Donate (and buy!) jewellery for a good cause

So, when’s the last time you wore that Aztek-style necklace hanging in your jewellery box?  Or the green earrings that turned out to clash with everything in your wardrobe? Or the kindly meant birthday bracelet that just isn’t “you”? Hayley Kelly is hoping you’ll realize it might be time to let some of those pieces go.

LV Jewelry Drive

Hayley Kelly and Robin Delany display some of the jewellery donated for an upcoming autism fundraiser.

Hayley has put together the first-ever North Vancouver  Jewelry Drive in support of Autism BC. All you have to do is box and drop your offerings at the Lynn Valley Delany’s (or the Delany’s on Denman, if you’ve got friends overtown who would like to participate).

The collected jewellery will be displayed and sold on Saturday, August 27 in Lynn Valley Village from noon to 4 p.m., with all proceeds going to the Autism Society of B.C. Livening up the day even further will be live music, a BBQ, raffle prizes, and auctioned jewellery pieces donated from local designers.

Keep up to date with the project on Facebook or Instagram:

Facebook.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive

Instagram.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive

Start September in style with a few new additions to brighten up your wardrobe! Hayley writes: “With your community support, we can make the North Vancouver Jewelry Drive an amazing event!”

Concert and culture nights rock Lynn Valley Village

Concerts and culture nights are back to Lynn Valley Village for Summer 2016!

As you’ll see in this North Vancouver Recreation and Culture calendar listing, Lynn Valleyites won’t be lacking for things to do all summer long. The Friday night concert series kicks off with Hot Lucy rock on July 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., and the Wednesday night culture series continues on July 13 with a chance to learn waltz and cha cha dancing from 6 to 8 p.m.! The fun continues every Wednesday and Friday until the end of August, with a different flavour offered each time.

(Psst! More of a nature type? There are also free trail walking tours every Monday night until October 3, from 6 to 7:30, rain or shine. Meet up at the Lynn Canyon Cafe in Lynn Canyon Park.)

Concert Series 2016 IMG_7600

Celebrate Canada Day in Lynn Valley (and beyond)!

It seems there are an ever-growing number of reasons to be grateful that we live where we do. Whether it’s for a moment, an hour or a day, we hope you can make time to celebrate our country this Friday, July 1.

Canada Day flagThe Canada Day parade is always a hit, of course, so (after filling up at the 7:30 a.m. Lions Pancake Breakfast at 13th and Grand Boulevard) grab some sidewalk space in preparation for the 10 a.m. start. Don’t forget sunhats, glasses and whatever Canadiana you can find to wear or wave! The parade starts at Grand Boulevard, travels west along 13th to Lonsdale, proceeds up Lonsdale and turns left on 17th and ends in Kinsman Park, near Mahon Park.

You might want to pop in on the celebrations taking place at Waterfront Park, but after that be sure to head back to the neighbourhood for an afternoon of fun at Lynn Valley Village, starting at noon.

On offer will be a bouncy castle and lots of other kids’ activities, an outdoor BBQ at Browns, a Best Canadian Attire Contest at Delany’s, a farmer’s market, entertainment by Steele Productions, and more!

The good times will also be rolling close by at the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub. As it is a holiday, children will be admitted with their parents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the brunch menu on until 2 p.m.

After family service closes at 4 p.m., the Canada Day evening specials kick in, featuring a $12 platter that includes a smoky or burger, corn on the cob, and a side of potato salad. BBQ beef or chicken burgers on their own can be yours for $7.

We are told that random draws for give-aways and prizes will take place all day long, with the main prize being a Weber Charcoal Grill BBQ. To top off the day, live music with Glen Pearson will begin at 8 p.m.

The Shipyards Night Market opens in the early afternoon on Canada Day, and will continue until 11 p.m. (offering a great view of the 10:30 p.m. fireworks in the inlet). For info on the night market and other North Shore Canada Day events,  click here. Those of you who are wanting to wander further afield will be interested to know what will be happening at Canada Place (it’s the nation’s second-largest Canada Day festival!)

And those who are staying around the homestead might be interested in whipping up some Canada Day recipes, or checking out these myriad ideas for crafts and festivities from Canadian Living. To get yourself ready to really go big with next year’s Canada 150 celebrations, bone up on your basics with this quiz taken from the Canadian Citizenship exam!

 

Earthquake hit Lynn Valley 70 years ago today

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Earthquakes have been an ongoing concern in these parts for a very long time – here’s an account of a major earthquake that hit these shores 70 years ago today, from the diary of Winnifred Kate Walton.

Winnifred was born in England in 1888 and travelled to British Columbia in April 1912.  She had a number of homes in Lynn Valley, and in the 1940s and ’50s operated a ladies’ wear shop here as well, first in the Brier Block then across the street in the Fromme Block, now home to the TD Bank and Waves coffee house. Winnifred passed away in Lynn Valley in 1983. Thank you to her granddaughter, Dianne Elphinstone, for providing us with occasional excerpts from “Granny’s Diary.”

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Lynn Valley Day brings back memories

Thank you to Dianne Elphinstone for sharing some of her Lynn Valley Day memories and photos! Volunteer or attend this year’s community celebration on the weekend of June 17 to 19; check out all the details here.

In the early 1940s someone displayed fridges at Lynn Valley Day. Most people did not have one, or also had never seen one. Someone else had a live caged anteater; this would have been about 1945.

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Lynn Valley water restrictions 101 – lawn sprinkling and frisbees!

Water restrictions have kicked in again, and while our reservoirs aren’t in bad shape at the moment things can change quickly. Here’s a reminder about the Phase One lawn sprinkling restrictions that are currently in force:

Lawn sprinkling are restricted to three periods a week, mornings only. Outdoor sprinkling of lawns, using hose-connected or automatic in-ground sprinklers, will be permitted only as follows:

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Lynn Valley Day – what’s new for 2016!

It wasn’t easy, but LynnValleyLife finally caught up with Lynn Valley Day organizer Eric Miura on Friday – a rare chance to spend some time with this uber-busy volunteer who juggles his day job with executive roles in the Lynn Valley Lions and Lynn Valley Community Association.

At this time of year, that means Eric and the rest of the Lynn Valley Day team are living and breathing plans for the huge community event, which in 2016 has grown from two days into three.

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Troubadour a fixture at Lynn Valley Mall

There aren’t many communities lucky enough to have as dedicated a mall musician as Linda, who can be heard most mornings on the bench outside Romance Jewellers in Lynn Valley Mall.

LindaLinda, who is blind and navigates with the use of a cane, is well known to regular shoppers and mall employees for her ukulele-accompanied songs such as “You are my Sunshine.” Linda says that people sometimes join in singing; most often they just pass by, but hopefully with a lighter step after hearing her.

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Over the Fence: David Hewitson, “Mayor of Lynn Valley Mall”

Today’s post continues an occasional feature called Over the Fence – a mini-profile of some of the interesting people who live or work in Lynn Valley. Have a suggestion of someone you’d like to see profiled? Let us know at [email protected]!

Today we’re chatting over the fence with David Hewitson, friendly face and supervisor at the Rogers booth in Lynn Valley Mall, and unofficial “mayor” of the community shopping centre.

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Lynn Valley youth perform in chocolate factory theatrical

Lynn Valley young people are hitting the stage this month as they take part in a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, presented by SMP Youth.

Heather Gawenda tells us that many cast and crew from Argyle Secondary, Upper Lynn Elementary, Lynn Valley Elementary, Ross Road and Boundary Elementary schools are taking part in the production, either under the lights or behind the scenes.

SMP 2016In the story, five lucky children find a golden ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars, giving them a rare glimpse inside Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.  What do the children discover on their tour? Oompa Loompas, a chocolate waterfall, trained squirrels, candies with magical properties…and Willy Wonka’s true intentions.

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