Fall 2014 Newsletter - West Panorama Ridge … 2014 Newsletter Page 3 Website: Email: [email protected] As you all know the majority of the residents have voted for additional

Page 1Fall 2014 Newsletter

Website: www.panoramaridge.org Email: [email protected]

Fall 2014 Newsletter

Colebrook Road: Colebrook Road was realigned and opened for service on October 23, 2014. As a result, the rail crossing at 131A was decommissioned. The rail crossing at 127A (toward Mud Bay Park)...... more page 4

In This Edition

Fourth Annual Panorama Ridge Days

Public Safety: There seems to have been a spike in property crimes/auto break-ins in September/October and now back to a quiet period. Please continue to be vigilant and keep yourself and property safe.... more on pages 6-7

Mushrooms on the Ridge: October and November are generally the best months for finding different mushroom species, especially after a rain shower. Some of the local mushrooms that can be observed and eaten are ... more on pages 8-9



President’s MessageAfter significant issues and crime that we experienced on the Ridge last year and early this year, we had an amazing quiet spring and summer. The rooming (flop) house at 12385 New McLellan was closed down by the City Bylaw department and the RCMP have been making significant additional patrols on our streets. Unfortunately we suspect that we still have a few other houses on the Ridge that are rented by the room that continue to be a major source of concern to the community. These houses are being watched closely and these “Landlords” may be held accountable.... Some residents have suggested that if all households pay $15 per month we could have our own 24 hour security patrols in our community... If there are more people interested in this idea we would like to hear from you...

Panorama Ridge Day was held September 13 at Colebrook Church and this event was a huge success! People from all over the Ridge came to enjoy food that was donated by the community association and by some of the West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers Association Directors. There was a Zumba dancing performance, kids horseback riding and ample opportunity to mingle with neighbours. Some residents brought their vegetables and/or honey to sell and we even had a small garage sale.

Next year we will have a performance by an Indian dance group as well as Western dancing. As always Colebrook Church graciously provided their tables and chairs, PA system and opened their kitchen for food preparation. A prize for the most unusual animal brought to Ridge Day went to Audrey Pease, who brought her two donkeys and offered rides for the smaller children.

We have a new traffic circle at Colebrook School! People have had mixed reviews on this traffic redirection but during the day it generally works well.... Unfortunately the latest has been that parents picking up their children are parking their vehicles in the traffic circle and in one instance left their car to pick up their school aged child while their car was left in the traffic circle.... This could potentially be a huge problem if emergency vehicles have to get through.... Perhaps parents should park their vehicles nearby and walk their children to school or the older children could ride their bikes ... Whatever traffic solution the City comes up with, there will never be enough parking for all at the same time.

A significant problem is being experienced by residents living in the 132nd Street block of Coulthard Road. Dogs are being “trained” by a local guard dog business, with the result that these dogs are barking all day and night causing sleepless nights for people living in this area. The Surrey Bylaw department has been called in to stop this, to enable the residents’ quiet enjoyment of their homes. If this problem continues please advise the WPRRA through their website.

Panorama Ridge Day



As you all know the majority of the residents have voted for additional lighting on the main “arteries” of our community. This information was provided to the City who have put in the order to have the lights installed. We area now waiting for BC Hydro and their contractors to install these lights (likely another two to three months..).

As we know the sidewalks on New McLellan and 56th Avenue are in bad need to be upgraded and our community has been waiting to get this done for well over seven years. Recently Councilor Tom Gill has given City staff direction to give this issue immediate attention... Hopefully this will expedite this issue...

The development committee chair recently met with City staff to discuss the proposed development at 13924 56th Avenue. The neighbouring residents and the community association have significant concerns with this proposal. The City will again review these issues and attempt to address the concerns.

The community association decided to create a promotional video of our community and show many of the positive aspects of living on the Ridge. Myra Ottewell, a resident on the Ridge has many years of practical experience, first as a video and arts teacher and over the last few years she created a documentary of life in the Deep South in the late 1950 and 1960’s. This film has been picked up by many TV stations and is highly regarded by the critics. We hope to be able to show the Ridge film early next year... A lot of the footage has been collected, including flight over our community and interviews with residents on why they moved here. We are currently working on creating the narration material.

After 31 years living on the Ridge, we say good bye to Kathy and Bill Burton. They have moved to Murrayville. Kathy was very active as a BlockWatch captain and Bill helped out at the Church whenever he could. We wish them good luck in their next adventure!

During the windstorm of October 21, several large trees came down in our community, with one tree cutting a home almost in half missing a mother and her son by two feet! Ironically the homeowner had petitioned the City not to cut a large number of trees in front of his house...which the Council unfortunately turned down. With these trees gone a “wind tunnel” was created and the three trees that were in its way had little chance but to be blown down. When developing a property it is very important to evaluate not just where to locate the home on the lots but also how the trees that are removed will affect the remaining vegetation. In this case, this family was extremely lucky that they were not injured, but this could easily have turned out much worse...

You may have noticed crime stats that were recently published in the local newspapers. The stats indicate that crime in Surrey is down significantly, we know that this is not true and would like to stress that when you experience or notice crime to report this to the RCMP. The only way that we can ask for continued police presence is the fact that police is called. No matter how small… an alternative you may report any crime to our website (under crime) as all information reported here is immediately copied to the RCMP… PLEASE REPORT ALL CRIME. Arnie van Hattem President, West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers Association

President’s Message (Continued)



Colebrook Road. Park and Road ImprovementsColebrook Road was realigned and opened for service on October 23, 2014. As a result, the rail crossing at 131A was decommissioned.

The rail crossing at 127A (toward Mud Bay Park) has improvements being installed that will allow for implementation of an agreement between the various parties (BNSF, BC Rail & the City of Surrey) to discontinue whistling at that final existing crossing below Panorama Ridge. The City reports that equipment that needs to be installed to bring that agreement to fruition was ordered in the spring of 2014 but has been delayed in delivery. So the expected installation of that equipment and resulting whistle cessation is now scheduled for January 2015. Parks:Two of our executive members met with the City Manager of Parks Planning in the early fall regarding Colebrook Park and Deltaview Park. Colebrook is scheduled to have access parking developed at the east end of the new Colebrook Road and at 127A, sometime in 2015. The construction mess at the east end of Colebrook (visible from King George) has been cleaned up, graded and a Hydro grass seeding spray has been applied, at the request of WPRRA.

There are preliminary plans for a circle path at Deltaview Park, (121 & New McLellan) but as with all parks projects, funding is an impediment. There are no current plans for the WPRRA to continue planning the volunteer services of spreading mulch and planting until the City has firmed up plans on how to develop Deltaview Park.

Roads:We are pleased with the result of the City’s response to our request for:1. an upgrade to the road coming up from Colebrook at the sewer right of way north on Station Road; and 2. the full repaving of 132 Street from 56 Ave. to #10 Highway. The results of the roundabout by the school on 125A have yet to be fully assessed.



In the Spring Newsletter we reported on the Mud Bay train bridge reinforcement. At that time the expected completion was the end of 2014 or beginning 2015. As can be seen on the picture the progress has been slow and the new Bridge is not quite half way completed. Unfortunately this new bridge will allow BNSF to ship additional coal through our community.

Mud Bay Train Trestle Replacement

Mud Bay Train Bridge Replacement Construction

Also known as Deepavali and the “festival of lights”, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in the period October to November in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India.

• Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhorh Diwas on Diwali. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was the sixth Guru of the Sikhs was released from imprisonment by ruler Jahangir. Along with his release Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji asked for the release of the 52 Hindu Kings as well.

• The release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was on Diwali.• Diwali is a time when Indians all over the world rejoice. • Diwali is celebrated by lighting our homes and streets with

homemade lanterns or candles. There is a celebration with fireworks as well.

• Houses are thoroughly cleaned, new dishes bought and family and friends get together for dinners dressed in beautiful clothes. Sweets are handed out.

Happy Diwali to All.

Diwali

Mail Box Theft

Community mailboxes were vandalized again during the afternoon of November 20th. with mail possibly stolen again. Several individual compartments were broken into, with mail either gone or only “junk” mail left behind in a few. The locks from the compartments had been tampered with and/or littered the ground beneath the units.

If possible try to collect your mail daily.



This is also the season of Mailbox thefts. This was the time last year when we had high incidents of theft due to increased Christmas mail delivery, gifts, cards and possible cash/gift cards in the mail. Continue to be vigilant and always be aware of Identity theft…shred/destroy anything with names/phone numbers or vital information on items that could possibly be of use to the criminal mind. It doesn’t take much and people do go through those garbage bins!

Neighbourhood Safety/SecurityBy the time this newsletter is delivered we will have completed the local Civic Election and we will have a new Mayor. All of the Candidates have Crime/Community Safety as the major portion of their platforms. It will be up to us as a Community and neighbourhood association to encourage follow-up to this agenda.

Time and time again, we are reminded to report, report, report. Please know to call 9-1-1 in an emergency or when you feel threatened or the possibility of escalation of an unsafe situation. And use the non-emergency number ( 604-599-0502) in all other situations. Please continue to report to the WPRRA Website so that we may monitor crime events/patterns. And not wanting to sound like a broken record, but BLOCKWATCH is an excellent way to be informed and get to know your neighbours. Blair Berkner continues to be an excellent coordinator and updates the local Captains regularly. Consider getting involved! There seems to have been a spike in property crimes/auto break-ins in September/October and now back to a quiet period. Please continue to be vigilant and keep yourself and property safe.

This is the season where people tend to travel and take vacations. Some tips to avoid potential break-ins:

Outdoor Lighting for safety and security:Lighting allows you to walk safely on a path or steps to your home, lets you see who’s at the door before opening it and acts as a deterrent to criminals and prowlers. If a light is on, it gives the impression that someone is at home and alert to an outside presence. Lighting takes away shadows where someone could hide. BC Hydro has many tips for Automatic control systems, types of lighting and placement as well as lights to avoid ( clear glass designs, exposed high wattage lamps could have a blinding effect and be almost as hazardous as no light) Contact: www.bchydro.com or call: 604-431-9463• Stop all regular deliveries• Set lights/radios on timer mode• Have someone take care of your yard• Have your mail picked up or held• Leave an address/phone number with a

TRUSTED neighbour• Keep drapes or blinds closed

• Have a neighbour park a car in your driveway so it appears someone is home

• Turn down ringers/bells on your phone• Remember that most insurance policies now

require that your home be inspected on a regular basis if the home owner is away for any length of time



Consider downloading the Surrey Request App on your Iphone, Android or Blackberry Smartphone. You can report litter, graffiti, potholes and much more. Take a photo of the problem and send that as well, and you can pinpoint the problem with your smartphone’s built-in GPS. Many of us have had great success using this App.

There are many ways to contact the City of Surrey for all types of problems, either through their website ( email) or by phone. Here are some important numbers to clip and save as needed.• City of Surrey General phone : 604-591-4011• Emergency issues: ( ie. Water mains, missing stop signs) 604-591-4152• By-law and Animal Complaints: 604-591-4370 ( this includes UNSIGHTLY PROPERTIES and NOISE

COMPLAINTS or [email protected])• Street and sidewalk repair: 604-591-4152• Fire: Burning regulations, reporting of an abandoned building, suspected grow-op, or general fire

service inquiries: 604-543-6700• Blockwatch program: 604-502-6560• Crime stoppers: 1-800-222-8477 ( TIPS)• Or on-line at www.solvecrime.ca• Text tip: text BCTIP and send your tip to CRIMES ( 274637)

Who to Contact and How?

Colebrook ChurchColebrook United Church has been part of this community for 70 years. It is a place for all the people of the Ridge, a place for Dialogue, for friendship, for play and for exploring spirituality. Counselling and caring support are available to all. We have space for family gatherings, meetings and community activities. We have worship that is open to all at 10:00a.m. on Sundays. We have pickleball and various study groups during the week. Drop by or give us a call, we are here for you.

Upcoming Events at Colebrook United Church:Dec. 1, 8.5 & 22, 7:00pm, Advent StudyDec. 6, 10:00am-3:00pm, Craft FairDec. 14, 10:00am, Children’s Christmas Pageant

Ongoing Happenings at Colebrook United Church:Drop-In Bridge – 2nd & 4th Fridays beginning January, 2015 – April, 2015 from 12:30-3:30pm. No partner required. $3.00. Beginners welcome. Pickleball – Wednesdays from 3:00-5:00pm. $4.00 each session.Yoga – Mondays from 9:30-10:30am. $45.00/8 sessions, $6.50 for drop-in.Youth Group – for youth from grades 4-8, alternating Fridays from 7:00-8:30pm.

Please call the church, 604-596-2412, if you wish any additional information on any the above.

Dec. 21, 10:00am, Lessons & Carols ServiceDec. 24, 7:00pm, Christmas Eve Service



We had only lived in Canada for 1 year when we decided we would to move to a location where my husband could establish a family medical practice and we could find a good area to raise our family. We had spent our first year living in Vancouver where my husband worked at the Childrens Hospital. We were told about Panorama Ridge so we visited and found it to our liking. We liked the look of a historic Brown family house which had been quite neglected. We were young and energetic and decided the required restoration efforts would prove worthwhile. I initially worked as my husband’s nurse and receptionist but soon learned there was a lot to do at home as we had 7 acres and had decided to keep beef cattle and riding horses. The cattle also fed some of our neighbors. My husband learned blacksmith skills so he could shoe the horses we boarded as well as our own. He even learned a few vet skills. Our driveway was long and very steep so we had to winch our vehicle up the last and steepest part during winter storms. One Christmas the snow was so deep we couldn’t drive and had to toboggan the turkey uphill to our friends on a skateboard – we used ski poles ourselves. Another December 23rd. we were finally being connected to municipal water but the plumber forgot to install the reduction valve and our pipes burst resulting in a very messy and unexpected pre-Christmas surprise. We made many good friends and our lives were very busy but very satisfying.

Our 3 children attended the 3 room Colebrook School until grade 4. They moved to J.T. Brown and one eventually went to Princess Margaret High. Most of our shopping was done in Newton and we went to Woodwards in New West on Saturdays as we had only 1 car. The family enjoyed sailing and built a cottage on Mayne Island. We eventually subdivided our property as family interests were changing when our children grew up. We moved here in 1959 and decided it was time to move to a smaller property but will always remember the life we had on the farm on Panorama Ridge.

Life on Panorama Ridge in the 1960s

One of the Historic Homes on Panorama Ridge

Colebrook United Church also collects:Food for the Surrey Food Bank, Children’s clothing up to size 14 and Diapers (sizes 4-6) for the Clothes Closet,Adult jackets, pants, shoes, warm tops (sweatshirts & hoodies) given out at Community Dinners at the Hub once a month.

Colebrook Church (Continued)



Pholiota Species

October and November are generally the best months for finding different mushroom species, especially after a rain shower. Some of the local mushrooms that can be observed and eaten are: “the chanterelle, boletes, oysters mushrooms, shaggy manes and puffballs”. More questionable mushrooms ones are: “the brightly colored mushrooms such as the photogenic fly amanita and many of the white mushrooms (other than the meadow and horse mushrooms), because they resemble toxic species. Joe Brown Park and Watershed Park are great for finding boletes, the occasional chanterelles, russulas and oyster mushrooms! Since mushrooms are sometimes not easy to spot, it is fun to search for them with young children. Young children are naturally lower to the ground and their eyes are like eagles’, they get so excited when they find them. It is a good idea, to inform them not to touch any mushrooms with their hands, because children are naturally curious and cannot always resist temptation, therefore they can be encouraged to touch the mushrooms with a leaf or small stick and this works great to gently tap mature puffballs in releasing their clouds of brown spores in the air. An interesting science experiment with young children is to bring some non-poisonous samples of abundantly growing species, home to study and take spore prints (leave the mushroom on a white paper , cover with bowl and let the spores make a print…).

Mushrooms are a part of the much larger family of: “Fungi”. Fungi have been around for millions of years and are parasites that grow on plants, animals, humans and dead and decaying organic matter, mainly in a warm and damp environment. From mildewed shoes and towels to the fungi on our bodies (e.g. athlete’s foot and yeast infections), fungi has also been the cause of diseases that destroyed millions of trees i.e. the Dutch Elm Disease in the late 1960’s and the Irish potato harvests were destroyed for many years in the 1800’s, caused by a rust fungus with the result of widespread starvation.

Mushrooms around the Ridge

Oyster Mushroom



Not all fungi are bad though. Yeast is among some of the fungi that we would have difficulty to live without…since it is necessary to make bread, wine and beer. Some cheeses are injected with live fungi to give them their unique flavours, i.e. Danish Blue and Roquefort. A particular fungi that is used to prolong human life is “penicillin” in antibiotics to kill bacteria that invade our bodies and treat diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy. If it wasn’t for fungi the dead bodies of animals and all plants would not decompose as fast as with bacteria and bugs alone and the nutrients would not return back to the ground. Other plants and animals that rely on those nutrients from the dead material would perish and the delicate balance of the ecosystem would be lost! Fungi are nature’s best recyclers!

Fresh mushrooms, store bought or wild, have long been celebrated as a source of powerful nutrients and minerals. They are low in calories and fat free. They contain vitamins B and D, riboflavin, niacin and minerals like selenium, copper and potassium.

For those interested in foraging for edible mushrooms, some important mushroom picking etiquette: • Do not take all of the same species in a cluster or group, always leave some or break a few and “throw against a tree”, to release spores and to ensure a new generation the following year. • Do not pull them out and destroy the sensitive mycelium (roots) from which they grow, please use a sharp knife or scissors and cut close to ground! To help identify species that look alike, taste: chew a tiny portion of the mushroom, (is it bitter or spicy?) then always spit it out!! Use your sense of smell, they can smell sweet or like almond or smell like fish or phenol! Look at the underside, sponge or gills, ring or no ring. Find, young, mature and old samples of the same mushrooms in a group, a young specimen could look a lot like another type of mature mushroom which maybe inedible or poisonous!! Bring a friend who has experience or someone who is an expert in mycology! Don’t forget a pocket size mushroom field guide! Last but not least, bring a camera, you will be glad you did! When you are outside, look up (on tree trunks) down and around, mushrooms are everywhere and great to photograph, especially in clusters on dead tree stumps, as well as singular ones. Try to take a photo from the ground and take one or two mushrooms and position them for a side view or from underneath, this makes identifying them easier. This can be a rewarding experience, you will benefit from fresh air, get exercise and a chance to find some of fall’s treasures!!

For free local nature walks please visit www.thenaturenut.ca

Russula Species

Lepiota Mushroom

Mushrooms around the Ridge (Continued)



Residents of West Panorama Ridge may now purchase a $100 “lifetime membership” in our community association. This membership is offered in addition to the single year ($10) and three year memberships ($25). Lifetime membership is equivalent in cost to 10 single year memberships and 4 three year memberships. More than a money saving idea, this membership level was created around the concept of encouraging residents to become sustaining members of our community association. We plan to use funds collected to create sustainable funding for the activities of the community association. An added benefit is that lifetime members never need to ask “Did I pay this year??” and we the volunteers of the community association can reduce our efforts to remind members when their membership has lapsed and coordinate payment. A number of residents have become “lifetime members”, illustrating their dedication to our community. Please consider joining them! We will be sending out an e-mail to everyone at the end of December to let you know whether or not your membership is up for renewal.

Lifetime Membership

Gurjinder Bhurji 604-802-6703Bruce Davie 778-578-1441Travis Endersby 604-594-4200Bruce Fraser 604-594-6644Herb Hawson 604-597-1641Lauren Kunimoto 778-565-7637Rob Lemon 604.307-4277Audrey Pease 604-594-8411

Directors without voting rightsAman Kaur 604-593-5913

Your DirectorsArnie van Hattem President 604-572-8302Tammy Ritchie Vice President,Chairperson, Keep Clean/Neighbourhood Safety 604-596-6237Darryn Langstaff Treasurer 604-351-7516Joan Mayhew Secretary 604-597-5002



Our community of West Panorama Ridge is bounded by Highway 10 on the north, King George Highway on the east, Highway 99 on the south and Scott Road on the west. We are proud to live in one of Surrey’s most desirable residential communities.

For over 50 years the West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers Association has provided its’ residents with a strong voice relative to promoting the further development of green spaces and parks within our community’s boundaries. The Association directors are vigilant in ensuring that the residential development reflects the direction provided by our community.

The community website www.panoramaridge.org was established to provide all residents with an opportunity to find information about available essential services, and to communicate the most current information available on happenings and events of concern and interest to you in our community.

Our Directors work hard to fulfill the mandate of the community association. We would encourage you to consider participating as a Director or a volunteer. Even if you can’t spare any time, we need you to support the community association by becoming a member! Just being a member shows the City of Surrey that the residents of this community support the WPRRA. Your membership fee al-lows us to create and distribute the newsletter and the website. It is the best $100 (Lifetime), $25 (Three year membership) or $10 (One year membership) investment you can make in your community! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Return this portion of the membership form with your payment to:Darynn Langstaff WPRRA Treasurer5475 125A Street, Surrey BC, V3X 1W4,

Name:_______________________________ Phone number:_________________

Address:_____________________________ E-Mail address:_______________________

or drop your completed membership form off at the home of any Director. Receipts will be sent to the address listed below. The WPRRA keeps all membership information completely confidential.

Membership in the WPRRA

Documents

Fall 2014 Newsletter - West Panorama Ridge … 2014 Newsletter Page 3 Website: Email: [email protected] As you all know the majority of the residents have voted for additional