Tuesday August 14, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 65)
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Family values: With the help of friends and family, Hank Block aims to put a dent in the $325,000 goal set by B.C. Parkinson’s Society through the Hike for Hank, Sept. 9. The White Rock man will match donations, dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000. see page 11
Temporary closure after suspicious blaze breaks out amidst items donated after-hours
Thrift store fire hampers Superfluity Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Bargain hunters, keen thrifters and other regulars for whom the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary’s Superfluity Shop has become a way of life were in for a shock last week. A fire that broke out early Thursday morning has forced the indefi-
nite closure of the popular thrift store, at 15163 Prospect Ave. The good news, manager Patricia Johnston told Peace Arch News, is that White Rock firefighters caught the blaze – which appears to have started among unsolicited donated items left in the back lane – before it could spread from the back wall
and a portion of the roof. The bad news is the store will have to remain closed while restoration contractors inspect the premises and assess the damage. “They sound optimistic, so I’m hoping it’ll be open again soon,” Johnston said. White Rock Fire Chief Phil
Lemire said alert residents called in around 3:15 a.m., after noticing a glow from the lane reflected in surrounding windows. Firefighters arrived to find flames had breached the back wall and soffit (external roof ceiling) and were into the roof ’s truss space, he said. “That was a little bit tense, but
fortunately they prevented it getting any further,” Lemire said. “They did a good job – we had three units on the scene and a good swift response went a long way to minimizing the extent of the damage.” He said the cause of the fire is “undetermined but suspicious in see page 4
Photos by (clockwise from left) Ian McNicol, Mike Ridewood and Jason Ransom
Bronze medals for (clockwise from above) marathon swimmer Richard Weinberger (21), the national women’s soccer team (coached by John Herdman) and weightlifter Christine Girard.
Summer Olympics bronze for South Surrey-White Rock competitors
Peninsula presence for 3 of 18 Canadian medals Staff Reporter
The 2012 Summer Olympics came to an end Sunday in London, and though Canada failed in its goal to finish among the top 12 countries in total medals – instead placing 13th – it was, without question, the most successful Games for the Semiahmoo Peninsula. Three of Canada’s 18 total medals were won by those with South Surrey and White Rock connections, led by Christine Girard,
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coached by Peninsula resident John Herdman, with former Peace Arch Soccer president Maeve Glass as equipment manager. The bronze was Canada’s first medal in a Summer Olympic team sport since 1936. It would have been silver or gold, had they not lost a controversial 4-3 game to the U.S. in semifinals. Owing in large part to a hard-luck loss to the No. 1-ranked U.S. squad – which went on to win the gold medal over Japan – members of the Canadian team became the
stars of the Games for home-country fans. “You can’t be great unless you achieve great things and that medal is a great thing,” Herdman said. “We know that we’ve inspired some youngsters and, we hope… a whole stream of talented players.” And on Friday, marathon swimmer Richard Weinberger – a former Pacific Sea Wolves Swim Club member – finished third in the men’s 10-km open-water event in Hyde Park. see stories page 21 28th Avenue
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who in the first week of Olympic competition won bronze in the 63-kg division of women’s weightlifting. For Girard, a Quebec native who has lived in White Rock for the last four years, the podium finish was redemption for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she finished fourth – just three kilograms away from a bronze medal. In Week 2, Canada’s national women’s soccer team captured the bronze medal with a narrow 1-0 victory over France. The team is
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