Graduation day is here. I imagine it is bittersweet for the parents. This year's grad class of Unity Composite School includes Courtney Abel, Tyler Mabbett, Scott Ackerlund, Kim McCaskill, Dillon Belliveau, Jesse McGonigle, Alex David, Shinell McWatters, Alysha Ehnisz, Victor Pernitsky, Karah Fischer, Michael Pool, Bryce Ganter, Jezzica Primavera-Dunlop, Jessica Gerein, Chelsea Robertson, Becky Greenwald, Kyle Romanowski, Charnele Jellison, Patti Stephenson, Hannah Keller, Eric Surine, Madison Kist, Shirraya Tuchscherer, Courtney Kloster, Kelsey Ulsifer, Cassandre Klotz, Sabrina Veikle, Alix Knowles, Chantal Wagner, Janelle Kuhn, Erick Wicks and Jocelyn Lacoursiere. This was a class full of enthusiasm, spirit, athleticism and ambition and they will be missed at UCHS. Congratulations, graduates of 2011.
Unity Public School had their last day of classes June 27 and picked up their report cards June 3. UCHS had report card pick up June 29. School is officially out for the summer.
For St. Peter's School's spiritual leader, Father Gerard, is leaving July 1 to go to Kindersley. They had their closing school mass with him June 28 at the Holy Rosary Shrine Church in Reward, followed by hotdogs and cake. Their last day of school was June 28 with report card pickup June 29. Hannah Kendrick (Grade 6/Intensive French) is going on maternity leave. Janice Hepting will be replacing her.
First day back at school is Aug. 31 for all schools.
Summer Fun Center begins July 4 and runs every week day from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Leaders Jessica Gerein, Chantal Wagner and Becky Greenwald will keep kids ages five to 11 busy with crafts, games, outside fun and swimming. This is a great program offered by the Town of Unity.
Baseball teams in Unity are fine tuning their squads for provincial championships this summer. Because of the large number of kids in mosquito ball, two teams were formed for provincials. The provincial A team, coached by Kevin Scherr, Boyd Hampson, Trevor Huber, Pat Orobko and Curtis McLean, will have their roster of Easton McLean, Ethan Scherr, Brett Hampson, Zenon Orobko, Austin Senger, Dillon Poschenreider, Brayden Schultz, Tanner Huber, Kenny Feser, Jacob Mamer, Jordyn Sloboda play in front of a home town crowd as they host Mosquito Provincials July 15 to 17 along with the peewee boys. The other team will head to Vibank that same weekend.
The peewee boys, coached by Dean Wildeman, have a 12-boy roster including Todd Bazley, Cody Thompson, Dylan Bosch, Jaden Hofmann, Damon Upton, Cameron Halter, Dax Desmarais, Gavin Wourms, Brandt Bertoia, Tyson Senger, Mathew Duhaime, Spencer Powell and Lyndon Jellison. Other coaches are Keith Heitt, Mike Bazley and Clayton Bosch. The peewee boys started out the season with 18 players and played all exhibition games winning 14 of 17 games. The coaches then had a hard decision trimming the roster for the provincial team. There are a total of eight teams coming to play from all over the province. It will be an exciting weekend of ball and our local team should have a good chance to get to the finals as they feel their pitching can go deep into the weekend. All the players are batting well going into provincials. Be sure to watch for an upcoming schedule and come out to enjoy some local talent.
The bantam boys, coached by Roger Blaquiere, Dan Feser, Gerald Duhaime and managed by Blain Gerein will head to Melfort July 15 - 17 to avenge their unfortunate extra inning loss at home two years ago. Pilot Butte and Meunster also appear to have strong entries in this division. The team consists of Rhett Feser, Alex Pernitsky, Darby Bisson, Trace Sperle, Blake Robertson, Declan Desmarais, Justin Gerein, Thomas Duhaime, Braden Lacoursiere, Tristan Huber, Jared Blaquiere of Edam and Reed Delainey of Edam. The season has been successful with a deep, talented roster with much pitching depth being that nine of the 12 can pitch with confidence. Timely hitting and steady defence have led the Bantams to a 13-2 record. The highlight of the season so far was winning the Saskatoon AA tournament, beating Pilot Butte in a thrilling final. This team is hungry for a provincial title and the coaches are confident in their ability. On top of this, two of these players have made the Top 50 camp tat he end of July to try to advance their way on to Team Saskatchewan for Western Canada Summer Games in August.
I have no information on the midget team, a team composed of kids from Unity, Wilkie, North Battleford and around the area. They have mostly played out of Wilkie this season.
Communities in Bloom committee are busy fine tuning all the projects they want to showcase for their entry in the National Communities in Bloom competition. Because Unity won the provincial competition for this project in 2010 they were eligible to enter for the national field. The judges arrive July 28, so committee members are asking all residents to keep their yards neat and tidy for this day. You can enter your yard now for the residential home garden tour taking place July 21. July 28 there will be a community picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. at the regional park with various activities to celebrate this event.
Unity golf club is in full swing with ladies' night running Tuesday evenings and men's night running on Wednesdays. Watch for upcoming events they will be hosting throughout the season.
And don't forget the Unity Museum will play host again to the annual Canada Day celebrations. This event is sure to please folks of all ages with food, entertainment, cake, activities, museum tours and the ever popular fireworks.
Coffee row is satisfied that the moisture for the next couple of weeks is at an acceptable level in our area. They are coming up with ways to help southern Saskatchewan move some of their water northward where it is needed. They also have been discussing the many areas of labour unrest in the province and are hoping for speedy resolutions that will fit both sides of the table. So, again you can see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week
