N E W
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
W E S T M I N S T E R
INSIDE FEATURE: Marionettes on stage ◗P17
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◗ HELPING OTHERS
A warm feeling BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
Some folks who don’t have a lot now have a coat to keep them warm, thanks to the efforts of the New Westminster SPCA Thrift Mart. For the 17th consecutive year, the New Westminster business has collected coats and distributed them to people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Volunteers distribute the coats at Main and Hastings one night each year. “It was awesome,” said RoniLyn Sanders, owner of the New Westminster SPCA Thrift Mart. “It was a huge event. This year was the best ever.” According to Sanders, people lined up for five blocks to get a coat and accessories. In total, the New West SPCA Thrift Mart collected about 6,000 pounds of clothing ◗Coats Page 2
Larry Wright/THE RECORD
The gift of warmth: Roni-Lyn Sanders, owner of the New Westminster SPCA Thrift Mart, was at Hastings and Main in Vancouver with volunteers handing out warm clothes. The shop has been distributing coats and more in the Downtown Eastside for 17 years.
Coquitlam mayor won’t give up on route BY THERESA MCMANUS AND JOHN KURUCZ REPORTERS editorial@royalcityrecord.com
Mayor Wayne Wright has suggested his Coquitlam counterpart go back to the drawing board with TransLink on other options to the controversial United Boulevard extension. On Monday, city council approved a motion asking TransLink to: continue with public consultation and planning in relation to the North Fraser Perimeter Road
corridor and the United Boulevard extension project; to seek an extension for its federal funding grant; and to work with city staff and the community at large to develop alternative design options for the extension of United Boulevard and its connections with Brunette Avenue. Council doesn’t support Options A, B, C and D that have been proposed by TransLink. Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart phoned Wright on Wednesday to clarify New Westminster’s position on the United Boulevard extension. Wright said he told Stewart that the city isn’t prepared to accept any transportation initiatives through the area that would have a negative impact on the Sapperton neighbourhood and any plan that doesn’t include mitigation for the entire North Fraser
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Perimeter Road corridor. Wright also told him TransLink had an alternative plan for the United Boulevard extension that bypasses the residential neighbourhood and goes through the industrial lands and across to Coquitlam. He said the option wasn’t brought forward because it was considered to be too expensive. “I asked him to ask TransLink what other plans they might have,” he said. “The ones they brought forward are just not acceptable.” While Wright thinks an alternative plan may be available that’s less intrusive on the Sapperton community, he isn’t prepared to support any plan at this time. “I’m gun-shy of saying we’d accept anything until we get the public input,”
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City rejects TransLink options for the United Boulevard extension, but Coquitlam’s mayor isn’t giving up
604-521-1453 | crystalnails.ca Columbia Square #101-78 Tenth St., New Westminster
he said. Stewart told the Coquitlam NOW that he had a good and frank conversation with Wright. He said New Westminster’s stance is consistent with discussions that have occurred between the two councils. “I don’t think it’s a standstill,” he said. “Given that this project has been on the books for most of my adult life, it is possible to mistake slow movement with it being a standstill.” New Westminster city council encouraged TransLink to seek an extension to the Dec. 31 deadline on the $65 million federal funding grant for the United Boulevard extension. “From my point of view, this project ◗Stewart Page 2
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