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Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Orono Weekly Times - 3 GARDENS Continued from front On the east side of the building, the group plans to move the Atkinson historical plaque closer to the building along with the flag pole, remove the two diseased blue spruce trees and place the fountain -- which was donated to the community by the Brenton Rickard family in 2000 -- where the Atkinson sign now stands. There will be a ledge behind the fountain, and special plantings and shrubs around it "to set it off," Barrett said. The third priority item is a flagstone patio adjacent to the west side of the building, with a wrought iron railing. An important element for the garden, according to the group, is the in-ground watering system. Currently, it takes two to three hours, twice a week, to water the existing gardens, dragging the hose from the storage room at the north-west corner of the Hall, Barrett said. The in-ground system will only come on when needed, and will save water, according to Barrett. The group is applying to the Trillium Foundation for a $100,000 grant towards its project and hopes to raise the $50,000 portion in the community. "We will go to the local service clubs, business groups and do some fundraisers on our own," Barrett said. They should hear from Trillium in January or February, whether or not their grant has been approved. "If we don't raise the money, we will cut back on our list of immediate priorities," Barret stated. The Newcastle Horticultural Club spends on average $1,500 a year on the gardens around the Hall. They will save and reuse what they can of the plants they remove for this project, according to Barret, and the others will be sold. The two items dropped from the high priority list are plantings around the parking lot, and the courtyard area on the west side of the building. The last time the gardens surrounding the Hall received an overhaul was in 2000. At that time, the community received a Millennium Grant from the Federal Government for the project. Jeany Barrett is Chair of the Newcastle Horticultural Society's committee, which is planning a major redevelopment of the gardens surrounding the Newcastle Community Hall. CANDIDATES Continued from front candidates seemed to centre around a business theme. Candidates' responses seemed to centre around the theme of too much red tape at town hall, and Clarington is not open for business. Answers to the questions are reported separately for each candidate in this week's special Ward 4 Election Edition. Mayoralty candidates were asked a number of questions by the Times, the answers to which make up the candidate profiles in this edition. The municipal election will be held on Monday, October 25th, and for the first time in a decade, Clarington residents will be going to the polls to mark their ballots. After three elections using the 'Vote by Mail' method, this council opted to return to a more traditional style of voting. Also included on the municipal ballot will be a referendum question, asking voters whether they are in favour of changing the method of selecting the Regional Chair. Currently the Regional Chair is appointed by members of the Regional Council following each municipal election. There is a push to have the Regional Chair elected by Durham Region voters at large in the 2014 municipal election. Voters will need to bring identification to the polls on voting day showing proof of their name, address and signature. ~ Happenings ~ Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - Monica Rose Fashion Show, 7pm, St. George's Anglican Church, Newcastle. Tickets $10. Call 905-987-4945 or 905-623-2668. Friday, October 15, 2010 - Stutts Pharmacy Free Osteoporosis Clinic, 10am-3pm. Call 905983-5009 to book your free bone health Ultrasound Screening Test. Sunday, October 17, 2010 - Kendal United Church's 140th Anniversary Service, 10:30 am. Guest: Rev. Bryan Ransom. Refreshments follow the service. Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - Oddfellow & Rebekah Centre Roof Fundraising Supper, 6pm. Tickets $15.00. Call 905-983-5726 or 905-983-9571. Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - Fashion Show by Monica Rose, 7 pm, Solina Hall, Tickets $10. Call 905-263-8380. Fundraiser for Eldad United Church. Saturday, October 23, 2010 - Newcastle United Church Fall Bazaar, 10am-2pm. Crafts, Baked Goods, Silent Auction, Country Store, Tea & Lunch Room. Saturday, October 30, 2010 - Orono United Church Roast Beef Dinner with Homemade Pies, 5 pm. Adults $13; kids $7, preschoolers free. Tickets: 905-983-5169 or 905-485-5502.