Real Talk!

All of the “big names” in real estate are reporting that the market has recovered… and then some! Certainly, my colleagues in the big cities (Toronto, Ottawa) are reporting a brisk market with many, many multiple offers (bidding wars). To be honest, we’ve had a few here; too… but there are still some superb deals to be had.

This morning, I did a quick review of our MLS ® data base and discovered 21 listings for houses priced $100,000 or lower. I would classify 1 or 2 of them as pretty hefty projects (handyman’s specials), 1 is a trailer on leased land and a couple of them are out on the edges of our territory. Still… pretty amazing possibilities!

There are 135 matches when I do a search for “vacant land” under $100,000 and 58 are under $50,000; four of them are about $15,000. Our area has a listing for a waterfront (small, no motor boat lake) cottage on ½ acre- 2 bedrooms, 4-piece bathroom, with nice sandy, shallow shore for $149,000! There’s a rustic cabin on about a half acre, too, but not waterfront… they’re asking $49,900.

Sure, we have lovely, beautiful cottages- year round; on motorboat lakes… they’re priced from $200,000 and up…. And we’ve got spectacular homes on lakes and acreages (several hundred acres in some cases) that are completely private… for the discerning buyer or the celebrity looking for an excellent hide-away… one in particular that is outstanding is priced at $2,100,000.

It’s staggering to think that our average cottage price would barely purchase a condominium apartment in the city… and the property taxes are close to the same… without the maintenance fees!

Now, having been enlightened about the super deals that are available, I feel I must touch on a significant item of note… at least, I think it’s significant.

I’ve noticed a disturbing trend… it’s called the request for abatement. It seems to be a bit of a dirty trick that is being foisted on sellers. Typically, offers these days include a condition that the Buyer obtains a home inspection WITH results considered suitable to them (in their sole opinion). That’s a good thing. Now, pretty well EVERY home… including a brand new one will have something the home inspector will find… after all, that’s their job. I’m talking about things like: they would recommend a gfi-plug in a certain location… or, there’s a hairline crack in the ceiling but it’s from settling and it’s old and it’s nothing to worry about… or, the roof looks like it will need doing in a year or two… usually they are things that are plain to see.

Once in a while, a good home inspector will come across something serious… for instance… there is absolutely NO insulation in the attic… and that IS a problem. In cases of serious deficiencies (things that can’t be seen by the untrained eye), it is not uncommon for the prospective Buyer to go back to the Seller and request some sort of abatement (or reduction) on the price. I’ve done it myself!

The problem is… lately; abatement seems to be the game. Even on properties being sold “as is” or those with obvious issues… and advertised as “unfinished” or “needing tlc” and, asking a price that reflects such deficiencies are seeing Buyers come back and requesting a reduction… in some cases a few hundred dollars.

Now, I realize that ten dollars is ten dollars and sometimes a home buyer is tapping their resources to purchase a property, however, when a Seller has identified that there are issues, it is in the best interest of the Buyer to address the cost of remedying those issues, before the price is agreed upon.

Sellers who are offering their property at what they feel is a “steal” and have identified it as a “fixer upper” (etc.) become rather disgruntled at being asked to replaced missing register cover or light switch plate- especially when their listing agent has already pointed this out to them and they've priced accordingly.

AND- a good Buyer’s agent will explain this to their client, when preparing an offer. A deal is meant to be fair and reasonable- a good Realtor ® will show their Buyers comparable properties and give them good advice.

Now, once in a while, a Seller demands a certain price and there is nothing that is going to sway them from it. Not even an unfavourable home inspection! Again, a good Realtor ® will explain that to a prospective Buyer- before an offer is drawn.

I do agree, that when something substantial is found (i.e. bats are infesting the attic) the parties should meet and decide on whether a price abatement might make a difference in the deal moving forward!

I just wonder sometimes, what happened to common sense?

Some of my colleagues will shrug and tell me that the vultures keep circling until there’s nothing left to gather around!

Okay, so scrolling through my blog posts, one has to note the number of times I speak out about ethics… I actually left the local real estate board of directors over a point of ethics… I actually left several brokerages over points of ethics… my sister recently changed employment over ethics…

Without my personal set of ethics, I feel I am nothing. Ya, there are “codes of ethics” and “standards of business practice”… but really… you can’t teach people honest morality. It just is. And even though Realtors have to learn the code of ethics, it usually becomes something they memorize for an exam or two… and it gets somewhat hazy after that.

Over the years, I have had people throw snipes at me about rules and regulations and the truth is, they’ve never read them. Over the years, I’ve also had people call me for advice, for they know that I have a pretty good idea of whether the matter is something in legislation or local rules and I can direct folks to the proper source of reference.

I’ve been pretty upset, a number of times… over issues of inappropriate conduct in the industry of real estate… and I’d like to reiterate… I’m not perfect… I strive to be as perfect as I can be.

The past several years have been “learn to bite your tongue, Jody” years… still, I’m baffled.

For the past several years, the Canadian Real Estate Association (who controls Multiple Listing Service®) has been embroiled in a lawsuit. We’re not supposed to talk about it, yet the media is full of reports… and, misinformation, I might add.

Maybe I don’t understand.

The thing is… to be a real estate sales person in Ontario, you take courses (I took mine through the Ontario Real Estate Association) and you learn a whole lot. In fact, a lot of real estate people have to re-take the courses numerous times to pass. These courses are geared into steering the student toward a career in “organized real estate”… that’s what the association calls itself.

Now, to be licensed, you have to get through 3 phases of initial courses and then take an additional group of courses over the next two years. This is professionally labeled “articling”. Sounds good. Licensing for real estate practitioners comes from the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). A real estate sales person does NOT have to be a member of “organized” real estate… a real estate person does NOT have to join the real estate association… but… in order to use MLS®.

MLS ® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) falls under the CREA… and our local board comes under OREA. Essentially, to work for most franchises, you need to become a member of your local real estate board and pay dues to them, as well as OREA and CREA- this is above and beyond your licensing fees to RECO.

The benefit of being involved in “organized” real estate is that you may expect notification of changes in legislation, be provided the opportunity to purchase educational courses to learn about changes in legislation and, of prime importance, you have access to the MLS® system.

MLS® then, is a tool used by an organization. It has been thoughtfully developed, over many years, to serve the specific needs of the membership that has paid for its development.

Many real estate practitioners have made a good and honest living without being members of the association and without the use of MLS®.

With membership to a local board, and then OREA and CREA, a real estate practitioner also has the privilege of identifying themselves as a “Realtor ®”. This is a term that was developed to refer to members of “organized” real estate. Real Estate sales people who aren’t members are not permitted to call themselves Realtor®.

Are you with me?

I could go on… but frankly, most real estate sales people have a hard time understanding the babble…

All licensed sales people in Ontario must follow the Code of Ethics of RECO, as well as government regulations. Realtors® are required to adhere to further codes, practices, rules & regulations, in addition to the RECO codes and government regulations. Further, CREA and OREA’s codes are noted as “minimal requirements” for Realtors®- meaning that a Realtor® should strive to be even better and more ethical than the codes outline.

No real estate sales person is allowed to discuss commission rates with one another… this would be a violation of “competition law”… still… the media reports constantly about our rates for service… and there’s a lot of misinformation reported there, too.

Realtors® aren’t supposed to talk about the problems or violations that happen within the organization. These are supposed to be handled according to policy & procedure- and sorted as to whether they fall within the jurisdiction of the organization or are a matter for RECO. In most cases, they are handed over to RECO to be reviewed.

Here’s my point…like all Realtors®, I pay a good deal of money to be a member of “organized” real estate… and I want to believe that I am a member of an elite group of real estate licensees who wish to adhere to the highest code of ethical behaviour… after all, our regulations are more strict than those of RECO. I feel that someone who has been found to have violated the minimal requirements under RECO should be kicked out of the club! At least suspended!

We need to have the public realize that there are Realtors® and there are real estate sales people. & we need to them understand the difference.

Before the inception of RECO (around the year 2000), the real estate industry was regulated by the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. You can have a look at the RECO website www.reco.on.ca . On the home page, RECO says “Fostering confidence and upholding integrity in real estate transactions.”

Under “Who we are”… “fostering confidence…” is defined as the CORE PURPOSE.. and the RECO mission states: To regulate the trading in real estate in the public interest. Responsibility: Interpret, enforce, and suggest modification to regulation.

If you visit the OREA website www.orea.com you will see 5 boxes: 1/ Become a Real Estate professional 2/ Continue your Real Estate Education 3/ My portfolio 4/ Members only and 5/ Questions about real estate. There is a running banner beneath these boxes that invites people to enroll in the OREA Real Estate College.

At the bottom of the page, you have “What is OREA?” and “What is OREA Real Estate College?” if you click “more”… this is what you will get:

What is OREA?
OREA's Mission:

To represent its members and to provide a professional environment for members to maximize business opportunities.
The Ontario Real Estate Association represents over 45,000 brokers and salespeople who are members of the province's 42 real estate boards. OREA serves its members through a wide variety of publications, educational programs and special services. The association provides all real estate licensing courses in Ontario.

OREA was founded in 1922 to organize real estate activities and develop common goals across the province. These goals included promoting higher industry standards, protecting the general public from unscrupulous brokers and salespeople, and preserving private property rights.

OREA continually strives to improve the image of REALTORS® by enhancing educational and professional standards. OREA develops and publishes standard forms, and supports educational and charitable causes through the REALTORS Care Foundation.

What is OREA Real Estate College?

The OREA Real Estate College provides award-winning registration and continuing education in the field of real estate.

All real estate practitioners in Ontario must pass a comprehensive program of study to ready them for the complex business of trading in real estate. The OREA Real Estate College offers this registration education as the nominee of the licensing body, the Real Estate Council of Ontario.

The College also offers a complete program of continuing education courses designed to provide life-long learning and to satisfy the requirement of continuing education for all registrants under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act.

Both registration and continuing education courses are offered in three formats: online, by correspondence and in the classroom.

If you visit the CREA website www.crea.ca you will see that:

CREA represents more than 96,000 REALTORS® across Canada. The Association owns the MLS® trademark, has proprietary ownership of the REALTOR® trademark, and operates national web sites including REALTOR.ca for residential properties and ICX.CA for commercial listings across Canada. AND Not every real estate practitioner
is a REALTOR®.

Only real estate professionals who are members of their local real estate board and of CREA, and subscribe to the ethical standards of the REALTOR® Code, are allowed to call themselves REALTORS®.

In 1986 the CREA offices were moved from Toronto to Ottawa, in effect acknowledging the increasing importance of CREA's government lobbying activities.

The mission statement for CREA is

The Canadian Real Estate Association represents and promotes the interests of the members, enhances members’ professionalism and ability to succeed, and advocates policies that ensure real estate property rights and ownership.Key Objectives: · To maintain an organizational structure for CREA . Its volunteer leadership and professional staff are there to effectively address the expectations of all members across Canada. · To promote, protect and safeguard all certification and design marks associated with this association. · To maintain a continuing relationship with the Federal Government in order to monitor and influence all public policy which affect the industry. · To help members become more aware about the Competition Act and how to apply it to their business activities. · To collect, analyze and disseminate data/information on significant market, economic, demographic and technological conditions affecting the housing and real estate industry. · To formulate, promote and foster consistent professional standards of business practice, integrity and ethical conduct among the membership. · To provide an interactive forum for the analysis and communication of industry issues, trends, and association benefits.

The responsibilities of The Canadian Real Estate Association include national and international representation of the industry, and the maintenance, protection and standards for certification marks and trademarks. CREA also develops and maintains a national Code of Ethics, Privacy Code, and Standards of Business Practice, which are implemented at the local board level. The national association also provides arbitration services for disputes between provincial or territorial associations, or between members from different provinces.

CREA explains OREA’s role:

The association at the provincial or territorial level handles membership processing in non-board areas, and is the facilitator for the maintenance of board jurisdictions, or for resolving disputes between boards or members from different boards in the same province. The association is also responsible for provincial or territorial licensing and education, and for the development and implementation of political action activities at the provincial level.

& CREA explains the local board’s role:

The real estate board is the primary point for processing membership, and the recording and collection of dues. It also operates a Multiple Listing Service® system that in turn, provides data for display on either REALTOR.ca or ICX.CA. The local board develops and implements the regulations that support CREA’s national policies, and is responsible for the enforcement of the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Business Practice.

The board also provides an arbitration service to resolve disputes between members, and determines membership prerequisites, including the planning of seminars and workshops. The board also ensures local industry representation, and works in liaison with provincial associations and CREA.

So, with all of these checks and balances, why are there still ethical issues in the industry? Why does the media feel the public should have any proprietary interest in regard to the MLS® system or related websites? Why is there so much misinformation about the industry?

I’m past being cranky and wanting answers. I just want to make an honest living, to do right by my Buyers and Sellers and to be treated with respect.

P.S.

It’s official… Fabian has been made “Ski Hill Coordinator” for Madawaska Valley’s Radcliffe Hills Ski Area (5 minutes south of Barry’s Bay). He is a Level 2 Instructor… in his younger days he was provincially recognized for his skiing talent.

As well as being an avid skier, Fabian is passionate about seeing the local ski hill up and running. I will be assisting him with office administration and day-to-day operations, however, we will both still be available to our Buyers and Sellers.

The hill is being operated by the Township and managed by Craig Kelley, of their offices. Last year, the township had the ski hill open, but faced some serious setbacks. They’ve decided to give it one more try.

Fabian and I believe that the ski hill is an important asset to our community and trust you will understand our dedication to maintaining its operation.

We hope to see you on the slopes!

I came across this article while surfing... and I am hoping that the spirit of the message conveys permission for me to copy it in full here:

Among a box of cassettes and books bought at a Newport auction for just £2, Jane Atherton and her partner Charlie Baxter discovered the life story of a devout woman who worked with disabled children, wrote fairy stories, and even apparently penned a song for the crooner Matt Monro.

Now the pair are hoping to trace relatives of the woman, Mollie Wager of Birmingham, so that they can offer the material back to them.

“It’s almost like we are holding her life in our hands,” said Mrs Atherton, of Oakengates, Telford.

They came across the material while delving through the box, discovering it included music Mrs Wager had written, manuscripts, an author’s agreement with a publisher, photos, and a handwritten journal, covering the period from November 1982 to December 1983, when she was working at the Jerusalem Crippled Children’s Centre, The Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

“It took us about three hours to sort all this out and make sense of it. We were going to chuck it on the tip. To me, it’s a shame. It’s like throwing away someone’s life history,” said Mrs Atherton.

They think Mrs Wager was a nurse, as there is evidence that she trained in 1947, and the content of much of the material point to her being religious. There is a hymn called Faith and Hope labelled “words and music by Mollie Wager”, from 1970.

The documents include an address for her at 20 Kelton Court, Carpenter Road, Edgbaston. They have not found a mention of a husband, although she does use “Mrs”.

One discovery was a 1978 letter from Mickie Monro, wife of singer Matt Monro, explaining that her husband was away and saying that she was returning two manuscripts – possibly Mrs Wager had sent some songs in the hope Monro would use them.

“We would love it all to go back to the family, if they are still alive,” added Mrs Atherton, who can be contacted on 07990 988569

Written by Toby Neal
Shropshire Star online
shropshirestar.com

Come Ski Ontario in one of the most scenic areas of the province! Great Family Ski Hill with small lift lines and a good variety of terrain. There are group Ski and Snowboard Lessons and Rentals available.

You're sure to enjoy the separate Tube Park and lift, too!

With the 6th highest ski vertical in Ontario, mile long runs and small lift lines, Madawaska Valley's Radcliffe Hills Ski Area will be open this year!

This quiet area is well known for its great snow and good mix of easy and challenging runs. They have reasonable rates and relaxed family atmosphere that will keep you smiling, while the lack of crowds will allow you to ski until your hearts content.

Whether you are into Skiing or Snowboarding Ontario, the snow is always here. The region benefits from higher than average snowfall and this hill has snow making services to help Mother Nature.

The Madawaska Valley's Radcliffe Ski Area features a full service pro shop, rental facility, ski and snowboard lessons and a separate Tubing area. The large chalet lounge is a favourite hang out with a crackling fireplace and hot chocolate to help warm you on those cooler days.

Madawaska Valley Ski Area boasts a vertical height of 137 metres (450 feet), making it the 6 highest ski hill in Ontario. Featuring 7 Alpine runs and a maximum slope length of 1,609 metres or 1 Mile. With over 12 runs and a total skiable area of 78 hectares (193 acres), this is one of the biggest ski and snowboard hills in the area.

Located approximately 5 km south of Barry's Bay on Highway 62 (Combermere Road), the area is ideally located 280 km northeast of Toronto, 185 km northwest of Ottawa, and 170 km north of Belleville.

To kick off the season, Madawaska Valley-Radcliffe Hills Ski Area will be hosting an EQUIPMENT SWAP on Saturday November 21, 2009 from 9:30-4:30 at the hill on Highway 62 at 41430 Combermere Road.

Directions from Toronto:

Take Highway 401 east to Highway 115/35, which leads north to Peterborough, eventually meeting Highway 7. Continue on Highway 7 east to Highway 28 and follow this highway north past Bancroft where Highway 62 takes over. Follow this scenic highway to Maynooth where it veers east and then north past the small community of Combermere. Madawaska Valley Ski Area is found halfway between Combermere and Barry's Bay on the right side of the highway. Allow 3.5 hours to travel approximately 280 km.

Directions from Ottawa:

Take Highway 417 west to Highway 17 at Arnprior. Continue northwest on Highway 17 before turning west on Highway 60 at Renfrew. Follow this scenic highway west past Eganville to Barry's Bay. In Barry's Bay, look for Highway 62 leading south. Follow this road for about 5 km to Madawaska Valley Ski Area, which will be on the left hand side of the highway. Allow just over 2 hours to travel approximately 185 km.

Directions from Belleville:

Take Highway 62 north from the 401. This secondary highway crosses Highway 7 and continues north to Bancroft. At this point Highway 62 takes over. Follow this scenic highway to Maynooth where it veers east and then north past the small community of Combermere. Madawaska Valley Ski Area is found halfway between Combermere and Barry's Bay on the right side of the highway. Allow 2 hours to travel approximately 170 km.

Great snow, relaxed family atmosphere, small lift lines and uncrowded conditions make Madawaska Valley Ski Area the place to Ski Ontario!

Madawaska Valley's Radcliffe Hills Ski Area
41430A Combermere Road
(Hwy #62, just south of Barry's Bay)
call 613-756-1ski

see facebook: "Radcliffe Hills Ski Area: EQUIPMENT SWAP"

It echoes in my mind... thanks to Walt Disney films.... from that famous scene, in which Bambi stumbles while learning to walk. Thumper (the rabbit) turns to Bambi's mother and says, "He doesn't walk very good, does he?".

Thumper's mother calls him out, "Thumper!" "Yes mother?," Thumper replies sheephishly, after realizing he is in trouble.

His mother continues sternly, "What did your father tell you this morning?"

Thumper stops to recall, then recites slowly, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say nothing at all."

You might think I've been neglecting my blog. I have and I haven't. I've thought about it. I've even written bits.

I've sent myself emails... stuff about Barrie, Ontario... about Toronto Realtors' "connect project"... a little about fine print in contracts... about a Toronto Sunshine girl who hopes to become a Realtor....about the passing of Al Martino, Dickie Peterson, Ian Wallace, Don Decker, Rusty Weir, Margaret Fitzgerald ,Luis Aguile, Irene Van Wyke, Lou Jacobi, Joseph Robert Wiseman, Vic Mizzy, Lenore Kandel, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Daniel Melnick,Junior Coghlan, Lawrence Halprin,Shiloh Pepin, Collin Wilcox-Paxton, Soupy Sales and too many child abductees.

I read that China is expected to build more square feet of real estate in the next 15 years than the United States has built in its entire history, and it has no green building codes or green building experience. & that upwards of 50 percent of global CO2 emissions comes from cow farts. I also read a lot of stuff about how the real estate slump is over. Woody Allen's new film is to be called You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger.

I collected a bunch of information on the local Carlow-Boulter area. I researched H1N1 and vaccine debates... I thought about Afghanistan, the opening of "This Is It", the Michael Jackson rehearsal footage film... the whale shark, called “butanding”, that was found dead on Manila Bay by local fishermen... Andre Agassi exposing his secret crystal meth addiction... Samhain.... the McDonald's manager in Japan who died of a brain haemorrhage- classified a victim of "karoshi" or death by overwork, the man dressed as KFC mascot Colonel Sanders who evaded security to be photographed with the new president of the UN General Assembly and Eric Clapton's gallstones. Monty Python is being brought to life on-screen in a six part mini-series which is airing on the IFC Chanel, it's called Monty Python: Almost the Truth -The Lawyers Cut.

That seemed to be the most real thing I'd come across.

I realize that newspapers, magazines, radio and television are all abuzz with talk that the housing slump is over... however, Real Estate professionals agree that today's Buyer is looking for a different sort of value from a home.

While it is still important that a home has received the appropriate care and maintenance AND is clean and tidy... there are other factors and forces at work.

'Cocooning' (the trend that saw individuals retreating to their homes rather than socializing) is OUT. As we near 2010, people are looking for a home that they will enjoy as social meeting place- for family and friends.

Flipping is out and nesting is in. We want to feel “invited” in our own homes.

Studies in areas of sociology, fashion/décor, construction and even toys, confirm that people are people looking for a 'safe' refuge at home. Whether due to the economy, flu fears, aging population, ecological concerns or the desire for authenticity, the focus is on making one's home the centre of all social activity.

Toy manufacturer, Mattel, is focusing on releasing parlor games this fall- to take advantage of the growing trend. The world's interior designers trends hint towards more traditional design, family values, eco-awareness and a back-to-basics approach. Parenting professionals speak of the trend toward simply getting back to the basics and taking a step back from the technological rat race to really enjoy family time. Health professionals speak of the growing awareness of hygiene.

There has been a shift to consumers having more home-cooked meals it shows in the increased sales of dishrags, placemats and other kitchen linens. Sales of kitchen and dining textiles increased 6% for the calendar third quarter, compared with a 3% decrease in overall home-textile sales. That follows 3.7% growth in sales of kitchen and dining textiles during the 12 months ended June, compared with a 3.5% decline in the total home-textiles market AND Buyers' wish lists include a full sized, eat-in kitchen again.

Video nights have replaced the cinema, cooking at home instead of fancy restaurants and family game nights are more popular than going out.

According to the Home Design Trends Survey for the first quarter of 2009, the size of homes is shrinking, too- possibly a result of the economic recession &/or the aging population, or maybe heating costs, or all of the above.

Most importantly, people want their homes to fit them- they want floor plans that suit them and add to their lifestyle. Buyers want a home that may be seen as an extension, or expression, of their “personality”. They want a place that they can feel proud of, a place they will want to share with their family and friends.

Seeking the best in emerging technologies, looking to customize, Buyers talk about making improvements so that their home will be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable- they want to feel good, all around. Buyers are seeking bathrooms that have a spa-like vibe.

Steam showers are becoming a particularly sought after item. Touted as an effective treatment for respiratory & sinus conditions and said to increase flexibility & circulation, while stimulating the immune system and enhancing skin tone, steam showers may be enjoyed by the entire family for relaxation. Some have options to include essential oils, aromatherapy, in scented steam.

The emphasis, in all areas, is simplification and reduction of daily stressors. Consumers are no longer spending frivolously- they need a reason-to-buy and they want to invest in brands that express social values. Some would label this new era “careful chic”… while there is still a desire to be smart & stylish, it’s important for today’s Buyer to be socially and environmentally responsible at home.

Homeowners want measures of authenticity to support their engagement in the important socio-cultural matters of our times. With today’s real estate market becoming increasingly “online-driven” and international- it is obvious that these values are global. We are coming into a new era of understanding and caring. Improved systems of social networking is creating a flow and exchange of information that unites the planet and the talk today is that no matter what it is, if we call it our “home”, we see it as a place of refuge from the not so enjoyable bits of day-to-day reality.

Buyers are looking to bring a little luxury into the function of their private space and there is a strong desire for versatile spaces that are practical for many purposes. It seems that the easiest way to achieve this is through a more minimalist approach and many Buyers are looking to downsize their load. Popular is the all-white scheme, including crisp sheets, fluffy pillows and a down duvet. A monochromatic palette can also translate to the bathroom, there are always appreciative remarks at a basket stocked with fluffy guest towels.

This trend is toward white towels and linens contrasts well with solid coloured splashes in décor and pale shades have given way to bold, intensely saturated colors. In all matters of home, subtlety is out- replaced with joyful, exuberant expressions of who we are. In colour- go for that splash of red.

Orange is in. Japanese motifs are popping up all over. The eye, delighted by lacquered whites and hints of neon, luscious, rich tones or delectable citrus shades - like mandarin orange, lemon yellow and pink grapefruit. Chrome, pewter, stainless steel, antique finishes in the form of a vase, lamp detail and even metallic or iridescent wallpaper incorporated will give the perfect amount of reflection to a space.

A word of warning, clutter is OUT, make sure not to overpower a space with too many “things”. Go for a clean look, using one or two accessories to define the space and make it feel “finished” and inviting.

This posting was sent to me last year. I thought it worthy of sharing.

Extracted from two articles: Twilight of the Psychopaths by Dr. Kevin Barrett and The Trick of the Psychopath's Trade by Silvia Cattori. Both articles are recommended. Both articles reference the book Political Ponerology: A science on the nature of evil adjusted for political purposes. It was written by Clinton Callahan, originator of Possibility Management, author of Radiant Joy Brilliant Love:

"I make the effort to share this information because it gives me, at
last, a plausible answer to a long-unanswered question: Why, no
matter how much intelligent goodwill exists in the world, is there so
much war, suffering and injustice? It doesn't seem to matter what
creative plan, ideology, religion, or philosophy great minds come up
with, nothing seems to improve our lot. Since the dawn of
civilization, this pattern repeats itself over and over again.

The answer is that civilization, as we know it, is largely the
creation of psychopaths. All civilizations, our own included, have
been built on slavery and mass murder. Psychopaths have played a
disproportionate role in the development of civilization, because
they are hard-wired to lie, kill, cheat, steal, torture, manipulate,
and generally inflict great suffering on other humans without feeling
any remorse, in order to establish their own sense of security through
domination. The inventor of civilization - the first tribal chieftain
who successfully brainwashed an army of controlled mass murderers -
was almost certainly a genetic psychopath. Since that momentous
discovery, psychopaths have enjoyed a significant advantage over
non-psychopaths in the struggle for power in civilizational
hierarchies - especially military hierarchies.

Behind the apparent insanity of contemporary history, is the actual
insanity of psychopaths fighting to preserve their disproportionate
power. And as their power grows ever-more-threatened, the psychopaths
grow ever-more-desperate. We are witnessing the apotheosis of the
overworld - the overlapping criminal syndicates that lurk above
ordinary society and law just as the underworld lurks below it.

During the past fifty years, psychopaths have gained almost absolute
control of all the branches of government. You can notice this if you
observe carefully that no matter what illegal thing a modern
politician does, no one will really take him to task. All of the so
called scandals that have come up, any one of which would have taken
down an authentic administration, are just farces played out for the
public, to distract them, to make them think that the democracy is
still working.

One of the main factors to consider in terms of how a society can be
taken over by a group of pathological deviants is that the
psychopaths' only limitation is the participation of susceptible
individuals within that given society. Lobaczewski gives an average
figure for the most active deviants of approximately 6% of a given
population. (1% essential psychopaths and up to 5% other
psychopathies and characteropathies.) The essential psychopath is at
the center of the web. The others form the first tier of the
psychopath's control system.

The next tier of such a system is composed of individuals who were
born normal, but are either already warped by long-term exposure to
psychopathic material via familial or social influences, or who,
through psychic weakness have chosen to meet the demands of
psychopathy for their own selfish ends. Numerically, according to
Lobaczewski, this group is about 12% of a given population under
normal conditions.

So approximately 18% of any given population is active in the
creation and imposition of a Pathocracy. The 6% group constitutes the
Pathocratic nobility and the 12% group forms the new bourgeoisie,
whose economic situation is the most advantageous.

When you understand the true nature of psychopathic influence, that
it is conscienceless, emotionless, selfish, cold and calculating, and
devoid of any moral or ethical standards, you are horrified, but at
the same time everything suddenly begins to makes sense. Our society
is ever more soulless because the people who lead it and who set the
example are soulless - they literally have no conscience.

In his book Political Ponerology, Andrej Lobaczewski explains that
clinical psychopaths enjoy advantages even in non-violent
competitions to climb the ranks of social hierarchies. Because they
can lie without remorse (and without the telltale physiological
stress that is measured by lie detector tests), psychopaths can
always say whatever is necessary to get what they want. In court, for
example, psychopaths can tell extreme bald-faced lies in a plausible
manner, while their sane opponents are handicapped by an emotional
predisposition to remain within hailing distance of the truth. Too
often, the judge or jury imagines that the truth must be somewhere in
the middle, and then issues decisions that benefit the psychopath. As
with judges and juries, so too with those charged with decisions
concerning who to promote and who not to promote in corporate,
military and governmental hierarchies. The result is that all
hierarchies inevitably become top-heavy with psychopaths. Since
psychopaths have no limitations on what they can or will do to get to
the top, the ones in charge are generally pathological. It is not
power that corrupts, it is that corrupt individuals seek power.

How can we distinguish between psychopaths and healthy people? What
is the portrait of a true psychopath?

Such a dangerous question has almost never been successfully asked.
The reason is that we mistakenly confuse healthy for normal. Human
psychological diversity is the health of our race. There is no normal
because healthy humans continuously evolve beyond all normalizing
standards. The terrorism of searching through hierarchies for anyone
deviating from normal is no different from witch hunts or
Inquisitions. You must remember that hierarchies thrive on such low
dramas, torturing victims until they confess to evil beliefs. Not so
long ago the church and state ongoingly acquired significant income
and property through witch hunts and Inquisitions. This continued for
over two hundred and fifty years. Ten generations of Europeans
understood pogrom as normal life. Let us not return to that
nightmare. Testing for normal is guaranteed to backfire in our face.
There is no normal. But there is conscience.

We have very little empirical evidence to support the idea that true
psychopathy is the result of an abused childhood, and much empirical
evidence to support that it is genetic. The neurobiological model
offers us the greatest hope of being able to identify even the most
devious psychopath. Other recent studies lead to similar results and
conclusions: that psychopaths have great difficulty processing verbal
and nonverbal affective (emotional) material, that they tend to
confuse the emotional significance of events, and most importantly,
that these deficits show up in brain scans! A missing internal
connection between the feeling heart and the thinking brain is
detectable.

Psychopaths are incapable of authentic deep emotions. In fact, when
Robert Hare, a Canadian psychologist who spent his career studying
psychopathy, did brain scans on psychopaths while showing them two
sets of words, one set of neutral words with no emotional
associations and a second set with emotionally charged words, while
different areas of the brain lit up in the non-psychopathic control
group, in the psychopaths, both sets were processed in the same area
of the brain, the area that deals with language. They did not have an
emotional reaction until they intellectually concluded that it would
be better if they had one, and then they whipped up an emotional
response just for show.

The simplest, clearest and truest portrait of the psychopath is
given in the titles of three seminal works on the subject: Without
Conscience by Robert Hare, The Mask of Sanity by Hervey Cleckley, and
Snakes in Suits by Robert Hare and Paul Babiak. A psychopath is
exactly that: conscienceless. The most important thing to remember is
that this lack of conscience is hidden from view behind a mask of
normality that is often so convincing that even experts are deceived.
As a result, psychopaths become the Snakes in Suits that control our
world.

Psychopaths lack a sense of remorse or empathy with others. They can
be extremely charming and are experts at using talk to charm and
hypnotize their prey. They are also irresponsible. Nothing is ever
their fault; someone else or the world at large is always to blame
for all of their problems or their mistakes.

Martha Stout, in her book The Sociopath Next Door, identifies what she calls the pity ploy. Psychopaths use pity to manipulate. They convince you to give them one more chance, and to not tell anyone about what they have done. So another trait - and a very important one - is their ability to control the flow of information.

They also seem to have little real conception of past or future,
living entirely for their immediate needs and desires. Because of the
barren quality of their inner life, they are often seeking new
thrills, anything from feeling the power of manipulating others to
engaging in illegal activities simply for the rush of adrenaline.

Another trait of the psychopath is what Lobaczewski calls their
special psychological knowledge of normal people. They have studied
us. They know us better than we know ourselves. They are experts in
knowing how to push our buttons, to use our emotions against us. But
beyond that, they even seem to have some sort of hypnotic power over
us. When we begin to get caught up in the web of the psychopath, our
ability to think deteriorates, gets muddied. They seem to cast some
sort of spell over us. It is only later when we are no longer in
their presence, out of their spell, that the clarity of thought
returns and we find ourselves wondering how it was that we were
unable to respond or counter what they were doing.

Psychopaths learn to recognize each other in a crowd as early as
childhood, and they develop an awareness of the existence of other
individuals similar to themselves. They also become conscious of
being of a different world from the majority of other people
surrounding them. They view us from a certain distance.

Think about the ramifications of this statement: Psychopaths are, to
some extent, self-aware as a group even in childhood! Recognizing
their fundamental difference from the rest of humanity, their
allegiance would be to others of their kind, that is, to other
psychopaths.

Their own twisted sense of honor compels them to cheat and revile
non-psychopaths and their values. In contradiction to the ideals of
normal people, psychopaths feel breaking promises and agreements is
normal behavior.

Not only do they covet possessions and power and feel they have the
right to them just because they exist and can take them, but they
gain special pleasure in usurping and taking from others; what they
can plagiarize, swindle, and extort are fruits far sweeter than those
they can earn through honest labor. They also learn very early how
their personalities can have traumatizing effects on the
personalities of non-psychopaths, and how to take advantage of this
root of terror for purposes of achieving their goals.

So now, imagine how human beings who are totally in the dark about
the presence of psychopaths can be easily deceived and manipulated by
these individuals, gaining power in different countries, pretending to
be loyal to the local populations while at the same time playing up
obvious and easily discernable physical differences between groups
(such as race, skin color, religion, etc). Psychologically normal
humans would be set against one another on the basis of unimportant
differences (think of Rwanda 1994, think of Israelis and
Palestinians) while the deviants in power, with a fundamental
difference from the rest of us, a lack of conscience, an inability to
feel for another human being, reaped the benefits and pulled the
strings.

We are seeing the final desperate power-grab or endgame (Alex Jones)
of brutal, cunning gangs of CIA drug-runners and President-killers;
money-laundering international bankers and their hit-men - economic
and otherwise; corrupt military contractors and gung-ho generals;
corporate predators and their political enablers; brainwashers and
mind-rapists euphemistically known as psy-ops and PR specialists - in
short, the whole crew of certifiable psychopaths running our so-called
civilization. And they are running scared.

Why does the Pathocracy fear losing its control? Because it is
threatened by the spread of knowledge. The greatest fear of any
psychopath is of being found out.

Psychopaths go through life knowing that they are completely
different from other people. Deep down they know something is missing
in them. They quickly learn to hide their lack of empathy, while
carefully studying others' emotions so as to mimic normalcy while
cold-bloodedly manipulating the normals.

Today, thanks to new information technologies, we are on the brink
of unmasking the psychopaths and building a civilization of, by and
for the healthy human being - a civilization without war, a
civilization based on truth, a civilization in which the saintly few
rather than the diabolical few would gravitate to positions of power.
We already have the knowledge necessary to diagnose psychopathic
personalities and keep them out of power. We have the knowledge
necessary to dismantle the institutions in which psychopaths
especially flourish - militaries, intelligence agencies, large
corporations, and secret societies. We simply need to disseminate
this knowledge, and the will to use it, as widely and as quickly as
possible.

Until the knowledge and awareness of pathological human beings is
given the attention it deserves and becomes part of the general
knowledge of all human beings, there is no way that things can be
changed in any way that is effective and long-lasting. If half the
people agitating for truth or stopping the war or saving the earth
would focus their efforts, time and money on exposing psychopathy, we
might get somewhere.

One might ask if the weak point of our society has been our
tolerance of psychopathic behavior? Our disbelief that someone could
seem like an intelligent leader and still be acting deceptively on
their own behalf without conscience? Or is it merely ignorance?

If the general voting public is not aware that there exists a
category of people we sometimes perceive as almost human, who look
like us, who work with us, who are found in every race, every
culture, speaking every language, but who are lacking conscience, how
can the general public take care to block them from taking over the
hierarchies? General ignorance of psychopathology may prove to be the
downfall of civilization. We stand by like grazing sheep as
political/corporate elites throw armies of our innocent sons and
daughters against fabricated enemies as a way of generating trillions
in profits, vying against each other for pathological hegemony.

Nearly everyone who has been part of an organization working for
social change has probably seen the same dynamic play out: The good
and sincere work of many can be destroyed by the actions of one
person. That doesn't bode well for bringing some sort of justice to
the planet! In fact, if psychopaths dominate political hierarchies,
is it any wonder that peaceful demonstrations have zero impact on the
outcome of political decisions? Perhaps it is time to choose something
other than massive, distant hierarchies as a way of governing
ourselves?

So many efforts to provide essays, research reports, exposs and
books to leaders so they might take the new information to heart and
change their behavior have come to naught. For example, in the final
paragraph of his revised edition of the book, The Party's Over,
Richard Heinberg writes:

I still believe that if the people of the world can be helped to
understand the situation we are in, the options available, and the
consequences of the path we are currently on, then it is at least
possible that they can be persuaded to undertake the considerable
effort and sacrifice that will be entailed in a peaceful transition
to a sustainable, locally based, decentralized, low-energy,
resource-conserving social regime. But inspired leadership will be
required.

And that is the just-murdered fantasy. There are no inspired leaders
anymore. And in hierarchical structures there can't be. Assuming that
you can elect men or women to office who will see reason and the
light of day, and who will change and learn and grow, make
compassionate decisions and take conscientious actions... is a
foolish, childish dream. Continuing to dream it simply plays into
psychopathic agendas.

Only when the 75% of humanity with a healthy conscience come to
understand that we have a natural predator, a group of people who
live amongst us, viewing us as powerless victims to be freely fed
upon for achieving their inhuman ends, only then will we take the
fierce and immediate actions needed to defend what is preciously
human. Psychological deviants have to be removed from any position of
power over people of conscience, period. People must be made aware
that such individuals exist and must learn how to spot them and their
manipulations. The hard part is that one must also struggle against
those tendencies to mercy and kindness in oneself in order not to
become prey.

The real problem is that the knowledge of psychopathy and how
psychopaths rule the world has been effectively hidden. People do not
have the adequate, nuanced knowledge they need to really make a change
from the bottom up. Again and again, throughout history it has been
meet the new boss, same as the old boss. If there is any work that is
deserving of full time efforts and devotion for the sake of helping
humanity in this present dark time, it is the study of psychopathy
and the propagation of this information as far and wide and fast as
possible.

There are only two things that can bring a psychopath under
submission:

A bigger psychopath.

The non-violent, absolute refusal to submit to psychopathic controls
no matter the consequences (non-violent noncompliance).

Let us choose path 2! If individuals simply sat down and refused to
lift a hand to further one single aim of the psychopathic agenda, if
people refused to pay taxes, if soldiers refused to fight, if
government workers and corporate drones and prison guards refused to
go to work, if doctors refused to treat psychopathic elites and their
families, the whole system would grind to a screeching halt.

True change happens in the moment that a person becomes aware of
psychopathy in all its chilling details. From this new awareness, the
world looks different, and entirely new actions can be taken.
Distinguishing between human and psychopathic qualities begins the
foundation of responsibility upon which we have a real chance to
create sustainable culture."

For many of us in the industry, it is a concern that the average John Q Public is uneducated in the transaction of real estate. Many folks think they understand- they may have bought or sold a property in their past- the trouble is that regulations are constantly changing.

Most of us, in the industry, do our best to explain the process but that two word phrase, "Multiple Representation", counts amongst the most difficult to explain. Often people get that "doe in the headlight" sort of look.

I thought it might be prudent to include here, the wording from some of the documentation that a typical Buyer or Seller would be presented with, to sign.

One of the first standard documents/brochure that every Buyer or Seller will be shown is WORKING WITH A REALTOR. It says:

3. Multiple representation
Occasionally a real estate brokerage will represent both the buyer and the seller. The buyer and seller must consent to this arrangement in writing. Under this multiple representation arrangement, the brokerage must do what is best for both the buyer and the seller. Since the brokerage’s loyalty is divided between the buyer and the seller who have conflicting interests, it is absolutely essential that a multiple representation relationship be properly documented. Representation agreements specifically describe the rights and duties of everyone involved and any limitations to those rights and duties.

On a LISTING AGREEMENT, a Seller will note the following wording:

4. REPRESENTATION: …
MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION: The Seller hereby acknowledges that the Listing Brokerage may be entering into buyer representation agreements with
buyers who may be interested in purchasing the Seller’s Property. In the event that the Listing Brokerage has entered into or enters into a buyer
representation agreement with a prospective buyer for the Seller’s Property, the Listing Brokerage will obtain the Seller’s written consent to represent both
the Seller and the buyer for the transaction at the earliest practicable opportunity and in all cases prior to any offer to purchase being submitted or
presented.
The Seller understands and acknowledges that the Listing Brokerage must be impartial when representing both the Seller and the buyer and equally
protect the interests of the Seller and buyer. The Seller understands and acknowledges that when representing both the Seller and the buyer, the Listing
Brokerage shall have a duty of full disclosure to both the Seller and the buyer, including a requirement to disclose all factual information about the
property known to the Listing Brokerage.
However, the Seller further understands and acknowledges that the Listing Brokerage shall not disclose:
• that the Seller may or will accept less than the listed price, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the Seller;
• that the buyer may or will pay more than the offered price, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the buyer;
• the motivation of or personal information about the Seller or buyer, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the party to which the information
applies or unless failure to disclose would constitute fraudulent, unlawful or unethical practice;
• the price the buyer should offer or the price the Seller should accept; and
• the Listing Brokerage shall not disclose to the buyer the terms of any other offer.
However, it is understood that factual market information about comparable properties and information known to the Listing Brokerage concerning
potential uses for the Property will be disclosed to both Seller and buyer to assist them to come to their own conclusions. &
MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE: The Seller understands and agrees that the Listing Brokerage also provides
representation and customer service to other sellers and buyers. If the Listing Brokerage represents or provides customer service to more than one seller
or buyer for the same trade, the Listing Brokerage shall, in writing, at the earliest practicable opportunity and before any offer is made, inform all sellers
and buyers of the nature of the Listing Brokerage’s relationship to each seller and buyer.

Whereas, a Buyer, on their contract document, an Agreement called Buyer Representation, will note the inclusion of the following wording:

3. REPRESENTATION…

Multiple representation:
The Buyer hereby acknowledges The Buyer hereby acknowledges that the Brokerage may be entering into listing agreements with sellers of properties
the Buyer may be interested in buying or leasing. In the event that the Brokerage has entered into or enters into a listing agreement with the seller of a
property the Buyer may be interested in buying or leasing, the Brokerage will obtain the Buyer’s written consent to represent both the Buyer and the
seller for the transaction at the earliest practicable opportunity and in all cases prior to any offer to purchase or lease being submitted or presented.
The Buyer understands and acknowledges that the Brokerage must be impartial when representing both the Buyer and the seller and equally protect the
interests of the Buyer and the seller in the transaction. The Buyer understands and acknowledges that when representing both the Buyer and the seller,
the Brokerage shall have a duty of full disclosure to both the Buyer and the seller, including a requirement to disclose all factual information about the
property known to the Brokerage.
However, The Buyer further understands and acknowledges that the Brokerage shall not disclose:
• that the seller may or will accept less than the listed price, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the seller;
• that the Buyer may or will pay more than the offered price, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the Buyer;
• the motivation of or personal information about the Buyer or seller, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the party to which the information applies
or unless failure to disclose would constitute fraudulent, unlawful or unethical practice;
• the price the Buyer should offer or the price the seller should accept; and
• the Brokerage shall not disclose to the Buyer the terms of any other offer.
However, it is understood that factual market information about comparable properties and information known to the Brokerage concerning potential
uses for the property will be disclosed to both Buyer and seller to assist them to come to their own conclusions.
MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE: The Buyer understands and agrees that the Brokerage also provides representation and
customer service to other buyers and sellers. If the Brokerage represents or provides customer service to more than one seller or buyer for the same
trade, the Brokerage shall, in writing, at the earliest practicable opportunity and before any offer is made, inform all sellers and buyers of the nature of
the Brokerage's relationship to each seller and buyer.

Then, once a Buyer and Seller are brought together, part of the "deal" documentation includes a form entitled CONFIRMATION OF COOPERATION AND REPRESENTATION which, in the event of 'multiple agency" reads:

The Listing Brokerage has entered into a Buyer Representation Agreement with the Buyer and represents the interests of the Seller and the Buyer, with their consent, for this transaction. The Listing Brokerage must be impartial and equally protect the interests of the Seller and the Buyer in this transaction. The Listing Broker has a full duty of disclosure to both the Seller and Buyer, including the requirement to disclose all factual information about the property known to the Listing Brokerage.

However, the Listing Brokerage shall not disclose:

-That the Seller may or will accept less than the listed price, unless other instructed in writing by the Seller;
-That the Buyer may or will pay more than the offered price, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the Buyer;
-The motivation of or personal information about the Seller or Buyer, unless otherwise instructed in writing by the party to which the information applies, or unless failure to disclose would constitute fraudulent, unlawful or unethical practice;
-And; the Listing Brokerage shall not disclose to the Buyer the terms of any other offer.

However, it is understood that factual market information about comparable properties an information known to the Listing Brokerage concerning potential uses for the property will be disclosed to both Seller an Buyer to assist them to come to their own conclusions.

Personally, I believe that the latter verbiage (from the Confirmation of Cooperation and Representation form) explains it best, providing some outline of the responsibilities of disclosure and exceptions thereof...however, I do work with this stuff, every day.

Prospective Buyers and Sellers would be wise to review the wording and ask questions... it's wise to be informed!

Over two million real estate transactions are processed in this province annually and the instances of real estate fraud are relatively low... however, real estate fraud has traditionally proved to be a reliable source of income for crooks and unfortunately, the current economic climate has brought some of the flim back to flim-flam.

"When the market is on the rise, you don't see much fraud," says Carl Pergola, fraud examiner and national director of litigation and fraud investigation services at a New York City-based consulting firm. "... once the flow of activity slows down, it starts to become evident. It's like turning on the lights and seeing the roaches running around."

"The criminal elements have realized that with a little sophistication, a little organization, they can make a lot more money than bank robbery or drugs or other areas of crime," said one Toronto real estate lawyer, recently.

The downward trend in the real estate market has brought out new tactics, along with the old as the perpetrators take advantage of our aging population and the depressed market, declining values and large number of "power of sale" actions.

The decreased market demand has placed pressure on lenders, builders and home sellers, alike. There are a lot more properties with homemade signs, "For Sale by owner", "House For Sale"..... AND, a lot of these people are forgetting that there's a lot more to selling a house than showing it and settling on a price.

Although, most often, real estate scams don't hurt property owners as much as they hit insurers and mortgage lenders, I have just recently, encountered a handful of people who made "private deals" and came to me, after the fact, for help. It appears that there are different types of real estate scams emerging and they are seriously impacting first-time homebuyers, home sellers, seniors and home owners.

Probably the most disgusting of con artists are people who have developed some level of trust in your life. The people you deal with day-to-day, neighbours, friends of neighbours, even family members, prove the most successful of con artists. & I have learned that anyone can be victimized and fall prey to a clever con artist.

We all place a certain amount of trust in our friends, family, and co-workers, but we should all remain a little skeptical about their sales or business pitches- and remember, it is seldom a good idea to rush into signing anything.

If the offer sounds too good to be true - it probably is.

Beware of a person who uses high pressure tactics or is intimidating -using phrases like: "you will lose out if you don't act now"... "you must pay immediately"... or "you must pay cash".

There are "predators" who actively seek out homeowners, typically senior citizens, who are most likely to have equity in their homes. The predator's goal: to steal the homeowner's equity through whatever fraud, misrepresentation, flimflam, trick or device that is required.
Some criminals will pose as a senior citizen, too.

Predators use door-knocking, congenial visits, telemarketing, lies, flyers, billboards, built-in security agreements, small print, hidden interest rate loans, high loan set up fees and balloon payments. Often under the guise of saving you BIGTIME.

I'll say it again: If the offer sounds too good to be true - it probably is.

Fraud is defined as: Intentional misrepresentation or concealment of information in order to deceive or mislead. It is a willful intent that is both immoral and illegal.

Sometimes, nice people convince themselves it's okay to fudge a little and even the most lovely of neighbours may be less than honest about their intentions when dealing privately with you, in a real estate transaction. It's still immoral.

It isn't always easy to spot a slick criminal.

"Forgers" and “Identity Thieves” are people that will approach you under some false circumstance (like pretending they want to buy your house or cottage) and get pertinent information like your name and birth date... and go off, to work forging quitclaim deeds, notarized documents, make loan applications... *sigh*

The catch is that we all know you have to ensure that everything is in writing. If you are dealing with a person who tries to make a verbal contract this may be a red flag... they may be somehow trying to trick you. However, it is almost scarier when someone produces legal documents and ask for your signature...

Never sign anything unless you are familiar with the document. Real estate contracts, in particular, are often absolutely crammed with clauses, conditions and terms. It takes time to look everything over and ensure that all additions and amendments have been noted.

The Law Society of Upper Canada has a website section dedicated to real estate. In the section "PRACTICE TIPS:Recognizing Fraud in Real Estate Transactions" it says, "Real estate fraud can occur in a number of different ways. The following is a list of some possible indicators of fraud in residential real estate transactions. The presence of one or more of these indicators in a transaction does not necessarily mean that a fraud is occurring or has
occurred in the transaction. This list is not intended to replace the lawyer’s professional judgment. Whether a fraud is being committed in the course of a real estate transaction will depend upon the circumstances of the individual matter or transaction." and on that list of indicators is "There is no real estate agent involved in the transaction;"

Even the law society recognizes that a real estate sales person is an important element in the transaction of selling real estate.

http://rc.lsuc.on.ca/jsp/fightingRealEstate/index.jsp

The services of a good real estate professional are invaluable. They have the skill to protect and guide you through one of the most important transactions that most people will encounter in their life time. If someone approaches you privately to make a deal, you may still contact a real estate professional or lawyer for assistance- it is prudent to have all documentation reviewed by a competent professional BEFORE you sign anything.

This one simple step... CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL....may be worth thousands and thousands of dollars.

& remember, beware of unusually friendly overtures from people trying to make a deal with you... AND if the offer sounds too good to be true - it probably is.

I apologize if this seems to be a recurring subject in my blogging... it seems to be a recurring subject in life.

Ethics:Plural noun
1. (Used with a singular or plural verb ) a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture.
2. The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.
3. Moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.
4. (Usually used with a singular verb ) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

I know that good people sometimes make inappropriate choices- especially when it comes to being accountable for bad choices. Morals define personal character- they are the standards for behaviour, while ethics are the expression of morals within the social system to which they apply- sort of like the rules that guide conduct or principle in action.

Wikipedia says:

Ethics (also known as moral philosophy) is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality, such as what the fundamental semantic, ontological, and epistemic nature of ethics or morality is (meta-ethics), how moral values should be determined (normative ethics), how a moral outcome can be achieved in specific situations (applied ethics), how moral capacity or moral agency develops and what its nature is (moral psychology), and what moral values people actually abide by (descriptive ethics).

We all encounter ethical dilemmas in our lives.

As my regular readers will know, I steadfastly believe that virtue is its own reward and that examining a dilemma and responding with ethical behaviour is a continuous opportunity for personal growth. We learn much when we recognize that there is a big difference between what one has the right to do and what is right to do.

Ethical dilemmas often demand INSTANT clarity. Faced with such a situation, I tend to first observe my emotional reaction and acknowledge there is something needing attention… then, intuitively and unconsciously, I process the problem logically- from the BIG to the small. I do THINK before I act… and in spite of my imperfection, I am able to arrive at something I feel is a decent starting place.

My process goes something like this:

I gather all of the facts- as many as I can get… after all; it’s definitely not fair to make judgments without considering the full story. I also factor in my strong personal commitment to positive social and environmental outcomes. Am I perfect? Far from it… remember, I’m merely noting how the process works inside MY head.

I move then, on to:

1/ Are there LLLLLaws, rules, legislations or regulations that apply?
2/ Is there an OOOOOrganization that has applicable “codes” of ethics?
3/ I seek GGGGGuidance from those I trust, I get their perspective
4/ I consider all options available and how they will IIIIImpact each party involved- I look for a fair and reasonable resolution- weighing the consequences of omissions as much as actions.
5/ I CCCCCare about how this sits with me, emotionally. I have to be comfortable with the solution.

I am careful not to dismiss something purely because of its source. I keep an open mind. I know that the experiences I have today may change tomorrow- but it doesn’t change me… my authentic self.

& the consistent practice of meditation and introspection has taught me to recognize the source(s) of my personal preconceptions and also, to filter them- I have discovered this is a most important aspect of the process.

There is no truth. There is only perception. —Gustave Flaubert

I must admit, in business, there are times that I am bound by regulations that sometimes don’t sit well… they don’t fit…. those are the worst occasions. & Just recently, I have found myself feeling as though I am being extorted for and of my integrity. Taken advantage of, so to speak… and I realize that I am frequently baffled by the ethical choices of others. Actually, I feel this way, all too frequently.

The night before last, I had a break-through: I concluded that this is not just my own personal issue… I know too many other people struggling- feeling as if someone behaving unethically is violating them…

Perhaps it’s part of the current global turmoil… the ever-changing social morality is going through an adjustment.

& I have to face it, there are and will always be opportunistic vultures ready to justify poor ethics on the basis of “that is how we’ve always done it”… or “I have rights”… even though it may be anything but right.

Yup… my beef is with the people who draw a line in the sand, unbendingly… the ones who are totally convinced that their interpretation of the situation is the absolute reality and are willing to defend it blindly- coincidentally, without any personal accountability. In other words, “the selfish”. Or is it “the greedy”?

Eric Hoffer wrote, "The uncompromising attitude is more indicative of an inner uncertainty than a deep conviction. The implacable stand is directed more against the doubt within than the assailant without."

Okay, maybe it’s “the weak”?

All too often, when you question someone on an ethical issue, they look to pin the responsibility, or blame, onto another person- finding a “patsy” to take the fall… or worse… they have set someone up to be the patsy… like that oft employed political “false flag” operation in which forces of one power disguise themselves as enemy forces so that they can justify retaliation.

“Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." -Eric Hoffer

Ya, it’s weak.

Former United States President Harry S. Truman made famous the line, “The buck stops here.”
I have tried to live my life that way, too. I’ve made no bones about my choices and I’m always happy to explain myself- but I’m also willing to adjust my stance, when new information comes to light.

My father used to tell me, “Jody, people don’t want to know the truth.”

I can understand that the truth might hurt, or be a disappointment….

But I don’t like being lied to… and I won’t lie. And I also believe that omission is a form of lying. I live my truth and speak my truth and I am ready and willing to be questioned, to answer truthfully and listen and be open to the stance of others. I really do live by the golden rule, too… “Do unto others…”

And I live my truth out loud- not unsolicited, you must understand… I have learned, when someone steps on my toe, to say ouch. I have learned, when I am part of a group decision, to voice my concerns. I have learned, as a parent, to be truthful.

I have, also, learned to acknowledge the positive behaviours of others and I have learned to acknowledge my mistakes… and sometimes that hurts… and sometimes I am disappointed… and then,

I make a fresh start of it.

Okay, so Flaubert said "there is no truth"... I think the only real truth is that we really don’t know much at all…

the one thing I do know is that I would never knowingly hurt anyone and I strive to make good and honourable choices. I'm SINCERE.

Look that one up in your Funk and Wagnalls.

We’ve all seen those late night infomercial testimonials from folks who have gotten rich, buying rental properties, with absolutely no money out of their own pocket…. And it isn’t all mistruth…

It can be done… and it’s also true that seven out of 10 Canadian millionaires have made their wealth through real estate investments. And, in some cases, by simply buying real estate at the right time, at the right location and at the right price.

But…(there’s always a big but)… we must remember that the first rule of real estate investing, even ahead of location, location, location, is to know the people with whom you are dealing. &, Even that is risky business. No real estate "system" is foolproof.

Building an inventory of investment property is not for the faint of heart. In order to accomplish a “no-money down” purchase, you must have good credit, a good & stable income AND usually, a home that you already own and occupy. Then, you also have to be prepared to become a landlord.

There are many considerations you need to make before you become a landlord including (but not limited to):

- How are you going to screen prospective tenants?

- How much of a return do you expect? In what time frame?

- How are you going to screen prospective tenants?

- Are you going to manage the property yourself? Do you have a plan to save for and set aside the costs of maintenance?

- How are you going to screen prospective tenants?

- Are you familiar with the applicable laws? The “RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT? Local Building By-laws? Safety regulations?

- How are you going to screen prospective tenants?

- Have you set up a plan to save and set aside property taxes? What about OTHER taxes?

- How are you going to screen prospective tenants?

- Have you investigated appropriate insurance coverage?

Don’t get me wrong, being a landlord can be profitable- if you have the right disposition and a good bit of luck, you can create and maintain a decent income stream… but those late night infomercials are created (at significant cost) by people selling a video, a book or a seminar. That is how THEY make money.

& Those 7 out of 10 millionaires? Most have made their money through prudent, well-planned investments… by buying real estate at the right time, at the right location and at the right price.

Infomercials are designed to appeal to the sensibilities of viewers. They play on our desire to earn and promise that the secrets of THEIR system can delivers us from debt and magically transform us into millionaires. Usually, there’s a push to act quickly… a hook… perhaps a warning, this is the last chance! & Then, there’s often a nice bonus promise… book now and receive a free pen!

&, Perhaps even worse… some tell you that their seminar is free. They fail to mention that you have to buy the course materials, in order to attend.

How many times to do we have to be told, “if it seems too good to be true”… “It probably is”?

WOMAN POWER

A life free from violence is a basic human right and yet, statistics prove that at least one out of every three women has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

If I appear to be all over the map with this blog, it’s because this subject is ALL OVER THE MAP!

Violence against women and girls is a global, universal problem of pandemic proportions and according to the World Health Organization, up to 70% of female murder victims are killed by their male partners.

Even more staggering is the Canadian government statistic: young Indigenous women are five times more likely than other women of the same age to die as the result of violence.

In British Columbia, Highway 16 has been dubbed “The Highway of Tears” since the mid nineties, when a number of First Nation women disappeared from that area or were found murdered there- at least five of these women were under the age of 18. In 2002, Terri Brown of NWAC (Native Women’s Association of Canada) condution interviews and ascertained that some 31 missing women had fallen victim to The Highway. A film released in July 2009, a film entitled “Finding Dawn” counts the number as more than 60.

Inspired by the Stolen Sisters report (Amnesty International) in 2004 Canada’s Fahrenheit Films produced a one-hour television documentary entitled “Stolen Sisters” that followed one family’s search for a missing loved one and documented other stories of the missing. It first aired in October of 2007.

Five years ago, the Native Women's Association of Canada formed “Sisters In Spirit” a campaign to raise awareness about violence against aboriginal women- many who have suffered domestic abuse, homelessness and such poverty that they have turned to prostitution.

The list of missing and murdered women covers the country.

Laura Madison a criminologist researcher with Dark Horse Consulting in Kenora conducted extensive research into missing people across the country and uncovered discrepancies with how police deal with missing First Nations women. She has provided the Ontario Provincial Police North West Region with training sessions and provided them with handouts about policy, communication, legislative and social issues that require changes to better protect Aboriginal women.

“The fact that you can actually see a missing First Nation woman’s face in the newspapers just started about two years ago,” Madison was quoted as saying in January of 2009.

In February 2009, the UN Human Rights Council issued a report that specifically highlighted the treatment of aboriginal women in Canada as a human rights concern. Apparently, Saskatchewan is the only province to have developed a missing persons committee. Amnesty International, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the Liberal Party of Canada have all called on the federal government to take more action on the alarming number of Aboriginal women and girls that have been murdered or gone missing in the past three decades.

As of March 2009-
There were 520 known cases of missing or murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada; a group that makes up less than 2% of the Canadian population.
347 of the 520, or 67 percent, were murdered. 126 (24 percent) are women and girls who remain missing;
150 of the 347 murder cases remain unsolved
The majority of cases occurred in Western provinces, with 137 incidents in B.C. alone.
Of the known cases that have been documented:

26% of the incidents occurred in British Columbia, 17% occurred in Alberta, 14% in Manitoba, and 12% in Saskatchewan. (Twenty-six of the B.C. cases are women whose remains were found at the notorious Picton pig farm.)

52% of the cases involve women and girls under the age of 30 years. Fourteen percent of the missing girls and young women were under 18 years of age at the time of their disappearance.
43% of the cases of missing women and girls have occurred during or since 2000.
55% of the cases of murder and 43% of disappearances occurred during or since 2000.

Some native leaders estimate the true number of missing to be closer to 3000.

It's hard to put this in perspective but if you compared the “500” death and disappearance rate to the corresponding number of citizens in this country- it would be equivalent to over 18,000 Canadian women and girls missing or murdered in the past thirty years.

& another horrible statistic: 86% of perpetrators of sexually violent crimes against Native people are non-Native.

On November 12, 1971, four white men abducted Helen Betty Osborne (aged 19) from the streets of The Pas. She was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered. A judge said later:

HELEN BETTY OSBORNE

... the men who abducted Osborne believed that young Aboriginal women were objects with no human value beyond sexual gratification ... Betty Osborne would be alive today had she not been an Aboriginal woman.

A 1991 Manitoba Justice Inquiry into the murder of Helen Betty Osborne concluded that racism and sexism intersect in dangerous stereotypes of Indigenous women as sexually “available” to men. The Inquiry said “Her attackers seemed to be operating on the assumption that Aboriginal women were promiscuous and open to enticement through alcohol or violence. It is evident that the men who abducted Osborne believed that young Aboriginal women were objects with no human value beyond sexual gratification.”

FELICIA SOLOMON

On March 25, 2003 – three decades after the murder of Helen Betty Osborne – her 16-year-old cousin, Felicia Solomon, went missing in Winnipeg- parts of her body were found three months later.

July 1, 2009: The body of Cherisse Houle, 17, had been uncovered by a construction crew working near the shore of Sturgeon Creek in the Rural Municipality of Rosser.

CHERISSE HOULE
Advocacy groups in Manitoba claim there are at least 75 unsolved homicides where the victims were women and on August 1, 2009, the RCMP in Manitoba announced they have launched an investigation to re-examine the cases.

Aug. 20, 2009 A 14-year-old boy who was walking his dog near the intersection of Winnipeg's North Perimeter Highway and Highway 59 found the body of Hillary Angel Wilson- she was a friend of the late Cherisse Houle.

HILLARY ANGEL WILSON

These are daughters, mothers, sisters, cousins... they are my family, too.

WE MUST PUT AN END TO THIS!

UPDATE

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Could+serial+killer+roaming+Highway/1937131/story.html
By John Bermingham, The ProvinceAugust 28, 2009

Could a serial killer be roaming Highway 16?

Family calls for task force after 6 young females vanish along the route in 12 years

Is a serial killer cruising up and down the Highway of Tears?

Since 1990, six girls or young women have either been murdered or disappeared along Highway 16, which links Prince George to Prince Rupert.

Now the family of one of them is calling for a missing-women task force similar to Vancouver's.

The latest to vanish was Nicole Hoar, a 25-year-old tree-planter who was last seen June 21 hitchhiking from Prince George to Smithers.

A dozen RCMP officers in Prince George are following up hundreds of sightings of Hoar across Canada.

The first of the girls to disappear was Delphine Nikal, 15, who called her family on June 13, 1990, to say she was hitchhiking home to Telkwa, 15 kilometres from Smithers. She was never seen again.

Ramona Wilson, also 15, was spotted walking along the highway on June 11, 1994, looking for a ride from Smithers to a nearby village to see her boyfriend.

Her body was found outside town 10 months later.

Two months later, the body of a Prince George prostitute was found near Burns Lake. Roxanne Thiara, 15, disappeared in July 1994. She told a friend she was going out with a customer.

In December the same year, Alishia Germaine's body was found behind a Prince George elementary school.

The 15-year-old, who friends say was a working prostitute, had been stabbed to death.

Darvin Haugan Jr. wants to know what really happened to his stepsister Lana Derrick, 19, last seen in Terrace on Oct. 7, 1995.

In Derrick's case, her boyfriend committed suicide the night she disappeared.

But Haugan thinks a serial killer may ultimately be behind the disappearance of Derrick and the other women.

Haugan said they all could have been picked up by the same driver.

"There should be a major concern about who is doing this and why," he said from Terrace.

"Is it a serial killer, or what?

"When is it going to stop? The police are pretty tight-mouthed about what's going on."

Haugan wants a task force set up to answer "who and why?"

"Something's got to be done," he said.

"Obviously, the police force aren't getting anywhere, so maybe a task force should be brought in. This issue needs to be addressed soon."

Lead investigator Cpl. Judy Thomas said there is no link between Hoar's disappearance and the other women other than the route.

"When you get missing people or homicides along that route, people say, is it the route that connects them?" she said.

Parents Jack and Barb Hoar, from Red Deer, Alta., were in Prince George last week to thank the community for its help and donate funds to Search and Rescue operations.

Jack's employer is offering a $25,000 reward to anyone who finds Nicole.

Police say they can find no thread linking all six women to a single perpetrator.

A recent internal review of the five historical files has concluded that there is no evidence pointing to a serial killer.

Police spokesman Sgt. Tom Bethune would not elaborate on how police came to their conclusion.

One of the main reasons is lifestyle differences: Two of the girls were known prostitutes. Four were native or part-native.

Bethune wouldn't say if any of the three women found dead near the highway were sexually assaulted.

There was supposed to be a task force in 1997 to find a serial killer or rule one out. But it was put on hold, owing to budget cutbacks.

Investigators admit they can't cope with the current workload. It's hard finding the time to follow up tips when there's more immediate work to do.

"I can tell you that every tip that comes into this office is being explored to the nth degree," said Bethune, referring to the Hoar investigation.

The older investigations are more difficult to keep in the public mind.

Prince George Coun. Shirley Gratton said the federal government should fund the police task force, if it is to get started at all.

"Our wilderness is so wild out here that it's like a needle in a haystack to find where these people would be," she said.

"They could be from anywhere, these people that are picking up these girls."

Gratton said she still sees girls hitchhiking along the highway, despite the dangers.

"I guess when you're young, the fear isn't in you," she said. "When you get older, you're more cautious."

Recently, a major real estate company engaged a third-party research firm, International Communications Research (ICR) that surveyed 1,000 individuals to discover how men and women differ in the home-buying process.

Questions included "How long did it take for you to know that the last home you purchased was right for you?" and "If you found the home of your dreams but had concerns about its security, would you still be interested?" There were also some more personal questions such as "Who wears the pants in the relationship?" when it comes to making major financial decisions.

A consumer expert with the real estate company says, “Both men and women are increasingly concerned with having a space to work in their homes -- something we would not have seen 40 years ago." She continued, "We also found that feeling insecure about a home's safety is a deal-breaker for most people, regardless of gender."

The results don’t really surprise me. Women are quicker to recognize a house they like- and will often decide at the first visit. Security concerns can be a deal breaker for about 60% of buyers. 20% more of the women put proximity to family ahead of proximity to work. Four times as many men would use a spare room for entertainment- women opting for an actual guest bedroom. 70% of those surveyed said they share the pants in the family when it comes to financial decisions.

23% of women vs. 20% of men felt that they wore the pants. & In my experience, women generally have the last say when it comes to home purchases, which could explain why more of them believe they have the upper hand.

Generally speaking (which is always dangerous)… I find that women have an easier time imagining themselves in a new space. They often jump into furniture placement- pointing to particular floor areas and suggesting it is the perfect place for “the antique clock” or “Aunt Maggie’s piano”. On the other hand… in my experience, men have a harder time letting go of their castle.

Sometimes, buyers become so emotionally embroiled in a particular property- or worse, a particular aspect of a property that they become blind to other significant issues. Sometimes they cave to their partner who really loves the view or really loves the workbench in the garage. In other words, rational thinking gets thrown out a window- except, of course, to justify reasons to go for it.

& It’s not a bad idea to make an offer immediately, once you find the right spot- a good house at a good price may be scooped up by someone else if you hesitate for too long- in fact, this is the most common way that people miss out…. But brace yourself… there’s a funny thing that happens to many of us, right after making an offer. It is known as buyer's remorse. It’s that queasy, “I’ve just done something extremely stupid” feeling and it often occurs right after you sign your name and hand over the deposit. Remember, “buyers’ remorse” is a natural human emotion and prepare for it.

I advocate the “Pros & Cons” approach- making up a written list of advantages and disadvantages for the house as part of the decision-making process- particular when I see clients labouring over a decision…. and I keep the list, in my client files- so they can review it, if they get cold feet or “buyer’s remorse”.

The purchase of a home is one of the most complicated financial transactions in life. The first time you buy, the complexity of the transaction can be particularly frustrating because there are a number of unknown rules and procedures that many people have had to learn through "the school of hard knocks." Never mind the battle with the banks, lawyers, and loan officers.

I believe the most important decision that a buyer must make is selecting a qualified Realtor® to represent them. The advantages are numerous… experience with the area, knowledge of market values and access to a large and varied selection.

According to a study by the Canadian Real Estate Association, one out of every 100 jobs depends on spending associated with resale housing transactions - on things like renovations, furniture and appliances. This study also found the average resale housing transaction in Ontario generates more than $47,000 in economic spinoffs.

Having been a designer/decorator in one of my previous incarnations, I like to keep my finger on the trend pulse... so, I thought I'd share the predictions for 2010.

Let me be clear… the following information is NOT to be used by Sellers… studies show that it takes less than a minute for prospective Buyers to size up a property… that first impression is a lasting one. Sellers need to ask the advice of an objective eye… and remember that Buyers probably won’t care for a bubble-gum pink kitchen- even if it looks cool.

Sellers need to opt for neutrals and de-personalize their spaces- offer up a clean, clutter-free, pleasant smelling, fresh canvas. It’s very difficult for folks to imagine their belongings in a room with strong décor… while you might love bold accents, they can turn prospective Buyers off.

If you have too much stuff, store it… there’s nothing worse than crammed storage- so you may have to find a place away from your home for things. “Febreze” your home or apartment daily, and open windows. Remember, kitchens and bathrooms are dealmakers and deal breakers. Simple things, like nice fluffy towels, fragrant soaps, a fresh shower curtain, crisp tea towels… shiny new faucets… can set the tone.

For those folks planning to stay in their place a while, there are some interesting colour trends for 2010. Experts argue that the 2010 “it” colour is green… or purple. Most lean toward green. Not the sage variety… a yellow infused green. Purples range from periwinkle to deep aubergine. Blue is making a comeback- primarily in midnight shades of navy and denim- although aqua and teal are hanging in.

In 2010, yellow will still be still prominent, although moving toward the gold and carmel- bronze tones and orange is moving toward copper. Creamy, butter-tinted beiges are now taking the place of white for a softer look. Carbon greys and earthen browns are hot.

On the runways, we are to expect urban-themes: black, brown, maroon and dark blue… and “techno” colours like lime, violet, white and silver. In furniture, shiny surfaces are all the rage. Strong, streamlined shaped furnishings in singular pieces with plain or geometric fabrics. Flooring selections include abstract designs in linoleum, the classic black and white checkerboard tile or polished wooden floors with an overlaid, geometric patterned rug.

The overall influence, in 2010, is Art Deco. Clean, simple and elegant. Art Deco often features aluminum, lacquer, stainless steel, animal skin patterns, inlaid wood and elements of zigzags or stepped patterns, lightening bolts, sweeping curves, lines, chevrons and sunburst. Geometric and angular, the use of chrome, glass and mirrors exude the Deco feel. Flowing natural forms and female imagery are highlighted in lamps and carefully selected ornaments. Lamps with geometric glass shades work well with art deco interior design.

Stylized images of airplanes, cars, cruise ships, skyscrapers or simple nature motifs like shells and flowers are connected to the style. All things Egyptian, Chinese and theatrical contrasts like glossy black lacquer, satin and fur, exemplify the highly fashionable elements of the Deco trend.

The fusion of old and new is an opportunity to create original recycling chic. Go for symmetrical, repetitive shapes and use glass and stainless steel. Bold, highly contrasted and interesting shapes and colours make things seem light and kind of fun. It will “open up” your space, too.

The look can be achieved on a small budget. Visit second hand stores for original art deco pieces that can be refinished. Indulge in some fabulous, but inexpensive poster art, film and entertainment memorabilia. Spruce up an old dresser by painting the main frame gloss white or gloss black- you can paint the drawers another colour- or each a different colour. Change handles to chunky, prominent shapes or bold colours.

Art deco style features primary colours like red, yellow and blue or Miami colours like pink and green and fabrics and materials like velvet and leather. Wood pieces should be stained in light colours. Add intriguing and unusual accessories. The Art Deco - 30's look can lend an elegant Hollywood-style glamour and can be achieved on any budget.

Think: Pizzazz. Go with crisp, modern, sensual and seductive lines. Dramatic Deco undertones catch the attention with highly-stylized, luminous, geometrics and splashes of luscious reds should be desaturated in places and then pumped with luxurious decadence. Originally, the movement represented modernism turned into fashion. Individually crafted pieces would exude luxury and create a sleek and anti-traditional elegance intended to symbolize wealth and sophistication.

Ornaments should be geometric or stylized from representational forms; and unusually varied, between man-made substances (plastic- especially bakelite; glass; and concrete) and natural elements (jade, silver, ivory, obsidian, chrome, and rock crystal).

Outdated kitchen cabinets- especially the ones with center panels can be easily updated and transformed into deco-friendly glass paneled doors. Simply remove the cupboard doors. Use a chisel and rubber mallet to remove the lip that holds the centre panel and it should be easily removed- measure the panel and order glass in that same size, to replace it. To install the glass, put it in place, then carefully install glazing points approximately every five to six inches to hold it in place. Fill the seams between the edges glazing putty and smooth it with a putty knife. Once the putty has dried, reinstall the cabinet doors.

With its natural geometric look, art deco style can also give a bathroom a touch of glamour. Uplighting will make the most of light with pearl grey or white walls, glass and chrome. Octagonal or hexagon patterned tile is perfect for flooring. Cabinetry should be stand alone pieces of interesting furniture and wall sconces will cast an evenly diffused light around the mirror, for grooming. Set the room off with a glossy oval mirror and streamlined chrome towel bars- with some luxurious, plushy black and pink or mint green towels.

& Don’t forget that artistic exterior doors will increase the value of a home AND provide a focal point with enormous curb-appeal. One fastest growing trends in doors today is the art deco door. The deco style door includes elements of geometrical form, curved twists and smooth, sharp, uneven lines, etched glass or mirrors and is painted in the appropriate gloss colour. The result is a door that is truly a work of art.

ESP (extra sensory perception), clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, supernatural, metagnomy, parapsychology, metaphysic, cryptesthesia, sixth sense… it has many labels and many variations. These phenomena have been observed for many, many years… some say, since Biblical times.

Sir Richard Burton used the term “ESP” in 1870. The first systematic study of ESP was conducted by the Society for Psychical Research of London in 1882. I’m not really writing this blog to debate whether there is such a thing as clairvoyance. In something the size of a blog I haven’t got sufficient room for that discussion.

Some would say that it is a better-instructed lot who know that clairvoyance exists, for them; I acknowledge that this post is written years of study and experiment.

I believe that we all have “psychic” abilities. Clairvoyance, for example, lies latent in every one, and those in whom it already manifests itself are simply, in that one particular area, a little more advanced than most. We each have our talents.

As you may already have gathered, in 1997, my brother established The Ontario & Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society
( http://www.torontoghosts.org/ ) and effectively organized what has long been a matter of intrigue for his siblings as well. His site get emails from all over the world- many involving haunted real estate, ghosts, and problem hauntings. Matthew and his partner, Sue Darroch, investigate all sorts of paranormal activity. ( www.psican.org)

Having been a Realtor® for many years, I have had the privilege of touring through many properties… and I have absolutely no doubt that certain places (both vacant land and buildings) resonate with an obvious energy. Some are quite lovely and some, not so much….

I have mentioned in prior blogs, I have listed and sold properties in which there have been violence (murder, suicide and other tragedies)- in fact, I’ve lived in a few. Some are more “interesting” than others and for many years, I have debated with colleagues in the Real Estate industry on the issue of “disclosure” as it relates to this sort of property.

There is no question in my mind that a Realtor® should reveal any knowledge of the property- particularly anything that would qualify as a stigma, affecting the overall value of the property. Often a property is stigmatized because of environmental or structural problems- say, contaminated soil or a faulty foundation and some properties are stigmatized because something horrible has happened there.

It’s the existence of “dark energy” or something that makes you go “hmmm”- well… that’s where there are no regulations to follow. And, in my experience, some folks are very tuned-in to the vibes and others don’t seem to feel it… or don’t care. So, it’s a coin toss for me, as to when I approach the subject with prospects… but I always do.

Jason Offutt, in his blog “From the Shadows: True Tales of the Paranormal” wrote, “Stigmatized property simply means something happened on the property that could psychologically affect the buyer. That includes a natural death, murder, suicide, a previous owner had HIV/AIDS, a felony was committed on the property, and, in some states, ghosts.”

I’ve been through some properties that I prefer NOT to visit again. I’ve had people ask to see them and I’ll show them- but, I’m honest and forthright about it… albeit, gently. Some people actually enjoy being in those places. I understand that, in some cultures, it is an honour to make your home in such an environment. Go figure. Well… to each, their own.

& I have to say that there have been times when I have distinctly felt that the home was selecting… or rejecting its prospective new residents… and on occasion, felt that a home or homeowner was blocking a sale.

Having honed a sense of conscious awareness, I approach both property and people with an openness that allows me to hear the more subtle language they communicate. I listen and there is often much to hear. I’ve learned to follow my instincts- at times, ahead of logic.

Houses emit some not so subtle signals, too. "My roof leaks" "I have been abused " "I have inadequate storage space" "My plumbing is out-dated" “ Pets have been allowed to hurt me “ It’s amazing though, how few Sellers are aware… and yet, Buyers get the messages- loud and clear… The “other” sort of information is sometimes as easily recognized by prospects.

One of Cincinnati’s most respected psychics has become a highly sought after clairvoyant agent. He agrees that being a real estate agent and a psychic share more in common than one would think. “Both are people businesses – agents are often in the role of counselor and guide,” he says. “I don’t have all of the answers, but often I can tune in and see things happening in a person’s energy field.” he says.

In April 2007, Patrick Kitano posted a blog (at Inman News) in which he said, “OK, I just met one more real estate agent who infers she has psychic powers. Maybe it's a California attribute, but being a psychic real estate agent is a great advantage when it comes to pricing, not to mention foreseeing encumbrances.” And “ Seriously, the psychic real estate agent has become a mildly entrenched meme in our culture.”

A commercial Realtor ® in Calgary says that studying the art of palmistry has taught her how to cue into body language more and uses her knowledge to evaluate how business meetings will go. “I truly believe that this is a science,” she says. “It’s about developing a sense of conscious awareness, and it has opened up a new branch in life for me.”

Why not consult a psychic Realtor® ? Presidents, politicians and their families, celebrities, top executives of Fortune 500 companies, and business people wanting to make the right decisions have consulted psychics for guidance on the paths they choose. Lincoln participated in séances and experienced visions-including one that predicted his assassination.

I urge you though... not to accept God-like answers that lay out irrevocable paths- remember, nothing is carved in stone... no psychic should try to convince you of anything or try to extort money from you (for hex removal, etc.)

Be objective about the information provided by a psychic- if nothing else, it gives you something new angle to consider... but listen to your own intuition...

and it's worth saying again... don't be extorted... don't pay anyone for outrageous services such as "hex removal"... or other hocus-pocus. There are simpler remedies.

“None of us wanted to use the haunted bedroom so it became a storage room.”

"All I know is we walked into the attic with her, and it's cavernous, and we were just looking hard, and, I don't know, this feeling came over me — this warm feeling," the fellow says. "I looked at my wife and she felt it, too."

“My radio will just turn on by itself and my CD will start playing,” she said. “A few times when I have come home after my part-time job in the evening, the radio has been on and the sound isn’t going but the equalizer lights are going crazy.”

“The lady before us kept trying to tell us about the ghost and I told her I did not want to know,” “[My husband] said he can’t remember it being on any paperwork, but he knew about it from the owner. She told us.”

It didn't take long for things to start happening. My mom would get locked out if she left the house. When we went to the basement, we always had a feeling we were being watched. That was me and my mom who always had that creepy feeling, although my mom never discussed this with me 'til later years.

My parents would sometimes sit out front of the house and one day when my mom was waiting for my dad to come home, she was out front and she saw a women walking in the front yard. She looked like any other flesh and blood person but when my mother looked down at this woman's legs, she did not have any, she was floating across our lawn and she disappeared by some trees.

Another time, my father was walking through the hallway of the house and he saw black figures going from one doorway to another, when he went to check to see who it was, no one was there.

Doors began opening and closing on their own. My parents took us out of the room immediately. After this incident, my parents asked the realtor if anything happened in the house before we moved in. The realtor was at first apprehensive to tell us anything, but after my father began shouting at her, she became more willing to say what happened. The realtor explained that there was a family that lived in the house before us and the father of the family went on a shooting spree and killed his entire family and himself in the house. This is why the house was so cheap. After finding this out, my father threatened to sue the realtor for not telling us.

Actor Nick Cage has bought a landmark New Orleans French Quarter property right up the street from the new home of Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie according to the website Big Time Listings. The Lalaurie House in New Orleans has had a checkered past and according to Wikopedia is considered the most haunted property in all of New Orleans.

The Lalaurie Mansion is reported to be the sight of sadistic acts committed upon their household servants and slaves by Delphine LaLaurie in the 1830’s. These spirits have been haunting the property over the past 100 years according to local reports. The house being haunted may have been the attraction for him as he has previously bought another New Orleans property in the Garden District from noted horror writer Anne Rice.

I swore that I wasn’t going to blog about the passing of the King of Pop…

MICHAEL JACKSON

It's just that there seems to be much controversy surrounding the parentage of his 3 children... you can't escape it!

DEBBIE ROWE

Former child star, Mark Lester, claims he donated sperm to Debbie Rowe, who is alleged to be the mother of Paris and Jackson's son Prince Michael.

IVF specialist Dr Lila Schmidt involved in conception of “Blanket”,who is bound by confidentiality rules but can talk in general terms, says: "The surrogate is the carrier of the baby. The biological mom is the egg donor. The surrogate has no connection to the child. It's not their kid. On the birth certificate you can say whoever you want. That's why you hire an attorney. The birth certificate can say Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse but there might not be any genetic relationship to the child."

Claire Elisabeth Fields Cruise claims that she donated all 3 of the embryos to surrogates. She also claims the sperm came from 3 separate donors but identified Julian Bleecker as the father of Paris. Bleeker denies this.

Rumours and allegations abound in the media that the sperm donor whose issue impregnated Debbie Rowe was that of famed dermatologist, (Rowe’s former boss) Dr. Arnold Klein.

And how about the rumours that Michael Jackson is the biological father of Tom Cruise's adopted son Connor Cruise? And did you know that 25-year-old Norwegian rapper Omer Bhatti is in fact Michael Jackson’s secret son?

And/Or, the mother of Michael Jackson's youngest child Prince Michael II is a Norwegian dental hygienist he met on vacation in Tunisia? And… that Miko Brando, son of Marlon Brando- bodyguard and loyal friend of Michael Jackson is said to be the biological father of, at least, little Blanket?

Is it true that that one of MJ's sisters donated eggs for the children? Is LaToya Blanket's mother? Is MacCauly Culkin daddy to Paris? Diana Ross?

Did Michael Jackson get all of his eggs from the same basket?

Pretty well everyone agrees: Michael Jackson is not the biological father of his three children… well, except Jackson’s older brother, Tito… who said, “They are all Michael’s children. Prince looks just like my grandfather. There’s no question they are Michael’s. They are 100% his.”

The rumour mill has not stopped grinding.

And I haven’t even touched on autopsy findings, the famous proboscis or lack thereof.

Rumours… hmmm there are two things one can count on- rumours and change- and people have pretty wicked imaginations. Blanks get filled in.

"I Heard a Rumour" is a 1987 song recorded by English girl group Bananarama. American actress, Rumer Glenn Willis was born August 16th, 1988- she is the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis- who named her after the British novelist Rumer Godden.

There are several mentions of “rumour” in the bible, including: “Acts 2:6 But the rumour of this having spread, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect.” “Jeremiah 49:14 I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.” And “Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.”

If you feel like you're missing out on good rumours, you can visit the Bizarre Rumour Generator at: http://unquietmind.com/insult.html

According to Mats Alvesson (Lund University) and Stanley Deetz (University of Colorado Boulder), “The use of metaphors in rhetoric of persuasion also contributes to image management and the legitimation of expertise.” They also advocate, “…being appropriately sceptical about what one hears and reads…”

I'm suddenly humming... I think it's a tribute to Marvin Gaye's fabulous rendition of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong's "I heard it through the grapevine"... grapevine referring to an informal source of information.... hmmmm inform.

Rumour sounds so much more villainous than “grapevine”… grapevine being more reminiscent of the children’s games variously known as Chinese whispers, Telephone, Broken Telephone, Whisper Down the Lane, Gossip, Arab Phone (from the French Le téléphone arabe), and Stille Post (Silent Post).

I’m sure most of us have played it, at one time or other. A player whispers a sentence to the next player. Each player successively whispers the message to the next- the sentence reaches the last player is announced aloud. The result is often highly amusing, filled with errors that typically accumulate in miscommunication.

I suppose that the group of players in broken telephone COULD stand metaphorically for a mill.

I wonder if the expression “rumour mill” would originate from “grist mill”… taking one thing and making it into another? “Roomer mill” would make more sense to me… seeing that, in theory, people who live together would talk more.

I suppose that term “rumour mill” is some attempt to connect a recognized source for information… but a mill is also a place where something is manufactured… and being “put through the mill” is supposed to be a very unpleasant experience… although rumour has it that publicity agents often "leak" information or rumors to gossip columnists to publicize the celebrity or their projects.... but, apparently, that's only because people want to know....

We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries."

- David Rockefeller

We shall have world government, whether or not we like it. The question is only whether world government will be achieved by consent or by conquest.

- James R. Warburg (CFR)

The Council on Foreign Relations is the American branch of a society which originated in England in 1919 [and] believes national boundaries should be obliterated and one-world rule established.

-Barry Goldwater

We are not going to achieve a new world order without paying for it in blood as well as in words and money.

-Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., in "Foreign Affairs," July/August 1995.

OKAY... What is it really????

On Globalization: “that loose combination of free trade agreements, the Internet and the integration of financial markets that is erasing borders and uniting the world into a single, lucrative, but brutally competitive marketplace”- Thomas Friedman (American journalist, columnist and author.)

In his book “Globalisation: Threat or Opportunity?” Paul Streeten lists of 36 definitions of globalization, running the gamut from positive to negative. Some definitions focus on economics, others on technology and some, combinations thereof or on completely different issues. A few words do stand out.

Streeten repeatedly refers to ‘Internationalization’- suggesting the idea of the entire world becoming a marketplace and a great many arguments that anti-globalizationists make involve markets, market failures (often in the same sentence as ‘multinational corporations’), or ‘market creep’ – (markets moving into areas in which they are not wanted.) ‘Economic Interdependence’ is a repeated phrase and Information Technology is often identified as the driving force behind the growth of interdependence – as it provides the means with which people and businesses communicate worldwide.

Anti-globalization activists identify this interdependence in other terms, citing the push for globalization as exploitation around the world by money-grubbing tycoons…

And, as global magnates like Rupert Murdoch acquire ever increasing control of global media, it could be argued that freedom of expression and ideas are falling victim ever more frequently to economic decisions- (According to the 2009 "Forbes 400", Murdoch is the 132nd-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $4 billion.)

Certainly, the mass media often portrays anti-globalization movements as a loose, flighty, group of intellectuals who support obscure forms of action that have little meaning. Demonstrators are often vilified as opponents to the inevitable and are accused of stalling economic and political progress.

It does seem that the overall goal and effect of globalization is the rapid circulation of products, profits, culture and ideas- and many argue that the people at the bottom are being trampled in the mad rush.

Those against globalization, describe globalism as the unregulated political power of large, multi-national corporations and their power-exercised through trade agreements.

Further, they accuse these corporations of seeking to maximize profit at the expense of degrading labor standards, environmental conservation principles and the integrity of national legislative capacity. Working conditions aren't always sanitary, wages aren't always fair and the GDP isn't always distributed evenly or spent improving the country's standard of living and infrastructure.

Adam Smith (author of “The Wealth of Nations”) asserts that free trade should benefit all interested parties and in this work, he criticizes the implicit political corruption of mercantilism in limiting the benefits of trade to the elite classes. Smith, also, describes mercantilism as a system where one Country increase its power by getting excess gold on foreign transactons- a system fostered by merchants eager to achieve monopolies and easy profits. A world where democracy (one person, one vote) would be replaced by something more market driven (one dollar, one vote).

Economist Amartya Sen suggests that ‘development’, often tied to ‘globalization’, should be measured in terms of “human freedom”- rather than the traditional economic terms and methods: such as gross domestic product. Sen argues that democracy and civil rights should be a primary unit of measurement of development, rather than being described as in some way distinct from development.

Proponents of globalization argue that globalization aids in development and precipitates a spread of higher education and from that, more people who "do the right thing" and give attention to global concerns. Issues such as environmental protection will, they believe, in time, naturally become a priority.

Anti-globalizationists disagree and point to those unstable, volatile regions, where rebels looking to reap the benefits of globalization trade already patrol economic hubs and charge companies huge fees to protect their assets- for instance, Fruit giant, Chiquita has acknowledged paying money to the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in return for "protection". Some believe that Chiquita also made payments to Colombia's main left-wing rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).

Chiquita claims they aren’t the only ones who have made deals with drug lords and terrorists, for security. However, “Our actions were always motivated to protect the lives of our employees and their families,” company spokesman Ed Loyd told the Wall Street Journal.

Just the other day, I came across this sentence: “America, in addition to being a nation, is a brand.” No kidding.

And, without a doubt, there are aspects of Anti-Americanism contained within the anti-globalization movement. Unease at American corporate power and influence, as represented by McDonalds was the reason that José Bové (syndicalist, author, member of the alter-globalization movement and farmer) took part in the 1991 action during which a McDonalds in south-west France (near where they make Roquefort cheese) was dismantled by protesters- just days before it was due to open.

A 2nd April 2002 article produced by the BBC explains:

Bové has concerns about how the food sold in McDonalds is farmed, sourced, and processed. He opposes the bland homogenisation of culinary culture as represented by a soggy Big Mac. There were community concerns about litter, and the impact of a multinational on local businesses.

It was hormone-treated beef that finally sparked the action. Such beef, where the cattle are fed hormones to artificially speed up their growth had been blocked from entering European markets by the EU on health grounds. In tit-for-tat trade retaliation, the US, backed by the WTO, imposed high tariffs on some 'luxury' European food products, including Roquefort cheese.

This tariff was a severe economic blow to the farmers of South West France where Roquefort is made. The construction of a McDonalds nearby, to sell this hormone-treated meat to them in a sesame seed bun with 'French' fries seemed to add insult to injury.

Agribusiness uses genetic modification, hormones, fertilisers and pesticides to force ever-higher yields from the land in vast monoculture farms. Such farms possibly cause health and environmental problems, and certainly result in an excess of a bland crop. This excess is then dumped onto the foreign markets, undercutting the price of local produce and bankrupting the farmer.

And quotes Bové with saying:

Genetic modification is not the answer to the problem of hunger in the world... no one really believes that the problems of hunger and underdevelopment can be solved by technological means; economic, social and political conditions have to be taken into account.

Co-author of 'The World Is Not For Sale', Bové became a farmer in 1975 as a political act'. He advocates eating local produce, grown organically and farmed collectively. In effect, Bové's legal defense for the McDonald’s protest put globalization on trial.

Aside from local food being tastier, Bové argued that local consumption provides local employment and trade that is environmentally sustainable. This, he presented, in contrast to the standards of multi-national agribusiness and fast food outlets, who he portrayed as soulless and purely profit-motivated.

UH HUH

A wise man once told me… if you are confused… follow the money.

ADDENDUM: a friend sent me this link on August 12, 2009

http://www.eatrealeatlocal.ca/#/video CHECK IT OUT!

The Perseid meteors are an annual show, starting in late July when Earth enters a cloud of debris from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. This year we’ll also cross the path of a new strand of debris that separated from the comet in 1862.

The comet Swift-Tuttle was actually discovered because of the strand of material boiling off from the comet. Two American Astronomers, Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle, working independently, made the discovery.

On the 12th local stargazers could be treated to some 50 visible meteors per hour.

Visible light. Electromagnetic radiation.
Energy released. Electrons within atoms.
Light is all our eyes can really see.
Particle and wave.
Traveling energy. Vibrations at
different frequencies and
travelling at different speeds.
Continuum;
electromagnetic spectrum.

In total darkness, our eyes sense single photons- they absorb some of the photons flowing through space. Of visible light, violet has the most energy and red the least.

At twilight, sunlight scatters in the upper atmosphere: L'Heure Bleue, a most solitary time.

I fell in love with him, long before he was known for writing poetry… although I recognized immediately he was a poet…

a poet in its root sense- meaning seer, visionary….

He had a great love for privacy, a great love for solitude. He needed long periods alone to meditate, reflect, think. He needed to have the noise stilled… to contemplate, dream, write…

A great fan of Merton, he was a great lover of Merton’s work… and rogue intellectuals,
McLuhan, for example.

He had a certain stubbornness, pride, a certain amount of arrogance, a certain amount of determination to find out things in his own way and also to beat a path that was his own.

There was nothing one could do about it.

We often spoke in whispers… the moon exposed, at intervals… scattered through slats

in the window blinds. Light of a different frequency bends at slightly different angles.

Such were our concious attempts to reach each other…
another human being…into the soul of another human being…

Such are Laws of Reflectance.

"the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection."

The atoms in some materials hold on to their electrons loosely. In other words, the materials contain many free electrons that can jump readily from one atom to another within the material. When the electrons in this type of material absorb energy from an incoming light wave, they do not pass that energy on to other atoms. The energized electrons merely vibrate and then send the energy back out of the object as a light wave with the same frequency as the incoming wave. The overall effect is that the light wave does not penetrate deeply into the material.

In most metals, electrons are held loosely, and are free to move around, so these metals reflect visible light and appear to be shiny. The electrons in glass have some freedom, though not as much as in metals. To a lesser degree, glass reflects light and appears to be shiny, as well.

A reflected wave always comes off the surface of a material at an angle equal to the angle at which the incoming wave hit the surface. In physics, this is called the Law of Reflectance.

There comes that certain point & one just realizes they’re on a path alone…

The decision is simply to go on with it or not…

Though, no one truly forgets the brightest white light… The way something burns red hot, then turns to white.

The mixture of all colours, mixture of light… frequencies… incandescence.

A perfect colorless, white.

Melissa Leong’s article, in today’s National Post, screams from its title, “Home sales rocket to record levels” and quotes one Toronto Realtor ® as saying, “February right through, it hasn't stopped. Right now, it is a seller's market.... We're constantly in multiple offers”… and a spokeswoman from RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic as saying that while Buyers can still get a good deal- “That's not going to last. Those prices will go up if inventory does not come on the market”.

Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada, says "Traditional market indicators are in place - the stock market has made tremendous gains in recent months, crude values have risen significantly, and the Canadian dollar has gained almost 10 points in the past month. Combine these influences with pent-up demand and growing economic stability and you have the ingredients for solid sales in the top-end of the market."

It might be a wet summer, but Canadian housing sales have and, as a result of a sizzling in June, Canada's two largest real estate markets -- Toronto and Vancouver -- came close to breaking their all-time sales records. This week the Toronto Real Estate Board said Greater Toronto realtors reported record sales in July- a hefty 28% rise over the same month in 2008.

Our local markets, surrounding Bancroft and Barry’s Bay, have picked up- dramatically, too. I feel like the past couple of weeks are little more than a blur. Recent buyers have been lucky, snapping up some of the best real estate deals in years- and there are still some real opportunities.

Although there are some new listings coming up for sale- if they’re priced properly they sell fast! It’s always a good idea to have a Realtor® scouting for you… giving you early information on listings that fit your criteria for that perfect retirement or vacation property. These days, a number of Buyers find that their retirement is only a few years down the road but the current low interest rates are an incentive to buy now and use the property recreationally or to produce rental income, until it’s time to retire.

&, Lately, I’ve been asked a lot about “foreclosure” and “power of sale properties”… I believe it’s because there is so much hype in television commercials we see on channels that broadcast from the United States…. The laws here are much different and lenders have a serious responsibilities and strive to obtain real market value for properties they’ve taken back. Listing contracts for these properties are often made with the understanding that the fact the property has been, in some way, repossessed will NOT be highlighted in the marketing process.

Still… there are some excellent deals to be had and, judging by the action in our local marketplace, but there it’s not the time to procrastinate! Currently there are listings for cottages with shared shoreline or boat-required access… and seasonal cottages/camps with acreage and waterfront lots for under $100,000… some under $50K…. and there are building lots and year round homes for well under a $100K, too! In fact, some building lots are still listed under $10,000.

Indications are, especially with all of the multi-million dollar rebuilding plans, this area is going nowhere but up, up, up. & It already has much to offer…. Location, location, location are still the 3 most magic words in Real Estate.

These days a lot of buyers start their property search on the internet. They visit sites like www.realtor.ca and if they find something that catches their interest, they might email the listing agent for more information. While this is not a bad plan, it may not be the best.

Buyers should consider entering into a Buyer Representation Agreement with a Realtor ® and have a professional do the research for them… AND protect them from the risks involved in purchasing property.

In the industry, we call an unrepresented Seller a “Fiz-bow”- that’s how we pronounce the acronym “FSBO”- meaning “For Sale By Owner”. There are a variety of reasons given by Sellers when they’re asked why they are considering “FSBO”… some are: “I don’t know any agents” or “I’ve had a bad experience”… but, by far, the most frequent is “I want to save the commission costs”.

Speaking of FSBO’s, a colleague of mine once said, “If you were being sued for the full value of your home, would you hire a lawyer or defend yourself?”

I can’t think of a better for the risks of not using the services of a professional in the field.

Every Buyer and every Seller wants to have a successful experience... and here are my top ten reasons that “Buyers and Sellers” should utilize the services of a real estate professional:

1/ Honest & Professional representation:

Probably the most serious drawback of a For Sale by Owner is the lack of protection for both the Seller and the Buyer. A Realtor® has knowledge of all of the requirements and must adhere to rules, regulations, legislations and a strict Code of Ethics. Once you agree to have a Realtor® represent you, they are under contract to provide you with competent service.

You can verify the status of any Realtor © by visiting http://www.reco.on.ca/ (The Real Estate council of Ontario.

AND, particularly as a Buyer, you want to avoid scams like this:

Canadian Woman Informs Police about Real Estate-based E-mail Scam
Waterloo Regional Police have recently received a report from a woman residing in Kitchener (Southern Ontario, Canada) that someone tried to deceive her by sending spam messages.

The woman revealed that she had received spam messages while searching for a home online in the first week of July 2009. She disclosed her name as well as personal details.

However, she got suspicious of the deal after she had received an e-mail that asked her to transfer money in the account of an unidentified person.

It is said that after the woman had got apprehensive about the deal, she applied her investigative skills and found that the home owner was suspicious.

Olaf Heinzel, Police Spokesperson, said that the home owners had indicated that it was not available for sale, as reported by therecord on July 6, 2009.

Hence, the sale was fake and advertisement posted online primarily meant to fool people.

Heinzel further said that there were potential risks involved while dealing on the Internet. Sometimes dealing on the Internet could not be trusted as the person with whom the dealing is going on not a genuine one.

Furthermore, these e-mail scams operate from outside the country which makes tracing them a difficult task. Police have advised the woman that she should lodge a formal complaint against the website hosting that advertisement.

Internet users need to be extremely careful while accessing information online and confirm the legitimacy of the website, said Heinzel.

Internet scams that dupe innocent users have become very common now-a-days.

Security experts have warned netizens that cyber criminals especially spammers advertise fake houses for sale through spam e-mails in bulk. They are confident of their techniques that someone would fall to them.

In fact, scammers are very intelligent in their methods as they take real ads and modify their details slightly so that they seem realistic to users.

Hence, there are few points that can be used by netizens to find out the legitimacy of home advertisement. For instance, if the price of a home is relatively low to the market price, then the deal should not be made. Secondly, if the home owner is asking to wire money before the deal is signed, then it is certainly a fake deal.

2/ MLS ®

Realtors® have far greater resources than the average homeowner/homebuyer. Certainly, a determined FSBO can put a “for sale” sign in the yard and run an advertisement in the local paper, however, the home won’t receive nearly as much exposure as it would through the MLS®.

It is nearly impossible for out-of-town Buyers to know a FSBO is available and a great number of sales, especially in rural/recreation/retirement areas, come from out-of-towners.

Buyers can rest assured that their Realtor® must and will include any appropriate FSBOs in their presentation of prospective properties.

3/ PRICING

Determining what each particular piece of real estate is worth is crucial, but extremely difficult. Most homeowners honestly believe their own home is worth more than comparable homes in the same area… and often, they’re wrong.

A Realtor® has access to statistics, current market conditions and other information that is important in assessing the likely selling price of a property AND tips for improving Buyer appeal.

Overpricing any for-sale home is a sure way to deter potential buyers… and most Buyers looking at a FSBO assume THEY will be saving the commission… not that the Seller will be saving the commission. In fact, many buyers making an offer on a “For Sale by Owner” will take into account that the services of a REALTOR® are not being used and they will deduct their calculated savings of commission from the FSBO asking price.

Both Buyers and Sellers need to be informed of the recent sales comparables and current local market- the kind of information a Realtor® will provide- in order that they can come to a reasonable agreement on price.

4/ Representation

FSBO=an unrepresented seller

Potential buyers will spend less time in a for-sale home if the owner is present during the showing- they’re often shy about discussing its pluses and minuses with their own agent if the owner is within earshot.

Buyers are less inclined to make an offer if they know they'll be negotiating directly with the seller. It’s just not as comfortable as dealing through a third party.

A Realtor® creates an effective emotional buffer between the Seller and Buyer- helping the Seller evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising market position and write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it smoothly through the process.

Buyers who have contracted a Realtor® in Buyer Representation can discuss FSBO opportunities with their Realtor®. A Realtor® will show FSBO properties and most Sellers will agree to pay commissions to a Buyer’s Agent….

In fact, Buyers should be concerned, if a FSBO Seller is not willing to pay the Buyer’s Agent- it may be that something is not quite right about the whole deal, if they balk at having an expert help a Buyer check things out and write up a contract.

A simple grammatical error or missing word from an Agreement to Purchase can create a dispute that will give rise to a lawsuit. Most after-sale complaints involve alleged damages of less than $10,000 that may spiral into thousands more if legal action is required.

A Realtor® knows contract language and has learned how to reduce the likelihood of confusion by drafting a clear concise offer, reducing exposure for both parties.
.

5/Security

As a Seller- when your property is marketed with an agent's help, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Agents will generally pre-screen and accompany only qualified prospects through your property.

As a Buyer- A Realtor ® will help you avoid being lured into a “FSBO” that may be unscrupulous or fraudulent by calling and checking them out, in advance AND provide you with company on your visit to the property.

6/ FSBOs are likely to stumble into legal trouble

While the previous 5 items have included mention of potential legal disputes, this concern warrants serious attention.

Real estate transactions are fraught with potential liability- for unwary Sellers, as much as unwary Buyers.

There are laws regarding disclosure requirements and a FSBO or FSBO Buyer who overlooks even one mandated requirement could lose money or worse, face a protracted and expensive lawsuit- after the transaction closes or fails to close.

It is important that Buyers and Sellers understand that the sale of real property is not just a marketing exercise; there are many legal issues involved which can create liability. Of all the things you want and expect from buying or selling property, a lawsuit is probably not one of them.

7/ Monitoring, renegotiating and closing

Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or completion), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs might be required for the Buyer to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most people… not to mention the stress.

A Realtor® can help to objectively resolve any issues and move the transaction to closing because of their experience and the simple reality that they aren't emotionally invested in the transaction- they can keep a cool, level head during the ongoing negotiating process.

8/ Time

A Realtor® can save you valuable time- working many, many hours, behind the scene, for every hour that they’re in your presence.

Under contractual responsibilities, a Realtor® has a vested interest in fulfilling their obligations to Buyer and Sellers alike- not to mention it is how they earn a living.

Statistics tell us that 90% of FSBOs will contract a Realtor® after approximately a month of the hassle, time, energy and emotional stress of running ads, fielding phone calls, holding open houses and showing parades of people through their properties. FSBOs get tired of people who need “help” to buy a home and who ask the seller to take less, carry a second mortgage, engage in creative financing, or even entertain some form of fraud. And then there are the onces fresh out of some “no money down” seminar.

Statistics tell us that some 90% of Buyers will contract a Realtor® after spending a few frustrating weeks trying to find property by calling listing representatives on ads… or trying to negotiate with a FSBO on their own.

9/ Connections

Realtors® spend a great deal of time developing relationships with appraisers, local banks, township officials, lawyers and other Realtors®- all of whom can help streamline the many steps involved in the listing and selling process. These same connections are helpful for Buyers seeking advice. Further, it is sometimes helpful to speak to your local Realtor® if you are planning to purchase out of town- they may be able to recommend a good Realtor® in that area.

10/ Success

Even in a robust market, fewer than 30% of FSBOs will sell… statistics tell us that FSBOs fail at a rate of more than 87%.

More than 9 out of 10 FSBOs will contact a Realtor ® within 4-5 weeks, if they really want to sell.

87% of residential home sales involve the Internet, particularly www.realtor.ca AND 92% of Internet buyers find their agent that way.

Sure, it costs money to employ a Realtor ®, but they work… and work hard to earn their commission.

When a Realtor® is involved: a Seller is more likely to sell their property faster and a Buyer is more likely to find a desirable property… and at the same time… both Buyers and Sellers reduce the chance that anything will come back to haunt them.

Bancroft was once one of the larger villages in North Hastings. Settled in the mid 1800s, it consisted primarily of flour, saw, woolen, and shingle mills in its early days. At the turn of the century the North Hastings region was experiencing unprecedented prosperity and its population was at a peak.

The Barry’s Bay area of Renfrew County (Sherwood Township), was first settled over a hundred years ago, along with other communities on the Opeongo Line. The town also served as a standby base for the Canadian Military during the war years.

The area is dotted with many ghost towns. In this blog, I will try to highlight a few.

Addington (Perry) Road

Get there: Highway 41, from the Clare River south of Highway 7 to the Denbigh area, parallels much of the old road.

Commonly called the Perry Road, after the Perry brothers who built it, the Addington Colonization Road started at the Clare River in Lennox and Addington County. It wound its way northward, skirting Mazinaw Lake, to eventually link with the Ottawa and Opeongo Road through Renfrew County. Provincial Land Surveyor A. B. Perry won the contract to build the road and 45 miles were completed by 1856.

First the road route was blazed, to guide the work crew through the wilderness. Next, trees along the way were hacked down, with large stumps often left to rot. Little grading was done and travellers had to wind their way around the large stumps and hazardous rocks. Swampy areas were laid with “corduroy”—logs spread across the road. Travel over these areas was a bone-jarring experience. Culverts were installed to facilitate drainage and bridges were constructed over creeks and rivers.

Frequent fires destroyed the bridges and travelling the road was tiring and hazardous. It was much easier to get around by horse and sleigh during the winter months, when snow and ice covered the road. A. B. Perry completed the road to the Madawaska River but bridges over the Madawaska were destroyed regularly by the large log jams from river drives.

Finally, Ebenezer Perry, A. B.’s brother, completed the Addington Road to the Ottawa and Opeongo Road. Ebenezer was the land agent for the Addington Road. He dispensed location tickets to the free land grant settlers who took up lots along the way. By 1858, some 160 lots were occupied, with more than 100 others settled the following year. It was a tough life for the pioneers, but some of them stayed to enrich the region we call Mazinaw Country.

Balaclava: Renfrew County

Get there: Turn North from Dacre (highway 132) onto highway 513.

You’ll find a row of ramshackle buildings with sagging roofs, huddled along a narrow road.

The remains of Balaclava include an old water powered sawmill, one of the last to operate in Ontario. If you look closely, you can still see pieces of machinery and wagon wheels inside the building.

The first sawmill was built in 1855 and purchased by the Richards family in 1868. Interestingly, the Richards family was taken to court in 1903, on an early piece of anti-pollution legislation. Apparently, the Richards had been using the stream as a disposal unit for all their sawdust. The stream was becoming clogged and another mill, further downstream, complained. The Richards lost the court battle and shortly after that, added the huge burner, which still stands today.

Much of the original mill was destroyed by fire in 1936 but was quickly rebuilt and continued to operate for only a few years after it was sold to Donald Dick in 1957 and ceased operations when the surrounding timber supply became depleted. Much of the town

Although Balaclava had been a busy industrial and farming centre throughout the latter part of the 19th century, it was by-passed by the railways- that… combined with failing farms and dwindling lumber supplies was the town’s demise. The mill continued to operate on waterpower until 1967.

There may be one occupied house in Balaclava. Well kept, with sky blue aluminum siding, it usually features a large For Sale sign in front, presenting a humourous contrast to the buildings across from it.

Bannockburn:

Get there: about 15 miles north of Madoc on Highway 62.

Gold was first discovered at Bannockburn around 1878. A small deposit, it was known as Bannockburn Gold Mine and run by locals for several years, with little success.

The mine operated as a commercial venture from 1894-1898. Operations included a 10 stamp mill and mercury amalgamation process for recovery of the gold. The workings consisted of several shafts, small pits and an open cut trench.

The mine never operated at a profit, due to the irregular nature of the deposit. It lay abandoned until 1982, when it was acquired by a prospector. Most of the workings have fallen in or are now obscured by forest.

Balvenie: Renfrew County

Get There: about 8km east of Griffith on HWY 41 lies a road named Marchand-Lacourse Rd. Turn right and continue to the fork.. (you will need a 4x4 or walk from there on)

A small settlement established itself here in the late 1880's and added a post office in 1891- it closed in 1940.

Blairton

Get there: Follow Highway 7, west of Marmora- 7 kilometers to the Blairton Road. The former town site is two kilometers to the north.

An iron manufacturing town of the mid 1850s on the shores of Crowe Lake, a location accessible only by water as roads were nearly unusable. The railroad eventually came to Blairton in 1866 that made the mining operation more profitable. The mine was an open pit mine close to the lake and the town located to the rear. With the railroad, the town began to grow and soon had a population of around 500 inhabitants. The town prospered for about ten years when water became its worst enemy. Ice floes tore away the railroad trestle. Water began to seep into the mine.

At one time, the town had boarding houses, stores and about forty houses for miners with families.

Brent: Algonquin Park, Nipissing District

Get there: A few kilometres West of Deux Riviere on Hwy 17 is the Brent Road, follow this dirt road for 63 km until you hit Brent.

There are still cottages on the road, at least until their leases expires in 2017- there are also rail-beds, some foundations, an abandoned hotel, Ranger Station and a cemetery.

Brent was a divisional point on The Canadian Northern Railway, between Pembroke and Capreol. Built in 1915, the facilities included a round house, water tanks, coal chute, maintenance sheds, shops, and station. Brent also boasted a general store, school, church and post office (1928-78). From 1921-32 The Brent Lumber Co, operated a sawmill half a mile west of the settlement. The advent of diesel rendered the divisional point useless by the 1960's and it closed in the early 70's. Brent at that time counted 160 residents. In 1978 the government refused to maintain the long dirt road, and ordered the residents put of the park (for the winter at least). The rails were taken up in 1996 and the station and numerous buildings have since disappeared.

Brinklow (Limerick Township)

Get there: At the corner of Highways 62 and 620.

Also known as Brinklow Station on the Central Ontario Railway.
There is an old house on the corner, it is currently being updated.

Brudenell, Ontario

Get there: Around the intersection of Foymount Rd 512 and Opeongo Rd

Once the busiest community on the old development road, Brudenell boasted some 200 residents in the latter 1800s. There are still 36 registered parish families, most of whom are descendents from its 1850s town founders.

At one time, Brudenell had a racetrack, blacksmith and 3 hotels that served liquor- the town fast gained a reputation. They say a Brudenell Saturday night was a thing to behold and then Sunday mornings at "Our Lady of Angels" church was a sorry sight, indeed.

As you enter Brudenell, the concrete foundation on your left is all that remains of Bill Costello's hotel- it later became the office of the Brudenell and Lyndoch Telephone company- and the private home next door (at one time the town hall) still retains some of its original grandeur with its large veranda and gingerbread trim. When this establishment was operated by Cooey Costello, it was known locally as the "sin bin" and its main salon featured a grand piano.

There was a daily stage service to Eganville, Rockingham and Combermere, from Brudenell in the late 1800s. The decline occurred when Primer Minister Laurier routed JR Booth’s railroad through Killaloe instead of the Opeongo line, in 1893.

Al Capone had a large log cottage on nearby LetterKenny Road... a perfect getaway in the lush Ontario wildnerness.

Burgess:

Get There: New Carlow Rd (which runs south east off Hwy 62) a few kilometers east of Maynooth.

Ore crushers peer through the birch trees, while across the road stand the log remains of a storage building. There is e4vidence of former mining and milling operations, throughout the area.
Once a thriving village of about 300, employed primarily in the corundum mine, the town was booming until a synthetic version of corundum, “Carborundum”, was invented.

Castleford:

Get there: Near Renfrew, off the Opeongo Line, around Farrell’s Landing. From River Rd 1, turn right onto Thomson Rd and travel 1.4 km (0.8mi) to the driveway beyond the spruce plantation on your right. Walk up to the next driveway on your right to access the First Chute via a tree-lined lane.

West of the bridge on the right, a plaque commemorates Lt Christopher James Bell, a veteran of the War of 1812, who settled on the Bonnechere in 1829. In the time when rivers were the highways of trade and commerce, those making the trek up the Bonnechere River from the mighty Ottawa used Farrell's Landing (a few kilometres up-river) and the village of Castleford as jumping-off points to the interior. Timber barons, loggers, teamsters, and the pioneer squatters who established farms up-river to supply the logging camps disembarked here.

Cheddar: Haliburton

Get there: Hwy. 118 west from Tory Hill to Cheddar Rd and head south to the boarding house. Nobody lives here and the village has been swallowed up by the forest. The village was located in the former Cardiff Township (once the northern part of Peterborough County but now in Haliburton County) The old mine 1 km south of Cheddar does not allow trespassing but the old town site east of the boarding house, through the forest, still has the remnants of old buildings.

They say that Cheddar is a ghost town extraordinaire. A trip to its present location will baffle the mind at its illustrious past. The ghost town has been literally reclaimed by the forest and only one building remains. Cheddar began in 1871 when Benjamin Woods opened a store and post office along the windy and new Burleigh Road (a colonization road). It was called Wood's Corners- after a Mr. Woods who offered "entertainment to the travelling public".

Soon after came the hotel, a blacksmith, sawmills, 2 churches, a school and a second general store (owned by A. Southwood in 1890). Mr. Southwood got the new postmaster contract and instantly changed the name of the prospering settlement to Cheddar after a town in England. By the 20th century uranium was found nearby. The Cheddar Mine opened in 1932. By 1942 the mine was abandoned and soon the town began to fade in importance. In the winter months to keep active the local men formed a hockey team that would play local larger towns like Wilberforce.

A fire tower was located south of Cheddar past the mine at Hook Mountain. Built in 1931, its towerman protected the local forests by an early detection of forest fire from the tower's cupola. The farm soils had become depleted by the 1950's. New roads were built and paved to welcome the new cottage boom in Haliburton. The old windy gravel trails that were the Burleigh and Monck Rds. were paved and straightened to bypass Cheddar. Suddenly the once strategic junction was left behind. The forest has reclaimed the entire town site and mine site.

All that remains is the old boarding house, a cistern and fragments of the Cardiff fire tower.

CORBYVILLE

Get there: on the bank of the Moira River- Corbyville is north of Belleville. Take Canifton road until it divides.

Mr. Henry Corby immigrated to Canada. Mr. Corby had been a baker back in England and when he arrived in Belleville in 1832, set up a small shop. After serving in the Rebellion of 1837 he bought a St. Lawrence steamer named the "Queen" which he operated for four years.
It was customary for farmers to set aside a portion of their inferior grain to be made into whisky, and as Henry Corby was already making whisky for the locals, it's no wonder that he became interested in the distilling process. In 1857, Corby built a dam and established a grist-mill on the bank of the Moira River. In 1859 he built a distillery which became more important than the mill.

Ten years after building his first mill, Henry decided to try his hand at politics and was elected mayor in 1867. The following year he served as a member of the Provincial Parliament for the Conservatives.
Henry died on October 25, 1881 at which time his son, Harry, took over the business. Harry began to sell the whisky by the bottle rather than the barrel, seeing it a better business opportunity. In 1905 the company was named the H. Corby Distillery.

Hiram Walker bought the operation and added a number of new facilities. A short distance from the town, the Walker Company built new vats and company offices and the name Hiram Walker became known the world over. For nearly 70 years the Walker Distillery flourished. In 1991, the operations were closed.

On Sunday April 5, 2009 the old Corby Distillery burned down- arson was suspected. Only one building and the silo remains on the site.

A bookstore now occupies Henry's old bakery and grocery store.

CORDOVA (Peterborough County)

Get there: 32 mi/51 km NW of Belleville
“the hamlet with the heart of gold,"

While a number of early buildings remain occupied, a number of other buildings are gone and Cordova stands as a ghost of the minefields. Around the turn of the beginning of the 1900s, Cordova was one of Ontario’s leading gold producers. After the gold rush to the Highlands of Hastings began in the year 1866, any of the deposits proved difficult to work or outright fraudulent. The local bubble burst and the mining camps turned into ghost towns.

During the 1890s, improved technology prompted the reopening of some of the more important mines located near Cordova. Between 1892 and 1917, two of the larger mines produced a combined 23,000 ounces of gold. By the 1940s all mining in the Cordova area had stopped and the mines closed.

Craigmont:

Get there: located several kilometres south of Combermere, Ontario, in the woodsy hill country of Raglan and Carlow Townships.

Craigmont was a mining town. Its ore, Corundum, was the hardest mineral- save for the diamond. Corundum was used as an industrial abrasive. The Craigmont deposit was discovered in 1876, but it was not until 1900 that mining operations began by the Canada Corundum Company. The town had a population of 400 consisting of both a company town and a private town. Following the 1913 flash fire that destroyed the mill, Craigmont fell into decline and by 1921, all that was left were the remains of the huge smelter and its foundations.

Dartmoor: Victoria County

Get there: Take the old Monck Rd east from Hwy 12 past Sebright to Dalrymple Rd.

Dartmoor has certainly vanished from modern maps, but at one time was a thriving hamlet with a schoolhouse and a post office. Some of the old barns remain as well as an original log cabin/farmstead and the schoolhouse.

Located on the Monck Rd at Lake Dalrymple Rd. in the former Township of Dalton, City of Kawartha Lakes- a former municipality located in the northwest corner of the former County of Victoria, now the City of Kawartha Lakes.

The town was named after Dr. John Dalton (1766-1844), an English scientist who had a lot to do with the beginnings of atomic theory. Dalton has an extensive history in logging and colonization along the Old Monck Colonization Road.

Villages in the Township include old logging/farming communities from the 1800s. These include: Sadowa, Sebright, and the ghost towns of Uphill (also on Monck Rd.), Ragged Rapids and of course, Dartmoor. All had been rural post offices. Settlers included the Thompsons, Gardiners, and Montgomery's and were mainly of Scottish/Irish Presbyterian backgrounds. Back then, one of the most colourful figures of the municipal history of the township was Joseph Thompson who was reeve for a quarter of a century. Thompson was a great hunter, there are many legends that speak of his prowess in the wilderness.

Doyle’s Corners

If you are looking for Doyle’s Corners, you should know that it was subsequently called Tara, then Oxenden and finally Maynooth in 1863 after a town in County Kildare, Ireland.

Eldorado

Get There: Hwy 62 North of Madoc, approximately 21 kilometers. Turn left on Center Millbridge Road.

The first gold rush in Ontario occurred in 1866 when word of fabulous strikes came out of the wilderness of Hastings County. Prospectors, speculators and miners from across Canada poured into the area with the hope of finding their fortune. Within a few weeks, there were hotels, bars, brothels, boarding houses, mercantile stores and others that numbered more than eighty buildings. In the time it took to become a boomtown, Eldorado became a ghost town when many of the claims proved to be fraudulent.

Enterprise: The Township of Stone Mills (established on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the former Township of Camden East, Township of Sheffield and Village of Newburgh)

See also “Newburgh”

Getting there: Greater Napanee/Lennox Addington
The township covers 71,064 or 68,833 hectares and is centrally located and share boarders with; Addington Highlands, Tweed, South Frontenac, Loyalist, Deseronto and Greater Napanee

The area is home to a number of ghost towns, throughout Camden East, Colebrook, Enterprise, Newburgh, Tamworth/Erinsville, and Yarker- some built upon and around the Canadian Shield, the Limestone Plain and the Salmon River Valley.

The Newburgh/Centreville area might best be described as a series of hamlet – sized communities in rural settings. “Rogues’ Hollow”, Newburgh’s original name and “Whalen’s Corners”, Centreville’s first designation, and the numerous small centres in the former Camden East Township, all had a very meteoric rise and fall. This region in the present Stone Mills Township, so named because of the many old limestone structures in the area, has gone from booming mill and small industry towns to the present ‘bedroom’ communities for Napanee, Kingston and to some extent Belleville.

At Centreville, the old log schoolhouse still stands about two km west of the hamlet’s main intersection.

Esmonde, Ontario

Get there: turn onto Opeongo Rd from Hwy 41- About 1.5km (0.9mi) beyond the roadside biway, look for the Opeongo Oasis on the right side of the road.

Early settlers, shantymen and travellers often stopped here on their journey up the line to quench their thirst. Legend has it that since these stops sometimes resulted in heated discussion and bloody conflict, the creek would at times run red with blood. Others contend that the water was coloured by the red wine which was split during the common practice of diluting to make the bottle last longer.
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, built in 1890, marks the remains of the hamlet of Esmonde. From here the road skirts the base of the Opeongo Hills along the southern edge of the Bonnechere Valley.

St. Joseph-the-worker, with sleeves rolled up and wearing a careworn expression, appears to be standing guard over Esmonde’s Catholic Church. In fact, after much debate, it faces westward down the Opeongo Road. During the statue’s commission — thought to be in the 1980s — it was debated as to the direction it would face since St. Joseph’s parish includes people from both Dacre, to the southeast, and Griffith, to the southwest. To split the difference, St. Joseph would have to face south. In the end, the community did not want the sainted statue to face southward into the bush where, in the words of a local, there was nothing
Esmonde is just one of several communities built along the historic line. It boasted a school and Catholic Church, and for a while, a post office. But, once the land was farmed out the settlers moved on. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church continues to offer mass to this day

Ferguslea

Get there: From Renfrew, head up the Opeongo Line by travelling west via Hwy 132 to the Ferguslea bypass.

The biway into Ferguslea follows the route of the original Opeongo Line past several original log homes and rustic wood fences reminiscent of early Canada. The Kingston and Pembroke Railway (known as the Kick'n Push) came through in 1884, and for years thereafter passengers would disembark and overnight at the once-bustling Opeongo Hotel.

Foymount

Get there: ascend northwest along Opeongo Rd to the intersection of Foymount Rd 512. Turn left and proceed for a short distance to Foymount.

Foymount might be it considered a modern ghost town of sorts. Constructed during the “cold war” as a radar base and part of the NORAD system of hostile aircraft detection, the town sits atop the highest point of land in eastern Ontario. Intercontinental ballistic missiles made the base obsolete and the town closed down. Recently, however, a few inhabitants have made Foymount home- but there is still much to see of the remains of the once bustling military establishment.

Frontenac Road

A route for the Frontenac Colonization Road was surveyed by Provincial Land Surveyor Thomas Gibbs in 1852 and 1853. The road was constructed under the supervision of Warren Godfrey. It began in Hinchinbrooke Township and was completed through Olden and Clarendon Townships and into Miller to the Mississippi Road junction by 1862. The community of Playfair Corner grew up at the intersection. The Frontenac Road shared the same roadbed as the Mississippi Road as far as Johnston Corner, to the northwest, but the section was abandoned early in favour of a route through better farmland. The road was extended to the Madawaska River before the end of the decade. Most of the free land grant settlers who took up lots along the Frontenac Road were unsuccessful in their bids to establish self-sustaining farms in the region. One by one, they pulled up stakes and left, beaten by the harsh climate and inadequate soil conditions. Much of the Frontenac Road fell into disuse, but some of it was incorporated into township and county roads. Mountain Grove, Coxvale, Ardoch and Plevna are communities that developed along the Frontenac Road.

Furnace Falls Haliburton

Get there: From Highway 503 take the exit to White Boundary Road. Continue on this road for 1.2 kilometers. The former town site is situated in an open field with a log building on the north side.

According to modern maps the open field was once the town centre, but it is actually the southern section of the village. The northern section of the village (on the former IB&OR railway line) is now a trail. To the south of the abandoned barn and log cabin visible from County Rd. 503 (just before the picnic area) there is a creek where the rail trail crosses. This is about where the flag stop was located for Furnace Falls.

Today, all that remains of Furnace Falls are the falls themselves and sporadic buildings and old log barns.
First settled in 1874, Furnace Falls was built to accomodate workers at the Snowdown Iron Mine (in Snowdon Township) at Lot 20 Concession 1.

By 1887 a siding and flag station was built on the Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway (IB&OR) and was situated between the communities of Irondale and Howland Station where Furnace Falls sprang up at mile 4.9 on the railway line.

J.C. Parry opened a saw and shingle mill at Lot 18 Concession 1 after iron ore was found here too. He also built a store in 1883- it served as the settlement’s post office. There was also a smelting works, workshops, 5 homes and other buildings in the hamlet. Later there was a Furnace Falls school called USS #7.

The hamlet never had a population higher than 50.

Gelert: Haliburton

Get there: Haliburton County, south of Minden where the Gelert Rd. and Sedgwick Rds. meet.

There are 2 churches, school, 2 stores, old homes, town hall still standing.

Gelert began as a sawmill village and at times had been called Little Ireland, Snowdonville and Minden Station. First settled in 1860, Gelert was thriving in the late 1800s- especially after the 1878 of the Victoria Railway.

By the 1890s, Gelert had a post office, 2 general stores (both still standing), a shingle mill, a sawmill, a carpet mill, a blacksmith, a hotel, a carpenter, a shoemaker, a wagon maker, churches and a school.

Depleting farm soils (a common problem on the Canadian Shield) and losses of timber stands in forest fires are blamed for sending the village into decline. The post office closed in 1969 and CN removed the rail lines in 1980.

The cemetery at the east side of town is the resting place of a number of early Finnish settlers.

Glanmire:

Get there: 11 km north of Millbridge on the Old Hastings Rd.

All that remains of this community is the cemetery and the cement steps leading up to a monument at the site that was once St. Margaret’s Anglican Church (1887), 3 derelict wood structures, cedar fencing and forest.

First known as Beaver Creek and then Jelly's Rapids, after settler Andrew Jelly- the first reeve of Tudor township. The community once boasted a school, church , post office and a few dwellings. When the post office opened, the new name Glanmire replaced the old.

In the early days, a UE Loyalist, Isaac Stymers, carriedf the mail on foot from Glanmire to Bancroft. Although most of the buildings are gone, just north of the cement bridge crossing Beaver Creek, the cemetery headstones in the St. Margaret’s churchyard remain.

As with much of the land along the colonization road, the land was quite infertile and the town's days were numbered from the start. The post office closed in 1939. The church lasted a bit longer until the 1960's when it was demolished.

Havergal

Get there: Hwy 28 East from Bancroft 25.6 km to McArthur Mills, then just a few hundred meters east of McArthur Mills turn left (north) on Boulter Road. Take Boulter Road north about 12 km to either Havergal or Haas/9th Line.

Silgrey, a rustic four-season hunting and fishing camp featuring some of the best fishing in Ontario is located on the site of the original Conroy Brothers farmstead.

Here, at the Conroy’s Farm a post office was established in 1880 - the name was changed to Havergal in 1886.

Silgrey has several rental cabins, at the waters edge, overlooking the Conroy Rapids on the York River at the Conroy Marsh. There are also several river view or forested campsites available.

Hickey Settlement

Get there: North of Bancroft, Ontario half way between Birds Creek and Maynooth off of Highway 62 are Hickey’s Road East and West.

The west road leads back onto the land of the original Hickey Settlement and on up Hickey’s hill to where the old homestead and farms were.

Primarily settled by the Hickey family from Ireland. Stone fences run through the forests, reminding us of the torturous labour the pioneer farmers undertook.

HYBLA

Get there: Hwy. 62 north from Bancroft about 11 km to the Hybla Road (on the right). Follow the road east about 2 km and you come to the Hybla Gospel Tabernacle, a small, insulbrick building almost hidden by trees and bushes, but close to the road on it's north side. The small train station is now the residence of the Woodcox family.

(if you continue on the Hybla Road another 3.5 km and you come to a T in the road, turn left 3 km down the road, on the north side the Zion United Church stands.)

Hybla’s main street now consists of three original buildings, a store, now a house, a dwelling and the abandoned Hybla Gospel Tabernacle.

The railroad arrived in 1907, when Hybla was a quiet farming community and soon the settlement grew to include a small station, by the tracks. On the main street were two stores, boarding houses and churches. A blacksmith shop and a sawmill made up Hybla’s other industries. From the feldspar mine high in the hills beyond, wagons brought the ore down a winding road piling their load beside the small station. When the railroads switched from coal to diesel, the station and boarding house were no longer needed.

Kenneway: Haliburton

Get there: Surrounded by forest and lakes, the village was relatively isolated in the area, approximately 10 km away from Wilberforce, a larger town to the South East.

North of Harcourt in Haliburton just south of Algonquin Park, this settlement village was located near the modern town of Harcourt, Harcourt Township, Haliburton County, Ontario. It began around 1860 and was abandoned around the 1930's. Primarily a farming settlement, Kennaway also supported a schoolhouse, a few mills, a livery stable, a post office and a hotel. Kennaway created its farms out of the piney soil of the Canadian Shield..

Kiosk Algonquin Park- Nippissing
Get there: 25 km west of Mattawa, Highway 630, turn left, and follow about 35Km, to Kioask.

Originally, Kiosk was simply a mill, built by the Staniforth Lumber Co. in 1936. The small settlement clustered nearby and by 1948 included about 175 residents, a catholic church, a separate school, company store, post office, company offices, a bunkhouse and 15 dwellings. By 1960 it was a bustling village of 80 homes and nearly 600 residents.

The mill burnt down in 1973 and the government ordered all residents to vacate by 1996. By 1990 the place was empty and Kiosk was little more than an Algonquin Park info centre

Khartum Griffith Twp, Renfrew County

Get there: A sign announces Khartum about 6km East of Griffith on HWY 41.

In Khartum, you will find the foundations of a burned-out service station and (near the creek) the remains of an old lumber dam.

The settlement, at one time, included a sawmill, store/post office, bunkhouse and a few homes. The post office opened in 1903 with the name Lett, and was changed to Khartum in 1908

Malone: Marmora and Lake Township

Get there: North Marmora- 401 at Belleville, exit 538(W.L. Road) and drive north on Wallbridge Loyalist to Hwy 14; northwest on 14 to Marmora. From Toronto, exit 436 (Newcastle) and drive on Hwy 115 north to Peterborough. Take Hwy 7 to Marmora. Corner Hwy 7 & Victoria

First known as Powells Mills, the village took the name Malone in 1863 when the first post office opened. Also a mining town, Malone was smaller than Cordova but had more mines operating but for a shorter period of time. By the turn of the century, the mines were no longer productive and were closed.

Another remaining legacy of iron mining around this region; the Marmora Open Pit Mine, is a man-made wonder-lake, seventy five acres in area, six hundred and thirty five feet deep, filled with four hundred feet deep of clear blue spring water that is steadily rising to the top.

Marlbank

Get there: Marlbank is located in Hungerford Township in the second concession- in Tweed, Ontario, Canada, a few kilometers west of Highway 41.

Originally called Allen's Mills, after Dr. James Allen, the first settler- a graduate of Edinburgh University who came to Canada shortly after graduation and settled in Conway, Ontario about 1839.
From there he moved to Napanee, then known as Appanea, where he practiced medicine and owned a drug store. A sawmill was practically a necessity in a settlement at that time, and one was built along the stream that flowed through the valley. More settlers came and soon the hamlet became self-sufficient.

Allen's sawmill cut the lumber for the buildings that were starting to sprout up in the valley. The mill operated by using a water wheel, which operated with swinging buckets. “The creek poured from a canal and dam down a fifty foot fall to fill a wheel bucket. The weight of a full bucket pulled the next bucket to the filling station level as the wheel revolved. By shaft and pulley a rope was harnessed to the water wheel to saw the sturdy logs into boards.”

More settlers came and soon the hamlet became self-sufficient. Many necessities such as crude farming implements and the repairing of wagons and sleighs were in constant demand. There was also an Irish weaver who wove flannel, and a village tailor who fashioned clothes from this flannel.

The population in the valley grew steadily and it became necessary to build a school. The first school was built along the road that led to Tamworth . Around 1870 a larger building was erected on what became Queen Street after the first school became too small for the number of pupils. This first school was then used as a house and was situated near the railway station. It was still standing when the second school had burned down and was finally dismantled about fifty years ago.

The inhabitants petitioned the government for a mail service and post office. Dr. Allen was asked to select a name for the office and, because of the nature of the soil in the valley, Dr. Allen chose the name of Marlbank. The inland sea of the early ages had dried and left millions of tiny animals called crustaceans. Their bodies changed to white dust and were called marl, hence, the name of Marlbank.

The post office was located at the northern end of the village for many years. In the 1920's it was moved to the center of the village and remained there from thirty-two years. It was then moved to the top of the hill on the main street. In 1974 it was again moved a few doors down the street to the home of Harold Tuepah. It is now housed in the only general store left in Marlbank.

In 1904, a fire erupted on the site of the Marlbank Phoenix but the building was rebuilt in 1905, and was known as The Stinson House.

In 1907 the building and ownership changed hands to Mr. William O'Keefe, who re-named the pub after himself, calling it the O'Keefe House, shortened and regularly referred to as the "O.K. House". The business held fast to this name through several years, and owners until 1938 when Sam Schell dubbed the building "The Marlbank House". After a fire destroyed most of the building again in 1994, the tavern's name changed once more, quite fittingly, to "the Marlbank Phoenix Tavern".

When the first rural postal service was introduced about 1914, Henry Allen became the first mail deliverer. Henry would bicycle twenty miles a day to deliver the mail.

Marlbank is the home of the hardest underwater cement in the world that built the Suez Canal. Dr. Allen had been aware of the large deposits of marl in the vicinity and hoped that they might be used for crockery some day… but nothing very much was done with the deposits until the unusual soil was discovered to be excellent in the making of cement.

There is some discrepancy as to who was the first company to move into Marlbank to start up the cement works. Some claim that the first company in Marlbank was the Canada 's Cement Company, which was formed in 1891, and in 1892 the cement plant was erected- others say that it was the English Portland Cement Company Works.

On November 10, 1898, R.T. Hoppner and Company, mineral dealers of Montreal, bought stock in the Marlbank works and, in December 1898, a new, larger building was near completion. In the spring of 1899 the cement works opened, slated to run day and night, including Sunday.
On 24 May 1900, The Tweed News carried the heading “Cement Companies Amalgamate.” The manufacturers of the Portland Cement Company had consolidated their interests.”

Many died during the plant's period of operation and one man lost an arm. The plant was also plagued with many fires- September 22, 19 00 the cement works was almost totally destroyed by fire- August 12, 1903, another fire gutted the “clinker grinding room” and November 8, 1903, there was another damaging fire, in the same room.

Marlbank’s first tavern and dance hall burned and the same property has been the site of two costly fires since then. In 1953 Robert Asselstine lost his home and his service station and garage because of fire. The sawmill and gristmill burned and was not rebuilt. A large grocery store was burnt along with the post office. A store owned by Ben Thal burnt, and it was less than two feet from another large store, which was saved by the efforts of the Bucket Brigade.

In 1889, the Bay of Quinte railroad was extended through Marlbank to Tweed and on to Bannockburn. This railway carried the cement to the Deseronto port, and from there;,to the world. Many school children travelled to and from school on this train system.

Marlbank was booming in the early 1900's. There was a cement works, a bakery, a cheese factory, three blacksmith shops, thirteen stores, a barber shop, a pool hall, a dance hall, a sawmill and a gristmill, two churches, a railway station, a bank that was open two days a week, and staffed by the Tamworth Branch, a fee farm, and two hotels.

One of the “watering holes,” the old Fitzgerald, was described by one of the residents as “some hot spot.” All that is left now of the Fitzgerald is a hole in the ground as it burnt down a number of years ago. However, the second hotel, located at the south end of the village, still remains.

Around 1911 cement was discovered at Point Anne, a village on the shores of the Bay of Quinte. This discovery spelled doom for the Marlbank plant as cement could be transported from Point Anne to Montreal by boat for far less than by rail.

The marl taken out for the cement formed quite a large sized lake, which was later stocked with fish, and cottages sprouted up around it. It was named Lime Lake. Dry Lake is also a manmade lake.

In 1957, the cheese factory building was bought by J. L. McGrath, who tore it down and used the materials in the construction of a house in the city of Kingston.

In 1917, George Jordan bought the local bread business – two houses and, apparently, one is still standing.

Maxwell Settlement

Get there: Highway 62 north past Bancroft to Maxwell Settlement Rd. Follow to the junction of Maxwell Settlement Rd. and Clark Lake Rd. just NE of Bancroft.

The remains of an old farm, an abandoned home can be seen, near a bend in the road. An old schoolhouse/church is now occupied.

Group of Seven artist A.J. Casson painted the village in his work “Country Road”- an outstanding canvas from the late 1950s.

McCRANEY

Get there: on the shore of Rain Lake in Algonquin Park.

In the early days, Algonquin Park was filled with rail lines and mill towns. One of the small mill towns that popped up in the Algonquin Park during the early 1900s, McCraney, consisted of a large sawmill, a combined church and school, and the park’s only Orange Lodge. There was also a train station, boarding house and private homes… and soon, other mills.

In 1896, the Canada Atlantic Railway was built along the shore of the lake. McCraney was considered the central point between Depot Harbour and Madawaska. The train also attracted hunters and fishermen who used McCraney as their entry point, into the park. The lake was once known as the best place for bass fishing.

Eventually, a small lodge and a number of cottages were built. The McCraney station continued to operate even after milling operations ceased around 1945. The rails were lifted in 1959 and the cottages were demolished.

Millbridge and Millbridge Station

Get there: Millbridge is a few kilometers north of Bannockburn on Hwy 62, west on Millbridge Road. Millbridge Station is on the other side of Hwy 62, about 2 km east along Stony Settlement Road.

Take the road about 3 km to the empty St. Oswalds Anglican Church, continue on down the main street to the former store and hotel (both now residences) the abandoned church, school, and community hall, and the cellar holes.

Millbridge originated as a small community along the Hastings Road to serve travelers. Located next to the Jordan River, it also became a small mill town, with three hotels, stores, a church, town hall and a schoolhouse. The school is now a private residence and the church still stands. Some new private homes have been built where the original structures once stood, but some stone foundations can still be seen.

Millbridge Station came into being when an extension to the Central Ontario Railway passed five km to the east of Millbridge. A flag stop station was soon built, later joined by a store, the Hogan's Hotel, and some residences. The railroad is now gone, but the hotel survives.

The Mississippi (Snow) Road

Commonly called the Snow Road for surveyor and builder John A. Snow, the Mississippi Colonization Road began at Balfour’s Bridge over the Mississippi River, to the east of the community of Snow Road.

Surveying began in 1857, with a route winding its way around the rocks and swamps in a northwesterly direction through Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties. Completed to the Hastings County border in 1859, the Snow Road crossed the Addington Road at Vennachar Junction, below Eagle Hill. The section between the present-day ghost towns of Playfair Corner and Johnston Corner were abandoned early because the surrounding rocky terrain proved too difficult for farming. County and township roads, however, follow some of the old Snow Road route from its beginning at the Mississippi River to the Vennachar Junction area.

There is little evidence of the old road route through the rugged country west of Vennachar Junction and north of Weslemkoon Lake until it approaches the Hartsmere area in Hastings County. The Snow Road was eventually completed through to Bancroft where it met the Monck and Peterson Colonization Roads. Some of the Snow Road is still in use, crisscrossing Highway 28 as it approaches Bancroft.

MOWAT

Get there: On the northwestern shore of Canoe Lake in western Algonquin Park

A mill town, Mowat began to attract residents in 1897. It was a lumberman’s town that included all the usual stores, a hospital and businesses. Growing to a population of more than 500, it was the largest town in the Park. When the school opened in 1898 it listed 30 pupils in attendance. Unexpectedly, the lumber industry entered a recession and the population dwindled to just over 200. By 1914 it was down to 150. The community continued to decline and in 1946 the school closed having only 6 pupils.

Murphy’s Corners

Get there: located at the intersection of North Steenburg Lake Rd and the Old Hastings Rd.

Murphy Corners, is just west of Steenburg Lake. In the old days, Murphy Corners—settled by brothers James and Pat Murphy. The Corners was a sort of mill town, and the village of Thanet was the stopping place. In 1860 a school was built in Murphy Corners, a church followed 10 years later. The original Murphy log homestead is still being used as a seasonal residence, it can be seen at the northeast corner of the crossroads. Church services were conducted in this cabin until the new building was constructed.

Nephton: Havelock, Belmont and Methune Twp, Peterborough County

Get there: Peterborough County just NE of Stoney Lake. Near Havelock. Take highway 28 to Northey's Bay Rd, to near QUARRY BAY PARK which is 2 km before the turn into the Petroglyphs Park.

There are no longer any residents in what once was a thriving mining community, just the street lanes remain. Established in the mid 1900s with a library, store, school and homes, the town began to boom when the local Nephton Mine was opened in 1935. The mine is still there, but the village was demolished by the 1990s.

NEWFOUNDOUT

Get there: Six kilometres up a trail off of Opeongo Road, across from Davidson’s Corners.

The road to it is more a trail up the side of the mountain, impassable for passenger vehicles and a steep hike on foot. Log barns, cabins and derelict vehicles can be seen.

The Black Donald Mountains at the southern edge of the Ottawa Valley offer a spectacular and panoramic view. It was there, in 1856, that a group of about a dozen settlers left the Opeongo Road and struggled up the mountainside where they located their lots and began to clear the land- it was some of the most terrible land ever opened for farming.

The community failed to attract any schools and churches. The children had to walk each day down the mountain trail to the nearest school. By 1948 Newfoundout was a totally ghosted settlement.

Newburgh:

Getting there:located in a valley along the Napanee River, and is about 30 minutes from Kingston, 10 minutes from Napanee and around 35 minutes from Belleville.

First settled in 1820 by the sons and daughters of United Empire Loyalists, the site for this village was originally chosen because of the fast – flowing rapids and waterfalls. The waters along this stretch of the river, were strong enough to power mill waterwheels.

Within a few years, there was a thriving village in the hollow of the valley, informally known as “Rogues’ Hollow and by 1839 the Newburgh Academy, one of the earliest schools in Upper Canada, had been founded.

In 1841, the Wesleyan Methodist Church was first established. The original wooden structure was replaced in 1858 by a limestone building which is now home to Newburgh United Church.

In 1887 the village suffered through a devastating fire which destroyed much of the downtown area. Many of the original frame buildings were replaced with brick and limestone structures but in parts of the village some of the original frame structures remain.

O'GRADY Hagarty Township.
Also known as Emmett:

Get there: along The Opeongo Line Settlement Road, as are Tramore, and German Settlement. O’Grady is located at a T-junction where High Country Road meets
O’Grady Settlement road-just outside of the pretty town of Killaloe, Ontario.

Even though T.P. French, Crown Land Agent, called the second settlement in Renfrew County's Hagarty Township EMMETT, the residents and neighbours called it O'GRADY or most often The O'Grady Settlement.

Even before the Ontario government opened up the Opeongo Colonization Road to settlement in the mid 1870's, free land had attracted the O'Gradys. It is likely that the oldest sons were familiar with the area from jobs on the Ottawa and Bonnechere Rivers in the square timber operations.

From 1859 to 1869, the oldest sons took land grants in "an unsurveyed tract to the westward", later surveyed and named Hagarty Township. One daughter married Owen Hammill and remained on the family farm in Fallowfield.

After the death of her husband Thomas, in 1865, Margaret brought the remaining younger members to Hagarty to Lot 26, Concession 1. From here, after marriages, the family members moved to nearby lots, although the August 1862 census shows the name of Thomas O'Grady on Lot 25, Concession 1, subsequently settled by his son John. Henry settled on Lot 22, Concession A. Martin, the second oldest, settled on Lot 24, Concession 1.Tom Connelly of Ottawa, a great-grandson of Martin, and his wife Shirley Mask now own the homestead built by Martin.

Each of the seven sons in turn named one of his sons Thomas after his father. As a result, the sons' names were often appended to their fathers' or spoken with the first initial of their second baptized name in order to clearly identify each in conversation: Con's Tommy, Winnie's Tom (since Henry died early in a fall from a wagon when his son was only three year's old), Rhody's Tom, Thomas L. (John's Tom), Thomas H. (Martin's Tom), Joe (Tom's Tom), Will's Tom.

The arrival of the railroad through Killaloe reduced the traffic on the Opeongo Line. The end of the pineries and lumber camps turned many settlements into ghost towns.

Ore Chimney

Get there: Located near Cloyne or Northbrook on the east side of Highway 41 - Bishop Corners, Barrie Township, Frontenac Co.,
A deposit of gold was discovered (by Johnny Bey, a Mohawk from St. Regis at Cornwall) at a location that would later become the hamlet of Ore Chimney.

The Ore Chimney Gold Mine began production in 1909, as an offshoot of Eldorado and came into being only after a process called cyanide separation was invented to separate the gold from its parent rock. It remained in operation until sometime in the 1920s. There are a number of visible ruins that still can be seen including the foundations of the mill and the shell of the powerhouse.

ORMSBY

Get there: Highway 620 w 4 km to the Old Hastings Rd.

In Ontario’s central highlands, Ormsby remains the most intact of the many villages along the Hastings road. Enticed by the lure of free land, settlers were unaware of just how harsh the land really was. As long as the settlers lived there and continued to need hotels, mills, churches and stores, these communities thrived. Soon, however, the dreadful conditions chased most of the settlers to the more promising prairies.

At one time, Ormsby included two hotels, two stores, two churches, a school, a blacksmith, a sawmill and other small businesses. In 1893, its population was 225- it is now population 20.

The old post office/general store is still there, now “THE OLD HASTINGS GALLERY” it is an eclectic, fun shop!

The Ottawa and Opeongo Road

The Opeongo, an early colonization road developed to open up the Ontario wilderness, was planned to be built through present-day Algonquin Park all the way to Georgian Bay, at the mouth of the Magnetawan River. An east-west route situated to the north of Mazinaw Country, the Ottawa and Opeongo Road began at Farrell’s Landing on the Ottawa River. Farrell’s Landing, near present-day Castleford, was as far as the steamboats could navigate up the Ottawa River. Construction was halted on the road near Carson Lake, west of Barry’s Bay, a great distance short of the intended destination. Many Europeans came into the country along the Opeongo. They were lured by the free land grants and overly optimistic accounts of the quality of the land and the climate. Some of these settlers abandoned their farms early, unable to sustain a living in the harsh environment. Others, lucky enough to have at least some arable land, eked out a living in the area.

Peterson Road

In 1858, construction began on the Peterson Colonization Road, an east-west route linking the Ottawa and Opeongo Colonization Road in the east with the Muskoka Road to the west. Situated to the north and west of Mazinaw Country, the Peterson Road was more than 180 km in length. It was the longest of the colonization roads designed to open up the vast Precambrian Shield country between the Ottawa Valley and Georgian Bay. The lands along the Peterson Road were opened to settlers under the mistaken assumption that a great agricultural community could grow and prosper throughout the region. But like so many of the other early pioneers who poured their hearts and souls into little homesteads among the rocks and swamps, most settlers of the Peterson Road pulled up stakes. Before the turn of the century, much of the Peterson Colonization Road was overgrown and abandoned farms dotted the area.

Petworth: Frontenac

Get there: on the Napanee River- north of Yarker.

Partially occupied. Close to Lake Ontario shoreline.Historic area, very scenic The ruins of Stephenson and Lott mill are located at Petworth, Ontario,

Petworth started out as a lumber town in the 1840s. In the 1870s, when a group of vigilante farmers from nearby Verona, upset about their flooded fields and ruined crops, crept down late one night and blew up Petworth's dam.

By the 1890s, it was one lively place, boasting a blacksmith shop, cheese factory, general store, school and two churches. Two hotels were kept busy, quenching the thirst of the many loggers, who arrived every spring. By 1905, it was a very different story. Sixty years of steady logging had pretty much depleted the surrounding woods and the new railway took a turn eastward bypassing the tiny village. Petworth never recovered. Petworth is now completely deserted.

The stone walls of the old Stephenson and Lott sawmill are still standing, along with the blacksmith shop, a barn, several original houses and the one room schoolhouse, closed since the 1960s. Newer houses stand amidst the ruins and other original buildings, some of which are still in use as sheds, storage buildings and the like.

Porterville:

It may have been called Porterville in 1912 but renamed Lake St. Peter in 1940 to coincide with the name of Lake St. Peter station on the Central Ontario Railway

Queensborough

Get there: north of Highway 7 on the Black River, about 20 km north-west of the town of Tweed and 15 km north-east of the town of Madoc.

Once part of Elzevir Township, Queensborough was amalgamated into the municipality of Tweed on January 1, 1998.

First settled in the 1830s and called Cooksookie. Named in 1854 after Queensborough on the River Boyne- it is sometimes also spelled Queensboro. The village is almost deserted now, although a few of the old original buildings still remain.

Note: Hazzard’s Corners: is just a few miles from Queensboro in Madoc Twp- Directly north from Belleville 20 minutes on Hwy 62. 10 minutes south of Madoc (Hwy 7) on Hwy 62. 11700 east side of the Hwy. 1 mile north of Ivanhoe.

Ragged Rapids Victoria County

Get there: Take the Black River Rd. east from just north of Cooper's Falls.

Once a logging village located on the Black River in Dalton Township. Logging operations grew as timber was sent down the river in the late 1800's.

Other ghost towns in the area included: to the south, Uphill, Dartmoor and Horncastle; and to the SW, Sadowa- all had been rural post offices in the late 1800s.

It has been estimated that Dalton has 25,000 acres of non-agricultural lands that are well adapted for reforestation.

One of the most colourful figures of the municipal history of the township is Joseph Thompson who was reeve for a quarter of a century. Thompson was a great hunter and there are many legends surrounding his prowess in the wilderness. Just an old farmstead remains.

Restholme- Limerick

A village near St. Ola, was also once known as Amery.

Rolphton -Rolph Twp.

Get there: On Hwy 17 West of Deep River.

The nuclear demo plant stands near the town site (1.5 km East near the river.

Paved streets and overgrown yards, nuclear demonstration plant, the town started as a farming community until Ontario Hydro built the Swish hydro station in 1948, a town site which housed construction crews, was established.

After construction the town site came to house employees of the Nuclear and Hydro plants, besides the Hwy Businesses strung the hwy, with a post office (opened in 1948) 3 service stations, restaurants, O.P.P detachment, and stores.

While town was dismantled in the early 1980's the nuclear plant produced until 1988. Though small it was Canada's 1st nuclear reactor and produced 20 000 watts.

In its peak 300 residents lived in the hydro settlement which counted, at one time, over 60 homes.

Shannick- Marmora Twp

Get there: Hwy #27 east to Norwood and continue east to Marmora. Beaver Creek is just north of Marmora.

Also spelled “Shanick” this a small village was orginally a french settlement that almost disappeared twice. It dates back to the early 1800s when it was home to immigrants, empire loyalists and settlers looking for a new start in life.

Shanick is a lost settlement in Hastings County, Marmora & Lake Twp, Ontario- the first settlers were granted land from the crown as early as 1848- the community went through a rebirth around 1880 when the Airhart lumber mill was constructed. Once the mill was closed the community went into another decline around 1930.

Today the community no longer has a post office or a schoolhouse but slowly the population is increasing.

SPRINGTON

Get there: Springtown is about halfway between Burnstown and Calabogie on highway 508. Turn west in the middle of Pakenham Village (past Scoops) onto the White Lake Road, travel north through White Lake to Burnstown and west to Springtown

Springton grew on the shores of the Madawaska River. A stopover place for settlers traveling up the river, Springtown dates from 1848 when the first post office opened.

Although part of the old townsite is below the water, the post office building still stands.

In its prime, the village contained a blacksmith shop, hotel, general store, and a sawmill. Springtown’s importance declined when the Kingston and Pembroke Railway and travel along the road dwindled. Later, much of the Madawaska River was dammed for its hydroelectric power potential flooding part of the original town site.

Thanet

Get there: north of Millbridge on the Old Hastings Road where the Steenburg Lake Rd. crosses. 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) north of Murphy Corners

Although only a small cemetery now marks the location of Thanet, at one time it was considered the main stopping place as one headed north past Murphy’s Corner toward Ormsby. The centre of Thankat was located to the north side of the cemetery, just past the lowland.

The village was once also known as McKillican, after it’s first postmaster, Benjamin McKillican. At one time, three hotels once offered food, lodging and plenty of drink. One of the establishments, known as “Thwaites Place,” had a quite a reputation throughout the county.
One can still find old barns, a abandoned gas station and foundations in the hamlet.

Uphill Dalton & Digby townships, Victoria County

Get there: off County Road 45 - at a junction on the old Monck Colonization Road. Follow Monck Road (old Hwy. 503) past Sebright, before Norland- near VANKOUGHNET and Head Lake.

Once a village of half a hundred people near the south end of the Digby boundary. It was long made famous by its tavern keeper, John Calhoun of the North Star Hotel.

Other close-by ghost towns were Dartmoor and Sadowa to the west and Ragged Rapids to the north. All had been rural post offices.

Uphill also had a post office and 2 stores in the late 1800s.

UMFRAVILLE

Get there: follow the Old Hastings Rd, north from Ormsby.

The only evidence that Umfraville ever existed is the small pioneer cemetery. In 1875, it is reported the town had 250 residents, a post office, a flourmill, a sawmill, a school, four churches and all the various other businesses associated with early Ontario towns. When the Central Ontario Railway passed will to the east, the disheartened settlers fled and all the businesses closed down

Ursa:

Get There: off the Glamorgan Road (County Road 3) and along Ursa Road.

There is a small collection of buildings and old farm equipment on both sides of the road that are either falling down, have fallen down and are passing into disrepair

Vardy, Varty or Vardy Settlement- Dungannon Twp, Hastings Co, ON
Get there: Off the Bronson Rd or Quarry Rd.

Once the site of a small Nepheline quarry.

WALLACE

Get there: take Hwy. 127 north out of Maynooth. Continue north on 127 to the South MacKenzie Lake Road (on the right). Stay on 127 for another 7.3 km, then turn right onto a township road, and travel east 1.3 km to the boarded-up white frame building on the left hand side.

The boarded-up, white framed building was once the community hall. Behind it lies the pioneer Polish Cemetery. Beside it, the foundations of the Roman Catholic church, torn down in 1960, are clearly visible.

Little remains of what was once the terminus of the Central Ontario Railway. Until the late 1950's, the C.N.R. ran a train every Wednesday to Wallace which served the Polish settlement and local lumber companies.

Just the old church and its cemetery survive. The town was located at the end of the Hastings road and offered little to the early settlers. There were several sawmills and a plentiful supply of timber. Hauling timber was the railway’s only business. When the timber supply diminished, so did the population. When the sawmills stopped operating, the rails were lifted and Wallace became another ghost town.

Welch's Corners,

Those seeking Welch’s Corners should know that it was subsequently named Salem, then Coe Hill Mines, after mine developer William Coe- later, the name was shortened to Coe Hill.

Wilno:

Get there: east on highway 60 from Barry’s Bay. The original Opeongo line, now impassable to motor vehicles, can be seen in an opening past Yantha Lake, where it joins Highway 60.

Wilno claims to be Canada's oldest Polish settlement. Established in 1864, the community flourished when the railroad was built through the Wilno Pass in 1895.

Visitors must visit the Shrine Hill (St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church) for one of the most stunning views in the Valley. From here, one can see Round Lake straight-ahead and Golden Lake to the far right. An historic plaque commemorates the Kazubian pioneers who settled this rocky landscape so reminiscent of their homeland.

There is a great deal of myth and misunderstanding about properties being sold under "Power of Sale". Let me begin this blog by saying that I am not a legal expert and that any homeowner who is in default of their mortgage payments should stay in touch with their lenders.

In this economic climate, many lenders are understanding and willing to make special arrangements for payments under certain circumstances AND FURTHER... anyone facing any sort of action from their mortgage lender should gather up any and all mortgage documents that they have and seek professional legal advice- in other words...get a lawyer!

Foreclosure and/or power of sale is a serious matter- but it shouldn't be as confusing as it seems to be. It is primarily a problem of and for the (owner) borrower and the person(s) or company that provided the borrower with their mortgage funds.

In Ontario, when a borrower defaults (fails to pay) on their mortgage, the financial institution (or lender) most often attempts to recover its losses by repossessing and selling the property. In most cases, mortgage documents include a “power of sale” clause granting the lender the right to sell the property when there is a default.

The Mortgages Act of Ontario talks about two types of power of sale: Contractual and Statutory. Contractual power of sale occurs when the mortgage documents have included the provision for power of sale: a statutory power of sale takers place when the mortgage documents don’t spell out the provision for a power of sale but the borrower has been in default for 3 or more months.

In a contractual power of sale, the borrower is notified of the lender’s intent to exercise the power of sale, the borrower has 35 days (or as otherwise might be stated in the mortgage documents) to pay up. In a statutory power of sale, the borrower has 45 days to redeem and pay in full.

In other words- even once power of sale process has begun and the homeowner is removed from the home, the homeowner has the ability to bring the mortgage up to date and pay all interest and fees owing and move back into the property... the reality is; that once a homeowner is removed from the property (or chooses to leave) they rarely come up with the funds necessary to get their property back and the sale proceeds under power of sale. The power of sale can often be the fairest, most inexpensive method to deal with an unpleasant financial circumstance.

Once this redemption period expires, if the borrower has not paid up, the lender is allowed to sell the property by auction, private contract or tender. Usually the property is listed by a real estate representative and placed on the market for sale. There is a responsibility upon the lender to ensure the property is brought to the attention of a large segment of the market- for instance, it should be put on MLS for the usual length of time and offered for fair market value.

Foreclosure is different but similar... it's a more involved legal action that a lender can take if the borrower stops paying. The lender applies for an “order nisi” – the first order of foreclosure. Sometimes the borrower will sign off and agree, otherwise, the lender must apply to the courts before they proceed.

Once the court determines that the borrower is not going to redeem (by paying the full amount owing, plus interest, costs and taxes) they will issue registration of the Final Order for Foreclosure, the mortgagee will automatically be deemed to be in possession and have the right to sell the property.

Ontario's laws are very strict about the procedures for marketing a power of sale property and the company or person who is initiating the power of sale must do their best to obtain what is called TRUE market value as opposed to fair market value for the property, otherwise if the property is sold too far under TRUE market value, the owner could sue them for the difference.

The lender must account to the borrower or borrowers and any other parties with vested interests. The Mortgage Act requires that the proceeds of the sale first be applied to the cost of conducting the sale, then to interest and costs owing under the mortgages, then to principal money owing under the mortgage, next to any amounts due to outside parties, and finally if there is any surplus- it goes to the owners... alternately, if there is a short fall, under power of sale, the seller can sue the owner for the difference.

In the case of Foreclosure, the title to the property is registered in the name of the mortgagee who accepts the property in full satisfaction of the debt, releasing the defaulted owner from liability.

In a Power of Sale situation, once the creditors are paid out of the proceeds of the sale, the property may be transferred (deeded) to a Buyer.

As a Buyer, the purchase of a home being sold by power of sale is nothing to fear... and should be dealt with in the same way as any other purchase- except the Buyer must understand that the bank (or lender) won't- can't, really- make any representation or warranties- the lender has likely never occupied the home and won't have any knowledge of its workings.

There are no "secrets" in a Power of Sale or Foreclosure. It is a governed process. The Seller's mortgage will be discharged, any other mortgages and leins will be discharged and outstanding monetary expenses (such as taxes and utility charges) will be paid for (or adjusted for) at closing. The Buyer's lawyer will conduct a title search, prior to completing the transaction, to ensure that title is clear.

Before making an offer to purchase a power of sale, it's a good idea that the Buyer to do their homework. Obtain copies of the survey, inquire at the township offices about permits and documentation that relate to the property. Talk to neighbours. Sign a Buyer's representation agreement and have a Realtor working on your behalf.

Be prepared... the Lender/Seller often attaches a schedule "B" to Purchase Agreements, spelling out the terms of the process and their responsibilities or lack thereof.

A well-drafted Agreement can help to deal with concerns. I generally recommend, particularly in the case of a power of sale, that an offer be made conditional "upon the approval of the Buyer's solicitor". It's not so much that lenders will change their schedule "B"s... but they are all a little different and the Buyer's lawyer will be able to explain the jargon of the schedule "B" and provide expert advice, addressing any areas of concern.

Some Buyers, especially those experienced in purchasing property under power of sale, are not too concerned about Schedule B's... as they are commonly used and generally contain simple disclosures- as an example, the may contain the following clauses (or,they may not):

1. The purchaser acknowledges that the Vendor is selling pursuant to the power of sale contained in its mortgage (the "Mortgage") on the property and accepts title pursuant to the exercise thereof,

2. The Vendor shall have the right to terminate this Agreement if the Mortgage is redeemed or payment is made on the Mortgage prior to closing,

3. In the event that the exercise of the power of sale of the property by the Vendor is placed in issue, the Vendor may extend the closing date for a period of time not exceeding 60 days in total, if the Vendor is unable to resolve such issue by 5 p.m. of the last day of such extended period or periods, this Agreement may be terminated by the Vendor,

4. This Agreement is made without representation, warranty or condition with respect to the fitness,condition, zoning or lawful use of the property. The Purchaser will accept the property "as is" "where is" condition on the day of closing without regard for its state of repair, location of structures, wells, retaining walls orfences (freestanding or otherwise) and subject to any judicial, municipal or any other government by-laws, agreements, restrictions, rights of way, easements, covenants which run with the land or minor encroachments by buildings or fences on the subject property or adjoining properties or streets,

5. The Vendor is selling only such interest as it may have in the fixtures and chattels referred to in the Agreement and/or located on the property and does not warrant title thereto. On closing the Purchaser may have possession of the fixtures and chattels then on or about the property "as is". The Vendor agrees that it will not remove any such fixtures and chattels from the property but the Vendor will not be responsible for the removal of such fixtures or chattels by any third party prior to closing. The Vendor will not provide a bill of sale, warranty or other title documentation and there will be no adjustment or abatement of any kind to the purchase price with respect to fixtures and chattels,

6. If the Property being conveyed is a condominium then the Vendor agrees to deliver to the Purchaser forthwith upon request a written consent to obtain an 'Estoppel Certificate' directly from The Condominium Corporation. The Vendor shall not be obliged to deliver any further documentation of the Condominium Corporation nor an Estoppel Certificate,

7. The Vendor and Purchaser agree that the acceptance of this offer communicated by confirmed facsimile transmission shall be binding upon the parties. The Purchaser agrees to deliver an executed original Agreement to the Vendor within two days of acceptance of the offer,

8. Any termination right provided for in this Agreement shall be by written notice delivered to the address set out below or by confirmed facsimile transmission to the other party or his/her solicitor whereupon the Agreement shall be at an end and the deposit returned to the Purchaser without interest or penalty,

9. The Vendor has no knowledge and makes no representation whatsoever as to whether the property hasbeen insulated with urea formaldehyde foam insulation or whether the property contains any othersubstances, liquids. Gases or materials which may be hazardous or toxic,

10. Purchaser covenants and agrees to pay to the Vendor at closing, in addition to the balance due onclosing, the amount of Goods and Services Tax ("GST") (if such tax is applicable to this transaction)which may be imposed by relevant legislation of the Government of Canada on the sale of thisproperty. Provided however that the Vendor is solely responsible for the payment of GST on theamount of any real estate commission payable by Vendor hereunder. The Vendor shall not beresponsible to provide any certificale with respect to the applicability of GST to the transaction,

11. In the event of conflict between this Schedule "B" and the provisions of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, Schedule "B" shall prevail,

12. The Vendor makes no representation whatever with reference to the tenancy or occupancy of theproperty and the Vendor will transfer possession subject to such tenancies and occupancies as may exist at closing without any adjustments respect thereto. In the event, that vacant possession cannot be provided by the closing date, the Vendor may, at its sole option, extend the closing dale for any period or periods not exceeding 60 days- If vacant possession cannot be provided by 5 p.m. on the last day of such extended period or periods, the Purchaser may accept the property with existing occupants or either party may terminate the Agreement without penalty.

In many cases, the redemption period has long passed... so there is no possibility that item #2 or #3 will come into affect.

It is also wise to remember that, since the owners (or mortgagors) of the property were not able to make the mortgage payments, they may not have been able to upkeep the property and may have deferred or not repaired or maintained the property.

Power of Sale, or not... I always recommend that Buyers obtain a home inspection; as it helps identify areas that need attention and specifies defects or potential problems.

& a lawyer can advise the Buyer if the property qualifies for Title Insurance and those risks that will be covered and which will be excluded.

Title insurance policies can be issued in favour of a purchaser (on new/resale homes, condos and vacation properties), a lender, or both the purchaser and lender. Lenders will sometimes require title insurance as a condition of the loan. The premium for title insurance is paid once (at the time of purchase).

The types of risks that are usually covered under a title insurance policy include: survey irregularities; forced removal of existing structures; claims due to fraud, forgery or duress; unregistered easements and rights of-way; lack of pedestrian or vehicular access to the property; work orders; zoning and set back non-compliance or deficiencies; etc. For a risk to be covered, generally it has to have existed as of the date of the policy. As with any type of insurance policy, certain types of risks might not be covered, for example, native land claims and environmental hazards are normally excluded.

Title insurance can help ensure that a closing is not delayed due to defects in title. And, if an issue relating to title arises with respect to a risk covered under the policy, the title insurance covers the legal fees and expenses associated with defending the insured's title and pays in the event of loss.

While distress sales resulting from bank foreclosure or power of sale provisions often represent a great way to get a fantastic deal on a home, remember 1/ Utilize the services of a qualified Realtor by signing a Buyer Representation Agreement. 2/ Do your homework. 3/ If you have any legal questions about any contract- speak with a lawyer. No one but a lawyer is qualified to give legal advice.

Rockhounds enjoy collecting rocks and/or mineral specimens from their natural environment. Armed with a rock hammer, goggles, chisels, water, a little newspaper and a bag, the avid collector thinks nothing of driving and/or hiking to remote areas. & most have a pretty extensive knowledge of petrology, mineralogy and geology.

Geology is a broadish term, essentially the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth. Petrology is more of a speciality that deals with microscopic details relating to how a particular rock has been formed. Mineralogy focuses on the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals.

It is believed that modern geology began in the medieval Islamic world. Abu al-Rayhan al-Biruni (973–1048 AD) was one of the earliest Muslim geologists, writing on the geology of India. Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 981–1037) made significant contributions to geology and the natural sciences (which he called Attabieyat). He wrote an encyclopedia of sorts, called “Kitab al-Shifa”, containing essays on Mineralogy and Meteorology.

In China, noted scholar Shen Kua (1031–1095), having observed fossilized animal shells in a geological layer that was miles away from the ocean, hypothesized the process of land formation was relative to mountain erosion and deposits of silt.

AGRICOLA

German scholar and scientist, Georg Agricola (24 March 1494 – 21 November 1555) is credited with being the "the father of mineralogy", for his famous work a complete and systematic treatise on mining and extractive metallurgy.

Unique and interesting rocks are everywhere. Getting started in rockhounding is easy; a collection can begin with a single "pretty" rock. There are a variety of mineral clubs located across Ontario. Many of these clubs host annual gem and mineral shows that give collectors a chance to gather, exchange ideas and swap samples. Ontario also provides a wealth of geological settings. Certainly, Bancroft has everything a rockhound would desire, crystals, minerals and many; many abandoned mine sites and quarries.

Collectors may start with being attracted to certain colours, textures, shapes and/or crystals. A good reference or guidebook can be helpful in selecting promising collection areas and also, in identifying specimens.

Ontario recognizes two kinds of mineral collectors -- hobby mineral collectors and large scale/commercial mineral collectors. The difference between the two is the amount of rock each takes home at the end of the day. This is known as the threshold limit.
The threshold limit between hobby and large-scale collecting is defined as the amount one person can excavate using only hand tools and can carry unassisted from a specific site or location. The limit is allowed once per year per site.

Hobby mineral collecting means:
o Collection for personal pleasure, recreation or interest.
o The amount collected is below a specified threshold.
o The samples collected are for the collector's personal collection. This includes rocks or minerals collected to swap.
o The collector has no intention of selling the minerals he or she has collected. If you dig out your samples with hand tools and carry them home unassisted, you are probably a hobby collector.
Anyone can be a hobby mineral collector in Ontario. You do not need a special licence or a permit.

Although the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines deals primarily with professional prospectors and mineral explorationists, it recognizes the recreational and educational benefits of hobby mineral collecting and has developed a mineral collecting policy.

Code of Ethics
o I will respect both private and public property, and will do no collecting on privately
owned land without the owner's permission.
o I will keep informed of all laws, rules, and regulations governing collecting on public
lands, and will observe them.
o I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan
to collect.
o I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
o I will cause no wilful damage to property of any kind - fences, buildings, signs, etc.
o I will leave all gates as found.
o I will build fires only in designated or safe places, and will make sure that they are
completely extinguished before leaving the area.
o I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc.
o I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
o I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.
o I will cause no willful damage to collecting material, and will take home only what I
can reasonably use.
o I will leave all collecting areas free of litter, regardless of how found.
o I will co-operate with field trip leaders and those designated in authority in all collecting
areas.
o I will report to my Club/Federation officers or other proper authorities, any deposit of
material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations
for public, educational and scientific purposes.
o I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.
o I will observe the "Golden Rule" and will use "Good Outdoor Manners" and will, at all
times, conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public image of
rockhounds everywhere.
An excellent site for the beginner is The Canadian Rockhound, a free online earth science magazine for collectors, beginners and educators:

http://canadianrockhound.ning.com/

Rock collecting is a positive family activity as it provides healthy outdoor recreation and spans all age groups. It’s much easier to exercise and keep fit while you enjoy a new hobby all at the same time. It is relatively inexpensive to outfit yourself and really, rock collecting compares with treasure hunting. It can be greatly rewarding both intellectually and aesthetically- and a lucky rockhound may even strike it rich. Treasures come in all shapes and sizes, especially when they've been buried deep in the earth for thousands of years.

It is not at all uncommon for a collector to find old coins, tools, and weapons in tailings and around the mining site. Sometimes a rockhound will find mine camps with the remains of old buildings or miners cabins. Searching in these areas can turn up all kinds of articles left or lost by miners.

When hunting artifacts you want to check building walls and floors, fireplace walls, and to the right and left of outside of doors as many times these people buried or hid their belongings and caches in such spots. In cases of the owner’s unexpected death, these items sometimes remain where they were hidden.

A great way to start is to visit the 46th Annual Rockhound Gemboree in Bancroft- it starts today and runs until August 2nd. Just find your way to Bancroft and follow the signs or ask just about anyone you see… they’ll direct you to the arena and the wondrous displays of gems, minerals, fossils, petrified wood, rocks, jewelry, maps, equipment and so much more! There are booths set up inside and out. Admission: Adult $7.00; Senior (55+) $5.00; Children 6-12 $5.00; Chldren under 6 are FREE

Maybe I'll see you there!

Pronounced Paw-dash, Paudash Lake is named after the last hereditary Chief of the tribe of Mississaugas, George Paudash (1889-1969). Paudash was a member of the Crane-doodem (clan) and also known as member of the Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of the Hiawatha Reserve of Rice Lake (Ontario). He was a tinsmith and an outdoors guide. Paudash served in WWI and WWII. He was married to Anne Rosemary Hacker, of England, they had five children.

CORPORAL GEORGE PAUDASH

Chief Paudash's "mark", in accordance with the custom of signing as a representative of the Crane-doodem, is a tiny stick drawing of a Crane.

The area around the lake was first settled by pioneer families in the early 1870s. One of the original families, the McGillivray's, are still part of the Paudash Lake community. Malcolm McGillivray Sr. had a land grant of 300 acres at Concession VIII (a point of land jutting into Paudash Lake), he later built the first bridge over the narrows- between the upper and lower lakes (by today's Anchorage Resort).

BIG ISLAND

The first summer cottage was built on Big Island in North Bay, by the Johnson family in the early 1920s. There was very little development on the lake until late in the 1930s, when the two highways were constructed, from the south.

With a surface area of 7.55 km² (1870 acres) and a maximum depth of 46 meteres (150 ft), Paudash Lake has many large bays and a number of different sections within in: Lower Paudash Lake also called Outlet Bay (to the east), North Bay (to the north), Joe Bay (to the southwest) and Inlet Bay (in the northeast).

North Bay has spectacular massive pink granite cliffs that rise rising hundreds of feet above the shoreline and most of the lake is lined with heavy foliage and only the odd boathouse as the building of any new boathouses was outlawed back in the 1940s.

There was major cottage development on Paudash Lake from the 1950s through the 1960s. Today, the lake is fully developed with 640 properties. Most new construction involves the removal of 50 or 60 year old cottages, being replaced by modern ones.

Fifteen percent of the land on the Lake is permanent Crown land, as is one large island. The lake is spring fed and limestone based and has a significant wetland area- all of which contribute to keeping it a healthy ecosystem. Pelham Mulvaney's "History of the County of Peterborough" (1884) states, "the land around Paudash Lake offers every inducement to the settler; the soil is rich and fertile."

The bird life of the Paudash Lake area is simply staggering, as the standard field guide runs to some 400 pages. Fish species include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Lake Trout, Perch, Pumpkinseed, Northern cisco and White Sucker.

The lake has an active conservation association. During the last 40 years, a great deal of time and effort has been expended by both the government and the residents to ensure that Paudash Lake remains in as natural a state as possible and free of pollution of any kind.

While Paudash is a natural lake and unaffected by the Trent system fluctuations, there is a small dam at the east end of the lake at the outlet to the Crowe River.

The environmental history of the area includes the rise and decline of the uranium mining industry, from the early 1950s until the the late 60s.

The Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club is one of the best known snowmobile clubs in Ontario, with well-groomed trails maintained throughout the region during the winter months. The Central Region of Ontario contains over 5500 km (3410 miles) of completely interconnected, groomed snowmobile trails which, in turn, are interconnected to the incredible Ontario system of 43,000 km. (26,000 miles) of maintained snowmobile trails- also used for ATVing!

Paudash Lake, like similar freshwater lakes in Ontario, freezes over during the winter months with 18 to 24 inches (46-61 centimeters) of ice which will support a fully loaded dump truck. During this time the lake is often traversed by snowmobilers and ice fishing is also common.

Just a mile away (1.6 km.), Silent Lake Provincial Park offers over 40 km. (25 miles) of some of the most spectacular, fully groomed, cross-country ski trails in Canada, featuring natural, wood-fired warming huts along the trails and fantastic views from the trails on the hills that surround the lake.

In the summer, the lake is excellent for swimming and water sports such as Skiing and Wakeboarding which are very popular (the residents normally put in place a competition-type slalom run on the lake).

Areas where land and water come together and remain wet for an ecologically significant part of the year function as "ecotones"- in other words, a blending of different habitats.

"A wetland is land that is saturated with water long enough to promote wetland or aquatic processes as indicated by poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation and various kinds of biological activity which are adapted to a wet environment."(Wetlands of Canada, Tarnocai et al., 1988)

Wetlands filter out sediment and pollution from the surrounding environment so that the water they discharge is cleaner that which entered the wetland. Acting like giant strainers, wetlands trap sediment and pollutants that are washed off the land. They can even improve water quality in areas where pesticides and fertilizers are used.

Grasses, sedges, and cattails stabilize the shorelines in wetlands by reducing the energy of waves, currents, and other erosive forces. Their roots trap sediments preventing the loss of valuable agricultural and residential land.Wetlands act like giant sponges holding large quantities of water and reducing floods. These lands hold water and gradually transfer it to groundwater reserves rather than having it flow overland.

Groundwater flows through underground rivers and rock deposits known as aquifers. It is the water from aquifers that is drawn by wells for human consumption. This water supply, however, can become diminished if too much water is drawn from them- however, wetlands replenish the supply. When water reaches the aquifer, it is cleaner than when it entered the wetland because it has been filtered through tiny spaces in the overlying rock. Where the water table rises above the level of the earth, the groundwater comes to the surface, nourishing a river, lake or wetland.

Historically, wetland ecosystems supplied food and resources to native people and early settlers. Today, river basins and their associated floodplains support over 90% of the world's population. People continue to use wetlands to grow wild rice and cranberries.

WILD RICE

Wetlands also provide habitat (food, water, shelter and space) for fish, birds, wildlife and insects, including more than one-third of the threatened and endangered species in North America.

Some examples of wetland plants include cattails, water horsetail, arrowheads, water lilies, pitcher plants, sundew, mosses and ferns. Sundews are small bog plants that eat insects. Sundew leaves have long hairs with sticky tips. Once an insect is stuck to the hair the leaves fold over to trap the prey and it is eventually digested.

Wetlands are used for fishing, hunting, boating, bird watching and other forms of outdoor recreation.

Four unique types of wetlands are found in Ontario.

1. MARSHES: Found along the shores of rivers and streams and in the shallows of ponds, lakes and sea coasts, marshes support a variety of floating and "emergent" plants- those rooted in the soil and growing out of the water such as Cattails and Arrowheads.

Commonly created by beaver activity, a marsh may be periodically or permanently covered in water.

GREAT BLUE HERON IN A MARSH

2. SWAMPS: Treed wetlands that may be isolated or found along rivers, streams and lakes, swamps are often formed due to flooding after spring snow melt. Swamps are most likely seasonal and may become quite dry in the summer. Typically there are trees in swamps- species may include Silver Maple, Black Ash, Black Spruce, White Cedar and Tamarack, or tall shrubs such as Willow, Alder and Dogwood.

SWAMP

3. BOGS: (Rare in Southern Ontario) Located in deep, bowl-like depressions, bogs are acidic and low in mineral nutrients. Filled with layers of peat (slowly decaying plant material)bogs have no drainage and are usually filled with stagnant water. Sphagnum moss, trees such as Black Spruce, and shrubs grow on this spongy base.

SPAGNUM MOSS

4: FENS: (Rare in Southern Ontario) Usually located in low-lying areas of northern Ontario, frens are a sedge dominated source from which water slowly flows in and out. A diverse community of sedges, rushes, grasses, low shrubs such Sweet gale and insect-eating plants such as Sundew live in fens. Fens may dry up completely in warm summer months.

FEN

33% of Ontario and 14% of Canada's land mass is covered by wetlands. Unfortunately, up to 90% of southern Ontario's wetlands have been lost to urbanization and agriculture.

Peat harvesting destroys many bogs and fens. Peat is harvested and used as a fuel source, for improving soils in gardens (also known as peat moss) and as an absorbent material in products such as diapers. Because it often takes 1000 years for a depth of 15 cm of peat to form in a wetland, it is considered to be a non-renewable resource just like coal, oil or natural gas.

Draining or filling in wetlands permanently destroys entire communities of plants and wildlife. Burning off or cutting down surrounding weeds, brush or other vegetation eliminates, at least temporarily, vital nesting places and escape cover.

Most major wetlands in Canada are protected because of their importance to North American waterfowl migratory routes. Many of these wetlands are reserves for hemispheric, international and regional migration routes. The hemispheric routes house over 500,000 birds during spring and fall migrations, 30% of the North American population. International routes shelter at least 100,000 birds while the regional routes provide resting stations for 20,000 birds, 5% of North American waterfowl.

The MNR maintains a system for evaluating wetlands to determine their significance for land use planning purposes.

http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wetlands/intro-e.cfm

Did you know an oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day?

Mark your calendar: it's happening this week… July 30, 31, August 1, 2, 2009.... the annual Rockhound Gemboree at the Bancroft Arena.

Everyone should experience Canada's largest gem & mineral show that brings together over 110 dealers from across the globe, with a wealth of fine mineral specimens, gemstone jewelry, fossils, crafts and lapidary supplies. This annual event draws thousands of collectors, rock hounds and geologists.

Highlights of the show include gold panning booth, rock and mineral talks with geologists from Natural Resources Canada, a swapping area, a mineral display and expert mineral identification services offered by the Royal Ontario Museum, and geologist-led mineral collecting field trips. Visitors should also check out the 7th Annual Stone Carver's Show and the Bancroft Curling Club.

The Gemboree is sparked by a rich and unique geological history that is found in few places in the world. Bancroft is known as the "Mineral Capital of Canada" because of the variety and quality of mineral species that occur here.

The region lies on top of a portion of the Canadian Shield stretching 400 kilometers wide by 2,000 kilometers long from Lake Huron to Labrador on rock that has been estimated at between 1.1 and 1.8 billion years old.

Mineral deposits characteristic of the Bancroft region are of excellent quality, but the veins were small and often difficult to follow. Mining operations in the area were very small, unable to compete with the larger mines across Canada and into the United States.

After World War II, the search for uranium initiated another mining boom in the Bancroft area. This led to the opening of four major uranium mines - Bicroft, Faraday, Dyno, and Greyhawk - which operated from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s.

The increasing costs of mining such as small deposits resulted in their eventual closure. Faraday, the largest producer of uranium, reopened in 1976 under the title of Madawaska Mines and remained open until 1982. Old, abandoned mine sites still provide a wealth of mineral samples for collectors.

In addition to uranium, 1,600 species of minerals have been identified in this region.

One of Bancroft's most interesting mining operations was the quarrying of the deep blue mineral called sodalite.

Thomas Thomson

Sodalite is the main mineral of the Sodalite group that is composed of minerals with a similar isometric structure and related chemistry. Its members are also part of a larger group called the Feldspathoids (similar to Feldspars but with less silica content). Sodalite is named in reference to its sodium content and was named by Glasgow chemist, Professor Thomas Thomson, who had been hired by the British to identify the stone after they had captured a shipment of it being sent from Greenland to Demark during the Napoleonic Wars.

Sodalite did not become important as a gemstone until 1891 when it was unearthed at a deposit near Bancroft, Ontario by Frank D. Adams while he was investigating the geology of the Haliburton-Hastings area for the Geological Survey of Canada.

(starting at top: Cleophas Cisney O'Hara, Sir Archibald Geikie, Frederick Haynes Newell, Henry Barnard Kümmell, George Burbank Shattuck, Rollin Daniel Salisbury, Arthur Clifford Veatch, Louis Marcus Prindle, Harry Fielding Reid, Charles Richard Van Hise, Cleveland Abbe, Jr., George Willis Stose, Thomas Leonard Watson, Edward Vincent D'Invilliers, Clarence Wilbur Dorsey, Frederick James Hamilton Merrill, Louis Agricola Bauer, Arthur Coe Spencer, William John McGee, William Bullock Clark, Rufus Mather Bagg, Frank Hall Knowlton, Robert T. Hill, Heinrich Ries, FRANK D ADAMS, Arthur Philemon Coleman, Timothy William Stanton, Oliver Lanard Fassig, Samuel Franklin Emmons, George Ferdinand Becker, Albert Berthold Hoen, George Otis Smith, James Furman Kemp, Bailey Willis, Charles David White, Edward Bennett Mathews, Charles Doolittle Walcott, John Wesley Powell, Joseph Stanley-Brown, Joseph Austin Holmes, Charles Willard Hayes, Leonidas Chalmers Glenn, Hiram Smith Williams.)

During their 1901 visit World's Fair in Buffalo, New York, The Prince and Princess of Wales were so captivated by a gift of Bancroft sodalite that the Princess made arrangements to quarry enough of the mineral to decorate her London residence, Marlborough House. In 1906, 130 tonnes of the rock were shipped to England to be used as a decorative stone in the Princess' royal home. And that is from where the name "Princess Sodalite Mine" comes. Visitors can still visit the Princess Sodalite Mine & shop 4 km East of Bancroft on Highway 28.

Those who believe in the healing energy of rocks, minerals and crystals believe that sodalite can provide one with access to the sacred laws of the universe. It is connected with the astrological sign of Sagittarius and the element, water. Considered energy receptive, sodalite vibrates to the number 4 and relates to the throat chakra and the planet Venus.

Sodalite is also believed to resonate to Archangel Michael, the Archangel of protection, courage, truth and strength. It is considered an excellent stone for use in groups, providing for fellowship and solidarity, as well as achieving of common goals. It is said that one should carry this stone as a reminder that nothing changes until YOU change.

A stone of insight and intuition, the sodalite is used to clear mental confusion and establish inner peace. Strengthening the power of mind over body, the energy of sodalite bridges the gaps between thoughts and feelings. It fosters knowledge, learning, consciousness, communication and wisdom. This stone is useful for both the student and philosopher.

Particularly useful for people taking the 4th step: Inventory. Sodalite helps to alleviate fear and guilt- allowing one to honestly access both self and others. Sodalite draws one from their comfort zone and reminds them that what is in the past can no longer hurt.

Sodalite stimulates courage and endurance, soothes and heals the central nervous system, enhances communication and combats the negative effects of radioactivity.

Sodalite is considered to calm those who have a tendency to be reactive and overly sensitive. It is used for healing rifts in relationships, partnerships and helps to bring an end to disagreements. Uniting the logical with the spiritual, sodalite assists in freeing us from old behaviour patterns that no longer serve us.

Promoting a deep level of peace and a profound emotional balance, sodalite is super for people who experience anxiety or panic attacks. It also aids in weight loss, regulating the metabolism and helping with digestion. Useful in memory work, sodalite is thought to be a record-keeping mineral.

Said to prolong physical endurance, awaken the third eye and dispel insomnia, sodalite is favoured by atheletes, new-age healers and seekers. It is also credited with absorbing and neutralizing inner clouds of disharmony, balancing both sides of the mind and allowing the mind to express the emotional aspects of ideas in the physical form. As such, they say, sodalite unites the logical with the spiritual.

Sodalite is used to treat those searching for truth, wanting to enhance self-esteem, enhancing self-trust, fostering mutual dependence, improving the trust of others and soothing emotional turmoil.

Sodalite, apparently helps, also, in understanding the nature of self in relation to the universe. It is the most dense and grounded of the deep blue stones and it clears the mind and prepares it for greater perception: to receive the inner light and intuitive knowledge.

For those who have trouble getting in touch with their true feelings and often use their heads to make life decision- sodalite is recommended as it will bring harmony to all inner conflict.

I started to write today, about the July 2010 G8 summit being hosted in Huntstville, Ontario… and I stumbled upon James Travers’ July 11, Toronto Star article in which he said, “Big, wordy and grotesquely expensive as ever, the July 2010 bun-toss Canada will host in Huntsville is well on the way to becoming an international sideshow.“

Bun-toss. Interesting.

The 3-day event is expected to generate millions of dollars for Ontario’s cottage country, with attendees including U.S. President Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as well as leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom, with non-voting visiting countries from Asia, Africa and the European Union.

In his article, Travers said, “Trend or an inevitable result of globalization, the rise of the G20 at G8 expense accelerated this week with acceptance that industrialized countries can't counter climate change without emerging economies as allies. In effect, the G8 is sealing its own fate by edging toward a model that recognizes the significant difference between winning and success.”

And went on to say, “By accepting that the wealthy must help the less fortunate cope with the costs of climate change, the G8 is doing more than bridging that gap between the North's sense of fairness and the South's (and East's) determination to reach aspirational goals. It's also bowing to the truth that exclusive clubs can't solve inclusive problems”

After reading the article, I realized that I’ve said enough about the upcoming G-8 conference… gee whiz.

Then, I was looking at another article from that same Star online… written by Richard J Brennan. The article features a photo of Huntsville Mayor Claude Doughty and quotes Industry Minister Tony Clement, MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka on a plan to spray “ liquid garlic a couple of weeks before the event -so the whole place doesn't smell-when participants start arriving”.

Apparently, “"What we are doing in Muskoka these days is spreading garlic and it keeps all the bugs away, “ said Clement.

Doughty likes to say the town is getting 30 years' worth of infrastructure done in one year. "The positives (of the summit) far outweigh the potential negatives," he says. Centered around Huntsville's Deerhurst Resort, the G8 event is expected to affect all of cottage country. Some people believe it will introduce Ontario Cottage Country to the world.

$50 million has been earmarked for G8 preparations, $45 million is already been committed, (including $6 million for the airport in North Bay because of the expected number of international flights that will be arriving). Apparently, some $32 million has poured into Huntsville. A new $9 million G8 building will be handed over to the University of Waterloo, after the summit, for environmental and ecological research and teaching purposes.

I wonder if the participants will get to taste Deerhurst’s Maple Sugar Pie?

MAPLE SUGAR PIE
This gooey traditional Quebec cousin to pecan pie can be dished up warm or at room temperature. Adding a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream makes it even better. Serves 8

INGREDIENTS
Your favourite pie dough recipe for a 9" single crust pie (store bought will also work in a pinch)
1 cup walnuts, toasted briefly in a dry skillet and coarsely chopped
3 large eggs
1 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

METHOD
Arrange oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425F. On lightly floured surface using lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough to about a 13" round. Fit into 9-inch pie plate. Trim edge, leaving 1/2" overhang, then fold over and crimp decoratively. Cover with plastic wrap and chill shell in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Scatter walnuts in shell. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, butter, vanilla, brown sugar, and salt. Pour mixture into pie shell over nuts. Transfer pie dish to a sturdy cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F and continue baking until crust is golden and center is just set, 25 to 30 minutes more. Transfer pie to rack and cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.

Or the Pickerel with Maple, Butternut Squash and Apple Cider Glaze

The apple cider, apples and maple syrup combine to add a subtle sweetness to the already sweet flavour of fresh pickerel.
INGREDIENTS:
PICKEREL WITH MAPLE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE CIDER GLAZE
· 2 x 7 oz pickerel fillets (two 196 g)
· 1/4 cup flour, for dredging (60 ml)
· Salt and white pepper, to taste
· 1 tbsp butter, for cooking pickerel (15 ml)
· 2 tbsp vegetable oil (30 ml)
· 1/2 cup diced butternut squash (1/4-inch dice) (125 ml)
· ½ McIntosh apple, diced (1/4-inch dice) (125 ml)
· 1/2 cup apple cider (125 ml)
· 2 tbsp maple syrup (30 ml)
· 2 tbsp butter (30 ml)
· Fresh lemon juice, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
PICKEREL WITH MAPLE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE CIDER GLAZE
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Preheat a non-stick frying pan to medium high heat and add oil and butter. Season the pickerel fillet with salt and white pepper. Dredge in flour and add to pan, keeping in mind to lay fish into pan presentation side down (side with no skin). Let fish brown for 2 to 3 minutes then turn over. Transfer to oven and cook for 6 to 8 minute or until fish is just cooked through. Remove pickerel from pan. Keep fish warm.
3. Put the hot pan back to stove over medium high heat. Add 1 tbsp. butter and diced butternut squash, sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add apple and sauté for 1 minute. Add apple cider. Let liquid reduce by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add maple syrup, remaining 1 tbsp. butter and quickly bring to a boil. Taste glaze and add lemon juice to your liking. Pour over pickerel, garnish and serve immediately.

Or the Maple Vinaigrette:

INGREDIENTS
Salad
4 large handfuls of baby mesclun greens
1 English cucumber
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Deerhurst maple vinaigrette (recipe follows)
Vinaigrette Dressing
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup maple or white vinegar
1 tbsp. Pommery or Dijon mustard
1 small red onion, very finely diced
Juice of half a lemon
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Maple syrup, to taste
METHOD
To make the dressing:
• Whisk together mustard, onions and vinegar.
• Add the oil in a slow stream, whisking steadily to thicken and emulsify the
dressing.
• Season with lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.
• Whisk in a small amount of maple syrup and taste for sweetness.
TO PREPARE THE SALAD:
• Cut both ends of the cucumber and slice it thinly lengthwise, about 1/4 inch
thick. You’ll need one slice for each serving. Some vegetable peelers also
work well to do this.
• Pick though the greens and create small bunches with all the stem ends
together.
• Fill each ring with enough of the neatly bunched lettuce so that your
“bouquet” stays in place.
• Sprinkle the raisins and cranberries on each plate.
• Using a tablespoon, drizzle the dressing over each salad.

PERHAPS:

CRANBERRY-MAPLE CHUTNEY
· 1 lb. cranberries, fresh or frozen (454 g)
· 3 oz white vinegar (90 ml)
· 1 x small onion, diced
· juice of 1 orange
· zest of 1 orange
· 2 tbsp canola oil (30 ml)
· 1 tsp cinnamon (5 ml)
· 1/2 tsp nutmeg (2 ml)
· 1/2 tsp dry mustard (2 ml)
· 3 oz Deerhurst maple syrup, or to taste (90 ml)

DIRECTIONS:
CRANBERRY-MAPLE CHUTNEY
1. Heat the canola oil, add the diced onions and let sweat until soft and transparent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the white vinegar. Add the cranberries, orange juice and zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and dry mustard. Let simmer until the first cranberries start to pop, about 5 minutes. Add the maple syrup. Let cool to room temperature then refrigerate until serving. Note that the chutney will thicken as it cools. If the chutney, when cool, becomes too thick adjust with orange juice or maple syrup depending on the sweetness required.

Does it get more Canadian than that?

Traveling east on Highway 515 in the Ottawa Valley leads to an intersection with Highway 512. Heading north takes you to a village of past-greatness, Brudenell, which once boasted three hotels, a race track, blacksmith shops, and the Costello store which provided winter supplies to the loggers heading into the lumber camps, and ran a tab for their families.

THE COSTELLO HOTEL

About 200 people populated Brudenell in its heyday in the latter-years of the 1800s, there were also daily stage services to Eganville, Rockingham and Combermere.

Originally known as "Brudenell Corners" or "Payette Corners" (after Madame Desiree Payette's busy hotel, Brudenell village and township were named about 1857. The name commemorates James Thomas Brudenell (the 7th Earl of Cardigan), the leader of a cavalry charge which took place during the Seige of Sebastopol, a port on the Black Sea, during the Crimean War. Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade", published in 1854 immortalized the event.

(above, The Earl of Cardigan, variously described as "vain","contentious", "foppish", a "notorious rake" "unusually stupid," and "an ass".)

The "corners" was dropped in 1859, when Charles Hirsh opened the first post office.

James Costello and later Hugh (Cooey) Costello ran a hotel and store from the Brudenell house. James Costello acquired the nickname Black Jim. He was known as a tough, shrewd businessman who allowed the loggers credit so that their families could draw supplies from his store while the wage earners were in the lumber camps.

Men settled their accounts at the Costello store in spring when they returned from the winter camps with their pay. It seems that there was seldom much cash left over once the bills were paid. One of Black Jim's accomplishments was bringing by ox-team and wagon a Heintzman grand piano to Brudenell for his wife. Since he did not know there was a method of disassembling the piano, he removed one wall of the house in order to place it in its intended location.

Costello's hotel burned in 1886 but was quickly rebuilt and expanded. It soon became known for its gambling and "sins of a far worse nature".

ANOTHER BRUDENELL SHOP

This was the busiest, most active community on the Opeongo Line. Originally called Brudenell Corners, but the decline of Brudenell occurred in 1893 with the defeat of John A. MacDonald and Laurier rerouted rail services through Killaloe, instead of the Opeongo Line. Business and lumbering activities were negatively affected, sending Brudenell into decline and toward it's notoriety as the "sin-bin" of the Opeongo.

In the 1930s mobster Al Capone built a log cabin situated on the Letterkenny Road.

The name of "Gorman Lake" on the Letterkenny Rd can be traced to members of the O’Gorman family who migrated from County Clare to Canada in the years 1829 to 1840, settling in this part of the Ottawa Valley.

LAKE GORMAN- BRUDENELL TWP, RENFREW COUNTY

Of particular note is botanist Martin W. Gorman, the son of Peter and Mary Gorman, was born on a nearby farm in Renfrew County, on November 23, 1853. Gorman became a leading authority on the flora of the Northwest, especially trees and is credited with discovering at least ten species new to science.

A very special property consisting of 1003 acres, formerly the much envied Coyne Family Farm (likely that of William Coyne born 1837 and died August 5, 1898 at Brudenell), is for sale. It has 3300' of shoreline on beautiful Lake Gorman. Part of the acreage may be seen at the far right in the photo of Lake Gorman (above).

The property has a number of smaller lakes, ponds and streams, throughout. Part of the property is wildly forested, some has plantation pines and some, more open, the former fields- now overgrown. There are old, forest roads and trails throughout the property.

Hydro is available at the edge of the property, a pole remains near the clearing where there was once the old homestead. The only cabin on the property sits at the quiet edge of "Stone Dam Lake". It is a tidy one-bedroom.

ENTRY TO CABIN ON STONE DAM LAKE

Township regulations allow for many uses at this location. It would be a fantastic, potentially self-sustaining retreat... it could be developed into a spectacular waterfront community... it is not far from schools and amenities, yet it is absolutely teeming with wildlife.

Details of this property may be seen at www.realtor.ca using MLS #719054 or #471901901508650 it is currently offered at $1,250,000 (Canadian)

6000 acre, eight-kilometre long Lake Clear is one of the largest deep water lakes in Renfrew County. Lake Clear exits through Little Lake Clear to Hurds Creek and flows about 13 kilometres to the Bonnechere River at Eganville.

Four kilometres down the creek is a Renfrew Power Generation Incorporated control dam, built in 1932.Renfrew Power planned to establish a vertical storage capacity of seven feet, but the resistance of cottage owners resultedin a compromise height of 5.4 feet.

In 1968 the stretch between Lake Clear and Little Lake Clear was dredged and cleared to a width of 30 feet and a depth of five feet to improve flow from the lake. The original intent was to repeat the dredging on a regular basis, but this proved to be economically unsound.

The forces of nature have prevailed, restoring the passage
to essentially its original condition. When the wooden trestle bridge at Manning Road was replaced by two steel culverts,industrious beavers seized the opportunity to frustrate clearance of their dams by building inside the culverts. A similar situation exists at Wittke Road.

The net result in summer is often barely enough flow to trickle over the ageing hydro dam. In effect, the creek - not the dam - controls the out-flow.

Located in the Sebastopol Ward in The Township of Bonnechere Valley- the area is located in the heart of Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada.

Outdoor enthusiasts are attracted by the wealth of natural beauty and accessible wilderness. Wild game sportsmen come for quality white-tail deer hunting and excellent fishing... which is why the Native Hurons, Algonquins, Iroquois and Outaouais (the first to navigate the Ottawa River and settle in the area) were attracted to the locale.

By 1867, when Canada became a nation,the Canadian government had built the Ottawa and Opeongo Settlement Road, known locally as the Opeongo Line, to attract German, Irish and Polish immigrants to the
hinterland. These hardy pioneers harvested much of the Ottawa Valley’s white pine, struggling to establish a new life here while
shipping square timber overseas to help rebuild Europe after the
Napoleonic Wars.

This was the dawn of the industrial era. John Cockburn designed the first pointer boat, water-powered gristmills were built at each chute
along the Bonnechere River, and Pembroke was the first Canadian community to be lit by commercial streetlights. The Ottawa Valley had come of age.

Coursing northwest from Renfrew to Barry’s Bay, the Opeongo Line is your route to time-travel into the past and experience Renfrew County much like the original Europeans.

This, truly, is a beautiful, mountainous region with many wilderness and Crown land areas, hardwood forests, and hundreds of lakes. Following the northern edge of the Madawaska Highlands is the Opeongo Line. This early settlement line is as well known for the abundance of log homesteads and outbuilding that are still in use today. Today the Opeongo Line is a favorite scenic area, particularly in the fall when the trees are changing colours.

At 1830 feet high, nearby Foymount is at the highest populated point in Ontario. At the height of the cold war and before the days of spy-in-the-sky satellites, Canada, assisted by the U.S.A., operated three lines of radar stations to detect bomber attacks approaching over the Arctic from the U.S.S.R. The DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line was the farthest north, the Pine Tree Line was the most southerly, and the Mid-Canada Line was in between.

One of the Pinetree Line stations was Foymount, an RCAF base with about 400 personnel, which operated from 1952 until 1974.

Its peaceful and scenic rolling hills overlook Lake Clear. Foymount is an excellent and rewarding get-away into the wilderness and fresh air. The combination of high altitude and extremely dark skies make this an ultimate weekend outing.

Located on the edge of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben. The Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben is a rift valley, originally perhaps a kilometer deep, that formed during the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Rodina. It has subsequently been subjected to more than 500 million years of erosion. Now the elevation difference between the floor of the graben (the surface of Lake Clear, let's say) and the highest point at Foymount is a little less than 1000', but it remains an impressive geological feature. The graben, tens of kilometers wide, is bordered by an escarpment east of the Ottawa River and on the west by the "Opeongo Mountains".

A large part of the Ottawa Valley is underlaid by gneisses, with large bodies of granite, syenite and other igneous rocks. The age of some of the Precambrian rocks is about one billion years; some rocks of the Shield north of the Ottawa River basin have been dated at about two and a half billion years.

Fossils may be seen in the limestones in several places in the Valley, including the Eganville area and the amazing Bonnechere Caves at the Fourth Chute on the Bonnechere River.

Over the centuries, the nearby Bonnechere River (often pronounced locally as the bone-chur) has been a conduit for transportation, as an access route to the pineries, for its square timber drives and later log drives.

It spawned sawmills and grist mills, carding mills, and was a powerhouse of energy for mill wheels as well as hydro generators.It became a route along which settlements grew, and farmlands extended from its banks and tributary streams, a source of both food and recreation for residents and travellers. The productive soils and enticing landscape of the Bonnechere Valley watershed (the area of land which feeds the river) were among the first logged, settled and farmed in Renfrew County.

The Bonnechere is now a popular place for white-water rafting.

Three of Lake Clear's 12 islands were the subject of a flora and fauna survey by naturalist Chris Michener in 2000. A shallow lagoon
offering an unspoiled habitat for many plant and animal species is among the "intriguing natural features" he identified on Green Island
where the wetlands contain swamp loosestrife and a very poisonous plant, bulb-bearing water hemlock.

Eighty-six plant varieties were identified including the rare marsh bedstraw, upland white aster, false nettle, and northern willow-herb.
In one short visit he identified 28 different bird species. Biologist Dan Brunton was surprised to find the rare rocky mountain woodsia thriving on the island. It has been found elsewhere in Ontario, but only in scattered locations in Algonquin Park, on cliffs along the shores of Lake Superior, and in the extreme northwest of the province.

Herring gulls were identified on the westerly Twin Island and return each year. Visitors are warned to be careful during the nesting season, or better still, to keep clear, as the gulls are liable to attack intruders. The other Twin has witnessed the most human disturbance, but Michener was delighted to see a satyr common butterfly, a rare sight in Renfrew County.

When preparing the original survey and Plan of the Township of Sebastopol, the land surveyors identified certain islands in Lake Clear with a capital letter. There is no apparent reason why some islands were lettered and others were not. It did not depend on size as very small islands, - the Little Rock and the Twin Islands - were marked while some larger islands, - Haines' Island ( arguably the prettiest island) and Salmon Island were not.

At one time there were suspicions that someone had altered the plan filed at the Registry office by removing the letter from Haines' Island and placing it on the Little Rock. However the issued patent for Little Rock correctly shows it to be 1 acre in size. Haines' is much larger.

Island "A" - Green Island (sometimes referred to as The Burnt Island) This island is abstracted as containing 15 acres. It was patented on April 6, 1883 to one Allan Grant. There is a Quit Claim deed registered in October of 1899 from James Bell and his wife to Jeannie Grant.

There is no further registrations until 1996 when a Tax arrears Certificate is registered. A cancellation certificate is registered in 1998 and the Island is now the subject of a PIN number issued under The Land Titles Act and the owner is The Lake Clear Conservancy. This island was destroyed by fire in the 1950s and is now home to many wild flowers and unique plants as is disclosed in a study done for the Lake Clear Conservancy by Chris Michener in 2000.

Island "B". - French's Island - No patent has been issued and so there are no registrations and it remains as Crown Land. It is known as French's Island because it lies in front of lots 50 and 51 Range C North of the Opeongo.

These lots were owned and settled by T.P. French, the first land agent responsible for settlement on the Opeongo,and the island is called after him.

Island "C" - Blueberry Island. This Island is not patented, there are no registrations and it remains as Crown land.

Island "D"- Turner's Island - the largest of the Islands comprises 64 acres. It was patented on November 21, 1878 to Robert Turner. Mr. Turner was an early settler at Eganville and was responsible for clearing large tracts of land on the south side of the Bonnechere River.

He was a very important person in the growth and development of the area. He became engaged in the lumber business and after losing heavily on a bad deal, quit the business and spent much time at Lake Clear fishing, hunting and working the open mine that he had opened on the island.

He conveyed the island to his son John Turner in 1879 and John Turner sold it to Annie Bonfield in 1930. It was sold by her in 1931 to one Emerson Smith. It was later sold for taxes and split into two parts, -one part containing about 50 acres and the other containing about 14 acres.

The island has been of interest to geologists and rock hounds over the years because of the existence of the old open mine. Reportedly the largest zircon crystal ever found in Ontario was dislodged at the mine and is now on display in Toronto.

Island "E" - Muddy Island- is not patented and there are no registrations and remains as Crown land. It is a very nice island and the name historically given to it does not do it justice.

Island "F" and Island "G" - The Twin Islands" - contain 3 acres, They were patented on December 23, 1878 to John Heenan and John Childerhouse. These two gentlemen were Eganville businessmen. There were no registrations following the patent until 1996 when a Tax Arrears certificate was registered.

There was a cancellation certificate registered in 1998 and the Islands are now the subject of PIN numbers issued under the
Land Titles Act and the owner is the Lake Clear Conservancy.

Island "H" - Cherry Island - is patented as 7 acres on March 9, 1893 to Arthur Bruce. It is conveyed in 1921 by his widow and estate to Robert Bruce. Through the Bruce family it devolved to the Stafford family and was sold by them to Thomas Gillis, Arnold Donahue and Wayne Spooner in 1977.

Island "I" - The Little Rock - is a barren rock and is appropriately named. It was patented on October 21, 1880 to Donald G. Macdonell and is noted to be 1 acre in size. In 1892 there was a Tax Deed to Andrew W. Bell. It then was in the name of Michael John Stafford who sold it to Emmet James Graham in 1956. Emmet died on September 27, 1967 and his estate sold it.

There maybe another 10 crown islands, some very small. As noted Salmon Island is about 2 acres in size and Haines' Island is probably about 8 acres, and is probably called after German immigrant Robert Haines who is noted in the 1871 census as an Opeongo settler along with his wife and four young children.

Oral history is that this Island was lived on and probably cultivated to some extent. Certainly Emmet Graham used part of it to grow
potatoes, and had tales of it being used by early settlers to produce potash.

There are a number of historic landmarks, heritage centres, museums, horseback riding, canoe outfitters, berry picking sites, all sorts of natural attractions, golf courses, skiing, rafting, trails and other exciting things to do in the area....

You can see the extraordinary properties available on or near Lake Clear by visiting www.realtor.ca with these mls #s:

13.3 Acres- Lovely, well-treed, building lot with a nice creek & great views. MLS #719422 OR 473801605021710

500+ Acres with 900' frontage on Lake Clear and about 400 acres ascending MacDonald's Mountain. MLS# 719053 OR 471600021700

The waterfront portion of the above noted acreage is available separately, it consists of about 137 well-treed acres with a stream/waterfall and the 900' of shoreline- it excludes the mountain portion. MLS #733683 OR 471600001021700A

These days, many people are dreaming of building an eco-friendly home and it turns out that this sort of construction can be quite economical, too!

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Organic Architecture was a key element in the 1930s designs of American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Building with natural materials and never painted, Wright's designs often featured low-pitched rooflines with deep overhangs and uninterrupted walls of windows that merged horizontal homes into their environments.

LLOYD'S FALLINGWATER 1935(recognized as the architect's most acclaimed and famous works)

Frank Lloyd Wright said of the house; "Fallingwater is a great blessing - one of the great blessings to be experienced here on earth. I think nothing yet ever equaled the coordination, sympathetic expression of the great principle of repose where forest and stream and rock and all the elements of structure are combined so quietly that really you listen not to any noise whatsoever although the music of the stream is there. But you listen to Fallingwater the way you listen to the quiet country."

The present trend to go green shows that Wright was esthetically ahead of his time. His designs cooperated with the environment, made use of local organic building materials and displayed an understanding of the solar capacity of a building.

"Organic buildings are the strength and lightness of the spiders' spinning, buildings qualified by light, bred by native character to environment, married to the ground." said Frank Lloyd Wright

Today's construction encourages furthering the intimate relationship with the outdoor environment and provide responsible solutions and sustainable resources to power a structure's energy needs. The goal- an earth friendly lifestyle.

WOODLAND HOME- WALES

The main tools used to construct the Woodland Home in Wales: a chainsaw, hammer and 1 inch chisel. The builder was not a carpenter and his only experiences was helping someone build a similar home, 2 years prior. He says, "This kind of building is accessible to anyone. My main relevant skills were being able bodied, having self belief and perseverence and a mate or two to give a lift now and again."
http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm

Straw bale buildings, baled straw from barley, wheat, rice, flax, rye or oats are becoming almost mainstream. They utilize an annually renewable agricultural by-product. The interior plaster of straw bale houses increase the "thermal mass" of the home, which helps to stabilize interior temperature fluctuations. The big thick walls provide for nice quiet spaces. Straw bale homes are low maintenance. The final coat of plaster can be mixed with a die to provide colour. As such, the owner may never have to paint it. When built with a steel roof and high quality windows, a straw bale home may have a virtually maintenance free exterior.

STRAW BALE HOME IN BANCROFT,ONT.

The Potters of Bancroft, built their enviromental home from used tires. Laid concrete-block fashion, the tires are filled with densely-packed earth. Concrete 'parging' covers these walls, smoothing them, and surrounding aluminum pop cans which occupy space and reduce the amount of concrete needed. The walls thus built are immensely thick and strong. The Potters say that they qualify as a load-bearing foundation, on their own.

THE POTTER'S "EARTHSHIP" TIRE HOUSE

Earth turns to gold
in the hands of the wise.
- Rumi Persian poet and philosopher

Cordwall or Stackwall homes are built by stacking piles of wood on top of each other and connecting them with mortar. Openings are left for windows and doors. Glass bottles or jars may be incorporated into the construction- this is both decorative and adds light.

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF STACKWALL CONSTRUCTION- COE HILL, ONT.

Earth bag building utilizes the poly bags that grain comes in. They are piled like bricks with barbed wire between them. A final layer of mortar creates a sturdy wall.

Papercrete uses glossy magazines and other paper, mixed into a mortar-the recipe is easy: one shovel of cement and three shovels of sifted sandy dirt to a drum of newspapers and magazines. The mixture is placed into a form and made into a brick of sorts. One soaker drum of paper will make 20 blocks.

Cob is a very old building method that is now enjoying a resurgance. A cob house is made of clay, sand and straw. The mixture is kneaded like dough before it is put into place by stomping on it with your feet or using a cement mixer for larger scale operations. The clay acts as the glue, while the sand gives strength to the mixture and the straw gives the walls tensile strength once hardened into place. Because cob is very flexible to work with, the builder is free to create just about any shape.

COB HOUSE

Rammed Earth Construction is the ultimate in building with local materials. It is build from earth that is dug up from the building site. The technique consists of building a form, similar to a form used to pour concrete, and then filling the form with a mixture of sand, clay and gravel with portland cement as a binder and then compressing it together with a tamper.

This type of construction has a large amount of thermal mass, which will even out the temperature fluctuation during the day. It is particularly good in passive solar designs. It also has the advantages of being almost soundproof and fireproof. In some sites, other materials, such as glass or shells are added to the mixture to give it additional texture. It can also be coloured by adding pigments to the mixture. Variations can be created by using different mixture in the various layers.

Poured earth is similar to ordinary concrete, in that it is mixed and formed like concrete and uses cement as a binder. The main difference is that instead of the sand/gravel used as an aggregate in concrete, poured earth uses ordinary soil (although this soil needs to meet certain specifications) and generally uses less cement. Poured earth could be considered a "moderate strength concrete." Little to no maintenance is required of poured earth walls, since they have a high resistance to the deteriorating effects of water and sun.

One of the most fascinating and eccentric eco homes are cave houses. Many examples are foudn in Spain (casas cueva) to be found throughout the region in towns, villages and countryside. Most cave dwellings are hand-hewn and can date back to the Middle Ages. Spectacular galleries of abandoned Moorish cave houses can be seen high up in cliff faces in such places as Benamaurel (Las Hafas) and Castilléjar (La Morería). Cave houses are still being excavated to this day, using modern machinery.

No two cave houses are the same. Some have front additions and others are on more than one level. A majority of the cave houses lived in today have been modernised, some to a very high standard, but all still retain many of their original features. Inside, their rounded walls and ceilings are almost always white-washed, giving them a light and airy yet cosy ambience.

The atmosphere within these caves is dry and comfortable, with temperatures fairly stable at 18C to 20C. There is a variation of a couple of degrees between the summer and winter months, depending on the orientation of the cave.

Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant to American created a subterranean complex of patios, garden courts and grotts with interconnecting passageways that encircled his living quarters.

The self-taught artist and builder, by 1923 (at the age of 44)
ad carved 10 acres underground using farming tools—picks and shovels, wheelbarrows, and a Fresno scraper pulled by two mules.

Take a look at his creation at this website: http://www.undergroundgardens.info/index.html

& I haven't even begun to touch on domes...

R. Buckminster Fuller; inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, poet and cosmologist was one of the most enlightened mystics of the last century. His universal vision saw our planet as "Spaceship Earth'. He secretly took the responsibility of being a "ships captain' and with passionate intent made his goal helping to care for everyone onboard. Bucky committed his entire productivity to the whole planet Earth and its resources; undertaking to protect and advance all life. Buckminster Fuller made geodesic a household word.

Some other fun and eco friendly buildings can be seen at these websites:
http://design.spotcoolstuff.com/architecture/rotating-dome-house

http://design.spotcoolstuff.com/unusual-architecture/shipping-container-buildings

Inspired and motivated to lead more active healthy lives, cultured and educated empty nesters are flocking to cottage country. Responding to the demand, many developers are announcing plans for waterfront residential developments.

Fram Building Group and Slokker Real Estate president, Bruce Kerr, recently spoke about a 16-hectare residential development of a Muskoka lakefront property the group purchased in 2004.

“It’s a place for the zoomer crowd”, said Kerr, describing a market sector of near-retirees- folks who wish to live in an environment that matches their lifestyle.

“They can walk to get groceries or meet friends for coffee, but with the added benefit of always being connected to a beautiful waterfront, hiking trails and proximity to beaches and mountains,” he says.

& Deborah Lafave (vice-president of sales and marketing for Sotheby’s International Realty, Canada) agrees. “It’s the result of a combination of factors,” she said recently, “including low interest rates, terrific deals and a realization by consumers that this is a great time to buy.”

Buyers who want to beat the city hustle, traffic jams, dirt and noise are reaching into our rural communities. Drawn by a lower cost of living, wide open space, fresh air, natural resources, recreational opportunities and cultural amenities, Buyers have recognized that they can be comfortable in smaller centres and still close enough to visit the larger urban areas.

Cottage country offers a peaceful pace and community that places great value in family and tradition. The Bancroft area has taken steps toward redevelopment and revitalization that centre around the lazy, beautiful York River. Plans include a new Museum, riverside boardwalks, a new hotel, a new Town Hall, a community centre complex, condominiums, parking areas, green spaces, shops, enhanced trails and so much more!

There are too many attractions to list here… from scenic picnic areas to artist’s studios… concerts in the park to sailing...historic sites to berry picking farms… canoe making to white water rafting… hiking to hammock... sculpturing to horticulture... bird watching to theatrical events... fishing spots to day spas… there’s something for everyone.

Some of the special upcoming events in the Bancroft area, include:

Jul 15: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Jul 16: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Jul 17-19: Bancroft & Area Lifestyle Expo - Bancroft Curling Club
Jul 21-25: Blackfly Summer Theatre - "See How They Run"
Jul 22: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Jul 23: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Jul 23-26: Palmer Rapids Twin Music Festivals
Jul 24: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Jul 25: Team Penning, Gaming, & Sorting - Rocky Hills Horse Club, Maynooth
Jul 26: Annual Bancroft Gem and Mineral Show - Bancroft Legion
Jul 26: Bancroft Bass Tournament Series, Elephant and Baptiste Lakes
Jul 28-Aug 01: Blackfly Summer Theatre - "See How They Run"
Jul 29: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Jul 30: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Stone Carvers Show & Symposium - Bancroft Curling Club
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Rock Hound Gemboree - North Hastings Community Centre
Jul 30-Aug 02: Gemboree Breakfast - St. John's Anglican Church, 7:00-10:00am
Jul 28-Aug 01: Laugh Lines Theatre - "See How They Run"
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Stone Carvers Show & Symposium - Bancroft Curling Club
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Rock Hound Gemboree - North Hastings Community Centre
Jul 30-Aug 02: Gemboree Breakfast - St. John's Anglican Church, 7:00-10:00am
Aug 01: Annual Book Sale - Art Gallery of Bancroft, 9:00am
Aug 01-Aug 02: Annual Bancroft Arts and Crafts Guild & Arts Festival - Millennium Park
Aug 01-03: Coe Hill Wild West Weekend - Coe Hill Fairgrounds
Aug 05: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 06: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 11-15: Laugh Lines Theatre - "The Foursome"
Aug 12: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 13: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 13-16: Havelock Jamboree
Aug 15: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Public Works Yard, 10:00am-3:00pm
Aug 18-22: Laugh Lines Theatre - "The Foursome"
Aug 19: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 20: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 24-29: 8th Annual KINSHIP Conference and Camp - Sutton Salvation Army Camp
Aug 21-22: Coe Hill Agricultural Fair
Aug 25-27: Blackfly Summer Theatre - "The Un-Scene Story"
Aug 26: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 27: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 28: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Aug 28-29: Coe Hill Agricultural Fair

Sep 05-06: Maynooth Madness & Loggers Games - Maynooth
Sep 05-06: Warriors Day at Coe Hill
Sep 08: Council Meeting - Dungannon Recreation Centre, 9:00am
Sep 12: Bancroft Bass Tournament Series, Paudash Lake
Sep 12: Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred
Sep 13: Annual Terry Fox Run
Sep 13: Annual Roast Beef & Ham Dinnner - Our Lady of Mercy Parish
Sep 19: York River Festival "Where The Words Are" - Village Playhouse
Sep 19: Elephant Lake Lodge Bass Tournament
Sep 25: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Sep 26: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Public Works Yard, 10:00am-3:00pm
Sep 26-27: Bancroft & Area Fall Studio Tour
Sep 27: Bancroft Bass Tournament Series, Mystery Lake
Oct 03-04: Bancroft & Area Fall Studio Tour
Oct 21-24: "Random Acts" - Bancroft Theatre Guild, Village Playhouse
Oct 23: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Nov 11: Remembrance Day Ceremony - Cenotaph, Bancroft
Nov 11: Remembrance Day Ceremony - A.N.A.F., Maynooth
Nov 19-21: Rally of the Tall Pines
Nov 27: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Dec 05: Bancroft Santa Claus Parade, 1:45pm
Dec 06: National Day of Remembrance - Violence Against Women
Dec 12: Maynooth Christmas Parade, "Brighten The Night"
Dec 18: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Dec 24: Annual Community Christmas Dinner - Bancroft Legion

In Barry’s Bay:

July 14: Paul J Yakabuski Community Centre- Movie Night - MONSTERS VS. ALIENS at 7 p.m.
Aug 2: CO Blitz at Combermere Community Centre & Fire Station 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Aug 21: Taste of the Valley Barry's Bay Railway Station 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Barry's Bay Farmers' Market is located at the old train station, downtown Barry's Bay, at Highway 60 and Stafford St and operates from June to October. Friday’s between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

The Combermere Farmers' Market is located at the corner of Mill Rd and Highway #62 in Combermere, Saturdays from 8am - 11 am Early June - Thanksgiving

What can I say? This is a great place to put down roots.

CTV.ca News reported, yesterday, that new data suggests the Canadian housing market has already bottomed out. Analysts point to lower price and better interest rates for the spike in home sales.

A recent report from Scotiabank says that recent immigrants have been driving housing demand in the country. The reports says census Data shows what 72 per cent of immigrants lived in home owned by someone in their family in 2006, up from 68 per cent in 2001.

Besides immigrants, young people — especially women — are fuelling demand- particularly condos. They live with their parents longer, save money and move directly into home ownership.

Canwest News Service reported a message from Benjamin Tal, senior economist at CIBC World Markets, speaking of recent data. Apparently the worst of the recession is over. Tal said, "The darkest hour was in the first quarter . . . so what we're seeing now is that we are crossing the line."

The number of building permits issued in Canadian municipalities and the value of building permits surpassed the $5 billion mark in May: Toronto area building permits were up a sharp 26.8 per cent, Calgary's building permits doubled, the majority of provinces have reported double-digit increases in the value of permits issued.

I still find it difficult to understand the way building permits figure into the picture... however....

Derek Holt, vice-president of economics for Scotia Capital, believes development in Ontario, for example, will continue to swell around satellite towns and cities.

Ah ha! Now there’s something I can dig my teeth into!

Forward thinking municipalities are undergoing a process of self-assessment- in North Hastings, The Town of Bancroft, the Municipality of Hastings Highlands and Wollaston Township, have embarked on a new project in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to revitalize the communities of Bancroft, Maynooth and Coe Hill.

The Revitalization Committees are busy, developing an Action Plan initiating strategically planned change that recognizes and promotes heritage, respects and protects natural resources and celebrates cultural assets. The community is most excited about the revitalization project, as it is sure to provide visitors with a better perspective of our fascinating history, bountiful natural resources and eclectic culture.

Simultaneously, there is the “Build Bancroft Project”, a redevelopment plan that aims to undertake a major re-development of the downtown core of Bancroft- a project spearheaded by experienced developers, Evanco Development Corporation and Forrec Limited. For their downtown Bancroft redevelopment project, they are working alongside officials from the Town of Bancroft, the local community, and representatives from the federal and provincial governments.

While “redevelopment plans” are in the early stages, and still very rough, the partners now have a good sense of the components and the costs. They also have support from various levels of government.

No matter how you slice it, the Greater Bancroft area is a piece of heaven on earth. With a multitude of things to do, places to see and people to meet- it’s a place that appeals to every one of the senses AND there are still some good deals to be had… and mortgage rates are pretty low… for now,at least, paradise is still within reach.

If you've read any of my previous blogs, you will know that I have a penchant for history and I love to research... I stumbled upon an advertisement the other day... and I thought I would share it with you.

The following ad appeared in the classified section of the Toronto Daily Star - Sep 12, 1945:

"737 acres in Faraday township, on good gravel road, 12 miles from Coe Hill, 10 miles from Bancroft, 100 acres under cultivation, level, 100 acres pasture, balance timber, poplar, spruce, balsam, hardwood; navigable stream crosses property, 2 separate lakes, good house and barns, never-failing well, will sell part or whole, or timber separately, or will sell land, stock and implements as going concern. Interested parties invited to inspect property. Melville Vader, Bancroft, Ontario."

There’s no price mentioned, but in the same edition, there is an ad for a 50X324 waterfront lot with “Splendid beach, partly wooded. Bowmanville, Near Oshawa” that is listed for $195, $50 down and $3 per month.

And a dairy farm, “Sutton area, 167 acres, all cleared, brick house, bank barn, well watered, full price $3800.”

Another "Archive" search uncovered the following article: The Sarnia Observer- May 23, 1884

"A letter published in the Belleville Intelligencer, and charging the Ontario Government with corrupt conduct in making the sale of a large block of land in North Hastings to Mr. Wm. Coe, of Madoc, is seized upon by the Toronto Mai as the suitable text for an attack upon the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The correspondent says that the Government was dishonest and corrupt, and that Mr. Coe practiced the wiles of a trickster in order to succeed with his purchase, and to place the settlers of the region at the mercy of a monopoly. The Toronto Mail goes further than the correspondent, and asserts that the Governement has sold to Mr. Coe 100,000 acres of land in the townships of Wollaston, Limerick and Faraday, with timber thereon, at 75 cents, or less, per acre; while the price to ordinary settlers, without the timber. Is $1 per acre. And then the Mail proceeds to say:

“Mr. William Coe is a grit: he is in fact a bright and shining grit. Mr Coe opposed the Minister of Customs in North Hastings in the general election of 1882, and was beaten by a majority of 351. Mr. Coe has now received his solatium at the hands of the Ontario Government through this disgraceful job, which is, moreover, a gross injustice to the settlers of that part of the country.”

No other evidence is needed to prove that the Mail views the transaction in a partisan light, nor that the only object in referring to it at all is tom make capital for its party. Not only does that journal assume that the sale was a job, but it declares the settlers of North Hastings have suffered a great wrong “by means of this barefaced and indefensible transaction.”

Before referring to that transaction, or the object of it, we may inform the Mail that had it examined the returns of lands sold to Mr. Coe, and to which reference is made it its article, it would discover that the extent of the sale was some 50,000 acres instead of 100,000. We may also inform the Mail that the sale was not made at “75 per cent, or less per acre;” that the pine timber was not sold with the land’ that, in a word the sale was made in strict accordance with the provisions of the Mining Act.

Now let us inquire into the object for which this land was acquired by Mr. Coe from the Government; and let us see whether it has been “a disgraceful job,” or whether “a gross injustice” has been done to the settlers of that part of the country.

Mr. Coe is a practical miner of large means in Madoc. He was engaged for several years in exploring the townships of North Hastings, and succeeded in discovering several deposits of iron ore of a quality that is eagerly sought for by the iron and steel master of the United States. A number of wealthy American capitalists procured an interest in those mines with Mr. Coe, but development of them was retarded by the want of railway communication. The Belleville & Madoc Railway could not serve the purpose, and it was found necessary to build a new road. Mr. Coe and his friends obtained a charter for the Central Ontario Railway, extending a distance of 90 miles from Weller’s Bay to the township of Wollaston. The have built a first-class road throughout, at a cost of about $2,000,000 and without receiving a dollar of aid from the governments or municipalities.

The primary object of the company was of course, to provide an outlet for the shipment of ores and materials; but the road cannot fail to be a boon to farmers, lumbermen and other settlers in bringing in supplies and forwarding the produce of their industry to market. Neither can it fail to promote settlement, and to enhance the value of lands belonging to the Crown.

But the company was not content with an enterprise which was limited to working the mines and shipping the ore to the United States to be smelted there. They were anxious to build charcoal furnaces of their own in the neighborhood of the mines, and for this purpose application was made to the Government for the purchase of 100,000 acres of Crown lands. It would never do, they said, to depend for supplies of charcoal outside of their own property, for command of this article is a much a necessity as having the iron ore itself. The land they sought to buy was almost worthless for farming purposes as was shown by the fact that although two of the townships had been open for settlement for a period of 21 years the sales to settlers did not reach 7,000 acres, and its only value to the company consisted in the supply of hardwood timber upon it. In the application to the Government it was set forth-

“That the building of this road and erection of a charcoal furnace, and running the same, will bring a hundred-fold more people into these townships than any increase that will take place by actual acceptance of the lots in question by individual settlers.

That this railway will act as a colonization road, and save the Government a large amount annually which would have to be spent for colonization purposes in this section.

That a great number of hands will be kept in constant employment in the cutting of wood and hauling the same to the ovens or heaps to be prepared into charcoal, as enormous quantities of charcoal will be required for smelting purpose. And that

The working of the mines now opened up will also employ quite a number of people, thus bringing about a market for labor in the back country, and distributing a large amount of capital in the shape of wages and otherwise which without this enterprise, would never find its way into these scattered and northern settlements. “

The Commissioner of Crown lands dealt with the application of the company upon it merits and like a sensible man he decided to entertain it. An inspector in the employ of the department was instructed to examine the lands applied for by the company and to report on their suitability for settlement. The schedule of his report shows that out of the total of 100,000 acres in the three townships there were 16, 919 acres in Wollaston, 11,231 in Faraday and 23, 388 in Limerick- a total of 51, 538 acres- that were almost worthless for agricultural purposes, and the Commissioner recommended that these lands be sold to the company on the conditions laid down in the act respecting mining.

Now these are the facts of the transaction, and we leave it to any fair minded Tory to say whether it has been “a disgraceful job,” or whether a “gross injustice has been done to the settlers of that part of the country.” If we were called upon to express an opinion upon it, we should say that the Commissioner of Crown Lands could not do less than he did, and be worthy of the position her fills. Nay, we think that under all the circumstances, he would have been amply justified in making the Company a free grant of the lands which they have obtained by purchase."

Some things never change.

June 25th: Plazacorp Retail Properties Ltd. (PLZ:TSX
Venture) announced today that it will develop five new retail properties. These development projects are located in Shediac and Miramichi, New Brunswick, Alexandria, Almonte and Bancroft, Ontario.

In all, the Corporation will be investing approximately $10 million for its share of these five new developments and will add approximately 130,000 square feet to Plazacorp's portfolio of retail properties. All five(5)projects are 100% leased to national retailers.

The travelling exhibition ‘From Crystals to Gems’ produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature. Over 100 mineral and gem specimens from our national collection are on display revealing their beauty, rarity and durability. This exhibit has been made possible through support from Celebrate Ontario 2009, and is brought to you by the Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce.

The exhibit can be seen at 12 Flint Avenue Regular hours will be Wednesday to Friday 11 a.m to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Bancroft/Barry's Bay areas cover immense country, of indescribable beauty, and the perfect way to explore little known wild territories is by ATV.

With thousands of kilometerss of trails, close to fuel, food and accommodations, that will challenge and inspire trail riders of every level, ATVOntario, established in 2002 as a public/private initiative between the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) and the five founding communities of Elliot Lake, Mattawa, Eastern Ontario (Tweed), Cochrane and Georgian Bay (Parry Sound), offers over 2,000 kilometres of legal, well-managed trails, thanks to their many partnerships with landowners.

The surface of the abandoned rail line remains intact and is generally in excellent condition. You might come across minor flooding due to beaver activity. The surface along the trail is generally granular and earth. There are a number of historical sites associated with the railway, as well as other areas of cultural or historical interest.

Under Ontario’s Off-Road Vehicle Act, ATVs must be registered with the Ministry of Transportation and drivers must be 16 years of age or older. Upon registration the owner will be supplied with a vehicle permit and a license plate. Persons under the age of 12 are not permitted to drive an ATV, except on land owned or occupied by the vehicle owner, or under close supervision of an adult. A helmet is mandatory for all ATV drivers. ATVs are not to be driven on or along a highway (some specific exceptions under the Act) and riders must have a valid driver’s license to cross a highway. You will also need a valid ATVOntario Powerpass available at www.powerpass.ca, which now also gives you access to all FQCQ trails in Québec. Of course, FQCQ members can also use their pass in Ontario.

The Art Gallery of Bancroft is highlighting work of Moses Amik Beaver (a self-taught Canadian Aboriginal artist from the fly-in reserve of Summer Beaver, Nibinamik, Ontario) in its July show-"Whispers of the Ancients".

His work is distinct for its multi-layered approach, utilizing the embedded images of spirits, human faces and animals in the and the natural environment. Amik Beavers’ work depicts stories, often representative of the ancient teaching of his people and reminds us that we are one with the earth.

The official opening of the exhibit, on July 3 at 7:30 p.m.- everyone is welcome. This exhibit runs from July 1 to July 26 at the gallery- 10 Flint Avenue and is open Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Also on July 3rd, it's "New Years in July" at the Wilberforce Legion from 8 p.m. to midnight outside and from midnight to close inside. Admission is $10.00 per person. DJ Marcel will supply the music. The legion branch is located on Hwy #121 between Wilberforce and Harcourt.

Jul 4, 2009 is the kids Rock Bass Derby at the Anchorage Resort on Paudash Lake from 9:00AM to 3:30PM registration starts at 8:00- for details call 613-339-2675 (The derby is in support of the local food bank)

The Brady Brother's will appear on July 4th at Papa's Pub & Gramma's Restaurant @ 141 Hastings St. North. Show starts at 8:30

July 4th the Bancroft Royal Canadian Legion will hold a dance with music by Farron Brown, in support of Canadian Troops. 9:00PM to 1:00AM

It's Bancroft Antique Week: Jul 4, 2009 to Jul 11, 2009

July 4 & 5th Halladay's Equine (Paudash) is hosting a Reining Clinic with Darren Bilyea. Limited spaces. 613-339-2395

Concerts at the Millenium Park in Bancroft are Wednesday evenings.

Horse and Wagon Rides July 11th at the Post Office Parking Lot on Station Street.

Bancroft's Flying Club Annual Pancake Breakfast July 12th at the airport.

July 15th Nurture Nature Series-Species at Risk is presented by the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council. Free of charge. At the Bancroft Fish & Game Club 27602 Hwy. 62 South 7 p.m.-8:30 613-332-3940 ext. 260

July 17-19th Bancroft Area Lifestyle Expo Bancroft Curling Club
Phone: (613) 332-3397

46th Annual Rockhound Gemboree Jul 30, 2009 to Aug 2, 2009 North Hastings Community Centre & Bancroft Curling Club Canada's Largest Gem and Mineral Show

The 2009 summer playbill at the Bancroft Village Playhouse features two contemporary Canadian comedies, an old-time classic farce, and a musical revue.

June 30 to July 11, a charming comedy Having Hope at Home by David S. Craig.

July 21 to August 1, the high-speed farce See How They Run by Philip King.

August 11 to 22, another great comedy The Foursome by Norm Foster.

August 25 to 27, a light-hearted musical revue The Un-Scene Story.

All tickets are reserved seating and cost just $18.50 each (including GST).Remember that seating is limited to 192 guests per performance so order your tickets early! Tickets are available by calling 613-332-6141. Payment by VISA, Mastercard or AMEX.

Tickets ordered by phone will be held at the Box Office pick up window in The Village Playhouse. Tickets should be picked up by one-half hour before curtain.

The Village Playhouse is located at 5 Hastings St. South, Bancroft.
The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and until 7:30 p.m. on performance nights.

Aug 1, 2009 to Aug 2, 2009 is set for 28th Annual Art and Craft Show at the Millenium Park Bancroft and the Coe Hill Wild West Weekend at the Coe Hill fairgrounds.

First off... I would like to wish all Canadians a happy Canada Day!

I feel very fortunate to have been born in Canada... and, since working on my family tree, I have learned a lot more about being Canadian.

Many native cultures share a reverence for "ancestors"... and many carry a common belief that each of us is affected by the 7 generations that came before us- which translates into our own responsibility for the seven generations that will follow us.

I certainly have discovered anecdotal stories (during my quest for information related to my family tree) that are astonishingly connected to the family as it exists today.

& from this work,also, I have a new and greater understanding of the history of North America, the people and politics... culture and philosophy... spirituality and character... and so much more...

Today, I thought I'd share the names that I have (and the gaps, too) going back 7 generations in my own family tree... it is very indicative, I think, that I am quite a typical Canadian citizen of today... with roots that run deep into the history of North America, a number of them back to Europe.

In sharing these names, I'm hoping that I might inspire others.. perhaps connect with relatives... truthfully, I sometimes believe that I will connect us all...

to date, I have 10314 individuals in my family tree and almost 800 stories and some 1500 photos- all relating to these folks and their families.

Some people are quite celebrated and some are not... however, I have no doubt that each one had their lessons, struggles and happiness, all of which has contributed to the world in which I live.

From my father’s paternal side:

Jean Didier 1795-1820 Savoie, Rhone-Alps, France
Perrone Guillermin 1794-1954

Pierre Gaillard France
Jeanne Damesin

Pierre M Goudreau 1764-1838 Quebec
Marie Ann Pilon 1770-1828 Quebec

Pierre Botineau 1793-1870
Madeleine Charron de Ducharme 1800- abt 1825

I Theodore Seguin 1775-1858 Quebec
Marie Reine Anne Leduc 1782-1823

Pierre Vallee 1773-1848 Quebec
Elisabeth Robillard 1774-1844

Missing 4 Grandparents of Marie Zephirin Villineuve 1855-unknown Quebec

From my father’s maternal side:

Missing 4 Grandparents of Richard Hynes 1825-1917 Ireland-Ontario
And missing 4 Grandparents of Richard Hynes’ wife Margaret Farrell 1843-1902 Ireland-Ontario

Unknown Parents of Timothy Sheehan 1803-Ireland
And Unknown Parents of Timothy Sheehan’s wife Catherine Hanlon 1808 Ireland

John Baptiste Reaume 1772-1829 Ontario
Suzanne Trudelle 1781-1829 Ontario

The parents of Charles Reaume’s wife- Sophia

From my mother's maternal side

William Hanning 1776-1871 Scotland
Catherine Lorimer 1781-1856 Scotland

James Carlyle 1758-1832 Scotland
Margaret Aitkin 1771-1853 Scotland

James Amit Morden 1762 Pennsylvania-1740 Ontario
Margaret Parliament 1771 New York-1868 Ontario

Lewis Davis <1763 New York-1823 Ontario
Miriam Lawrence 1764 New York-1840 Ontario

Francis Vandervoort 1763 New York-1836 Ontario
Hanna Acker 1765 New York-1850Ontario

Francis Hogle 1773 New York-1840 Ontario
Margaret Hartman 1777 New York-1855 Ontario

Jacob Franklin 1754- England
Jane Bull

William Lewis 1786 Wales
Mary

From my mother's paternal side:

Unkown Parents of Richard G Clingan born 1820 Ireland

And Unknown Parents of Mrs. Richard Clingan (Rebecca Walmsley)born 1822 Ireland

John Hewitt born 1779 England
Deborah Clark born 1777

Unknown Parents of wife of Mrs. John Hewitt Jr. (Elizabeth) born 1813 Wales

John Hughes 1795-1883 Wales/England
Ann Sarah Jones 1799-1832

Joseph Chadwick born England
Ann

James Cunion 1800-1883 England
Jane 1801-1880

William Symmonds 1811-1886 England
Margaret 1811-unknown

Yup, it's all around the mulberry bush... with other surnames like DeMille, Bogart, Pepin, Herrington, Carlyle, Bishop, McCrae, Vanderbilt, White, Molyneux, Quesnel, Palmer,Bergen, Atherton,Morrow, Eaton, Cole, Vernon, Redner, Munro, Durham, Bowerman, Babcock, Hawley, Mainwaring, Lake, Joly, Baldwin, Cleveland, Doig, Miteouamegoukoue, Meyers, Glossop, Lindbergh, Putnam, Ruttan, Cotton, Hickock,Trico, Young, Clapp, Pickford, Snelling, Ashcroft, Earhart, Chrysler, Abel, Rapalje, Blundell, Douglas, Wilde, Pettit, Raizenne, Apps, Quackenbush, Robinson, Burden, Quinn, Bergen, Hinsdale, Nims, Smead, Machequayzaince, Bailey, and Lawrence, among others.

Oh... and St Clair... or St Clair-Hughes, but I've verified that the St Clair part was first just a stage name.

Yup. Who knew?

Tangled into all the stories (of all of these people)is the truth about being a Canadian...

There's a lot to it. We're not just Red Rose tea, Hockey, Maple Syrup, beavers, Mounties, donuts, Pablum, toques, newfie screech, canoes, timbits, toboggans, back bacon and poutine, eh!

This morning, the Canadian Press released the findings of a recent Harris-Decima survey, confirming the majority of us are planning a summer vacation this year. Harris-Decima senior vice-president Jeff Walker says, "It's going to be the kind of vacation where you go to visit a cottage or friend's cottage or maybe a family's cottage, or maybe you go for a long weekend to a resort in whatever part of the country you live."

It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that visits to Algonquin Park are up 14%.

Located in the eastern section of Ontario about 2.5 hours from Ottawa, 4.5 hours from Montreal or 3.5 hours from Toronto- Highway 60 is the main corridor of Algonquin Park.

With over 7000 square kilometres of forests, maple hills, rocky ridges, thousands of rivers and more than 2000 fresh water lakes, Algonquin Park is the very essence of Ontario wilderness.

Archaeologists estimate the Algonquin First Nation peoples inhabited the area for some 8,000 years, prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century. Relying heavily on hunting, trapping and fishing for their food and would gather in the park area for fishing and socializing during the summer. In the late autumn, the group would separate into small hunting camps.

With the arrival of French and British colonists, the area grew into a flourishing market area and fur-bearing animals became quite a commodity. In the 17th century the waters of Algonquin Park served as the main fur trade route to the west.

Loyalist settlers began encroaching on Algonquin lands shortly after the American Revolution. In the coming years, the lumber industry began to move up the Ottawa valley and the native people were relegated to a string of reserves.

In 1893, Algonquin was established as the first provincial park in Ontario. The park was named a national historic site in 1992.

According to the Algonquin Park website: The Park is home to 53 species of mammals, 272 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles and amphibians, 54 species of fish, 1000+ species of plants, more than a thousand species of fungi and approximately 7000 species of insects.

During a typical trip, you may see beaver, mink, otter, eastern wolves, foxes, osprey, raccoons, birds and waterfowl- in addition to deer, bear and moose. You will almost be certain to see a moose in June, July or early August. Park visitors regularly see Moose standing or feeding along the roadsides.

Moose are year-round residents of Algonquin Park. Park Authorities estimate some three thousand moose call Algonquin Park home. In the summer, moose can be found feeding on aquatic vegetation in beaver ponds, rivers, and shallow areas of lakes. They love to graze.

Moose are about the size of a horse, with a long brownish-black head and snout, large ears, and a dewlap (or bell) hanging from the throat. Moose have legs that are about 200 centimetres long, humped shoulders, and a short stubby tail.

A male Moose weigh an average of 500 kilograms, and females average 425 kilograms. Moose eat 50 kilograms of green vegetation in one summer's day.

The Black Bear is Algonquin's second largest mammal, next to the Moose. Female Black Bears in Algonquin Park weigh between 45 and 70 kilograms. Males are usually larger, weighing between 70 and 150 kilograms.

Black Bears typically do not vocalize. The most common bear sounds are grunts, used when playing, and loud blowing, indicating the Black Bear is nervous or afraid. The Black Bear uses a resonant voice to exhibit strong emotions and most often used by cubs. Adults will use their resonant voice when they are in pain or are frightened.

When camping in bear country, which includes Algonquin Park, remember the three simple bear safety rules.

1. Never feed or approach a bear.
2. Store all your food and garbage in the trunk of your car (or suspended high up between two trees if you are camping in Algonquin's Interior).
3. Keep a clean campsite and pack out all garbage.

Many White-tailed Deer call the Park home, too. The best chances for seeing deer would be during the early morning, along Highway 60.

In the park, itself, the Visitor Centre is a must see. This world-class, interpretive facility depicts Algonquin's natural and human history through a series of exhibits, dioramas, and video presentation.

The ALGONQUIN ART CENTRE (at km 20) is open daily from June 20 to September 6 [10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.] and from September 7 to October 17 [10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.]. It features original artwork by world-renowned artists depicting Algonquin's rugged landscapes.

On most summer afternoons (no formal schedule), get up-close-and-personal with a Park Naturalist at the Visitor Centre (at km 43) as they discuss different natural or cultural history topics using mounted animal specimens, pelts, bones, artifacts, and other items. Naturalists may also be found, roving throughout the park and they’re enthusiastic about answering questions.

You’re bound to hear stories of Gertie Baskerville, a true woman of the wilderness, who lived alone- amongst the animals and birds of Algonquin Park for years. A year round resident from 1941 until 1969, Gertie became a seasonal resident (from early spring until the first snows) for another decade.

Living in a 20’ by 20’ three room cabin by the shores of South Teal Lake, with no more than a wood stove to keep the fall and winter chill away. The area had no electricity until the mid-1950’s. A great naturalist and an expert canoeist, Gertie thought nothing of paddling 10 miles, or more, a day. She knew all about the wildflowers, mushrooms and types of fungus on the trees.

There is also the romantic legend and mystery of Tom Thomson, the influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century, who first visited Algonquin Park in Ontario in 1912 with other members of the famous Group of Seven.

Taking up residence on Canoe Lake, in the park in 1914, Thomson worked on and off, as a fire fighter, ranger, and guide in Algonquin Park, but found that such work did not allow enough time for painting. During the next three years he produced many of his most famous works, including The Jack Pine, The West Wind and The Northern River.

Thomson disappeared at Canoe Lake on July 8, 1917- his body was discovered in the lake eight days later. The official cause of death was accidental drowning, but many still question this.

It has been said that Thomson’s body had fishing line wrapped around a leg- seventeen times and there were signs of a head injury (possibly post mortem). It may be that Thomson was murdered by his neighbour, Martin Blecher, Jr or that he fell and struck his head on a fire grate during a drunken brawl with the owner of Canoe Lake’s Mowat Lodge (allegedly over an money the man owed Thomson for canoes).

Rumours has it that Thomson needed money to purchase a new suit to marry Winnifred Trainor, whose parents had a cottage at Canoe Lake. Following his drowning, folk said that Winnifred, pregnant with Thomson's child, went away for a while, with her mother.

When she returned to Canoe Lake, Trainor never spoke about her relationship with Thomson- although her nephew, upon inheriting the estate, said it included more than a dozen small Thomson paintings and letters that confirm they had been engaged.

Others believe that Thomson suffered severe depression and drowned himself. He was buried at Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park on July 17, 1917, without any of his family members having seen the body. Thomson’s older brother had the body exhumed and re-interred in the family plot beside the Leith Presbyterian Church on July 21.

There is a memorial for Thomson- at Canoe Lake, in Algonquin Park.

Visiting the interior portions of the park really isn’t for sissies- in fact; it’s best left to those with experience in canoeing and backcountry camping.

For more information:
Algonquin Provincial Park
Box 219
Whitney, Ontario
K0J 2M0
705-633-5572

Summer holiday tip: Include your children in planning of day trips. It may be a good time to have them help with packing lunches. Helping in the kitchen, over the summer, is a great way to keep kids thinking… reading and arithmetic- like fractions- all come into play!

I have been trying to blog for the past two days... but I couldn't settle on a topic...my mind has wandered from… well… if you been watching the news… you understand.

North Korea used the 59th anniversary of the start of the Korean war to step up threats against the US.

Jon and Kate announced their separation and eminent divorce.

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Jacko have left us.

The Manitoba Propety Register is warning folks to beware of lending scams… probably a good idea for everyone to note… don’t sign any kind of agreement without running it past a trusted lawyer…

Hmmmmm.

Also in the news- Vancouver lawyer Martin Wirick was sentenced to seven years in prison for perpetrating the largest legal fraud in Canadian history.

In July 2002, Wirick confessed his part in the fraud and subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of forgery in 107 real estate transactions connected a real estate developer, client, a Mr. Tarsem Singh Gill.

The total value of the fraud- about $30 million (reportedly the B.C. Law Society has fully compensated all of the victims). Now, apparently, Wirick was simply the facilitator and simply following the instructions of Mr. Gill.

Hmmmm. I know that Realtors are to follow all LAWFUL instructions of their principal clients. Surely it’s the same for lawyers?

Gill has also been charged, however, he has pleaded not guilty and he is not cooperating with authorities. In fact, he’s still developing properties. His preliminary hearing has been set for March of next year.

Brings back memories of Brian Slobogian and Frank Biller- manipulators of the scam-ridden Eron Mortgage Corp. Slobogian was the president of Enron and Biller the vice-president and chief mortgage broker.

Regulators began scrutinizing the Enron accounting practices in 1996 and pulled their license in October of 1997. Charges of theft and fraud charges followed. The pair were charged with bilking $175 million, affecting some 3,500 mostly unsophisticated investors. It was, at the time, the biggest fraud in B.C. history. The two were tried in 2005.

The B.C. Securities Commission fined both Slobogian and Biller $300,000 each. Slobogian received a lifetime trading ban and Biller a 10-year ban. Both declared bankruptcy.

In 2005, Slobogian plead guilty and made a deal. He was sentenced to four concurrent six-year terms for theft counts and a three-year sentence for fraud (to be served at the same time). A few months later, Biller was sentenced to three years in prison, after pleading guilty to one charge of theft and four counts of fraud.

Then, there’s Vancouverite, Bryan Tickell, who (earlier this month) was sentenced to six years for fraud related to his dirty dealings of 2007. After falsifying his credentials on an application, Tickell was hired as a caseworker at the offices of the B.C. Public Guardian and Trustee’s Office. There, he defrauded an elderly client, who had been deemed mentally incompetent, paying $1 plus love and affection for her property and flipping it for $1 million. Tickell defrauded another elderly client, naming himself a 20% beneficiary in the man’s $1.3 million estate.

Tickell had to donate a DNA sample, through which he will be easier to connect to any future crimes he may commit.

Seems to be a trend.

There are other strange trends, too.

Howard K Stern, and doctors Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich were charged back in the spring… for conspiracy to supply drugs to former Playboy playmate, Anna Nicole Smith, before she died of an overdose in 2007.

At that time, reports swirled about her estate- speculating that it may not be worth much — possibly as little as $100,000 and no more than $1 million. Horace Cooper, an assistant professor of law at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, said that Smith filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and had borrowed money. Apparently, she was banking on a settlement from the decade long battle she was having against the family of her late husband, J. Howard Marshall.

Dr Cyril Wecht, former president of the American Academy of Forensic Science, inteviewd by CNN today, said death from a prescription drug overdose was a major killer in America.

``This is something that is killing somebody every hour, if not every minute, in America, but we only come to learn about them when they involve Anna Nicole Smith or Heath Ledger

or Michael Jackson. But, everywhere in America somebody is taking two, three, four drugs.''

Yes, reports say that Michael Jackson's personal doctor is to be questioned (for a second time) by police. There are allegations that the singer was being fed a daily cocktail of painkillers that contributed to his death.

Actress-singer Liza Minnelli, told reporters yesterday "all hell would break loose" when the results of Jackson's autopsy are released.

& there’s a lot of talk about who left more debt, Ed McMahon or Jacko.

it's a sad sort of contest

Foreclosure problems started for Jackson, when in October of 2007, reports of possible foreclosure on Neverland Rand began to circulate. A spokesman for the singer claimed that it was simply a matter of some refinancing arrangements.

In Feb. of ’08, Jackson got word from trustee, Financial Title Company, that unless he paid off $24,525,906.61 by March 19, the property would go up for public auction. In May of ’08, the foreclosure action was circumvented when Colony Capital purchased the loan. At the time, Jackson was in default several months on the $24.5 million owed on Neverland. Finally, in November of ’08, Jackson transferred title to an investment company, saying he no longer felt at home in the ranch.

Jackson died, this week, in a rented Holmby Hills house... autopsy results await toxicology reports.

In June 2008, McMahon revealed he was fighting foreclosure after falling $644,000 behind on mortgage payments on $4.8 million in mortgage loans attached to his Beverly Hills home.

Also, in June 2008, the nypost.com reported that Farrah Fawcett was making millions off her battle with cancer, working out lucrative deals with Entertainment tonight and selling video footage.

Just a month prior, the Los Angeles Times had published an interview with Ms Fawcett in which she discussed the media frenzy over her health.

She told the Times she would have preferred to have kept details of her illness private. "It's much easier to go through something and deal with it without being under a microscope," she said.
I can’t even begin to imagine.

Diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, in May of this past year, NBC aired Farrah Fawcett’s self-narrated video diary “Farrah’s Story”. Filmed with the assistance of her long time partner, Ryan O’Neill and her closest friend, Alana Stewart, Fawcett shared details of her poignant battle, raising global awareness of the disease, the need for alternative approaches to treatment and questioned patients’ privacy rights.

Ms Fawcett left us, quietly and with dignity. A private funeral, at the “Cathedral of Our Lady of The Angels” is scheduled for the 30th.

One can’t begin to imagine what kind of memorial extravaganza will be planned by or for the King of Pop.

Oh, & yes, I twitter.

A California spacecraft, bound for deliberate doom inside a crater on the moon, launched on Thursday, June 18 @ 5:32pm Eastern Time. According to NASA, along with a lunar orbiter, LCROSS is searching for safe landing sites where humans might one day establish Earth's first colony.

On Tuesday, June 23, LCROSS executed what was called a “swingby” of the Moon-
“Passing 1,988 miles (3200 km) from the Moon. The flyby resulted in a gravity assist from the Moon which put LCROSS into its cruise Lunar Gravity Assist Lunar Return Orbit (LGALRO).”

According to NASA’s website:.

“LCROSS will travel to the Moon as a co-manifested payload aboard the launch vehicle for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). LRO is designed to map the lunar surface and characterize landing sites for future missions.”

“Projected Impact at the lunar South Pole: Oct 9, 11:30 UT (7:30 EDT, 4:30 PDT)”

“The identification of water is very important to the future of human activities on the Moon. LCROSS will excavate the permanently dark floor of one of the Moon’s polar craters with two heavy impactors in 2009 to test the theory that ancient ice lies buried there. The impact will eject material from the crater’s surface to create a plume that specialized instruments will be able to analyze for the presence of water (ice and vapor), hydrocarbons and hydrated materials.”

And further,

“On March 5th, 1998, Lunar Prospector captured the public’s imagination by announcing the discovery of a signal for water ice at both of the lunar poles. The neutron spectrometer instrument onboard Lunar Prospector detected hydrogen, which is assumed to be in the form of water. The data indicated that a large quantity of water ice, possibly as much as 300 million metric tons, was mixed into the regolith at each pole. This was the first direct evidence of the presence of water ice at the Moon's frigid poles.

The mission ended on July 31, 1999 when Lunar Prospector was deliberately targeted to impact a permanently shadowed area of a crater near the lunar South Pole. It was hoped that the impact would release water vapor from the suspected ice deposits and that the plume would be detectable from Earth, but no plume was observed. However, the LCROSS mission will pick up where Lunar Prospector left off.”

One June 18, 2009 the San Francisco Chronicle reported: “In early October, the spacecraft will send a heavy rocket crashing into the moon's south polar region on a mission to find water that could support future crews bound for Mars. With its mission finished, the spacecraft itself then will die in its own final crash into the lunar surface."

And

“LCROSS will guide an empty Centaur rocket weighing two tons toward its target. The rocket will crash into the crater at 5,600 mph, creating a new crater - perhaps as large as 5 miles wide. The crash is scheduled to occur Oct. 9. Scientists on Earth expect the impact to blast out a huge cloud of dust, gas and vaporized water ice at least 6 miles high. The cloud will be clearly visible to astronomers at Earth-bound observatories and the Hubble Space Telescope's new planetary camera, allowing each to observe and collect data on its composition. “

Perhaps this is what The Goddard Space Flight Centre means by a
Surface Interrogation Technique?
http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/surfaceinterrogation.html

The Godard site lists 4 types of Surface Interrogation Techniques.

One being a “Mortar” and explained as follows:

“Mortar type probes deployed from central lander or descent craft can cover a larger area and perform short lived investigations of dark craters before freezing, using central craft as a data relay. Can use kinetic energy for depth penetration.

Hard landers/penetrators much less mature: RLEP Investigating current military hardened devices which would need different payload accommodations and navigational enhancements”

On June 19, 2009… the Seattle Exopolitics Examiner stated, “The planned October 9, 2009 bombing of the moon by a NASA orbiter that will bomb the moon with a 2-ton kinetic weapon to create a 5 mile wide deep crater as an alleged water-seeking and lunar colonization experiment, is contrary to space law prohibiting environmental modification of celestial bodies. “ and called for the project to be stopped, short of the “bombing”.

Speaking of “bombing”, The Associated Press headlined this morning, “NKorea vows nuke attack if provoked by US” and followed with “SEOUL, South Korea — Punching their fists into the air and shouting "Let's crush them!" some 100,000 North Koreans packed Pyongyang's main square Thursday for an anti-U.S. rally as the communist regime promised a "fire shower of nuclear retaliation" for any American-led attack.”

And

“North Korean troops will respond to any sanctions or U.S. provocations with "an annihilating blow," one senior official vowed.”

Meantime, there will be “penumbral lunar eclipses” on the 7th of July and the 6th of August and a partial lunar eclipse on the 31st of Dec. The beginning and end of a penumbral eclipse is not visible to the eye. Shading cannot be detected until about 2/3 of the Moon's disk is immersed in the penumbra.

Eastern Canada and the USA will miss the eclipse entirely since the eclipse begins after moonset.

The eclipse that occurs on New Year's Eve is a minor one. It will be visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere.

Maybe the NASA blast in October will be visible from here… and we might get some early excitement courtesy of North Korea.

I wonder if the Nutwood Observatory is booked in October?

I thought the world had just recently gone crazy… but a couple of times, now, I’ve gone to the Google News Archives and searched… the results could be from today’s news!

March 23, 1899, More Fire Victims Found in ruins of NEW YORK Hotel fire

Jan 6, 1887 13 Bodies drawn from the ashes and debris of Ohio train wreck

January 16, 1892, Man, once a lawyer and respected citizen of Baltimore, but whom drink had dragged down to the level of a Bowery loafer, was found with his throat out from ear to ear

December 15, 1898, The list of victims of the disaster caused by the bursting of the huge gas tank swelled to six yesterday, the frightfully mutilated bodies of two more men and a boy were taken from the ruins

October 10, 1899, MURDER MYSTERY CLUES; Another Portion of a Human Leg Found TIED UP LIKE OTHER PIECES Woman Discovered It in an Ashbarrel Under the Stoop of a House

April 4, 1895, MURDERER; Confesses He Killed Woman After a Quarrel He Choked Her to Death

July 29, 1883, foolhardy attempt to swim the Whirlpool Rapids and Whirlpool of the Niagara River- body found nearly four miles below the treacherous maelstrom which he was so confident of passing with his life.

September 4, 1893, Alleged poisoner commits suicide in his cell in the county jail last night

December 11, 1893, Wednesday PARIS, Dec. 10 -- Auguste Vaillant, alias Marchal, a resident of the suburb, Choisyle-Roi, is the Anarchist who threw the bomb in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday.

March 28, 1895, KILLED HER, THEN HIMSELF; HIS FINGERS CLUTCHED A REVOLVER Her Apartment the Scene of the Tragedy -- No Cause Known for the Act -- Said that He Was in Love with Her.

Jun 28, 1897 LOWER PORTION OF BODY TAKEN FROM EAST RIVER RECOVERED. New York Murder Mystery Deepens--It Is Now Deemed Certain That the Man Was Killed--No Indications of the Dissecting Knife--Part of the Body Found on Land Eight Miles from Where the First Find Was Made.

March 22, 1892, SEVEN CHICAGO ALDERMEN INDICTED FOR BRIBERY

August 21, 1891, The dead body of one of the wealthiest citizens of Omaha, Neb., and an influential Director in the Linseed Oil Trust, was found this afternoon in his room at the Grand Pacific Hotel. The general supposition is that the death was that of a suicide.

August 18, 1890 FOUND DEAD IN HIS ROOM;BANKER, HANGS HIMSELF.

April 10, 1900 Capt. of First United States Artillery, found dead in his room at the Auditorium Annex late last night. There was a bullet wound in his right temple.

April 20, 1883 FOUND DEAD IN THE STREET.; THE DEATH OF CHARLES STROBEL PROBABLY CAUSED BY A FALL.

March 27, 1887 AN UNKNOWN WOMAN MEETS A FRIGHTFUL FATE. AFTER A DESPERATE STRUGGLE IN THE DARKNESS SHE FALLS BLEEDING FROM A DOZEN STABS WITH A KNIFE.

June 22, 1881 SKELETON FOUND IN A QUARRY IN GENESEE COUNTY.

December 7, 1891, SKULL FOUND

June 15, 1879 The Forty-second-street tragedy is still the sensation of the police and the public, and the chief actor in it is still as free, and apparently as safe from justice, as when woman's bruised and swollen body lay tied to the bedstead in her room.

August 31, 1895 body FOUND in the water off the lower end of South Beach, S.I.

September 14, 1878 the trial of Rev. Hayden charged with murder,filled with sensational details to-day

January 2, 1894 Fugitive Man Who Shot Fred Walters with the Help of Accomplices Yet Unnamed Tried to Swindle Two Insurance Companies Out of $50,000

May 11, 1893 body found floating in the Hudson River this morning, a bullet in his head, and his skull fractured.

November 15, 1878 the Stewart body-snatching case to make public the fact which it has known for several days that not only has the body been found but the perpetrators have been discovered.

January 17, 1898 Mutilated Body of 5 year old Missing Child Found in a Creek

June 4, 1896 Prof.Mott the only witness on the stand yesterday in the trial of a woman for the murder of her mother

November 3, 1899 ART STUDENT MURDERED found floating in Bay by a fisherman on Wednesday.

September 3, 1877, AT THE TURKISH HEAD-QUARTERS.; EXAMINATION OF RUSSIAN SPIES SINGULAR DOCUMENTS FOUND

December 30, 1888, THE MUTILATED BODY OF AN 8 YEAR OLD BOY FOUND IN BRADFORD.

October 12, 1884, HIDDEN UNDER A HAYMOW; GIRL'S BODY FOUND BUT THE MYSTERY NOT SOLVED.

July 26, 1886, MATTIE RANDELL AVENGED; HER MURDERER FOUND DANGLING TO A TREE.

Oct 13, 1900 Clues found to hiding place defaulting Elizabethport bank clerk

Nov 17, 1879 AN ADIRONDACK MYSTERY, SKELETON FOUND BY CREEK,

Nov 29, 1888 Trunks containing 1500 pounds of smuggled opium put into evidence.

Aug 13, 1876 BARBER PRONOUNCED GUILTY OF MURDERING A LITTLE GIRL 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD

December 30, 1893, DESERTED COOK MAY BE ALIVE; COLGATE'S NAME ON A LETTER FOUND IN A BOTTLE. Hunters Left Him to Die in the Snow in the Bitter Root Mountains

November 15, 1877 CLOSE OF THE TRIAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BANKRUPT SECURITY LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY

May 12, 1882 ASSASSINS NOT FOUND; A GROWING FEELING THAT THEY HAVE ESCAPED.

February 3, 1883, PEDDLER KILLED; FOUND MURDERED ON THE ROADSIDE.

Dec 15, 1890 COMPLICATIONS FOUND IN THE REPUBLICAN DILEMMA. THREE PROPOSITIONS TO GIVE FINANCIAL RELIEF -- THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AND THE SILVER ADVOCATES DISTURB ALL CALCULATIONS.

August 9, 1886, THE TRUNK OF A MAN FOUND IN A BOX

July 29, 1885, SOUTH AMERICAN STATES FAVOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND A UNIFORM SILVER COINAGE. Judge Solon Thatcher, of Kansas, a member of the commission appointed to visit Mexico and South America in the interest of trade between those countries and the United States, arrived in Washington to-day from London and called upon the Secretary of State.

July 25, 1875 a broker doing business at No. 67 Wall street, was arraigned, charged

July 3, 1880 BODY, WITH SHATTERED HEAD, TAKEN FROM THE WELL

January 2, 1894 Whole Family Found Dead and Dying with Gas Stoves in Full Blast.

June 13, 1899, PARTS OF BODY RECOVERED; Man Found Dismembered at Bay Ridge Still Unidentified.

October 4, 1875 THREE BULLETS FOUND IN THE MURDERED WOMAN'S HEAD

June 6, 1887 MISSING 10 YEAR OLD CHILD IS FOUND AT LAST. BODY DISCOVERED IN THE SWAMPS NEAR RICHMOND CREEK, MUCH DISFIGURED.

August 4, 1881 BODY FOUND FLOATING IN THE RIVER

August 29, 1891, FILTH FOUND EVERYWHERE- DRAINAGES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION PERMITTED TO POLLUTE THE WATERS OF THE EAST, MIDDLE, AND WEST BRANCHES OF THE RIVER.

March 18, 1876, BODY FOUND NOT SATISFACTORILY IDENTIFIED

January 9, 1886 TRACES OF ARSENIC FOUND IN BODY

Jan 13, 1883 FRAGMENTS OF ABOUT 8 BODIES FOUND YESTERDAY

Dec 26, 1897 ONE BODY FOUND. Rumor of a Can of Oil Being Taken Into the Building.

Jan 10, 1884 DETECTIVES STILL FOLLOWING EVERY CLUE. MISSING MAN REPORTED IN SEVERAL PLACES, BUT THE FEARS OF HIS FRIENDS GROWING STRONGER.

May 7, 1880, BODY OF A WOMAN FOUND IN A PATCH OF WOODS- FRIGHTFULLY DISFIGURED

May 24, 1899 Unable to Trace the 20 month old Child That Was Kidnapped. THE MOTHER SERIOUSLY ILL

May 29, 1876, CHILD MURDERS.; TWO INFANTS FOUND STRANGLED IN A SWAMP

April 3, 1891, SHE CUT HER OWN THROAT; FOUND IN BED UNCONCIOUS. QUEER ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE OF A WELL-TO-DO BROOKLYN WIDOW

April 12, 1885, ex-President of the Marine Bank found guilty of misapplying its funds and making false entries on the books, with intent to defraud the bank and deceive the Bank Examiner.

March 23, 1890 Sheriff And Co-Defendants guilty of divorce conspiracy and murder

April 8, 1884 Man found dead in New-Brighton, Staten Island, authorities to warrant the conclusion that the death was the result of a duel

May 30, 1880 West Point Cadet Found Guilty of Self-Mutilation

December 9, 1884, The body of a newly-born male child, which had been murdered immediately after birth, was found at an early hour yesterday morning on the sidewalk in front of an open lot on the east side of Pleasant-avenue

September 17, 1894 DRIVEN MAD BY HEADACHES; A CLEVELAND BROKER FOUND DEAD

August 6, 1880, missing child who disappeared two weeks ago found with an insane woman 16 miles north

August 2, 1905, KIDNAPS CHILD FROM DIVORCED HUSBAND- Former wife takes daughter by Force and Flees.

November 30, 1906, CHILD WHO SLAYED INTRUDER IS ARRESTED TO-DAY.; Fires 4 Shots at Man Who Threatened Women in Her Home

September 10, 1911 KIDNAPPED CHILD SLAIN.; Body of Seven-Year-Old Girl, Taken from Her Bed, Found in Lake.

September 10, 1909 CHILD LURED AWAY AS CHUM LOOKS ON Was at Threshold of Parents' Home When Induced to Go with Stranger. KIDNAPPED, SAYS FATHER Playmate of Missing Girl Let Her Go, Thinking Abductor a Relative

February 19, 1889, NINETEEN BODIES FOUND; A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE

January 23, 1892, GROSS MISMANAGEMENT FOUND-NEW-YORK LIFE'S OFFICERS TERRIBLY REBUKED.

March 23, 1883, CHILD aged 6 months and 14 days, who died on Wednesday is SAID TO HAVE BEEN POISONED.

February 24, 1885 DISMEMBERED ON THE RAILS.; PORTIONS OF THE BODY FOUND ON TWO DIFFERENT ROADS.

September 1, 1891, Two more bodies were found yesterday in the ruins of the Taylor Building on Park Place.

October 13, 1875, TWO ESSENTIAL LINKS OF EVIDENCE FOUND THE MURDERER'S WEAPON AND HIS HANDKERCHIEF

July 8, 1876, A LADY FOUND DEAD.; THE BODY SUBMERGED IN WATER

October 25, 1919, three-year-old N.J. boy who was kidnapped by an unknown woman from his home fourteen days ago seen in Ohio

December 28, 1900, Prominent Mason, Found Shot in the Head and Will Probably Die.

Apr 25, 1895 Additional Evidence in Murder Case BLOOD STAINS FOUND IN THE CHURCH.

September 26, 1888, trusted cashier for the law firm of Shipman, Barlow, Larocque Choate, committed suicide yesterday believed to have been insane

October 25, 1890, The body of a murdered man was found floating in a sack in an eddy in the river. There is every indication that another foul crime has been committed

March 6, 1896, ON TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER.; The Mother of His Dead 9 month old son Testifies in His Favor.

July 10, 1886 YOUNG GIRL FOUND DYING WITH THREE WOUNDS IN HER HEAD.

March 1, 1879, WOMAN'S DISFIGURED BODY FOUND IN A TRUNK.

September 8, 1907 A thirteen months' old child was instantly killed early to-day in a shooting-the uncle of the child, has been committed to jail without bail charged with murder.

May 17, 1893 MAN DEAD; FOUND, IN THE HUDSON, A BULLET IN HIS HEAD.

September 20, 1897 Fragments of Plaster Cast Found Which May Have Inclosed the Murdered Man's Head. IN A POOL AT WOODSIDE A Little Girl Discovered Them in a Swamp.

January 19, 1898, DEPOSITED HER BABY.; An Arizona Woman Pledges a Child to Pay for Her Husband's Liquor.

February 16, 1892 NEW TYPHUS FEVER CASES; NINE MORE FOUND IN THIS CITY YESTERDAY.

December 24, 1882 Child 2 years old, dies from terrible burns about the face, neck, left arm.

December 20, 1884, The plates on which counterfeit ten-dollar silver certificates were printed,found,buried in the woods.

Aug 17, 1898 LUMPS OF ARSENIC ARE FOUND IN THE FATAL CHOCOLATE.

February 20, 1877 DEAD BODY FOUND OF YOUNG GIRL FOUND IN THE OLD QUARANTINE GROUNDS FULLY IDENTIFIED

May 2, 1885, STILL ANOTHER BODY FOUND IN A TRUNK. MAN STRANGLED AND SHIPPED TO PITTSBURG FROM CHICAGO

November 29, 1886, FOUND DEAD IN THE WOODS.; THE MYSTERIOUS FATE OF A YOUNG AND PRETTY ACTRESS.

August 9, 1882, UNIDENTIFIED BODY FOUND IN PLEASANT-AVENUE

December 29, 1895 STRANGE DEATH; Found Lying on the Area of Residence -- His Card in Her Pocketbook but He Denies that He Knew Her.

November 19, 1893, DRUGGIST'S FATAL MISTAKE.; A Brooklyn Child Dies in Great Agony as a Result of the Blunder.

October 19, 1894, GIRL FOUND DEAD IN A BATHHOUSE; CHLOROFORM AND THEN MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF.

December 3, 1900, MYSTERY IN A DROWNING Policeman’s body found floating in the East River

May 29, 1879, A WOMAN'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH.; SHE IS FOUND DEAD WITH FIVE GHASTLY WOUNDS ON HER BODY.

June 28, 1897, Portion of Man’s Body Found Saturday Picked Up in the Harlem Woods.

Jan 4, 1898 FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY GIVEN WHISKY Remains Unconscious Over Fifty Hours

March 11, 1890 UNKNOWN WOMAN'S BODY IN AN ELDRIDGE-STREET COAL BIN

June 14, 1893, SAVINGS INSTITUTION UNDER EXAMINATION. FUNDS FOUND TO BE $70,800 SHORT.

May 30, 1875 SILK SMUGGLERS. THIRTY-THREE NEW INDICTMENTS FOUND

February 23, 1884 TRAGIC END; FOUND FLOATING IN THE WATER OF THE HUDSON.

February 22, 1898 MORE DIVERS ARE NEEDED.; Gen. Lee Says 143 Bodies Were Found and 100 More Are in the Wreck.

October 28, 1895, TWO BOMBS FOUND IN MADISON, WIS.; One in the Capitol Park and the Other in a Tailor's Premises.

January 20, 1881 a child 5-years and 4 months old, was found yesterday by a Police officer abandoned in an unoccupied room in tenement

Nov 21, 1901 MOTHER HELD AS CHILD'S SLAYER.
Estranged wife, involved with evil man, charged with murdering her child, 5-year, although she had claimed someone HAD STOLEN THE BABY

June 10, 1890 Abduction Case Suspended- Estranged Husband/Father kidnapped his own child- baby now returned to mother

November 15, 1934 unclad body of a child found yesterday in a shallow grave in the grounds of a hospital on the outskirts of the city was positively identified today as that of Dorothy Ann Distelhurst, who disappeared on Sept. 19 while on her way home from kindergarten.

Mar 20, 1909 Parents fail to recover kidnapped boy

Feb 23, 1929 Girl, Returned by Couple, Says Watchman Lured Her With Candy-Victim Coached in Stories; Motive for Abduction Remains Obscure

August 4, 1937 Kidnappers tore 2 1/2 year old boy, from the arms of his mother this afternoon

August 20, 1897 five-year-old abducted last Monday morning while playing in the vicinity of his home. Rescued from His Abductors in the Woods Near Albany. UNCLE UNDER ARREST.

October 12, 1920, 15 month old boy taken from his crib in second floor room of his home, man claims to have smothered him and tells police chief where he is buried but search proves unsuccessful.

Feb 2, 1918 Missing 3 year old girl may have been spotted with mystery woman- appeared drugged

April 3, 1927, 6 year old girl seized from foster parents after found burned and bruised, doctor certifies 11 contusions and 3 partly healed head wounds on the child’s body

Aug 16, 1952 Four insurance men testified today that the aunt accused of poisoning 2 year old had policies totaling $5,500 on the child when she died.

Aug 15, 1937 MAN CONFESSES RAPE MURDER OF 4 Year OLD CHILD-body found yesterday in a lonely marshland shack

December 28, 1900 CHILD RECOVERED.; Mother Gave Him Up When Run Down by the Police

December 4, 1914, WOMAN ON STAND.; Admits Advertising for a Child ;- Says It Was to Gratify a Whim.

May 28, 1913, FIND CHILD, BUT NOT HER GIRL ABDUCTOR

January 3, 1895, A Woman is being held was held on the charge of kidnapping her daughter

May 12, 1877 ABDUCTION OF A CHILD; SHE IS TAKEN AWAY BY A FEMALE RELATIVE

May 10, 1891 bold attempt to kidnap a child was made in this place this afternoon Several gypsy women have been through this region for two or three days- the abductor was stopped and the child returned to its parents

Aug 7, 1899 OFFICIAL MURDERS A 13 YEARS OLD GIRL- BEHEADED IN WASHINGTON

November 11, 1913 Deranged by Grief for Lost Baby, She Thought Kidnapped 3-Year Old Girl Was Her Daughter.

June 5, 1959 BOY, 15, ADMITS SEX SLAYING OF CHILD 3

May 19, 1935, GIRL, 8, VANISHES; ABDUCTION FEARED

Dec 26, 1949 CONFESSES HE SHOT CHILD TAVERN BANDIT AND PAL ADMIT 15 ROBBERIES Arm of Victim, 6, Is Shattered

May 17, 1889 EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL LOCKED ALONE IN A ROOM EVERY DAY AND NIGHT.

August 26, 1923, women steal babies abnormal maternal instinct amounting to "mother mania" remains the principal explanation

March 30, 1914 PIG'S EYE GIVES SIGHT.; Transfer of Cornea from Animal to Child Proves Successful.

September 18, 1874 MURDERED CHILD FOUND IN A LUMBER-YARD.

January 16, 1871 THE STARVED CHILD.; An Unnatural Mother Verdict

January 14, 1861, Murder. A MAN CUTS THE THROAT OF HIS OWN CHILD AND SURRENDERS HIMSELF TO THE AUTHORITIES.

January 31, 1867, Clergyman who whipped his little boy to death was sentenced on Saturday to imprisonment in the State Prison at Auburn for four years and three months.

August 15, 1870, After weeks of ?? anguish, happiness is at last restored to the bereaved family, and the parents clear their little one in their arms. Two arrests have been made.

September 14, 1870 lad aged fifteen, who is afflicted with lameness, was arraigned on a charge of feloniously assaulting a girl two years old

November 12, 1865 Child Found in the Woods-particulars of the case show terrible suffering of a little child, or it may be an instance of cruel desertion by some inhuman parent, with a view of putting an end to her innocent offspring.

March 22, 1899 Three Year Old Boy abducted from Chicago found in Ohio

Jul 13, 1896 MOTHER DESERTS HER 4 YEAR OLD AGAIN

May 31, 1910, GIRL'S BODY FOUND IN A CISTERN; 8 year old’s mutilated and decomposed body under one of the parish houses of St. John's Roman Catholic Church.

YUP… I THINK THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRAZY FOR A LONG WHILE NOW!

The other day, while doing some research for my enormous family tree (I now have 10,303 people in it), I stumbled across the record of an incorporation that included my gr-gr-grandfather as a principal in the “Statutes of the Province of Quebec”. It was “An Act to incorporate "L'Union Nationale Francaise et de Refuge" and was “Assented to” on the 18th day of May, 1887.

The item was quite lengthy, as usual, outlining the purpose and the rules and all that stuff… but I was quite taken, in particular with the following words:

“Whereas Pierre Didier and Mederic Laurier, both contractors and Joseph Rivard, bailiff, all of the city of Montreal, have, by their petition, represented that in order to come to the assistance of needy Frenchmen they have founded an association called "L'Union Nationale Francaise et de Refuge," and in order to derive every benefit from such association, they require an act of incorporation; whereas they have prayed for the passing of an act for the purpose, and it is expedient to grant their prayer; “

I thought it was quite charming that “they have prayed for the passing of an act” and that Quebec could “grant their prayer”. I looked at some similar Acts from the 1880s in Ontario… in Ontario; they didn’t say anything about praying.

All of this got me to thinking about “wording” and legal language. The wording the clauses and conditions in an Agreement of Purchase and Sale is a difficult part of a Realtor’s job.

In today’s world, oral agreements are not sufficient- Buyers and Sellers need to have a precisely worded document to back up their agreement. Carefully worded clauses and conditions will ensure that contracting parties will have no differences in their interpretation of the text.

It’s also important to understand that any clauses added to the body (or white space) of an Offer will supersede anything in the pre-printed clauses of the form.

The manner in which something is expressed in words (the style of verbal expression, the phrasing, phraseology, wordage) may influence the success or failure of the Agreement. Poorly drafted contracts have the potential to confuse, disappoint, or worse, lead to a lawsuit.

Each property transaction has individual circumstances that make it unique. Agreements often require the inclusion of an unusual clause or condition and care must be taken to read all inferences and revise each clause to be certain there will be no misunderstanding in the intended meaning.

The parties, also, need to understand the distinction between conditions and warranties- the difference is very critical to the wording that should be used in the Agreement.

A condition is a requirement that is fundamental to the very existence of the offer. The failure or breach of condition may cancel the Agreement and usually will allow the buyer to have the full amount of their deposit back.

A warranty is a minor promise and if there is a breach of warranty, the Buyer cannot usually cancel the Agreement, but must complete the contract and then, sue for damages.

Any and all representations, warranties or agreement must be stated in the offer. Representations made prior to the offer and not forming part of the offer, either verbal or written, are unenforceable.

One of the most confusing phrases that frequently appears in a warranty is: The parties agree that this warranty shall survive and not merge upon completion but apply only to the state of the property existing at completion of this transaction.

When Contracts are exchanged the warranty will come into effect. When the transaction then continues to completion, the warranty will remain enforceable and will not become superseded by completion.

HUH?

The simple explanation of this clause is that whatever is being warranted (for example the refrigerator) is the responsibility of the Seller to maintain (and repair if necessary) up to the date of completion – meaning, the date the keys are exchanged… so the fridge has to be in good working order on the date of completion and the Seller, making the warranty or representation is liable after the closing is complete- if it turns out that the fridge isn’t working when the Buyer takes possession.

Survive means the condition continues to exist as a contract… However, one can’t expect the Sellers to continue to warranty something that they will not have control over after they’ve transferred the property- so the Buyer has only a reasonable time after closing to determine that the refrigerator is working.

Often, a warranty includes the phrase:

“The Seller represents and warrants, to the best of the Seller’s knowledge and belief that…”

This means that the Seller really does believe that what they are saying is accurate, given their knowledge and information about the property. If the Buyer were unsatisfied with the state of the fridge, at closing… the Buyer would have to prove that the Sellers had knowledge of the defect and had been lying when they made the warranty.

The parties of a contract need to remember, they should be working in good faith AND they are signing under seal- which means that they are providing evidence and assurance of their intent to carry out the promises they have made within the Agreement.