Sometimes it feels like everything is getting more expensive but here’s something that’s actually going _ down _ in the new year. The Ottawa Public Library sent a letter to all of its customers recently about changes to their late fees and loan periods: _ Starting Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will be changing some of its fees and loan periods to make it easier for customers to use its collections and services. ...

[caption id=“attachment_57985” align=“aligncenter” width=“922”] Christmas Lights Across Canada.[/caption] ** The 33rd edition of Christmas Lights Across Canada will kick off with an official illumination ceremony on December 7, 2017 at 7 p.m. ** Every night from December 7 to January 7, enjoy the magical winter lightscapes multimedia show projected on Parliament Hill buildings. ...

[caption id=“attachment_57986” align=“aligncenter” width=“1038”] Christmas Lights Across Canada. (Canadian Heritage)[/caption] Here’s a big _ (and growing) _ list of Christmas concerts and holiday events in Ottawa. You should also check out our separate list of Holiday Craft Fairs and Christmas Parades . ...

_ (Republished from Dec. 15, 2015) _ A B17 Bomber from Ottawa loaded with Christmas cargo disappeared without a trace on December 15, 1944. Andrew King tells the story. (This originally appeared on his blog, Ottawa Rewind .) During World War 2, Ottawa’s Rockcliffe air base operated a total of six B17 Flying Fortress aircraft that were outfitted as transport “mailbirds” ferrying thousands of letters and packages between Canada and the fighting forces overseas in Europe. ...

[caption id=“attachment_84838” align=“aligncenter” width=“599”] Melnyk. (Wikimedia)[/caption] Sens owner Eugene Melnyk’s poorly-timed comments on the financial shape of the team set off a firestorm on Friday and reinforced the obvious: The fans are not the problem, it’s him. Speaking to the media ahead of the Sens alumni game, he complained about low ticket sales for the team and basically threatened to move it if attendance further declined. ...

#MelnykOut began trending Saturday afternoon, after Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk made controversial comments to the media about the financial shape of the team. Melnyk sounded off on the team’s difficulty filling seats in the Canadian Tire Centre. While disputing rumours that he’d sell the team, he appeared to leave the door open to a possible relocation – even though the Sens-backed RendezVous LeBreton group is in negotiations with the National Capital Commission to redevelop LeBreton Flats, with a plan that would include a new rink for the team. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/3-20131208_114540.jpg) Last Sunday our family drove out to the Fallowfield Tree Farm, a little bit west of Eagleson Road and just a bit south of Stittsville. It’s one of several Christmas tree farms listed on our Ottawa Christmas Tree list . ...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alain_in_kanata/6768697011/ _ (Photo: Night at the rink by _ Alain Villeneuve via the OttawaStart Flickr group ) _ (Via City of Ottawa) _ ** Ottawa ** – There is a lot of hockey excitement going on in Ottawa on Saturday, December 16 and the City of Ottawa wants to make sure you arrive at your destination safely and on time. ...

Here’s what we’ve been reading this week from Ottawa bloggers: * Frequent [ OttawaStart.com ](http://ottawastart.com) contributor ** Charlie ** blogs about [ the impact that community newspaper closures will have on his career. ](http://www.susansherring.ca/wp/2017/12/11/guest-blogger-closing-newspapers-and-journalism/) * ** Eric ** [ gripes about light rail stations ](http://www. ...

_ (Via Ottawa Senators) _ ** OTTAWA ** The [ Ottawa Senators ](http://senators.nhl.com/index.html) ( [ @Senators ](http://www.twitter.com/Senators) ) announced today the roster for the Senators Alumni Classic, which is set to take place on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7 p. ...