COOKSTOWN NEWS

It has been an exciting week since the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States.

It was great to see so much interest in the election and the democratic process. Perhaps this will be an era of civic responsibility, political awareness and activism. This is a time when the public can assemble in numbers of two million or more for a common cause, and not have any arrests or major problems. How great it would be if this level of excitement could be contagious and Canadians catch democratic fever in the electoral process in our impending elections whether federal, provincial or municipal. With increased interest in the election process, accountability and responsiveness is not only expected but required, due to the investment that the voters have made. When voters ask questions and become informed, federal, provincial and local politicians will know that they must be accessible and make decisions that are in the best interest of the public, and not meet agendas and special interest groups' objectives. An engaged, active electorate will add fresh perspectives and new ideas which will, in turn, invigorate our government. Get involved, be a participant.

The South Simcoe Arts Council is holding its sixth annual music festival for local musicians and speech arts in April and May. Prizes are awarded in this adjudicated festival. The deadline for entering is Feb. 1. Information can be found at www.southsimcoeartscouncil. com, or by calling 905-729- 3254.

The Innisfil Public Library presents Family Literacy Day with the A-BC Family Literacy Board Game — a floor sized game for the whole family to enjoy — on Saturday January 31 at 1 p.m. This is a free program, so register with your local branch.

Come in to the library on Jan. 30 or 31 to sign out a mystery book bag for your child. The books inside will be a surprise.

Family Games Day will take place at Knock School Heritage site Monday February 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. Join in old fashioned games of luck and skill such as crokinole, chess or shuffleboard, and enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies.

The Canadian Cancer Society needs a volunteer for daffodil pre-sales for the month of March. Contact Lillian Owen at 436-1060 for details.

Share your thoughts about literature with other people who love to read by calling 458-1273, to sign-up for a book club. This month, the selection is Lambsquarters: Scenes from a Handmade Life, by Barbara McLean. The group will meet on Wednesday February 18 at 7 p.m.

The Friends of the Innisfil Public Library are a group of citizens who recognize the importance of an up to date library in the community by fundraising and helping to support programs and events at the library. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Cookstown branch. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Cookstown Foodland is holding a fundraiser for the new library. For a $2 donation you can 'buy a book' to help provide reading programs, books for the hearing and sight impaired and other items to complete the library. Visit Cookstown Foodland and help support the library.

Come to the movies at the Cookstown library at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, featuring Madagascar 2, the sequel to a 2005 movie, in which New York Zoo animals, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo, are stranded on the African island, will play Feb. 21. Tickets are $2 and drink and snack are $1.

On Feb. 7, Stroud Presbyterian Church is hosting a chilli dinner, which will include salad, garlic bread, homemade pies and a beverage for $8 per adult. Admission is $4 for children under 10, and the event will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Take out is available. For information, call 436-7939.

The MADD Barrie/Simcoe chapter is looking for people who are interested in their mission to stop impaired driving and support the victims of this crime. For information, contact Jason Larkin at maddbarriesimcoe@rogers.c om or 1-866-466-5310.

Yoga Classes for beginners will be held at the Masonic Hall in Cookstown for five weeks, on Wednesdays from Feb. 11 to March 11.

Sessions will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. The cost is $10 per class. For information, contact Cathy at 905-729-9021.

Residents will have the opportunity to see the Olympic Flame on Dec. 29, as it passes through Cookstown on its way towards the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The torch relay route is available at www.vancouver2010.com and information on how residents can apply to be torchbearers can be found at www.icoke.ca or www.rbc.com. They are looking for Canadian applicants who commit to living healthier, or are inspired to create a stronger country by volunteering or making sustainable choices. The torch relay will begin its Canadian journey on Oct. 30.

Glimpses of Cookstown, Joan McLean's local history book, has only a limited number left from the second printing. Don't be disappointed. Pick-up one of the remaining copies for $28 at Will Silk's General Store in Cookstown (a cheque or correct change is appreciated). Another printing is not scheduled, and will only be done if preorder numbers warrant.

South Simcoe Theatre is looking for fun-loving creative types for help painting, set building, props and costume design for their next two productions. Jan. 31, they will be bringing a 1980s Louisiana beauty parlour to life for Steel Magnolias, and from Feb. 28 to April 18 they will be creating a snowbound Canadian roadhouse for Discovering Elvis. Come to the theatre at 1 Hamilton Street in Cookstown on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to participate. No experience is needed. Contact Christina at 458- 4422 or cl@christinaluck.com for more information.

The theatre is looking for volunteers to work on the spring musical Discovering Elvis, a play where four impersonators are stranded in a snowstorm at a roadside inn. Great fun and great music. Opportunities in all areas of production including sets, costume, music, lighting and sound, promotion, box office and more are needed. Check the theatre website, www.southsimcoetheatre.co m, for audition notices and information. For more information, contact the theatre at 458-4432 or Christina at 458-4422 or cl@christinaluck.com.

An Innisfil Heritage Committee meeting has been scheduled for Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at the New Town Hall, in Meeting Room C. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

An Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. at the town hall, in Meeting Room A. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

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