The New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society is promising that its upcoming annual general meeting will be a "moving" experience for guests.
The society is holding its annual general meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Centennial Community Centre. Everyone is invited to attend the meeting, which includes a review of the society's activities in 2012, the election of officers for 2013/14 and details about the 34th annual Heritage Homes Tour and Tea that will take place on Sunday, May 26.
Local realtor Dave Vallee, who is the evening's guest speaker, will discuss how he moved a 100year-old heritage house into the Queen's Park neighbourhood.
"It has shades of both a drama and almost a tragedy," said society president Maureen Arvanitidis in a press release. "With these challenges also go a lot of humour. The end result is a very lovely new/old home story with a happy ending. You will definitely enjoy going along for the ride."
According to a press release, the house had survived almost 100 years basically untouched until it became at risk due to neglect. The home was facing demolition to make way for a commercial development on Sixth Avenue, so Vallee and wife Pamela Adamchuk purchased it and moved it to its present location on St. Patrick Street, where they sought to restore the home to its former grandeur.
Check out the gear
Anyone in need of new (used) sports equipment will want to mark March 10 on the calendar.
KidSport New West is holding its spring used equipment sale on Sunday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. in the Massey gym at New Westminster Secondary School. The sale will include great deals on hockey gear, lacrosse equipment, soccer cleats and baseball gloves.
KidSport New West raises funds to provide grants to local families, who may face financial barriers that could prevent kids from playing organized sports.
KidSport New West also welcomes donations of sporting goods. Equipment can be dropped off at the Hyack Festival Association office at 204 Sixth St. Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to a press release from KidSport New West, support from Westminster Savings, Key West Ford, Queensborough Mini Storage, New Westminster Community Schools and the Hyack Festival Association has assisted in the dramatic growth of quality, used sporting equipment for all ages.
"We are very happy to have so much continued support from businesses and residents in New Westminster," said Sandon Fraser, co-chair of KidSport New Westminster. "This sale not only raises money to help get kids into organized sports, but also offers families a chance to buy quality equipment at a fraction of what they would pay for new equipment."
KidSport New West notes that families can fully equip a child for hockey or lacrosse for less than $100.
For more information about KidSport New Westminster visit www.kidsportnewwest.ca.
LOOKING FOR PROGRAM
A Royal City resident is holding out hope that a treasured memento isn't lost forever.
Linda Cooper attended the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal presentation ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Centennial Lodge, when her official Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee program went missing.
"It was given to me by a dear friend from Ontario who was in England and bought it from Buckingham Castle for me," she said in an email to The Record. "I was filming the medal ceremonies . at Centennial Lodge and someone went home with it."
If anyone finds the program, they can return it by dropping it off at MLA Dawn Black's office at 737 Sixth St.
FAVOURITE FLICK?
Planning is underway for this summer's Outdoor Movie Series - and the city wants your input.
The City of New Westminster will be showing eight outdoor movies at Queen's Park on Friday nights in the summer. Residents who attended last year's movies brought lawn chairs and blankets to Queen's Park Stadium, where they enjoyed outdoor movies under the stars.
The city is surveying residents about their choices for this summer's movie selections - with possibilities ranging from Aladdin to the Wizard of Oz.
To complete the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/outdoormovieseries.
QUAYSIDE SHOWS SPIRIT
Quayside residents showed their community spirit in the recent Light up the Quay contest.
Each year, Quayside residents are encouraged to decorate their buildings for the Christmas season. The winners of this year's awards are: Best Corporate - the Paddlewheeler; Most Improved - Riverside Co-op; Best Building - Tiffany Shores; Best Lobby - Tower 2 (1065 Quayside); Best Residential Honorable Mention - Jim and Linda Piercy in Quaywest; Third place - Bill and Louise Vanderley in Quaywest; Second Place residential - Pat and Gary Crawford in Tiffany Shores; First Place - Leonard and Bonnie Saidman in The Lido; and the Griswold Award - Michail and Caroline Boncea in Rialto Court.
In addition to lighting up their homes, Quayside residents also took part in a food drive challenge over the holiday season.
Residents of the Excelsior claimed the top spot, donating 17 boxes of food. Residents in Quaywest donated five boxes, while Quayside Tower II and Promenade each donated four boxes and Westport three boxes.
The Quayside Community Board handed out the Light up the Quay awards at its recent annual general meeting. At the same meeting, members voted for the 2013 Quayside Community Board's directors: Penny McIvor, president; Gavin Sawle, vice-president; Maureen Albanese, treasurer; director at large, Ted Eddy; and James Crosty past president.
Email Theresa at tmcmanus@ royalcityrecord.com
