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Since I usually open on the topic of weather, we have so much to be thankful for, living right here! In the Smithers-Telkwa area in northern British Columbia, they have three feet of snow and more coming. In Telkwa, the roof of an addition built onto the Bulkley Valley Home Center caved in and has been torn down. This was only added about five years ago, so not good advertising for a lumber company. No injuries, though. Kitimat, nearer the coast, has had 70 inches of snow so far and Terrace, further inland, has had 60 inches. This makes for a steady job of shovelling and snow blowing.

Sorry Canasta players, I had the time wrong when I said 7:30; it should be 7 p.m. sharp. We had four tables in play Friday evening and everyone had a pleasant time. Top score went to Bev McCrimmon and Evelyn Dutton, second were Murray McCrimmon and Paulette Neale and third were Barbara Soloninko and Charles Walker. Next gathering will be Feb. 23.

The Meota Snowmobile Rally is set for Feb. 17.   

COPS group is looking for volunteers to play a part in keeping our community safe. Contact the village office.

The Library’s annual general meeting is set for Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. in the village council meeting room.

The next ARDA meeting is on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

The next Noon Luncheon will be held Feb. 16, so hope to see you in the Community Complex supporting our hall.

The next Wellness Clinic will be in the Do Drop In Feb. 15 from 8:40 to 10:40 a.m. For appointments call 306-446-6445.

The library has started their ‘Winter Games’ program, which runs from Jan.4 to March 2. Participants get their name entered each time they complete an activity - read three books, make a craft, bingo cards or donate a small bag of dog food for the animal shelter. Draw for prizes will be on March 16.

The fellow who left a bit of dog food behind the four-plex, please pick it up.

Duplicate bridge was played in Meota Feb. 6 with first going to Catriona Winterholt and Cletus Scherman, second were Gerry Fernandes and Joyce Antoine and third were Genny Craig and Mary Greenwald. On Feb. 8 in the Pioneer Hall in the city, top score was by Jean Lawes and Fraser Glen, second went to Joyce Antoine and Margaret Dyck and third were Donna Scherman and Catriona Winterholt. These programs are getting back on track after many cancellations in the past months.

The Darryl and Christine Amundson family from Park Valley entertained to a full hall in Rabbit Lake, Jan. 18. Their program consisted of gospel songs, some of their own originals, as well as blue grass music. Their son Ira from Park Valley and his friend Jake Vaadeland from Cut Knife will be playing their banjos at Telemiracle on Sunday, March 4, at 11 a.m. This timing we should be able to make.

The monthly meeting of the Do Drop In was held Feb. 9 with a better attendance than usual. Minutes were read and financial report given, followed by the library report for January. They had 292 patrons and were open 61 hours. Thursdays are visiting days from 2 to 4 p.m. This month there were 79 folks in to visit. At the Saturday Storytime there were 22 children in to share. Jan. 20 was ‘Snow Day’ and the children got a chance to tell winter stories of their own after the winter story was read, 24 children this day. Some Valentine decorations have been put up, but no Valentine Tea will be held this year. Lawrie Ward reported on the very informative talk on what the government has done and plans to do given at their last Lions Club meeting by Larry Doke, but notice of his coming was too short to let more people know. SSAI Bowling will be held in Prince Albert but players here have decided not to attend. No Lifeline or other speakers are available at this time. Club memberships are $10 and due April 1. Resolutions to go to convention have to be worded and sent in soon. The government has sold some of their ‘low rental accommodations’ in at least two towns in Saskatchewan, and now they sit empty because the buyer raised the rent. A resolution will be made to the effect that we advise the government’s Senior Housing Authority to stop this practice. The Provincial SSAI Convention is being held in the Heritage Inn in Saskatoon, June 6-7, and we can send two delegates. The next shuffleboard tournament is set for March 10. The Winter Games are being held in North Battleford Feb. 18-24 and they are in need of volunteers in many areas. Some jobs require a copy of your criminal record check, but many do not. Apply at the Games Office in Room 110 at the Don Ross Center or e-mail to [email protected]. The next club meeting is set for March 9 followed by the noon pot luck luncheon. (Worth more than one membership!) Lunch every time is delicious.   

Mayfair community is again presenting their annual entertaining play. This year it is Old Hams, sounds like fun! It will be on Feb. 23, 24 and 25. Thursday and Friday plays are held after a buffet supper and the Sunday play is after a noon buffet. The number to call for tickets is 306-824-4616 in Mayfair. The $25 ticket covers both the play and the meal.

It is interesting to see the news media interview Harold Fast, a Spiritwood pilot, as he makes his flight across the Americas raising money for Give Hope Wings. The two planes will travel where they can see one another and are piloted by five fellows. Harold will co-pilot the plane owned by Russ Airey of Windsor, Ont. Hope Air is a charity that arranges free non-emergency medical flights for low-income Canadians who must travel far from home for medical care. Support from the Agriculture communities have contributed much toward their goal of $500,000  because they are making 57 stops. Going through mainly Spanish speaking customs offices, they expect hold-ups and waits and possible problems where guys are walking down the airstrip with submachine guns. The interview was by Skype, so not as good a picture as usual.

It was another fun-filled happy day Saturday, Feb. 10, when 22 seniors gathered for a day of shuffleboard and various other games, plus a delightful pot luck noon meal, at the Do Drop In. Lots of visiting throughout the day made for a very successful venture. Top score in shuffleboard was Ken Schmidt and Maureen Campbell, second were Linda Ard and Genny Craig, third were Muriel Tebay and Svend Christiansen, fourth were Gail Hilderman and Vivianne Lesko. We broke a couple of records that day with the highest single game score of 41, and the highest three-game total since 2015 of 94. Thanks to all participants who made the day a success.