Community
“The voice of
rallies
business”
around fire
banks on
victims
partnerships
Richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
Richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
V ANKLEEK
H ILL
H AWKESBURY
“We lost everything. But the main
With a new office and many new
thing is that nobody got hurt,” says Luc
members, the Hawkesbury and District
RacicotwhosefamilylosttheirPendleton
ChamberofCommerceislookingforward
Street, Vankleek Hill home and all of
to forging new partnerships in 2012.
their possessions in a fire December 29.
At the recent inauguration of its base at
Withthe helpofthecommunity,he,his
151 Main St. East, directors emphasized
wife, Jody, and their daughter, Kelsey, 11,
cooperation on a regional level.
are beginning to recover from the blaze
“The past year was a banner year for the
which was sparked at about 1 p.m. while
Photo Richard Mahoney
chamber. It was a year of tremendous
their landlord, Gary Wilson, was
Afund-raisingdrivehasbeenstartedforaVankleekHillfamilywhosePendletonStreet
partnership,” says André Labonté, a
attempting to thaw frozen water pipes.
home was destroyed by fire December 29.
chamber board member, citing the team
Afund-raisingeventforthefirevictims
workattheInternationalPlowingMatchas
will be held February 11 at 7 p.m. at the
an example of how cooperation generates
Vankleek Hill arena. Meanwhile, a fund
Tax cut in Grenville village
dividends for the entire district.
has been set up at the Scotiabank branch.
“The IPM showed what we can
Donations of household items are being
$69,633; administration, $280,705; fire
accomplishwhenwework together,” adds
richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
accepted at Herb’s Travel Plaza, located
protection, $143,657; streets $219,326; waste
Labonté, a member of a committee that
G RENVILLE
south of town at Highways 417 and 34.
management, $113,406; snow removal,
organizedpromotionsduringtheeventthat
The family had no insurance on the
$66,903; water, $98,092, sewage treatment,
attracted 70,000 visitors to Chute-à-
contentsoftheirhome,relatesRacicotwho
Taxpayers in the village of Grenville
$70,042; planning, $86,823; community
Blondeau. “We want to continue to build
works at Herb’s as a tow truck operator
will enjoy a small tax decrease this year,
centre, $92,287; recreation $66,048; library,
on this collaboration in 2012.”
and maintenance worker.
with the average residential bill dropping
$40,670.
The chamber is active on several fronts,
The family is now staying with his
by about $29.
notesinterimpresidentMarieChristineGill.
daughter in Vankleek Hill.
Theresidentialtaxratehasbeentrimmed
The organization’s recruitment efforts
The fire began when dust in a crawl
“One window”
from $1.1492 $ to $1.1462 per $100 of
have doubled membership to 131, out of a
space was ignited by an electrical space
evaluation following the adoption of a
possibility of 400 members.
heater. “It was a very cold day and the
newsroom@eap.on.ca
balanced $2,234,219 budget.
The chamber wants to emphasize the
pipes were frozen,” says Racicot, noting
Village council has reduced the rate
F INCH
“District” in its name, observes director
that the basement area was colder than
despite a rate of inflation of 3.1 per cent, an
Yves Robert, pointing out the group is also
normalbecauseofthelackofsnow,which
increase in the MRC d’Argenteuil bill from
open to business people in Grenville,
he uses as an insulator.
Property owners in many area
$80,094 to $99,933 and a hike in the regional
Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Champlain and
Fortunately, Jody and Kelsey escaped
municipalities now have access to a “one-
equipment invoice from $21,927 to $25,687,
East Hawkesbury.
uninjured.
window approach” to septic system
related Mayor Ronald Tittlit.
The group intends to continue its
Firefighters had brought the fire under
permits.
The fee to pay off the water system debt
involvementinprogramsthatstrivetoboost
control at approximately 4 p.m. The
In several areas, South Nation
dips from $83.83 to $58.29 per service.
the regional economy. “If it is good for
wooden shell was later demolished.
Conservation has replaced the Eastern
The Sûreté du Québec invoice decreases
Prescott-Russell,itisgoodforHawkesbury,
OntarioHealthUnitastheagencyapproving
from $100,399 to $91,990.
New vice-chair
and vice-versa,” says Labonté.
newfacilities. Municipalitiescoveredbythe
Water, sewage and garbage taxes will
Headdsthatthechamber,wantingtobe
The Upper Canada District School
newarrangementincludeEastHawkesbury,
remain static.
“the voice of business,” will keep
Board has elected a new first vice-chair to
Alfred-Plantagenet,Champlain,TheNation
The average property tax bill will be 1.8
representing the private sector interests at
replacetrusteeWilliamMacPherson,who
and Casselman. From now on, residents
per cent lower than it was in 2011.
all levels of government.
resigned for personal reasons from the
living in those municipalities will deal with
For example, the owner of a $100,000
The office at 35A-151Main St. is open on
position while remaining the Lanark-
South Nation Conservation staff regarding
residence will pay $28.54 less this year.
an appointment basis. For more
Perth area representative.
issuing of septic permits for new
However, because of an increase in
information, call 613-632-8066 or e-mail
Trustee Jeff McMillan was chosen by
construction,renovationandlegalsearches,
propertyvalues,themunicipalitycancollect
info@hawkesburychamberofcommerce.ca.
secret ballot. He represents Ward 5 which
said authority General Manager Dennis
more money in taxes.
AtitsannualmeetinginlateJanuary,the
encompassestheareaofAugustaTownship
O’Grady. SNC has conducted inspection of
In 2012, the village expects to collect
chamberwilllaunchitsInternetsite,unveil
and the city of Brockville.
newsepticbedinstallationsinitsjurisdiction
$703,123 in residential taxes, compared to
a shop locally campaign, discuss training
Inotherbusiness,trusteeJohnMcAllister
for more than 12 years. Issuing permits on
$675,864 in 2011. The overall assessment in
needs and explain its involvement in the
reported on the Children’s Mental Health
behalf of area municipalities is a new task
the municipality stands at $96,217,700,
Prescott-Russell economic development
Ontario Annual Conference. “There is a
formerly undertaken by the health unit.
reflecting an increase of 8.9 per cent.
strategy.
very obvious and purposeful meeting of
SNC staff is currently collaborating with
In 2011, themunicipality operatedwith a
Other directors are Jean-François
the minds on the issue of child and youth
staff at the EOHU to ensure a smooth
budget of $2,173,073.
Bertrand and Michel Séguin. Serving as
mental health, now better known as well-
program transition. Fees will remain the
Among the major expenditures this year
consultants are François Breau, André
being and resiliency,” he said.
same. Application forms are available at
are financing costs, $646,419; council,
Durocher, Murielle Huneault Pilon and
www.nation.on.ca.
Marc Lecompte.
38 500 copies
Safety in a winter wonderland
newsroom@eap.on.ca
With everyone enjoying the winter wonderland, area Ontario Provincial Police
detachments are reminding people to remember to not throw caution to the wind.
Bertrand Castonguay , President, bertrand@eap.on.ca Roger Duplantie , D.G. / G.M., roger@eap.on.ca François Bélair , Sales & Development, fbelair@eap.on.ca Yvan Joly , Sales director (Hawkesbury), yvan@eap.on.ca
All-terrain vehicle and snowmobile operators ought to remember to bewary of rocks,
culverts and debris that may be covered by snow, making them difficult to see.
Lakes and rivers are not frozen but may have a thin layer of ice and fresh snowon top.
Stay off the ice until you have checked to make sure it is thick enough and wear a
François Leblanc , Directeur (Lachute), francois.leblanc@eap.on.ca Gilles Normand , Production & Distribution Mgr., gilles@eap.on.ca Julien Boisvenue , Layout & Prepress Mgr., julien.boisvenue@eap.on.ca
flotationsnowmobilesuit.Asnowmobilerequiresaminimumoffiveinchesofnew,clear
ice to safely support it.
In 2010 there were 17 snowmobile fatalities and in the 2011 season there were 15 ATV
Publié le vendredi par/Published on Friday by : La Compagnie d’édition André Paquette Inc. Imprimé par/Printed by: Imprimerie Prescott et Russell, Hawkesbury, ON Bureau Hawkesbury Office: 1100, rue Aberdeen St., Hawkesbury, ON Tel.: 613 632-4155 • Fax.: 613 632-8601 • 1 800 267-0850 Bureau Lachute Office : 52, rue Principale St., Lachute, QC J8H 3A8 Tel.: 450 562-8593 • Fax.: 450 562-1434 • 1 800 561-5738 # convention : 0040012398 Toute reproduction du contenu est interdite à moins d’autorisation écrite au préalable. No content may be reproduced without prior written permission.
fatalities in Ontario. Always wear an approved helmet.
Nevermixalcoholandsnowmobiles. Ifyouareoperatingasnowmobilewithoverthe
legal limit of alcohol in your body youwill face the same penalties as if youwere driving
yourcar.Alwayslimityourspeedtotheconditionsanddon’tover-driveyourheadlights.
Now is the time to make sure you are ready. Read your owner’s manual and know your
machine.Checkyourdocuments. Makesureyourlicencevalidationstickerisn’texpired.
Make sure your insurance is valid. Don’t forget your trail pass. Check to make sure that
your machine is in good running order. Put together a safety kit and put it on your
Avis : En cas d’erreur ou d’omission, la responsabilité du journal ne dépasse, en aucun temps, le montant de l’espace de l’erreur en cause. Attention : In case of error or omission, in no way will the publisher be liable for more than the amount charged for space concerned.
machine.
Représentation nationale/National representation Sans frais / Toll free : 1-800-361-6890
If you see an impaired snowmobiler or all-terrain vehicle operator, call 911 and report
them to police.
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