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Orono Weckly Tines, Wednesdlay, April 1I6, 1997 - l Newcastle Lions News A regular meeting of The Newcastle Lions Club took place on April 9 in the Lions Room at the Newcastle Community Hall. President Terry Graham acted as chair- man and welcomed thirty-one Newcastle Lions, Lion Tom Kennedy from Millbrook, Lions Jane and John Ogden from Bewdley and District Lions Club and a prospective new Lion, Dwight Napier. At 7 p.m. everyone sat down to a delicious dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes catered by the Providence-Shaws Women's Insitutue. Lion Murray Paterson reported that the 50th Anniversary plans are com- ing along well and a large attendance is expected at the Newcastle Community Hall on May 10. A commemorative pin has been commissioned and a sample was passed round for the audience appraisal. Donations wer approved to the Camp Dorset Children's Dalasis Unit, Big Brothers of Clarington to send two little brothers to summer camp and to St. Francis of Assisi for grade eight commence- ment. Birthday salutations were conferred on Lion Greg Forget with the singing of Happy Birthday. The 50/50 draw was won, by Lion Tom Kennedy from Millbrook Lions and donated back to the Newcastle Lions. The next dinner meeting will be held in the Lions Room at the Newcastle Community Hall on May 14. Lion Francis Jose will speak on genealogy. Guests are wecome, please call Lion Amos Langley 987- 5260 for further details. John Mutton is asking for your support in his campaign for Regional Councillor in Wards 3 and 4. Wards 3 and 4 run from Liberty St. in Bowmanville on the W'est to East Townline Road in Newtonville on the East. The Mutton family has been proud to reside within Clarington for four genera- tions. John's commitment to Clarington has been quite extensive. Among other com- munity activities, John is a member of the Masons, the Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Brownsdale Community Centre and he is a director with the Newcastle Ratepayers Association. Mutton has been educat- ed in Economics at Trent University and the University of Toronto and has 11 years local experience in the com- mercial sector. Mutton believes that "We cannot be satisfied with the status quo. We must provide a climate-for carefully man- aged and monitored growth, especially lndustry, as opposed to growth for growth's sake. We also cannot forget about our all important tradition and heritage." Mutton also advocates strong fiscal responsibility. "We need to control spending and ensure that taxes do not increase while at the same time ensuring the quality of our services are maintained" he said. On a final note Mutton offered. "I believe in being in touch with the community and constituents, listening to the public and encouraging all sectors to participate in improving our municipality and communities. I believe that we can work together to share our ideas and protect our future." Health Awareness Day Approximately 35 local agencies will provide infor- mation and education about their respective programs at a "Mental Health Awareness Day" on Thursday, May 1, 1997 at Oshawa Centre, cor- ner of Stevenson Road and King St., Oshawa, from 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Some of the agencies re- presented will include the Canadian Mental Health Association, Whitby Mental Health Centre, Mental Health Program of Oshawa General Hospital, Pinewood Centre of Oshawa General Hospital, COPE Mental Health Program, Durham Region Social Services, Alzheimer Society, AIS Committee and more. This event is being co-host- ed by the Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington COPE Mental Health Programs and the COPE Sub- Committee members. COPE is a program of Durham Region Community Care Association. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. For further information, call Sharon Wyeth at 434-1693. C Board H SCHOOL BOARD BUD- GET APPROVED Trustees with the Northumberland-Clarington Board of Education voted eight to five in support of their 1997 budget which will see an average local mill rate of 3.9 percent. In presenting the budget for approval Michael Slocombe, Chairperson, Operations and Finance com- mittee commended the efforts of the Board and its employ- ee groups, in "developing a budget which will continue the delivery of quality learn- ing" while providing savings to compensate for the Ministry of education and Training's funding cuts announced in 1996. "The significance of this effort became evident when Lhe 1997 province's grant annouricements for Northumberland-Clarington showed a further reduction of in excess of $3 million before adjusting for our enrolment growth, despite the govern- ment's assertion that there would be no further cuts in 1997. This represented a fur- ther 3.4% download to the local ratepayers to offset this grant reduction." Slocombe said the Board also had to deal with Canada Pension Plan increases, enrolment growth, and iden- tified local program-related needs including the contin- ued implementation of the Five-year Technology Plan, implementation of an Early Literacy Program and the ability to maintain Junior Kindergarten and Aduit Education Programs. Slocombe told trustees that there have been no salary increases at the board for a number of years and he praised employee groups whose cooperation in realiz- ing savings meant "significant sacrifice". This budget "includes provision for sys- tem enrolment growth of approximately 2% and repre- sents an increase of 2.33% over the 1996 budget." Lilian Brode, a Campbellford-area trustee who voted against the bud- get, also commended the Board and its employees. "This budget is reasonable and beyond reasonable and has maintained the essential ingredients of an exceptional education system." Brode said she was forced "with great reluctance to vote against the budget because of the province's application of the equalization factors. There is an unconscionable and unexplained variation in the allodations to the ratepay- ers of the various municipal- ities ranging in an increase for the village of Hastings of 9.79% to 1.8% in Cobourg." The 1997 budget is $149,629,300 compared to the 1996 budget of $ 146,223,300 and represents ighlights an average mill rate increase of 3.95%. PARENTS CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE SCHOOL BOUNDARY CHANGE Liz Coulthard, Chair of the Stockdale School Council has asked for the Board's support in seeking assurance from the provincial government that the Quinte West Amalgamation will not affect school boundaries, Speaking on behalf of the Stockdale Advisory Council she told trustees at last night's Board meeting that Stockdale par- ents and community mem- bers are "very concerned" about what will happen to the quality of education if school boundaries are changed. "We want our children to attend ENSS..this chool has a great reputation for its pro- rams and school spirit...Many parents are concerned with their children having to switch schools, and readjust to a new school, new friends, and teachers, making their sometimes difficult teen years even more of a challenge." Coultard told the board that she is also concerned that people in other commu- nities may not realize that they will also be affected. She said the French Immersion program may be in j eopardy, along with Junior Kindergarten and Adult Education programs. "Other programs we believe to be valuable, the Design and Technology programs and Music are also being threat- ened. We feel the future of our education will be assured within this board." Trustee Diana Stewart said that the board had written to MPP Galt for assurances that the school boundaries would remain the same but had not yet received a reply. Galt had stated publicly that amalga- mation would not affect boundaries. The board passed a motion by Trustee Diana Stewart that "administration investi- gate the possibility of inviting all of the new municipality of Quinte West to take the opportunity to have their stu- dents educated by the Northumberland-Clarington Board." SHARED SERVICES SAVES DOLLARS The Northumberland- Clarington Board will save approximately $50,000 dur- ing the 1996-97 school year as a result of a joint busing initiative between Grafton Public School and St. Mary's Separate School. Paul Brace, Manager of Transportation for the Northumberland-Clarington Board says that administra- tion is pleased with the sav- ings and that both the public and separate board are con- sidering joint initiatives for Campbellford District High School and Clarke High School Associated School Groupings. JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN TO CONTINUE The Northumberland- Clarington Board approved a motion to continue the Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten program using the program delivery model approved in 1996. Trustee Judy Armstrong told board members that a survey of parents, teachers and principals have indicated that "overall, the implemen- tation of Alternate Full day JK/K..has been a success." The proinvce has proposed Brigitte Brown 'd FIE EAR'TS Gift Certificates available. Pedicures Manicures Waxing Nail Extensions Ear Candling ESTHETIC STUDIO 171 Mill St., Orono, Ontario LOB 1MO • 905-983-8169 MORRIS FUNERAL CHAPEL 1SERVING DURHAM REGIoN SINCE 1841 FUNERAL SERVICES PRE-ARRANGED AND PREPAID Funeral Directors Paul R. Morris Robert E. Williams Gary M. Conway Doug R. Rutherford ANSWERING YOUR CALL 24 HOURS 623-5480 4 Division St. Bowmanville r John Mutton running for Reg. Councillor Wards 3 & 4 ...... .... >,. .ý'..,......,..-ý.....ýý.ýý.1.ýý-ý'.1ý,.ý. ........... ..