i-\ Orono Town Hall Weekly Times Volume 64, Number 19 750 GST Included Wednesday, May 10,2000 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Students from Newcastle, Orono, Hampton and Newtonville Public Schools played off in a chess tournament last Thursday, at Orono Public School. Matthew Coe (foreground) went undefeated all day, bringing his Newcastle team to victory. Also pictured is Benjamin Gale playing for Hampton Public. Next blood donor clinic Healthy individuals, between the ages of 17,and 71, can give blood every 56 days, although first time donors must be under 61. All blood types are needed, with a special need for donors with type "O" blood. Wednesday, May 17/00 Clarington Beech Centre 26 Beech Avenue Bowmanville 1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Blood. It's in you to give. For more information on Blood Donor Clinics in your area call Canadian Blood Services at 416-974-9900 Ext 3534 or 1-800-701-7803 Ext. 3534, or visit our website website at www.bloodsetvices.ca Region commits dollars to Bethesda House Happenings ... x ST. SAVIOUR'S ANGLICAN CHURCH SALAD SUPPER St. Saviour's is holding their Salad Supper, Wed. May 17, 2000, Parish Hall, Adults $1.0.00, Two Sittings 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Phone Charles Gray 987-4551. NEWTONVILLE MUSICAL COFFEE HOUSE À music testimonial and fellowship is being held on Friday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. for adults at the Newtogville Community Hall on Church St. « V J Bethesda House Shelter, for abused women and children will receive some funding stability stability from the Region of Durham. The Shelter held a public meeting last month, when they realized they had insufficient funds to keep their doors open to the end of the month. Under the agreement passed at Regional Council, last Wednesday, Bethesda House will receive funding for 12.5 beds a night, whether they are used or not. Social Services Chair, ■ Larry O'Connor stated, "this offers stability they didn't have in the past." The agreement assures Bethesda' House $14,500 of the $28,000 a month it costs to run the 15 bed facility. Bethesda House had been operating under a hostel funding funding program, where the Region would pay an amount for each bed used. Of that amount, the Province provides 80% of the dollars, and the Region 20%. The Shelter which opened its doors in March of 1995, did so knowing a provincial funding cap was in place for victims of violence. Bethesda House is one of only two shel- ' ters operating in the province without provincial funding. Mayor Hamre asked fellow Regional Councillors to help ' try and get the Province to recognize Bethesda House as a shelter for abused women and children. "If it closes, there will be a large number of women and children that will have nowhere else to go,"' she stated. A safe haven for kids A new committee will be formed to work toward? making making children and youth feel safe in Clarington's- downtown downtown areas. I * "I would like to volunteer myself for the committee," stated Ward 4 Councillor Charlie Trim. "I havej concerns concerns that will help that |com- mittee," Trim said. Colleen Groeneveld of the Clarington Block Parent Association, appeared before coifncil on Monday evening, voicing her concerns with! the newly adopted 'We care about our young people' motion, which was made \by Councillor Trim a week prior. The motion states the the Council of the Municipality of Clarington, invite merchants and businesses throughout the Municipality to volunteer to provide assistance and a safe! temporary site for children\ and youth during business \ hours,. The Municipality will provide provide up to $5,000 for indoor displays and .educational material. . Groeneveld was qujte con- ■cemed that signs would be placed in store windows, without without the proper police screening screening done. Every person over the age of 18, in a home supporting supporting the Block Parent sign, must bq screened by police. Clarington's Block Parent Association operates throughout throughout the Municipality, and has connections with the Neighbourhood Watch initiative. initiative. The Association is Rinded Rinded through United Way, and receives à budget of $1,400 a year. On top of that, the group raises another $800 annually. Mayor Hamre assured Groeneveld, before her presentation presentation that the motion in no way intended to replace what Block Parents or the police have in place. "It's not intended intended to replace or ignore the good that's been done," she stated. "What council supported," supported," she said, "is if kids are downtown and scared, (continued page 3)