Have an Apple Dome seat

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

The Apple Dome building fund has added a new fundraising campaign to reach its goal of building a new arena and recreation facility in Berwick.

Since the group started its fundraising efforts, close to $2 million has been raised through community support of annual golf tournaments and $100 brick and $1,000 plaque donations. An additional $3 million has been received from the provincial government and Kings Mutual Insurance.

The new budget for phase one of the project, which will include construction of the foundation and arena and installation of structural and electrical infrastructure, has been revised from the original $3 million to $9.4 million. While members of the planning committee are crossing their fingers for an infusion of federal cash in the months ahead, they also continue to look to the public for its support of the project, which could break ground later this year.

At a January 31 public meeting hosted by the Apple Dome’s volunteer board, chairman George Moody announced details of an arena seat fundraiser that has the potential to raise $240,000 for the Kings Mutual Century Centre. Seats in the planned two-level, 1,200-seat arena can now be purchased for $200, which will get your name on a seat in the facility.

“A donation of that amount also guarantees you that seat at the first event in the arena,” explained Moody.

Berwick businessman Harley Moody was the first to show his support for the initiative by claiming five seats in the future arena. Fundraising committee chairman Bob Best also purchased five, as did WHW architects John Emmett and Joe Zareski, designers of the multi-phase project.