Our West End

Friends and Neighbours, What a year it has been! A lot of positive progress has been made in 2013 – a direct reflection of your hard work and passion in making West Windsor a better place to live, work and play. In keeping with a tradition that began last year, let’s take a look at some of the progress that has been made, along with the challenges and opportunities that will be before us in 2014. United Way / Centraide Windsor Essex County In the spring of 2013, we announced our new partnership with the United Way. They have invested in our strategy and have helped us tremendously over the course of the year. With United Way’s help, we have successfully developed a Residents Roundtable comprised of 16 residents representing every neighbourhood in the west-end, developed a Parks Committee and supported many youth outreach initiatives. In addition, we have organized over 100 Chrysler workers and volunteers who dedicated a whole day to cleaning up graffiti in the west-end. As

On behalf of Our West End, we would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Please enjoy the holidays in the company of family, friends and loved ones. Sincerely, Fabio

Friends,  Leann and I had dinner at Stathis Grill (located at 1657 College Ave.) yesterday evening, and like always, the food and service was excellent. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the quality of food. It is no wonder why finding a seat was hard to come by yesterday evening.  If you haven't checked it out yet I would strongly encourage you do. You will not be disappointed.  You can visit their website and browse their menu at  Stathis Grill .  What was once an abandoned commercial building is now a booming Greek Grill. We are truly fortunate to have this gem in our community.  Thank you Stathis Grill!  Fabio 

Friends, Please see an email I received below from a representative of the Public School Board: "Fabio, I hope, by now you’ve seen the name selected for the metamorphosis of Century Secondary School….Westview Freedom Academy. It was a name that brought together a number of different suggestions in the name search….and it was developed very much by members of the community. While we were cautious about using “West” in the name, since we already have a Western Secondary School in LaSalle….the community, especially the students were adamant that some reference to the area be  prominent in the name…there was a great sense of pride in being associated with the west-end or the west-side, if you will….hence, Westview. Freedom came from a suggestion to align the school philosophically with a concept or perspective that resonated clearly with the community, of course the connection not only to the Underground Railroad but the nature of the area as a landing spot for new Ca

Friends, St. Mark's, located on Tecumseh Rd. W. and Campbell Ave., is hosting a Youth Dance on Friday, January 3rd from 7pm - 11pm. The dance is for boys and girls in grades 6 to 8. Tickets are $5 at the door or $3 in advance. You can purchase advance tickets on Fridays from 9am to 12pm at St. Mark's Hall in the basement. If you would like to learn more, please send me an email and I will forward your questions or concerns to the appropriate people at St. Mark's. Best regards, Fabio

Friends, Good news. A new neighbourhood watch has formed on Bridge Avenue between College and Wyandotte. This is another positive step in fighting crime on a grassroots level. It won't be too long before we are able to develop our resident-led crime prevention and reduction group comprised of residents from each neighbourhood across the west-end. Developing neighbourhood watches and being proactive with resident-led solutions to fighting crime is absolutely critical if we hope to one day reduce crime and eradicate the negative perception of crime in our neighbourhoods. We're building a safer west-end community, block by block, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Fabio

Friends,  Our West End held its first parks committee meeting this evening and it was successful. The committee discussed the "adopt-a-park" policy initiated by the City of Windsor, among other things, and we discussed in length how residents can take ownership of their parks. We are looking at practical steps (i.e. by adopting a park) to preserve and maintain parks in the area and implement alternative features to increase user-ship.  Our next meeting will be around late January. If you are interested in joining the group, please let me know and I will add your name to the email list. I will send a reminder closer to the next meeting as well.  We are making great strides and I am so very proud of our staff, volunteers and west-end community.  Fabio 

Friends, The Bridgeview neighbourhood watch informed me of two car break-ins that occurred in the past few days in Bridgeview. One on Rankin between Vercheres and Grove and the other on Grove. Please be on the lookout and contact Windsor Police with any relevant information. Fabio

Friends, Please see a message I received from the West End Crawlers: Hello everyone! A couple who live on Peter St. manage student houses/apts., and when the students leave, they get what's left in them.  They wanted to open a thrift store, however they both face serious medical issues, so the store will not be able to open.  He has TONS  of,  you-name-it , household/kitchen items, clothing, shoes, coats, comforters, bedding, furniture etc.. I told them I would send out this email to everyone I know who might be able to help find homes for it all.  If you, or someone you know, can use any of these item, please contact me!  I'd like to know by Friday Dec. 13th, then we'll arrange to pick it all up by Friday Dec. 20 and distribute.  If anyone can recruit "helpers" to pick it up, that'd be appreciated!  FABIO, if you could post our dilemma and contact info. in your blog, it'd be greatly appreciated! I'd like to have (at least most

Friends,  Recently the Our West End team and volunteers dropped off brochures in the Bridgeview neighbourhood to promote and advertise a resident-led parks committee.  The intent of the committee is to develop strategies for our parks in Bridgeview and come up with resident-led solutions to maintaining and preserving them. If you would like to learn more or get involved with our parks initiative, please contact Tammy Murray, our Community Coordinator, at  murraytamaral@hotmail.com We are very lucky to have dedicated residents and volunteers who truly care about the west-end. Their commitment to the community and service to a greater cause is inspiring and humbling.  Fabio 

Friends, Please see below from a fellow west-end resident: "3 kids took my 4wheeler at 1245 am lastnight I have it on video the cops have it they are looking in to it I live on campbell plz pass this on so I hope to get it back its blue with a red plow on it its a polaris 250 cc and it don't have a back rack on it it fell off when they took it there's no lights on it plz help me find it"  Source: West-end resident WebRep currentVote noRating noWeight

Friends, Please see an email I received from a parent rep (my aunt) of Assumption high school along with a pdf file that features their sponsorship programs and benefits of the program. They are looking for sponsors for their robotic team. Robotics is a fantastic program that gives the students practical experience and helps build lifelong lessons. Any help for Assumption and our west-end youth would be greatly appreciated. "Hey Fabs....We are looking for sponsors for Robotics. If you know of anyone or any group that would consider Assumption worthy to sponsor for its 2013-2014 Robotic season, it would be greatly appreciated. Registration for competitions are $4000-$5000 each, and each team has to register for minimally 2 competitions. Every little counts towards this....Thanks!" download Robotics Sponsor letter 2013-2014.pdf

Friends, The West End Crawlers are in the Christmas Spirit. Check out their latest update below: Looking for a unique Christmas gift? We will be drawing for two Scentsy Warmers, each with three Scentsy bars at our Christmas Gathering on Friday December 6th.! Tickets are $5 each or three for $10, (for each warmer). Winners need not be present to win. Tickets sold until Thursday, December 5th. ALL proceeds go to buy food for West end food banks! Email WestEndCrawlers@gmail.com or contact us at 519 903 6382 if you are interested in tickets. (Must be picked up, or we can meet somewhere bet. 9am-Noon, Mon-Fri.) https://www.facebook.com/events/198332240352594/

Thursday November 14th ,  at  5:30pm   Our West End will be dropping information brochures in our Bridgeview Neighbourhoods to create a Parks Committee of Residents.    The Committee will be meeting at the end of November to discuss how residents can get involved in bettering their parks and looking at opportunities and alternative uses for the park space that currently exists.  To get involved:   Contact Our West End Community Coordinator Tammy Murray   tmurray@centresforseniors.org   or    519-254-1108 Ext. 134

Friends, I have recently spent some time in the Sandwich Towne neighbourhood chatting with residents and getting their thoughts on the boarded-up homes issue. Below is a brief summary of my conversations with the residents and general thoughts on the matter. I sent the same to the Windsor Star hoping they will publish it in their editorial page. Conversations with Residents in Olde Sandwich Towne I have lived in the west-end most of my life, particularly in the Bridgeview neighbourhood where I currently reside, and about two years in Sandwich Towne when I was a toddler. I love the west-end and believe the area has so much potential. Recently, I canvassed the Sandwich Towne neighbourhood, chatting with residents about the Our West End initiative that I founded several years ago. Thanks to the recent help of the United Way, we have been able to roll out some very positive initiatives for the community around engaging and empowering residents along with supporting them in mak

Friends, Please see an email below I received from a resident on Queen St. Hi Fabio. Just a note to let you know that someone has been poking around backyards on Queen St. In the last week a lounge chair and bike pump has gone missing. Funny, they don't take the stuff that's worth any money. I have let the neighbours know to keep an extra eye out. Can you post this on your blog. Thanks

Friends, The Bridgeview Outreach for Youth Inc. group is having a halloween party at North Merritt Park this Thursday. Come by and bring the kids! See their flyer below. Bridgeview Boo Fest Join us if you dare for a Halloween scare… We’re calling all goblins, ghosts and creatures of the night!!! So creep, float, or crawl on over to our Halloween Costume party! The party will begin  at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday October 31st at North Merritt Park You’d be ghoulish to miss this party!  

Friends,  Please see the email below that I received from a resident. It goes to show the compassion and power of community champions like Jack and the effects they can have on a neighbourhood.  "Fabio, I just found out that Jack Renner & his wife, Wendy Murkar, have donated 13 trees that are to be planted by the City in the park @ Riverside Dr. & Campbell Ave., sometime next week.  Anyone familiar with this park remember how we lost a # of trees to disease & had to be cut down.  Jack is the person that was profiled in Henderson's column a couple of weeks ago.  Jack & Wendy have always been supporters of the West End & renovated a # of homes in the Jeanette, Pitt & Chatham area.  He organized a crew of volunteers a few years ago to clean up & landscape (through donations & some of his own $$$$) the park walkway @ Riverside Dr. & Cameron.  Sad to add, that because of a dispute between the Railway & City of Windsor, it had to be ab

Friends, Please see the email below that I received from a representative of the public school board. He is looking for community input for the new Forster high school. If you are interested, send me an email and I will forward it off to him. Thanks. "Fabio, I hope you have been following the activities at Forster and Century this fall….it’s been going well. Forster has adopted the theme “An Awesome Year” and I believe that positive, resilient attitude should be applauded. They had their much music dance last night and have lots of other plans. Our next step is to put together a naming committee for the new high school – I am helping the Director put this together, with, I hope, a group of creative people from the area who understand the importance of developing a strong brand for this school. Can you suggest some candidates….it won’t be an onerous exercise….just a couple meetings and some e-mail discussions. I want artists, entrepreneurs, people with marketing

Friends, The Adie Knox pool is slated for closure at the end of this winter. There is a group of seniors and Adie Knox members, led by Doug Peddle, who are getting a petition signed to fight the closure. I was contacted by Doug and others regarding this and I fully support their endeavour and encourage you all to sign the petition by clicking on the link below. Let's show our support for this vitally important service in the west-end. Regards, Fabio Save Adie Knox Pool

Friends, I received the following email below from a teacher and Student Council Advisor at Forster. Please help the school by following her instructions below. Thanks! You have been a devote supporter of our school and I wanted to know if you could help us one more time? blog/Facebook.  Forster is closing this year but we have made a commitment to make it one awesome final.  We have entered a huge contest to win a concert by Kelly Clarkson and tens of thousands of dollars.  We need daily votes starting today until Saturday, Oct 26.  Please place this on your blog and spread the word to your Facebook friends.  We are also on Facebook under "Friends of Forster." Here is the link:   www.celebratemydrive.com   You need to select Windsor, Ontario (no postal code needed)  and then select J.L. Forster Secondary and then answer 2 safe driving multiple choice questions and make your commitment to safe driving. Thanks so much!

Friends, I received an email from a west-end resident who recently had her car broken into. Please be on the lookout, especially if you live around the St. James grade school neighbourhood. Windsor Police were notified. "Fabio,   Just wanted to let you know I live on Hillcrest and someone broke into a bunch of our vehicles and stole money this past Thursday evening. Called the police and they never came out. My brother in law saw them trying to break into a vehicle and they only asked for a description -never showed up or even patrolled the area. It was a white and black man."

Friends, A local west-ender asked me to post this to the blog and wants to remind you all of the services that 311 offers. He has had much success using 311 in getting things done for his neighbourhood in Sandwich Towne. Praising 311 City Services I’ve used the 311 call centre at least 100 times this year and about the same last year, mostly for Sandwich Town issues, pot holes, long grass, junk in front of people’s homes, mattresses, couches, toilets. Many graffiti complaints but the best part is that over 100 times the junk is cleaned up and the graffiti is removed. Members of other cities that do not have such a service such as this would be envious of Windsor for Implementing 311. We can get things done without having to bother councilors; they have enough on their plate. I want to just thank the Mayor and any city councilor who helped implement the 311 service. We are lucky here in Windsor. Because of our By-Law Officer and Crimes Unit, Sandwich Town may just be a place whe

Friends, A message I received from the Friends of the Court, Mackenzie Hall: Dear Friends of the Court,   As always Mackenzie Hall is a busy place. We hope that you have marked your calendar and are planning to attend some upcoming events.   Annual General Meeting will be held Tues. Oct. 15 at 5:15 P.M.   The meeting portion will be brief and will include the election of directors and hearing reports of Hall activities. There will be plenty of time to visit with new and old friends while enjoying a selection of sandwiches, desserts and hot cider or coffee.     Lucinda's Fashions Through Time  Sun. Oct. 20  from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M.    Lucinda Morris has graciously co-ordinated a vintage fashion show covering 400 years and it  is something you won't want to miss.   Tickets for this fundraiser are $25.00 and can be purchased by calling the front desk at Mackenzie Hall  519-255-7600 .   We are grateful for many things this time of year including the s

Friends, The United Way has partnered with Chrysler Canada to give away free books! Please see their email to me below and please get in touch with me should you want a summary of the books that are available. Thanks. Fabio “Chrysler Canada Partners with United Way and Scholastic to Donate over 10,000 New Children’s Books to Windsor Essex County Youth” Chrysler Canada recently contacted the United  Way, asking us to work with them to distribute 10,000 donated books to local children and youth in Windsor and Essex County.   These books are being offered to locations such as after-school programs;  food banks; day care centres; new-comer agencies and holiday event (toy) drives.    As an organization that works directly with children and families, we are inviting you to access some of these books, to be utilized within your programs and/ or to be distributed to children who will benefit from this donation. A summary of the books that are available, along with suggested age

Friends, The United Way has graciously offered Our West End a suite to the Spitfires game tomorrow (Thursday, Oct. 10) at 7pm. Please message me if you are interested in joining us. All are welcome! Thanks. Fabio fabiocostante@gmail.com

Friends, There have been some break-ins lately on Askin and Bloomfield. This was reported to me from residents who live in each neighbourhood. Please be on the lookout and contact Windsor Police if you see anything suspicious. Fabio

Friends, See the positive email I received from a fellow west-ender: "Good Day Fabio:  To bring you up to snuff re:  my earlier message that lo & behold, another Business had closed in the West End, namely, The Best 'Lil Hair House".  Apparently, the gals (Kim & Michelle) have returned!  There is a sign in the window & also a sign in Rimer's Auto Repair.  Welcome back Ladies."

Friends, Below are some pictures from our west-end youth block party and our recent visit to the Bloomfield House. The youth block party was a great success thanks to the organizing efforts of New Beginnings (Marianne Wright et al) and several youth leaders. There were many service providers in attendance and youth were exposed to the many services available in our region. The Bloomfield House is a community space for residents on Bloomfield road and the west-end in general. It is also a unique social enterprise in that it strives to be self-sufficient by having a flea market, among other initiatives, to help pay its bills so that it serves its social purpose. To learn more about the Bloomfield House, you can contact the founder TJ Travis at tj.travis@live.com. Fabio

Friends, I am happy to say that Our West End recently had the opportunity, thanks to the United Way, to send 7 residents from the west-end to receive a day long training on crime prevention and reduction through environmental design. Barry Horrobin of Windsor Police offered the day long training and the feedback thus far has been excellent. Residents are now better acquainted with tips and strategies to make their homes and neighbourhoods safer through creating visible environments (i.e. more lighting in certain areas of the home and exterior, trimming of bushes in certain locations, etc.) along with other strategies that will ultimately deter criminal activity. Our West End is committed to resident engagement and empowerment. Yesterday's training is a positive step in fulfilling our commitments and more importantly creating a better west-end to live, work and play. Regards, Fabio

Friends, A local west-end resident asked that I post this for her: Attention Fabio Constante Good afternoon, could you please send this post out with your next newsletter? Thank you for taking an interest in helping out and  initiative regarding the next MAM Oct. 12th. We want to spread awareness across our community about Monsanto and GMOs  This is a world-wide event as supporters take a stance against GMO's and the big corporate Monsanto. Below is a copy of the press release and some links that you can pass on to your contact. FACEBOOK LINKS:  https://www.facebook. com/MarchAgainstMonsantoCanada                                     https://www.facebook.com/ pages/March-Against-Monsanto- Windsor-Ontario/ 138493736339083 MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO (MARCH FOR FOOD FREEDOM WORLDWIDE ) Join us on Saturday, October 12th, 2013 as we gather to express our concerns about genetically modified food products. (GMOs) This march is a World-Wide event being planned on six continents