CCK Gets Ready for Hari Raya Aidilfitri with Light-Up
CCK Gets Ready for Hari Raya Aidilfitri with Light-Up Check out the more than 1,000 ribbon ‘ketupats’ handmade by residents of Bukit Gombak lining Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 and soak in the festive atmosphere. The lights and decorations are put up on 11 April to mark the season of Ramadan and the lead-up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri and is the first such event in the western heartlands of Singapore. “This beautiful light-up is a symbol of hope and love after a year of battling the Covid-19 pandemic. It lifts up all our spirits. The sparkling lights also demonstrate the shiny resilience of our residents and multi-racial bonds,” said Ms Low Yen Ling, Grassroots Advisor to CCK GRC and Minister of State for Ministry of Trade & Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth. The effort to deck out Bukit Gombak with lights and festive decorations was led by the Hillview Community Club Malay Activity Executive Committee and the Bukit Gombak Traders’ Association. Ms Low, who is also Mayor for South West District, said: “This ground-up initiative by our Malay residents and Bukit Gombak shopkeepers show the warm multicultural ties and ‘gotong royong’ spirit in our estate.” If you don’t want to make the trip down to Geylang Serai, why not just pop over to our own little ‘mini Geylang Serai’ at Bukit Gombak for your Hari Raya shopping. Whether you are looking for yummy snacks and delicacies or decorations or fashion items, the shops at Bukit Gombak Neighbourhood Centre will surely have something that suits your needs. In the spirit of giving back to the community, the Bukit Gombak Traders’ Association also donated $6,000 to Ar-Raudhah mosque, which went towards gift packs comprising daily essential items for 300 beneficiaries. “We hope this inaugural effort will strengthen our multiracial community bonds, and boost the unity and resilience of our Bukit Gombak family,” said Ms Low at the light-up. Joining her at the event was fellow Grassroots Adviser to Chua Chu Kang GRC, Mr Gan Kim Yong, who is also Minister for Health. Back
Ways to Spoil Mum this May & Pay Tribute to Her Hard Work
Ways to Spoil Mum this May & Pay Tribute to Her Hard Work Mother’s Day is around the corner. Need some ideas on how to treat the woman in your life who is on call 24/7, never takes a vacation from her job nor calls in sick (aka Mum)? You don’t have to look very hard. There is plenty to do in CCK Town. For the active mum: Choose from the smorgasbord of classes available at your closest Community Club. Pick Zumba to get her blood pumping, alternatively opt for Chinese ink painting or pop guitar to let off some creative steam. For the nature-loving mum: Hit one of the amazing nature trails that CCK Town is blessed with. Go bird or ‘buaya’ (crocodile) spotting at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve, Singapore’s first Asean Heritage Park, or visit Little Guilin in Bukit Batok for that ‘overseas’ vibe. There is also Kranji Reservoir, a hidden gem shared by the CCK calendar photo contest winners last year, and Bukit Batok Nature Park and Bukit Gombak Park. For the heritage buff mum: Take a trip to Kranji War Memorial, which is also Singapore’s State Cemetery, and home to the graves of our first and second presidents, Yusof Ishak and Benjamin Sheares respectively. For the foodie mum: Treat her to some yummy chows. Can’t go to Santorini now, no worries. You can still treat mum to some fabulous Greek food at Ela, the new Greek restaurant located at HomeTeamNS in Bukit Batok or check out IG-worthy café Hey Sugar Block 818, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1. Finally, the ever-popular Lot One mall has no shortage of good eateries. Pay Tribute to Mum and Win a Family Photo Shoot Go one step further by expressing your love for Mum by writing her a tribute (one to 300 words) or submitting a photo with caption. Share just why you think she is so amazing and why you love her so much. Send your entries to corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg by Sunday, 9 May 2021. Three winning tributes will be selected. Each winner will win an outdoor family photo shoot with Foto-U Studio. See terms and conditions. Back
Preschoolers Appreciate Cleaners, & You Can, Too!
Preschoolers Appreciate Cleaners, & You Can, Too! This April, kids of CCK Town will show everyone that nobody is too young to do his or her part in showing appreciation to people around us. As part of CCK Town’s Appreciate Our Cleaners Week activities which kick off on 19 April, preschoolers of PCF Sparkletots @ Chua Chua Kang Blk 123 will be playing games, interviewing cleaners and making gifts to show the cleaners their appreciation. Games like Hopscotch, Maze and Snakes & Ladders have been set up in the void deck of Block 123 Teck Whye Lane, next to PCF Sparkletots, to teach preschoolers that trash and recyclable materials belong in the rubbish bins and recycling bins respectively. PCF children put their finishing touches to the games These retro games, designed by the Town Council and supported by PCF, encourage the children to keep their environment clean and green, and by doing so, appreciate the work done by the estate cleaners too. To help them understand the work a cleaner does, the children will also be interviewing CCK Town cleaners to find out more, and creating handmade tokens of appreciation to be presented to the cleaners. This inaugural Appreciate Our Cleaners Week event is organised in conjunction with NEA’s SG Clean Day on 25 April. CCK residents, do your bit by showing appreciation and nominating your estate cleaners today! Stand to win: $50 cash voucher (for the cleaner) $30 cash voucher (for the nominating resident) Click here for more details. The closing date is 30 April 2021. Back
Nominate Your Block Cleaner to Win in CCK Town’s First-Ever Appreciate Our Cleaners Week
Nominate Your Block Cleaner to Win in CCK Town’s First-Ever Appreciate Our Cleaners Week In a first, CCK Town Council is launching an Appreciate Our Cleaners Week on 19 April, in conjunction with the Public Hygiene Council’s SG Clean Day which falls on 25 April. All across CCK Town, cleaners like Ismail (pictured here) work quietly behind the scene to keep our estates clean. Read on to find out more about this Keat Hong cleaner. This month, you’re invited to nominate and recognise your estate cleaners for their service. Show Your Appreciation to Cleaners The top 10 submissions will win prizes for both the nominating resident and nominated cleaner. Each cleaner will receive a $50 cash voucher and each resident a $30 cash voucher. Participate by: Sending in your words of appreciation or sharing heart-warming stories of your experience with a CCK cleaner (no word limit), or Submitting a photo of OR with the cleaner you wish to nominate and share in your caption why he should win. How to participate Send your entries to CCK Town Council by Friday, 30 April 2021 via: Google forms Email to corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg or Private message @Mycckhome on Instagram Do remember to give the name of the cleaner and the block and constituency he works in, as well as your name, address and contact number. See terms & conditions. To help you identify your cleaners and know more about them, we’ve posted in the lift lobby notice board posters of the cleaners in your block. CCK Town Council is also partnering the community to hold activities to appreciate the estate cleaners, We’ll keep you updated. Send in your nomination and appreciate the cleaners in our CCK town! Going Beyond the Call of Duty Clean the estate, check. Retrieve valuables, check. Fight fire, check. Ismail, 30, has done all these and more, going the extra mile for the past 4 years in serving residents of Keat Hong estate to the best of his ability. Ismail, a Bangladeshi, supervises the group of cleaners for Blocks 476A to 476D, 483 to 486 and 487 to 490 at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5, in Keat Hong estate. He first came to Singapore 8 years ago when his family needed money following a crisis. The oldest of three children, Ismail, who was in his second year of college studying accountancy, dropped out of school to support his family. His favourite part of the day is meeting the children in Keat Hong who greet him every morning. Unlike his peers who had some residents shun them due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Ismail is thankful for the friendly residents who continue to greet him and show appreciation for his work. Ismail has been commended for a variety of good deeds, including putting out a fire recently. He singlehandedly pushed a burning recycling bin away from residents’ cars to save them from damage and put the fire out. He earned praises from residents and the police for his brave and quick-thinking act. Always ready to go the extra mile, Ismail has also searched rubbish bins at odd times of the day to help residents retrieve valuables such as mobile phones, car keys or even wallets discarded by accident. On why he goes beyond the call of duty, he said: “I understand the pain of losing something precious. I want to do whatever I can to help my residents avoid that. Even if I get dirty, I can always clean myself up after the search.” Also, Chua Chu Kang is like his second home. Majority of the residents treat the estate cleaners well, dropping by to check on them when they noticed someone’s absence or even giving them food, clothes or shoes, Ismail added. In his free time, Ismail enjoys cooking, reading, watching Bollywood movies and meeting members of his family who are in Singapore. His second brother joined him here in Singapore 3 years ago. The 25-year-old also works as an estate cleaner in Tampines. The brothers meet on their rest days and make video calls home to catch up with their parents and youngest brother whom they are putting through school. Doing his job well and keeping the estate clean makes him happy, Ismail said. Though there exist challenges which sometimes make his job more difficult. For example, dealing with litter, bulky items left at the void deck, or smouldering cigarette butts that pose fire hazards. “If there is less littering, then we can do our jobs very fast and then we can do more also,” he said. Always helpful, Ismail has been spotted giving residents a hand to move heavy items and putting back fallen street banners on his own accord. “It is only human nature to help when you see someone in need,” he said. Back
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Home Is Where the Heart Is The Choos’ favourite ‘pak tor’ spot in CCK Town is right at home in their four-room flat in Teck Whye! For date night, there is nothing more romantic and relaxing for Josiah and Denise than to kick back their heels, tuck into a good meal (delivered to their doorstep) and pick a good show on Netflix after putting their 11-month-old daughter, Jenica, to bed. This way, they can unwind and have some couple time, and also be available to tend to Jenica if needed. “It is the best place to have a date. We don’t even need to go out physically,” said Denise. Killing two birds with one stone! Their winsome photo entry, which shows the couple carrying their baby in matching outfits in front of their home, garnered the most likes in CCK Town Council’s Valentine’s Day photo contest. The Choos won a pair of Natureland spa vouchers which they hope to use for massages to unwind all the knots in their backs that they have earned as new parents. They got into the habit of enjoying their “me-time” at home when they were jet setting cabin crew. Whenever they were back in Singapore, all they wanted to do was to stay home for some much-needed R&R. Even though Josiah still works as a cabin crew, Denise has since become a personal assistant. Then with Jenica born shortly before the Circuit Breaker period last year, staying home became the norm. And with the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing, the couple prefers to spend time at home together, except for the occasional grocery or shopping jaunts to Lot One shopping mall nearby. Home is a four-room flat that the Choos share with Denise’s mum and brother. Living with the family has been a boon, said Denise, especially since everyone has been working from home. It means that not only has she been able to bond more with little Jenica, but she also has more help from her husband, mum and brother. Denise said: “Home is where we really spent a lot of our time since last year, and it’s a very comfortable place for us.” Back
Earth Hour & Hacks that Save
Earth Hour & Hacks that Save Every year, organisations and individuals all over the world pledge to turn their lights off for an hour at the end of March to mark Earth Hour. This global grassroots movement, started by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), aims to increase awareness and spark global conversations on protecting nature, fight climate change and ensure our own health, happiness, prosperity and even survival. This year, let’s go beyond turning off the lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on 27 March 2021 and practise some of these green tips to save the Earth. And if you’re working from home, these eco-friendly measures will help you save some money too! 5 Tips to Save the Earth (and Your Wallet) 1) Eliminate Energy Vampires Did you know that your electrical appliances such as televisions, TV set-top boxes, speakers and microwave ovens continue to suck power on standby mode? Switch them off totally when not in use and you can save an additional $25* a year. And leaving your storage water heater on after your shower can further bump your annual electricity bill up by an additional $110*! Switch everything off at the power source when not in use and voila, you would have just saved yourself $135* a year. 2) Keep It Cool at 25°C Using a fan instead of the air conditioner to keep cool can save you about $400* a year. If you must use the air con, set the temperature no lower than 25°C for maximum energy and cost savings. For example, you can save $15* every year simply by raising the temperature from 22°C to 25°C. Or enjoy the best of both worlds by running the air con for about an hour, and then switch to using the fan to stay cool. This hack will save you $340* a year! 3) Save Those Precious Drops Ask for a free water saving kit from PUB and save as much as 5% from your monthly water bill. Each kit comes with 4 water thimbles for taps and 2 for showerheads. Each thimble has 3 and 4 holes, which help regulate your tap and showerhead’s flow rates and cut down on water waste. 4) Turn the Computer Off When Not in Use If you are not using your computer for more than 30 minutes, turn it off! Mother Earth (and your wallet) will thank you for it. Case in point: leaving a 300W desktop computer switched on overnight for 8 hours will cost you $240* a year. 5) Use the Thermos Flask Need a hot drink as a pick-me-up? Instead of using an electric air pot to keep your water on a constant boil, why not switch to a vacuum flask instead? This simple move alone will save you $300* a year. *Cost calculated based on electricity cost of $0.27 per kWh of electricity. Tips are adapted from National Environment Agency & PUB Back
Spot the endangered “lychees” & “mangosteens” in CCK
Spot the endangered “lychees” & “mangosteens” in CCK What’s up, CCK? – Check out what’s ‘growing’ in Chua Chu Kang in this series that uncovers little known facts about your neighborhood. 188 trees from 4 tree species, which can grow locally, were planted in Choa Chu Kang Grove as part of a reforestation exercise on 22 November 2020. Start keeping your eyes peeled to be the first to discover the fresh biodiversity that these reintroduced tree species, all native to Singapore, will attract to your neighbourhood. You will also have something rare growing in your hood as all the 4 species planted are not commonly found elsewhere in Singapore and are at risk of becoming extinct here without help. Find the trees here. We will have our first-ever street tree planting exercise along Choa Chu Kang Central on 20 March 2021! Sign up here. Watch this space to sign up for other upcoming tree planting exercises in CCK. A quick lowdown on these endangered trees: Pometia pinnata Nicknamed island lychee, the fruit of this tree looks like a longan but tastes like a lychee. Its seeds can also be eaten too. Roasted or boiled, take your pick. Its bark, according to the Malays and Indonesians, can be used to treat sores and wound infections. It can grow up to about 20 storeys tall and has white to green-yellow flowers. Memecylon caeruleum Known also as nipis kulik, you can recognise this shrub through its deep blue or dark purple flowers. There are less than 250 of this specie left in the wild. Its leaves can be eaten like a vegetable but its fruits, though edible, are generally tasteless. Sandoricum koetjape This tree, also called the sentul, is another one which can grow up to 20 storeys high. Its pinkish-yellow, yellowish-green or white-yellow flowers are fragrant and bear ball-shaped yellow or brownish fruits which resemble the langsat on the outside but look like the mangosteen on the inside. You can eat the fruit raw or use it to make marmalade, candy or fermented beverages. Various parts of the tree are also used in folk medicine recipes to treat various ailments such as diarrhoea and fever. Tristaniopsis whiteana If you see trees with trunks that are orange, grey or white, chances are, you’ve spotted the river tristania. Check if it has tiny white flowers. This tree can grow up to about 12 storeys tall. But don’t try to eat anything from this tree as its fruits are not edible. Back
Join Water Wally & Sally in marking World Water Day this March holidays
Join Water Wally & Sally in marking World Water Day this March holidays Parents, are you looking for something interesting and educational to do with your children this March holidays? Get your kids to fill up this quiz for a chance to meet Water Wally & Sally in an educational NEWater tour. There are 20 sets of 4 tickets up for grabs. Location: NEWater Visitor Centre*Date: 20 March 2021Time: 9am and 10.45am *Visitors must be aged 4 years old and above This exclusive tour is organised by CCK Town Council and PUB to mark World Water Day 2021. Observed internationally on 22 March, World Water Day highlights the importance of freshwater. See & learn how NEWater is made Recycled water, known as NEWater, is Singapore’s third national tap to cushion the nation’s water supply against climate change and move Singapore towards water sustainability. The NEWater plant recycles treated used water into ultra-clean, high-grade reclaimed water. There are currently five NEWater plants supplying up to 40% of Singapore’s current water needs. By 2060, NeWater is expected to meet up to 55% of Singapore’s future water demand. NEWater tour participants can experience what it is like to be a water molecule and be transformed into NEWater. Kids will get to learn how they, too, have an equally important role to play in conserving water and ensuring Singapore’s water security. Get water smart together with this quiz Do this easy quiz with your kid and get water smart together! Clue: It’s based on PUB’s 5 W.A.T.E.R. tips which can be found at https://www.makeeverydropcount.gov.sg/save-water/ Send your answers by email to corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg by 10 March 2021 to win a chance to meet Water Wally & Sally at the NEWater tour in March! Back
Join the club & save!
Join the club & save! Sign your kids up for free perks with PUB’s Water Wally & Sally Club Let your children ages 1 to 12 learn all about saving water and how to use this precious resource responsibly with PUB’s new kids’ club. Through books, videos, interactive online games and more, club members learn about the importance of water conservation and how to use it wisely. Membership is free and members will receive an exclusive welcome pack, invitations to special events and activities with mascots, Water Wally and Water Sally. The welcome pack includes 3 special edition books on the adventures of Water Wally and Sally by local author Adeline Foo — best known for The Diary of Amos Lee . Aimed at pre-schoolers, the storybooks chronicle Water Wally and Sally helping their animal friends overcome challenges caused by the misuse of water and other resources. These stories are a great and fun way to teach your kids about water sustainability. Members also receive a membership card which can be used to redeem extra perks, including discounts to indoor playgrounds like Kidztopia and Amazonia, children’s bookstore My Greatest Child, enrichment lessons in speech and drama, dance, taekwondo and more. See this list for full set of privileges and find out more about the club here. Join Wally and Sally by signing up now. Back
Romancing CCK this Valentine’s (Participate in an Instagram photo contest and win)
Romancing CCK this Valentine’s (Participate in an Instagram photo contest and win) Post a photo of your favourite or best “pak tor” (dating) spot in Chua Chu Kang Town on Instagram and stand a chance to win you and your loved one Natureland’s award-winning full body therapy massage and foot reflexology for 2 (worth $246). The picture can be of the romantic spots in CCK that you’ve captured, or a photo of you and your date at your favourite “pak tor” place in CCK Town. You may also opt to include a Valentine’s Day dedication to your loved one in your submission. Post the photo on your public Instagram account, tag @MyCCKHome with the hashtag #MyValentineMyCCK #CCKHome. Do so before 22 February 2021. The post with the most “Likes” will be the winner. Winning photo and select shots from the contest may be featured on @MyCCKHome and other Chua Chu Kang Town Council assets. Read contest Terms and Conditions here. Share the hidden romantic gems of Chua Chu Kang today! Valentine’s Day – CCK romantic spots photo contest. Submission period: 8 to 21 February 2021 Back