Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Newton Community Association first Meeting reminder- Tonight!

Reminder 
Tuesday, May 21
7-9
 Introductory Meeting
 to form a  community association for Newton

 This will be held at the Newton Recreation Centre/ Wave Pool in multi-purpose room 1
All those interested  are welcome to attend.
 (This is not a ReNewton sponsored event )

Monday, May 13, 2013

Another Great TED Talks - How to fit more people into every city



Have been watching a lot  of fascinating and informative  presentations on the  TED Talks channel. This is one that's been added to the favourites list. Enjoy!






Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Keep it Local


So many wonderful places to shop in our  Surrey-Panorama neighbourhood. This weekend why not check out a few. 
Greco's Deli never disappoints and has gifts for Mom too!
New in the area is DeSerres  Art Supplies on King George near 76th. They're having a grand opening weekend with lots of specials. Your kids will love this place!
 There is also a plant and bake sale at Bethany United Church    
(60th Ave &148th St) from 9-1pm Saturday.
Keep it Local friends!



Tonight- All Candidates Meeting for SRY-Panorama


Monday, May 6, 2013

Retrofitting Suburbia....revisited

   Just came across this  video and wanted to share. It's really so simple.
We have to start looking at communities that work. Ones where people are out on the street interacting. They're safer, more enjoyable and healthier.

Smarter Communities

Festival Street and Parking Meters in Downtown Newton? Time for Action.

Some time ago the City of Surrey decided to install pay parking meters on 137th St. in downtown Newton.
Most,  if not all  businesses on the street didn't ask for this and would like them removed.
 There are other options to limit "overstays".  For example, have a 2 hour limit and and enforce it. Let's encourage more activity not less, along what council has promoted in the media one year ago as  " Festival Street "  And the downtown core is  a jewel compared to what  
The King George strip between 62nd and 68th  Avenues looks like.

So far nothing has been done to start revitalizing an area that many of you are calling New Whalley or Surrey's own Downtown Eastside.  
Take a walk from downtown Newton along King George down to 64th Avenue and see what The Future of Surrey looks like from Surrey-Panorama's viewpoint.
How about it Mayor Watts and council? 



Thursday, May 2, 2013

Thursday Post - Here's to Jane

 Saturday marks the birthday of the late great Jane Jacobs who wrote the iconic
  The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

  I contend that unless city planners truly "get' Jane Jacobs, and embrace her vision, we will continue to see wider roads with more traffic, fewer people on the sidewalk and more crime and alienation.

Here's a very short video which captures the essence of Jane's  radical ( in 1962) vision

ReMembering Jane Jacobs 
Jane Jacobs out in the street




Thursday, April 25, 2013

"It's All About the Corner" Jane Jacobs



 Got any ideas for a public art project or some community event or performance?
Send a message to hey-jude@telus.net  to pitch your idea.
 ReNewton and friends have been given permission to use this vast area for some fun community  based endeavour.  A community garden was the  original idea but the logistics simply got in the way. Long and somewhat frustrating story.  
But..... we carry on right?

Here's your canvas!

Some of you may  know that even before this place  (shown below) was a public market

there was an even  older way funkier and very successful market and community hub on the  same corner at King George and 64th Avenue. The goal of ReNewton was to bring back the public market to this corner. Now, our mayor, being focused  on City Centre so intently that she pays little attention to the state of south Newton, is fond of saying that this corner is not the right location for a public market. How very disingenuous of her!  The original market  the one housed in an old former roller rink was booming !   Fresh fish vendors, veggie stands, the  BEST Japanese take-out and so much more! It was one of the things that drew many of us to  the area and to ultimately purchase homes in what was then a semi-rural  part of the south Newton/ north Panorama neighbourhood.. 
And now, with 10s of thousands more people here and with 70,000 cars passing through the King George and 64th Avenue, well, just imagine the possibilities. 
But I digress.....

The land is privately owned and the owner has plans for a mixed use development but no construction is slated for the foreseeable future. And that's where we, and you come in. 
 Let's bring some life back to this corner and show that this IS a place that we in the community care about.  
Any arts group or individuals  who would like a huge  and very visible canvas to work on send a message to hey-jude@telus.net.  Some of  you have said you'd like to see a giant chess/checkerboard or a labyrinth and hey, who wants to yarn bomb those trees?  Wouldn't it be great  for drivers through that intersection to see those trees covered in something so whimsical and fun? Others have suggested food producers and a farmers market set up a few times this summer.
So... what are you waiting for?  Let's get creative!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Check out these new places in Newton!

Quick shout out to a few new places in the hood.

The Greek Corner  restaurant also is open in  Newton  in the  Save-on-Foods shopping centre.  Used to be John's Taverna now has new owners and a whole new look. We hope to pay them a visit soon. 
DeSerres  Art Supplies  on  the west side  of King George near 76th Ave. Amazing selection of art supplies for serious artists plus a HUGE selection of crafty items and great kids gifts and creative projects and kits. Gorgeous looking store- friendly knowledgeable staff!
Let us know if you've been! 

Wild Wing also in the same shopping centre on the Shoppers Drug Mart side. 
Looks like a fun place to go for a casual bite and enjoy ( hopefully)  watching the Canucks!

Plus, don't forget Bistro 72 located in the Old Surrey Restaurant. 
Less formal than the Old Surrey and a great place for live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 
Open for brunch too! 
Now get out there and start spending money in your own neighbourhood! Have fun, eat, drink, get creative, and shop!
  

Friday, April 12, 2013

New ( and Newish ) in the Neighbourhood - Check them out!

 Quick weekend post to tell you to be sure to check out  the brand new DeSerres Art Supply and Craft store on King George and 76th Ave. They opened yesterday! 



Had the most delicious Pho ( pronounced FA for those new to this delicious Vietnamese  noodle soup cuisine) the other day here at PHO Newton. Nice little place located right next to the Bank of Montreal at King's Cross  Shopping Centre at King George and 74th in Newton. Loved it!