New tax has local Funeral Directors seeing red

Licensed Funeral Directors Tim Baragar and Jeff Neuman are sounding the alarm bells over a new tax program that they say will make life difficult for estate representatives in Ontario.

Tim Baragar has been in the funeral business for a long time. He received his Funeral Director’s in 1982 and since 1996 he has operated Baragar Funeral Home in downtown Bancroft.

Baragar makes it clear that his service does not end at the cemetery. He and Funeral Director Jeff Neuman do their best to help families obtain pertinent documents and ensure that a loved one’s affairs are in order.

And that’s why Baragar and Neuman are sounding the alarm bells over a newly rolled-out tax that took effect on Jan. 1. The Estate Administration Tax (EAT) was part of the 2011 Provincial budget and the tax, its timelines and its penalties, are something these Funeral Directors think everyone needs to be aware of.

“It is frightening to see how this government has simply slipped this in without any discussion that I know of. It will have a major impact on all of us at some point,” Baragar says. “We need to be making lots of noise to hopefully get this revoked.”

The new tax program that Baragar finds frightening requires an executor to assess, appraise and value any and all property owned at the time of death.This EAT appraisal includes anything that is not passed directly to a spouse or passed through joint ownership. Assets that are being gifted to charities also need to be included in the valuation. The tax is then calculated and needs to be paid immediately to the Province of Ontario as a deposit. The calculation goes like this – $5 for each $1,000 of the first $50,000 and then $15 for each $1,000 of the value of the estate over $50,000. Read more

Faces Living North of 7: The Family Buisness

“The business has been owned by my family for 72 years and I have been back here for 23 years.”

“Why did you leave?”

“I went away to school and play hockey.”

“Why did you come back?”

“The short reason, I moved back for the quality of life.”

All these pretty signs are pointing to an election!

All these pretty signs are pointing to an election!

I think elections should be treated like job interviews. If I were interviewing a candidate for a potential spot on my municipal council I would likely ask the following questions.

Please tell me about the moment when you decided to run for council?

So far, any regrets with throwing your name into the competition?

Let’s cover some broad themes.

1. Quality of life:

What will you do to keep this part of the world liveable?

How will you make this a place that can sustain jobs?

How can you make this a place that can support the needs of an aging community?

How will you balance the needs of tourists with the needs of seasonal residents?

2. Policing:

If we have no say in how much we pay for policing will you at least advocate for the kind of policing we might want? Things like trail patrols and foot patrols?

Will you advocate for officers to get out from behind the tinted windows and walk through our communities, building trust and relationships?

(admittedly this is a leading question)

3. Communications:

How will you communicate with your constituents?

How will you encourage more input and community engagement?

What do you think about social media? Do you think you should always be professional in what you publish – even when you’re not in a council meeting? Read more

Looking for a Private Cottage?

Price: $268,000
Address: 91 Carfrae Lake Lane
Neighbourhood:Faraday Ontario
Agent: Emma Kearns & Ray Krupa, Century 21 – All Seasons Realty., Brokerage

Carfrae Lake – Extremely Private 3 bedroom spacious Cottage built-in 2005/6. This Very well maintained cottage features open concept with cathedral ceilings, 3 pc bath, drilled well, wood stove, awesome swimming on this limestone base deep clean shoreline on well treed lot. Carfrae Lake is a peaceful (no motor) lake and conveniently located approx 15 minutes south of Bancroft. Ideal Cottage property for a buyer looking for good swimming and a small quite lake.

Hastings County Member Municipalities Offical Candidate Lists

Hastings County is made up of 14 member municipalities and for ease I created the list of all members certified lists of candidates in your municipality, just click on the link. As this is a work in progress, we have tried to locate all municipalities and as soon as we can we will have the complete list (we saved you the headache 🙂

 

Town of Bancroft

Township of Carlow Mayo

Municipality of Centre Hastings

Town of Deseronto

Township of Faraday

Hastings Highlands

Township of Limerick

Township of Madoc

Municipality of Marmora & Lake

Township of Stirling Rawdon

Township of Tudor and Cashel

Municipality of Tweed

Township of Tyendinaga 

Township of Wollaston

Is the Bancroft election a bit offside?

After speaking with my father, who is running for Reeve in Carlow Mayo we of course talk about the upcoming elections on a regular basis. I find it interesting and I of course learn a great deal about municipal politics from him as I am new to it. He sent me the Official list of candidates for Carlow Mayo and I in turn went to see my ward which is Bancroft….there isn’t one.

You see under the Municipal Elections Acts Examination of nominations 35.1 the first Monday at 4pm following nomination day, the Town Clerk should have certified that all candidates met all the requirements. So far there is no Official list of candidates….what does that mean. Good question and I do not know.

It is now Wednesday so my next question is, why?

 

Will drivers notice?

As I was walking the pup this morning I noticed that they were painting the cross walk by the Post Office. I for one was very happy to see this as I am a walker.

This cross walk has always been a challenge for me as drivers are not all the cautious in this area. I have jumped out-of-the-way, ran and once or twice I have almost been clipped. It makes me think of the older adults that also cross there to get their mail.

We all kind of joke about taking our lives into our hands but should we be?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not lumping everyone into one basket. There are quite a few that stop, wave, give a smile and a couple even ask if you want a ride if you are carrying groceries.

So my question to you all, do you think this will help drivers notice?

 

Bancroft is having an election (a real one)!

That’s right folks we are having an election now as I have been informed that two new candidates are throwing their hats into the ring. Barry McGibbon has already filed in Dungannon Ward and another will file this morning in Bancroft from my understanding. This has taken us from an acclamation to an election.

What does this mean for us? We have been given a democratic right to make a choice … before it was just status quo. Now we have an opportunity for change (that is if you want change). The Town of Bancroft has had its challenges to say the least for a few years now and maybe just maybe having new blood will bring new perspectives, new skill sets to the table which I feel that would be beneficial to our community.

Like the rest of you, I will need to listen and hear what all candidates have to say. I do not know them (although have met a couple of them briefly at town functions) except for one incumbent with whom I had the pleasure of working alongside with regards to our public transit system the TROUT.

For a list of the present candidates click here

We have been handed a real opportunity here and I hope that all members of the community will take the time to first get the information you need to make an informed decision and secondly VOTE.

The deadline to file is Friday and who knows maybe we will get another surprise candidate.

Urban Girl xoxo

Baptiste Lake: Make your own memories here!

Price: $399,900
Address: 2337 North Baptiste Lake Road
Neighbourhood: Hastings Highlands Ontario
Agent: Emma Kearns & Ray Krupa, Century 21 – All Seasons Realty., Brokerage

Baptiste Lake – Viceroy Style 4 Season Cottage on fabulous 3 Chain Lake. Privately situated on 1.26 acres lot with stunning view of Baptiste lake, 112 feet of sandy beach shoreline, deep of dock, and enjoy a southern exposure . Cottage features 3 Bedrooms, mudroom, 4 pc large bathroom, cathedral ceilings finished in pine, ceramic flooring, loads of windows, walk-out to large decking great for entertaining, awesome bright kitchen with island. Property features dry boathouse with bunkie and wrap around large decking, change bunkie with running water, compost toilet and shower. Experience the peace and tranquility this property has to offer, pride of ownership is quite evident

Urban Girl: Could this be a sign of commitment?

Before you all start going down the wrong path … it’s not about a relationship. Well, not one with another human but with a community.

After living here for almost 2 years, I finally took the plunge last week and went to get my own mailbox. That’s right, a mailbox … to you all that might not be a big step but to me it is ( you can start chuckling here).

It took about 45 mins at the Post Office to get it and I am thinking is this an omen….should I really be doing this as the sweat broke out on my forehead.

Being the first one in line, people started to line up behind and I thought to myself here we go and waited for the grumbling to begin. Anyone that knows me, knows I am not the most patient person and I was imposing my feelings at the moment on others.

What happened? What happened is a mini social with the other people in line. Conversations, laughter and yes a few jokes about the post office ( the post office was actually short-staffed that day). The people that day took the positive approach and the time was passed quickly and I left with a big smile upon my face.

By taking the social approach … the people in my community again reinforced why I am choosing to live here. You can only imagine if  this was in Toronto, Manhattan it would have been a very different group feeling.

Living, learning and loving North of 7.

 

Urban Girl

xoxo