Picton Gazette December 22, 2016

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BERLIN Local artist describes mood in Germany following tragedy 3

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THE PICTON

Gazette

Volume 186, Week 51

THURSDAY

DECEMBER 22, 2016

DEPARTURE

Respected PECI attendance councillor moves on

DOMINANCE

Panthers firing on all cylinders against Rebels

Canada’s longest publishing non-daily newspaper, proudly serving Prince Edward County since 1830 Councillors ask staff to study impact of 2017 budget in relation to rising property assessment

Agriculture reps ask for lower farm tax ratio CHAD IBBOTSON STAFF WRITER

CAN’T HIDE THAT PANTHER PRIDE Members of PECI’s Grade 9 and 10 Venture programs deliver Christmas gifts for 27 children

to the Angel Tree office on Thursday. PECI students have been supporting the program for over 25 years.(Jason Parks/Gazette staff)

Local secondary school’s students and staff make Christmas merrier for 27 children

PECI a major help for Angel Tree once again JASON PARKS STAFF WRITER

For well over 25 years, PECI has been supporting the Angel Tree program and that tradition of support continued last week as secondary school students delivered gift arrays for 27 local boys and girls. Panthers, through the organization of the PECI Venture program, raised

funds for, bought, wrapped and then delivered scores of gifts to the Angel Tree office on Thursday morning. Over the program's 30plus year history, PECI has helped upwards of 1,000 children have a merry Christmas and while declining enrolment has taken a bite of the student population in the past decade, the school continues to shine and support fellow youth

that might not be as fortunate this time of year. “That's a number we were really happy with considering our numbers and the way the enrolment has declined over the last 10 years,” teacher and Venture program organizer Ashley Greer Koutroulides told the Gazette. The student body really gets into the Christmas spirit in early December by having home room challenges, rais-

ing funds through baked goods sales, auctions and other activities. Koutroulides explained the campaign at PECI was a chance for the students to support the community that supports them. “I think they enjoy wrapping-or trying to wrap the presents,” she said with a laugh.

See ANGELS, page 12

The local agriculture sector is asking council to step in to mitigate the potential impact of assessment value increases for local farms with a reduction to the farm tax ratio. Council voted to have staff come back with a report on the 2017 tax ratios and the impact in relation to farm assessment increases. The report is expected to be come back to councillors at the first committee-of-the-whole meeting in January. Local dairy farmer Curtis Walt asked council to carefully consider the request. “The value of our personal farm property has increased by 125 per cent in the latest assessments,” he said. “Our land has not increased in productivity, our land is what it is.” He said one factor that has been driving up agricultural land value in the county is the price some are willing to pay for it. At the same time, Walt said, farm costs are increasing across the board. Not only are farmers struggling with the assessment increases, they're dealing with massive increases in utility costs.

See LAND, page 10

LOOK INSIDE FOR COUNTY

Inside this week’s edition of the Gazette... OP/ED

CURTIS WALT

“Hydro rates are going up, our hydro bill is about $3,000 a month for our dairy farm — five years ago it was $1,000 a month,” he said. “Our import costs keep going up — it would be very unfair for the taxes to be shifted to a small amount of farmers in this county who are trying to make a living.” Agricultural advisory committee chair and Prince Edward Federation of Agriculture president John Thompson told councillors the recent tax notices included an increase of about 70 per cent in the taxable assessment of Ontario farmland.

6 WEATHER 7 CLASSIFIEDS 25 PUZZLES 29 SPORTS 31

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