CHURCHILL NEWS
by Linda Gerow

It would appear that winter has finally arrived. Snow fell on the slopes and the skiers were delighted, loading up their skies to head out for a weekend of fun. Never mind that the trees were budding or that spring bulbs were poking their heads out of the ground; go back to sleep guys, it's going to be a while yet!

Library News: Churchill Branch: 2282 4th Line, Churchill, Ontario: (705) 456-2671 Branch Manager: Brianne Wilkins

Regular Programs and Activities: Children MUST be the appropriate age by the first day of a new session in order to enroll in that session.

Registration for our next programme begins Tuesday, January 16.

Beginning in our January 2007 session, proof of child's age will be required in order to register for ALL storytime and special programs. Please call the branch for all information.

Churchill Family Storytime: Thursdays at 2p.m. Stories, activities and crafts for children of all ages accompanied by their parents.

Book Magic: Wednesdays at 5p.m. For children 5 to 8 years old. Stories, crafts, games, and more!

Churchill Board Game Club: Thursdays at 5p.m. Join us and play a variety of games. Make some new friends! Pre-registration required at Churchill only

Cost: FREE

Family Literacy Day will be celebrated on Saturday, January 27th. Created by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation in 1999, ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day® (FLD) is a national initiative that promotes the importance of reading and learning together as a family. Every year, on January 27, families and communities across Canada celebrate this special day at literacy-themed events coordinated by literacy organizations, schools and libraries. Honorary Chair Robert Munsch will be appearing on the message boards of both www.ytv.com and www.treehousetv.com with two very special storytelling events for Family Literacy Day®. Visit one of our local libraries and help us celebrate this very important day.

Movie Madness: All tickets are $2, Refreshments are $1.

Flushed Away (G) The story of an uptown rat that gets flushed down the toilet from his penthouse apartment, ending in the sewers of London, where he has to learn a whole new and different way of life.

Churchill Branch: Saturday, February 17, 1:00

Happy Feet(PG) Into the world of the Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through song, a penguin is born who cannot sing. But he can tap dance something fierce! Churchill Branch: Saturday, March 3, 1:00 p.m.

Junior Youth Group: Parish of St. Peter's and St. John's (St. PJ's) hold their weekly meetings at St. Peter's Anglican church in Churchill from 6:30-8:00 p.m. each week. All youth aged 9-13 are welcome to join. Call Pam at 705-735- 3484 for information.

Senior Youth Group (ages 13-18) meet every second Sunday at St. John's Anglican church in Cookstown for lunch and bible study at 1:00 p.m. The next meeting is January 24th. All high school aged youth are welcome to join. Please call Pam at the above number for all information.

Euchre: Euchre is held every Wednesday afternoon at St. Peter's Anglican church parish hall beginning at 1:00 p.m. Call Reg at 705-456-6801 for information. All proceeds go to the church Building Fund.

Blood Donor Clinic: Please give blood at the Churchill Community Centre on Friday February 2nd, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Make an appointment by calling 1-888-236-6283 and save a life. This is the first Churchill Blood Donor Clinic. Check out the website at www.blood.ca.

Smile: Several local churches were being overrun with squirrels. Meetings were called and the Presbyterians decided that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will. The Baptists met and decided to drown the squirrels in their baptistery but the squirrels escaped somehow and were doubled by the following week. The Methodists decided they could not harm any of God's creatures so they trapped them and released them a few miles from the church, only to find them back the following week. The Catholic church finally found a way to get rid of them...they baptized the squirrels, registered them as members of the church and now they only see them on Christmas and Easter. (thanks for the joke, Betty)

If you have any news items/events that you would like to see in this column, please contact me at lagerow@rogers.com or call 705-436-9769.