Help blossoms
Tyne Valley and Arlington Orchard host fundraiser for new rink
ARLINGTON — The Tyne Valley rink rebuild committee raised $1,000 with a blossomviewing fundraiser Sunday at Arlington Orchards.
People were able to drive their cars through the orchards to support the rebuild and view the apple blossoms.
Volunteers with the committee were waiting at the entrance to take donations, but the day was about more than money, said Tyne Valley Mayor Jeff Noye.
“Obviously we want to raise some money today, but I think it’s more important that we get back on the horse and make people aware of it again and get going.”
Since the Dec. 29 fire, which destroyed the community's sports centre, Tyne Valley and the Island has rallied and slightly more than $100,000 has been raised, he said.
“We were doing incredible the first of the year, then, of course, everything went to a screaming halt.”
Noye knows the momentum they had meant people were aware of the rebuild efforts, but now he’s thinking about how the pause on fundraising might impact the future.
“We were a story in people’s minds, and now, with everything going on, it definitely has taken a back burner. Even around here, even locally.”
Particularly troubling is the
uncertainty around local businesses — often the backbone of community projects like new sports centres — and how much, if at all, they may be able to contribute, said Noye.
“Our local businesses, our small businesses, are they going to have that income? We don’t know the answer to that, and I think a lot of businesses don’t know the answer to that, so it’s definitely something that we’re worried about.”
The idea for Sunday’s event came from Barry Balsom, coowner of Arlington Orchards, who approached the rink rebuild committee with the plan.
“We always had people ask us to drive through and look at the apple blossoms,” said Balsom, “and we thought, ‘well, you know, let’s get it organized this year and do it as a kick-off campaign for the Tyne Valley rink just because things have been kind of quiet and it’s nice to get things rolling again for that.”
As far as Balsom’s concerned, opening the orchard to help out is part of owning the orchard.
“We’re kind of old fashioned here — but I hope we’re the new fashion, too — in that any business and any organization is part of the community,” he said, “and to be part of the community, I think, you need to put back into that community.”