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Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 3 GRANT Continued from front page supported their $5,000 grant request. A new applicant this year, the Newcastle Art Show, received $1,000 of their $5,000 grant request. Novak said she could support this if it was a one time grant. She didn't want to bring on another taxpayer funded arts organization when the municipality already has the Visual Arts Centre and the Museum. Councillor Charlie Trim and Mayor Abernethy defended the Newcastle Art Show application, saying the first time art show held at Bond Head this past summer featured local artists and attracted a large crowd. The application by the Clarington Tiger Cats Football Club was contested by Councillor Trim, who said the municipality was heading for danger if they supported the Club's request. The Club requested a $5,000 grant to be used for football equipment. The municipality has provided the club with a beautiful football field with lights and benches at great cost to the municipality, according to Trim, and to assist them in buying equipment would only lead to other sports groups asking the municipality to supply equipment to them as well. "We're going to have hockey people, lacrosse people, even swimming people will want us to buy swimming suits for them," Trim stated. Skip Crosby of the Community Services Department explained that the Football club borrowed money 10 years ago to buy equipment, which now requires maintenance or replacement. The Club was granted $1,500. The Bowmanville and Courtice Horticultural Clubs were granted $500 each, as was the Bowmanville Ecology Garden. The Newcastle Horticultural Society requested a $1,000 grant, but was awarded $900. The society asked for extra money to assist them in creating the new beds at the new library branch in Newcastle which will open this fall. The Orono Horticultural Society was awarded $600. The Clarington Farmers' Market, which operates during the summer from the parking lot of the Newcastle Arena, was unsuccessful in their grant request for $2,000. Councillor Foster made the motion to deny the grant. "This has become a retail thing," he stated. "When we first gave them a grant it was to help get them off the ground." The Farmer's Market received no funding this year. For the first time, the Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade Committee was successful in their grant request. They were awarded a $2,000 grant, as was the Newcastle Santa Claus Parade Committee. At the end of the process, $51,750 was handed out, leaving $8,250 in the grant account should additional requests for money be made through the remainder of this year. This year's grant allocation was $60,000 -- $20,000 less than in previous years. Community Care Durham, Clarington Older Adult Association and the Newcastle Community Hall historically received $5,000 each through the municipal grant process, in addition to the annual funding they receive through the municipal budget process. For streamlining purposes, these organizations were removed from the grant process this year and now receive funding through the municipal operations budget. As service clubs do not meet the criteria to receive municipal grants, the $5,000 funding request from the Courtice Rotary Club for their Canada Day Celebrations was shifted from the grant process to special funding from the Community Services Department As a tax savings measure, during the 2009 municipal budget process, Council opted not to top up the municipal grant fund to the $80,000 level (representing $1 per capita). The "Dinosaurs & Company" exhibit at the Clarington Museum and Archives was partially sponsored by Durham M.P. Bev Oda. The exhibit on display at the Sarah Jane Williams Centre, on Temperance St., Bowmanville, will be open every day next week for March Break. Pictured from left to right at the Centre on Sunday: back row, Bev Oda, Martha Rutherford Conrad, Museum Administrator, Mayor Jim Abernthy. Seated: Sadie and Amber Stevenson. ~ Happening s ~ Friday, March 13, 2009 Clarington Older Adult Association AGM and Potluck Lunch 12:30 pm. Clarington Beech Centre, 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville. The Board of Directors extends a cordial invitation to all interested members to attend this meeting. For more information please contact Angie Darlison 905-697-2856 or Exec-director@bellnet.ca Saturday, March 14, 2009 Sea Songs and Sailing Stories - 8:00 pm. Newcastle Community Hall. An evening of great music, great stories and great fun. Tickets $15 Adult, $5 Children, $30 family of 5, available at A Gift of Art, Orono Times, Clarington Travel, Village Card & Gift. Monday, March 16, 2009 Free Swim - Newcastle Recreation Complex, 2:30pm to 3:30pm. Sponsored by Specialty Wealth Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Newcastle Horticultural Society Meeting - Newcastle Community Hall, 7:30pm. 905-987-3526 Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Free Public Skating - Orono Arena, 1:00-2:00pm. Sponsored by Kendal Lions Club. Everyone welcome! Thursday, March 19, 2009 Free Public Skating - Orono Arena, 2:00-3:30pm. Sponsored by O.A.A.A. Everyone welcome! Saturday, March 21, 2009 Dinner and Concert - Orono United Church, 111 Church St. N., Orono. Ham & Scalloped Potato Dinner with Pie, 5:30pm. Concert featuring Spirit.calm Praise Band & Friends, 7pm. Reception following concert. Dinner & Concert $15. Age 12 & under $8.50. Tickets from Church Office 905-485-5502. June Heard 905-983-5169 or Apple Blossom Flowers, Main St., Orono. Saturday, March 26 2009 O.A.A.A Soccer/Hockey Registration - Orono Arena, 7 to 9pm.