The Creemore
Echo
Friday, May 14, 2010
Vol. 10 No. 20
News and views in and around Creemore
Inside the Echo
Business Award
Old Fire Hall Unveiling
Just Push Play honoured for commitment.
Village Builders to hold open house.
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Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
Teddy Bears honours local realtor for crucial help with MPAC
Realtor Vicki Bell was presented with a “Golden Teddy Bear,” designed by kids enrolled at the daycare, for her role in saving Teddy Bears Picnic from having to pay approximately $25,000 in back taxes.
Local realtor Vicki Bell received the Teddy Bears Picnic Children’s Centre’s inaugural Community Volunteer of the Year award last week for her outstanding contribution to the Creemore daycare. Bell saved the daycare approximately $25,000 by managing zoning and property tax issues facing the small charitable organization. Acting on behalf of the daycare, Bell worked extensively with representatives of Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and the Township of Clearview to appeal assessments by MPAC and ensure appropriate zoning and assessed values were applied to Teddy Bears Picnic. As a result of the 2006 addition to the centre, MPAC had upgraded the property to “commercial” zoning from its historic “residential.” Also, the addition spurred a great increase to the centre’s assessed value. Late in 2009, the daycare received notices stating that collectively, these changes resulted in a large increase to property taxes retroactive over a four-year period, including interest, totalling approximately $25,000. (See “Teddy Bears” on page 10)
Wakestock coming to GNE by Brad Holden The Collingwood Fairgrounds will welcome Wakestock to its premises t h i s s u m m e r, a f t e r Clearview Council voted Monday night to allow the festival’s organizers a special event permit. Wakestock has a checkered history in the area, as many can remember the four rocky years that the event was held in Wasaga Beach. But organizer Todd Elsley maintained that the issues of drunken rowdiness that plagued the event in those days were a result of the event outgrowing a site that was already ill-suited. In 2006, Wakestock moved to Toronto Island, where it had
three successful years before moving to Millennium Park in Collingwood last year. Elsley brought a glowing letter of recommendation from the Town of Collingwood with him to Monday’s meeting. Wakestock will return to Millenium Park in 2010, but will also include a “companion” event at the Collingwood Fairgrounds, a supplement to the sporting event in Collingwood. It will involve camping, indoor concerts, action sport demonstrations, films, a bikini contest and a beer tent. It’s anticipated that 4,000 people will attend, arriving Friday and departing Sunday. (See “Council” on page 3)
THE ART OF QUILTING This landscape quilt depicting Mt. Rundle in Banff
National Park was one of many pieces displayed by guest speaker Wendy Spreitzer at the Mad & Noisy Quilters’ annual Dessert Tea this week. As always, the event was a success, with more than 100 quilting fans in attendance. The always camera-shy Jaclyn Fowler, by the way, did a great job of holding the quilts! Serving Mulmur & The Creemore Hills for 32 years
RCR Realty. Brokerage
The Town & Country Agent with the City Connections
Ginny MacEachern
(705)
444-1414
E-mail info@collingwood.toyota.ca
10230 Highway 26 East, Collingwood
Broker
B.A.
1-800-360-5821• 705-466-2607 • gmmulmur@bconnex.net Visit My Website: www.ginnymaceachern.com