Category: Latest News

Discovering CCK Town: Get Fit & Fab series

Discovering CCK Town: Get Fit & Fab series The More We Play Together Tone Up Power! Get Your Body Pumping   Did you know there are more than 30 fitness stations in CCK Town? With so many open-air fitness corners in our estates, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to exercising. These well-equipped outdoor gyms at the foot of our HDB blocks are free to use and found across the Town. In this 3-parter series, we will take you across CCK Town and show you the kind of fitness corners there are for you to keep in shape. Time to get fit & fab! The More We Play Together For families with young children, finding time to exercise may be tricky. So what better way there is than to combine a trip to the fitness corner together with a jaunt to the playground? With playgrounds and fitness corners nowadays conveniently co-located next to one another, it is possible for families to have some multigenerational fun.   Take your pick from a treehouse in Bukit Gombak, a pirate’s ship in Hong Kah North and an inclusive playground that welcomes all at The Arena @ Keat Hong. Remember, a family that plays together, stays stronger together. Here are some fitness corners with playgrounds conveniently located next to them: Brickland: Blk 489B Choa Chu Kang Ave 5 Bukit Gombak: Blk 531 Bukit Batok St 51 Chua Chu Kang Estate: Blk 229 Choa Chu Kang Central Keat Hong: The Arena @ Keat Hong, Block 411 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 Hong Kah North: Block 412A Bukit Batok West Avenue 4 There is no lack of facilities in CCK Town for both the young and old to get active. If you have not checked out some of these spots, why not make it a point to do so this week? You could get some exercise and entertain the youngsters at the same time! Tone Up Power! This hydraulic bench press, which can be found in many fitness corners, is great for toning and sculpting the upper body. Without any weights attached, hydraulic fitness machines in these fitness corners rely on a fluid system to let users enjoy smoother and gentler movements. This also places less stress on the joints, resulting in a more enjoyable workout. Bukit Gombak: Blk 531 Bukit Batok St 51 Hong Kah North: Blk 319 Bukit Batok Street 33 Using the bench press activates your entire upper body muscles – the triceps, shoulders, back and core. Greater upper body strength improves muscular endurance and is effective for getting better at sports like sprinting and football. These are some of the fitness corners in CCK Town equipped with hydraulic machines: Brickland: Blk 489B Choa Chu Kang Ave 5 Bukit Gombak: Blk 531, Bukit Batok St 51 Chua Chu Kang: Blk 159 Jalan Teck Whye Keat Hong: Blk 412 Choa Chu Kang Ave 3 Hong Kah North: Blk 319 Bukit Batok Street 33 With so many options for working out and keeping fit, there is no reason not to get moving. Check out these fitness corners and get started today! Tone up to a fitter and more fabulous you! Get Your Body Pumping A cardio workout, short for cardiovascular exercise, improves your endurance by strengthening your heart, lungs and muscles. The goal is to engage in moderately intense physical activity that raises your heart rate into the zone where you burn the most fat and calories. Did you know that using the elliptical can burn some 270 to 400 calories in just 30 minutes?   Unlike other popular but high-impact cardio activities like running, the elliptical is gentler on your knees, ankles, hips and other joints since your feet never lift off the pedals. It also lets you work both your upper and lower body at the same time. Here are some of the elliptical machines you can find in CCK Town: Bukit Gombak: Block 513 Bukit Batok Street 51 Brickland: Block 489B Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5 Hong Kah North: Block 404 Bukit Batok West Avenue 7 Chua Chu Kang Estate: Block 229 Choa Chu Kang Central Keat Hong: Block 483A Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5 An active lifestyle can boost your physical and mental health, giving you improved self-esteem, mood and energy. With such a big variety of equipment available in the many fitness corners spread out across CCK Town, it is never too late to get started on a fitter and healthier you!  Back

Take a Ride on the Sustainability Train — Coming to Your Void Deck

Take a Ride on the Sustainability Train — Coming to Your Void Deck What is this pair of old MRT seats (pictured above) doing in the void deck of Block 252, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 2? It is your chance to take a ride on the train of sustainability! These are the first community seats upcycled from retired MRT trains installed in Brickland estate this November. In the coming months, residents can look forward to another 17 sets of these seats to gradually make their journey across CCK Town and into your void deck. (From left to right) Lim Yi En Eaden, Alisha Zafrah, Muhammad Salim and Klaudia Chong excitedly showing off the new community seat. Together with 80 excited preschoolers from PCF Sparkletots Preschool @Brickland 807C, Brickland MP Don Wee unveiled the first pair of upcycled MRT seats as part of CCK Town’s sustainability efforts (pictured above). The children were all geared up to “ride the train” and learn more about upcycling. They found out that old MRT train parts such as the passenger seats and metal handrails are not easily recyclable and would have to be thrown away. Hence, the Action for Green Towns collaboration between SMRT and 15 PAP Town Councils has gotten together to “rescue” some 14,400kg of reinforced plastics, metals and other hard-to-recycle materials from Singapore’s only landfill, Pulau Semakau, which is expected to be full by 2035. The entire project is expected to upcycle at least 1,500 MRT seats into community seats at void decks as well as other communal areas. Another 1,400 handrails will be repurposed as safety handrails for less mobile residents. About 900 intercom panels and LED light covers found in trains will also be transformed into plant holders for use in community green gardens. Are you ready to give the new community seats the thumbs-up like Muhammad Salim, Klaudia Chong and MP Don Wee (pictured below)? Snap and share a shot of yourself on our “sustainability train” to show your support for a greener CCK Town.  Make your action count! #Action4GreenTowns #Sustainability Back

SG Clean Day on Sunday, 30 October 2022

SG Clean Day on Sunday, 30 October 2022 It’s our collective responsibility to keep the public spaces clean! Everybody can do their part! In support of SG Clean Day on Sunday, 30 October 2022, you may want to gather in groups to show your commitment by cleaning up your community together. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all residents to bin the trash and keep the environment litter-free. Together, let’s create a cleaner and safer Chua Chu Kang Town for all! Back

5 Fun Facts About Deepavali

5 Fun Facts About Deepavali Deepavali falls on different days every year and typically between October and November. Its exact date is determined by the Indian lunar calendar. This year, it falls on 24 October. One of Singapore’s major ethnic holidays, Deepavali is also widely considered to be India’s most important annual holiday. How much do you know about this festival which is celebrated by over 1 billion people around the world? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz: To all residents celebrating the occasion, Happy Deepavali! Clues Down 1            The Hindus, ____ and Sikhs mark the religious festival of Deepavali. 3            Not all _____ celebrate Deepavali. Across 2            Another name for Deepavali is _______. 4            Deepavali was declared a public holiday by the colonial government in the month of October and year, Nineteen-Twenty ____. 5            Many believe that the lights during Deepavali guide the goddess ______ into their households. Did you know all the answers? Read more about the Festival of Lights and find out if you answered correctly.   #1 Did you also know that Deepavali has been celebrated for over 2,500 years? In Singapore, even though this festival has been marked by Indian immigrants since the early 1800s, it was declared an official holiday only in October 1929 by the colonial government. #2 Deepavali is not the Indian New Year, which is usually observed in March or April. Instead, Deepavali is a religious festival that marks the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge above ignorance. Therefore, the festivities usually feature oil lamps, colourful light displays and sparklers. #3 This festival is commemorated not only by the Hindus but also by the Jains and Sikhs too. While the different religions all share the tradition of lamp-lighting for this festival, they each have their own unique beliefs and practices. For the Hindus, it marks the slaying of the tyrannical demon, Narakasura, by Lord Krishna. It also commemorates the return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana after their 14-year exile and defeat of the demon king, Ravana, according to the Ramayana epic. The Sikhs refer to the festival as ‘Bandi Chhor Divas’, and celebrate the release of their sixth guru, Guru Hargobind’s release from a Mughal prison. The Jains, on the other hand, mark the liberation of Lord Mahavir from the endless cycle of reincarnation and his attainment of nirvana. They refer to the festival as ‘Mahavira Nirvana Divas’. #4 During Deepavali, the lighting of oil lamps at dusk symbolises the sun chasing the darkness away. This practice is especially apt for a festival which falls on a new moon every year, which makes for the darkest night. Many Indians also believe that these lights guide the goddess Lakshmi into their households, bringing with her good fortune. In India, firework displays and firecrackers are very popular during Deepavali celebrations. #5 Deepavali or Diwali – confused over the names used for the Festival of Lights and how to greet your Indian friends? Both names are variations of a Sanskrit term meaning “row of lights”. The name Deepavali is used by Tamil-speaking southern Indians, whereas Hindi-speaking northern Indians call it Diwali. So, you can wish them Happy Deepavali or Happy Diwali, depending on whom you are speaking to. How did you score on the fun facts? Here are the answers to the quiz: To all residents celebrating the occasion, Happy Deepavali! Back

Snap & Win: CCK Town 2023 Calendar Photo Contest

Snap & Win: CCK Town 2023 Calendar Photo Contest Snap & Win: CCK Town 2023 Calendar Photo Contest Submit your entries or email corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg  The third run of CCK Town’s annual calendar photo contest is now open! Submit your entries by 16 October 2022 and stand a chance to win attractive prizes and have your photo showcased in CCK Town’s 2023 Calendar. This year, we are looking for pictures that embody the “3Ps” of CCK Town: Passion, Places and Panorama. Passion: Show how and what residents love about our Town – be it their favourite spots or activities residents engage in. Resident Latifah Hasan (centre, in red) enjoys dancing and hanging out at Keat Hong Community Club with her ‘kakis’. Places: Share the beautiful nooks and crannies in our Town. Have you visited Bukit Batok Hillside Park and its beautiful Japanese-style Torii gates featured in Grace Zheng’s winning shot last year? Panorama: Wow viewers with those stunning vistas you captured of our Town. Show off awesome & picturesque scenes of CCK Town as Lukman Chow did with his entry last year. The top 3 prizes are: 1stprize (worth over $700): HP Deskjet 6020, Fitbit Luxe Fitness Tracker, 1-year Microsoft 365 family license and $300 worth of FairPrice vouchers 2ndprize (worth almost $500): HP Deskjet 4120E, Fitbit Inspire 2, 1-year Microsoft 365 family license and $200 worth of FairPrice vouchers 3rdprize (worth over $300): HP Deskjet 2722, Fitibit Aria Air Smart Scale, 1-year Microsoft 365 family license and $100 worth of FairPrice vouchers 4th to 12th prize winners will each receive $50 FairPrice vouchers   Submit your entry or email corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg Closing date: 16 October 2359 hours Winners will be revealed in December 2022. Stay tuned for photography tips from the top 3 winners of last year’s photo competition. Learn how you can submit the best shot to up your winning chances! See Terms & Conditions here. Back

How to Take a Great Photo? Get Some Pointers From Last Year’s Winners

How to Take a Great Photo? Get Some Pointers From Last Year’s Winners The race is on for shutterbugs across CCK Town to win a coveted spot in CCK Town’s 2023 Calendar. (Join the photo contest or email corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg)  We spoke to the top 3 winners of the 2022 Calendar Photo Contest to bring you their winning tips and the inspiration behind their beautiful photos.   Good Things Come to Those Who Wait The key to getting a good shot is patience, said Hong Kah North resident Yong Kuo Hoong, whose photo of the sunrise at Sungei Buloh’s Eagle Point (below) clinched the top prize in the 2022 Calendar photo contest. Kuo Hong, a geography teacher, also won the top prize in the 2021 Calendar Photo Contest with his photo of sunrise at Kranji Dam (see below).  “I love taking photographs and since the theme of the last contest was nature — my favourite subject — I decided to just give it a try again,” said the two-time winner, who got hooked on photography at university. Though he was unable to travel overseas in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said the time spent exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of our sunny isle has “opened [his] eyes to the beauty that can be found within Singapore’s shores”. Kuo Hoong said CCK Town Council’s contest was a really good idea because it showed the public that natural beauty does exist in urban Singapore — if one knows just where to look. For his winning shot, he captured Sungei Buloh’s Eagle Point at sunrise as it allowed him to show off his forte, sunrise photography, and to challenge himself shooting in a new location. He checked out the photos that had been taken of Sungei Buloh Eagle Point and researched online for the best available vantage points. Patience, he said, is critical to getting a good shot. He visited Eagle’s Point at least twice to maximise his chances. He explained: “You may not get the shot you want immediately. The weather may be too cloudy but if you wait a while, the light may change, and you will be amply rewarded.” Be adventurous For real estate agent Bryan Goh, the pandemic provided him with an opportunity to take photos in unusual settings. In the past, the CCK estate resident would head to the Central Business District to enjoy the annual New Year’s Day fireworks. When the venue of the fireworks was changed to the heartlands in 2021 due to the pandemic, he was game to try something different. “The heartlands fireworks may not be as grand, but it is a nice change of scenery; you get a photo that’s not the run of the mill,” he said. His tip: Keep trying different things. His picture of the fireworks cascading over CCK Town won him the most likes in CCK Town Council’s First View from Your Window Instagram contest earlier this year. His photo of sunrise at Kranji Reservoir (pictured below) won him the second prize in the 2022 Calendar Photo Contest. Bryan had also participated in the Town Council’s 2021 Calendar Photo Contest with this scene of youths playing basketball (pictured below). All You Need is a Little Planning Little Guilin is featured in Clement’s entry for the 2021 Calendar Photo Contest. Retired polytechnic lecturer Clement Lee is a familiar face in Hillview as the volunteer photographer is often on the ground to capture community events — free of charge. The Bukit Gombak resident first picked up a camera during his junior college days. He said: “Back then, it was an expensive hobby because you had to pay to develop every single shot that you took on film.” However, he said the advent of digital photography has made the hobby accessible to many more people as one can snap as many photos as one likes and just choose the best to print.   Since his retirement a few years ago, he started spending more time honing his craft and going on overseas shooting trips with his photo buddies. Since the pandemic, he has been exploring the island in search of nice spots and has shot countless sunrises and sunsets. His favourite haunts to shoot in CCK Town are Little Guilin and Bukit Batok Nature Park, which are near his home.  These two locations are featured in his entries for the 2021 and 2022 Calendar Photo Contests. His winning entry for 2022 cast the spotlight on a group of residents stretching in front of Bukit Gombak Sports Complex. He said: “Sunrises and sunsets are very common, so I wanted to inject a human element to show people at their early morning exercise.” Planning, he added, is needed for good photos. For example, he had to wake up at 6am to be there at 6.30am to catch the people in action with the sunrise. Inspired by Clement, Bryan and Kuo Hoong? Put these tips into action and up your chances of  getting your best shot into the 2023 calendar! Join the photo contest or email corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg Back