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Mayor Staples won’t seek another term
NEWS
By HOWAIDA SOROUR hsorour@perfprint.ca
Build a Mountain of food organizer thanks community volunteers. — Page SF1
YEAR IN REVIEW
The Record News wraps up year in review. It starts inside. — Page SF10
Photo by HOWAIDA SOROUR
New Year’s Baby Community - The ďŹ rst baby of the year born at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital was Hayden Christopher Allan Code, seven pounds, seven ounces, born at 5:32 a.m. on Jan. 1. He is shown here with proud ďŹ rst-time mom, Maiya Niittymaa of Perth. The young mother is currently on maternity leave, but hopes to ďŹ nd a position as an Early Childhood Educator at a daycare she can attend with young Hayden. Dad, Michael Code is a Smiths Falls native who now lives and works in Perth, but still has lots of family in Smiths Falls.
SPORTS
Howard to compete at Tankard
Peewee B Cubs return home as tournament champions. — Page SF14
Sports - Eleven of the best curling teams in Ontario, including multi-year defending champion Glenn Howard, will compete at the 2014 Travelers Tankard, the Ontario Men’s Curling Championship, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre. This premier men’s curling event will determine the Ontario entry into the National Tim Hortons Brier in early March.
Agnes McVeety, chair of the host committee, says, “It will be a roaring success,� with visitors expected to attend throughout the week from all over the province. Residents are overjoyed, as this is the first time this event has ever been held in Smiths Falls. The championship is overseen by the OCA (Ontario Curling Association) and is sponsored by Travelers Insurance Company. Tickets for this event may be
purchased at 613-812-3372 or online at www.smithsfalls.ca. Competition begins Monday Jan. 27, with the majority of draws in the afternoon and evening. Town & Country Chrysler is the presenting sponsor of the Travelers Tankard. Other major sponsors are the Town of Smiths Falls, Metroland Media, Andress’s Independent Grocer, TV Cogeco and Lake 88.
News - He has served on council for nearly 30 years, but on Monday night Jan. 6, at the close of the regular Smiths Falls council meeting, Mayor Dennis Staples announced that he would not be running in the next election. “I always like to make my announcement early in the campaign, and I will not be seeking re-election this term,� said Staples. When he first ran for council, Staples worked in finance and administration with Rideau Regional, The Ottawa Hospital and RCA Records. He is a member and past president of the Smiths Falls Rotary Club, past chairman of Lanark County United Way, past president of Smiths Falls Minor Hockey and a fellow and life member of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada. He has served on council for 29 years, three terms as councillor and six terms as mayor. “I’ve been honoured to have been allowed to do this job for six terms; it’s been an exciting way to serve my community,� said Staples. He said that in many ways the highlights of his tenure as mayor were the many challenges that hit the town and demanded immediate attention. It’s the unexpected turn of events that he looks back on as the most memorable of his many terms on council. “Events like the ice storm of ’98, the power outage, closing of Rideau Regional, the closing of Hershey, they were all unforeseen challenges. It’s like reading a good book, you want to turn the page and see what happens next,� he said. Known as a people person Staples made a point of attending virtually every event to which he was invited. But like every public figure he garnered his share of negative criticism over the years, though he never allowed that negativity to affect his performance. “His demeanor has never changed in 29 years, the caring for the community, the positive attitude has never changed,� said
File photo
Long-time Smiths Falls mayor Dennis Staples shocked his council colleagues Monday night when he announced he would not be seeking another term in this fall’s municipal election. Ron Stronski, long-time Smiths Falls resident and regular council attendee. “It’s been a pleasure working with him for the past 29 years.� The mayor said he’d thought long and hard about his decision and is sure that it’s the right one for him and the town. Nonetheless the announcement was clearly a total surprise to the councillors sitting around the horseshoe. “I was not aware of his plans prior to his announcement,� said Coun. Ken Graham. “I was not aware until he announced it,� said Coun. Shawn Pankow. “I was not aware that Dennis was not going to run again,� said Coun Dawn Quinn. Staples said he had set a goal in his own mind some time ago that if certain challenges were met, it would be his signal to step down. “After the last election I felt that if this council managed to deal with issues like the closure of Rideau Regional, Stanley Tools and the Hershey plant then it was time, and it’s all happened. The Gallipeau family has Rideau Regional well in hand, Stanley Tools was bought by Metroland, and the Hershey plant is See STAPLES page SF2
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