It is October and we still have farmers in the field working feverishly to get those crops off. This start and stop weather is wearing thin on our farmer friends. Let鈥檚 hope harvest weather holds so they can complete these tasks safety and without further delay. And here鈥檚 hoping that dreaded four-letter word (S-N-O-W) stays out of our forecast for some time yet.
This Thanksgiving weekend remember to give thanks for the many things we take for granted in our community, our province and our country. Be thankful for peace, be thankful for friends and neighbours who step in quickly in times of need, be thankful for an abundance of available and affordable food and just be thankful in general.
Co-op Week will have Delta Co-op and Unity Credit Union offering treats, coffee and prizes as well as community collections. This will include the grand opening of the brand new fertilizer plant Oct. 19.
Remember this harvest season, Unity Food Bank is always looking for donations to keep their shelves stocked.
The Unity Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates debate for the upcoming civic election at the community centre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12. Come and meet the folks who have agreed to let their names stand for mayor and council and make an informed choice when you go to vote.
St. Peter鈥檚 School students have completed three weeks of school and already have students playing instruments, creating memorable art pieces, learning new math skills, practicing their literacy skills and understanding how important God is in their lives. Thursday they will hold a Thanksgiving mass at 11 p.m. followed by a soup lunch. All students bring ingredients for the soup. The school will recognize Fire Prevention Week with a fire safety presentation Oct. 11 at 9 a.m.
The cross-country team has attended meets in Wilkie and Unity. The team has been practicing regularly and attended a meet in Biggar before the Battle West District Finals in North Battleford Thursday. The Grade 6 students have been working on some soccer skills and go to Cut Knife on Friday for their annual soccer play day. The Grade 6 boys鈥� and girls鈥� volleyball will begin mid-October. Mr. Tyson Volk will be coaching the boys and Mrs. Worthington and Ms. Johnston will be coaching the girls.
The Grade 6 class will be supporting Operation Christmas Child with shoeboxes filled with items to be sent to Third World countries for Christmas. The Bargain Store in Unity will be collecting the boxes. Any purchases made at the Bargain Store to be put in the shoeboxes will be given a 10 per cent discount. For more information about this project please check out www.samaritanspurse.ca.
A Grade 6-8 youth group is forming this fall. Lucien and Candace Gaudet, are leading this group and have been doing this for three years. Youth Group will meet Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Peter鈥檚 School gym, or in the hall, if necessary. Every Monday before an event, members will be receiving a reminder call. Here are the dates until Christmas: Thursday, Oct. 11; Thursday. Oct. 25 All Saints Day Party; Nov. 8; Wednesday, Nov. 22; Dec. 6; Dec. 20 (Christmas party). They are also in need of parent volunteers who would be willing to bring a snack and to set up snacks. Please contact Candace and Lucien Gaudet at 306-228-2463
Unity Public School participated in 鈥淥range Shirt Day.鈥� The 鈥淓very Child Matters鈥� campaign is an opportunity to continue the discussion on all aspects of residential schools. Students also had a busy cross-country season, a little soccer mixed in and will be starting volleyball for Division 2 students in the near future. UPS will participate in Fire Prevention Week activities.
At UCHS, Warrior football will be in action all of this month hosting their next game in Unity on Oct. 14 after a two-game road series. Both junior and senior volleyball programs have seen success in their opening month of play. The junior boys鈥� and girls鈥� teams will take part in league on Wednesdays throughout the season Conference playoffs will take place in Unity. The top four teams will advance to districts in Cut Knife on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Senior girls鈥� volleyball league play takes place on Tuesdays and Unity will be hosting Oct. 25. The playoffs will begin with conference playoffs Nov. 5 followed by regional playoffs Nov. 12. Provincial playoffs are in Lanigan on Nov. 19.
UCHS has an archery club. Ms. Van De Meutter has earned National Archery in Schools Program certification through the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. The program will be taught in Ms. Van De Meutter鈥檚 physical education classes and then offered to other students before school and at noon hours.
The drama program practises every Monday with three productions underway this year to be presented in December, January and March.
Curling registration is Oct. 11 and 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the curling club lounge. You can register as an individual, a duo or a team. Junior curling will be looking for some help for when they start up again the first Monday in November, with regular Tuesday league/super league and Thursday league beginning the last week of October.
The 3 on 3 hockey program began Sept. 26 and will run into Thanksgiving weekend. All appears to be in line for another fantastic hockey season for Unity Minor Hockey, says UMH president Dan Feser.
He says, 鈥淥ur enrolment numbers are close to the same as last year and, in hockey Canada wide, if you鈥檙e not going backwards it is considered progress.鈥�
UMH will ice two initiation teams, a novice team including Wilkie players, two atom teams, two peewees teams (with Wilkie players) with four UMH peewee players with AA teams, one bantam team and three players in AA camps and midget A and AA teams.
Some UMH alumni players continuing their hockey careers are Nolan Acton playing with the Medicine Hat Cubs and Ryan Donald playing with the Vermilion Tigers Junior B team while attending school for an agribusiness diploma.
The Unity Museum is now in fall mode but that doesn鈥檛 mean they will be inactive. They are seeking details on veterans to expand and improve their military commemoration section. Please contact Chris Martin with these details. Pancake brunches will be back in November. Every third Thursday the group meets at 7:30 p.m. at the hall on the grounds and all are welcome to attend.
It was a sad day when we learned that the Unity United Church will not hold their annual fall supper this year citing not only reduced numbers in their UCW, but an aging membership. The average age of UCW members is over 80.
Coffee row folks keep the spirits up as the wisdom shared at their table interspersed with some hearty laughter is a welcome part of any business that hosts this group. Whether they are discussing Rider woes, Blue Jays race for the pennant or talking about local events, there is always a sense of enjoyment from those taking. So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next time 鈥�
