Snippets April 1 2011
 
 
There was no Snippets for Mid March – March Break kept me too busy!
So lots of dates to add to your calendars, and articles to read through in this early-April edition.
 
Earth Day
Have you noticed how much garbage remains when the snow melts? What to do????
Come out to the Earth Day Clean Up held on Saturday 30th April– 10am-12noon.  There will be 2 locations within the Clairfields Neighbourhood Group boundaries.  One meeting place at Gosling Gardens Park and one meeting place at Conservation Estates Park.  CNG representatives will be there to greet, guide and direct you.  
This is the 6th year of cleaning up our own neighbourhood.  City of Guelph provides garbage bags, pick up of garbage, newspaper coverage etc.  We provide the manpower and refreshments to keep us going!  This is a Canada wide event – let’s join in!  Come out and meet your neighbours as we all make our areas a cleaner place to live!
 
Garage Sale – Community
Saturday 14th May, 8am-12noon.
The Clairfields Neighbourhood is once again participating in a Neighbourhood Garage Sale.  Mark the date on your calendars and start saving your treasures.   All proceeds are yours to keep – there is no sign up – basically the more houses involved the more people come to our neighbourhood on one day.

CNG Monthly Meetings
We hold our meetings monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
7pm at the Royal on Gordon Retirement Residence.
We average 4-5 residents at the meeting from the 1200 homes in our neighbourhood.
Can you come out for 1 hour once a month?
Next meeting on Tuesday 19th April at 7pm.
 
  
NSC Representative
The Neighbourhood Support Coalition (NSC) is growing and evolving. In order to remain a participant in the NSC, the CNG is required to provide representation on the NSC committee. We require a person that would be available to represent the CNG at a meeting, for a couple of hours in the evening, four times per year (2nd Tuesday in January, April, June, and October).
Our core team has no one available to meet this needed commitment. Can you help? Contact us at Clairfields@gmail.com.  Next meeting isTuesday April 12, 6:30-9pm at City Hall, room number to be confirmed.

 
Royal on Gordon – Events
The neighbourhood has been invited to join in with the many activities arranged by Nancy (Activities Director) at the Royal on Gordon Retirement Residence.   Please see below for a few upcoming events:    All welcome to attend.  RSVPs are required to some events.
 Thursday, April 14th, 7:15pm
Come to The Royal on Gordon for a guest lecture on Osteoporosis and You. The night is sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. and hosted by The Royal on Gordon.  Come and have your questions answered by an expert in the field.
 Friday, April 15th, 2:30pm
Join us in the Dining Room of The Royal on Gordon as we enjoy entertainment by The Silvertones.  After the concert; tour the new townhouses with Yvonne and fill out a draw for your chance at a $50 gift certificate from Stone Road Mall.
 Friday, May 6th, 2:30pm
A special event - Mother’s Day Tea and Chocolate Demonstration.  We invite everyone, men and women alike, to this wonderful afternoon of delectable treats!  While you're at it - tour the new townhouses with Yvonne.  You could win a lovely bouquet just in time for Mother's Day!
 
Tree Rebates
With spring fast approaching, LEAF – Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests will be again running the Cool Communities Residential Shade Tree Planting Program which offers homeowners in Guelph rebates totalling up to $100 on native trees/shrubs.
 Available between April 20 and June 5 at participating local nurseries, the program is designed to aid homeowners in planting native trees and shrubs for home energy conservation. For more information go to:  yourleaf.org      treetours.to        @LEAF_to on twitter

CNG Quarterly Newsletter
The dates of publication for the Quarterly Newsletter (hand delivered to over 1200 homes and businesses) have now altered to March, June, September, and December.
We are looking for more contributors - what would you like to see in the Quarterly?  Send us your ideas and thoughts....
Thank you to Kim and Tim who have offered to take over the recipe / cooking section.
And thanks to Gerry for your idea for the article for the next issue – stay tuned for their articles!
 
If you have any ideas you would like to submit please contact us with your article or suggestions.
Here are a few ideas - can you write an article on something that interests you?
Your hobby (ice fishing, scrapbooking, soccer, music, etc) 
 

• day to day life in Guelph  /     - a recent vacation
• why you moved here  /           - your work - where do you work /tell us about it
• your volunteer time ; where do you volunteer  and why 
• what is your school like  /   -  how does  Guelph compare to where you used to live
• what do you love about your neighbourhood and what do you dislike?

We are happy to accept a one-off contribution, but if you would like a regular slot that would be even better – it is only 4 articles in a year. 
Contact clairfields@gmail.comfor further information or questions – or see below.

Bottle Drive
On Saturday April 16th - The Boys under 8 rep soccer team will be going around the neighbourhood collecting empty beer / wine bottles. The money raised from the collection will be put towards the soccer tournaments and equipment that is needed to run the team.
Email-ken.roussel@rogers.comto have your empties picked up, or if you would like to drop off any empties - leave them in front of the garage door @ 46 Doyle Dr.
  
Jane’s Walk...
is a series of neighbourhood walking tours  where locals lead a walk around their neighbourhood (or a neighbourhood they love or are knowledgeable about in Guelph) pointing out all the great spots, natural features and even cool residents while telling stories of what happens in that neighbourhood and why they love it.
Anyone can do it – you just have to care about your neighbourhood and Guelph.  The website does a great job of explaining the concept:
http://www.janeswalk.net/
They are looking for volunteers to lead a ‘Jane’s Walk’ on Saturday May 7th and/or Sunday May 8th
    • for an hour  or two 
    • around your neighbourhood, or a favourite part of Guelph.
    • walk, bike, paddle or lead it in song!
    * They would love some Leaders to lead in a different language.
       Your walk can educate, motivate and inspire, share if necessary but not to vent politics.   

Tips for Walk Leaders: http://www.janeswalk.net/lead/6tips/
 
Jane's Walks started in Toronto in 2007, and Guelph has hosted a walk each year. In May of 2010, 424 walks were held in 68 cities in nine countries, including Berlin, Goa, and Madrid. Last year Guelph hosted over 20 walks, and it was so popular that we are encouraging more walks. We want you to be involved!  
It's called "Jane's Walk" in honour of Jane Jacobs.  “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody

 GARBAGE
Next collection date is Wednesday March 30th – NO Clear Waste.
SNIPPETS 
If you have any local 'Snippets' of information or feedback you’d like to share, please let us know.    Clairfields Neighbourhood Group’ is now also on Facebook.
 
 CONTACT INFORMATION
For the full Clairfields Neighbourhood Group calendar visit: http://www.clairfields.org/calendar
Please contact the email below if you would like to volunteer for any events.  Can you spare 1 hour every 4 months to deliver some newsletters to your street?
 
Anything to add, comment on, and get further details? Contact us via email at clairfields@gmail.com; or call Brigid 519-822-8323.