Clean out your closets and support local charities

You have no doubt seen charity drop-off boxes all over the North Shore on your walks or drives around town.

P1360483You can drop books, shoes and used clothing in them in for re-use by someone who needs them. Not all these boxes are for charities, however; some are for commercial for-profit companies and the difference is not always as clear as it should be, so a careful reading of the information on the box is important.

The donation boxes found outside Winners at Lynn Valley Mall are all for reputable, non-profit charities, operated by commercial firms. There are three of them in a row, so take your pick. The orange box is maintained by the BC Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. On the front of the box there is a sign clearly stating their charity is 100 per cent non-profit.

The green box in the middle states it is maintained by Green Inspiration BC, and a portion of the proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of BC. You can phone Green Inspiration (778-927-2073) to learn more. Its website states the following: Clothing which is in good condition is sold and delivered to some developing countries where locals are given access to more affordable garments. Only a small portion of the donations, which are not in usable condition, are going through the process of recycling that gives old clothes a brand new life and reduces the amount of waste going into landfills. Learn more here.

The blue box on the end of the row is a fundraiser for Canuck Place Hospice. A disclaimer on the box states that the service is owned and operated by Trans-Continental Textile Recycling Limited, which donates a portion of proceeds to the hospice. If you have any questions, you can phone the company at 604-592-3008. A letter on the Canuck Place website attests to the fact that over $300,000 has been donated to the charity through this method

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Lynn Valley donors warm hands and hearts

‘Twas the week before Christmas (or maybe a bit more)
When we asked you to keep your eyes peeled at the store
For gloves and hats, and protection from sleet
To help Cpl. Wong bring some warmth to the street.
You opened your hearts, and pulled out your purse
And here’s where we switch to narrative from verse…

It’s hard to switch into prose, however, because there was much that was poetic about our visit with Cpl. Randy Wong and his wife, Sahar Manochehri. The couple visited the LynnValleyLife editor’s home to pick up several large bags of items donated by readers to help stock the ziplocked care kits that Randy and Sahar assemble and distribute for the homeless in our local communities.

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Lynn Valley’s Good Neighbours for 2016 welcome the world

For those of us at LVLife HQ, a favourite holiday highlight is letting one of our local citizens know that they have been singled out for LynnValleyLife’s Good Neighbour Award. This year, we got double the pleasure, as this 2016’s Good Neighbours are a husband and wife. Wilna and Dave Parry were both surprised and delighted to receive the news, which was delivered along with a fresh Christmas wreath, donated Black Bear Pub gift certificate, and the promise of their engraved plaque in the new year.

Dave and Wilna have called Kirkstone Road their home for 26 years now, but these amazing Lynn Valley citizens took the scenic route to get here. Wilna was born in South Africa, and met Dave there as a young adult. Dave was an English speaker; at that time, Wilna only spoke Afrikaans. But a romance developed, and married life brought them to Canada.

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Hastings Creek kept clean by dedicated crew

By staff writer

If you saw a team of people strolling through the woods wearing muddy boots and toting hockey sticks on a rainy Saturday afternoon in the fall, you might think: “Yes, it’s hockey night in Canada, but these folks have gone too far.” The North Shore Streamkeepers (NSSK) are true Canadians, but they aren’t playing street hockey on the pond. They are cleaning the creek and looking for signs of coho salmon, all the way up to the pond. Donovan’s Pond, that is.

Hastings Creek is one of the six tributaries of Lynn Creek. Considered one of the most important small fish-bearing streams in North Vancouver, Hastings originates on the east slope of Grouse Mountain and flows through Princess Park, Hunter Park, the Lynn Valley commercial area, and various residential areas until it joins Lynn Creek in the Arbour Lynn area.

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Westlynn Meats serves local “foodies”

By staff writer

The Dos Santos family has been selling meats and seafood at Lynn Valley Mall for 15 years now. There’s a reason for their popularity. “It’s all about the customers,” says Mike dos Santos, wrapping a bag of pork chops for a customer and handing it over. “We always listen to what the customers have to say and are attentive to their questions and requests. If somebody wants a special item, we get it for them.”

The other key element to their longevity comes as a bit of a surprise. Evidently there are a lot of “foodies” in Lynn Valley, who are very particular about what they order, and when. Fresh and local are two other key pieces to the puzzle. Seasonal might be another.

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Warm the homeless with help from first responders

Looking for some good news to warm a cold day? LynnValleyLife recently received this lovely press release from the North Vancouver RCMP, about a neighbourly initiative launched by Cst. Randy Wong and his wife, Sahar. Using money donated by Randy’s RCMP colleagues, the couple have been creating care packages for the men and women the constable encounters over the course of his days and nights on the streets of North Vancouver. The ziplock bags contain warm mitts, toques, socks, disposable rain ponchos, energy bars and other essential supplies for those whose lives are spent largely without shelter.

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North Vancouver Archives offer great gifts for Christmas

The North Vancouver Archives are not the first place you would think to go to find a special present for a special person at Christmas. The kind of present you wouldn’t find for sale anywhere else, for that person who has everything. In fact, most people don’t even know where the Archives are located, or even what the staff does there.

Head north of the intersection of Mountain Highway and Lynn Valley Road (that’s along Lynn Valley Road toward the mountains, for those of us who are directionally challenged!) A block later, turn left at Institute Road. The Community History Centre is found immediately to your left at 3203 Institute Road in the old stone Lynn Valley Elementary School. The ground floor holds offices for the North Vancouver Museum and Archives; the museum itself is currently located at Presentation House at 209 West 4th  and will soon  move into a purpose-built new space near the waterfront. The North Vancouver Archives are on the top floor of the Community History Centre.

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Headwaters road deterioration prompts closure to vehicles

 

Temporary Closure to Lynn Headwaters Access Road

In the interest of public safety, the District of North Vancouver has closed its access road to Lynn Headwaters Regional Park at the top of Lynn Valley Road to vehicles, effective immediately.

The road, which cuts through steeply sloped terrain, has deteriorated to the extent that portions of the road are at risk of failure, which could result in landslide. At this time, the closure applies to vehicles only; pedestrian and bicycle access is still permitted. Pedestrians may also access the park from Lynn Valley Road via the Varley Trail.

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Christmas coming to Lynn Valley

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The season of Advent is almost upon us, and the valley is starting to prepare for Christmas.

If you’re wanting your Christmas tree dollars to go to go to work in your community, be sure to head to the Lynn Valley Lions Christmas tree lot, opening on Saturday, Dec. 3. It’s at a new location this year – you’ll find it in the sports box adjacent to Karen Magnussen Rec Centre. Hours are Monday to Friday 2-8pm, and 9am-9pm on the weekends. The trees sold out in two weeks last year, so don’t delay!

IMG_2274The neighbourhood’s very own “gingerbread house” (known the rest of the year as Mollie Nye House) lights up as always on Thursday, December 1, and everyone is welcome! The 13th annual Bright Christmas is being hosted by the Lynn Valley Services Society (LVSS) at Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Rd., from 7 – 8:30pm that evening, and those wishing to join the lantern parade from Karen Magnussen are invited to be there at 6:30 pm sharp! The countdown and light-up will take place at 7 p.m., and festive sing-alongs, gingerbread and ornament decorating, Mad Scientist demos and other activities will carry on until 8:30 pm. Santa will be there, and so should you!

Once again dozens of community organizations and businesses have sponsored trees in the Christmas Tree Walk organized by the Lynn Valley Community Association, and set to light up Lynn Valley Village for the pleasure of all. Watch for neighbourhood elves out putting the trees up on Friday, Dec. 2, and decorating them on Saturday the 3rd.

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The grand light-up ceremony takes place on Sunday, December 4 at 4:30 p.m. This is definitely a neighbourhood “come one, come all” gathering, and we look forward to seeing a village square full of people!

There will be much to enjoy during the month of December, so keep your eyes on our Events Calendar to make sure you don’t miss out. We’ll update it regularly – so if you’re organizing a public event, be sure to let us know so we can spread the word! Just send your details to [email protected], and feel free to post your news directly on to our Facebook page as well!

Good Neighbour Award nominations open!

Every year LynnValleyLife takes pleasure in recognizing a Lynn Valley resident who goes the extra mile to make our community or the wider world a better place.

Good Neighbour Award Winner RibbonIt might be someone whose quiet small acts provide ongoing comfort and motivation to the circle that surrounds them – their neighbours, colleagues, or friends. It might be someone whose work through a non-profit group or as an individual has tackled one of the various troubling issues our society is facing. It might be someone who has inspired youth or stood by our seniors.

Last year’s Good Neighbour was Cath Bates Dimmock, a volunteer coach known as a wonderful role model for the students on the Argyle gymnastics team. We need your help to find this year’s Good Neighbour!

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