The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

16 - Orono Weekly Times 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 The winning bards of Newcastle The local Newcastles of the World committee is hoping to send two local representatives to the Newcastles of the World Summit next month. In a presentation to councillors on Monday afternoon, Myno VanDyke and Christopher Brown, representing the local Newcastles of the World committee, asked for $400 to $600 in municipal funds to help them send two local delegates to Newcastle on Tyne for this year's summit to be held at the end of July. After first hearing about the event in the beginning of May, the committee have assembled a number of locally written poems about Newcastle, created a five minute documentary, collected 50 photographs depicting Newcastle, Ontario and written a song. The group has been so focused on preparing the material for this year's summit, they have not been able to concentrate on fundraising, VanDyke told councillors. The cost of sending one delegate is $2,700. With the municipality's help and some monies previously pledged, the committee hopes to send at least one delegate to Newcastle on Tyne to not only promote and represent Newcastle Poem contest winners were awarded prizes by the Mayor at Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Pictured from left to right: front row - Gregory Ward, 2nd prize; Bev Jeeves standing in for Samantha Trudeau, 3rd prize and Brent Matthew, 1st prize, Ann Harley - representing contest organizers. Back row: Councillor Wendy Partner, Mayor Adrian Foster, Councillor Willie Woo. Newcastle, Ontario but to make the necessary contacts with the view of hosting the bi-annual summit in two or four years from now. "We can turn this into a very good event for our community," VanDyke stated. The last summit, held in Newcastle, South Africa was attended by 1,000 delegates. If enough money is raised, nominations from the public will be sought for the suitable candidates, Brown explained to council. Candidates must be Newcastle ambassadors while at the summit. "You can't just go to drink," Brown stated, "you have to project Newcastle." As council has a policy of not supporting individuals going to events, the request was denied, but Mayor Foster guaranteed the group that individual councillors would support the request from their personal budgets. What began as a fun bit of wagering between Councillors Wendy Partner and Joe Neal following the meeting has resulted in most councillor donating $100 to the committee. At the end of the Committee's presentation, VanDyke, Bev Jeeves and Lloyd Johnson performed their version of the Newcastle song for councillors. Where From Ye Be? By: Brent Matthews 1st Place Winner The streets are lined with trees so tall A welcome sign for one and all The little village by the lake The perfect place your home to make The trains whistle, loud and clear With apple orchards, oh so near Pizza shops and pubs are three At the grocery store, our friends we see Important events big and small Are celebrated at Town Hall Three church steeples are in our town But "true" religion at the arena's found Triumph, defeat, laughter, tears Teams memories shared with beers At Christmas time we have a parade Many floats, all hand made When asked abroad "Where from Ye be?" "Newcastle, Ontario is home for me." Newcastle, Ontario By: Greg Ward 2ndPlace Winner Village, you hold me Prescribe memories and dreams with your clear boundry And when I'm in Timbuktu You quench my thirst for home Always right there By the water Newcastle, Ontario By: Samantha Trudeau 3rd Place Winner There is a small town in Ontario, where many folks seem to go. An exquisite little community, full of love and unity. The perfect spot to buy some land, begin the family you've always planned. A place for youth to grow and learn, where parents need not concern. A postal code of L1B, the place that holds your hearts key. Where young adults still come around, some of which to settle down. A place no on can outgrow, is Newcastle, Ontario!