Councillor Castro Liu - Community Update - March 23, 2022
Dear Ward 3 Residents,
Help give our neighbourhood a Spring Clean up! – Great Volunteer Opportunity
This is a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors and beautify the community at the same time.
In support of the Richmond Hill Clean Up, Green Up Weeks, we are looking for Volunteers to collect litter from around your neighbourhood. We will supply garbage bags, recycling bags and gloves and the Town will pick up all of the waste you collect. Details as follow:
Your highly visible work not only will boost neighborhood pride, it is a sign of a community that cares.
If you are interested, please register at https://forms.gle/
Richmond Hill Clean Up, Green Up Weeks:
· April 23 (Sat): Bayview Hill Community Center
· April 24 (Sun): Bayview Secondary School
· April 30 (Sat): Rouge Woods Community Center
· May 01 (Sun): Richmond Green Secondary School
*Students are welcome to collect community volunteer hours by participating.
Notice of Temporary Road Closure
Please be advised there will be intermittent overnight closures on Stouffville Road, between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street on Friday, March 25, 2022 to Sunday, April 10, 2022
Time:
- 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Only during rain events)
Impacts to Travelers:
- Local traffic permitted between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street
- Only emergency vehicles will have access for the road section Bridgewater Drive to Trailwood Crescent
- Access to homes, businesses and emergency services will be maintained
Description:
- Road closure for endangered species migration
- Jefferson Salamanders cross Stouffville Road in the spring to get to breeding grounds
- They make the passage at night and only when it’s raining
- This is one of the few known populations of Jefferson Salamanders in York Region and we continue to work in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to help ensure their survival
If you have any questions about this closure, please contact:
Nelson Costa, Manager, Corridor Control and Safety at 905-955-1470 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Update on management activities related to Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD moth)
- On March 2, the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) adopted the new common name of ‘spongy moth’ for Lymantria dispar dispar or LDD moth. Richmond Hill is joining the ESC, York Region and many other government agencies in adopting this new name. Over time, references to LDD moth in City promotional materials will be changed to spongy moth.
- ‘Spongy moth’ refers to its sponge-like egg masses and replaces the former common name ‘gypsy moth’ that was considered an ethnic slur.
Managing trees on City property
- This winter, City staff have been removing egg masses on small to medium sized street and park trees through manual scraping and specialized portable vacuums to reduce the number of hatched caterpillars in the spring. To date, more than 49,000 egg masses have been removed. Work will continue until early May when the caterpillars begin to emerge.
- High value trees will be injected with an insecticide (TreeAzin®) in late April/early May.
- Street and sidewalk sweeping will occur on approximately 80 hot spot streets from late May to early July.
- Tree watering may occur in the hotter summer months, if necessary, to further mitigate long term impacts.
What residents can do to protect their trees?
Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. Residents are encouraged to monitor the trees on their property for any signs of infection and take the following actions:
- Late August to early May: Where infestations are accessible, scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water and let them soak for one to two days before discarding them in the garbage.
- Early May to mid-July: Pick off hatched caterpillars daily by hand, put them in a container of soapy water for one to two days before discarding them in the garbage. Installing a burlap (or cloth) trap will make the caterpillars easier to collect and remove. Wearing gloves is advisable to avoid skin irritation.
Free Burlap Trap Kits for Richmond Hill residents
- Residents can pick up a free burlap trap kit at the Operations Centre via a self-serve station during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Kits include one (1) piece of burlap that can be cut to fit up to three (3) medium sized trees, twine and a how-to guide.
- Kits are limited to one (1) per household.
- Residents are asked to register their kit when they get to the Operations Centre. There will be signage and a QR code at the self-serve station, which provides them with instructions on how to register the kit.
- Kits will also be distributed through other existing events.
- The burlap kit distribution program will run until August or while quantities last.
Take A Walk And Win!
The City of Richmond Hill is challenging you to take a 15-minute walk from your home for a chance to win a prize.
While you are out for a walk in your neighborhood this month, take a look around at the features and amenities you have nearby. Is there a coffee shop or corner store you can’t live without? Do you wish there was a pharmacy or flower shop closer to home? Is there a park or piece of public art that you love? Then, take two to three minutes to tell us about your experience and you can enter a draw for a chance to win one of six $25 gift cards.
To enter, visit RichmondHill.ca/Walk15. The contest ends on March 31, 2022.
Regards,
Councillor Castro Liu, Ward 3
City of Richmond Hill
225 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4
T: 905 771 5497 | F: 905 771 2500 | e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.