One of the casualties is a Hamilton, Ontario native.  See article from Toronto Star “U.S. power plant blast triggers fears in Oakville“. 

In a letter sent to the Premier’s office, Mayor Burton stated that the explosion clearly demonstrates that there are health and safety risks associated with locating power plants within communities, and called on the provincial government to protect the residents of Oakville from these risks. The letter concludes by asking the government to find a more appropriate site for a power plant to meet the future electricity needs of Southwest GTA.

Earlier on Monday, Mayor Burton discussed the tragedy in Connecticut.

“Our thoughts go out to the families of those were killed or injured in the explosion,” said Mayor Burton. “Council and I are united in our determination to protect the health and safety of our community. I want to see what evidence the Ontario Power Authority and the Minister of Energy relied upon for their belief that it’s safe to put power plants next to residential areas. So far, they’ve refused to recognize any danger, but that cannot continue after what has just happened in Connecticut.”

TransCanada has proposed to build a 900-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive in Oakville. The proposed site is less than 400 metres from homes and schools.

“Many residents including myself plan to attend a meeting with Transcanada this Wednesday 7 p.m. at the Oakville Conference Centre.”

In March 2009, Council passed an interim control by-law to provide the town with sufficient time to do planning studies to formulate appropriate policies and zoning rules before any power plant over 10 megawatts could be located in the Town of Oakville.

Meanwhile in South East Oakville where residences and schools are in close proximity to the proposed plant, locals continue to fight and protest.  More news to come….   

At Royalton International warehouse, volunteers Diana, Diana and Kelta help sort boxes

What a whilwind it has been the last ten days as folks come out of the woodwork, eager to lend a helping hand!

A Toronto Marriott hotel donated bags of used sheets and bedding.  Melissa’s  Grade 7 class at St. Bernadette’s School have been gathering and sorting items all week.  A truckload of tents is being brought to the warehouse, from Fergus.  200 backpacks wtih soap and useful stuff  arrived from Sew on Fire Ministries…. 

Oh, and Cogeco’s news program “The Source will be coming to the warehouse on Thursday to do a couple of interviews, do a bit of filming, and help spread the word!

Don’t forget 3rd organizing meeting: Saturday, February 6, 9:30 a.m at 30 Normandy Place, off Kerr St.  in Oakville.  All interested parties come on out.  We are having a blast while making a real difference for needy folks far away.

A couple of new drop off points in Burlington:

4060 Fairview Street, Unit 6-8 (E of Walkers Line) 8:30 – 12  noon.

1383 Roxburgh Crescent (Headon Road/Palmer) – evenings 5-9, weekends 10-2. 

For more info on Burlington drop off arrangements, call Christine Childs at 905-484-6907. 

Below is another article printed by the Oakville Beaver TODAY

Containers of Hope for Haiti adds drop-off locations

“It’s exciting to see people responding from the heart,” said Hilary Shantz. “Since the article appeared in Friday’s Beaver, people in Oakville and beyond have been calling with offers of help and donations of supplies.”

Items needed include new or used shelter supplies (tents, sleeping bags, tarps, mattress pads, blankets, towels, buckets, basins, pots, towels); food supplies (rice, beans, canned goods); personal supplies (soap, diapers, toilet paper, toothbrushes); first aid supplies (crutches, canes, walkers, sterile gloves, slings).

Drop-off locations include Evangel Pentecostal Church, Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Shaarei-Beth el Synagogue, Clarkson Road Presbyterian, Oak Park Moms and Tots Centre, John Knox Christian School, St. Bernadette’s Public School and Royalton International warehouse.

For a complete list of emergency supplies needed, and addresses and times for drop off, see ContainersOfHopeforHaiti.blogspot.com. More details on how this grassroots effort got started and is being organized, see www.theoakvillebuzz.com or Facebook Fan Page: Containers of Hope for Haiti.

See also a video of how Rotary volunteers in the Dominican Republic are transporting these emergency supplies direct to Haitians living in makeshift tents outside Port-au-Prince.

The first container leaves Feb.12. The container will be shipped from donated space at Royalton International in Oakville. Boxes, packing material and tape have been donated by United Van Lines and Inapak. Funding for containers and shipping, was donated by Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, Rotary Club of Oakville Centennial and other private donors.

For more information, contact Judy Warrington, committee chair, at 905-338-2304 or judy@goseedo.ca.

Haiti Containers logo

Oakville residents’ second meeting for Haiti Containers

Such a great spirit at our second Containers of Hope for Haiti committee meeting!   Everyone was excited about progress made in just one week.  The group had grown, with new residents coming  out to help.

“When I read about it in the Beaver I  decided to come because I like working at the grass roots level” said Diana Spremo.

Next meeting set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday Feb. 6 at 30 Normandy Place community room, off Kerr, all welcome.

Quick update on what’s happening. 

More specific roles identified.

Wayne Shantz:  Liaise with contact persons at drop off centres, and determine precise drop off times. 

Diana Spremo:  Update wish list/info sheet to be disseminated this afternoon to local churches and groups, especially in time for Sunday service announcement.  (Wayne and I stopped by Shaarei-Beh El Synagogue this afternoon, project had been announced at service today.)  Start a Facebook fan page for the project.

Melissa Carnelos:  Create a url for www.containersofhopeforHaiti.com and start a dedicated blog.  Make labels for containers.

Ken Barkman:  Deliver large containers for donated items to drop off sites today. 

Hilary Shantz:  On-going  P.R. Oakville Beaver, Oakville Today, regular updates to www.theoakvillebuzz.com, liaise with Pat Mareno, United Van Lines, who has donated  boxes, tape and packing material, and will dropoff to Royalton warehouse Mon.  Feb 1, 5:30 p.m.

OTHER NEEDS

• We need more drop off centres, especially in North Oakville
• Volunteers to help sort and pack
• Vans and drivers to help transport supplies from drop off centres to warehouse
• Donate items on wish list (see previous post)
• Donate cash to fund container and cover shipping.  Cheques made to “RCOT Foundation” (stands for Rotary Club Oakville Trafalgar), specify on cheque “Haiti Containers”.  Mail to  Containers of Hope for Haiti, 313 Beechfield, Oakville, ON L6J 5H9, or call Barrie Howie for more info 905 844 2760.  Tax receipt will be sent to you by mail from RCOT. 

WHERE AND WHEN TO BRING SUPPLIES: 

• Evangel Pentecotal Church, 1450 Rebecca by Third Line (5:30-8:30 p.m. M-F;  Sun 10-12 NOON)
• Shaarei-Beth El Synagogue, 186 Morrison Road (9-4 every day, leave inside front door otherwise, will be taken in next day)
• Howie’s Residence, 331 Beechfield Rd (Ford/Devon) Anytime, if no one home, leave items in breezeway
• Royalton International warehouse, 2880 Portland Drive (Winston Churchill/Dundas)  (Mon. Feb 1, Thur. Feb 4, Mon Feb 8 Thur Feb 11, all 5:30-8 p.m., and Sun. Feb 7, 2-5 p.m.)  
• Knox Presbyterian Church, 89 Dunn/Lakeshore (9-4:30 M-F, Sun 9-12 noon) 
• St. Judes Anglican Church, 160 William St. (8:30-4:30 M-F. all day Sunday) 

To view video of Rotarians from Dominican Republic working in tandem with Brazilian peacekeeping troops  to transport and distribute needed supplies to displaced Haitians, click here (Keep watching and you will see supplies being distributed in orderly manner to women and children, not like the chaos being televised in Port-au-Prince on CNN, this week.): 

Emergency supplies distributed to Haitians in need by Rotarians from Dominican Republic

FIRST CONTAINER WILL LEAVE OAKVILLE  FRIDAY, FEB 12, NOON

Judy spoke about how encouraged Moca Rotary President was about our support, as well as Antony one of our connections in Moca.

Questions, suggestions, other ideas, call Judy Warrington,  416-543-4570.

Lives are being saved by our efforts here in Oavkille.  Let’s keep the momentum and teamwork going!

Courtesy of Oakville Beaver, Photo and article in today's issue of Oakville Beaver

On Saturday, my husband Wayne and I joined a group of local residents for a meeting here in Oakville.  This small group gathered to put their heads together to see if, and how, supplies might be sent from Oakville direct to earthquake victims in Haiti.

From that meeting “Containers of Hope for Haiti” was born.

Now, and over the next several months, residents of Oakville will be able to contribute much-needed supplies to Haitian earthquake victims in a direct, trusted and reliable way.

Heading the local committee for Containers of Hope for Haiti is Judy Warrington, a retired teacher.   Judy has organized more than 20 volunteer trips to the Dominican Republic and sent several containers of used school furniture and supplies for Dominican and Haitian schools.  This energetic Oakville resident knows how to work with D.R. and Haitian authorities to get supplies to folks in need!

Rotarians in the Dominican told Judy about the outpouring of Dominican help to Haiti, following the tragedy.  From Moca and Puerto Plata, Dominican citizens and corporations are currently donating medical, shelter and food supplies in containers. (Video of volunteers in action to be posted shortly!)

Supplies are being taken by a convoy of trucks driven by volunteers and delivered direct to sites set up by the Haitian government just outside  Port-au-Prince where displaced locals are living in makeshift tents.

“But Dominican Republic is not a rich country, and can only give so much. More supplies are needed.”

Judy will be travelling to Puerto Plata in a few weeks, and along with Rotary members in the Dominican, will meet the container at the port.

Cash donations from TWO ROTARY CLUBS IN OAKVILLE and other residents, including Mayor Rob Burton, will cover the cost of a 40 foot container and shipping.

Other Oakville citizens and business owners eager to help!

Already word of this effort is spreading in town.  It has been heart-warming to see the quick response of fellow citizens in just a few days!

Victor Brewda, of Royalton International, donated his large warehouse and loading dock at 2880 Portland Drive, as the storage area where goods can be packed and loaded onto containers bound for the Dominican Republic.

Glen Moffat, owner of Eye Design Signz,  quickly designed a  banner and logo for us! 

Rotary and other residents fund containers

United Van Lines donate boxes, tape, packing material

Donations of medical supplies, tents, school backpacks, and other items have already been received.  Atlas Van Lines, via KMG Royal Moving & Storage, has offered professional packers to help.  United Van Lines in Mississauga has donated boxes, packing paper and tape.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Residents can donate items for Haiti.

Shelter Supplies:

Tents, tarps, sleeping bags, ground cover or thin mattress pads, blankets, towels, water purification tablets, buckets, pots (large) and spoons.

First Aid Supplies:

Sterile gloves, gauze, bandages, tape, cotton balls, swabs, slings, elastic bandage and antiseptic (Betadine type or Chlorohexidine soap type).

Personal Items:

Purell, soap, diapers, santary napkins, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Afro hair combs and hairibrushes.

Food items:

Beans, rice and other food items

Bags of rice, dried black beans, dried kidney beans, oil. (Black beans cooked with rice and a bit of oil,  is staple diet for Haitians) 

Canned beans, canned meat, canned tuna and sardines, crackers, cereal, milk tetrapacks, fruit juice tetrapacks and non-perishable food in general.

New or gently used items will be accepted. Residents are urged not to donate clothing, because it will not be allowed entrance by Dominican port authorities.

The first shipment is scheduled to leave February 12. As more donations come in, we hope to be able to send several more containers, as the need will be on-going.

DROP OFF POINTS IN OAKVILLE

St. Judes Church downtown is a drop-off point

Knox Prebyterian Church (Lakeshore Road & Kerr Street) February 1-10, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Evangel Pentecostal Church (Rebecca Street & Third Line) (when church is open)

St. Jude’s Church (William Street, downtown Oakville)

Howie’s residence (313 Beechfield Road, “If no-one home just leave items in breezeway”, say Oakville residents Barry and Mary-Jane Howie.)

Royalton International (2880 Portland Drive) Mon. Feb1, Thur. Feb 4, Mon.  Feb 8, Thur. Feb 11 (5:30-8 p.m.).  Sun. Feb 7, 2-5 p.m.

Shaari-Beth El Congregation, 186 Morrison Drive

Donations will be received at sites until Thursday, February 11.  Container to be shipped February 12.

Next meeting of Containers of Hope for Haiti: Saturday, January 29 at 9:30 a.m., 70 Normandy Drive (off Kerr Street).  All interested to help in any way are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Judy Warrington at 905-338-2304 or judy@goseedo.ca.

Thanks to Oakville Beaver for taking photo and putting this news on the front page of today’s Oakville Beaver edition.  More updates to come!

The credit may be claimed on the 2009 tax return for the portion of eligible expenditures over $1,000 but less than $10,000, and will provide up to $1,350 in tax relief (i.e., 15% multiplied by ($10,000 minus $1,000)).

The maximum amount that can currently be withdrawn from an eligible person’s RRSP under the Home Buyers Plan is $20,000. The Budget proposes that this withdrawal limit be increased to $25,000 for withdrawals made after January 27, 2009.

You are not considered to be a first-time home buyer if, at any time during the period beginning January 1 of the fourth year before the year of the withdrawal and ending 31 days before the withdrawal, you or your spouse or common-law partner owned a home that you occupied as your principal place of residence.

Special rules apply where the home is being acquired for the needs of a disabled person.

Amounts withdrawn must be repaid over a 15-year period, or the unpaid amounts will be included in taxable income.

2)  First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit

The Budget proposes a new non-refundable tax credit for first-time home buyers who acquire a qualifying home after January 27, 2009. (The closing date for the purchase of the home must be after that date in order for the tax credit to be available.)

The amount upon which the tax credit is calculated is $5,000, multiplied by the lowest personal income tax rate for the year (15%). The First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit may be claimed in the year in which the home is acquired.

A “qualifying home” is a home which the person or the person’s spouse or common-law partner intends to occupy as their principal place of residence not later than one year after the acquisition.

This new tax credit will also be available for the acquisition of a home acquired after January 27, 2009 either by an individual who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (”DTC”) or by an individual for the benefit of a relative who is eligible for the DTC. The home must be acquired to enable the DTC-eligible individual to live in a more accessible dwelling or in an environment better suited to the person’s needs.

The First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit may be claimed either by the person who acquired the home or by his or her spouse or common-law partner. If a qualifying home is purchased jointly, the total amounts claimed by the couple cannot exceed the credit that could be claimed if only one individual had acquired the home.

So First Time Buyers, you are now in a perfect storm, with interest rates at an all time low (prime=3%), a downward adjustment in prices since the economic meltdown in Ocober 08, and a lot of homes on the market.

Give me a call to find out all the relevant information!

Note that these stats include all homes listed on TREB, both in 416 and 905 areas.

1) Number of Sales on TREB down by half over last year
Greater Toronto Area reported 1,487 resale transactions during the first half of December, from 2,868 sales recorded in the same period a year ago. This includes all 416 and 905 homes listed on TREB.

The average price of a home in the Greater Toronto Area is currently $360,652. This compares to an average of $404,707 recorded during the first half of December 2007 and to an average of $343,048 recorded during the same period in 2006.

(Note that these figures are simply the total $ value of sales divided by number of homes sold, as such it does not accurately reflect how much home prices are falling. For example, currently more lower priced homes are being sold and this affects the weighting.)

In the 416 area (GTA), 619 transactions were recorded during the first half of this month, from 1,402 sales during the same timeframe a year ago.

The average price in the 416 area is currently $382,759, from an average of $450,731 a year ago, and $367,650 recorded in the first half of December 2006.

In the 905 region 868 homes changed hands in the first two weeks of this month, from 1,466 transactions that took place in the first half of December 2007.

The 905 region’s current average price is $344,887 from an average of $360,691 recorded during the same timeframe a year ago and $325,477 recorded at mid-December 2006.

2) Number of Listings up 45% over last year
There are currently 24,708 listings on the TorontoMLS system, from 17,027 a year ago.

3) Average Days on Market 43 versus 33 last year

The average number of days a home now remains on the market is 43, as compared to 33 days a year ago. (Note that this reflects how long the homes that sold were on the market, for the many that overprice and have not yet sold the days on market is likely much longer.)

4) Sellers are achieving 96% of their listing price, as compared to 98% a year ago.

These schools are part of the Halton District School Board, the public English education board for the region.

Public elementary schools
Abbey Lane Public School
Brantwood Public School
Brookdale Public School
Chisholm Public School (JK-G5)
Captain R. Wilson Public School (JK-G8)
Eastview Public School (JK-G8)
E.J. James Public School (G6-G8)
Falgarwood Public School
Forest Trail Public School (G.1-G7)
Gladys Speers Public School (JK-G6)
Heritage Glen Public School
Joshua Creek Public School
Linbrook Public School (JK-G5)
Lorne Skuce Public School (JK-G6)
Maple Grove Public School (JK-G5)
Montclair Sr. Public School (G7-G8)
Munn’s Public School (JK-G6)
New Central Public School (G6-G8)
Oakwood Public School (JK-G5)
Pilgrim Wood Public School (JK-G8)
Pine Grove Public School (G1-G6)
Post’s Corners Public School (JK-G8)
River Oaks Public School (JK-G8)
Sheridan Public School (JK-G5)
Sunningdale Public School (G1-G6)
West Oak Public School
W.H. Morden Public School

Public High Schools
Abbey Park High School
Iroquois Ridge High School
Oakville Trafalgar High School
T. A. Blakelock High School
White Oaks Secondary School

Halton Catholic District School Board
These schools are part of the Halton Catholic District School Board, the separate English education board for the region.

Catholic Elementary Schools
Holy Family Catholic Elementary School
Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School
Pope John Paul II Catholic Elementary School
Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School
St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School
St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School
St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School
St. James Catholic Elementary School
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Elementary School
St. John Catholic Elementary School
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School
St. Luke Catholic Elementary School
St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic Elementary School (French Immersion)
St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School
St. Michael Catholic Elementary School
St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School

Catholic High Schools
Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School
St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School

Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest
This school is part of the Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest, the public French education board for the region.

École Patricia-Picknell

Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud
This school is part of the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, the separate French education board for the region.

École Saint Marie ll

For more information, consult individual school board websites:

Halton District School Board: www.haltondsb.on.ca

Halton Catholic District School Board: www.haltonrc.edu.on.ca

Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest: www.csdcso.on.ca

Consei scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud: www.csdccs.edu.on.ca

Nicely renovated and painted in fresh modern colours, with Heather’s beautiful photos of children and families adorning the walls, the studio reflects this Oakville photographer’s fresh, crisp approach to her craft. 

Heather is a talented  photographer and celebrating her sixth year in business by opening her new studio.

You can find her at 115A George Street above the UPS store, or at www.heatherhoganphotograhy.com.

FOR A FRESH APPROACH TO REAL ESTATE, CALL HILARY AT 905–599–3311.