The Creemore
Echo
Friday, June 5, 2015
Vol. 15 No. 23
thecreemoreecho.com
News and views in and around Creemore
Inside the Echo
Police news
Busy bees
Three injured in crash
Pollinators play important role
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Deadline looms for apartment property by Trina Berlo In order to purchase the Creemore property that could be the future site of seniors’ apartments, $265,000 is needed by Monday. The newly formed St. John’s Creemore Senior Citizens Foundation has made an offer on two Francis Street lots, located behind St. John’s United Church, conditional on financing and planning approvals. With a second offer for the property tabled, organizers are looking for ways to raise the money in order to meet the deadline. Almost 100 people attended a meeting Tuesday night at Station on the Green to hear about development plans. “I am blown away by all of you being here and I really hope we can bring this to fruition,” said Wendy Schellenberg, who initiated the project. S c h e l l e n b e rg w o r k e d a s t h e administrator for a seniors’ housing project in Mount Albert. She said she knows how to execute the project, it’s just a matter of finding the money. If 26 people are willing to put up $10,000 each, said Schellenberg as an example, they would be in a position to cover the purchase price. She said they want to start out with the land in hand
Staff photo: Trina Berlo
Creemore's foremost senior citizen, Ken Thornton, addresses the crowd that gathered Tuesday to hear plans to build seniors' apartments in the village. because there will be a need to borrow money later to complete the project. Once the property is secured, other financing would be needed. The possibility of shareholders, bridge financing and other options are being explored. “We have to raise probably $1 million,” said Schellenberg. “The financial end is big and that’s what’s going to allow us to go forward.”
A Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation seed grant has been secured for early costs. At Tuesday’s meeting, people were shown two possible designs for a two-storey building with one- and two-bedroom apartments that would be between 780 and 1,000 square feet. “Fourteen to 16 units are what we need. We want it filled. We don’t want (See “Apartments” on page 7)
Solar project proposed at Edenvale by Trina Berlo Renewable energy providers were before Clearview council members June 1 asking for support for a ground-mount solar project in Edenvale. Tom Bird and Scott Hossie of BluEarth Renewables, along with Mark Bell, of Petawawa Renewable Power, outlined a proposal to install a yet to be determined number of solar panels on 180 acres at the Edenvale Aerodrome property, owned by Milan Kroupa, and an adjacent parcel that would generate up to 29 megawatts of electricity. The solar farm would be in addition to the airport, which would continue its operations. Bird explained that the proposal
is to be submitted to the provincial government’s Independent Electricity System Operator under the large renewable procurement (LRP) request for proposals, which is the next generation of the feed-in-tariff program, by Sept. 1. The contract would be awarded in December. The project is in the early stages, so the exact configuration of the site plan has not been worked out. Bird said a visual assessment from Highway 26 and the 12/13 Sideroad has determined that the project has low potential for visual impact, especially when vegetation is added as a buffer. Clearview would receive additional tax revenue during the 20-plus year life
of the project and it would create jobs during the construction period but exact numbers were not available. Bird said if the township is on board, it can guide the development process and council support would make the proposal more competitive. Hossie said if there is opposition, BluEarth Renewables wants to address concerns early on and work with Clearview to make the project something that it can support. The project is also contingent on having the ability to connect to electrical distribution lines. Should council throw its support behind the project, a public meeting date will be set.
Principal swaps Nottawasaga Creemore Public School will have a new principal in the fall. Alison Golding, a vice principal at Alliston Union Public School, will take over for Heather Birchall, who is moving to Cameron Street Public School in Collingwood. New Lowell principal Cathy Bell is retiring. Clearview Meadows Elementary School principal JoAnn White-McKenna will be her replacement. Mountain View Elementary School principal Doug Paul is moving to Clearview Meadows. Collingwood Collegiate Institute principal Peter Stone is moving to Bradford District High School. Elmvale District High School principal Charlene Scime from Elmvale District High School will replace him. The Simcoe County District School Board trustees approved the transfers and appointments on May 27.
Carrying the torch The Pan Am and Parapan Am Games torch arrives at Stayner Collegiate Institute on June 11. The opening ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m. Area elementary school children will visit the high school that morning for games and activities. Torchbearers will complete a lap of the track once the torch arrives at about 12:40 p.m. The high school is located at 7578 Highway 26.
Tourist booth opens Clearview Township is celebrating the opening of the tourism booth in Stayner on June 11. The booth is located next at Station Park where, also that night, Music, Market and Park It opens for the season. The event will include live music, children’s activities, words from officials, a farmer’s market, and classic car and tractor show. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Live music in the gazebo begins at 7 p.m. Station Park is located at 7259 Highway 26.
Taking care of buyers and sellers in Mulmur and the Creemore hills for 39 years
RCR Realty. Brokerage
Ginny MacEachern
(705) 444-1414 10230 Highway 26 East, Collingwood E-mail info@collingwood.toyota.ca
B.A., Broker
The Town & Country Agent with the City Connections 1-800-360-5821• 705-466-2607 • maceachern.ginny@gmail.com www.ginnymaceachern.com