I think that's a wrap for the outdoor Pickleball season!

I hope you all find a place to play indoors. Of course SEESA (and NEESA?) are good, inexpensive and worthy options. You may also want to check out some of the purpose-built spaces at EVPC and PickleballHub. They are a bit pricier, but offer lots of playing times and great facilities.

I will start Pickleball at the Bonnie Doon Hall in December. This year we'll be playing on Sunday afternoons, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Remember that this is really geared to beginners. Very loose play. Most of you will find that your level has improved beyond this group. But tell your friends if they're interested in trying. 😀

Thanks so much to those that have helped with the nets (Joël, Juan, Robert, Thea and others). Thanks to all that have come out to play throughout the outdoor season! It has been a pleasure playing Pickleball with you and getting to know you.

Karen

BDCL is piloting a new fitness program for folks 50 and up!

Decades ago, were PE and recess your favourite subjects in elementary school? Come join us for an elementary PE-inspired fitness class Tuesdays in November 2023 from 2:30 to 3:30 PM at Bonnie Doon Community Hall.

Please bring a very soft ball like a Nerf ball if you can. The focus is on having fun while moving in whatever way suits you!

There is no need to register, no need to be in great shape, just show up Tuesdays, November 7, 14, 21 and 28 shortly before 2:30 PM with a ball (or two for someone who might show up without one) and clean indoor running shoes!

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival runs August 10 to 13 this year. Areas indicated on the map below will have parking restricted to one side of the street during those dates. (This allows emergency vehicles to pass through; the streets in the north of Bonnie Doon are narrower than in the south).

On the sides of streets where you can park, you will need a parking permit, printed by the City and hung from your rear view mirror. League volunteers will give two permits to residents living in the affected area on these dates:

• Saturday, July 29, 3:30 to 5:00
• Wednesday, August 2, 7:00 to 8:30
• Sunday, August 6, 2:00 to 3:30

Go to the Bonnie Doon Hall, 9240 93 Street at those times with government issued photo ID containing an address in the affected area. If you've recently moved to Bonnie Doon, bring your photo ID ansa utility bill or something similar with your name and new address on it. We'll give you some parking permits.

Thanks to our Secretary, Scott Kusalik, for organizing all this!

Kickball is like soccer and baseball got together and had a baby! It's a ton of fun and requires no skill to play. Come play on Team Bonnie Doon as we compete against Hazeldean and other nearby neighbourhoods, August 19, starting at 1:00 pm. We'll be playing at the field by Hazeldean Community Hall, 9630 66 Ave.

We will field two teams:

• Kids Team, 15 years old and younger (parents decide if their child is old enough to play with 15 year olds)
• Adults Team, 16 years old and up.

To join one of our teams, write to Mark, social@bonniedoon.ca.

On Sunday, June 4, Rutherford School Council invites the Bonnie Doon community to a Party In the Park at Rutherford School field, 8620 91 Street. There will be face painting and balloon twisting. Bring a blanket and come meet your neighbours!

There will be 2 food trucks on site:

• Guilt Free Eats
• Little Bear Gelato

Expect performances by two special guests:

• 1:00 to 2:00 pm Beppie – Children’s performer and two-time Juno Award nominee for Children's Album of the Year.
  
• 2:30 to 3:30 pm Andrea House – Singer songwriter, who creates in a wide spectrum of styles from jazz and country to folk and musical theatre.

Hosted by Rutherford School Council, in partnership with Bonnie Doon Community League and The City of Edmonton, the goal of this social event is to enable families to connect and have fun.

Green Shack drop-in programs are back, beginning July 4, weekdays from 2.30 to 5.30PM.

Get active and join in on games, sport, crafts, music, drama and special events! A complete list of activities and special events is posted on the side of Green Shacks each week. If there is a game or activity that piques your child's interest that you would like to have included in the programming, just ask the Program Leader.

Program leaders will be hosting a variety of games, challenges and activities that are sure to get kids active and having fun! 😎

Programs Leaders are easily identified by their blue shirts and may be assisted by volunteer leaders in training.
All leaders:

• Have completed a security clearance process, are trained in first aid, and are certified specialists in fun!
• Ensure participants play safely (Parents are responsible for their children at all times and must be available in the event of an emergency).

Programming is still available on rainy/snowy days, but may be cancelled during severe weather.

Some Bonnie Doon residents have been meeting with the city to improve traffic safety in Bonnie Doon. They met May 17, 2023. Their report says, "Five members of the Bonnie Doon Vision Zero community group met with City employees yesterday. Nabila Chatur, Traffic Planner, presented a plan for near term interventions to help limit traffic short-cutting and reduce unsafe speeds in 2 key areas. Biggest takeaway: there are some real actions set to happen in the near future."

Read their complete, two-page report (PDF).

Can you spare some time and join your neighbours to tidy up Bonnie Doon? We will be meeting at Bonnie Doon Park, near the gazebo, Thursday, May 25 at 6:00pm. When preparing for the cleanup, ensure that you:

• Dress for the weather
  
• Wear gloves & sturdy footwear
  
• Charge your cell phone and bring it with you.

For more safety tips, visit the city's cleanup website. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided on-site. If you have your own supplies you’d like to bring, like grabbers, feel free to bring those as well.

Pizza and refreshments will be served afterwards!

Join us Saturday, May 27 from 10:00am to 4:00pm for a community clothing swap at Bonnie Doon Community Hall, 9240 93 Street.

We encourage you to bring 10 or more items (clean and free of stains & defects) to the hall Friday, May 26 between 4:00pm and 9:00pm to help us set up. You may also bring the day of the event.

We will have coffee & donuts plus door prizes from some great local businesses: French Toast Cafe, Unbelts, the Columbian Coffee and Roastery and Fox Glove Wellness.

All of the excess inventory will be redistributed as needed to the following organizations: Indigenous Birth Alberta, Pregnancy Pathways through Radius Health, Terra Center, Basically Babies, Suit Yourself & Blenderz Garment Recyclers.

We are also raising money which will be used to support Blenderz and their zero waste services to process the excess inventory. Funds will also go to sakihta kikinaw through Boyle Street Community Services (a low income housing project for female identifying individuals). We encourage a donation of $10 by cash (card also accepted).

What to bring (all items must be clean, and free of fragrance & animal hair):

Thanks to the Edmonton Police Service for these notes. For more information, visit edmontonpolice.ca/garagesecurity...

As we enter the summer months, it is important to lock up whatever items you keep in the garage or in a shed to prevent theft. From April to June 2022, EPS received 466 reports of garage break and enters  Some of the most common items targeted were tools, bikes, outdoor equipment, vehicles, and garage door openers. If your garage or shed has been broken into, report it by either calling the EPS non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or reporting online.

Bicycles are one of the more common items stolen from garages. If possible, keep it hidden or lock it up to deter people away from trying to steal it. Register your bike at Bike Index. Doing so can make the process of recovering your bike a lot easier if it gets stolen.

If you keep your tools and equipment in the garage or in a shed, remember to have an inventory list of everything you keep in there. If applicable, be sure to record make, model, serial number, and any distinguishing features so if any of your items is stolen, it will make it easier for police to recover your property.

Whether your vehicle is parked outside your home or in your garage, remember to remove your valuables, including your garage door opener. If your vehicle gets broken into, someone can steal your garage door opener and gain access to your garage and possibly your home. If your garage or vehicle has been broken into, report it by either calling the EPS non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or reporting online.

BDCL emphasizes that reporting a crime improves the stats EPS uses to allocate resources to Bonnie Doon.