Cottage succession: Plan now

Cottage succession: Plan now (your heirs will be grateful)

http://bit.ly/L0ALnD Globe and Mail
If you do not have a plan get one. If you have one keep it up to date.

FOCA has information on Cottage Succession
http://bit.ly/LJva3Y FOCA
If there is enough interest we might be able to schedule a session in our area

The Midland Cultural Centre is now open

Theatre opens at MCC
http://bit.ly/K1BJEZ Midland Freepress
The Midland Cultural Centre is now open.

Doors Open Huronia

Sneak a peek at the past through Doors Open Huronia
http://bit.ly/KZ7o5h Could be a very interesting event

http://doorsopenhuronia.wordpress.com/

OUTLOOK FOR REVISED WATERFRONT ASSESSED VALUES

OUTLOOK FOR REVISED WATERFRONT ASSESSED VALUES

In preparation for receiving the January 1, 2012 assessments for residential properties in Ontario from MPAC (which will be used to determine property taxes in 2013), we (FOCA) have been reviewing some sales statistics over the past 4 years as reported by various real estate boards.

FOCA's page on Property Taxation
http://www.foca.on.ca/Taxation

Read the FOCA report here
http://www.foca.on.ca/xinha/plugins/ExtendedFileManager/demo_images/2012_OUTLOOK_FOR_REVISED_WATERFRONT_ASSESSED_VALUES1.pdf

Great Lakes Need Great Friends Tour

Great Lakes Need Great Friends Tour

May 28: Tiny Township

Join Maude Barlow, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians', Terry Rees of FOCA, and other special guests at this stop of the Council of Canadians' Great Lakes Need Great Friends Tour. 7:00 p.m. on May 28,  at the Tiny Community Centre, 91 Concession 8 East, Perkinsfield.

The tour will visit 8 Great Lakes communities in total, to begin building a network committed to a new vision for the Great Lakes.  Learn more here.

Come hear how we together we can restore more democratic control over the Great Lakes. Admission is FREE to these public events, though donations are encouraged. Arrive early as seating is limited.

http://bit.ly/Ky1mrO FOCA

Dealing with pesky raccoons

Dealing with pesky raccoons
http://bit.ly/K10IU6 Toronto Sun
Raccoons are a pain in the butt

Trent Severn opens this Friday

Trent Severn opens this Friday

http://bit.ly/J6rjmo Midland Freepress

Good News for our boaters

Tax Strategy: When a country home can count as an exemption

Tax Strategy: When a country home can count as an exemption

Read more:
http://bit.ly/JCRRZV Montreal Gazette

Cottages require a little extra effort at tax time

An Update from FOCA about Internet service in "Cottage Country"

An Update from FOCA about Internet service in "Cottage Country"

If you could check email and access the Internet at the cottage, would you be able to extend your stays by a day or two? What if you live permanently in rural Ontario? A lack of Internet service has limited the ability of rural residents to access many important online services, to stay in touch with family and friends, and to establish or operate businesses in cottage country.

FOCA is very excited to share some good news with you: there have been recent developments that will make it easier for you to have Internet at your rural property.

Thanks to the growing network of land-based and satellite options, you can now get improved Internet access, higher speeds and greater bandwidth.

Satellite service is available in your region today, and has the ability to reach rural homes and cottages that have typically been a challenge to connect.

http://bit.ly/K8aG3R  FOCA

Take a look, below, at the range of services being offered by our corporate sponsor, Xplornet, including a new promotion with reduced up-front costs until June 30th on Satellite service.

And get ready to surf at the cottage!

Enter to Win!

Take pictures “before and after” your fire safety projects this summer and you could win in the Safe at the Cottage Contest.

Simply “like” the Safe at the Cottage Facebook page (www.facebook.com/safeatthecottage) and upload a photo and description showing how you made your property more fire or CO smart, indoors and out. You could win great prizes including a cool new tablet, one year of free satellite internet service from Xplornet, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms from Kidde Canada, and more! Enter today.

For more information
http://bit.ly/KY1vUx Boater News

Parks Canada Faces Significant Budget Cuts

Parks Canada Faces Significant Budget Cuts

Parks Canada has been hit hard by the latest wave of federal budget cuts and boaters are almost sure to feel the blow.
Lock masters and operators for the Trent-Severn and Rideau canals in Ontario and the Chambly Canal in Quebec recently received notice their jobs could be cut. Although no official announcements have yet been made, numerous reports suggest this will mean a shorter season and possibly shorter hours

http://bit.ly/JJKroZ Boater News

This may well effect the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Military exercise to impact routes throughout county

Military exercise to impact routes throughout county

A significant military exercise organized by the Canadian Army will be rolling through Simcoe County early next week impacting numerous highways and secondary roads in our area.

On May 7, 8, and 9, convoys from ‘2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group’, made up of approximately 600 large military vehicles and 2,000 soldiers, will be travelling through the County of Simcoe as part of Exercise SPARTAN BEAR. Although disruption is expected to be minimal, numerous areas and routes will be used on different days, thus impacting traffic.

http://bit.ly/Jt6IEN Midland Freepress

Fighting the alien invasion

Fighting the alien invasion 
Last year's massive bird and fish die-off in Severn Sound waters along the coast of Tiny Tow nship alarmed residents and sparked questions about human and animal safety and the integrity of our water supply. The cause of the die-off was eventually tied to botulism bacteria, which formed a deadly paralytic toxin after it was ingested by two of the most notorious invasive species in our waterways--Zebra Mussels and Round Gobi, a small fish.


Read the rest of the article http://bit.ly/Kcqsyk Midland Freepress

Keep Wasps Out Of Your Canned Beverage

Turn Your Beverage Can Tab to Keep Wasps Out 
http://lifehac.kr/J00blW LifeHacker
With summer coming this is a great tip. Should work on more than just wasps. Any one heard/seen of this trick before?

Healthy Water, Healthy Wildlife Program

Remember lots of frogs, salamanders around the beach when I was young. Through FOCA we can access Healthy Water, Healthy Wildlife program please look at the presentation from the FOCA AGM
http://bit.ly/JCZmg0 FOCA
Those with children may want to look in to it.

Checking car doors prevents thefts

Checking car doors prevents thefts: Chief

http://bit.ly/K2qyeE Midland Freepress

Proactive Policing in a small town
I think it is a great idea