Wishing a Happy 10th Birthday to Heart FM !

Woodstock radio station signed on back in April of 2006

Serving Oxford County and beyond from 104.7 on the FM dial

By Mark Schadenberg

Congratulations to Heart FM!

The Woodstock radio station can be found at 104.7 on the FM dial, but can truly be found everywhere in Oxford County and beyond its borders.

Happy 10th birthday in 2016 to Heart FM !

CIHR FM is a terrific local radio station serving Woodstock and Oxford County and a little bit beyond that geography, but truly Heart FM is all about its people – the people on the air and its listeners.

The station officially appeared on your radio dial on April 10, 2006.

The station’s program director and afternoon voice Dan Henry is an original employee. Dan was there before the station signed on and continues to be – in my opinion – the true voice and face of the radio station.

Dan Henry and the equally wonderful Megan Porter of Boston Pizza have been the recent co-chairs of the Oxford County United Way drive. High school principal Chris Friesen is another past co-chair with Dan Henry.

Henry has also been a consistent person at the Relay For Life organizing table. The Canadian Cancer Society event (I am a co-chair for 2017, so many of my writings will promote this event) not only includes Dan Henry annually as its master of ceremonies, but he also fills in the entertainment gaps on the night’s agenda by coordinating everyone from national anthem singers to live bands to Zumba dance instructors.

Dan Henry attends literacy day in the middle of winter and reads books to toddlers, but he’s gaining a lot of points with the adults with his performances.

If you know your recent history, you could be a winner on Timeline at 5:20 with Dan Henry. I dare him to someday pick 1982, so it would give him an excuse to play Eye In The Sky by the Alan Parsons Project. I’ll assist with his hints as box office mega movies were ET and An Officer And A Gentleman, popular television programs were Cheers and Family Ties, the St Louis Cardinals won the World Series, and Queen Elizabeth was in Ottawa as our country patriated its new Constitution.   

Dan Henry as MC for Relay For Life

News team of Chris McMillan and Shelby Knox

The now 10-year-old radio station is integral in our community whether it be Christmas toy drives, raising money and awareness for Easter Seals, or simply by having its community cruiser attend social and charitable functions for live remote reports and to hand out Heart FM frisbees and coffee mugs.   

In my household we have a saying that Olaf (Movie: Frozen) is ubiquitous, which means he’s everywhere. 

In Woodstock, Heart FM is everywhere.

The morning crew of Lainger and Shelby (Paul Laing and Shelby Knox) truly represent in their personalities – I truly believe -- who we are in Oxford. While Shelby is somewhat local from the Burford area and delivers the morning news, Lainger supplies the wit and the morning energy, which is not an easy task based on the fact he’s on-air at 5:30 a.m. The format of their show includes interviews -- usually around 8:10 -- with a local person promoting a local event.

This morning, I heard my pal Jan Cunningham from the Canadian Cancer Society chat about adopting piggy banks to raise money for a program directing dollars to volunteer drivers for gas expenses as many area cancer patients need assistance to be delivered to doctor and chemo appointments.

Countless kids tune in daily at 7:50 as Lainger and Shelby read off the birthday messages and they provide an extra gift to one lucky winner.

Current news director Chris McMillan is quick to call as he seeks quotable quotes for news stories. I have chatted with him on several occasions for the Woodstock Sports Wall Of Fame and Woodstock Rec & Leisure Fair, for example.

A local voice in the mid-day chair (9 - 2) is Cody Hayward. It’s obvious he grew up near Woodstock and his passion for local radio can be easily be detected as he climbed the ladder as a previous promotions cruiser driver. Just like myself, Cody graduated from the broadcasting course at Fanshawe College. Racing runs in the family for Cody as the station website profile says NASCAR is his favourite sport, while famous and legendary boat racer Bob Hayward (1927-61) is a member of his family tree.

Dan Henry, 

Jan Cunningham from the Canadian Cancer Society's Oxford community office, 

and Cody Hayward 

When I think of previous on-air names at Heart FM, I recall both the talents and the community connections of Adam Nyp, Liz Wismer-VanMeer, John Harada, Monica Lapajne, and Blair Wilson.

The music is adult contemporary, so it ranges from Katie Perry to Steve Perry (Journey) and even Band Perry, Bruno Mars to Walk Off The Earth to Freddie Mercury, and One Direction, One Republic, U2, 3 Doors Down, (maybe B4 4 - RyanDan), and of course Maroon 5.

If your business listens to Heart FM you could currently win a $600 advertising package if a radio station staffer hears 104.7 in your foyer or storefront.

The station broadcasts from all 4 corners of the county to publicize Oxford happenings – Canada Outdoor Farm Show, Zorra Highland Games, Summer Streetfest, many fairs and tractor pulls, a bounty of benefit events, the farm markets, plus Cowapolooza, Canterbury folk festival, chilli and soup cooking fundraisers, breakfast with a Groundhog, sports events, dog shows, parades and Christmas toy drives. This year’s Salvation Army toy gathering breakfast will be at the TA Truck Stop on Dec. 9.

Heart FM, which has been owned by Byrnes Communications since receiving its CRTC license, deserves all the accolades offered their direction in 2016 as they prepare for the next decade and beyond.

Paul Laing

A contest winner this year received a trip to Jamaica.

A previous on-air winner included a car giveaway.

There have been lots of winners of Navy Vets hockey tickets, Chicken Soup For The Soul books, ice cream coupons, DVDs, CDs and maybe even an ATV, but honestly I’m not sure about the bouncy 4-wheeler.

However, it must be said that the true winners are the listeners who look forward to many more years of community entertainment, tunes, participation and promotion, news and information, and Jeremy Smith on the Sundays with the 80’s tunes I enjoy.

Congratulations to Heart FM!

LINKS:

www.heartfm.ca

http://www.heartfm.ca/events/event/1419/

http://www.myhdradio.ca/stations/

https://byrnesmedia.com/about/chris/

http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http%3A//www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php%3Fid%3D1073%26historyID%3D957

  

Twitter: @1047HeartFM

**************

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

Complex hydro production issue must be solved in our province

Consumers in Ontario are shocked at home by electricity system

Why is province producing more power than it would ever need especially with smart conservation trends continuing?

By Mark Schadenberg

I’ve trained myself to have too many trains of thought, so I hope I’m not too far off track today, especially when it’s a day when Santa is in Woodstock on a train.

I remember as a child hearing about Pierre Trudeau’s philosophy on ‘wage and price’ controls. It all seems to make too much easy sense that if prices for consumable materials rise by 2%, wages must also rise by 2% or you’re falling behind.

When I was just 9 years old, the Trudeau Liberal government of 1975 introduced (see history link below) what was called The Anti-Inflation Act which was designed to control price increases in many sectors of the economy, and limit salary increases by 10% the first year and then 8% in year two and then 6% in year three.

It was strange times in the economy certainly.

Our strange times today revolve around supply and demand, and the production and availability of certain goods and services.

Just about every real estate market in southern Ontario lacks inventory and to further the scenario buyers far out number sellers by a wide margin. The folks of the GTA who desire home ownership have purchased in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge. The house hunters in those 4 communities are now searching in Woodstock because they can no longer afford their hometown. The trickle-down appears to end in London as the commute to Toronto is too far when you arrive west of Woodstock.

I remember going on a school field trip with one of my children to a local apple orchard. It was quite late in the picking season and everyone was bundled on top of the tractor-and-wagon mode of transportation. I was startled and amazed – startled and amazed at the million or more apples which had fallen from the trees to rot. When this fruit was ripe, was there no one available to harvest them? Was there no market – store, produce market, pie conveyor belt, apple crumble recipe, or cider squeezer – to consumer these apples? It truly seemed like an astounding waste.

Just before Halloween this year I witnessed a similar comparison as I drove past 2 different pumpkin acreages to see thousands and thousands of orange gourds which appeared to never be finding a home (front porch with a carved snarl or pie contents) before becoming fertilizer.

I’ve now reached my arrival point and won’t delve too far into the details because there is a terrific CBC prose attached to this entry below. Our hydro system creates way too much electricity, so our province sells off the access to neighbouring states and provinces at a price below what we pay to produce it. Ontario people lose because we are paying to produce a lot of this electricity (dollars delivered to power producers) and then we lose again when the surplus kilowatts are shipped away. Meantime, the buyers, who obviously need electricity are saving twice as they are not building systems to create power (coal is becoming obsolete obviously, but there is also nuclear, waterways, solar and wind).

Photo taken from Old Stage Road in Norwich Township

Solar panel behind Woodstock District Community Complex

Proposed Solar Project on Tecumseh Street in Woodstock

Consumers in Ontario are begged to conserve this precious resource called hydro, but this practice only creates more excess. This fact doesn’t even account for delivery charges.

Connections to the local economy are many – hydro creation on Gunn’s Hill Road area in Norwich Township and the production of blades by Siemens in Tillsonburg.

The scheme called macro economics is always more complex than can be solved in 1 run-on paragraph about plugs and outlets, but everyone in this province should read the 2 CBC stories below as the second link describes the coal conundrum.

LINKS:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-bills-1.3860314

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-coal-country-mckenna-workers-1.3860764

http://www.siemens.ca/web/portal/en/Press-Archive/2015/Pages/Siemensproduces1,000thbladeatTillsonburgmanufacturingfacility.aspx

http://business.financialpost.com/news/energy/why-canadian-taxpayers-have-to-pay-wall-street-bankers-28-million-for-an-ontario-wind-farm-that-never-got-built

http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/ninety-four-per-cent-of-ontarians-eager-for-electricity-price-cut-government-polling-shows

http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/eras/trudeau/wage_&_price_controls.htm

Dutton / Elgin County Story

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2016/11/25/opponents-of-wind-farm-planned-for-dutton-dunwich-collect-1822-signatures-on-petition-against-the-project

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.royallepagetriland.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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

What did Mark Hierlihy have to say at CCS Oxford office meeting?

Ontario executive director for Canadian Cancer Society was in Woodstock earlier this month

Changes for Relay For Life organizing committee will make annual event more volunteer driven 

By Mark Schadenberg

The Oxford community office for the Canadian Cancer Society had a guest visitor earlier this month, and it seemed like a timely meeting to begin the process of organizing Relay For Life for 2017.

In attendance at a 2-hour meeting was the new Ontario Executive Director of the CCS, Mark Hierlihy. 

The round table discussion, which included an easel with brain-storming thoughts and ideas, was moderated by Hierlihy as CCS staffers (Jan Cunningham, Pam Noels and Kelly Jorgensen), and committee volunteers from various CCS events and programs shared their ideas about the past, present and future.

Discussed were all facets of fundraising and volunteer efforts by the CCS, so daffodil sales were on the agenda, and so was donating time and effort in other capacities such as door-to-door canvassing, driving cancer patients to appointments, and most certainly Relay For Life.

Mark Hierlihy

The Woodstock Relay For Life committee was well represented by myself, Deb Moss, Marie Bowerman, and province-wide organizer John Hunt.

I was quite impressed by Mark Hierlihy in all directions of the conversation, including when he admitted Relay For Life needs more input from local organizers, participants and contributors, and less hands-on planning from the provincial office. 

“Each Relay has its local flavor – local spirit, and each community can make Relay its own.

Hierlihy explained the provincial office will certainly set what he described as “guard rails” as if to use a curved road analogy, or guidelines for each Relay event.

The impact of Relay continues to be the luminaries and the accompanying luminary ceremony, the importance of recognizing the survivors’ lap and its emotional moments, and the concept of teams or groups bonding together in the framework of unity (family, friends, co-workers, etc) to assist the overall cause, which obviously encompasses raising money for CCS research projects.

With a lot of talk at the meeting about reaching top-of-awareness of Relay For Life and therefore maintaining participation numbers and dollars raised, Hierlihy talked about “engaging the next generation.”

Also, anyone donating money, admits Hierlihy, is expecting a maximum amount to be directed to the cause.

“Relay committees should be volunteer driven and staff supported,” he said, which is a 180-degree reversal from the past couple years. Less CCS office staff, admits Hierlihy, is one reason for the return of focus to the organizing committee’s efforts.

Hierlihy described a comparison used by former provincial and federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty (Passed away in 2014) about trying to avoid a headache when one eye is looking at an object with a magnifying glass, while the other eye is looking through a telescope.

Hierlihy reminded the CCS staff and volunteers gathered that the organization has had many “huge break-throughs” in finding a cure and that the CCS funds “many of the best current research projects with progress seen in many areas of treatments”.

The Relay slogan or tagline will shift again. Hash tabs such as #WhyIRelay, #AcceptTheBaton and #ReadySetRelay will still be used along with the poster slogan “It’s A Journey. Go The Distance”, but the emphasis will now be on a new slogan which will be unveiled publicly in the near future.

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Relay For Life volunteer

And Oxford County full-time Realtor

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep

Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage

Non roof-top photovoltaic projects discussed at city council

City Hall asked to approve these plans, but the process continues for hopeful hydro providers

Tecumseh Street lands needed to be re-purposed

By Mark Schadenberg

I think the City Of Woodstock should be congratulated for its record in improving brownfields and utilizing or repurposing buildings.

Obviously I realize, it’s just not the City itself but property owners as well, and developers who see true potential in a structure or area.

Too often the City is blamed if an owner does not maintain a vacant building and later it’s leveled, such as the Capitol Theatre.

During the passing of time, schools and churches close, fires occur, factories and hotels are shut down, and even gigantic employers such as the ORC close their doors.

Former main building at Woodstock's ORC 

I began to think about this new focus on properties when skimming through a city council agenda on Nov. 3 and seeing that parcels of land on Tecumseh Street were projected to become solar panel fields to create hydro. Often former industrial lands have environmental concerns, so assuming there are no pollutants seeping into the neighbouring Thames River watershed, I would agree it’s long overdue to have a rehab to those acres in Woodstock’s west side.

The addresses outlined at council were 255 and 313 Tecumseh Street and the applicant was noted as ERTH Corporation. (Note: The former Thomas Bus factory addresses have been known as 211 and 275 Tecumseh) A picture of their plan is included here.

Of extra note, is that exact same day council received a report from a third applicant – Woodstock General Hospital for a non-rooftop solar photovoltaic installation at 310 Juliana. This project will occur only after scheduled public meetings (with written notice given to those living in the neighbourhood) and other provincial-level (Ontario Energy Board) approvals such as receiving a FIT (Feed-In Tariff) renewable energy permit. There are some FIT notes / links below if you want to read more about the application process.

Renovated Buildings For A New Use

There are many locally. Keep in mind, the vast majority of these projects were accomplished by the private sector.

Paquette sock factory on Dundas is now an apartment building.

Before

After

Harvey Woods factory on Vansittart is assistive living housing.

Harvey Woods on Wilson Street is an antique market. (Note: As a collector of CD's I've been in this building countless times, so I can attest the amount of actual renovations is very little, but the building provides a great service and is very well utilized)

All Saints Church on Winniett Street is an apartment building  

Princess Street school is medical offices.

Both the Broadway and Chapel street schools are both condominium apartments.

The old building, which is the current home to Aden Footwear and several other businesses at Dundas and Kent, had its top 2 floors removed during its massive renovation a few years ago. Back in the 1860’s it was Richardson Soap Works (See link below from the research of Paul Roberts of Woodstock)

I also think of the Woodstock Badminton Club at the corner of Hunter and Delatre.  It was around 1930 that the original Chalmers church was converted into a remarkable badminton club.

Central United Church on Riddell Street across from Woodstock Collegiate is currently undergoing a renovation to multi-family residential with a geared-to-income component to some units.

Woodstock Or County Owned

Woodstock has a very long tradition of saving buildings such as the former downtown market, which today is the home of Theatre Woodstock. It was built in 1895 and became known as Market Centre Theatre in 1997.

Woodstock’s City Hall at 500 Dundas was once the post office.

The post office on Peel Street has been converted to medical and recreational (Youth dance co-op) uses.

Woodstock’s original City Hall is now the museum at 466 Dundas.

Woodstock’s jail on Buller Street is now the Oxford Board of Health.

Oxford Board Of Health

Museum

The local armoury on Graham Street (across street from cenotaph) is now the home of BDO accountants.

The South Gate Centre on Old Wellington Street was built in 1961, but not as a 50+ centre but as the local headquarters for Bell Canada. The building historically (more than 80 years ago) at that site, however, was a tannery.

WRECKING BALL

Not all schools or churches have been renovated for a new use however. It would appear the former St. Rita’s School on Dundas could soon be leveled and replaced by two 10-storey apartment buildings by London-based Drewlo Holdings. Preliminary drawings indicate that the gymnasium will not be demolished, so it could be transformed (perhaps) into a gymnasium / fitness area for the apartments.

LINKS:

www.oneofakindantiquemall.com

http://www.drewloholdings.com/apartments-for-rent/cities/woodstock

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2009/07/16/from-church-to-homes-transformation-complete

www.woodstockbadmintonclub.org

www.woodstockmuseum.com

www.theatrewoodstock.com

www.oxfordoptometry.ca

http://woodstocknewsgroup.weebly.com/richardsons-soap-works.html

HYDRO

http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/en/fit-and-microfit-program/

http://microfit.powerauthority.on.ca/faqs/questions-specific-microfit-program

X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.royallepagetriland.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Provincial government to increase tax rebates for first-time home buyers

Liberal Party finance minister Charles Sousa made announcement on Nov 14

Rebate on Land Transfer Tax will increase to maximum of $4,000

By Mark Schadenberg

The average price of a home in Woodstock over the past 12 months is in the range of $285,000, while the average reported sale price in October was actually over $300,000.

I’ve reported these numbers previously (links below), but as you can easily visualize the price of a home for any buyer has increased steadily over the years. If you own your house, it’s certainly an extremely solid investment and a place to call “home”.

If you’re a first-time buyer the possibility of applying for a rebate on your income tax after buying your first house has existed for a number of years, but the maximum you could apply for when filing your tax return was $2,000.

The Ontario government is keeping up with the times now by increasing the maximum amount to $4,000 beginning on Jan. 1 of 2017.

The announcement was made today (Nov 14) by Provincial finance minister Charles Sousa.

Any change like this, should have been retroactive to Jan. 1 of the year as it may delay a planned purchase by a young couple or any first-time buyer.

The mathematicians in the crowd might remember that land transfer tax is calculated as 1% of the purchase price and then subtracting $275. The percentages change somewhat when the selling price of a house surpasses $250,000.

See the grid below:

Besides Realtors, the Ontario Real Estate Association was also quick yesterday to post its press release:

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Ontario government gives tax break to first-time home buyers

New LTT rebate will help more young families achieve their dreams of home ownership

TORONTO, November 14, 2016 – In its 2016 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Ontario committed to increasing the land transfer tax (LTT) rebate for first-time home buyers from $2,000 to $4,000. The new LTT rebate will help more young families achieve their dreams of home ownership.

"Finding an affordable home has become a struggle for thousands of young couples,” said Ray Ferris, president of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA). “This tax break will reduce a first-time buyer’s closing costs and help them save more for their down payment.” According to research prepared by Altus Group Economics for OREA, an improved LTT rebate will create 5,000 jobs and $268 million in economic spinoffs. Research shows that home ownership contributes to families becoming happier and healthier, and enjoying improvements in their children’s school performance.

“Home ownership changes you for the better,” said OREA CEO Designate, Tim Hudak. “It builds strong communities and stable neighbourhoods. A tax break for first-time buyers will give a lot of young families the leg up they need to get into home ownership.”

“Premier (Kathleen) Wynne and Finance Minister (Charles) Sousa deserve credit for taking positive steps to address affordability,” said Hudak. “It’s encouraging news for that young couple looking to get into the market. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to improve affordability by looking at other issues impacting prices, like supply.”

About OREA

Representing the 67,800 real estate brokers and salespeople members of Ontario’s 40 real estate boards, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) serves its members through advocacy, educational programs and special services. www.orea.com.

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HOUSE HUNTING

As I mentioned above, the timing is unfortunate as someone saving to buy in early 2017 will be rewarded, but not the house hunter active right now.

Home ownership should be affordable. It’s difficult to accumulate a good credit score (Beacon rating), maintain low credit card and credit line debts, save for a down payment, drive a reasonable car, and work hard enough to earn a good income.

When you input numbers into an amortization chart after you calculate the amount you can afford each month in a mortgage payment (Gross Debt Service ratio and / or Total Debt Service ratio), then you may rely upon this land transfer tax rebate increase to perhaps purchase that solid oak kitchen table and chairs you have on your wish list.

TAKING FROM PETER TO ASSIST PAUL

The Ontario Liberals will pay for the rebate by increasing the land transfer tax due on homes above $2 million – upping the percentage from 2.0 to 2.5 for home purchases by the wealthy.

Former Conservative provincial leader Tim Hudak is incoming CEO of OREA. In a Toronto Star story, he praised the change, saying “every break is going to help out that young family.

“Home ownership changes you for the better. It builds strong communities and stable neighbourhoods," Hudak added in the OREA press release above.  

The Toronto Sun version of the land transfer tax changes, notes the average house purchase in the GTA is now over $760,000 with an increase in the past 12 months of more than 20%. The story did not define exactly where the GTA area perimeter is, but that price truly depicts – in my opinion – how difficult it is to buy a home within a 20-minute not-rush-hour drive to the CN Tower. 

The average, as printed in the Toronto Sun, in Barrie is $476,000.

Tim Hudak

GOOD NEWS FOR SOMEONE RENTING

FROM TORONTO SUN:

Provincial finance minister Charles Sousa also announced a freeze in the property tax on apartment buildings while the government reviews how the tax burden affects rental market affordability.

He said the average municipal property tax burden on apartment buildings is more than double — and sometimes triple — that for condominiums. The government is concerned that lower-income residents in apartment buildings are facing a much higher tax burden than people who own condos.

“Many who are renters in apartments are paying — indirectly — a lot more tax on those properties,” said Sousa.

This is one of the reasons why many owners of large apartment buildings have their ownership converted to a condo status even though the inhabitants of the complex are tenants and not owners.

LINKS:

https://www.orea.com/About/News-and-Press-Releases/Press-Releases/November-14-2016

https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/11/14/first-time-home-buyers-to-get-4000-land-transfer-rebate.html

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/11/14/ontario-land-transfer-tax-rebate-doubled-to-4000-for-first-time-homebuyers

http://markroyallepage.blogspot.ca/2016/11/october-totals-for-widreb-indicate.html

http://markroyallepage.blogspot.ca/2016/10/new-rules-announced-for-mortgage.html

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Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.royallepagetriland.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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

Last month, I was inducted into the Woodstock Sports Wall Of Fame 

for my many years of volunteering locally.