The Maidstone Museum members would like to thank all who made the Silent Auction at the Trade Farm on April 1 and 2 a financial success. This thank you includes all who helped out with the set up the day prior, during the two day event and with the Saturday evening hot roast beef supper. Thank you to the donors of the 157 items for sale and all the bidders.This is the Museum's biggest fundraiser for the year and helps with the current monthly bills and upkeep and repairs of the buildings in the museum village.
Preparations are underway for the biggest choir ever of July 1 to celebrate Canada 150.
Extra volunteers are needed for the day's events, if you are able to volunteer contact President Denis Maaertz or Bill McGillvary.
I recently returned from an extended holiday with my daughter Linda and son-in-law Larry Fiddler of Medicine Hat. Saturday we pre-booked to enter a cribbage tournament at a near town of Bow Island population 2100, about 58 kilometres south and east of Medicine Hat. Small farms along the highway had herds of cattle grazing on the already green grass. Pastures and hay fields are irrigated with water from the river and can have up to two cuts of hay in one summer. Just outside the town we noticed a large area filled with threshing machines.
The tournament was held at the Bow Island Senior Centre, shared with the local Island Art Club. Walls were graced with paintings done by local artists. The Bow Island Senior's sponsored the tournament and supplied a continental breakfast on arrival, hot noon meal and lunch before we departed for home after a most enjoyable day. The centre has a membership of 150. Cost was $15 per person for a most enjoyable day of good food and sociality.
Wildlife seen on the trip were two herds of antelope, snowgeese and one mangy coyote. In this area there is a bit of hay grown, sugar beets, potatoes and winter wheat. Some work on the land was already in progress.
Monday, April 17, cribbage was played – high score went to Dorothy Schwartz and low to Jean Hartman, who supplied lunch. Wednesday, April 19, was the potluck birthday noon luncheon for the March and April birthday members. Seated at the birthday table was Verla Mitchel, Cheryl MacAskill and Shannon Smith, recently returned from a trip to Vimy Ridge, welcomed everyone.
Rev. Ian Caspen gave the blessing for the 21 seniors who attended. Following a delicious luncheon, bingo was played with calling by Joan Smith and Margaret MacEachern.