Birch Glen Talkback

Second Phase of Watermain Work Announced

2011-11-01T02:58:00.000-04:00

A letter was delivered to residents on Kos Blvd. last week indicating that the Region of Peel contractors would be starting work on Kos "on or around October 31". The pylons have been placed along the street and the street (and boulevards) have been marked with coloured paint (indicating the various utilities), so we can expect the digging to begin any day now.
As noted in the letter, traffic along Kos may be reduced to a single lane during construction and rerouted if necessary. As well, space along the street will be needed for the various types of equipment used by the contractors during the project. They have stated that they may need to block some drivieways for a short time as they proceed around the neighbourhood. Therefore, when the contractors are working on your section of the street, it may be wise to park your car(s) somewhere else to ensure that you will be able to get in and out of the neighbourhood. This pertains to both driveways and the street. We all depend on our cars to go everywhere, so you don't want to be caught unaware or unprepared.
Contact names and numbers were provided on the Resident Notice dated October 20.

Watermain Work Started

2011-10-22T14:31:00.000-04:00

Residents living on Andros Blvd., Zante Crescent, Zante Court and Johnston's Lane received notification recently that refurbishing of their watermains would begin the week of October 17. Since the work on the watermains is deemed cathodic, the streets will not be subjected to digging. This work will continue over the next few weeks as Peel Region staff make their way across the southern portion of the neighbourhood. If you have any questions, please contact the Region of Peel or go to their website.
There is no word as yet when the replacement work will begin on Kos Blvd., Ithaca Court and Lefkas Court; we have been assured we will receive notification in our mailboxes prior to commencement date. There were issues that needed to be resolved with the Credit Valley Conservation Authority first since the work requires digging below the creek bed of Birchwood Creek on both arms of Kos.
Stay tuned for further information and details as they arrive.

Hold Off on All Driveway Repairs

2011-08-07T15:12:00.000-04:00

Are you planning on redoing your driveway over the next few months? If so, please postpone those repairs until 2012. This has been suggested by City staff at the Transportation and Works Department -- and it applies to everyone in the Birch Glen neighbourhood area.

The reason for this suggestion is threefold and it involves our streets being dug up sometime over the next few months.

1. The Region of Peel is planning to replace all of the watermains in the neighbourhood starting (we understand) sometime this year. We are expecting to learn soon when that work will begin -- but we know that it will continue for some months after it begins since they will likely work in sections moving around the neighbourhood until it is completed.

2. Bell Canada is expected to be coming into the neighbourhood to replace existing cables with the new fibre optic cable technology. This will likely also involve digging up the streets to install the new cables. We are hoping that this will be done at the same time as the Region is in doing the watermains, and have suggested to the City that someone work on coordinating the efforts of both the Region of Peel and Bell Canada.

3. After the Region and Bell have completed their installations, the Transportation & Works Department of the City of Mississauga will be coming in to repave all of the streets in Birch Glen. This will involve removing the existing paving and curbs and laying down new asphalt on the streets and putting in new curbs. It will also involve the repaving of the boulevard portions of every driveway in the neighbourhood. At the same time, they will be replacing some of the sidewalks in the neighbourhood, which will also involve approximately 1 foot of the driveway on the property side of the sidewalk. We will be informed of the timing and extent of the work a few weeks before the City comes in to start the work on the street.

We have reported some of this to you in the newsletter earlier this year. However, we still do not have information on when this will begin or when it will end. If you have already contacted a contractor to do your driveway, may we suggest that you ask him to hold off on the work until the City has completed all of its repaving.

Once the work has begun, individual homeowners -- including those who have already redone their driveways -- will be able to talk to the City's paving contractor to discuss what can be done in their specific driveways. However, the City will not be able to replace any brick or concrete on the driveways. The boulevard portions will only be done in asphalt.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us immediately either through this blog, by email or phone.

Bore Hole Drilling by Region Staff

2011-07-29T10:57:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed some activity on the streets yesterday and today -- trucks and workers on Ithaca and Lefkas Court yesterday and on Kos Blvd. today. They are from the Region of Peel. They are drilling bore holes, a precursor to the major work of replacing the watermains throughout the neighbourhood.

We may know next week when that work will begin, but we have no way of knowing when it will end. The work is absolutely necessary -- see the previous post about sinkholes -- and we are grateful that it is being done. It may be messy and cause some disruptions to traffic during construction, but that is to be expected. Please be patient and co-operative.

After the watermain work is completed, the City's Transportation and Works department will be coming in to repave all of the streets. Again, we do not have a timeline for this, but it will likely not happen until 2012, depending on how long the watermain work takes.

We will be keeping you up to date through this blog as things happen. Please feel free to comment or question here as well.

Potholes, Sinkholes Everywhere...

2011-05-28T00:45:00.000-04:00

We have had so much rain over the past month that it appears the soil under our streets is being washed away -- to where we do not know. We are left with numerous potholes and what look like the beginnings of sinkholes throughout the neighbourhood.

You may have noticed the coloured markings around some of the holes. on some street corners, curbs and even sidewalks. That usually signals that work of some sort is about to take place. We do know that the Region of Peel is planning to begin work on the watermains throughout the neighbourhood -- continuing what they were doing on Silver Birch and on Nesdale last year. We also assume they are waiting for a break in the weather to start this work.At this point in time, we do not have a start date -- or a completion date.

What we have been told is this: when Peel Region has completed the work on the watermains, the City of Mississauga will begin paving the streets. We will keep you updated here, on the website, and in our newsletter. Meanwhile, keep the cursing to a minimum, drive around the potholes, and watch out for others both walking and driving.

Saturday morning & it is raining!

2011-04-16T10:12:00.000-04:00

It is 10:00 a.m. on Spring Cleanup day, but the weather is not cooperating. Rain, cold, wind. I don't think anyone is crazy or dedicated enough to go out in this weather to pick up litter. I know I am not. Going to hold off on going out to see if it clears up.

20-Minute Makeover Today

2011-04-15T12:44:00.000-04:00

Looks like a great day to get out and participate in the 20-Minute Makeover. Weather is sunny if a little cool and windy. I am going out for a bit today, maybe more than once. Anyone want to join me?
I am a little concerned about tomorrow's weather, so I would like to get some litter-picking done today during the 20-MM. See you out there!

Weather alerts for Saturday, April 16

2011-04-15T12:37:00.001-04:00

The forecast is for RAIN -- 100% possibility of precipitation during the hours of the cleanup), with about 20 - 30 mm accummulation. Also, winds E at 30 kmh. Sunday's forecast is also showers, 40% POP and >1 mm of rain on the ground, with winds W 40 kmh. So it looks like we are in for a soggy Saturday and Sunday.
Prognosis: If it is not raining Saturday, we proceed as planned. If raining = CANCELLED.

20-Minute Makeover on Friday, April 15

2011-04-14T12:18:00.001-04:00

In addition to our Spring Cleanup on Saturday, take part in the 20-Minute Makeover tomorrow, Friday, April 15. Officially it takes place at 2:00 p.m., but anytime during the day will do.

Spring Cleanup in 2 days!

2011-04-14T12:15:00.000-04:00

Don't forget -- Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon. Meet at Children's Playground in Birch Glen Park (by the bridge).

Remember -- Spring Cleanup in two weeks!

2011-04-01T18:30:00.003-04:00

Spring has arrived and it is time once again for the Annual Spring Cleanup in Birch Glen. This year's date is Saturday, April 16, starting at 10:00 a.m. and going at least until noon. This coincides with the 20-Minute Makeover (April 15 at 2:00 p.m.) and a general Community Cleanup Day in Mississauga, also on April 16. Earth Day follows on April 23.
        We are holding the Cleanup earlier than in previous years, mainly to get a jump start on picking up the litter uncovered when the snow melts.
         This is a community effort and we would like to see the adults in the neighbourhood coming out to provide a good example for the younger generation. This is our neighbourhood and we do have a responsibility to keep it clean and litter-free.
         The "command centre" is at the children's playground in Birch Glen Park, where you can pick up garbage bags, gloves and utensils (provided by the Parks Department/Clarkson Yard), set out on your litter route, then bring the full bags back for pickup by the City.
         Make a point of coming out to help not only the Association Board, but the community as a whole.
         Remember -- Together we are a community; separately we are just people who live in the same neighbourhood. Be part of the community. Get involved.

Report from our AGM

2010-12-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

This year's Annual General Meeting for the Birch Glen Residents' Association was held on Monday, November 22 at Owenwood Public School. Although the turnout was small, the discussion was lively and the presentations were great. We were fortunate to have Councillor Pat Mullin address the group, followed by representatives from Parks and Forestry. In a nutshell, this is what we learned:

The streets in our neighbourhood will be repaved in 2011, but the work will have to wait until the Region of Peel has completed work on watermains throughout the neighbourhood;
Watermain work has been completed on Silver Birch Trail and on Nesdale Court;
Watermain replacement is scheduled in 2011 on Kos Blvd. (east & west legs), Ithaca and Lefkas Courts, with cathodic protection added on Andros, Zante (crescent & court), and Johnson's Lane (from Lakeshore to Andros);
We will be getting leaf pickup starting in Fall 2011. That means that you will be able to push your leaves to the curb for vacuum removal on scheculed days (schedule to be announced next year);
A new developer has taken over the reins for the Clarkson Manor townhouse development on Lakeshore near Birchwood Park and Kentucky Hill. Details will be provided as the project proceeds;
The retirement home in front of Walden Spinney will proceed under a new developer.

Additional information will be provided on our website and in our print newsletter as it becomes available.

House Break-in Reported on Labour Day

2010-09-12T13:13:00.000-04:00

On Monday, September 6 - the last day of the Labour Day long weekend - a home on Kos Blvd. in the neighbourhood was broken into and some valuable items were stolen. The homeowners were present and did see - and confront - the thief immediately outside the home, but were unaware at the time of the confrontation that the thief had already been inside their house and may have already taken items out of the house. Thus, they allowed the person to leave their property. It was only later that they realized they had been robbed and immediately contacted the police, who came out to investigate that evening. A police report has been filed and a description of the thief has been given to the police.
     At this time, we would appreciate hearing from residents both in the vicinity of the break-in and throughout the neighbourhood to find out if there were any other incidents of this sort that night or anytime over the Labour Day weekend. Also, if you know of similar incidents anywhere close to our neighbourhood around that timeframe, please let us know.
     Birch Glen is regarded as one of the safer neighbourhoods in Mississauga and we would like to keep it that way. We realize that break-ins and occurances of this type can happen anywhere and are usually a crime of convenience. That description, however, does not make those who are victims of such crime feel any better or any safer. That is why it is important for anyone with pertinent information to come forward.
     As reported, a description of the thief has been given to the police although he has not yet been identified. If anyone saw or heard anything in the vicinity of Kos Blvd. or the children's playground in Birch Glen Park, please get in touch with us either through this blog or by email (birchglenresidents@gmail.com) or through our website (http://www.birchglen.com/). Comments to the blog can be anonymous; emails will be kept confidential.

Taken: 1 set of summer tires!

2010-02-14T18:14:00.002-05:00

Our neighbourhood is considered one of the safer neighbourhoods in Mississauga by Peel Regional Police but, sometimes, a resident experiences a break-in that makes them wonder how safe they are. Recently, a garage was broken into and the thief (or thieves) stole a set of summer tires -- nothing else, just the tires. This leaves us to scratch our heads and wonder what the thieves were up to. Did they notice the car parked outside the garage, see that it had winter tires on, and thnk "I need a set of summer tires for a car just like this, and this is as good a place to get them as any"? Boggles the mind, really.

So what can we do as a neighbourhood?

If anyone has any information about this, please respond to this post.
To protect our homes and possessions, make sure that you do have a lock on your garage door and lock it at all times. Don't leave the door open if you are not within sight -- it just takes a moment for a thief to enter, take what he wants, and leave, often without you knowing. People usually don't have an alarm attached to their garage doors, but it might be good if we did;
Also make sure that you lock your car doors at all times -- even if it is inside your garage. Thieves are attracted to GPS systems, radios, boom boxes, CD players, anything related to technology -- and it doesn't matter whether it is is permanently "installed" or not for them to attempt to take it. Modern cars sometimes have the capability to lock themselves automatically a short time after the engine has been turned off, but don't take that for granted. Get into the habit of locking it yourself when you exit the car.

This type of crime is simply one of opportunity and does not reflect on surroundings or personalities; it happens all the time all over the city and all the time. That doesn't make it acceptable, far from it! Unfortunately, it happened here within the past week and it is unnerving to the victims, and to the neighbourhood in general. Help us out if you can.

Is anyone out there?

2010-01-06T01:01:00.000-05:00

With the start of both the new year and the new decade, we are hoping to have more dialogue with the residents of Birch Glen - possibly through this blog. The question is, however, whether this blog is redundant, given the news postings on the website and any feedback through direct email. Does this blog fit with the website? Should we keep it? If we do, what should it's use be?

Welcome to our Birch Glen community blog

2009-09-19T00:17:00.003-04:00

With our revamped web site now available, we needed a way to provide feedback and communication within the Residents' Association:

as a link between the Association Executive/Board Directors and member residents;
as a secure link between (and among) the residents within the neighbourhood to share ideas about possible and proposed events and projects they would like to comment on;
a forum for questions about issues relating to the neighbourhood or the community at large.

This is our blog and your blog. Please provide your feedback and comments.