Crime / Community Meeting, November 3rd, 2011

Approximately 30 community minded citizens attended the Community meeting at W.P. Bate School on November 3rd. Inspector Ballard, Central Division and Sgt. Borassa were in attendance and gave those in attendance an overview of what was happening in Central Division and in Meadowgreen in particular.

Inspector Ballard stated that there was a decrease in crime in Meadowgreen over the past five years 30%. In numbers that translates to 60 less violent crime calls and 120 less calls regarding property. This year-to-date we are at 20% less crime overall although there is a 13% increase in property crime and the city overall has seen an increase in stolen automobiles. As well there is an increase in willful damage to cars. The analysis of auto thefts it was noted that in 40% of the crimes the owners either left the car running or left a key hidden in the car. Inspector Ballard said it was clear regarding what we might do to reduce this crime - no cars left running unlocked and no keys left in a car no matter how well hidden. As well don't leave any valuables in the car including parking meter change. A tag was left with residents to put in their car window saying, " No valuables inside!"

Inspector Ballard also stated that while there is an increase in graffitti incidents it was because more people were reporting the incidences as well as the Police being more proactive in soliciting more information. It was noted that you can now report these types of incidences on-line at the police website. It was noted that if you get the license plate of someone speeding you are encouraged to call in the license plate. If this is an on-going event then speak to the traffic person - Sgt. Grant Obst. As well this is the same if you see someone talking on a cell phone or running a red light - note down the license plate and call it in to the Police at 975-8300.

Counsellor Lorje was also present at the meeting and community members talked about the condition of backalleys, crime in the walkway tunnels, crossing 22nd Street and the general increase in traffic on Witney Avenue and 20th Street.

The Community Association Annual Meeting was held and reports were given by executive members. Program Director Yvonne Boehr stated that Outdoor Soccer for children 3 to 10 years of age was successful with 55 kids in four different teams. The Housing Coordinator, Jerry Bartzen was not in attendance but he was responsible for reporting houses that needed to be tended to. Bob Roy, Community Watch sits on the Central Division Community Committee and reports community incidents to the Police. Peter Kozakavich was not present due to a health issue but ensured that the City approved the Bate Cairn and took good care of the Meadowgreen rink. Gordon Wensley, Vice President, said the community had its up and downs and that he was stepping down for younger blood to step up. Pat Tymchatyn, President, reported on the overall accomplishments of the Association for the past year including the highest attendance at the Community Fair with 603 people attending, a Community Clean-up event in the spring and the fact the W.P. Bate Cairn has actually been built in Dutchak Park and that we are waiting for the commemorative plaque to arrive from Edmonton.

Elections were held. The Executive for 2011-2011 is as follows:

President Pat Tymchatyn

Vice-President vacant

Civics Director Rina Veltkamp

Treasurer vacant

Secretary vacant

Community Watch Coordinator Bob Roy

Rink Coordinator Peter Kozakavich

Newsletter Editor Brad Peters

Program Director Yvonne Boehr

Housing Coordinator Director vacant

Newsletter Distribution Rosemari Wutke

Seniors Coordinator vacant

A call was put out for volunteers for the Community Fair and two people volunteered. If you wish to be involved in that committee please call Pat at 382-6514

Newsletter volunteers are needed for Ave Y and Witney Avenue.

The meeting ended at 9:00 p.m.

Crime/Community Meeting, November 3rd, 2011

The Meadowgreen Community Association will be holding a Crime/Community Meeting on November 3rd at 7 p.m. at W.P. Bate School in the Meadowgreen Community Room (go east as you come in the main doors). Inspector Ballard, Central Division, will be speaking about the activity in our area (graffitti, mischief, break and enters etc.). We will be able to gain an idea as to what has been happening in the community over the past five years as well as what we as community members are able to do. Please bring your concerns and observations to this important meeting.

As well the Community Association will report on its work for the past year. New executive members are needed and thus if you are interested in making our Community even better please volunteer. If you require more information call Pat at 382-6514.

June Community Association Meeting

On June 14th the Meadowgreen Community Association met. The Executive discussed the very successful Community Fair which over 600 people attended. A big thank you to all the volunteers who came out and helped us put on this successful community event.

Plans are underway to install the W.P. Bate marker in Cahill Park this summer - stayed tuned! Work is still underway on the Meadowgreen Sign more information will be coming. Fundraising will be happening in the fall to raise funds for the sign.
A big thank you to the Meadowgreen Soccer coaches who have had a very successful season. A thank you as well to the parents and everyone who helped out with the soccer season.

Meadowgreen Garage Sale goes on despite the cold

On Saturday June 4th Meadowgreen residents braved the cold and wind to hold a successful community garage sale. There were sales on every block and many great deals! I know - since - I came home with a few items. A big thank you to the community members who got into the spirit selling hot dogs and hamburgers along with some that gave away free coffee.

Meadowgreen Fair a smashing success!!!

Over 600 people came out to enjoy the Meadowgreen Community Association's Community Barbeque and Fair on May 31st, 2011. After a few raindrops, the displayers moved indoors then the sun came out and it was an enjoyable evening. The mosquitoes held out until we were taking down. The House of All Nations supplied hamburgers for the event and their volunteers seen here spent the evening cooking them. A big thank you goes out to them for their participation. As well a big thank you to Peter and the many Meadowgreen volunteers who were in the kitchen preparing the hotdogs and wrapping hot dogs and hamburgers. Over 600 hamburgers and 300 hotdogs were eaten. A hungry crowd!

Lots of activities took place. Below is the Jousting Arena which was a big hit with the strong and mighty youth who tried to knock each other off the jousting pedestals. The line-ups were long and thanks to the volunteers and Gordon for sorting out who was taking part when. What a success!
For the creative persons in the crowd the Mendel Art Caravan was a welcome addition. The artists in the crowd spent time on creating master pieces to take home and all ages enjoyed the activity.

A magic act by Beeper the Clown kept everyone enthralled. Then Beeper was the most popular clown as she made hundreds of balloon animals for children to take home. Wow Beeper you sure can do those animals fast. Every child was thrilled with their creation!

While people waited for their food there was the Saskatoon Jugging Club to watch. As well James Steele, the North American Grand Champion Fiddler performed along with Lionel Goldenson. It was a crowd pleasing performance. There were displays from many community groups in the Community Room including the Nursing Students, the Saskatoon Health Region, the House of All Nations etc. Thank you for coming out and participating in our event!

A few people were even seen texting their friends to come out and enjoy the event!

There were some enthusiastic youth who joined the Saskatoon Juggling Club for some personal tutoring on how to get going on the stilts, juggling and unicycle. Watch out for juggling youth on our streets as the performers were a big hit! At the end of the evening Holly was the proud winner of the Laptop donated by PBR Auction. Thanks to everyone who came and entered the draw.

A big thank you goes out to the Meadowgreen Community Association members who put in many hours trying to make sure this event went off without a hitch! As well a big thank you to our volunteer from British Columbia who came for a visit to her friend who moved to Meadowgreen in the fall and did a great job helping us out. Also a big thank you to the Open Door volunteers who helped us out! Great job everyone!!!

Meadowgreen Clean-up Successful!!!

A lovely spring day and sixteen great community minded individual came out to clean up some of the trash lining our street. The oldest community member was over 70 years of age and the youngest five years old. We had three young women who was volunteering for a school project so we thank them for volunteering in their neighborhood. Many garbage bags were filled and one spirited young woman said she had filled four black garbage bags!
Numerous cleaners mentioned the number of Tim Horton coffee cups that they had picked up. We hit a number of hot spots on our clean up including Meadowgreen Park, Cahill Park, the Meadowgreen Recycle Depot, the corner of 20th and Ave W and the Confectionary at 18th and Ave W. After two hours of clean-up the volunteers celebrated their efforts with Tim Horton's coffee (LOL!), cookies and juice. Thanks for all your work!
Special thanks goes to Wendy and Fritz who spurred us on to having this clean-up after moving to Meadowgreen from British Columbia and wondering when our community was going to start cleaning up!

Also a thank you to the community members who joined us in our clean up efforts by getting outside and cleaning up around their houses, yards and down their blocks and back alleys. Every bit helps make Meadowgreen a great place to live!

April Community Association Meetings

The Community Association members have been busy meeting this month trying to get many events up and organized.

May 1st we hope you will join with us to clean up Meadowgreen. Spring has finally arrived just to have us find piles of garbage blowing around our streets. I hope you will join the CA Members on May 1st to help clean up Meadowgreen. Garbage bags will be supplied so come and join us and bring enthusiastic helpers to clean-up our community. Join us at 1 p.m. at W.P.Bate School.

22nd Street Sign Fundraising Committee volunteers needed. Would you like to help Meadowgreen finally get an identifying sign just like all the other communities in our city. We could use some enthusiastic, creative people to work on this great project. If you would like to help, contact Pat at 382-6514.

Community Garage Sale has moved to June 4th!!! Now is the time to start thinking about the community garage sale and so we hope you will join your neighbors in the annual Community Garage Sale whether it is having your own garage sale or coming to the school front lawn and selling your stuff there. Hope to see you out on June 4th!

Our successful Community Fair will be May 31st from 5 to 8 p.m. at Meadowgreen Park and W.P. Bate School. Plan to attend and check the newsletter for your entry form to win a computer at the Community Fair. We could use many volunteers to help us with the event so if you could give us a hand please contact Pat at 382-6514. More details to come. . . .

February Community Association Meeting

The Meadowgreen Community Garage Sale will take place on Saturday May 28, 2011. The event will take place at individual homes in the community and will be advertised as a community event.

The sign that will be going up on the corner of 22nd Street and Witney Avenue will be the stone design. Once the final design is decided the sign design will be posted for everyone to see. Stay tuned for more information. The Community Association will need to fundraise to build this sign so if you have any fundraising ideas please talk to an executive member. As well if you are able to help with building the sign we would love to hear from you.

Plans are underway to install a memorial cairn in Dutchak Park (the old W. P. Bate School site) on the 300 block of Ottawa Avenue South. Bricks from the old Bate School were saved and they will be used in constructing the memorial cairn.

Outdoor soccer registration will take place on March 1st from 5 to 7 p.m. at W. P. Bate School. Kids ages 3 o 10 are welcome to join in this fun outdoor activity. There will be a weekly practice and one game a week from May to mid-June. For more information contact Yvonne at 955-0035.

Outdoor Soccer Registration, March 1, 2011

Meadowgreen Community Association soccer registration will take place on Tuesday, March 1st from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at W. P. Bate School, 2515 18th Street West. The registration fees will be Under 6 (ages 3 to 6) $50.; Under 8 (ages 7 & 8) $50. and Under 10 $65. Kids Sport forms will be available for children who require financial support.

Parents should know that the children will play half of their games in Meadowgreen this year at either Meadowgreen Park on 18th Street (under 10) or Dutchak Park (old Bate site) on Ottawa Avenue. The rest of the games will be played at other locations including Holiday Park, Montgomery Place, Mount Royal and City Park. Parents are responsible for transporting their children to the games! As well there needs to be an adult accompanying all players to games and practices. There will be one game and one practice for every week of the season. The season will begin in May and end with City-wide tournament at the Soccer Center in Erindale mid-June.

Parents who wish to volunteer to coach a team, please contact Yvonne at 955-0035. For more information contact Yvonne at 955-0035 or Pat at 382-6514.

Meadowgreen Sign -22nd St & Witney Avenue

We need your input! Meadowgreen Community Association is trying to decide which sign best represents our community. There are three choices all of the unique and would really let people know that Meadowgreen is a great place to be. Check out the signs at www.meadowgreencommunity.wikispaces.com and come back and vote for your favourite sign.