Pop UP Newton Art Walk- Fall 2015

A few pics from the Pop -Up Newton Art Walk held earlier this fall. It was a magical night and one that we hope will be repeated again and again. Stop by the AGENT C Gallery Thursdays and Saturdays 12-4 to see some wonderful art and then stroll farther north to check out the Cabinets of Curiosity. Grab a coffee and treat at Espresso Cafe while you're at it. Maybe pick up some authentic Filipino food at the tiny grocery just steps away? 

Lots to enjoy on this 2 block stretch in downtown Newton. 7300 block of 137th Street north toward 74th Avenue.

Rhiannon Paskall joined in the festivities.

Food Trucks! We had Food Trucks!

City Councillor Judy Villeneuve  spoke about the importance of Arts and revitalization

Philip Aguirre of the Newton Business Association spoke

MLA Harry Bains whose office is on the block said a few words

Happy participants having fun creating art on the sidewalk!

One of the Cabinets of Curiosity

Beautiful sculptural piece, part of the Cabinets of Curiosity

We were treated to lovely music in this little courtyard- perfect for an autumn evening

Jude Hannah- ReNewton and Councillor Judy Villeneuve  at Agent C Gallery

Agent C Gallery After Dark.....

The most important thing to remember when talking about revitalization is that the community has to support local businesses with their dollars! Bemoaning businesses closing is hypocritical if you never frequented the establishment. We're all in this together. It means so much to our local economy and the quality of life here in the downtown area. Please, as the holidays approach, spend your dollars here in the neighbourhood. Thanks!

Summertime, and the livin' is easy......

With the odd exception,  I will be taking a break from this blog for the summer.
  Will still be active on Twitter @ReNewtonNation posting the best of local and international placemaking and urbanist ideas and strategies.
 Have a safe, happy and beautiful summer!



 

Stop by Starbucks Newton 11-3 today. Help Stamp Out Cancer!

 Happy Saturday Everyone!

 Please stop by the Starbucks near the Organic Grocer in Newton today between 11-3 . Say hi, and help kick cancer in the ass. Donate to the Canadian Cancer Society. Two cute young girls will be there and then one old woman this afternoon ( that's me :D) Help Rhiannon Paskall and her friend raise a record amount today !

The Future Lives Here: in Newton

 Wednesday, April 22

5:30-8:30

 Newton Community Hall

City of Surrey presentation:

 The Future of the Newton Town Centre.

What's in store for the centre of Newton.

 Share your thoughts as a resident or business owner or simply as an interested Surrey citizen.

What do YOU want to see happen, really happen now?

2014 Moments

Happy New Year ReNewton Nation!

 that's you guys :)

Thanks for supporting ReNewal and ReVitalization of downtown Newton.

May 2015 will be our year to shine!

In Remembrance

At 4:45 this evening,  a small, brief and quiet gathering will be held in The Grove in downtown  Newton.  We will be coming together to honour the life of Julie Paskall, who was attacked  outside the Newton Ice Arena one year ago tonight.
This is meant to be a time of quiet, thoughtful reflection: Not a time for blame or politics or controversy.  Some will bring poems. Others will share a special reading.
For some of us, the senseless attack on Julie was deeply personal. We ask for the media's respect and understanding.

 For those who wish to attend, please bring  tealights or candles if possible and if desired, flowers.
 We plan to walk from the Grove to the memorial site afterward to place flowers and candles. 
We will conclude  before 5:30.
Thank you
Update:  Thank you to all who attended the intimate gathering this afternoon. A very special thank you to the Paskall family members who joined in. You are all very brave. We share your pain, and we will not forget your mom.

One year later.

ReNewton Year in ReView

 A lot happened in Newton in 2014.

  Stay Tuned for an Upcoming Post..... 

ReNewton Year in ReView.

 It was one hell of a year.

JOY TO The GROVE !

 Saturday, December 13,  4-6 PM

Make plans to join

 Friends of the Grove

 for a fun family event of music, hot chocolate, and Christmas goodies, plus lots of raffle prizes too!

 If you are able to donate a gift card or other prize please send a message to  hey-jude@telus.net

Putting the 'New' in Newton.

From City of Surrey 's "Build Newton" Booklet

June 2010

Plans for a revitalized town centre in Newton have been sitting on the shelf for far too long. 

 We encourage all residents of Surrey to lobby hard for action in this area. Newton is the heart and soul of Surrey, and has undergone dramatic change over the past 5-10-15 years.  We need to bring back the best of what we once enjoyed. Busy shops and offices, restaurants ( still really miss Earl's on KG & 74th!) Together we can do this.

Decisions were made and priorities were established that have in many cases, impacted the quality of life for families here. When our new mayor and council are elected, please join us as we raise our voices for a more vibrant, dynamic downtown.   We will be organizing  and asking  The city of Surrey to implement the long awaited plans to put the "New" in Newton.

 Your single voice makes a difference. 

Get ready to use it!

3 things to feel good about & one last request.

 Hey ReNewton Nation friends,

 Three things to feel good about today.

 1. The Newton Business Improvement Association is up and running!  Philip Aguirre from the landmark Old Surrey Restaurant in the heart of downtown Newton is the executive director. 

We're excited  to see what events the NBIA has planned for the DT core.

2. The pay parking that was in place for the last few years on the 7300 block of 137th St. has been eliminated. You now have 2 hours free  parking. This was something the business owners had fought hard for. Already there is more foot traffic on the sidewalk and in the shops and that's a good thing for everyone. Well done! And thank you to Councillor Judy Villeneuve who had a key role in this change.

3.  The people of  Newton, an area that emcompasses Sullivan Heights, Panorama Village, Strawberry Hill as well as Hyland and Panorama Northwoods are coming together as one voice.

They are demanding that attention be paid to our downtown core and the south King George corridor. This neighbourhood has been forced to absorb a disproportionate number of socio-correctional services and facilities with nothing positive given in return. 
The effects of this shift in demographics has been startling for this long time south Newton resident to witness. While other areas of Surrey get new multi million dollar recreation facilities and upgrades, Newton, with the largest population in  the city, is left to make do with inadequate and aging buildings. Now we hear that the top priority for rapid transit won't be  south along King George, but east  along 104th Ave. Newton residents deserve better than this, and they are coming out of the woodwork to have their say.  

These taxpayers aren't going to sit back and allow places like the boarded up gaming and retail complex at King George, 70th Avenue and Hall Road to sit abandoned for 16 years.
 That's how long the public market property on 64th Avenue and King George  has stood ( barely), unoccupied and rotting

King George and Hall Rd. near 70th Ave.

 16 long years is enough.  

We have asked for the city to purchase the property. We have pleaded, begged, and done everything we could think of to have the city of Surrey enforce its unsightly property bylaw. ( This place fits the criteria and then some) and yet, this eyesore remains as a constant visual to everyone who travels through the extremely busy intersection at King George & 64th Ave: "This is Surrey"

And we wonder why we can't shake our bad reputation...

 Abandoned building King George and 64th Ave.
Mayor Watts, as one last act before leaving office we're begging you, please tear down these walls.

Newton residents know they deserve better than this.

And that's something to feel very optimistic about.  

ReNewton ReMinder:  Voting day is Saturday November 15.

For the Victims, The Ripples of Crime Never Stop

There is so much here in our neighbourhood to take pleasure in, but we also have to acknowledge the fact that bad things do happen here. They happen everywhere.  
So,  in an effort to keep  readers informed, here you go.

Just a reminder.  

Yosef Jomo Gopaul, the person accused in the killing of Julie Paskall at the  arena in Surrey is scheduled to make another court appearance tomorrow morning  at 9:30. 

 At his last appearance,  I looked around the courtroom, and other than Julie's husband and her best friend, I did not see  anyone from the general public. If you can, please support the family and let them know we haven't forgotten them. Imagine if this were your family.

204662-1	GOPAUL, YOSEF Jomo	1	Surrey Provincial Court	15-Jul-2014 09:30 AM	101

Update:

I attended this morning and again, no one but Julie's husband and her best friend were there. It's difficult for me to look at the face of the person accused of this heinous crime and I can only imagine how awful it was for Al Paskall.  

 He and Julie would have celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary next week.

4 Things to Checkout Today at the Newton Community Festival.

4 Things  to  Do and See Today in Downtown Newton

1. The Grove!  See what a group of volunteer neighbourhood advocates in Newton are doing to encourage a positive  and fun community vibe in  midtown Surrey ( that's downtown Newton folks! )
2. Food Trucks!  Grab a snack at the food trucks that will be set up near the Wave Pool & Recreation Centre. We want them to  stay so make sure to support them with your wallet!
3. Newton Business Improvement Association will have a tent set up. Stop by and say hi  to this newly formed organization in downtown Newton.
4. Newton Community Association - also a newly formed group in the area. They'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for making the neighbourhood a better place for families. 

Today's a day for family fun so come check it out!

Enjoy the Festival 11- 4 today!

Surrey Public Market Saga.....

As most of you are aware, the former public market building at King George Blvd. and 64th Avenue has been vacant for over 16 years. In the past 3 years there have been 4 owners. The original owner Walter Chan owner of Smitty's Restaurants sold it to developers Manuel and Daisy Da Silva in 2012  who then sold it to Vancouver developer Mark Chandler's company Newmark in the fall of 2013. Now  the property has been passed  on to Raj Nijjar with Opera Homes. My source  has informed me that Chandler et al defaulted on payment and  the property is now in the hands of Raj Nijjar's company.

 I had a friendly chat with  Mr. Nijjar the other day and it appears that we can't look forward to  any development on this corner in the foreseeable future. 

And now with the entire area fenced off, no one can take a stroll along the creek banks or stop and enjoy the shade of the small grove of trees .

 Now then....... Let's take a step back to October of 2011.

 ReNewton started with one goal in mind at that time. That was to encourage and lobby the City of Surrey to purchase this strategic corner property and turn it into something for the community. 

There is huge potential here.   

Imagine a park, an amphitheatre, room for a farmers market,  expanded arts, culture and recreation facilities. 

In its current state the building is an eyesore.   For 16 years we've gazed upon this sad sight and so have the 70,000 drivers who pass through the intersection of 64th Ave & King George Highway every day.   Reputation-wise, this place is not doing Surrey any favours.  Look inside and you can still see vestiges of its former glory. This, the second incarnation of the public market fell victim to  the unusual business practices of the original owner.  Back in the 80s, there was a  wonderful public market in an old roller rink on the same corner. We loved it.  That first market was always busy, and no wonder!  Two fresh fish vendors, a bakery, a few veggie vendors, a meat shop and the best Japanese take out in town run by the cutest older couple. Then the  owner decided to build the "new' structure and raised the rents sky high. The vendors simply couldn't pay the exorbitant  rates and in the late 90s the place shut its doors.

This is what the place looks like today. And that's such a crying shame.
The creek is beautiful.
The trees are spectacular.
And  none of it can be used by the residents of this neighbourhood.
 Sure would be nice for the city of Surrey, or some philanthropic community minded person or group to make an offer on this place and  develop something for the people who live in the heart and soul of Surrey.
 Just sayin'.

Upate December 23, 2014.
We're heading into year 17. The very least that can be done is to enforce the city of Surrey's unsightly property bylaw and tear down these walls. The people who live, work, pay taxes and raise their families here deserve to have this place removed.  To let it stand one more day is simply wrong.

16 years,
70,000 drivers per day drive by this.
 And we wonder why Surrey can't shake its backward image?

Newton. Why We Stay.

Just wanted to share a little bit more about what makes our neighbourhood special.  Some people  seem to have a great deal of trouble understanding why we stay in Newton.
Newton is full of parks and creeks, most of them salmon spawning streams.   When my son was little our daily walk to school was not along a busy street  but through this park and over two foot bridges. It was idyllic, and remains one of my most treasured memories of those days.

Our cul de sac is a little United Nations of cultures. Best part? Seeing the kids all playing together. Second best? The food we regularly share !  

 You want variety? Check out the Filipino grocery store on 137th, Greco's Mediterranean  and several  Vietnamese restaurants.

Prabu Sweets is a favourite for samosas and Indian sweets.

The community is looking forward to food trucks coming this summer to the Wave Pool  area near The Grove.

 DeSerres Art and Craft supply store has been open for about a year and has everything to soothe your creative soul. Gorgeous store. Check it out near 76th and King George.

My neighbours are the  best.  Everyone pitches in to take care of our neighbourhood.

Brainstorming session at the Grove prior to the inaugural event on May 3rd which was a resounding success.

Little ballerinas at work

Eyes on the Street!

Friends of The Grove Love-In for Newton 

Children don't care what colour their friends are or where they were born, they just want to play.

The Grove is a perfect venue for impromptu  jam sessions. You just might be seeing a piano there one day soon....

We'll keep you updated with upcoming events at the Grove and other spots in the hood. Check back often or better yet subscribe so you won't miss out!