Dundas and Kingston Road Parkette Design Released

May 8, 2013 4:16 pmEdward BirnbaumLeave a Comment

As a result of the work planned on Kingston Road this summer, a new parkette at the corner of Kingston Road and Dundas will be constructed. The corner will be redesigned to be safer for pedestrians, driver and cyclists and new seating and green space will be installed. A public meeting was held last fall with local residents, the Councillor and planning staff.

Please let us know what you think!

Below are the conceptual drawings for the newly designed corner.

Posted in Beautification, Construction, Parks, Planning, Public Works, Transit, Roads & Public Works

Unveiling of the New Stephenson Park Plan on April 2

March 25, 2013 3:58 pmEdward BirnbaumLeave a Comment

Join Friends of Stephenson Park and Councillor McMahon for a meeting on April 2 at the Community Centre 55 to discuss and view the new city plans for Stephenson Park.

Posted in Beautification, Community Events

Main Square Beautification Project

August 9, 2012 2:58 pmEdward BirnbaumLeave a Comment

In July, the Councillor’s Office organized a Main Square Madness Party for local residents. The area residents, the Councillor, and her staff got their hands dirty and began the process of beautifying a garden (behind the recreation centre). As well, Monica donated her time to paint some innovative murals for the area. The beautification project is now complete! Check out the pictures below. If you get a chance, visit the site and enjoy its new look.

BEFORE AFTER

Additional Pictures

Councillor McMahon adding mulch to garden Councillor’s Office staff helped beautify the garden

Monica painting a mural Mural painted using silhouettes of children in the area

More murals by Monica

Posted in BeautificationTagged front

Dog-strangling vine or pale swallowwort is blooming

June 20, 2012 8:11 pmEdward BirnbaumLeave a Comment

Dog Strangling Vine is an extremely aggressive plant species from the milkweed family. It is a perennial with a horizontal woody rootstalk or rhizome (Figure 2). The stems can range in length from 60 to 200 cm (24 – 80 inches) with a twining or scrambling configuration, hence giving it the “strangling” moniker. The leaves are ovate (oval) in shape, have smooth margins, with hairs being present on the margins and major leaf veins on the underside of the leaf (Figure 3). According to DiTommaso et al. 2005, the flowers of Dog Strangling Vine are a pink, red-brown or maroon, while “Black” Dog Strangling Vine has flowers that are dark purple to blackish. Flowers will produce pods containing seed that is similar in appearance to common milkweed.

You can try to do something about it by recognizing DSV in all its stages and removing it immediately from your property or common lands nearby.

Cut (don’t pull) the stem off at the ground level. Pulling can break the roots underground, encouraging the plant to throw up new shoots at each of the break points.

Do not rototill if DSV has infested your property. Each root segment can produce a plant. Cut vines to the ground, and smother the area with heavy plastic or a heavy layer of wet newspaper and mulch.