70 Years Ago
February 11, 1948
– Sports-minded individuals in Napanee had been meeting to discuss building a covered arena in town. A number of tentative committees were formed during those meetings to gather information related to the project.
It was decided a subscription fund would be started to raise money for the build and several fundraising events were planned. The first such event was a public meeting at Town Hall to allow the general population to learn more about arena plans and to take part in the process.
– P.D. Laidley, the chairman of the Napanee Board of Education’s finance committee reported on budget estimates for the year. The board planned to spend $92,165, of which $56,700 would be spent at the collegiate and the balance at the elementary schools.
The board would be asking the town to pay for $10,601.19 for collegiate expenses and $19,850.35 for elementary schools. Its total request was up $9,000 over 1947. Laidley said the increase was largely the result of increasing salaries and noted other operating expenses were largely unchanged.
– Napanee council unanimously voted to spend $306,000 to build a new West Ward school.
The building, which was to be built on West Street, adjacent to the collegiate, would have 12 classrooms including a home economics room, a workshop, and a large auditorium.
40 Years Ago
February 8, 1978
– A group calling itself YES, or Yarker Education Supporters, formed to present the Lennox and Addington County Board of Education options to its school boundary changes proposal that included the closure of Yarker Public School.
The board had estimated the changes would save $93,600 annually, but YES members disputed the numbers. Many also pointed to the notion that without a Yarker school, the community would suffer as there would be fewer new home builds.
Gerald Hannah, one of two trustees for Camden, Newburgh, and Sheffield said he thought the board would be receptive to any “good, sensible proposals” the group brought to the table.
– About 80 South Fredericksburgh residents attended a public meeting at Sandhurst Public School to share their opinions on the township’s plan to build a $210,000 community centre including a hall with a bar, a library, a basement area for senior citizens to meet, and an outdoor rink.
Several residents asked for a referendum to decide whether the facility was necessary. Others wanted to vote on whether the bar was appropriate.