Shopping off to a slow start
CHURCHILL NEWS
by Linda Gerow

Christmas shopping all done? Gifts wrapped up too? Decorating accomplished? Baking finished and in the freezer? Christmas cards all signed and ready to be posted? If you answered yes to any or all of the above, I'm not sure I am liking you right now.

I had all the good intentions in the world to have my shopping done, decorating finished, baking well under way but alas, it isn't so. I thought the recent snowfall would encourage me, spur me on to hit the malls and get motivated.

All that snow did was keep me home from work and make me realize I really have to get going.

I have a month left, wish me luck.

Library news: Churchill branch manager Debra Mann. The branch's phone number is 456- 2671.

Christmas family storytime: Thursday December 13 from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Join us for games, songs, stories and crafts.

Children's Christmas Crafting Workshop: Also on the 13th, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Create your own wooden Christmas decorations with Howard Greenaway. Shape the ornament and decorate it ready for your tree. Ages 10 and up, $5 for the first ornament and $2 for any additional ornaments. Call or stop in to register.

Movies: There are two movies showing in December, The Simpsons, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m., and Stardust, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $2, snack and drink for $1.

Book Sale: From Dec. 11 to 15 during regular hours, we'll also be having a book sale. Come in and give these gently used books, magazines, and videos a home for the holidays.

Registration is closed for F3 and family storytime. Our next session will run the week of Jan. 15 and Feb. 26. Registration begins on Jan. 8.

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 Junior Youth Group's next meeting is Nov. 29 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).

Senior youth group: Please contact Pam for information about the teen youth group held Sundays at St. John's in Cookstown.

Building for youth: On Sunday December 2 at 7 p.m. at the Gilford United Church, the Churchill/Gilford United Church youth will be hosting an evening of fun. They will be performing skits written by Rev. Glen Eagle and providing their own freshly baked refreshments after the show. All are invited to attend the evening for a freewill donation at the door.

For information, please call Wendy at 456-4692 or e-mail zanywlp@yahoo.ca.

Free Turkey and Ham dinner is being offered for the first time at St. Peter's Anglican Church at Yonge Street in Churchill, on Friday, December 7 from 5 to 7 p.m.

This is St. Peter's way of giving back to its community. Space will be limited to the first 150 people, so it's first come, first serve.

If you wish, you may bring either a cash donation or non-perishable items to support our annual Christmas for Kids program. To reserve tickets, please call Joyce at 431-9231.

Christmas sampler sale is a fundraiser for the Churchill Moms and Tots Playgroup. Enjoy Christmas baked goods from our family's favourite recipes. The ladies will be serving coffee and selling treats for $10 per box on Saturday December 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until we run out! Come and pick up an assorted box of treats to take home, or pre-order to make sure you don't miss out! Please call Barb at 456-8196 or Kim at 456-1859 before Dec. 5 to place an order.

Open house: The Churchill Curling Club is holding its open house until Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. This is for adults only please. Call 456-2100 for more information.

Happy birthday to my good friend Fred Zielke on Sunday November 25. I won't tell you how 'young' Fred is, but let's just say we didn't put candles on his cake in case of a fire! Just kidding, my friend. Many happy returns.

Get better wishes go out to Eve Gardner. We miss you at St. Peter's.

Smile: I am going to try this one. It's difficult but I'll try. Exercise for people over 50.

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a five pound potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10 pound potato sacks. Then try 50 pound potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100 pound potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

I'm at the last level. After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

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