With the kids having returned to school, that means Hyack Homecoming isn’t far off.
The New Westminster Secondary School varsity Hyacks will celebrate the season with the 2015 Homecoming Game against G.W. Graham Grizzlies from Chilliwack on Friday, Sept. 25.
“It really is a great fun time,” said Don Hauka, who promoted the Hyacks’ game at a recent city council meeting. “There are not too many high school football games where a parachutist drops a football at centre field to kick off the game.”
Along with the football game, Hyack Homecoming 2015 includes pregame flag football challenge, on-field kid’s activities, a tug of war competition, and a raffle for a car.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m., and post-game fireworks will be the night’s finale.
Keeping healthy
Students from Sprott Shaw College New Westminster recently helped assess the health of visitors to River Market.
About 10 nursing and health care assistant dropped by River Market on Aug. 25 to offer free blood pressure readings to passersby.
The students were learning how to take blood pressure readings, with help from qualified instructors, and provided people with information on why taking regular blood pressure readings is so important, as well as providing recommendations on how to keep their circulatory system healthy.
Visitors who had their blood pressure taken had their names put into a raffle to win $500 toward any course at Sprott Shaw New Westminster.
The students also accepted donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Residents gather for last hurrah of summer
Massey Victory Heights residents gathered for an afternoon of fun at the annual Massey Heights Hurrah.
The Sept. 13 event include kids’ activities such as a bouncy castle, face painting, a mini soccer game, and an arts and crafts table provided by the Arts Council of New Westminster. There was also an area where people could sit and enjoy lunch.
All money raised from the sale of hamburgers and hotdogs will go to the parent advisory council at F.W. Howay Elementary School, which will use the money for school activities and other programs and services for students.
The Scotiabank at the Crest Shopping Plaza pledged to double all revenue raised from the barbecue. The Save-on-Foods in Sapperton donated hamburgers and hotdogs for the sale.
The Massey Victory Heights Residents’ Association is grateful to sponsors who help make the annual block party a success. Derrick Thornhill of Park Georgia Realty is the title sponsor for the ninth annual event, and several businesses at the Crest also sponsored the event, including Maxxam Insurance, Pharmasave and Scotiabank.
“It’s local businesses like this that make our Massey Heights Hurrah possible,” said Jason Lesage, president of the Massey Victory Heights Residents’ Association, in a press release. “Good businesses know that supporting local, community organizations and events is good for the bottom-line. Our sponsors are outstanding leaders in the business community, and I encourage residents to support and patronize them.”
New West fire chief gets anniversary gift
Ten years after being part of a team that helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Westminster Fire Chief Tim Armstrong was tending to an emergency of his own.
Armstrong was part of a search and rescue team from the Vancouver Fire Department that went to St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana to help assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. As he was setting up the emergency operations centre at the Glenbrook fire hall on Aug. 29 in response to the massive windstorm that pummeled the region, Armstrong’s phone rang.
“I had just activated the EOC and I got up there and my phone rang. It was the fire chief from St. Bernard Parish. He said I just wanted to give you a weather update – ‘The winds are calm and it’s a sunny day,’” Armstrong said. “I said, ‘Well, it’s not so calm here.’”
While many Americans were reflecting on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the United States on Aug. 29, 2005, Armstrong had received a package of T-shirts and a thank-you card from three families he’d met while in Louisiana. They thanked the Canadian contingent for all it did for them in the aftermath of the disaster.
“Many have not returned home and have made homes out of flood zones, but many have moved to St. Bernard,” they wrote. “Thank you for saving the people of our parish and helping us with a hand up. Ten years later and we are doing great.”
Enjoy a night out and help local seniors
The Seniors Services Society is taking a trip to Tuscany for its major fundraiser of 2015.
An Evening in Tuscany will be held on Thursday, Oct. 1 at La Perla Ballroom in River Market from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Organizers are promising fantastic food-tasting stations, Italian-themed entertainment and live and silent auctions.
Tickets are $100 (with a partial tax receipt issued) and available by calling 604-520-6621.
The society offers a variety of programs supporting vulnerable seniors, including Meals on Wheels, medial transportation, support calls, grocery shopping, dining programs, excursions, tax clinics, referrals and much more.
Send Around Town ideas to Theresa, [email protected].
