The Borden Friendship Club held their first potluck supper of 2019 on Jan. 30, with close to 40 out for the meal and program. The tables were decorated with rose bowls containing silver tinsel and a white flower set on a Chinese Zodiac place mat. The tables were called up to eat by zodiac sign. Out of six January birthdays, only Lorraine Olinyk was present to blow out the candles. Entertaining for the evening was Kimball Siebert and his son Nickolas from Borden. Kimball plays guitar, classical guitar (that he built) and mandolin, and Nick played the drums, but can also play piano. Kimball grew up with music instructor parents, sang and played at a young age, teaches guitar, writes many of his own tunes and plays with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra at times. He will play in spring of 2019 with them. Some tunes he played and sang were I Laugh, I Heard the Angels Sing, I Hung My Head, You Got a Friend, classical guitar solo with Prelude in C Minorand one more, a medley of jigs and reels on the mandolin and an instrumental Irish hymn, closing with Working on a Building.
The local churches hosted a luncheon Feb. 1 in the Borden Friendship Centre, serving soup, sandwiches, desserts and beverages by donation. The tables were decorated with jars of wheat holding Canadian flags, red serviettes and red dessert plates. The proceeds went to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and took in $600.20, which would become $2,400 due to a matching four-times donation. Rick Block, from the organization, spoke on what they do. Their mission is working together to end global hunger and they are structured somewhat like a co-op with a network of 15 agencies. Last year they gave $41 million in assistance to 900,000 people in 35 countries. Farmers who grow the grain sell it and the money is given to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to distribute. The goal is to meet the immediate food needs, strengthen agriculture and livelihoods and improve nutrition. In Rawanda, they have Farmer Field Schools to grow more and better food, improve soil health, increase resilience to hunger, and they farm a half to one acre of land. Many are women. The Foodgrains Bank is so much more than just food – bringing hope, solidarity to communities and peace building. A small gift is a big gift for refugees. Rick told a few stories of some of the third world people they have worked with.
The Borden United Church held their annual meeting Feb. 3, following the 1:30 p.m. service. There were Chairperson Sandra Long’s report, Treasurer Lorraine Olinyk did the financial reports, Gayle Wensley presented the Minister’s report and Pamela Pidwerbesky the M and P Committee report. On the church board are Chair Sandra, Secretary Treasurer Lorraine, Jean Sawchyn, Jean Brooke, Gloria Derbowka and Pamela. The trustees are Eleanor Walton, Lorraine Olinyk and Eric Pearce. The church decided not to take on the Farmers’ Market barbecue for 2019, but will be holding a St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon (beef stew, bread and desserts) possibly March 15. Half of the proceeds will go to the Borden Care Home. The church, along with the Anglican members, host the Shrove Tuesday Pancake and Sausage supper on March 5 in the Borden Seniors Room from 5 to 6:30 p.m., by donation, and everyone is welcome.
The next luncheon by the Borden local churches will be Friday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in St. John’s Anglican Church Hall, by donation, and Rev. Jan Bigland Pritchard will be speaking on the Syrian refugee work in Saskatoon. Proceeds will go to this cause. Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy a great luncheon.
Starting up again on Feb. 8 is a book/video study led by Rev. Carr and Gayle Wensley at the Borden Anglican Church at 11 a.m. and everyone is welcome to attend at no charge.
Feb. 9 is the date for the Lions Dinner Theatre Love Letters in the Borden Community Centre with cocktails at 5 p.m. There are still tickets available. Phone Sandy Long at 306-997-2211.
The 61st Annual Firefighter Provincial Curling Championship was hosted by Borden Fire and Rescue Feb. 1 to 3 in the Langham Curling Rink. Teams from many volunteer fire departments across Saskatchewan were in attendance and the winner goes to the Canadian firefighters championships in Kelowna, B.C., March 14 to 23.
