Wynford Tower Residents Association
35 Wynford Heights Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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News & Notes 2017

Updated 2017-12-31

On this page we post local information of interest to Wynford Tower residents. If you have any news that
would be of interest to our readers, or if you wish to comment on any of the items posted, please email
webmail@wynfordtowerresidents.ca-Subject=News
Most of the small photos on these pages can be clicked to see a larger version, if desired.
After viewing, click on the Back button or arrow on your browser to return to where you were.


Contents
Adieu 2017
Hand Drying Paper Dispensers in Common Washrooms
Keep a Key Copy and Record your FOB Number
Welcome Back Naida
Fire Alarm 15 December 2017
Ontario Seniors Programs and Services Guide
Holiday Party 2017 Photos
Roosevelt Report to Residents 2017
Summary of Resident Activities 2017
Holiday Party Grand Finale Sing Along 12 December
Toys for Sick Kids Until 13 December
Naida Away, Possibly Until Late December
Community Town Hall Meeting 7 PM Monday 27 November
Marcheleos Gourmet Marketplace Hoping to Open Mid December
Note from Resident / Insurance Agent Christine Bedeau (2017/11/27)
Patio Furniture Removed
No Updates 9 to 21 November (2017/11/07)
2017 Halloween Photos (2017/11/03)
Are we in for a treat, across the street? (2017/11/03)
Halloween Goodies (2017/10/25)
Garage Safety Mirrors Installed (2017/10/19)
Flu Shots Now Available at Wynford Urgent Care Clinic (2017/10/18)
The Heat is On Again (2017/10/15)
Recycle Notice Clarification (2017/10/23)
Therapeutic Indian Exercises Workship (2017/10/02)
Car Pool to Neilson / Sheppard (2017/10/02)
Air Conditioning Back On 18 September (2017/09/18)
New Garage Carpets (2017-09-18)
More on LED Bulbs (2017/09/12)
Rent Control (2017/09/01)
Exercises with Patty End for 2017 (2017/08/31)
Waste Area Gizmos (2017/08/31)
Francisco & Naida Robles Win 2017 Award of Excellence (2017/08/21)
Thursday Exercises 24 August will be Wed 23 August
Garage Sweeping 21 and 22 August, 2017
2017 Resident Appreciation Barbeque Photos (2017/08/21)
Resident Appreciation Barbeque 16 August 2017, 6-8 PM
LED Light Bulbs - 9 Watts and Bright White
Lobby Bench on Trial, 2017/07/21
Helper Needed for Bread Pickup Every 4th Sunday
Exercises with Fresh Air & Liquid Sunshine 2017/07/20
Back Yard Cleanup, 2017/07/18
Muddy Shortcut Now Trip Resistant, 2017/07/17
Black Containers Not Recyclable 2017/07/13
Social Swim Tuesday and Saturday Mornings
Exercises Monday and Thursday Mornings
Wynford Urgent Care Clinic Services 2017-07-10
Roosevelt Landscaping At Work 2017-07-07
Credit Card Scam - People Bearing Gifts
Balcony Smoking - Smokers Please Take Heed
Invasive Plants
Dear Smokers - You Can Help the Environment
Canada 150 Celebration at Aga Khan Park - Photos
Recycling No No's 20170628
Why Is This Necessary?
Aga Khan Park Summer 2017
Welcome Audrey Roman, 13 June 2017
Condolences to Carole Smith, 24 May 2017
Pigeon Screens 2017/05/23
Welcome Back, Eddie! 2017/05/23
Note from Eddie, 2017/05/18
Eddie Our Concierge - 2017/05/17
Intermittent Electricity Interrruptions May 25, 2017
Heat from Sep 15 to Jun 1 - Aircon from Jun 2 to Sep 14
Sheila Stone 2017/5/13 re Don't Feed the Pigeons
No Left Turn at Wynford Drive
Wynford Tower Fire Safety Plan
Fire Alarm Sunday AM 30 April 2017
Spring Cleanup 23 April
Movie Manchester by the Sea, Wed. 15 Mar
Electricity Notes
Nancy Ackerman Visit 24 Feb 2017
Valentine's Eve Sing Along Pics
Recycle "No-No" 2017/01/25
2017 January Mini-Cleanup
Tai Chi Programme Suspended
Please Keep Off the Grass - Really?
The Merchants of Wynford Heights Plaza
2022 News & Notes
2021 News & Notes
2020 News & Notes
2019 News & Notes
2018 News & Notes
2016 News & Notes

Adieu 2017
As we enjoy our warm apartments despite the coldest Toronto weather in memory, we cannot help but be grateful to all those people who work to keep us comfortable:
    Our superintendants, Naida and Francisco
    Our cleaner, Samuel
    Our concierge, Eddie
    Our building manager, Rafael
    M&R Property Owners (and the new boilers that are keeping us warm)

    The workers who keep the electricity flowing
    The workers who keep the natural gas flowing
    The workers who keep the gasoline flowing
    The workers who keep the water flowing
    The workers who keep the sewage flowing
    The workers who grow our food
    The workers who transport our food
    The workers who stock the shelves and check us out
    The workers who remove our solid waste
    The workers who maintain our streets
    The workers who keep the TTC running
    The medical workers who keep us healthy
    All the other workers upon whom we rely for the necessities of life
Best wishes for 2018 from
Your grateful Wynford Tower neighbours.
Contents

Hand Drying Paper Dispensers in Common Washrooms
As requested in the Residents Association submittal 19 September 2017, as of 18 December 2017 there are hand drying paper dispensers in the change room washrooms, although the paper in them is more like tissue paper. In the laundry washroom there is no dispenser so far.
Contents

Keep a Key Copy and Record your FOB Number
Last week I lost my key case containing my apartment key and the building FOB. The form to request a replacement FOB asks for the FOB number. I gave my wife's number, but Naida tells me each FOB is unique so she will look up my number to get a replacement (cost $25). When I get the replacement I'll keep a record of its number (small print on the fob - I needed a magnifying glass to read the number on Marg's).

Naida also told me that the office does not keep duplicate keys, so the least expensive approach is to get one copied (easy if you have one to copy). I had a copy of my wife's key made at a shoemaker, but it was very stiff to operate so I got a couple made at ACME locksmith at 2077 Lawrence, east of Warden. They work well.
Bill Lynn
Contents

Welcome Back Naida
Naida arrived back from the Phillippines Sunday evening 17 December and was hard at work in the office on Monday despite the jet lag.
Her father (96) was in hospital for ten days, but is now at home being cared for by Naida's mother (91). He no longer speaks, but Naida feels grateful that he knew she was there.
Contents

Fire Alarm 15 December 2017
It has been reported that the fire alarm 15 December 2017 occurred when a cleaner inadvertently activated a fire alarm lever while cleaning the alarm box. Toronto Fire responded to the false alarm.
Contents

Ontario Seniors Programs and Services Guide
A copy of the Ontario government document Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario" is now located on the magazine table in the laundry lounge.

Individuals can order a copy at no cost by calling ServiceOntario Publications at 1-800-668-9938, or on-line at www.ontario.ca/publications. Download is available directly, but for printed copies one must create an account.
Contents

Roosevelt Report to Residents 2017
For the past several months a group of residents with a pioneering spirit have assiduously worked on plans to improve the living conditions at the Tower. They were motivated by a sense of service, a belief in community, and a desire to effect change. They worked tirelessly toward this goal, helping in a variety of ways and contributing innumerable ideas and suggestions.

Their efforts culminated in a thorough and official submission to M&R Management outlining desirable improvements. This was a significant achievement as for the first time there now exists a comprehensive document completed by residents which will serve as a guideline for future action.

For their pioneering spirit and for the work they accomplished we owe the following residents our gratitude and appreciation:
    Arnold Garson, Aubrey Harmes, Audrey Roman, Brian George, Carole Smith, Elizabeth Cameron, Eric Thom, Henry Furman, Linda Vir, Navo Chinoy, Pamela Nunes de Souza, Roosevelt Robinson, Ruth Ann Doyle, Siobhan Mulroney, William Lynn.
With the completion of this phase and using the detailed and unanimously approved submission to M&R Management as their mandate, a smaller residents committee will now continue to work on an ongoing basis with the Property Manager.

Roosevelt Robinson
Chair, WTRA Committee
December, 2017
Contents

Summary of Resident Activities 2017
Following is a summary of some of the activities undertaken in the year 2017 by Wynford Tower residents in efforts to improve the lifestyle of all residents. Many thanks to all residents who tried (not always successfully) to improve life for all of us at Wynford Tower.
Contents

Holiday Party Grand Finale Sing Along 12 December

All Wynford Tower residents are invited to the Holiday Party Grand Finale Sing Along,
with Henry Furman on piano.
Golden Oldies, Christmas Carols, Requests.
Books of lyrics supplied.
8 PM Tuesday 12 December in the lobby lounge, to aid digestion after the Holiday Party.
Contents

Toys for Sick Kids Until 13 December
Residents are invited to donate toys for Sick Kids hospital, by putting them in the box in the lobby before Wednesday 13 December 2017.
Contents

Naida Away, Possibly Until Late December
Naida is away, possibly until late December 2017.
For emergencies, call Jun at 416-449-2420
Backup: George (#45 Super) at 416-445-0323
Contents

Community Town Hall Meeting 7 PM Monday 27 November
From: Councillor Burnside
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2017 3:02 PM
To: Councillor Burnside
Subject: Ward 26 Event Reminder: Wynford Community Town Hall

Dear Resident,
I would like to invite you to my annual Community Town Hall meeting on Monday, November 27, at the Ismaili Centre.

Representatives from various City divisions, as well as the Toronto Police Services and Metrolinx, will be in attendance to update you on current projects. This will be a great opportunity for you to voice your concerns and ask questions.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 416-392-0215 or councillor_burnside@toronto.ca. Hope to see you there!

Please be advised that there's parking available for a discounted rate of $5. The parking ticket will have to be purchased with cash only at the entrance of the parking lot.

When – November 27, 2017
Time – 7:00 p.m.
Location – Ismaili Centre, 49 Wynford Dr.

Sincerely,
Jon Burnside
Councillor
Ward 26, City of Toronto
Contents

Marcheleos Gourmet Marketplace Hoping to Open Mid December
From: Rana Mikhael
Date: Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: Newsletter subscription success
To: Roosevelt Robinson
Hi Roosevelt,
We really appreciate your anticipation and look forward to serve you as a customer at our new location 150 Wynford, we will try our best to bring the community an unparalleled selection of market goods and fine quality meals made with love. We are looking to open around the 2nd week of December construction permitting, please stay tuned as we will post it on our website.
Thanks
Rana Mikhael
Store Supervisor
Marcheleo's
181 Eglinton Ave East
Toronto, ON, M4P 1J4
Tel: (416) 932-1100 Ext 401
www.marcheleos.com
Contents

Note from Resident / Insurance Agent Christine Bedeau (2017/11/27)
Per request of resident / insurance agent Christine Bedeau, the following .pdf files about the Canada Protection Plan insurance company are now posted on our website. The Wynford Tower Residents Association has no association with this company and these postings should not be construed as an endorsement thereof. (The postings open in new windows.)

From: CHRISTINE BEDEAU
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2017 11:22 PM
To: webadmin@wynfordtowerresidents.ca
Subject: Christine Bedeau - 904 - 416-752-4788

Hello Bill,
Can you please post this information for the residents so they will know what is available to them.
I am an insurance agent and will be available to help anyone who needs this service. Thank you.
Christine Bedeau
#904-35 Wynford Heights Crescent, 416-752-4788
Website: World Financial Group.com
Office: Suite #33, 1600 Steeles Avenue West, Concord.
Contents

Patio Furniture Removed
The patio chairs and tables purchased and installed by members of the Residents Association have been donated to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore location on Bermondsey Road, because the furniture did not conform to M&R standards.
Contents

No Updates 9 to 21 November (2017/11/07)
Your intrepid scribe will be travelling from 9 to 21 November, so if there is any news to report in that time period please let me know by email at webmail@wynfordtowerresidents.ca, and I'll post it after 21 November.
Contents

2017 Halloween Photos (2017/11/03)
Some photos from the 2017 Halloween event are posted at 2017 Halloween
Contents

Are we in for a treat, across the street? (2017/11/03)
Some six years after the grocery store across the street closed for renovations, it appears that some replacement stores are in the works.

There is still work being done inside the building, but things look hopeful. Stay tuned!
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Halloween Goodies (2017/10/25)

Some of the photos from Halloween 2016
A table of goodies will be set up in the lobby on Halloween, Tuesday 31 October 2017 to give to the ghosts, goblins, etc. who will be visiting Wynford Tower that evening.
If you would like to contribute goodies or to participate in the hand-outs, please contact Naida in the office.
Contents

Garage Safety Mirrors Installed (2017/10/19)
One of the requests made at the Residents Association meeting with M&R 19 September 2017 was for safety mirrors at the bottom of the ramps in the garage. Mirrors have now been installed.
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Flu Shots Now Available at Wynford Urgent Care Clinic (2017/10/18)
Flu shots, free for all residents of Ontario, are now available at the walk-in clinic in the Pharmasave across the street. They are available when a doctor is on duty, as follows:
Monday10 AM - 5 PMDr. O'Connor
Tuesday12 PM - 7 PMDr. O'Connor
Wednesday10 AM - 5 PMDr. Zawi
Thursday12 PM - 7 PMDr. Zawi
Friday10 AM - 5 PMDr. O'Connor
Saturday10 AM - 4 PMDr. Sabzi
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The Heat is On Again (2017/10/15)
Although heat was turned on 15 September in accordance with the law, with this year's never ending summer M&R turned the air conditioning back on 18 September. Now, with summer on the wane, although temperatures are still well above the seasonal average low / high of 3/13 C, the heat has been turned on again.
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Recycle Notice Clarification (2017/10/23)
Following is a clarification recived 2017/10/23 from Toronto Waste Management regarding the intent of the recycling notice posted 11 October 2017 on the Waste Disposal door on each floor of our building (see photo below):
    This new poster was developed as a result of focus group testing of apartment residents. We found that residents wanted to know why recycling was important and to know what sorts of things were made from the items they put into the Blue Bin.
    Thus, the poster shows what Blue Bin items are turned into (Blue Bin items on the left of the poster turn into the items of the right of the poster). For example: plastic is turned into clothing, glass is turned into glass, aluminum and tin are turned into bicycle and car parts and newspaper & cardboard are turned into cardboard boxes and paper bags.
    Emily Marmoreo, M.Ed.
    Project Lead
    City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Services
End of clarification.

For some of the items that cannot be recycled in the City of Toronto, here are some local drop-off locations where we can take them:
(Linked sites open in new windows.)

Clean, gently worn clothing and accessories for donation to needy people can be taken to New Circles Community Services 161 Bartley Drive west of Victoria Park and O'Connor, Mon-Fri 9-5, Thu 9-7.

Reuseable clothing, toys, small appliances, etc. can be taken for re-sale to: Value Village on Victoria Park at Eglinton. Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6.

Salvation Army Thrift Stores accept, for re-sale, reuseable and recyclable clothing, housewares, furniture, electronics, toys, media and books, accessories, antiques and collectibles, computers. Nearby drop-off centres are located at:
   Eglinton at Warden, Mon-Fri 9-9, Sat 9-7, Sun 10-6, and
   Overlea at Thorncliff, Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 9-9.

See also Toronto.ca/reuseit,
Not sure where to put an item? Try the Waste Wizard (for some items, such as black food containers, it will tell us to put it in the garbage).

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Therapeutic Indian Exercises Workship (2017/10/02)
The Wynford Tower Residents Association is pleased to sponsor a workshop on
Therapeutic Indian Exercises
(www.tiex.ca)
Munni Subhani of Better Living Don Mills will demonstrate how to stand tall and move fluidly,
using gentle stretching and moving exercises
(no aerobics, no floor mats, no weights, no stretch bands.)
for folks with desk or easy-chair life styles.

7:30 PM Tuesday 17 October 2017, In the Card Room, Level B, west end.
Cost: Free. Space is limited.
To reserve your spot, contact Bill Lynn at 416-441-2134 or webmail@wynfordtowerresidents.ca
Or complete and deposit a sign-up form in the Suggestion Box near the Office.
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Car Pool to Neilson / Sheppard (2017/10/02)
Jules Bedeau of Apt 904 is looking for a drive to the corner of Neilson and Sheppard each weekday morning for payment of $15 / week, as detailed in the flyer at Bedeau Car Pool Flyer. Contact him at 647-502-6911 or jules.bedeau@gmail.com.
Contents

Air Conditioning Back On 18 September (2017/09/18)
With the high temperature forecast in the high twenties all week, our building management has had the air conditioning turned back on. As noted by Building Manager Rafael Tablada in the email below, this is not a trivial procedure, so if the weather turns cold we may find ourselves without heat for a while until the heating contractor can find time to switch us back to the heating mode.

Email from Rafael Tablada 2017-09-18, 3:43 PM

All,
Please note that when the temperature at night dips down to 20 degrees and below, we will be in contravention of the city's heating bylaws and we will not be able to switch the a/c system back to the boiler system until in a couple of weeks, as per our contractor's schedule.

Our hvac systems is not a simple on and off switch, it is a complicated system and requires specialist technicians to shut it down or start it up. We rely on their availability schedule to perform this operation.

We have started again the cooling system as a goodwill gesture, as we normally follow the city's by laws by having the boiler system (heat) to be available by Sept 15th.
Rafael

Email from Roosevelt Robinson to Rafael Tablada 2017-09-18, 3:42 PM
To the Property Manager & Tower Superintendents
Residents were extremely pleased to see the notice that "the air conditioning is back on". M&R has demonstrated understanding and flexibility and for this we again thank you.
Roosevelt Robinson Chair, WTRA
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New Garage Carpets (2017-09-18)
Email from Roosevelt Robinson to Rafael Tablada 2017-09-18, 3:04 PM
To the Property Manager & Office Staff
On behalf of the WTRA and all residents at the Tower, I extend sincere appreciation for the replacement of the pedestrian carpets at both garage levels.
Roosevelt Robinson
Chair, WTRA
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More on LED Bulbs (2017/09/12)

Having seen the brightness of the LED bulbs in our bathroom, I decided to try some in the kitchen. When I went to the Dollar store to buy them, I discovered that there are two types of conventional style bulbs: Daylight (5000 K) and Warm White (2700 K). (Similar to fluorescents.) They are available in 6 Watts (40 W equivalent) and 9 W (60 W equivalent).
(The packages and prices are identical except for the Wattage, so care is needed to pick the one desired.)

I decided to buy two 9 W Warm White for the bathroom and move the daylight bulbs from the bathroom to the kitchen. Works great; both are now much brighter than before, but the bathroom lighting is softer.
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Rent Control (2017/09/01)
Recent changes by the Ontario government that make rent control apply to all rental units, including those built after 1991, have litte effect on the Wynford Heights rental buildings, which were constructed in the 1970's. It may be pertinent, however, to discuss a bit about how rent controls work (from a non-lawyer viewpoint).

Each year, the Ontario Government publishes a Rent Increase Guideline which states the maximum percentage by which rent can be increased within the calendar year (see Ontario Rent Increase Guideline). The guideline rate is 1.5% for 2017 and 1.8% for 2018. In previous years the guideline was often much higher. In 1975, for example, the guideline was 8% (see OntarioTenants.ca/rent increase).

The guideline percentages seem fairly small, but the accumulative effect can be significant. For example, a tenant who took occupancy in 2000 has undergone the following accumulative increase:
1.029*1.039*1.029*1.029*1.015*1.021*1.026*1.014*1.018*1.021*1.007*1.031*1.025*1.008*1.016*1.02*1.015 = 1.391, i.e. 39.1% rent increase in 17 years.
A tenant who took occupancy in 2012 has seen rent increases of 1.025*1.008*1.016*1.02*1.015 = 1.087, i.e. 8.7% rent increase in 5 years.

Landlords can also request an Above Guideline Increase (AGI), usually for a capital expenditure such as a major renovation. This increase can exceed the guideline value by up to 3% for up to 3 years (see cleo.on.ca). Thus for a major renovation done in 2014 a landlord could request a rent increase of 1.036*1.05*1.045 = 1.137 i.e. 13.7%.

Contrary to popular belief, the rent does not revert to the previous rate after the 3 year adjustment period; it continues to increase thereafter per the guideline. #65 recently underwent a major renovation, which could explain why the starting rent for a two bedroom apartment is now $1750 at #65 versus $1600 at #35.

Bottom line: For those of us on non-escalating pensions, the longer we live the poorer we get.
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Exercises with Patty End for 2017 (2017/08/31)
With our awesome leader Patty returning to work at the TDSB next week, it was agreed to terminate the exercises that she was leading during the summer from 10:30 to 11:15 AM on Mondays and Thursdays. Perhaps she'll be available to lead us in exercises again next summer.

As one of her roles with the TDSB, Patty leads a Gentle Fitness class from 9:15 to 10:45 AM Mondays and Wednesdays starting 18 sep for 11 weeks at the Overland Learning Centre, 55 Overland Drive. A brochure is available online at Learn4Life Brochure.
The description on page 20 (22 of the .pdf) reads:
    Enjoy a workout that includes stretching, muscle toning exercises and a variety of low impact aerobic exercises.
    Bring your own towel and weights. Exercise tubes and mats are provided.
    Overland Learning Centre 55 Overland Drive
    Mon 9:15-10:45am Sep 18 11wks $123 ($73sr) 85685
    Wed 9:15-10:45am Sep 20 11wks $123 ($73sr) 85686
Exercises are also offered at the Better Living Centre at 1 Overland Drive. See the program information at Better Living Program Guide. Fitness classes start on page 8 of the brochure and Registration information is on page 3.
Contents

Waste Area Gizmos (2017/08/31)
The following information is from the Followup to 15 August Meeting Notes.

Compostables bin lids: A structure has been installed (photo below) to prevent the green bin lids from being left open (by humans or by animals). This does not prevent raccoons from enjoying their feasts, but the lids close when they are not held open.
Note: Samuel hoses down the green bin after it is emptied on Friday.

Recycle bin lids: Officially, the recycle bin lids are supposed to be locked closed except to empty them, with the slot on the front used to deposit recyclables. It is felt that forcing residents to use the slots in the bins to deposit recycling would reduce participation to the levels of a decade or more ago, and garbage would increase dramatically.
As a compromise measure, about half the recycle bin lids are kept open after they are emptied each Thursday, to be closed when full, and others opened.
To allow residents to help, a "Lid Open Close Tool" is stored in the Association Garden Tools area. The tool is just a an eight foot 1x2 with a hook on one end. The objective is to allow residents who notice that a recycle bin is full to close it and open another. Two photos below show the tool in use.


Green Bin Lid Lift Limiter and Lid Open Close Tool, Closing a Lid and Opening a lid
(To see larger versions, click on the photos.)

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Francisco & Naida Robles Win 2017 Award of Excellence (2017/08/21)
Rafael has informed us that Naida and Jun have been selected for M&R's Service Recognition Award for 2017. See 2017award.pdf (Opens in new window.)

A couple of emails on the topic:

From: Roosevelt Robinson, Chair, Wynford Tower Residents Association,
Date: 2017-08-21
To: Naida & Francisco Robles, Superintendents
Wynford Tower, 35 Wynford Heights Crescent,
Toronto

Dear Mr and Mrs Robles,
On behalf of the Wynford Tower Residents' Association I extend to you both congratulations for being chosen as the recipient of M&R's Service Recognition Award for 2017. This information will be posted to the Association's website so that everyone will be aware of this honour you have received.
We are very proud of your achievement and are looking forward to working closely with you for the benefit of all residents.
Best regards,
Dr. Roosevelt Robinson, Chair
Wynford Tower Residents' Association

From: 35 Wynford
Date: Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 11:49 AM
To: Roosevelt Robinson
Thank you!!!
Naida Robles
Resident Superintendent
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Thursday Exercises 24 August will be Wed 23 August
The exercise class scheduled for 10:30-11:15 Thursday 24 August will take place Wednesday 23 August.
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Garage Sweeping 21 and 22 August, 2017 (2017/08/13)
The B Level garage will be swept Monday 21 August, 2017. The SB Level garage will be swept Tuesday 22 August 2017.
On those dates, all vehicles in the affected level must be removed from the garage from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Residents will be permitted to park in the Visitors' parking lots of both #35 and #45
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2017 Resident Appreciation Barbeque Photos (2017/08/21)
The Wynford Tower Resident Appreciation Barbeque, hosted by M&R Holdings, was held Wednesdy, 16 August 2017, from 6 to 8 PM on the front patio. The weather was perfect, rather different from pouring rain and howling wind of past years.
Following are some photos taken at the event (when the snap shooter could find time from filling his face).


Big, juicy hamburgers were served by a jovial lady, and condiments had lots of takers in the early hours.
A resident said later that there were barbeques set up in the parking lot where the cooking was done.


As time went on the lineup became less busy. Watermelon served as a juicy dessert, and lots of beverages were available.
The serving tables were set up under protective tents, not really necessary in this year's fine weather.


A few shots of the assemblage and lineup in the early moments, before the photog got into the food, and later, well fed.
The ice cream and popsicle server was off in a corner, but he brought samples
of his wares to some folks at our table who had difficult getting through the crowd.


The company that provided the service did a fine job.

A big thank you to M&R and to all who helped to make the 2017 Wynford Tower bbq a wonderful event.
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Resident Appreciation Barbeque 16 August 2017, 6-8 PM (2017/08/05)
The Wynford Tower Resident Appreciation Barbeque, hosted by M&R Holdings, will be held Wednesdy, 16 August 2017, from 6 to 8 PM on the front patio. Invitation at 2017bbq.pdf (opens in new window).
We'll see you there.
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LED Light Bulbs - 9 Watts and Bright White (2017/07/23)
In the five years that we have lived at Wynford Tower we have replaced the 60W candelabra style light bulbs in the bathroom a number of times. On one trial a compact fluorescent bulb burned out faster than the incandescent candelabra. Recently I decided to try LED light bulbs, which seem to be all the rage. The two bulbs that I bought (at the Dollar Store beside No Frills, where we grocery shop), cost $4 each plus tax, total about $9 for two 9W / 60W equivalent bulbs. They look like conventional 60W incandescent light bulbs. I was a bit dubious about the light they would give, but the package claims 9 year lifetime so I decided to go for it.

When I put them in and turned on the switch I was astounded by the light they give off - brighter by far than the 60W candelabras that they replaced. And they are barely warm to the touch.

At 9W each the two bulbs save about 100W compared to the two 60W incandescent bulbs. At 10¢/kWh, this represents a saving of one cent per hour. Sounds picayune, but our bathroom lights are on about 3 hours per day, so the $9 cost of the bulbs is offset by electricity savings in 300 days, i.e. less than a year. If they last 10,000 hours the saving will be $100. (The LED's on my computer speakers have been on for fifteen years (131,000 hours non-stop), so the 10,000 hour promise might well be true.)

My conclusion is that I intend to go with LED bulbs whenever I have to replace bulbs in the future. But a couple of caveats:

1. The 9W/60We bulbs that I bought are similar in size to a conventional 60W incandescent bulb, so they protrude below the bathroom light fixtures. If that bothers you, try something else. (40W equivalent bulbs might be smaller.)

2. The light that they emit is very bright and white, like a cool white fluorescent or a full moon high in the sky on a clear night. If you would prefer not to see all the details, or you prefer the light of warm white fluorescent bulbs, these may not be for you. (There were some 40W equivalent bulbs available that might be less bright. There might also be a warm white version of LED bulbs available.)
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Lobby Bench on Trial, 2017/07/21

A fireproof metal bench has been placed in the ground floor elevator lobby for evaluation. It meets the fire code in that it is all metal.

Now you can comment as to its appearance and useability. Contact us by email at webmail@wynfordtowerresidents.ca or by telephone at 416-441-2134.
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Helper Needed for Food Bank Bread Pickup Every 4th Sunday, 2017/07/21
A helper is needed for bread pickup for the Overland Food Bank, from Cobs Bakery on Bayview every fourth Sunday at 6 PM starting 13 August 2017.
I leave here at 5:30 PM and return about 6:45 PM.
One of us will put the bread in boxes and the other will carry it out to the car.
If you can help, please email me at webmail@wynfordtowerresidents.ca,
or phone me at 416-441-2134.
Thank you,
Bill Lynn
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Exercises with Fresh Air & Liquid Sunshine 2017/07/20

Pictured are some of the folks taking our exercise class Thursday AM, 20 July 2017. It was
held on the front patio, which turned out to be a great place to do it, with the fresh breeze and
protection from a heavy downpour that took place while the exercises were in progress.
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Back Yard Cleanup, 2017/07/18

On Tuesday evening 18 July 2017 some members of the residents committee did a
cleanup of the Wynford Tower back yard, concentrated mostly on the pool patio.
Henry, not shown, concentrated on collecting cigarette butts.


After the exhausting effort, the workers were treated to goodies courtesy of
the commitee chair, Roosevelt, who also demonstrated some Tai Chi moves.
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Muddy Shortcut Now Trip Resistant, 2017/07/17

Low fences, installed to keep people off the new grass in the shortcut
on the front lawn, have now been removed to avoid tripping.
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Black Containers Not Recyclable 2017/07/13
Recenty a resident emailed our city councillor, Jon Burnside, and our MPP, Kathleen Wynne, decrying the fact that black containers cannot be recycled in Toronto, and suggesting that manufacturers be required to colour their containers any colour but black.
Following is the response from Councillor Burnside's office, and the reply from their previous inquiry to the city of Toronto.

Thank you for reaching out to Councillor Burnside in regards to your concerns over the inability of the City to recycle black plastic.

This issue had been brought to the attention of our office a few months ago by another resident, and we had reached out to City staff to get a response to it. Please see underneath the response we have received from Solid Waste Management Services of the City. We are not sure of the (future?) impacts of the provincial Waste-Free Ontario Act but maybe MPP Wynne's Office can provide more insights into that.

I will pass on your feedback to the Councillor as well, but at this point it seems as if we are facing limitations that are beyond the power of Council.

If there is anything else we can help with, please let me know, or if you would like to chat directly with the Councillor about this.

With regards,

Mr. Slavisa Mijatovic
Advisor, Community Relations & Issues Management
Councillor Jon Burnside | Ward 26: Don Valley West
City Hall | 100 Queen Street West, Toronto
Tel: 416-392-0215


EMAIL BY STAFF IN REGARDS TO BLACK PLASTIC RECYCLING:

The City of Toronto does not accept black plastic in its Blue Bin recycling program for two reasons. One, as you stated, is that black plastic cannot be sorted at the material recovery facility (recycling sorting facility). The optical sorting technology used to sort plastics cannot "read" items that are black because the conveyor belt is black. All black plastic ends up in the garbage stream and is sent to landfill.

The other reason that black plastics aren’t accepted in the Blue Bin recycling program is that black plastic is not desirable to the end markets, so they are of little value and hard to market. As you can imagine, we must verify that we have sustainable, long term end markets for all materials that we accept in our Blue Bin program and that we are able to manage these materials at a reasonable cost.

I cannot comment on what other municipalities are doing, however Toronto continually monitors markets and technologies in efforts to make continual improvements to our waste diversion programs. We also educate residents about how to properly sort waste items to reduce contamination in the Blue Bin. We do this through regular campaigns like Recycle Right, posters, calendars and tools like Waste Wizard.

Municipalities alone cannot directly influence manufacturer's packaging design choices because it is not in our jurisdiction to do so. However, the new provincial Waste-Free Ontario Act (replacing the Waste Diversion Act) will see a shift towards an Extended Producer Responsibility waste system that will aim to hold manufacturers responsible for the management of their products and packaging, possibly encouraging them to consider product designs for the environment.

Thank you for your efforts in participating in our waste diversion programs.

Regards,

Katrusia Balan
Research Analyst
Solid Waste Management Services, Waste Management Planning
City of Toronto
City Hall, 25th Floor, East Tower
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
416-392-7827
katrusia.balan@toronto.ca
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Social Swim Tuesday and Saturday Mornings Starting July 15, 2017
Navo and RuthAnn invite Wynford Tower residents to join them in the pool at 9 AM Tuesdays and Saturdays to swim (or paddle, water exercise, whatever) and socialize. No instruction, no races, no aquafit, no food, no cost. Bring your own drinking water.
Hope to see you there starting Saturday, July 15.
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Exercises Monday and Thursday Mornings Starting July 17, 2017


Please join us outside the front lobby from 10:30 to 11:15 every Monday and Thursday morning for an exercise class led by our own Patty.

Exercises will include warm-up, cardio, deep breathing, stretching from head to toe and cool down segments.

Bring water and a towel.

Hoping to see you starting July 17.
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Wynford Urgent Care Clinic Services 2017-07-10
It was a surprise to discover recently the wide range of medical services offered by the Wynford Urgent Care Clinic in the Pharmasave across the street from Wynford Tower.
See Wynford UCC Services (Opens in new window.)
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Roosevelt Landscaping At Work 2017-07-07

On Friday evening 7 July 2017, Roosevelt, aided by Arnold and Henry with moral support from Navo and Audrey, began another attempt to tame the muddy shortcut on our front lawn. The second and third photos were taken Sunday 9 July, and it appeared that work was still underway. Lookin' good so far!


Later Sunday afternoon, we found Roosevelt installing a Keep Off the Grass sign under Navo's supervision.
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Credit Card Scam - Forwarded by Ron Jay 2017-05-03
Beware of people bearing gifts.
The following is a recounting of the incident from the victim:

Wednesday a week ago, I had a phone call from someone saying that he was from some outfit called: "Express Couriers,"(The name could be any courier company) He asked if I was going to be home because there was a package for me that required a signature. The caller said that the delivery would arrive at my home in roughly an hour. Sure enough, about an hour later, a uniformed delivery man turned up with a beautiful basket of flowers and a bottle of wine. I was very surprised since there was no special occasion or holiday, and I certainly didn't expect anything like it. Intrigued, I inquired as to who the sender was.

The courier replied, "I don't know, I'm only delivering the package." Apparently, a card was being sent separately... (the card has never arrived!) There was also a consignment note with the gift.

He then went on to explain that because the gift contained alcohol, there was a $3.50 "delivery/ verification charge," providing proof that he had actually delivered the package to an adult (of legal drinking age), and not just left it on the doorstep where it could be stolen or taken by anyone, especially a minor.

This sounded logical and I offered to pay him cash. He then said that the delivery company required payment to be by credit or debit card only, so that everything is properly accounted for, and this would help in keeping a legal record of the transaction. He added couriers don't carry cash to avoid loss or likely targets for robbery. My husband, who by this time was standing beside me, pulled out his credit card, and 'John,' the "delivery man," asked him to swipe the card on a small mobile card machine with a small screen and keypad. Frank, my husband, was asked to enter his PIN number and a receipt was printed out. He was given a copy of the transaction.

The guy said everything was in order, and wished us good day. To our horrible surprise, between Thursday and the following Monday, $4,000 had been charged/withdrawn from our credit/debit account at various ATM machines. Apparently the "mobile credit card machine," which the deliveryman carried now had all the info necessary to create a "dummy" card with all our card details including the PIN number.

Upon finding out about the illegal transactions on our card, we immediately notified the bank which issued us a new card, and our credit/debit account was closed. We also personally went to the Police, where it was confirmed that it is definitely a scam because several households had been similarly hit.

WARNING: Be wary of accepting any "surprise gift or package", which you neither expected nor personally ordered, especially if it involves any kind of payment as a condition of receiving the gift or package. Also, never accept anything if you do not personally know or there is no proper identification of who the sender is.

Above all, the only time you should give out any personal credit/debit card information is when you yourself initiated the purchase or transaction!
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Balcony Smoking - Smokers Please Take Heed
The following email dated 2017-07-02, 4:32 PM was received from John and Mary Persaud.

Along the lines of cigarette butts and ashes blowing in to balconies is the issue of cigarette smoke blowing into the apartment.
We do not smoke but throughout the day and night cigarette smoke blows into our apartment from other smokers. I like to keep my windows and balcony door open to let in air. When I do I save in air conditioning as I do not put on the air conditioner but it is becoming impossible to do that as my apartment reeks of cigarette smoke.

Smoking on balconies should be banned - there should be an outdoor smoking area for smokers to go and smoke. I do not want to get cancer from other people's second hand smoke.
Thank you,
John and Mary Persaud
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Invasive Plants
We have received a note from Sarah ?? telling us that there are invasive plants around Wynford Tower and on Wynford Drive west and south of us. One invasive species is Garlic Mustard, Garlic Mustard.pdf. Another invasive species found in our area is Dog Strangling Vine

For information on how to deal with invasive plants, see Guide to Controlling Invasive Woodland Plants. One suggestion in this document is to cut the plants close to ground level shortly before they go to seed, usually in June. Pulling the plants can be problematic by causing more plants to grow the next year.

Note: These links open new windows, which can be closed individually.
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Dear Smokers - You Can Help the Environment
Dear Smokers
With a toonie well spent
You can help the environment.
To keep your butts from going astray
Deposit them in a pocket ashtray.

$2 from Henry Furman: 416-461-5454; hf55@rogers.com
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Photos of the Canada Day Celebration July 1 at Aga Khan Park



Yasmin Ratansi, MP

Don Valley East Canada 150 Celebration

12 - 3 PM Saturday July 1 at the Aga Khan Park, 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto.
Free admission, parking and food. Water bottles not provided.

Some photos of the event

Lineups were the order of the day, first to register, then to receive food tickets, then to get food.

Patriotic speeches were delivered by MP Ratansi extolling the virtues of Canada and by an
MPP promoting Ontario. Both spoke without notes and quite briefly. Following the speeches,
Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to a number of volunteers nominated by their peers.


Hamburgers and hot dogs were cooked on big barbeques and served at a table
under a tent, then condiments were available at another table under a tent.


Several groups presented ethic dance routines on the stage. The photos were
taken from behind the stage, where the snap shooter found a bench to eat lunch.


A couple of shots of the folks enjoying the warm, sunny weather. Toronto Fire had a
fire truck on display that provided exciting possibilities for the young and young at heart.
The police also had a police car near the entry where youngsters were given the
chance to sound the siren, a somewhat ear-splitting experience for those nearby.

And that's it for this small photo exposé of the Canada 150 celebration at the Aga Khan park on Wynford Drive, Toronto.
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Recycling No No's 20170628

Black containers and green plastic bags go to the garbage, not recycling, as shown on the notice on the front of each bin.
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Why Is This Necessary?

Because we can be Fined if our Recycle bins contain
black or green plastic bags or unflattened boxes
or black containers

when they are picked up.

Let's Recycle Properly!

Note: A list of recyclable items, taken from the Toronto 311 website, is at Recyclables.pdf
For specific questions, ask the Waste Wizard
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Aga Khan Park Summer 2017
The Aga Khan park, just a few minutes walk from Wynford Tower, offers a number of free activities this summer, including Canada Day celebrations on July 1st from 12 to 3 PM plus dancing and films under the stars.
For details, see Aga Khan Summer 2017. (Opens in new window.)
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Welcome Audrey Roman, 13 June 2017
We welcome to our fair abode Audrey Roman, who moved here recently from her condo in Markham. She is a Torontonian who has lived in a number of different locations around the city, and she feels that Wynford Tower is well located to be accessible to her three sons. She finds that the building lives up to its reputation of large rooms and good maintenance. She is still learning about surrounding amenities, but finds that most of her needs are reasonably near by, especially since she has a car.

One of Audrey's sons is Brian Roman, singer par excellence, whom we had the pleasure of hearing at a concert in Markham a couple of weeks ago; it was very well worth the trip to Markham.

We wish Audrey a very enjoyable life in her new home at Wynford Tower.
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Condolences to Carole Smith, 24 May 2017
Belated condolences to Carole Smith, 2406, whose husband Morton died 24 April 2017. His obituary is posted at Morton Smith Obituary
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Pigeon Screens 2017/05/23
Several residents suggest the following person to install pigeon screens on balconies. "He is reasonable, prompt, and does a good job."
His name is Colin, and his number is 416-893-5744.
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Welcome Back, Eddie! 2017/05/23
Eddie Oliveira is back at the front desk, having had a cyst removed from his back two weeks ago. The dressings still have to be replaced twice a day. He needs help from his wife for the evening change, but he can handle the less complex change himself during the day. Hoping the biopsy turns out okay.
Welcome back, Eddie!
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Note from Eddie, 2017/05/18
Hey Bill!
Thank you for taking your time to ask me how I am feeling.
My recovery is going well, I may go back even earlier than expected.
My lovely wife is taking good care of me, she is really helpful, especially when the gauze needs to be changed.
After the first week I started feeling bored at home, is good to relax and take my time, but gosh how I miss doing something useful!
Hope to see you soon !
Eddie Oliveira
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Eddie Our Concierge - 2017/05/17
Eddie Oliveira, our friendly and helpful concierge, had a cyst removed from his back last week. The recovery period was estimated by his doctor at 2 to 4 weeks, so we may not see him back for a while yet.
We wish him a successful recovery.
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Intermittent Electricity Interrruptions May 25, 2017
M&R advises that the electricity in Wynford Tower may undergo interruptions from 9 AM to 4 PM Thursday May 25, as the electrical contractor repairs any faults that are found in the distribution panel inspection that day.
If you have a health condition that requires electricity and may require use of the elevators, please find alternative accommodation for this time period.
More detailed information will be available in the notice to be distributed to all apartments.
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Heat from Sep 15 to Jun 1 - Aircon from Jun 2 to Sep 14 - 2017/05/17
The current May heat wave reminds us of the news item posted last September, which told us that:
A landlord is responsible for providing heat to a residential dwelling at a minimum of 21 degrees Celsius between September 15 and June 1 of each year.
Air Conditioning should go on, if provided/supplied by the property owner, from June 2nd to Sept. 14th to maintain an indoor temperature of not more than 26 degrees Celsius.
Municipal Licensing & Standards is unable to take any action outside of these dates.
Source: Toronto/311

Beat the Heat
No, the heat can't really be overcome, but we can:
Close drapes to keep out sunshine.
Open windows at night to cool the apartment for the coming day.
Turn off unnecessary electrical devices (a desktop computer releases about 200 Watts, a laptop about a third to a half as much, significant heating effects).
Note that these tricks are useful even when the aircon is on.
Any other suggestions?
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Sheila Stone 2017/5/13 re Don't Feed the Pigeons
I am sure you have heard the complaints regarding the influx of pigeons landing on some balconies. Having been in the building for some time, I have never seen it this bad, which makes you think someone is feeding them.

I have put a notice in the laundry room just asking if you are feeding them please don't. Just wondered if you could add something to your notes, to assist in bringing the problem to more tenants attention. (Ed: Yes!)

Thanks

Sheila Stone, 2107
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No Left Turn at Wynford Heights / Wynford Drive - 2017/05/06
Just a reminder that left turn is not permitted from Wynford Heights Crescent onto Wynford Drive or vice versa at the corner by Tim Horton's. The police were ticketing violators last week.
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Wynford Tower Fire Safety Plan

The Wynford Tower Fire Safety Plan is posted on the Disposal Room door on each floor. We probably should study it and decide what our strategy will be the next time the fire alarm sounds.

For the fire alarm Sunday morning 30 April 2017, most residents opted to remain in their apartment, which may be the best option for most cases (other than a fire in the apartment that one is in).

For a (sort of) readable version, click on the photo. It may then be necessary to click on the larger version to maximize it.
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Fire Alarm Sunday AM 30 April 2017
About 5:15 AM Sunday, 30 April 2017, the Wynford Tower fire alarm sounded. It continued until Toronto Fire announced about 6 AM that they were investigating a fire alarm in the garage and residents should stay in their apartments until further notice. The alarm then resumed until about 6:30 AM when it stopped. No further announcements were made regarding the cause of the alarm or the All Clear, so residents at some point assumed all was well and resumed their normal lives.

Eric Thom (209) went to the lobby when the alarm sounded and was told by the Toronto Fire supervisor that it is best to stay in our concrete enclosed apartments, rather than go to the lobby and interfere with the fire fighters. This is one option given in the Fire Safety Plan posted on the Disposal Room door on each floor. That notice dates from 1981. A more recent notice is on the internet at Toronto Fire Services but it tends to be more verbose and more ambiguous than our posted plan.
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Spring Cleanup 1-5 PM Sunday 23 April
Under the leadership of Linda Vir, Wynford Tower residents were invited to participate in the Community Cleanup on Sunday afternoon 23 April, 2017 starting at 1 PM, as detailed in the notice at Spring Cleanup Notice. Some photos of the event are published on page 2017 April Cleanup Photos.
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Movie Manchester by the Sea, Wednesday 15 March 2017

About a dozen Wynford Tower residents saw the movie Manchester by the Sea in the Card Room Wednesday evening 15 March 2017. The movie, a rather slow moving tear-jerker with numerous flashbacks, had received considerable acclaim, but some of the viewers were less enthusiastic.
(RuthAnn, owner of the movie, having seen it before, provided a box of tissues.)
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Nancy Ackerman Visit 24 Feb 2017
Nancy Ackerman Visit 24 Feb 2017 Nancy Ackerman Visit 24 Feb 2017 Nancy Ackerman Visit 24 Feb 2017 Nancy Ackerman Visit 24 Feb 2017
Nancy Ackerman, who moved from Wynford Tower to Brossard, Québec in July 2016, visited Toronto this week to attend the Orpheus Choir concert 26 February at which a protégé of hers is now in the Toronto Children's Chorus, the "guest artist" at the concert.
Nancy and some Wynford Tower friends were hosted at lunch on Friday by Elizabeth Cameron, at which time Nancy's recent birthday was also celebrated.
Nancy mentioned that many of her neighbours and regular associates are French speaking, so her fluency in French is a definite asset.
She also mentioned that several Montreal south shore communities, including Brossard, provide free transit for seniors, except during rush hour, on the Réseau de transport de Longueuil.
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Recycle "No-No" 2017/01/25
On Wednesday 25 January 2017, Eric Thom was discussing waste disposal with a City of Toronto rep,
when the sheet glass and construction materials shown in the photo were noted in a recycle bin.
This is a "No-No": sheet glass and construction materials go in the garbage, not in the recycle bins.


2017 January Mini-Cleanup
On Wednesday, 18 January 2017, RuthAnn Doyle and Eric Thom took it upon themselves to
pick up litter from the Wynford Tower grounds, and ended up with four garbage bags full.
Some litter was frozen to the ground, so it may be a bit early for such an endeavour, but
perhaps we could plan another cleanup party for later on when the ground has thawed.



Wynford Tower Tai Chi Programme Suspended
At the 16 January committee meeting it was mentioned that the Tai Chi programme that took
place in the card room Wednesdays from 9 to 10 AM is no longer in operation, no reason given.

Please Keep Off the Grass - Really?
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