Saturday, June 30, 2012

BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY - COLDSTREAM




Coldstream FC wants to build a stronger community. Reviewing our culture, vision & mission, we aim to create an environment that brings everyone together & provide a space where people can feel truly connected to their community. We will provide a platform for local business to connect, supporting those who support us. Coldstream has much to offer & we want a strong, healthy & connected community. This project will empower community members to move forward & enable change.
This funding will enable the CFC to launch the project, beginning the community engagement phase and producing the overarching strategic plan and action plan.

Vote for this idea!

Voting opens 09 Jul
Comment: Sounds like a great idea.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

We live up to our name!

Mercury plummets as Melbourne shivers through chilly night.

The mercury plummeted to -1.4C in Coldstream, in the Yarra Valley about 2.30am.

 Comment: Would be great if we made some other news rather than sub zero weather.

For example:

Coldstream Station re-opens and has a park-n-ride to help congestion at Lilydale.

Coldstream expands its UGB (Urban Growth Boundary) making housing more affordable.

I can only dream!

Mario Galteri

Natasha is a winner

Winner of the Leader Readers Choice - 
Not the Archies competition, 

Coldstream Primary School student Natasha, 11, with a portrait "My Daddy".

Comment:  Congratulation and well done.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Coldstream martial art champion

COLDSTREAM martial art champion Ben Lawson-Black has his eyes set on Olympic glory.

The 18-year-old taekwondo expert will travel to South Korea on June 26 in a bid to achieve his dream of competing at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.


Comment: Good luck from all of us at Coldstream

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

People's wellbeing on menu at Coldstream Community Kitchen

FRIENDLY faces and warm hearty food greet visitors at the Coldstream Community Kitchen.
Held on the first Monday of every month at the Coldstream sporting club rooms, the three-course dinner is open to everybody with a gold coin donation.
Organiser Sharon Chuck said patrons enjoyed table service from a team of waiters.
About 60 people - all from different backgrounds - come to the dinner each month.
Ms Chuck said the dinner was about making people feel valued.
The Coldstream Community Kitchen could be one of the worthy organisations to benefit from Leader's Local Grants campaign.



Comments:  Well done

DE JA VU

Some residents of the Gainesway subdivision aren't happy about a city project that is stinking up part of their neighborhood, and now city officials are working to eliminate the odor.
A contractor working for Urban County Government recently spread a dark brown mixture containing manure across a graded lot on Coldstream Court where three houses had been demolished.
As temperatures heated up, the eau de barnyard grew stronger.
Henry Ebling, who has lived on Coldstream Court for 40 years, said the stench was the worst Monday.
"It was almost unbearable," he said Tuesday afternoon. "You can't plan anything — we don't want friends over."
Coldstream Court resident Nancy Jo Kemper said the foul smell made her sick to her stomach when she was in her yard.
"It was awful," she said. "It seeped through the windows and doors. ... It smells like a pig farm."
This spring, the same compost mixture, which also contains mulch and dirt, was spread one street over, on Crimson King Court, where three houses had been demolished. Grass seed was sown, and then the mixture was topped with straw. Grass now covers most of that space.
The city bought the six houses and tore them down because of problems with flooding from a creek, said Charlie Martin, director of the city's Division of Water Quality.
Michael Clayborne, an inspector overseeing the project for the division, said the compost mixture has been used at other demolition sites around the city as well.
But Kemper said the stench from Crimson King Court lasted for weeks.
The original plan was to sow grass seed atop the mixture on Coldstream Court too, Clayborne said. That plan changed when residents who were overpowered by the manure smell raised a stink of their own.
Kemper said she had complained to city officials about the odors coming from Crimson King, but nothing was done. On Monday, she said she called the mayor's office about the stench coming from her own street.
Martin went to Coldstream Court on Monday night to smell for himself.
"It certainly wasn't something that I considered to be acceptable," he said.
He had crews spread lime on the property Monday night, and on Tuesday, 14 truckloads of clay were spread over the site. Neighbors said the measures seemed to help.
Martin said the city will re-evaluate its procedures.
"All we can do is apologize to them for the inconvenience," he said

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/06/19/2230839/smell-of-manure-plagues-gainesway.html#storylink=cpy

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

NSW makes first move towards ditching Fire Services Levy

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird has dubbed the Fire Services Levy (FSL) "one of the most inefficient taxes in the state" as he paved the way for the abolition of the charge during the presentation of the state budget.

 All other states but Victoria and Tasmania have already abolished the FSL system. Victoria is in the process of making the transition to the more econimically efficient property-based tax by July 1 next year, joining Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. 

Insurance Council CEO Rob Whelan said the insurance industry was pleased NSW was taking a very positive step towards removing taxes on insurance. "We congratulate Mr Baird and the NSW Government for this initiative," he said.

"State taxes and levies on insurance products are unfair and inequitable. They make insurance less affordable and serve as a disincentive to property owners taking out appropriate cover."


Monday, June 18, 2012

Remember the phone box?

taken circa 1970


Animal Aid

Animal Aid, in Coldstream, is offering a 30 per cent discount for the whole of July to encourage all pet owners to desex their pets and not be responsible for the overpopulation of domestic cats and dogs.


The Parmassieur

Coldstream Brewery - Coldstream


It has been at least a week since a parma has passed my lips and longer since I've sat down and written a review. With the parma withdrawals well and truly giving me the shakes we decided to head out into the country. The great thing about living in the outer suburbs of Melbourne is that within half an hour you are surrounded by rolling hills and green pastures. Passing those hills and pastures we found ourselves driving through Coldstream where we were greeted by the Coldstream Brewery. Opening in 2007 the Coldstream Brewery is an up-to-date microbrewery with the bygone charm of the woolshed from which it was created. Exposed brickwork and wooden beams surround you and if you're smart enough to book ahead you can enjoy a meal next to an open log fire which is a welcome sight on these cold wintery days.
As you might expect the prices here area little higher than most pubs due to its boutique nature but nothing too crazy. A pint of their own pilsner was recommended with my parma so I ordered up and sat down for the wait. Even though the brewery was almost full we didn't have to wait long for this to arrive:
First impressions were good as it was a really nice size and it looked tasty. For $24 you get a parma, chips and a cucumber and onion salad. The chips were cooked and seasoned perfectly and the salad was really enjoyable. It must have been very lightly coated in some sort of dressing as it had a subtle yet pleasant taste, although I couldn't figure out what the dressing was. The breast was an inch thick the whole way through and juicy as hell. There was plenty of cheese and ham with only a little bit of naked parma showing. For me there were two let downs which stopped it from being a great parma. Firstly, although the crumb was nice and golden brown it lacked any flavour or seasoning. Secondly the sauce was not much more than tomato soup. It lacked any real flavour and in turn made the parma a little bland. Yet again we have a parma teetering on the edge of being great with only a few issues getting in the way. Here are the scores:
Price: $24
Sides: 4.5/5
Chips: 4.5/5
Chicken to crumb ratio: 3/3
Crumb quality: 1/2
Topping: 6.5/10
Chicken quality: 5/5
Well cooked: 8/10
Appearance on plate: 4.5/5
Value for money: 3.25/5
Totalling the numbers gives the Coldstream brewery 80.5%. If you're in the area check it out as it has a really nice atmosphere and several interesting drops of ale freshly delivered from about 10 meters away. Also a quick mention goes out to the Coldstream Animal Aid which is about a two minute drive up the road from the brewery. If you're looking to adopt a pet please check them out as they're doing a great job of looking after the hundreds of animals that come their way. Even if you're not adopting why not drop in and give the animals some well deserved pats! Look out for a review a little sooner next time as I can't hold out that long again.
Comment: A website on PARMA's rate Coldstream Brewery.
Coldstream Brewery on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Rich n Cold

The mercury dipped below the zero mark in a number of other Victorian areas including Coldstream (-2C)

Coldstream residents richest in the Yarra Ranges


COLDSTREAM residents are living comfortably, bringing home the largest pay packets in the Yarra Ranges, according to the latest figures released by the Australia Tax office.


Comment: The heading should say 3770 residents richest in the Yarra Ranges.

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Carbon tax OUT if Abbott IN

Just been to a forum with Tony Abbott and he promised to reverse the carbon tax if he gets in power even if it meant a double dissolution.

Best news I have heard in ages!

Mario Galteri


Coles to sell more boutique 'gems'


...........
 
Martin Cheney, owner and managing director of small organic jams, vinegars, pastes and oils business Australian Harvest Fine Foods, welcomed the shift by Coles towards greater recognition of regional products.

Mr Cheney, hard at work at his Coldstream factory in the Yarra Valley yesterday labelling jars of hand-made mustard and jam, said he had avoided selling to the supermarkets because of the large volumes of product required -- but might reconsider if smaller consignments were acceptable.

"We source our chillies from Bundaberg, our quinces from the Flinders Ranges and our onions from Tasmania," Mr Cheney said.

"I know better than anyone that people now want to buy Australian, local and organic.








Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Averages\Extremes for the month of May 2012 for Coldstream


Average temperature     = 10.4°C
Average humidity        = 82%
Average dewpoint        = 7.1°C
Average barometer       = 1020.5 hPa
Average windspeed       = 2.1 km/h
Average gustspeed       = 4.2 km/h
Average direction       = 346° (NNW)
Rainfall for month      = 89.0 mm
Coldstream Av           = 66.0 mm
Rainfall for year       = 366.8 mm
YTD average rain        = 273.8 mm
Maximum rain per minute = 0.4 mm on day 25 at time 14:57
Maximum temperature     = 21.7°C on day 01 at time 14:19
Minimum temperature     = -1.6°C on day 20 at time 06:09
Maximum humidity        = 98% on day 31 at time 11:30
Minimum humidity        = 38% on day 23 at time 16:34
Maximum dewpoint        = 12.6°C on day 15 at time 12:15
Minimum dewpoint        = -2.2°C on day 20 at time 6:09
Maximum pressure        = 1035.8 hPa on day 30 at time 10:55
Minimum pressure        = 1003.8 hPa on day 25 at time 14:51
Maximum windspeed       = 22.2 kmh from 00°( N ) on day 09 at time 13:56
Maximum gust speed      = 37.0 km/h from 338°(NNW) on day 23 at time 15:26
Maximum heat index      = 25.0°C on day 01 at time 15:21
Avg daily max temp :14.6°C
Avg daily min temp :6.4°C
Total windrun = 1581.6km
Frost days= 2
-----------------------------------
Daily rain totals
-----------------------------------
  09.2 mm  on day 3
  07.2 mm  on day 4
  08.8 mm  on day 5
  00.2 mm  on day 6
  04.0 mm  on day 7
  00.4 mm  on day 12
  11.0 mm  on day 14
  04.8 mm  on day 15
  02.2 mm  on day 16
  00.4 mm  on day 17
  01.8 mm  on day 20
  01.0 mm  on day 21
  00.2 mm  on day 22
  00.2 mm  on day 23
  04.2 mm  on day 26
  28.6 mm  on day 27
  02.6 mm  on day 28
  01.8 mm  on day 29
  00.2 mm  on day 30

 
Here are the May 2012 weather statistics.
Once again rainfall has been above average. Temperature is average for this time of the year.


Regards,


Robert Bethell