How are the lazy days of summer going in your life? Are you happy with the weather? The rains? Your garden? Your vacation plans?
Unity was thankful that residents who experienced the tornado at the Murray Doell campground near Lac Des Isles on June 29 are all OK and that very few injuries resulted in this scary weather system that slammed into this Northern Saskatchewan lake resort. It鈥檚 been a good reminder to all of us to have an emergency plan in place and take cover quickly when bad weather hits. Never underestimate bad weather.
Just a gentle reminder that even though school is out for the summer there are still kids in and around our school playgrounds so that we stay mindful of driving through these areas this summer. In addition to enthusiastic youngsters heading to our pool and outdoor rec venues on their bikes.
While activity is somewhat quieter this month in town, it doesn鈥檛 mean there isn鈥檛 anything for you and your family to do here. You can go for a swim at the Unity Credit Union Aquatic Centre. Check the town website or schedule at the pool. Come for a game of ball hockey or hoop shooting at the Outdoor Rec Venue, lit until 10 p.m. There are several choices of playgrounds to enjoy with the kids in our community and plenty of paved walking paths to go for a stroll or a roll/ride on. Watch a ball game at the diamonds as it is playoff time. Check posters around town or at the diamonds for the latest action. Take in a round of mini golf at Bluez. Check out the latest release movie on at 2nd Avenue Cinema, open every night of the week. Pickleball continues at the Unity Curling arena every Wednesday. Check out the museum, or unique shopping opportunities downtown.
Congratulations to U19 girls softball who earned bronze at their provincials in Saskatoon, the U16 girls who earned silver at their weather inhibited provincials in Regina and the U14 girls who won silver at their provincials in Saskatoon. U12 girl鈥檚 softball is off to Balgonie for their provincial event July 12-14. Boy鈥檚 baseball is not 100 per cent finalized yet, however Unity will send an 11U, 13U, 15U and 18U team to provincials across the province either July 19-21 weekend or July 26-28 weekend. Senior cardinals will play their provincials Aug 9-11 weekend with league playoffs coming up with a next week start.
The community will also be rooting for the Team Blue members who have been selected by Softball Sask to officiate at upcoming Western Canadian and Canadian softball events this summer. A full list was in last week鈥檚 column as well as our local paper.
Local athletes, Abby Rutley and Reece Gilbert are fine tuning their final weeks of training before they head off to Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current in August to compete as part of Team Saskatchewan in softball (Abby) and triathalon (Reece). Watch your local paper and this column for updates, or you can follow the action on the Western Canada Games website.
The Unity golf course is always ready for golfers 鈥� open seven days a week to enjoy their wonderful nine-hole grass green course. Regular fun nights of golf on Tuesdays, often sponsored and providing a light meal. As well, men鈥檚 night continues on Wednesdays and congratulations to Martin Berg for sinking an ace at the June 12 men鈥檚 night. There will be plenty of event action in August including the UCRC fundraising golf event. Stay tuned to the Unity golf club Facebook page for all the latest updates.
The Unity Food Bank has put a call out to residents to remind them there is still need for products on their shelves and summer time shows a significant slowdown in donations. Keep this valuable community service in supply when and where you can with non-perishable food items to help those around us that could use a hand up.
Second Avenue Theatre has some great releases out this month so take in a summer movie with your family and friends with the added bonus of small town prices. The great new version of Aladdin just played and this week is the Pokemon movie and Men in Black with Toy Story 4 starting this Friday.
Don鈥檛 forget to bring your visitors to our local museum. It is a fabulous venue full of rich history and more than 1,400 artifacts to look at in 24 buildings. The museum committee work very hard to showcase Unity and area鈥檚 history in a way that is relevant and engaging. They appreciate your support of this fine facility.
Coffee row had plenty of weather to discuss after the Lac Des Isles tornado as some of the 鈥渞owers鈥� knew campers that had been there and experienced what happened. Even though sporadic numbers at time due to summer vacation time, these folks still find time to enjoy a coffee and each other鈥檚 company while mulling over the weather, the growing season, the local sports scene, the Riders and the Jays as well as sharing their summer plans. So you see we keep busy here in Unity with wisdom, laughter and plenty of fun here in Unity with our friends on coffee row
