in Mexico? A group of young Summerland people (and helpers) yesterday organized this event, made the dough, peeled the apples, mixed the mix and so on, all the way through to finished product, and I imagine the beautiful scent of warm apple pie filled kitchens in every part of Summerland last night. I know we enjoyed a great pie and we have a few in the freezer…all to say…good luck to the team headed to Mexico to help that poor family in Mexico get a house built this spring.
That was another great fund raiser in town, and clearly, Summerland young people are awesome!
It’s not too late to get out and enjoy some of the excellent dining opportunities offered here in Summerland, we are planning to go out this week after the Olympic Torch passes thru Summerland. The special offerings are on until Jan 31, make sure you get out to at least on fine Summerland participant…
http://www.bcrfa.com/wine-and-dine
We were at Local on Friday night and had a great time…was BUSY there, and we still found a private spot to have a few laughs and even had a visit from Cam and Christa-Lee…always nice when the owners take time to say hello! When you go, ask Naomi to bring “the million dollar legs” drink…pretty good!
http://rhyspender.com/index.php/2009/10/27/local-lounge-summerland/
Summerland is fantastic. Local in Summerland.
http://goodwillshakespeare.ca/index.php?pr=Sponsors
Registration closes April 15 2010
Always a great event that brings over 300 students and teachrs (spelled on purpose haha) to town for a chance to be involved in a rich learning and growth experience.
amazing quote from the national post newspaper referring to online versus print
“It’s like a beast that wants to eat my children”. Michael Cook, Toronto Star, referring to GOOGLE.
festival of lights has been chosen by VANOC to sing the Canadian National Anthem at the official torch ceremony in Penticton! Very happy for 8 year old Mariah Gauthier, and we know she will do Summerland proud. View Mariah on the Festival Stage:
http://www.canadarama.ca/summerland/09festivaloflights/part2/index.html
RE/MAX around 3pm on Monday Jan 25th. We are very excited and just can’t wait! Summerland has two members on the Olympic team, not bad for such a small town! And do not forget the reception at Center Stage on Sunday afternoon.
There are lots of festivites planned, and we are very excited to hear it will come down Main Street Summerland! This will be a proud day for Summerland, and we are so happy it will come right past the busiest corner in town…RE/MAX corner!
My expanding Real Estate business is looking for someone to be responsible for our web presence. This work from home opportunity pays a good salary commensurate with edgy attitude, strong work ethic and progressive ability to learn.
I understand this opportunity will not appeal to some…
Some people WANT to get up on time each morning, put on makeup and jump in the car to earn a paycheck.
Some people WANT to pay for child care and work regular hours.
Some people will NEVER UNDERSTAND the concept of drinking a mocha at the Beanery while getting paid to enter a blog update on my website.
Still others would DETEST the concept of being paid to video a clip of a sunny moment at Powell Beach Lighthouse, post it to youtube, and my site with a quirky comment…
you, however, will be prepared to explain to that big city gal (who is gunning for this opportunity) just what it’s like to jump off the pier near the doggy area at Peach Orchard Beach (why do we call that a beach?)…anyway, I digress, but, I am very serious, and I do want to hear from you. Please contact me right away as this is a seriously fantastic Summerland offer for the right person.
ANOTHER WARNING…If you are scratching your head wondering where the mailing address is to send me your printed resume…YOU ARE NOT RIGHT FOR THIS opportunity…if, however, your are scheming of a way to make an impression so I will KNOW you are the only one for this well paid, work from home position…then U go right ahead and contact me…K? But do it soon, as this position is ready to go!
supporting the local “review” but sometimes I have to wonder about the content…this week the headline reads “Police end investigation of council”…wow! Are we sure it might not have just as well read
“Police decline request by 15 people to investigate council”? (notice I wrote 15 people when only 14 people signed the request?)
I suppose it is all about perspective, huh? And, maybe it helps sell more papers and then my ad dollars are better spent…I somehow am beginning to doubt it. I think some of these newspapers are just struggling to keep going in a changed world where online is where it’s at (see articles this site: “Vancouver Sun placed under creditor protection”, and “Real Estate and print classifieds have gone their separate ways”)
that just keeps getting better and better. Just announced dates are Friday July 30, Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1. This should be another great weekend, for info here is the website
As I view reports of the devastation in Haiti, I am struck by Canada’s compassionate, swift, and powerful response. Canada’s aid for this catastrophic event is something we can all be proud of.
Canada is a great nation that enjoys the daily benefit of democratic freedoms that previous generations fought to defend. This proud and powerful response by our great nation is a direct result of those who gave their lives for the democratic freedoms we sometimes take for granted.
This, Canada’s compassionate, swift and mighty response is a valid reason to call to mind those who gave (uncles, fathers, mothers, aunts), and a very valid reason for us to now give!
With home prices beginning to flatten in many areas around the country, home sellers are slowly gaining ground in their quest to hold on to the asking price.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/34820701
TRANSLATION: In the US, the real estate market sends yet another strong signal that the bottom of the cycle is turning…
Further to my note regarding the change in usefulness of print newspaper classified ads for real estate, posted earlier this week, today I read in the financial post that Canada’s largest newspaper chain has been placed into creditor protection:
http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/story.html?id=2420231
To read the stats compiled from the P Herald, see this post:
THE HORRIBLE TRUTH OF PATRICK MURPHY’S LAST DIP…POLAR THAT IS…AT SUNOKA BEACH!
Well, it all started in previous years when I did manage the gumption to participate in Summerlands famous New Years Polar Dip…things went well the first time; I ran in, submerged (every body part), ran out, drove home & jumped in the hot tub!
Then, full of brovado and being an experienced little dipper, I convinced a number of friends to participate the next year. Things went well, everybody dipped every body part, we had a great time and it was truly a fantastic way to start a new year in Summerland.
But, then, the last time I went, none of my friends would come along, even to stand in the cold to show their support…only Mitch and I, not even my wife came out. But I was all pumped and psyched anyway, ready to DO THIS!…but I got half way in (well, ALMOST FULLY half way in!) and something just snapped there in the cold waters of Sunoka (figuratively, not literally!) and there I was, suspended in time (two ways to take that statement, read it with a comma after suspended and you will know what I mean!).
There I was, the top portion freezing naked in the cold Okanagan air, the bottom portion of me submerged… REAL COLD in the frigid waters off Sunoka beach…the middle portion not willing to participate.
I was mentally frozen and I just could not take the next step…so, I tried dipping my head in…well, just my face, and when I came up, a wall of freezing screaming people who had gone all the way, were now turned and coming straight at me!
All I could do was join them, turn and exit the lake, defeated! Iran to my towel and housecoat along the walk of shame.
So, after that failure, I realized, we (me and the boys) will never again participate in the famous Summerland Polar Dip on New Years Day.
But if you have never tried it, I do highly reccommend you go at least once…see if you have the ….shall we say gumption…to go all the way in!
RE/MAX Orchard Country participated in and supported a number of exciting Summerland events in 2009, and I would like to say thank you to all the hardworking people who contribute to making this town so special.
Constructive contributions help make this town a great place to live!
Here is at least a partial list of events and happenings that we were pleased to participate in 2009:
First off, I must admit I did not attend the Polar Dip!
There simply will never be another polar dip for me, after the previous personal fiasco at Sunoka!
(see www.youroklife.com for gory details if you must).
RE/MAX hosted the first ever Summerland Economic Outlook Conference, featuring speakers from various groups including the BCFGA and the Kettle Valley Steam Train. This event sold out and then sold out the extra seating and ended up selling out the standing room only as well! Thank you again for the community business support.
The Chamber Gala Awards Banquet was very well run, and talk about packing out the Arena Banquet room! I barely had room to elbow my way in to some of those silent auction items!
The Summerland Sportsmens dinner was again a huge success, and the number of prizes and contest prizes continues to grow. Really, this community event displays more than any other in my mind, the coming together of various interests to put on a great evening.
The Summerland Fall Fair was exceptional this year, unfortunately our framed balloon portait fell off the display during one of the stage presentations and caused quite a stir…sorry about that!
The timing of the Apple Valley Cruisers show was brilliant, and everyone looks forward to next years event! This car show was a huge success and we are hearing good things about possible upgrades for 2010.
RE/MAX also hosted the first ever “dawn to dusk Celebrate Summerland Success” event at the Victoria Place building. This event drew positive attention to Summerland via facebook, youtube and other internet media, as well as live on location with SUNFM and participation by various downtown merchants.
RE/MAX also attended and participated in a number of Chamber sponsored business after business events. These events highlight a local business each month, and they are a very positive way for us to show our support for local businesses. Any chance you get to support our local merchants, always seems to be appreciated.
Lastly, RE/MAX was to pleased to play a part in the Summerland Festival of Lights. RE/MAX stepped up to sponsor the “best fireworks Summerland has ever seen” at a time when funding was more than a little tight for the event.
RE/MAX loves to partcipate and loves to support community events. At special events, our cotton candy is a perfect way to generate sizeable donations to Children’s Miracle Network, and again, thank you Summerland for a wonderful y2k+9!
Hello “gesture recognition”…read this on cnbc today…wow!
As I was working on company advertising budget for 2010, I had a look at classified advertising and how its usefulness in reaching buyers has absolutely fallen off the charts from even just last year…you will be amazed to consider the following ad count in the Penticton Herald Classified Ad section for the sample Monday Jan 4 2010:
# houses advertised for sale by Realtor: 0
# houses advertised for sale by Owner: 0
# lots advertised for sale by Realtor: 1
# lots advertised for sale by Owner: 0
# lots advertised by Developers: 0
# commercial properties advertised for sale by Owner and Developer and Realtor combined: 0
# condos and townhouses and mobile homes advertised by Owner and Realtor and Developer combined: 0
The shocking sum total of all combined Real Estate for Sale ads in the Penticton Herald Classified: 1
For interest sake, I contrasted that with what appears to be the big classified advertising budget:
Number of “Escort Services” featuring names such as “Raven” or “Mercedes” or “Fiona” etc…advertised in the same edition of classified for the Penticton Herald: 22!
Pretty incredible to see how the real advertising dollar has disappeared from print classifieds and moved to other more effective media…
I don’t imagine this change only applies to the Penticton Herald, I just did this unofficial count and thought it was very interesting from a Real Estate Marketing point of view. AND, I do NOT normally peruse the escort services section, either, just found the contrast to be so amazing.
By the way, there are over 1,800 active listing on MLS in the South Okanagan, so there are no shortage of people wanting to sell real estate. The advertising dollars just go where the buyers are looking, simple as that!
If you would like some help sorting thru all this with your own buying or selling needs, just give me a call or send me an email, I will be happy to do my best to help. To quote a great marketing mind out of Vancouver, “Have a great day, unless you choose otherwise!”
Patrick
