgDRUBrKcUvrV1FjG2LNfVj43eJ0wlVaDCbh_E/s200/0803.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398830483888853682" border="0" /></a>I just added links (over in the right margin - scroll down to the "Links" section) to three new sets of photographs. The October photos I took this past week, walking through the woods. The September picnic ones are by Laurie Jonkman, and the July "It's not easy being green" blog entry, full of photographs, is from the "In the Wind" blog by Laurel Russwurm.<br /><br />I thought those of you who know the woods would enjoy these and appreciate the reminder of what we're fighting for. And those visitors, just stopping by to check us out, can see that this isn't just a bit of fairly new plantation woods, but a precious natural space loved by many.<br /><br />(The photo at the top of this post is from Laurie's photos from the September picnic. It really is too bad none of the township councillors who were invited to join us could attend - it was a beautiful day in the woods.)Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-45694318374599964152009-10-30T14:33:00.000-07:002009-10-30T14:57:44.459-07:00Elmira Newspapers: "it is our hope that Woolwich councillors will do what is right, not what can be justified"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbGhHV3DbdLXnLzjyUhotgowGwlOFi1Z6Y9FCkkIZEnEsKXk2PXzZtSHd1FEaRuVjZCBvlyGfYw_krPwdsGw8eSDjQ7tSGVgHd3LzhRlMsNmyeHTak7OBdDw8KqtJk7PnryyEL4Gilig/s1600-h/comic4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbGhHV3DbdLXnLzjyUhotgowGwlOFi1Z6Y9FCkkIZEnEsKXk2PXzZtSHd1FEaRuVjZCBvlyGfYw_krPwdsGw8eSDjQ7tSGVgHd3LzhRlMsNmyeHTak7OBdDw8KqtJk7PnryyEL4Gilig/s200/comic4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398514287198185618" border="0" /></a>Both Elmira newspapers -- the Elmira <span style="font-style: italic;">Independent </span>and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Woolwich Observer</span> -- feature both news stories and editorials relating to the fight over the fate of Victoria Glen Park and the upcoming Tuesday council meeting (at 6 at the Woolwich Township Hall).<br /><br />The stories are clear on the issues and on the passion of Elmira and area citizens on the unacceptability of developing one of the few remaining pieces of real natural space in the town of Elmira.<br /><br />The editorials, while giving a nod to the difficult position staff was in preparing the report, recognize that council can still act in wisdom and on the wishes of the citizens they were elected to represent and decline the recommendations for development.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Independent</span> editor writes that, if they do decide to reject development, it's true they'll have to find another way to pay for the capital expenditures, "Yet, that seems like a small price to pay in exchange for keeping something that cannot ever be replaced, once it is gone."<br /><br />And the <span style="font-style: italic;">Observer</span> observes that "If councillors are tuned in to the public sentiment, the proposal is dead in the water, but governments aren’t always responsive to community demands."<br /><br />Here are the links:<br /><a href="http://www.elmiraindependent.com//news.php?id=1871">"Staff report supports development of park"</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Independent</span> news story)<br /><a href="http://www.elmiraindependent.com//news.php?id=1864">"Victoria Glen Park must be preserved"</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Independent</span> editorial)<br /><a href="http://observerxtra.com/2/news/showdown-looms-over-victoria-glen-development-plan/">"Showdown looms over Victoria Glen development plan" </a>(<span style="font-style: italic;">Observer</span> news story)<br /><a href="http://observerxtra.com/2/opinion/park-debate-shape-of-things-to-come/">"Park debate shape of things to come"</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Observer</span> editorial)<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Observer</span> cartoon, <a href="http://observerxtra.com/2/category/the-view-from-here/">"The View From Here"</a>, reproduced above, has the caption<span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The ax-or-tax dilemma: Victoria Glen supporters face $1.5-million “treat: or a level-the-park “trick.”" </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Note the lumberjack's nametag - and his "Tricks for you, treats for me" balloon. Sounds about right to me.</span><br /></strong>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-60548655204177636182009-10-28T14:48:00.000-07:002009-10-28T14:49:21.731-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNlz18IyT8A7uUY5t2UQMy9L_7LgXHmKLzK7yuAkxHmFP1k48kputQD2bdh7abbO6TiBNDb-eFamu02nb_Y3IjTVCVuspLS2ZWXP46In2HzwWRu8FdjcU_cWcb9JLmcUqXO-Tl7sfk8g/s1600-h/Victoria+Glen+Urgent.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNlz18IyT8A7uUY5t2UQMy9L_7LgXHmKLzK7yuAkxHmFP1k48kputQD2bdh7abbO6TiBNDb-eFamu02nb_Y3IjTVCVuspLS2ZWXP46In2HzwWRu8FdjcU_cWcb9JLmcUqXO-Tl7sfk8g/s200/Victoria+Glen+Urgent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397771252453514386" border="0" /></a>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-80794583716903665822009-10-28T14:37:00.000-07:002009-10-28T14:45:30.215-07:00Decisions on Victoria Glen Park due at BOTH council meetings: BE THEREI received an email today from Laurel Davies-Snyder, Woolwich Township Economic Development & Tourism Officer and author of the report recommending development in the Victoria Glen Park woods.<br /><br />She clarified that there would actually be decisions made BOTH on November 3rd and November 10th:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >"I was reviewing the Victoria Glen blog and noticed that it states that only discussion will take place on November 3rd, and the vote will take place on November 10th. This is not accurate and I wanted to make sure that you had the correct information prior to the November 3rd, 2009 meeting, as follows:<br />* At this point there may be votes on November 3rd, 2009 (Committee of the Whole voting on the recommendations to bring the decisions forward to Council) AND on November 10th, 2009 (Council voting on Committee of the Whole recommendations)."</span><br /><br />This is important to know -- as well as the fact that the public is welcome to both meetings (and, in each case, delegations must register by the Thursday before the meeting - which is tomorrow -- the 29th of October -- for the first meeting).<br /><br />We need to see you there to bring a very, very clear response to the report that is being presented to Council: there is not enough fact or moral rationale presented to justify destroying any of that woods for development when hundreds and hundreds of residential lots have already been approved just west of town.<br /><br />And paying for the already-built hockey rink by destroying just as valuable a resource for "healthy community" living -- another supposed township "priority" -- is NOT representing the "spirit of hockeyville" the council endorsed last year.Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-153986870170905802009-10-23T14:49:00.000-07:002009-10-23T14:56:35.494-07:00Read the township report! (available in many formats)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Xdzj5A2fYOtNQwkZh48PG5CEd_nEylLyAowzH4Vd1q3o-NJ7tWLPEO_BCCiIce7k1UYZpAYtC6EGEmzpfuEzjPtkhcrjwu_-BJ4njL6N94yd_L4g-pwvOeyyReWSjK8KwUWFlPmL_qU/s1600-h/suntree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Xdzj5A2fYOtNQwkZh48PG5CEd_nEylLyAowzH4Vd1q3o-NJ7tWLPEO_BCCiIce7k1UYZpAYtC6EGEmzpfuEzjPtkhcrjwu_-BJ4njL6N94yd_L4g-pwvOeyyReWSjK8KwUWFlPmL_qU/s200/suntree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395917688590929778" border="0" /></a><br />Woolwich Township staff released their report today, recommending that nearly 3 acres of the most accessible and most used section of Victoria Glen Park be surplussed and sold for residential development.<br /><br />The report is available from the Township office in print, as a <a href="http://www.woolwich.ca/en/newsevents/resources/A6-2009-VictoriaGlen.pdf">pdf copy</a> on the township website, and now, one of our loyal Friends of the Park has posted the <a href="http://victoriaglenparkphotos.wordpress.com/">text</a> online (in case you have trouble with the pdf file) on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/victoriaglenparkphotos.wordpress.com">victoriaglenparkphotos.wordpress.com</a> (she also has photographs from our September picnic posted at the end of the page, as well).<br /><br />Make sure everyone you know has access to a copy, reads it, and lets the Township know this just isn't acceptable!Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-10047189871399921742009-10-23T08:14:00.000-07:002009-10-23T08:26:50.435-07:00Here it is: report recommends development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAV-ASojJiJpOBufr3NGACCob1X5cNhQkOLLczOPVDK79LmuGc_OoWHWazBCidzNB3M8ViRlUDG3Od_wYierhyE8NyeeyVd8y10v67_fReoN8vvZ56sgYpR0VFbJGdRioBRSKpiJ-RtU/s1600-h/0925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAV-ASojJiJpOBufr3NGACCob1X5cNhQkOLLczOPVDK79LmuGc_OoWHWazBCidzNB3M8ViRlUDG3Od_wYierhyE8NyeeyVd8y10v67_fReoN8vvZ56sgYpR0VFbJGdRioBRSKpiJ-RtU/s200/0925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395817235634990194" border="0" /></a>At 9:13 a.m., the email from Woolwich Township's Economic Development & Tourism Officer, Laurel Davies-Snyder, came through with the staff report on surplussing Victoria Glen Park attached.<br /><br />Here's the report in pdf format: <a href="http://www.woolwich.ca/en/newsevents/resources/A6-2009-VictoriaGlen.pdf">http://www.woolwich.ca/en/newsevents/resources/A6-2009-VictoriaGlen.pdf</a><br />Here's the link to the Township page, with the meeting announcements and other links:<br /><a href="http://www.woolwich.ca/en/newsevents/public_notices.asp">http://www.woolwich.ca/en/newsevents/public_notices.asp</a><br /><br />In my naive optimism, I had thought they were listening to the community. In fact, the report recommends what they call "balanced development" - which looks like it means they're going to put big houses on both sides of the trail at the top of the woods and leave the rest. (the rest?)<br /><br />I urge everyone to read the whole report, contact the Township Council with your reactions (the link to the right has their email addresses and telephone numbers, as well as the town hall address to which you can send letters.) and get ready to work together to stop this.<br /><br />Also consider writing to the local newspapers -- the <span style="font-style: italic;">Elmira Independent, </span>the <span style="font-style: italic;">Woolwich Observer</span>, even the <span style="font-style: italic;">Record.</span> Next weekend's papers would be the only local ones before the meeting, so letters should be in by midweek.<br /><br />Note on the procedure:<br />They will be considering this report at the November 3rd council meeting (starts at 6 pm), but won't be voting until the next week, on November 10th (that meeting starts at 7 pm).<br /><br />PLEASE attend both meetings.<br />And if you want to speak, remember to register by the Thursday before the meeting.<br /><br />More later.Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-13472505549042354822009-10-20T06:23:00.000-07:002009-10-20T06:40:33.292-07:00Alert: Report & Meeting Coming<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhb_VMNpREwshRRBk1YnsnaAm9ubcFTfa2KhUCg6VyZIo3My3Si_JhwTn_jYLL5e9S8rYauWJ-_JvFww9KRuY9TS6H7DEsXLblvELZ_eVCHACIbp0GBJbo7tit2_gZ0f2T3lUOsptlg5Q/s1600-h/0925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhb_VMNpREwshRRBk1YnsnaAm9ubcFTfa2KhUCg6VyZIo3My3Si_JhwTn_jYLL5e9S8rYauWJ-_JvFww9KRuY9TS6H7DEsXLblvELZ_eVCHACIbp0GBJbo7tit2_gZ0f2T3lUOsptlg5Q/s200/0925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394675233481540082" border="0" /></a>I got two emails yesterday from Laurel Davies-Snyder, the Township Economic Development & Tourism Officer (in the CAO's office) who's in charge of the Victoria Glen surplus project.<br /><br /><br />#1, concerning the staff report on the surplussing of Victoria Glen Park:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The Staff Report will be complete late this week and will be posted on the Township's website as soon as it is ready. In addition, I will send it to you in a PDF format. There will also be copies of the report at the Township Administration Building."</span><br /><br />As soon as it's available, we need to spread the word to people without email to go pick up a copy. If you have email and haven't heard from her, email her at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/ldaviessnyder@woolwich.ca">ldaviessnyder@woolwich.ca</a> to request a pdf copy of the report when it comes out. I'll make sure and post the report and/or a link to the township webpage when it's available.<br /><br />#2, I emailed her last evening about details for the Council meeting to discuss the report, and received this reply this morning:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The meeting is on November 3rd, 6pm. Council will be considering Township Staff's recommendations and will vote. Yes, there are opportunities to speak as a delegation."</span><br /><br />So: we need to make sure we pack that hall like we did last time, and everyone who wants to say something, be sure to register with the township to speak (from the township website: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Your request to appear as a delegation at any Committee or Council Meeting should be received by the Clerk </span><strong style="font-style: italic;">by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the meeting</strong><span style="font-style: italic;"> [that would be Thursday, October 29th] so that you may be listed on the agenda. To register as a delegation call 519-669-1647 Extension 6009 or 6005."</span> Each individual speaker is considered a "delegation".)Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-73813469055414488702009-10-16T11:44:00.000-07:002009-10-16T11:50:27.878-07:00Our moral responsibility: to protect natural spaces<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sw51xIfgPUO7gYcYI-Ev7Avhnx2R9_-CMY7aVv7TmSY9QyzS5zisuh0ppFrPk6f-BSxqrm29iSd0YvtFSVrYHlAo62rFxDOpauRrmrm608olo65IbjZpt9zS2iAsygbQ3CESrO1i67E/s1600-h/cardinal+observer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sw51xIfgPUO7gYcYI-Ev7Avhnx2R9_-CMY7aVv7TmSY9QyzS5zisuh0ppFrPk6f-BSxqrm29iSd0YvtFSVrYHlAo62rFxDOpauRrmrm608olo65IbjZpt9zS2iAsygbQ3CESrO1i67E/s200/cardinal+observer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393271674177814594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This email came from a concerned Elmira friend - one with much experience (and advanced degrees) in environmental matters:<br /><br />"This is not just 'greenspace' we are trying to save but an even rarer bird 'natural space', and there is not much left of it around here. Along with freshwater, it is our societal/moral responsibility to protect these spaces. Surplus greenspace is an oxymoron; surplussing natural space is just moronic!"<br /><br />An important factual point.<br />A pointed observation!Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-38362992507963006582009-10-13T14:36:00.000-07:002009-10-13T15:31:38.444-07:00Report Due at November 3 Council Meeting: Scary procedures in place<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ECv0kUiXrUjGhv8NiYRAOrC-fgJVh5jFujKAxnTIylcVrF_lFiIOqtlKA_R3NE2ln_EC6BOWNYBswdMqBd9aL9hNJrP7N3-BH4g1RZ6Wx0QdePf8zUQzav4TjnZz7mVJlljkr-eKx2I/s1600-h/0835.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ECv0kUiXrUjGhv8NiYRAOrC-fgJVh5jFujKAxnTIylcVrF_lFiIOqtlKA_R3NE2ln_EC6BOWNYBswdMqBd9aL9hNJrP7N3-BH4g1RZ6Wx0QdePf8zUQzav4TjnZz7mVJlljkr-eKx2I/s200/0835.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392206198155509218" border="0" /></a>OK, so we finally have a date for the <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">council meeting</span> at which the Report on surplussing Victoria Glen Park for development will be considered: <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">November 3</span>.<br /><br />Concerned neighbours have been pushing township staff to let us know both details about the meeting and about when the report itself will be available. Here is some of that information, from one of the very involved Victoria Glen Park neighbours:<br /><br />"At this point we have now been told that the report will NOT be mailed out. We have to pick it up. It is 30 pages long. It looks like they have contacted various groups (i.e., GRCA, etc.) to get their input. It should be ready the Tuesday before. <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">[that would be October 27th - two weeks from today]</span><br /><br />I certainly hope that the township office will follow through by advertising this in the local papers or phoning all who requested it. Perhaps if you were one who wanted the report, it would not hurt to start bugging Laurel Davies-Snyder about how you are going to get it!<br /><br />Here is the cruncher...Apparently <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">if we do have the meeting on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nov. 3</span> it is</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">OUR LAST CHANCE TO TALK</span>.</span> Unless deferred, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">they will vote that night</span>. (At least this is what Laurel says.) Sometimes I get several versions of how the council process is supposed depending on who I talk to up there. I might email councillors to see how they think it is supposed to go.<br /><br />This means we have one week from when we get the report to deciding what we are going to say. I just wanted to update you all so you can start thinking about our next strategies.<br /><br />I would like to still think that despite the fact that it might look good (worst case) as a development on paper, the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">PEOPLE OF ELMIRA HAVE</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">SAID NO!</span> It worked for Kitchener!!!<br />Trees forever folks!!!"<br /><br />I'll keep people updated: in the meantime, do get in contact with your township councillors (contact information is available in the links in the right-hand column) and with Laurel Davies-Snyder, the township's Economic Development & Tourism Officer, at 519-669-1647, extension 6020 or 519-669-2030.<br /><br />The difficulty in getting the report and the possible finality of a decision only a week after it's made public are just plain frightening. (Interesting detail, looking at the Council meeting calendar on the website: this is NOT one of their televised council meetings...)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">What else can we do to ensure that Victoria Glen Park is re-zoned park/greenspace forever?</span>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-22022901399657719712009-10-02T13:16:00.000-07:002009-10-02T13:26:32.323-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB8OkyPKwg-d9Z7bLSCLGoYQ1T884gPDwinYa5QIv_fr9SecIKJtcyi_FE-cRdJcs4mcccnPMSI3AfOPvVHRBCaqTv_UzQUVx8D3mfpCjugGfbES-nu3HQMN8wdHZOhhjgLJgeLslJ-c/s1600-h/0835.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB8OkyPKwg-d9Z7bLSCLGoYQ1T884gPDwinYa5QIv_fr9SecIKJtcyi_FE-cRdJcs4mcccnPMSI3AfOPvVHRBCaqTv_UzQUVx8D3mfpCjugGfbES-nu3HQMN8wdHZOhhjgLJgeLslJ-c/s200/0835.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388101466856200850" border="0" /></a>Earlier this week, I noticed that one of the agenda item's for the recent Woolwich council meeting was to approve borrowing $3.72 million to pay for the outstanding balance on the new community centre and the townhall renovations. A little voice in my head whispered, "hooray," hoping this meant the Township had decided to look elsewhere than the destruction of our woods for the funds it needed.<br /><br />Well, not quite. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Observer</span> reports that, while they did approve this debenture through the Region,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"There is, however, one remaining issue: the township is depending on $1.6 million from the sale of surplus properties as part of the financing package. The larger assets include the old township halls and the former Elmira pool property, but most contentious is a plan to sell part of Victoria Glen Park as a site for residential development in Elmira’s north end. In the wake of strong public opposition, the township is now looking at alternatives for replacing funds expected from that development. A report is due later this month."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span>So, we still have to convince the Township councillors that cutting down those trees for development, and thereby rendering the rest of the woods virtually inaccessible for use by the public, is not acceptable. They have to know that there are huge community, environmental, economic, aesthetic, heritage reasons to re-zone the woods as permanent parkland - and not to sacrifice it for their building projects after the fact.<br /><br />(Township Council contact information is available in the links on the right.)<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span>Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-14589968077916440382009-09-21T07:37:00.000-07:002009-09-21T10:57:43.419-07:00Sunday's picnic in the park: on the newsI'll have a fuller report later, but CKCO had a reporter and camera at the Victoria Glen Park Picnic yesterday.<br /><br />The video is available on their website: <a href="http://www.southwesternontario.ctv.ca/news.php?id=5751">"Elmira residents concerned over future of their parkland"</a><br /><br />Now, isn't that an incredibly beautiful woods?Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-642593892423610702009-09-14T19:18:00.000-07:002009-09-14T19:29:57.092-07:00Picnic in the Park: You're invited!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoygFaZPLNbkfwcjhISw9tznNkLkur4bW8OL-b9mnAeE0lfiFCYNuFqMR6F6c_umjLM-EluE8N-9qN-XUWcnvSIS7CJEPEFN-Ug7ZuCEdWMZsfY-Na35GM5VlOMhKAOSEYqxf2bsj6VM/s1600-h/100_1850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoygFaZPLNbkfwcjhISw9tznNkLkur4bW8OL-b9mnAeE0lfiFCYNuFqMR6F6c_umjLM-EluE8N-9qN-XUWcnvSIS7CJEPEFN-Ug7ZuCEdWMZsfY-Na35GM5VlOMhKAOSEYqxf2bsj6VM/s200/100_1850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381514769945012898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >You're invited to join us<br />for a Picnic in<br />Victoria Glen Park<br />on Sunday,<br />September 20th,<br />from 2-4 pm.<br /></span><br /><br />Learn about Victoria Glen:<br /><ul><li>Hear stories about Victoria Glen's past</li><li>Explore the forest and see the wildlife</li><li>For the nature walk, you may want to bring binoculars or a camera and a water bottle</li></ul>Bring your own litterless lunch:<br /><ul><li>What we bring we take out again</li><li>It makes sense to bring our picnic snacks in reusable containers</li><li>You might bring either a folding chair or a blanket</li></ul>Help clean up the forest:<br /><ul><li>Enjoy nature while collecting litter</li><li>Participants in the forest clean up should consider wearing sturdy shoes and work gloves.</li></ul>Everyone is welcome!<br />Hosted by the friends of Victoria Glen ParkFriend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-76838357998709314922009-09-08T18:10:00.000-07:002009-09-10T10:51:03.622-07:00Woolwich Healthy Communities: Work Group & Guiding Principles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgjWibEajo7FP3poA9qJk1o9Za_EB1TvD9DunOU6wT3QwnWGOyKsb3czKs_KlM98buiIwRVsd40G4e7EiDwGDq9VW0Y6tnxoeIveHsHws9TM3dUmESq7muk9nRSkSOk93LlFlSdqB9xw/s1600-h/100_1909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgjWibEajo7FP3poA9qJk1o9Za_EB1TvD9DunOU6wT3QwnWGOyKsb3czKs_KlM98buiIwRVsd40G4e7EiDwGDq9VW0Y6tnxoeIveHsHws9TM3dUmESq7muk9nRSkSOk93LlFlSdqB9xw/s200/100_1909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379272548080108402" border="0" /></a>I was googling around the internet this evening, looking for information on how citizens can initiate re-zoning of public lands (so far, no luck). I did, however, run across these interesting bits on the Woolwich Healthy Communities website:<br /><br />1) On the Woolwich Trails working group site, the "Volunteer Work Parties" schedule included "Work Party at Victoria Glen Park, Elmira; Saturday, October 16." Not sure what this means in the great scheme of things, but there is contact information listed at www.healthywoolwich.org/trails_group.htm<br /><br />2) Looking around the Healthy Communities site even more, I found a list of "Guiding Principles" that have been developed for the healthy community initiative. There was a link on that page to a chart that included those principles to be used by community groups making "large decisions" (gee, is the township council a community group?). It was tempting to limit my attention to the "Improvement of the Environment" principle -- but looking closer, preserving the Victoria Glen Park woods would mean positive marks in ALL 9 principles.<br /><br />Maybe this chart is something we can use -- take a look at www.healthywoolwich.org/principles.htm<br /><br />Everywhere I look -- in our township and region official plans, at initiatives by great numbers of community leaders, at our local history -- developing even part of this woods makes absolutely no sense at all!Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-57187840380991321312009-09-07T15:17:00.000-07:002009-09-07T15:29:13.574-07:00Neighbourhood Strategy Meeting: You're invited!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmWmAvBqb8rmtwbYz7GAcndW5MeJTDiDgBApxV6K7853vA-SZblwyfgkWszItRLCX2X4ZhOF9bpUcFp5RueyM1dVOA95ZA9yRcmible7XfnaGNuuM354zpQIO_-WPcGIKf9LM0LIYzWY/s1600-h/100_1907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmWmAvBqb8rmtwbYz7GAcndW5MeJTDiDgBApxV6K7853vA-SZblwyfgkWszItRLCX2X4ZhOF9bpUcFp5RueyM1dVOA95ZA9yRcmible7XfnaGNuuM354zpQIO_-WPcGIKf9LM0LIYzWY/s200/100_1907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378856115196915186" border="0" /></a>The neighbours and friends of Victoria Glen Park will be getting together again this Wednesday, September 9th, at 7:30, at Trinity United Church.<br /><br />We have two very basic agenda items:<br />1) We need to plan a strategy for what to do if the Township decides to go ahead with their plan to surplus the forest to pay for the township hall renovations and the new arena.<br /><br />2) We need to figure out how we can, as a public group, put in a formal request that the park be rezoned.<br /><br />Anyone who is interested in helping to keep the effort to preserve Victoria Glen Park as parkland is welcome! Please pass to word to others.<br /><br />We don't have a firm date yet for when the township staff report will be presented to council -- sometime in late September or early October is the closest suggestion. Anyone at the public meeting last spring who signed in is supposed to get a copy of the report ahead of time. In any event, we're keeping in contact with the township as much as we can and will let people know as soon as we know when the report will be submitted and when the next council meeting that will deal with this is scheduled.<br /><br />It's been a lovely summer in the woods -- more birds than I ever remember! (and all of them waking up before 5 a.m., of course, in full song.)Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-89181960057407337022009-09-07T10:11:00.000-07:002009-09-07T10:27:47.293-07:00Another Letter to the Independent Editor - from a 5th grader<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXkPhyM1w339p1lpGhnAb3zOXdfvvU9pytDgl9ryqgDzVnZ7w_H3PcHVNsy2vA-1BlIh9Otp4xlY6nPW670BNGJkk04uw634UmZLmBbi4qtcIcs9Tv4c_IZP2Ije6m6dvIzjXlC0KomI/s1600-h/100_1905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXkPhyM1w339p1lpGhnAb3zOXdfvvU9pytDgl9ryqgDzVnZ7w_H3PcHVNsy2vA-1BlIh9Otp4xlY6nPW670BNGJkk04uw634UmZLmBbi4qtcIcs9Tv4c_IZP2Ije6m6dvIzjXlC0KomI/s200/100_1905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378777365248179362" border="0" /></a><br />In this weekend's <span style="font-style: italic;">Elmira Independent </span><span>(September 4)</span>, there was a letter to the editor on page 7 titled "Save the Park." Since the <span style="font-style: italic;">Independent</span> doesn't include letters to the editor on its webpage, I'm including the text here:<br /><br />"TO THE EDITOR:<br />"I am writing you as a Grade 5 student from Riverside Public School, on behalf of preserving Victoria Glen Park. Victoria Glen Park is worth saving. If you think about it there is not any other place like it. It's a perfect mixture between country and a town. That is what we want, isn't it?<br />"Victoria Glen Park is a great learning facility for all ages. Animals have learned to have that as their home. If you take it down now where are they going to go? The dumpster? If you cut down the trees think of all the loss of old growth. Plus what is going to happen to the stunning creek that runs through the park? It's going to get polluted.<br />"Not only will you be affecting wild life in this forest but it will travel. Think of all the hearts you will be breaking. And think of all the animals' lives you will be saving. Is it worth it?<br />"We have lots of other subdivisions that can be used. Why are you taking away the most beautiful and lively spot for more houses? We need that more than ever. If they want a house in Elmira they can accept what we have.<br />"SAVE VICTORIA GLEN!"<br />Jessica Bouwman.Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-86745892334299816572009-08-14T18:58:00.000-07:002009-08-14T19:14:36.185-07:00Observer cartoon hits home - again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzj0ytwPlVB7C6ENX50EJ90IQi7KyRkcK6L8NR9XxSaaXBFrS1UQNuDN00lpRQhbneK3gfwWsmnLvRKNaLau6V7tlofE53GlYbjcz4sKKas7pcUfnPysJoPqyAvkqrWEV9mLrCamBlpw/s1600-h/viewfromhere+aug13"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzj0ytwPlVB7C6ENX50EJ90IQi7KyRkcK6L8NR9XxSaaXBFrS1UQNuDN00lpRQhbneK3gfwWsmnLvRKNaLau6V7tlofE53GlYbjcz4sKKas7pcUfnPysJoPqyAvkqrWEV9mLrCamBlpw/s200/viewfromhere+aug13" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370008107064431826" border="0" /></a>A reader pointed out that this week's "<a href="http://observerxtra.com/2/category/the-view-from-here/">The View From Here</a>" cartoon in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Woolwich Observer</span> (dated August 13th) deals rather chillingly with the as-yet unresolved fate of Victoria Glen Park woods. (In response to this week's thunder and wind storm that took down many branches and several mature trees, the cartoon shows Mayor Strauss -- saying "There, we're all safer now" -- and his crew clear-cutting the woods with the caption "<strong>After fallen trees cause damage, the township calls them a potential menace, furthering development in Victoria Glen."</strong><br /><br />I remember, when we lived for a few years in the middle of the prairie in Alberta, being amazed at how my view of the natural world was sometimes light-years apart from people in the town: one of our neighbours cut down a lovely tree on her lot because it was "too messy - every fall all those leaves drop all over".<br /><br />I think we're going to need to keep a close eye on this issue and not take for granted that the Powers that Be have the same sensibility we do when it comes to valuing the woods for all the reasons outlined at the public meeting. However -- they <span style="font-weight: bold;">are</span> our elected representatives and they need to know that many, many hundreds of people want that woods preserved. Period.Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513314455509761611.post-73206276794008037842009-08-14T07:10:00.001-07:002009-08-14T07:19:50.454-07:00minutes from that meeting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCCessre9_mURh9F0B2H0y6clN2Mpy8nhN5kQmbOpbHVySGRXfnwAQbwOB9_LdSBTkTjk9hgEYXChU-PnuqPaa1b9c3Z5dhHgf1XzJAtacFDY4t86Xt07clymf1a2gCI1ET7jvh-YQGE/s1600-h/victoria+glen+poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCCessre9_mURh9F0B2H0y6clN2Mpy8nhN5kQmbOpbHVySGRXfnwAQbwOB9_LdSBTkTjk9hgEYXChU-PnuqPaa1b9c3Z5dhHgf1XzJAtacFDY4t86Xt07clymf1a2gCI1ET7jvh-YQGE/s200/victoria+glen+poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369823690420670082" border="0" /></a>I was checking on the Township of Woolwich website to see if there was any new information about when the report on Victoria Glen Park might be available and which council meeting it would be dealt with. (I've been told late September or early October -- will keep you posted!)<br /><br />While I poke around the site, I did find the <a href="http://www.woolwich.ca/en/council/resources/HUMMINGBIRD-31826-v1-Committee_of_the_Whole_Minutes_-_2009_-_June_23.pdf">minutes from the June 23rd public meeting</a> on the parkland. Take a look and see if you think it reflects the depth and intensity of the presentations.<br /><br />It's been a fine summer next to the woods. Neighbours report that more people than ever are making there way down here to walk the paths -- many who hadn't really known it was there until the publicity this spring and many who have realized "you don't know what you've got until it's [almost!] gone".<br /><br />Let's keep up our vigilance and make sure that this woods is one that won't go anywhere!<br />(The poster, above, was on the bulletin board at Foodland most of the summer.)Friend of Victoria Glen Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16466732514429836675noreply@blogger.com1