Residents in the city of Cambridge have a real reason to smile about this year, as executives from Hallman Construction Ltd. have recently proposed developing a new housing section at Cambridge’s Cheese Factory and Myers roads.

The company’s plans were presented at the recently held city council meeting, where members of the general committee learned about Hallman Construction’s desire to put up a strip of eight townhouses, which will be adjacent to Nathan Court. In addition, a complex of 4 four-storey apartment buildings will rise in the remaining space of the area.

If approved, the site will have its main entrance at Cheese Factory Road.

The proposal is in response to the City’s announcement to have private firms develop the site. Hallman Construction Ltd is only the second to suggest a housing project.

Other proposals range from the site being converted into a commercial plaza, while another company proposed putting up a gasoline station.

Hallman Construction’s plans are presently being forwarded to other agencies in the region for comment and deliberation. After that, Cambridge’s planning staff will return to council to pass a recommendation.

It’s a tough choice for council. Turning the area into a commercial strip will generate jobs not to mention revenue for the city, while a housing complex could encourage the reduction of housing rates in Cambridge due to competition.

With the winter season drawing to end in a few weeks time, Cambridge residents are making the most of the snow while it lasts.

Let’s face it; winter can be annoying at times. Its cold, you need to put on layers of clothes, snow gets everywhere, driving is a pain – the list goes on really.

And yet despite these annoyances, there’s something about the season that’s just plain fun.

Folks from Cambridge certainly understand that, and now they’ve got a new venue to enjoy the snow to the fullest.

Ontario’s Grand River Conservation Authority has recently opened the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area to the public. It’s located some 20 kilometers south of the City of Cambridge. And as we speak, people from the surrounding communities are flocking to Pinehurst Lake for some good old snowshoeing.

The conservation area is open daily from 8 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.

And there’s more! Pinehurst is also open to those interested in ice fishing.

Admission is pegged at $4.25 for adults and $2.50 for kids 6 to 14 years of age. Children below 5 on the other hand get in for free.

So what’re you waiting for? Head to Pinehurst and have some winter fun!

Conversation Area Open For Winter Activities
With the winter season drawing to end in a few weeks time, Cambridge residents are making the most of the snow while it lasts.
Let’s face it; winter can be annoying at times. Its cold, you need to put on layers of clothes, snow gets everywhere, driving is a pain – the list goes on really.
And yet despite these annoyances, there’s something about the season that’s just plain fun.
Folks from Cambridge certainly understand that, and now they’ve got a new venue to enjoy the snow to the fullest.
Ontario’s Grand River Conservation Authority has recently opened the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area to the public. It’s located some 20 kilometers south of the City of Cambridge. And as we speak, people from the surrounding communities are flocking to Pinehurst Lake for some good old snowshoeing.
The conservation area is open daily from 8 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.
And there’s more! Pinehurst is also open to those interested in ice fishing.
Admission is pegged at $4.25 for adults and $2.50 for kids 6 to 14 years of age. Children below 5 on the other hand get in for free.
So what’re you waiting for? Head to Pinehurst and have some winter fun!

In spite of the recession, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. produced an astounding 319,548 automobiles in 2009, and the company looks to go beyond that record number this year, by producing over 400,000 cars and crossover vehicles, this according to TMMC president Ray Tanguay.

The auto-giant has two plants in the Ontario province, one in the City of Cambridge and another in Woodstock. The two factories will be primarily responsible for the production of two of Toyota’s strongest selling automobiles in all of North America, namely the Toyota RAV4 CUV, as well as the RX350, which is off of Toyota’s Lexus luxury range.

They’ve performed remarkably well in the market that Tanguay said the company is having a bit of trouble with supply for the two vehicles. With supply running low, dealerships are unable to put the RAV4 and the RX350 on display.

To answer this problem, employees in the Cambridge plant are working overtime to produce other in-demand models like the Corolla and Matrix. TMMC has also sent a second batch of workers to the Woodstock plant for production of the RAV4.

It’s certainly good news for folks in Cambridge, whose economy relies heavily on the local Toyota plant.

Staffs from the City of Cambridge have been given the go signal to send invitations to private sector companies in the region to lease property owned by the government for solar energy panels.

The move was brought about by announcements made recently by city officials about the installation of solar panels on the rooftop of the public works building located on Bishop Street, Cambridge. Other companies interested in leasing space on municipal-owned property have also been approached by city officials.

Based on a report produced by experts for the city council, the significant leaps and bounds made by solar technology engineers have encouraged expansion in the industry. In fact, a number of companies are in a rush to acquire solar panels for renewable energy purposes. The only problem is where to place put them. The report concludes that allowing private sector companies to lease roof space will not only generate revenue for the city, it will also reduce operational costs for heating and cooling of government buildings.

While waiting for council to make a final decision on Monday next week, city staffs are currently plotting out potential areas for lease. After the locations have been laid out and potential candidates have been selected, a proposal will be drafted once more for council’s final seal of approval.

If the past 2 years were dominated by the effects of the recession and subsequent collapse of the world markets, 2010 looks to be a bit different – at least for the City of Cambridge.

New businesses in the city have opened up in the last few months of 2009, and they look to do even better as we enter the New Year. Here’s a short list of these Cambridge business and their descriptions.

Bridging Oceans Imports

Owned by Alison Sandaj, this business opened in October of last year. They specialize in Asian and African home décor and antiques. Sandaj herself purchased items like rugs, bamboo chairs, wood works, pots, paintings, and other exotic pieces from artists based overseas. For more information, logon to www.bridgingoceansimports.com.

Cambridge Investigation Services (CIS)

A private investigation company founded by Glen Ireland in November of 2009, C.I.S. lends assistance to clients by doing legal, insurance, and other types of investigative work. They also offer domestic assistance as well as surveillance services. Each private investigator is duly licensed by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, assuring that your confidential information is handled correctly and kept safe.

These are just two of the businesses worth checking out in the City of Cambridge.

Drivers and commuters in the City of Cambridge have something to look forward to this 2010, as transportation officials from the Waterloo Region will begin overseeing road projects scattered throughout the city.

The regions plans include work on the long-overdue grade separation of Hespeler Road, which they hope will diminish the long lineups in the area and its surrounding roads.

Officials have allocated a budget of $30 million for the project, which is slated to finish in two years time. The Canadian Pacific Railway will be shouldering a large percentage of the costs for the construction work.

Waterloo officials have promised motorists that Hespeler Road will remain open throughout the construction, albeit with a few inconveniences.

At the same time, another project north of Hespeler Road will be kicking off sometime this year. Scheduled for completion in 2012, the work is aimed at improving the intersection between Beaverdale Road and Queen Street by constructing a roundabout.

And 2011 looks to be even more of a busy year for Cambridge and the Waterloo Region, as over 6 projects are scheduled to take place.

Road work can only mean one thing – traffic jams. Transportation officials request that the public be patient throughout the work.

While most residents in the city were out partying in the streets, Cambridge parents Amanda and Glen Rogers started the year in a very special way, by welcoming their new and healthy baby Livia – Cambridge’s first newborn of 2010.

Livia was born at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital at 2:48 in the afternoon of January 1, making her Cambridge’s first baby of the year, and the decade. She weighed in at a good 7 pounds, and 1 ounce.

And yet with the honors and attention brought about by baby Livia’s birth, the Rogers family calmly kept their cool and answered questions from staff and the media.

That’s probably due to the fact that Livia is the family’s 7th child, making them used to the whole ordeal of giving birth and whatnot.

Amanda just laughs when asked by the media if Livia’s their first baby. It’s become a question they’re now used to answering.

Fortunately for Mrs. Rogers, Livia’s birth was a relatively easy one. The delivery lasted around 10 minutes, something envious mothers would want to experience.

Aside from being the year’s first baby for the city, Livia also boasts of being another first.

“She’s our first red head,” beamed Amanda.

For fishing enthusiasts, the winter season means one thing – ice fishing.

Indeed, anglers in the City of Cambridge were itching to dip the first line of 2010. And that’s exactly what they’ll get to do today at the Shade’s Mills Conservation Area.

The Grand River Conservation Authority is opening the park, which will be welcome to those who want to try their hand in ice fishing, starting today from 8 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Unfortunately for skiers, trails are currently closed due to poor snow conditions.

Anglers need to bring their own equipment and tough it out in the cold to fish for pike and perch, as there are neither huts nor fishing gear available for rent as of the moment. Entrance fee is at $4.25 for adults, $2.50 for kids 6 to 14 years of age, and free for children 5 and under.

Shade’s Mills is just one of four GRCA conservation areas that are open for winter activities. The area is a haven for other outdoor activities like canoeing, hiking, swimming, and more.

To those interested, head to the park now while ice conditions are good enough.

So there you have it! Drop by the Shade’s Mills Conservation Area for some good old traditional ice fishing! The park is located at 450 Avenue Road, Brampton.

Tourists and newcomers to the City of Cambridge may have a new and different attraction to check out – that is, if the Ancient Mariners Canoe Club pushes through with their plans to create a new and unique park in the city.

At a meeting scheduled to take place on Monday next week, members of the Canoe Club will be passing a proposal to convert the former Riverbluffs Park off-leash dog zone, to a new park for bees to pollinate.

The creation of a pollinator park is in response to findings from a study done by the University of Guelph’s eco-science department.

In a nutshell, a pollinator park is an area that contains a wide variety of wildflowers that encourages bees to be agents of pollination.

Club members hope that the pollinator park would also inform the public and raise awareness of the vital role bees have in the eco-system and world of agriculture. They also hope to spread correct information that wasps, not bees, are responsible for the majority of insect stings.

Unlike wasps that are attracted to food and smells of human campsites, most wild bee species don’t sting.

More discussions will be taking place at next week’s meeting at the Cambridge City Hall.

Starting in September next year, fall report cards from elementary schools will have almost everything parents need to know about how their children are doing in school – except their marks.

In a move to place more emphasis on the assessment of a child’s skills rather than marks, Ontario’s Ministry of Education will be doing away with the old system of releasing fall report cards starting next school year. Instead, progress reports will be used to provide parents with a way to check on their children’s overall progress.

For Roger Lawler, who serves as the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s education head, the change is a more than welcome development for Cambridge’s elementary schools. For years, Lawler has campaigned for a new system that encourages parents and teachers to look more into a child’s growth, rather than concentrating solely on grades.

In the new scheme, parents will receive one progress report each September, and two formal report cards – one each in the months of January and June.

The new system also requires teachers to meet with parents and discuss ways to improve student learning. Weaknesses and strengths of each child shall also be tackled in these meetings. An updated record of each child’s marks is also available upon request during these discussions.

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