This week's digital edition is off the virtual press!

The Festival of Lights in Alexandria got off to another spectacular kick-off Saturday. The show in Island Park continues until the end of the year.

Alexandria's traditional Mill Square Christmas tree is a real, live evergreen, which will be lit tonight (November 25) at 7 p.m.

In the past, North Glengarry had a tree cut and installed at the Main Street parkette.

But the iconic tree was toppled by high winds last year.

For 2016, the municipality opted for a custom that is certain to grow on everyone, and is environmentally friendly.

A 51-year-old man has been charged with two counts of assault after allegedly attacking his spouse and a child with a cell phone Thursday. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Ontario Provincial Police officers arrested the man when they responded to a domestic dispute  at a residence on Robertson Road, South Glengarry Township. The accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of his victims, is to appear in court in Cornwall December 13.

Roads are beginning to get greasy as snow begins to fall.

Be careful out there.

This week's edition of your community newspaper leads with a story entitled "An offer that can be refused."

We also have news on a "Save Maxville" rally and the kickoff to the "Festive Season."

To stay connected with all things Glengarry, remember to read The Glengarry News this and every week.

The first snow of Fall has caught some motorists off-guard. This vehicle wound up in the ditch after losing control on the westbound Highway 417 near Vankleek Hill.

125 reasons to love the Glengarry "Snooze"

Cash in our anniversary!

The Glengarry News turns 125 in 2017.

To thank our loyal readers, we are giving away $125 to one lucky reader each month in 2017. Every subscriber, whether you have a paper of digital subscription, is automatically entered in the monthly draws.

You pay $45.50 for an online subscription; $51.25 to get the paper delivered to your home, for a whole year. Operators are standing by. Call 613-525-2020 or e-mail circulation@glengarrynews.ca 

ICYMI, here's the front page from this week's edition of The Glengarry News.

These snow geese stand out among the crowd of Canada geese at Alexandria's Island Park. Most have flocked southward, but these birds are obviously hanging around for at least a few more days.

Dave Hrynkiw reads a dedication to the memory of the late Patrick Golding, long-time president of the Alexandria branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Details in the November 16 edition of The News.

Members of the North Glengarry Fire Department control a fire that broke out in a corn harvester in a field on Gore Road east of Glen Robertson Friday afternoon. Details in the November 16 edition of The News.

The ‘Save Char-Lan’ Committee and its supporters are taking their fight to Queen’s Park on November 21.

Representatives from the committee announced at Monday night’s regular South Glengarry council meeting that chartered buses from the area will be heading to a rally on the steps of the provincial legislature, sponsored by the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures (OAASC), on that date.

A number of groups, local and province-wide, are planning to participate in the demonstration, including CUPE and the Campaign for Public Education.

“This isn’t a rally anymore. It’s a movement…and Glengarry will be heavily-represented,” said committee member Heather Petrie.

“We have secured Jim McDonell, our (Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry) MPP to speak at the event, as well as Shawn McRae and Martin Lang from the Glengarry Federation of Agriculture.”

Mrs. Petrie added that parents and students representing other schools in the area are “perhaps going to consolidate and join forces…so that we can fill as many buses as we can and go to Queen’s Park and make some noise.”

After hearing that it will cost about $4,000 to rent one coach bus for the Toronto trip, South Glengarry council passed a resolution – introduced by deputy-mayor Frank Prevost – allocating up to $10,000 to the ‘Save Char-Lan’ Committee to help defray campaign-related costs. Mayor Ian McLeod explained that the funds will be dispersed “at the discretion” of township CAO Bryan Brown.

Particulars about the Toronto rally – which is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on November 21 – including departure time, will be posted soon on the ‘Save Char-Lan’ Facebook page and Twitter feed.
More information is also available via e-mail (savecharlan@gmail.com).

– By Scott Carmichael, News Staff

Downtown Alexandria continues to put on a new brighter face as work began this week on the roof of the Priest's Mill building in Mill Square.

Look for the latest edition of The Glengarry News on Wednesday, Nov. 9 in your mailbox and on newsstands, or online later this evening.

Among the stories we have for you are the following: 

• SOS states its case
• GLENGARRY REMEMBERS
• The dearest farmland in Ontario
• ‘Hydro should give rurals a break’
• Holy Order celebrates 160 years
• VIA’s vision
• Wait times still below provincial average
• THE 2ND ANNUAL CHILLY WILLY RUN IN WILLIAMSTOWN
• Char-Lan to host basketball playoffs

Our opinion page leads with the item "Don’t scoff at the power of silence," along with a piece by reporter Angela Brown who this week bids adieu to the county and her time at The News.

Bernard Lalonde, North Glengarry fire services administrator and Alexandria fire station chief, centre back, assists other firefighters following a collision on Main St. N. near Centre Street in Alexandria at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. Traffic was congested until the scene was cleared. Police and emergency services also assisted. More details to follow.  

Angela Brown Photo