what we wanted to hear:
(Rideau Regional)centre structures, which were state of the art when built, would have to be modified significantly to be used for other uses, including a long-term-care facility. Major refitting of most of the regional centre's buildings would be required, including widening of corridors, relocation of washrooms, removal of lead-based paint and asbestos insulation and heightened of ceilings to provide for ductwork
The carpet ripped right out from under us ... just like with the water park.
Hey Dalt !!! Hows about we get some of this kinda love ?? I'm thinkin' we might need the help ... and it'll be a much it'll a better investment than a new archive building in Ottawa.
Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will reopen an engine plant in Windsor, Ontario, after getting a $16.5 million grant from the Ontario government.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Please, McGuinty ...
explain to me ... how is it a rink in Smiths Falls or a theater in Brockville is more important than the Rideau watershed ?
While there was much joy in Brockville, Smiths Falls and west Leeds, other proposed projects for Leeds and Grenville were not approved, including an application from Merrickville Wolford Township for $5 million to replace aging waste sewage treatment holding tanks.
Township mayor Doug Struthers said he was “shocked” to learn the township’s bid was rejected for a fifth straight year.
“I’m at a loss for words to try to explain why we would not qualify for funding,” said Struthers.
He said the project has been the number one concern in the township for years because the current system of holding tanks is 35 years old and has been identified repeatedly by engineers and the Ministry of Environment as a major threat.
In fact, a 2007 study indicates a catastrophe is imminent as the lining of the tanks deteriorates and the waste could leach into the nearby Rideau River, said Struthers.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Slippery bastards
Some sanity around the Smiths Falls council table this week:
“We could consider raising it closer to the average to $131 per hour,” said St. Dennis. Councillor Ken Graham said he had no problems with hoisting the fees.“We should be charging whatever it costs for the arena,” he said. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing the arena…people who use it should pay to run it.”
Hallelujah.
Now, I'm assuming that's the cost to operate and maintain it ... what about the initial building cost ? Sadly, taxpayers on the hook for that one. Ol'Dolts neighbour and right hand man Jim Watson came home today, spendin' our cash like a drunken sailer on shore leave ... $20 million for a desperately needed (sic) spankin' new archive building for Ottawa and this ....
At Friday's announcement, Mr. Watson said Smiths Falls had also been awarded money under the same program that awarded money to the archives. The province will put $6.2 million toward renovating that city's arena, he said.
Just what we needed, a renovated rink. Forget that this much could buy the Hershey factory for some entrepreneurial soul , or get a commuter rail system off the ground, or or or or ... you get the drift. $6.2 million ... that works out to better than $400 bones for every man, woman and child who live within a reasonable radius, whether you use it or not.
Now, we don't use the rink -- so instead how's about Watson buys me a fishin' boat with my families share ... I promise I'll pay for the fuel and maintain it !!
No, eh ?
It's the same damn thing. Buy your own rink, and gimme my money back.
“We could consider raising it closer to the average to $131 per hour,” said St. Dennis. Councillor Ken Graham said he had no problems with hoisting the fees.“We should be charging whatever it costs for the arena,” he said. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing the arena…people who use it should pay to run it.”
Hallelujah.
Now, I'm assuming that's the cost to operate and maintain it ... what about the initial building cost ? Sadly, taxpayers on the hook for that one. Ol'Dolts neighbour and right hand man Jim Watson came home today, spendin' our cash like a drunken sailer on shore leave ... $20 million for a desperately needed (sic) spankin' new archive building for Ottawa and this ....
At Friday's announcement, Mr. Watson said Smiths Falls had also been awarded money under the same program that awarded money to the archives. The province will put $6.2 million toward renovating that city's arena, he said.
Just what we needed, a renovated rink. Forget that this much could buy the Hershey factory for some entrepreneurial soul , or get a commuter rail system off the ground, or or or or ... you get the drift. $6.2 million ... that works out to better than $400 bones for every man, woman and child who live within a reasonable radius, whether you use it or not.
Now, we don't use the rink -- so instead how's about Watson buys me a fishin' boat with my families share ... I promise I'll pay for the fuel and maintain it !!
No, eh ?
It's the same damn thing. Buy your own rink, and gimme my money back.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
An alternative found
for Hershey !!
Sadly, not in Smiths Falls .....
Sconza Candy Company of Oakland, a maker of premium candy products for nearly 70 years, says it plans to purchase the former Hershey chocolate plant in Oakdale, moving its operations from Oakland.
The move will allow it to expand operations to meet increased demand for its premium candy products, the company says.
The purchase is expected to be final on May 1, with candy production expected to start at the Oakdale plant beginning Oct. 1.
On the home front ... the "alternative use study" STILL has not been posted on the Town's website.
How much do ya think we paid to find out what we already knew ? Wouldya believe close to 55 grand ??
What a waste.
Sadly, not in Smiths Falls .....
Sconza Candy Company of Oakland, a maker of premium candy products for nearly 70 years, says it plans to purchase the former Hershey chocolate plant in Oakdale, moving its operations from Oakland.
The move will allow it to expand operations to meet increased demand for its premium candy products, the company says.
The purchase is expected to be final on May 1, with candy production expected to start at the Oakdale plant beginning Oct. 1.
On the home front ... the "alternative use study" STILL has not been posted on the Town's website.
How much do ya think we paid to find out what we already knew ? Wouldya believe close to 55 grand ??
What a waste.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Facebook cheater not so smart
You've heard the story ...
Avenir, 18, was cited for 146 counts of academic misconduct after creating a Facebook group that invited classmates to "input solutions" to various problems, including a take-home exam that was assigned to be completed on an individual basis.
Now the kid gets off with a rap 'o' the knuckles ... but i'm thinking this was was too light. See, the kid wasn't too bright -- IF ... when he was creating the facebook group he'd paid attention he'da known this mess coulda been avoided all together.
Click the image to see how .... Dumbass.
Avenir, 18, was cited for 146 counts of academic misconduct after creating a Facebook group that invited classmates to "input solutions" to various problems, including a take-home exam that was assigned to be completed on an individual basis.
Now the kid gets off with a rap 'o' the knuckles ... but i'm thinking this was was too light. See, the kid wasn't too bright -- IF ... when he was creating the facebook group he'd paid attention he'da known this mess coulda been avoided all together.
Click the image to see how .... Dumbass.
Not so sunny
in the Florida real estate market.
When we were in Florida last fall, we looked into the economics of owning a vacation rental house .... turns out it wasn't in the cards for a number of reasons. With the price of the houses, you need about 85% occupancy just to break even. I've since found out that the hotel industry uses a target of 60%, and this seems to be a more reasonable target .... thus the only way to achieve this is for the price of the houses to come down.
With that in mind I've been watching the Kissimmee market rather closely .... and let me tell ya, it's REALLY bad. Absolutely nothing is moving. Check out this sales chart 2000-2008:
Sadly, prices really haven't come down as much as the above chart would have you believe.... YET.
Out of about 10 cities along the I 81/95 route down I couldn't find one exception to this type of graph. "Flip that house" is set to become "Ditch that house". Trulia is the place to go to get the ugly truth.
Of interest to those of us in Smiths Falls and The 'gue is the Spruce Ridge Fly-in community in Daytona. We're no Daytona ... but the prices of lots and houses in this place are astronomical - lots are $350k and fixer-upper houses go for $500k... and they go from there to $2Mill plus.
When we were in Florida last fall, we looked into the economics of owning a vacation rental house .... turns out it wasn't in the cards for a number of reasons. With the price of the houses, you need about 85% occupancy just to break even. I've since found out that the hotel industry uses a target of 60%, and this seems to be a more reasonable target .... thus the only way to achieve this is for the price of the houses to come down.
With that in mind I've been watching the Kissimmee market rather closely .... and let me tell ya, it's REALLY bad. Absolutely nothing is moving. Check out this sales chart 2000-2008:
Sadly, prices really haven't come down as much as the above chart would have you believe.... YET.
Out of about 10 cities along the I 81/95 route down I couldn't find one exception to this type of graph. "Flip that house" is set to become "Ditch that house". Trulia is the place to go to get the ugly truth.
Of interest to those of us in Smiths Falls and The 'gue is the Spruce Ridge Fly-in community in Daytona. We're no Daytona ... but the prices of lots and houses in this place are astronomical - lots are $350k and fixer-upper houses go for $500k... and they go from there to $2Mill plus.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Phew! Dodged that bullet
Shorewood Packaging confirmed Tuesday that about 275 employees at a paper packaging plant in eastern Ontario will soon be out of work.
The company said that it is shutting down its Brockville, Ont., facilityOf course, the usual suspects are to blame ....
"Brockville's top three customers made up 85 per cent of their business and all three of those customers are moving their tobacco and cigarette production out of Canada," said company spokeswoman Amy Sawyer.
She added that there have also been economic pressures caused by a rise in the Canadian dollar, which has jumped from 85 cents US to above par in the past year.
Bad for Brockville, but it would have been killer for Smiths Falls.
Begs the question though ...
Is there any hope in hell there will be a buyer for Hershey ?
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Three reasons to move to Australia --
1. They have a sex-offender registry that everybody can see
2. It's actually illegal to diddle a 16 year old.
3 There is a media with enough BALLS to actively pursue these freaks ! What a performance this guy puts on !
2. It's actually illegal to diddle a 16 year old.
3 There is a media with enough BALLS to actively pursue these freaks ! What a performance this guy puts on !
Better than Nostradamus ...
WOW ....
Some right, some wrong. I imagine some were easy to see ... others, well, pretty freakin' astounding.
What changes to the way humans live do you think we'll see in the next 100 years ?? Here are some predictions for the future .... from December 1900.
Accurately predicted: MRI/CAT scans and cell phones ... even the freakin' internet.
Way off base: Rats and mice will have been exterminated (OHHHH ... how I wish that were true !)
Little bastards
Anyhow ... I dugg this up ... not sure where it originally came from ... so I took it upon myself to save it and keep it locally, just in case the original disappears.
Click to enlarge the image.
Some right, some wrong. I imagine some were easy to see ... others, well, pretty freakin' astounding.
What changes to the way humans live do you think we'll see in the next 100 years ?? Here are some predictions for the future .... from December 1900.
Accurately predicted: MRI/CAT scans and cell phones ... even the freakin' internet.
Way off base: Rats and mice will have been exterminated (OHHHH ... how I wish that were true !)
Little bastards
Anyhow ... I dugg this up ... not sure where it originally came from ... so I took it upon myself to save it and keep it locally, just in case the original disappears.
Click to enlarge the image.
You can take the boys outta the city ....
Some growing pains for Carleton Place ??? Stories from the last few days:
Police believe a house fire last week west of Carleton Place was deliberately set. Police believe the fire was intentionally set in the garage. They said a set of footprints in the snow were seen at the time of the fire.
Provincial police are investigating after a man was shot in the chest with a pellet gun in Carleton Place earlier this week. OPP said the man was standing on the corner of Lake Avenue and Neelin Street at about 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday when a car with three young occupants pulled up. According to police, the occupants of the car started cheering when the male driver pulled out a pellet gun and shot at the victim.
OPP arrested a 16-year-old Carleton Place boy after a stabbing outside a Mac's convenience store on Wednesday afternoon. Police said two male youths were walking along Townline Road when a westbound vehicle driven by a 43-year-old man stopped and an argument occurred. The youths continued into the Mac's parking lot at the corner of Townline Road and Joseph Street, police said. The man showed up and another argument occurred at about 4 p.m. During the argument, the man was stabbed with a small knife, police said.
Wow ... and they say Smiths Falls is sin city !
Police believe a house fire last week west of Carleton Place was deliberately set. Police believe the fire was intentionally set in the garage. They said a set of footprints in the snow were seen at the time of the fire.
Provincial police are investigating after a man was shot in the chest with a pellet gun in Carleton Place earlier this week. OPP said the man was standing on the corner of Lake Avenue and Neelin Street at about 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday when a car with three young occupants pulled up. According to police, the occupants of the car started cheering when the male driver pulled out a pellet gun and shot at the victim.
OPP arrested a 16-year-old Carleton Place boy after a stabbing outside a Mac's convenience store on Wednesday afternoon. Police said two male youths were walking along Townline Road when a westbound vehicle driven by a 43-year-old man stopped and an argument occurred. The youths continued into the Mac's parking lot at the corner of Townline Road and Joseph Street, police said. The man showed up and another argument occurred at about 4 p.m. During the argument, the man was stabbed with a small knife, police said.
Wow ... and they say Smiths Falls is sin city !
Friday, March 7, 2008
Not a pretty picture ...
but you already knew that, right ? Ya, me too.
The consultant's report on what should be done to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Hershey Chocolate factory in Smiths Falls does not sugarcoat the difficulties the town faces, that's for sure.
Great, the long-awaited report ... whaddya got fer us ?
....the 40-page report by the firm of Millier, Dickinson, Blais notes that the high Canadian dollar and stiff competition from low-wage countries
OK ..
Smiths Falls' overall education levels fall well below provincial averages and are not consistent with what will be required,"
We're dumb ... that's nice. Onward....
In the case of Smiths Falls, the issue takes on added importance because of the upcoming closure of the Rideau Regional Centre, which with 800 workers is the town's largest employer.
Yep, knew that... but you forgot about Burritts Rapids Correctional Drug Treatment Facility. Everybody does. 300 good jobs went there too. Thanks McGuinty, you f'in anus.
Anyhoo, the report .... So Mr. Hotshot consultant since your so goddam smart and we're all so f'in stupid out here in the sticks .... whaddya got for us......
What DO we DO ?
"the town play a larger role in marketing the Hershey property and that it needs to improve its economic development efforts, which are not currently at the "gold standard."
Holy ol' jeezus ... WHAT -- THAT'S IT ????
OOOOOPPPPS: Just this gem ....
"the suggestion that the town consider purchasing the plant if a buyer can't be found "
Ummm, no. But then again ... it would be a better investment in the Town than a $$ 9 million $$ rink.
But still, no. And not the rink, either.
As far as I know, that's it for the report. Like any of us didn't know all that already ? I wonder what it cost ? (not a whole lot more than the paper I hope)Uggghhhh. I don't think I wanna know. If I were a ratepayer in SF, I'd be demanding my money back.
By the way ... you CANNOT download a copy of the 40 page report from the Town's website.
It isn't there.
The consultant's report on what should be done to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Hershey Chocolate factory in Smiths Falls does not sugarcoat the difficulties the town faces, that's for sure.
Great, the long-awaited report ... whaddya got fer us ?
....the 40-page report by the firm of Millier, Dickinson, Blais notes that the high Canadian dollar and stiff competition from low-wage countries
OK ..
Smiths Falls' overall education levels fall well below provincial averages and are not consistent with what will be required,"
We're dumb ... that's nice. Onward....
In the case of Smiths Falls, the issue takes on added importance because of the upcoming closure of the Rideau Regional Centre, which with 800 workers is the town's largest employer.
Yep, knew that... but you forgot about Burritts Rapids Correctional Drug Treatment Facility. Everybody does. 300 good jobs went there too. Thanks McGuinty, you f'in anus.
Anyhoo, the report .... So Mr. Hotshot consultant since your so goddam smart and we're all so f'in stupid out here in the sticks .... whaddya got for us......
What DO we DO ?
"the town play a larger role in marketing the Hershey property and that it needs to improve its economic development efforts, which are not currently at the "gold standard."
Holy ol' jeezus ... WHAT -- THAT'S IT ????
OOOOOPPPPS: Just this gem ....
"the suggestion that the town consider purchasing the plant if a buyer can't be found "
Ummm, no. But then again ... it would be a better investment in the Town than a $$ 9 million $$ rink.
But still, no. And not the rink, either.
As far as I know, that's it for the report. Like any of us didn't know all that already ? I wonder what it cost ? (not a whole lot more than the paper I hope)Uggghhhh. I don't think I wanna know. If I were a ratepayer in SF, I'd be demanding my money back.
By the way ... you CANNOT download a copy of the 40 page report from the Town's website.
It isn't there.
The very last thing
our economy needs is any link to a US terror attack.
U.S. authorities are checking whether several people stopped at the Canadian border are linked to an explosion that damaged a military recruiting station in New York, police said on Friday.
"Some pictures of Times Square, including the recruiting station, were found,"
A backlash from our biggest customer ... you think it's bad now ??
Oh, the humanity.
U.S. authorities are checking whether several people stopped at the Canadian border are linked to an explosion that damaged a military recruiting station in New York, police said on Friday.
"Some pictures of Times Square, including the recruiting station, were found,"
A backlash from our biggest customer ... you think it's bad now ??
Oh, the humanity.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
chchch ...Changes
at the top of Hershey.
How's the plan workin' for you now guys ?? Surprise, surprise :Sales, profits and stocks are down ....
Hershey has faced turbulence in its upper ranks. Chief Executive David West was thrust into his post after Richard Lenny abruptly announced his "retirement" in October.
In November, the Hershey Trust, the company's controlling shareholder, ousted six board members, in part, out of frustration with the company's declining financial performance.
DISMAL: 1 yr chart for HSY
Sez it all, don't it ?
How's the plan workin' for you now guys ?? Surprise, surprise :Sales, profits and stocks are down ....
Hershey has faced turbulence in its upper ranks. Chief Executive David West was thrust into his post after Richard Lenny abruptly announced his "retirement" in October.
In November, the Hershey Trust, the company's controlling shareholder, ousted six board members, in part, out of frustration with the company's declining financial performance.
DISMAL: 1 yr chart for HSY
Sez it all, don't it ?
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