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Summer Fun

To say I didn’t have fun thinking about this list would be a lie as I quickly began to discover that one idea created another. Summer is almost here and more to the point, the kids are almost out of school. If you’re like most parents I’ve met, you might be wondering how to keep them busy and out of trouble. Well, we’ve done a lot of the work for you to come up with ideas for summer evenings for the whole family, jam packed days just for kids and even a few quick “road trips.”

This list is just beginning to scratch the surface of activities you can find in and around Calgary. If you have other ideas and suggestions, visit our website at www.community-connection.ca and let us know. We’ll be making periodic updates to the list and you’ll be able to find it online all summer long.

Now all that’s left is for you to make a decision on what to do, where to go and when to do it. Include the whole family in the decision making process–you’ll probably be amazed how much fun it can be!

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Shotz :: Photo Tips from a Pro #5

Zooming In

This month I want to focus on Macro photography. Spring offers up the opportunity to capture some unique nature photography.  If you consult the Internet to look up the definition of Macro photography, you’ll be offered all types of convoluted explanations of the term. Simply put, Macro Photography can be best described as capturing really small subjects and making them seem larger than life.

It’s possible to find dedicated camera gear that specializes in Macro photography. If you have one of these dedicated macro cameras or lenses that’s great. Unless you’re a professional photographer or a camera addict, you don’t necessarily need one.

You don’t even need a digital camera; however it will help you learn the style a lot quicker than waiting for your film to be developed! A tripod, especially one which will allow you to position the camera near to the ground will help you greatly but again, is not necessary. Many digital cameras even have a setting that can assist you with this style; typically indicated by a flower symbol. This will set the camera to slower shutter speeds and usually turn on the flash as you need as much available light as possible when taking macro photographs.

You only need to look as close as the nearest flower bed or tree to locate a subject to photograph. Flowers are great subjects not only because they are vibrant but also because they contain so much detail, especially close up.

After finding your subject get into a comfortable position.  You’re going to need to get close to the item you’re shooting so if you’re lying on the ground, you may want to put down a blanket. You’ll need to extend your zoom/telephoto to it’s maximum and get as close as your camera will allow you to while maintaining image focus. Start by taking a few pictures as you try focusing on a specific area of your subject. If you’re capturing a flower, try to capture the stamen right in the center. The effect should be that the stamen occupies the majority of the frame.  You’ll notice your picture stands out more as the area around your subject will be blurred. Don’t give up as it may take you easily twenty or thirty shots to capture one picture that really stands out.

So get out there with your camera and give it a try. Happy shooting! CC

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Airport Trail Tunnel Update

I am continuing my fight to increase awareness of the need for the tunnel under the new north/south runway being built by the Airport in the next few years.  I am finding that most residents and a lot of businesses and organizations don’t even know where the proposed tunnel would be, let alone its impact on traffic flow. In a little over two years, all access to the Airport from the south (Barlow & McCall Way) will be eliminated. This means anyone living or visiting east or south of the Airport (including hotel & motel shuttles and taxis) will have a choice of taking McKnight to Deerfoot north or Country Hills to Barlow and travel south to the terminal. As to the first option, if you think McKnight is backed up now, wait until they close Barlow & McCall.

At this time, the second option is not that bad, but there are only four stop lights coming south from Country Hills on Barlow.  At this time, we only have 60 thousand residents north of McKnight, east of the Airport. At this time, in this area north and east of the Airport, inside the ring road, we have thousands of acres of bare land. But in the next 15 years we will see an increase of 100,000 residents and employment for about 40,000 people. The bare land will be replaced with houses, hotels, offices, warehouses and retail stores all of which are in the planning stages at this time. With these facts in mind, how will the second option look in a few years? Country Hills Boulevard will have many more stoplights (six or seven between Metis Trail & Barlow alone). Country Hills Boulevard is planned as a major roadway, not an expressway, so it will have three lanes in each direction, much like Macleod Trail.

On the other hand, Airport Trail is designed as an expressway so you would come off the east freeway and drive to the terminal without hitting a stoplight. If we do not connect Airport Trail from the east with Airport Trail from the west (under the runway) we will have a stretch of land nearly 8 km long (McKnight to Country Hills Boulevard) with no east-west passage.  That would be like not being able to cross Macleod Trail anywhere between City Hall and Heritage Drive. Calgary’s Airport will be an inner-city Airport within the next 15 years and east-west traffic flow will be a major concern to all Calgarians, especially those living in the north. It is a costly venture but if we do it before the runway is built, it is a matter of cut and cover. After the runway is built, it will require tunneling and the huge cost will make it unlikely to ever happen.

This Airport is an International Airport, so it is not just the City’s responsibility. We need the help and support of the Provincial and Federal Governments.

If we don’t build the tunnel now, I believe in 10 years residents will be asking “What were our elected officials thinking? Did they not see this growth and congestion coming? It would have been so simple to make the connection before they built the runway!”

If you agree with me, I need your help. Contact your MLA and your MP. Send a letter or email to Art Hanger, MP, Calgary Northeast. These letters of support are important in his fight to help me at the Federal level. We need support from businesses, organizations, community associations and from individual residents. If you need contact
information for your MP or MLA, please contact my EA, Elaine Kirby at EAWARD3@calgary.ca.

For a map of the area, go to the Ward 3 website at www.ward3calgary.ca and please feel free to contact my office if you have questions or require more clarification.  CC

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Accident on the Circle

Last August I received a call from a resident of Saddle Ridge with a concern about a lamp standard on Saddletowne Circle that had been struck in an accident. On September 16th, 2007 yet another call regarding the electrical box located directly behind Shoppers Drug Mart–that impacted the entire neighbourhood knocking out power to 1000’s of residents.

I received a call on May 10th about yet another accident on Saddletowne Circle. This time the fence behind Shoppers. This time, as you can see from the photos, they managed to go right through to the storage shed.

Last year I wrote to Alderman Larocque and the City responded to our request about barriers on Saddletowne Circle.

The results of the calculation indicate that a guardrail is not warranted at this location.

That was their reply. The guard rail came as a suggestion from the Saddle Ridge Land Use Committee meeting due to increased cost to residents having to maintain the fence, and of course the safety of children playing in yards and walking on side walks. Today I have written a quick note to our current alderman.

Alderman Stevenson,

Are we still waiting for someone to get killed on Saddletowne Circle before the City of Calgary bureaucrats decide that something will be done. They didn’t listen to the community the last time, nor did they listen to the Alderman. I hope that now they will listen before someone has to die.

Unfortunately all we can do is wait, however please note that the posted speed limit is 50 KPH on Saddletowne Circle and it is a one-way road flowing in a counter-clockwise direction. Speeding on the road will eventually result in tragedy or perhaps even a fatality. For the safety of everyone, including yourself, please slow down. Many children will soon be out of school for the summer and with the nice weather ahead, pedestrian traffic will only increase. Help keep our neighbourhood safe and slow down. CC

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Crossing Park School News

The months of May & June will continue to be eventful and busy ones with grade 3, 6 & 9 students writing provincial Achievement Tests, Field Trips, Grade 6 Celebration, Treasure Island Presentation, Sports Day, and our first Grade 9 Graduation.

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Terry Fox School Council Report

Terry Fox continues to be a hive of activity.  Preparations for final exams are underway.  Be sure to check the school web site for exam information. http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b689/

Terry Fox school council hosted a staff appreciation event.  We appreciate all the hard work and the extras that the staff does for the students of the school as well as their families.  A thank you is also extended to all parents and guardians who have volunteered throughout the school year.  Our students flourish because of your support.

School council would like to recognize all students who have represented the school in any way this year. Whether it is an individual event or a team sport, you have done yourselves and the school proud. Appreciation goes to the staff members who have also supported the students with their activities.

Continue to check the school’s web site for end of school information.

Planning is well underway for the beginning of the next school year.  School council will be holding its first meeting of 2008-2009 in September.  Please watch for information on how to become involved.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2008.  All the best as you head to High School!  CC

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A Message from Ward 3 Aldreman Jim Stevenson

STONEY TRAIL/EAST FREEWAY  UPDATE
Construction of Stoney Trail is proceeding as scheduled with the section from Country Hills Boulevard to Harvest Hills Boulevard to open this fall, and from Harvest Hills Boulevard to Deerfoot Trail to open in 2009.  The Northeast section through to 17th Avenue SE is scheduled for completion by November 2009.  The project is somewhat ahead of schedule but, as always, timing is weather dependent.

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Ask Ann-Marie

Do you ever wonder what’s going on in your community of Taradale or surrounding communities? Let me introduce myself, I am a board member for Taradale Community Association. I have been on the board for over two years. I will be able to answer any questions you have regarding our community of Taradale.

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Vice President’s Message – Taradale

As the cold of winter has faded away, we welcome Spring and all that it brings with it.  Time to clean up our yards from the damages of winter and work on our lawns and plant flowers.  I would like to encourage all home owners to do their part and keep their gardens clean and free of garbage and household effects.  Taradale is a beautiful community and it will stay that way if we all make the effort to keep garbage at the dump and not in our yards.

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