Editor:
Re: Conflicts abound over concerns, Feb. 10 letters.
I read with interest the recent letters on the White Rock Farmers’ Market from failed political candidate Dennis Lypka and his associate, Scott Kristjanson.
Talk about a tempest in a teacup! Imagine the underwhelming hardship caused by requiring the market to commence setting up an hour later than in previous years, thereby allowing the residents of Miramar to sleep in for 21 Sundays a year until 8 am.
Give your heads a shake!
If, as intimated by the dynamic duo, that setting the later startup time is all part of a plot on the part of some members of council to cause discomfort to Coun. Helen Fathers – the market manager – it would seem like a strange way to do so. If that were the intent, would it not make more sense to cause the market to open earlier thereby depriving market Helen of an hour of sleep? Alternatively, would it not have made more sense to shorten the hours of operation, thereby possibly hitting market Helen where it hurts most – in the pocketbook?
Rather, it does not take a lot of effort to appreciate that this change of time is an honest effort to allow the Miramar residents some precious rest on Sunday mornings without affecting the market operations. After all, how many of your readers would stand placidly by if they had the same thing occurring outside their homes?
I should point out that, historically, it was never the city’s intent to create the public space at Miramar so it could be used for a continuous Sunday event that runs for 21 weeks in a row. The space was originally intended for occasional use at reasonable times that would provide for public events without unduly disturbing the residents.
Frankly, in my opinion, the market should not be located where there are residents nearby – particularly when it involves repeated and annoying start times on a supposed day of rest.
Kudos to council for taking a reasonable corrective measure to make things better for some of our taxpayers.
Hardy Staub, White Rock
• • •
As per the market president, Sandy VanDeKinder, the market has successfully run for many years with the 7 a.m. setup time, and no complaints have ever been received until now.
The market is a huge success and the community loves it. The market supports our local economy, as people from all over support not only the market vendors, they also support local businesses.
So unfortunate that it took only one letter and all heads – being the coalition council members – nodded in unison. These vendors sure do deserve better than that for their continued support.
C. Fischer, White Rock
