What's On Woodstock magazine update

Warm months are busy months locally

By Mark Schadenberg

Summer In The City by the Lovin’ Spoonful.

What about summer in this city -- Woodstock?

Cowapolooza is running for the 12th year in Southside Park, Aug 16-17, but before then there’s lots to do.

Fabulous Fireworks

This year, Canada’s birthday falls on a Monday, which is good news if you like long weekends and fireworks. Lots of activities are planned for Southside Park to celebrate Confederation, including fireworks at dusk and a beer garden by the Lions Club of Woodstock. Some kids’ rides, a co-ed slo-pitch tournament and an abundance of food vendors will also invade the park for this annual fun fare.

The June edition of What’s On Woodstock magazine has been distributed (inserted in the Tuesday Oxford Shopping News) notes the many activities surrounding July 1^st locally. The fireworks display is sponsored by Toyota manufacturing (TMMC), making it quite a spectacular.

“Fireworks are generally $1,000 per minute,” says Brad Janssen, manager of communications and special events for The Friendly City in the current WOW. “We use a professional company to put on the fireworks and they fill the sky for a good 18 – 20 minutes.”

A crafters alley, giant birthday cake, a large juggling demonstration, and singer Sarah Smith on stage (7:30 – 9:30) are all part of the July 1 agenda.

The June WOW magazine is interesting to sift through with information on the Oxford Renaissance Festival (June 14 -16 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds), the Woodstock Radio Control Flying Club open house on June 8 (9 a.m. – noon), the 23^rd annual Alzheimer Society golf tournament at Craigowan (421-2466 for green times) on June 10, and a long list of activities at South Gate Centre. (www.southgatectr.ca), Woodstock Museum & National Historic Site (The Watt’s Up touring show continues only to June 29), the public library, art gallery (www.woodstockartgallery.ca), Woodstock Gymnastics Club, Woodstock Legion Athletic Club (www.wlac.ca; track and field), and the Southside Aquatics Centre. 

Also advertised (promoted) is The Golf School at Woodstock Meadows as led by head pro Tom Farlow (www.tgsmeadows.com), the children’s summer camp called Singing Brook (www.singingbrookartscamp.ca), and many other kids’ camps.

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Parkinson should be your possibility

Desirable duplex is good income property

By Mark Schadenberg

Is there a more solid investment than real estate?

Bricks and mortar.

You might think I’m typing this solely because I sell real estate, but over any length of time the value of a property will increase. The analogy is that simple.

Your personal house increases in value and after -- perhaps 30 years -- and after raising your children you may no longer have a mortgage. That equity is also a tax-free with no capital gains on this ownership as you do not pay tax obviously on selling your personal property.

Another important property consideration could be buying a duplex or triplex. Particularly if you have a 30% down payment, this investment is safer than the stock market, in my opinion. We have seen many seemingly strong companies lose their stock value significantly in recent years and not all are in the tech field. Buying at the entry-level duplex level is not HST applicable as you are supplying a ‘place to live’. If you bought a large apartment building, for example, HST would be applicable as you would be deemed to be in the business of owning multi-residential.

Consider my listing:

762 Parkinson, Woodstock (MLS 71326)

If you are currently considering entering this income property market, call me now as 762 Parkinson Road in Woodstock would be a good place to start. Listed at $174,900.

The up-and-down duplex is classified as legal non-conforming to its zoning but has been a duplex for more than 30 years.

Each unit has two bedrooms. The upper apartment is tenant occupied, while the main floor is currently vacant. This vacancy is interesting because this property could be ideal for someone who wants to reside on the main floor (The living room is more than 20’ x 20’) and have the upper rental income assist in paying the mortgage. Also attractive in that arrangement is the idea the property has an almost completely rebuilt 1-car garage.

The building is vinyl sided and structurally maintenance-free (soffit, fascia, etc), with 3-year-old shingles, a poured concrete foundation, gas furnace, central air, and patio doors out to a wood deck.

With its location near Southside Park (pool and skateboard park), box mall shopping and restaurants, two high schools, public schools, and the Cedar Creek golf course add to its value. The quick access to 401 / 403 is also important.

If you have interest in viewing 762 Parkinson, or any other MLS listing, call me anytime:

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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

How can HAL help ?

Program designed to assist seniors after a hospital stay

By Mark Schadenberg

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), here’s a serious topic to discuss.

What does someone do after a stay in hospital and he/she do not have a lot of family locally to assist in some of the day-in day-out tasks?

HAL can help.

HAL is ‘Home At Last’.

HAL is a program which “provides services to eligible seniors who, due to a lack of resources or appropriate supports; require assistance in returning home after a hospital stay.”

Keep in mind, this program is available to non home owners or in other words seniors living in an apartment.

There is no one with a SRES standing in real estate that does not believe in the premise of ‘aging in place’. After a hospital stay, anyone and everyone could use a helping hand.

HAL can assist with picking up medications and groceries, can meet the client at the hospital and accompany the client home after leaving the hospital. The HAL personnel can assist in laundry, changing bedding, preparing light meals and even assist in light housekeeping and perhaps emptying a fridge which may have some spoiled food after a hospital stay.

Obviously, the HAL person is not a nurse.

There is also no cost to the client as the program is funded through the area LIHN (Locally it’s the Southwest Local Health Integration Network).

Who is HAL?

Assigned through Community Care Access Centre (1147 Dundas Street in Woodstock; 519 539-0065; or email: info-woodstock@sw.ccac-ont.ca; or website: www.ccac-ont.ca), a CCAC (1-866-816-7301) case manager will facilitate this opportunity for a patient who is soon to be discharged from the hospital. The case manager will analyze each patient’s individual scenario to determine eligibility and which services could be or will be offered. A patient released from hospital after hip or knee surgery would certainly qualify, as would someone after a minor stroke or heart condition.

As they always say though in medical information, contact your doctor or other hospital staff and don’t take my word for it.

To apply for HAL, you must be a minimum of 55 years old.

You could say it’s the equivalent of having a visit from a personal support worker (PSW).

Besides CCAC, you can also contact the Red Cross locally for more info.

Meals On Wheels

Other programs are also available such as Meals On Wheels in Woodstock (Call the VON at 519 539-1231).

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.marksells.ca

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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

Brick bungalow just listed locally

Is there a better neighbourhood than Bayswater?

By Mark Schadenberg

808 Bayswater St, Woodstock

MLS: 71472

Asking: $179,900

Brick bungalows in this neighbourhood, especially with a garage, usually sell quickly!

There is limited supply and good demand for a stunning little red brick home in move-in condition in the Knightsbridge area of Woodstock. The buyer could be a single person, a retired couple or a young family starting out.

In this plan, the third bedroom was a dining room and could certainly be restored. The modern 4pc bathroom has a marble-like tub surround.

Features include a spacious eat-in kitchen with almost-new dishwasher, fridge and stove (to stay). Lots of cupboards too for a house from this era.

A high efficiency gas furnace with central air are both about 10 years old. There are also many newer updated windows, and the roof is about a dozen years old, but has lots of remaining life. Plus, hardwood flooring through most of the main floor.

This attractive bungalow also has a fenced yard, private setting and can be discovered on a quiet street between Knightsbridge and Leinster. Brompton Park with tennis courts is also nearby.  

Call me soon to view.

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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

Victoria Day weekend in Friendly City

Parades, music, midway and fastball
By Mark Schadenberg
Lots to do in Woodstock over the long weekend
As a member of the Woodstock Recreation Advisory Committee, I will be one of the 5 judges of the Monday parade, which begins at 10 a.m. from the fairgrounds and travels east down Dundas to Wellington and then south. The judges do rate each float and band as they travel past the Zellers parking lot, and later the winners are recognized at a city council meeting.
By the way, the Lions Club of Woodstock, which I am a member, are responsible for setting up the parade order and getting all the floats and Shriners vehicles out of the fairgrounds. It certainly is convenient to have a harness racing track to line everyone up.
The midway in Southside Park is all weekend.
The fastball tournament as organized by Woodstock Kelseys and Sweaburg Crush teams, continues into Monday. Site www.city.woodstock.on.ca is where to go to see the divisional lineups for the teams. Legendary Woodstock fastball player and member of ISC hall of fame, Brian Paton, is playing for the Toronto Gators.
On Monday afternoon, the marching bands from the parade will march into the Southside Sportsfield, which is named after Woodstock's great baseball player Tip O'Neill. They call it a tattoo or band competition.

Just another reason to call Woodstock home.

If you want to call Woodstock home, call me:

Mark Schadenberg

Royal LePage Triland

(519) 537-1553

The duo: The Other Guy & Jake Muzzin

Hockey version of ‘The Rest Of The Story’

By Mark Schadenberg

Today, I had the pleasure of spending about an hour talking both hockey and real estate with the ‘first guy’.

We chatted about the history of hockey in Woodstock and the old Warriors Junior B teams.

The conversation mentioned local (area) junior hockey standouts with Woodstock clubs -- Ed MacQueen, Walter Gretzky and others, and we agreed on the significance of Orv Hodgins to minor hockey locally.

Many other local names were dropped, including Rick Coad and Dick Killinger.

An opportunity for me to talk ‘in person’ with the ‘original’ was certainly time well spent.

It all started with a phone call initiated by myself about two years ago. I did some searching on the internet, but he was easy to find. I could have called his brother living on Devonshire, but the detective work would be more rewarding.

This week, while in Woodstock from his Dallas-area home, ‘the one, but not only’ called to give me a glossy picture of himself – a black-and-white 8.5-x-11 dating back more than 45 years.

Original Six Hockey

After a solid CPHL (equivalent to AHL today) season with the St Louis Braves in 1966-67, (St. Louis Blues entered NHL as expansion team in 67-68), the ‘trail blazer’ would get his chance with the Chicago Blackhawks in 67-68 – picking up one assist in five games.

Even though the NHL had then expanded to 12 teams, making a true living financially as a professional hockey player wouldn’t really become a reality for a few more years and the creation of the World Hockey Association.

The former pro I conversed with today played on a St Louis Braves team with Fred Stanfield (900+ NHL games with Boston, Buffalo and Minnesota North Stars), Gerry Melnyk (Chicago and Detroit), Brian MacDonald, Wayne Maki and goalie Dave Dryden.

His contract to ply his trade (pun intended) in the minors was about $4,000. Soon, his rights would be traded to the North Stars and his pro career shifted to the Denver Spurs. Among his teammates in Colorado was another former Woodstock resident Larry Mavety (moved away from Woodstock at about 12 years old, which I recall from talking to Mav a few years ago). Today, in the OHL, Mavety is a legend as a former coach and GM with Belleville and Kingston, and he played 248 games in the WHA (mostly Chicago Cougars), but appeared in zero games in the NHL.

Hockey patter always quickly evolves into injuries and setbacks. When talking to Brian’s older brother today, it was a right shoulder which couldn’t be mended. An opportunity for a comeback with the Los Angeles Sharks in the WHA was decided to be a bad idea and simply not attempted.

Bobby and Dennis

The five games in the NHL were certainly not overly memorable, but it was a well-earned and deserved chance of a lifetime to skate alongside Bobby and Dennis Hull, Stan Makita, Pierre Pilote, Pat ‘Whitey’ Stapleton, Eric Nesterenko, Pit Martin, Ken Wharram, Doug Mohns, and Doug Jarrett -- well known in southern Ontario as a member of the London Sports Hall of Fame.     

I mentioned previously that our conversation surrounded hockey and real estate. After retiring from pro hockey and settling in the Dallas area with a gal he met there, the next career for this former Woodstock Collegiate Institute student-athlete (he said the discus was his track and field specialty), who also recalled walking over the Finkle Street railway foot bridge, was selling both residential and larger acreage properties in the greater Dallas / Fort Worth area. You could say life fueled by sticks and puck movement drills, was replaced by life speculating about fuel resources and drilling.  

While I’m most certainly proud of my 14 years as Realtor, Doug Shelton of Woodstock has now been working in real estate for 40 years. He turns 67 in June, but likes to reminisce about the winter of 1967.

I briefly stated to him that next year will mark 100 years for the Perry Street Arena. Doug said he would like an invitation to any event set up to mark that centennial.

In 1967-68, Doug Shelton of Woodstock played five NHL games.

No one, who is considered a minor hockey product from The Friendly City, has since successfully reached that level again until current Los Angeles Kings defenceman Jake Muzzin. Including playoffs – I’m watching the Kings and Sharks as I sit by my keyboard – Muzzin’s career totals are 62 games and he was NHL rookie of the month for March with 11 points in 17 games.

Doug Shelton says he follows the NHL’s Dallas Stars somewhat, but his hockey love is still the minor leagues as a friend is co-owner of a team in the Central Hockey League where the Allen (Texas) Americans recently won Game 7 in overtime of the league final over the Wichita Thunder. 

By the way, I pass along my condolences now to Doug and Brian Shelton, and the rest of the family, on the passing of their mom, Eva. 

Knights win OHL title; Saskatoon next

London earns J Ross Robertson Cup with Game 7 win over Barrie

Today announced: London to host 2014 Memorial Cup

By Mark Schadenberg
LONDON -- Bo Horvat's goal with 0.1 seconds left in the third period lifted the London Knights to a 3-2 win over the Barrie Colts in the decisive Game 7 of the OHL final here on Monday.
London Knights are first back-to-back Ontario Hockey League champions since the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.
Horvat, who also scored 7:13 into the contest to start the offence, finished the series with seven goals and four assists, and was named the winner of the 99 Trophy as playoff MVP as voted on by the media. Horvat had 16 goals and seven assists in 21 playoff contests.
With video review required for the 19:59 Horvat effort to confirm both the time remaining and whether the puck actually crossed the line, post-game London captain Scott Harrington said he gradually became confident of the outcome.
"The longer the time for the review went on, the better the chance I knew it would be a good goal," said Harrington, who is a Penguins prospect.
On the winner, Alex Broadhurst directed the puck toward the Barrie net and it came loose close to the crease for Horvat to slip it past Mathias Niederberger.
"I knew I had to get to the net and look for a rebound," said Horvat.
"It's unbelievable to win the 99 Trophy," Horvat continued. "I'm humbled to have my name going on that trophy with all the other great names. I certainly couldn't have done it without all the other guys in our room.
"You dream as a kid about scoring a goal like that in a Game 7."
Earlier, Andreas Athanasiou had scored mid-way through the first for Barrie to even it 1-1. The former Knight had one goal in each of six of seven games and on a powerplay had a yawning cage to fire the puck into after a terrific pass from Zach Hall. It would be Barrie's lone powerplay opportunity.
Olli Maatta's powerplay goal in the middle frame restored the London lead. The blueliner had left his point position, receiving a pass from Alex Broadhurst before beating Niederberger. The Knights were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
London maintained its 2-1 advantage until Colts' Mitchell Theoret's 14th of the playoffs at 17:09 of the third created the electric finish in front of 9,046 at the Budweiser Gardens. The tension included a Barrie shot off the crossbar with just over two minutes remaining.
The Knights now join host Saskatoon Blades, WHL champion Portland Winterhawks and QMJHL winners Halifax Mooseheads at the Memorial Cup, which begins Friday with the Blades entertaining London in the tourney opener. Saskatoon has been idle since March 27, losing in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
Last year, the Knights lost in the Memorial Cup final in overtime, 2-1, to Shawinigan.
Theoret had one goal and one assist for Barrie as the Colts had led the best-of-seven 3-1 before losing 6-4, and then 5-4 in overtime to force the decisive seventh game. The Colts played without OHL playoff scoring champion Mark Scheifele (15+26=41), who was injured in Game 6 in Barrie.
Jake Patterson stopped 30 of 32 for London for his third post-season win in three consecutive starts. Anthony Stolarz had won London's first 13 in the playoffs.
Niederberger faced 48 shots, including Barrie trailing that stat 39-17 after two periods.
The Colts only OHL title was in 2000, when they outlasted Plymouth in seven games, clinching that year on the road.

Written By: Mark Schadenberg for The Canadian Press. 

Picture: Myself and J Ross Robertson Cup

2014 Memorial Cup:

At the Budweiser Gardens on Tuesday morning it was officially announced by CHL president and OHL commissioner David Branch that the London Knights would be hosting the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament.

The Knights had been vying to host the event after presentations to a selection committee, against bids from the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires.

The Knights hosted the Memorial Cup in 2005, wining the CHL championship in a finals win over Rimouski, which featured Sidney Crosby.

The London squad was potent that year partly due to the NHL lockout and included Corey Perry (130 points in regular season and then 38 more in 18 playoff games), Dylan Hunter (current Knights assistant coach), Danny Syvret,  Dave Bolland, Ron Schremp, Brandon Prust, Marc Methot, Dan Girardi and Dan Fritsche.

 
 

Raising dollars for Sakura House

Lions Club variety show -- mostly music and laughs

By Mark Schadenberg

Everyone enjoys great music and hilarious skits.
A dedicated committee from the Lions Club Of Woodstock is busy with rehearsals as the local service club prepares its second annual variety show on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 -- at College Avenue Secondary School -– shows at 8 p.m.
Last year, I had the ideal role . . . Hide behind the stage until someone asked me to run out (behind closed curtains) and move some set equipment.
This year's show promises to be entertaining. Look at the poster for more details.

Attend the event for a fun night with friends, but also to assist the Lions Club in raising money for Sakura House.

It can be added that some of the material in the skits is intended for an adult audience, but just like last year the production will be a fun mix of tunes and laughter, and sometimes funny songs.

The Lions Club Of Woodstock, which I have been a proud member of for several years, continues to be both a work force and charity fundraising group. Our activities include Highway 2 garbage pickup (May 11; called a pickup as everything picked up ends up in the back of Bill Gillespie’s pickup) west of the city limits, to volunteering as the cleanup crew for Relay For Life every year.

The Lions Club raises dollars through its variety show, weekly Thursday night bingo at the Legion, operating the beer garden at Cow-a-polooza, running the food tent at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, and through many other money-making efforts.

We donate to Sakura House, school-student bursaries, guide dog programs, several Christmas campaigns, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, and most certainly individual one-time-only requests from the community for everything from school playground equipment to assisting someone requiring a healthcare item they can not afford.

We also donate our time – volunteer to assist as a workforce for various charitable fundraisers.

If you have some extra time on your hands, (Many hands make light work) and would like to join our group, contact me anytime. By the way, in Woodstock there is no Lionettes club as our service club has many women, including the in-coming president and current treasurer.

Join the Lions Club, you will have a ‘roaring’ good time.    

Mark Schadenberg

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Ferguson Drive is the place to call 'home'

Unique 5-bedroom raised ranch for your family

By Mark Schadenberg

NEW LISTING !

You can discover this over-sized 5 (3+2) bedroom raised ranch in the ideal neighbourhood for your family.

Address: 283 Ferguson Drive, Woodstock

MLS: 71389

Asking: $279,500

Lot: 67’ x 157’ (Irr.)

Enjoy the view from the large L-shaped living-dining room area, which also features hardwood floors, crown molding and a gas fireplace (only 5 years old). The bay window was replaced just a few months ago. With Ferguson above Hodgins, which is above Lindsay Road, which in-turn is above the Cedar Creek golf course, the view is quite a selling point.

The raised three-tier deck includes a hot tub and gazebo. 

Often a raised ranch features quite a small space for a table in the kitchen – that is not the case on Ferguson Drive. There is certainly room to roam in this eat-in kitchen with oak cabinets, porcelain-tile floor, stone-tile backsplash and garburator.

Also unique about the layout here is that the three main-floor bedrooms are at the front of the house. The benefit is simple – the open-themed dining – living room has the view and backyard access.

The lower level family room, with a walkout to the expansive yard, also includes a corner gas fireplace. There are two additional bedrooms and an office in the basement. If your lifestyle doesn’t require the den/office -- remove a wall and you would have a very large lower bedroom or possibly a games room.

So Much More

The 40-yr shingles were new in 2010. Central vac new in 2012. French doors and California shutters. Abundance of landscaping will also entice you to this address.

Large backyard for throwing a frisbee, while you're throwing a birthday party!

Name Dropping

With schools (two high schools), Southside Park (skateboard park, indoor pool and splash pad), community complex with two arenas and a gymnastics centre, plus box mall shopping (Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Staples, No Frills, Sport Chek, and Mark’s Work Warehouse), several restaurants (Boston Pizza, East Side Mario’s, Swiss Chalet, Montana's and 13 others), Cedar Creek 9-hole golf course, and of course the 401/403 nearby for commuting, your decision is easy to make.

Contact me to view this MLS listing or any other home for sale in Oxford County.

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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

Current-year activity better than 2012 so far

April sales were 127 in WIDREB area
Not quite as good as 2010 was though

By Mark Schadenberg

National trends in the economy certainly accelerate or sputter real estate sales locally.

I remember the fever we had in early 2010 as everyone felt it was important to make that purchase in the first half of the calendar as the HST was to soon take effect. The additional tax did increase buying costs on Realtor’s commission and other related services – inspections and lawyers’ closing costs, along with immediate purchases such as furniture and paint.

To put everything in concrete terms in the Woodstock-Ingersoll board area (Includes Innerkip, Drumbo, Norwich, Burgessville, Beachville, Embro, Hickson, Salford and points in-between), the opening four months of 2010 witnessed 444 sales. Mirror that number to the other five most recent years – 2013 at 399, 2012 at 346, 2011 at 391, 2009 at just 265, and 2008 at 394. Roller Coaster Ride

Those numbers depict a zig-zag chart, but do prove that 2013 has been more than reasonable so far for activity.

In April of 2013, sales were third highest out of the last six years. In 2013, April totals were 127 – compared to only 93 last year, 103 in 2011, 161 in crazy 2010, 101 in 2009 and 130 in 2008.

The year-end totals also paint the same picture as 2005 was really strong with the announcement of Toyota assembling land to build a factory to assemble cars (RAV4) in Woodstock. It is interesting to note how busy 2005 was as that fabulous fury or the frantic furore or frenzied fracas was based mostly on speculation of a great future for Oxford County because the plant would not open its doors for more than three years.

Here are the year-by-year WIDREB final numbers.

2012: 1065                           

2011: 1159                           

2010: 1216                  

2009: 1080

2008: 1176                           

2007: 1359                           

2006: 1278                  

2005: 1473 (correct)

2004: 1366                           

2003: 1153

One would predict or guess that 2013 should reach the 1,200 mark, especially if low interest rates continue.

In the meantime, I will add that houses are always selling, especially those that are correctly priced.

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.marksells.ca

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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

Sprinkler systems required for retirement homes

No flaw in this new provincial law

By Mark Schadenberg

At the local level and province-wide, our by-laws, laws, codes and guidelines pertaining to home construction for single-family dwelling and multi-residential, can be described as both comprehensive and convoluted.

However, when it’s a matter of safety, I think the introduction of stringent laws is important – smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, carbon monoxide, and knob-and-tube wiring.

Rules would be over-bearing if it was introduced that all homes needed a water softener and a security system with accompanying video cameras.

On the horizon in Ontario will hopefully be a law requiring homes to have carbon monoxide detectors. Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman has been pushing a private-member bill for several years.

One law that has taken effect in Ontario is a bill passed requiring all nursing homes to have water sprinklers. A very good idea? Most certainly. I would actually want to wonder why this was not the rule before.

Here's a link to The Toronto Star story:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/05/06/sprinkler_in_seniors_homes_to_be_mandatory_in_ontario.html

Here’s The London Free Press version of the story:

              ()()()()()()()()()()()()

Ontario becomes first province to require sprinklers in every retirement and nursing home

By Jennifer O'Brien, The London Free Press

Monday, May 6, 2013

LONDON -- Years of lobbying by London’s deputy fire chief paid off Monday when Premier Kathleen Wynne (pictured) announced automatic fire sprinklers will be mandatory at retirement and nursing homes.

“I’m absolutely relieved that this has finally come to fruition,” Jim Jessop said. “What sprinklers will do is absolutely increase the level of safety in these vulnerable occupancies.”

Ontario will become the first province in Canada to require sprinklers be added to older facilities — including homes for disabled residents — built before the province made them mandatory in 1998.

Jessop has been fighting for stronger sprinkler laws since 2008, after a daytime blaze tore through a retirement home in Niagara Falls, where he was deputy chief at the time. Eleven people were taken to hospital for treatment.

More residents could have been injured or killed if the fire had occurred at night, Jessop said.

“The biggest thing (sprinklers) do is contain the fire and suppress the smoke and toxic acid that will primarily kill the residents,” he said.

“There has never been a multi-fatal fire in a vulnerable occupancy with sprinklers in it.”

The fire code changes take into account recommendations from four inquests, Jessop said.

Retirement homes, nursing homes and group homes will have about five years to complete the potentially costly changes to their buildings.

Several retirement homes in London — including Queen’s Village on Queens Ave. and the Waverly on Grand Ave. — have already added sprinklers.

“We had them put in about five years ago,” said Rouchelle Gooden, general manager of Waverly. “We recognized it’s a good safety measure to enhance the protection for our residents.”

FACILITY INSPECTIONS

At least six of London’s 36 retirement and nursing homes don’t have sprinkler systems. The city’s fire department will be doing inspections and assessments and help create plans for facilities this summer.

Adding a sprinkler system isn’t as simple as it sounds, said the owner of one retirement home institution.

“There’s a lot involved. The cost would be astronomical,” said Kathleen Hobden, owner of Ashwood Manor, a one-floor building.

“I don’t have a problem getting people out of immediate harm’s way, there’s 24-hour staff on . . . the last thing we’d do is put our residents at risk, so we do everything short of sprinklers (to keep them safe).”

The Ontario Professional Firefighters Association hasn’t exactly welcomed the news either. It’s concerned the addition of sprinklers could lead to calls for fewer firefighters.

“We are not against (sprinklers) or against any kind of safety initiative . . . but we don’t want fire chiefs saying we need less firefighters to respond,” association vice-president Jim Holmes said.

“Sprinklers don’t extinguish the fire, or remove smoke or rescue people.”

- - -

BY THE NUMBERS

Care facilities in London that fall under the sprinkler laws:

Facilities: 36

Those with sprinkler systems: 26

Those with partial sprinkler systems: 4

Those without: 6

THE LINK:

http://www.lfpress.com/2013/05/06/ontario-becomes-first-province-to-require-sprinklers-in-every-retirement-and-nursing-home

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.marksells.ca

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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

Guest hosting is about volunteering

What's Up Oxford television show
By Mark Schadenberg
My volunteering efforts include Relay for Life (Canadian Cancer Society, June 14-15) and the Lions Club of Woodstock, but it also encompasses broadcasting on Rogers TV.
Community-access television is a great method of promoting events, whether it be guest hosting What's Up Oxford as I'm involved with currently, or playing the role of a reporter on Oxford County Living.
My working years began full-time in radio, then seven years as sports reporter and editor at The Woodstock Sentinel-Review, and now at the young age of 46 I continue to assist in promoting local groups and events by offering my time in the television side of media.
In essence, I'm assisting groups and organizations seeking free advertising.
As mentioned, this week I'm hosting What's Up Oxford as Chris Cunningham is away. We basically taped four shows in about four hours over two days -- last Thursday and Friday.
My guests included Harold DeHaan (pictured) as city engineer and a discussion about yard waste recycling on James Street and the large item pick-up program, the city offers.

With Trevor Lamb of Crimestoppers and the OPP the topic was preventing identity theft.
With Mother's Day on the horizon, guests included Let's Eat Cake and a fun promotion they are plugging about a cake decorating opportunity for children to surprise Mom on the morn of May 12. Also, VanWees Mostly Roses store stopped by to talk about trends in flower arrangements.
I also interviewed the director of the Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production in Innerkip  (May 9, 10 & 11 - Dinner/Show Ticket 6:00 (show starts @ 7:30) & Show Only Ticket 7:30; May 11 - Matinee (No dinner, just show) Show starts @ 2:00 pm Adult Dinner/Show Tickets are $30.00 ea. or $15 for just the show. All Students 13 and under/ Dinner/ Show Tickets are $ 25.00 ea or $10 for just the show. Call (519) 532-8673), and the organizer of the Woodstock Hospital Foundation's Dairy Capital Run fundraiser on May 26. (http://www.wgh.on.ca/wghf/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=134&Itemid=90)
Be sure to look at the details of a poster here, which is a reminder of the Woodstock police services prescription drug drop-off day on Saturday, May 11.

I write this to promote the episodes as they are airing currently and to remind folks I'm a volunteer. I do not get paid for many of my Rogers TV appearances, but it is a method of advertising myself as someone who cares about the community I sell real estate in.

Mark Schadenberg

(519) 537-1553

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland 

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

J Ross Robertson Cup is Dale vs Dale

Knights and Colts to clash for OHL crown

By Mark Schadenberg

LONDON – With conference champions clashing in the Ontario Hockey League finals, the London Knights and Barrie Colts do not have a wealth of familiarity to draw upon as the best-of-seven final opens Friday in London.

London won 50 of 68 to repeat as regular-season champions and have posted a 12-2 playoff mark, winning the Western Conference final in five games over the Plymouth Whalers. The Knights are defending OHL champions.

On the Eastern Conference side, Barrie and the Belleville Bulls each won 44 in the regular schedule, but in the post-season it was Barrie winning 3-1 over the Bulls this past Monday in Game 7 to advance to the final.

Looking back, it was the Knights winning both encounters with the Colts during the regular season, but needed a shootout to win in Barrie on Oct. 20, 3-2, before winning in London 5-3 in late November.

“Both games were really close and both teams have made changes since then, especially at the deadline,” says Colts defenceman Ryan O’Connor via a telephone conference on Wednesday.

For example, London would compile a 24-game win streak from Nov. 2 – Dec. 31 with goalies Jake Patterson and Kevin Baillie each winning a dozen, but with the arrival of 2013 there was also the arrival of Philadelphia Flyers second-round pick, goalie Anthony Stolarz, who would win 13 of 18 decisions and posted a 2.29 GAA. In the playoffs, Stolarz has improved his numbers with a GAA of 2.26.

Meanwhile, Barrie added Mitchell Theoret at the Jan. 10 deadline from Niagara and Jake Dotchin from Owen Sound. While Dotchin has four games remaining in a five-game suspension, Theoret’s importance has been paramount as he is tied for the OHL lead in post-season goals with 10.

For London, the key Colt to shut down will be Mark Scheifele with eight goals and 19 assists in 15 playoff outings.  Scheifele, who led Team Canada in goals (5) at the world juniors, also collected 79 points in just 45 games with Barrie.

“You can easily see that Mark Scheifele is a special player and that’s why twice he has been in Winnipeg (with Jets organization) for quite awhile,” said London team president and head coach Dale Hunter. “We have to be aware of him at all times, the entire line of (Scheifele), Zach Hall and Anthony Camara.”

The Knights have the luxury of three extra days of rest since winning the Wayne Gretzky Trophy for the Western Conference. Barrie didn’t earn the Bobby Orr Trophy as Eastern champs until Monday.

O’Connor indicates there are no tired players in the Colts dressing room.

“We have to carry the momentum we have from our last series,” he said.

As defending champions, the Knights may have an edge in playoff knowledge.

“Our club’s young guys can lean on the players who are used to playing this late in the season,” says Knights captain Scott Harrington, who added that slowing the Colts powerplay will be integral.

“Barrie has a lot of lethal forwards and a couple defencemen that can put the puck in the net as well.

“Both teams have highly skilled forwards so it’s going to come down to execution and shutting down their forwards, and goaltending is also very important in the playoffs.”

Besides Scheifele, Theoret, Hall, Camara and Steven Beyers, Barrie coach Dale Hawerchuk also relies on the offence of former Knight Andreas Athanasiou with 16 points.

“He has brought both an element of speed and skill to our team – added to our depth in that area,” Hawerchuk said.

London’s top producer has been Max Domi with 87 points in the regular season, a playoff output of 10 goals and 15 assists, and is the current OHL player of the week with four goals and 10 points in the last three games versus Plymouth.

Alex Broadhurst and Chris Tierney have teamed with Domi to be the top line for the Knights, but the strength up front continues with Seth Griffith, Bo Horvat, Ryan Rupert (twin brother Matt is currently injured), and a surprising four goals by rookie Remi Elie.

With a blueline corps of Harrington and Olli Maatta (Both Pittsburgh draftees), plus Nikita Zadorov and Tommy Hughes (signed by the Rangers as a free agent), London appears to have depth to play well in all three zones.

“These are both skilled teams,” says Dale Hunter. “The fans will appreciate all the great players in this series and the number of guys who will be in the NHL someday.”

Hawerchuk knows his team will require at least one road win to claim the OHL crown and the J Ross Robertson Cup, along with the invitation to compete in the Memorial Cup in Saskatoon, May 17-26.

“We have to be able to go into the other team’s building and win,” says Hawerchuk. “(Dale Hunter)  and myself both have a lot of experience we can draw upon, like playing in a Game 7, but this hockey has also changed a lot from when we played and you have to change with it.”

Hawerchuk competed in the NHL against both Dale Hunter and general manager Mark Hunter, who has been a fixture on the Knights bench during the playoffs. However, Hawerchuk – a NHL Hall-of-Famer with 1,188 games -- was teammates with Dave Hunter in 1988-89 in Winnipeg.

“(Dale Hunter) was a gritty player with a great pro career,” said Hawerchuk.

Besides the Dale – Dale parallel, the series also features two of the three clubs (along with Windsor) vying to host the 2014 Memorial Cup.

“We’ve all made our bid presentations, so that decision is now in the hands of the (selection) committee,” added Dale Hunter. “We’re here now to play hockey.”

Besides winning the OHL title last year before losing to Shawinigan in the Memorial Cup final, London also won both titles in 2005.

Barrie’s only OHL title was in 2000, losing to Rimouski in the Memorial Cup final.

Finance minister Jim Flaherty's rule book

The GTA story can be mirrored here

By Mark Schadenberg

Don’t let anyone tell you a different story.

The real estate market has changed in the past couple years due to the changing of Bank of Canada and federal government rules about the necessity of a real down payment and the length of time permitted for amortization.

Examples can be drawn everywhere – Woodstock and Oxford County – the Maritimes, prairies, mountains, from coast-to-coast and the Lake Ontario coastal town of Toronto too.

I present this well-written story from The Toronto Star because it depicts the dilemma there. Everything is relative remember as a first-time purchaser here of perhaps $175,000 is comparably equal to a $300,000 sale of a condo in the GTA.

I always tell people that attractive interest rates are keeping the real estate market strong locally, but if a first-time buyer is having difficulty entering the market, then a family seeking to buy its second house in a higher price range will have stumbling blocks in trying to sell their current home first.

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A first-time buyer's condo-hunting dilemma

The federal government’s tightening of the rules related to CMHC-insured mortgages has put one buyer in a quandary.

By: Carola Vyhnak TORONTO STAR Staff Reporter., Published on Wed, May 1, 2013

TORONTO -- Shalini Devid was excited about the prospect of buying her first condo. Then mortgage lending rules were tightened, choking her hopes of home ownership. At least for now.

Devid, a financial analyst who works in downtown Toronto and rents in Etobicoke, has been caught by the federal government’s move to reduce the maximum amortization period from 30 years to 25 years on CMHC-insured mortgages. (Buyers with a down-payment of less than 20 per cent of the purchase price are required to buy mortgage insurance through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.)

DOING THE MATH

The shorter amortization means higher monthly payments, equivalent to paying almost 1 per cent more on your mortgage rate.

“I was ready to jump right in and buy,” says Devid, who was looking for a condo in the $350,000 to $400,000 price range. “But the change in the amortization period made a huge difference.”

For example, a $300,000-mortgage at 4 per cent and amortized over 30 years would cost $1,426 a month to pay back. The same mortgage amortized over 25 years would cost $1,578 per month, an increase of $152.

After she did detailed calculations using different scenarios, Devid worried that, once she pays the mortgage, condo fees and utilities, she’ll be stretched too thin.

“Looking at monthly payments, (amortization) is one of the biggest things for me,” says the first-time buyer, who now thinks she’ll save for a few more years until she has a 20 per cent down payment.

“It’s unfortunate, because I’d rather be an owner than a renter,” she says.

Devid is not alone in her disappointment. Others who are caught in the amortization crunch are either putting off their purchase or buying less house, says Jim Murphy, president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals.

THE NOT-SO-NEW RULES

Since the lending rules changed last July, house sales have dropped more than eight per cent, despite mortgage interest rates being at an almost record low, according to Murphy. He points out that 17 per cent of buyers who qualified for a mortgage in 2010 would not qualify today under the new rules, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s fourth round of changes since 2008.

In the past, Murphy says a “large percentage” of buyers opted for an amortization of 30 years or longer, for the flexibility in financial planning it offered. His organization is concerned about the impact of the changes on a real estate market that’s already slowing.

Brampton realtor Jaspal Cheema, who’s been helping Devid in her search, says first-time buyers are being squeezed out of the market, because they typically have a smaller down-payment.

“It’s hard to balance between emotions and pocketbook,” he says, noting the urge to buy is especially strong among immigrants.

Toronto mortgage broker Joe Walsh believes “there are still lots and lots of people who want to buy.”

Among the clients he sees for pre-approval are those who offset the impact of a reduced amortization by settling for property of a lesser value. One couple, for example, opted for a townhouse instead of a semi-detached home. Others may choose a less-expensive condo as a stepping stone to a single-family home.

The aim of the new rules is to help homeowners curb their debt load, says Walsh.

The government is telling buyers: “We don’t want anyone pushing and pushing and getting into trouble,” he says. At the same time, lenders have been put on notice that “you’ve been a bit loose with the purse strings and you need to tighten them up.”

Along with the reduction in amortization periods, Walsh says the government also toughened underwriting guidelines, which translates into more paperwork for both buyers and lenders.

In the past, mortgage-seekers might have had to produce a letter from an employer stating their salary and a pay stub, but now it could be a letter, two pay stubs, a tax return and a notice of assessment.

But there is a silver lining to the amortization cloud: With five fewer years to pay off a mortgage, home owners will see substantial savings in interest charges. That $300,000 loan, for example, will cost almost $47,000 less than if it was repaid over 30 years.

THE LINK

http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/spending_saving/2013/05/01/a_firsttime_buyers_condohunting_dilemma.html

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text