Oxford Gardens is adding 84 units

Expansion at retirement home on Devonshire 

By Mark Schadenberg

Seniors Real Estate Specialist

The impressive expansion at Oxford Gardens in Woodstock continues to look larger every time I drive by it.

The retirement home on Devonshire Avenue, which already has about 100 suites, is in the process of adding another 84 units and the four-storey addition is expected to be complete and ready for occupancy by late summer of 2013.

The management group notes that one of the reasons for the project is quite obvious – Oxford Gardens has a current and ongoing waiting list that will accommodate all interested.

Co-owned by Woodstock-based business families VanHaeren and Zaluski, Oxford Gardens was purchased from the County of Oxford about five years ago and was previously called Woodingford Lodge.

The new wing of the building will feature all the amenities currently available, including 24-hour staff and emergency response, security systems including controlled entrance and cameras, medication management, three meals daily, and many assistive living improvements such as grab bars in bathrooms. The suite setup includes a kitchenette, while a limited number of available two-bedroom suites (apartments really) include a full kitchen. Many of the rooms will be highlighted by glass balconies, and main-floor suites feature a garden patio.

Overall facility amenities are a significant reason Oxford Gardens has been so popular locally -- therapeutic swimming pool, physiotherapy, movie theatre, craft groups, games room, euchre and bridge socials, day trips, and even an on-site hair stylist / salon.

I have been through the residence on several occasions and everything is impressive – the dining rooms, social areas and the movie theatre.

In a recent story in The Sentinel-Review, general manager Nelia Hunt pointed out that anyone interested in moving to Oxford Gardens in 2013 should contact them now.

"The Oxford Club will be starting in the new year and what that will entail is communicating with those that are already on our waiting list to make sure that if they have any needs, we can assist them while they are waiting in their homes, so during construction, they can still feel like part of the family," Hunt said. "A few of them have been on the waitlist for six months to a year. As time goes on they're getting more and more excited to join us so why not start the relationship sooner?”

The ground-breaking ceremony was held this past June and it would appear that the fourth (highest) floor is now in the process of framing. The final price tag will hover around $14 million.

Oxford Gardens is both independent living and will certainly welcome residents who require assistive-care requirements.

I could write here about accommodation costs, but really anyone interested should contact Oxford Gardens at (519) 537-7733 and do their own research at www.oxfordgardens.ca

Their web home page sums up their philosophy as follows: “Our setting is inspiring, our amenities superb, and our staff is attentive and caring. Come home to Oxford Gardens.”

The innovative home is not only a good member of the local business community, but also the green / environment conscience as the heating / cooling system employed by the entire complex is a complex solar thermal project with over 160 solar collectors. You can read more about the Oxford Gardens state-of-the-art cooling / heating system at: http://oxfordgardenssolarproject.com/news/  or  http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2010/11/10/oxford-gardens-leads-by-example

From their website:

Oxford Gardens are committed to the following:

Earning and keeping the respect of seniors and their families in the community.

Providing quality accommodation and supportive care in a safe and pleasant environment.

Respecting each Resident’s right to independence and dignity.

Providing a safe and friendly home-like environment for our Residents that is also welcoming to families and visitors.

Helping each Resident maintain as many choices as possible.

Helping Residents keep in touch with their families, friends, neighbours, churches, clubs and social networks.

Selecting and training caring staff who take pleasure and pride in working with seniors and families and who also bring skill and professional experience to their roles.

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If you’re considering Oxford Gardens, call me first for a full market analysis and selling game plan for your home. I have contacts with many people who specialize in this transitional move.

Then call Oxford Gardens for a tour of the current facility and look at the plans for the addition. If you want to relocate there by the autumn of 2013, now is the time to do your ‘new home’ work.

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep

SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

(519) 537-1553

Call me today for all your real estate needs – buying or selling.

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Note: This is not a paid advertisement for Oxford Gardens, but rather a good news writing which compiles material from their website, The Sentinel-Review and Heart 104.7 FM news. Picture (Cliff Zaluski and Nelia Hunt) is from Sentinel-Review web links.

Carney to move across pond

Bank boss hired by Britain
It's obvious we live in a worldwide economy, so if you do a great job in Canada, your phone could ring and it's 'London Calling' . . . London, England.
The chief of the Bank Of Canada, Mark Carney, will now be the governor of the Bank of England beginning on July 1. Carney has certainly done a terrific job monitoring our economy and keeping a reign on interest rates, which obviously helps borrowers of all shapes and sizes -- corporations hoping to expand and young families attempting to buy their first home.
I have a blog here about two weeks ago which discusses the Bank of Canada tightening its rules (Through Jim Flaherty and the federal government) on mortgages and the length of amortizations. The current rules are good as the guidelines should likely have never been loosened to the point where 35-year amortization and buying a home with zero downpayment was permitted, which was simply too much incentive.
Here's the CBC prose on Carney's new post:  

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Mark Carney named Bank of England governor

CBC News

Posted: Nov 26, 2012

OTTAWA -- Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney will be the next governor of the Bank of England, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced Monday morning.

Flaherty said that Carney's advice had "kept Canada strong," pointing out, as he often does, that Canada has the best record for fiscal stability in the G7.

This is the first time a foreign national has been head of the Bank of England, Flaherty said, underlining how unconventional this appointment is.

Carney will continue to serve as governor of the Bank of Canada until June, and will take up his new job on July 1.

Carney said he and Flaherty had enjoyed an effective partnership and added he will miss the camaraderie and clear sense of purpose he experienced with the finance minister. He praised the strength of the central bank and reiterated his confidence in it.

A smiling Flaherty said this moment is "bittersweet," and that the loss of Carney will be felt in Canada.

Carney's rumoured appointment to the Bank of England was the source of published reports last spring, and at the time he and the Bank of Canada denied the reports.

"I'm totally focused on my two responsibilities: as governor of the Bank of Canada, and the Financial Stability Board," Carney told reporters on April 18. "I can assure you they add up to more than every waking hour of the day."

On Monday, Carney said this is a crucial time in Europe for global financial reform and that London is the centre of that system. The discussions about the job intensified in the past two weeks, he said, and he was able to assess the unity and cohesiveness of the financial system at home before he felt confident he could accept the new position.

Flaherty said he can understand the challenge the Bank of England offers Carney.

A few months ago, it was also heavily rumoured Carney might leave the central bank to seek the Liberal leadership, an idea he basically laughed off at Monday's press conference.

It is highly unusual for a bank governor to leave in the middle of a term, and clearly Flaherty (lower photo) did not want to express any anxiety that might affect the markets.

CIBC World Markets immediately issued a statement reassuring its customers: "It's unclear that any likely replacement would have a markedly different take on monetary policy in the near term, as Canada will still need faster growth than we've seen to justify higher rates."

The release described Carney as "hawkish in action but dovish in words."

Carney (top photo) said he has many ties with the U.K., pointing out he spent a decade there and his wife is a dual British-Canadian citizen.

It's important that the U.K. economy do well, he said, and its success is important for Canada. The "challenges are greatest there," he said.

Property Taxes and Home Assessments

Will MPAC listen to my idea?
By Mark Schadenberg
As the movie Sleepless In Seattle made famous, "You've Got Mail !'
I believe everyone has now received their new property value report from MPAC -- Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
If your market value number has increased by more than the average increase locally, it certainly would logically follow that your property taxes will rise in 2013.
There is a mechanism to protest (question / debate) the amount through MPAC. (http://mpac.on.ca/pdf/request_for_reconsideration_residential_2013.pdf)
Keep in mind, the MPAC number is only one part of the dual-number calculation as your city's mill rate is the multiplier to create your tax due.
As our Mayor Pat Sobeski said in a recent seminar with Woodstock-area Realtors, one of the reasons why our tax rate appears to be higher than neighbouring towns and communities, is that Woodstock carries a much lower overall debt. In other words, if you balance the books and make only the minimum debenture borrowing (City is still paying for the Community Complex twin-pad project which was completed in 1996), your community is at a balance. I think Sobeski noted that Stratford's total debt is around $100 million, which would be approximately $6,500 per household there to eliminate this hole. I'm not going to verify those numbers, but this tale has been hailed before.
What is the score ?
My concern with MPAC (www.mpac.on.ca) is that they attempt to create a value for your home. My theory is that they should ascertain a 'score' for your home based on dozens of criteria. That score could then be multiplied by a mill rate to determine your tax bill. If your neighbour's 'score' is higher they would pay more taxes. If you disagreed with your score, you could analyze the checklist knowing the number attached to your brick and mortar did not have a dollar-sign in front of it, but was simply a calculated numerical assessment. This number would be adjusted at times, especially if you (perhaps) renovated your kitchen for $50,000 or built a new garage. Otherwise, the variable that is your home's score would remain unchanged.
The mill rate would still be set by Woodstock city council through its difficult budget negotiations as they determine the exact cash number they need to collect to operate the city, county and make its education contribution for 2013.
The long criteria checklist would be extensive: size of lot, square footage above grade, percent of basement finished, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of garage, age of home, obvious improvements like a lifetime roof, inground pool, amenities like central vac and security, and a neighbourhood value which could be created on a grid. Finally, a small portion of the score would be a guess as to what the home may sell for under a correct 'market value' scenario of equally motivated vendor and purchaser. In other words, market value might be five percent of the equation and not 100 percent.
If this sounds like preliminary brochure copy for a personal future run for a city council seat, you might be right.

Mark Schadenberg

(519) 537-1553

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Call me if you plan on buying or selling in near future

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

CMHC has 4 pillars, lots of stats

My wrap on lunch seminar with wraps

By Mark Schadenberg

This past week I attended a seminar (A lunch-and-learn meeting) with two guest speakers – B2B Bank and CMHC.

The B2B is the old Laurentian Bank, which no longer has any focus on branches and personal bank accounts, but rather concentrates on businesses. www.B2Bbank.com is still part of the mortgage writing world, especially when self-employed people are buying a home, but they would most often be contacted by a mortgage broker, such as Rita Nicholson from our Triland-based Dominion Lending Services group (519 636-2946)  

What I really want to write about is another new website: www.everythingyouneed.ca, which could have had even a longer name such as everythingyouneedtoopennewdoors. The site is a Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation portal dedicated to assisting Canadians in buying a home. There are amortization charts, mortgage calculators, a glossary of terms, statistics, information on high ratio mortgages, and tips on how to save for a down payment.

CMHC (www.cmhc.ca) is a government agency, which sells mortgage insurance to cover banks from losses in case of a power of sale, but as moderator Joelle Johnson pointed out that is just one of their four pillars.

CMHC is also about research, assistance and a supplier of information for the international look at real estate.  Assistance is all about acting as a funnel of information, but it’s also about understanding that home owners have access to funds to renovate a home for additional specific needs, such as a retro-fit due to mobility issues.

The three-hour seminar, which included great wraps and a chicken salad, also included a boat-load of statistics about who is buying homes and where they are receiving their background research from. You guessed right, the internet is the main source of studying for all home buyers, and likely boat buyers too.

Among the stats delivered was that the average first-time buyer is now 34 and the average second buyer is 47. With the tighter Bank of Canada rules of qualifying for a mortgage and payback schedules, those numbers have recently moved older on the demographic scale.

Social media is also a source for consumer learning, including YouTube with its billions of videos, and Twitter for a search of experts, and Facebook to consult with your friends and family. One of the reasons I blog is to improve my web presence.

I have always said the best place to get your info from is from someone not trying to sell your something. That could be reason one why you consult either CMHC site.  

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland

(519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

www.marksells.ca

Area holiday charitable efforts

Salvation Army, Operation Sharing . . .
After this week's Lions Club of Woodstock meeting I posted about some of our club's involvement in Christmas causes which need support.
Operation Sharing, for example, is in its 30th year of serving Oxford County.
In today's The Woodstock Sentinel-Review there was a much more encompassing story, including quotes from many of the charitable groups, so I decided to post that story as a follow-up.

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Woodstock Christmas programs gearing up to help the needy

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Woodstock Sentinel-Review 

WOODSTOCK - With a month to go before Christmas, volunteers are busy with efforts to make it a merry one for people who would otherwise go without over the holidays.

Collecting donations of food, gifts and cash, Operation Sharing and The Salvation Army are gearing up to help hundreds of families this Christmas.

The Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper Program has received 450 applications so far and another 75 requests are anticipated by the end of the month.

“(That’s) about what we usually do,” said Vanessa Page, director of community and family services with the Salvation Army in Woodstock.

So far, donations to the hamper program are also in line with what was received in 2011.

“We had a great Santa Claus Parade (with collecting food donations),” Page said.

Angel Trees

Besides the hamper program, the Salvation Army has placed angel trees at Wal-Mart, Zellers and Canadian Tire. The trees are decorated with children’s Christmas gift wishes, which donors can pick up and make come true.

Anyone who wants to give to an entire family can make arrangements by calling the Salvation Army office.

Gifts for children between 13 and 15 are a problem every year, Page said.

“We really fall short on them,” she said, adding that donations of music and movie gift cards or hygiene and beauty products would help alleviate the shortfall.

When it comes to food donations, canned meat and fish, cereal, cookies, peanut butter and jam, hearty soups and nut-free school snacks are often in short supply.

Contributions to the hamper program can be dropped off at 190 Huron St.

Kettle Drive

The annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive in Woodstock is also up and running, with a goal of collecting $60,000 in donations this year.

Kettles are located at Sobeys, Zehrs, the LCBO, Food Basics, No Frills and Wal-Mart, and besides donating cash, there is an opportunity to help out.

“We’re always in need of volunteers for our kettles,” Page said.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the kettle drive is asked to call the Salvation Army office.

Operation Sharing

Operation Sharing helps make sure everyone has a gift under the tree with The Christmas Place at College Avenue United Church, where invited guests shop for Christmas gifts for their family at affordable rates.

“We support hundreds of people with that program,” said Steve Giuliano, program director and chaplain with Operation Sharing. “It’s quite the event.”

Adults who have an invitation can shop for gifts between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from Dec. 4 through Dec. 6. A special children’s shopping day will run Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Giuliano said The Christmas Place, which was founded 32 years ago, not only provides gifts for people living in poverty, but also provides dignity because participants get to do their own shopping.

“They have a sense that they’re contributing to their own Christmas,” he said.

Invitations to The Christmas Place are available at social agencies in the city, including the Women’s Resource Centre, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Operation Sharing and every church in Oxford County.

Kathy Gilverson, volunteer co-ordinator of The Christmas Place, said donations have been slow coming in so far, but that’s typical this early on.

“We’ve just started collecting,” she said. “We’re hopeful.”

Nearly 300 families and 248 children did their holiday shopping at The Christmas Place last year, Gilverson said, and the same numbers are expected this year.

New, unwrapped toys and gifts for all ages and cash donations (tax receipts available) for The Christmas Place can be dropped off at College Avenue United Church between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Like The Salvation Army Hamper Program, The Christmas Place ends up in need of gifts for teens and men.

“We are always short (on those),” Gilverson said.

Woodstock Hospital Foundation is helping generate some funds for The Christmas Place this year by hosting a silent auction at the hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and Wednesday, Nov. 21, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

When it comes to the big event, Operation Sharing hosts a Christmas open house at the Church of the Epiphany on Dec. 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“We had over 300 people last year,” said Steve Giuliano. “There’s lots of food, board games, raffles and there’s a gift for every man, woman and child.”

The gathering is open to everyone.

“It’s for anyone who might find themselves alone at Christmas,” Giuliano said. “It doesn’t matter what your socio-economic status is.”

Soccer still growing everywhere

Many communities dealing with expansive growth in sport's popularity

Before the completion of the Cowan Park facility in Woodstock, our community was in a supply-and-demand deficit when there was a count of minor soccer pitches versus the numbers playing.
Minor soccer had grown so quickly and so large there were simply not enough (quality) fields to play on. The growth in the Woodstock Soccer Club (WSC) was terrific for physical fitness of all ages and participation in the 'great game', but it presented a problem to the City of Woodstock parks and recreation department and the WSC.
Cowan Park is now the envy of minor soccer groups everywhere.
In Kitchener, the difficulty is the city needs to phase out pitches in Budd Park, and now they lack the number of required playing fields.
Here's a story from the Waterloo Region Record:

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Kitchener council promises more soccer fields

Terry Pender, Record staff

Mon Nov 19 2012

KITCHENER — City councillors unanimously supported a call Monday to ensure every child who wants to play soccer will not be denied because of a lack of fields.

City councillors did so with no supporting analysis of future costs and other background studies.

Coun. Berry Vrbanovic introduced the motion and it was seconded by Coun. Bil Ioannidis.

Vrbanovic described the move as a statement of support that reassures Kitchener Minor Soccer that the city will move to accommodate the growing popularity of the sport in this city — up from 3,000 players in 2002 to 5,600 this year.

“The soccer club has done a great job,” Vrbanovic said.

Added Ioannidis: “A council that cares about its youth supports its youth.”

By 2014, minor soccer expects to have 7,000 registered players. By 2017, that figure is expected to hit 10,000.

The move directs city staff to work with minor soccer officials to plan for new soccer fields, and consider how the city and club should handle the loss of some pitches at Budd Park in 2014.

Vrbanovic wants city staff to have detailed information ready in time for the 2014 budget talks.

Coun. Kelly Galloway-Sealock said she wholeheartedly supports the recommendation, but was the only member of city council to openly acknowledge there will be costs associated with it.

“There are going to be capital costs down the road,” Galloway-Sealock said. “While this is a great concept, this could come with significant costs.”

Coun. Daniel Glenn-Graham said the idea should be applied to all city-supported minor sports.

“We should hold this as a high principle for all sport,” Glenn-Graham said.

About a decade ago, the city took the same position with Kitchener Minor Hockey and adopted the “Every Kid Plays” policy.

That policy led to the city building a new twin-pad arena and a buying an existing twin-pad from the private sector.

But nobody was letting future costs get in the way of their support for the beautiful game on Monday night.

Coun. Frank Etherington said he loves seeing young people from other countries playing soccer in Victoria Park before they have mastered the English language.

“The only language they share is soccer, and that is fabulous to watch,” Etherington said.

The motion that was passed says, in part, that city staff will work with the minor soccer club to review facility schedules beginning in 2014, “and adjust them to ensure that every child who wants to play soccer, can.”

Vrbanovic stressed he is giving minor soccer the same kind of support minor hockey received a decade ago.

“Youth hockey, youth participation in sports, are good for our community, and that is a principle we are striving for,” Vrbanovic said.

tpender@therecord.com

The season of giving is upon us

Lions Club donates time and money

By Mark Schadenberg

There are two specific charitable organizations I donate my time to – Relay For Life for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Lions Club of Woodstock.

The Lions Club is always an interesting point of discussion in the Christmas season because ‘it’s better to give than to receive’. Also: charity begins at home.

The Lions give of their time and donate dollars 12 months of the year, but there is more to do this time of year.

I read a story in The Sentinel-Review recalling the humble and small start-up of Operation Sharing exactly 30 years ago.

The Christmas Place is another important cause to remember. I believe I heard it was the late Valerie Drane who was the fuel for the engine that pulled Santa’s sleigh in developing that important seasonal charity.

I mention The Christmas Place as I have volunteered time to this specific group previously as the Lions Club of Woodstock transports the belongings of The Christmas Place from a donated storage unit to College Ave. United Church, and then following its wrap up (pun intended), it’s the Lions Club returning everything (mostly boxes, storage shelves, display stands, and a few remaining presents that will be used next year) back into storage.

By the way, if you have to time to assist on Thursday, Nov 29 in the afternoon, give me a call at 537-1553 and I will let you know where we meet.

The recruitment process for you to join the Lions Club will happen at a later date.

Inn Out Of The Cold is the third of four seasonal groups which also receive time, donated items, and money from the Lions Club. At our meeting tonight, for example, we passed a motion to re-direct all the funds raised from the Ladies’ Night Out event held at the Legion back on Oct. 22 to be divided among four Woodstock winter charities.

One other Lions event to be mentioned is our annual Christmas Santa turkey dinner we host for members of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Woodstock. I’ve committed to bringing my CD player, so guests can plan on hearing ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ by Burl Ives.

Any local Christmas charity accepts money in any amount, but also in any form. If you have a large stack of Canadian Tire money, for example, consider donating some to benefit one of the groups I have already mentioned. Gift cards to stores selling merchandise geared to teenagers is also a good idea.

Community Corner

Another quiet way the Lions receive money, is a program many local restaurants participate in called Community Corner, where some proceeds from sales at a certain table every month are directed to the Lions Club. Local restaurants involved include Fritzie’s (both), Boston Pizza and Ody’s. In the month of November, the restaurants to visit are both The Pub at Norwich Ave and East Side Mario’s. In December, it’s Simon’s turn as the Lions Community Corner will be designated at both Montana’s and Kelsey’s.

Since the Santa Claus parade locally ends with Santa following the Lions Club fire truck, this contribution will end with our fire truck.

Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Bank Of Canada mortgage rules

Mortgage reps may want rules to be made less strict

Has the pendulum now swung too far again?

Most people with knowledge of mortgages and amortization charts realize that five years ago it was likely too easy to get a mortgage – a financial commitment that was larger than one should be awarded – perhaps buying a $300,000 with no down payment with a 35-year amortization and $6,000 cashback at closing to assist with moving fees. After lawyer’s fees, land transfer tax, and appraisal charges were factored in, essentially a home owner would be financed for as much as 104% of the market value of the home. With attractive interest rates, a strong credit history and employment from the client, this scenario could work, but not forever.

Since The Bank of Canada has tightened the rules, however, it has again become quite difficult for a first-time buyer to save a physical down payment.

The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals is now suggesting it may be time to loosen the requirement a little as the re-sale market in real estate has slowed down, or at least it's time to analyse the situation.

Here’s the Canadian Press story:

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Re-sale real estate market needs a boost

The Canadian Press

Mon Nov 19 2012

Mortgage brokers call for look at impact of new borrowing rules

Fewer first-time buyers in the re-sale real estate market

TORONTO - Canada’s mortgage brokers say recent changes to federal rules have taken too big a bite out of an already cooling housing market and they suggest policymakers should address the needs of their industry.

The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals says a survey of 2,000 consumers in October, conducted on CAAMP’s behalf, suggests that first-time buyers have been hard hit by the tighter mortgage rules.

“We worry that this is having a dampening effect on what was an already cooling market and we hope policy-makers will give some thought to addressing the needs of this key sector of the market,” association president and CEO Jim Murphy said in a statement.

CAAMP chief economist Will Dunning said the smaller number of first time buyers has already affected the resale market.

“The housing resale numbers behave like a canary in the mine for us,” Dunning said. “My concern is that a policy-induced housing market downturn creates unnecessary risk that directly affects not just housing but job creation and the economy as a whole.”

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said the new rules were intended to deal with overpriced real-estate in certain cities and certain types of housing. He has said the tighter mortgage rules reduce the risk of buyers taking on too much debt.

Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has also warned that Canadian personal debt levels have reached record high levels, posing a risk to the economy if consumers can’t afford to carry their debt once interest rates rise.

CAAMP is the national organization representing Canada’s mortgage industry. With over 12,250 mortgage professionals representing over 1,700 companies

Among findings of the association’s semi-annual report:

 • Since the most recent round of mortgage tightening in July, housing resale activity in the August-October period is down eight per cent compared with a year earlier.

 • About 17 per cent of high ratio mortgages funded in 2010 cannot be funded today, including 11 per cent of prospective high ratio homebuyers who can’t qualify under the new 25-year amortization rule.

Flaherty has reduced the maximum amortization for Canadian mortgages several times in recent years. Most recently, the maximum was cut from 30 years. Previous reforms included reductions in the maximum amortization period to 35 years from 40 and then to 30 years from 35.

Links to creeks and reports

Southside Park pond survives vote 

By Mark Schadenberg

A vote of 6-1 by Woodstock city council on Nov. 15 essentially indicates that the City will do the remediation work on the Southside Park pond (Cedar Creek eventually drains into Thames River) as recommended by an environmental report written by AECOM consultants.

A guess price tag is $2.2 million, but I’m a member of a long list of people who would have been extremely disappointed to see the Cedar Creek’s pond in the park removed or modified into a river with an adjoining naturalized marsh.

AECOM had created many options, but then described their preferred alternative to include a forebay (the berm would be below water level) at the south end of the pond to allow for future dredging to be much easier, then to have a deeper river (below water level so you wouldn't realize it's actually there) running near the west bank toward where the dam is. The island would stay but other deeper areas would be created (excavated) around it.

As chair of the Woodstock recreation advisory committee I have attended the last two public meetings at the Woodstock Museum. Anytime there is an advertised public meeting on a subject you are interested in, you should attend as they are always informative and they always ask for public comment.

I write hear on my own opinion, but the pond was certainly discussed at the last WRAC meeting on Nov 13.

The Sentinel-Review story is below

Also, check out some of the links below I discovered (on Google), including a report I found online from 1997, and the (famed) drinking water report from December of 2011.

Some links

http://www.thamesriver.on.ca/About_Us/Thames_heritage_guide.htm

http://www.thamesriver.on.ca/Parks/Pittock_CA.htm

http://www.thamesriver.on.ca/Watershed_Projects/watershed_projects.htm

http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/Portals/15/Documents/Water/WaterReports2011/Woodstock11.pdf

http://www.thamesriver.on.ca/watershed_projects/Cedar_Creek/Images/Cedar_Creek_strategy.pdf

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Southside Pond is staying put

By Bruce Urquhart, Woodstock Sentinel-Review

Thursday, November 15, 2012

WOODSTOCK - Southside Pond is staying put.

In a decision that should surprise absolutely no one, city council voted 6-1 to endorse an environmental assessment that recommended the rehabilitation of the existing pond, ending months of speculation, misinformation and misunderstandings.

“The pond is a good compromise,” Coun. Paul Plant said. “One side of the coin may not believe that, but we’re maintaining something the community wants while trying to remedy things as much as possible.

This $2.2-million preference scored high in the study’s heritage category, largely because of the overwhelming public support that gave it an edge over the controversial option of removing the pond and dam structure.

“(This alternative) scored the highest on heritage … based on what is there now as a focal feature of the park,” Aecom consultant Wolfgang Wolters said.. “(The pond removal) did not score well on heritage because it’s completely different than what they have there now.

“Both alternatives do have risks.”

As part of its rehabilitation, Southside Pond will be completely dredged before a sediment forebay is created to trap and settle out sediment and heavy pollutants. The plan, which retains the dam structure, also involves a low-flow channel and the installation of a bottom-draw outlet that “pulls” cooler water from the pond’s deeper bottom for release into the receiving watercourse.

“It’s not a perfect solution but it’s the best solution that can maintain that online pool system,” Wolters said.

This rehabilitation introduces aquatic vegetation – likely lily pads – to help reduce the pond’s surface temperature, and new shrubs around the perimeter to discourage pollution by Canadian geese and other waterfowl.

“In simple terms, geese like to know what’s going on around them,” Wolters said. “When they have a clear sight to water, that’s where they head.”

Along with the pond rehabilitation, council supported the $410,000 rehabilitation of Cedar Creek as a natural channel that would remove the existing – but eroding – “hard bank protection” while reconfiguring the waterway to include terraced banks, a low-flow channel, and pools and riffles. This approach would involve the planting of new vegetation for erosion protection and the implementation of a “subtle meander” as part of the channel.

Coun. Jim Northcott, the only dissenting vote, referred to the Woodstock environmental advisory committee’s October recommendation to remove the dam structure and pond in favour of a natural wetland during his remarks. Also preferred by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority – the group that started this whole process by giving the Cedar Creek watershed a poor grade – this alternative would have potentially done the most to improve the water quality.

The only real worry about the pond rehabilitation was the hefty price tag. Wolters explained the bulk of the cost involved the expensive disposal of the contaminated sediment.

“We’re looking at a really big dollar figure, but that figure has been driven up by the fact that we can’t just dump the sludge … into a farmer’s field or into a landfill,” Coun. Bill Bes said, “It’s not that we’re really interested in really expensive projects. We’re stuck in that we can’t just throw it anywhere.”

The next step in a process that began in December 2011 is a 30-day public comment period that allows Woodstonians to voice their views on the plan. If approved, the city has put the money in its proposed capital budget and anticipates a three-year implementation that would start with designs for both the pond and the creek.

“The public has the opportunity to voice their opinions on what has been recommended tonight,” Plant said. “This just frames what most of council thinks is most appropriate.”

Report card for Thames River

Cedar Creek certainly needs improvement in water quality.

Randy Richmond of The London Free Press, who often is the reporter on difficult court cases, this week covers the report card of the Thamers River.

One of the watersheds receiving a very low grade is the Cedar Creek, which runs through SouthwestOxford and Norwich townships before going through three golf courses just south of Woodstock before entering Southside Park. 

This is the second of two postings on this topic as Woodstock city council made its decision on Cedar Creek at a meeting held Nov 15.

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Thames River gets Cs and Ds

By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press (Sun Media)

Thursday, November 15, 2012

LONDON -- The class average remains so-so, but steady.

But some of the 28 classmates are improving, especially those getting help from friends.

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority released its 2012 watershed report cards Thursday, the third summary in 11 years of the 28 watersheds it monitors.

Based on water-quality testing and forest conditions from 2006 to 2011, grades overall have stayed around C and D.

“Our results are showing improvement or conditions staying steady,” Karen Maaskant, the authority’s water-quality specialist, said.

“None have shown a decline over the past 10 years. And when we look at some of the population increase, sometimes staying steady is achieving something in some of these watersheds,”

The grades given to watersheds, which make up the area drained by the Thames, are actually grades given to the people who live in them.

“They tell us what is happening on the land,” Maaskant said.

The most improved watersheds are those being turned back to their natural state, often with the help of community groups planting trees or governments helping to make improvements on land and in the water.

“That is a positive. It tells us we can do something to make improvements,” Maaskant said.

“Watersheds where we have healthy stream corridors, where you still have natural meanders, good riparian (forest) cover — that’s key to improving water quality.”

The authority produced its first report cards in 2001, the second set in 2007.

The unique and extensive reports have helped prompt Ontario to create standardized grades and another 25 conservation authorities to release their reports in 2013.

WHAT THE REPORTS SAY

There’s a lot of science behind the grades, but the Upper Thames boils it down to easy-to-read grades and comments.

“It was a simply a better way of getting our scientific data out to the communities,” Maaskant says.

Besides individual watershed maps, there are regional maps of where trees were planted, clean water projects undertaken, where spills happened and monitoring was done.

WHAT’S NEW THIS TIME?

Among new wrinkles, there are maps of key areas where the region’s aquifer, and drinking water, is recharged and most vulnerable to contamination.

“We tried to include information that would be relevant to people — what’s of value and what should be protected in their watershed,” Maaskant said.

The new report cards also draw attention to the area’s many extreme weather events recently, from droughts in 2007 and 2012, to flooding in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

There’s no hard, long-term evidence of the fallout of such events, but testing this fall has shown signs of stress in microscopic aquatic life.

Also new are the positive and negative connections between the Thames River and lakes St. Clair and Erie.

The negative includes river sediment plumes, visible from air, that help create huge algae blooms in Erie that choke aquatic life and affect drinking water in cities.

The positive includes evidence that young brook trout are doing well enough in Komoka Creek, west of London, to make it downstream into central and eastern Erie.

THE BLEAK NEWS

There were almost twice as many spills into drains, creeks, streams and rivers, 670, reported from 2006 to 2011 as from 2001 to 2005, 386.

“We’re not sure if there are more eyes on the river and people are out there seeing spills and reporting them, or if there are actually more spills,” Maaskant said.

The authority now has better data on the spills and may take a closer look at them to see if there are trends that suggest ways to combat them, she says.

HOW WATERSHEDS ARE GRADED:

Surface water quality: Levels of phosphorous and E. coli bacteria and the health of benthic invertebrates, the tiny insects living in the water.

Forest conditions: Percentage of land wooded, of river corridor that’s wooded, that has forest interior (protected and thriving core of forest 100 metres from edge)

WATER QUALITY RESULTS

C – 12 watersheds.

D – 16 watersheds,

Poorest: Forks, Cedar Creek, Pottersburg, South Thames, Reynolds

Best: Middle Thames, Plover Mills, Waubuno Creek, Glengowan

Most improved: Waubuno and Middle Creek.

Also improved: Avon River, Dingman Creek, Stoney Creek.

FOREST CONDITIONS

Most watersheds remaining steady, marks ranging from C to F.

Poorest: North Mitchell, Whirl

Best: Dorchester, Trout, Komoka, River Bend

Slight decline: Stoney, Pottersburg (in urban London)

+ tree bauble

TREES ARE KEY

Forests moderate climate and water temperature, provide habitat, protect groundwater, prevent erosion.

5,481: Woodlots in the Thames watershed.

82%: Less than 10 hectares, too small for good cores.

506: Hectares in largest woodlot, in Ellice Swamp

228,000: Trees planted since 2007 on 264 parcels of private property

57,000: Trees planted since 2997 on 161 community sites, with help of 28,000 students and other volunteers

+ fish bauble

WATERSHED STRESSES

— 4% population increase 2006 to 2011, now 515,600

(Stoney Creek alone as 4,500 more people, up 39%).

— 177 dams and barriers (Medway Creek alone has 24)

— 77: Number of fish, mussel, replities species at risk

BIG WATER

4,440: Total length, in km, of all area’s watercourses.

35%: Watercourses natural.

65%: Watercourses buried or made into channels.

5%: Overall wetland coverage.

107: Number of significant wetlands.

+ Pipe-emptying-into-river bauble

SPILLS REPORTED

386: 2001 to 2005

670: 2006 to 2011, including fuel, industrial chemicals, sewage and manure

FIVE-YEAR PROGRESS

— Newly protected: 14 hectares at Meadowlily Woods near Dorchester, Kains Woods near River Bend, Five Points Woods Dreidger Trage

— Better water: Wastewater treatment plant upgrades in Dingman Creek, stormwater management improvements in Stratford

— 576 clean water projects (grants and loans to help rural landowners).

— 1,300 Gr. 12 students in new education program learning how to collect and use data

+ Tree bauble

YOU GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS

— Individual watersheds with community groups helping have some of the best grades.

— 8 have friends groups and have attracted $1 million in improvements.

— The Forks of the Thames likely next area to get support group.

— How important are they? In Stoney Creek, the population keeps growing but the watershed is maintaining its grades.

WHAT RIVER EXPERTS SAY

“I think we’re moving in the right direction. When you look at conditions in the 1970s, we’ve come a long way. Now we’ve plateaued a bit but we are moving to slow improvement.”

— Karen Maaskant, water quality specialist, Upper Thames

“It takes a long time to grow a forest. All the policies, steps taken to protect forests are working. We need to keep focusing on growing that forest cover.”

— Cathy Quinlan, terrestrial biologist, Upper Thames

“You look at a lot of other areas and they are bemoaning the fact things are always getting worse. We can see some improvement. It’s a pretty rich river system.”

— John Schwindt, aquatic biologist, Upper Thames

For more, visit www.thamesriver.on.ca