Since my January newsletter is divided into about seven sections, the lead part about sales stats in the Woodstock area, along with London and K-W numbers reported in their media, will be part one.
Here's part two:
WOODSTOCK -- When driving on Devonshire Avenue locally there are two significant changes in the past two years.
This is the first school year for the all-French K-12 school on Devonshire, which is part of the The Conseil Scolaire de District des Écoles Catholiques du Sud-Ouest.
If you want to live in a brand new home close by this brand new school, you should consult with Claysam Homes, which has been building locally for about eight years in the Sally Creek area (west side of Hwy 59 in the former ORC property) -- both in the family section and adult-only neighbourhood. Claysam has also created a subdivision in Tavistock in recent years.
Any quick look on the south side of Devonshire -- also east of Lansdowne -- you will have seen dump trucks and bulldozers as another new residential neighbourhood is being prepared, including a few roads already, for Claysam (www.claysamhomes.com) and another builder to develop.
The reason I'm concentrating this newsletter feature on Claysam is that they work with two Realtors from Royal LePage Triland: William Cattle (williamcattle.com; 868-6447) & Cynthia Patching.
The claysamhomes.com website has many maps, information on the Tarion new home warranty program, a list of amenities for their many home plans, a description of two promotions they are currently offering buyers, and an area to register for more information on the project.
Since this 'Neighbourhoods Of Devonshire' subdivision is listed by our office, you may contact William, Cynthia or myself for more background and history about Claysam. The nice thing about this area is that many of the planned new homes are in the more modest price range of approximately $250,000 (or less). Contact us for more specific details.
The Claysam website says ". . . we believe that our service to our home buyers can only be as good as the skills, interest and attitudes of our team. Our mandate is single-minded dedication to excellence in service to you, our home buyers. The spirit of mutual trust and good will established with home buyers results from Claysam's knowledge that the organization cares about and recognizes each client as an individual by offering professional service."
Literacy Day Locally Is Jan 21
The annual Family Literacy Day event locally is Saturday, Jan 21, 10 a.m. - noon at St. Mary's High School.
Take it from someone who has attended the last two years with my young family, it's a great opportunity to assist parents in the connection of reading and children. I still have a cell-phone video of Clifford The Big Red Dog entertaining an enthusiastic crowd of children.
This year, Werner Zimmerman is a guest. He has written and illustrated 16 children's books, including the series Farmer Joe and his own version of Henny Penny. He's an Ontario author with extensive experience working in the Arctic. Following FLD, he will sign books Downtown at Merrifield's.
More than 700 attended last year, according to Janet Stephens, Early Literacy Specialist.
"Literacy based activities draw families closer together in a fun way to prepare children for success in school and later life," said Stephens in an article in What's On Woodstock magazine.
SunLife Financial and Dubois Honda are among the local sponsors -- as admission is free.
The schedule of the morning includes storytellers, featuring Darlene Pretty from the Woodstock Public Library, Heart FM personalities, and other area volunteers.
Plan to attend. If you're a grandparent, borrow your children's children for the morning.
By the way, if you see Tracey Thompson there, tell her I sent you.
For more information you can call 539-9800.
Target On Zellers Locations
Target Confirms Locations, Opening Dates for London Stores
LONDON -- (AM980 News) Target has confirmed two Zellers stores in London will be among the company's first stores in Canada. According to a news release Jan. 5, Zellers locations at Westmount Shopping Centre and Masonville Place will be Target stores by early April 2013. Some of the other Zellers stores across Ontario being converted at that time include: Cambridge, Cambridge Centre Guelph, Stone Road Mall Burlington, Millcroft Centre
Waterdown, Flamboro Power Centre Toronto, Centrepoint Mall Mississauga, Square One Shopping Centre
Brampton, Shoppers World Brampton, Trinity Common Windsor, Devonshire Mall
Toronto, Cloverdale Mall Toronto, World Danforth Burlington, Burlington Mall
Toronto, East York Town Fergus, Gates of Fergus Hamilton, Centre Mall It wasn't immediately clear what would become of other Zellers locations not being converted into Target during this first wave. Representatives from the American chain were not immediately available for comment, although the company says it "intends to announce additional store locations in the coming months."
Target (NYSE:TGT) announced in January 2011 it had purchased the leasehold interests of 220 Zellers stores from Hudson's Bay Company as part of its first expansion outside of the United States. At the time, a company official said Target still planned on operating a chain of Zellers stores. According to a news release, each Target store in Canada will employ approximately 150 to 200 team members. Store team hiring will begin in 2012 and Target will engage with Zellers associates to make it easy for them to apply for jobs.
Woodstock Not On Target (Yet ?)
By TARA BOWIE, The Sentinel-Review; Posted Jan 5.WOODSTOCK— The future is unclear, but one thing is certain – a Woodstock store will not become a Target soon. An announcement made Thursday by Target outlined the first 24 stores to be converted. Not included in that list were Oxford County's Zellers stores in Woodstock and Tillsonburg. QMI Agency previously reported the downtown Zellers in Tillsonburg was acquired by Target in its agreement with Hudson's Bay (HBC), Zellers' parent company. The store was then sold to Wal-Mart to be converted in the coming months.
But the future of the Woodstock Zellers is still up in the air, said Tiffany Bourré a spokesperson for HBC.
"All options are still on the table. We're reviewing every strategic option that we have. It was not on the list (to become a Target)," she said during a telephone interview Thursday.
Last January, negotiations started between the two companies. The agreement included the leases of 220 Zellers stores nationwide. In two phases, Target chose 189 stores the company would open under its own banner. Thirty-nine additional leases were acquired and then sold to Wal-Mart. Eighty-four Zellers stores across the country, including the store in Woodstock, were not included in the deal and its unknown what will happen to the store or its employees in the coming months. About 100 employees work at the Woodstock location including full-time and part-time.
"Certainly it's business as usual and we're happy to serve the community," Bourré said.
Lions Club Is Busy Locally
If a resolution for 2012 for you is to become more involved in the community, here's my plug for you to consider the Lions Club of Woodstock.
Firstly, the club, which I've been a member of for about four years, has been serving and volunteering in this community for more than 80 years. The Lions Club, for example, built the Lions Pool for the City in the 1940s and when the City wanted to take over operating it, the Lions sold it to the municipality for $1.
We have countless fundraisers, including operating a large food tent at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show in September to raise dollars to assist many community needs and projects. The Lions Club runs the beverage garden for both Cowapolooza and Canada Day in Southside Park, we are the organizing committee for the annual Terry Fox Run with member Bill Gillespie chairing the activity, and Jennifer Harrington is the main workforce behind the guide dog walk.
Did you know, the Lions Club operates the weekly bingo at the Legion on Thursdays.
Also, A Ladies Night Out fundraiser makes money in two ways -- selling tickets for a dinner and selling vendor tables to businesses such as Pampered Chef and Osbourne Books. Everyone wins!
As a volunteer work force the Lions Club assists with The Christmas Place, the Santa Claus and Victoria Day parades, the annual soapbox go-kart rally, community barbecues, and the important early-morning get-up-before-dawn cleanup crew for the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life. Speaking about getting our hands dirty, the Lions do highway garbage pickup twice a year on both Highway 2 on the west end of Woodstock and the nearby Lions Club / Standard Tube walking trails / park.
The Lions also own a historic fire truck which makes many public appearances throughout the county (and beyond) at events. When you attend the Woodstock Santa parade you always know the jolly olde fellow in red is next when you our jolly olde fellow -- Lion Ed -- is seen waving and driving the red fire truck.
Cheques are written annually for high school bursaries, support for seeing-eye dogs, local Christmas charities, and for many one-time-only requests for items including prescription glasses and household assistive devices for people in need who make a formal request to our 'charitable response' committee.
Last month, the Lions Club paid for a Christmas dinner and distributed presents to children in a local organization. The gentleman in the red suit and beard was also a Lions Club member.
I tell friends always, that the Lions Club of Woodstock is a great group of people doing great work. Call me if you're interested in joining in on the fun.
Busy Full-Time Ready Realtor
Thanks for spending a few minutes reading my newsletter.
All Realtors rely on friends, acquaintances and past clients for leads. I’m certainly no different. If you’re talking real estate with someone, please keep me in mind. I am a full-time real estate professional with 13+ years experience. I have my own web site (marksells.ca) and firmly believe if there are 15 ways to sell a house, you should hire a Realtor willing to do all 15. For example, virtual reality tours are popular, and you will also find me on social media including Twitter (MarkRoyalLePage), Facebook and blogging. It may seem like yesteryear, but printing personal 'Just Listed' flyers to a neighbourhood lets area residents know a home is available nearby if they know someone seeking that particular street.
If you plan on purchasing a house, you should hire a Realtor who watches the market trends closely and fully comprehends all facets of the buying process.
As for possible listings, my market report for a home not only describes where your house fits in the marketplace, but is also backed up by up-to-date stats (specific to the price range), and places consideration on depreciation of elements (actual age vs effective age).
If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this email newsletter, feel free to forward it.
Mark Schadenberg: (519) 537-1553 Royal LePage: 'Helpingdo'By the way, if you want to be removed from my circulation list, email me. Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
Claysam Building Two Neighbourhoods Locally
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