CHURCHILL NEWS
by Linda Gerow

Halloween is the holiday we celebrate on October 31, a festive day of dressing in costume and visiting the homes of friends and neighbors to ask for "treats" (hopefully candy- the BIG bars). We decorate our homes with carved pumpkins and images of ghosts, witches, bats, spiders and skeletons. Christians celebrated November 1 as All Souls Day, and may have originated the tradition that became our "trick or treating". The custom of "soulling" involved beggars going from home to home, asking for treats called "soul cakes". In return for a cake, the beggar promised to say prayers of indulgence for the deceased relatives of the people giving the cakes. These prayers were considered critical to ensure the quick passage of souls to heaven. To keep evil spirits from entering their homes, people would dress in disguise to scare the spirits away.The Jack O'Lantern comes from an Irish folktale about a wily man named Jack who tricked the Devil, but who also angered God. The upshot of the tale is that Jack was condemned to walk the earth forever, with only a candle inside a squash to light his way. Be sure and watch out for all those little ghosts and goblins on October 31st...have a safe and Happy Halloween!!

Library Happenings: Churchill Branch: Manager: Brianne Wilkins; 705-456- 2761

Book Magic: An after school club for children grades 1-3: Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. Board Games Club: Play a variety of games and make some new friends. Thursdays 5-6 p.m.

PAWS to Read: Improve your child's literacy skills - READ TO A DOG! 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. Preregistration 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

Christmas Bazaar: St. Peter's Anglican Church is having their annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Stroud Arena (upstairs) There will be crafts galore, lunch room, raffles, penny table, preserves, baking and much more. The hall has elevator access. Come on out and make this event another success. All proceeds to St. Peter's Anglican Church general fund. Call Carolyn at 705-458-0748 for further information.

OPP Choir: St. Peter's Anglican Church is hosting the OPP Choir on Friday, November 24th at 7:30 p.m. After the performance there will be light refreshments. Gift packs and Poinsettias will also be available for order/purchase in time for your Christmas shopping. For information call 705- 456-6731.

Turkey Dinner: St. Peter's Anglican Church is having their annual turkey dinner on Friday, December 8th from 5-7 p.m. Adult tickets are $12 and children under 12 will be $6. Tickets will be available at the door. For information call Linda at 705-436-9769 or 705- 456-7293.

Youth Group: The Parish of Churchill and Cookstown youth group the St. P.J.'s, meet each Thursday at St. Peter's Anglican church from 6:30- 8:30. The next meeting is October 26th for Halloween Games night...wear your p.j.'s. On November 2nd, the group will be baking for the upcoming bazaar on Nov. 4th. Call Pam at 705-735- 3484 for all information.

The Parish of Churchill and Cookstown High School Youth Group meets every other Sunday at St. John's Anglican church in Cookstown at 1 p.m. for lunch and discussion. New members are welcome to attend. On Nov. 4th the group will meet at the Allandale Recreation Centre for a Christmas Bazaar Fundraiser and on Nov. 17th at the same rec centre for Swimming from 6:30-8 p.m. for a cost of just $4. Call Pam for further information at the above number.

Book Unveiling: Innisfil Historical Society will be holding the book unveiling for their Farms of Innisfil in the Churchill Community Centre on Friday, December 8th at 2:30 p.m. The book launch itself will take place between 7 and 8 p.m.

Gilford & District Horticultural Society. Annual General Meeting and potluck supper will take place on November 12, at 5.30 p.m at the Churchill Community Centre, Yonge Street. We hope all our friends and guests can join us in this great event when the trophies and other

awards earned during the year are presented and the new executive elected.There will also be door prizes and a great feast ! It is definitely an event not to be missed. Hope to see you all there. For information concerning supper call Lucy at 705- 456-3747 or President Judith at 705-431-9278 or Secretary Kathy for other info at 905-853-8785

Churchill United Church welcomes all children from kindergarten to grade 8 to join them for Sunday school at 11 a.m. Call 705-435- 4267 for more information. There is also an active youth group.

Playgroup: 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.

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.

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 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.

Sunday Dinner: Roast beef and all the trimmings on Sunday, October 29th at 5 p.m. Call ahead for reservations to Maggie at 705-456-7293 or Bob at 436-5197.

Veteran's dinner: December 2nd. This is the annual dinner in honour of the Veterans. If you know of any Veterans who would like to join us, let us know. The meal is on us! Rama Bus Trip: Bus leaves the legion at 9 a.m. and Stroud Arena at 9:15 a.m. on October 30th. Contact Myrtle Hastings at 456- 4895 or Susan Gates at 436- 4967.

Roast Beef Dinner: Gilford United church. Enjoy roast beef and all the trimmings plus homemade pies. Two sittings at 5 & 6:30 p.m. Adults are $13 and under 12 are $5. For tickets call 705-456-2006.

Smile: While working for a local church, they have a ministry that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, Jane used to take her fouryear old daughter, Sally, with her on the afternoon rounds. Sally was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day Jane found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. Jane braced herself for the inevitable barrage of questions, but Sally merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"

Another Smile: During a visit to the local asylum, a visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. "Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

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