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Landscape companies' work honoured Three local landscape companies brought home the hardware from the recently held Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence. Betz Pools, Griffith Property Services and Bouwmeister Landscaping and Home Renovations collected a total of 19 awards. The annual juried competition recognizes excellence among its more than 2,000 horticultural professionals, according to the organization's website. "By winning, it shows people we can do the work correctly," said Bouwmeister president Gary Bouwmeister. "For us, it's a great selling tool." Bouwmeister took home two awards. Many of the winning designs for residential construction ranged between $100,000 and $500,000 but that does not mean some of those high-end projects cannot be tailored to smaller lots and made more affordable. Materials drive the budget, according to Marc Luff co-owner of Betz Pools, who added with the right materials and a good design "you can create some great things for small yards". The company took home 11 awards. Luff said they see more people "willing to invest in their lifestyle" at home instead of travel or buy a cottage. This leads to people spending more money. Some of the biggest trends Luff is seeing include outdoor living rooms with fire features, shade structures, hot tubs, pools and night lighting. Bouwmeister is also seeing outdoor kitchens and screened-in decks. He said the return on investment is anywhere between 10 and 15 per cent. "It's an investment and you get to enjoy it." At Griffith, they are seeing less pools being constructed on large properties because the homeowners may have a cottage near water, according to Kimberly Borg, who does landscape design and sales for the company. Griffith earned one construction award and five more for special interest projects. Among the trends Borg sees is "modern minimalist ... not so much the fussiness". She has also noticed a lot of decluttering, inside and outside of the home. ­Sandra Bolan 25 | Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, February 25, 2016 ON NOW AT THE BRICK! SAVING YOU MORE For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com. Stouffville Churches Welcome You Anglican Church of Canada 254 Sunset Blvd., 905-640-1461 www.stouffvilleanglican.ca 8:00 am Eucharist 10:00 am Eucharist with Bishop Fenty followed by Caribbean Luncheon Nursery & Church School at 10:00 am Seniors' Service & Tea 10:00 am Lenten Dinner 5:00 pm Lenten Movie 7:00 pm Christ Church Stouffville Welcome To ST. JameS PreSbyTerian church 6432 main St., Stouffville 905.640.3151 Rev. Joan Masterton, minister Stouffville PentecoStal church Sunday Service @ 10am (Sunday School for Kids) Lead Pastor: Jeff Laird Children's Pastor: Lori Attack Youth Pastor: Steffan Watson Kids club & Jr high: tues @ 6:30 pm Youth: fridays @ 7:30 pm Stouffville Christian Fellowship A Church in a Beautiful Countryside Pastor Walter Robbins Sunday, February 28th Sunday Service Lunch to follow Stouffville York Durham line 30 10:30am Sideline 28 major mackenzie markHam Brock rd. Wednesday, march 2nd Friday, march 4th FYI Family Yoga 7:00 -9:00 pm All Welcome Come & See 345 Glad Park Ave. Stouffville 905-640-6954 Pastor: Fr. Michael Hughes Service of Worship 10:00 a.m. Lenten projects `Raise the Roof' Repairs required for church roof. `Habitat for Humanity' Donations appreciated Donations are still being received for the Refugee Fund. Cheques should be assigned to St. James Presbyterian Church `Stouffville Cares' Sunday, February 28 Claremont Bridge Out 8th Conc. 7th Conc. Hwy. 7 Hwy. 407 BrougHam PiCkering 6853 Main St., Stouffville 905.640.5696 www.spcfamily.ca 860 Conc. 8, Claremont 905-649-2812 Rev. Elizabeth Rev. Elizabeth Cunningham Cunningham "A friendly family church" EVERYONE WELCOME Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm High School Youth Ministry Nights Second and Fourth Fridays of each month Weekend Masses "So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." ~The Bahá'í Faith www.facebook.com/groups/stouffvillebahais BLOOMINGTON GOSPEL CHURCH 13660 Ninth Line N. (905) 642-4414 Rev. Peter Pallant 34 Church St. N. · 905-640-1163 office@stouffvilleuc.ca www.stmarkstouffville.ca Sunday, February 28, 2016 9:30 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - Worship Service 6:30 - 7:30 pm - Evening Service Everyone Welcome! Saturday, February 27th Men's Breakfast 7:45 am at Annie's Kitchen Cabaret Night 7:00 pm Music and desserts. Sunday, February 28th 10:30 am Worship Service Third Sunday in Lent Sermon Title: Spiritual Hunger Everyone Welcome! www.stouffvilleuc.ca To Advertise Please call 905-640-2612