OTHER COLUMNISTS

by Lauren Walker Valentines Day is fast approaching which makes me think of how to keep our hearts healthy. Health is always number one in my book and being well means more time for who you love. Your heart is a muscle Why is it so imperative to look after your heart? It only supplies blood and oxygen to your entire body! Keeping the traffic flowing means finding ways to make your heart more efficient. This means, yes, you guessed it: exercise is vital to keep it strong. What

by Shawn Lackie Every week we continue to be inundated with stories about housing and whether or not areas have under-bidding or over-bidding. We wait in breathless anticipation, to find out where the deals are being had, much like the annual Black Friday or Boxing Day sales. This is a recent phenomena, one which was never really a big part of the action back in the day. Since the buying world partly lost its mind in 2016 and then fully lost its collective mind in 2019-21, it

Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley As my husband and I faced health issues, leading into January 2026, I found myself prayerfully asking the Lord to fix me when I am the problem, and to protect me when I am not. The challenges brought anxiety, upset, and conflict with loved ones. However, I’ve learned, listening is one of the quietest and most powerful ways to show love. I know God is near, listening with love, every time we turn our hearts toward Him. My life is far from perfect, but

by Shawn Lackie A client called me recently, asking about the benefits of land leases. I had to choke back on this one but I did carry on. I asked, why on earth would they be asking about this. Strictly a personal opinion here, but a Land Lease is very similar to a condo purchase, and I have NOT been a fan of condo purchases, for my clients. For a myriad of reasons. In short order, you are buying the air space you live in, and really nothing more. You are subject to monthly m

by Shawn Lackie Over 20 years ago, I finally decided I wanted to make Real Estate (RE) my life. I had worked in television, in a multitude of capacities, and then transitioned to a VP job with the Canadian Football League. At the time, I considered it to be my dream job. Yet, in the back of my mind, for many of the previous 10 years, I had always wondered what the world of RE held. I would call a friend, every spring, and ask how the market was and what process I would follow

by Lauren Walker Would you believe I had my very first experience with vertigo when I was thirty and again five years ago. No, this isn’t just an age related problem but it can be scary, if you’ve never experienced it before. I worked with a client today and, she is currently having to manage symptoms for the first time. At 75, it was obvious she was feeling uneasy. Exercise is an important help to manage symptoms but where do you start? Take a Moment There are varying levels

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley We all carry so much in this busy world, and there are so many changes expected for seniors in 2026. Are you ready? I often wonder what we are chasing. It’s easy to be swayed by what we see on social media. I hope you understand what you often see is not reality! Struggles are a common experience in this life, whether you are 35 or 85, so the experiences of older people can be very relatable. Consequently, it may be mutually beneficial to check on

By Shawn Lackie This one might be a little out there but work with me, please. Quick question. How many local businesses are you aware of? And no, I don’t mean eateries like Jesters or Marwans. Even Haugens, who has been here for a looooong time. I have witnessed their menu firsthand since 1970. Still great. Yummy, but I digress. No, I am talking about those manufacturing places, Industrial or not. We often hear there isn't enough manufacturing and such to offset taxes and cr

by Shawn Lackie Have you ever heard the adage, “You better not assume something because it could make an ass out of U and me?” Or the old saying, “Never judge a book by its cover?” Both are excellent pieces of advice. Assuming something could be more hazardous than you think. In his amazing book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell tells the story of a car salesman in the Midwestern United States who, at one point, was the most successful salesman for his brand of automobile. The reason w