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fe WAE _ _ _______________ _ ___rmernbt mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeee NEWwsS mm mminmmmsmmsese on Th ign of spring by JOHN CAMPBELL 774 #> W @ e\ _ The Independent .‘/ . ? Téres> Wiarton has its Willie, |f ~~x¢_.;fi 3 and Punxsutawney its Phil â€" "*â€" 9e _ but neither can hold a can |VBV > ©a, _â€"â€"~ dle to Sandy Maple. Unlike || % s e his furry rodent cousins and § â€"_â€" â€"â€" e _f;? e their spotty record of preâ€" â€"~~â€" ~â€"â€" a Pale/a=, dictions, Sandy the sixâ€"foot > ol o â€" _ un Sf. 'flifi squirrel is flawless with his | sls -” SRX _ prognostications. When he f â€"* it l [’ y A ‘// makes his first public $ | aif . sC @ appearance of the year, you e 0 bula s t can be certain of one thing: .g CÂ¥_ fi :‘L_*: a The _ Warkworth Maple PRA t _ ~_ a % nc Syrup Festival is but a i > 4,,' },fib @ month away, and the festiâ€" . M uo gy C e «wl > val, my friend, marks the {W"'fff?' ie ; % beginning of spring. Emt â€" K____ Pss *.: Sandy, the festival‘s masâ€" ?/ %_’ P f C cot (and partâ€"time local : o &3 *# radio personality), was hanâ€" . [Wes t e _ § dling his usual gladpawing }? ,§ 3 1 d duties Feb. 10 at the annual _ Efllsn _ e â€"__ preview that is held for John Campbell photo news media, local politiâ€" _ George Potter displayed an experienced hand in j cians, municipal staff, and whipping up scores of flapjacks for visitors to his schoolchildren. What can pancake house at the Sandy Flat Sugar Bush last you expect to find March 2 week. He and his wife Alice were once again hosts 15 at the 19th annual festiâ€" for the annual preview of the Warkworth Maple Kii?pl\:[oovr: dosfofi;icscggutlhfi: Syrup Festival that will be held March 12â€"13. the past At George and Her coâ€"chair for the past _ ward to it every year." . Alice Potter‘s Sandy Flat decade, Brenda Partridge, "We meet so many nice Sugar Bush west of the vilâ€" said the main purpose of people," Mr. Potter said. lage, there will be demonâ€" _ the special event is to foster â€" Some have been returning strations of how maple economic development. She _ for 30 years and have proâ€" syrup is made, entertainâ€" â€" noted a number of new resâ€" duced a second generation ment including step danc idents, including the ownâ€" _ of faithful festivalâ€"goers. f ing and clogging, generous ers of several businesses, The Potters collect sap servings of pancakes and decided to move to the from 5.500 spiles on trees sausages by the Warkworth community after attending spread across 50 acres at Community Service Club, _ the festival. their Sandy Flat sugar bush. logâ€"sawing contests and "We put in a lot of long Some of the trees have snowshoe races, and sleigh hours here but when you _ been tapped for more than tides. In the village there see people returning, and _ 1oo years. will be an antique show _ telling us how much they _ They have won four and _ sale at â€" Percy enjoy themselves, that‘s world championships for Centennial Public School, a what keeps George and I _ their maple syrup at the seniors tea and white ele going year after year," Ms. Royal Agricultural~ Winter phant sale at the fire hall, a â€"Potter said. "We look for â€" Fair in Toronto (1988â€"94). juried art show organized by the Northumberland Hills Art Association, a L Wood, Works and Wonders [ show and sale at the | Warkworth Town Hall | Centre for the Arts and the | Masonic Temple, a petting zo0, and pony rides. > New this year is an indoor miniâ€"golf course at St. Paul‘s United Church. The _ festival, _ which attracts on average 8,000 people a year, has appeal for everyone but it‘s espeâ€" cially nice for young famiâ€" lies because it‘s not expenâ€" sive, Carol Hamilton said. / ) , 29, ; vek