Some Halloween tidbits for Churchill residents
CHURCHILL NEWS
by Linda Gerow

Did you know Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first? People spend as much as over $2.5 billion during Halloween on candies, costumes, decorations and parties; the ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognised as human; turnips and beets served as the original jack-o-lanterns. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with orange, the colour of pumpkin. Have a fun Halloween and be good to those trick or treaters, you might be sorry if you aren't. Boo!

Library News: Churchill Branch manager: Debra Mann. Phone number is 456- 2671. Fall programs will run from the week of Oct. 30 to Dec. 4. The following programs are offered at the Churchill Branch:

F3 - Food, friends, and fun - come learn how to make tasty snacks and join in with games and activities in this new club! Ages seven and up,. Runs Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Family story time - stories, games, and crafts for children of all ages accompanied by their parents or caregivers. All ages, Thursdays 2:00-2:45 pm.

Upcoming movies: tickets $2, snack and drink $1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Saturday November 3 at 1 p.m. Arctic Tale, Saturday November 17, 1 p.m. Simpsons Movie, Saturday December 1 at 1 p.m.

Churchill United Church news: Visit the website at www.churchillgilfordunitedc hurchs.org. Check it out!

Churchill community play group meets Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at the Churchill United Church on Highway 11. Toys, crafts, songs, books and snacks are available along with coffee and friendship. Please call Kim for information at 456- 1859.

The Parish of Churchill and Cookstown youth group's next meeting is November 1 at St. Peter's, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is for youth aged nine to 12 years. Call Pam at 735-3484 for information. The youth group now has a new name, COOL (Christians Obey Our Lord). Please contact Pam for information about the teen youth group held Sundays at St. John's in Cookstown.

The Churchill Curling Club is holding its open house from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. This is for adults only please. Call 456- 2100.

Christmas Bazaar: St. Peter's Anglican Church is holding its annual Christmas Bazaar and Tea on Nov. 3, in the Stroud Arena banquet hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some table spaces but these are limited. Bazaar features tea and luncheon area, baking and preserves, home made goods, youth table, gifts for all ages, raffle, silent auction, unique hand crafts and much, much more. Please call Carolyn at 458- 0748 for all information.

GDHS: The Annual General Meeting of the Gilford and District Horticultural Society will be held at the Churchill Community Centre, on Yonge Street, Sunday November 11 at 5.30 p.m. This will be a great pot luck dinner affair. Elections of the 2008 executive will also take place.

Please call Lucy for questions regarding the pot luck at 456-3747, and Kathy for general info at 905-853-8785.

Innisfil Christmas Bazaar on Nov. 17 at the Churchill Community Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Great crafts and home-made items for sale. Lunch and beverages are also available. All tables are booked. Everyone is welcome.

Those questions no one can ever answer: Who decided that a round pizza should be put in a square box? Why did we put a man on the moon before we realized it would be a good idea to make luggage with wheels? Why do we pay to get to the top of tall buildings, then pay to use binoculars to look at things on the ground? If we don't care that Jimmy cracked corn, why do we still sing about it? Why does Goofy stand upright and Pluto stand on all four feet? They're both dogs. On Gilligan's Island, the professor could make a radio out of a coconut. Why couldn't he fix the hole in the boat? Why does a dog get mad at you if you blow in his face, but then stick his head out the window when you take him for a car ride? Just asking.

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