Don’t wait for a four leaf clover – make your own luck.

Some people will go their entire lives without finding a four- leaf clover, regardless of the effort spent trying to look.  Legend has it that finding one, especially accidentally, will bring good luck to the finder.  The legend also says that each leaf stands for something – one leaf for hope, one for faith, one [...]

Tiny Tulips Mini-Home Lottery highlights the generosity of local businesses – despite tough economic times

Most of you will have visited at least one of those fabulous show home lottery houses designed to raise funds for different charities in B.C. But what people don’t often realise is that more often than not, the prizes must be paid for out of the ticket proceeds, vastly reducing the amount of profit that goes to [...]

Newton neighbourhoods still rife with prostitutes,drugs and crime – despite city’s Newton Revitalization Plan

It has been  just over one year since I spent the afternoon taking Susana da Silva and her cameraman on a driving tour of Newton. 
One year.
In response to increasing frustration among home and business owners in the neighbourhood regarding the cities lack of action, I decided enough was enough and called the CBC to suggest they [...]

This is what’s wrong with our “Justice” system

Earlier this year, on March 13th, I blogged about a shooting that had occurred in broad daylight, in a residential cul-de-sac where children play freely.
Some men were arguing in front of one of the homes. The verbal disagreement became a physical fight and at that time another man puled out a gun and shot another [...]

Salvation Army in process to acquire the old Surrey Public Market property at King George and 64th avenue

Brian Venables, Major and Divisional Secretary for Public Relations & Development with the Salvation Army, confirmed to me in an email yesterday afternoon, that  they are ” currently engaged in a transaction that, if successful, will mean the subject property will become ours.”
I also asked Brian what the plans were for that property, and this [...]

” Dog owners without a conscience?”

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you will likely know that I am an animal lover, but also advocate responsible pet ownership. I’ve been a large dog owner most of my life, but never have I seen such a rampant lack of responsibility among dog owners as I have in [...]

The pursuit of happiness

He stood in the line up of impatient people, the only one patiently waiting to board the bus. A small plastic bag was clutched in his hand, and as he lurched onto the first step at the front, I could see the bus driver recoil and wave his hand at him.
It did not go un-noticed by the [...]

Is this about fixing people – or saving their own jobs?

Due to illness, there will be no Bits and Bites today. God knows why, but this year  it seems as if I’ve been destined to catch every freaking bug my kids bring home – something that is extremely unusual for me. I go years without getting ill.
However, for you Newton readers,I did spot  a story [...]

Surrey ranks in the Top 10 Most Dangerous cities in Canada – so why not add slot machines to one of the poorest neighbourhoods?

Funny, I was just in the local RCMP detachment yesterday reading that theft from vehicles in Surrey is on the rise. This little tidbit was found in the Block Watch newsletter.( As is all crime, I suspect – wait until the next bunch of stats come out) I’ve been writing about this for some time , only [...]

Gee, I feel so safe – another shootout last night,very nearby

Another shootout last night, this one far too close for comfort.
Can anyone give me an assurance that my children will not be killed by a stray bullet through the wall of my house?
http://bc.rcmp.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=50&contentId=8308&index=1&languageId=1
Surrey – Shots Fired in Newton, Surrey
File #2009-23660 2009-02-28 04:42 PSTAt 12:14 am
Surrey RCMP received several reports of shots being fired at or [...]