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Lynn Valley realtors address sellers’ “fear factor”

There was a good article written by Barbara Yaffe in the Vancouver Sun, outlining one of the reasons behind the current shortage in home listings.

She writes “Observers agree that the fear of selling one’s home and not being able to find another property is part of the story behind a low inventory of real estate listings, both in Vancouver and Toronto. The situation is handicapping buyers and sending prices skyward.”

And, later in the article, “if they want to buy something else in their neighbourhood, they are likely to face that scourge of the real estate industry, the bidding war.”

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March 4, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Real Estate News

LV Services Society seeking board members

Update March 20, 2016: please scroll to bottom if you have an aptitude for numbers – a treasurer is needed!

Lynn Valley is fortunate in many ways – and having a dedicated non-profit group adding to the programming and life of our community is one of them.

Mollie Nye House, North Vancouver

Mollie Nye House

The Lynn Valley Services Society (LVSS) is responsible for managing Mollie Nye House, the heritage home on Lynn Valley Road that was built by Jack and Olive Nye in 1913 and donated to North Vancouver District upon the death of his daughter Mollie.

As you can see from this video, Mollie Nye House has become a welcoming, active hub for a wide range of programs and activities. Over 60 groups use the house on an annual basis, and events and workshops  are regularly offered for all ages. And its surrounding garden provides a lovely respite for many passers-by to enjoy in the midst of a busy day.

The LVSS is looking for enthusiastic local residents who would like to ensure the house continues to thrive well into the future, and continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Here’s their appeal for new board members – please be in touch as soon as possible!

Volunteer Board Members Wanted

The LYNN VALLEY SERVICES SOCIETY (LVSS) is a not-for-profit charitable organization providing social and recreational programming to the community in, and around, the Lynn Valley area. LVSS provides facility management in Lynn Valley, with Mollie Nye House serving as our primary facility. Mollie Nye House is a heritage community building, which is managed by LVSS under a Partnership Agreement with the District of North Vancouver. See the Mollie Nye Website for more information: mollienyehouse.com

We are currently looking for new board members with the following preferable characteristics:

• Enthusiastic and collaborative nature with experience in the non-profit sector.

• Experience in Financial Management, Bookkeeping, or Community Connections.

• Reside in or around the Lynn Valley area.

We encourage participation from minority groups who are seeking, or interested in, expanding services in Lynn Valley.

Time Commitment: LVSS is in the process of transitioning from a working board to a governance board, so time commitment varies depending upon your area of interest. All potential board members should be prepared to be available for monthly board meeting of 2-3 hours per month, plus a willingness to be an active member of at least one sub-committee (approx. 3 hours per month) and participation in event planning and implementation.

Position Term: Two years with a preferred commitment of 2 consecutive terms.

Application Deadline: For more information, or to apply, please send an email briefly summarising your interest to [email protected]. Please include your phone number and a Board Member will call you directly.

Update: Treasurer sought!

CALL FOR APPLICATION: Board of Directors (Volunteer Treasurer Position)

The LYNN VALLEY SERVICES SOCIETY (LVSS) is a charitable organization providing social and recreational programming to the community in, and around, the Lynn Valley area. LVSS provides facility management in Lynn Valley, with Mollie Nye House serving as our primary facility. Mollie Nye House is a heritage community building, which is managed by LVSS under a Partnership Agreement with the District of North Vancouver.  See the Mollie Nye Website for more information: mollienyehouse.com

We are currently looking for a Treasurer with the following skills and characteristics:   

  • Enthusiastic and collaborative nature
  • Experience in Financial Management or Bookkeeping
  • Reside in or around the Lynn Valley area
  • Experience in the not-for-profit sector preferred

Time Commitment:

The role of Treasurer for LVSS is a volunteer working position with the responsibility for budgets and financial management including bookkeeping, maintenance and audit of financial records and ensuring all investments, expenditures and revenues are filed without discrepancies. The time commitment will vary depending upon the individual’s experience with not-for-profit financial management and monthly LVSS bookkeeping requirements. All members are asked to attend the monthly Board meeting which runs approximately 2 hours.

Position Term:  Two years with an optional commitment of an additional term.

Application: For more information, or to apply, please send an email briefly summarising your interest to [email protected]. Ideally we would like to invite those who are interested to a tour of our facility in late March, 2016. Please include your phone number and a Board Member will call you directly.

February 28, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved, Governance and Services

DNV sets library land sale record straight

Mairi Welman, communications manager with North Vancouver District, contacted LynnValleyLife with concerns regarding the circulation of an email containing false allegations of North Vancouver District wrongdoing in the sale of the former library property at 27th and Mountain Highway to the Bosa Development Corporation.

Marie emphasizes that these claims (including, we note from reading the email in question, that council “decided to give away a prime piece of real estate for free”) are “absolutely not true,” and that “all relevant policies, laws and regulations were followed.” She asks us to pass along the following information to Lynn Valley residents:

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February 23, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Development and Town Planning, Governance and Services

Valentine’s contest entries heartwarming to read

Our 2016 Valentine’s Day Contest was the cause of passionate conversation during a LynnValleyLife meeting in January. We’d had a great response in the past to our “What Do You Love About Lynn Valley?” and “What’s Your Nickname for Your Loved One?” contests and we wanted to tap into our community heart yet again.

We know that Valentine’s Day isn’t just for the dreamy-eyed, star-struck lovers amongst us.  As any parent who has helped a child painstakingly craft 30 Valentine’s cards for their school chums knows, there are all sorts of friendships and affections to be celebrated on February 14.

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February 12, 2016 in Blog, Contests, Current News, Notable Neighbours

New highway interchanges will affect Lynn Valley traffic flow

By Sue Ronson, Contributing Writer

There are big plans for the multitude of entrances and exits at the north end of the Iron Workers Memorial/Second Narrows Bridge. And let’s just say up front that it’s not going to be easy getting through all this construction, but in the end we think Lynn Valleyites will agree that it’s all been worth it.

This is a $150 million project. And it’s going to take five years. It’s also going to happen in stages:

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February 3, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Development and Town Planning, Governance and Services, Guest Voices

Enter our Parent-Child Valentine’s Day dinner contest!

Valentine’s Day isn’t just red roses and romance – it’s a chance to celebrate wonderful relationships of all sorts, whether it’s with friends, neighbours, or even co-workers (you know, the ones who bring in pink Rice Krispie squares or Purdy’s for all on February 14… we love them!)

So in honour of St. Valentine’s Day on Sunday, February 14, we’re going to send a Daddy and Daughter, or a Mother and Son, to Browns Socialhouse for a sit-down dinner and some quality time together.

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January 31, 2016 in Blog, Contests, Current News, Uncategorized

No need to let loneliness take root in Lynn Valley

It’s no secret that social isolation is a huge problem in Metro Vancouver, especially since the Vancouver Foundation published its June 2012 “Connections and Engagement” report quantifying the extent of the issue. And although Vancouver has a reputation for being a place in which it can be difficult to make new friends, the problem isn’t just local. British coppers made headlines last year for having a cup of tea with a senior who had been driven by loneliness to make a call to the 999 emergency line.

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January 27, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved, O'Malley's Musings

Lynn Valley churches welcome refugee family

After weeks of waiting and planning, a group of North Vancouver residents celebrated the arrival of their sponsored refugee family at Vancouver International Airport on Friday, January 15.

The Syrian family of five was met by representatives of their large sponsorship group. REST (the Regional Ecumenical Sponsorship Team) is composed of people from North Vancouver Anglican and Lutheran Churches (including St. Clement’s Anglican and Mt. Olivet Lutheran in Lynn Valley) and from the Sutherland Secondary School community.

IMG_6532As you can see from the faces in the photo, the first meeting was a joyous one despite the hardships the family has endured in recent months. “They are lovely people who are extremely grateful to be here,” said Shannon Muir, one of REST’s coordinators. “They even asked to talk to the media today so they could say how grateful they are to Canada.”

Arrangements have been made for the family to live in the Blueridge area, at a rent generously reduced by the homeowner. Under the terms of the blended sponsorship agreement, REST will pay the family’s living expenses for one year, with the federal government contributing six months’ of social assistance-level funding.

REST is also awaiting the arrival of a vision-impaired young adult from Somalia, who will live with one of the team members in the Grand Boulevard area, and a 20-year-old Iraqui man who will be rejoining his family here. Anyone wishing to donate to the REST refugee efforts is invited to make a donation to the refugee fund of any of the sponsoring churches: St. Clement’s, St. Agnes, St. Catherine’s, St. Martin’s, or St. John’s Anglican Churches, or Mt. Olivet and Gloria Dei Lutheran Churches.

January 17, 2016 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved, Notable Neighbours

LynnValleyLife Good Neighbour for 2015 announced!

If you’ve been around these parts for a while, you’ll know that we at LynnValleyLife love collecting stories of the good citizens in our midst, and drawing from amongst them to name the recipient of our annual Good Neighbour Award. (Have a look in the Notable Neighbours section of our Front Porch blog for past winners and nominees, and pop by our office for a look at the Good Neighbour award plaque!)

We’re delighted to announce that this year’s representative of all of Lynn Valley’s good neighbours is Cath Bates Dimmock of Hoskins Road. Cath was nominated by her daughter, Carly, for whom she is obviously a huge inspiration. Thanks, Cath, for all you do for the young ladies and lads in the Argyle gymnastics program, and thanks, Carly for letting us know about it! Your mom will receive her own Good Neighbour Award plaque and a $50 gift certificate, courtesy of the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub!

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December 23, 2015 in Blog, Contests, Current News, Notable Neighbours, School News

Gifts for shelter residents welcome indeed

Whatever “the Christmas spirit” is, it is decidedly not embodied by the horrible task of spending time and money searching out gifts you’re pretty sure the recipient doesn’t need and may not even want.

It’s a wonderful feeling to find something you know is just right for a friend or loved one. But when you’re stuck trying to find something for the “person who has everything,” why not consider gifting someone else in their name instead?

You’ve heard of buying goats, chickens, or school books for families in developing countries. But one close-to-home opportunity that warms the heart of giver and givee alike is offered by the seasonal Homeless Partners website.

The organization has collected stories and gift requests from residents of shelters in North Vancouver and other areas around metro Vancouver. Here’s a typical story, from Morris:

Morris is in his sixties. He was born in Courtenay, B.C., but has been in the Vancouver area since 1972 for work. Morris worked in sheet metal. His biggest challenge right now is maintaining personal security. It is his family that helps him feel most encouraged.

Morris’s request is for running shoes or jeans. A donor can pledge one or both of these gifts, and drop them off at the housing shelter with a card for Morris (drop-off instructions are provided). There are dozens of other stories on the site, with more added as the month progresses.

So, rather than struggling to find gifts for the “have it all” people in your lives, bring some peace and cheer to your shopping by pledging a gift that you know will be well-used, and much appreciated.

Here’s what one shelter resident said about the experience of receiving a gift through this initiative:

The most encouraging thing is knowing that people care. I find it really encouraging that total strangers could care so much about someone they don’t even know.

If that sounds like the kind of Christmas spirit you’d like to share, visit the Homeless Partners website soon!

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December 6, 2015 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved