Sapperton Hall is serving up a Christmas luncheon feast that's sure to get people into the holiday spirit. Vic Leach reports that local celebrities will be among those serving a three-course luncheon feast on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Beginning at 11: 30 a.m., Beacon Unitarian Church Choir will sing carols with an interlude of Dennis Probst reciting Christmas stories. At noon, everyone will head downstairs in the Sapperton Pensioners Hall, where they will be served lunch by members of the New Westminster Police Service, New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service and coordinators from the United Food And Commercial Workers Local 247, who helped the Sapperton Pensioners Association repaint and upgrade the hall in the summer.
"Judy B. will prepare a three-course meal fit for finest tables in the Lower Mainland as you dine in this festive atmosphere," Leach said in a press release. "Yes, even Scrooge would give Bob Cratchit time off work and pay for his meal so that they both could attend this feast."
Tickets are $26 per person and must be reserved by Dec. 1 by calling Cheryl at 604-522-4881.
CITIZEN CEREMONY
The Canadian Club of New Westminster and the Fraser Valley is continuing its tradition of welcoming new Canadians to the Royal City.
On Nov. 5, the City of New Westminster hosted a citizenship ceremony at city hall. Following the ceremony, the Canadian Club of New Westminster and the Fraser Valley hosted a tea in city hall's foyer to welcome new Canadians and their families and guests.
"We have been doing this for as long as I can remember," said Earl Marshall, a member of the Canadian Club of New Westminster and Fraser Valley.
Freda Hogg and Muriel Pearce presided at the tea table, where a special cake commemorating the occasion was also served.
Marshall said new citizens get a handshake and are sent on their way after ceremonies in many communities, but the local group likes to make the citizenship ceremony special.
"We try to make it a little more pleasant," he said. "We like to polish it up a little."
The aim of the Canadian Club is to foster an interest in all matters of public concern, to protect Canada's heritage and history, to encourage the country's unity and identity, and to increase knowledge about other areas of the country and other countries that affect Canadians' lives.
The Canadian Club of New Westminster and the Fraser Valley meets each month at the Justice Institute. Gatherings feature a social hour, dinner, and a guest speaker. If you're interested in attending, RSVP to 604-522-3821.
POOCH PICTURES
Bosley's Pet Food Plus is giving pooches a chance to have their photos taken with Santa.
A photographer will be at the Columbia Square pet store on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.
"The pictures are by donation, and all proceeds will go to the New Westminster Animal Shelter," said storeowner Karima Jivraj in an email to The Record. "We also have a collection box for toys, clothing and accessories that Hug-A-Bull is doing, with all the collections going to the New Westminster Animal Shelter as well."
Bosely's Pet Food Plus is located at #114-1015 Columbia St. in Columbia Square.
VOLUNTEERING
Royal City resident Stacy Ashton has been elected vice-president of Volunteer B.C.
Ashton is the executive director of Community Volunteer Connections, which is a volunteer centre serving the New Westminster and Coquitlam area. She'll be adding the role of vice president of Volunteer B.C. to her responsibilities.
"Under Stacy's leadership at Community Volunteer Connections, she launched the CVC Flying Squad, which connects busy people to short-term volunteer opportunities in their community," said a press release from Volunteer B.C. "In its first five years, the Squad had grown to 290 volunteers who contributed to 392 different events."
Ashton is a past president of the Royal City Humane Society's board of directors and a former volunteer with the Vancouver Crisis Line.
ON THE ROAD
A travel consultant in New Westminster will be heading to Africa in the spring. At a recent Goway Travel seminar and consumer event about Africa, Vancouver resident Susan McElgunn was the lucky winner of the grand prize draw at the end of the evening. She was the invited guest of Wendi Peterson, ECC senior travel and cruise consultant at New Westminster Expedia Cruiseship centres.
McElgunn was the winner of two economy air tickets courtesy of South African Airways and a 15day Great Train Adventure aboard the Shongololo Express from Johannesburg to Capetown, courtesy of Shongololo Express Company. Peterson will also be on the trip, which takes place in April 2012.
BEAVER BITES
A beaver may clear a Queensborough site that's destined for redevelopment. Gavin Palmer reports that a large beaver has been spotted at Paul Emery's former tree farm at 702 Salter St. The site had been home to a cottonwood tree farm but has been sold to a developer.
"We now have a resident beaver who is about 80 pounds. He is gnawing down all the trees," Palmer said. "They are falling down all over the place."
Palmer estimates the beaver has helped topple eight trees to date. One tree fell across a nearby street.
"They are not little trees - they are big. It is almost dangerous. You ever know when one is going to come down. He keeps chewing," he said. "Everybody wants to live in Queensborough - even the beavers."
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