If it sometimes seems that the arts get short shrift in Whitchurch-Stouffville, the community can certainly pride itself on the wide variety of programs it offers for young people during March Break.

Art, culture, heritage, outdoor activities and sports are all on this year’s menu and parents can choose from full-week programs or day-to-day activities. The museum gets the holiday off to a good start on March 7 with a range of activities for students from 8 to 12 years of age. Participants will create projects and learn a variety of traditional parlour games, as well as honing their baking skills in the Brown House kitchen.

At the Latcham Gallery, creatively inclined kids can participate in wide variety of art workshops throughout the week, while the library offers its perennially popular program of events including puppet shows, movies, workshops and a marvellous performance of Petrouchka by Stouffville’s acclaimed dance collective, Motus O.

Young skaters and hockey players can improve their skills at hockey camp or power skating clinics at the arena, while water babies can enjoy free swims March 10 and 12 at the leisure centre. Outdoor types can visit Bruce’s Mill to find out how maple syrup is produced or enjoy a week-long March Break camp at Willowgrove, which includes sledding, snowshoeing and climbing.

Maybe the kids would just rather sleep in, given that daylight savings time comes into effect on Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to put your clocks forward one hour.

Snowed under

It’s been a long, snowy winter and the plows have been working overtime in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Keeping up with snow clearance has been a challenge, but our local crews have done a pretty good job of keeping on top of things. Toronto may think it rules the world, but the photograph below, taken at the corner of Yonge and Eglinton on Valentine’s Day, shows that our guys clean up in the snow clearing stakes.

Getting the lead out

While the town received an excellent response to its request for volunteers to take part in its lead testing program, other residents interested in participating are welcome to call and put their name on the list of homes to be tested, since a second program will be conducted later this year. Priority will be given to older homes which may have private lead water services or plumbing.

For more information call public works at 905-640-1910 ext. 272, or visit townofws.com.

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