By Mark Schadenberg
Welcome to the beginning of a brand new world !
Well, that may be over-stating reality, but Dec. 1 does mark the inauguration of all the new city council rosters across the province.
Woodstock's new mayor is Trevor Birtch. His site is www.tbirtch.com and in the photo below I wanted to note that Trevor is promoting local business by buying lunch from Todd Ellerby (Todd's Dogs) at the Downtown Market (Woodstock BIA) on a Thursday afternoon.
London's new mayor is Matt Brown from Woodstock.
A Tory is the new mayor of the GTA as John Tory was previously a Tory MPP.
Always lots of important decisions will arrive on the agenda and dockets over the next four years, and many issues will surround recreational facilities.
As a long-time member of the Woodstock recreation advisory committee (I have officially submitted my application to continue in that role), we have been among the strong supporters of creating a new park at the Woodall Farm location on Devonshire Avenue (across street from new Catholic church). It's almost 100 acres and Woodstock is way behind the times in building a legitimate ball diamond complex with proper dimensions of today -- to not only attract tournaments, but create a safer environment for the current leagues bulging at the seams playing on inadequate ball diamonds.
Two more topics for discussion in Woodstock over the next four years will be replacing the ancient outdoor Lions Pool, which was built in 1947. Also, a concern with the Civic Centre Arena and its soon-to-be-needed major refurbishment. Woodstock needs three arenas, so where would you build the third arena to replace the Civic Centre ice box? Likely not at the fairgrounds as that is not Woodstock-owned land.
A current needs assessment study report is being researched (Full input received from user groups) studied and penned by an outside consulting firm to answer many of those questions. Budget deliberations by city council will see how quickly items evolve.
Shifting To Sarnia
Down the highways about 90 minutes to Sarnia, is an interesting scenario where that city is discussing the strong possibility of eliminating one arena as they may have too many as demographics are dictating smaller families. Read the link below.
SARNIA LINK:
http://www.theobserver.ca/2014/11/30/public-meeting-on-consultants-first-report-slated-for-wednesday
WOODSTOCK LINKS:
Trevor Birtch interview on Rogers show: Daytime
http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?rid=15&lid=237&gid=218853
http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?rid=15&lid=237&gid=218854
Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
(519) 537-1553
Twitter: MarkRoyalLePage
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