Jo-Anne Smith- Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Region Real Estate, Ont

The continental (4 distinct seasons) climate of the Quinte area in Ontario is moderated by it's proximity to the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario.
Belleville and region experiences warmer temperatures in the winter and slightly cooler temperatures in the summer due to these effects. In addition, the average snowfall is lower than many areas in Canada and the north eastern states of the USA.

The average low temperature in winter is -11.9 C (10.6 F) and our winters generally pass fairly quickly with an average of 291 hours of sunlight.
Oftentimes in winter we will experience a sudden thaw with a number of days reaching above 10C and into the 50s. The odd winter we experience very little snow and generally, January and February are the coldest months.
The average number of snow days is 42.

Spring like weather usually starts to occur haphazardly in March with many warm sunny days.

April is the transition period from cool winter days to very warm springlike days and we can sometimes experience a bit of both.
Our spring weather is extremely warm with temperatures often in the 70s and many people pick May to take their first swim in the areas abundant water bodies.

The Victoria Day weekend (May 17th-18th this year) is traditionally the start of our summer activities with many people camping in area campgrounds and opening their cottages for the season.

The summers in recent years have been very hot with many days reaching into the 90s although the average high temperature in the summer months is approximately 80F.

The humidity can reach fairly uncomfortable levels and we are in one of the most active thunder storm regions of north america with numerous thunder and lightning storms thoughout the warmer seasons. The storms serve to break up the humidity and bring cooler, clearer weather.

Summer is a beautiful time in the Belleville/Quinte area with an abundance of summer-time actiivities to partake of.
There are numerous marinas for boaters, many clean lakes for fishing and swimming, many provincial and private waterfront parks where the public can find excellent camping facilities and a wide array of activities to enjoy.

There are many long white sand beaches within minutes of any point in the Quinte are and the region is world renowned for Sandbanks Provincial Park, where one of the most beautiful freshwater beaches in north america can be found.

The climate is conducive to vineyards and the Prince Edward region has many beautiful wineries where thousands of tourists flock to every summer to sample the fine wines and ciders and to enjoy a gourmet feast prepared by some of the world's finest chefs.

This is an excellent area for the growth of vegetables and fruits and our strawberry season usually arrives in early June.

There are also many local farms where one can pick their own raspberries, plums, apples, pears, cherries and a wide variety of vegetables. With rainfall occuring on an average of 100 days and sunlight hours from June to August averaging 771 hours, the climate is excellent for gardening and farming.

Summer temperatures often last into October and the autumn is a wonderful time of the year to enjoy the harvest activities and the changing leaves. The region abounds in fall fairs and festivities as we welcome in the coming cooler months.

Many of the local residents travel to Florida or other southern points for January and February, however they wouldn't miss being back here for the arrival of a glorious spring where thousands of wildflowers and trees are in bloom and the air is fresh with a myriad of intoxicating scents and bird song.

This is a beautiful region and each season has a beauty specific to itself that stays in one's memory forever more.

©2008JoSmith

Winter is raging on and the Quinte Region is experiencing another snowfall as I write this.

Don't let it get you down and for heaven's sake, don't go into hibernation!
There's so much to do in this beautiful area that no one should be at a loss for a fun evening out or without an informative, lively social gathering to attend.

Week of March 1st-March 8th, 2008 The Following Events Are Free or 'Donations Accepted', As Indicated:

Loyalist College is holding it's Information Night on Thursday March 6th and all future students and their parents are invited to attend. It will run from 6:30-8:30pm in the Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI) lecture room at 41 Barker Street in Picton.

Future students will be able to learn about various program options, residence facilities, new careers, services for success and get a taste for student life. Bring a list of your concerns and questions.

If you'd like to know more about this informative evening call 1-888-LOYALIST, ext. 2100

Loyalist College is within minutes of Belleville's City limits and offers an excellent post-secondary education program with 93.9% of graduates finding employment within 6 months of graduation!

On March 2nd at 1pm, Mike Nickerson will be live and in person reading from his book 'Life, Money and Illusion: Living On Earth as if We Want to Stay.' at Organic Underground. Mike is a long-time environmental activist and has published three books on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Come out and have your books signed by Mike and then stay after the reading to discuss ways we can help protect, heal and sustain our planet for the future.

There is no cost for this event and questions will be answered following his reading. For more info call 613-967-3647

Enjoy walking and would like some company? Join the walkers at Belleville Walks!
On March 1st the group will be meeting at the playground in Zwick's Park at 9am.

If you can't make it this Saturday, be sure to check out the upcoming walking dates. Interested in walking but don't want to brave the wintry weather? Belleville and Quinte Region Walks indoors with a regular schedule too!

For more info call 613-969-8385

Classic Movie Night on March 3rd at 6:30 pm will be airing 'Twelve Angry Men'.

Classic Movie Nights are held in the Safety Village (rear of the Belleville Police Station) and an informal film discussion follows with Ed Bridle (retired film studies teacher).

There is no charge for this movie night. Come on out!

For all Writers and Writers-At-Heart, the Quinte Writers Guild will be meeting at the Wharf Street Debating Club at the corner of South Front Street and St. Paul Street in Belleville at 7:30 pm, March 4th.

You're invited to bring along your stories, articles and poems to share with a friendly and lively group of writers, readers and folks who enjoy listening to a good story or poem.

The Brown Bag Lunch at the Belleville Public Library , on March 5th at noon, will feature speaker Shawn Susan Doyle.

Shawn will be giving a presentation titled "Healing Our Spirits and Re-creating Our Lives" in honour of International Women's Day.

Admission is free however seating is limited and you are encouraged to reserve by calling 613-962-1212 or email info@unac-quinte.ca.

For some lively blues to beat those winter blues, the Bohemian Penguin (upstairs at the Penguin) will be featuring the Tim Campbell Band at The Loyal Blues Fellowship Night on March 1st.

Maddy and Larry Hope are hosting this musical evening and the doors will open at 8pm.

Donations will be accepted at the door.

Enrich your world and your life by attending one or many of these Belleville and Quinte area events!

©2008JoSmith

Genealogy has long been a fascinating interest of mine and many members of my family, both on my Mother's and on my Father's side, have done extensive research into our family's past. Searching for your roots can be both exhilarating and frustrating, all at the same time. It can lead you to far-off places, both in your mind and physically and once you are bitten by the genealogy bug, it can become an all-consuming passion.

The Prince Edward-Belleville-Quinte region was one of the first settled in Ontario with many of the first settlers, after the original native inhabitants, being the United Empire Loyalists, or those who were loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution in the late 1700s.

In such, there is an extensive trail of history in this area and a vast quantity of it has been recorded and is available to the public for research purposes.

The Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is one place to start for the local citizen who is interested in knowing more about history and family genealogy.
Their mission is "to encourage, assist and bring together all those interested in the pursuit of family history" and they serve this mission with unending faith and dedication.

Regular meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month except for July, August and December.
Guest speakers make a presentation at each meeting and free admission is open to all.

Visitors are encouraged to attend and all those who are interested in history and geneology will find many people of similar nature to share in knowledge and kinship. Not only are the meetings intriguing and enlightening, they also serve refreshments!
The meetings are held in a variety of locations and additional meetings of a historical nature are held by other organizations on a date other than a Saturday.

Upcoming meetings:

• At 1pm on Saturday, March 15th at the Quinte West City Hall Library, will feature guest speaker Bob Dawes who will be speaking about 'Getting Your Money’s Worth (The BIG advantage of Pay-Per-View and Subscription Based Websites)'.
  
  
• On Tuesday March 11th from 1:30-2:30, the Belleville Public Library will be hosting a special meeting called 'Quinte Roots-Our Pioneers' It promises to be a good time with First Natiions music, pioneer crafts, games and displays.

Membership in the Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has numerous benefits and the cost is only $10.00 (which covers all family members who share the same address).
In addition, you must join the Ontario Genealogical Society in order to join the Quinte Branch. The cost for joining the Ontario Geneological Society is $45.00 ($25 for students) and you can join online.

The Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has compiled an extensive list of hundreds of online links of great use to those who wish to research their family roots or the history of our region. Most of the links are free and cover every website of a historical or genealogical research value in the Belleville, Quinte, Northumberland and Prince Edward regions. There are also extensive genealogical links given for Provincial, National and Worldwide research.

For those who would like to do research into their family history, did you know that access to Ancestry.com is available free of charge at the Belleville Public Library?
Computers are available free to use on an hourly basis and each member is allowed one hour daily.

With so many resources available at a low cost or no cost basis, what's stopping you from delving into your family's fascinating past? This can become an exciting family project and one which your children and other family members will greatly enjoy as stories come to light and new connections with long lost branches of the family are re-newed.

©2008JoSmith

Benefits of Buying a Condominium in Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga.

More and more homebuyers are turning to the condominium lifestyle in
Canada today. Condominium ownership can appeal to both those leading a fast-paced lifestyle, as well as those who are retired and enjoying a slower pace. Condominium ownership comes with numerous benefits that help the homebuyer achieve a more comfortable and stress-free life.

• Affordability-Condominiums can often be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a standard residential home. This is an important factor that attracts both the single lifestyle, first-time buyers and those who are retired.
  
  
• Security and Personal Safety-Condominium complexes offer a closer knit community than a single family dwelling. For those who frequently travel or live alone, this can be an important factor when choosing a home.
  
  
• Organized Recreational and Social Activities- Many condominium complexes have recreational facilities for the condominium owners to use, as well as organized activities on a monthly basis. Having a pool or recreational centre with regular events serves to bring the community together and creates a comfortable and healthy lifestyle for those who live in the complex.
  
  
• Less Maintenance Required-Many condominiums offer outside maintenance and repairs as a part of the ownership package. For those who are gone over the winter months or unable to perform their own outside maintenance, knowing that the snow removal, grass cutting, roof repairs, etc is taken care of, can bring great peace of mind and a greater ability to enjoy life, as well as not having to worry over the expense of a costly outside repair like a new roof.
  
  
• Lower Insurance Costs-As a condominium owner (freehold condominium exception) you will be responsible for insuring your personal belongings, the interior of your unit and personal liability. The condominium corporation is responsible for the common ownership areas and exterior of the units.
  
  
• Investment Value-With the increase in the average age of the population and more and more retirees entering the buying market, the demand for condominiums continues to rise.
  Most areas in Ontario currently face a shortage of affordable and desirable condominiums and the value of the average condominium continues to steadily increase. Investors who saw the coming demand years ago, and purchased one or more condominiums, have realized a healthy return on their investments in recent years.
  
  
• Decreased Energy Costs-The majority of condominiums share outside walls in common with their neighbouring units and this serves to greatly decrease the amount of energy required to heat and cool each unit. In addition, many condominium complexes supply hot water to the individual units from a common source. This can greatly reduce your monthly electricity costs.
  
  
• Smaller Footprint upon the Earth-With condominium owners sharing the common areas, a greater number of homes can be placed on a lot in a condominium complex than in a corresponding number of single family dwellings in a typical subdivision.
  
  
• Lower Property Taxes-Municipal taxes for a condominium unit are comparably lower than taxes for a detached single family home.

Buying a condominium is a wise decision and having a real estate sales representative who understands and is knowledgeable about the condominium buying process and what to watch out for, can bring a smooth and enjoyable buying experience that you will remember with pleasure.

As a Licensed Real Estate Sales Representative in Oakville, Ontario, I have extensive education and experience in the condomium buying process and can guide you through the viewing and buying process.

To receive a book on Buying A Condominium at no cost or obligation to you:

To Receive a List of All Condomiums That Meet Your Desires/Needs and are Currently Available in the Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga region of Ontario:

©2008JoSmith 

My Granny saw the best in all people and she had a saying that she lived by, "Give to the world the best you've got, and the world will give it's best back to you."
I take after my Grandmother on both counts and every day I see examples of how giving your best really does benefit everyone in the end, including the person who is giving their best.

Last year I was out with my Mother for lunch at an oriental restaurant and when I opened my fortune cookie, it said "The man who does more than he is paid for, will soon be paid for more than he does." I kept that fortune as I do many of the more interesting ones I receive.
Every now and then I'll read it and think of how interesting that concept is. Of course, I've heard the same things said in many ways and always it comes back to giving.

March 3rd-9th is Violence Awareness and Random Acts of Kindness week in the Quinte area. The Violence Awareness and Random Acts of Kindness Program was begun 12 years ago to counteract the negativity that violence brings upon our society and to promote positivity and make the world a better place by starting right here in the Quinte, Belleville and Prince Edward regions.

Participating stores and businesses will have donation boxes where people can donate to the program and attain a blue ribbon to show their support.

The Kindness Program is offered in 81 schools in the greater Quinte area and each school is supplied with a 'kindness kit'.
The kit promotes kindness through a colouring and poster contest and 'Kindness Citizen' ballots are made available for all high schools.
It also includes blue ribbons for all students and staff to wear as well as pamphlets and other promotional material related to spreading positive energy in the world.

Students who have won awards receive them at a special opening ceremony which is being held this Monday, March 3rd in the Kindness Court of the Quinte Mall at 7pm.

'Kindness crews' will be out and about on the streets of Belleville beginning on Tuesday, March 4th, committing random acts of kindness. Kindness crews will consist of approximately 6 people each and will also be stopping at schools, daycares, hospitals and retirement residences bringing with them their kindness and spreading positivity every where they go.

The Violence Awareness and Random Acts of Kindness booth will be set up in the Kindness Court at the Quinte Mall for the week of March 3rd-9th.
Be sure to drop by and say hello and remember as you go about your daily business to commit random acts of kindness everywhere you go.

In fact, you don't have to wait until 'kindness week', you can start today!

Wondering what you can do to spread kindness?
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has a list of hundreds of ideas for individuals and groups.
If we all visited the list and made it a goal to pick one action off of the list daily, just think of how much difference it would make not only in our own communities, but all around the world!

~Jo