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| Thursday, February 7, 2013 | Thursday, February 7, 2013
Family Day Fun in theFamily Valley!Day PAGEFun 11 in the Valley!
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Bringing music to the youths — at no charge
‘Joy to the World, All the Boys and Girls’
By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star
Four young girls were happily picking and fretting their guitars along to a Taylor Swift song last Thursday in a quiet room at St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church. Their instructor Tristan Paxton patiently guided them through the chords and notes to the current pop chart hit for the hour-long lesson. The four music students, like several others in the Langley and Abbotsford area, are receiving professional quality instruction at no charge, thanks to the fledgling Music Access Society. The non-profit society, based in Aldergrove, was founded late last year by Anne Guite and John Briner with the aim of providing a top-notch music instruction program to youths who could not otherwise afford such a program. Thanks to the many donors who’ve stepped up with gifts of money and instruments, and fund-raising events organized by Guite and Briner, the program has taken off. “We’ve had a lot of instruments donated, people have been very generous,” said Guite. “The principal of Blacklock elementary school donated several keyboards which are used by 15 students at our program in the Al Anderson pool meeting room — and the room was donated by the City of Langley.” Long & McQuade, Tapestry Music and Ryan and Stephanie Langford are also sponsors of the MAS programs in Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Langley. In addition, Langley Rotary and Kinsmen clubs have pledged funding for the program. The parents are required to register the students but the only cost is a $25 refundable deposit for any instruments which are loaned. The instructors are also screened for criminal records by the society to ensure the safety of the students. “The families are not down and out but they simply don’t have any money for extras, whether it’s soccer or music or whatever. KURT LANGMANN PHOTO This program gives them a healthy alternative to video games,” said Youths in Aldergrove, Abbotsford and Langley are receiving free music lessons through the charitable work of the Music Access Guite. For information see their website www.musicaccesssociety.com Society, spearheaded by local residents Anne Guite (top left) and John Briner (top centre). This guitar group class meets weekly at St. Dunstan’s Church on 264 Street, where Tristan Paxton (top right) is their instructor. or call 604-259-8452.
New pool, ice arena planned to open in 2015 By DAN FERGUSON Aldergrove Star
The preliminary designs for the new Aldergrove community centre call for a smaller pool than some residents would like. The plans for the site of the former Aldergrove Elementary school site at Fraser Highway and 270 Street were presented to Langley Township council Monday night with the final
report of the standing committee on the Aldergrove community centre. As presented, the new facility will have a smaller pool than the 50-metre, eight-lane “long course” swimming pool some residents want because it could accommodate a provincial swim meet. Al versions of the community centre presented to council call for a 25-metre, six lane “short course” pool
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instead. Committee chair councillor Bob Long said there simply isn’t enough room on the site. “There’s not enough property there, number one, and number two, the cost would be extremely high,” Long said. However, he stressed no final decision has been made. “We haven’t said no to anything,”
Long added. David Leavers, the Recreation, Culture, and Parks director made the same point during his presentation, noting the designs could change. “This is by no means the final concept,” Leavers said. While the layout and look may be modified, one thing that is unlikely to change is the decision to build a new hockey arena as part of the com-
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plex, rather than keep the 40-yearold Aldergrove Community Arena (ACA) going. The ACA, the report stated, has a life expectancy of “about 10” more years, and doesn’t meet the latest building code and seismic standards. The new arena will cost less to maintain and be more energy efficient as well.
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