New Year's Update

Given that tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, we will be out celebrating the dawn of 2010. Skating will resume next Tuesday, January 5th.

Haven’t Made it Out Yet? – It’s not too late! We continue to skate at Martingrove Rink two nights per week. On Tuesday evenings the ice is ours from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Thursday evenings from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Planning 2009-2010 Season

Six of us met at the Henry VIII Ale House on Thursday November 5th night to plan our 2009 – 2010 season.

We will continue to skate at the Martin Grove rink on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Tuesday December 8th. The group decided to freeze the membership and skate rental fees at last season’s amounts.

Thank you to Jim who offered to help look after Tuesday nights. Jay is only skating Thursdays this season.

We spent some time talking about how to get the word out about our club. Mike agreed to set up a Facebook group while Jim is establishing a LinkedIn group. If you belong to these social networking sites, then join the Etobicoke Speed Skating groups.

Neil suggested we should organize one or more skating road trips this winter. Several of us are interested in a day trip to check out the Lakefield oval. Other possible destinations could include the Portland Marathon, the Bytown Ice Marathon at the Brewer Lake Oval in Ottawa, or going at a more relaxed pace on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. We will talk about these at the rink and let everyone know once a date and destination is locked in.

Planning 2009-2010 Season

Several weeks ago, I suggested we arrange a dinner where those who are interested can help plan the Etobicoke Speed Skating Club 2009 – 2010 season. However, I got busy, dropped the ball and didn’t book it.

I’m wondering if you might be available next week, either Wednesday Nov 4 or Thursday Nov 5. Please let me know if you’d be able to join us, and which night(s) you would prefer.

Jay

Open House: Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail

Hope you had a great summer.

There will be a Public Open House on Tuesday Sept 22nd for the proposed ice skating trail in Colonel Samuel Smith Park. I’m unable to attend, as it is my wife’s and my 25^th wedding anniversary. There’s a small but very vocal group that opposes this skating trail. I think it’s important some of us attend who could speak in support of the trail – it would be great for us speed skaters.

Please let me know if you would be able to attend,

Jay

jbrown0577 (ampersand) rogers (dot) com

Information from the Open House Flyer:

Councillor Mark Grimes and the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation division is hosting a public open house. Everyone is welcome to attend. Drawings for the Colonel Samuel Smith Park

Artificial Ice Skating Trail will be on display.

The purpose of this meeting is to present the revised layout for the skating trail project.

Date: September 22, 2009

Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Location: Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School

28 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive, in Foyer

(South of Lake Shore Boulevard on Kipling alignment)

For further information, please contact Councillor Mark Grimes' office at 416-397-9273 or email: councillor_grimes@toronto.ca

Another great season is winding up

Our last night of skating is this Thursday, February 26th. We are having our end of season soiree tonight after we get off the ice. Once again, Ken and Eva have kindly offered to provide pizza. Someone else is bringing the cider. If you can bring some treats, that would be great.

If you have club skates, please return them tonight or on Thursday.

Jay

Skating tonight - Feb 10 - is cancelled

Skating tonight is cancelled. The City cancelled our permit, because the warm weather has messed up the ice.

We’ll have to wait and see about Thursday, because the forecast is for continued warm weather for the rest of the week.

Join us for dinner after skating on Feb 17

We’re planning an après after next Tuesday’s skate, February 17, 2009. The plan is to go to Calli Café, which is a semi-upscale Mexican restaurant, located at 4906 Dundas St W in the Islington village. Those who want to eat can have dinner or a snack, and they have a bar menu as well. My wife and I have gone a number of times and enjoy it a great deal.

Happy New Year!

Now that the winter holidays are over, it's time to skate off the indulgences we all gave in to.

The Etobicoke Speed Skating Club's regular schedule of Tuesday and Thursday nights resumes this week. On Tuesdays our ice time is from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Thursdays it starts 15 minutes earlier, and runs from 7:15 pm. to 8:15 p.m.

If you haven't already registered, please bring along the necessary cash or your cheque book.

See you at Martin Grove rink,

Jay