COOKSTOWN NEWS
Have a say on the county's future growth plans
by Susan Stein

Oh the places we will grow.

Don't miss your chance to have a say about how our communities will grow over the next 25 years. The County of Simcoe has released its draft Simcoe Area Growth Plan for public review. Open houses were held this month to provide details of the growth plan, transportation master plan and natural heritage master plan that will be included in the county's Official Plan expected later this year. If you did not attend a public meeting, there is still time to be heard. Visit www.growth.simcoe.ca for a look at the recommendations and forward your comments to the county before May 7. This plan will guide residential and employment growth in Innisfil and the rest of the county, as more than 200,000 additional residents move here by 2031.

It is important for us to think about the legacy we want to leave for those who come after us and still honour those who came before us.

The Town of Innisfil is asking for applications from volunteers to serve on the Innisfil Heritage Committee. This group will directly shape how the town will protect and preserve heritage. Information is available at the clerk's office or www.innisfil.ca. Interested individuals should send a letter expressing interest along with a resume before May 9 in an envelope marked Application for the Municipal Innisfil Heritage Committee to clerk Paul Landry, Town of Innisfil, 2101 Innisfil Beach Road Innisfil, Ontario, L9S 1A1. The committee meeting being held May 1 at 7 p.m. at the New Town Hall Room C is open to the public.

The intersection of Highway 89 and County Road 27 will be undergoing major reconstruction starting May 12. The project will take six to eight weeks and contractors will do their best to ensure safe and efficient movement of traffic and pedestrians. There may be more congestion than usual and children should be reminded to take extra precaution when travelling to and from school.

Cookstown Friends of the Library will hold the annual Mother's Day plant sale Saturday May 10 to support programs for the new branch. The Friends will accept donations of any type of plant except annual flowers. Come buy perennials, vegetable plants and especially Ernie's tomatoes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Gilford Lions are hosting a free seminar on internet and child safety Thursday May 1 at 7 p.m. Detective Constable Matt Noble and author Christina Kilbourne, who wrote Dear Jo, a book that deals with internet exploitation, will make a presentation. This event is not suitable for children and will be held at the Honourable Earl Rowe Public School. For information, contact Jack Ross at 456-2266 or Jean Hamilton at 456-3008.

The Police Services Board is seeking a citizen representative for a new finance oversight committee. The purpose of the committee is to focus on governance and make recommendations on financial reports of the police service to the board, to ensure compliance with best practices. Letters of interest should be sent in an envelope marked Confidential - finance oversight committee by 4:30 p.m. May 9 to Paul Landry, clerk for the Town of Innisfil, 2101 Innisfil Beach Road Innisfil, Ontario, L9S 1A1.

The Cookstown Agricultural Society will celebrate its 150th fair in September. In honour of this event, the society will hold a competition open to all ages for a design of a poster or banner depicting images of the fair over the past 150 years. The designs will be judged in Kindergarten to Grade 3, Grade 5 to Grade 8, Grade 9 to 12 and open class categories. The winner in each group will receive $100 and an honourable mention in each category will receive $25. For more information, contact Bev at 458-1570.

The Lakeshore Friends of the Library are holding a fashion show and tea on Sunday May 4 at 2 p.m. at the Lakeshore library, located at 967 Innisfil Beach Road. There will be door prizes and lots of fun and friends. Tickets are $10.

Registration for story time and after school programs begins on May 6 at the Cookstown library branch with the following programs. Programs include family activity and story time for children of all ages on Wednesdays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. All children must be accompanied by parent or caregiver.

A story time program with games, craft and stories is held for independent three to five-year-olds Thursdays from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m.

The after school club is for five to eight-year-olds on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30.

An aspiring actors club on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., where children will act in plays, create shows and make costumes, is also available.

The deadline is approaching for the Me to We Writing Contest at the Innisfil Public Library. For details, contact sbaues@innisfil.ca or call 458-1273.

Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit - Frogfest is in Cookstown. Play games and do what frogs do. To learn a froggy fact or two, jump on over to the Frogfest. Don't 'froget' to register. Frogfest is for children aged four to 10 and admission is $3. The event take place on May 8 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday May 24, the Cookstown library will be showing The Spiderwick Chronicles at 1 p.m.

The Canadian Cancer Society needs volunteers for their annual door to door canvas in Stroud, Alcona, Belle Ewart and Big Bay Point. Contact Andrew at 436-3107 for information.

Maple Leaf Seniors will hold a monthly business meeting at Cookstown United Church on May 6. New members ages 55 and up are welcome to attend. For further information, call 458-2219.

Get involved in Pitch In Day on Saturday May 10 from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by a barbecue for volunteers at the Churchill Community Centre. Participants are requested to meet at their local firehall to sign-in and get supplies. For details or to arrange for your community hours sheet to be signed contact Kim Creamer at the town office at 436- 3710.

The Simcoe County Museum is hosting a free Accessibility Day on May 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for seniors and persons with disabilities. For information call 728-3721 or visit www.museum.simcoe.ca.

Tell your friends and neighbours and be a part of recorded history by sharing your stories about Cookstown in a storytelling project at the curling club May 21. Project coordinator is Donna Wice at 436-2578. Interviewers are available to assist with the storytelling process.

South Simcoe Theatre is currently presenting The Man of La Mancha, which opened April 24 and runs until May 11. To order tickets, call 458-4432.

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