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Orono Town Hall RONO Volume 64, Number 7 750 GST Included Wednesday, February 16, 2000 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 They were all amused. Victorian bandstand to be rebuilt Newcastle United Church held a Victorian Tea Saturday afternoon, in the church hall, complete with silver tea service and delightful afternoon entertainment. Many guests, like Ruby Warburton, (pictured) wore appropriate attire for the occasion. Musical offerings throughout the afternoon were provided by Beth Beranger, Amanda Storks, Johnny Scott, Glady Brown and Gregory and Oliver Ward. The afternoon's proceeds will go towards a wheel chair ramp for the church. Saturday nights, in the late 1890's, Orono folks would head downtown for the band concert. In 1895, members of the Orono Town Band, built a bandstand in the village's central central square, where the Town Hall currently stands. The bandstand was the focal point of their weekly Saturday evening concerts. This Victorian Bandstand moved to at least two different locations, locations, and was finally torn down at the Fairgrounds in the 1970's. Plans are in the works to build a replica bandstand this Spring on the lawns of the Clarke Library. Council has given its approval to,the structure structure on this site last November. The Clarington Concert Band with help from the Oronô Downtown Business Improvement Association and Sonbon Homes' Armond (Sonny) Young hope to begin building the bandstand in April. David Climenhage, Chairman Chairman of the Bandstand committee committee has brought together a skilled group of local carpenters carpenters to build the structure under Sonny Young's super vision. "The project is being done completely with volunteer volunteer labour so' we can erect it for the basic cost of materials. Even the cedar shingles 'for the roof will be sawn-by volunteers volunteers using Mark Stapleton's cedar shingle mill and some cedar logs donated by James Lowery," stated Climenhage. Materials are expected to cost about $8,000. About half of that money has been raised already. Clarington Concert Band will be giving a benefit concert concert on Sunday March 5th, 2000, at 2:00 p.m., in the Orono Town Hall to raise funds still needed for the bandstand project. Admission is accepted for a donation to the bandstand project. Tax receipts will be issued on the spot. Anyone wishing to make a donation can Send a cheque to Clarington Concert Band Bandstand Fund, P.O. Box 337, Orono Ont. LOB 1M0. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations of $20 or greater. We plan to recognize major donors and builders on a plaque. Happenings ORONO DISTRICT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The next meeting of the Association is at St. Saviour's Anglican Church, Mill St., Orono on Monday, February 21, ,2000 at 7:00 p.m. John Wiersma, President and CEO of Veridian Corporation will talk about Veridian and the relationship relationship to the Municipality of Clarington, Veridian's goals and Veridian's objectives for service to Orono. TYRONE UNITED CHURCH CHICKEN HE SUPPER The Church is holding a chicken pie supper and auction on Saturday, February 26, 6:00 p.m. at the Tyrone Community Centre. For tickets call Betty at 263-8424. WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - MARCH 3, 2000 The World Day of Prayer is being held at St. Saviour's Anglican Church at 7:00 p.m. on March 3, 2000. The participating participating churches St. Saviour's, Orono United, Kirby United, all churches in the Newcastle area invite the community community to join them. OPTIMIST CLUB OF NEWCASTLE VILLAGE , Want to leam about babysitting? If yoti are 11 years or older - St. John's Ambulance Babysitting Course, Monday, March 13, 2000, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Newcastle Community Hall, $30 per person, »pre-registration is required. 987-1863 (after 4 p.m.). Veridian dividend - no gift The $948,000 dividend cheque Veridian paid to Clarington last September, will end up costing Veridian hydro customers à 7% rate increase, according to Roy Forrester. When Ajax; Pickering and Clarington hydro commis-, sions amalgamated, last fall, and formed a new company -- Veridian, they paid a 7% dividend to the three municipalities. municipalities. "In all, Veridian. paid close to $6.5 million to the three municipalities in dividends. dividends. This is to be rejteated again in September of 2000, thus amounting to $13 million in the first 12 months of operation," operation," stated Forrester in a presentation to Clarington Councillors Monday morning. "The dividend payments to the Municipality of Clarington assure that hydro users in the Orono, Newcastle and Bowmanville envelope are on the paying end for .the almost $2 million over the 12 month period," Forrester said: "The municipality can spend it wherever they wish. The dividend becomes a municipal tax on the three Clarington centers." The amalgamation came as a result of a Provincial directive directive to deregulate the business of supplying hydro, and municipalities to get out of the hydro business. In the past Clarington Hydro serviced the urban • areas of Bqwmanville, Newcastle and ' Orono. Ontario Hydro Electric Power Commission serviced the rural areas of the Municipality, and Courtice. Clarington Hydro was formed in the early '70's with the' amalgamation of hydro commissions of the three centers. Ontario - Hydro Electric Power Commission still services services .1/2 of the municipality, while Veridian services the other 1/2. • The dividend payment, is put into a special reserve account to be used for special projects, throughout the municipality, as this council and future councils sees fit. Forrester suggests Clarington send back the $948,000 cheque to Veridian, plus interest, and that the municipality of Clarington hold in trust the 16% share of Veridian,, in the interest of Veridian customers in Orono, (continued page 6)