Pull on your Boots and Mosey on Down!!!  Please join us for the first ever DRCA Stampede BBQ on Sunday, June 11th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the DR Recreation Facility and adjoining fields.  We have changed our format this year from a Breakfast to a BBQ.

M&M’s from Westhills will be BBQing hamburgers and hot dogs for us – thank you to Mike and his team!

ENJOY!!  Butterfield Acres Petting Zoo & Inflatable Obstacle Course
Trampolines & Line Dancers
Volleyball, Soccer, Tug of War, & Tennis

The BBQ is free for DRCA Members.  If you do not have a membership, don’t worry!   Memberships will be available for purchase – $25.00.  Or, meals can be purchased for $5.

We hope to see you there!

Special thanks to the DRCA’s Special Events Committee for organizing and putting on this event.

It will be held at the end of Discovery Ridge Boulevard.  The DRCA, on behalf of the community of Discovery Ridge, would like to sincerely thank the City of Calgary for providing this service and opportunity.  It is very greatly appreciated.

Please see below for information regarding acceptable and unacceptable items.  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta will gladly accept the following items:

• Quality used clothing, accessories, shoes, costumes, coats etc
• Entertainment items such as books, magazines, DVD’s, small entertainment appliances in working order, sporting goods, toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals etc
• Small general kitchen appliances in working order, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, hair dryers, curling irons etc
• Kitchenware
• Linens
• Household items such as telephones, lamps, clocks, pictures, frames, mirrors, crafts, ornaments, dried/silk flowers, candles, hangers, coat racks, shoe racks, tools, small office supplies etc
• Bags and suitcases

Large furniture items and baby items such as car seats, strollers, gates and high chairs are unfortunately not accepted.

The Syrian Refugee Support Group of Calgary will gladly accept used bicycles and bicycle parts to be distributed to those in need in our city.

Darrin Bastien Metals Recycling will gladly accept the following items:

• All metals
• Automotive batteries
• Automotive metal parts
• Propane tanks if devalved
• Appliances, except for fridges
• Metal doors
• BBQ’s
• Lawnmowers
• Rototillers
• Bikes and bike parts that cannot be reused

No explosives or fuel tanks will be accepted.

Recycle Logic will gladly accept the following items:

• Televisions, Computer Monitors and All-in One Computers
• Desktop Computers and Servers
• Computer Accessories – Mouse, Keyboard, Cables, Desktop Computer Speakers
• Laptops, Notebooks and Tablets
• Desktop Printers and Printer combinations, Scanners, Fax Machines and Photocopiers
• Cable boxes
• Modems/Network Switches
• Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances
• Cords, Extension cords
• Christmas Lights
• Stereo Equipment/Speakers
• CD /DVD/ DVR Players
• Microfiche Readers
• Microwaves
• Cell Phones
• Network Equipment
• Testing Equipment
• Circuit Boards
• Receivers (Satellite & Cable)
• Uninterruptible Power Supplies
• Gaming consoles/games
• Projectors
• VCRs

Recycle-Logic Inc. reserves the rights to refuse any item NOT on the ARMA Sponsored Material List or any ineligible item with too much plastic.

City of Calgary Waste and Recycling services will provide packer trucks for garbage, organics and recycling.

Yard waste including leaves, branches, plants, grass clippings will be accepted for composting.  Please note that no sod will be accepted.  Yard waste must be separate from other items.  All organic materials collected at community cleanups will be taken to one of the City of Calgary’s composting facilities.

Mattresses will be accepted. Bags are provided on site if necessary.

The following items will NOT be accepted:

• Glass (e.g. window panes, glass table tops)
• Household appliances with Freon (e.g. refrigerators, freezers)
• Liquids (e.g. cooking oils)
• Railway ties
• Sod or dirt
• Household hazardous waste including:
• Propane tanks ( if devalved, can give to Darren Bastien Metals Recycling )
• Paint
• Automobile, cleaning, healthcare, and gardening chemicals

Household hazardous waste materials can be brought directly to a household hazardous waste drop-off location.

If you are unsure about an item, please visit calgary.ca/whatgoeswhere to find the right recycling and disposal options for your unwanted items.

This year we will also provide a Free Store opportunity where items can be dropped off for availability to others, and if not removed they will be donated directly or disposed of appropriately.

Donations to the Calgary Humane Society will be gratefully accepted. Please refer to this link to view their Wish List http://www.calgaryhumane.ca/donate/wishlist/.

Sarcee Trail : Richmond Rd SW Interchange Functional Planning Study

On Saturday May 27th you could hold a garage sale and whatever items are not sold can then be donated at the Community Clean Up at the far west end of Discovery Ridge Boulevard on Sunday, May 28th between 9 – 2pm.  In addition to donation of gently used household items, clothing, toys and bicycles, you can dispose of your metals, electronics, garbage, organics and recycling.

Top off the weekend by gathering your neighbours together or attending a block party on Saturday evening – these will be organized independently and we encourage you to consider facilitating a block party on your street.  All that is required is a space where people can gather, sending out an invitation via e-mail and poster with information about what everyone needs to bring and enjoying an informal pot luck party!  We have all the information and templates available for anyone who would be interested so please contact Alli Rose at allison.rose08@gmail.com if you would be willing to be involved and help to build our community spirit and camaraderie!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

Flooding can occur at any time in Calgary, although the period between May 15 and July 15 is when we are most likely to experience flooding. Historically, this is when we experience our largest rainfalls.

Flooding in Calgary can happen in several ways:

• Rivers and streams cannot contain excessive rainfall within their banks.
• Rain and snowmelt cannot be absorbed into the ground.
• Waterways or storm drains become blocked with debris or ice.
• Water containment systems, such as stormwater or sewage pipes, are overloaded or break, causing backup.
• Severe thunderstorms cause localized flooding of streets and property.
• Ice jams on rivers may cause elevated water levels and overland flooding.

The speed with which flooding is experienced varies. Calgary sits at the confluence of two large rivers, the Bow River and the Elbow River, and several small creeks. The Bow River has a large watershed drainage area and drops from the mountains to the city at a steep slope. The Elbow River also drops in elevation at a steep slope and has a relatively short trip from the mountains to where it meets with the Bow River in the heart of Calgary.

The consequence of having two short and steep river systems is that any impacts, such as fast and high flow rates, can reach Calgary at a rapid speed with little warning.

Weather conditions can also change rapidly. Calgary’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes accurate weather forecasting a challenge. Weather forecasters have a tough time predicting how weather systems will behave once they reach conditions surrounding the mountains.

Generally, winter storms follow a more predictable pattern, allowing more advance warning time so that you can take appropriate actions. Summer weather patterns can be much more volatile. When you are monitoring the weather, you may also hear alerts related to the river. If you live in the flood plain or in low-lying areas, it’s important to understand what the alerts mean so you can be prepared and take action.

The first step towards protecting yourself is knowing your flood risk and the sources of information available to you:

• Visit ca/floodinfo to determine your flood risk, and for detailed information on how you can be prepared for flood season. You can also download a copy of the Flood Readiness Guide.
• Prepare your 72-hour emergency kit. This kit holds supplies to support you and your family for three days in an emergency situation.
• Visit Alberta Environment’s river basin website and download the river monitoring app by searching for “Alberta Rivers” on your device.
• Listen for and sign up for Alberta Emergency Alerts (AEA). Alberta Emergency Alerts interrupt local broadcasting. As well, you can download the AEA app to a smart device to receive notifications.

The City of Calgary – Preparing for flood season

The City of Calgary’s priority when planning for and responding to flooding is to protect its citizens, critical infrastructure, civic property, the environment and the economy.

The City prepares annually for flooding by:

• Working with the Government of Alberta to monitor snow pack, rainfall and temperatures, as well as river flow levels in the mountains and foothills.
• Developing and maintaining emergency response plans.
• Conducting training sessions and exercises for City personnel.
• Identifying those areas of the city and critical infrastructure that are most vulnerable to flooding.
• Ensuring adequate emergency resources are in place.
• Sharing information with Calgarians, businesses, stakeholders and other municipalities.
• Operating existing infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs and outfall gates, to reduce flow rates and mitigate flood damage.

The City strives to maintain all critical business functions and services to Calgarians during any emergency or disaster including flooding. The City does not typically protect individual private properties from flood risk. Property owners remain responsible for protecting their property. Please visitcalgary.ca/floodinfo for information on how you can be prepared for flood season.

Meet at the Skate Shack between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 22nd to help tidy up Discovery!  We have a supply of gloves and bags but please feel free to bring your own.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to come out and help clean-up our community!

Participants of all ages are welcome but children should be accompanied by an adult. All involved should aim to commit approximately two hours to walk sections of  Discovery Ridge. Garbage bags, gloves and hand sanitizers will be provided and will be distributed the day of the event at the Skate Shack between 9:00-10:30am. Last year more than 60 neighbours attended the event! Green spaces throughout Discovery Ridge as well as sections of Griffith Woods will be allocated to participants. Maps will be available.

Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather….it’s Calgary after all!
Email: environment@discoveryridge.com for more information and to register your intent to participate.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Discovery Ridge events!

Saturday, May 27^th     Garage Sales and Block Parties

Sunday, May 28^th        Community Clean-up           9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 11^th       Stampede BBQ and More     4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept.  9^th     Music in the Park

Happy Family Day Weekend!

Thanks to our crews and a bit of a break from Mother Nature….both the hockey rink and leisure ice are open.
We encourage you to take caution on both surfaces as the ice is not optimal. Colder tempuratures the week should get both back to usual conditions by the end of the week.

Due to the warm temperatures, both the Hockey and Leisure Ice are CLOSED until further notice.

Damage can occur that is difficult to repair when users are on the ice in the current temperatures.

Your cooperation is appreciated and we hope that everyone stays off the ice until lower temperatures allow or crews back on.