Stay Tuned...

Have spent a fair amount of time over the last few weeks in and around the Newton bus loop and downtown area. Many conversations were had with residents, transit users and drivers and business owners. I'll be blogging about these talks in the coming days.
To say it was an eye opener is an understatement. Although I've lived in what is technically considered Newton, my home is south of the downtown neighbourhood and orients more to the Sullivan Heights and Panorama communities. Those areas are changing too.
Will be writing soon about some of the issues we are all facing in Newton, specifically south Newton and Downtown.
 Stay tuned.

30 years in the Neighbourhood!

 Just a few quick shots in anticipation of

Greco's Mediterranean Foods

Thirtieth  Anniversary this Sunday in south Newton!

SAY CHEESE!

 This is a destination deli and one of our absolute favourite places to spend  time. The  owners and staff are amazing , the products they carry  range from fabulous food to gift items and there's  something wonderful and unexpected to see on every visit.

Plus-there are always yummy samples to try!

If you haven't been to Greco's just trust me.
You have to go.
There's a reason they have survived for 30 years in Newton, and believe it or not, they've done it without a website.
They are however, on facebook  Find out more about this special place on their page.

So many specialty items from around the world

Vinegars, Oils, and so much more....

Dozens of types of imported pastas

Spices Galore...

Best olive bar around

More cheese- love the samples!

Sunday  come wish Greco's Happy Anniversary!
 King George near 68th Avenue
in Newton- Midtown Surrey.

Placemaking Guru Fred Kent. What Does it Take to Create Great Public Spaces?

 Fred Kent is the founder of Project for Public Spaces. If you've ever walked through Bryant Park in Manhattan you've experienced his work.
 Here's a video lecture in which Fred discusses placemaking and the art of creating public spaces that people love.
 Enjoy.

Reflections on the Community Festival in Newton....

The weather was "Goldilocks" perfect.
Not too hot, not too cold. Just right! 

It's at festivals like this where we really see the rich diversity of our neighbourhood.
We aren't just South Asian & Caucasian, we are African, Filipino, Latino and more.

Loved the colourful lanterns everywhere at the venue, really added to the festive atmosphere!

Bench  at entrance to the Newton Seniors Centre 

Newton Wave Pool and Community Centre has some beautiful public art.
Take a minute to go on a little tour next time you visit. New murals up too! 

With Kamla from Vancity Newton.
Our go-to person in the neighbourhood!

 We played financial Jenga with
 Vancity's  Newton  branch folks!
Whew! That was touch & go for a moment!

Doug Elford from the Newton Community Association,
 Surrey city councillor Judy Villeneuve &  ReNewton Nation's Jude Hannah  

Thanks to so many business owners and  to the community for signing the petition at the Newton Community Association booth to  reinstate time limited free parking to 137th St.
Revitalization begins here. Pay parking has to go !

These kids were having lots of fun and the crowd loved them.

 Come visit downtown Newton. There's a lot to discover here. 

The best deli in town Greco's, celebrating 30 years in the neighbourhood.

The best art and craft store bar none DeSerres. 

And if you have a pet, well Pet Food 'n More  welcomes your four legged family members with a big smile and great prices.

 That's a good place to start.

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!

A Walk through Sullivan Heights-Time to put People First.

Had a little walk through my neighbourhood the other day and stopped to admire these majestic trees on 140th St. near the former city hall in  Sullivan Heights/South Newton.

 Aren't they gorgeous? 

 I hope they will be spared when this site is developed. 

 Sullivan Heights is changing in many ways.  There are some great new condos at Latitude on 60th Ave.  and many new townhouse complexes under construction in the area. BUT...we worry about so many development proposals  for mega homes  some up to 4500 sq. ft. on super-small lots.

Wondering how application for 14 homes turned 

into the 16  shown below...... #SurreyMath

 How many suites do you think will be in these homes ? This was designated as a townhouse site, but the developer was allowed to change to this. With townhouses at least there's a strata council in place to monitor rentals etc.

We need to take a breath and rethink the  suite strategy in Surrey. I am          100 % in favour of multi- generational families living together. In fact I would like to see more of us adopt this way of living. For children it  provides a link to their past and culture. Whatever that culture might be. The situation we have in Surrey is that too many home owners are renting out more than one suite in their homes, and this is putting a strain on services, schools, and is not a sustainable way to  develop our city. We  cannot continue to put development dollars before  the needs of  the people who call this place home. It's not working. 

Let's make the kind of decisions we can be proud of  10, 20, 50 years from now.   You don't have to be a card carrying tree hugger  or be anti-development or anti-business to think this way.  God knows we're sure not. We are business people  first and foremost in this household. My husband runs his business in the city & is a member of the Surrey Board of Trade. I promote Surrey businesses every chance I get.  

But we have to face facts. The city is being developed too much too fast and that's having some fairly dire consequences. Over crowded schools, parking nightmares in many neighbourhoods, and a drug & crime problem that is placing a stress on our police force  to put it mildly.

We need to take our collective foot off the gas... 

We don't need to slam on the brakes. 

Repeat, we do NOT have to slam on the brakes! Just take it off full pedal to the metal mode, get out of the car, have a look around, and then carefully, thoughtfully get back in the driver's seat and go at a reasonable speed.

  Isn't that just common sense?

5500 block 140th St

140th St. development site

Creative developers need to find a way to incorporate these trees into their plans.  And the city's planners have to think more about the liveability of the region.

Most people prefer to purchase a home, and will pay more for a home with mature trees already in place. 

 Fun Fact: Sullivan Heights used to be home to wild pheasants who made the most unusual sounds. Really miss them!

Development sign on 140th St.

We want a mayor & council who put the interests of people above those of developers. Surrey didn't get this way by accident. Decisions were made that got us into this mess. Now's the time for some big, bold moves by city councillors and the planning department. Same old status quo? Or a new  smarter and liveable vision for our city. Who's going to step up for Surrey citizens and put people ahead of profit?

Newton Now- It's time to take action

   Newton must be given its fair shake. Residents here have been very patient, but there's a limit to the number of times they will put up with being passed over for improved amenities and public facilities. Newton gets all the "bad stuff" but waits patiently for the promise of Festival Street, and new and expanded arts and recreation facilities.

 We hear the  cries everywhere.  When  will Newton get the long promised revitalization?  

Large part of venue for Newton Festival 2013 was held here-
What does this say about the level of respect the 140K residents of Newton get?
Their festival held in a back parking lot.

Newton Arena- Teen Skate Cancelled

Cloverdale Recreation Centre-Gorgeous artwork inside a multi-use facility.
The families of Newton, an area that includes Panorama Ridge, Sullivan Station, North Ridge and Sullivan Heights deserve the same calibre of facilities.

Notice board in disrepair outside Newton Arena.

No More "Newton Next"- demand Newton Now

Newton residents deserve better. They deserve the type of amenities that South Surrey recently received with its gorgeous arts and recreation centre expansion. 

South Surrey arts space

Pottery studio at South Surrey Rec Centre

Families everywhere in this city need  to have the same opportunities. We can't  create a city of haves and have-nots. It's not working.  140,000 people live in Newton. That alone deserves some respect and attention.  

Kids need art! Especially lower income vulnerable ones

Grand Opening South Surrey Arts and Recreation Centre expansion.

  It's Newton's  Time in the Spotlight. Let's make it happen.

Love-In for Downtown Newton

  Today's Friends of the Grove  event was a resounding success!

 So many  people showed up despite the cool damp weather. Here are just a few photos from today. Will write more in an upcoming post.

 In the meantime just want to say how very proud  I am of my community. 

 Newton, the centre of this city, has a whole lot of heart and soul and some very cool people.

Playing Chess on the permanent board carved into a tree stump a few weeks ago.



This group of friendly women handed out homemade cookies all day.

Bagpipers Played throughout the morning -Thanks guys!

We all had a chance to learn how to silk screen!

Little girls coming from ballet class stopped by and got creative.  We saw lots of tutus today. Ballet class  appears to be very popular  at the  Newton rec centre. 

Two of the first arriving . They got straight to work creating happy drawings on the trees. And they did it in ballet tutus!

Neighbours and new friends sharing ideas on what they'd like to see happen in this lovely green area. 
Night markets, Summer evening concerts, farmers markets....

Jammin' at the Grove- loved this 

One of my new little friends 

The Poet Tree 

This gentleman treated us to the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the shofar. 

Yes, it's true. Newton is the true heart of Surrey.
 And today, that heart is full of love for our community.

Well Done Friends of the Grove, and all those who volunteered their time, energy and love for our fellow humans. 

This is just the start of a whole new vibe in the neighbourhood.