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Pick up free compost in Whitby on May 6 Whitby fire services welcomes 24 new recruits Brooklin Thursday, April 27, 2017 facebook.com/newsdurham twitter.com/newsdurham durhamregion.com Local farmers voice concerns at roundtable discussion in Brooklin Learn new skills at How-to Festival at Whitby library May 6 WHITBY -- Learn everything from how to identify culturally significant spices to decorating a cake and playing ringette during this year's How-to in 10 Festival at the Whitby library. The festival is an initiative held at most libraries across Durham where participants can attend stations to learn various life skills in 10 minutes or less. It's free and registration is not required. The Whitby festival will take place on Saturday, May 6 from noon to 4 p.m. at the central branch of the Whitby Public Library, 405 Dundas St. W. For a full list of activities: VISIT www.howtoin10.com/whitby PARVANEH PESSIAN ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- Hundreds of residents gathered in unity at the first-ever Colours and Cultures of Brooklin Block Party held at Grass Park on April 22. The event was organized by the Rotary Club of Whitby -- Brooklin satellite to celebrate diversity across the region and specifically Brooklin, which will see its population double over the next decade. "In all of Durham Region, I don't think any particular part is changing as much as Brooklin," said Rotary organizer Sheila Bowness. "We've got a lot of new housing development so (we thought) why don't we get out there early and do something positive and productive and to say we support diversity. This is part of who we are as a community and this is what is going to make us stronger, and if the odd person doesn't feel the same, then at least they can know that they're in the minority." Brooklin residents embrace 'colours and cultures' of community SEE 'COLOURS' PAGE 4 SABRINA BYRNES / METROLAND BROOKLIN -- Yaseen Moumani, 2, had a balloon tied to his wrist by his aunt Magda Elkholy during the Brooklin Colours and Cultures event held at Grass Park on Saturday April 22.