BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

The Kings Mutual Century Centre – known as the ‘AppleDome’ – is another step closer to reality following a successful fundraising dinner and auction March 1.

Wintry weather didn’t stop around 350 people from gathering at the Old Orchard Inn for the seventh edition of the event – along with a summer golf tournament, one of the building committee’s two main fundraisers of the year.

The highlight of the evening was the Municipality of Kings County’s $450,000 official donation to the proposed Berwick multisport facility – a $30,000 commitment over the next 15 years.

Fundraising committee chairman Bob Best says this year’s dinner and auction sold out at 430 seats; while the weather kept some people away, the dinner and auction still realized “a little over $53,000.

“We feel we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re very grateful to all those who bought tables and individual tickets, and to all those who provided us with auction items.”

The municipality’s contribution is especially welcome, given its size and scope.

“We always understood the county would eventually come on board,” Best says. “They’ve always been very supportive of what we’re trying to do.” He added “the time (for the donation) was right, with us scheduled to break ground this spring.”

While the response of the corporate community has been “outstanding,” Best added, even after the facility is built, “we’ll likely always be in need of funds, so we’ll have to continue to hold fundraisers.”

Such events also keep the facility in the forefront of people’s minds.

Best notes the committee is currently selling future seats at the facility, at a cost of $200 each, which will guarantee the buyer a seat at the Apple Dome’s opening ceremonies.

“The day we break ground, we will have a mailout” inviting local individuals and businesses to purchase “a brick for $100, a seat for $200 or a plaque for $1,000 as a permanent part of the completed facility.”