CULTURE CLASH SCUTTLED P3?
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PRIDE TAKES OVER NEW WESTMINSTER
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A LIST ENTRY FORMS
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WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 22 2012 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Queensborough’s Cassius Khan had a dream of a classical Indian music festival, and he’s put one together for the Massey Theatre this Saturday. See Page A4
City, Salient do deal for work
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Lana Friesen and Melissa Balfour stage their own private dance party at River Market, where Balfour will be hosting New Westminster’s first Lunch Beat on Aug. 28.
Mid-day dance party coming to River Market Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
When Melissa Balfour gets stressed at work, she gets up from her desk and dances. Fortunately, Balfour mostly works alone at home, so co-workers aren’t subjected to her flailing arms and legs akimbo. But on Tuesday, Aug. 28, Balfour wants to turn her one-person dance party into a mosh. She’s organized New Westminster’s first Lunch Beat, to be held at River Market from 12-1 p.m. In fact, it’s the first time such
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an event has been held in Western Canada. Lunch Beat started in a garage in Stockholm, Sweden in June 2010 when a young entrepreneur gathered 14 of her friends and colleagues and a DJ to blow off a bit of mid-day steam. By that fall, Lunch Beat was a movement, with noon-hour gambols organized all over the city. A few months later they had spread beyond Stockholm’s city limits to France, Germany, Finland, Serbia, Portugal and eventually to North American cities like New York, San
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Francisco and Toronto. There are currently more than 25 international branches and some parties attract upwards of 600 celebrants. Part of Lunch Beat’s appeal is its simplicity, says Balfour, who read about the events in a magazine article. There’s no schedule, no instructor, no need to register, no inihibitions. But there is a manifesto, the first rule of which is “if it’s your first time at Lunch Beat, you have to dance.” Other rules include no talking about work at Lunch Beat, and “everyone present is your dance partner.”
With music and atmosphere provided by local DJ Emiko, “It’s like a little rave in the middle of the day,” says Balfour. “Instead of sitting at your desk eating lunch for an hour, you can go have some fun. Lunch Beat doesn’t discriminate. It’s for everyone.” To help ease people into the idea and to protect everyone’s dignity from gawkers, Balfour says she’ll throw her Lunch Beat in the upper conference room at River Market. She hopes to make them monthly happenings. twitter.com/newsleaderfotog
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A deal has been worked out between the City of New Westminster and the Salient Group for the developer to pay approximately $235,000 for offsite work as part of a development agreement for the proposed Trapp+Holbrook block on Columbia Street. The work, detailed in a report to council for next Monday includes: water, sanitary and storm sewer connections; new sidewalk, curb and gutter on Front Street; new crossing on Front to parkade; street lights on Front; new paving on Front; and underground electrical work as well as removing existing overhead conductors and poles. Salient must complete the off-site work prior to occupancy of the building and maintain it for two years. The development will see 196 housing units in a 20-storey building, along with 8,500 square feet of retail space. Council will decide whether to approve the deal on Monday, Aug. 27.