The Meota Library annual meeting was held on Feb. 23. The circulation for 2014 was up 27 per cent and 5,213 books and other materials checked out. They have 5,138 items in the library, worth $103,607.65. They had 23 new patrons in 2014. There were 23 DVDs and 43 like-new paperbacks donated, as well as recent magazines. Three old computers were replaced with two new ones. A smoke detector has been installed. The next bingo will be April 17 in the afternoon. The library has one hour less a week for 2015.
March is Rural Women鈥檚 Month, an opportunity to recognize the leadership roles that rural women play in their family鈥檚 agricultural operations and as entrepreneurs and business owners.
The co-op store in Makwa has closed their doors after serving the community for 75 years, as of Fe. 28. The store manager has worked there for 33 years and has moved to a new position at the Meadow Lake Co-op Service Center.
The Sons of Norway held their Friday afternoon games of Norwegian Whist in Valleyview II March 6, with three tables of whist and one of cribbage. Top whist scores were by Arlene Walker, then Linda Ard and Shirley Tebay. A lovely lunch was shared at the end of the day. The next one will be in Meota March 20.
The hall committee鈥檚 March luncheon will be held March 20 and the weather should be nicer by then.
聽Did you get out and watch the Northern Lights last week, Monday and Tuesday? They were pretty terrific but it was rather cold to stand outside too long.
聽Sorry I have no report from the Snowmobile Rally, it would be nice to know how it went off.
聽When you see the old time dancing advertised on the TV? It sure makes some of us wish our legs weren鈥檛 so old. Glad some are able to enjoy it as it is such wonderful exercise and so healthy an activity.
聽The stew supper at the Battleford鈥檚 United Church looks appealing, too. It鈥檚 on March 17 from 5-7 p.m. The Meota seniors are invited to go to Edam on St. Patrick鈥檚 Day for their stew dinner at noon and games afterwards.
While Canada has been having a miserable winter the United Kingdom has enjoyed more sunshine than usual.
Daughter Joyce and her friend Michele went on a trip to the north end of the North Island of New Zealand last week. They explored the countryside, found the biggest Kauri tree that鈥檚 over 2,000 years old. This tree has a trunk 58 feet high and total tree height is 169 feet. The circumference is 45 feet. These trees grow tall, straight and strong, with no knots 鈥� so are perfect for masts for sailboats and other uses. Many were cut down too young and forests were depleted. If you cut one down you go to jail. If you鈥檙e caught doing twice the speed limit you automatically lose your licence for six months or a year. Where there are road repairs it will be posted either 30 or 50 km/h. There are no moose or deer to run onto the highways, no snow or ice, so accidents are caused mostly by distraction, so the best news for the body shops is texting. The body shops are called 鈥減anel beaters.鈥� Many of the cars sold there do not have cruise control as it is used so seldom on the crooked roads. The names of towns or places have Maori origin 鈥� and often every second letter is a vowel 鈥揔erikeri, Tutupapa, Hokitika and so on.
聽The Meota Lions Chorus entertained at Valleyview 1 March 5, with a good-sized appreciative crowd listening. It is always a pleasant, happy time when they are entertaining. Much visiting also went on as folks hadn鈥檛 seen one another during the cold winter.
聽In the monthly newsletter from the village office is information that if you need someone to drive you to appointments, call the office for a number and name at 306-892-2277. This is a very vital service and will be much appreciated by the elderly, especially.
聽Contract bridge winners at the Do Drop In last Monday were Eric Callbeck and Mary Greenwald. Duplicate bridge was played on Tuesday evening with top two scores tied by these couples 鈥� Margaret Dyck and Dave Creegan and Eric Callbeck and Maureen Campbell. Third high were Robert Iverson and Joyce Antoine.
聽Two more well-known Spiritwood residents have passed away recently. Bernice Turgeon passed way Feb. 11. She was a teacher for many years in Spiritwood schools. Bill Martodam passed March 3, well known for his great singing voice and attendance at funerals and weddings and the Catholic Church.
聽The next Wellness Clinic will be April 16 at the Do Drop In, from 8:40 鈥� 10:40 a.m.
聽Just heard that a couple of my girls are coming again this week. That鈥檚 always good news for me and they enjoy whatever senior things I鈥檓 involved in. Imagine being that old, I don鈥檛 know where the time has gone.
