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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012
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Mississippi Mills Public Library introduces user fee for non-residents
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COMMUNITY
Playtime EMC Events – A special family fun day was held on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Almonte Civitan Hall as part of the club’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Above, Devon Lawrence, 18 months, is delighted with his efforts on the air hockey table. Watch out Sidney Crosby! Right, three-year-old Casey Gayton gets a handle, literally, on how the foosball table game works. Photos by DESMOND DEVOY
A drama troupe from Notre Dame Catholic High School performed a series of short plays about bullying at St. Mary’s School on Jan. 11. — Page A/CP5
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Perianne Jones has first ever World Cup Circuit podium finish By BRIER DODGE brier.dodge@metroland.com
EMC Sports – Almonte’s Perianne Jones and Chandra Crawford continued their success on the World Cup cross-country ski circuit last weekend, winning a bronze medal in Milan, Italy. The pair competed in the team sprint race, which led to Jones’ first medal on the circuit. “I was hoping this day was coming soon,” said Jones in a Cross Country Canada press release. “We are both in great shape and so we knew today we wouldn’t have to hammer the whole time. It is such a tight course so I just wanted to ski smart and relaxed. I’m super pumped right now.”
The race took place through narrow downtown streets in Milan, and was a crash-filled and dynamic race for the pair. Jones had her own fall in the semi-final race, meaning the team just barely qualified for the final heat. “Crashes everywhere,” she said, commenting that their quick exchanges made up the extra time. The pair each did three laps of the 1.6-kilometre course, alternating back and forth. They were beaten by a team from Sweden, and a team of Americans - but the bronze medal was a great result for the athletes, who train in Alberta. “It is dynamite to be on the podium with Peri. We are a real team out here and want each other to succeed and it is
awesome to share this with her,” Crawford said in the press release. It’s been a great stop in Italy for Jones, who tied her career-best individual finish the day before with a 12th-place finish in the skate sprint. She positioned herself near the back of the pack until the finishing stretch, when she passed enough racers to send herself into the final. The Swedes were on top again in the skate sprint, with an American also in second place The World Cup will now head to Oteppa, Estonia. “These solid results for our whole crew show we are on a roll and there are no signs of stopping,” Crawford said.
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EMC News – The services of the Mississippi Mills Public Library (MMPL) are available at no expense to residents of the municipality. And with branches in Almonte and Pakenham, it is a “valuable” community resource, offering an extensive catalogue of books, music, movies and magazines. Additionally, both locations supply Internet computers for public use. Out-of-region residents, including those in Carleton Place and Beckwith, have also benefitted from using the MMPL – free of charge, but beginning Jan. 1, they will incur the cost of a yearly membership: $30 for adults, $10 for children (age 13 and under) or $45 for a family. With a family membership, all relatives living at the same address will be entitled to individual library cards. Since amalgamation in 1998, Mississippi Mills has paid monies to Carleton Place annually so that its residents can access the services of the Carleton Place Public Library. This transaction is part of a long-standing recreational services agreement (RSA) between the municipalities, which also includes Beckwith. Other facilities covered in the RSA are the Carleton Place Canoe Club, Carleton Place Aquatic Centre, Neelin Street Community Centre (arena), and Beckwith Recreational Complex (soccer fields). MMPL chief librarian Peter Nelson said the new fee has resulted in a mixture of “surprise, unhappiness and understanding.” “The reason we now have user fees at the Mississippi Mills Public Library is because of an inequity in the cost-sharing agreement with Carleton Place,” said Coun. Shaun McLaughlin. “Mississippi Mills pays Carleton Place each year so that Mississippi Mills residents can use the Carleton Place library for free; but many Carleton Place residents use the Mississippi Mills library without that being taken into account in the fees Mississippi Mills pays Carleton Place.” With support from Missis-
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sippi Mills council, the MMPL Board of Directors made the decision to start charging outof-town residents “to make up for this discrepancy.” Understanding Mississippi Mills and Carleton Place have overlapping communities, McLaughlin would like to see the cost-sharing arrangement renegotiated “to allow residents of either town to freely use the library of the other.” “It’s getting to the point where Mississippi Mills can not afford to continue to support three libraries,” said Coun. Garry Dalgity. “This year, Mississippi Mills will pay Carleton Place $48,000 for the privilege of those Mississippi Mills residents living along the County Road 29 corridor to use the Carleton Place Library instead of the two libraries located in Mississippi Mills.” “The library has a right to do this,” said Coun. Val Wilkinson. She noted the taxpayers of Mississippi Mills provide two library branches, in addition to contributing toward the library in Carleton Place. “Carleton Place receives a cost-sharing amount from the Town of Mississippi Mills toward their library service,” said the councillor, “but Mississippi Mills does not receive such a contribution from either Carleton Place or Beckwith.” Wilkinson suggested the citizens of those municipalities request their councils make a contribution toward Mississippi Mills library services. An extra $50,000 in the town’s budget results in an increase of one per cent in taxes. “I know Almonte was always known as the ‘Friendly Town’ but just how much extra are (our) residents supposed to pay on their taxes to be friendly?” she asked. Coun. Denzil Ferguson would like to see the costsharing agreement be reviewed in its totality, “rather than be specific.” “There is a great deal of confusion about the exchange of services with Carleton Place,” said Coun. Duncan Abbott. “This is an exchange See FEES page A/CP15
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