Mirror photo/NICK PERRY

Lavini Balakrishnan, 3, shows off a painting she made for the My Art Matters Children's Art Exhibit that is currently on display at the Mount Dennis Branch Library. The exhibit features the artwork of children ages 3 to 6.

Mirror photo/NICK PERRY

Troy Allen puts some chicken on the BBQ during Jamaica day at Keelsdale Park Saturday afternoon. The event featured musical performances, Jamaican food, and children's activities.

Guardian photo/BRENT LEWIN

Keith Sweeney speaks about community building through art at Urban Arts on Tuesday.

Photo/WILLIAM MEIJER

Suzan Sherman 'shoots' her parrot Jingle Bell during the Fairbanks B.I.A. World Fest events July 19 in the Eglinton Avenue and Dufferin Street neighbourhood.

Photo/WILLIAM MEIJER

Tatiana Perla, 7, and her sister Vanessa, 9, take a midway ride during the Fairbanks BIA's recent World Fest events in the Eglinton Avenue and Dufferin Street neighbourhood.

Photo/WILLIAM MEIJER

Susan Penman and her husband Art do their part during the fourth annual York-Eglinton BIA community clean-up day July 19 along Eglinton Avenue, east of Dufferin Street.

Photo/WILLIAM MEIJER

Fillip Ribeiro cuts sugarcane during Fairbanks B.I.A. World Fest events July 19 in the Eglinton Avenue and Dufferin Street neighbourhood.

Jeremy Bell, shown here and his wife, Jessica Lax, are creating a smarter and greener home at 360 Winnett Ave., near Allen Road and Eglinton Avenue in York.

Photo/NICK PERRY

Emilie Pickell, left, and Clark Wang dance in the street during Salsa on St. Clair Sunday. The street festvial that featured live music, food and lots of dancing.

Photo/NICK PERRY

Edwin Crias, right, and Edit Szocs dance amidst the crowd Sunday afternoon during Salsa on St. Clair.

BRIEFS

Computation offers alternative for computer recycling

Looking for an environmentally sensitive and privacy ensured method to dispose of your unwanted computer equipment?

From Aug. 18 to 24, people are invited to drop off their unwanted computer equipment for recycling at Computation, 280 Jane St. Equipment can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekends.

Did you know that aside from the hazards that go along with burying electronics in landfills or shipping them overseas for disposal, approximately 1,000 litres of clean fresh water and 300 kilograms of fossil fuel equivalent are consumed in the mining, manufacturing, and distribution associated with a new computer?

The event is free, with the exception of a $10 recycling fee for monitors and $5 recycling fee for PCs (no fee for other equipment). All of the information present on systems will be securely destroyed. All of the equipment is diverted from landfill and processed locally.

Call 416-629-5667 or go to www.computation.to for more information.

Salvation Army needs donations of men's clothing

It's time for men to rummage back through time, and their closets, in hopes of helping others.

The Salvation Army Thrift Stores is in desperate need of men's clothing and are appealing to the public for help.

The organization, the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services, says this is the lowest donation of men's clothing they've seen in a very long time.

"I cannot remember a time in well over a decade where we have ever seen such a dramatic reduction of donations of men's clothing," Arlene Boden, executive director for Central and Southwestern Ontario recycling operations, said in a press release.

To drop off donations, visit www.tstores.ca to find the closest store near you.

Back to school safety

Toronto's two school boards are banding together this summer to prepare their combined 330,000 students for back-to-school safety.

Student safety remains a top priority for both the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), so the Student Transportation Services Departments for both boards are providing the Back to School Safely campaign for students and their parents.

As summer winds down and the beginning of the new school year looms, mall displays are being set up throughout the city to remind parents and children of basic safety rules both on and off school buses.

Children and their families are invited to see the Bus Safety Show presented by Buster the talking school bus and to hear Elmer the Safety Elephant share tips on crossing roads safely. The Toronto Police and Safety Patrollers will also be on hand, and visitors will receive loot bags with literature for parents and their children. Staff from both boards will be available to answer any questions about school bus transportation.

The displays are scheduled for:

- Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Albion Mall, 1530 Albion Rd., Etobicoke

- Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cedarbrae Mall, 3495 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

- Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Yorkgate Mall, 1 Yorkgate Blvd., North York

- Thursday, Aug. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd., Don Mills

- Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centrepoint Mall, 6464 Yonge St., North York

Horse Feathers opens today

Out amongst the community bake-ovens and gardens of Dufferin Grove Park, Clay and Paper Theatre presents Horse Feathers, an outdoor play with giant puppets about the bygone days of the Dufferin Race Track and the dreams of local residents for a better life. This romp in the park is written by Clay and Paper Theatre's Artistic Director David Anderson and Assistant Artistic Director Krista Dalby, and is directed by David Anderson.

Horse Feathers opens July 18 through Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Dufferin Grove Park with post-show talkbacks led by the cast/creators on Saturdays. American Sign Language interpretation is included with the show on Aug. 6 for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Shows on Aug. 13, 14 and 15, in partnership with Ryerson's Centre for Learning Technologies, include audio interpretation for the blind and visually impaired with pre-show touch tours at 6:30 p.m. Admission is pay-what-you-can.

Volunteers wanted for Buskerfest

Welcome to Buskerfest!

The ninth annual celebration in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood is looking for volunteers who will welcome people to the festival and ask for a donation for Epilepsy Toronto.

Volunteer shifts are available from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the course of the festival, which runs from Aug. 21 to 24.

Buskerfest is expected to raise about $200,000 for Epilepsy Toronto.

For details, visit www.torontobuskerfest.com/content/volunteer.htm, e-mail volunteers@torontobuskerfest.com or call Adam Bailey at 416-964-9095.

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Saturday, Aug. 9

FREE COMMUNITY SUPPER, St. Chad's Anglican Church, 1695 Dufferin St., 5 p.m....

  

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