Plenty will join in Earth Hour Saturday
COOKSTOWN NEWS
by Barb Baguley

You won't be alone if you are in the dark March 29. People around the world will participate in Earth Hour from 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

This is a worldwide effort to increase public awareness and reduce the impact on climate change by turning off all non-essential lighting and appliances. Earth Hour began as a way of inspiring individual action on climate change in Sidney, Australia in 2007 with more than 2.2 million people participating. Statistics indicate that if this greenhouse reduction was achieved each day for a year it would represent removing emissions from 48,616 cars for the entire year.

Wing Ding will celebrate 25 years in Cookstown on June 7 and 8. The Cookstown and District Chamber of Commerce is striving for the biggest and best year yet to mark this anniversary. Plan your garage sale and get ready for a great time. There will be a children's area located behind the Royal Bank and details are being finalized. Cookstown not-for-profit groups are encouraged to apply for a $10 booth, and vendor booths are available by contacting Deirdre at 458-4492. You can also visit www.cookstown.ca for an application. There will be a dance on Saturday evening with the Green River Revival, a great local CCR cover band.

Tickets are $5 with proceeds to the Cookstown Library Building Fund. Ticket sale locations be announced soon. Contact Laurie Munroe at Will Silks at 458-9212 for details.

Cookstown Library: The Friends of the Library recognize the importance of an up-to-date library in the community by fundraising and helping to support programs and events at the library. Meetings are held once a month. The next meeting will be held at the Cookstown branch on April 9 at 7 p.m.

Book Club: Share your thoughts about books with other people who love to read. Call 458-1273 to sign up. The next Cookstown book club meeting will be held April 16 at 7 p.m. In Praise of Slow by Carl Honore will be discussed.

TumbleBooks are in the library. Children's books are now online at www.innisfil.library.on.ca. Check out TumbleBooks for stories, games and puzzles. Find the TumbleBooks link on the library's main webpage and also under Kids Zone. Favourite authors such as Robert Munsch, Hazel Hutchins and Eve Bunting are just a click away.

Family Storytime is held Wednesdays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

Upcoming movie at the Cookstown branch: The Water Horse, Saturday April 5th at 1 p.m. $2 per ticket, $1 per snack/refreshment. Coming soon is The Spiderwick Chronicles and Horton Hears a Who.

The Innisfil Historical Society is hosting its next monthly meeting April 19. All are welcome at the Knock School, located at 7756 10th Sideroad, beginning at 2 p.m. Guest speaker Peter Dickey of the Dickey Bee Honey will speak about running a bee keeping business in Innisfil.

There is a unique opportunity to participate in a story telling experience on May 21 at the Cookstown Curling Club. Start now by jotting down ideas you have for stories and anecdotes about Cookstown, including remembrances of stories told to you.

Crime Stoppers is holding a fundraising night at Georgian Downs where spectators can participate by buying a dinner ticket or sponsoring a race. Please contact me or Deanna Stewart at 905-775-0662 for more information about joining the committee or enjoying an evening out at Georgian Downs.

Are you interested in a running or walking club? One is starting up in Cookstown on April 5th at 10 a.m. at The Pub (formerly the Guzzling Goose) in the Foodland Plaza near Tim Hortons. There is a group of three runners - walkers in different stages of training, and they believe that they could cater to most runner and walkers.

The Pub running group is designed as a free, social way to prepare for any fitness goal. Bring water and a good pair of running shoes. They expect to meet Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. For information, contact Johanne at johanne@silver-ins.on.ca or 905-936-4374.

The Town of Innisfil is accepting applications for two volunteer positions on the Simcoe County District School Board's Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) for Cookstown Central Public School (Area D). This group will address enrolment, programming and building condition challenges. You do not need to have children attending school to apply. This review enables the public to make informed recommendations to the board. More information can be obtained by contacting the board or visiting www.scdsb.on.ca. If you would like to apply, send a letter with a resume to the clerk at the Town of Innisfil before April 4.

South Simcoe Theatre will present Man of La Mancha April 24 to May 11.

This musical quest for the impossible dream brings Don Quixote, his lady Dulcinea and his man servant Sancho Panza to the theatre stage for 12 unforgettably glorious performances. Adult accompaniment is recommended.

To audition, e-mail manoflamancha@southsimc oetheatre.com. To order tickets, call 458-4432. There is still a need for help with the construction, creation and painting of the props. To get involved, contact Lousie at lrmacdonald2003@yahoo.ca.

To find out more information, visit the theatre's website at www.southsimcoetheatre.co m.

The Cookstown Cooperative Play Group will be meeting in the Cookstown library Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon for March and April. All new members are welcome and encouraged to contact Karla at 905-778- 1507 or Wendy at 458-1748.

Please contact me at abaguley@bconnex.net or 458-9358 with your news for our community.