"$56"-*5 4r/&84 HAWKESBURY LIBRARY NEEDS BUDGET INCREASE GREGG CHAMBERLAIN nouvelles@eap.on.ca
budget is necessary to maintain existing library services to residents and also deal with some necessary expenses for furni- ture replacement and acquiring new books, DVDs, and other library loan items. Last year the library staff was increased by one more part-time employee. Two more part-time staff position additions are plan- ned for this year. But the delegation noted that, even with these three new part-time positions, the library is understaffed for dealing with the amount of work maintaining services for residents. The delegation noted that inflation has added to the cost of buying new books and other resource materials, lighting and heating for the library, and the expenses involved in providing various activities in addition to traditional lending services for books and other items. Some of those extra activities include scheduling special events like hosting visiting authors for public readings. The delegation argued that increasing the library budget is necessary “to continue to guarantee a good quality service” otherwise
Hawkesbury council members have “heavy reading” to do to help deter- mine how to answer a demand for increasing the Hawkesbury public library’s budget. “It’s a significant increase,” said Mayor Robert Lefebvre, during a phone interview following last month’s council session. A delegation for the Hawkesbury Public Library presented a report to council Decem- ber 8, outlining the proposed 2026 budget for the library and arguments why a large increase in the library’s budget is necessary. The proposed 2026 library budget is $737,922.32, compared to the 2025 bud- get of $657,970. The proposed increase is almost $80,000, which includes a $17,000 increase to cover salary raises for library staff. This salary increase is required under the terms of the current contract between the library and its staff. Library officials told council that “a substantial increase” to the public library
The Hawkesbury Public Library is undergoing a “facelift” with some renovation of the main entrance to the library. The public library board has presented Hawkesbury council with its proposed operating budget for this year, which will be part of council’s upcoming review and discussion of the 2026 preliminary budget for the municipality. (Gregg Chamberlain, EAP
The 2026 library budget request will be part of the overall 2026 municipal discus- sion for council later this month.
the public library will need to consider some reductions in services to save on operation costs.
55M OLG JACKPOT WON BY SOMEONE IN UCPR
ANIL JHALLI anil.jhalli@eap.on.ca
This is the first jackpot win of 2026. /PPUIFSEFUBJMTXFSFQSPWJEFEPOXIFSF exactly in the UCPR the winning ticket was purchased. Municipalities in the UCPR include Alfred -Plantagenet, Casselman, Champlain Township, Clarence-Rockland, Hawkesbury, &BTU)BXLFTCVSZ 5IF/BUJPO BOE3VTTFMM In addition to the $55 million jackpot,
Corporation (OLG) announced that one per- son residing in the UCPR is in possession of a ticket and can claim a $55 million Lotto Max jackpot. The $55 million win comes just over a week after someone in London, Ontario claimed the $80 million Lotto Max jackpot, marking back-to-back wins in the province.
OLG revealed a ticket sold in Ajax, Ont. won B &ODPSFQSJ[F Since Lotto Max launched in 2009, Ontario players have won more than $9.5 billion, including 119 jackpot wins and 993 Max- NJMMJPOTQSJ[FTBDSPTTUIFQSPWJODF Lotto Max tickets cost $5 per play, with draws held every Tuesday and Friday.
Someone living in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) is $55 million richer thanks to a winning lot- tery ticket. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming
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