Cities balancing the books

Woodstock's finances are in a good position

By Mark Schadenberg

Thanks to long-term planning and a low debt load, Woodstock is in a good place financially.

I don’t know how many emails a day Woodstock mayor Pat Sobeski might receive, but he answered a question for me without replying to my cyberspace inquiry.

In the March edition of What’s On Woodstock (WOW) magazine, the mayor’s speech on Page 4 includes a breakdown of some area municipal debts as researched by the analytical numbers firm known as BMA Consulting (www.bmaconsult.com) based in Hamilton.

According to WOW, the 2010 BMA numbers had Woodstock’s debt at $309 per person – not household – but per citizen.  The totals for other neighbouring cities were as follows: Kitchener ($953), Waterloo ($1,829), London ($2,262), and Stratford ($5,958) per resident.

Cash Flow At Queen's Park

Like all taxpayers I shutter when I hear about the deficits carried by both the province and the nationwide folks in Ottawa. One would hope there is a window (shutter / window pun intended) for decreasing these runaway amounts. Quite frankly, someone left the window open and the money fan spinning on high.

The question then is, since the Ontario government (loosely) insists that school boards and hospitals have a balanced budget, why is the same assumption not made to municipalities.

Southwood Arena Is 17 Years Old

A city can debenture the costs of a big-time project and gradually pay it back (hopefully before depreciation sets in). For example, the Woodstock District Community Complex twin-pad arenas (and gymnastics centre and community hall) opened way back in 1996 and the city still owes some dollars on its construction. Putting on an appraiser’s hat for a moment, I would say the effective age of that facility is only about 10 years as many visitors still consider it ‘new’.

However, read the story below from the Stratford Beacon Herald about the insane debt the Festival town has accumulated. Could you imagine paying an additional $6,000 per household in city taxes in one year just to eliminate the over-pouring of red ink?

Hats off to Woodstock city officials of yesterday and today (recently Dave Creery replaced Paul Bryan-Pulham as CAO), for keeping Woodstock attractive and balanced.

So, the next time you want to complain about your municipal taxes, remember they also pay for education and a chunk of the county infrastructure, and pays for the services we are using today and not money spent several years ago.

What’s On Woodstock: http://www.city.woodstock.on.ca/images/stories/pdfs/wow_issues/2013/wow_march2013.pdf

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Stratford to keep score on whopping debt of $2,000-plus per person

By Donal O'Connor, The Beacon Herald

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

STRATFORD -- Taking a cue from a citizen who recently commented on Stratford's budget, city treasurer Andre Morin will be working on some kind of a scorecard that will keep the public informed about the municipality's long-term debt.

As referred to in the current budget, that debt will be $93.4 million at the end of this year. Morin informed the finance subcommittee Tuesday the 2012 BMA study places Stratford at the top of a list of 86 Ontario municipalities based on per capita level of debt.

The BMA comparison is for fiscal 2011 and the per capita amount reported for Stratford is $2,004.

"We're by far the worst," Morin told the subcommittee, referring to the listing.

(Port Hope is about the same as Stratford and Toronto is third on the list at $1,687.)

But Morin explained infrastructure debt and other asset expenditures are important in making a proper comparison.

"Our infrastructure could be falling apart," he said.

Morin said he doesn't have all of the information he would need to make a good comparison with other municipalities. He'll be looking at what other municipalities do and try to come up with a comparative way of illustrating the city's debt.

"Is keeping taxes low the proper way to run a municipality," he asked, suggesting that if money isn't put into capital reserves "something suffers."

He told the subcommittee he would do some analysis and report back to council in May.

CAO Ron Shaw pointed out the city is paying off about $5 million per year and has been able to manage its debt.

Citing as an example development in the city's west end, he noted that some of the debt is supported by development charges coming in.

Adding his perspective, Coun. Frank Mark said the city has taken advantage of "30% and 50% dollars" -- a reference to federal and provincial grants -- and attractive interest rates in financing infrastructure.

"I don't think we want to lose site of that. In the long term it should be beneficial to the community," he said.

The discussion was prompted by recent comments on the city budget from Bob Savage who suggested the city provide "a quarterly scorecard" showing the municipality's debt, and indicating on-going reductions or increases.

Some Interesting Facts

Another Reason To Consider Living In Woodstock

Call Today:

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

(519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Your Process Of Relocating TO Woodstock, Could Begin Today !

Nature walks and cycling swaths

Putting the 'Trails Master Plan' on the map

By Mark Schadenberg

I enjoy riding laps on my mountain bike through trails and walks through nature, but at the same time I’m not the biggest fan of all the overlap we have in Oxford County government.

Woodstock 

Currently, the City of Woodstock is tweaking a Cycling Master Plan, which deals with trails, bike lanes on busy streets, cut-through paths from one street to another, and generally bicycles as both a mode of transportation and for general fitness.

At the March 3 (1-4) Rec & Leisure Show at Cowan Park, the City will be utilizing the event to receive additional public input on this study or possible game plan for the future.

Oxford County

However, at the same time Oxford County council is look at its developing Trails Master Plan. The county’s horseshoe is discussing the matter on tomorrow’s agenda.

The idea here is similar, but significantly different as the crystal-ball gazing includes linking all the existing trails (for walking and/or cycling nature buffs) and creating additional paths to connect communities. It’s been well publicized that a trail is under construction currently which begins in Beachville and is gradually weaving its way to Woodstock to join the system here -- near where Dundas Street becomes Highway 2 at Ingersoll Road. It’s a terrific idea.

As chair of the Woodstock Recreation Advisory committee, this is an opportunity to remind folks about these studies. But, and here’s the but, keep in mind that all trails created must be maintained and it’s more than just cutting the grass and taking a scythe to overgrown low branches, it’s repairs during flooding, building and later re-building culverts and bridges, it’s distributing truck loads of mulch and gravel.    

I’m not saying stop the advancement of formal organized trails, I’m saying that maybe some of these areas can be simply make-shift trampled unorganized swaths. Keep in mind, once they are placed on a map they will be requiring upkeep.

I would be the absolutely last person to agree with the Joni Mitchell song about relocating trees in a ‘tree museum’, but we also only have one taxpayer and already have dozens of kilometres of trails in and around Woodstock, including the marvelous tract maintained by the Woodstock Cycling Club and called The Pines (Just east of Woodstock on Township Road 4 in Blandford-Blenheim Twp).

A topic for another day, but it is important here, is that re-planting in the Lions Club / Standard Tube / Youth Start trails will cost a bundle of paper money due to the emerald ash borer.

Heather Rivers from The Sentinel-Review offers this story, which I am linking to because I do believe the online ads and presentation of the paper is important revenue to the Sentinel.

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http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2013/02/25/oxford-trails-master-plan-will-create-walkable-network

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Call anytime: (519) 537-1553

I care about the community; and care more about offering proper advice to clients

Life is a highway to Wildwood

Input sought for Hwy 7 reconstruction

By Mark Schadenberg

The northern reaches of Oxford County will see modifications to a major artery through the area.

The section of Highway 7 from Wildwood Conservation Area (UTRCA) to Stratford is due for significant upgrades. While I haven’t seen much press on this in Oxford, the Stratford paper is noting that the 30-day public review period continues until March 19.

You can have your say or supply your input.

Here’s the Beacon Herald bit:

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Public invited to comment until March 19

By Mike Beitz, The Beacon Herald

Friday, Feb. 22, 2013

ST. MARYS -- Construction could begin as early as next year on planned improvements to Hwy. 7 between Stratford and the Wildwood Conservation Area that could include two roundabouts.

The project is currently in the “detailed design phase,” which is expected to be complete in the fall, explained MTO communications co-ordinator Liane Fisher in an email this week.

In the meantime, a transportation environmental study report on the project has just been made available for a required 30-day public review.

Two roundabouts on the horizon

It outlines the ministry’s preferred improvements, including pavement and culvert rehabilitation, as well as the construction of roundabouts on Hwy. 7 at the intersections of Line 20 (near Klomps nursery) and Line 26 (near D&S Downham Equipment).

A public information centre to gather feedback on the planned improvements was held in November, and Fisher said the project was “generally well received.”

“The comments included some who look forward to the improvements and see the benefits of the roundabouts, while others prefer traffic signals. We also received comments about traffic detours during construction,” she said. “We are continuing to meet with stakeholders and members of the public to address their concerns as the design process continues.”

Assuming there are no outstanding concerns raised in the review period, the ministry will proceed with finalizing the detailed design.

Planned work in Ontario budget 

The project is listed in the province’s 2012-2016 southern highways program, and construction is slated to start as soon as 2014, noted Fisher.

A copy of the transportation environmental study report is available in Stratford at the Stratford Public Library and the Perth County Courthouse, and in St. Marys at the St. Marys Public Library.

The review period runs until March 19.

http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2013/02/22/public-invited-to-comment-until-march-19

Organizing your family's home

Chaos and clutter

By Mark Schadenberg

Are you like me -- always searching for parenting advice?

As a Canadian parent, I subscribe (or at least my wife does) to the Today’s Parent magazine.

On the cover of its March edition, the Rogers Communications publication promotes parenting tips on children assisting with the laundry, obviously includes a teasing blurb about healthy and delicious recipes, and also lures the reader inside for details on Easter crafts.

The reason I’m plugging the edition (On newsstands now) is a feature about de-cluttering. The item is sub-titled ‘Quick ways to tame the chaos’.

When my son is busy with wooden blocks and impersonating Bob The Builder, and my daughter has an assortment of Barbie attires strewn about, the first reaction is to pull ones hair out (Mine – not the toy’s).

Today’s Parent has a series of suggestions to keep your home organized – ideas that appear to make sense whether your home is on the market or if you’re loving living in it.

I could extrapolate on the clutter content, but instead will comment that it includes advice on just about every room of the house – children’s bedrooms and their closets, the laundry room, family room and its myriad of activities, and a quick summary on organizing the kitchen.

No feature would be complete without a ‘fast facts’ box and the one depicted here notes the five commandments of a household.

The author is Trish Magwood – billed in the magazine as a chef, and food and lifestyle consultant.

Additional stories for the March issue include thoughts on how to improve the energy efficiency of your house, advice on visiting the dentist, an overview of some museums and galleries in Canada, and hints on how to stop children from fighting and arguing.

From a parent who made a bologna sandwich this morning to its exact required description, it’s certainly great to have children, but the juggling with real estate and real life can be arduous.

www.todaysparent.com

Mark Schadenberg – Daddy & Realtor

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

(519) 537-1553

What is element No 86 ?

Can radon be a concern?

By Mark Schadenberg

I’m a Realtor and not a chemist, but one question appears to be heard more often in home safety and health: What is radon?

Radon is a noble gas (one of six, including helium) and like carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless.

Radon is on the old periodic table you learned in high school chemistry as Rn or element (atomic number) 86.

As someone on the organizing committee for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in Woodstock (June 14-15 at CASS), I would believe that cancer threats should be heeded and Radon fits in that category. 

Interesting to note is that Radon is a dense gas and as its name suggests is radioactive and is a cause of lung cancer for individuals who do not smoke. Indoor air quality is the culprit. It’s always said that a home must breathe and that’s why air exchangers are important. In the winter we lock our windows to keep the cold outside and unfortunately the old air inside.

You can buy testers to determine levels of Radon in your home.

Radon is actually released from soil, so it’s naturally occurring. Oddly enough, it can enter the home through cracks and small construction joints.

Google ‘Radon’ or read on:

For more background, here is a story from today’s Kitchener daily newspaper known as The Record.

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Radon exposure at home puts citizens at risk of lung cancer

Linda Givetash, Waterloo Region Record

Monday, Feb. 25.

WATERLOO REGION — More citizens are exposed to lung cancer-causing substances than they realize.

Although the disease is commonly associated to smoking, 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths are linked to another cause — radon exposure.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released from the earth. In the open air it’s not harmful but for approximately seven per cent of Canadian households, radon levels are unsafe.

Health Canada and Waterloo Region Public Health are recommending all homeowners test the air in their homes for radon.

“Recent evidence has made us more aware of the potential risk in a household setting,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, associate medical officer of health in Waterloo Region.

Previously, she said the concern of radon exposure was focused on work environments such as mines, however research is now showing high levels of the substance can be found in houses too.

Long-term exposure at home can have damaging affects on the body.

Radon particles can get trapped deep in the lungs when inhaled and can cause tissue damage that leads to lung cancer over time.

One in twenty people exposed to high levels of radon over a long term period are at risk of developing lung cancer.

For smokers, the risk is even greater. Smokers exposed to high levels of radon have a one in three risk.

The safe benchmark for radon levels is set at 200 Bq/m³ by Health Canada. Levels exceeding that level require remediation to reduce the amount of radon entering the home.

Radon enters the home through openings between the home and ground such as open floor drains, cracks in the foundation, exposed soil or voids in concrete block walls.

There are no definite factors that put a home at greater or less risk either.

“You can’t really rely on factors like geography or age of a home to say I should be worried or I’m going to be OK,” Wang said, which is why everyone should test their homes.

The test kits are sold at some hardware stores such as Home Depot or Home Hardware. Stock can vary between stores, so consumers should call ahead. Test kits can also be purchased online from companies specializing home improvement or radiation safety.

The duration of tests vary from days to months — however Wang recommended that consumers opt for tests with a minimum three-month duration for the most accurate results.

Tests can be done during any time of the year, however are best done in the cooler months when windows and doors are kept closed and are less likely to affect results. A radon detector is commonly left on the lowest lived-in level of a home where the radon concentration would be at the greatest risk.

When a test is complete, the detector used in the test is mailed to a lab for the results to be examined. If results show radon levels above the safe benchmark, homeowners should begin recourse to decrease those levels.

To assess and close off radon entry routes into the home and improve ventilation, Wang said homeowners should hire contractors certified in radon remediation. A link listing certified professionals can be found through the Public Health website.

Remediation can cost anywhere between $500 and $3,000.

Because the testing and remediation for radon remain a recommendation, landlords are encouraged but not required to take action on their properties.

This means tenants who either want the testing completed or discover high levels of radon in their homes cannot force their landlords to mitigate the problem.

Wang could not comment on potential changes in legislation but said the current focus for health officials is informing the public about radon.

“What we’re hoping to do now is raise awareness about the preventive measures people can do and encourage people to do the testing,” Wang said.

    Test your home

Radon levels are considered safe to a maximum of 200 Bq/m³.

About seven per cent of Canadian homes have levels about the safe guideline.

Radon levels between 200 and 600 Bq/m³ should be remediated within two years.

Radon levels above 600 Bq/m³ should be remediated within one year.

About 16 per cent of lung cancers in Canada are related to radon exposure.

Test kits can be purchased at some hardware stores and cost $25 to $170.

Long term tests at a minimum of three months are recommended.

Remediation must be done by a certified contractor and costs between $500 and $3,000.

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/892741--radon-exposure-at-home-puts-citizens-at-risk-of-lung-cancer

8.3 acres of development land

Prognosis of former hospital site

By Mark Schadenberg

The final fate and future focus of the old Woodstock General Hospital site will be decided in 2013.

What type of residential uses should the area have?

The new hospital in Woodstock is now 15 months old and one of the items on the local city council agenda for Feb. 21 is a proposal for a low density neighbourhood – mostly detached houses on Vincent and Brant street frontages, along with high-end townhouses.

The submission to be analyzed by the 500 Dundas horseshoe includes three hypothetical layouts (variations).

I would state publicly the suggested streetscape No. 2 is the greatest idea.

I don’t think anyone anywhere in Woodstock – whether they lived across the street from WGH or 40 blocks away – would have wanted a 12-storey complex constructed.

The blocks of Riddell – Brant – Wellington – Vincent already have a group of townhouses with Riddell frontage and many modest-sized homes.

Further, the plan for the chunk of land which was once home to Beckett Farm Market has now been shifted to townhouses and not a multi-storey condo – with nothing yet built there.

The Woodstock hospital board of trust was set to be at council Feb. 21 (today) to suggest a zone change for the 6.4 acres and a second separate 1.9 acres of development land.

Zoning Change Required First

Naturally, the process of removing the olde healthcare facility from the terra firma continues, but a change of zoning from institutional (Actually labeled as: ‘special community facility’) to residential is one of the steps in the long process of red tape. Studies on the 6.4 acres of hospital block (plus the 1.9 acres of former large parking lot on the west side of Riddell) include traffic analysis and site assessments. It’s rather hard to believe that a traffic count had to be calculated as it would be impossible to think a future use could include more congestion of cars than a public hospital.

Also, keep in mind the provincial policies on residential uses stresses closeness and crowding, and not open spaces with generous backyards.

The County of Oxford also has a bible called the official plan to consult.

The report to council (Pages 49-72 in the online agenda) does suggest there could be some leniency to property uses, including a bed-and-breakfast and other at-home businesses. To muddy the waters, definitions are included for possible small-scale institutional uses such as a retirement home with fewer than 35 beds.

Three Levels Of Government

I have always been quite impressed with the efforts of both Ron Versteegen and Gord Hough in the county strategic planning department. With three levels (city, county, and province) of government policies to juggle, somehow these two gentlemen do an effective job of playing first, second and third base – they cover the bases.

As a matter of interest, even Canada Post was permitted an opportunity to comment on this plan.

Review is also made on the ‘look’ and construction quality of the new structures, saying: “facades that line the street must be coordinated with architectural elements from the surrounding neighbourhood and be designed to a high standard.”

www.city.woodstock.on.ca  

http://www.city.woodstock.on.ca/images/stories/pdfs/agendas_minutes/city_council/2013_Agenda-minutes/02-February-21-2013-CouncilAgenda.pdf    

 Picture: Woodstock General Hospital in 1902.

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Always Thinking About What Clients Are Likely Thinking About

Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage

Woodstock

Call: (519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

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

Canada caffeine contest

Rolling down street in RAV4

Free advertising. Does such a thing exist?

As a Realtor, our best free advertising is word-of-mouth.

Right now, everyone is chatting about the annual Roll Up The Rim promotion from Tim Horton’s. You could say it’s the No 1 topic in coffee shops.

As a Woodstock Realtor, the best news in this year’s cup of caffeine contest is the fact that 40 Toyota RAV4 SUVs are the first prize. The RAV4 is not only built in Canada, not only is it an Ontario vehicle, but the RAV4 is built in my hometown of Woodstock.

By visiting www.rolluptherimtowin.com I noticed that some of the secondary prizes were also attractive – 100 Mastercard pre-paid cards for $5,000 each, 1,000 Napoleon gourmet gas bbqs, and even 25,000 gift certificates to Timmies for $100 apiece.

Naturally, I’m pleased if I win an apple fritter, which is good for me, but Toyota is currently receiving immense publicity from coast-to-coast. I have no idea how the trade for advertising deal works between Horton’s and Toyota but it’s certainly win-win, especially in a year when the RAV4 model has undergone a few extensive changes in its look for the 2013 model, including converting the back gate into a lift-up hatch-like door.

The Timmies website notes the RAV4 vehicles available are all-wheel drive (AWD), 6-speed automatic, 4-cylinder efficient engine (ECO and sport modes available), audio system with Bluetooth and USB, heated front seats, dual zone heating controls, eight airbags, and the smart key system which includes a push button start.  

I sell houses and not cars, but I certainly sell Woodstock, and Toyota and the RAV4 is an easy sell.

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

(519) 537-1553

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

Read Reader's Digest food section

Webers named among nation's best burger 

By Mark Schadenberg

Sometimes a publication like Reader’s Digest will put its pens where our appetite is.

Check out the Food section on www.readersdigest.ca and you’ll see a list of the supposed top eight burger places in Canada. Three on the list of the elite eight are in Ontario including the highway bbq pit known as Webers (www.webers.com) in the Orillia area.

Take it from someone who lived in Muskoka more than 20 years ago, Webers on Highway 11 has more than earned its reputation as a worthwhile stop on a sojourn northward.

The Reader’s Digest columnists of Sue Campbell and Jen McMorran, summarize Weber’s, by saying: “Opened in 1963, Weber’s is such a well-established Ontario burger institution that it was featured in Molson’s ‘I am Canadian’ television commercial. And though it is somewhat off the beaten track on Highway 11, they added their own pedestrian bridge to help folks cross the road safely to get there. Line-ups are a given, but the fare is well worth the wait, as is the experience of watching the “key man” at work expertly flipping up to 800 charcoal grilled burgers an hour as he has been doing for over 49 years! Their patties are also for sale through Loblaws.”

In Woodstock, I saw the box of Weber’s burgs available at No Frills.

The bridge over Highway 11 has been there for as long as I know, so that traffic going south could stop for a meal without having to walk across a four-lane roadway.

I was there in August

Just this past August, my wife and I made a trek to Muskoka, which included a day at Santa's Village for Maeghan and Spencer, a stop in Port Carling to look at a lock, junkets to Huntsville and Gravenhurst, and burgers and fries from Webers. Was it worth the stop? Certainly !

As for the magazine online story, check out the RD introduction: “Extra greasy or über healthy, creative gourmet with scads of cool toppings, or just a plain classic cheeseburger… the sky’s the limit when it comes to the possibilities between the buns. Grab some fries, don't forget the ketchup and bring extra napkins for Canada’s best hamburger restaurants.”

Not quite riveting journalism from Reader’s Digest, which by the way I recently sent a proposal to as a resume to write a full-length feature on the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in London. I never heard back from the RD folks, so I guess I should have penned a piece panning pan pizza from various brick ovens.    

Picture from: Reader's Digest

This is the right ranch for many

355 Parrott is on the market  

By Mark Schadenberg

As a Realtor, I often hear from people who want to reside in a ranch (large bungalow), but want the privacy of a freehold detached home. In other words, an empty-nester couple with those specific comments does not want to live in a condo townhouse complex – no matter how much green space there may be between the units.

I have just listed a wonderful ranch (built by John Goodman) at 533 Parrott in Woodstock, which would be a superb choice for any couple. It’s an 8-year-old home, but the owners have continued with various small projects to enhance this property quite nicely.

You are greeted at the front door by a large foyer and spacious great room (10 ft ceilings) with a built-in hutch and custom drapery blinds with thermal backing.  This living area is certainly large enough for the dual purpose of living and dining rooms. Within the past year, the house has had new high-end laminate flooring installed through much of the main floor.

Peninsula inside; pergola outside

Next to this great room is the eat-in kitchen, which leads to both the main-floor laundry and 2-car garage. There are also garden doors off the dinette to an expansive 36' long wood deck with pergola and gas bbq hookup. The kitchen design includes a peninsula (LED pot lights above) and the owners plan on including the stove (with a double oven great for baking pies), fridge (water and ice) and dishwasher.

The master bedroom (also with gardens doors to the deck) has a unique design for its ensuite and walk-in closet as the large shower is separated from the vanity/counter area in its own small private room.

The front room in the ranch – off the foyer – is ideal for a second bedroom or den / office. Again, laminate flooring was new in 2012.

The lower level features a warm ledge-stone Napoleon gas fireplace and about 600 sq ft (29' x 21') of entertainment space. Current owners have a pool table and dart board, but you may prefer Foosball.

The third bedroom in the basement has a walk-in closet area which leads the utility room and a currently unfinished 3pc bathroom.

Additional features/amenities of 355 Parrott include: tankless hot-water heating (included) system, 200-amp breaker box, fully insulated and drywalled garage, additional attic insulation added to increase R-value, an abundance of pot lights, exterior lighting with timer for pillar lights, and professionally landscaped.

Also: Air purification system added on furnace.

To top it off, this section of Parrott is a very quiet street as it’s really a crescent from Kingfisher to Finch.

MLS: 70863

To view, call:

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Cell: (519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Wrestling with wrestling in Olympics

Some Summer Games sports could be shifted to Winter Olympics

By Mark Schadenberg

I have a solution to the notion that wrestling should no longer be part of the Summer Olympics.

The change is ? Convert wrestling into being a Winter Olympics sport, beginning in 2018.

Quite frankly, the Summer Games is a gigantic venture – so large that an organizing committee must build venues and villages for thousands of athletes and reporters.

TV broadcasters can simply not cover all the events.

The Winter Olympics – by comparison – is a tiny event.

At the same time, countless more events should or could be shifted to the Winter Games as the summer event is likely 10 times larger and has grown too large. If you place sports like women’s softball, men’s baseball and golf into the Summer Olympics, that event grows even more.

I would never suggest taking the swimming / diving / water polo events or other predominately ‘outside’ warm-weather competitions like (velodrome) cycling, and make them Winter Games sports, but what about weightlifting, boxing, martial arts, badminton and gymnastics?

Gymnastics and trampoline would probably receive more spotlight prime-time TV in the Winter Olympics.

I know what you’re thinking, for the most part those other pursuits would likely get lost in the shuffle of the big winter sports of hockey, figure skating and skiing, but they are already shuffled off to the background in the Summer Games as it is now. 

Here is the Sun Media story:  

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Canadian wrestlers Tonya Verbeek, Jessie MacDonald shocked by Olympic snub 1 

DAN DAKIN, QMI Agency

Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013

Tonya Verbeek didn't quite understand the text from a friend she received early Tuesday morning.

Wrestling out of the Olympics? Couldn't be.

But as she started reading the online news stories, the legendary Canadian wrestler who has won three Olympic medals and was one of the most compelling stories of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, found out the news was true.

“It was definitely a shock. It's just a hard day,” said Verbeek, who trains out of Brock University under former Olympian Marty Calder. “There had been no warning signs as far as we were concerned. As a coach and an athlete, we knew nothing about this.”

Earlier Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board made the surprise recommendation to drop the wrestling starting with the 2020 Olympic Games.

Contested in the first modern Olympics in 1896 and also part of the ancient Games in Olympia, wrestling will now join seven other candidate sports battling for one spot in a revamped programme.

“It was a decision to look at the core sports, what works best for the Olympic games,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. “This was the best programme for the 2020 Olympics. This is not about what’s wrong with wrestling but what is good for the Games.”

For Verbeek, Calder and everyone else in the Brock-based wrestling program, including reigning 51kg world champion Jessie MacDonald, it's a huge disappointment.

“I think of the young kids the most and their dreams. That's so important,” said Verbeek.

The next two Olympics were on the radar for MacDonald, a four-time national champion born in Windsor but now living and working in St. Catharines.

“I've been hoping for 2016. That's what I've had my eye on so I still have that to look forward to,” she said. “I still have that as a safe spot, but I just can't even believe it consider the amount of time and hours people have put into this sport.”

Like many in the sport, MacDonald trains between two and three times a day while still working a full-time job.

“To tell someone who has been aspiring to get to the Olympics that all that work has been thrown away, you can just imagine how that would make people feel,” she said.

The Executive Board vote comes as a major surprise after other sports, including modern pentathlon and taekwondo, were seen at risk of losing out their place due to their lower global appeal.

Board members were given a report on each of the Olympic sports which provided details on 39 criteria such as popularity, finances, tickets sold and governance, before a secret vote.

“There were different rounds of voting necessary to come to this conclusion,” said IOC Vice President Thomas Bach. “It is an extremely difficult decision to take.”

While pentathlon and taekwondo have the support of senior IOC members, wrestling is not strongly represented in the IOC’s decision-making body.

IOC sources told Reuters that in the secret ballot there were four sports battling to avoid the cut: field hockey, modern pentathlon, taekwondo and wrestling.

Wrestling joins baseball and softball, making a joint bid, martial arts karate and wushu, rollersports, wakeboarding, squash and sports climbing as candidates for the one empty spot.

Baseball and softball were taken off the programme in 2005.

The IOC executive board will meet in St Petersburg in May to determine which of these will be put to the vote in September.

Wrestling had 344 athletes in total at the London Olympics, competing in greco-roman and freestyle disciplines. Women’s events were introduced at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Putting some greenbacks into brownfields

By Mark Schadenberg

Brownfield properties can be identified in many forms and in many places around all cities.

In Woodstock, we have a large area on Tecumseh Street when the former Thomas Bus factory and its large yard all now belong to the City do to tax arrears. What to do with that area.

I have a theory which I will dare to include here.

Smaller brownfields are the dozens of vacated gas station corners around the community. I can count at least a dozen very quickly.

Some of these properties require significant remediation due to environmental concerns as leeching can seep (nice words, eh) through the soil and into the aquifer.

Whether the municipality owns the land or a private person/company, dollars (from all three levels of government) must be made available from some source to assist in revitalizing the potential.

Also, and on another subject, it never makes sense to take vacant land or certainly a former pit mine, and transform it into a dump, but that’s a soapbox for another day.

Here’s a story from Waterloo Region Record about that area’s plans for some specific brownfields.

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Waterloo Region approves plan to assist brownfield projects

Paige Desmond, The Record staff

Sun Feb 10 2013

WATERLOO REGION — If the region has to spend some money to get people living in city cores and riding the future rapid transit system, that’s all right with Regional Coun. Jim Wideman.

Speaking about the Region of Waterloo’s brownfield incentive program, Wideman said a bit of cash out of pocket pays off down the road.

“If we can move a project forward, by one year even, with these kinds of incentives, it does tremendous things for ridership for the light rail transit and really the region just can’t lose,” Wideman said.

Officials want to intensify development in city cores to minimize urban sprawl and have approved an $818-million rapid transit project to encourage the change.

Along the transit corridor is where most local brownfields are. The former industrial sites are expensive to redevelop and can take years to reach completion due to contamination from past uses such as manufacturing.

“We had too many properties just sitting, people were afraid to touch them,” Chair Ken Seiling said. “They were blights on the community.”

It’s unknown how many brownfields actually exist in the region, but planning, housing and community services commissioner Rob Horne said it is safe to say there are hundreds.

The region recently approved a long-term funding strategy to keep a 2006 brownfield pilot project going.

Cities benefit by helping developers with certain costs and, in turn receive increased tax revenue from the previously unused lands.

The project is made up of three programs.

Several steps projected

The first is an environmental site assessment grant that pays up to half of the costs of an environmental site investigation to a maximum of $40,000.

Second are regional development charge exemptions up to a maximum of the total eligible remediation costs.

Third is a tax increment grant program. The value of a grant is determined before developers start the project and is based on the cost of cleaning up the site and the anticipated increase in assessment after redevelopment.

When the project is complete, the region pays the grant, often over several years, using the increased taxes generated by the development.

Since 2006, 14 site assessment grants valued at about $350,000 have been issued and the region estimates it could spend up to $5.7 million on projects eligible for tax increment grants that are underway.

Projects to benefit from funding include the Breithaupt Block in Kitchener and the Waterscape project in Cambridge

“The Breithaupt project is a great example of a project that’s been given new life,” Seiling said. “The Waterscape — there’s been people trying to do that for years and years and years and just couldn’t make it work.”

About $35 million was spent to renovate the old factories and warehouses that once housed leather, rubber and auto parts industries in the Breithaupt Block. The Waterscape land was once home to a coal plant.

Kitchener and Cambridge have brownfield incentive programs in co-operation with the region. Waterloo is investigating the idea, with a decision expected in the spring.

Projects approved for tax increment grants

2009 — The Tannery, 36 Francis St., Kitchener

2011 — Waterscape, 170 Water St. N., Cambridge

2011 — Carriage Lanes, 750 Lawrence St., Cambridge

2012 — The Breithaupt Block, 51 Breithaupt St., Kitchener

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/884407--region-approves-long-term-plan-to-help-fund-brownfield-projects

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Caring for the community

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Woodstock, ON

(519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

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

Boston Pizza event sponsor for Relay For Life

February is blitz month for sponsorship

By Mark Schadenberg

While the month of February begins with a gopher counting down the weeks to spring, for the Relay For Life sponsorship committee it’s ‘go for it’ time in securing important sponsors for an important annual charitable benefit still 19 weeks away.

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) will be marking its 14^th annual Relay For Life, June 14-15 at College Avenue Secondary School. Last year, the Woodstock event alone was ranked No. 7 in fundraising in the province with $317,000. It takes a lot of work and a lot sponsors to reach that plateau.

“February is our blitz month for sponsorship,” said sub-committee chair Bob Axon. “An impetus to be a sponsor of Relay For Life for a business is for them to gain significant visibility. Community relationships can assist in a business’s success.”

To promote the blitz month, Relay For Life announced the commitment of Boston Pizza (431 Norwich Ave) as a full event sponsor with a donation of $7,000.

Boston Pizza owner/manager Megan Porter says community involvement has always been important to herself and the restaurant’s brand name.

“It’s just the way my family is. It’s how I was raised.

“It’s also one of the reasons why I’m with Boston Pizza as this company is always promoting that we should be involved in our community,” said Porter, adding on a personal note that her mom passed away from cancer about 10 years ago. 

CCS Oxford County unit fundraising manager Josie Atkinson explains there are two important differences in any business donating to Relay For Life. Firstly, it’s the level or dollar value (fair market value), and secondly (for tax purposes) whether the contribution can be considered a need-to-have or nice-to-have gift-in-kind.

Since Relay feeds its 1,000 participants (Last year there were 87 teams, plus additionally survivors in the victory lap, and volunteers), a restaurant or grocery sponsor qualifies as a need-to-have.

At various amounts, Relay For Life sponsorship levels could include mentions in all newspaper ads, logo placement, signage around the CASS track, recognition in the program, or even a street naming in the event’s tent city map.

Other important donations for Relay For Life include media sponsors The Sentinel-Review (Sun Media) and 104.7 Heart FM. Meanwhile, Kinsdale Carriers, Swiss Chalet and Woodstock Print & Litho continue to be corporate supporters as well.

Bob Axon notes that in 2012 an Ipsos Reid survey listed the CCS’s Relay For Life as the most valuable charitable event for a company to be involved with. The study calls Relay: ‘Canada’s Most Valuable Property, a first of its kind study designed to measure consumers’ affinity and connection with a property and its impact on sponsorship’, noted the press release from the research firm, which continued: ‘To measure the ability of a sponsorship property to create an emotional connection between Canadians and the property’s sponsors, the Most Valuable Property study evaluated 100 properties through a survey of 1,016 Canadian consumers.’

Relay For Life will be hosting a registration night Wednesday, Feb. 20, 5 – 7 p.m. at the CCS office, 65 Springbank Ave. North.

The kickoff event or Relay Rally is March 20, at Quality Hotel and Suites.

The event’s various sub-committees are always looking for volunteers, not matter what expertise you may have. For example, on event day, the logistics group needs assistance in building the stage, tents and signage. If you would like to volunteer with the food committee, luminaries (1,993 sold last year at $5 each), registering survivors, public relations, entertainment, children’s area, silent auction, logistics or even coordinating the volunteers, contact Atkinson anytime at the CCS Oxford unit at (519) 537-5592.

Bob Axon can be reached at (519) 421-0806 or through email at raxon@rogers.com.

For more details on Relay For Life, contact Atkinson, or event overall co-chairs Keri Axon or Kim Whitehead (kimw_1@sympatico.ca).

The battle to find a cure is on-going: Celebrate . . . Remember . . . Fight Back is the overall motto, while this year’s Woodstock Relay theme is Carnival For A Cure.

You can register your team at www.relayforlife/woodstock, or sponsor someone on one of the teams already signed up.

This year, the Tillsonburg Relay is June 7-8 at Annandale school, while Ingersoll’s all-night fundraiser is at IDCI, June 21-22.

Pictured (from left): Josie Atkinson, Megan Porter of Boston Pizza, Bob Axon and Keri Axon.