Christmas Lights around Cloverdale

I'm using a different camera. It's not so good with night shots but here are a few scenes around Cloverdale with Christmas lights.

On 176th Street and 58A Avenue.

 

 

 

One of the wreaths hanging from a light pole.



 

 

 

 

176th Street looking south from 58th Avenue.

 

 

Painted windows at MLA Stephanie Cadieux's office on 176th Street.

 

 

Fedewich notary office on 176A Street

 

 

 

The Christmas tree on top of the Dale building on 176th Street.

 

 

Lights on Hawthorne Square on 176th Street.

 

Cloverdale Santa Claus Parade - Sunday, December 8, 2013

This year Cloverdale's Santa Claus Christmas Parade of Lights will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2013 starting at 5pm.

Note: this is one week later from the previously announced date. If you show up in Cloverdale on December 1 you will be disappointed.

They changed the parade route last year and I think they are doing the same route again this year. The parade's staging area is in the Fraser Downs parking lot - the fairgrounds on 60th Avenue. The parade will come out of the parking lot and head south on 177B Street. At 58th Avenue, the parade turns west and continues to 176th Street. The parade continues southbound to 56A Avenue and then turns right or westbound. At this point the parade peters out and goes up the back alley to 57th Avenue and then exits at the Cloverdale Bypass and makes their way back to the fairgrounds. Most people try to get viewing spots on 176th Street especially if they have children who want to meet Santa. It's less crowded along 58th Avenue.

The parade features semi truck rigs decked out in Christmas lights and decorations, many coming from Vancouver Island through the Island Equipment Owners Association. There were also be local trucks in the parade. There will be cars, marching bands, and horses taking part. The highlight is Santa Claus at the end of the parade who will disembark his float at Hawthorne Square on 176th Street, between 57th and 58th Avenues, and will throw the switch to light up the Christmas tree on top of the Dale Building.

Last year there were 3 floats that had Santa Claus so perhaps they'll coordinate a bit better this year!

The food bank will be collecting donations and several merchants and vendors will be selling hot chocolate, hot dogs, cookies, and other treats.

Parking around Cloverdale can be a little tricky. All the above mentioned streets on the parade route will have temporary no parking signs on them. If you've parked in the past at the site of the old Cloverdale Mall, you need to find another place to park. The old mall is under construction and behind a fence. There are still some parking spaces around the Cloverdale Legion on 57th Avenue. Public parking lots are on 176A Street at 58A Avenue, 176A Street at 57A Avenue (behind the Clova Theatre, next to the Bank of Montreal), and in the alley behind 176th Street between 56A Avenue and 57th Avenues behind the firehall. These public parking lots between them hold about 150 cars. The old Cloverdale Super Market (Shop-Easy) that closed down on 176th Street and 58th Avenue has a small parking lot that holds about 20 cars. No one is monitoring the parking there but arrive early before the streets get shut down. There is free street parking around Cloverdale, look at 176A and 177B Streets and all the avenues between those streets and then walk downtown. Streets will be shut down by volunteers so car traffic will undoubtedly get quite jammed up as people arriving at the last minute try to find a place to park. If you want to find a good parking spot, arrive before 4pm. If you arrive late, after 4:30pm, try the parking lot at the fairgrounds and catch the parade as it starts.

Christmas Lights going up around Cloverdale

Christmas lights are being hung in downtown Cloverdale. Some of the Christmas lights have been set up on 176th Street and in Hawthorne Square. Several trees on the main street have been decorated and Hawthorne Square has red Christmas lights strung up and some wreaths.

The workers will be finishing the lights by the end of November in preparation for the Santa Claus Parade.

Cloverdale Remembrance Day 2013

Remembrance Day services will be held at the Museum Square in Cloverdale beginning 10:15am on November 11, 2013.

Address is 17710 56A Avenue.

The cenotaph is located just west of the museum in the square behind the Surrey Archives, formerly the police station and then the library. The current library is kitty corner to the square. There is parking at the museum but get there early. Other parking is along the streets on 56A Avenue, 176A Street, 177B Street, and the streets around there.

Ceremony usually lasts about an hour.

Cloverdale Harvest Day, Saturday October 5, 2013

Come down to 176th Street in Cloverdale on Saturday, October 5, 2013 for Harvest Day between 10am and 4pm.

The downtown merchants are having sidewalk sales and there will be a farmer's market.

There is rain in Saturday's forecast.

Cloverdale Brick Yard Station first casualty

Today I was over at the Cloverdale Brick Yard Station (corner Cloverdale Bypass, Highway 10, 57 Avenue) and noticed the farm market, the last shop at the west end closest to 57th Avenue has closed.

They sold fresh produce and some other grocery products there. They had a rolling shelf they brought outside each day that had apples, oranges, and other fruits on it. I didn't see it there today so I walked up and peeked in the window. All the products have been removed but the shelving units are still in there.

That's too bad. They weren't open very long. I think they opened in May or possibly late April.

The unfortunate distinction of being the first shop in the Brick Yard Station to close down.

Here's the picture I took of their window front when I was photographing the windows decorated for the Cloverdale Rodeo.

 

 

Playing at the Clova from August 30 to September 5, 2013

Playing at the Clova this week from August 30th to September 5th is:

7pm - Turbo

8:55pm - Monsters University

Last show lets out around 10:30pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

The Amazing Race Cloverdale 2013

The Clova Theatre is holding The Amazing Race Cloverdale on Sunday September 1, 2013 starting at 2pm. Teams must be between 4 and 6 people with at least one adult in the group.

Start at the parking lot behind the Clova to receive the first clue and figure out which business to go to. When you arrive at that location you get your next clue. There are prizes for the first 3 teams to finish plus participation prizes for everyone else.

Cost is $5 for children up to 12 years and $10 for over 13 and adults.

Email clovacinema@telus.net to sign up.

Playing at the Clova August 23 to August 29, 2013

Playing at the Clova this week from Friday August 23 to the 29th is:

7pm - The Smurfs 2

9pm - Grown Ups 2

Last show lets up around 10:40pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. For 2 people admission is $15 and add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Playing at the Clova from August 9 to 22, 2013

This week at the Clova from Friday August 9 to the 22nd is:

7pm - Planes

Movie lets out around 8:30pm. Seeing as how this movie is premiering everywhere on Friday, the Clova's agreement is to play for at least 2 weeks without a second feature. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Fraser Downs Barn Tours and Open House August 10, 2013

Fraser Downs is having an open house in the barn area on Saturday, August 10, 2013 from 9:30am to 2pm.

The backstretch area is located at 17740 - 62 Ave in Cloverdale. Take 176th Street, turn east down 62nd Avenue. There's traffic lights there and the Cloverdale Rec Centre is on the corner. Drive down until you see the red barns on the right side of the road. The left side is also a red barn, the Agriplex, and has nothing to do with Fraser Downs, but its probably easier to park in their parking lot and walk across the street.

The open house has tours of the barn area given by some of the people who work with the Standardbred racehorses. There is a free lunch as well.

Even though it says the open house/barn tours start at 9:30am I would say arrive later on. They are holding qualifying races on Saturday morning for the coming racing season that starts on August 17 and I don't think they'll be finished that early. The barn area will be a fluster of activity with horse, sulky, driver teams going back and forth to the track and the various barn workers getting their work done. The barn tours won't start until its safe for people to be moving around those areas. We've arrived as late as 11am in the past and the barn tours were just getting ready to start. Take a tour and learn what goes into getting a horse ready to race.

As for the free lunch, last year it was hot dogs on a BBQ. Previous years its been put together your own sandwiches and salads. No notice what the lunch will be this year.

Cloverdale Blueberry Festival August 10, 2013

The annual Cloverdale Blueberry Festival is on again for its 10th year on August 10, 2013 from 9am to 4pm. 176th Street and 176A Street will be closed from approximately 58A Avenue to Highway 10.

The Show 'n' Shine will be mostly on 176th Street featuring antique and custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles. There will be entertainers set up on a stage across from Hawthorne Square - on 176th Street between 57th and 58th Avenues - performing all day. There'll be a blueberry pie eating contest at 10am and 11am. There's an art festival taking place at the Surrey Museum (56A Avenue between 176A and 177B Street) with entertainers performing throughout the day here too. The Cloverdale Lions Club will be selling blueberry pancakes in Hawthorne Square from 8am to 10:30am and vendors will be set up on 56A Avenue and 176th Street.

Just walk around downtown Cloverdale and you'll see everything.

As for parking, seeing as how the old Cloverdale Mall is fenced off, try parking in the Cloverdale Legion's parking lot on 57th Avenue between the Cloverdale Bypass and 176th Street. There is public parking lots just off 56A Avenue in the alley behind 176th Street near the firehall behind 57th Avenue. Other public parking lots are on 176A Street but they might be blocked off to traffic due to festivities. Look for parking on the residential streets 177B Street and on the avenues between 176A Street and 177B.

Playing at the Clova from August 2 to 8, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova:

7pm - White House Down

9:25pm - Now You See Me

Last show lets out at 11:20pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. For 2 people admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Dollar Store in Cloverdale

I keep forgetting to post an update that Cloverdale has a new dollar store, not too far from where the old dollar store was in the Clover Square Village, Highway 10 and 177B Street.

Dollarama has opened in the same building block where the old dollar store used to be, but not the same space. Dollarama is in space where the old antique mall used to be, the last shop in that building's block.

Playing at the Clova from July 26 to August 1, 2013

This week playing at the Clova from Friday July 26 till August 1st is:

7pm - Pacific Rim

9:25pm - World War Z

Last show lets out around 11:20pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person. Price is for one or both movies.

Pancake Breakfast as the Cloverdale Legion on Saturday, July 13, 2013

The Cloverdale Legion is holding its pancake breakfast this Saturday, July 13, from 8am to 11:30am.

Cost is $4.50 for pancakes, sausages, eggs, coffee, tea, and an orange juice/drink.

The legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue.

Dann's has Closed

Dann's, the bicycle and electronics shop on 176th Street has closed. I knew they'd been planning to close for some time and I haven't walked past in awhile but noticed tonight the big Dann's sign was gone.

I looked in the window and it appears to be a shop for antiques and/or second hand goods. No name on the store, but I did see a very faint outline on the door's window that might have read The Bowerbird Shop.

Dann's was the place where my parents bought my bicycles and accessories and the place we took appliances such as TVs and stereos for repairs.

When I was still young enough to be riding a tricycle my father came home one day with this battery operated device that he'd bought from Dann's and he attached to the trike. When turned on it made a noise like a motorbike. Interesting choice. My father rode a motorbike when he was younger so maybe it was just one of those things that he had to have - for his kid's trike.

Dann's was in Cloverdale for a long time. I want to say around 75 years, but I'm not sure exactly when they opened, long before I was born. The original proprietor passed the shop over to his son and the last time I saw him he was getting up there in age which may have prompted the decision to close up shop.

Playing at the Clova from July 3 to July 18, 2013

Playing at the Clova starting on Wednesday July 3 until the 18th is:

7pm - Despicable Me 2

Show lets out around 8:40pm. Seeing as how this is a premier release the Clova does not show a second feature and it runs for 2 weeks. The Clova is also showing 2 matinees at 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Playing at the Clova from June 28 to July 2, 2013

The Clova is still doing some odd showings. I finally found out that Thursday's missing movie was a private showing of the Hobbit. This week from June 28 to July 2, 2013 is:

7pm - Man of Steel

Show lets out around 9:25pm. No second show. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Starting on Wednesday July 3, 2013 is Despicable Me 2. See the next post.

Cloverdale Canada Day Party July 1, 2013

The City of Surrey and Cloverdale host Canada Day celebrations at the Millennium Park on the corner of 176th Street and 64th Avenue. It's a free event from 10am to about 10:30pm or whenever the fireworks end. There will be entertainers and singers all day, amusement park rides, about 50 exhibitors/vendors, and food concessions.

The headline act, musical group Platinum Blonde, will take to the stage at 9pm, the last act of the night. When they're done the fireworks show starts.

For more information about the Canada Day celebrations, check their website http://www.surrey.ca/canadaday/default.aspx

Now on to the stuff people really want to know about - where to park and how to get around Cloverdale, or this busy intersection, especially once the fireworks have ended!

Free parking at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Enter off 60th Avenue at 177B Street. They open up the racetrack for cars to park there. Limited parking next door at Greenaway Park, about 20 spots, but by this time its a fair hike to get to the Millennium Park.

Don't think about parking at the old Cloverdale Mall on the corner of the Cloverdale Bypass between 57th and 58th Avenues. They're building there, or will be. So far only ground work done. There's a big fence around the property. Off 58th Avenue there's about 30 parking lots in 2 different areas that aren't fenced off.

Most people find parking spots on the streets, usually in the subdivision between 60th and 64th Avenues, and 168th and 176th Streets. In other words the area directly across the street and west of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds and Millennium Park.

The parking lot at Lord Tweedsmuir High School, on 180th Street, just north of 60th Avenue, is open and there are lots of places to park here. Mostly people park here in the evening to catch the fireworks show. The school's football field on the hill overlooking the park and fairgrounds, is prime viewing for the fireworks.

Whatever you do, do not park in the Cloverdale Crossing Mall, on the other side of the street from the Millennium Park on 60th Avenue. They have signs up saying no event parking and security guards on duty. They are watching people who park and if they leave the property they call in tow trucks. Don't take a chance.

Getting out of Cloverdale is a bit of a nightmare. Likewise for traffic who have no intention of taking part in Canada Day festivities and are just in the unfortunate position of driving along 176th Street after 10pm. Last year the police shut down 176th Street and/or the Cloverdale Bypass (depends which part of the road you're on what its called) between Highway 10 (56th Avenue) and 64th Avenue. Likewise they shut down 57th Avenue, 58th Avenue, and 60th Avenue for any traffic planning to drive down one of those streets and turn onto the Cloverdale Bypass or 176th Street. That was a smart move because two years ago they only shut it down at 58th Avenue and traffic ended up in subdivision hell, going in circles, and ending up at a police blockade and going back the way they came from.

The streets are shut down because 100,000 people are leaving Millennium Park and pedestrians are all over the road. Safety issues.

So don't try to do anything smart driving around the subdivisions west of 176th Street thinking you'll beat the crowds of traffic and get out of Cloverdale faster. 20,000 other drivers are thinking the same thing. There are cul-de-sacs, dead ends, and streets that curve and wind in these subdivisions, and don't get you where you want to go.

My best suggestion is wherever you are head east like you're going to Langley and get yourself at least to 184th Street and away from the mass bedlam of tens of thousands of drivers. From 184th you can turn north and get yourself to the Fraser Highway which will get you back to 176th Street, or a better plan is to drive south. Highway 10 won't be too bad an option, but if you're going to South Surrey or planning to catch Highway 99, drive down 184th Street to 32nd Avenue and from there turn west. People aren't thinking of taking the scenic route and going up to 184th, but its only 8 blocks or so out of the way. Going a couple of kilometres out of your way and getting out of Cloverdale instead of trying to stick within a couple of blocks of Cloverdale and snake through car-jammed streets of the subdivisions where everyone is looking for a fast way out, will get you home faster.

Now what about traffic that just happens to be on 176th Street at that time of night and are surprised by the roads shut down. If you are driving north on 176th, which is really the Cloverdale Bypass at that section, at Highway 10/56th Avenue the road will be blocked by the police. Turn left and drive to 168th Street. Don't be tempted to turn down 60th or 64th Avenue. Bad choice. The police are waiting and will turn you back where you came from. Try to stay on 168th as long as you can. If you're heading for Highway 1, I'd recommend staying on 168th until at least 80th Avenue or 88th Avenue and then turning right to get back to 176th Street.

Or when you hit Highway 10, you can turn right and go up to 184th Street. Turn left and follow 184th to either the Fraser Highway or stay on it a little longer until it dead ends at 80th Avenue, then turn left and make your way back to 176th Street.

Hope my information helps! Stay safe. Pack your patience if you stay at the Millennium Park until the fireworks end. It takes a long time to move all that traffic out of the Cloverdale area.

Cloverdale Supermarket (Shop Easy) Update

I still haven't figured out what is happening with the Cloverdale Supermarket, formerly known as the Shop Easy, on the corner of 176th Street and 58th Avenue.

They've had signs up on their window for a few weeks saying everything must go and all products 10 to 50% off. At the end of May a cash only sign appeared in the window. By that time there were no perishables left in the store.

I'm not sure if they're getting ready for inventory, doing renovations, or closing down for good.

They used to be open 8am to 8pm but I go past during those hours and they're closed. A week ago I saw a sign up they were closed for 2 days for inventory, but seeing as how I haven't seen them open all June I didn't pay much attention to that.

Last night (Wednesday June 19) I saw two 5 ton moving vans in the parking lot and men bringing shelving units out of the building and into a truck. When I walked past this morning the store is more than half empty inside.

A mystery.

Cloverdale Train Service

My father told me when he was younger that he used to catch a train from Cloverdale to Langley and watch the movies there. The train didn't return to Cloverdale so they walked home from Langley. Once the Clova was built that changed. The train station used to be behind the Co-op and feed mill areas on Highway 10 and 176th Street.

Train service is coming back to Cloverdale thanks to the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society. The run is between Cloverdale and Sullivan, 152nd Street and 64th Avenue. A railway station has been built in approximately the same spot, which now puts it behind the Clydesdale Inn and the west end of the Clover Square Mall.

The train schedule is Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Mondays from June 23, 2013 until October 14, 2013. First run is 10am and it runs every hour with the last train at 3pm. Cost is $10 and children under 12 are $5. The train does not stop in Sullivan, just turns around and comes back to Cloverdale. Takes about half an hour.

I spoke with some of the men operating the train this morning and got the scoop that on Saturday, June 22 at 2pm they'll be giving free rides just on the spur. In other words a scenic look at the backside of the mall.

For parking, they have spots available next to their barn, accessed from 176th Street, just south of Highway 10. There are also places to park on the road around there. It's my guess that train riders are going to park in the Clover Square Mall and take their chances at getting towed for leaving the property. There's free parking all over Cloverdale, so park on the street somewhere and walk over to the railway station.

The train is wheelchair accessible with a lift to the train.

For more information see their website http://fvhrs.org/

Playing at the Clova from June 21 to 26, 2013

This coming week things are a little different at the Clova. The following movies are playing from Friday June 21 to Wednesday June 26, 2013. There must be a private function on Thursday June 27. If I find out anything else - if it's open to the public and what's playing - I'll post it.

7pm - Quartet

8:55pm - Oblivion

Last show lets out at 11pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 in your group, admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person.

Free Hot Tub dumped in old Cloverdale Mall lot

This is something you don't see everyday. Someone has dumped an old hot tub in the parking lot of the old Cloverdale Mall, near the corner of 58th Avenue and the Cloverdale Bypass.

They put a "free" sign on it.

I think the sign should read: come haul my junk away for me for free.

It wasn't there this morning so somebody dropped it off during daylight hours. On a busy highway like the Cloverdale Bypass section of 176th Street? And nobody saw?

Ironically enough a junk disposal truck has been parking in this spot over the past few weeks drumming up some free advertising. Perhaps they'll do a good deed and haul it away.

Cloverdale Legion Open House on Saturday, June 22, 2013

I've noticed signs up in some of the downtown Cloverdale's merchant's windows that the Cloverdale Legion is having an open house on Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 9am to 5pm.

Free breakfast from 9am to 11am. The last time they did a free breakfast it was pancakes only, plus coffee, tea, and an orange juice drink.

At lunch they are barbequing hot dogs and coffee, tea, and orange juice drink will be available.

They are having a display of military vehicles, several vehicles are shown on the flyers such as tanks, but I'm not sure what will be there. They are also planning to crush cars, so maybe there will be a tank there. Play it safe and park your car somewhere far away and walk to the Legion!
   
The Legion is located at 17567 57th Avenue.

New Store in Former Anca's Shop

Anca's Bridal shop in Cloverdale closed down a few months ago. It was formerly Dee's Brazilian Shoes, a couple of shops down from Hawthorne Square on 176th Street.

A second hand shop opened up there a few weeks ago but there was no signage. Yesterday I walked past and finally noticed a sign up - Timeless Treasures.

Head on over and check it out for your second hand gear. I noticed a lot of 50's and 60's memorabilia in there.

Hours for Greenaway Pool 2013

Greenaway Pool has had water in it since before the May long weekend. It's been looking nice and clean but nobody is swimming in it. I walked up there a few days ago to see if the hours are posted, but sticking with how they usually do it, no signage for operating hours. It's always hit and miss even with posted hours, most of the time Greenaway Pool doesn't stick with them. It might have to do with difficulty getting lifeguards out to tend to the pool.

According to the City of Surrey's website Greenaway Pool's hours are all over the place. In one section the city claims Greenaway Pool will be open from June 11 to September 3, 2013. I was there about one week ago and there was a wet towel sitting on the sidewalk next to the pool fence. I don't know if that means the pool was open or some kid climbed the fence and went for a swim.

The City of Surrey says the hours from June 10 (what happened to June 11?) to June 28, 2013 at Greenaway Pool will be:

Monday to Friday: 3pm to 4pm and 6pm to 7:30pm
Saturdays: 1:30pm to 3pm, 3:30pm to 5pm, and 5:30 to 7pm
Sundays: 1:30pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 5pm

I don't know why the City of Surrey doesn't show the hours for July and August but I can't imagine they'll be much different. During the mornings there will likely be swimming lessons, schedule unknown, and they'll carry on with the public swim times late afternoon and early evening.

Swimming at the pool is free. If the pool hits maximum capacity the lifeguards limit swims to 30 minutes. They clear the pool after 30 minutes and the people in the line up get in for the next half hour swim.

Playing at the Clova from June 14 to June 20, 2013

Playing at the Clova from Friday June 14 - 20th, 2013 is:

7pm - Star Trek - Into Darkness

9:30pm - The Hangover Part III

Last show lets out around 11:10pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Pancake Breakfast at the Legion on Saturday June 8, 2013

The Cloverdale Legion is holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 8am to 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea, and orange juice/drink. The Legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue.

Playing at the Clova from June 7 to 13, 2013

It's a little confusing at the Clova Theatre this coming week since Friday, June 7 is a private function sponsored by the Anglican Church.

7pm:  Les Miserables

Show lets out around 9:40pm. They are selling tickets for $8 at the door and selling in advance too. Check their website for more information: www.ctrchurch.com

Playing at the Clova from Saturday June 8 to 13, 2013 is:

7pm: The Great Gatsby

9:40pm: Pain & Gain

Last show lets out around 11:50pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 in your group admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Cloverdale Supermarket - Everything on Sale!

A couple of days ago I noticed the Cloverdale Supermarket, formerly known as the Shop Easy, on the corner of 58th Avenue and 176th Street, has signs up that all merchandise is on sale at 10% to 50% off. Another sign states that everything must go.

I haven't been able to speak with anyone at the store yet so I'm not sure if this means they're closing down or clearing out all stock and then doing renovations.

Will update when I find out more, but now's a good time to go shopping there and save a little money.

Playing at the Clova May 24 to June 6, 2013

Playing at the Clova from Friday May 24 to June 6, 2013 is:

7pm - Epic

Show lets out around 8:40pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person. There is no second feature playing because this is a new release premier and the Clova's contract says they have to play it for 2 weeks without a 2nd feature.

Traffic in Cloverdale on Rodeo Weekend

Stay away from 60th Avenue in Cloverdale this weekend. Traffic nightmare! Cars are lined up both directions on 60th hoping to get into the fairgrounds to park. Cars are lined up all the way back to 176th Street, being held up by the majority of cars trying to get into the left hand turn lane at the 177B Street entrance into the fairgrounds. Bad luck for anyone who isn't planning to go to the fair or rodeo and wants to drive straight through towards Langley. Use another street!

I walked past the entrance by 177B Street at 2:30 and the parking lot was full. I watched the parking attendant pull a barricade across the driveway entrance and waving his arms at the traffic to continue along 60th. The cars in the left hand turn lane refused to believe him and the drivers stayed where they were causing a huge traffic jam behind them. Likewise cars on 177B Street who needed to turn left or right. Instead the drivers either stayed where they were backing up traffic behind or drove through the intersection anyway only to be greeted by the parking attendant telling them to turn up or down 60th.

All the street parking on 60th, west of 176 Street is all taken. Also Greenaway Park is full. The church near the corner of 176th Street and 64th Avenue is taking paying parking customers for $10 but it looked pretty full when I drove past at 11am.

All that's left is to find residential street parking around the fairgrounds. Make sure you are parked legally. The parking bylaw officers are out in full force because the Cloverdale Rodeo weekend is a huge cash cow for them. The driver of this car parked the wrong direction on the street and has been ticketed.

 

 

 

Hanging Plants up in Cloverdale

The hanging plants have made an appearance in Cloverdale just in time for the rodeo weekend.

They hang from light posts along 176th Street in the downtown area and each has its own watering system. Their beauty lasts all summer long.

Rodeo Paintings on Shop Windows around Cloverdale

When I was growing up in Cloverdale just about every shopkeeper had a rodeo themed painting down on their window to celebrate the Cloverdale Rodeo weekend. A man from Vancouver Island used to come over and spend about a month hiring his artistry services to the local businesses.

These days you have to really search around Cloverdale to find a shopkeeper painting a rodeo theme on their windows. I've found a few.

This one is in front of the Destination Cloverdale office on 176th Street.

 

This sign is obviously an old one. It's in the window of the old Clover Inn liquor store that closed/moved many months ago.

The next two are from the same windows in the office Stephanie Cadieux has set up on 176th Street.

Ron's barber shop on 176th Street.

Starbucks in the new Cloverdale Brick Yard Station.

Clancy's meats in the Brick Yard Station.

 

The new produce store in the Brick Yard Station.

 

 

 

Pancake Breakfasts around Cloverdale on Rodeo Weekend May 17 to 20, 2013

I've managed to track down some pancake breakfasts that will be happening around Cloverdale, mostly before the parade starts on Saturday May 18.

Cloverdale Legion is serving up a pancake breakfast every day May 17 to 20th between 8am and 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea, and orange juice/drink. The legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue, across the street from the firehall.

The Lions are serving a pancake breakfast before the parade in Hawthorne Square on the west side of 176th Street, halfway between 57th and 58th Avenues from 8am to 11am on Saturday May 18. I'm not sure of the cost and other extra food being served, but last year it was $5.

So far I haven't been able to find out if the Cloverdale Canadian Reformed Church on 60th Avenue is having its popular pancake breakfast on Saturday morning before the parade. Usually someone stops by my blog and gives me a heads up but not yet. I'll update when I find out.

The Cloverdale United Church on the corner of 58th Avenue and the Cloverdale Bypass is having a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning before the parade, 8am to 10am. $5 for pancakes, sausages, coffee, tea, and juice.

**Updated** There is a sign outside the Cloverdale Canadian Reformed Church, 17473 - 60th Ave., that they'll be holding a free pancake breakfast on Saturday May 16 between 8am and 10am. In addition to pancakes they also serve sausages, eggs, coffee, tea, and juice.

Parking around Cloverdale for Parade and Rodeo

Here's the scoop on parking around Cloverdale during the rodeo weekend May 17 - 20, 2013.

The big news is the huge parking lot at the former Cloverdale Mall is no more. The area has been fenced in for construction. There are about 100 parking spots in the area surrounding the Cloverdale Legion, the last of the old Cloverdale Mall parking lot. However the Legion is holding pancake breakfasts and barbecues all weekend and won't be too impressed if people park there and aren't coming inside to eat.

The first suggestion is to pay $10 and park at the Cloverdale fairgrounds. That gives you a close walk to the fair and the rodeo.

Also try Greenaway Park next to the fairgrounds on 60th Avenue and park there for free. The gates are locked at dusk so get back to your car by then or look for another way home.

Another is to park on residential streets around Cloverdale. That'll be a longer walk but parking is free. Keep an eye on the parking signs. Downtown Cloverdale is a maximum of 2 hours and there are a few no parking areas around town. The parking bylaw officers are in full force in Cloverdale this weekend. Huge payday for them because people park where they shouldn't be. The most popular parking spots are everything in-between 176A Street and 180th Street and 56A Avenue to 59th Avenue.

Cloverdale has a few free public parking lots. One is located on 56A Avenue just west of 176th Street, in the alley behind the firehall. There's about 60 parking spots here. On 176A Street just north of 57th Avenue, behind the Clova and next to the Bank of Montreal is a large parking lot. A couple hundred spots available here. A little further down 176A Street on the corner of 58A Avenue is another parking lot with about 100 or so parking spots.

There are a few spots available in the old Cloverdale Mall parking lot just off 58th Avenue, closer to the Cloverdale Bypass. Enter off 58th and there are about 15 parking spots here. A little further up, enter from the alley behind the Cloverdale Supermarket is about 30 more parking spots. Get here by 8am on Saturday May 18th if you're planning to watch the parade. Unless its raining, all the parking spots close to 176th Street go early.

On Saturday morning the streets between 176A Street and 177B Street 56A Avenue to 58A Avenue  are temporarily closed from 6am to noon for the parade participants to set up. After noon they are up for grabs the rest of the weekend. 176th Street is closed during these times because of the parade route. Tow trucks are standing near by and I always see a couple of cars being towed off this street. Not a good idea to park here the rest of the weekend anyway because its 2 hour parking.

There is a lot of street parking in residential areas west of 176th Street between 60th and 64th Avenues. The problem with this subdivision is if you're not familiar with it, it twists and turns and cul-de-sac's all over the place.

Some residents offer parking in their driveways and front lawns for a few bucks and some of the local churches also sell parking spots.

I checked with the rodeo's general manager to see if the motorbikes are getting free parking this year and the answer is no.

Don't even think about parking in the Clover Crossing Mall on 64th Avenue and 176th Street. They have security guards watching all weekend. If you park and walk off the premises they'll call a tow truck. They watch real closely to make sure everyone who parks a car goes into one of the businesses there.

Cloverdale Rodeo weekend May 17 - 20, 2013

It's that time of the year again when Cloverdale comes alive with a rodeo, fairgrounds rides, animal expos, and vendors hawking their wares. If you've ever dreamed of being a cowboy or cowgirl or just like watching them in action, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Fair is on from May 17th to 20th, 2013.

Here's a rundown for what to expect and for more information you can go to the Cloverdale Rodeo website http://www.cloverdalerodeo.com/

Actually the events start one day in advance on Thursday May 16 with the Cloverdale bed races taking place on 176A Street between 57th and 58th Avenues and a bike parade from 5pm to 7pm.

On Friday May 17th come to the Clover Square Village - corner of 177B Street and Highway 10 - for the chili cook off 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Sampling and voting is free. There are singers up on the stage to entertain the audience.

Cloverdale Rodeo Parade is on Saturday morning May 18th starting at 10am depends where you are for viewing it. The parade entries set up between 56A and 58th Avenues east of 176A Street, and if they're following the pattern they do every year, they get into formation along 177B Street and head south to Highway 10. They turn right (west) on Highway 10 where half the highway has been blocked to vehicle traffic and then turns right (north) down 176th Street. The parade goes all the way down to 58A Avenue then turns right, and then left onto 176A Street back towards the fairgrounds and just kind of ends along this stretch.

I heard that the free trolley rides are going on Saturday and Sunday but I haven't been able to find out for sure yet. Normally it runs between Clover Square Village, Hawthorne Square in downtown Cloverdale, Clover Crossing Mall, and Clayton Hill Mall. If I find out if the trolley will be back I'll post it here.

I'll have some more posts coming soon about where to park in Cloverdale and pancake breakfasts.

Playing at the Clova from May 3 to 23, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday May 3 to 23, 2013:

7pm - Iron Man 3

Seeing as how this is a new release the Clova doesn't play a 2nd feature for at least 2 weeks. This time 3 weeks. Show lets out around 9:10pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group. Tuesday night is $5 each.

Accident at 176th Street and 32nd Avenue near Cloverdale

Most people have probably heard on the news about the horrific accident that occurred south of Cloverdale on Sunday morning April 28, 2013 at the intersection of 176th Street and 32nd Avenue that resulted in 5 deaths and one person airlifted to hospital.

I did not witness the accident and I did not see the scattered debris aftermath.

A stop at McDonald's for the last day to purchase snack sized smoothies for $1 probably stopped us from being in the middle of the action and gave us about a 10 minute grace period from being at or near the accident.

Just after 11am we headed south on 176th Street, going to an address in Hazelmere on 184th Street. As we neared 40th Avenue it was clear that traffic had come to a stop and there was a police car with lights on blocking the intersection so no traffic could continue south. There was no northbound traffic coming down 176th and we could see flashing lights of emergency vehicles ahead at the 32nd Avenue intersection. Seeing as how we were going to 184th Street anyway we got into the left hand turn lane at 40th Avenue. The police officer was waving all the cars to turn right down 40th towards 168th Street. The police officer stopped us from turning left but that was because an ambulance and two buses were in the southbound lanes of 176th heading north to Cloverdale and he wanted them to get back into the correct lane of traffic. The ambulance was not lit up.

We drove down 40th to 184th and continued southbound. When we got to the intersection at 32nd Avenue and 184th, there was a police officer blocking the lanes there so no one could travel west along 32nd towards 176th Street. When we arrived at the 4 way stop at 24th Avenue there was a lot of traffic coming down that street and turning left to go down 184th Street. At this point we knew there must have been a very bad accident at the intersection at 32nd Avenue and 176th Street because the police had set up a large perimeter to keep traffic out of that area. We had no delays on our route.

We reached our friend's house a little further down 184th and weren't there very long. Now we had to decide how to get back to Cloverdale. I'd have been inclined to get away from the traffic and head north on 192nd Street except I remember seeing a sign that the road is closed for a few weeks around the train tracks, 50th Avenue. We decided to take our chances and go north down 184th Street. When we got to the 4 way stop at 24th Avenue there was a lot of traffic heading west bound. They were backed up nearly a block away from 184th Street. Crazy. Those people should have headed a little further south to 20th Avenue or even 16th or 12th or 8th to avoid that long line up. When we neared the lights at 184th and 32nd a car got into the left hand turn lane. You couldn't see the police car from this direction until you were nearly on top of it taking a turn. He didn't get too far. We didn't have to wait at the lights. We decided to head west on 40th back to 176th Street taking a guess that a lot of cars wouldn't know to turn there. That meant all the detoured cars would end up at the lights at 184th and Highway 10 and because the lights are short there it would take awhile to get through.

And that's what happened. Nobody ahead of us turned left at 40th. When we arrived at the 176th Street intersection the police officer was no longer there, replaced by a road flagger crew.

Like everyone else we watched the news and found out about the devastating accident.

Today I drove past the scene of the accident. There was a camera crew van parked outside the gas station under construction at 176th and 32nd. A cameraman was walking around the parking lot. Across the street at the bottom of the hill a cameraman was interviewing a woman. All the debris from the crash had been removed except for a couple of busted rental fences at the gas station.

I don't know how many people drive these roads but I'm on them daily. The speed limit on Highway 10 is 80km between Cloverdale and 32nd Avenue. From 32nd to just south of 8th its 70km. All the other roads in the area - 184th Street, 168th Street, 40th Avenue 32nd Avenue, 24th Avenue, etc are all 60km. The problem with driving along 184th is that some people think its their own personal autobahn and drive whatever speed they want. I've been passed like I was standing still.

Condolences to the family and friends who lost their loved ones. Very sad.

Cloverdale Spruce Up

In preparation for the rodeo events in May, the City of Surrey is doing some cleaning and sprucing up around Cloverdale. Today I saw a street cleaner around town and over the past week or so green sections in medians and beside sidewalks are being mowed and gardens weeded and maintained.

For the past 10 days the automatic water units hanging on the street lamps on 176th Street have been spouting out water. The logical solution seems to be for the city to either put up hanging plants to be watered or turn the water off. Instead people standing beneath the lamps are getting unexpected showers. I noticed a couple of buckets hanging off the lamp outside the Cloverdale Supermarket (former Shop Easy) to catch the water instead of sprinkling customers. Yesterday a couple of city employees were tending to the gardens in Hawthorne Square when the automatic waters went off. I watched them discussing it. Today when I walked down 176th Street the sidewalks were dry so I believe they may have shut the water off.

Hopefully the City of Surrey will get those gorgeous hanging baskets up before too long.

Playing at the Clova from April 26 to May 2, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday April 26 to May 2, 2013 is:

7pm - Lincoln

9:45 - Safe Haven

Last show lets out around 11:40pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies, or $15 if there are 2 people in your group. Add $4 for each extra person.

Pancake Breakfast Saturday April 13, 2013 at the Cloverdale Legion

The Cloverdale Legion is holding their monthly pancake breakfast this Saturday April 13, 2013 from 8am till 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and includes pancakes, sausages, eggs, coffee, tea, and orange juice/drink.

The legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue, right across the street from the firehall.

Playing at the Clova from April 12 to 18, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday April 12 to the 18th, 2013 is:

7pm - The Croods

8:55 - Warm Bodies

Last show lets out around 10:30pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Playing at the Clova from April 5 to 11, 2013

Playing at the Clova this week from Friday April 5 to the 11th, 2013 is:

7pm - The Croods

Show lets out around 8:40pm. No second feature. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Anca's Bridal Closed

About a year and a half ago Dee's Brazilian Shoes, on 176th Street in Cloverdale, near Hawthorne Square closed down and a bridal shop - Anca's - opened in its place.

Kind of a pretty store with pink lighting that glowed when you walked by in the evenings.

I walked past a couple of days ago and noticed the bridal shop has closed down and everything is removed. There is a for lease sign in the window.

The White Hotel has Guests

While I was checking out the coming week's movies at the Clova, I noticed lights on in the second story of the old White Hotel coming from both front upper suites.

Its been empty for a long time, a couple of years or so. Last summer there was a small crew doing renovations. I spoke to one fellow and he said his friend had bought the old hotel and was renovating it and planned to sell it.

Perhaps it has since sold. There are 5 apartments in the building, 4 upstairs and one on the ground floor in the back, and two store front businesses in the front (Sea Shanty and Danica's).

Playing at the Clova from March 29 to April 4, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday March 29th till April 4th is:

7pm - Silver Linings Playbook

9:15pm - Identity Thief

Last show lets out around 11:07pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 in your group admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person. Tuesdays are $5 each.

Playing at the Clova from March 22 to 28, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from March 22 to 28, 2013:

7pm - Oz The Great and Powerful

Show lets out around 9:10pm. The Clova decided to hold it over for a 3rd week and there is no 2nd feature playing. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Colebrook Road

Seeing as how Colebrook Road is getting a reputation recently for being a body dumping ground for criminals, its a good time to write a post about it.

Colebrook Road does a lot of stop and starts between Langley and Cloverdale, mostly running alongside the train tracks. The most continuous stretch of Colebrook Road is between 160th Street and into Delta. Just into Delta. It stops just west of where 120th Street would be. Mostly there are farms down here but these are the flats and prone to flooding.

Family friends used to live on Colebrook Road, actually pretty close to where the body dumping ground is, near 125A Street. They had horses and I liked going to visit and we'd go riding alongside the train tracks. There's a nice trail about 15 feet off the tracks.

In the 80's I boarded my horse near Colebrook and 160th Street for a few months and often rode alongside the train tracks or on the road itself. Depended on whether or not I could spot a train coming and even though I had a steady horse I preferred to give myself some distance if a train was coming.

Does anyone remember St. Michelle Winery? You could see it from Colebrook Road. It was just west of 152 Street on 54A Avenue. Its all industrial and warehouses in there now. I remember when the liquor stores were on strike, must have been around 1983, and I was riding my horse in the rain around Colebrook Road. Customers were going directly to St. Michelle to buy wine and I rode up there and there was a huge line up of people standing there with umbrellas. What devotion just to get a bottle of wine! The gravel pit just behind St. Michelle Winery, accessible off Colebrook Road, was a huge dumping ground for stolen cars.

The Cloverdale section of Colebrook Road is not too accessible. You have to head south out of town on 176th/Highway 15 and go over the bridge. Get in the left hand lane and turn onto 176th Street as if you're heading down to Super Soil. Keep driving and the road bends right and becomes Colebrook Road. Nothing much to see down there. Just wait. Maybe that'll be the next dumping ground because the mayor is talking about installing motion sensors and cameras down at the other end of Colebrook.

Esso Card Lock in Cloverdale is Closed

On Monday I noticed some construction workers on the site of the Esso card lock gas station on 57th Avenue, next door to the firehall. Today I walked past and the gas station bays are gone and workers are putting up temporary fencing.

I'm not sure if the Esso card lock is closed for good or if they're renovating/rebuilding. The gas station was mostly used by commercial truckers. Not a good street for big rigs. Amazing watching them do U-turns out of there!

**Update March 7, 2013**

I just drove over to the bottle depot and the Esso card lock has moved! It is now on 180th Street on the corner of 55th Avenue. Next door to Stampede Tack and across the street from Kwantlen College.

Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion Saturday March 9, 2013

The Cloverdale Legion is holding a pancake breakfast this Saturday March 9, 2013 from 8am to 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and that's for pancakes, sausages, eggs, coffee, tea, and orange juice drink. The legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue.

Playing at the Clova from March 8 to 21, 2013

Playing at the Clova for 2 weeks starting Friday March 8 to the 21st is:

7pm - Oz The Great and Powerful

Show lets out around 9:10pm. Seeing as how this is a first run premier the Clova plays the movie for 2 weeks and does not have a second movie featured. Admission is 8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Playing at the Clova March 1 to 7, 2013

Playing at the Clova this week from Friday March 1 to March 7th is:

7pm - Django Unchained

10pm - Gangster Squad

Last show lets out around 11:55pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. $15 if there are 2 in your party. Add $4 for each extra person. Tuesday nights $5 each.

When Cloverdale had 4 TV Stations

When I was growing up in Cloverdale we had black & white TV and 4 TV stations:

Channel 2 - CBC
Channel 6 - CHEK - Vancouver Island
Channel 8 - BCTV
Channel 12 - KVOS TV serving Northwest Washington and British Columbia

In one form or another these TV stations still exist today.

I remember KVOS TV every morning had cartoons called Frisky Frolics and in the afternoon the cartoon show was Funorama. On CBC in the morning were children's shows that were Canadian predecessors to Sesame Street. We watched the Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup, and Chez Helene. The last was a show to teach us kids in the western provinces some French. Helene mostly spoke French but her assistant Louise translated into English. They taught us several French songs.

Around 1970 cablevision came to Surrey and I think we were one of the first households in Cloverdale to take advantage of the 3 extra channels that cablevision provided, all based out of Seattle:

Channel 4 - KOMO, the ABC affiliate
Channel 5 - KING, the NBC affiliate
Channel 7 - KIRO, the CBS affiliate

This was huge news. For me the biggest thing was getting the ABC channel meant I could now watch the Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family. The other thing I remember is my father buying extra cables and splitters so he could get cablevision to all the TVs in the house. I think we had 3 TVs by that time.

It seems shortly after we got the 3 big US stations on cablevision we also got PBS and that came on Channel 9. I definitely remember watching a show on PBS in 1972 when my cousin came to visit and was interested in watching a show on this channel.

Around 1975 the Vancouver area got another TV station called CKVU and it was on Channel 10.

Who remembers the big shake up in TV channels?

Channel 2 CBC started showing on Channel 3.
Channel 7 KIRO CBS started showing on Channel 8.
Channel 8 BCTV started showing on Channel 11.
Channel 10, CKVU started showing on Channel 13.

And then we got a French speaking station and I think that started showing on Channel 7.

These days households around Cloverdale have cablevision and satellite and have over 100 channels.

Excerpt from Horseman Spell by Cheryl Rhodes

 

“Ladies,” greeted Bob. “Pam, I’d like you to meet Scott.”

Pam had put her hand out to shake the newcomer’s, but snapped it back to her side as if it had been burned. Scott wheeled to face her.

“You!” Pam backed up a step.

“You!” The accusation in his tone cut off and filled the room with an awkward silence.

They stood motionless glaring at each other.

“I, uh, take it you’ve already met.” Bob cleared his throat and twirled the beer bottle in his hands.

Scott set his bottle down on the fireplace mantel and Pam scurried to the front hall. She grabbed her coat from the closet and curled her fingers around the front door’s handle.

“Don’t leave on my account,” the sarcastic voice behind her mocked.“I’ll go.”

Looking over her shoulder, Pam saw Joanne and Bob frozen in the doorway of the living room. They looked dismayed, but she couldn’t deal with them now when they only thing on her mind was putting some distance between her and Scott. She gripped the doorknob tighter, turned it, and marched out of the house. Hearing Scott’s footsteps close behind, she quickened her pace, reached the car and fumbled for the keys.

“I want to talk to you.”

“Forget it. Nothing you have to say interests me.” Pam tugged her car door open and slid into the driver’s seat. Before she could slam the door, Scott maneuvered his body between the open door and the driver’s seat. He braced his hands on the roof of her car and used his body to prevent her from closing the door. Pam desperately fought not to notice his thigh muscles bulged against his blue jeans as he flexed against the door at her eye level.

“You need to hear this.” Scott slapped the roof of her car once.

Pam raised her eyes and his dark eyes stared back into hers. Frown lines wrinkled his forehead and he scowled at her. Pam swallowed, remembering how many times she’d seen that expression before.

“Leave me alone or I’ll scream so loud I’ll have every person within five miles running to help me.”

“When are you going to grow up?”

They glared at each other. Scott bent down, his mouth drawn into a hard, thin line, his face getting closer to Pam’s. She pulled the seatbelt out, clicked it into place, turned away to put the key in the ignition, and started the car. Scott backed away from the car, palms toward her as if he were trying to ward her off. Just before Pam slammed the door shut, she heard him say, “You can’t avoid me forever.”

 

Buy links:

Musa Publishing
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks

Horseman Spell is available through other online booksellers and on iTunes.

Playing at the Clova from February 15 to 28, 2013

Playing at the Clova from Friday February 15th to the 28th, 2013 is:

7pm - Escape from Planet Earth

Show lets out around 8:30pm. This is a new premier so the Clova has to play it for 2 weeks and isn't allowed to show a 2nd feature. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Tiretown

There used to be a tire business on 176th Street just south of Highway 10 called Tiretown. It was the first business that people travelling north saw in Cloverdale. The name really bothered my mother because she thought that people travelling through would think they were driving through the town of Tiretown instead of the town of Cloverdale.

In the early 70's when the Cloverdale Bypass and the bridge going over the train tracks was built, Tiretown ended up being on the dead end section of 176th Street where a few business remained, cut off due to the new bridge.

My father has been buying tires there for decades and for most of that time its been run by a man named Gordy, one of these good neighbour type businessmen offering great service and good prices. In the late 70's my father had a couple of extra tires from a truck he used to own. He brought them down to Tiretown and had them keep them on consignment. He told Gordy when they sold they'd both make a little money. After a year or so Gordy called and said the tires had been sold and come down and pick up a cheque. I was driving by that time and my first car was a VW Beatle Bug. My father went down and made a deal to outfit my car with good winter tires on the back. After that whenever it snowed my father took the Beatle because he said it was the best car we had for driving in the snow.

Eventually I started using Tiretown to buy my tires and sometime over the years the name evolved into Tireland.

My front right tire was low and I filled it with air about a week ago. Today I noticed it was down again and decided to take it over to Tireland to get them to look at it. Probably picked up a nail on the road somewhere. They do repairs quickly and very inexpensively. I drove up and there's a sign on the door that they're closed and now operating out of the Langley Tireland. That's too bad. I'd heard the building had been sold and the plan was to close down one of these days but its always a surprise when that happens. A tire shop has been operating in that spot as far back as I can remember.

Heads up to anyone heading that way for tires. Tireland, formerly Tiretown, is no longer operating in Cloverdale.

Penny for your Thoughts?

The Canadian mint stopped printing the penny this past week and retailers now have to round penny amounts to the nearest nickel.

I was at a shop yesterday and my purchase came to $10.53. They don't have the cash register doing the rounding to the five cents yet. But they are not dealing with pennies. My change was rounded up to the next nickel and they gave me .50 cents in change so I made a couple of cents on the purchase.

That's part of the plan to remove pennies from circulation - don't give them out as change. Or at least at that chain. This is very new and a few bugs to be worked out so all shops might not be on board yet.

I have my father's old penny collection. He gave it to me years ago in a nice blue book with each year holding a penny and the date mounted below. I heard on the news that 1925 pennies are very rare and worth about $50 so I checked the old penny collection and no luck. The closest I have is a 1926 penny.

I also have a bunch of pennies kicking around in my piggy bank. Might be time to roll them up and take them into the bank.

Playing at the Clova from February 9 to 13, 2013

Playing at the Clova from Saturday February 9th to the 13th is:

7pm - Zero Dark Thirty

9:55pm - The Last Stand

Last show lets out around 11:45pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. $15 if there are 2 in your party. Add $4 for each extra person.

Playing at the Clova on Friday February 8, 2013

The Clova is playing a documentary called Off the Wall in China for one night only on Friday, February 8, 2013. Show starts at 8pm and costs $24.99.

It features William Jans and his slides of travels through the Philippines and China.

Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion on Saturday February 9, 2013

The Cloverdale Legion is holding a pancake breakfast this Saturday February 19, 2013 from 8am to 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea, and an orange juice drink.

The Legion is across the street from the firehall at 17567 - 57th Avenue.

Free Chocolate Samples at Into Chocolate

In the Cloverdale Brick Yard Station - corner of Cloverdale Bypass, 57th Avenue, and Highway 10 - there is a shop called Into Chocolate.

I noticed a sign in their window saying they are giving away chocolate samples until Valentine's Day.

Many find chocolatiers offer one free sample of their wares to a customer trying to make a decision so it would be my guess that Into Chocolate is offering one free sample per person per day. Good promo leading up to Valentine's Day!

Playing at the Clova from February 1 to 7th, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday February 1st to Thursday the 7th, 2013 is:

7pm - This is 40

9:30pm - Broken City

Last show lets out at 11pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Playing at the Clova from January 18 to 24, 2013

Playing this week at the Clova from January 18 to the 24th, 2013 is:

7pm - Jack Reacher

9:25pm - The Guilt Trip

Last show lets out around 11pm. Times are approximate. On busy nights (weekends and Tuesdays) the Clova doesn't start the show until the lobby/concession area are cleared of patrons. Admission is $8 each or $15 for two people, stay for one or both movies. Add $4 for each extra person in your group. Tuesday night is $5 each.

Playing at the Clova from January 11 to Januar 17, 2013

Playing at the Clova this week January 11 - 17, 2013 is a single showing:

7pm - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Show lets out at 9:50pm. Admission is $8 each or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group. Tuesday is $5.

Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion Saturday January 12 2013

The Cloverdale Legion, 17567 - 57th Ave, is hosting a pancake breakfast this Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 8am to 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea, and orange juice/drink.

January Update on old Cloverdale Mall Site

A few weeks ago a chain link fence was put around the entire site of the old Cloverdale Mall, including most of the parking lot. Previously the parking lot was accessible and truckers and campers often parked overnight there. There are about a dozen parking spots available that can be accessed from 58th Avenue. Also if you drive down the alley behind the Cloverdale Super Market (old Shop Easy), that parking lot was never fenced in, and there's room for about 20 cars to park there.

That flat deck trailer that was in the parking lot when it got fenced in is no longer there. I didn't see it leave. I don't know if the trucker it belonged to returned for it or if the construction crew called a tow truck.

There is heavy machinery over there and a crew on site. They unlock the gate and park their cars in there and there is a sign stating authorized personnel only and the work saftety gear that must be worn.

So far not to much is going on that I can see. Digging and piles of dirt. Due to the recent dreary weather I haven't walked by but I took the dogs for a walk this morning to check it out. I only had my cell phone camera on me and the picture's not the greatest and blogger has changed how to upload pictures so until I figure that out..... In other words - no picture today.

No word yet when this phase of construction is planned to be complete.

Romance Lives Forever Interview

I'm being interviewed today on Romance Lives Forever about my novel Horseman Spell.

http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.ca/2013/01/contemporary-romance-horseman-spell.html

Stop by for a chance to win a copy!

Horseman Spell featured Today at D. Renee Bagby's First Chapters

My novel Horseman Spell is featured today at D. Renee Bagby's web page First Chapters.

http://drb1stchp.com/2013/01/horseman-spell-by-cheryl-rhodes/

Stop by to read the first chapter!

Calliope Romance: New Year, New Romance: Contemporary, Paranormal, H...

Calliope Romance: New Year, New Romance: Contemporary, Paranormal, H...: New Year, New Romance:  Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical--something for every appetite!