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

4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, December 29,1986 Statesman Readers Look Back at 1986 January - The year began with an announcement from Mario Veltri, the President of Veltri Veltri -and , Sons Corporation, .that he had completed negotiations for a $5.5 million million residential development development on the east side of Mearns Avenue off King .Street. : '_/.;The project was for 208 Single residential building Jots, with many backing onto Soper Creek. "Our firm started build- .ifig.homes, apartments, and commercial projects in ÜBowmanville 20 years ago," Mr. Veltri said. •• "Unlike many firms that "came in, built homes, and ;,then . left, our company's roots are still here and we ..are looking forward to starting starting the actual construction 'of this project in the sum- ;,mer of 1986." "'.'Meanwhile, Planning Director Director Terry Edwards released released a report to the January January 6th General Purpose Committee meeting which showed 1985 was a boom year for residential growth in the Town of Newcastle. "Nineteen eighty-five was a record year for building activity in this Town, in ..terjns of new residential units added to the existing ' housing stock, with the bulk of the building activity being within Courtice and the Wilmot Creek development," development," Mr. Edwards' report" said. i January was also the month that saw salary increases increases for all members of council excluding Mayor John Winters. In a unanimous vote on salaries, council decided to keep the mayor's salary at its 1985 level of $22,900. ;. „ All other members of council received a four per cent increase for the first i six months of 1986 and an additional one per cent increase increase for the remainder of the year. ivv'That brought their ^.Salaries to $10,384 annually. .« • Some discussion arose re- ■•I'.'garding the necessity of the i '.'pay hikes. Councillor Diane i-Hamre argued that Newcastle Newcastle councillors already have •f-Tiigher salaries than most ^councillors in Durham Region. Region. .. But Councillor Frank ^Stapleton said salaries tvi must be in step with infla- /^■iiori : and must provide an disincentive" . .for people. ISWhing to' run for council j.': in upcoming years. ttv; ,v; i 1 'i uA get the community group going. At the public school level, Northumberland-Newcas- tle's School Board Chairperson Chairperson started the year with a pledge of confidence from November's newly elected trustees. "Indeed, there is much to be done and it is with great enthusiasm that the new board has taken over the reins," Ms. Fairey said. And the first crisis that faced the board was the question of liability insurance insurance for the schools. The Statesman reported that the good news was that the schools would have insurance insurance but the bad news was a possible 600 per cent increase in premiums. That threat meant a rise from $10,000 costs in 1985 to $60,000 in 1986. F ebruary The first rumblings of renovations renovations and construction to the town hall in Bowmanville Bowmanville were heard during February. Although the plans for the building date back to a proposal made by A. J. Diamond Diamond and Associates in 1981, the first signs that the project would get underway were mentioned in the public public discussion of the 1986 budget. During the budget discussions, discussions, the projected cost of the building was about $3 million. Treasurer John Blanchard Blanchard said at least $1 million million would have to be de- bentured and on the Feb. 10 meeting of council, elected officials gave an official go- ,ahead to Diamond and Associates Associates to draw up working diagrams for new facilities. It was predicted the working working drawings would take about three months and Administrator Administrator David Johnston said the town might have to rethink its plans to renovate renovate the existing town hall if the building proved to be structurally unsound. However, the intent of the drawings was to renovate that building and to add an extension to the rear of the existing structure. available for recreational facilities. "We're not inflexible," .CLOCA Chairman Joe Drumm said. "We're bound by rules and regulations. As long as you people have the bucks to spend, the board will look at any project." i The beginnings of a sec- 1 ond round of fights opposing opposing the Pythbow Developments Developments Ltd. mall at Waverley aiid Baseline Roads got going in January. In a meeting between councillors and Bowmanville's Bowmanville's Business Improvement Improvement Area, BIA Chairman George Webster informed council that the downtown business people pay more than $500,000 per annum in taxes and employ more than 600 people. He said more jobs and assessment assessment are produced 1 from existing downtown businesses than whatwould be created through the development development of peripheral shopping malls. And he reinforced the BIA position that they're in favor of shopping malls developed developed at either end of King St.--the area set aside in planning documents for future commercial growth in the town. January was also the month of the apple for council. council. ' Council reaffirmed the official official apple logo with the green "Newcastle" beneath it as the emblem for the town. The decision followed a request by Mayor John Winters Winters to consider changing the logo. The Mayor suggested a contest might be held to pick a new logo. But council decided the old one was adequate and would play a greater role in the town if everyone gave it more importance. "Let's officially adopt it and everyone start using it," 'Councillor Ilamrc said. As for the town's efforts to create a more open government, government, January was a landmark month because council voted to make the 1986 budget discussions open to the public for the first time. Mayor John Winters said people should have the opportunity opportunity to understand how their tax dollars are spent. "Because the Town collects collects all of .the taxes, increases increases in lax amounts arc blamed on local government," government," the mayor said. For separate school supporters supporters in Newcastle Village Village and area, February was a happy month as the St. Francis of Assisi school officially opened. The school contained 180 students who had previously previously been attending classes in portables at the St. Francis of Assisi site. "We have all resources under one roof now," Principal Principal Dick Jones said. "From that standpoint it's more efficient." March Members of Newcastle council considered the possibility possibility of establishing a committee of senior staff to replace Chief Administrative Administrative Officer David Johnston. This executive committee, rather than one individual, would be responsible for staff leadership. A loud rumble was also heard at Newcastle council when the Pythbow shopping mall went before elected officials officials for approval a second second time. The mall vivas to be located just ea^t of the Baseline and ^averley Rd. intersection. When the application went to committee, it was denied. At that time, those councillors councillors opposing the mall said it was a threat to the existing downtown business business community. Councillor Diane Hamre said the creation of a peripheral mall in other Ontario communities had led to the destruction of the downtown business area. Yet Mayor John Winters maintained that the Bowmanville Bowmanville public favored the mall. "The majority of people want the mall and I'm here to represent the people," he said. The matter then went to council, where councillors overturned their committee decision and voted in favor of the mall. The changing vote came from Councillor Hal McKnight, who shocked DBIA Chairman George Webster with his decision to support the mall at council. council. "I don't understand the motive or reason for Mr. McKnight to change his mind," Mr. Webster said. In defence of his position, Councillor McKnight said the week between committee committee and council had seen "many visits, many phone calls, and much soul searching." searching." The rezoning application for the mall was then sent to regional council, where it was eventually tabled when the ownership of the land changed hands. For the citizens in Courtice, Courtice, January marked the beginning of the Courtice and Area Community Association, Association, And despite missing the Dee. 1 deadline forgrant applications, applications, (lie Association received a $5,150 grant from the Town of Newcastle to saw taxes rise by approximately approximately 3.5 per cent on that portion of the tax bill covering covering local municipal expenses. expenses. The budget was passed "March 10. At Stephen's School, negotiations began to get underway for the proposed road improvements near the school. Separate school trustee Bob Burke said there should be two entrances from Rhonda Road onto Waverley Road to provide better circulation of traffic. Mr. Burke made his concerns concerns known to the town during the Feb. 3 general purpose and administration administration committee meeting, where councillors endorsed endorsed Mayor Winters' proposal to arrange negotiations negotiations between the board, the town, and the owner of the vacant land adjacent to the school. Council also learned in February that the Bowmanville Bowmanville Creek lands could not be properly developed due to a shortage of funds. Representatives from the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Conservation Authority (CLOCA) told council that there was simply no money Bowmanville's Downtown Downtown Business Improvement Improvement Association suggested in a letter to Newcastle councillor Hal McKnight that he resign his position as a council representative on the DBIA's board of management. management. In a letter to the councillor, councillor, the DBIA stated that in view of his support for the Pythbow Shopping Mall, Councillor McKnight should not sit on the BIA board. The business improvement improvement association was opposing opposing the mall on the grounds that it was contrary to municipal development strategy which emphasized King St. as the main commercial commercial district for Bowmanville. Bowmanville. Councillor McKnight revealed revealed the contents of the letter from the DBIA at a meeting of Newcastle council council early in March. Junior Farmers in Durham East announced a unique project during the month of March. They planned planned a 300 kilometre bed race to London, Ontario. The Junior Farmers said they were pushing â specially-designed, specially-designed, 1 three wheeled bed, to the annual Junior Farmers conference in order to raise funds for drug and alcohol recovery centres. 1 Losses were estimated at $50,000 following two fires which occurred early in March. The first was at the Mary Brown's Chicken restaurant restaurant in Bowmanville and the second was at a marine and sports store in Courtice. Courtice. Bowmanville High School's senior stage band captured a gold medal at the Kawartha Jazz festival held Saturday, March 1. Bowmanville High School also unveiled plans for a new electronic music program program which would be offered in the school commencing in September of 1987. The course, under the direction direction of Music Director Ron Parker, was to offer instruction instruction on the use of electronic electronic instruments and computers in performing and creating music. Newcastle Mayor John Winters suggested that waste heat from the Darlington Darlington Nuclear Generating Station could be used to heat an indoor tourist attraction attraction built under a gigantic gigantic dome. The mayor suggested that the development could be a year-round amusement park and swimming area with golf course and accommodation accommodation facilities. Over 500 Scouters gathered gathered at the Bowmanville High School in early March to attend the annual Quinte Region Conference. The conference was an oportun- ity for . local Scout leaders to participate in seminars and attend displays. Wendy Crawford, a victim of a motor vehicle accident in which the driver who struck her car had been drinking, was guest speaker at a meeting of SADD (Students (Students Against Driving Drunk) held at Courtice Secondary School. Ms, Crawford had embarked on a successful modelling career but it was cut short by an auto accident which left her confined to a wheelchair. wheelchair. The annual Pine Ridge Hockey Tournament took place the weekend of March 0 and 9. The event attracted teams from across Ontario. Bowmnnvlllo's Sea Cadets earned a first place in a swim meet held at CFB Trenton. Newcastle's town council voted for a budget which Board of Education chairperson chairperson Donna Fairey announced announced that she would seek the Liberal Party nomination in Durham East during the next provincial election. The kick-off for the Bowmanville Bowmanville Rotary Club's annual annual Easter Seal campaign took place Thursday, March 6. Pamela King was the 1986 Tammy for the Rotary Club. Fund-raisers were looking for an objective of $12;500. Ontario Hydro moved the first of four reactors to a permanent location inside the Darlington Nuclear Generation Station. The device device was sheduled to go into operation in 1989. A $20,000 study on the building of a new arena in Bowmanville was brought to light at a meeting of Newcastle Newcastle council. However, the report was discussed in camera and the findings of the study were not released to the public after the meeting meeting ended. Durham Region's elected officials voted themselves a 4.2 per cent raise in salaries. Six members of regional regional council opposed the move, including Newcastle Mayor John Winters. The construction of a new $2 billion General Motors autoplex was announced in Oshawa March 17. Thé project project entails a major renovation renovation for the Oshawa car assembly assembly facilities. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Premier David Peterson, and Bob White, president of the United Auto Workers in Canada, were among the many guests on hand for the announcement. The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education Education approved a $71 million education budget. The expenditures expenditures meant a mill rate increase of 16 per cent on the educational portion of the tax bill within the Town of Newcastle. The Town of Newcastle's Chief Administrativè'xüf- ; fleer," David Johnston, an-" nounced his rfcsignatiqg Mr. Johnstjm, who nad been employed by the municipality since 1983, said he was leaving the Town of Newcastle to pursue pursue a career in the private sector. Durham's regional council council endorsed a budget which translated into a 9.5 per cent increase in the regional regional portion of the tax bill. The budget meant that in Newcastle, an average taxpayer taxpayer would see his or her bill for regional services rise by $15. The total regional regional budget stood at $159.4 million. Bowmanville resident Steve Ryan announced that he would seek the Liberal nomination in the next provincial provincial election. Mr. Ryan was the candidate for Durham East in 1985. School Board Chairman Donna Fairey appeared before before Newcastle council to discuss educational finances finances and, specifically, the most recent budget for the Northumberland and Newcastle. Board of Education. Education. to the Courtice Secondary School. The construction was scheduled for later in the summer. was set at $400 per family, with reduced rates for juniors and seniors. umberland, Durham, and Huron Counties. steps toward improving the energy efficiency. And on April 5th, a group of local residents launched approximately 150 bottles from the Port Granby site for low level radioactive waste storage. The purpose of the bottle launch was to demonstrate the possibility that currents would carry radioactivity to communities communities bordering on Lake Ontario. One of the bottles was later returned from New York State. Councillor Ann Cowman requested the town's chief administrator to bring forward forward a report on the possibility possibility of changing the town's name from Newcastle to Bowmanville. Approximately Approximately 2,000 votes in favor of such a move were received received when The Statesman printed a "ballot" on the issue about three years ago. Two Newcastle men, Erskine Duncan and Dean Little, were heroes when they saved two Toronto men from drowning in Lake Ontario. Ontario. Town Council approved a 33-unit apartment complex on Queen Street. The building building had originally been proposed as a 52-unit senior citizen building. Workmen at the Tyrone Mill were busy installing a set of grindstones for the future future milling of flour. The time-consuming task entailed entailed the replacement of old beams within the building building with exact duplicates of the original structures. The John Howard Society announced plans to open an office in Bowmanville on May 1st. The Society provides provides assistance to individuals individuals from all walks of life and not just former prison inmates. Services offered offered by the Society through the Bowmanville office were to include such projects as crime prevention, prevention, job search skills, and literacy training. The Town of Newcastle was selected as the possible site for a pilot project to collect collect and recycle used plastic plastic bottles, sponsored by the Society of Plastics Industry in Canada. May Town council approvéd the renovation of the Town Hall. They have agreed to add an additional 24,000 square feet to the exsisting building at a cost of $4.8 million million for the entire project. A successful Oldtimers' Hockey Tournament was hosted by King Garden Old- timers in Bowmanville April 5. Durham East MPP Sam Cureatz said an announcement announcement on the future of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station was expected expected soon. He was referring referring to a government decision decision arising from a report by an all-party committee on energy. A Bowmanville couple were keeping their fingers crossed, in the hopes that they might capture a million million dollars in the Match Three Sweeps. Darius and Gail Paterkowski were among 60 finalists in the lottery lottery competition. Regardless Regardless of the outcome, they were guaranteed a minimum prize of $10;000. The million dollar jackpot eluded them, although they did win $10,000. Residents of the. Wilmot Creek retirement community community asked Newcastle council council for a reduction in their taxes. A spokesman for the residents stated that they pay their own fees for services services such as private roads ; within the community. And ' the group,.argiied,,j,that municipal^taxes'.'",forced them tOfP^yVtwice,for. some services. - The headline in the May 7th issue of the paper read, "Deadline Set for Arena.". Councillor Marie Hubbard Hubbard made the motion to proceed with the arena plans. If council members were to agree on resolving details and construction for the proposed arena, a committee committee of elected officials and staff would meet within a one week period. This committee would then discuss discuss preferred arena sites, the components of the arena buildings, funding and cost. During this meeting Councillor Hubbard remarked remarked on the importance of appylying for a government government grant as quickly as possible. The grant application application was to be submitted Jjy May 30,1986. Town council also suggested that Community Services meet with the Board of Education to discuss discuss to possibility of the Bowmanville High School as the future arena location. location. In a 3-2 vote at a later meeting council approved the land adjoining the Bowmanville Bowmanville High School as the new arena site. The. building building is set to cost $2.8 million. The Board of Education later rejected th,e high school site, arguing that the land should be preserved for educational purposes. Council defeated the proposal of hiring two new firefighters onto the staff. Doctors at Memorial Hospital Hospital Bowmanville agreed to conduct a strike on Thursday, May 23 and Friday, Friday, May 29. The withdrawal withdrawal of services was a way of opposing new provincial provincial legislation which took away doctors' rights to extra-bill their patients. June Town Council considered the idea of closing the Bowmanville Bowmanville Arena for the 1986/ 87 season, rather than sink $40,000 into a building that may be replaced in the near future. In a meeting the following following week, council decided decided to go ahead with the repairs on the exsisting arena. However, Mayor John Winters said, "I would have preferred to take that $40,000 and put it into a new arena." The possibility of the new arena being established established at the Bowmanville High School was also rejected. rejected. Trustees felt that a school should be a place of learning, not of recreation. When Durham Regional Police in Bowmanville moved to their new office, Fire Chief Jim Aldridge suggested that the fire station station receive more space for shower facilities and locker space. Later that month Town Council agreed with the Fire Chiefs proposal, estimating the alterations would total $3,000. Two council representatives representatives have been assigned to work together with the Bowmanville Bowmanville Chamber of Commerce Commerce on their publication titled, "Things to See and Do in the Town of Newcastle." Newcastle." Council has agreed to fund $800 towards the project. project. Memorial Hospital Bowmanville Bowmanville is expecting to begin construction of their renovation and expansion project early next month. A tragic fire south of Kendal Kendal resulted in $50,000 worth of barn damages and the death of 7,000 chicks. Members of the Town council avoided the issue of the Town's name change" from the Town of Newcastle to the Town of Bowmanville. Bowmanville. Chief Administrative Officer David Johnston estimated estimated the cost of changes to stationery, vehicle signs, etc. would be $10,000 - $20,000. Two firefighters for the Town of Newcastle were injured injured in a blaze near Crooked Creek. Total damages damages to the home were estimated estimated at $75,000. Durham Regional Police were awarded approximately approximately $45,000 from Ontario Hydro to assist in the purchase purchase of a mobile police command post during June. July Memorial Hospital Bowmanville Bowmanville was given approval approval for'Phase 1 of the major redevelopment program, program, by the • Ministry of Health. Thus began the development development of the $7.5 million million project. Thirty-year Northumberland Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education trustee Syd Worden received a plaque for his lifelong contribution to education and was told he will be honoured by having having the Courtice West School named after him. The presentation was held at a dinner recognizing retiring retiring trustees from the previous previous school board. Tyrone residents were able to stall council in their discussions on the building of a 31 lot subdivision in the village of Tyrone. The annual rainbow trout migration attracted thousands of visitors to the Bowmanville Creek and other area waterways. At the Bowmanville Creek, the fish were lifted over the dam at the Vanstone Mill so that they could proceed further upstream to spawn. April Volunteers from the Canadian Cancer Society raised their organization's flag at the Bowmanville Police and Fire Building on April 1st to mark the beginning beginning of Cancer Month. The Bowmanville Drama Workshop announced that their latest play, The Dining Room, would be performed April 17,18, and 19, The second annual "Lamb Awareness Day" was held at the Bowmanville Lions Centre. The event was sponsored by the Durham Sheep Producers. A successful figure skating skating carnival took place April 5 and 6 in the Newcastle Newcastle Arena. "Alive on Ice" was the title of the program. Approximately 70 skaters participated. Pauline McGibbon, former lieutenant governor of Ontario, was the guest speaker at the Bowmanville Men's Canadian Club's annual annual Ladies' Night. The banquet took place at Maple Grove United Church. Newcastle's elected officials officials decided that $8 million million was loo much to spend on the building of a new arena in Bowmanville. Consequently, Consequently, a study of the project was referred back " to the town's consultants for further review. Councillors claimed that the findings of the Bowmanville Arena Study did not fall within the terms of reference previously previously established, It was also claimed that the arena did not appear to be financially financially feasible. The Town of Newcastle's energy auditor came up with some rather surprising results after studying the energy efficiency of certain municipal buildings. Kevin Green stated that the new Fitness Centre was on a par with the much older Orono Town Hall in terms of energy efficiency. Only three of the 16 buildings studied received a "good" energy rating. These included included the Orono and Newcastle Newcastle Fire Stations and the Hampton Municipal Building. Building. >i "., The"'«baseball ( diamonds^ uand' Newcastle! «Fitness' Cfentre were an issue "at a Town Council meeting iri early May. It was suggested that the proposed $35 baseball diamond diamond fee for 1986 be de-, creased to $25 per day, plus $5 for each succeeding day. In addition, a fee of $15 per day would be charged for the use of the diamond lights. Community Services Director, Director, Jan Devantier recommended recommended that "a family membership at the Newcastle Newcastle Fitness Centre be available available in 1986/87. This recommendation recommendation was made in response response to public demand. The suggested annual rate for the membership The Canada Employment Centre for Students officially officially opened at the Bowmanville Bowmanville Mall. A representative representative of the student employment employment centre said the prospect of summer jobs for students looked promising. Bowmanville's downtown merchants announced plans for an "I Love Downtown Downtown Bowmanville Sale". The event was scheduled to > begin, May ,29, and, end May i "diet " ' , uîj.iq'i'oH )/;$•,vmthl ■ -1. i ■. y. -r-rr-r ■ : l : . , Members of Newcastle council considered raising parking fees for meters in . downtown Bowmanville to 25 cents per hour. A plaque recognizing the historical significance of Ebenezer United Church was unveiled on Sunday, May 25. The chapel was originally associated with the Bible Christian Church. This was a group formed in Devon and Cornwall Counties Counties in the early 1800s during during a spiritual revival. Some adherents moved to Canada in the 1830s, settling in a number of areas including the rural portions of North- Insurance premiums in the region of Durham will likely be going up by 45 per cent. That possibility was introduced in a report to the Durham Region's finance finance committee. Most local doctors in Bowmanville Bowmanville joined in on the fight to stop Bill 94. As of June 12, physicians were to have cancelled most regular regular office. visits. However,, doctors were treating urgent urgent care cas.eseither in.the : hospital or in théiroffices. The plans and site of the new Bowmanville Arena were announced by Arena Subcommittee Chairman Hal McKnight in July. The proposed site for the arena was Hwys «2 and 57, and the approach that Councillor McKnight said would be used to build the arena was the "design- build" approach where specifications for the arena are sent to bidding companies. companies. Bids from the companies would be based on the costs" of designing and building the structure. Councillor McKnight said the subcommittee had a specific agenda which would see council awarding a contract to a construction firm by the end of October. He also said that while final costs for the estimated $5 million building were unknown, he would be surprised surprised if the costs were 20 per cent higher than the estimates. estimates. "We're trying to get value for our dollar from the concept concept we're working with," he said. After 52 years of service, Edna Laird retired as organist organist for Maple Grove United Church. A special appearance of John Candy and Joe Flaherty Flaherty excited Orono residents residents when the actors arrived arrived in town to film a three- part comedy entitled "Really "Really Weird Tales." An off-Seakon celebration of the Christmas holidays got underway "that" month with the "Christmas in July Sidewalk Sale" in downtown downtown Bowmanville. Santa Claus and his hel- . pers were on hand as a variety variety of celebrations and sales were held during the Thursday-to-Saturday celebration. Following a report by the municipality's energy auditor auditor stating that most buildings in the Town of Newcastle are not very energy efficient, Council has recommended taking A report recommending the completion of the Darlington Darlington Generating Station was released by the Provincial Provincial Government's Select Committee on Energy, and MPP Sam Cureatz praised the report for its conclusions. conclusions. "I'm just so pleased that even the Liberal adminis- Turn to Page 5 Bradley Gilpin, a Durham College business administration administration student, received the Student of the Year Award from the Student Administrative Administrative Council. The award to the Bowmanville resident recognized his extensive extensive involvement in S.A.C. sponsored activities. Mayor John Winters addressed addressed a meeting of the Bowmanville Chamber of Commerce and noted that 1,000 new houses are expected expected to be built in the municipality within the year. He urged all members of the community to workto- gether in the building of a better town. "In the final analysis, a town is only as strong as its people," he said. Over 40 foreign students who attended the Sri Inai International College in Bowmanville found themselves themselves looking for a new school. The college, which focused on preparing foreign students for university university entrance, was located at the former Training School site. The school principal explained that the college was closing for financial reasons. It needed at least 100 pupils per year to slay financially secure. And although future enrollments enrollments were increasing, the numbers were not sufficient sufficient to justify continued operations. The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education Education announced that it was approving a $600,000 project project which would see sower niirl vunlnt* mnlnu ovlnîlflcïd Dear Customers and Friends: Due to our remaining stock, we will remain open until January 15th. We have several 2 pc. chesterfields, sofa beds, chairs, wooden kitchen suites, mattresses and box springs, some mismatch, mismatch, mates beds, occasional tables, lamps, microwave ovens, 2 refrigerators and a dishwasher. Everything must go regardless of price! The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. F.A. KRAMP FURNITURE LTD, 37-41 King St. E., Bowmanville 623-7071