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

Tribute to Schultz Randi and Paul Ferguson, designed this snow sculpture in front of their home on Main St. Orono, as a tribute to Charles Schultz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip, who passed away earlier earlier this month. Rash of vehicle break-ins Wiersman guest speaker at association meeting by Roy Forrester Residents are advised not to leave valuables in their vehicles in light of the number number of vehicle break-ins reported of late. North Orono Neighbourhood Watch has been informed of six break- ins since the end of January 2000. On January 25, a car parked on Main Street was broken into, nothing was temoved. A bike was reported reported stolen from the property. On February 4, a truck parked on ' Park Street was broken into, and change was taken. In the early morning of February 14, two vehicles on After several unsuccessful attempts by Murray Weppler to have a non-agenda item dealt with, the annual meeting of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority .(GRCA) got underway. Weppler's item will be dealt with at the next regular meeting of the GRCA. Weppler had the opportunity opportunity at the end of the meeting to introduce an item relating to the recent call for proposals the GRCA made recently. Weppler, Township of Hamilton representative, introduced a motion to cjelay proceeding with any large developments in the Ganaraska Forest until the Government of Ontario takes North Station Street were broken broken into, cash and cigarettes were removed. The next day, a truck on North Station Street was broken broken into a second time, nothing nothing was found or taken. Also on this day, two vehicles parked on Centre Street were reported broken into, nothing was taken. A suspect wearing a beige coat with green stripes was seen leaving a truck on Rowe St. on February 21. Nothing was found or taken. If you observe any suspicious suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, neighbourhood, call police at 579- 1520. action to implement a provincial provincial policy to protect the Oak Ridges Moraine. At its last regular meeting, the GRCA voted to look at a proposal from a private company company to build a golf course on a 200 acre parcel of the forest. Man vers Township representative, representative, Roseanna Vachon, reported her council agreed in principle to the golf course proposal at their regular pieet- ing of February 15. "Council thought it was a viable proposal," proposal," stated Vachon. Representatives of EnviroGolf had made a presentation presentation at this open meeting. The 200 acre parcel earmarked earmarked for the golf course proposal lies solely in Manvers Township. Weppler's motion received no support from board members members and was defeated. Weppler is the ' lone board member who did not support approving in principle, the EnviroGolf proposal. Re-elected GRCA Chair, Larry Hall was re-elected to a third term, and vice-chair, John Lindsay was re-elected to another one year term. A brief summary of the Authority's finances was presented presented by General Manager, Linda Laliberte. The 1999 budget was an approximate 6% increase from 1998, at $848,357.00, reported Laliberte. Municipal levies comprise 45% of the GRCA's revenue. Provincial grants account for 12%, with the remainders being made up from user fees, conservation services and water management management fees. Laliberte highlights some of the Authorities activities this year, which included approval of a $98,000 grant toward the Ganaraska Ecology Park, and the completion completion of the spillway improvements at Corbett's Darn in Port Hope. After Weppler's motion was defeated, the meeting was adjourned, and snacks were served. IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE John Wiersma, president president and CEO of Veridian, now providing hydro electric service to former customers of Clarington, Ajax and Pick-ering Hydro Electric Commissions was the guest speaker at the regular meeting meeting of the Orono District Community Association. In addressing the group he outlined the complexities involved in creating the new holding company which, at the present time, serves some 59,000 customers. Although he took his audience step by step through the process of reorganizing reorganizing he said he did not have an answer as to future rates. He did say there would be no change till at least November 1st, 2000. The speaker said the change was mandated by the Provincial Government and will be governed by the Ontario ' Energy Board. It will be the Board that must approve of any rate increase. Mr. Wiersma' said Veridian Veridian was the first such company of its kind in Ontario. He said all employ-, ees of the former three utilities utilities remain on staff but will be reduced through attrition. attrition. "We will get more efficient efficient through retirements," he said. The Pickering utility had assets of some $45 million followed by Ajax with $37 million and Clarington with $14 million. Veridian service only about half of the hydro customers in the Municipality of Clarington. Mr. Wiersma said that Veridian has made overture in purchasing the rural customers customers in Clarington from Ontario Hydro. Veridian is also negotiating à possible purchase of the Port Hope Hydro Electric Commission. It was pointed out that the three communities were the shareholders of Veridian. 'The president of Veridian pointed out that the share value of the corporation corporation is enhanced with every purchase and said that the purchase of the Uxbridge utility will benefit current customers. He said the current Board is appointed by the three municipalities with a total of fifteen directors. This number is to be reduced to 12 of which three will represent Clarington. It was pointed out that the Corporation had already paid out $6 million in dividends dividends to the three Municipalities Municipalities and that a further $6 million will follow to the three. in November of this year. It was noted at the meeting meeting that hydro rates in Clarington, Pickering and Ajax had been held at the same level for the past 6 to 7 years. Mr. Wiersma said all three utilities were operating operating on a 4 percent operating surplus and that this would have to be increased to ,9.5 .or 10 percent. Bill Tomlinson said this would increase hydro rates by a similar amount when factored into the cost of operation. There was agreement agreement from most of the audience audience on this statement. Klaas Schoenmaker asked the guest speaker what he saw as to the rate a year from now. "I don't know," came the reply. A new supply line is to be erected* into the Village of Orono. At the present time the supply line is owned by rural hydro. ' MORRIS FUNERAL CHAPEL LTD. SERVING DURHAM REGION SINCE 1841 ALL FUNERAL SERVICES PREARRANGED AND/OR PREPAID BURIAL ^ CREMATION - TRANSFERS " WHERE PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE IS IMPORTANT" FUNERAL DÏRECTORS PAUL R. MORRIS , DOUG R. RUTHERFORD GARY M. CONWAY DEBRAD. KELLEHER 623-5480 4 DIVISION ST.. BOVVMANVILLE - AT QUEEN ST. 4