Tuesday, February 28, 2017

New King Township Municipal Centre

Artist's rendering
46,285 sq.ft. of multifunctionality awaits
results of Ontario Municipal Board hearing
An OMB hearing is to begin today, Tuesday, February 28, to consider an appeal to to the zoning bylaw amendment, 2016-81 filed by the Milani Group, a land developer with a land holding in King City.   The OMB has set aside four days for the hearing.   If the OMB issues a decision favourable to the township, of if the appellant withdraws its appeal, construction could begin in early spring 2017, with completion in the spring of 2018.   The 46,285 sq. ft. building is now designed to include a 2,000 sq.ft. council chamber with mezzanine and public lobby area, 6,100 sq. ft. for a gymnasium and related services, a 3,000 sq. ft. York Regional Police facility, and approximately 35,000 sq. ft. for municipal administration purposes.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, February 27, 2017

Paths crossed...

Photo by Barry Wallace
  Mourning Doves and I share the back porch.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Front door sign...

Photo by Barry Wallace
The Scottish Nook
Main Street ~ Schomberg
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Saturday, February 25, 2017

King Road business activity in King City

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Hair Salon to open beside Rockford's Pub
Renovations are underway on the building formerly occupied by Don Fenn's business enterprises, beside Rockford's Bar and Grill, in the middle of the village.   A building permit has been issued by the township for a hair salon.



Meanwhile on the east side of Rockford's, the building that was home to Diserati's Home Bakery, before it closed several weeks ago for renovations, has recently had all signage removed at the street entrance and on the frontage of the building.   King's planning department says that no building permit has been issued in connection with this business, which opened in the spring of last year.   It's a wait and see game, it seems.


Meanwhile, further west of the King Road, one of King's best-known historic buildings has a 'For Sale' on its property frontage.   For almost half of the last century, this building was renowned as King City Bakery, operated by Bob McLeod and his wife.   He was followed years later by Flavelle Barrett who operated a financial services business for many years.   I believe this building has some official historical protection designation.   Many King oldtimers will have keen anticipation for this building's next reincarnation.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace   

Friday, February 24, 2017

Cold creek...warms up


Valentines Day seemed to herald a week of warm weather that climaxed at 15C degrees locally this week.   That included Cold Creek Conservation Area which was host to the Winterfest community get-together on the Monday school holiday.   By Thursday the temperature had risen to 15C which was probably a record.   While it was balmy up in the main public activity areas of Cold Creek, down in the bog it was somewhat chillier.   The bog is host to trees like Black Spruce, Balsam Fir and Hemlock which provide much evergreen shade to the low-lying bog.   The bog itself is covered with a layer of snow in most places and the boardwalk itself is mostly covered with snow and a layer of ice on top of that.   The footing is treacherous but the handrails on each side provide some measure of safety.   The only way to be really sure-footed is to be wearing some sort of clamp-on or tie-on spiked footplates. 




The branch of Cold Creek that runs through the low woodland bog is open and running free, as it often is in winter even when temperatures are below freezing
in the bog, as seen in the photos above and below. 



There are several places in the bog where water is bubbling to the surface and presenting the very noticeable orange colour of iron.   See the photos above and below.


I can't stress enough the hazards of walking the trail at this point in time, due to the hazardous conditions.   If one does not have some form of metal spiked footwear, do yourself a favour and bypass the bog trail until April.



Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace


Thursday, February 23, 2017

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Another transit shelter in King City...

Photo by Barry Wallace
22 bus stops ~ only four shelters
Workers are seen recently installing a new bus shelter on the east side of Keele Street, across from the GO station.   There are 22 signed bus stops in King City, and now a fourth shelter is in place.   It will surely be appreciated by those who use it in the winter or during inclement weather in other seasons, but several more would no doubt be greatly appreciated also.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace



Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Many, many families at Cold Creek Winterfest


Photos by Barry Wallace
Hundreds of kids, parents, grandparents and others spent four beautiful hours at Cold Creek Conservation Area on Monday, for the annual Winterfest celebration.   Roasting marshmallows (above) was a popular non-stop past-time for kids and adults.   Another non-stop activity for the kids, and some parents, was using plastic sliders and metal saucers to slip down a hill beside the visitors centre.    In the the photo below, several kids didn't use anything, except their bodies, to joyously slip down the slope.





Pictured above is the heavy-horse team of Chase (left) and Bailey (right), from Bradford, that hauled folks around, non-stop, in a big red wagon until it seemed every single person who attended the event got a ride at some point during the festival.  


Many dogs enjoyed the day also, including the French Bulldog, (above left), Sparky the fire safety dog, (above right), and below, two white cuties seen introducing themselves.



Standing on the porch of the Cold Creek Education Centre are Cold Creek Executive members Bill Wilson and Peggy Belcher, who appear to be quite content with how successful the Winterfest day turned out.   The weather was perfect. 

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, February 20, 2017

Dalmatian is spotted at firehall


Here's a new addition to the King City firehall, on the King Road, that I noticed for the first time last week.


There was a Dalmatian named Spot, Dalmations get called that a lot,
Though would answer instead,
To Rover or Fred,
But mostly she liked the name Dot.

- Limerick by James Brown


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Stained Glass ~ No. 8

Photos by Barry Wallace
Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church
Nobleton, Ontario






Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Frozen February finally fades

 Photos by Barry Wallace

pinholes in the snow
under each icicle tip
a midwinter thaw


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, February 17, 2017

Dozens of robins at Kingsbridge on Jane Street

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Sure sign of spring on Valentine's Day
Pictured above are three of approximately 50 robins that were seen at the Kingsbridge Conference Centre & Hotel, on Jane Street, south of Kinghorn, this week.   The robins were gleaning whatever morsel of food they could find in the bare patches of lawn, particularly under the fir trees. Many starlings joined the robins to compete for the meagre bounty.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, February 16, 2017

King City liquor store nears completion

    Photos by Barry Wallace
Photo by Barry Wallace
King's Ridge LCBO opens Fri., March 31
I spoke with an LCBO representative this week about the opening date for King City's new liquor store, in the King's Ridge Marketplace.   The store is to open on Friday, March 31.   In the photos above, one can see signs saying 'OPENING SOON', while HVAC ( heating, ventilation and air conditioning) units were been lifted to the roof several days ago.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Keele Street North ~ Holland Marsh

Photo by Barry Wallace
Transport truck driver's positive message
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, February 13, 2017

Icy blue studies...


Above,
slippery
slope...
Keele 
Street
near 
Marylake



Left,
frozen 
field...
King 
Road 
east of 
Kinghorn


Please
comment
if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Stained Glass ~ No. 7



 Saint Mary Magdalene's Anglican Church
Church Street, Schomberg 


Photos by Barry Wallace
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Saturday, February 11, 2017

King student art exhibition winners


Presented by Arts Society King

Photos by Barry Wallace
FIRST PLACE
'Get Away' by Sarah Fusco
The Country Day School - Grade 11 
Oil on Canvas Board


SECOND PLACE
'Self Portrait' by Tianna Redhead
Villanova College ~ Grade 12
Oil on Canvas


THIRD PLACE
'WHALE' by Jing Liu
King City Secondary School - Grade 12
String Sculpture

These winners, plus 73 other works of art, may be seen at the King Heritage and Cultural Centre, on the King Road, just east of Jane Street, in Kinghorn, Tuesdays to Saturdays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., until Tuesday, January 28.   Admission is free.  
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, February 10, 2017

Early February in the Holland Marsh


                                                                                                                               Photo by Barry Wallace
Irrigation ditch ~ Davis Road
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, February 9, 2017

After the freezing rain...

                                                                                                                               Photo by Barry Wallace
Icycles outside...warm and toasty inside
The Miller's Table ~ Main Street ~ Schomberg
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace