St. Pats parade set to go

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn
Published Feb. 7, 2004

Gosh and begorra, there's been a whole bunch of busy people at the Celtic Heritage Society over the past few months.

Malachy Mahon, president of the group that aims to build a Celtic Heritage Centre in the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood, is dancing on shamrocks this month with news that the city of Vancouver has agreed to host its first Saint Patrick's Day parade in living memory.

"What this means for the society is awareness," said Mahon. "Awareness for the society itself and for the new Celtic Heritage Centre we're going to build in Burnaby."

The Saint Patrick's Day parade is set to go on Granville Street between Pender to Drake at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 13. The parade will be two hours long and feature some of the most outstanding floats, marching bands and other treats on the West Coast.

"We've arranged for all the marching bands already, pipe bands, Shriners and Celtic companies, and the other floats are being organized now," an excited Mahon said. "We want it to be a real family event because that's what the Celtic Heritage Society is all about."

In addition to the parade, the Celtic Heritage Society is organizing an entire week of events, including a giant Saint Patrick's dance scheduled for Friday, March 5 at the Shriners' auditorium in Burnaby.

When asked if they'll have any of that famous Irish pub food, Mahon replied "Of course." And will there be green beer available? "Absolutely," Mahon said.

To get involved in the parade, contact the society at 604-299- 2019 or visit their website www.celticheritage.org and download the application to become a parade participant.

A BURNABYTONIAN?

Burnaby handyman and father Dean Moen has always made a little money on the side working as a standup comic and a character actor for locally produced TV commercials.

But nothing could have prepared him for the kind of reaction he received last week after he played a lead role in the single most popular commercial aired during the Super Bowl on American TV last weekend.

"It's been crazy this week," Moen told the Burnaby NOW about his role as the owner of the 'bad dog' in the Bud Light commercial voted the best of the afternoon by a small group of USA Today readers.

"Inside Edition flew up from L.A. on just two hours notice to interview me, Sports Page vote the commercial No. 1, there's talk of doing Vicki Gabereau, and the guys at a local radio station just keep on phoning to bug me," Moen said.

The owner-operator of Moen's Multipurpose General Handyman Service was born in Medicine Hat, Alta., and moved to Burnaby about a dozen years ago, where he is now a proud husband and father of two "beautiful young boys."

After all the national media coverage, Moen thought it would be a good idea to contact his hometown's favourite local newspaper, because "I'm a proud Burnabytonian - if that makes any sense," he said.

BUSY LITTLE RAVENS

Rosser elementary's new Raven Council have been busy little birds for the past few months.

The group recently organized a dance titled Disco 2004 and a bake sale, where they raised $150 for the Variety Club of B.C. The council also cosponsored a clothing drive and collected "many boxes" of warm coverings for the city's most needy residents.

Making the donation to Variety on behalf of the entire Rosser student body were students Joey Tolja and Sherry Xue, while the Raven Council was given kudos by students Angel, David, Oliver, Kezia, Haden, Joshua, Joey, Eric, Yvonne, Sherry, Aaron, Andrew, Shannon, Tianna and Jeffrey. Kudos to all.

JIM CLEMENT REMEMBERED

The folks over at the Burnaby Seniors Outreach Services Society were saddened by the early December passing of one of their longtime volunteers, Jim Clement.

Clement, who had been ill for some time, had been a tireless worker for the organization that provides peer counseling services, support groups and other services for Burnaby's seniors.

As well as being an active letter writer to the Burnaby NOW, Clement was also an accomplished painter, an active member of the artists guild, and a familiar face at the office of Volunteer Burnaby, too.

"We should remember him for his loyalty, friendship and humour, plus his hand painted cartoons were always a delight," said his friend Belle Smith. "He had a true commitment to the Burnaby community in all areas of endeavour," Smith said. "We all miss him dearly."

CALLED TO THE HALL

Chalk up another milestone for the Burnaby's own icon of punk rock Joe Keithley, the lead singer, songwriter and front man for Canadian legend DOA.

Keithley, who recently authored his autobiography I Shithead: A Life in Punk, will be inducted into the Canadian Independent Music Hall of Fame in Toronto on March 3.

As the front man for DOA, Keithley has been one of the busiest rock stars in the world for the past 25 years - a history he recounts in his entertaining book, published late last year by Arsenal Pulp Press. Congrats, eh?

GARDEN CONTEST RESULTS

Sometimes it is possible to get too much of a good thing. And that's exactly what's happened with the popular Burnaby gardens Contests sponsored Annually by the Burnaby Rhododendron and Gardens Society.

Coni O'Neill, president of the society, said the popular contest will not be held this year, to allow event organizers a little time to reenergize themselves and come back with a bigger and better event in 2005.

Lack of funding is among the main reasons for the one-year hiatus. Last year, when the city's official Burnaby Beautification Committee was folded due to lack of members, the garden contest lost its last official tie to the purse strings at city hall, O'Neill said, and nobody could be found to take up the cause at the council chambers.

However, the contest will still be an integral part of the society's future, O'Neill said.

For the record, last year's contest winners were:

Best Entire Garden: Bob and Virginia Rutherford; runner-up: Amy and Adrieno Bicigo. Best Small Garden: Wilda Noniewicz, runner-up: Deanne Sykes. Best Specialty Garden: Bert Garbuio, runner-up: Art and Dorothy Pastro. Best Back Garden: Margaret Griffith. Best Front Garden: Vince Ciampi, runner-up: Doreen and Massimo Bergamo. Best Hillside Garden: Tina Nelson. Best Communal Garden: Polaris Gardens, runner-up: Josie Hallett.

Congrats to all, and we look forward to the contest's return in just over 18 month's time.