Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Local talent is on parade at the annual PNE.
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Albion
Social media part of Albion process
PETS ❚ Open Wide
Key dates looming to shape future of Albion Flats. by Scott McKenzie editorial@mrtimes.com
K
ey dates have been set for the Albion Flats concept plan, in which a controversial new mall proposal will be discussed as one of the options. It was announced at Maple Ridge council workshop Monday that HB Lanarc will be the consulting firm that will help the concept plan move forward. The first key dates of the concept plan have already happened, as there has been a meeting with the landowners to find out what issues and aspirations they have with the future use of Albion Flats. A couple of vocal groups have stacked previous council meetings both for and against a mall in the area. There will be stakeholders meetings on Sept. 7 and 8 followed by a community forum at The ACT on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 5-9 p.m. The community forum will be a drop-in public session with a presentation on the Albion concept plan, which will be shown twice in the evening. Workbooks with a series of questions will also be distributed to participants of the community forum. Along with the community forum, manager of community planning Christine Carter said that they have been testing out a Twitter account in order to provide Maple Ridge citizens a way to find more information and also to leave comments about the Albion concept plan. Councillor Michael Morden recommended that they use a Facebook account as well as the
Twitter account, noting that more than six per cent of the world is on Facebook. Morden said that Twitter can provide limited responses because of the restriction to 140-character posts. Adding to the social media subject, Mayor Ernie Daykin talked about including links to media coverage on the concept plan’s website. The next key dates for Albion Flats will be a charrette on Wednesday, Oct. 20 and Thursday Oct. 21. The charrette will consist of selected participants (nominated by stakeholders) spending two days working with designers in developing a concept plan. While there was some concern that the charrette would have limited participation due to it taking up two weekdays, mayor Ernie Daykin said it shouldn’t be a problem as enough notice has been given. Daykin and Councillor Craig Speirs both expressed interest in the concept plan and said that they would be observing it, but didn’t want to get involved in the plan and make it too political. Both Daykin and Speirs recommended the concept plan stay community driven. On Oct. 21 from 5-7 p.m. there will be a charrette open house at The ACT in which the draft concept plan and charrette results will be available for public review. Throughout October and November HB Lanarc will refine the concept plan and prepare a charrette report, and there will be a presentation to Maple Ridge council in December on the future of Albion Flats.
Feds under fire for fish openings The initial jubilation in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows over the massive bounty of returning sockeye salmon is now washing up on the shores of criticism, with Conservative MP John Cummins saying fishermen are “disgusted” with the way federal regulators have delayed the fishery. “People are just disgusted with the way they’ve managed this. These guys haven’t a clue,” charged Cummins, an experienced commercial fisherman and MP for Delta-Richmond East. See FISH, Page 7
Dawn Lutz feeds a snack of ice cream and dog treat to her standard poodle Hansi during doggy days at the Haney Farmer’s Market on Saturday. The event, along with carrying specialized stalls for pet-related merchandise, also held a dog competition, with Hansi winning the title of “Most Obedient.” The markets are held on Saturdays in Memorial Peace Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This Saturday is the annual sunflower contest. There is also the new Osprey Village market, every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, until Sept. 19, located in Pitt Meadows at the south end of Bonson Road. Mitch Thompson/TIMES
Don’t miss important information from the City of Pitt Meadows on Page 6
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