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H O M E & L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N EH O M E & L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E

G E T R E A D Y F O R

FamilyDay Fun Pg. 2

FEBRUARY 2015

2 KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015

10 ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO GET MOVING

11 TIPS FOR LAST-MINUTE RSP CONTRIBUTIONS

contentsF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5

Published by Rainmaker Realty Inc.

King Living Home & Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and delivered to all homes and businesses in King Township by Canada Post. Agreement # 41362062.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to pub-lish this magazine as accurately as possible; how-ever errors and omissions can occur. King Living Home & Lifestyle Magazine’s employees, agents, representatives and vendors are not liable for any damages relating to errors or omissions in the editorials or advertising which may appear herein except where a specific charge has been made.

08 TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF ALLAN BRUCE O’BRIEN

08 MARKET WATCH

COMMUNITYevents

Monday, February 16, 2015Winterfest @ Cold CreekJoin us on February 16, 9am - 3pm at Cold Creek Conservation Area for a fun and exciting Winterfest. Only $10/car. Enjoy a delicious soup or chili with fresh bread and take part in a variety of all-inclusive activities. Load up the whole family and fall in love with Cold Creek. Visit coldcreek.ca for more details.

Monday, February 16, 2015RBC- Free Family Skate @ King City ArenaCome join RBC on Febrary 16, 1:30pm - 3:30pm for a Free Family Skate at King City Arena. Pleasure skaters, hockey players and first-timers alike are invited to bundle up, lace up and come out for a spin on the ice. It’s fun for the whole family.Visit rbc.com/familyday for more details.

KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015 3

Home is where the coverage is.

Your home keeps you safe— we’ll help keep your home safe.If the unexpected strikes your home, State Farm® is here for you day or night, online or by phone. Talk to me today about our home insurance and claims network available 24/7. Get to a better State®. Get State Farm.CALL ME TODAY.

State Farm branded policies are underwritten by Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company.®State Farm and related trademarks and logos are registered trademarks owned by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, used under licence by Certas Home

and Auto Insurance Company.1201905CN.1

Anna Raeli, Agent2201 King Road, Suite 2King City, ON L7B 1G2Bus: 905-833-2662 Bus: 905-833-ANNAwww.annaraeli.com

The way to anyone’s heart on Valentines Day: Homemade baked goods(BPT) - “Sweets for the sweet” will always be appropriate for Valentine’s Day, but what if your sweetheart isn’t a fan of boxed choco-lates? Or perhaps you want to give an extra special gift by making it homemade? Baking a treat for your loved one is a great way to give a personal - and cost-effective - gift this year.

Delicious Peanutty Pie Crust ClustersPrep time: 30 minutesTotal time: 45 minutes

Ingredients• 1 refrigerated pie crust, softened as

directed on box• 1 bag (12 ounces) white vanilla baking

chips (about 2 cups)• 1 tablespoon all-vegetable shortening• 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter• 1 cup salted cocktail peanuts• 2/3 cup toffee bits

InstructionsHeat oven to 450 F. Line 2 cookie sheets with Reynolds(R) Cut-Rite(R) Wax Paper. Unroll pie crust on work surface. With pizza cutter or knife, cut into 16 rows by 16 rows to make small squares. Arrange squares in single layer

on large ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove squares from pan to cooling rack. Cool com-pletely, about five minutes.

In large microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips, shortening and peanut butter uncov-ered on high for 60-90 seconds, stirring once, until chips can be stirred smooth. Add pie crust squares, peanuts and toffee bits. Stir gently until evenly coated. Immediately drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto lined cookie sheets. (If mixture gets too thick, microwave on high 15 seconds and stir.) Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until set. Store covered.

4 KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015

L I F E S T Y L E

ebruary has long been known as the month of love, yet we really only celebrate our ‘Valentines’ on the 14th. This year, why don’t we take the full 28 days of February to

spread a little more love, compassion and kindness?

“Let’s use the idea of Valentine’s Day to do a random act of kindness on each day of the month,” says Canadian lifestyle expert Janette Ewen. We might do things like:

• Send someone a hand written note of thanks.

• Give a neighbour a hug.

• Put change in the charity box at a cash register.

• Give a compliment about someone to his or her boss.

• Allow another person to jump ahead of you in a line up.

• Leave a bigger tip than expected.

• Hold the elevator for a stranger.

• Smile and say hello to passers-by.

• Pay for someone else’s coffee in the drive thru.

“One good deed begets another,” Ewen continues. “The positive feeling you get from doing something nice for someone else will stay with you all day.”

Spending your physical resources on others outside your immediate circle does not mean your family and close friends have to miss out on the Valentines spirit though. You can still celebrate Valentines Day by spending time together doing something you enjoy (DVD and snacks?) or creating a gift such as writing a poem or a song.

“And don’t forget to treat yourself to an act of kindness this month,” adds Ewen. “And I say do it with jewelry. Have you seen, for example, Pandora’s new Valentine’s Day jewelry collection, which includes a sterling silver bracelet, ring and necklace with the word Love spelled out in sparkling crystal script?”

She adds that the hand-finished jewelry pieces make a great gift (Pandora.net), but also serve as a good reminder that one act of love can lead to another, and then another. Each one helping to spread the meaning of ‘Be my Valentine’ a little further.

www.newscanada.com

F

ALL-MONTHTurn Valentine’s Love into

kindness

KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015 5

Welcoming a New Year with New Benefits and New Smiles!

Let the light shine on LED myths and facts(NC) It’s time to set the record straight. As the Canadian government continues to transition out incandescent light bulbs, take a moment to get to know the facts about the wide array of energy efficient lighting options available. According to experts in the lighting depart-ment at The Home Depot Canada, these myths are heard most often in store.

Myth #1: There’s no selection.

Fact: There are light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, for every need, including many household appliances, indoor flood lighting, decorative bulbs (chandeliers) and outdoor fixtures. LED bulbs can also be as small as 2 millimetres, making them ideal for fitting into hard-to-reach and compact areas.

Myth #2: They produce bright blue and blasting light.

Fact: Colour temperature describes the visual warmth or coolness of a light source. LED lights are available in a wide range from a bright light or a mellow glow making them suitable for any room. LEDs also offer dim-

ming and colour changing abilities – whether you want to create a natural atmosphere in the kitchen or elegant, ambient lighting in your dining room.

Myth #3: They are too expensive.

Fact: LEDs have an incredibly long life, with each bulb lasting an average of 25,000 hours (or approximately 22 years of use), compared to the lifespan of an incandescent light bulb, which is approximately 1,000 hours. Based on lifespan and typical electrical usage, an incandescent light bulb will cost homeowners about $8.00 per year to run, while an LED bulb comes in at only $1.75.

Myth #4: They are hard to find in stores.

Fact: Retailers across the country (like The Home Depot) carry hundreds of LED products to meet all your household lighting needs. With well-known brands including Cree and Philips, the bulbs are widely available. Addi-tionally, many areas have rebate programs that will ensure the lights are available at a reasonable cost.

Myth #5: Switching to LEDs requires changing existing fixtures.

Fact: LEDs currently on the market are designed to fit all types of existing sockets. They work in standard bases that are common with incandescent and halogen installations. In most cases, they are the same size, if not slightly smaller, than the bulbs they replace and do not pose any difficulties when making the switch.

More information is available at in-store locations or online at www.homedepot.ca.

Call 905-832-3880

Brokerage in Canada*

*For Royal LePage based on real estate sales of independently owned franchises in 2013

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Joseph CartagineseBroker

Paula Perri Broker

Domenic SpinaSales Representative

Jamie Goldenberg Sales Representative

Stephen FerrittoSales Representative

AmandaAdministrative Assistant

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8 KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015

Tribute to the memory of Allan Bruce O’Brien

team was so impressed with Allan’s parallel parking skills that it inspired him to become a coach driver! When Al became dispatcher for the company he would typically arrive at work at 5:30 am, make sure everything was up and running then went for breakfast at George’s on Keele Street, sometimes having to wake the owner up to get the coffee on! When he made early morning phone calls to cover bus runs, he couldn’t understand why everyone else wasn’t up at 5:30am.

Before the buses had 2 way radios, Al felt a lit-tle lonely in the office. Then when the radios were installed and in use, he wanted them gone because the drivers kept calling in to him. Al always would share a joke, some more colourful than others. Mary McTaggart told me that Allan always made her feel welcome when she joined the team and treated her fairly. She remembers doing a seniors trip on short notice one day and both Allan & Mary were passengers. She was

very nervous having “the” coach driver, but her parents who were also on the trip told her that Allan thought she was an excellent driver. She felt that was a huge compliment.

Allan was well known in the community help-ing out with baseball and minor hockey and of course at Tim Horton’s where he somehow was able to get free coffee! He volunteered with the fire department, was a member of the Senior’s Centre and of course was a very proud member of the Lion’s. He was the “go to” guy. He never wanted to be the President or take any other office but he was there to set things up and make sure everything ran smoothly, without incident. A newcomer to the local Lions group said he was always happy to receive guidance and encouragement from Lion Al as that helped in his development as a Lion. He loved to listen to Allan’s anecdotes about Lions and life in general.

Allan had 54 years of perfect attendance with the King Lions. When he and Mary were on a cruise, the cruise line had organized a community club night when those who were involved with Lions, Rotary, Kinsmen or whatever would meet and receive a paper stating they had attended their

meeting! When he was in the hospital last year, Allan was given a pass in order to not miss his meeting. During one of my visits with him, he shared that he had not missed a Lion’s meeting

… ever. That is dedication to a group that gave him fellowship and purpose. Thank you King City Lions.

Allan and Mary were very proud parents of Bruce. Even though Allan was strict, Bruce still had an amazing childhood. Allan got him playing ball and hockey and went to just about every single

game, no matter where they were. Even when there was no arena in King City, he would make sure Bruce was skating somewhere! There were really no ball diamonds but Allan, along with Bruce, would get up before the sun, pack the bags with balls, bats, bases and then drive them around the community to the schools that didn’t have diamonds.

When not playing minor hockey, Bruce and his friends would skate on the swamp behind the house, hooking up lights to play in the eve-ning. They would be snowmobiling as a family to Honeypot Lodge or Kingridge, enjoy some hot chocolate, watch the skiers and then head home. When Bruce and Muriel got married they continued hanging out with both sets of parents because they were such fun! They would go to dances together and even vacationed together. Allan & Mary’s favourite vacation was a trip to Calgary where they enjoyed the Calgary Stam-pede, the ice fields and then took a train trip (not a bus!) through the mountains to Vancouver.

They were also very proud grandparents of Amy, Heather and David and great-grandparents of Madison and Christopher and their almost here

Homily By: Rev. Evelyn McLachlan, King City United Church

ALLAN BRUCE O’BRIENJune 14, 1930 – January 18, 2015We should not be here today. We should be sit-ting at Tim Horton’s at 6am, enjoying a medium black coffee, shooting the breeze and solving the world’s problems. We should be finding out from Allan where last year’s supplies for the Oyster Dinner is in the shed! We should be trying to trump his bower in Euchre at the Senior’s Centre. We should be laughing over a joke with Allan. We should be watching Allan and Mary dancing the Gay Gordon. We should be sitting on a bus knowing we’re safe because Allan is driving. We should be watching one of Bruce’s ball games with Allan. We should be anywhere but here, about to say farewell.

Yet, this is where we are. We are here because Allan made an impact on your life. His life began on June 14, 1930 in Mt. Dennis. He was the only child but soon found other families to play with growing up. Little did he know that playing tag with Doreen Adams and her family would eventually lead to Allan & Mary’s son Bruce marrying Doreen’s daughter Muriel! He learned at an early age about the importance of having a strong work ethic. Living on a farm there was always something to do. He enjoyed his mother’s cooking, especially pies and tarts!

As a family they would attend social events, usu-ally at Laskay Hall where there were potlucks, card games and dances. It was there that Allan caught Mary’s eye. She was smitten by his looks, humour and dance moves. They were well known for dancing the Gay Gordon, the Schottische and Square Dancing. They were married on April 21, 1951 at the old United Church manse on Keele Street. They lived for a few years at the 4 corners in King City. Allan worked with Downsview Lumber and then at Langdon’s Coach, first as a driver and mechanic, then became part owner and eventually towards the end of his career he was the dispatcher.

Allan was very dedicated to his job with Lang-don’s. He was THE coach driver. How many of you had Allan as a bus driver? I understand that he was strict, no nonsense on his buses, yet he was one of the favourite drivers!

He did a lot of long distance trips driving the coach and a lot of charters taking local hockey teams to their games. He always made sure the coach was in top working order – sometimes checking it out in the wee hours of the morning prior to a trip. I was told that one co-worker who was riding on the coach with his hockey

He worked for the good of his family and his community and his neighbours. He did not lag in zeal... His aim was to live in peace and to pass that on to those around him.

KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015 9

Market WatchKing Township

By Joseph Cartaginese of TheRainMakerTeam

King had an amazing year in Real Estate in 2014. Detached homes increased 14.6% from 2013 in dollars and 13.5% in units. The average price of homes in king increased 12%. It appears that King is maintaining its high demand. This is likely a result of King’s unique features that are desired by many: location, country setting and, most of all, community.

A comparison of King to two of its neighbouring communities reveals that it is clearly a leader in the 905 market. Vaughan to the south and Aurora to the east are both also high demand markets. Vaughan had an increase of average home price of 9.1% while Aurora increased 10.8%. Both do not compare to the rise in King, which is yet another factor that sets King apart from neighbouring communities.

great-granddaughters! I’d like to share some things that Heather, Amy and David wrote. “We would like to thank everyone who has been able to come yesterday and today. Grandpa would be pleased to see so many of his friends here. We have so many individual and shared memories of our grandfather. Grandpa always had candy in his drawer at work. The hard part was picking the caramel ones or the fruit flavour.” Heather knew who to call to tell her the best way to get anywhere and could depend on the directions he would give her. She still follows Grandpa’s directions to Port Perry. Forget the GPS! And every time she passes the Lord Elgin Hotel, she thinks about his bus stories to Ottawa.

They all wonder how many kids can say that their Grandpa picked them up in a school bus to take them to the airport! As he was at Bruce’s hockey games, he went to just about every one of David’s hockey games.

Amy says that she will always remember how he could make a rhyme or a joke about anything just to make them laugh; that he whistled and always had a toothpick with him; that he was always willing to help family, friends and the wider community. He was very proud of his family, especially their Dad, Bruce. You could see it in his eyes and the way he spoke. He was not only a Grandpa to them, but to their cousins as well.

Allan did not attend church too regularly these past few years, but his faith was lived out in so many ways. In the reading from Romans we hear how a Christian is to live their life. His love was indeed genuine. He worked for the good of his family and his community and his neighbours. He did not lag in zeal. He treated

everyone fairly and got along with strangers as well as those he knew. He helped out whoever needed help. His aim was to live in peace and to pass that on to those around him.

The reading from I Corinthians we hear so often read at weddings. But the apostle Paul did not write it for a couple who were about to be married. He wrote it for a community that was struggling to get along. He was teaching them what love was. It was hard work. It was not about you, but about the other. The fact that Mary and Allan were married for over 64 years is a testament to what love truly is. They worked together. They trusted each other. They built each other up because they were stronger together. That love has transcended to Bruce & Muriel and their children. That love has transcended further into the community.

So much has been said about Allan. All true. All that needed to be said. Your lives have indeed been affected by Allan’s life. That does not need to stop. Remember the lessons you have all learned. Remember the joy with which Allan faced life, both the good parts and the difficult parts. It’s a new period that you’re in, and you’re going to have to play it without Allan. But he’s trained you. You know what needs to be done. And you do not play it alone. You have each other, you have God’s strength. And as you begin to live your life without the one who has loved you and who you have loved, may the words of Paul bring you strength and peace … Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things, hopes all things. Love never ends. Thanks be to God for the life, the faith, the work, the laughter and the love of Allan Bruce O’Brien. ■

10 KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015

as soon as possible. You can also consider phone or online banking. No matter how you chose to contribute, you’ll need your account information and social insurance number.

Don’t Over-Contribute: Due to contribu-tion limits, be sure to only invest your allow-able amount, as over-contributions are subject to tax penalties. You can find your current limit on your most recent Notice of Assess-ment from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Get a Short Term Plan: Most last-min-ute contributors “park” their money for the short-term and then decide later where to invest for the long haul. Working with a

trusted financial advisor can help you choose the best option given your circumstances.

Plan Ahead: Make next RSP season less stressful and set up a pre-authorized con-tribution (PAC) now. While the deadline for contributing to a RSP is the same every year, you might not be able to make your maximum contribution in one lump sum. Creating a PAC allows you to invest regular and smaller contributions on a weekly or monthly basis, allowing you to save for your dream retirement automatically.

If you want to learn more about RSPs go to www.meridiancu.ca.

Tips for last-minute RSP contributions(NC) Are you fretting over the rush to make a payment into your Registered Retirement Sav-ings Plan (RSP) before the tax-saving deadline?

For many Canadians, this annual deadline is a source of unwanted stress, but personal finance experts say there is no reason to be intimidated. Even if you haven’t been making regular contributions, you can still make a difference to your savings.

“While it is much better over the long term to have a personalized financial plan that includes regular contributions to an RSP, making a last-minute payment is still a step in the right direction,” says Wade Stayzer, vice president of retail and investment ser-vices at Meridian, Ontario’s largest credit union. “Our best advice though is to set up a pre-authorized contribution that allows you to invest smaller amounts on a regular basis. It is efficient, effective for saving, and most of all, it’s stress free.”

Stayzer offers these five tips for last-minute RSP contributions:

Get Going Now: Many financial institutions will have extended hours to meet the needs of last-minute contributors, but don’t wait until the very last second. Make an appointment

KING LIVING | FEBRUARY 2015 11

TheRainMakerTeam

905.832.3880 info@therainmakerteam.com

TheRainMakerTeam.comwe make “sold” happen

EVALUATION CERTIFICATE This certificate entitles a residential property owner to one market evaluation by TheRainMakerTeam, and a complete presentation of

TheRainMakerTeam’s home marketing program. This service to be performed without cost or obligation to the owner. Call for an appointment.

 

Joseph Cartaginese*, Paula Perri*, Jamie Goldenberg+,

Stephen Ferritto+, Domenic Spina+

*Broker + Sales Representative Not intended to solicit properties

already listed for sale.

Encourage your kids to get movingThis March is Nutrition Month in Canada. Get your kids active with the help of some upcoming programs.

(NC) Studies have proven that there is a link between childhood obesity and a lack of physical exercise. Canadian children spend an average of 8 hours per day in front of a screen, and few meet their daily fitness guide-lines. According to the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, kids ages 5-17 require one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Meeting these guidelines can help improve kids’ health, academics, body strength and self-esteem.

Many parents feel at a loss when dealing with their child’s health and potential weight issues. To raise awareness for Nutrition Month (March 2015), T-fal’s Nutritious and Delicious brand is launching its award winning Healthy Cooking for Healthy Kids Program. This year, the annual program includes the monitoring of physical activ-ity to better help families strive towards a healthier lifestyle. The program offers free printable materials including kid friendly recipes, proportion control placemats, gro-cery lists, healthy eating and exercise charts. The program also offers a live chat with a leading nutritionist.

Want to help your kids get active this Nutri-tion Month? Limit screen time to 1-2 hours per day and encourage your kids to spend their spare time being active instead of on the couch. The recommended 60 minutes of moderate daily physical activity can be broken up into 10 minute increments throughout the

day. Being active does not require expensive exercise equipment or a gym membership. Make easy swaps to help kids stay active and burn calories throughout the day:

• Get off the couch and play a sport like bas-ketball (burns approximately 280 calories per half an hour) instead of playing a video game that only burns 53 calories.

• Instead of playing a board game, do a jump rope contest to see who can skip the longest to burn approximately 100-150 calories in only 10 minutes.

• Did you know it would take you an hour and 40 minutes of exercise to burn off the calories consumed from a large serving of fries at a fast food chain?

For more information on the Healthy Cooking for Healthy Kids Program, to download the free printable materials, and to access the live chat with a nutritionist visit www.t-fal.ca/nutritionmonth and www.nutritionmonth.ca.

Call 905-832-3880

Brokerage in Canada*

*For Royal LePage based on real estate sales of independently owned franchises in 2013

TheRainMakerTeam.comwe make “sold” happen

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S T A Y T U N E D F O R O U R G R A N D O P E N I N G !