Langley Times, November 25, 2014

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TUESDAY November 25, 2014 • www.langleytimes.com NEWS Forest Fence on Hold

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COMMUNITY A New President for TWU

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ARTS & LIFE Broadway Hit with a Twist

Williams Park Christmas celebrations cancelled

Christmas Bloom-ing in Fort Langley

VOLUNTEERS CAN’T BOUNCE BACK AFTER SECOND MAJOR THEFT IN TWO YEARS MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter

from expanding Simonds Elementary into a middle school and closing Langley Secondary, to changing H.D. Stafford Middle School back into a Grade 8-12 school. “From the meetings we have had with the respective PACs is we have learned that transparency about everything is vital and that the community’s input must be part of the process,” said district spokesperson Ken Hoff.

A Grinch determined to steal Christmas has managed to do just that with the cancellation of a Langley holiday tradition that has delighted thousands since 1991. “The Grinch truly stole Christmas in Williams Park,” said Barb Sharp, president of the Christmas in Williams Park Society. For the first time in more than two decades, Williams Park will not be decked out in thousands of twinkling lights and fun Christmas displays, because thieves have made off with more than $10,000 worth of decorations. This is the second year in a row the event has suffered a loss to thieves, and there is not enough time to come up with the money and manpower required to stage the event this year, said Sharp. The theft was discovered at the end of October, after the society had started meeting and planning for the 2014 event. “How do you bounce back from that?” said Sharp. “Our volunteers are thinking, ‘Again? We got hit again?’ It really is a disappointment.” Each year, Williams Park has been adorned with thousands of lights, inflatables, cut-outs, and other decorations that transform it into a winter wonderland. For 22 years, guests have been invited to drive through the park over a two-week period. The event culminates with two nights of entertainment, horse and carriage rides, refreshments, and a visit from Santa. Money to hold the annual event comes from donations collected from the public and it is staged through the hard work and efforts of the volunteer-run society, with support from Township of Langley staff. Numerous community members, service groups, and organizations such as the Elks Club, Trinity Western University, CUPE, and local firefighters all come out to set up and clean up, serve food and drinks, and provide entertainment. However, over the years, Christmas in Williams Park’s volunteer base has been diminishing and those that have worked hard to make the event happen are depressed by the rash of thefts and vandalism.

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DAN FERGUSON Langley Times

Eight-year-old Alexis Paige admired some of the Christmas crafts on display at the Bloom Market in Fort Langley on Sunday, Nov. 23 at the community hall.

Schools consultation process set to begin MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter

Langley School District is beginning a consultation process that will affect the Langley Secondary and R.E. Mountain catchment communities. After several meetings with DPAC, impacted school staff and the board of education, the district is ready to hold two information sessions with parents, one on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at H.D. Stafford Middle School and on

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Wednesday, Dec. 3 at R.E. Mountain Secondary. Both sessions will run from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will provide the community with an overview of some of the suggestions and implications of addressing Willoughby slope overcrowding, under-capacity schools and Langley Secondary’s required seismic upgrades and whether or not to close that school. The suggestions from the district staff are varied, and include everything

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