Author archive for: Jen Arbo
Events »
The Vancouver Foundation is hosting a free “Community Conversation” event June 23rd at Centennial Community Centre to explore how a strong sense of belonging and social connections can strengthen neighbourhood ties and help build a more vibrant New Westminster.
Organizers say this is a chance to connect with other New West residents and organizations and talk about:
How does New Westminster welcome newcomers to the community?
What are the opportunities for interaction and sharing amongst neighbours?
Where are the opportunities for volunteerism in New Westminster?
How does your community share its local food and support nutritious …
New Westminster, Restaurants, Sapperton »
A few times now, a number of the local twitter geeks have had a conversation online about food. Because food is the greatest common denominator. One of the places that continually gets mentioned is Graze Market and Deli and we all salivate all over our keyboards and dreamily discuss what makes an awesome pulled pork sandwich. So what does make an awesome pulled pork sandwich? We’ll get to that.
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Businesses, Downtown »
Jen checks out independently owned and operated Queens Park Florist – just in time for Mother’s Day.
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Events, Massey Victory Heights, New Westminster »
Queens Park and Quayside aren’t the only neighbourhoods in New Westminster with a neighbourhood wide garage sale! Mark May 7th from 9AM to 3PM on your calendar and check out the Massey Victory Heights neighbourhood for great deals.
Where is Massey Victory Heights, you ask? Way over on the eastern tip of New Westminster, you can find the MVH neighbourhood. It is the area south of 10th Avenue and north of 8th Avenue, east of McBride and west of Columbia Street E, plus the two blocks bounded by Craig Avenue and Colby …
Children, New Westminster, Schools »
Hume Park Elementary has been on the chopping block multiple times (a few examples: in 2009, and again in 2010), and each time dedicated parents come to its’ defense and each time Hume Park gets voted to stay open and each time everyone breaths a sigh of relief. Yesterday, I read that, once again, a trustee is putting forward a motion to consolidate Hume Park with it’s bigger brother up the hill, Richard McBride Elementary. The motion won’t get voted on without another trustee to second it but if it passes, once again …
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Children, Growing up in NW, Moody Park, Parenting, West End »
My friends at Family Place sent me this note I thought I’d share:
New Westminster Family Place is pleased to announce that we are opening a new program at 1170 – 8th Avenue (corner of 8th Avenue and 12th Street, on the main floor of the building that has Sprott Shaw upstairs).
This program will run every Friday morning from 9:30 – 11:30 starting April 1st. Join us for fun and games, circle time and wonderful crafts. Meet your neighbours and make some new friends. For information call 604 520-3666.
Children, New Westminster »
Is $500 a year for occasional babysitters enough to make me go running to City Hall?
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Children, Growing up in NW, New Westminster, Parenting »
The Middle Childhood Development Committee is looking for input! If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, feel free to take this survey. Middle Childhood is ages 6-12. Here’s the link if you are unable to see the survey below.
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
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New Westminster »
On March 28th, Hyack Interactive will be presenting a social media workshop for small businesses and community groups from 7-9:30 at River Market. Check out the details.
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Children, Events, Growing up in NW, Health, Parenting, Parks »
The Early Childhood Development Committee (for children ages 0-6) and the Middle Childhood Development Committee (6-12) are looking for input for their upcoming Summer Activity Guide. Do you have an event or group you’d like to share?
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Children, Massey Victory Heights, Parenting, Sapperton »
Family Place has a great new location at FW Howay just east of McBride Boulevard off Cumberland. Check it out!
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Arts & Culture, Downtown »
I’m always searching for licensed places in New Westminster to fulfill roles in my life. I hang out at the Heritage Grill with some regularity because I like live music. I have spent more than one evening at the Terminal Pub because I want to watch a game. I have stopped in at Frankie G’s once or twice for trivia. My soccer team has been hitting the Dublin Castle after practices. And sometimes I want to go somewhere dark and quiet, with comfy chairs, a decent wine list, a pretty …
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Growing up in NW, Health, New Westminster, Sapperton »
Jen checks out Kids in Motion, a Creative Arts Studio for 0-8 year olds in Sapperton run by Natasha Young.
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Environment, Events, Issues »
The Clean Bin Project started as a blog about a friendly competition between some roommates to produce no garbage. The Project has a great blog that is still ongoing even after the initial year is finished, and has evolved into a must-see comedic documentary about our impact on the fragile rock we call Earth. Here’s the trailer:
The Clean Bin Project – Trailer from Grant Baldwin Videography on Vimeo.
This is an amazing film and it’s coming to it’s first ever screening in New Westminster on Saturday February 5th as part …
Arts & Culture, Events, Massey Victory Heights, New Westminster »
The Van Dop Gallery is kicking off a series of open houses to celebrate the season. The first one is this weekend, November 27th and 28th and features new works by Carole Arnston.
“All art is but imitation of nature” (Author Seneca the Younger).
Winter is near and Carole Arnston, the West Vancouver oil painter, is revealing new works that use a seasonal palate at the Van Dop Gallery’s Spirit of the Season Grand Opening Nov 27 & 28 from 11am-5pm.
Best-known for her large- scale floral abstractions and landscape vistas, Arnston’s series: …
Issues, Transportation »
Seems Translink is listening. Here’s an email we received earlier today from Ken Hardie:
As promised, we have scheduled an additional session for New Westminster residents to look at options for the United Boulevard Extension.
It will be at the Justice Institute on Tuesday, December 7th from 6 to 8:30 pm. Unlike the session we held there last week, the one on the 7th will include a presentation and open-mike session in the theatre, that will provide a better opportunity for people to get the background on each of the options and …
Parenting »
I got this letter from the folks at Family Place. This is a place very near and dear to me and I am thrilled to pass on this info. Kudos to those who were able to make this happen for Family Place and for all families in our community. Family Place continues to offer their main daily drop in location at 93 Sixth Street as well.
After almost 10 years of providing a family resource program at Royal City Centre Mall we lost access to the Community Room and have …
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Events, Health, Issues, New Westminster »
The SPCA Thrift Mart, a well known and active business member of our community, is once again putting together a Coat Drive to help gets coats to some of the Lower Mainland’s most needy. I posted about the SPCA coat drive experience I had a few years ago, and wanted to remind you all of this annual event. This is the 16th annual coat drive, and organizer Roni-Lyn Saunders says the need is greater than ever. Roni and her dad have been working hard to put together this year’s coat drive …
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Events, New Westminster »
If kids aren’t on your shopping list and you don’t plan on attending our Exclusive Shopping Night at Pedagogy Toys on November 20th, consider heading over to the Sapperton Pensioner’s Hall at 318 Keary Street for a Brain Teaser Trivia Night, hosted by VEATA. The doors and no-host bar open at 6PM and the trivia starts at 7PM. The cost is $20 per person, and all funds raised go to the Pacific Volunteer Education & Assistance Team for Animals Society. Door Prizes will be given away, first one is at 6:45pm. …
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New Westminster, Parenting, Sapperton, Shopping »
One of my favourite local shops is Pedagogy Toys. As a graduate of the Small Business program at Douglas College, owner Karen Smecher loves what she does and is committed to providing high quality toys and other kid items. She recently went on the hunt for a harmonica just for me and we are still toot-tooting our way around the house with our awesome green harmonica.
I was really impressed with her new exclusive to Pedagogy line of reusable lunch and snack bags lined with Tyvek! Ingenious! She’s also designed play items …
Arts & Culture, Brow of the Hill, Downtown, Lifestyle, New Westminster, Uptown »
BOO! Ah, autumn. I love it! The leaves… the smell… the pumpkins… the little ghouls! Halloween is one of my favourite events of the year, with a bit of something for everyone. Now that my son is getting to an age where he gets it (wear this, knock on door, say “tickoteet”, present candy holding device and be rewarded!) I’m started to realize how fun it can be. With a 150+ years history, New Westminster offers a lot in the way of creepy spots and stories, outside of the knowns like …
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Arts & Culture, Events, New Westminster »
This is from the local #NewWest knitting group, Knit 1, Take 2, that we’ve written about before. They’re takin’ it outside! There sure is lots going on in this city on the 29th!
Needles will be flying this Sunday in Queen’s Park as New Westminster’s community knitting group, Knit 1, Take 2, celebrates national Knit in the Park Day. Knitters of all levels will gather near the covered picnic area from 12-4 pm on Sunday, August 29th, for knitting, laughs and some yarn-inspired fun. Everyone …
New Westminster, Pets, Queen's Park »
Hey fellow #NewWest dog people! Did you know there is a whole day dedicated to dogs having fun and playing silly games in our fair city? That’s right! the 11th Annual Doggy Fun Day is coming up on Sunday August 29th at the playing field just above the dog off-leash area in Queens Park. The action happens from noon to 3PM.
Events include the Royal City Rockets Dog Agility Team putting on a show at 12:30pm and 2:30pm, displays and prize draws, and long time favourite doggy games: egg and spoon …
Shopping »
This has been reposted from my personal blog. I’d like to invite you to add your favorite local “someones” to the comments! Tell us what makes them your go-to person or business.
Here at the Arbolog, we work hard to try and practice reducing, reusing, refusing, and repairing before we get to recycling, because as far as I am concerned, the jury is out on whether recycling really does lower my carbon footprint. To that end, I’ve spent a long time finding people capable of repairing things. When you live …
Health, New Westminster »
I participated in a focus group this past Tuesday night to help improve the website for New Westminster Parks, Culture, and Recreation and part of our “homework” prior to the evening was to troll around on the NWPCR website to get a better idea of what worked and what didn’t. It was while trolling around I discovered that the NWPCR department has put together a Spring Wellness Challenge to get us all up and at ‘em, dust off those wintery cobwebs, and get our collective butts moving. Here’s a little …
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