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The Cloverdale
Brittany Reimer
130 2010!
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Your Weekly Clover Valley Newspaper June 21, 2012 Y www.CloverdaleReporter.com Y 604-575-2405
Residents demand safer crossing
Locals want crosswalk, light at 168 St. and 57A Ave.
By Jennifer Lang never sure if we’re going to get hit by Residents asking for a crosswalk a car.” A resident of 14 years who’s witin their Cloverdale neighbourhood took their demands to the street last nessed the once-sleepy, quasi-rural Wednesday, picketing on the busy neighbourhood grow into a bustling corner of 168 Street and 57A Avenue residential enclave, Burbank said the city of Surrey initially promised to during rush hour. install a light at the interNearly two-dozen prosection, but so far it hasn’t testers – who ranged from happened. grandmas and moms to Residents trying to elementary school stu- “I watched a woman turn onto 168 St. from dents and a toddler or two die on my lawn.” 57A Ave. wait for a break – waived signs reading in the stream of traffic, or Keep our Children Safe, - Ravina Chand wind up driving through Safety First, and Give Us the subdivision to 60 AvA Cross Walk. enue, adding to congesMany motorists racing tion around the elemenpast in the afternoon rush honked and waved in support, but tary school at drop off and pick-up didn’t slow down much, inadvertently times. “We need something for parents underscoring the residents’ concerns. “Every day you try to cross here, it’s and kids to cross safely here,” she a nightmare,” said Chrissy Burbank, said. Protest organizer Trudy Hemrick a parent of two boys. Her youngsaid she’s grown frustrated by the est attends nearby Surrey Centre Elementary, while her teen goes to city’s refusal to install a cross walk Lord Tweedsmuir, making for several across 168 Street at 57A Avenue, an crossings a day by foot or car. “We’re Continued on page 3
JENNIFER LANG PHOTO
Amer Afridi, City of Surrey engineer, explains to residents why a crosswalk won’t help slow traffic at this intersection.
‘Versatile’ performer is a Senior Star By Jennifer Lang Anyone acquainted with Susie (Francis) Hall already knows she’s a star. Now she has a trophy to prove it. Well known in Cloverdale for heading up The Versatiles, a performing arts troupe of golden agers, Hall has won the Langley, B.C., division of Senior Star, a talent contest open to singers and musicians aged 65 and up. Her (somewhat bawdy) rendition of the sultry blues standard, “The Birth of the Blues,” accompanied by pianist Deenie Lusse, won over the judges at the June 14 event, held at Langley Gardens Retirement Community. The multifaceted performer beat out nine other contestants, including Cloverdale’s Irene Reed, a previous regional Senior Idol who sang her way to the nationals in 2010. Working the crowd, Hall
Susie Francis Hall with her trophy.
wowed judges Langley Township Coun. Grant Ward, school music instructor Jamie Thomas and performer Gail Hawksworth to take top prize. Senior Star is Canada’s largest talent competition dedicated to seniors. This year there are 60 regional competitions being held across Canada. Contestants are given five minutes to sing a song, play an instrument, or do both. Videotaped performances of the winners are then submitted to a celebrity panel of judges. The list is narrowed to nine competitors selected to the Senior Star National Finals this November in Niagara Falls. Hall hopes to be one of them. Meanwhile, Susie and The Versatiles are enjoying a steady set of engagements at area seniors’ residences and other venues. This summer, they’ll perform their biggest show yet: an anniversary show at Vancou-
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ver’s historic Kitsilano Showboat at Kits Beach. The Aug. 11 performance is an historic occasion for The Versatiles, and especially Hall. In 1937, her grandfather, Frank Dowie, and “The Versatiles” performed a tribute to King George IV during Canada’s Coronation season in English Bay. Seventy-five years later, Hall will be standing where her grandfather stood and celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s diamond Jubilee year. Hall, who founded the rebooted Versatiles in 2005, has spent her life in the theatre, and loves the vaudeville tradition, which encompasses singing, dancing, and comedy. She got her start at the age of seven, gracing stages with her parents, Fran Dowie and Candy Kane. The Senior Star competition is presented by Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT.
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