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December 22, 2016 | 56 pages
Town considers purchasing church building BY TARA GESNER
tgesner@metroland.com
Is the Town of Carleton Place about to add to its real estate portfolio? During the regular meeting of council on Tuesday, Dec. 13, members authorized the execution of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and are proceeding with investigating the feasibility of acquiring the property at 39 Bridge St. - the site of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Coun. Theresa Fritz explained: “The MOU means the church has come to us and made us an offer. We are going to investigate the feasibility.” “What we passed today does not say we are acquiring the church,” she stressed. “It says we are investigating the possibility.” St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is housed in a historic structure, opening in January 1888. Built on land donated by John Gillies, it is constructed of native stone with Beckwith stone trimmings. Inside, there is seating capacity for 500, a choir gallery behind the pulpit and a finished basement for Sunday school rooms and more. “It has been a community centre and a place of worship,” Fritz said, “and I think we are using our due diligence as council to investigate the possibilities.” “Yes, when we are looking at this, there are a lot of things we need to think about,” Coun. Sean Redmond said. “Usage is one of them, and the
other thing we need to know is the shape of the structure.” “Will it take a little or a lot of money to bring it up to standards?” he continued. Too, Redmond would like to see an environmental impact assessment completed, owing to “locations in the area that have been in difficulty.” Discussions between council, town staff and representatives from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, including Rev. Barry Carr, were conducted in camera. However, with a MOU now signed, Carr spoke to the Canadian
Gazette on Dec. 20, and he explained why the church approached the municipality. “For the last 15 years our congregation has been shrinking - and aging,” he said, “and financially it is becoming difficult to maintain the building on our own.” Too, “we did not want to put the building on the market only to have someone buy it and tear it down,” the reverend added. Fifteen years ago, St. Andrew’s See CHURCH page A/CP4
Free Christmas meal Dec. 25 BY TARA GESNER
tgesner@metroland.com
Ten years since the inception of the community Christmas dinner in Carleton Place, presented by People First of Lanark County, its goal is still the same - bring people together to share company, good food and the spirit of the season. “No person should be without a place to go or a warm meal to enjoy on Christmas Day,” Kory Earle recently told the Canadian Gazette. Earle, a local resident and president of People First of Canada, is co-chairing the 2016 community Christmas dinner alongside Denise Legoulx. “After a decade, this year’s dinner
has a theme: From Our Hearts to Yours,” Earle said, “and it is going to be the best ever.” The free holiday feast - turkey and ham with all the trimmings - is served on Sunday, Dec. 25 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 192, located at 177 George St. “Everyone is welcome!” Earle stressed. In addition to a hearty dinner, the event offers live entertainment, festive decorations and a gift for each child in attendance. “Santa Claus is stopping by between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.,” Earle said, “and we will also have fun See MEAL page A/CP4
Tara Gesner/Metroland
After coming off the ice, six-year-old Josie Anderson of Beckwith accepts a candy cane from Mrs. Claus, during the 2016 Skate with Santa event at the Beckwith Recreation Complex on Sunday, Dec. 18.
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