Who Do You Think You Are? is on TLC

Lots to learn on treks taken by famous folks on reality show

By Mark Schadenberg

Reality TV offerings vary on the many stations dedicated to that format / genre as you can compete for the best wedding, raise19 children, have a wedding on a program about counting 19 children, renovate your kitchen, cheer for your favourite pastry chef in a baking competition, or depart your Amish community for life in the big city.

Of all the shows I have discovered – many with my daughter having control of the the remote control -- Who Do You Think You Are (WDYTYA)? would be the program that is the most intriguing, in my opinion.

Everyone will select their favourites among the portrayal of TLC interesting families, a woman from Long Island who can apparently communicate with those who have left our room, plus crazy couponing, hoarding, living small in a big world, and other crazy obsessions.

My choice will still be the documentary of a family tree as famous people discover connections to their past – a slice of history for the lives of celebrities such as Canadian Rachel McAdams of St. Thomas, along with Jim Parsons, Cynthia Nixon, Cindy Crawford, Valerie Bertinelli, Kelsey Grammar, Minnie Driver, Zooey Deschanel and singers Reba McIntyre and Kelly Clarkson, and others. I haven't seen all these episodes but was reeled in by both the Grammar and Driver biographies.

With an obvious sponsorship by www.ancestry.com, the Driver 60-minute feature had the Good Will Hunting actress returning to her England roots to discover her Dad had a brother who was a locally renowned stage actor. Driver had always been curious how she was possibly bitten by the acting bug.

Driver's Dad, meanwhile, had been a Second World War hero, who suffered post-traumatic mental issues during his tenure in the British air force.

The Grammar doc was also about important connections, as the Frasier and Cheers star was introduced to a late relative (through looking at census records and other research materials) who had died from alcoholism. It is widely known that Kelsey Grammar has personal issues with addictions, and the actor discusses the links with brave honesty.

Grammar's tale also include a descendant who had travelled across the U.S. via stage coach to hopefully discover riches in a gold rush trek to the Seattle area. The actor obviously made millions portraying am on-air doctor at a Seattle radio station.

That particular TLC episode of WDYTYA sparked my interest in watching The Grapes Of Wrath movie again, which starred Peter Fonda, and was based more on The Great Depression dust bowls, but parallels could easily be made to any family searching long distances for greener pastures.

Many full episodes are on the TLC website. It's commonly thought that as time passes on people find more entertainment on the internet (YouTube and ITunes as more examples) than on television, but those programs often direct people to the web, but that's a journey to write about on another day.

LINKS:

www.tlc.com

http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/tlc-casting-call.htm

www.ancestry.com

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Canada Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Sept 9-11

Where Farmers Meet and learn and socialize and buy

By Mark Schadenberg

Where Farmers Meet

The perfect slogan for Canada's Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) which will harvest a large crowd next week in Woodstock, Sept. 9 – 11. (8:30 am – 5 pm)

Now in it's 21^st year, the show is so large the guide book has 104 pages.

The agriculture trade show takes place at the northwest corner of Woodstock (inside city limits) at County Road 17 (Tollgate Rd) and the 11^th Line.

“I hope you are as excited as I am to see all of the new technology that awaits us,” said show president Doug Wagner in the event's program. “There will be 750 exhibitors ready to showcase, sell and demonstrate their products or services to help Canadians continue to lead the pack as some of the globe's most progressive farmers.”

The latest in technology will be on display in Woodstock, ranging from dairy to crop improvements, animal feed to farm implements, and operational food production efficiencies.

Even I – as a 'city slicker' – would be curious about the new lagoon crawler from Nuhn.

The saying 'Try Before You Buy' has never been more true than at COFS.

“Crop farmers will want to spend some time in the crop demonstration areas to see what seed varieties are going to be best going into the fall harvest season,” Wagner noted.

Certainly on farms, the environment is very important. The latest advancements will be on display and depicted with demonstrations and seminars available on many topics in this field.

“I think that farmers will benefit most from the water efficiency projects,” says Bruce Kelly, Environmental Program

Lead at Farm & Food Care. “The weather and soil moisture monitoring equipment used by the program will help farmers to make their own accurate decisions about how to manage moisture in field crop soils and when to irrigate.”

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

An excerpt from Page 30 of the show's guide presents some of the principles of evolution in agriculture:

DeLaval, for example, is a company which recognizes dairy farmers who have best adopted management practices that go well beyond the industry norm.

At DeLaval, we make sustainable food production possible.

The term sustainable, is based on balancing four pillars, environment, animal welfare, social responsibility and farm profitability. The goal is to reduce environmental footprint, while improving food production, profitability and the well-being of the people and animals involved while meeting the growing demand for food.”

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

Above is quote from Amanda Macfarlane of the COFS staff.

Admission is affordable at $17 for adults and $5 for youth (6-17). If you want to return for a second day to see more, a wristband is just $10 extra for a second visit.

Best part of all, it to be sure to visit the Lions Club food tent – burgers, sausage on a bun, french fries, and much more on the menu.

LINKS:
www.outdoorfarmshow.com

http://www.outdoorfarmshow.com/PDFs/COFS_Show%20Guide%20140909.pdf

Twitter @outdoorfarmshow

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Building up and not building out

Writing another intense opinion on intensification
Rural land is for farms -- the southern Ontario bread basket

By Mark Schadenberg

With Ontario's master plan for municipal 'intensification' (Provincial Policy Statement of 2005 and 2014), I would say the residents of one London neighbourhood should be content that the apartment complex proposed for their backyard is not going to be 12 or more storeys tall.

In some areas in urban centres around Ontario, 'medium density' zonings are going to be applauded and not frowned upon in the future. Everyone would love to live in a 'low density' area of detached homes with a sparse array of townhouses, but the PPS wants developers, builders and cities to build up and not out. The reasons are many, but mostly due to saving farmland and maintaining the costs for servicing hundreds of residential acres and creating roads and infrastructure for a vast area when a 4-storey apartment can satisfy the population growth and fill an economic need for same.

Cities would prefer to purchase fewer buses, snow plows and garbage trucks.

Read the Free Press link below where neighbouring citizens are pulling out their hair due to a total of 147 units (apartments) projected for six separate 4-storey buildings. I can see greenspace, need for an on-site playground and certainly parking as issues, but the builder should receive an ovation for their density suggestion. Compromise.

In Woodstock, low and medium density won the day when proposals and debates occurred on the former hospital site at Riddell and Brant streets.

The same battle was won by residents when a vision for a tall condo building was suggested for the former Beckett Farm Market block, which interestingly is also on Riddell. In the Beckett property case, houses on Melbourne Street would permanently be in the shadow, so that was a good compromise as townhouses are now on the drawing board at that particular locale.

In London, meanwhile, where I'm always surprised to see a sign posting a population figure at the entrance as under 400,000, in my opinion anyway, the sprawling must be slowed. London is a lava of southern Ontario as it slowly flows along (mostly at) ground level. I remember about 30 years ago when Masonville mall was practically in a cornfield and now London – through annexation and growth has expanded north to the doorsteps of Arva and south-westward to Delaware and Komoka, and west through Byron. I'm actually surprised there has been near zero residential growth in the east end near the airport. When I attended Fanshawe College (1985-87), I rented a house from a family living on the north end of Highbury. I know that 25 years have passed, but that area of Highbury is now subdivisions and no longer large country-like lots.

I also scratch my chin when I see farmland still existing in the middle of the city, like at Wonderland and Oxford, but that crop will soon apparently reap a large grocery store and office complex (See second link). My point is that intensification or dense development must take place within the prescribed municipal boundaries before those boundaries are stretched into actual rural well-producing fertile crop lands.

I know . . . I know, I don't reside in London, but we saw the identical idea in Woodstock get smartly swept aside by both the city and county levels of government and its planners. For example, an (clown) outside developer (416 area code) wanted to create a subdivision of more than 100 large 1-acre lots along County Road 17, but there are three problems – the defined land is NOT in the city limits and Woodstock still has quite a significant inventory of residential lots within the current lines . . . lines not blurred (Deemed residential in the Official Plan), by the way. Second problem is that this developer would have expected city services. Also, the lot sizes would not comply with Ontario's PPS. Maybe and probably 10 percent of the land space could have been allocated for luxury homes on large lots, but the rest would most certainly be ear-marked for intensification.

Just some thoughts

My opinion.

And, no I haven't announced that I'm running for city / county council in Woodstock / Oxford.

LINKS:

http://www.lfpress.com/2014/08/28/project-too-big-for-neighbourhood-residents-say

http://www.lfpress.com/2014/08/29/new-northwest-london-sobeys-store-will-appeal-to-baby-boomer-and-foodies-says-marketing-expert

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Reporting your correct income in financing application is important

Equifax conducts a survey of Canadian home buyers about stating annual income
By Mark Schadenberg
Qualifying for a mortgage is a combination of three items -- downpayment, annual proof of income, and credit (Beacon) score or current commitments to credit.
Equifax is the Canadian firm which tabulates your credit score.
A lender will calculate your Total Debt Service (TDS) Ratio, which includes student and car loans, and minimum commitments to credit lines and credit cards. The TDS (or slightly different Gross Debt Service Ratio) will essentially say how much you can afford monthly in principle, interest and taxes on a mortgage. Sometimes you may have to maximize the amortization time period (to 25 years) just to bring down your monthly payment to meet the requirement.
Obviously, today's microscopic low interest rates are an integral part of the equation to permit you to purchase 'more of a house'.
However, what is permitted in disclosing your correct family income? If you are employed by a company (not self employed), your lender will require a signed letter from your employer to match your stated income.  

Read the Toronto Star article below about fraud and a survey of consumers conducted by Equifax.
There is a long list of lending institutions and mortgage brokers you can discuss your scenario with, and be sure to be pre-approved for a specific amount before offering on a home. The main four reasons to talk about your credit score or Beacon number before signing an offer are:
- Guarantee of an interest rate for up to 120 days. Should you discuss the pros-and-cons of variable rates and fixed rates in advance? Certainly.  
- Any credit 'mistakes' can be cleared up in the early-on of a process, (Not during the crunch time of fulfilling conditions) such as an old utility bill which some company says was not paid (Example).
- You will fully understand the importance of NOT going on a spending spree before offering on a property. (That last minute vacation placed on your credit line should wait a few months.)
- You have built a relationship with a lender who can quickly approve your paperwork through CMHC or Genworth in less than (about) 8 days because you are not a new face. (Conditions on financing time period). Otherwise, your Realtor will require at least 10 days for approval.
Call me any time about names and numbers of great local people who are mortgage advisers as you may even want to contact a credit union as all lenders are equally motivated to 'find and keep' new customers.  

LINK:
http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2014/08/11/is_inflating_income_lying_on_credit_applications_ok.html

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep

Royal LePage Triland, Woodstock

(519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Affordability east of the GTA could be Belleville

Belleville in good position to grow for community east of Toronto

By Mark Schadenberg

You could say Belleville and Woodstock have a lot in common – located just far enough away from the GTA to create an attractive cost-of-living. Both would be good cities to raise a family.

Both are also found on the 401 corridor to lure industry and employment.

Belleville may have an advantage with its location near Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. Belleville – with a 49,500 population in 2011 national census -- will be adding another brand new marina / dock for pleasure boats (see link and picture) in the next two years. Residents were even given the opportunity to vote for a name and Trent Port Marina won among the nominations.

Belleville is also in the early stages of both a downtown and overall revitalization plan, which the city's mayor, Neil Ellis, notes in The Toronto Sun story is called the Build Belleville Project Centre.

Developer Adrian Bax, whose area projects include Harbour Landing, Potters Creek, Settlers Ridge in Belleville, and Brookshire Meadows and Park Ridge in Quinte West, lists convenient 401 access, a modern hospital with a great supply of doctors, a good city infrastructure plus affordable land, and quality builders as some of the city’s assets, as noted in the Toronto Sun article below.

“We really love this region and hopefully others can share the passion,” Bax is quoted.

Many similarities, therefore, between Woodstock and Belleville.

The Downtown Belleville Master Plan has also been written

New construction (especially with infrastructure of roads and services) and renovating old, plus recognizing your past are all important to any community and earlier this month the restoration of Belleville's noteworthy display plane the Golden Hawks Sabre 5 jet was completed with a dedication ceremony at Zwick's Park.

I would guess Belleville is too far to reside and commute daily to even the east end of the GTA like Whitby or Oshawa. With Belleville closer to Kingston than Toronto, it is very affordable however, just like living in Woodstock perhaps. I certainly would not drive daily to even Mississauga from Woodstock. Take a look at an Oakville home (picture) for $569,000 versus one I have listed in Woodstock at $324,900 (MLS: 74075), or this 2-storey (pictured) in Belleville. Lifestyle, quality of living and affordable homes are found outside the GTA.

As an OHL fan, you know the one entertainment item Belleville can brag about is an OHL team with the Bulls.

Oakville/Burlington Home (Asking $569,000)

Woodstock Home (Asking $324,900)

Belleville Home (Asking $319,000)

LINKS:

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/08/25/belleville-a-city-primed-for-growth#.U_zmwG6Zfg4.twitter

www.belleville.ca

http://www.belleville.ca/news/details/build-belleville-charging-ahead

www.buildbelleville.ca

http://www.intelligencer.ca/2014/08/27/marina-name-holds-water

http://www.intelligencer.ca/2014/07/22/zellers-site-getting-new-life

RELATED LINK:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/top-10-most-livable-cities-include-vancouver-calgary-and-toronto-1.2740493

Looking in Woodstock or Oxford County, contact me today:

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Woodstock Fair starts today (August 21)

Fairs in Woodstock, Tavistock and London, and harvest fest in Ingersoll
Always lots of activities to do with your family

By Mark Schadenberg

There are a slew of family activities on the horizon over the next few weeks.

Woodstock Fair

If you love the Beach Boys – the place to be is the Woodstock Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug 23^rd with Endless Summer performing in the Grandstand at 7:30 p.m. One of the top cover bands on the circuit, Endless Summer will transform you back to the beach music of California with hits of yesteryear like California Girls, Fun Fun Fun, Help Me Rhonda, Little Deuce Coupe, and I would expect to also hear Kokomo from 1988.

The Woodstock Fair is more than just a tradition locally – it's part of the fabric of this community with midway rides, demolition derby (1 p.m. on Sunday), various children's entertainment (including Princess Party at 2 p.m. on Saturday featuring Frozen and Sleeping Beauty characters) productions, Holstein, horse and poultry shows, a few exhibits, and a motorcycle stunt show on Thursday night at 7:30.

Admission for adults is just $10, and by reading the event programs I believe all-day ride passes can be purchased for any day at $25.

Western Fair

Sept. 5 – 14 – The place to be is across the street from London's Rogers TV studios.

No matter your favourite genre – the music will be there at the Western Fair and on a free concert stage. Of the full list (see LFP links), Glass Tiger (www.glasstiger.ca) would be my top choice. The Glass Tiger era included Top 10 hits in the U.S. Such as Someday and Don't Forget Me, but their string of hits with lead vocals by Alan Frew would also feature: You're What I Look For, I'm Still Searching, Diamond Sun, My Song, My Town, Thin Red Line, and the big Frew solo charter So Blind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQLrd2sQUd4).

Glass Tiger appears on Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.

The Sheepdogs open the lineup on Sept 5.

Other well-known recording artists include: George Canyon, Brett Kissel, Warrant, The Trews, Shad, Alyssa Reid, Virginia To Vegas, and Cody Simpson.

There's lots of info about admission prices and other attractions on the links or the Western Fair website, which I have written about previously with its 4-pad ice complex, harness racing, equestrian competitions, casino, Yuk Yuk's comedy, more comedy with a monthly roller derby and the list never ends. . . . and Flat Track motorcycle racing this Saturday, Aug 23, which is the same series at the Woodstock Half Mile back on Aug. 2.

Ingersoll Harvest Fest

The poster tells the story.

Tavistock Fall Fair

This year set for Sept. 4-7.  www.tavistockfallfair.

LINKS:

Woodstock:

http://www.celskbenefitpromotions.com/tag/beach-boys/

www.woodstockfairgrounds.com

London:

http://www.lfpress.com/2014/08/19/londons-western-fair-announces-slate-of-acts-including-shad

http://www.lfpress.com/2014/08/06/western-fairs-free-music-lineup

www.westernfairdistrict.com

www.glasstiger.com

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Arthur Parker is street to find your 4-bedroom home

Havelock Corners subdivision is near both Cowan Park for soccer and Woodstock Meadows for golf

By Mark Schadenberg

749 Arthur Parker Ave, Woodstock

MLS: 74075

Asking: $324,900

Lot: 43' x 110'

A newer home with 4 bedrooms is likely on the shopping list of all young families.

I just listed a superb 4-bedroom brick home – and it's just 2 years old and about 2,200 sq ft of living space on the main 2 levels.

If you're looking for a larger home, I'm sure your criteria includes ensuite bathroom in the master bedroom, 2-car garage, large eat-in kitchen, and a living room with hardwood flooring and a gas fireplace. Check . . . Check . . . check . . . check

This home can be advertised as better-than-new, especially with 6 high-end stainless steel appliances to be included, the custom drapes in all rooms, and the paved driveway. That's 3 more amenities to note.

Second Floor

The master bedroom is highlighted by its 5-piece ensuite featuring a jetted tub and a separate glass-door shower. The second floor includes 3 additional bedrooms, a 5-piece main bathroom (convenient double sink) and a laundry room.

First Floor

The expansive eat-in kitchen with 4 stainless steel appliances included is a must-see, along with 3 sets of gigantic floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets, a gourmet island with breakfast bar, under-counter lighting and ceramic tile.

The entire main floor is well lit with natural light thanks to large windows -- all with custom blinds.

The living room includes engineered hardwood flooring and a gas fireplace. More hardwood in the spacious dining room – designed for entertaining.

A future recroom awaits as this house was smartly constructed with large windows in the lower level.

Neighbourhood

Located in the Havelock Corners subdivision near the Toyota factory producing the RAV4 SUV, along with the Cowan Park soccer facility (Large winter state-of-the-art indoor soccer building), Pittock Conservation area for sailing or rowing, and the Woodstock Meadows 18-hole golf course. The north side of Woodstock is also convenient for commuting to the Cambridge, K-W direction.

The home's owners added many upgrades from the original Senator Homes plan. If you're looking for place to call home now – quick possession can be arranged.   

To view this house, or any MLS listing call:

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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