In seven days Christmas will arrive, so, as the song says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go.鈥�
Remember there are plenty of options in your local businesses for your Christmas shopping. Ample free parking, attentive customer service, no long lineups and being mindful of where you shop ultimately benefits you back. Local businesses invest much into your community by way of contributing to taxes and local employment and are likely the biggest contributors to local events and charities. In fact, the recent 鈥淲inter Wonderland鈥� is a prime example of what your local businesses do for you, providing a fun, free event for everyone to enjoy. Many local businesses also choose to volunteer at other community events. Shop smallmart, think local first.
While many of us are busy bustling about preparing for Christmas with our families and friends we forget there are people who just don鈥檛 have the social inclusion many of us take for granted at Christmas. We often think of programs like Secret Santa to ensure those in tough circumstances have a special Christmas, but we may tend to forget those lonely widows, bachelors, folks suffering with an illness or those with family far away. Find a way to include them in Christmas, whether it鈥檚 offering to take them for a Christmas light drive, dropping off a surprise package at their home, inviting them for a meal or taking a meal to them or even buying them a coffee while downtown. You鈥檇 be surprised what a huge smile any gesture, no matter how big or small, can bring out. Remember, not all gifts received at Christmas need to be wrapped under a tree.
It was also wonderful this holiday season to see some 鈥減ay it forwards鈥� and 鈥渞andom acts of kindness鈥� making the rounds. Someone purchased all of the Christmas trees left Dec. 7 at the Lions tree lot to give away and asked only in turn that the recipients donate a minimum $20 to the Lions Club. Several recipients of prizes in community contests chose to give them to the Secret Santa program. And yes, there was a surprise round of coffee or two purchased this month at a couple of coffee shops. There may be more, but these are the ones I know about.
There is still time to enter the 鈥淕rand In Your Hand鈥� chamber of commerce contest. One lucky winner will receive 1,000 chamber bucks to be spent at a local participating business. The draw date is Dec. 23.
Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. volunteers are needed for Secret Santa assembly night at St. Peter鈥檚 Hall. Organizers have been busy collecting items from the multiple dropoff depots in town as well as accepting names for those who are in need of these packages.
It鈥檚 an early dismissal for all of the schools Dec. 18. There is a school community council sponsored turkey dinner at St. Peter鈥檚 for the last day. UPS has some classroom social activities planned and UCHS will hold their afternoon movie and popcorn event as a fundraiser for Telemiracle.
Hey hockey fans, whether you are parents, grandparents or friends, please be respectful of the players, coaches and officials on the ice. We鈥檝e all witnessed some craziness in our time at the rink, but 鈥渨alk a mile in their shoes.鈥� In minor hockey, those officials are often kids, not highly paid, highly trained major hockey league officials and hey, we鈥檙e all human. They might make a mistake. Try to envision a minor hockey league without officials and see how well that would work. Coaches are volunteers, too. You may not agree with everything they do, but again, they鈥檝e invested time away from their homes and families so the players on their team can have a season. Try and be respectful of them, too. Players need fan support not fan hecklers. Make sure you check out the town website, or the SWHL or Centre 4 Hockey League sites for the latest schedules for upcoming games at our rink.
Have you registered as an individual, duo or team for the annual Boxing Day bonspiel at the Unity Curling Club? There is a 20-team limit and you can register by calling the club at 306-228-2212. Also check out their Facebook page for the latest updates. Once January hits, the curling club will be a place of action full of weekend bonspiels, playdowns and other events for the second half of their season.
Consider donating to Unity and District Food Bank. PotashCorp is again matching up to $1 million in cash donations made to food banks across Saskatchewan.
Coffee row folks are like many folks this time of year, thoroughly enjoying the sights and sounds of Christmas as well as the people. Everyone is sharing the spirit of Christmas through hearty hellos and season鈥檚 greetings. Local sports, winter weather and all of the activity in town this December leaves no down time on their discussion tables. So, you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next time 鈥�
