The Orono Santa Claus Parade was an excellent venue for a community donation. On behalf of the Orono Heritage Tractor Club Merrill Graham and Gary Haass presented a donation of $1000 to Marigold Hospice Care. Board members Leo Blindenbach and Marian Timmermans were very appreciative to club members. This was Marigold Hospice Care’s first year, definitely not their last, of entering a float in the parade.
For seven months the doors of the Newcastle Arena have been closed to the public, the Newcastle Stars and Clarington Flames hockey teams as well as the Newcastle Family Connection Dance participants. Inside however there was a flurry of activity all designed to update and improve the structure which was originally opened in 1951.
‘Together We Serve’ is the motto of a Lion. The Newcastle Lions Club is finding it more difficult, as are many community service organizations, to fulfill their critical role in the community. The culprit is low membership and volunteers.
In the intricate tapestry of a community, local service clubs stand as the unsung heroes, weaving threads of compassion, volunteerism, and community spirit. These clubs, often fueled by the collective goodwill of dedicated individuals, play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life in their respective communities. From fostering social connections to addressing pressing needs, local service clubs contribute significantly to the well-being and vitality of communities.
At the heart of any thriving community is a sense of connectedness, a feeling of shared identity and belonging. Local service clubs act as catalysts for social connectivity, providing platforms for individuals to come together, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships. Whether it’s a Rotary Club, Lions Club, or a local volunteer organization, these clubs foster a sense of solidarity that transcends the boundaries of age, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. In a world increasingly characterized by digital interactions, the physical gatherings and shared endeavors facilitated by these clubs create a foundation for genuine human connection.
Wendy Westwood presented Susan Pascoe, coordinator, Clarington East Food Bank, with a $500 donation from ‘The Retired Teachers of Ontario, District 30’, RTO/ERO last week.
On Sunday the Newcastle United Church hosted a Christmas Concert & Sing Along in support of the Clarington East Food Bank. Everyone was invited to an afternoon of singing along to Christmas Carols and enjoyed festive songs performed by the Newcastle Church Choir and the Bowmanville Older Adults Choir.
In 1941 an old farmhouse and auxiliary buildings on the lakefront at the base of Thornton’s Road (Oshawa/Whitby) became the home for the newly established (and secret) spy training camp. It as founded by William Stephenson a WW1 British navy fighter pilot from Winnipeg, Man., born in 1896.
The gardens in Newcastle and their owners will be happy to be introduced to Sarah Powell. “I have always loved plants and gardening. When I was a child, I think I was influenced by my mother and grandmother, who were both keen gardeners.”
Santa was very busy hanging out in Orono on Saturday. After the parade he spent some time at the Durham Farmers’ County Co-op to help celebrate Members’ Days. Even the staff: Stan Lane, Jim Carlow, Dan McConnell, Marny Thertell, Santa, Emma Martin, Ewan Lloyd and Levi, weren’t passing up on the opportunity to have a word with the big guy.