On March 16, we appealed a permit issued to the property at 10903 - 77th Avenue to move the major home business from the basement to the main floor and the disappearance of a door fronting on to 77th Avenue. 

We were unable to speak to the issue of the moving of the business. The SDAB regarded the business licence as having been issued to the address and not to a location in the home. However, a condition is attached that the business is not to serve more than 5 clients a day. 

The door on 77th Avenue is to be restored. 

Today we attended an appeal of the city's refusal of a 3rd storey room opening onto the rooftop deck.  The owner was late in filing his appeal, and under the Municipal Act the SDAB could not hear the appeal. 

This means that the room that has been built will have to be taken back to its original dimensions that allowed a rooftop access. 

The Stop Work order continues in force. Enforcement will require the removal of the dimensions that exceed what has already been approved. 

In the following weeks we will consider appealing the earlier decision under the Municipal Act. 

Another request has come to our attention of an owner at 11209 79 Avenue. The owner seeks permission to construct two houses on the property that would require a variance on the width of the property.  Homeowners in that immediate area may want to contact the housing committee to ensure that they receive information about this proposal. 

An informal meeting on this proposal will be held next week with members of the housing committee and several individuals who live in the vicinity. We will pass along the upshot of that discussion later on. 

Jane Arscott and Margaret Jarosch 
McKernan Housing Committee 

McKernan Community League hall is more than 50 years old. Over the past few years there has been evidence of structural decay and breakdown occurring, which the present membership wishes to address. The hall is extremely well used and a great asset to our community. Almost every day throughout the year it is used by the McKernan Child Care Society for their out-of-school care program, and every evening as well as the weekend mornings it is used by community groups for classes ranging from dance, yoga and Tai Kwon Do to community meetings and rentals for private functions. Needless to say, such a heavily used public building inevitably suffers from wear and tear over a long period of time. 

A Hall Upgrade Committee was struck in October of 2005, to look at prioritizing the repairs and renovations needed in and around the hall. A comprehensive list of needed repairs and renovations was drawn up. 
Estimates were requested and received from several contractors for some of the basement repair and renovation work, and it was agreed by the members, at a community league meeting, to accept one. 

An energy audit was carried out by Carbon Busters on Monday February 13, 2006, and a number of recommendations have been and will be put into place. New front and back exit lighting has been installed with energy efficient, motion or light sensitive fixtures. The lighting in the basement area used by children has been upgraded. 

Since this initial assessment, some major water infiltration was identified, and although we were assured by a Capital Health inspector that there was no health risk involved, it was evident that the problem needed to be addressed. 

Work began on the repair and renovation of the basement walls on March 15. During this time more evidence of dampness was uncovered and it became an urgent issue to find its cause. 

A City of Edmonton building inspector helped us identify some areas of need and the process has begun to find funds to carry out further repairs and renovations. Needless to say, this will be a costly venture, and an 
expanded Building Committee under the Chair of Wayne Rogers will explore the short and long term prognosis for the building. 

One obvious necessity will be funds for whatever is decided, be it continued renovations, or the ultimate goal of building a new purpose built facility in collaboration with the McKernan Child Care Society. To that end we will be setting up a building fund at our local bank (TD Canada Trust at 112 St-77 Ave), and accepting donations. Donations can be forwarded to Avril Crossley, Treasurer MCL, 10937 – 75 Ave, Edmonton, T6G 0G8. 

We have applied for grants from the City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta, and we are certain that, with the support of the community, we will be able to achieve our goals! 

Hilary Gray 

Who Ya Gonna Call?
For contact phone numbers for all of your city departements, check the lings on the Mesenger home page......

Construction continues on a number of fronts. Though every reasonable effort is being made to ensure residential access during construction, some disruptions to regular routines should be expected over the summer months. Detours will be built before any closures are made. 

Belgravia Road Drainage/Storm Sewer 
Modifications to the existing storm sewer and a new drainage system are being built along Belgravia Road (west of 114 Street). Crews have been building a temporary retaining wall to hold up Belgravia Road during 
construction.  A crew is currently exposing the existing storm line. This line will be modified, and a new drainage system will be added  - completion by the first week of May. 

Tree Trimming / Removals 
Some large trees along 114 Street, North of University Ave. will be removed over the coming weeks due to their proximity to the new LRT tracks. The bike path that connects this area with University Avenue will not be disturbed during construction. 

South Campus Site 
Portions of a wood lot are being removed on the South Campus site to make room for a new storm retention pond. (North of 60 Avenue, west of the Alberta School for the Deaf). The lot that faces current residential development will remain. 

114 Storm Sewer 
LRT construction will involve building a new storm sewer along the west side of 114 Street, with work anticipated to begin the first week of April. Directional drilling will be used to limit excavations. Any open 
excavations will be fenced. 

Belgravia Road LRT Underpass 
Construction is scheduled to begin in May, with the first priority to complete the excavation of the underpass on the west side of 114 Street. 

114 Street Roadwork 
Construction scheduled to begin in May. First steps would be to complete tree relocations and removals, grading, and curb and sidewalk removals. Pedestrian detours will be staged and put in place as work progresses. 

76 Avenue Station
The first stage of construction will involve building the 76 Avenue pedestrian underpass. This work will initially involve bus stop relocations, traffic and pedestrian detours. 

For more information visit: www.edmontonslrt.com 
E-Mail: slrt@edmonton.ca 
or call : 496-4874 

The Editor 

Foote Field Sound System 
Over the summer,  a new sound control system will be installed which should help to lower the amount of noise leaking into the adjacent communities. 

Balmoral Curling Club Site 
This site continues to be used to store building materials that are needed for the main campus. With no end to the amount of university construction, this use may continue until 2012  ....... and beyond . 

Transportation Demand Management Communication Strategy 
The first draft of phase 2 report has been completed.  The final plan proposed/adopted by the university will be shared with all stakeholders through an open house in the fall. 

The South-side police are after the public’s assistance in spotting neighbourhood drug-houses.  This new program has already solicited dozens of calls, to the South Division station.  They now have 50 solid leads which were previously not on file. Prior to this initiative, six drug houses in south Edmonton were shut down over the spring and summer months. 

The Division has 42 active files and are gathering intelligence and doing background checks on the properties. Based on the information, the sites will be prioritized and action will be taken. The ultimate aim is to reduce the increased crime associated with these premises for the surrounding neighbourhoods. 

If there is a suspicious property in your area, call the hotline @ 426-8229. 

Mon. Wed. & Fri. - 6 to 8 a.m.
Mon. -  7:00 to 8:30 p.m. 
Wed.  - 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. 
Sat. 1 to 3  or  7 to 8:30 p.m. (Toonie Swim - adults with children) 

For lessons or additional information Call:  496-8756 

Who was Charles Simmons and when was he the president of the McKernan League?  We have some missing information on the History Page of our Community Web Site. If you can help with this or any other history, contact the Messenger and it will be posted.

Councillor Kim Krushell intends to bring a motion before City Council in May to scrap Edmonton’s trolley bus system rather than purchase new low floor trolley buses. 

Getting rid of the trolley system in Edmonton would be a big mistake.  To voice your concerns, please contact your city councillor. 

See www.trolleycoalition.org  for more info ! 

If you are experiencing lapses in the delivery of the Messenger to your door, contact the distributor, David Woolf @ 433-1739.

Additional copies are available at the community hall and the drug store on 76 Ave..... and there is always the web version. 

My name is Alex Thomas and I am a Constable with the Edmonton Police Service,South Division.  I am currently tasked as the Community Liaison for your area for EPS.  As such, I send this letter to you to inform you of my position and offer you my contact information. 

In September 2005 a program called Report A Drug House was initiated in the South side.  The program focuses on possible drug houses or suites within complexes and terminating the operation  at these locations through anonymous tips.  This initiative would not be successful without your help and I feel this is a great relationship between the Edmonton Police Service and the community. 

I believe developing connections between police and community stake holders such as yourself is vitally important in ensuring your concerns are addressed.  Please feel free to contact me directly  and discuss any outstanding issues or concerns. 

Alex Thomas 
Reg # 2110 Cst. THOMAS, Alex 
Edmonton Police Service 
Community Programs/SE Stn 
#104 Youville Drive East, T6L 7H6 
(Drug Tip Line) 780.426.8252 
Cell Phone: 984-3479 
E-Mail: alex.thomas@police.edmonton.ab.ca 

On average, 12 new-borns will be given to the wrong parents daily. 
Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine. 

Charlie Chaplin once won third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look alike contest. 

In Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift described the two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, giving their exact size and speeds of rotation. He did this more than 100 years before either moon was discovered. 

Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand. 

Parents: Need a sitter, well our community sitter registry has a few reliable, qualified sitters, so you can get a night out. If you need a sitter, please call Lori Janssen @ 437-5238. 

Sitters: I’d still like to hear from anyone interested in sitting.  If you would like to be added to the list, please call Lori @ 437-5238.

 W   A    N    T    E    D
Content for the Messenger:
•  Community interest articles
•  Upcoming Community events
•  Great athletic achievements
•  Historical stories and/or photos
•  Local "characters"
•  Opinions on local happenings

Rates:
Family -- $30
Single Parent Family -- $20
Single (with skate tag)  -- $15
Senior - or - U of A Student (no skating)  -- $5

Date: ______________

Members Names: __________________
Address: _________________________
Postal Code: __________
E-Mail:  ____________
Phone: ______________
Childern's Names:   Birth Date:   Sex: M/F
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________

Type of Membership: ________________
Amount Inclosed: ___________________
Number of Skate Tags Reqd. __________
Donations to the League: _____________
Willing to Volunteer?  ____ Yes   ____ No
In what capacity? __________________

Comments:
 
 
 

Clip and Mail to:
McKernan Membership Committee
c/o Mary Heacock
7231 - 112 St.
T6G 1J4
Edmonton, Alberta

Thank you for your continuing support. 
A strong communtiy depends on You!