Red was the winning colour
CHURCHILL NEWS
by Linda Gerow

I, like many others, watched the annual Academy Awards on Sunday evening. While I found this year's program somewhat boring, it's always interesting to watch the parade down the red carpet and to sneak a peak at what the celebrities are wearing.

It would appear that the colour this year was stop light red and for the most part, it looked great on those who wore it. It always amazes me that the first question they are asked by the various interviewers is, "Who are you wearing?" as if that might be the most important question the viewers want answered. I truly don't care about that, and would love to hear, just once, "I reached into my closet and am wearing the first thing I touched."

I actually could believe that answer for some of them. One dress stuck in my mind this year and not in a good way. While husband Daniel Day Lewis won his second Oscar, this time for There Will be Blood, his lovely wife was wearing the worst dress I've ever seen, apart from the year that Bjork wore what looked like a dead swan around her neck. This one had a gigantic bauble applied to the bodice, red blobs at the shoulders, and the black dress itself, gathered rather unattractively about her body.

But I'll be back again next year to watch all the beautiful people make their walk down the infamous red carpet, armchair critic that I am. It is delicious fun.

Library news: Churchill branch manager, Debra Mann. Phone number is 456- 2671. The branch is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. The current session of programs runs from Jan. 15 to Feb. 26. Check with the branch for space availability.

Silver Birch: A reading program for children in grades 3 to 6. This program includes 10 fiction and 10 non-fiction titles. It also includes 10 express titles that are aimed at grades 3 to 4. Children are invited to read at least five titles from each category and vote on their favourite title. Call your branch for details.

March Break Madness at your library: Registration began yesterday. Mad as a Hatter Party: Tuesday March 11 at 1:30 p.m. - we'll have flamingo croquet, Cheshire cats, jabberwockies and more at our Alice in Wonderland party. Ages five to 12 are invited to attend. Admission is $2.

Dance Madness: Wednesday March 12 at 1:30 p.m. - learn to dance like your favourite stars in this hour of dance instruction. Ages six to 12 can attend, admission is $5.

Mini Madness contest: Pick up a Mini Madness canister from the circulation desk between Feb. 26 and March 15 and fill it with as many different objects as you can find, and drop it back at the library by March 15. If you have the most different, whole objects in your canister you win the Mini Madness grand prize. March Break movies are $2 for a ticket, and $1 for a snack. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Thursday March 13 at 1 p.m. Thief Lord: Saturday March 15 at 1 p.m.

March activities for kids: Egg Hunt: Saturday March 15 from 11 a.m. to noon. Hop through the library to find eggs and take part in games and activities. There will be goodie bags for all and you may even win the grand prize. All ages, admission is $2.

Regular movies - $2 for a ticket, $1 for a snack. Bee Movie will run March 1 at 1 p.m., while The Water Horse will play March 29 at 1 p.m.

For adults: Survive the madness of March Break and have the chance to be rewarded with a manicure and pedicure generously donated by The Spa At Lake Simcoe - enter the draw at any one of our four branches.

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 (COOL) is for youth aged 9 to 12 years. Call Pam at 735-3484 for information. The youth group now has a new name: Christians Obey our Lord (COOL).

Senior youth group: The Teen youth group will meet alternate Sundays at St. John's Anglican Church in Cookstown from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Please contact Pam for any information and upcoming dates at 735-3484.

Euchre: Euchre at St. Peter's Anglican church takes place on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to drop by any Wednesday and join in. Light refreshments are served.

World Day of Prayer: March 7th at Lefroy United Church, beginning at 1 p.m. The country represented this year is Guyana. For information call Lynn Johnston at 733-3692.

Palm Sunday parade: St. Peter's Anglican Church holds their annual passion parade on Palm Sunday, March 16th, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Churchill library. The parade will be led by Eeyore the donkey and end at the church on Hwy. 11 at approximately 9:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join the children as they proceed in costume to the church, reenacting Jesus' journey into Jerusalem. Please feel free to stay for the service immediately following the parade.

Ham and scalloped potato dinner at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Friday April 4th from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the students (12 and under). Preschoolers are free. Call 456-7293 or 436- 9769.

Smile: Father Murphy walked into a pub in Donegal, and said to the first man he meets, "Do you want to go to heaven?"

The man said, "I do Father."

The priest said, "Then leave this pub right now!"

The priest approached a second man and asked, "Do you want to got to heaven?" "Certainly, Father," was the man's reply.

"Then leave this den of Satan," said the priest, as he walked up to O'Toole.

"Do you want to go to heaven?"

"No, I don't Father," O'Toole replied.

The priest looked him right in the eye, and said, "You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"

O'Toole smiled, "Oh, when I die, yes, Father. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."

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