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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, December 17th, 1975 Santa was the hit of the show on Sunday at the Orono Arena. His young admirer listens attentively as Santa visited Santa on this occasion repeats his words of wisd om. sponsored by the Orono and Close to five hundred children Area Chamber of Commerce. Local group form Regional finance cross country ski club decision costly Last Wednesday night some twenty-five interested persons persons in cross country skiing attended a meeting held in nr ono called for the purpose j x forming a local club. The 'Ttieeting was sponsored by the Clarke Orienteering club and resulted in the formation of a local cross country skiing :lub. Memberships are now being accepted into the dub of which twenty-five have already already joined. Information may be obtained by phoning either Bob Bunting or John Werry, both or Orono and being president and treasurer of the club respectively. Lucien Lam bier was elected secretary of what is to be called the Clarke Cross Country Country Ski Club. Lars Carlson, a teacher at Clarke High School, School, will assist with the operation of the club. Mr. 'arisen is noted for his gr t interest in Orienterring and outdoor sports for individuals and family groups. The Wednesday night meet ing proved interesting with two films on cross-country and pleasure skiing as well as a talk by a noted and avid cross country skier who competes internationally in this popular event of the day. It is plannéd to hold a number of club outings during the winter season with most events to be held in the Ganaraska-Durham Forests. These outings will be of a family nature which is an attribute of the sport. The club intends to make use of public services which may be arranged by the Ganaraska this year. In the 1974-1975 winter season the Ganaraska operated a small chalet at Cold Springs for the general public enjoying both snow- mobiling and cross country skiing. Memberships in the Clarke Cross Skiing Club have been set at $2.00 for students, $4.00 for single adults and $6.00 for a family. Such funds will be used for local outings and to pay membership in the Canada Canada Cross Country federation. bappemngsi... TWENTY -TWO GRANTED LEAVE The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education has so far this year granted twenty-two students early leave from school. A special committee has dealt with 28 applications of which the committee has approved 22 and turned down six. The committee has held seven special meetings for this purposé over the past eleven months. BIRD FEEDING TIME With the recent Snowfall (which has now disappeared) it is time to replenish that bird feeder for those birds who make it their habit to remain in the area during the winter months. Your editor found much activity around the feeder over the past few days and noted two species never before seen at the feeder, downy woodpecker and nuthatches. All the others are back, the cardials, blue jays, chickadees, sparrows and a flock of evening grosbeaks who quickly emptied the feeder within a few hours. Fortunately these vagabonds only appear once in awhile to devour food. TTER FROM MEL DOWNS This office received a note from Mel Downs, former Orono Hydro manager, who has moved to the Heritage Lodge in Brampton, a recently completed senior citizens home. Mel states it is possibly the best in all of Canada and suggests those interested in locating such a development in the area should take a look at it. He sends Seasons Greetings. Last Thursday the Regional Finance committee by a vote of 4-3 will recommend to Regional council that water and sewage costs be borne on a chargeback system to the various municipalities. The committee choose the charge- back system over two other alternatives based on regional rates. The first alternatives, and the only one termed earlier by the finance commissioner as the sensible alternative, was •turned down. It would have phased in a regional rate system over a period of ten years. Defeating the regional phased phased in system were Oshawa council members John Aker, Allan Pilkey and Gordon Attersley as well as Ajax councillor Mary Reid who has always wanted the region to turn over the entire operation of water and sewage costs be borne on a chargeback system system to the various municipalities. municipalities. The committee choose the chargeback system over two other alternatives based on regional rates. In his report to the committee committee Mr. Gartley pointed out that although the finance department staff had provided provided the committee with other alternatives "it is our suggestion suggestion to consider alternative alternative one (uniform rate) as the most desirable recommendation." recommendation." That recommendation, according according to finance staff, was based on a "regional" approach approach and would have "man- y advantages to most municipalities." municipalities." In the report it was pointed out that unless the regional rate alternative was chosen "several municipalities will be unable to cope with the financial burden as proposed by the capital budget." The basic opposition from Oshawa was that the uniform rate over the entire region would see a 80 per cent increase in cost of water RU city residents. The Oshawa | charge would go from $45,58 in 1975 to $76.70 in 1980 under the staged regional rate. Under the same proposal the Orono annual cost in 1975 of $25i97 would increase to $72.39 using the same criteria. Under the charge back system Oshawa's present rate of $46.61 in 1976 would increase to only $48.38 in 1976 while the Orono rate of $60.82 in 1975 which includes all charges, frontage, connection and consumption on a charge back system would increase to $134.94. Information submitted to the committee shows Newcastle Newcastle Village rates going from $165.05 to $275.84 under the charge back system. Bowmanville the other centre with water service would increase from $56.60 to 94.61. These figures take into consideration operating and maintenance costs, debt services, services, and capital expenditures expenditures from current funds. They do not take into consideration consideration funds necessary for local upgrading. Under the phased in regional regional system of charges Newcastle Newcastle Village would drop from $64.12 in 1975 to $57.28 in 1980 while Bowmanville would ( Continued page 3) Orono arena jammed for Santa's visit First Toddlers enrol in new day care centre The Durham Region social services committee learned Thursday the first toddlers will be welcomed at the new Edna Thomson day care centre here Dec, 15, however, the official opening will not be held until the following month. month. The official opening is expected to be Jan. 8 and 9. Correspondence has been received received from newspaper magnate magnate Lord Thomson of Fleet who has indicated he will be in the area early in January. The day care centre has been named in honor of Lord Thomson's late wife. The Orono Arena on Sunday afternoon was jammed packed packed with children and adults to greet Santa on his annual visit to Orono, and to enjoy what has become an annual family outing. The ice surface was actually actually covered with skaters during during the first part of the program with very little room left to maneuvre. All ages were represented on,the ice which continued until the arrival of Santa. A feature of the afternoon's entertainment was a brief broomball game between members members of the Orono Athletic and members of the Great Pine Ridge Kinsmen club. The game ended in a draw. Santa greeted his young followers in the upstairs room at the rink and with the host of children present it took close to an hour and a half before all had been greeted by Santa. Each child received a bountiful bountiful bag of candy along with an apple. Santa was assisted by a group of young girls from the Orono Skating Club. All attending were served hot chocolate, an apple, and Christmas cake by members of the Orono Chamber of Commerce. A host of prizes were also given away to lucky ticket number holders. These prizes were donated by local business enterprises in Orono and were for children. The event sponsored by the Orono and Area Chamber of Commerce was a great success success and lively saw the greatest crowd ever in attendance. attendance. It is estimated that there were close to five hundred people greeted by Santa. The Chamber had made up well over 300 bags of candy prior to the event and had to make more during the afternoon. Talks progressing M. A. Macleod, business administrator of the Northumberland Northumberland - Newcastle Board of Education, said last Thursday Thursday considerable progress was made in reaching agreement agreement on non-monetary items. Board negotiators and bar- ( Continued page 10 Conservation members members to be elected Starting January, 1976, appointments appointments to local conservation conservation authorities by regional council will be elected officials. officials. Durham regional council voted 20 to 10 Wednesday in favour of the motion eliminating eliminating the private citizen from serving on the four local conservation boards. Coun. Clark Mason, who introduced the motion, said he wanted to eliminate "the hassle" council was faced with last year when appointments appointments to the conservation authorities were made. At the time he said the members of council questioned questioned whether the representation be made up of elected people or private citizens. Coun. Mason claimed it caused an embarrassment to the people who were named. "Their ability to serve on the authority was being questioned," questioned," he said. He said he wanted the situation cleared up before council was faced with the same problem. The motion angered two Whitby councillors who voted against the motion. The councillors charged it was physically impossible for local councillors to attend any more meetings. Coun. Don Lovelock (Whitby) (Whitby) said when regional government government took over, a number of committees with private citizens had to be eliminated. "I've come to the conclusion conclusion some of those citizens were doing a more conscientious conscientious job than the politicians are doing now." Coun. Gerry Emm (Whitby) (Whitby) argued the private citizens citizens were "hard working" and should be allowed to serve again. Coun. Mason agreed the people affected are not going to be very happy. The action by council will affect 10 people. I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS Yes, Mommy was kissing Santa and he responded with a big "HO HO". Toots Barra- ball states lie did have a big his new suit and his abunti- growth of v.'iskers. Actually ance of white hair and Santa did look cuite sharp in wiskers.