Another successful Literacy Day is in the books

A picture book about building a house will assist in building a brain

Children receive a free book and listen to stories from local celebrities

By Mark Schadenberg

Young minds need to discover books, and if not books then certainly the idea of learning from reading.

I was a professional writer for more than 7 years, and will state categorically here that a sports reporter and editor of a small daily newspaper is most definitely a professional writer, as my employment from 1992 – 98 included headline writing and page design.

I’m qualified to say that the best way to learn how to spell is to read.

The best way to develop imagination is to enjoy a book.

The best way to learn about sentence structure, punctuation and utilizing a colourful combination of words is to read.

The best way to nourish any interest you have is to read about it. Comprehension or understanding is the result of knowing how to read whether your area of study is sports, history, mythology, autobiographies or books written about people by a third person.

LITERACY DAY

After posting on Facebook about Literacy Day in Woodstock this past Saturday, I later noted on a friend’s page that I likely was not attending even though I had promoted the annual event several times through the avenues of social media, including my Twitter account of @markroyallepage.

I enjoy publicizing community happenings, and I’m involved with a few, but Literacy Day is successful thanks to Oxford Community Child Care (OCCC – www.oxfordccc.ca), Good Beginnings Day Care, the Woodstock Public Library, Scholastic Books, and many many volunteers. Among those donating their time are local celebrity storytellers such as Gillian from the kids’ department of the library, police auxilliary, Dan Henry from Heart FM, and firefighter Paul Graham. We attended the Graham reading of the picture book The Day The Crayons Came Home, and I must add that two additional firefighters were present as the local mini brigade appeared with a real truck, cardboard foldable fire trucks for the kids and a few red plastic hats. 

Firefighter Paul Graham

I realize it will soon be time to dispose of my old point-and-shoot digital camera as the out-of-focus photos here indicate, but I was able to return home with a photo of my son and daughter with Clifford The Big Red Dog. You will also see a photo from 4 years ago with Clifford and my son. My family has embarked to Literacy Day at least 6 times, and each time also seeing and hearing the life-assist therapy dogs, a large craft table, and numerous engaged and entertained young kids.

Saturday’s guest presenter was Vikki VanSickle of Woodstock who has penned a few children’s books such as Words That Start With B, Days That End With Y, along with If I Had A Gryphon.

All children attending received a free book. Since my son was not sure exactly which item would capture his undivided imagination and bring home as accumulation for his collection, I suggested The House That Max Built by Maxwell Newhouse. Yes, it is indeed hard to believe that an author with the surname of Newhouse and a first name of Maxwell could possibly create such a publication. As a Realtor, I thought I could pick up a few construction tips from the hard cover.

Literacy Day always appears to be successful by the flock of families, but I bet you many parents hear about it afterwards from others and feel they missed an opportunity.

I recall 2014, author Frieda Wishinsky was the guest and she also scheduled a stop in the afternoon at the Woodstock library and my daughter enjoyed meeting her so much, I think she has now read the entire Canadian Flyer series of history books based on moments in our past such as the fire in Halifax harbour, along with Alexander Graham Bell, the Titanic, Yukon gold rush days, the railway from coast to coast, and the arrival of Vikings to North America.

I just completed page turning of The House That Max Built. By glancing at the inside cover I can see that Max Newhouse is an accomplished artist also as he has illustrated and written books on varied topics such as the RCMP Musical Ride and Emily Carr, and is a past nominee for a Governor General’s Literacy Award for animation.

Also below is information on a current survey by OCCC as they tabulate thoughts from parents with younger children.      

OUR COMMUNITY.

Since I truly do believe in promoting area events, here’s a plug for Relay Kickoff, which is part of the annual Relay For Life fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. We’re looking for volunteers. Consider calling me for further details. 

  

LINKS:

www.oxfordccc.ca

www.woodstock.library.on.ca

www.goodbeginningsday.com

www.maxwellnewhouse.com

www.vikkivansickle.wordpress.com

www.heartfm.ca

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

'Stages' is perfect new name for Theatre Woodstock youth productions

Previous group entitled CAST was retired last year

Sport of curling is theme of Theatre Woodstock's next production 

  

By Mark Schadenberg

It takes a brilliant mind to have a brilliant decision, but what happens when you have dozens of brilliant minds?

Theatre Woodstock (TW) retired the youth acting program known as CAST when Jason and Jennifer Paquette decided to retire after 30 years from operating the youth musical theatre program.

Jason and Jennifer Paquette in front with son Jacob behind them.

Picture was from Woodstock production of Soldier's Heart written by David French.

In the show Jason played the dad, and appropriately Jacob was the son, 

while Jennifer was the director.    

I believe this is a Sentinel-Review photo

Theatre Woodstock (@TW_Cast on Twitter) then grabbed the milky white cow by the horns and decided to continue this tremendous program, but they needed a new name as: young people ‘Creating And Staging Theatre’ was CAST, so it was time to re-cast with a new title.

The 50 or so brilliant minds who are (under-the-age of 20) actors and singers, plus adult choreographers, producers, set builders and directors, recently decided on the perfect new moniker: Stages.

A play or musical is obviously discovered on a stage, but as the pre-teens become teens and then adults they rise through the stages of junior to sophomore to senior groups (ages 7 to 19) to adult productions at Theatre Woodstock.

Congratulations to Mike Crabbe (TW general manager) and the entire crew at TW on their new focus and title. I’m guessing they have borrowed Stages from another youth acting troupe somewhere, but maybe it’s an original idea. Either way . . . Bravo!

TW recently completed the run of two youth productions, including Peter Pan Junior.

My family was able to enjoy the final CAST production last summer of Into The Woods, which was created by a group of alumni and it was a terrific Stephen Sondheim show from the milky white cow to the seeds that grew into a giant beanstalk, a found slipper, to the girl with the red hood, to the baker and his wife, and their rendition of the great songs – Your Fault, Children Will Listen, It Takes Two, Agony, Stay With Me, Last Midnight and No One Is Alone. Describing the show as exceptional would actually lack the proper description as it was 'utterly' exceptional.

Note: Both of my children were in Little Mermaid Junior last summer, which was a summer camp program where Jacob Paquette (Jennifer and Jason's son) was among the play's and camp directors. Jacob would take on the role of Big Bad Wolf in Into The Woods as a CAST grad. Jacob's sisters were also in the show, including the important part of Little Red Riding Hood. It can be added that one of the Unfortunate Souls (pun in words from Little Mermaid) in Into The Woods was TW GM Mike Crabbe as he truly had no lines in depicting a rooster, but did flap his wings across the stage.

  

CURLING ON STAGE

I’m not sure if Theatre Woodstock is bringing a sheet of ice indoors or simply painting some circles on the stage floor, but Woodstock’s amateur theatrical group is staging The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon next month (Feb 10 - 18).

Written by WO Mitchell (1914 – 1998) from Saskatchewan, who according to his on-line bio is best known for the 1947 published novel Who Has Seen The Wind, the Bonspiel comedy is about a shoe maker in the 1930’s who also considers himself quite an avid curler, but should he make a deal with the devil (Similar to Doctor Faustus or even the musical Damn Yankees) to compete at an important national curling championship? 

One online source indicates that this play was written in 1951 to be acted on radio.

Be sure to bring your sense of humour with you as one of the competitors on the Devil’s team is Judas.

With a cast including Dave Butcher (The Devil), Tony Harding (Wullie), Andrew Norris, Don Hastie, Steve Young and Tracey Price the stage will be full of veteran local actors.

I’ve included many links here and the play’s poster, so if you have never attended a Theatre Woodstock production now would be a good time. . . for an entertaining good time.

Upcoming 2017 Shows: 

Posters borrowed from subscription information on the theatre's website. 

LINKS:

www.theatrewoodstock.com

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2017/01/25/theatre-woodstock-youth-company-chooses-new-name-stages

2016 stories:

http://markroyallepage.blogspot.ca/2016/08/jennifer-jason-paquette-deserve.html

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2016/02/03/jen-and-jason-paquette-are-retiring-after-two-decades-of-running-woodstocks-youth-theatre-company

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2016/08/08/two-cast-grads-fell-in-love-and-got-engaged-onstage-years-after-they-first-met-at-theatre-camp

Plays

https://www.playwrightsguild.ca/playwright/wo-mitchell

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Call me today if you seek information

about real estate in Oxford County

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

Woodstock-based rink qualifies for provincial women's curling championships

Ontario Scott Tournament Of Hearts begins Jan. 30 in Cobourg

Rachelle Vink of Woodstock competes on team skipped by Julie Tippin 

By Mark Schadenberg

Time to polish off two stories with one curling stone.

Firstly, congratulations to Woodstock-area curler Rachelle Vink for qualifying for the Scott Tournament Of Hearts Ontario women’s championships for consecutive seasons. While Julie Tippin is the skip, it is terrific to note that the foursome will again represent the Woodstock Curling Club at the provincials in Cobourg, Jan 30 – Feb 5.

Vink, who is the daughter of the Vink family owning Woodstock Meadows golf course, has already tabulated an impressive curling resume including competing at the Ontario championship bonspiel last year in Brampton. Tippin was tied for second after the round robin at 6-2 with Jenna Hanna and Jacqueline Harrison. In the 3-4 matchup, Tippin lost to Hanna 7-3. The Hanna squad would win the Ontario title and later compete at the national Scott Tournament Of Hearts – placing in a tie for fifth at the Grand Prairie Alberta venue.

Vink was part of a foursome which won three national college banners for Fanshawe College, including 2015 which also included her Tippin teammate Tess Bobbie on the rink.

Vink, who is also a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Woodstock, said last year in a Sentinel-Review story that the Woodstock club has always been very supportive, so the team registers for competitions as a Woodstock-based team. It’s important to note that qualification brackets are done by geography and regions so a team must be based somewhere.

The team of Tippin, Vink (second), Chantal Duhaime (vice), and Tess Bobbie (lead) advanced to the Ontario round-robin format event by placing second at the West qualifier Dec 16-19 in Guelph. Of note, the Tippin team trounced Mallory Kean 9-1 in the ‘B’ Final by scoring three with the hammer in the 5th end, stealing one each in both the 6th and 7th ends, and stealing 3 more decisive points in the 8th before shaking hands. If you recognize the surname of Kean, well you should as Mallory is the wife of Innerkip’s Mark Kean who is a previous Ontario men’s champion (2015 Ontario Tankard. Kean was tied for 7th at Brier with a 5-6 record) as skip.

The Tippin squad was able to advance through the 11-team Guelph (Ontario West) qualifier tournament by downing Katie Moreau 8-4, and then Mallory Kean 6-5 in the third round. After losing to Jacqueline Harrison 7-2 in the ‘A’ Final, Tippin then rebounded to defeat Kean in the ‘B’ Final. (Note: All linescores and visual brackets are found on the www.ontcurl.com website)

The Harrison team of Mississauga is also advancing to Cobourg (Hosted by the West Northumberland Curling Club at the Cobourg Community Centre) obviously . . . along with skips Rachel Homan, Sherry Middaugh, Allison Flaxey, Heather Heggestad, Cathy Auld, and Megan Balsdon. I’m not walking out to the lofty edge here by stating that the Homan team of Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney and Lisa Weagle must be considered the overwhelming favourites as they are certainly one of the world’s top ranked teams. As proof, Homan and Flaxey are second and third respectively on the World Curling Tour money list for this season.

Tippin’s team isn’t afraid to travel to find some competition as they lost 4-2 in the semis of an event in Blaine, Minnesota (Asham U.S. Open) to Sherry Middaugh back on Jan. 2. They always say in curling that it’s difficult to beat the same team twice on the same weekend as Tippin had toppled Middaugh 7-2 in the event’s sixth draw. The on-line sources for this tourney note the purse for a semifinal loss was $3,025 which doesn’t leave a lot of pocket money after expenses are doled out.

Tippin also competed twice in B.C. and also in Manitoba this season already, winning the championship of the Stroud Sleeman event in October by downing Balsdon 8-6 in the finale, and earlier losing in September in the finals of the K-W Fall Classic. To better represent the difficulty in winning these major competitions, Tippin reached the semifinals of the Dekalb Classic in Manitoba, which was a bonspiel eventually won by Jennifer Jones.

On the World Curling Tour money list the Tippin squad is currently 31st with $12,425.

As you can see, Woodstock’s Vink competes constantly against the best curlers so the team certainly has a good opportunity in Cobourg to win.

MEN’S PROVINCIALS

The men’s side of the Ontario spiel – also in Cobourg – includes skips Greg Balsdon (2014 winner), John Epping (In my opinion the best current skip not to win a provincial crowd), Glenn Howard (A 16-time Ontario champ, including 9 as a skip), Mike Harris (A former Olympian), Cory Heggestad, Scott Bailey, Mark Bice, Codey Maus, Dayna Deruelle, and representing the Brantford club is the Wayne Tuck team. 

Mark Kean did not qualify for the provincial men’s Tankard this year – an event which was once sponsored by Labatt’s for a long time and is now sponsored by Milk (Recharge With Milk)  

WHY ME?

If you’re curious about why I write on the curling topic, I was part of the Rogers TV on-air broadcast crew at several provincial championships including Mississauga, Whitby, Owen Sound, Guelph and naturally Woodstock (twice), seniors provincials in London, plus the men’s pro curling tour when it stopped in Strathroy a few years ago.

I’m a true student of the game and love the strategy.

More penmanship on curling in an entry later in January.  

 Me broadcasting at London Knights game

LINKS:

www.ontcurl.com

http://ontariocurlingchamps.ca/teams/women/

www.woodstockcc.on.ca

www.worldcurl.com

www.curling.ca

http://www.ocaa.com/sports/curling/past-champions

Facebook & Twitter: @oncurlingchamps

2016 Story:

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2016/01/19/woodstocks-rachelle-vink-is-part-of-team-tippin-at-the-ontario-scotties-tournament-of-hearts-this-week

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Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage

Prestigious Oxford golf club Craigowan in the financial news

Media reports note how Oxford Golf & Country Club is apparently struggling financially

Course in Huntingford hosted Canadian women's amateur championship in 2014

By Mark Schadenberg

As recently as the summer of 2014, the top women amateur golfers in Canada arrived at Craigowan for the national amateur championship – August James would edge current LPGA star Brooke Henderson to claim the winner’s trophy.

The golfers were most certainly the star of the show, but Craigowan was shining brightly as well.

This winter financial reports – as published in a well-written story in the Woodstock Sentinel-Review – noted that Craigowan is struggling to flourish.

Oxford Golf & Country Club (Craigowan) has a rich history of hosting many important championships, including the Ontario men’s amateur in 2009 and the Canadian junior boys’ event in 2005.

The course’s reputation is top notch. Golf writers like to use terms like manicured fairways, undulating greens, and an overall challenging layout. Craigowan fits those descriptions and when you factor in the new clubhouse built in 2005, the 18-hole facility is among the best in southern Ontario.

I was once an avid golfer, but two young kids places time limitations on a lifestyle and when you factor in the hip replacement I had in late 2014, it’s easy to see that I am not among the statistics of golfers who may have departed the private club, but when you glean through the Sentinel-Review story you will quickly see that membership numbers have decreased.

Craigowan has received many positive reviews, include this one noted in 2014 on the course’s website:

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

"Craigowan is a fabulous place where it would be impossible to get bored. Everyday would be a great day on this course. There is a great mix of holes - long, short, left, right, up and down. The golfers will need to bring all their shots for this one," says Bob Weeks, editor Score Golf magazine.

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

www.craigowan.com

Some outsiders such as myself may guess (assume) there are simply too many golf courses, and that the avid hobbiest may want to play their own tour of area destinations such as Sally Creek, Meadows, Cedar Creek, Creek Side, Ingersoll, Innerkip, Burford, Cobble Hills, and other possibilities in London, K-W, Cambridge, St Marys or in Elgin County. I realize some of those layouts are just 9 holes, but with time as an issue some golfers only have enough time for 9 holes riding in a cart, and don’t have the luxury of a longer timetable.

If you are retired and live at the adult-only Sally Creek neighbourhood in Woodstock, you’ll likely secure a membership at the Sally Creek club.

The Sentinel-Review piece notes that Craigowan itself estimated they needed 450 members to maintain the long-term viability of the business after the new clubhouse opened. It’s a stunning facility and much more functional in all aspects to the old clubhouse. The S-R story places the club’s 2016 membership level at 315.

I think it would be a very sad day to see Craigowan close, so everyone I believe will hope a buyer could be found who will also provide some level of financial compensation to the Craigowan shareholders.

Craigowan’s website notes that public greens fees are $65 for 18 holes in the prime time of Friday, Saturday and Sunday (May 1 – Sept 25) with rates varying for other time slots.

A full membership for 1 adult for 2016 was $2,850 and a couple’s membership was set at $4,990. Lower rates were applied to juniors and intermediate age groups. Feel free to check out their website for lots of additional info on rates, schedules, leagues and tournaments.

Craigowan plays an important role in providing a high-end destination for significant charity tournaments such as the hospital foundation, chamber of commerce, and Youth For Christ.

Craigowan was established at its current Huntingford location in the late 1950’s and was designed by Robbie Robinson.

Current Clubhouse

Original Clubhouse

The current scorecard notes all yardages from the various tee blocks, but the professional back tees are measured to create a 6,728-yard par-71 (35-36) layout.

My favourite holes are the back-to-back dog-leg rights on the back nine at numbers 16 and 17, but I’m also the first to admit I have not played the course in about 6 years.

John Herbert, who is a long-time London Free Press writer, described No 2 as one of the most challenging holes in southwestern Ontario.

The history of Oxford Golf & Country Club can be read in the Rick Young book From Fifth to 59 as the club began as 9 holes on the top of Fifth Avenue in Woodstock (Subdivision now homes featuring golf names such as Glen Abbey, Augusta, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, and Pinehurst, plus a street named after the Anderson family) before moving north of Woodstock on Highway 59 in Huntingford.

I posted this story before anything was reported as a news story from the membership-only meeting scheduled for Jan. 23.

After more than 50 years as a distinguished golf destination, I hope Craigowan will see another 50 years.

Time will tell.  

Clubhouse at previous Fifth Avenue location in Woodstock

LINKS:

www.craigowan.com

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2017/01/19/woodstocks-craigowan-golf-and-country-club-has-run-into-financial-problems-the-last-decade-leading-to-its-possible-sale

http://markroyallepage.blogspot.ca/2014/05/craigowan-grey-silo-to-welcome-top.html

https://www.golfnow.com/courses/-2099-craigowan-golf-club-details

http://www.londongolfclub.ca/courses-and-rates/craigowan-golf-and-country-club/

http://www.ontariogolf.com/courses/woodstock/craigowan-oxford-gcc/

Material on this website is written by:

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