CHURCHILL NEWS
Explaining the May Day tradition
by Linda Gerow

What is May Day?

On the first day of May, English villagers woke up at daybreak to roam the countryside gathering blossoming flowers and branches. A towering maypole was set up on the village green, usually made from the trunk of a tall birch tree, then decorated with bright field flowers. The villagers then danced and sang around the Maypole, accompanied by a piper. Also part of the celebration was the crowning of a May Queen, a young girl chosen from the girls of the village to reign over the May Day festivities. Crowned on a flower-covered throne, she was drawn in a decorated cart by young men or her maids of honour to the village green. She would be crowned right on the green, set in an arbor of flowers. Often the dancing was performed around her, rather than around the Maypole.

Library news: Churchill branch manager, Debra Mann. Phone number is 456- 2671. The branch is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays.

Family storytime at the Churchill Branch is Thursdays from 2 to 2:45 p.m.

Frogfest: Games and fun, do what frogs do. We'll also throw in a froggy fact or two! Jump on over to the Innisfil Public Library for their Frogfest. Be sure and register. Food will be served, please be sure to sign a permission form upon registration. Ages four to 10 are welcome to attend, the cost is $3. The event will take place at the Churchill branch on Thursday May 8th from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

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.

Movies are $2 per ticket, and $1 for a snack. Movies start at 1 p.m. at the Churchill branch. The Spiderwick Chronicles will play Saturday May 31. Coming soon is Horton Hears a Who and Nim's Island.

TD Summer Reading Club: Summer is almost here, and with it comes the TD Summer Reading Club. Watch for announcements on all the fun programs, contests, and events soon.

Roast Beef Dinner: Gilford United Church is having a roast beef dinner on Wednesday May 7th with 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. sittings. The cost is $13 for adults and $5 for children under 12. For ticket information, call 456-2006.

In the community: 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.

Junior youth group: The Parish of Churchill and Cookstown Junior Youth Group (COOL) has its next meeting on March 13th at St. Peter's, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is for youth aged nine to 12 years old. Call Pam at 735-3484. This is for youth aged nine to 12 years. Also, the youth retreat this year will be held June 13 to 15 at Circle Square Ranch in Washago. The cost is approximately $98 per person. Please speak to Pam about this as well. The youth group is having a bake sale on April 27th after church. Funds will be raised to help offset the cost of the retreat in June.

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. Lunch is included at 1 p.m. All teens are welcome to attend. The next meeting is to be announced. Please contact Pam for any information and upcoming dates at 735-3484.

Innisfil's annual Pitch-In Day will take place on Saturday May 10th. Manned by volunteers, interested people can sign-up at their local fire stations by 9 a.m. The four fire stations participating in the event include Stroud, Alcona, Lefroy and Cookstown. For more information, contact Kim Creamer at 436-3710 or 456-3353, or e-mail pitch-in@innisfil.ca.

The Gilford and District Horticultural Society will once again sponsor the South Innisfil Arboretum Plant and Vendor Sale. The annual giant sale will be held on May 17th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be lots of flowers for sale (right from members' gardens), nearly-new tables, bake tables, a raffle, crafts, a barbecue and much more. We invite vendors to join at a cost of $15 per space, plus $5 for a table. For more information, call Evie Teras at 436-4776 to reserve a space, as they are limited. Join us for lots of fun at 1474 Shore Acres Drive in Gilford.

Gilford/Churchill United Church news: Visit their website at www.churchillgilfordunitedc hurches.org for all the latest news. Check it out.

Innisfil Pipes and Drums: Want to join a great band? Why not join the Innisfil Pipes and Drums under the leadership of Ken Wilkinson. Practices take place at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 547, located at the Robinson and Ewart streets intersection in Belle Ewart. Practice take place Monday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact Ken at 456- 3717 or ken@innisfilpipesanddrums. ca. No experience is necessary.

Musical evening: St. Peter's Anglican Church senior choir is holding its second annual musical evening on Sunday May 25th at 7 p.m., featuring Maranatha music and old favourites. Everyone is welcome to attend and it will be donations only accepted at the door. Watch this column for further details.

Euchre: Bid 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.

Car Trunk Sale: Mark your calendars for St. Peter's annual Car Trunk Sale on Saturday June 14th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Churchill Community Centre parking lot. Vendors pay $25 for a location to sell their items. There will be a barbecue and silent auction. Please speak to Dean at 456- 2202 for further information or to reserve your space.

Strawberry supper: Yes, St. Peter's Anglican Church will be having a strawberry supper in June. The date is yet to be announced. Stay tuned for details.

Smile: A circus owner walked into a bar to see everyone crowded around a table watching a little show. On the table was an upside down pot and a duck tap dancing on it.

The circus owner was so impressed that he offered to buy the duck from its owner. After some wheeling and dealing, they settled on $10,000 for the duck and the pot.

Three days later the circus owner runs back to the bar in anger, "Your duck is a rip-off! I put him on the pot before a whole audience and he didn't dance a single step!" "So?" Asked the duck's former owner. "Did you remember to light the candle under the pot?"

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