Below are recent news articles about two invasive plants in our neighbourhood sent to us by a community member. 

I inherited a ton of creeping bellflower in my yard from the previous owner. It is not fun to deal with so pull it when you see it. I've also had foxtail spears work their way deep into my pet's skin. I have heard of dogs who have had undetected spears travel through out their bodies and into their vital organs so check your pets regularly when they've been out walking.
 
Foxtail grass alert for dog owners!
https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/warning-for-calgary-dog-owners-be-wary-around-foxtail-grass-1.5079400
 
Creeping bellflower
https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/seek-and-destroy-beware-the-creeping-bellflower-the-attractive-and-invasive-garden-guest-you-can-t-get-rid-of-1.5518251

Some of you have reached out to say there's been a loud whine/humming noise coming from the FMC Site. The problem has been identified as an issue with a fumehood fan on top of the UofC HSC building. It is in the process of being addressed and the noise should be ending soon. 
 

Just a reminder that the community AGM will be held online Monday June 21st at 7pm.

Please tune into this and help us elect the new board (which is looking a lot like the current board), pass the 2021 financial statements and last year's AGM minutes, and appoint the auditor for 2021. This will be a short meeting and should take less than 30 minutes for the official business. 

The City of Calgary is widening the existing sidewalk to change it into a pathway on the east side  along the 29 Street N.W. service road to improve the experience for people  who walk and cycle through this area.  

Currently, there is an existing pathway at both ends of the 29 Street N.W. service road. The new  pathway upgrade will connect to the existing pathway at both ends of the service road to complete  the gap in the pathway network.  

To complete this work, the roadway width will be reduced to accommodate the new pathway. The  two-way vehicular travel lanes and parking along the street will remain. Also, the intersection at  13 Avenue N.W. and 29 Street N.W. service road will be converted into an all-way stop to allow  for safe turning movements from all directions.  

For more information, please contact 311.

Embrace the Outdoors by taking a walk in the park and near the Community Hall and tennis courts. You can check out our new functional art: decoratively painted benches for your use and pleasure. Please let us know what you think about this new feature by sending us an email.

Thanks to the Parks Foundation Calgary Embrace the Outdoors Grant program for providing the funds to build the benches and thank you to all community members and artists who helped build and decorate the benches. 

Spring has sprung (....until the weekend!). It is the time of year when a lot of backyard clean-up is being done. This is a friendly reminder to use your green bin, which is now picked up weekly. Burning anything other than clean/dry wood in your yard is illegal and come with a hefty fine.

There are a number of St. Andrew's Residents that suffer from respiratory issues, so please be kind and adhere to the City bylaws:

https://www.calgary.ca/csps/fire/safety-tips/safety-tips-home/fire-pits.html

1. Backyard fire pits should be built into the ground, on brick or stone, or in a fire-proof container. Portable fire pits may be used on a deck as long as they sit on brick or stone, and not directly on your wooden deck.
   
2. Fire pits must be at least two metres away from your property line, house, garage, or fence.
3. Fire pits must NOT be under any trees, branches, plants or other materials that can catch fire.
4. All fires in your fire pit must be kept to a reasonable size; 1 metre high and wide. A mesh screen or ‘spark guard’ is now required in order to reduce the spread of embers and sparks from wood-burning fire pits. The openings in the mesh screen must not be greater than 1.24 cm across.
5. Only burn clean, dry firewood. Do NOT burn:
   Wood that is painted, treated or contains glue or resin
   Wood from a different location, region or province
   Wet or green/fresh cut wood
   Yard waste (cut grass or leaves)
   Garbage
   Rubber or plastic
   Furniture
   
6. Always have a way to put out the fire close to your fire pit. Easy options are your watering hose or a bucket of water.
   
7. All fires in your fire pit must be continually supervised.
   

You can be fined, up to $5,000, for not following Calgary's fire pit bylaws.

There has been a recent surge in the number of property crimes in our neighborhood, including break-ins at construction sites and theft of deliveries left on doorsteps.

Please keep your cars and garage doors locked and report any suspicious behaviour you may see to the police.

We (the SAH Community Association) made a successful grant application to the "Embrace the Outdoors" program of the Calgary Parks Foundation.  We were awarded $3,225 for an outdoor project that includes local artisans building and painting benches for public use and an upgrade to the night lighting over the ice rink area.

Stay tuned for more details!

The code for the lock on the tennis courts has changed as of today. 

The old code will remain in place until Monday April 12th and then it will be deleted.  If you wish to have the new code contact Gwen at tennis@standrewsheights.ca. 

Note that you must be a paid-up member of the St. Andrew's Heights Community Associated to get access.

Hi Everyone,

While it remains unclear whether we will even be able to have a SAHCA soccer program in 2021, I thought I would at least test the waters to see how many families might be interested in participating if such a program is permitted under the provincial and City of Calgary restrictions. Too soon yet to know whether that might happen, or when, but again assuming that the restrictions are lifted such that we could squeeze in our usual mid-April to mid-June season, I would appreciate hearing from folks about whether they would be interested in having their kids participate.

Please send me a note at soccer@standrewsheights.ca to let me know if your family would be interested.

Simon Baines

Just a reminder that the school field/playground area is off limits to dogs (and cats if you walk yours). According to the City of Calgary Bylaws, dogs are not allowed on school property or playgrounds. The Maria Montessori (Chief Crowfoot) School has experienced damage to school equipment, fearful children when dogs are in the area, and feces on the ground. We are asking for your support in keeping our children safe and our play area dog free. For more information about responsible pet ownership, please visit:
https://www.calgary.ca/csps/abs/animal-services/responsible-pet-ownership-and-licenses.html

Thank you
Your SAHCA Board

Together with the St Andrews Heights Community Association, the Calgary Grizzlies Speed Skating Club is pleased to offer free “Try Speed Skating” lessons to community members’ children and youth.

Nice work everyone on the community scavenger hunt! We had 17 households (28 people) participate!! All 17 entries were entered into a random name draw and the following names were selected:

1. Megan P.
2. Kane Family
3. May C.
4. Nick S.
5. Caroline and Marty

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! 
Winners, we will aim to get you your $25 gift card prize (sponsored by the St. Andrew's Heights Community Association) within the next week. 

We're now ready to kick off our Community Christmas Scavenger Hunt (more prizes to be won!).

Deadline Dec. 31, 7pm
Answer submission form: https://forms.gle/gj17NMg3D8cK5Fti8

G O O D  L U C K  and  H A V E  F U N ! ! !  

Thanks again for participating!!!

Tiffany and Team 
for the St. Andrew's Heights Community Association

Thanks so much for participating in our "Making Spirits Bright' Community Decorating Contest! We had 12 households participate and 28 bright and beautiful photos submitted. It's been a challenging year for many, so THANK YOU for going the extra mile to spread joy and cheer this season!

The names for our winners have been drawn:

1. The Stadnyk Family  - Submission titled: "Moose Manor"
2. Michele Horne 
3. Dianna - Submission titled: "Merry Christmas Everyone!"

CONGRATULATIONS! We will contact each of the winners in a separate email regarding the delivery of your prizes.

To see the winners (and all other submissions) please visit the St. Andrew's Heights Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/StAndrewsHeightsYYC

Public Health Restrictions:
Effective Immediately:

• Outdoor and indoor social gatherings are now restricted to only those in the same household, including in indoor workplaces. People who live alone may still have up to two non-household close contacts.
• A mask mandate is now in effective for Alberta – masks are required in all public spaces. Farms are excluded from the mask mandate.
• Community halls remain CLOSED

Effective December 13, 2020 at midnight:

• Retail businesses, including shopping malls, can remain open at 15 per cent capacity allowed under the fire code. Places of worship can remain open/active at 15 per cent capacity.
• Restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges, and cafes must close in-person service. Takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery services will be permitted.
• Casinos, bingo halls, gaming entertainment centres, racing entertainment centres, horse tracks, raceways, bowling alleys, pool halls, legions, and private clubs must close.
• Recreational facilities such as fitness centres, recreation centre, pools, spas, gyms, studios, camps, indoor rinks, and arenas must close.
• Libraries, science centres, interpretive centres, museums, galleries, amusement parks, and water parks must close.
• Businesses offering personal and wellness services such as hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlours, and massage businesses will also have to close.
• Funerals and wedding ceremonies will be limited to 10 people.
• Regulated health services such as physiotherapy, social or protective services, shelters for vulnerable persons, emergency services, and soup kitchens can remain open for in-person attendance.
• Hotels may remain open but must follow sector specific guidelines: no spa or pool use or in-person dining. Room service is permitted.
• Working from home is mandatory unless the employer requires a physical presence for operational effectiveness 
  

 
Note: The restrictions do not apply to service visits for caregivers, health- or child-care providers, or co-parenting arrangements.

The ice rink is now officially open to the community (as of 9:00 am Sunday November 29). Thanks to the ice crew for their many volunteer hours that were required to build up the ice sheet. It is very fortunate to have ice to skate on in November. Due to the importance of physical distancing, a porta-potty has been installed for the season and extra benches will be provided. The community hall will remain closed at this time. Please be mindful of the current physical distancing guidelines. 

Play safe and be kind.

If you would like to volunteer to help maintain the ice rink, contact Dave Browne, the Ice Rink Coordinator, at ice@standrewsheights.ca 

Yesterday, the Province of Alberta announced another state of public health emergency imposing new restrictions on individuals and businesses. 

Social gatherings remain the largest source of transmission and so effectively immediately:

• No indoor social gatherings: outdoor social gatherings are allowed, with a maximum of 10 persons.
• Funerals and weddings – Max 10 people.
• Faith Services: 1/3 of capacity, mandatory masking
• Masks will be mandatory in indoor workplaces.
• Restaurant rules will continue in enhanced areas (Edmonton / Calgary or others with 50 cases per 100K) – NEW: Dining in restaurants/bars, etc. can only be done with members of one’s household, in enhanced areas.
• Closed:
  • Banquet halls, conference centres, trade shows, auditoria and concert venues, non-approved/licensed markets, community centres
  • Children’s play places or indoor playgrounds
  • All levels of sport (professional, semi-professional, junior, collegiate/universities and amateur). Exemptions may be considered.
  • Casino TABLES – however, slots can remain open
• All customer facing businesses will be limited to 25 per cent of fire occupancy limits.
  • Retail businesses and services
• Appointment only businesses
  • Professional services
  • Personal services

These measurers are mandatory and those that break these rules will be subject to fines of $1,000. They will be in place for 3 weeks and then will be re-evaluated. In addition,

• Students K to 6 will continue in-school learning but will begin winter break Dec. 18 and return to classes Jan. 11.
• Students Grades 7 to 12 will begin online learning Nov. 30, end Dec. 18 and return on Jan. 11.

An emergency alert will go out later this week on the cell phone network to alert all Albertans. If these measures are not successful, more strict measures will be required. Premier Kenney encourages us all to do our part. 

All the detail can be found at: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx#toc-3

As we anticipate another skating season, we want to congratulate Nik Rasula for 25 years of coordinating the ice rink maintenance crew at St Andrews Heights. During that time, Nik recruited and trained a volunteer crew that is second to none.

Nik has now retired and we have a new Ice Crew coordinator:  Dave Browne.

Please consider joining the ice rink maintenance crew, no experience is required, as we offer on the job training to learn the art and science of ice making.

In a typical year, our most experienced members start building-up the ice surface in late November (weather dependent) and the rink is ready for skating in early December. The bright Calgary sunshine and Chinook winds usually end our season by early March. A typical rookie crew member’s  time commitment is 3 outings of 2 hours each.

Here are some of the benefits of being on the rink crew – giving back to the community by providing a healthy outdoor activity for all ages;  obtaining fresh air and exercise (no need to go to a gym);  end of season volunteer party (held at a secret location)

You can contact Dave at ice@standrewsheights.ca  

The St. Andrew's Heights Twitter account is activated again. You can receive regular updates via Twitter @SAHCA-YYC.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website!

Many thanks to Jeremy Mortis who has revamped our site. For those of you who are unaware, Jeremy is our digital guru behind the scenes in our community!

We would like to extend our gratitude to Gwen Schafer who has maintained our website for years. Gwen and her husband Jeff built our original site and we are thankful for their continued contributions to the community.

There appears to be a pack of coyotes in the off-leash park area and they were a very happy group this morning. The yelping and calling were in full force starting around 5:20 am. Be aware that they are in the neighbourhood and do not leave your pets out unattended.

We have had a report about a homeless encampment in the treed area by the 11th Ave-Crowchild pedestrian overpass between St. Andrews Heights & West Hillhurst: There has always been encampments there on and off for many years with no problems that we are aware of. Yesterday some people were hiding in the trees wearing scary masks and jumped out to chased some children on the path. Police attended the scene but could not do anything about the encampments due to COVID restrictions. The campers did not attempt to grab the children and did not continue pursuing them. If you encounter a problem like this please call the police non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. If you feel you are in an emergency situation then call 911.