Mid-January do you have the mid-January blues? I always feel the most melancholy right after Christmas and now, as I see the days getting moments longer each day, I feel happy. Although I try not to kid myself too much as I know and realize there is much more winter yet to be experienced.
Mind you, after completely avoiding the wicked snow storms they received in my former part of the province, I think we have not too much to complain about. And, if you take a moment each week, you will notice Mr. Sun really is staying out a little longer each day.
Well, the long awaited Readers Digest contest preliminary results are in. This contest includes Unity in the running as one of Canada's most interesting towns. Even though Unity garnered over 14,000 votes in the initial process, the final decision was reserved for the judges. We will keep you posted next week on the results.
Did you know Owen Garratt, married to former Unity resident Karla Elder, is a contestant on Canada's Greatest Know It All? The show airs on the Discovery Channel, starting Jan. 14. You can watch the program, then log on to discovery.ca (not discovery.com) and cast your vote for Owen.
In a few short weeks, we will all be near "penniless" as the government works to eliminate the use of the penny. Some stores have their policies posted and you can log on to the Government of Canada website for more information.
Classes are back in action, which means busy schedules for teachers, parents and students. UCHS will begin exams for the first semester Jan. 24. Both junior and senior basketball is underway, with district competitions coming up soon.
The UCHS curling teams are looking strong heading into district and regional competitions. Spencer Powell's team, including Powell, Cody Thompson, Todd Bazley and Zak Bos, will be competing at both the junior and senior level at districts this year.
Unity Composite High has two girls' teams competing at districts. One team, consisting of Emma Greenwald, Erin Bick, Kylie Walz and Ainsley Bowey, is newly, but all have extensive curling experience. Emma and Ainsley both curl in 4-H, and Kylie and Erin both curl in league with their families. The second girls' team of Kyla Van De Meutter, Heather Wood, Robyn Sperle and Megan Babchuk have moved up a division and are competing at a senior level this year.
The senior mixed team added Justin Sopyc last year when injured skip Devin Boser was unable to compete. Boser, third Shelby Solomko, second Jonathan Neigum and lead Mickayla Brandle were strong competitors when they were juniors, winning districts twice. A strong team chemistry and determination for high achievement kept this team in the win column and competing at a provincial level. With three Grade 12s on this team, hopes are high for golden moments.
Senior high school curling district competition will be held at the CUPlex in North Battleford Feb. 6 and 7. The top two teams from districts within each category will advance to regionals Feb. 15 and 16, also to be held in North Battleford.
The Steve Nash basketball program began this week at UCHS senior gyms. This is a great program for kids, Grades 3 - 6, looking for some activity this winter. Contact the town office for more details.
This weekend is Minor Hockey Weekend. Every team in every division will play at least one game throughout the weekend starting with the Midget AAs playing Warman Friday at 8:15 p.m.. Saturday games will start at 8:30 a.m. with our littlest hockey stars taking to the ice and games continue all day, wrapping up with a Midget A Lazer game versus Kyle/Beechy at 8:15 p.m. Sunday games begin at 12:30 p.m., kicking off with the Atom Red Lazers playing Kindersley followed by a Midget AA game against Northeast starting at 2:45 p.m.
The Unity Midget A team starts their provincial quest Feb. 1, hosting Rosthern at 5:45 p.m. in the first round of their provincial playoffs.
And don't forget, the Unity Miners hockey team is back at home Jan. 22, against the Kerrobert Tigers.
The Unity Skating Club is preparing for the remainder of their season. The club heads to Kindersley Feb. 2 for regional competition. Unity will host the Canskate Fun Festival Feb. 10, with approximately 35 Unity Canskaters along with a number from out of town showing off their talents in a non-competitive, group environment.
The club is also preparing for their annual ice carnival to be held March 1, the theme being "A Few Of My Favourite Things." The carnival theme allowed the coaches to ask the kids what their favourite things were and work with that. They did get some interesting answers which will set the stage for a great variety program at this year's carnival. The older girls are working on their favourite music, movies and such to implement into their numbers for the event. Robin Bellievau, Kaitlin Robertson and Jenna Winterhalt, along with Brandi Braun of Cut Knife, will perform in their last carnival for the skating club as they head to graduation this June.
On the curling ice, several local teams started their season in the fall of 2012 working towards a goal of earning a provincial playdown berth.
Darlene Gilles, Wanda Heitt, Tracy Heidt and Linda Kloschinsky are heading to Senior Women's Provincial Championships again, to be held in Martensville Feb. 20. The team also competed in the SaskPower Northern Ladies' Playdowns in North Battleford Jan. 12 weekend, but were unable to advance over the teams of Trish Paulsen, Nancy Martin, Brett Barber and Jill Shumay.
Three men's teams advanced to men's regionals in Meadow Lake Jan. 12 weekend. Team Lloyd Fell did not advance out of regional playdowns. Rob Bakken's team, made up of Bakken, Jim Powell, Marlowe Rask and Trevor Gerein, had a strong start winning all of their games but fell in the finals Sunday against Team Brad Heidt, which includes two of Brad's boys, along with Unity curler, Glen Heitt. They head to northern men's playdowns in Kindersley this weekend. Glen is also curling in the senior men's playdowns with Daryl Eddingfield, Bart Brown and Gary Maze in upcoming regional competition.
Upcoming at the Unity Curling Club are the annual men's, ladies' and oilmen's spiels. Senior Men's Regionals will take place Feb 1 - 3.
The Lions are still selling tickets for their Valentine's event featuring The Hot Tamales.
The Unity Multiple 4-H Club craft retreat weekend is Feb. 1 - 3 at the Legion Hall. The event runs Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is only $95, which includes meals and snacks. Registration can be mailed to Box 773, Unity, S0K4L0 or dropped off at JayDee AgTech. Deadline for entry is Jan. 28.
Watch for the annual chamber sponsored Celebrate Unity night which recognizes outstanding individuals and groups in the community. The event takes place March 4. Tickets will be on sale for $35 until Feb. 20 and then will become $45. Contact any Chamber member or the Town of Unity for more details.
Coffee row folks don't care the NHL lockout is over. The upcoming curling playdowns that involve several Unity teams as well as the Season of Champions on TV is definitely brought up for discussion with the "rowers." Guesses on what remains in store for winter as well as spring predictions can also be heard. So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week
