heartof A NEWSLETTER OF THE YEW TEE CONSTITUENCY Issue 3 march 2015 MCI (P) 158/01/2015 Printed on enviromentallyfriendly paper as a Our 50 years Nation SG50 A year filled with p8 celebrations The Yew Tee community comes together to mark the nation s Golden Jubilee! To serve and protect p4 DSP Julius Lim is on a mission to keep our neighbourhood free from crime and he needs your help to make it happen! HIGHLIGHTS GEtting on Track MRT sleeper replacement works in the estate go full swing p12 Bite-sized delights Try out this winning fried prawn dumpling recipe p3
Foreword Dear Residents, Happy New Year to all of you! 2014 has gone by in a flash and we are now into SG50. This is a significant year for all of us as we mark 50 years of independence. There will be a series of activities and meaningful events to commemorate our Golden Jubilee. In Yew Tee, we will also be continuing our efforts to Start from the Heart as we build a better and more cohesive community. We will also be making further improvements to our infrastructure. We look forward to your continued support and wish all of you the best of health, prosperity and peace in 2015! Mr Alex Yam Advisor to Yew Tee Grassroots Organisations MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC This is a siginificant year for all of us as we mark 50 years of independence. there will be a series of activities and meaningful events to commemorate our golden jubilee Chairman Mr Bobby Teh, PBM Publication Committee Mr Johnny Lim, PBM Mr Foo Ce Wei Mr Jonathan Ng Ms Justina Lee Mr Leong Kaiyan Mr Raymond Pang Ms Sally Seow Editorial Team Mr Erik Ong Ms Celest Lim Publishing Consultant Yew Tee CCC Like US on www.facebook.com/yewteesingapore Contents 1 Wet and Wild 2 Our Events 3 Neighbourhood Top Chef 4 To Serve and Protect 6 Starting from the Heart 8 Yew Tee Celebrates SG50! 10 2014: A Recap 12 Around Town 14 Upcoming Events p3
Hidden gems Yew Tee WET AND WILD Home to unique species of birds, reptiles and flora, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve presents vivid insights into Singapore s natural landscape Did you know? Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve was made Singapore s first ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003 Boasting a 500 metrelong boardwalk and 18 Metre-high observation tower, the Sungei Buloh park (now Wetlands reserve) received its 100,000 th visitor in 1994. Nestled at the end of Neo Tiew Crescent, near Kranji Reservoir is the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, a green haven for birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts and just about anyone looking to get away from the concrete jungle of urban Singapore. Sungei Buloh, which roughly translates to Bamboo River, was discovered by a group of birdwatchers in 1986. They were amazed by the amount of flora and fauna in the area and wrote to the government, proposing its conservation. Three years later, the Parks and Recreation Department (as the National Parks Board used to be known) began developing the site, in consultation with experts from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and the Worldwide Fund for Nature. In December 1993, Singapore s then- Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong officially opened the Sungei Buloh Nature Park, which spans some 87 hectares. Boasting a 500 metre-long boardwalk and an 18 metre-high observation tower, it welcomed its 100,000 th visitor in 1994. In 2002, the park was declared a nature reserve and renamed as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. It underwent renovation and improvement works in late-2014 to reduce the effects of erosion on its shoreline The western end of the reserve, where Cashin House is situated, and the Kranji Marshes will also be enhanced before the end of 2017, in hopes of attracting more marsh birds. Depending on which time of the year you visit, you might catch a glimpse of migratory birds as exotic as Arctic waders and kingfishers, along with the common monitor lizards. Its most exciting residents, however, are the saltwater crocodiles. Growing up to 8m long, these imposing reptiles have been spotted swimming in Sungei Buloh Besar, the main river that runs through the reserve. Admission to the reserve is free, and it is open from 7.00am to 7.00pm daily. 1
our events SEEN AND HEARD AMID ALL THE FUN OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS, RESIDENTS OF YEW TEE ALSO RECEIVED A WAKE-UP CALL ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. The BIG-ger, The Better The Joy Of Mid-Autumn 7,000 residents woke up bright and early on 12 October 2014 to take part in the annual Chua Chu Kang B.I.G. Farm Walk & Run. Organised by the Chua Chu Kang GRC and Hong Kah North SMC and powered by Yew Tee CSC, the event consisted of a 3km Walk and 10km Run for adults as well as a 400m and 816m Kids Dash for children. As participants made their way from Brickland Road through a scenic farm trail along the Sungei Tengah area, they showed that Chua Chu Kang is indeed B.I.G. Beautiful, Inclusive and Gracious! Matters Of The Heart There was no shortage of excitement at last year s Chua Chu Kang GRC Family Day cum Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration. Held at the Hardcourt on Jurong West Street 92 (next to Jin Fu Gong Temple) on 20 September 2014, Mr Alex Yam and other Advisors mingled with residents while revelling in the festive atmosphere. Highlights included a mass barbecue, dragon and lion dance, lantern procession and the My Block Sparkles 2014 Awards Ceremony. A Community Sing-A-Long Music was in the air on 1 November 2014 at the Hardcourt @ Yew Tee MRT, which was the venue for the PAssionArts Singing Festival. Organised by the Yew Tee Community Arts and Culture Club, over 1,000 residents sang their hearts out and danced the night away while being entertained by local singers from Project SuperStar. Even Host Advisor Mr Alex Yam enthralled the audience with some songs! On 27 September 2014, Yew Tee GROs partnered the Singapore Heart Foundation to host the National Heart Week/World Heart Day at the Hardcourt @ Yew Tee Close. A variety of activities were held throughout the day to raise public awareness about heart health. These included a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator (CPR+AED) certification course, nutrition and health talks from experts, heart-healthy workouts and a salad-making competition. Deepavali, Yew Tee Style The Yew Tee Community Club Indian Activity Executive Committee celebrated Deepavali in style with a memorable Deepa Maalai event on 8 November 2014. Advisor Mr Alex Yam graced the event as residents were treated to an evening of song and dance performances by young and old alike at the Hardcourt @ Yew Tee MRT. 2 Heart of Yew Tee
Residents Recipe NEIGHBOURHOOD TOP CHEF Champion of culinary challenge Neighbourhood Chef and Yew Tee resident Mdm Wong Ah Moi reveals the recipe to her award-winning dish, cloud dragon siew mai. When roving MediaCorp Channel 8 television show Neighbourhood Chef made a pitstop at Yew Tee, its contestants were told to whip up their best prawn dish. One contest was Mdm Wong Ah Moi, who had been convinced by her daughter to participate in the competition and luckily she did. Her cloud dragon steamed prawn dumplings wowed the judges and she came out on top out of the four final contestants. Mdm Wong has generously revealed her winning recipe, so why not give it a try? Cloud Dragon Steamed Prawn Dumplings: ingredients METHOD 300g prawns, shelled 1 egg white 5 chestnuts, chopped 1 tsp corn flour 1 tsp dried flounder powder 2 tsp sesame oil ½ tsp pepper 1 tsp salt 20 pieces dumpling (wonton) skin For the gelatine broth: ½ kg prawn heads and shells 2 spring onions 3 garlic slices 10 chicken feet 1 litre water ¼ tsp salt 1. To prepare the gelatine broth, stir fry the prawn heads and shells. Add spring onions, garlic and a litre of water. Leave to boil until approximately half the water is left. 2. Add chicken feet, ¼ teaspoon salt, and leave to boil till chicken feet are cooked. 3. Pour the broth into a mixer and blend. Sieve and remove chicken bones and leave the broth in the refrigerator for half an hour for the mixture to solidify. 4. To make the prawn paste, flatten the shelled prawns and mix them evenly with salt. 5. Add egg white, corn flour, chopped chestnut, dried flounder powder, sesame oil and pepper, and mix evenly. Place mixture in refrigerator to cool. 6. Wrap gelatine broth and prawn mixture with wonton skin to form a dumpling. Place one fresh prawn on each dumpling and deep fry. Serve hot. 3
Hello Neighbour TO SERVE AND PROTECT WHETHER ON- OR OFF-DUTY, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE JULIUS LIM HAS DONE WORK THAT MATTERS FOR YEW TEE RESIDENTS. DSP Lim hearing out the concerns of residents It is very important that the spf builds Relationships with community members who can act as our eyes and ears on the ground DSP JULIUS LIM D eputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Julius Lim has been with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) since 2009, and he wouldn t have it any other way. As a boy, he harboured ambitions of serving the nation. My father was in the Singapore Army so I grew up wanting to be a military officer just like him, says the 29 year-old. But as time went by I realised that police officers have a more direct impact on the community because they are responsible for keeping communities safe. DSP Lim has served in a number of positions within the SPF, including a two-year term as Commanding Officer (CO) of Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood Police Centre from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012. Now seconded to the Ministry of Home Affairs as an Assistant Director with the Joint Operations Group, he looks back fondly on that experience. Those two years were very humbling and enlightening for DSP Lim in front of the camera during the filming of an episode of Crimewatch 4 Heart of Yew Tee me, as I learned a lot about community policing, he says. The SPF is only about 15,000-strong, so it is important that we build relationships with community members who can act as our eyes and ears on the ground. This will create a multiplier effect on law enforcement. As the CO, DSP Lim oversaw SPF community partnerships such as Citizens-On-Patrol, Neighbourhood Watch Groups and the Community Safety and Security Programme. These ongoing initiatives provide a platform under which residents are trained by police officers to help detect and prevent crimes, and to report any suspicious activities they see. The most prevalent crime I encountered was unlicensed moneylending or loansharking. To combat it, we reached out to the community to educate them on how not to become victims of loanshark harassment, DSP Lim recalls. Some petty crimes also occurred, with one incident in particular standing out. In 2011, three youths were walking around Yew Tee one day when they witnessed a snatch theft. Instead of turning a blind eye to it, they apprehended the assailant and called for the police. A VOLUNTEER AND A PUBLIC FIGURE Having spent so much time in Yew Tee, DSP Lim who lives in Ang Mo Kio calls it his second home. Such is his affinity for the area that in 2012 he joined the Yew Tee Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC). At the time I was using the CCC s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ YewTee.Singapore) to broadcast educational messages and updates on arrests assisted by members of public, he explains. So when I was approached by the CCC Chairman to become a Member, I viewed the volunteer work as an opportunity to help organise local assistance programmes as well as strengthen my relationship with the community. He is also easily recognisable as an English presenter for the Channel 5 docu-drama, Crimewatch. I have been involved with the series since 2010, when I was nominated by SPF senior management to audition for it, says DSP Lim. My role is to tell stories of remarkable police officers who have solved crimes and to pass on crime prevention advisories to over a million viewers across Singapore. It is a responsibility I take seriously, and one I enjoy. 服务并保护 不论是在职位上或是下岗后 副警监林玮扬都不 忘服务油池居民 2009年加入新加坡警察部队的副警监 DSP) 林玮扬自小就志在为 国家服务 我的父亲过去在新加坡陆军部队里 因此我从小就想 长大和父亲一样当军官 29岁的他透露 不过渐渐地我发现警 官们因为负责捍卫社区的安全 对社群有更直接对影响 林副警监曾在新加坡警察部队担任不同职位 包括由2011年 1月1日至2012年12月31日予蔡厝港邻里警局担任局长 目前派遣到 内政部担任联合行动司助理司长的他怀念地回溯当年的经验 那两年的时间让我大开眼界 谦卑学习 对于社区巡逻 我学习了不少 他感慨 新加坡警察部队仅有15 000人员 因此 与能够帮助我们作社区耳目的社区成员建立关系是非常重要的 这对于法律执行有倍数效应 作为局长 林副警监也监督新加坡警察部队和社区的合作项 目 例如民众参与巡逻计划 邻里守望相助小组 及社区安全与 保安计划 这些正在进行中的项目提供一个让居民接受警员训练 的平台 以协助侦查和避免犯罪事件 并及时提报任何可疑行为 我最常碰到的犯罪行为是非法放贷或所谓的大耳窿 为打 击此类罪犯 我们教育社群如何避免成为大耳窿骚扰的对象 林副警监回忆道 此外 曾发生的一些轻微罪行当中也有一起令 他印象深刻 在2011年 3名青年在油池散步时目击一起掠夺案 他们不但没有视而不见 还当场擒拿袭击者并报警 一个志愿工作者及公共人物 长期在油池工作的林副警监虽然居住在宏茂桥 却视油池为 第二个家 他对这个社区对情感驱使他在2012年加入油池公民 咨询委员会 当时我正通过该公民咨询委员会的脸书页面 (www.facebook.com/yewtee.singapore)传播教育讯息以及通过民众 协助擒拿罪犯的新消息 他解释道 因此当油池公民咨询委员 会会长邀我作成员时 我把这项志愿工作视为组织当地居民合作 项目以及加强和社区居民关系的机会 作为第5频道戏剧性纪录片 绳之以法 的英语主持 林副 警监是一张熟悉的脸孔 我当时受新加坡警察部队的高级管理 人员推荐 并自2010年参与这个纪录片的制作 林副警监道 我的角色在于讲述破案的杰出警员的故事 并向全岛数百万的 观众传播防止犯罪的讯息 这是一个我非常认真看待的责任 也是一份我享受的工作 UNTUK BERKHIDMAT DAN MELINDUNGI SAMA ADA BEKERJA ATAU BERCUTI, timbalan superintenden POLIS JULIUS LIM TELAH MELAKSANAKAN KERJA YANG BERMAKNA BUAT PENDUDUK YEW TEE. Timbalan Superintenden Polis (DSP) Julius Lim telah berkhidmat sejak 2009. Dari kecil, dia bercita-cita untuk berkhidmat kepada Negara. Bapa saya bertugas di dalam Tentera Singapura jadi saya juga ingin menjadi pegawai tentera seperti dia, kata pemuda 29 tahun itu. Tetapi lamakelamaan saya sedar bahawa pegawai polis mempunyai kesan yang lebih tersasar kepada masyarakat kerana mereka bertanggungjawab untuk menjaga keamanan masyarakat. DSP Lim telah memegang beberapa jawatan di dalam SPF termasuk dua tahun sebagai pegawai komander (CO) di Pusat Polis Kejiranan Choa Chu Kang daripada 1 Januari 2011 hingga 31 Disember 2012. Kini di Kementerian Ehwal Dalaman sebagai Pengarah Kanan dengan Kumpulan Operasi Bersama, dia teringat kembali akan pengalaman itu. Dua tahun itu benar-benar merendahkan dan memberi pendedahan kepada saya apabila saya banyak belajar tentang polisi masyarakat, katanya. SPF cuma ada 15, 000 pegawai jadi adalah penting untuk kita menjalin ikatan dengan masyarakat yang boleh menjadi mata dan telinga kita. Sebagai CO, DSP Lim menerajui program SPF Masyarakat seperti Penduduk Mengawas, Kumpulan Pemerhati Kejiranan dan Program Keselamatan Masyarakat. Inisiatif ini memberikan ruang untuk penduduk dilatih oleh pegawai polis untuk mengesan dan mencegah jenayah, dan melaporkan sebarang aktiviti yang mencurigakan yang mereka lihat. Jenayah yang paling berleluasa adalah pinjaman tidak berlesen dan tailong. Untuk menangani masalah ini, kami menghampiri masyarakat untuk mengajar mereka bagaimana untuk mengelakkan diri menjadi mangsa, kata DSP Lim. Terdapat juga jenayah-jenayah kecil yang berlaku dengan satu peristiwa yang amat menonjolkan. Pada 2011, tiga belia sedang berjalan di sekitar Yew Tee apabila mereka melihat suatu kejadian kesragut. Mereka telah menahan pesalah itu dan memanggil polis. SUKARELAWAN DAN TOKOH YANG DIKENALI Setelah banyak meluangkan masa di Yew Tee, DSP Lim yang tinggal di Ang Mo Kio menganggap itu sebagai rumah keduanya. Dia berasa rapat dengan kawasan itu yang membuatnya menyertai Persatuan Konsultasi Penduduk Yew Tee (CCC) pada 2012. Waktu itu saya menggunakan Facebook CCC itu untuk menyiarkan mesej berpendidikan dan tentang sebarang penangkapan yang dibantu oleh penduduk, terangnya. Jadi apabila saya diajak untuk menjadi ahli, saya melihat kerja sukarelawan itu sebagai peluang untuk tolong menyusun program bantuan dan juga mengeratkan hubungan dengan masyarakat. Dia juga lebih dikenali sebagai pengacara Inggeris untuk Saluran 5, Crime Watch. Saya sudah di dalam siri itu sejak 2010, apabila saya dicalonkan oleh pihak atasan SPF, kata DSP Lim. Tugas saya untuk menceritakan tentang pegawai polis yang telah menyelesaikan jenayah dan menyebarkan nasihat pencegahan jenayah kepada lebih daripada sejuta penonton serata Singapura. Ia adalah tanggungjawab yang saya ambil serius dan yang memberi saya keseronokan. Raising public awareness on crime prevention is an issue that DSP Lim takes very seriously Police POST 5
Starting from the Heart 从心开始 Cranes for well wishes Inspired by senbazuru, the Japanese tradition of folding a thousand paper cranes to grant a wish, the residents of Yew Tee came together in October 2014 to fold cranes to encourage two special residents, Ms K and Ms C, and others in need of encouragement. An open call was made to residents to fold and send in paper cranes, and more than 10,000 cranes in total were received. Volunteers helped to string the cranes together, which were then hung on display at Yew Tee Community Club. Ms K is terminally ill with Gaucher s disease, a rare neurological disorder that has left her bedridden and out of school for two years. Ms C battles Senior-Loken Syndrome and has lost her kidneys and sight to the uncommon disease. Scholarships await you Adopt-a-Family The Yew Tee Adopt-a-Family continues to make a difference to the lives of the less-fortunate. The team of 11 members recently helped a visually-handicapped resident by securing his weekend meals. His concerned neighbours brought his plight to the team s attention. In the past, this resident would often scald himself during his attempts to cook but now, a kind family cooks an extra share for him, ensuring that he never goes hungry again. From providing families with adult diapers to donating a wheelchair to an elderly woman, the team is always looking for ways to brighten the community. Get An All Clear On Your Health A health screening was held for the Pioneer Generation on 13 December 2014 at Blocks 612 & 613. The screening, which cost $2, included a healthy cooking demonstration and measured the pioneers BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. Clean & Green Singapore Festival Yew Tee was recognised as the Best Constituency (Ownership) at the Clean & Green Singapore festival. To celebrate this accolade, a carnival was held on 8 and 9 November 2014 at the open field next to Lot One Shoppers Mall. Residents got a glimpse of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015 Exhibition, learnt eco-living tips and exchanged their recyclables for prizes. It pays to be green! If you would like to pursue a higher education, consider applying for the Yew Tee- EASB Education Scheme. 30 The East Asia Institute of Management (EASB) is offering: scholarships worth $25,000 each to qualified Yew Tee residents every year. The scholarships are applicable for EASB Diploma, EASB Advanced Diploma and Degree awarded by Cardiff Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam University and Queen Margaret University. Programmes include Business Management, Accounting, Psychology, Hospitality & Tourism Management & more. Applicants must first meet the established academic criteria to be eligible for the scholarships. Contact EASB at 6252 5500 or email enquiries@easb.edu.sg for more information. Interested applicants can apply at www. easb.edu.sg/yewtee Pioneer Generation talk To explain the Government s new Pioneer Generation Package (PGP), and to hear residents concerns and feedback, a PGP Sharing Session was organised on 9 November 2014 at Hardcourt @ Yew Tee MRT Mr Alex Yam; Tampines GRC MP and former Yew Tee resident Mr Baey Yam Keng; Lianhe Wanbao Editor Ms Lee Huay Leng; and artiste Ms Lin Ruping moderated the discussion. 6 Heart of Yew Tee 7
SG50 Events THE SG50 MUSICAL PASSION FOR THE NATION To celebrate Singapore s birthday in a unique way, Yew Tee Constituency will host a steamboat dinner. Scheduled to take place in August 2015, some 5,000 residents are expected to attend, including Pioneer Generation citizens as well as the needy. While dining al fresco and striking up new friendships, guests can also look forward to performances by our local talents. The main highlight of this celebration however will be an attempt to make it into the Singapore Book of Records for the formation of a giant SG50 by the most number of people holding aloft an orchid. YEW TEE CELEBRATES A line-up of exciting events to commemorate Singapore s 50 th birthday is brewing in neighbourhood. Look out for them and join in on the festivities! In line with this year s celebrations, Yew Tee will be organising a community concert and SG50 musical. This musical extravaganza, which aims to tell the story of how Singapore came to be and educate residents about our history through an entertaining and lighthearted show. The musical will start with the discovery of Singapore by Sang Nila Utama and Sir Stamford Raffles, and proceeds to reference iconic moments from our history, highlighting groups such as the Samsui Women, Nyonyas and Babas. It also showcases the spirit of the Indian and Malay kampung communities, before closing with a spotlight on the globalisation of modern Singapore. Underpinning the musical is the theme of Racial Harmony which will be conveyed through a fusion of lion dance, as well as performances by Chinese, Malay and Indian Dancers. The Yew Tee CC Chinese Orchestra will provide musical accompaniment for the performance via its renditions of traditional Indonesian, Western, Chinese and Malay folk music pieces. This Community Concert and musical that captures the struggles and growth of our beautiful country as she turns 50 hopes to immerse its audience in a wave of nostalgia while allowing them to look towards the future at the same time. LANDMARKS OF YEW TEE The neighbourhood is set to become even more attractive by end-2015. Yew Tee will be inviting local artists, students and residents to contribute their artwork and paint on a 50-metre-long mural on a void deck wall at a prominent location in Yew Tee. A LEARNING JOURNEY Go down memory lane on a Learning Journey organised by the Yew Tee Constituency and discover how the town has transformed since the 1960s. The guided tours, which are set to take place in the 2 nd Quarter of 2015 and opened to all residents, will include visits to various places of interest and farms located within the division. This project is targeted towards the younger generation to get to know our history and how far we have come, as well as the older generation to give them an opportunity to reminisce over the good old kampung spirit of the past. MASS IFTAR In other record-breaking news, Chua Chu Kang GRC and Hong Kah North SMC CC MAECs will get together on 12 July 2015 for a mass Iftar (breaking fast session). The gathering will attempt to make it into the Singapore Book of Records for having the most people breaking fast together. All residents are encouraged to join in on this activity which is set to take place at the Hardcourt @ Yew Tee Close. To revive the spirit of gotong-royong (community spirit), volunteers will serve the prepared meal to the fasting as well as non-muslim residents as they break fast in harmony. BIGGEST RANGOLI DISPLAY In conjunction with SG50, Yew Tee CC IAEC will attempt to create the largest Rangoli (Deepavali decoration) Display using traditional coloured rice. While the masterpiece is scheduled to be ready in November 2015, work will start six months ahead. 8 Heart of Yew Tee *All information is accurate at the time of print. 9
A Year In Photos 25.01.1 4 Multi-Racial Pongal Variety Show 09.02.1 4 Yew Tee Lunar New Year Lunch Gathering 03.05.1 4 HeARTs in Arts Talent Quest Season 2 01.01.1 4 Love Date @ Orchidville 12.01.1 4 Yew Tee CDC/CCC Bursary Awards Presentation Ceremony 18.01.1 4 Yew Tee Health Screening 2014: A recap 04.05.1 4 Baby 2014 Singapore @ Yew Tee From celebrations and bonding intiatives to programmes for assisting the needy, yew tee residents have banded together to build a better community and the pictures say it all! 17.08.1 4 Jalinan Muhibah Di Aidilfitri 2014 02.08.1 4 National Day Block Decor 11.05.1 4 Yew Tee May Day Walk-A-Jog 2014 20.07.1 4 Yew Tee Day 21.06.1 4 Yew Tee 2014 Street Jam 07.06.1 4 Painted Faces Extravaganza 12.10.1 4 Chua Chu Kang Big Farm Walk & Run 16.08.1 4 National Day Dinner 10 Heart of Yew Tee 11
AROUND TOWN SAY NO TO HIGH-RISE LITTERING! Following the 2013 installation of lifts at the pedestrian overhead bridge next to Yew Tee MRT Station, plans are underway to further improve connectivity to Yew Tee s town centre. In particular, the following will be, or have already been, constructed: A pathway under the MRT viaduct that will run from the north of Yew Tee (Zones 8 and 11) to the junction of Choa Chu Kang Street 62. It will replace the existing non-sheltered pathway, which will be converted into a cycling path (subject to approval); A sheltered crossing between Blocks 608 and 627, for residents of Zone 7, Unity Secondary School students and servicemen in the Kranji camps; and A network of covered linkways north and south of Choa Chu Kang Drive, linking the majority of blocks and amenities within a 400m radius of Yew Tee MRT Station (subject to approval) Stay tuned for more updates as they become available! What is high-rise littering? This refers to the throwing of objects from one s unit or common corridor in a residential block. Items that have been thrown include used tissue paper, cigarette butts, food waste, plastic bags and even soiled diapers. Tossing food scraps from one s window to feed birds is also considered high-rise littering. Why is high-rise littering wrong? It compromises the safety and cleanliness of our neighbourhood. Littering also results in smell nuisance and an unsightly mess; pests such as cockroaches and rats may also be attracted to your block if such litter is present. Items such as bottles, potted plants and furniture can cause serious injury to people when thrown from a great height. What is the penalty for high-rise littering? Littering is an offence under the Environmental Public Health Act; any person caught littering can be fined up to $2,000 for a first offence. High-rise littering carries the same penalty as littering. In addition, if the items thrown cause physical hurt to passers-by below, the case will be classified as a criminal act of killer-litter and referred to the Police. Do not throw items from your windows or common corridors. Let s keep Yew Tee clean and litter-free! 12 Heart of Yew Tee STAYING ON TRACK BETTER SHELTER NETWORK WAIT NO MORE! Bus commuters in Yew Tee may have noticed two new short-trip bus services operating in the area on weekday mornings and evenings. Introduced last year, Bus Services 302A and 307P have alleviated overcrowding and reduced waiting times for commuters. As a complement to Service 302, Service 302A starts at Yew Tee MRT Station and ends opposite the station, with stops along Choa Chu Kang Drive, Choa Chu Kang North 7 and Choa Chu Kang Crescent. It operates on weekdays (excluding public holidays) from 6am 9am, and from 5pm 8pm. Similarly, Service 307P duplicates the north loop of Service 307. It plies the route between Choa Chu Kang MRT Station and Choa Chu Kang Street 62 via Choa Chu Kang Drive, Choa Chu Kang North 5 and Choa Chu Kang North 6. The bus which also passes through Yew Tee MRT Station runs on weekdays (excluding public holidays) at 6.15am 8.15am and 5.15pm 7.15pm. GIVING EVERYONE A LIFT As part of the Singapore Government s Car Park Lift Installation Programme, lifts will soon be fitted at 15 multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) around the neighbourhood. This will provide greater convenience to residents, especially families with young children and the elderly. Installation works commenced in the first half of 2014 and will be carried out in stages, with priority given to high-usage MSCPs. Notices will be sent out to residents prior to the actual commencement dates. Once completed, almost all our MSCPs will be serviced by lifts. DEFEAT DENGUE! Have you woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of loud machinery coming from the train tracks? If so, don t fret! SMRT is currently carrying out Phase 2 of its nation-wide Sleeper Replacement Programme, under which a total of 188,000 railway sleepers rectangular pieces of timber sleepers that support the rails upon which train wheels run will be replaced by concrete sleepers to ensure smoother, safer and faster train rides. Yew Tee MRT Station is one of nine stations along the North South Line involved in Phase 2, which lasts from 2 November 2014 to end-march 2015. SMRT has taken steps to minimise inconvenience for residents by conducting replacement works after operating hours and deploying noise-mitigation screens. But you can also block out the noise at home by, for example, drawing the curtains or wearing earplugs. Anti-Dengue War Strategy You re probably no stranger to the National Environment Agency (NEA) s well-publicised Five-Step Mozzie Wipeout strategy by now, as part of its efforts to eliminate dengue. But given the potentiallydeadly nature of this mosquitoborne disease, it doesn t hurt to repeat the five steps again! Change water in vases and bowls on alternate days. Remove water from flowerpot plates on alternate days. Turn over all water storage containers. Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use. Clear blockages and put Bti insecticides in roof gutters monthly. Call the NEA Contact Centre Hotline @ 1800-X-DENGUE (1800-933-6483) for more information.
Upcoming events Yew Tee Chinese Calligraphy Competition 2015 Date: 8 March 2015 (Sunday) Venue: CC Hall and Basketball Court Time: 9am 12pm Chua Chu Kang GRC Active Ageing Carnival Date: 15 March 2015 (Sunday) Venue: Hardcourt @ Yew Tee MRT Time: 8am 12pm Get on Course! Itching to pick up a new skill or learn a new language? ciao hello Check out Course Xpress at Yew Tee Community Club! Classes are no more than $10 seniors 60 years and above pay as low as $3 per class, while PAssion Card members enjoy a discount of $1. What can you learn? Well, just about anything, from make-up to laughter yoga. For a full list of courses and more information, visit www.one.pa.gov.sg Big Spring Clean Date: 19 April 2015 (Sunday) Venue: TBC Time: 9am 12pm IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK Be A Volunteer Keen to contribute to the Yew Tee community? Do your part by signing up today! Name: NRIC: Date of Birth: Gender: M / F Contact Number: Address: Email Address: Mail in this Volunteer Interest Form to Attn: Volunteer Coordinator, Yew Tee Constituency Office, 20 Choa Chu Kang St 52, #01-01, Singapore 689286 or email your details to Pa_YewTeeCC@pa.gov.sg to find out more. Alternatively, swing by the Yew Tee Community Club and pick up an Application Form today!