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Meet The Market Merchants
Things Are Poppin'
TIM EGERDEEN
Kettle corn has been around since the first nations ancestors mixed tree sap and animal fat with corn as they popped it over open fires.
EGERDEEN’S kettle that he pops is corn in is 48” in diameter and weighs 350 pounds. It is one of the largest of its type in all of Canada. The kettle was built by hand.
Kettle corn is significantly lagging behind the popularity in America. EGERDEEN has a few thoughts on that matter. “Canadians are not yet really used to the sweet and salty flavour of kettle corn, but once they try it they fall in love with the taste. I was recently in California for a holiday and I would often see people lining up to buy kettle corn the way we line up here for say hot dogs. In America it seems to go hand in hand with lemonade.”
What gives Kettle Corn its sweetness “The sweetness and salty taste are a simple combination of sugar and salt. Everyone that makes Kettle Corn has slight variations. My personal twist on the standard kettle corn is I use Canola Oil which cuts the fat content by 50%, traditionally in the southern U.S. they use a coconut corn oil mixture. In the northern U.S. and Canada it usually is corn oil.”
Kettle Corn is just the beginning of what you will find at the bright yellow booth at the market. EGERDEEN also produces award winning almonds and delicious dried cranberries that are sweetened with apple juice and beet sugar. EGERDEEN also produces his own organic pancake and waffle mixes as well as their own organic cookie mixes. If you are looking for a reputable source of Goji berries you will also find them on sale at KETTLE CORN.
If A Picture Truly Tells A Story - Tony & Barbara @ Colour Concepts Are True Storytellers
Barbara Andrews & Tony Crowther
By day Barbara Andrews answers an array of questions for people at White Rock City Hall. On the weekends the questions about White Rock continue as Barbara and her partner Tony proudly display the history of White Rock in pictures at their booth at the far south end of the White Rock Farmer’s Market.
Long time residents of White Rock can be overheard remarking to each other about how they remember such and such from their childhood.
How did it all come to be that Tony and Barbara became one of the keepers of our history? Tony explains “Well I had been taking pictures all my life. About 10 years ago Barbara and I talked about putting together a collection of some of the historical pictures of White Rock for a calendar. When we ran into a brick wall on the cost of purchasing the images for commercial purposes we decided we would take our own photos so that was our first calendar, it was pictures I took.. People seemed to like the photos assembled in the calendar and they started to ask if we had the photos in a card form, so we succumbed to their wishes and now we have pictures and cards. We also have some of the old photos of the area specially mounted in poster size.”
Take a trip back in time. Every Sunday at Colour Concepts
Schatzu - Natural Skin & Hair Products
 Charlotte Fuhrman
Three years ago while wandering through the booths in the old Farmer's Market location I came across CHARLOTTE FUHRMAN at her booth of home and handmade beauty products.
We got to talking and I explained my hair problem and how I could not find a decent shampoo. She immediately filled up a little tester for me and told me to take it home, use it for a week and see if it helped my problem. Bingo! Problem solved.
CHARLOTTE is very proud of all the products she offers through her home based business and through her booth at the White Rock Farmer's Market. " I started SCHATZU after my sister in law was diagnosed with breast cancer. It really hit close to home and made me realize we need to take better care of our bodies, in particular our organs. As everyone knows our skin is our biggest organ."
All the products sold at SCHATZU are natural plant based. There are no petroleum products used in the production of the wide array of skin and hair products. The soaps are made using palm, coconut and olive oil combined with goat's milk. The soaps then cure for 4-6 weeks once the essential oils and colourants are added. Because the product is so pure CHARLOTTE explains very little additives need to be added.
"I am not sure whether most people are aware of it or not but the vast majority of skin and hair products are made with petroleum products and fillers" says CHARLOTTE as she greets another satisfied customer to her booth. "At the end of the day I felt it would be better for all of us and our health if we actually enhance our health. Making a few small changes can at least give us an extra chance. If we want to live a long time we had better start replacing and renewing things. We have not done a good job taking care of ourselves or the planet.
CHARLOTTE and her SHATZU products are a good place to start.
*Note Charlotte is only at the White Rock Farmer's Market every other week. She is there this week (7th) then the 21st and September 4,11 & 18.
The Other Eden - Handcrafted Homemade Soaps
Seven years ago KAY WONG make a lifestyle choice to using handmade soaps as opposed to the commercial varieties available. Soon thereafter she thought "Hey I can probably make my own soap." Well she was right and now she shares her myriad of beautiful handmade soaps with us every week at the market.
All KAY'S soaps are vegetable oil based most of them are scented with essential oils. A cold process is used starting with vegetable oils which are heated to a specific temperature and then mixed with warm water. The essential oils are added at the end of this process. Once the mixture cools enough to pour the liquid form soap is then poured into moulds to set. The soap then sits for up to a week to harden and then is cut into the sellable sizes.
 Chai Latte Soap - one of the many unique varities available at THE OTHER EDEN
Farm Fresh COUNTRY Chickens from ROCKWEL FARMS in Abbotsford
Bernie and Laura Rempel Proud To Serve You and Proud of their Chickens
BERNIE REMPEL along with his wife love to meet the shoppers every Sunday at the White Rock Farmer's Market. The chicken and chicken products sold at ROCKWELD FARMS booth are raised on the family farm located between Abbotsford and Mission. Regulations do not permit the sale of fresh meat at Farmer's Market so the many varieties of chicken breasts, thighs, wings, breakfast and dinner sausage and whole chickens are all flash frozen to ensure freshness. Fresh organic eggs are also available, but be warned they sell out quickly.
All the products are Certified organic. No hormones, no animal by products. Chickens are raised on the family farm under the watchful eye of owners TIM & FLO REMPEL.
Certified SPCA means birds are raised in a humane setting. Very strict guidelines. ROCKEWELD FARMS actually exceeds the guidelines set out by the SPCA.
All the chicken barns have country and western music pumped into the facilities because owner TIM REMPEL believes it keeps the chickens relaxed.
Chickens are certified halal. A certification demanded by worshippers of the Muslim faith. In the same way Jewish people require certain conditions for kosher.
ROCKEWELD FARMS are pressed to meet the demand from the public. Very proud to provide a top notch product that the public has clearly indicated they wish to have.
White Rock Farmer's Market (Meet More Of The Merchants)
Last week we stopped into ZODIES BARKERY the stroll across the mall to JUDY'S COUNTRY KITCHEN. Two vendors who have welcomed shoppers for a number of years at the ever popular White Rock Farmer's Market
ZODIES BARKERY
Duncan & Susan
ZODIE'S BARKERY
Two friends Susan and Eileen began coming to the White Rock Farmer's Market 10 years ago. They now rank right up there with the longest selling merchants at the Market.
The name for their home based business ZODIE came as a result of the amalgamation of the names of their two dogs, ZOWIE a Boston Terrier and SADIE a black lab, that sadly is no longer with us.
"We make a wide variety of flavored all natural dog biscuits here at ZODIE'S" says partner Susan last Sunday morning as she sipped her morning coffee. "We offer liver/peanut butter/cheese and garlic to name a few flavours. The biscuits come in various sizes. Dog owners with a pet that is allergic to wheat will also be happy to know we do have wheat free biscuits. Our dogs are our test labs, we bake all the biscuits in our home to ensure high quality control. They are made fresh every week."
When ZODIES'S first started at the market 10 years ago they used to sell pre-packaged bags of the treats, but quickly discovered there was a better way according to Susan "Well as dog owners ourselves we always had a couple of biscuits in our pockets and we used to hand out taste samples to the dogs that accompanied their owners to the market. We quickly realized if we offered them in the bulk version people could take a mixture or however many biscuits they would like to buy on any given day." The biscuits come in two different sizes.
Anything for the cat? "No actually we tried doing a sardine type biscuit but anyone that owns a cat knows they can be fairly finicky when it comes to what they like, so we stopped making them."
So next time you and your "best friend" are strolling through the market, get your friend a special treat while you are treating yourself to a cinnamon bun.
Namesakes of ZORDIE'S
JUDY'S COUNTRY KITCHEN
Judy visits with and helps another happy customer
The highest compliment you can pay quite often to someone's cooking or baking is, "It tastes just like my Mom's." Well that more or less describes the wonderful selection of food items you will find at JUDY'S COUNTRY KITCHEN.
When Cloverdale's "Judy" hit the retirement age she wasn't sure what she was going to do. One thing she knew for sure is she wasn't prepared to just sit around. "After working for 32 years I knew I couldn't just stop. I have always loved cooking and baking so I decided I would put together some items and start coming to the market. That was four years ago and I have loved every minute of it. I get to meet and talk to so many wonderful people."
You will find some of the finest dill pickles known to mankind. A wide selection of preserves and jellies and an incredible selection of dry rubs that can be used for meats or baking vegetables also are hot sellers.
Editors Note- The roasted potato mix is out of this world. Turns ordinary potatoes into a gourmet meal.
One of the truly unique items available at JUDY'S is her selection of "cone" mixes a pre made soup in a bag. "I used to make them in jars, but people find they can travel on airlines much more freely if they are not trying to carry a jar with them. A lot of people that are here visiting or planning on a trip like to pick up a couple different varieties. They are a big seller for me" says JUDY one Sunday morning as the line grows increasingly longer outside her booth.
Cone Rolls - Simply add water. VOILA gourmet dinner or lunch
Marking Down The Price of Organics @ The Market
l-r Vern Botkin (long time volounteer) and Chris Bodnar man the stand
Glen Valley Organics is one of the longest running participants in the White Rock Farmer’s Market. The stand has been delivering fresh organic product to the public for the past 8 years.
Glen Valley ORganics are located in Glen Valley east of Fort Langley right along the Fraser River.
Glen Valley grows roughly 45 different products on the garden, so by dropping in weekly you will see varieties of vegetables that may not have been there the previous week. That is how fresh everything is.. Started in May with a lot of greens, and now the farm is producing a lot of root crops, carrots and sweet onions are now available. Towards the end of the season you will find squashes, cauliflowers, broccoli. The nice heart vegetables.
CHRIS BODNAR a farmer at Glen Valley lists off some of the sure fire favourites of the market "Once our onions come in they go so fast, we are just at the end of our fresh berry crop. We try to grow a wide selction of vegetables. People expect to be able to pick up their staples and certain people have their favourites like our shallots and fennel. We try to respond to our customer's requests."
EDITOR NOTE - More Banana potatoes
The farm is co-operatively owned. When the previous owner was planning on selling, they wanted to keep it in organic production. A group of residents of the Lower Mainland including a number of residents right here in White Rock each purchased a $5,000.00 share. Enough money was raised to get a mortgage on the farm. So here we are 13 years later and the mortgage is paid off and just over a dozen people now own the farm as a co-operative.
PETER YOUNG "Live From White Rock"
PETER YOUNG could never have imagined from his first meeting with LARRY ANSCHELL that one day he would be negotiating a deal on ANSCHELL'S recording studio. YOUNG and ANSCHELL met back in the 80's when they both were enrolled in a fine arts recording school ICA in Vancouver. Upon graduation their paths took different courses. ANSCHELL began to make a name for himself first in the mobile recording industry and later a studio owner. YOUNG on the other hand traveled a different route that brought him to White Rock.
In 1987 following his graduation YOUNG was contacted by one of his instructors at the school that he obviously had made an impression on. "My instructor called me and said would you be interested in helping me engineer some future projects" says YOUNG as he relaxes behind the massive recording console in the old Turtle Recording Studios in White Rock. "I worked with him for about a year mainly concentrating on producing television and radio commercials out of a studio in downtown Vancouver. I got to know a lot of people in the industry in a very short period of time. I soon grew tired of the late nights and long hours associated with recording studio schedules."
From there YOUNG moved over to be the head technician at the famed Commodore Ballroom from 1998-2001. I ended up swapping gigs with the live sound engineer for the Vancouver band WALL STREET. That launched me on my career of an independent contractor providing sound support for a number of different facets of the recording industry."
As more and more corporate clients came knocking YOUNG decided instead of always renting sound gear he would check out his options. The road quickly led him to a joint venture with FM SYSTEMS out of Alberta. Soon YOUNG has his own live sound company based in Vancouver up until 2005 when his business interests led him in a different direction. Audio Images Production Canada would be YOUNG'S next venture and it continued on providing corporate conference recording and instant CD duplication. In 2006 YOUNG'S company was hired to provide the sound system for the DALI LAMA'S appearance in Vancouver. Part of the service his company provided was the ability to record and manufacture 8,000 CDS of the DALI LAMA'S lecture. All within 2 hours of the lecture being complete. The system YOUNG was using was able to produce 250 CDS every 2 minutes. Everything was working just fine until mid-way through the duplication a power surge caused the loss of half of the compact discs being created. "From that moment on I swore I would never try to do on site duplication again" says YOUNG.
 Is this the future for the recording industry?
YOUNG also became patently aware of some other limitations to on site instant recording and sales. "You are faced with controlling your content as well as the quality and what content is actually going to be manufactured. There are a lot of variables that have to be taken into consideration." YOUNG thought there had to be a better way.
At the time one of North America's largest concert production companies LIVE NATION began to do a similar style of recording and selling music at concerts under the title of INSTANT LIVE. LIVE NATION actually tried to register and patent the system of recording and selling music at concerts, they were subsequently denied their patent in the United States. "In 2008 I was in Australia doing research for ALIVE DRIVE and I attended a ROB THOMAS concert. I stood in line for 50 minutes to get a recording of the concert I had just seen, and the concert I was actually sold was not the concert I had just seen. The industry made a shift then from compact discs to USB devices at the shows. Same problem though the USB devices were being created at the site of the concert."
YOUNG came back home to Canada and began to think the process through. He felt there was a market for concert goes to want to have a memento of the actual show they saw on any particular evening, but the quality was just not up to what YOUNG thought it should be.
YOUNG then decided what if as concert goers are leaving the venue following a performance they could buy a USB and it might contain a number of different sectors of the artist's career. Perhaps in the studio exclusive interviews, unavailable unreleased music, wallpaper for their computer, pictures and an endless variety of extra added value. Plus the real winner for ALIVE DRIVE is the next day or perhaps two days later after ALIVE DRIVE has had a chance to review the material with the artist and gain their approval, the show is put up on a secure site that the owner of the USB can access exclusively because they bought the USB. The concert they are going to get is the actual concert they heard the night before."
One of the first creations of ALIVE DRIVE is a co-production with Vancouver classic rock FM outlet ROCK 101 CFMI. YOUNG explains. "ROCK 101 has been recording performances of the shows they have presented since 2005. We have recorded the majority of these exclusive "win to get in" concerts so we were very familiar with the series. ROCK 101 will use some of this exclusive concert recording for their on air programming. The listeners enjoyed hearing the songs on the radio and it soon became apparent there quite possibly could be a commercial market for the concerts or a portion of the concert. So what we did is partner up with CFMI so when their listeners were leaving one of the concerts they were given a USB that would allow them exclusive access to not only the concert they just saw, but also an opportunity to listen to streaming versions of other songs recorded from the STUDIO 101 series. The only way they can get to the tracks is through having one of the USB units. ROCK 101 constantly update and refresh the site and that same USB will be the passport to the site for the owner of the USB device."
The software for ALIVE DRIVE is the exclusive property of YOUNG. The core code created for the clients will allow endless e commerce possibilities. Outside of the music industry ALIVE DRIVE is seriously exploring professional sports teams and a wide variety of other corporations that want to provide exclusive content to their customers or clients. Owners of the devices will also be able to access other artists or sports teams or movie companies or whatever once they have purchased the original USB device. If that consumer sees something else on the exclusive site they are on, they would be able to purchase access to other areas other than the original access site they paid for. The device simply becomes an authentication device. It is simply a key to a portal. Once you have the device the possibilities are endless.
The future looks bright for PETER YOUNG and ALIVE DRIVE. Brighter than a sunny day in White Rock. The new home of ALIVE DRIVE.
Visit the Alive Drive website (CLICK HERE)
White Rock Farmer's Market Returns To The Outdoors
FRESH FROM THE SEA
Mary-Anne Charles has lived in the White Rock area all her life. MARY ANNE'S husband Chuck and son operate a long line seiner off the coast of British Columbia. The boat will go out for varying lengths of time on specific dates depending on what type of fish or shellfish they are in search of. Halibut is a 7 day excursion.
The catch is shipped back to Mary-Anne who has it inspected and packaged at a government inspection centre. The product is then flash frozen.
Products include halibut, wild salmon, shrimp, sable fish and presently have the much lauded spot prawns. The season is on right now.
I have always loved the saying on the side of trucks that deliver product around the Lower Mainland. "The fish you eat today slept in the Pacific ocean last night."
MEL’S WOODWORK
There is a Mel behind Mel’s Woodwork. Mel a long time Langley resident recently moved to Abbotsford and loves his Sunday drive downtown White Rock. All the woodwork Mel sells is handcrafted in his home woodwork shop. MEL got his introduction to woodwork by building houses for years. His job became his hobby upon his retirement. Seven years ago Mel decided he would start to sell some of the items he has been making for years, that were always met with glowing praise from his friends.
All the pieces Mel has for sale are all made from cedar. Each week there is a different selection of wood pieces, so check back weekly to see this week’s new creations at Mel’s WOODWORK.
Vendors
Afternoon Sun Market veggies and greens
AJi Gourmet Products Spices
Alex the Wood Man
garden planters, tables, benches
Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm greenhouse lettuce, baby cukes, Romero peppers and heirloom tomatoes
Barroness Ashley Hats variety of specialty hat wear
Biota Farm artichokes, early potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, specialty beans, Chinese greens, rhubarb, early carrots, early corn, raspberries, greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs. Prepared food: raspberry jam, blueberry jam, raspberry vinegar
Celyddon Farmsgreenhouse grown cherry tomatoes (mixed and red), long english cucumbers, eggplants, green and red peppers, heirloom tomatoes
Christina's Garden early season - dahlia tubers and tomato plants. Later: cut flowers including but not limited to: sunflowers, larkspur, dahlias, sweet peas, zinnias, black-eyed susans, cornflowers
Coffee Tentfair trade coffee
Colour Concepts community calendars
Copeland Pies meat pies, samosas, lasagna, mac and cheese, sausage rolls, BBQ sauce, chili, soup stock
Dingolay Caribbean and African Creations handpainted recycled table lamps, handpainted frames and fabric, hand crafted fused glass pendants
Distinctive Perennials Grasses, succulents, perennials, ground covers and bulbs
European Breads Bakery specialty breads, greorgia baguette, baklava, jewsih bread, spelt, barley, ukrainian, russian, kamut, buckwheat, gluten-free
Fieldstone Artisan Breads bread, scones, granola, croissants, cookies, foccacia, cinnamon buns, baguettes, coffee cake, buns
Fresh off the Boat Ocean Foods Halibut Fillets, Cheeks, Steaks, Sockeye and Spring Salmon Fillets, Smoked Salmon, Side-Stripe Shrimp, Ling-Cod, Snapper, Smoked Black-Cod and Sable-Fish Fillets! Fresh Off The Boat is proud to be a member of The Vancouver Aquariums Ocean Wise program for Sustainable Seafood
From the Dirt Organics Farm organic veggies
Gems in Bloom Assorted varieties of jewelery
Gesundheit Bakery various breads and buns spelt bread german strudels, cinnamon twists
Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative berries, salad greens, root and ground crops, and farm eggs
Goat's Pride Dairy organic goat milk cheeses: feta, caprabella, capramonte, chevrotina, chevre, blue capri, blue caprina, yogurt, tomme de chevre, eggs
Granola King almond & nut butters, nut & seed mixes, granola
HG Farms cherries
Hinda's Finest Foods marmalade, jam, dressings, marinades, jellies, chutneys, vinaigrettes
J and J Country Kitchen diabetic pickles
JGN Designs fashion accessories for women, children, men and pets
Judy's Country Kitchen baked goods, pickles, spices, dry soup & scone mix's, candy
Leslie Designs metal art work
M & N Enterprises plants, outdoor patio cushions
Maan Farms strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, corn, assorted garden vegetables
Maluma Bison bison meat and sausages
Mel's Woodwork cedar outdoor and indoor furniture, planters, arches. Made with reclaimed wood
Natural Village Farm veggies, tomatoes, greens
Outwest Ranches frozen beef, free range eggs, walnuts and hazelnuts
Papers by Margaret cards and notebooks
Pearl Restaurant oils/vinegars/rubs
Purple Linen handcrafted doll items
Richmond Specialty Mushrooms white button, oyster, portabella, crimini and shitake mushrooms
Schatzi Bath & Body 100 % all natural body care products / candles
Simply Delish Soup Co. locally prepared layered dry soups and salads
Thai Sauce Company red curry sauce, yellow curry sauce, green curry sauce, panang curry sauce
The Cranberry Lady assortment of jams, jellies, sauces and fruit snacks and leathers
Tromell Greenhouses plants
Valley Gold Bee Company honey, beeswax candles. From our own hives
Wyndson Farm jams & jellies from our own fruit, in-season small fruits and herbs, hand-sewn items
Zodie's Barkery dog biscuits, treats
Driving Miss Daisy
Daisy Walls
May 11, 2010
Tucked away just off the main drag in White Rock is a treasure chest called “Daisy’s.”
The namesake of the recycled thrift store is DAISY who without hesitation proudly informs you she is 91 years of age and has operated a store for 36 years on the White Rock waterfront.
While some may discount the thrift stores that dot the White Rock landscape eyesores, many enjoy the experience of poking around the various locales in search of treasures the never even knew they needed, until they saw it.
The Sausalito Bed & Breakfast building on Vidal Street that has housed “Daisy’s” for the past 17 years is coming down to make way for a parking. The parking lot will be short term until BOB & JACQUIE YEARSLEY the owners of the property break ground on the construction of a new building on the present site.
The Modern Service Club for the Handicapped is the real name b of "Daisy's" but when Daisy moved into the present location the name was changed to her namesake. Daisy Wall is her full legal name. Daisy made her home for a number of years in White Rock but when her husband passed away a few years back she pooled her finances with her daughter and purchased a home in South Surrey. “I found when I went looking for a home to purchase I could no longer afford to live in White Rock so we moved up to South Surrey.”
Regular shoppers at Daisy’s will have noticed quite often Daisy has a support staff of young people helping her operate the shop. Daisy explains who makes up her staff “I work in association with the Whale House on Stayte Street that operates a program for their residents. It is more of a social program to get the young people back into the community when they are ready to work with the public. The government subsidizes their wages.”
Over the years Daisy has had a number of famous people drop by her various locations on the waterfront. “When I had The Modern Service Club For The Handicapped it was originally located where Charlie Don’t Surf is now. I was there for 9 years in that location. One day MICK JAGGER of The Rolling Stones stopped into the store.”
Daisy has no plans for opening a new store but she leaves the door open for any possibility that might arise. “ I am sad to be leaving this location. I am going to miss all the wonderful people I get to meet everyday. I couldn’t possibly move everything so I am having a big sale to avoid having to move anything. For $1.00 I will sell you a big garbage bag and then when you fill up the bag it will only cost you $10.00.”
Last year Daisy was involved in a car accident, which she quickly points out, was not her fault. “After the accident I decided that given the fact I am getting on in age maybe it was time to stop driving myself. My car was a write off and it was cheaper for me to take a cab. A lovely lady in the area picks me up and drives me to and from the store. She actually has started a business called “Driving Miss Daisy” and she offers the service to other members of the community as well.”
Daisy prides herself in being a very positive person. Throughout the upheaval of closing the store Daisy has vowed not to let this latest change dampen her spirit and zest for life. She looks forward to hopefully seeing the Canucks go all the way this year. Her favourite Canucks are the Sedin twins. “I have pictures of my two great grandsons Jeremy & Josh up on the wall behind the cash desk here in the store. If everything goes as planned the boys will be in the NHL. Their father makes sure I get out as often as possible to see the boys play over in Langley where they live.”
Daisy has had a chance to see first hand the changes that have occurred to the waterfront of White Rock and she definitely has some thoughts on some of those changes. “I don’t like the BS with the parking down here, I don’t like seeing all the businesses moving out and relocating in Surrey. White Rock is losing its identity. White Rock Council for a number of years haven't been following the rules in my mind.”
During the interview last week with Daisy in her shop as people dropped in Daisy had a warm hello for everyone and punctuated the majority of the greetings with the person’s name. Daisy and her little shop will be missed by a legion of long time customers who find themselves popping in, if for no other reason than just to say hello to Daisy and to see how she is doing.
Let me tell you. At 91 years of age Daisy is doing just fine. Her leaving will leave more than a hole in the ground.
To find out more information on the DRIVING MISS DAISY service please visit their web site (CLICK HERE)
15202 Pacific Avenue FIVE CORNERS District
White Rock
604-538-6600
Glen, Brodie & Laura Corrale
(missing in action/at school - 10 year old daughter Sophia)
April 29, 2010
Laura Corrale grew up in East Vancouver and learned the service industry in her family's bakery on Commercial Drive. It wasn't until she met her husband Glen a few years ago that she was introduced to White Rock. "I had never even been to White Rock before I met Glen. I remember the first time he brought me to White Rock I fell in love with it's beauty."
After moving to White Rock Laura made the commute into Vancouver on a daily basis. "My brother took over my parent's bakery FRITELLI'S, located at the corner of Commercial Drive and Second Avenue, right in the heart of Vancouver's Little Italy district. I managed the bakery for a number of years before I moved out to White Rock. The drive into Vancouver everyday was starting to get me down a bit. We had our son Brodie 7 months ago. I had always thought someday I would like to have my own place so Glen and I started to look around the area to see what was available."
The search took Laura and Glen far and wide in the White Rock/South Surrey area and then the tumblers of the universe fell into place. Laura explains how she ended up at White Rock's Five Corners district and as they say the rest is history. "One night I was on the internet checking out real estate web sites just to see if there was anything we had missed and I saw the ad for COFFEE WITH ATTITUDE. I knew of the coffee shop because twice a week I would bring my daughter Sophia across the street to 4 Cats Art Studio for her art lessons. I had never come across the street though because being a busy Mom I would drop Sophia off and go do some grocery shopping or race home and put in a load of laundry. So when we saw the ad Glen and I came down the next day and met Ruth the previous owner. I fell in love with the location right away. Once we negotiated the deal to purchase the business I asked Ruth if I could work with her for a month to get to know her regular customers. I am glad I did that it has worked out really well. In the month that I have been open I have had the opportunity to see how close knit the community is and how tight knit it is."
The new COFFEE WITH ATTITUDE has expanded the menu to include a wide variety of pastries baked fresh daily by Laura or delivered fresh from the family bakery on Commercial Drive. The lunch menu has now expanded to include salads, gourmet soups, panini sandwiches and fresh daily soups. Laura is creating a menu that she feels reflects a healthy west coast feel. In the future she also hopes to begin serving a few breakfast items like omelet and the likes.
By her own admission Laura is a workaholic yet she is learning to take the time to stop and enjoy the beauty of White Rock. "Everyday after work I put some good music on the car stereo and I drive from one end of White Rock to the other end along Marine Drive and look out over the ocean and I am constantly blown away at how beautiful it is here. I love the ocean. We also love to take family walks along the promenade."
COFFEE WITH ATTITUDE is presently open 6 days a week from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. but Laura has more than coffee brewing. "I have spoken to the strata council of the condominiums that the shop is located in and I would like to institute later hours during the summer. I plan on expanding the seating outside with the blessing of the strata. If all this happens I will then expand my dessert menu so people out for a walk on a summer's night can stop in and enjoy a coffee, tea or cold drink and a pastry. I would also like to see if I can arrange for some live music on certain evenings. The other thing I hope to do is start opening on Sundays. I hope to be in the position to hire extra staff soon, but right now the juggling act of 6 days a week and all the responsibilities of raising a young family, well there just are not enough hours in the day to do everything I want to. I am a total people person doing what I love. This is me. I finally found me " says Laura as she jumps up to greet another new customer coming through the door of COFFEE WITH ATTITUDE.
Open daily Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cynthia Stewart
The 4Cats Arts Studio is smack dab in the middle of my trap line. The route I walk from my home to uptown White Rock takes me right along the 4Cats building at 5 Corners. The bright coloured paintings that festoon the walls have brightened up more than one rainy day.
This week I finally found the time to drop in to see what was up with the 4 Cats Arts Studio. That is how I met Cynthia Stewart.
Owner of 4Cats CYNTHIA STEWART was born and raised in Victoria. Like so many young people there came a point in her life where Island Fever sent her across the Georgia Strait to Vancouver. Her journey to White Rock and the subsequent opening of 4Cats was less direct.
STEWART explains how her course was charted at a young age. "When I was young I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It wasn't that many years ago but the treatment was to take me out of all my art classes which I loved, and put me more in the sciences and math classes. The belief was this was preparing me for the work force. The thought was no one could make a living with art." The result of this draconian thinking was CYNTHIA spent a great deal of time after school pursuing her love of drawing and painting.
Upon graduating from high school in Victoria CYNTHIA enrolled in Vancouver's EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY OF ART & DESIGN. With a bachelor degree in hand from the college CYNTHIA was faced with the challenge of paying off her student loans. "I wanted something that was creative and I quickly was drawn to the film industry. I loved working in the film industry. I am one of 8 women out of 400 Lighting I.A.T.S.E union members in British Columbia. The work was long hours and very grueling work, but it was creative and I enjoyed it very much."
Fast forward I wonder how working in the film industry led her to the 4 Cats and subsequently White Rock. It all makes sense when you hear CYNTHIA'S story.
"It came to me from the universe. Working in the film industry there are a lot of long hours and strenuous work and to relieve the stress I was going to a reiki therapist. One day she said to me, I see you working with children, I said really. You are teaching the children art and the word Montessori keeps coming up. I thought O.K. Sometimes you just have to step outside the box. I went home and typed in Montessori schools to get some information. My husband came home and I stopped what I was doing to make us supper. My friend from upstairs came in and said I have something for you, he gave me a pamphlet. I put it on the counter and said I will check it later. He said it sounds like you. My husband picked up the pamphlet and went into the living room. A few minutes later he came back into the kitchen and told me what the pamphlet was all about. It is a Montessori Art Studio for children, called 4Cats Arts Studio I just about dropped the dishes, I was shocked. I grabbed the pamphlet and quickly looked at it and realized I had all the qualifications they were looking for. I just decided right there and then I had to follow my dream and this obvious path."
Well that answered the question of how CYNTHIA ended up opening the 4CATS ARTS STUDIO, but now the question I wanted to ask, how and why White Rock?
"My husband and I are both artists and we love to paint outside. We were living in Vancouver at the time. We decided we would go for a drive out this way. We had never been to White Rock. We fell in love instantly. Driving around White Rock we kept seeing places we thought would be perfect for painting. This is beautiful, look at the ocean. As we were driving down Johnston Road we saw this location with a For Lease sign. It was scary for us, in that in Vancouver there are a number of 4 Cats franchises and they are very well known so people already knew about what 4 Cats Arts Studios do. Out this way were faced with the proposition of being the first outlet and knew there would be a learning curve of informing the public.
The name 4 Cats Art Studio has an interesting story. Pablo Picasso and his buddies would meet at a local cafe to discuss their paintings in Barcelona Spain. Some of his famed sketches still adorn the walls. Back then Picasso and his friends were starving artists. CYNTHIA tells the story of someone who came in to her shop at 5 Corners who had recently been in Spain and actually visited the namesake of her business the visitor said he recently visited the restaurant and found out "The owner at the time used to think Picasso and 3 of his artists friends seemed like starving stray cats. The owner of the restaurant of the day said if you draw me some pictures on my white place mats I will give you some food. Who knows some of the young artists that frequent our 4 Cats here in White Rock may on day be world famous. Here at 4 Cats we believe in mentoring young artists. Like anything you need someone to teach you the basics. If you are a figure skater, someone had to teach you how to lace up your skates. That is what I like to we are doing here at 4 Cats."
4Cats Art Studio offers scheduled classes. Each month an artist is chosen. Students study 2 artists each semester. The children are taught the brush strokes and paint colour choice of the various artists being studied. There are Fall, Winter and Spring Sessions and Summer Camps. The summer camps vary slightly given the students are out of regular school so the scheduling is slightly different. Cynthia is proud to say the canvas they use is non-toxic and Canadian made. The resulting artwork of the students will last forever given it is painted on canvas.
   
Then there is the SPLATTER ROOM. If you have walked by 4Cats you will have seen one room that looks like a paint bomb exploded. "Our splatter room is used for exactly what the name indicates. A place where the children can splatter a big canvas with paint they have chosen. There are a number of different theme parties we book the room out for. If anyone would like more information on hosting a birthday party or any kind of party here in the splatter room they can find more information on our web site, or they can simply call us for more information" says STEWART.
After starting up her business and making the commute from Vancouver CYNTHIA and her husband now make their home in Ladner. “My young students used to ask me, Cynthia do you live on your roof?” The travel was getting a little tiresome, and the traffic was a bit of a problem. From Ladner to White Rock is a beautiful drive. I love to paint along the corridor between White Rock and Ladner.
CYNTHIA STEWART. We are happy your life journey led you to our door @ 5 Corners.
Visit 4Cats Arts Studio web site (CLICK HERE)
Marching To Our Different Drummer
RHYTHM WELLNESS - Billy Knutson
Billy Knutson owner of White Rock’s Functional Fysical Fitness (see below)
has been on a personal physical and mental quest for years.
A number of years back Knutson studied and practiced yoga as a part of his wellness
and fitness regime. It was at a yoga retreat that Knutson turned an important
page in his present day look at total wellness and fitness. “I was at
a yoga retreat in central Oregon up in the mountains, it was simply breathtaking.
One of the central buildings was the yoga sanctuary, an octagon shaped building.
One night I was walking back to my cabin and I heard the sound of drumming from
the yoga sanctuary. At that point in my life I tended to be a shy person, but
the drums called me and I couldn’t resist inviting myself into the building.
There was 8 people drumming and I picked up a large frame drum and just joined
in, which was out of character for me at that point in my life. It was an amazing
experience for me, I am not sure how long it lasted, because as I have subsequently
learned when you get into the drumming ‘zone’ you really lose all
track of time. I was hooked! For the rest of my time there, I did more drumming
than yoga. I was consumed by the drumming."
Upon returning home Billy had a new appreciation for the drumming and world
music he’d collected and he dusted off what he’d thought was a djembe
drum from the back of his closet. “After my experience at the yoga retreat
I realized what it was not a djembe drum but a doumbek”. Liking the sound
of the djembe drum, he began looking for used drums for sale. He found a minister
who traveled to Africa and would bring back some drums and sell them. “I
went to look at the drums he had for sale, and couldn’t make up my mind
so I bought all four of them”. “After all I justified to myself,
I didn’t want to drum alone, I wanted to drum with people and feel the
original joy of the yoga retreat” says Knutson over a cup of green tea
in his neighbourhood café Java Express in uptown White Rock.
Knutson immersed himself in the culture. He began reading books on drumming,
taking drum lessons, enrolled in a course on drum circle facilitation. Within
2 weeks he’d amassed quite a collection of percussion instruments and
began advertising and conducting drum circles out of his fitness studio which
at the time was located in Ocean Park.”
For the past four years Knutson has followed his rhythmic muse. He studies 3
different styles of hand drum lessons from different teachers, and on average
Billy will drum 8 – 15 hours per week. “I developed RhythmWellness
as the social aspect of health and wellness that blends perfectly into a total
wellness company.”
We are surrounded by music. Rhythm is everywhere and in everything living. It
is the rhythm that draws us to music and makes us move. Knutson maintains we
would be hard pressed to find anyone in the world that has not at some point
been moved to tap their fingers or toes to some music. But in western civilization
music has become primarily presentational, not participatory. It has not always
been like this. Before electricity participatory music making was very prevalent
and very good for community.
There is nothing more natural than rhythm. It lives in us and is good for us.
When one is able to get past their external and internal conditioning and self-erected
inhibitions listen and allow it, the music will flow in and out of them. That
is what Knutson does with RhythmWellness, using drums and percussion instruments,
facilitating in the moment, participatory community music making. Everyone can
play, no experience necessary, only the desire to contribute, to be a part of
the music, a part of the circle.
It is human nature when something touches us, the way that original chance meeting
of the drummers at the yoga studio touched Billy, we want to pass along the
joy we have found.
To that extent Knutson for some time now has been conducting Drum Circles here
in White Rock. Sessions take place Thursdays @ 7:30 p.m. for the summer in the
beautiful new Community Centre located in Miramar Village (behind the whaling
wall).
To learn more about Rhythm Wellness and Billy Knutson, please visit his website.
Rhythm & Creativity are two of our most natural human endowments.
_We are biologically hard-wired to respond to rhythms, tones, vibrations and
melodies. Unhealthy rhythms are pandemic in modern society and cause adverse
responses that interrupt our natural flow and undermine our efforts to create
wellness
Consequences of unhealthy rhythms show up as high stress levels, compromised
immune function, mental confusion, emotional disorders, unhealthy dietary habits,
disrupted sleep patterns, poor concentration, procrastination and apathy.
Rhythm is everywhere and everything resonates with a unique rhythm. Healthy
evolution of civilization and community has always depended upon our innate
capacity to create and relate to rhythms and music.
BILLY KNUTSON - Functional Fysical Fitness Inc.
Wednesday May 27, 2009
Tucked away in a below street level location Functional Fysical
Fitness might well be a shop you have passed a hundred times without paying
it much attention.
Owner BILLY KNUTSON was born and raised in North Vancouver and moved to the
Sunshine Coast for his teen years. “After I graduated from high school
I returned to the North Shore to attend Capilano College without a specific
plan. It was 1980 when gold was worth $1000 an ounce, a cousin called me from
Dawson City inviting me and my brother to go up and try gold mining. So I went
to Dawson City where I pursued gold mining for several years.”
During his gold mining period KNUTSON was very active physically and involved
in sports. The gold creeks of Dawson provided a comfortable living for a number
of years, and then one-year things changed, getting a job that paid less with
poorer working conditions, the allure of gold mining faded, says KNUTSON over
green tea at the neighbourhood Java Express.
The year was 1986 and after a short period of soul searching the answer to his
future endeavours became crystal clear to a young man at a fork in the road
of life. Health & Fitness. “I came back to the mainland and enrolled
in a certification course at the YMCA to become a personal trainer. From there
I went on to work at Gold’s Gym and other various gyms around Vancouver,
I became involved in martial arts, body building, and cycling, health became
my passion.”
KNUTSON over the course of 5 years of full time personal training and instructing
came to the conclusion, there was something inherently wrong with the traditional
method of training. The predicted results were not occurring. I was also dismayed
that many of the trainers I knew and saw working really trained humans like
you’d train animals. Run – Fetch – Jump it really was becoming
ridiculous to me.”
“In 1996 I took a different personal training program offered by the National
Strength and Conditioning Association, NSCA. I was exposed to so much more extensive,
valuable information that set me on a different course for personal training.
At that point I went back to the drawing board on how I would train people.
This included taking a lifestyle coaching program also, as I realized that fitness
was really a lifestyle. The new training regimen KNUTSON created took into the
obvious but often overlooked the main difference between “animals and
humans”.
“I started to identify unique human endowments, primarily identifying
the brain and nervous system and the resultant ‘functions’ that
this wonderfully complex system provides, ie; self-awareness, consciousness,
choice, and intelligence to name a few.
To study humans I realized I needed to understand more than just physiology,
anatomy and kinesiology, I also needed to understand and some psychology, sociology,
and even anthropology and how it could pertain to physical training, health
and wellness."
At the end of his studies and practical application of his findings KNUTSON
in 1998 was confident he had created an effective form of fitness training,
and FUNCTIONAL FYSICAL FITNESS was born. BILLY has a very simple and unique
way to describe how he formulates physical programs that are custom made for
each individual. “From my studies I came to the conclusion, we all have
the same basic “hardware”, two arms, two legs, a brain, a heart
etc. What makes us unique though is we all have our own unique “software”,
our life experience, in other words we all have a different operating system.”
So the key to Functional Fysical Fitness is applying this knowledge both intellectually
and experientially while utilizing our unique human attributes.
Contact BILLY KNUTSON at FUNTIONAL FYSICAL FITNESS INC through their website
www.fffit.com, or call for an appointment to
drop in or for more info 604-535-5065
*Next Week – We learn about a completely different side of BILLY KNUTSON.
In addition to his fitness company KNUTSON is very involved locally with “Rhythm
Wellness.” www.rhythmwellness.com
OCEAN PARK MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
com_mu_ni_ty [kuh-myoo-ni-tee]
–noun
a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share
government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
The White Rock Sun was born out of a love for “community.” Like
so many people these days we find ourselves thinking about global problems yet
it is right here in our community that we can affect the most change.
Daily I see examples of people wishing to connect with their community, in this
case the White Rock & South Surrey footprint.
During my sales calls a couple of weeks back I popped over to Ocean Park. I
had seen evidence there was a group of merchants operating together to strengthen
their community.
Having lived for a number of years on the Ocean Park bluffs I was well aware
of the area and the numerous gems the area affords.
In short order I was introduced to Sandra Smith the owner of Cotton ‘’n’
Crayon Children’s Wear & Toys. Sandra was kind enough to provide me
a bit of background on and an overview of the Ocean Park Merchants Association.
A loose amalgam of people living and working in the Ocean Park area that had
come together to strengthen their community.
Last Thursday I accepted an offer to join the Ocean Park group for their monthly
lunch at the Ocean Park community hall. Upon my arrival dutifully at the pre-arranged
time I was pleasantly surprised to see a dozen or so business owners assembled
and ready to get down to business.
The meeting lasted roughly an hour and there was no wasted time. Items were
brought forward, discussed and dealt with in a no nonsense manner. Each person’s
views and concerns were dealt with and prioritized on a time line for immediate
action or further discussion.
Recently the community of Ocean Park learned the City of Surrey
was set to add some traffic calming changes to the Ocean Park area. As the community
felt there had been little of nor conversation with the community, Surry City
Hall was contacted. A rep for the city came to last month's meeting, heard the
concerns from the community and agreed to study their plans further and work
with the merchants and residents. Voila!
First on the schedule of events for Ocean Park is this Saturday. The OPCA presents
a Garage/Parking Lot Sale. Bring you stuff treasures you found in your spring
cleaning or simply drop by and browse the tables of other people’s treasures.
The community sale is on Saturday 9 – 2. For information on reserving
a table please call 604-538-2460.
Stay tuned and keep reading THE SUN for all the community news from Ocean Park.
TRACYCAKES
For years McBride's Cafe was the epicenter for locals on the
waterfront on Marine Drive. I have a feeling the latest in a long line of occupants
of the space TRACYCAKES is here to stay.
Tracy Dueck sat down Thursday the day prior to her grand opening
to provide insight into the history of Tracycakes and its future with White
Rock. "Tracycakes reminds me of the movie Field of Dreams. I believe if
you build it, they will come. At our other two locations in Fort Langley and
Abbotsford when I see the lineup snaking out the front door I think of the scene
from the movie when you see all those car lights coming across the rural landscape
of Iowa. For some reason they are being drawn. I believe it is the same way,
people are drawn to our restaurants."
As life as a stay at home mother was coming to its natural conclusion
Tracy began to think about what she might like to do with her soon to be abundant
spare time. "Someone said to me, why don't you open a restaurant. It really
wasn't something I had given a lot of thought to but the more I did think about
it, the more attractive the idea was. I did not have any culinary or business
experience so I have relied heavily on input from my staff, friends and our
customers. The growth has been very organic" says Dueck between quick conversations
with suppliers as she readies the opening of her third location.
TRACYCAKES first opened in Fort Langley, and within 2 years the
second location was opened in her hometown of Abbotsford. Why White Rock for
the third locale? "Well like so many people in the Valley I am drawn to
the beach of White Roc. I have been coming here for years. Last August my husband
and I came to White Rock to run our dog at the off leash park at East Beach,
and I saw all these people walking along eating ice cream cones. I said to myself
why can't all those people be eating tracycakes? I first looked at the vacant
location of Grapes just up the street from here and in the end it just didn't
seem to work for what I was looking for. I walked away from that deal and was
strolling down Marine Drive when I found this space for rent. I really did not
see anyone else offering the type of dining experience we were offering. It
only took a couple of months from finding this location to renovating it and
preparing ourselves for the opening of our third location."
TRACYCAKES menu includes a selection of unique sandwiches including
pannini sandwiches, beautiful salads including their signature salad a Waldorf
salad built upon Tracy's grandmother's recipe, and hot entrees including chicken
pot pie, chili, quiche, shepard's pie and their famous fresh daily soups.
Tracy is also very proud of a unique twist to their menu. "We
offer High Tea daily. It comes with finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, fresh
fruit, a selection of scones and our famous homemade devonshire cream. All offered
up in a beautiful presentation on a three tiered serving tray. We also serve
our tea properly in a traditional tea pot. We serve High Tea all day long, but
most people prefer to have it at 3 p.m. If you call ahead we will be happy to
prepare your table especially for you, so when you walk in it really is a beautiful
experience."
From the moment they swung the doors wide open on Friday, mother
nature co-operated and the deck at Tracycakes was one of the hottest spots along
the waterfront. We dropped in for lunch on Sunday and met a couple of friends
who had already had their lunch, and learned the borscht was thick enough to
stand your fork up in it. Yummy. The Luckiest Girl In The World opted for the
quiche and a cappucino, while I chose a lovely grilled pannini sandwich. Both
menu items were prepared beautifully and the experience was heightened by personal
attentive service from our waitress.
Tracy Dueck
When we received our bill a small business card informed us
"Nothing happens unless.......first we dream."
He's Back!
.....and we couldn't be happier
 
There is nothing ROB AHLGREN owner of Beecher Street Cafe likes better than
a good party. Great music, good food and wine and a gathering of friends does
not a dull man make according to the Tao of Rob.
In the early 80’s about the time most of us were thinking about buying
a Commodore 64 AHLGREN was working for a computer company in Surrey.
One day/night ROB came down to White Rock with some friends. The city’s
bohemian sub-culture immediately attracted AHLGREN and he soon found himself
couch surfing and literally camping out on the beach to be near the town he
fell in love with.
Love also played a big part in the next phase of AHLGREN’S life. “My
girlfriend at the time convinced me she could get me a job at the restaurant
where she worked. I thought she was dreaming, I never cleaned up the plates
at home, let alone in a restaurant. She persisted and the next thing I knew
I was working at the original ULI’S on Marine Drive. It was funny because
I was quite possibly the worst waiter, but my girlfriend and her friend covered
for me.” It wasn’t all a bed of roses in those early days though
as ROB explains, “ULI used to pull me aside and tell me he should fire
me because I was such a bad waiter, but he told me Rob I should fire you, but
I can’t EVERYONE likes you” so I stayed on.”
AHLGREN worked his way through a number of Marine Drive culinary castles including
Charlie’s before relocating down to Crescent Beach. “I got a job
at the Crescent Beach Bistro. I would walk up and down Beecher Street on the
way to and from work. One day I noticed Dimitri’s Greek Restaurant had
a For Lease sign in the window.” Not exactly being flush with money in
those days due to the aforementioned passions of his life. AHLGREN and his friend
HERB AARTSEN who had a bit of money floating around decided to go into the restaurant
business for themselves, so they signed the lease, gutted the old Greek restaurant
and in 1993 swung wide the doors to The Beecher Street Cafe.
“We did a lot of the major renovations ourselves, partly out of necessity
given our financial status at the time. Within 4 years though we took over the
clothing store that was next door and in 1997 we expanded and doubled our capacity.
Like every business there are ebbs and flows in the restaurant business, but
I am very proud and happy with what we have developed here in Crescent Beach”
says AHLGREN.
With everything on track and rolling right along, AHLGREN and his wife TARA
decided perhaps in order to be able to buy a home and settle down a bit, they
might have to look at the Interior. “One day I went on the Internet and
started looking at properties in the Okanagan. In short order I found a beautiful
log home on a hillside overlooking Kelowna and the lake. We cane up looked at
it and made arrangements to purchase the home.”
Originally AHLGREN had planned on leaving the restaurant in capable hands and
commuting back to the Beecher Street Café a couple of times a month.
That worked out fine for a few months, but then AHLGREN made another major move
in his life. “Tara and I had seen an old heritage house that housed a
restaurant a number of times when we were driving through Kelowna, it was called
The Williams Inn. Though we hadn’t planned on opening a restaurant when
we moved to the Okanagan before long we had another restaurant, this one called
The Yellow House.”
Juggling two restaurants 350 miles apart has posed its challenges. “Tara
and I have gone our separate ways personally but we still remain partners in
the Yellow House restaurant. I decided recently it was time for me to put a
little more time and effort back into Beecher Street. I have a number of changes
planned that will take place over the next few months here at the restaurant.
I am planning on continuing our Wednesday Night music series with perhaps a
change or two, maybe a special concert or two. I also am going to institute
a new food menu as well as a very unique wine list. By living in the Okanagan
and getting to know a lot of the vintners I am able to buy cases of their limited
wines. In that they do not produce enough to feed the liquor store system, the
choice and unique wines will now be available at Beecher Street Cafe.”
In order to offer patrons of Beecher Street a unique opportunity to sample these
wines, AHLGREN will be offering “wine paddles.” Each paddle will
have a 2 oz sample of a red, a white and a port with a selection of cheeses.
 
The Beecher Street Cafe will also be hosting “special” evening the
last Thursday of every month. April is locked down with a SPRING WINE DINNER
and the final touches are being put on a special night of music in March at
The Beecher Street Cafe.
Friends - ROB AHLGREN is back. You know what that means. Let The Party Begin.
Thursday FEBRUARY 26th
COMEDY NIGHT
Featuring
Billy Mitchell
with special guest
J.P. Mass
Join us for a great evening of dining and comedy. We are fortunate
to have two of Canada’s finest comedians performing at Beecher Street
Café.
The evening includes a three course gourmet dinner and the entertainment for
only $60 per person.
To reserve for either of these great evenings give us a call at
604-538-1964.
1763 King George Highway South Surrey
Dwayne & Sharon Jacobson
The Roadhouse Grille in South Surrey defies description. In a time when local
businesses, in particular restaurants are ringing their hands in anguish, The
Roadhouse is expanding.
The humble beginnings of The Roadhouse stretch back to 1997 when John &
Linda Cody opened a funky little restaurant in the strip mall anchored by Mac’s
milk. John and Linda had both logged many years in the Vancouver music scene.
John as a respected drummer and Linda as a talent agent. Thus the theme of the
original Roadhouse boasted a musical theme in the decor.
The present owners Dwayne and Sharon Jacobson were enlisted when the Cody’s
decided to end their marital and business relationship.
When pressed if he had any restaurant background prior to becoming the somewhat
reluctant owner of the Roadhouse, Dwayne does not hesitate for a moment in replying
sternly “NO!” With a chuckle Dwayne begins to explain what The Roadhouse
means to him, and indirectly what it means to the legions of customers who frequent
the restaurant from early morning for breakfast to the evening for dinner 7
days a week. “When we first took over the restaurant one of the first
things that changed was the “live music”, as John and Linda were
very musician friendly most of the performers were great, but they wanted to
give a concert, and we were looking for basically background music, so that
was our first change. Since moving into the new location we have re-introduced
music but in a slightly different form. We have a piano player by the name of
Dennis Enns who performs every Friday & saturday evening from 6-8 p.m. He
plays all kinds of music and takes requests, it makes for a more relaxed fun
environment. One of the other things we did, was we started to collect more
of the old 50’s style tables in the Roadhouse portion of the restaurant.
Originally there was just one table and set of chairs, so we decided we liked
the look and began to search out all the other sets of tables you now see”
says Wayne as he proudly tours the restaurant.
  
While maintaining the original "diner" decor, the new
Roadhouse offers a martini bar and casual fine dining.
The newly redesigned Roadhouse which is a few businesses from its original location
boasts the feeling of 3 distinct restaurants. You have the original funky 50’s
diner/roadhouse main room, a beautiful martini sit up bar complete with a large
flat screen TV that seems to run continuously on the sports channel, and adjoining
the bar is a more casual upscale surrounding. Hard to believe but some people
don’t share my enthusiasm for the 50’s kitsch.
Another major change in the revamped Roadhouse Grille was the menu explains
Dwayne “Originally the menu leaned very heavily towards vegetarian with
a couple of turkey and chicken dishes. Due to constant requests from the early
customers we started with, we expanded the menu considerably.”
Since taking over The Roadhouse the Jacobson’s have seen steady growth
of 25% annually on their investment. “We considered closing the original
restaurant for renovations as the equipment and interior were in need of some
major upgrades. We decided when the defunct pool hall (Cue Ball) became available,
rather than be closed for 4 or 5 months renovating the old space, we would simply
gut the pool hall make some changes and expand the restaurant” says Dwayne
between saying hello to the satisfied customers and friends as they drift in
and out of the restaurant.
So why is The Roadhouse Grille expanding in these tough economic times. Dwayne’s
response rolls off his tongue as if he almost tires of a question he has answered
too often. “It is all about heart. Plain and simple you have to have heart
for whatever you are doing. I think all our staff feels it and passes it along
to our customers. Our baker and one of our servers have been with us since we
bought the restaurant. We take pride in all our staff. Some of our staff have
actually become minor partners in the business. Everything we serve is fresh.
We pride ourselves in the care and attention we put forth to quality and good
service. We want people to leave The Roadhouse satisfied.” Sharon has
her own take on why the restaurant is so popular. One word. “People.”
Yes Indeed I say. From the people that own it,to the people that cook the meals,
the servers who bring it to your table, and of course the people that frequent
The Roadhouse. It is a circle of people, a circle of life. What goes around
comes around for all to partake, for all to enjoy.
The list of special cool features at The Roadhouse seems endless. A Treasure
Chest playroom for the kids, plans for an outdoor patio to open in the spring,
plus a bakery and cheese shop that will be located next door to The Roadhouse
Grille.
Another story – for another day.
Roadhouse Grille
1763 King George Highway
Stayte Street (160th) @ King George Highway
604-538-3177
Dr. Bijana Grubac
A true neighbour is there for you in a time of need. Last weekend my wife Laurie
and I suffered a loss to our extended family. Our beloved cat “Deeter”
had stopped eating on Thursday, by early Saturday morning she took a turn for
the worse.
Just to back up for a moment, both Laurie and I had not had a long history with
cats. Laurie had only had one cat in her life and due to circumstances beyond
her control she had to give it up to a friend. As I have always been allergic
to cats, I had no real point of reference, this was my first cat. Every stage
of being a cat owner was a new experience for me.
When Deeter’s condition escalated early last Saturday morning, even though
it was 3 o’clock in the morning we called the only veterinarian we had
used in the area, The South Point Pet Hospital. Our one and only experience
had been wonderful. The message on South Point’s message machine informed
us they were closed but if it was an emergency we should call an animal hospital
in Fleetwood or Langley which were open 24 hours.
We rushed the cat in the early morning hours to Langley, they stabilized her
but we took “Deeter” to South Point as soon as they opened at 9
a.m. Saturday.
Though we arrived with no appointment and the hospital was dealing with an emergency
the staff at South point welcomed us and consoled us and our sick cat until
Dr. Bijana Grubac was free to examine our cat. The care and compassion that
was shown by Dr. Grubac made us feel confident we were doing everything we could
for our kitty.
Sadly “Deeter’s” condition worsened over the weekend. By Monday
afternoon after an ultrasound Dr. Grubac delivered us the sad news, our cat
was riddled with cancer and there wasn’t much hope she would live with
any quality of life. We made the painful decision it would be best for her to
be put to sleep. Dr. Grubac walked us through the process and asked us how we
would like to do it.
South Point has an actual “comfort room” for just such a heartbreaking
event. Laurie and I were numb. Our emotions flowed to the surface, yet looking
back on it, I am thankful we had such a compassionate and caring group of professionals
there to assist us.
Yesterday in our mail, we received a beautiful hand written note from the Staff
at South Point wishing us the best in our time of sadness.
Dr. Grubac and your staff, thank you. For "being there" for us in
our time of need.
Visit the South Point Animal Hospital web site
www.southpointvet.com
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THE OTHER EDEN 
ROCKWELD FARMS 
