Volunteers are everywhere in town
COOKSTOWN NEWS
by Barb Baguley

Imagine a world without volunteers. Think about the vast array of activities and community services that would be left undone without the kind spirit of our volunteers.

Without thousands of hours of community services, local organizations would struggle to carry out daily tasks and many would simply be unable to fulfill their goals.

Volunteers are all around us. Their work is critical and yet often taken for granted. They serve us every day as drivers, firefighters and fundraisers, just to name a few. Volunteers take care of our children, plant community gardens, clean our parks, and stock the shelves at local food banks, drive sick and vulnerable people to medical appointments and lobby for improvements to our community.

I have always enjoyed working as a volunteer in Innisfil and recently had the pleasure of adding new organizations and tasks to my schedule.

During National Volunteer Week, I was fortunate enough to meet many volunteers who were proudly but quietly working to make our community a better place. Here are a few examples:

• Crime Stoppers held a successful fundraiser at Georgian Downs May 3 to assist those working to increase safety in our community. The local MADD chapter launched Safe Roads … Your Call recently, while continuing the regular work of the group.

• Innisfil's Historical Society ensures the past is preserved and available to all that are interested.

• Habitat for Humanity is continuing work toward building a home for a family.

• The Cookstown Chamber of Commerce is planning the 25th Annual Wing Ding.

• The Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce is working to make a better town and promote events and opportunities to ensure lifestyle continues to improve.

I am enjoying new opportunities to learn about our community by participating in these efforts to improve safety, community pride and civic participation and enhance our quality of life.

The Innisfil Public Library invites residents to the future site of the new Cookstown branch and community centre (20 Church Street) and celebrate with a groundbreaking ceremony" at 11 a.m. on Saturday May 24th. This is a Bring Your Own Shovel event. All are welcome to attend.

The Innisfil Heritage Committee needs volunteers. This committee 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 to the Town of Innisfil clerk.

The Highway 89 and County Road 27 intersection will be reconstructed starting May 12. The construction is expected to last six to eight weeks. There may be additional congestion and children should be reminded to take extra care when walking to and from school during construction.

Perennials, herbs, vegetable plants and especially Ernie's tomatoes will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10, as Cookstown Friends of the Library holds their annual Mother's Day plant sale. The Friends are accepting donations of any type of plant.

A children's table will offer plants especially for mom. Proceeds will support children and adult programs. Contact Linda at 458-9983.

Join the Innisfil Historical Society at Knock School, located at 7756 10th Sideroad at the 9th Line, on May 17 at 2 p.m. for Let's Tell Stories. Participants are invited to share good, bad, funny and interesting stories of their life. This will be a good time to start preparing your own family history, writing it down will ensure the stories last forever. Children will cherish stories of their grandparents who lived without electricity or running water, computers and iPods.

The South Simcoe Police Services Board has a new finance oversight committee and applications are being accepted for the citizen representative for Innisfil.

The committee will 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 prior to 4:30 p.m. May 9 to Clerk, 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. For more information, contact Bev at 458-1570.

If you need high speed internet service, visit the County of Simcoe website and complete an online survey. Results will be shared with internet providers in hopes they will respond to residents' needs. Learn more and complete the survey at www.simcoe.ca.

Register for storytime and after school programs at the Cookstown library branch with the following programs:

Family activity and storytime for children of all ages on Wednesdays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., a story time program with games, craft and stories for three to five-year-olds on Thursdays from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m., the after school club is for five to eight-year-olds on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.. or 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.

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 show The Spiderwick Chronicles at 1 p.m.

The Canadian Cancer Society needs volunteers. Contact Andrew at 436- 3107 for information.

Join the Irish Claddagh Club in an Irish Jam Session on May 9 at the Stroud restaurant at 7 p.m. Your toes will be tapping in no time as you enjoy an evening of fun and Irish music. Call Angie at 456- 1595 as seating is limited.

Maple Leaf Seniors will hold a monthly business meeting at Cookstown United Church on May 13 at 1:30 p.m. 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. For further details, contact Kim Creamer at the town office at 436-3710.

Be a part of history by sharing your stories about Cookstown at the curling club May 21. Project coordinator is Donna Wice at 436-2578. Interviewers are available to assist with the storytelling process.

St. John's Anglican Church Cookstown will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the cemetery board on June 1 at 11:15 a.m.

The Cookstown Playgroup is meeting Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon during May.

A special Mother's Day service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Stroud Presbyterian Church featuring Margaret McPherson as soprano soloist, old time fiddler Lloyd Preston, six-year-old violinist Colin Bailey, Paul Crocker playing the trumpet, Ken Cheney at the grand piano and John Hart as organist. All are welcome to attend.

The Man of La Mancha continues at the South Simcoe Theatre until May 11. To order tickets, call 458-4432.

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