Entries by Leo Hintze

With summer's kickoff on the way, it's time to get your home in top shape for the months ahead. Whatever your weather, taking some time to take care of your home will help to ensure a worry-free, comfortable summer.


OUTDOORS
Inspect siding for cracks and make any needed repairs.
If paint is peeling, cracking, or chipped, repair and repaint now to limit damage to the underlying materials.
Repair any damaged caulking around windows and doors.
Remove window screens and clean with a soft brush and soapy water. Repair any holes or tears before reinstalling.
Have air conditioning units serviced to ensure good operation. Promote good air circulation around the unit by keeping shrubs and plants trimmed.
Clear debris from gutters and eaves to allow rainwater to drain properly
Seal cracks in the driveway and keep walkways clear of debris and overgrown plants
Test irrigation/sprinkler systems and replace any broken sprinkler heads or emitters. Check for proper water coverage and adjust if necessary.
Power wash decks and patios and seal surfaces as appropriate.
INDOORS
Vacuum refrigerator coils to help maintain energy efficiency.
Empty dehumidifier pans and clean hoses according to the manufacturer's instructions.
If possible, take area rugs outside and hang them over a deck or porch rail to air out.
Adjust ceiling fans for proper balance.
Change filters in window-mounted air conditioning units.
Switch heavy bedding out for lightweight summer fabrics. Have the winter bedding cleaned before storing.
Close the chimney flue to prevent insects from entering and to help keep cool air in.
Repot houseplants to give their roots a fresh start for the summer.
Check door and cabinet hinges and lubricate any that stick or squeak.
Open windows on cooler days to keep fresh air flowing throughout the home.
Source: www.pillartopost-muskoka.com

Taking the time to narrow down your house-hunting priorities can help your real estate agent provide you with a range of properties that meet your criteria, which increases your chances of finding the house that's right for you.
Important home buying questions to ask yourself:
1. Is this home the right size? Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms?
2. Is the yard big enough? Does it have a finished basement?
3. Is it in your general price range?
4. What is the condition of the home? How old is the furnace and wiring? Take a look at the roof and the foundation.
5. Take a look at the neighbourhood. What's the condition of other homes in the area? Does the community appeal to you?
6. Is there access to public transit and major roads? Are there good public facilities like schools, hospitals, shopping and recreation facilities in the area?
7. Is this an older, more established neighbourhood or a new development?
8. How do the municipal taxes compare to those in other areas? Are there any development plans that will affect the neighbourhood?
9. Are there any zoning bylaws that might affect you - such as your ability to have a home office in your house?
10. Does the property have the potential to increase in value?
Source: www.cibc.com

Opening The Cottage? Check The Appliances!
It is an annual ritual performed by many Canadians each year. Opening the cottage signals the
beginning of yet another summer of family fun, rest and relaxation. Minimize risks by taking the time
to do it right!

Check Your Electrical Service
Do a visual inspection of the power lines leading into your cottage. If there is any damage or limbs
on the wires report it to the local utility and have it repaired or corrected before turning the service
on in your cottage. Inspect the condition of the wiring inside and out. Mice and other rodents can
damage it during the winter months. Have an electrician repair any damage.

Check The Appliances
Under serviced or poorly maintained propane appliances such as stoves, refrigerators and heaters
can be dangerous. After sitting dormant for the winter months, have them inspected and serviced by
a qualified technician before using them. Consider replacing old appliances with new ones that
include safety features.

Safety Equipment
Install smoke alarms just as you would at home and test them to ensure they work. Install carbon
monoxide alarms just as you would at home. If you have smoke and CO alarms, replace the
batteries to start the season. Make sure you have a fully charged fire extinguisher located in a
highly visible spot. Ensure everyone knows how to use it.

General Cleanup
Cleanup rubbish, leaves and branches outside to reduce the risk of fire. Dispose of old cleaning
solvents and fuels, such as gasoline, kerosene and naphtha at a hazardous waste distribution
centre. They are no longer useable but still represent a considerable fire risk. If you have an
approved fire pit outside for campfires, clean it up and cut back any branches or brush that may
have grown too close.

Source: http://www.townofbwg.com

Once you become a cottage or cabin owner, you naturally become dedicated to preserving nature. Enjoyment of nature’s beauty is what a cottage is all about, and most cottagers and cottage associations want to make sure that the beauty they are enjoying remains untouched. Here are a few ways to make your experience a little greener.

1. Make septic care a priority
If your septic system is mismanaged, you may be leaching raw sewage directly into the groundwater and, depending on the location of your septic, directly into your lake. In fact, septics and farms are two of the largest contributors to eutrophication, or the process through which a body of water starts growing more weeds due to excessive phosphorus. So how can you help your lake? Have a septic contractor come in to have a look at your septic to see if it is large enough for your needs, see if it needs any remedial work, and set up a regular pumping and maintenance schedule. It may be costly at first, but think of preserving the clarity of your lake water.
Once you have it done, spread the word among your neighbours either through your cottage association or informal get-togethers. Septic care should be a priority for everyone who wants to preserve precious lake water.

2. Save water and conserve energy
Shower heads and hot water tanks tend to be a bit outdated in a cottage. For a quick water-saving measure, install a low-flow shower head. This will save valuable dollars and it makes sense. If you want to go a little farther, and have enough solar exposure to do it, consider installing a solar hot water heater. This is a good move if you plan on staying at your cottage throughout retirement, as you will cut down on your ongoing monthly bills.

3. Preserve your septic by not killing it with chemicals
Many people think that if their septic is large enough, they can use whatever they like in it. This is not the case. A healthy septic system thrives on anaerobic bacteria, which will not thrive if you use chemicals or antibacterials in your laundry or dishwasher. Healthy cleaning products will also help your septic, as well as your own health. Bleach, CLR, Ajax, and other harsh chemical cleaners should be used sparingly and avoided if possible. Less chemicals in your septic mean fewer problems, which can ultimately affect your pocketbook.
Ask your guests to bring natural, biodegradable shampoos and personal care products and be ready to provide them if your city guests forget.

4. Go local with your food
Many cottage areas boast local farms, meat producers, and dairies. Take advantage of this by doing a scouting mission for these farms in your area. There are many handy tools online to do this with, and you can also contact your nearest chamber of commerce. If they can’t help you, they’ll be happy to direct you to an organization that can.

5. Quarantine your plants
There are many potential pests that can infiltrate a forest. From Japanese Maple disease to Asian Longhorned beetles, there are many potential issues you can bring with you if you truck in plants from the city. Avoid bringing plants or firewood to the cottage, and shop local for your plants and gardening supplies where you can. Where it isn’t possible to shop locally, buy your plants at the store on the way to the cottage, rather than purchasing them and storing them at your home for any length of time. This will cut down on potential risk factors.
SOURCE: http://www.myessentia.com

People may talk about the big and scary grizzly bears in British Columbia or polar bears in the Arctic, but the scariest creature in all of Canada is the black fly of Northern Ontario.
Nowhere else on the planet are the black flies as big as in Northern Ontario. They will take the screen right off your tent if they can smell you inside! So you don’t feel like going outdoors. But I was up surveying land so I had to go .. out to work.
Well all day long you’re swatting and squashing, squashing and swatting those black flies, trying to clear the air. You’re itchy and scratching, scratching millions of itchy bites right from your head to your little toes. And all you want to do is get your surveying work done!
One day I said to my friend, “Oh dear the black flies are bad this year!” “Well they were WORSE last year!” she said.
“They must have been scary if they were worse last year.” I replied. “Were there more?” “More!” my friend roared, “ the clouds of black flies were so thick you couldn’t breathe! You were scratching your itchy black fly bites morning, noon and night. I’m sure I lost 20 kilos from all the blood the black flies took out of me! And one day I see this loud black cloud coming towards me. I don’t know what to do. Luckily I find a rain barrel. I get inside the rain barrel, hoping to hide from the black flies.
Just when I think I’m safe, I hear a sound like bullets hitting the rain barrel. In the dark in my rain barrel I can just about see – the black flies’ little jaws coming right through the rain barrel! I find a rock and I hammer down those little jaws like nails. I work fast!
Then I feel this strange sensation. And whoosh! I am flying up, up, up into the bright Northern Ontario sky. The black flies are carrying the rain barrel - with me inside!
SOURCE: www.radio-canada.ca

In today's highly competitive real estate market, the key to selling your home is being able to attract buyers to your listing. When you're selling your home, it's important to remember that you're in competition with every other similarly priced listing in your area. To win buyers, you need your home to stand out from all the rest...

Create 'curb appeal'
Buyers decide whether they like a property within the first few minutes of arrival. Make a great first impression with well trimmed and cared for lawns and walkways. A small investment in new lighting at your front door, an urn planter, a new mailbox or street numbers can all upgrade the look of your home and win big dividends.
Give them a warm welcome
Make the most of those first few critical minutes as buyers enter your home. A foyer or entranceway is typically one of the smallest areas of your house. Add a mirror to visually increase the space and clear out shoes and mats.
Let there be light
Create a bright and cheerful atmosphere by opening the blinds and curtains and turn on all the lights for showings. If you have a fireplace, have a fire burning if the weather's not too warm.
Show you care
Properties that aren't well maintained send up 'red flags' to buyers that larger problems may be lurking beneath the surface. Complete all those minor repairs jobs that you've been putting off.
Create space
Buyers want a spacious interior, so do everything you can to create space, even if it means moving several items offsite while you're showing.
Depersonalize
You need buyers to picture themselves living in the house, so pack everything that's distinctly yours, including photos, awards, mementos and religious artifacts.
Appeal to all the senses
Some of the strongest emotional reactions are created by smell, not sight or sound. Before showings, open windows to air out rooms, light scented candles, and put out a bowl of fresh lemons.
Upgrade for maximum impact and return
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most important rooms when selling a house, so they're the areas where upgrades will likely get the best return on your investment. Even simple changes like new faucets or a lighting fixture can have a big impact.
Present a neutral interior
A fresh coat of paint is always a good idea. Choose pale, neutral colors that won't clash with a buyer's furnishings.
Let the professionals do their job
As a real estate professional will tell you, one of the best ways you can help get your house sold is to leave when showings are underway. Buyers will be more inclined to linger and ask questions, and it gives your sales representative a chance to counter objections and offer solutions.
SOURCE: by Robert Hunsberger, Sales Representative real-estate.in-kw.com

Most people who live in the city are taken with the notion of going to the country for a break from the rat race. Contingent on the demand of the area you are looking to buy in you can uncover relatively less expensive cottages but this still means a second mortgage for many. This is in addition to property taxes, heat and hydro and the usual maintenance costs that may all add to your money worries. This can be enough to dissuade people from buying a cottage but by renting it out you may be able to recoup some of these costs and possibly even turn a small profit.
Issue solved. However before you determine that renting your cottage is the right move here are 4 things you must take into consideration.
You Will Only Rent It Provided The Price Is Right
It's hard not to get emotionally attached to your property but you need to be objective in coming up with the rental rate for your property. It will take a bit of homework on your part and you might need to ask the advice of a real estate professional. You will need to review what similar cottages in the vicinity are renting for. If you own a waterfront cottages Wasaga Beach will get higher rents because it is a tourist area. In the winter season you could make good money renting your Blue Mountain condo if it is a short walk to the ski hill. You may be able to make up for a few of your properties locational shortcomings if your cottage shows better but always be flexible in what you ask for. If your cottage sits vacant for a week you will not get that money back.
Lots of Pictures Can Make Renting Much Easier
Ensure you are getting the best out of your marketing dollar and that does not mean you have to spend a lot. Take as many pictures of your property as you can. Digital pictures cost nothing to make and even the camera in newer cell phones are good enough. So why not show people exactly what they should expect. You are not just backing your case for the rent that you are asking you are also saving yourself from sifting through enquiries from those who may not be interested in what you have to offer.
If Your Not On-Line You Are Invisible
People that are interested in renting a cottage are not going to be local and can possibly be from major cities or even around the globe. There are sites that are geared toward cottage rental listings or for greater control you can create your own site. Other forms of advertising cannot compare to the exposure you can get from being on the internet for a very small cost. There are a astonishing number of rental cottages that do not properly execute this step which can you give a bit of an advantage.
4. Be Quick When Answering Enquiries
When a person calls or e-mails you regarding your cottage you can bank on the fact that your property is not the only one they are interested in. The quickly you reply the greater the likelihood is going to be that you rent your place for the rate that you are asking. Renting your cottage is a business and replying quickly can give renters confidence in both you and your property.
Through a combination of research, marketing, and a little hard work you will rent your cottage and cover most of your costs or even make a bit extra.
Published At: Isnare.com Free Articles Directory - http://www.isnare.com/

MCDOUGALL TWP. - The Municipality of McDougall is receiving $500,000 for the Parry Sound and Area Industrial Park. The funding, a Government of Canada investment through FedNor, is hoped to enhance the economy of McDougall and the surrounding area through upgrades to the park owned by Carling Township, Parry Sound, and McDougall.
The money, according to McDougall Mayor Dale Robinson, is already designated for projects. The sewage lagoon system and water storage facility were both replaced within the park, located in Carling Township.
"It's a home for small industries to locate, and it provides over 100 full-time jobs," Mayor Robinson said. "We just think it's a facility that will service the entire area. If you are building a home or resort, you need the services of the area."
Areas in the newly-upgraded park, are currently for sale. Mayor Robinson hopes to attract new private sector investments to the area.
All land is zoned industrial and ranges in price from $1,000 to $10,000 per acre.
The funding will ensure the immediate and long-term industrial needs of the region are met, MPP Tony Clement said in a press release.
FedNor provided the half-a-million-dollar investment through the Northern Ontario Development Program, designed to promote business and economic development in Northern Ontario. According to FedNor, over the last five years, the economy of Northern Ontario has followed the trends of other rural areas in Canada, with a decrease to some resource sectors, including tourism.
Source: www.cottagecountrynow.ca

Spring Cottage Life Show:
March 25th - 27th, 2011
International Centre - Mississauga
Ticket Order Deadline: March 18th, 2011
The Spring Cottage Life Show held at the International Centre in Mississauga is an event that keeps avid cottagers coming back year after year.
Show attendees will be able to enter the RE/MAX RELAX & Win contest by visiting the RE/MAX Real Estate area in Hall 3 where they have a chance to win one of four prizes. This year RE/MAX is giving away one Spa Gift Experience, a Golf Foursome and power cart prize, a Winery Experience for two where the winner and one guest will enjoy an epicurean experience including five courses of fine wine and food served in picturesque locations throughout the Jackson-Triggs winery or the grand prize, an all-inclusive vacation.

Summer Market hits town June 28. The Parry Sound Summer Market will open each Tuesday starting June 28. North Star file photo PARRY SOUND – The annual summer market held in Market Square Park will return for its fourth season this year, but with a few changes for the vendors.
At its Feb. 1 meeting, town council entered into a new agreement with the Parry Sound Arts and Crafts/Parry Sound Summer Market as well as formally reclassifying the park as a public park.
Libbie Scobie, summer market organizer and Parry Sound Arts and Crafts secretary, wrote a letter to council last month, expressing a number of concerns regarding turf wear and tear, vendor parking and washroom facilities.
“One of the major issues from the town seems to be the damage to the grass in the park,” Scobie wrote in the January letter. “We never seem to have a complaint with this until after the Art in the Park weekend. After this weekend, when we come into the park, the damage to the grass is noticeable…however it is a park and the grass will grow back. After this weekend we are constantly harassed about the condition of the grass even though we did not cause the damage.”
After meeting with Scobie and staff to discuss the issues, staff recommended the park be identified as a public park, and that turf damage and maintenance would be considered a result of its use.
“Vendors are not permitted to secure their tents with pegs, they must use weighted systems to hold down tents and canopies,” said Lynn Middaugh, town director of economic development and leisure services in her report to council. “Operations department have indicated that the cost of maintaining the turf following a summer event such as the summer market could vary widely depending on the volume of traffic and related maintenance required. Worst case scenario would result in a weekly cost of $100, for a total summer cost of $1,000 for the 10-week market.”
Middaugh said the issue of washroom access was also discussed with organizers and, although the Old Fire Hall Exhibit is open for vendors’ use, staff recommended renting Port-a-Potties at the vendors’ expense.
“As in previous years, they have had access to the washroom facilities at the Old Fire Hall exhibit, that at times has not been without its challenges. We have encouraged the organizers, as with any event that’s held at Market Square Park or any other park facility for that matter, to get their own Port-a-Potty,” said Middaugh.
•••••
The summer market runs each Tuesday from June 28 to Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features baked goods, fresh produce, jewelry, and arts and crafts.
SourceL www.cottagecountrynow.ca

$1.5 million for Parry Sound businesses, airport. The federal government is investing $495,000 into the Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport to support infrastructure expansion. On Wednesday, workers assembled the rigid steel framing of an aircraft hangar, one of 24 planned in the airport’s third phase of development. Cameron Ginn/Beacon Star
PARRY SOUND – Nearly $1.5-million is being invested into the District of Parry Sound to strengthen the economy.
At the Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport on Tuesday morning, Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement announced that the Canadian government was investing $1,495,000 into the region to support growth and small business development.
The investment will be made available through FedNor, a federal organization that promotes regional economic development in Ontario.
Of the total investment, $1 million will be provided to the Parry Sound Area Community Business and Development Centre as capital in the form of repayable loans, equity and loan guarantees for new and existing small and medium-sized businesses.
The business centre is one of 24 not-for-profit Community Futures Development Corporations funded by FedNor that serve northern Ontario communities and support the creation, growth and success of small and medium-sized businesses.
The remaining $495,000 will support the ongoing expansion of infrastructure at the local airport, enabling area municipalities to benefit from immediate and long-term development opportunities, according to a news release.
“I think there’s a general realization that airports can be a real focus of growth for rural municipalities, that they are part of the mix of how you attract and retain business in the area,” said Clement from inside the Found Aircraft manufacturing hangar, which supports some 35 full-time jobs in the community.
Tony Hamblin, president of Found Aircraft Canada, said support from the business centre and FedNor have been key components in the company’s continued growth.
The airport, a joint venture between Parry Sound and Seguin Township that has entered its third phase of development, was extolled as a regional asset and economic generator by several members of council from the two municipalities, including Parry Sound Mayor Jamie McGarvey and Seguin Township councillors Bruce Gibbon and Doug Sainsbury, who is also chair of the airport commission.
The third phase of development, a $1-million project that includes the construction of 24 additional hangars, began more than six months ago with ground preparations, rock blasting and the installation of water and hydro lines.
“We’ve got a real jewel here,” said Clement before continuing to the airport’s terminal for snacks. “This airport isn’t just a landing strip, it’s a place of business.”

SOURCE:cottagecountrynow.ca

A chilling reminder not to tread on thin ice. Despite warnings of thin ice, a local ice fisherman, acknowledging the risk, has already set up two shacks within 100 feet of his home on Mill Lake.
PARRY SOUND - There’s no designated timeframe when snowmobilers and ice fisherman can safely venture onto the frozen lakes.
“If you don’t know, don’t go, or you’re a long time dead,” said Bill Park, president of the South Seguin Snowmobile Club.
Right now, police and emergency personnel are asking everybody to be cautious around the ice, which can vary dramatically in density from one region to the next.
Factors affecting the weight variability of ice include thickness, currents, age of the ice, pressure cracks and snow cover, wrote Constable Charles Ostrom in a recent news release.
“For these reasons, the OPP is not in a position to declare ice conditions safe,” he said.
The OPP discourages people from going on the ice during early and late winter, when ice is generally too thin to support activities like fishing, hiking, skating and snowmobiling.
“Almost all recreational activities involve some inherent risk,” said Ostrom.
Warnings serious
So far, freezing cold weather has been relatively consistent, but after a sudden stint of rain and mild temperatures, warnings of thin ice are serious, especially since many local snowmobiling trails are routed across the lakes.
“They usually go straight down the middle of them,” said Marilyn Derks, president of the Parry Sound Snowmobile District.
Until ice trails are demarcated and deemed safe, snowmobile clubs are recommending that riders stay away from the shoreline, which is weakened considerably by the flow of currents and conjoining waterways, Derks explained.
“As you get closer to shore, you find more risky places where water is coming in,” she said.
“The ice there is never going to get as thick as it would out in the middle,” where the strongest kind of ice, black, often forms.
Experienced ice fishermen familiar with local conditions are also playing it safe.
With a fishing license handy, Peter Agnello, president of the Parry Sound Anglers & Hunters, usually starts auguring trough the ice as soon as trout season commences in early February.
Before then, the risk of falling through is greater, explained Agnello, who has been ice fishing for more than 60 years.
“Any ice that there is now, you’re taking an awful chance to go out. It’s not safe.”
Jay Wickman, another ice fisherman, has already set up two ice fishing shacks near his home on Mill Lake.
Both shacks are firmly situated in the snow about 100-feet from the shoreline. The ice can’t be more than a couple inches thick, he reckons.
“I don’t recommend it, but I’ll go out on three- or four-inches with a floater suit,” he said.
Beyond the shacks, slushy nuances warn of an icy cold nightmare, perhaps even certain death.
“To go further than that, it’s just not safe,” he said.

SOURCE:cottagecountrynow.ca

PARRY SOUND – Tuesday evening new and returning members of Parry Sound council were sworn in for the 2010-2014 term.
Lead in by local bagpiper Morely MacDonald, with blessings from Reverend Robert Sweet and songs performed by Wasauksing First Nations’ Little Spirit Singers, the new council was welcomed by family, friends and fellow candidates.
In his inaugural speech, Mayor Jamie McGarvey thanked the voters of Parry Sound for their support and said he takes the great honour very seriously when carrying out his duties as mayor.
“One should never forget, that it is the ratepayers of Parry Sound that we work for,” McGarvey said to the packed room. “One of the first things I’d like to see started again is the use of a Customer Care forms that we used to have so inquires can be tracked down for better customer service. I look forward to working with the new council and the new team dynamics that it brings. We have a good group that is ready to get to work and the new council will be kept very busy. We’ve already started a strategic planning process for the next four years, this will be brought forward for public comment in February. For the new members of council, they are being brought up to speed, so that they’re aware of the business at hand and apprised of their responsibility.”
McGarvey said new infrastructure within the town makes the area more pleasing to those that live here and those that want to live here, but said, “we do have to pay our share” by increasing the town’s tax base.
“To secure our financial security, a financial plan will have to be in place to keep us on course. In an effort to bring more transparency and input into the Town of Parry Sound’s operations, there will be some new committees that will be brought forward in the next little while, that will involve more community input related to finance and operations,” he said. “I’m confident that we will succeed and we will have growth – housing and jobs are on the agenda. We will be working closely with existing and new developers and will be working to optimize growth potential in our new Official Plan. Parry Sound has always been and always will be a great place to live, work and play and we are open for business. We have a great town with great neighbours. We will build bridges with our neighbours so that our area will succeed. When one succeeds, we all succeed. There is great opportunity to foster growth that will benefit all of the West Parry Sound Area and it will be those partnerships that will make us stronger and more attractive for new development.”
In closing an emotional McGarvey thanked his wife, Allison and his family for their support and “putting up with me in everything that I have to do.”
Newcomers
Newcomer Coun. Brad Horne said he was “absolutely pumped” to be working for the residents of Parry Sound.
“The community values that I’ve been raised with in the Town of Parry Sound certainly will guide me in my decision making over the next four years,” said Horne. “I’m looking forward to establishing a great team with council and Mayor McGarvey and town staff and the surrounding municipalities in the region.”
Coun. Keith Saulnier said there’s a lot of work ahead to be done.
“I feel the gravity of the trust the townspeople have put on me and it’s a responsibility I’m ready to bear, but my goodness, is there ever a lot of work to do,” said Saulnier. “They just kind of throw you in there and you just have to go for it. I’m going to everything that I can as hard as I can – there’s a lot more to it than I initially thought, absolutely.”
Coun. Dave Williams is excited to see what the next four years will bring.
“As I said through my campaign and at the debate, a lot of credit goes to the past council; they’ve laid a great foundation and I’m excited to start building on the foundation. I think it’s going to be a good four years,” said Williams.

Source; www.cottagecountrynow.ca Stephannie Johnson/Beacon Star

Council’s next meeting is Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.

PARRY SOUND – Earlier this week the Salvation Army kicked off its Christmas campaign and is looking for support from the community to make it a success.
On Tuesday evening, Wal-Mart associates donated $500 in new toys to the Salvation Army, which will be given to local needy children this Christmas.
“It has been a difficult couple of years and we are asking for our community’s support so that more families will be able to enjoy the holidays this year,” said Salvation Army Captain Peter van Duinen.
Additionally, this weekend the Salvation Army launches its fifth annual EMS Holiday Toy Drive benefiting local children and families this Christmas.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at a number of locations and during the Santa Claus parade in Parry Sound on Saturday.
Since its inception four years ago, the EMS Holiday Toy Drive has collected more than 3,500 toys and $50,000 in cash donations from the generous residents and businesses of Parry Sound.
All donations will be distributed to local children and families by The Salvation Army.
The Parry Sound EMS will have three ambulances stationed around town on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Toys can be dropped of at the ambulances at the following locations: Wal-Mart, The Bargain Shop and Parry Sound Mall. Paramedics will also be collecting toys along the parade route during the Parry Sound Santa Claus Parade as well.
OPP members will also have a cruiser at the Wal-Mart parking lot between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. collected food for those in need.
Police are hoping to fill the cruiser with non-perishable items to assist local persons in the coming months.
How can you help? Adopt a family for Christmas through the North Star’s Adopt-a-Family program; share the holiday experience by donating toys, clothing and food; volunteer to be a bell ringer at a kettle or host a collection box for toys or food.
The Salvation Army is an international Christian church that began its work in Parry Sound in 1887 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the West Parry Sound District. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in Parry Sound and 120 countries around the world.
For more information on how you can help, call the Salvation Army at 746-5391 or the North Star at 746-2104.
SOURCE:www.cottagecountrynow.ca

The poem In Flanders Field was written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor,
soldier and poet.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
~John McCrae, 1915
During World War I, John McCrae was tending the wounded and dying in the
trenches at the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders area of Belgium as the
Canadians held their ground against chlorine gas attacks. When a close friend
was killed and buried in a quick grave marked with a plain wooden cross,
John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields.
First published in Punch magazine in 1915, the poem In Flanders Fields has
become an abiding symbol of remembrance worldwide.