CHURCHILL NEWS
by Linda Gerow

Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As we see the beauty of Autumn, let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours...let us think of our families and friends and let us give thanks in our hearts. Author Unknown. May you always remember your many blessings during the year ahead.

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! All tickets are $2, Refreshments are $1.Monster House: Saturday, October 21, 1:00 p.m at Churchill.

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 has started again at Branch 547 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Belle Ewart. Mark your calendars for Fridays 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 started up again @ Branch 547 on Mondays at 7 p.m. What a great way to join in and meet new friends. Why not come into the Legion on a Monday evening and give it a try.

It's unlikely that the new Cenotaph will 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.

Also, Innisfil Beach Gardens is interested in vendors for their annual craft sale and Christmas bazaar. Book your table early by calling the above number. Cost is $20 per table.

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 Thursdays at St. Peter's Anglican church in Churchill. The next meeting will be on October 12th for 'skits' night. Meetings run from 6:15-8:30 unless otherwise stated. Please contact Pam Gervais at 705- 735-3484. Pam is asking for a couple of adult assistants for youth group night who could help on a rotating schedule. Please contact Pam if you are interested in helping.

The High School Youth Group will have its next meeting on October 15th with a lunch at St. John's in Cookstown starting at 1 p.m. There will be a trip to 'Subway' for the members. 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.

Upcoming Events: St. Peter's Anglican Church in Churchill will be having their annual Christmas Turkey Dinner on Friday, December 8th from 5-7 p.m. Adults are $12 and under 12 will be $6. Please contact Maggie at 705-456-7293 for further information.

St. Peter's Anglican Church will be hosting the OPP Choir on Friday, November 23rd with a performance between 7:30-8:30 p.m. After the performance, there will be a chance to order some terrific gift packs and Poinsettias in time for holiday gift giving. For more information about the choir contact 705-456-6731.

Innisfil Historical Society will be holding the book unveiling for their Farms of Innisfil book at the Churchill Community Centre on Friday December 8th. The unveiling will be taking place at 2:30 p.m. and the book launch will be held beween 2-8 p.

Smile: A city slicker moves to the country and decides he's going to take up farming. He heads to the local co-op and tells the man, "Give me 100 baby chickens." The co-op man complies. A week later the man returns and says, "Give me 200 baby chickens." The co-op man complies. Again, a week later the man returns. This time he says, "Give me 500 baby chickens." "Wow!" the co-op man replies, "You must really be doing well!" "Naw," said the man with a sigh, "I'm either planting them too deep or too far apart!"

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