THORNTON NEWS
by Cathie Miller

A very special birthday greeting goes out this week from family and friends to Kay McKiernan who is celebrating her 90th birthday. Best Wishes, Kay and a very Happy Birthday!

The Essa Historical Society will hold their monthly meeting this coming Saturday, February 24 at the Thornton library starting at 1:30 p.m. The topic for the meeting will be heritage. Roll Call is your ancestry - bring your family plaid. Anyone interested in attending is welcome. Call Olive at 458-9971 for more information.

In case you missed the article in last week's Scope, Bell Mobility will be holding a Public Information Meeting at the Thornton Arena on Wednesday, February 28 starting at 6 p.m. They are proposing to erect a tower 70 metres tall (230 feet) on Concession 6 in Innisfil, which I'm told is behind the former Auto Wrecker's just south of the village on Highway 27. Concerned citizens would like to see the tower relocated further from the built-up area of Thornton. A survey will be handed out at the meeting for attendees to express their concerns which will be forwarded to the Innisfil Council. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Interested in doing something a little different this weekend and enjoying a winter's day outdoors? The Friends of Minesing Wetlands are hosting a Snowshoe Walk to explore the eastern portion of the Minesing Wetlands this coming Saturday, February 24. The walk will take approximately four hours and snowshoe rentals are available. Both members and non-members are invited to participate but pre-registration is mandatory as this is a weather dependant outing. To register call the Nottawasaga Conservation Authority at (705) 424- 1479.

Essa Parks & Recreation are holding a Spring Fling registration event for sporting teams, organizations and recreation programs available in the Township. It will be held on Saturday, February 24 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Thornton Arena. Also for those needing something for the kids to do during Winter Break, they are holding March Break Mania from March 12 until the 16th at the Thornton Arena. It runs from 8 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily costing $15 per day per child or $20 per day per child if there is a field trip. Some of the fun activities planned are skating, crafts, snow tubing and glow in the dark golf. To register, visit the Essa Administration Centre at 5786 County Road 21. For more information call 424- 9917 and ask for Parks & Recreation.

To fund raise for the new Angus Library and the addition at the Thornton Library, Essa Public Library book bags are available for sale at both branches. For just $10 you can purchase a high quality canvass book bag to carry your library books and materials in. The proceeds from the sale of the bags will remain at the branch at which it was purchased.

This coming Friday, February 23 marks the start of "Freedom to Read Week." This is an annual event by the Book and Periodical Council's Freedom of Expression Committee which reaffirms everyone's right to intellectual freedom which is guaranteed through the Canadian Charter of Rights. The Essa Public Library will have displays at both their branches promoting "Freedom to Read Week," and you are invited to stop in pick up a quiz, check out the display of challenged book titles and be made aware of the issues.

Registration has begun for the next Storytime at the library. Storytime will be held on Monday or Tuesday mornings, starting February 26, from 10 - 11 a.m. The cost is just $2.00 per child, for a four-week session. Join the Essa Public Library Storytime today for fun, stories, games, crafts and socializing for children, 3 - 5 years old.

As always, if you have any news, meetings, anniversaries or special occasions, I'd be happy to write about them. You can email me at thorntonnews@ rogers.com or call me at (705) 458-0869 or drop it off at 25 Robert Street. Bye for now…..