CHURCHILL NEWS
by Cathie Miller

Pictured is Pam Gervais, Youth Coordinator of the Parish of Churchill and Cookstown, and Mr. Craig Hunter, as she accepts the Innisfil Credit Union Scholarship. Pam received this award towards her studies at Wycliffe College for the Lay Ministry Diploma Program with an emphasis on Youth Ministry, which she begins next month. photo by Jennifer Alldred

With the leaves changing and the air taking on that hint of Autumn, I was very pleased I'd booked an overnight boat cruise aboard the Winonah II out of the Muskoka Wharf for a getaway to Windermere House. Since 1870 Windermere House has been a prestigious Canadian landmark in the Muskoka Lakes region and throughout all these years has been affectionately known as The Lady of the Lakes. Destroyed by fire in February of l996 during the filming of the movie, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Windermere House was rebuilt the following year to its original grandeurs discretely incorporating modern materials and facilities which were not available in the 19th century.

Prior to the fire, Windermere House, with its gracious lawns, English country style gardens, stone verandah and patio overlooking Lake Rosseau was the last of the Muskoka Grand Victorian era resorts. It continues today in the same tradition.

We had a marvellous time, being treated like Royalty the entire time. The accommodations were first class, the food wonderful and the atmosphere breathtaking.

If you ever get the chance to take this cruise, don't hesitate.

Library News: 2282 4th Line, Churchill, Ontario (705) 456-2671: Branch manager: Brianne Wilkins: Hours: Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 1 p.m.- 7pm.;Wednesday: 10am.- 8p.m.; Thursday: 1 p.m.- 7p.m.; Friday: Closed; Saturday: 10a.m.-5p.m. Library website: www.town.innisfil.ca (click on Library under "Living in Innisfil) Stroud: (705) 436- 1681; Lakeshore: (705) 431- 7410; Cookstown: (705) 458-1273.

Book Magic: An afterschool club for children grades 1-3. Wednesdays 5-6 p.m.

Board Game Club: Play a variety of games and make some new friends while you're at it! Dates TBA. Thursdays 5-6 p.m.

PAWS to Read: Improve your child's literacy skills - READ TO ADOG! PAWS is designed to improve literacy skills by using Certified Therapy Dogs. These gentle, loveable dogs just love it when children read them a book! Sign up today for the chance to read them a story. Perfect for beginning readers, struggling readers, shy readers or ANY child that loves to read to dogs! Ages: 5 & up: Cost: FREE!! Saturday, November 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m.@ Churchill Branch.

Halloween Fun @ Your Library: Spookfest: You've seen Fear Factor - but have you experienced it? Join us for chills, thrills, and a spooky good time! Sign up (if you dare) for the library's spookiest Spookfest ever! P r e - r e g i s t r a t i o n required.Ages: 5 & up: Cost: $3. Thursday, October 26, 5:00-6:00 p.m.@ Churchill Branch.

Pumpkin Decorating: You supply the pumpkin and the creativity, we provide the craft supplies. Come prepared to make a fabulously spooky pumpkin! Take it home with you or keep it at the library for a couple of days and enter it in our Best Dressed Pumpkin Contest. Pre-registration required; pick up your ticket today at your nearest branch: Ages: all (children ages 5 & under must be accompanied by an adult): Cost: $1: Wednesday, October 25, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ Churchill Branch

Best Dressed Pumpkin Contest: Bring in your decorated pumpkin (no carving please) to the library by voting day (see below) and let the public vote for their favorite pumpkin! Remember to name your pumpkin. Pumpkins not picked up by Saturday, October 28 will be made into pumpkin pie for library staff! Family entries welcome! Ages: All - Family entries welcome: Cost: Free: Voting Days: Thursday, October 26, All Day @ Churchill Branch.

MOVIE MADNESS! We're CRAZY for Movies! All tickets are $2, Refreshments are $1. Contact the appropriate branch for more information. Monster House: Saturday, October 21, 1:00 p.m @ Churchill Branch. Three teens discover that their neighbor's house is really a living, breathing, scary monster.

Christmas Bazaar: St. Peter's Anglican Church Christmas Bazaar will be held at the Stroud Community Centre on Saturday, November 4th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., upstairs in the banquet hall. Carolyn has informed me that all tables have been leased for this year...thank you to all the vendors who took advantage and got their tables early.

This hall has elevator access to the top floor; there will be the usual baked goods, preserves, sewing/knitting, penny draw, hand crafts and raffles. Come on out and make this event another success.

All proceeds go to the St. Peter's Anglican Church general fund.

Euchre is held at St. Peter's Anglican Church parish hall, Hwy #11, every Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. For information, call Reg at 705-456-6801.

Legion News: Branch 547 Belle Ewart: Karaoke is

starting again at Branch 547 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Belle Ewart. Mark your calendars for Friday, September 29th at 8 p.m. The contest will run for five weeks with $1,000 in prizes.

It's Euchre time again! Euchre has started on Thursdays at the Legion beginning at 1 p.m. Join the group for either kitchen or bid Euchre. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Darts is starting up again @ Branch 547 on Monday, September 18th at 7 p.m. for the first couple of weeks so that everyone can have a chance to signup and allow for practice. What a great way to join in and meet new friends.

It appears that the new Cenotaph likely won't be ready in time for the Remembrance Day November 5th services at the Legion.

Everyone has been very supportive in contributing toward this very worthy monument and this new one will be displayed in a more prominent location on the grounds when it is completed.

Churchill Community Playgroup meets Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at the Churchill United Church on Hwy 11. The 0-SK playgroup with toys, crafts, snacks, circle time is supported by the Early Learning Years Ontario Government program.

New members are always welcome. For information please contact Kim Hamilton at 705-456-1859.

Innisfil Beach Gardens is calling for volunteers to help work with seniors. Hey kids...if you need community hours why not give this a try. Please call 705-431- 8105 if you are interested.

The Gilford and District Horticultural Society meets at the Churchill Community Centre the second Monday of each month from March to November. New members are always welcome.

Call Judith Rogers at 431- 9278 or Kathy Barraclough at 95-853-8785 for more information. *some dates may change due to the Thanksgiving weekend.

Churchill United would like to welcome all children from kindergarten to grade 8 to join them for Sunday school at 11 a.m. Call 705- 435-4267 for more information.

The Parish of Churchill and Cookstown's youth group, the St. P.J.'s have resumed their weekly meetings. They will be meeting on alternate Thursdays at St. Peter's Anglican church in Churchill and St. John's Anglican Church in Cookstown.

The next meeting will be at St. John's on October 5th. Meetings run from 6:30- 8:30 unless otherwise stated. Please contact Pam Gervais at 705-735-3484.

The High School Youth Group started Sunday October 1st with a lunch at St. John's in Cookstown starting at 1 p.m. New members of any denomination are most welcome to attend. Come out and join a fun group for high school students. For more information,

please contact Pam Gervais at the above number. Pam recently received a scholarship for her continuing studies at Wycliffe College in the Lay Ministry Program with an emphasis on youth ministry. Congratulations Pam.

Smile: A musical director was having a lot of trouble with one drummer. He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance simply didn't improve.

Finally, before the whole orchestra, he said, "When a musician just can't handle his instrument and doesn't improve when given help, they take away the instrument, and give him two sticks, and make him a drummer." A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can't handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor."

If you have any items/events/news for this column please contact me at lagerow@rogers.com or call me at 705-436-9769.