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Wednesday, October 3, 2012 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Orono Weekly Times - 5 Robinson barking mad The municipality has once again laid charges against former Councillor Gord Robinson. Charges this time stem from the illegal sign on his property. Two weeks ago Robinson had a sign erected at 4591 Concession Road 5 in Newtonville from where he had been operating a dog training facility and a dog park. The sign promoting Robinson Ridge was installed without a permit, according to Clarington's By-law Director Len Creamer and Robinson will now have to appear in court to face the charges. Unlike the previous court action brought against Robinson this summer, the municipality will not be withdrawing charges this time according to Creamer. Robinson told the Orono Times that the ground sign installed on his rural property replaces a barn sign which pre-dates Clarington's sign by-law. His family has always had a sign on their barn, Robinson told the Orono Times on Tuesday afternoon. As his new barn is a fabric top structure, Robinson says he could not attach a sign to it so he had a ground sign erected on the yard. Robinson says as his new sign is replacing an existing sign, he does not believe he needed a permit. The municipality charged Robinson with running an illegal commercial operation at the farm this summer, but withdrew the charges when Robinson ceased operating the dog training facility by the August 17th court date. Robinson had claimed the dog park he was operating was not a commercial venture; it was only open to family and friends. By the time charges were laid, Robinson had closed down his Facebook page containing the per/hour price list for the Robinson Ridge dog park. The dog park and training facility are permitted uses on Robinson's agricultural land but he would need to apply for and receive a zoning change from the municipality. According to Creamer, Robinson would have to make some modifications to his sign, before it could be approved by the municipality; he would have to make it smaller, and remove the reference to the "Year Round Dog Park." If found guilty in court, Robinson could face a maximum fine of $5,000, or a slap on the wrist, according to Creamer. Gord Robinson served as Local Councillor for Ward 4 from 2000 to 2010. Gord Robinson is facing charges for the sign he erected illegally on his farm on Concession Road 5 in Newtonville. Looking Back... Gleaned from past editions of the Orono Weekly Times 25 Years ago... Six members, including Sid Rutherford, of the Orono Downtown Business Association went on a day trip to Elora. This town was just being recognized as a busy tourist attraction and the committee went on a fact finding mission. They visited the Old Mill and had lunch. Checked out the shops and admired the Victorian streetscapes. In the end they decided, "Orono will never become an Elora...but then just maybe there is a niche that Orono can fill that would catch the imagination for visitors." Their next meeting was with Heritage Canada. In preparation for the upcoming Orono United Church Anniversary Calvin Hamm wrote an article about his grand-father Cornelius Hughson. The Hughsons emigrated to North America at an early date. One died at the battle of Bunker Hill and they came to Canada as Loyalists. Richard Hughson first settled north of Kingston but soon decided on Clarke Township. He purchased property along the 6th Concession. His son, Cornelius, was just a small boy but Calvin remembered him talking about climbing a tree south of Orono to see if he could discern a trail leading to their new home. Later, once they had settled, a travelling preacher came to the area and it was decided it was time to have Cornelius baptized. Cornelius wouldn't allow it until he saw the baptismal font emptied and filled with fresh water. Somehow he had thought it was filled with whiskey and he was, even at that early age, a confirmed prohibitionist. had taught at McLean's School near Kendal before she was married so she had a lot of friends in the neighbourhood. The fourth Annual Orono Drama Festival saw its most successful season to date. Gladys Aslett won best actress award for her part as a maid in the Orono play "Between the Soup and Savoury". Theatre groups from Pickering-Ajax, Whitby and Peterborough participated. 75 Years ago... In the "Local and Social" column we find the following interesting items: Mr. Charles Tyrell who recently purchased the drug business from Mr. J.J. Gilfillan has had an electric sign installed in front of his store with red lighting and black background which helps to illuminate the street and also makes the drug store more conspicuous. Orono is getting more like Toronto every day. Mr. O.W. Rolph attended the Fair in Bobcaygeon on Saturday last. Bud says the hot dog stand there cannot touch the one he has just completed on our up-to-date Fair Grounds. The person who removed the chairs from the front of Mr. W. Cornish's residence on Main Street had better return them at once as he is known. 50 Years ago... The Orono Town Hall was fully packed when 550 voting delegates of the Durham County Progressive Conservative Association held their meeting and elected Garnet Rickard as their candidate for the next Federal election. Garnet won with 343 votes over Michael Wladyka of Port Hope's 202. It was noted under the "Kendal Column" that Mrs. Rickard ORONO WEEKLY TIMES 905-983-5301 editor@oronoweeklytimes.com