Rain, Rain go away the water park opened the other day!

Carstairs Splash Park Opened May 19th!

Western-themed, to mirror Carstairs’s annual Beef & Barley Days, the park features horse head water cannon blasters, a cactus spray, randomly dumping buckets of water and a chuckwagon-shaped mister.  It’s centrally located in Memorial Park, north if the curling rink and right next to the existing playground.

The Carstairs Splash Park- whether you’re a local or a visitor from one of our surrounding communities is a great FREE day destination.

Don’t forget to pack a picnic or purchase lunch at Burger Baron, Subway, The Cafe Radio, Co-Op Marketplace’s grab and go,  and slushies at Macs……..

Carstairs Spring Clean Up This Weekend!

This Saturday, the Town of Carstairs will host a Spring Clean up event from 8 am to noon at the town administration building parking lot. (844 Centre Street).  They will have bins and staff on hand to help you get rid of your unwanted items.  The Town asks you to sort your items in the attempt to make things a little more organized.

No compost or fridges please.

They will be accepting the following:

Wood

Plastic

Electronics

Houshold Garbage

Paint

Metal

Calgary leads country in year-over-year MLS sales growth

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald

CALGARY — Calgary led the country in April with the highest year-over-year growth in MLS sales, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.  In a report released Tuesday of housing market activity in Canada’s major centres, CREA said MLS sales of 2,720 in Calgary were up 30.3 per cent from a year ago.  In Canada, sales of 49,480 for the month increased by 11.5 per cent from April 2011.

The average MLS sale price in Calgary rose by 0.7 per cent to $414,932 while it was up 0.9 per cent in Canada to $375,810.  “Calgary is quietly becoming a market to watch,” said Robert Kavcic, economist with BMO Capital Markets, adding sales are back above the 10-year average for the first time in about three years.

“Prices have yet to gain much momentum but supply conditions are tightening rapidly across Alberta. The months’ supply was down to 4.6 from a post-recession high of more than eight, and sales have far outpaced new listings in recent months. If oil prices remain high enough to continue supporting strong economic growth and migration flows, Calgary could again become Canada’s real estate hot spot in short order.”

Robert Hogue, senior economist with RBC Economics, said April was the third consecutive “outsized” increase in Calgary which is a “clear indication that this market is finally taking flight.”  New listings in Calgary of 4,370 increased by 4.4 per cent from last year. Throughout Canada, new listings rose by 4.9 per cent to 89,739.  In Alberta, sales rose by 23.5 per cent to 6,191, new listings increased by 2.4 per cent to 10,718 units and the average sale price was up 1.9 per cent to $365,830.

“A number of Canadian housing market trends in April remained intact from the previous month,” said Wayne Moen, president of CREA. “Trends in Vancouver and Toronto continue to diverge. These two housing markets have an obvious influence on national statistics . . .”  In Toronto, sales of 10,350 in April were up 14.5 per cent from last year and the average sale price rose by 8.4 per cent to $517,556. But in Vancouver sales fell by 13.2 per cent to 2,837 and the average price dropped by 9.8 per cent to $735,315.

“It bears repeating that the national average price was skewed higher last spring by record level high-end home sales in Vancouver’s priciest neighbourhoods, and that a replay of this phenomenon was not expected this year,” said Gregory Klump, chief economist of CREA. “Sales data confirm that high-end activity in Vancouver is well off the peak levels reached at this time last year, which is exerting a gravitational pull on the national average price.

“By contrast, activity in Toronto is stronger this spring than it was last spring. Higher-priced sales activity there is on the rise and buoying average prices. As the most active housing market in Canada, Toronto is the biggest factor supporting national average price.  “Netting Vancouver out of the national average price calculation yields a 4.9 per cent year-on-year gain. Netting Toronto out of the national average price calculation, while leaving Vancouver in, produces a 2.2 per cent year-on-year decline. Netting out both Vancouver and Toronto results in a 3.1 per cent increase in average price. On balance, this points to modest price growth amid balanced market conditions in much of the rest of Canada.”

Diana Petramala, economist with TD Economics, said absent of an external negative economic shock, Canadian housing demand should remain supported by a continued low interest rate environment through 2012.  “Still, growth in home prices and sales will likely be limited as the overvaluation has led to a deterioration in affordability,” said Petramala. “Overall, we anticipate the Canadian housing market to remain relatively flat in the coming year with home prices to rise just another two per cent this year, following gains of seven per cent in each of the last two years.”

Habitat for Humanity Partners with Gold Seal Homes

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta will soon begin construction in the town of Carstairs, the first build in the area and in the Mountain View Chapter of the recently merged affiliate. To date, seven homes have been constructed in Mountain View in the towns of Cremona, Sundre, Didsbury and Olds.

Located on MacKenzie Way, the development will consist of a semi-detached home and is anticipated to be certified Platinum through the Built Green Canada Program, creating a huge benefit to Habitat families by reducing overall costs for utilities and water. Every dollar that can be saved on maintenance and utility costs can be better directed to the necessities of the families and their children. Habitat Southern Alberta will partner with Gold Seal Master Builder to construct the duplex with the assistance of volunteers. Construction is slated to begin in May 2012 and is anticipated to be completed by December 2012.  Locally, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta has served more than 130 families, building more than 130 homes. For more information, visit www.habitatsouthernab.ca.

Gold Seal has agreed to build these homes to Habitat standards of safe, decent and affordable. The money saved on keeping the interior finishings decent and affordable are in turn invested in  building a high energy-efficient home.  As part of Gold Seal’s commitment to safety in the construction of all their homes, we will be installing Fire Sprinkler Systems, a unique feature for a Habitat home.

Gold Seal is proud to carry on its Family tradition of community involvement that spans  over 30 years in Carstairs.  Our partners have already stepped up to help us make these homes more affordable.  We would like to thank the efforts of the following groups in no particular order:

All Weather Windows

Uponor

Zytech Building Systems

Put your best face forward when selling your home

We all know that selling a home is difficult in a competitive market.  How do you make yours stand out in the crowd?  Well consider it like a job interview.  First impressions are important, and these days many buyers get their first impression from the listing photos on your Realtor’s  website.  Most importantly, make sure the front exterior photo is captivating.  You may learn a thing or two about how a buyer may view your home by taking a few pictures.  Here are some simple points to consider:

• Make sure the yard is tidy and free of landscaping structures (hide the Gnomes)
• Wash the siding, driveway and windows
• If the driveway has stains, try to remove them
• Ensure that the lawn is green and trimmed (a good idea for the duration of the listing)
• All exterior bulbs work ( sometimes photos at dusk can be dramatic)
• Pull back drapes or window coverings that can be viewed in the photo
• Move any furniture inside the home that can be seen through the windows that looks out-of-place

Often we notice little things on our show homes that need changing that can make a big difference.  For instance, perhaps an accent that was chosen does not look quite right.  in the pictures below, see if you can identify what we did to improve the appearance of our show home. (hint: there are 5 differences)

NEW photo

The importance of downspouts and surface erosion

Many property owners are not concerned with yard drainage until they have a  problem. Water naturally follows the path of least resistance to lower  elevations and problems arise when original pathways constructed by the builder  become blocked or were inadequate from the beginning. Not having suitable slopes  and drains on a property to direct or divert water runoff can allow the water to  find a path directly to areas where you would least want it such as foundations,  under pavement, in your basement etc. Flooding basements and cracked foundations  are good wake-up calls to the issue but addressing problems beforehand can save  you thousands of dollars, and headaches, down the road.

What do you know about the Alberta Emergency Alert System?

Disaster can occur anywhere, at anytime. It is your responsibility to ensure you are prepared if a disaster occurs. Alberta Emergency Alerts are issued to assist you—providing you with critical information about an immediate disaster, where it is occurring and what action you need to take.

Alerts are distributed to the public through various outlets including:

• Radio and television
• Internet http://www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca/
• RSS Feed
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter: @AB_EmergAlert )
• Road Signage

When disaster strikes, get more information and take appropriate action to protect yourself and your family.

Stop ● Listen ● Respond

Do you have your 72-hour Emergency Kit ready?

No one knows for sure when disaster will strike, but we can all be prepared. Create your own 72-hour emergency kit, and you will have the necessary items to help you and your family until emergency responders can reach you. Below are items you may want to include in your kit.

 

Food and water (3-day supply of non-perishables per person required)

• protein/granola bars
• trail mix/dried fruit
• crackers and cereals
• canned meat, fish and beans
• canned juice
• water (4 L per person, include small bottles to carry with you)

Bedding and clothing

• change of clothing (short- and long-sleeve shirts, pants, socks, undergarments)
• raincoat/emergency poncho/jacket
• spare shoes
• sleeping bags/blankets/emergency heat blankets per person
• plastic and cloth sheets

Light and fuel

• hand-crank flashlight or battery-operated flashlights/lamps
• extra batteries
• flares
• candles
• lighter
• waterproof matches

Equipment

• manual can opener
• dishes and utensils
• shovel
• radio (with spare batteries/hand operated crank)
• pen and paper
• axe/pocket knife
• rope
• duct tape
• whistle
• cellphone charger
• basic tools
• small stove with fuel (follow manufacturer’s directions for operation and storage)

Personal supplies and medication

• first-aid kit
• toiletries (toilet paper, feminine hygiene, toothbrush)
• cleaning supplies (hand sanitizer, dish soap, etc.)
• medication (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, children’s medication, etc.,  and 3-day supply of prescription medication)
• pet food and supplies
• garbage bags
• toys/reading material

Copies of personal documents, money (in waterproof container)

• legal documents (birth and marriage certificates, wills, passports, contracts)
• insurance policies
• cash in small bills
• credit card/s
• prepaid phone cards
• copy of your emergency plan and contact information

Ready-to-go Kit

Keep ready-to-go kit items in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase, in an accessible place, such as a front-hall closet. Make sure your kit is easy to carry, and everyone in the house knows where it is. Take it with you if you have to leave your house so you can be safe.

• food that you don’t have to keep cold
• 4 L of water for each person
• manual can opener
• plastic/paper plates, cups, knives, forks, spoons
• flashlight and extra batteries
• change of clothes
• card with emergency contact information and the number of someone to call who lives out of town
• pet food and supplies for at least three days
• small first aid kit
• personal ID card
• personal hygiene items, soap, hand sanitizer

Store medicine you usually take near your ready-to-go kit.

Notes

• Update your kits every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that food, water, and medication  are not expired, clothing fits, personal documents and credit cards are up to date, and batteries are charged.
• Small toys/games are important; they can provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.
• Some items and/or flavours might leak, melt, or break open. Dividing groups of items into individual Ziploc bags might help prevent this

Designing a Water-Efficient Garden

You can create a lush, colourful garden, like the one in Figure 2, that requires little maintenance or water by applying the seven principles of xeriscaping — an approach to designing landscapes so that their water requirements correspond to local climatic conditions. While these are sound principals for any garden, they are particularly useful if you live in a region with low rainfall or that experiences water shortages.

Figure 2: Xeriscape design

1 — Design for your site and your needs

Sketch your lot including property lines, buildings, driveways and features that will remain. Add trees, shrub and flower beds, lawn areas, patios, decks, et-cetera. Consider the specific conditions of your yard, taking into account that water requirements will differ in shady versus sunny spots, and slopes versus flat areas or depressions. Moisture availability for your plants will also differ according to your soil type. Sandy soils drain water whereas clay soils hold water. Some places, such as narrow side yards, may be hard to water.

2 — Group plants with similar water needs to make watering more efficient

Shrubs and perennials should be grouped together in mulched beds. Trees should also be clustered in mulched beds rather than isolating individual specimens in lawn areas. This will help to reduce moisture loss and competition.

3 — Amend the soil

First, find out what type of soil you have and improve its water retention capabilities accordingly, for example, by adding compost or other organic materials.

4 — Size your lawn area to meet your practical needs for play and traffic Avoid many small or narrow lawn areas in favour of a consolidated lawn, to make them easier and more efficient to water. For primarily visual areas, consider water-efficient ground covers, perennials or shrubs. For foot-traffic routes or narrow spots, such as side yards, a permeable inert surface such as wood chips or natural stone requires no water.

5 — Choose plants that are well suited to your climate and site conditions

Consult your local garden centre or the references at the end of this article to find plant lists. Know your site including its soil types. In shady areas, use shade-tolerant species or consider a woodland shade garden. In sunny spots, use drought tolerant, sun-loving species or consider a wildflower meadow. Drought tolerant species should be used on rapidly-draining slopes (avoid turf grass), but you can consider moisture-loving plants in depressions or low spots. For a water-saving lawn, choose a species best suited to rainfall levels in your region. Low-maintenance lawn seed mixes are commercially available. Check your local seed companies or garden centre.

Water-Saving Tips for Your Lawn and Garden

In the summer months, municipal water use doubles. This is the season when Canadians are outdoors watering lawns and gardens, filling swimming pools and washing cars. Summer peak demand places stress on municipal water systems and increases costs for tax payers and water users. As water supplies diminish during periods of low rainfall, some municipalities must declare restrictions on lawn and garden watering. By applying some handy tips, your lawn and garden can cope with drought conditions and you can minimize water wastage.

General Tips

Much of the summer peak demand is attributed to lawn and garden watering. Often water is applied inefficiently, resulting in significant wastage due to over watering, evaporation or run-off. Here are some general watering tips to help avoid wastage:

• Before watering, always take into account the amount of water Mother Nature has supplied to your lawn or garden in the preceding week. Leave a measuring container in the yard to help you monitor the amount of rainfall (empty it once per week) and follow the tips below to help determine how much water to add. Also bear in mind any watering restrictions that may apply in your municipality.
• Water in the early morning, before 9 a.m., to reduce evaporation and scorching of leaves from the sun. Water on calm days to prevent wind drift and evaporation.
• Set up your sprinkler or hose to avoid watering hard surfaces such as driveways and patios. If you’re not careful, it’s water and money down the drain.
• Water slowly to avoid run-off and to ensure the soil absorbs the water.
• Regularly check your hose or irrigation equipment for leaks or blockages.
• Collect rainwater from your roof in a rain barrel or other large container and keep it covered with an insect screen. Direct the down spout of your eavestroughs into the rain barrel.
• Choose an efficient irrigation system. A soaker hose placed at the base of plants on the ground applies water to the soil where it is needed — rather than to the leaves — and reduces evaporation. Drip or trickle irrigation systems are highly efficient because they deliver water slowly and directly to the roots under the soil surface. This promotes deeper roots, which improve a plant’s drought resiliency. If you use a sprinkler, choose one with a timer and that sprays close to the ground.