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1 1 if i 1 i hi 1 1- thursday april 202006 serving the community of whitchurchstouffville 40 pages1 including gst attending music mania 2006 you can win dinner out at the show opinion v 6 calendar 16 sports 18 classified 20 publication mail agreement 40007673 successful eason bodeswell for spirit college nhl scouts part df record crowds by mike hayakawa staff writer success breeds success in the case of the stouflville spirit the provincial jr a hockey league- clubs unexpected but pleasantly long sojourn in the postseason also translated into popularity off the ice althoughthe clubs cinderella season came to an erid sunday with a heartbreakihg 32 double- overtime loss to the st michaels buzzers in the sixth game of the bestofseyen final series it didnt take away from the enthusiasm exhibited by those who packed most home games at stouflville arena while making its debut in the league final the spirit sported the highest attendance in the 36- team league during the postsea son v and it won plenty taking four playoff series en route to captur ing the north conference and northwest championship tro phies over 16 home playoff tilts 10156 fans flocked to the stouflville arena that translated intb an average of 634 fans for tire final three rounds that averages was closer to 1000 including some standing-rbom- brily games the torontobased buzzers meanwhile averaged 271 fans in the playoffs our fans were simply amaz- see spirit page 19 r vsem 1111 r ekwts kgfcjf vy b9 hhcs i staff photobill roberts stouffville- spirit defenceman simon gysbers watches the st michaels buzzers celebrate their provincial jr a hockey league championship following a 32 win in double overtime at the stoufrville arena sunday the spirit which won two championships this spring will honour its fans at a free skate event sunday from 3 to 4 pm at the arena v spending grant money frustrates hargrove by hannelore volpe staff writer v vvhitchurchstouffville residents you will be paying an additional 448percent on the municipal portion of your 2006 tax bill t if you live in the average home valued at 300000 it means youll be taking another 3868 out of your pocket the towns budget was finalized tuesday afternoon after being delayed since november mainly through the efforts of councillors rob hargrave arid philbannon in november the tax rate was set at 79 per cent based on estimated figures the council lors wanted to work with actual yearend fig- ures so budget talks were stalled the municipalitys total 2006 budget cahie in at 375 million the operating budget makes up about 20 million with another 175 being spent on capital projects coimcihor hargrave objected to 118000 being taken from a provincial grant to lower the tax increase by about 1 per cent to the 448 per cent figure he said its frustrating that we have a propensity to take future dollars and spend today to lower the tax rate it will have to be paid by taxpayers one way or another mr hargrave added he pointed to 1999 arid 2000 when taxes were frozen largely because the town wasnt contributing to omers ontario municipal employees retirement system for seetoyn page 15 i iiill427474 wwwsmilecliriicca 2i2maml imi the train station ghll88srvy or sheldon lazier dr waseema ail or dina ghobrial or ban fcobric ed edwards denturist forever itheiworliys mostl bmlixasttdlamokto rarta jewellers 6312 main st 905v 6404646