Local News – Front Porch Blog

Our Neighbourhood News: From the Front Porch of LynnValleyLife

Hi there neighbours, and a very warm welcome to our blog, From the Front Porch of LynnValleyLife.

Why do we call it ‘From the Front Porch’? Because that’s where the real news of a community is shared – on front porches and sidewalks, and in coffee shops and playgrounds. So sit down and stay awhile…. and check back regularly, so we can keep you in the Lynn Valley loop.

Visit here for musings on local life from our neighbourhood observer, Lynn O’Malley, and stories from our editor Peggy Trendell-Jensen. Publisher Jim Lanctot weighs in with news from the world of Lynn Valley real estate, and we look forward to bringing you a range of guest voices from your valley neighbours.

If you have any tidbits of interest, please send them along to our neighbourhood news-gatherer, Robin, at [email protected].  We can’t guarantee we’ll be able to post them all, but we’ll do our best to spread the word on this blog page or on our Facebook site!

RNB Dance

RNB Dance teaches more than meets the eye

A huge array of gleaming trophies sits on a ledge above the students warming up at the barre in RNB Dance’s Studio #2. But it isn’t the trophies that artistic director Hayley Walker is most proud of when she reflects upon the accomplishments of this dance school, now celebrating its ...
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Walker Conspiracy

New thriller penned by Lynn Valley dad

It's no surprise that Matt Finden likes spy thrillers, because he's clearly a man of action himself - once this Lynn Valley father of two became curious as to whether he could write a gripping tale of his own, there was no stopping him. The result is a 377-page novel ...
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Elizabeth Mathers

St. Clement’s celebrates “Good Seed Sunday”

In partnership with A Rocha, a non-profit organization that engages in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects, St. Clement's Anglican Church in Lynn Valley recently held a "Good Seed Sunday, " involving a special service, stream clean-up and invasive plant pull. This article was submitted by parishioner Wilna Parry, with ...
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Garden Club

Plant yourself at LV Garden Club sale

The always-popular Lynn Valley Garden Club plant sale is a great chance to purchase new plant stock, meet your neighbours, share some garden advice and even find that perfect Mother's Day gift. The club's annual spring plant sale takes place on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m ...
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Spirituality on the trail

In this Cascadian society, often referred to as "spiritual, but not religious," people like to say they can worship a higher power from a forest trail more readily than they can from a church pew. This Saturday, they'll have the chance to join others doing the same. Rev. Laurel Dykstra, ...
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Input on Argyle rebuild invited

Input on Argyle rebuild invited

A letter from North Vancouver's Superintendent of Schools…. Dear Parents/Guardians/Residents in the Argyle Family of Schools Community: On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to invite you to attend an Argyle Family of Schools meeting on: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Doors open 6:30; Presentation 6:45; Discussion, Wrap-up ...
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Lynn Valley updated drawing

Public speaks to mall redevelopment

Passion was evident at last night's public hearing into Bosa's proposed redevelopment of Lynn Valley Mall, a culminating point in what has been an exhaustive and exhausting journey for North Van District staff and council, the developer, and the community itself. The overflow crowd first heard a presentation from district ...
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Learn about Argyle school redevelopment plan

Learn about Argyle school redevelopment plan

The Lynn Valley Community Association is hosting an evening information session for local residents wanting to know more about the planned redevelopment of Argyle Secondary School. The event will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. at the LV rec centre at the corner of Frederick and Mountain ...
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Image

African charities host sale at MNH

Five different local charities, with many Lynn Valley members, have joined together to host a sale and awareness-raising event on Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Mollie Nye House. Organizers encourage you to bring family and friends to shop, learn about local people are making a global ...
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Mountain bike gear swap coming soon!

Mountain bike gear swap coming soon!

We are happy to pass along this press release from the North Shore Mountain Bike Association, most of whose directors live in Lynn Valley. Scroll down for info on how to sell your gear that day. For further information about the gear swap, contact Rachid at [email protected] 2014 Annual NSMBA ...
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Super Sized Garage Sale Poster

Buy, sell, and support charity at huge LV garage sale event!

Declutter your home or re-feather your nest (or both!) by taking part in a Super-Sized Community Garage Sale on Saturday, May 10. The event is being hosted by Reachout To Africa, (R2A) a North Vancouver Christian registered charity that works to support vulnerable children and communities impacted by the AIDS pandemic ...
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Here's the advanced position - beginners can choose a more shallow squat.

Got a wall? Here’s a workout!

This just in from D'Alton McCarthy, the local trainer behind Body by D'Alt. SEDENTARY ? NO TIME TO EXERCISE ? DON'T ENJOY THE GYM? IF YOU HAVE A WALL... I HAVE AN EXERCISE FOR YOU... These two exercises, used on a wall, can give you a great and safe work ...
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LV mall proposal goes to public hearing

LV mall proposal goes to public hearing

This in from the North Van District website: The rezoning proposal for the Bosa development (1175 Lynn Valley Road and 1280 East 27th Street) received first reading at Council on Monday, March 24, 2014. The development proposal has been referred to Public Hearing, which is the community’s formal opportunity to ...
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wheelbarrow

Time to spring clean your garden, Lynn Valley!

Spring has sprung! And now that it's here, Endless Summer Landscapes offers up some essential spring cleaning tips to help LynnValleyLife readers beautify their properties, lawns and gardens. (Learn more about this local company by reading its LVL Merchant Profile!) Prune away dead and damaged branches Where tree or shrub ...
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Friday Night Live switches it up for April

Just when you thought one family couldn't possibly house any more artistic talent, Joel Grinke shows up to prove you wrong. Joel is older brother to Matt Grinke, the uber-talented pianist whose off-the-cuff accompaniment to Friday Night Live's hilarious improv has the cast performing their scenes in genres that range ...
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Proposed church rendering

LV United Church hearing adjourned until April

A full house packed North Vancouver District council chambers on Tuesday, March 18 for the public hearing regarding the redevelopment of the Lynn Valley United Church property. At stake is the rezoning that would allow the church to proceed with plans for a new church building facing Mountain Highway, bordered ...
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TED talks come to Lynn Valley!

TED talks come to Lynn Valley!

Well, you could live-stream next week's TED conference from your home computer, but it will cost you $600. (Of course, that beats the $7,500 in-person ticket price.) Fortunately, there's a third option for those of us who want to take part in the excitement of Vancouver's first-ever TED talks, but ...
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World-class magic show amongst late-winter diversions

World-class magic show amongst late-winter diversions

This wet shoulder season,  existing between winter's slush and springtime's sun, can be a damp and forlorn time of year - in other words, one not always ideal for entertaining kids on a two-week break from school. Fortunately, there are a number of local diversions for Lynn Valley families to ...
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photo courtesy Maureen O'Brien

Crowd of 500+ hears Bosa proposal for Lynn Valley mall

Four hundred chairs had been set out, but they proved unequal to the task of seating the overflow crowd of residents who came out Wednesday night to learn more about the Bosa Developments proposal for the transformation of Lynn Valley Mall. Some of them had previously attended an informal September ...
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Lynn Valley Best Neighbourhood

Lynn Valley, LynnValleyLife top reader poll once again

Coming to you from the blowing-one's-own-horn desk is the happy news that LynnValleyLife.com was once again voted the North Shore's Best Website in the North Shore News Readers' Choice Awards for 2014. As you can imagine, we are immensely grateful for this show of support from our website followers. Even ...
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Hope Sweat Breathe

Hope, sweat and breathe to fund a cure

Hope, sweat and breathe. When times are tough, sometimes that's all you can do. And when times are good? "Hope, sweat, breathe" can be the best plan of action then, too. Lynn Valley's Ryan and Deb Purcell have experienced both good times and bad over the past few years, since ...
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Love Valley

Lynn Valley home to Pookies, Pinkys and Snookums

After LVL-sponsoring realtor Jim Lanctôt mentioned that his wife Cindy was his "Cinderelly," he and Kelly Gardiner decided that other Lynn Valleyites should  have to confess their beloveds' nicknames if they wanted an entry into our draw for a Valentine's evening out. We put out the call, and we weren't ...
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Love Valley 615 290

“Pippe” and “Pecas” win “Love in Lynn Valley” Valentine’s contest!

We've been feeling warm fuzzies all week here at LVL headquarters, as our neighbours' nicknames and endearments have been fluttering into our inbox on little Cupid wings. We're pretty sure that only a top-class enticement - like a Valentine's evening out - could motivate the sharing of some of these ...
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cedar v

Cedar V theatre memories recalled

Just over two years ago, we wrote this post about the now-legendary Cedar V theatre, located next door to what is now the PetroCan station on Lynn Valley Road. This week, we were happy to receive some more reflections, sent our way by Dave Whitmore, who lived at 2826 Crestlynn Place ...
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Rice Lake Feb 2014

Rice Lake rink a rare treat!

Even those of us who have lived in Lynn Valley most of our lives don't have many "back in the good ol' days" stories about skating on local waterholes. The small 'swamp' off of McNair Drive in Mountain View Park would very occasionally freeze over enough to provide a destination ...
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There's lots of streets getting some love in Lynn Valley!

Lynn Valleyites are sure cleaning up!

We recently received an email from NVD Community Beautification Coordinator Courtenay Fraizl (our lovely Adopt-a-Street boss!) It was an inspiring email for two reasons. First, as you can see from the map above (click on image for a closer look), the Lynn Valley neighbourhood is way out in the lead ...
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Love in Valley for Bear

Enter the “Love in Lynn Valley” contest

Win a romantic evening for two! Celebrate a fun Valentine's night on the town, close to hearth and home! Start by enjoying a $50 dinner for two at the Black Bear Pub (they've promised their most romantic candlelit table!), then carry on to Friday Night Live's "Love to Laugh" show, featuring dance ...
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Lynn Valley Masons welcome others to join Lodge

Lynn Valley Masons welcome others to join Lodge

Most local drivers pass by the nearly windowless grey building on the corner of Lynn Valley Road and  Harold without a second glance, it has long ago disappeared into the invisibility that comes with familiarity. Walkers, though, travel at a different pace and have time to notice, and wonder about, ...
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One-of-a-kind jewellery made from found glass

One-of-a-kind jewellery made from found glass

When life gives you lemons, the optimistic make lemonade. So when Dana Kovanda and her son find broken glass in Hastings Creek, they don't just pick it up - they make beautiful jewellery that's unique to this neighbourhood. Dana's tumbled-glass jewellery - like beach glass, but tumbled via machine instead ...
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Get ready for LynnValleyLife 2.0

Get ready for LynnValleyLife 2.0

What could possibly be better than LynnValleyLife, your neighbourhood news source? That's easy - LynnValleyLife 2.0, coming your way later this month. We're excited to be unveiling some major changes that will make the LVL experience even more user-friendly. We know that readers often visit our website when they're on ...
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