This weekend (May 31 and June 1) the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation is holding the 24th Annual Janeway Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. This year’s theme The Heroes Among Us highlights the patients, the physicians and the medical staff of the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre and the men and women who work so hard to support our province’s only hospital dedicated entirely to pediatric health care.

On Sunday, June 1 RE/MAX offices in St. John’s will be answering phones and volunteering for the Telethon. As well, each year we provide a donation check to this wonderful cause. RE/MAX believes in giving back to the community and in doing so we donate a portion of each home sale to the Janeway.

Since 1992 RE/MAX Sales Associates have raised in excess of $50 million for CMN, $21 million of that in Canada alone, in contributions through RE/MAX’s Miracle Program in Canada.

Together we can make miracles happen for children in your neighbourhood. Please donate this weekend.

The 25th Eastern Newfoundland Canadian Home builders Association Annual Home Show will be held May 2nd to 4th at the Mile One Centre. Once again RE/MAX will be headlining the show - this year with a wine tasting event. In order to receive a ticket to the wine tasting you must speak with a RE/MAX Realtor.

Again this year will be the popular Ugliest Patio Contest and Room make over Contest.

Each admission ticket gives you a chance to win a free fishing trip for two to Labrador Salmon Lodge in Forteau, Labrador as well as over $10,000 in door prizes.

25th Annual Home Show
May 2nd - 4th, 2008
Mile One Centre
Presented by RE/MAX

A $700 water tax may not be far off in St.John’s. The capital city is scrambling to find money to cover cost over-runs and cost increases associated with the harbour cleanup project. The topic is expected to come up again this evening at the weekly council meeting as members of council try to find ways around the problem. The extra $40 million will be cost-shared among St.John’s, Mount Pearl, and Paradise, but the three municipalities hope they will have help from the federal and provincial governments. Neither government has committed yet. Right now the water tax is about $440 a year per household but that could go up to $692 next year, and, city staff have done their homework. They note that even with the increase, water rates in St.John’s wouldn’t be far off those charged by other cities in Canada.

Source - Water Tax May be Going Up (www.vocm.com)

The new bypass, to be completed in 2009, includes an 8.1-kilometre stretch of undivided highway that will wrap around Torbay, connecting with a five-lane highway by St. John’s International Airport, which itself will be extended.

Commuters from Torbay, Flatrock and Pouch Cove must wind through Torbay’s narrow roads, which become clogged during the morning and afternoons.

The existing Route 20 through Torbay is the primary access route for the northeast Avalon region. The level of traffic that comes through Torbay several times a day is incredible, so the bypass road is desperately needed. The new bypass will complete an integrated transportation network that will link in communities north of St. John’s. Situated west of the Town of Torbay, the Torbay Bypass project will consist of upgrading the existing two-lane Route 20 through the Town of Torbay, and providing an alternate route around the town. Residents of Torbay, the City of St. John’s and the surrounding communities – Pouch Cove, Flatrock, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, and Bauline – are expected to benefit from the resulting economic development.

The bypass will help to support continued growth of tourism, business investment, and economic development in the region and will likely mean speedier development of new home construction subdivisions.

Here is the map for planned Torbay Bypass Road

Oil and Gas Week is underway in Newfoundland. It was conceived to raise the profile of the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador and build an appreciation for the impact that it has on the province’s economy. This is achieved through a variety of promotional and educational activities. A particular focus is being placed on educating secondary and post-secondary students about a variety of aspects of the industry, as well as providing information on potential career opportunities for future generations.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas industry currently has three producing offshore oil projects: Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose.

Monopoly is launching a new Here & Now World Edition and is inviting everyone around the world to vote for the greatest cities around the globe. The 22 cities with the highest worldwide votes will make it onto one global Monopoly board.

Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are among 68 world cities being considered for inclusion in the international version of Monopoly to be launched this fall. Facebook is even picking up the campaign pushing to have a strong Canadian presence.

Surprisingly St. John’s is not on the top 22 cities in the world however you can change that by going to the website and voting. Ok so St. John’s Newfoundland may not make the cut, but check it out for fun at least and vote for a Canadian city of your choice.

Voting will end at the end of February for the nominations and then voting will start for the for cities that will actually make the board.

Thanks to Toronto Real Estate Blog for this post.

Lately the Government of Newfoundland Labrador has been flocking the television with commercials promoting tourism to Newfoundland Labrador. If you frequent TSN, Business News Network (BNN), or FoodNetwork to mention a few, you’ll notice this ad being televised many times throughout the course of a TV show.

With increased hype in St. John’s real estate due to recent news in offshore oil developments (particularly Hebron), it appears not only an increase in real estate for Newfoundland, but a number of people vacationing to Newfoundland. The budget for tourism for 2008 is stated to be approx $12 million, doubling the budget since the current government took office in 2003.

Newfoundland Labrador’s unique tourism marketing won the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s (TIAC) Marketing Campaign of the Year Award in November of 2007. It was also listed in the Bluelist Book, a top 30 travel destination for 2008 by Lonely Planet Publications, one of the world’s most respected travel guidebook publishers.

Newfoundland and Labrador was most recently recognized by an internationally-respected travel guide as a top destination of choice. The Fodor’s travel web site is currently featuring a section entitled “Where We’re Going in ’08: Seven Places Americans Have Yet to Discover“, which includes a recommendation to visit this province.

Newfoundland, rich with history. Rife with culture. Sprawling with natural beauty. All these wonders have been here for thousands of years, embraced by those who happened upon them. It’s up to the traveler to enjoy them, to go vigorously in search of people, adventure, of places to experience. Around every bend you will find a piece of heaven, a delightful sight, a playful breeze that will help your journey.

“The Lonely Planet, Travel and Leisure magazine, The Wall Street Journal and CNN are among the highly-acclaimed travel publications, news outlets, and web sites which have recently discovered our province as a unique travel destination,” Minister Jackman said. “The world is discovering our secret, and we are more than happy to share it with them.”