THORNTON NEWS

This coming Saturday December 6, the Thornton Community Turkey Shoot will be held, starting at 10 a.m., at 6831 County Road 27, just south of Thornton.

It is $3.50 per shot, using 12 gauge shotguns only. A lunch booth will be on site. Pie slices can be purchased around the village for $2 each, with a chance to win a turkey, ham or peameal bacon. For more information, call Mike at 458-9279.

Also on Saturday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. is the Cookstown Santa Claus Parade. It leaves the Foodland parking lot and heads east along Queen Street, then turns left onto King Street North (the Highway 89 and 27 intersection) and ends at Cookstown Central Public School. Many of our local children will be participating in the parade. Everyone is invited to stop by the firehall after the parade to visit with Santa.

At Trinity United Church, the regular service which starts at 9:30 a.m. will be replaced by a cantata on Dec. 7th. On Dec. 14, the Sunday School pageant will be held during the regular service. The always peaceful and beautiful Christmas Eve service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24; it is a good way to start your Christmas celebrations.

Christmas in the Village will be held at the Thornton December 7, from 6 until 7 p.m. The evening will start with the countdown to the lighting of the trees surrounding the gazebo. Santa Claus will arrive at 6:15 p.m. for a quick visit with the children. There will be hot chocolate and treats for everyone and those who wish to join in caroling. The Thornton Creek Gazebo is located across from the fire hall/library on Robert Street. Everyone is invited to attend. This event is sponsored by the Thornton Area Action Committee and Essa Parks and Recreation.

In news from Ivy Presbyterian Church, their congregation collected 51 boxes plus cash donations to send to Operation Christmas Child.

The shoe boxes are filled with Christmas gifts and messages of God's love destined for children in Central and South America and West Africa. The ladies of the church will meet on Monday December 8 for their Christmas coffee and social. The community is invited to join them for their special evening of fellowship. On Sunday December 14 at 6:30 p.m., residents are also invited to join the congregation for their annual Christmas Carol Sing.

Special guests will be the St. Jude's Anglican Church Choir. Refreshments and fellowship will follow.

At the Thornton Arena, several free skates will be held over the holidays. The Essa Township Council Free Family Skate will be held Friday December 26 from noon to 3:50 p.m., and two Tim Hortons Free Holiday Skates will be held on Dec. 29 from 3:30 to 4:50 p.m. and Jan. 2 from 12 to 1:20 p.m.

The library has once again been chosen by Santa as one of his special letter drop-off locations this year. Children can pick-up a letter form, or write their own and drop it off at the special mailbox at the library from Dec. 1 to 17. All letters received before the deadline will receive a personal reply from Santa and his library elves. Don't forget to include your name and address so that his letter gets back to you before Christmas. Also at the library, they will be collecting new toys for the Barrie and Area Christmas Cheer Campaign. This is the 30th year for the Christmas Cheer Campaign, last year over 3,500 people in need were helped. For more information about this campaign, call 730-0449. To make cash donations or volunteer, visit www.christmascheerbarrie.c om. You can still purchase canvas book bags, window clings or Batter up for the Library cookie ingredient kits from the library, which would make great hostess or teacher gifts.

Thursday December 11 is the next Barrie Thornton Old Time Fiddlers Night. It will be held at the Lions Hall and the admission price is $3 per adult, while children are free. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. All fiddlers, singers, callers, dancers and listeners are welcome. Call Cec Denney for more information at 458-9996.

If you have any news, announcements, or coming events, e-mail me at thorntonnews@rogers.com or call 458-0869. Bye for now.