When I bought my house in Laurelwood about 10 years ago, it was among the first built on the block in a new section of the neigbourhood. I confess I was, at the time, largely attracted by the affordability of the home compared to some other new construction I was considering at the time (I needed a new home out of consideration for my children's allergies and asthma) and by the proximity to the Laurel Creek Conservation area.

For the first few years we lived with construction dust and building traffic but also enjoyed frequent wild animal sightings on the construction site(foxes, raccoons, deer, snapping turtles, frogs, to name a few.)!

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Since 2004, roundabouts have been an important part of our roadway landscape in Waterloo Region. These circular intersections improve road safety, manage increased traffic demand, and help improve air quality by eliminating unnecessary stops and idling.

The Region's 2011 "Practice makes perfect!" roundabout education campaign includes a series of 4 new instructional television commercials highlighting proper driving habits at roundabouts. To learn how to practice proper driving habits at roundabouts, you can watch the television commercials here: GoRoundabout.ca.

Here's an interactive webpage that shows how to use a roundabout properly: GoRoundabout.ca/roundabouts-how-to-use

Another first for the real estate innovative leader, Coldwell Banker has once again raised the bar for the industry by partnering with Apple to create and release a new iPad app that puts our listings on center stage!

The iPad remains one of the most utilized technology devices on the market today. Coldwell Banker is now tapping into the millions of iPad users by developing an iPad app that allows users to easily search for property listings, agents and local Coldwell Banker offices.

But what really makes the app unique is its ability to take advantage of the iPad's Multi-Touch interface and large display that will allow agents to showcase our videos and deliver a great experience.

Other highlights of the app include integrated Yelp data; social media sharing capabilities; and more! To watch a promotional video of the app's functionality, click here. Users can download the app for free from the App Store on iPad, or from iTunes.

Construction of the newest branch of the Waterloo Public Library is well underway. The "John M. Harper Branch Library" will be located at the corner of Fischer-Hallman Road and Laurelwood Drive in the Laurelwood neighbourhood. The new building will also house a new family YMCA facility.

You can find more information on this project at the John M. Harper Branch Library blog website.

Here is a recent video tour of the site that is posted on the Waterloo Library YouTube channel at YouTube.com/WaterlooLibrary

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The Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association (LWNA) is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers for residents of Laurelwood.

If you live in the Laurelwood neighbourhood of Waterloo, or are considering a move to the Laurelwood area, you may be interested to know about the Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association. The purpose of this group is to promote and present numerous community based activities and to develop relationships with the city of Waterloo.

You can visit the Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association website at: Laurelwood.ca

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