I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Rabbit Lake and area residents a belated Happy New Year, and best wishes for 2011.
The Rabbit Lake Community Hall is the place to be on Jan. 14 as a kaiser tournament gets underway at 7 p.m. Entry fees are $5 per person. The tournament is open to anyone who can play the game of kaiser.
"They can just come for fun, there will be prizes and a nice lunch," said Rabbit Lake Library Lakeland Region head librarian Melita Hildebrand.
The meals will be catered by the library board with a silver collection taken to offset costs. This event is a fundraiser for the library.
Adult quilting classes are also being held at the library as part of their series of winter programs and start Jan. 15. The instructor is Sharon Janzen.
"It's a beginner's program and we are actually choosing our own project," explained Hildebrand. "Some will just be making placemats to understand the concept of machine quilting."
Advanced quilters are able to choose more complex projects. Three sessions are being held and attendees are responsible for bringing their own sewing machine and supplies. The charge is $5 per session. Unfortunately, all classes have been filled.
Kid's art classes are being held every Wednesday throughout the winter months with instructor Donna German. Classes are open to children seven years and older. The classes are held for one hour after school with media such as oils and copper tooling being employed.
The last Wednesday of the winter months is being devoted to story time for children up to eight years old. Story time will commence at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26 when the Robert Munsch book, Just One Goal, will be featured.
Also during the winter months on the last Tuesday from 2 to 3 p.m. there will be an adult book club. Books by cowboy poet Ken Mitchell will be reviewed and discussed.
"The reason we're doing that is he is coming to do an afternoon of cowboy poetry for our community."
A tentative date of Thursday afternoon, Feb. 24 has been set aside for the workshop. A charge of $5 per person will apply.
"This will be a time just for adults because the children will all be in school," Hildebrand explained.
Poet, novelist and playwright, Mitchell is a retired English teacher who lives in Regina.
The Reading 35 Challenge continues and is going very well, said Hildebrand. The goal of the challenge was to read a total of 35 books between Oct. 5 and Feb. 23. Thirty-eight adults and nine children accepted the challenge. To date, five adults have completed more than 35 books plus one child of kindergarten age, Desaray Roberts, who has read more than 70 books.
"When they accomplish a set of 35, they receive a card for coffee and a dessert at the local restaurant."
Participants will have an opportunity to all get together at the cowboy poetry recital and names will be drawn for grand prizes for both children and adults.
Library hours are Tuesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information call 306-824 - 2089.
The annual general meeting for the Carlton Trail Jamboree was held on Jan. 13. Dates for this year's jamboree will be July 8, 9 and 10. Headliners for this year's jamboree will be announced in this column next week.
The agriculture association will be holding a snowmobile rally March 5 at the Rabbit Lake Community Hall. Registration starts at 9 a.m.
The cost for tickets, whether you're a rider or not, will be $10 each or three for $20.
First prize is $7,500, second prize is $3,500 and third prize will be $1,500. Names will be drawn at random.
"You don't have to ride in order to win," explained organizer Lynn Morrison, adding that anyone who buys a ticket has a chance at winning a prize.
Approximately 150 to 200 people participated in last year's rally.
"They come from all over the place - North Battleford, Spiritwood, Mayfair," Morrison explained.
Morrison said there will be check point prizes for the riders that will also be drawn.
The event is scheduled to take place regardless of any inclement weather.
