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