Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Maskwa Fundraiser/Update on Camps/Get together to honor Gordon MacLeod

Get together to Honor the Passing of Gordon MacLeod:
We have all lost a dear friend with the death of Gordon MacLeod. Gordon was a life long volunteer at the Club and worked tirelessly to better the Club experience for all. It's been difficult for all of us so we thought it would be good to informally gather and share our thoughts and stories about Gord.
With this in mind, we've reserved the Pub Room of Winston's Pub & Eatery in Clayton Park as a gathering point this coming Friday March 30th from 6 pm to 9 pm.Formerly the old Copper Penny, Winston's is located at 278 Lacewood Drive in the strip-mall next to the Shopper's Drug Mart.
Maskwa has a great fundraiser coming up:
It’s a Flamenco Latin Night with live dance performance, dancing and door prizes.
When: Saturday, April 21
Where: MicMac A.A.C – 192 Prince Albert Rd., Dartmouth
Time: Doors open at 8pm Dance Performance 8:30-9:15pm – then dance the night away with DJ
Music 9:30-midnight!
Latin vibe entertainment with DJ Junior and DJ eski.
Price $20/per ticket
For every ticket sold Maskwa earns $10.
Call Renee Field, Club Manager, Maskwa Aquatic Club at 443-0178 ext: 221 or email manager.maskwa@gmail.com to order tickets.
Some basic information on our Maskwa Adventure Recreational Day Camps:
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
Price: $195/per child/per week
Maximum: 30 children with 2 day camp instructors/per week
Ages: 8-11 years
Activities: Mix of on-water and off-water activities.
Children will be on-water in small boats (k-1,k-2 or k-4) from 9:30-11am and then back on water in the larger boats like the dragon boat or war canoes (team events) from 1pm-2:30pm.
Each week will be a themed week: super hero/adventure/hawaiian etc. The children will be doing hiking/crafts/and other sport activities like swimming and volleyball throughout the week.
Please do check back toward the end of April for detailed registration which will be on-line and this year payment can be made on-line. Our camps tend to fill up quickly.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Maskwa update

A big special thank you 'shout out' goes to John Moore and his friend who spent the weekend filling in the very large pot holes. What a huge difference to drive along the road to the club without feeling like I'm about to ruin all my shocks! Thanks so much.
I'm getting a lot of inquiries about registration.
1. Registration will be on-line this year. That will include payment options on line also and we're hoping to have that up by the end of April.
2. Maskwa Open House will take place on Sat., May 12 from 9am-2pm at the club. This will be your chance if you haven't registered to pop down to the club to register in person - on-line using one of our computer assistant people-pay if you're not paying on-line and purchase any new paddling gear like lifebelts/singlets/buns.
3. The High Performance paddlers doing spring training have hit the waters. A reminder if your child in participating in the HP program to pass in your Cold Water forms to coach Jordan Coyle. They are reminded to dress appropriately for the weather and come prepared to run every day. And to show off our group on water - check out the pic. This is the earlist ever they have hit the water on Kearney Lake. The picture was taken on March 22 - last week when the temp rose.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Hi everyone:
Below is an update for our local Councillor Debbie Hum about upcoming events, issues in our area.


My District 16 newsletter is undergoing final draft changes and further updates. It should be ready to be sent out to residents in April. So much is happening in our community and is ever-changing. If you would like to individually subscribe to my electronic email updates please contact me humd@halifax.ca or my assistant Melody at campbem@halifax.ca. If you do not want to receive them, please also let either of us know. I'm on Facebook and post regularly on news and events happening in HRM and our community. Also I'm posting updates on HRM website - councillors' page.

For those residents who were away this month, including school March break, it's back to regular work week for many, school and sport activity routines. But the lovely weather expected this week gives us reason to celebrate, embrace spring and all that is good in our community! Cheers, /Debbie

WHAT'S HAPPENING?! 1) NS Commission Seeks Public Input on Provincial Electoral Boundaries novascotia.ca NOTE: HRM residents - 1st round of public consultation The public consultation session was held Sat. Mar 17th, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Quality Inn, Parkland Drive. This was the 1st round of community consultations. I attended Saturday's public session, and heard a number of presenters from the greater community speak to the Commission panel members on provincial electoral boundaries. The Commission also announced another Halifax public consultation session is to be held April 12, but location and time to be confirmed. For more information please go to the link provided below: http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20120301005

2) Metro Transit strike - It's over! A 5 year contract has been accepted and ratified by ATU and HRM Regional Council. We understand it's been a difficult 6 weeks for many residents. For that I apologize. As March break comes to an end Metro Transit buses incl Access A Buses, and ferries have resumed full service. For information on contract agreement details, answers to your questions and concerns can be found by going to HRM website: http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/strikeinformation.html#topPlease also feel free to contact me with your questions and comments.

3) * WED. MARCH 21 HRM PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING - CASE 17002 Rockingham South development proposal (former radio transmitter lands) This is a rezoning and development agreement processPIM to be held Wednesday March 21, 7 p.m. St. Benedicts Church hall 45 Radcliffe Dr. HRM Notices have been distributed to property owners within a wide notification area in District 16 and District 10, as well as apartment units in closer proximity to the radio transmitter lands. If you didn't receive an official PIM notice, and interested in finding out more information on the development proposal, and perhaps attending the PIM, please log on to HRM website: http://www.halifax.ca/planning/Case17002Details.html

4) HRM REGIONAL PLAN 5 year REVIEW & PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS NOW UNDERWAY. For more information and full list of dates & locations of upcoming public consultation check out HRM website: http://halifax.ca/planhrm/RP5.htmlRP+5 Public Consultation MeetingsPhase I Public consultation is vital to the Regional Plan 5 Year Review as it will shape recommendations to Council. The consultations will focus on what has changed and how key policies need to address current challenges and future opportunities. Each meeting will begin with a 30 minute Open House, followed by a presentation and community discussion. All are welcome!March 19, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm St. Margaret's Centre - Rooms 1 & 2, 12 Westwood Blvd, Upper TantallonMarch 21, 6:30 - 9:00 pm Atlantica Hotel - Guild Hall, 1980 Robie Street, Halifax*March 26, 6:30 - 9:00 pm Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU)- Rosaria Student Centre, 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax*Online live-streaming available; details to be provided closer to event. Join us for one of the these events, or connect with us on Twitter @PlanHRM, or facebook.com/PlanHRM, to engage in conversation on the future of HRM.

5) CASE 17082 - Bedford South/Wentworth Estates Emscote lands NOTICE OF UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARING Chebucto Community Council Mon. Apr 2nd, 7 p.m. Keshen Goodman Library RequestApplication by Emscote Limited to enter into a development agreement to permit a mixed use residential subdivision at Neighbourhood F and the Mixed Use Business Campus of Wentworth/Bedford South in Halifax. Please see links below for additional information on Case 17082 planning application http://www.halifax.ca/planning/Case17082Details.html and link to HRM staff report to Chebucto Community Council March 5th. http://www.halifax.ca/Commcoun/ccc/documents/120305ccc1011.pdf

6) NOTICE TO RESIDENTS SISTERS OF CHARITY (MOTHERHOUSE) LANDS SOUTHWEST PROPERTIES INVITES RESIDENTS TO ATTEND AN UPCOMING Community Information Session /Open House(See attached PDF letter to residents) HOSTED BY SOUTHWEST PROPERTIES DATE: Wednesday April 11TIME: 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. WHERE: St Benedict's Church hall 45 Radcliffe DrAll welcome! For information, questions or comments please contact: motherhouse@Southwest.ca Note: THERE HAS BEEN NO APPLICATION MADE TO HRM ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY LANDS. April 11th PIM /OPEN HOUSE is NOT an HRM hosted or sponsored Public Information Meeting.

7) Mainland Halifax North - Bedford Corridor Transportation and Waste Water Servicing Strategy Report (514 Kb) Presentation (858 Kb) http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/120228ca1021.pdf http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/120228ca1021pres.pdf Due to the ongoing and future development that is currently underway or expected in areas of Bedford and Birch Cove/Rockingham, HRM staff and Regional Council recently endorsed that a servicing strategy be initiated for the Bedford - Mainland Halifax North Corridor toestimate transportation and wastewater services upgrades needed to service future growthwith associated costs and suggested means of finance; and2. Further public consultation on all development proposals referenced in the January 12,2012staff report which require plan amendments, be deferred until the servicing study has beencompleted. (see links above for details pertaining to this planning initiative. NOTE: the former radio transmitter lands proposal and planning process is proceeding through public consultation and staff review for reasons noted in the staff report.

8) HRM District Boundaries - Effective October municipal and school board election, HRM is reduced from 23 districts to 16. There are significant district boundary changes for our area in addition to school board district boundary changes. For more information please log on HRM's website and link to: http://www.halifax.ca/BoundaryReview/index.html HRM Municipal and School Board election - to be held October 20, 2012. For more information please go to HRM website www.halifax.ca link to: http://halifax.ca/election/index.html



Warm regards, /Debbie Councillor Debbie HumDistrict 16 Rockingham - WentworthPO Box 1749Halifax, NS B3J 3A5 490-6807 (Work Phone) 476-7212 (Cell Phone)490-4050 (Council Office)490-4122 (Fax)To get on the distribution list for the District 16 e-mail newsletter or email updates, send email to campbem@halifax.ca with the words Newsletter List in the subject line. Addresses will not be shared; they will be used for this purpose only.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Hats off to Mark de Jonge


There are a number of things I’d like to share on the blog this morning.

1. First hats off to our own Mark de Jonge for winning the men’s 200m in Portugal. Mark is 27 years old and has one more race to qualify for the Olympics in London, England this coming summer. Here's a link to a (not very high quality) video of the race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_uf47XRIyc . I think we must have a celebratory event at Maskwa once Mark gets back to celebrate and show him our support.

2. Locally the MLA boundaries are up for review and our MLA Kelly Regan and MLA Diana Whalen for Clayton-Park sent me the following as a FYI. Brief information is below.

After each census, the province selects a commission and gives it terms of reference. Boundaries often change because of population changes, and the areas you live and work in are two of the fastest growing areas in the province. Halifax - Clayton Park and Bedford - Birch Cove are the two fastest growing ridings, and we have the largest number of electors - almost 5,000 above the maximum the province is aiming for.
Both Diana and I recognize our ridings are going to change a lot. I wanted to bring this issue to your attention because I thought your neighbourhood association might have some opinions on what parts of the riding should be together - what we call "a community of interest." You can make a presentation to the Commission (all the HRM dates are during
March Break) or you can send them an email submission. You can find the information about the hearings at http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20120301005. You can find more information on the commission (including how to make a submission) at http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/ . They'll bring back their interim report on May 31st. If you don't like it, you can object then. If you do like it, you should say so -- because changes in other ridings unhappy with their new boundaries could change ours.

3. I’m attempting to plan a Spring Craft Market at Maskwa which will coincide with a
local residential yard sale. If you would like to book a table they are $50 + tax. We are currently looking at the date around mid-May at the club. Date will be determined asap.

4. Open House – Mark your calendars for the Maskwa Open House on Saturday, May 12 starting
9am-2pm at the club.
5. Maskwa is looking to rent out its kitchen. For more details email Renee Field, Club Manager at manager.maskwa@gmail.com.