River Market just sent out the following information, via its e-newsletter. I’m copying the text here, for our readers who are not subscribed

“I want to go to Columbia. Because it’s a really good place, and they have toothbrushes there.” So said The Girl, my four-old daughter to me on the SkyTrain just yesterday.

As announced at the last New West Downtown Residents Association meeting, tomorrow is the ‘big reveal’ of the River Market‘s anchor grocer, and an equally mysterious top-secret program called ONE.
We’ll find out what it’s all about tomorrow, but until then, let’s have a little fun. If you’d like a spot on the guest list at an exclusive VIP launch party courtesy of River Market and Tenth to the Fraser, leave a comment on this post with your best guess about what ‘ONE’ could be.
Here’s a hint: a Tenth to the …

Even people in the best relationships have times when they disagree. The key to maintaining the relationship isn’t so much preventing fights, but learning how to fight well. In a “good” fight, the tension experienced is a catalyst for growth and positive change by both parties. The same is true for political disagreement. Unfortunately, in both political and personal fights, it’s all too easy to let your anger get the better of you, jeopardizing your cause. A particular pitfall of those who are passionate advocates for change in their community is to forget that “the city” or “the government” is first made up of people. The same guidelines that can help partners and colleagues fight “well” also apply.

New Westminster is home to a number of used-car dealerships (including mine, Winston Auto Group, which just opened last August!). Used-car salespeople get a bit of a bad rap sometimes. People are wary of buying a lemon, and aren’t always sure what questions to ask to ensure a good buy. Granted I’ve not been doing this for long, but it doesn’t take long for a gal to learn what the important actions and steps are when buying a car and, most importantly, what to ask the salesperson. Here are my top five questions to ask before you buy …

New Westminster’s long heritage is full of epic tales: the Great Fire, the Queen’s visit, the indignity of having our status as B.C.’s capital revoked, and, of course, who could forget when Bella went on that first date with Jacob at the movie theatre on Columbia St. just before he changed into a werewolf? Yes, New Westminster’s Twi-Hard historians may have a renaissance this spring and summer

I promised an update on automated waste collection, and it is (almost) all good news! Council passed a motion on Monday that represents an improvement (from an environmental sustainability and solid-waste-diversion perspective) over the recommendation from staff presented to the Environmental Advisory Committee last week.

New Westminster may soon have the distinction of having the most large grocery stores per capita in the Lower Mainland. Wal-Mart has applied to open a new grocery supercentre in its Queensborough store. Thrifty Foods has just been announced as an anchor tenant in Sapperton’s coming Brewery District mixed-retail/residential complex next to SkyTrain and Royal Columbian Hospital. A new Safeway is coming to the Plaza 88 development at New Westminster SkyTrain. And of course, the River Market will open this summer as a newly food-focused destination with an as-yet-unnamed anchor grocer.

A year and a half since launching Tenth to the Fraser, we are often asked, “Where do you find the time? My pat answer is that we don’t have cable television.

The District Parents Advisory Council is on the warpath with a planned rally March 20 at City Hall and an online survey gathering opinions from New Westminsterites about our city’s school-building delays.

There is a lot happening on the trash front right now. The New Westminster Environmental Partners have been talking a lot of trash this year, as solid waste and it’s reduction, is one of our key initiatives for 2010. Trash is timely right now, with all the recent talk of Cache Creek Landfill limits, waste-to-energy plants, and Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Challenge.

They say that those who don’t remember the past are doomed to repeat it. But for some folks, the past isn’t just for remembering. It’s for re-enacting.

It’s well-known that New Westminster has a deep love for the historical. As one of the oldest settlements in B.C., we are reminded of times past in the brick storefronts on Columbia St., the names of our boulevards and avenues, and even in the surprise discoveries of forgotten cemeteries.

Last year New Westminster had the unfortunate honour of being the Lower Mainland community with the fewest participants in Earth Hour 2009. For one hour, people all around the world turn out their lights in a symbolic gesture to show awareness that there are limits to the Earth’s resources. New West, however, said, “Meh.”

Setting a new standard for café quality in New Westminster, Quantum Deli and Bistro brings a little slice of Yaletown to our Downtown area (cat-sized dogs not included).

One of my many nerdy pleasures is games. Before having kids, I loved to play both computer games and board games. I even played a little Magic: The Gathering with friends (and liked it!). So you can perhaps imagine the little frisson of fun I felt when I stumbled upon a new board game shop just a block off New Westminster’s bridal boulevard.

Last year I started the spring growing season by attending an annual meet and greet event for Plant a Row, Grow a Row, an international organization that had local hubs in many communities. In short, gardeners are asked to produce just a bit more than they otherwise would plant, and donate the surplus to the local food bank.

Strong Start, a provincially funded, free program for children under six and their parents, is expanding with a new afternoon program in New Westminster’s West End. The program is a gentle introduction to school for preschoolers through play-based learning.

I know some people out there aren’t on board with the City of New Westminster’s decision a while back to purchase the land along the waterfront of the Fraser River. But, like the Olympics, the decision was made, it’s inevitable, and you either have to quietly rage about it or just get on with trying to enjoy it.
Admittedly, I’ve always been one of the supporters of the decision to purchase the land and do something – anything – with it. I can’t stand looking at the wasteland that is that …

The school district is currently gathering feedback on a series of “options” for where to locate New Westminster’s programs of choice (French Immersion and Montessori). The author of the report, Sandra Pace, has been very careful to say “I’m not making recommendations, I’m just presenting options.” Yet based on the information I saw at the Tweedsmuir presentation of Pace’s report, there are good reasons why this review is going on. It is dishonest for the district to ask parents to comment on all these “options” as though they are all equally viable.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how my surroundings inspire my food choices. Reading my way through the Canada Reads books inspired a date with bacon ice cream, a rise in my comfort food intake, and delight in a layered chocolate torte! But what about where we live? What effect does our city have on our food choices?

I remember being in French class in highschool and not enjoying it. I thought it was such a waste of time since I wasn’t going to use it anyway. Now I have a 5 year-old daughter who is in French Immersion. I want to show her the value of learning another language, French in particular.