THORNTON NEWS
by Cathie Miller

Many Easter and springtime events are being held around the area in the next couple weeks. One of my favourites is the annual Pancake Breakfast held by the Thornton Lions on Good Friday, April 6 serving breakfast from 7:30 until 11:00 a.m. at the Lions Hall on Barrie Street in downtown Thornton. The cost is $5.00 for adults and $2.50 for children. All proceeds will be donated to the Cancer Unit at Royal Victoria Hospital. Also the Thornton Lions will be at the 400 Market this coming weekend and Easter weekend taking Photos with Live Easter Bunnies which is always fun for the kids.

The Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival is this coming weekend, March 31 and April 1 at the Tiffin Conservation Area. It features many family activities including music, horse drawn wagon rides, hiking tours, children's crafts, an Enviro Fair featuring national, provincial and local agencies that are working to protect our natural environment and a full pancake breakfast. Admission prices include breakfast and all activities. Adults are $10 and children 12 and under are $5. The gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. The Tiffin centre is located on the 8th line of Essa north of County Road 21. For more information call 705-424- 1479 ext. 713 or visit www.nvca.on.ca

The Easter Bunny will be riding the South Simcoe Railway on Easter Weekend, April 7 and 8. There will be four trips starting at noon, then at 1:00; 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.; each trip takes about an hour. They will feature games, prizes, treats and lots of fun. Advanced reservations are recommended by calling 905-936-5815 or by visiting their website at www.southsimcoerailway.ca . Tickets cost $13 for adults and $7 for children. The Easter Express is located in Tottenham. The regular South Simcoe Railway schedule begins on Victoria Day weekend and continues until Thanksgiving.

Ivy Minor baseball is hosting a registration on Saturday, March 31 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Ivy Orange Hall located on the 20th Side Road of Essa west of County Road 27. Registration is for teams of T-Ball, Rookie Ball, Tyke, Peewee and Bantam players. For further information contact Christine Mink at 721-8116 or Charlene Vanderpost at 739-9226.

Registration began this week for the next story time at the library. Each four week session runs on either four consecutive Monday or Tuesday mornings. The cost is $2.00 per child per session.

Also a reminder that you only have until Saturday, March 31 to purchase your dog tags available at the Essa Public Library or Township Offices for $20 per dog. Valid proof of their rabies vaccination is needed at time of purchase.

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…..