In an era when joining clubs and finding time to volunteer seems to be on the decline, I was interested to hear there’s a new business-based club starting up in Langley.

The Rotary Club, which has traditionally been made up of business people in the community anxious to step up and help others through service, has spawned a new, junior club, if you will.

And that group, designed for people between the ages of 17 and 30, is gearing up for the holidays in true Rotary spirit.

They’re holding a Christmas party Friday night, to which they’re asking guests to bring new pillows for Wagner Hills home.

“They expect 20 to 35 guests wanting to make a difference,” said Langley Central Rotarian Beverlee Rasmussen.

Anyone interested in joining the youth club can contact Beverlee 604-309-4242.

Eleven business on board

And in keeping with clubs and their giving spirit, the Walnut Grove Business Association is inviting people to drop off donations to the food bank at area businesses that have signed up to be part of their holiday program.

Throughout the month of December, 11 businesses are participating in a Christmas display contest, where members decorate their place of business and collect for the food bank.

Pictures of the entries are on the association’s Facebook page, where people can “like” their favourite.

The winner will receive an iPad, while voters are entered in to win gift certificates.

Mr. Mike’s gets facelift

In the meantime, I spent a unique evening last week at the newly remodelled Mr. Mike’s.

First off, it seems like this 200th Street restaurant just opened last year, but new owner Harry Madan informs me it’s been there since 2009 and needed some updating.

And updating they did, with what’s called an “urban lodge” motif. But the highlight of the night was my first-ever burger-eating contest.

No, I was not a participant.

But eight young men did compete, with Langley’s Jonathon Lamarche defending his championship title.

Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender was on hand for the grand reopening, where he judged the burger eating contest and presented the grand prize trophy to Lamarche.

Lamarche, who was last year’s contest winner and a former Mr. Mike’s cook, said his key to victory in eating nine of the burgers, was mass consumption of water in the two days leading up to the competition.

Langley country singer Jaydee Bixby, a 2008 Canadian Idol runner up, did some serious chowing down too, sharing the second-place title with North Delta’s John Higgins, the pair eating eight burgers each in the 10-minute timeframe.

Langley’s Tanner Donald placed fourth in a burger eating contest that attracted eight contestants in all. Donald polished off seven of the mini burgers, while North Delta’s Matt Hudon ate six burgers, and Langley’s Brad Stewart devoured three.

The contest was the perfect way to mark the grand reopening, said Madan, who

said the restaurant was only actually shut down for construction for two days in late November.

Madan took over as the new owner on Sept. 1.

He has owned another Mr. Mikes restaurant in Surrey – at 80th Street and Scott Road – since 2009, but decided to expand to Langley and immediately went about redecorating the 200-seat restaurant.

As part of the grand reopening ceremony, donations were colleced for the Langley Food Bank. The event raise $550, and Madan and his partners topped up the donation to an even $1,000.