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CC55 hosts Winter Carnival on Jan. 30

Evonne Hossack, front, and Michelle Wagner from Community Centre 55 were out on the snow behind Ted Reeve Community Arena with Hamper the reindeer, practising for the Centre's Winter Carnival.
The carnival will run at Kimberley Public School, at Main and Swanwick, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 30. There will be sno-cones (yellow snow not mandatory), popcorn, crafts and a bouncy castle in the gym, as well as toboggan, cross country ski, snow shoe and penguin races, and a snow sculpting contest on the field.
The carnival is free, and backup activities are planned in case of a lack of snow.
‘Where’s Buddy?’ He’s on Queen Street

Buddy, the Beach BIA mascot, hides behind a rack of clothes in Bumbleberry Kids, in preparation for the Where's Buddy? Scavenger Hunt, which will be part of the Beach BIA's Family Day Festival. The hunt will run from Feb. 8 to 15, and kids can pick up passports at participating stores, where they will have to spot a photo of Buddy in each store. With 10 stamps, they can trade in their passports at the 2072 Queen St. E. branch of BMO, or at the BIA booth on Family Day, for a small prize and to be entered into a draw for bigger prizes.
The Family Day Festival will run in Kew Gardens, and locations along Queen Street, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15. The Bowmanville Zoo will be bringing animals to Kew Gardens, and there will be kids games and activities throughout the park. Dean the Reptile Guy will be back with his collection of snakes, lizards and turtles, and Juno nominee Mary Lambert will be entertaining the kids. There is more entertainment planned for Family Day as well.
For a full list of the day's activities, visit www.beachbia.com.
Wheeler fire fundraiser

A neighbourhood social will be held at the Beaches Recreation Centre on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., to benefit the Concannon family.
The Concannon house was destroyed by a fire on Wheeler Avenue on Jan. 5, that originated in the empty house next to theirs. Friend and neighbour Linda Seiler has helped organize the social event, which will feature food and drink, raffles, a silent auction, and cartoons, popcorn and slushies for children. Donations for the Concannons will also be accepted at the event.
To find out how to help, or to donate items or services for the silent auction, email wheelerfiresocial@bell.net.
News in Brief
by Melinda Drake
•Peak oil solutions
Sustainable Neighbourhoods: Transition Towns and Your Community is the topic of a presentation and discussion at Community Centre 55 on Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
What effect is peak oil going to have on our future? One solution is Transition Towns, an innovative and fast-growing global movement that is creating more sustainable communities. Learn about a current Toronto initiative and where to learn, or re-learn, traditional skills.
To find out more about this free event, and to RSVP, contact Martina at 647-208-1810 or greencomms@yahoo.ca. CC55 is located at 97 Main St. at Swanwick Avenue.

•Theatre school grads wanted
Are you a recent theatre school grad who wants to break a leg but first has to get a foot in the door?
Nightwood Theatre's Emerging Actor Program may be just the place. This is where you will get a chance to network, hone skills in play development and work alongside established theatre professionals while developing new works for the stage.
Program alumni include graduates and students from the National Theatre School and theatre schools at Ryerson, University of Toronto, George Brown and Humber.
The program runs from April 7 to Aug. 22, mainly on Sunday afternoons or evenings, but you must submit your application by Friday, March 12.
For more information on how to apply contact Anna Chatterton at anna@nightwoodtheatre.net

•Kick-Start for kids
Neighbourhood Link is kicking off 2010 with the introduction of four programs for young people aged seven to 14.
The Kick-Start Club is offering Non-Contact Boxing, Young Chef (where you will learn to cook a nutritional meal in 20 minutes), Aggression Replacement Training and Comedy/Theatre Skills. These programs are free and open to all. Neighbourhood Link is located at 2494 Danforth Avenue.
For more information or to register call 416-301-1168 or email kickstart@neighbourhoodlink.com

•Intergenerational program pairs seniors and students
Community Care East York is inviting seniors to share crafts and hobbies with Grade 5 students in East York schools as part of their Intergenerational Program. The sessions are one afternoon a week for seven weeks beginning this spring.
Please call the Intergenerational Program Coordinator at 416-422-2026 ext. 239

•Learn to make your own soap
The Danforth East Community Association (DECA), along with the East Toronto Climate Action Group and Live Green Toronto, is sponsoring a Soapmaking Workshop at the Danforth Mennonite Church, 2174 Danforth Ave.
Amanda Montgomery of Simply by Amanda will run the two-part workshop: Feb. 25 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and March 11 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $5 plus materials.
To RSVP, contact Mary-Margaret McMahon at 416-693-9276 or spargy@rogers.com