Global warming? Well let's see, the sun shines for more hours per day than over the last several months and yet the temperature struggles to remain over zero for many hours of the day. Most of the coffee row men have mentioned in one way or another that we have had winter for more than six months now. So global warming, bring it on!
Most recently the water has begun to run and more and more bare spots are showing up. It is great to see kids playing in water and doing what kids do. Do you remember getting your boots full of water, and having to wear bread bags in your boots? You knew that play day was over when there were no more dry clothes. Oh to be a kid again!
Thanks to everyone who has helped to get the streets and sidewalks as passable as they are. Thanks especially to Dave Plummer, Gerry Miller, Al Richter and Earl Jones for using their equipment to break some of the ice and for providing drainage so the water can get away when those dog days of summer do hit.
For the next few weeks it would be helpful if people hauling waste to the landfill first check with Lorraine Scott. The road to the landfill is very soft therefore some days she is unable to be open.
A bit late but yet worth mentioning - the winners of the WhistleStop Easter draw for a couple of stuffed creatures were Marie Balazsi and Garrett Toews.
We are happy to report three people have made their new homes in Rabbit Lake. Welcome to Gordon Gamble who is living at Rose Gill Lodge and to Holly French who is living in one of the units. Ken Rodgers has purchased the home formerly owned by Wes Cairns and Eleanor Snyder. We hope you enjoy the village and encourage you to become involved with us.
Recently we said good-bye to Tony and Lois Roberts. We wish them well in their work at Sundre, Alta. At present the population of Rabbit Lake is 120 people.
Get well wishes go out to Art Penner and Stan Moore who are patients in a Saskatoon hospital.
The quilting club held a show and tell night at the Rabbit Lake Senior Sunrise Circle, April 15. The centre was filled with sewing projects from cushions and children's books and games to pillowcases and large intricate quilts and everything in between. After the show and tell, the guests enjoyed refreshments and visiting.
It sounds like there is plenty of interest in this group. It will get fired up again next fall. If you are interested in doing some sewing or quilting, contact Melita Hildebrand at the library or Donna German or Lynn Morrison. Thanks to the guests from Spiritwood who came and enjoyed the evening.
The Rabbit Lake seniors held their monthly potluck supper April 17, with 27 people enjoying a great meal. People were encouraged to bring items that had been passed down to them and to be prepared to speak about the item's significance. This proved to be very interesting and informative. Some of the items had come with families from Europe many years ago.
The Lutheran Church Society held its annual deep fried turkey supper April 20 with ham, perogies, mashed potatoes, homemade buns, salads and desserts. A Kaiser tournament followed at the Rabbit Lake Community Hall. The proceeds are used to maintain the building and the grounds. A good crowd attended the supper and stayed to play cards. This is the fourth year for this supper.
The high hand winner was Cindy Miller; second was Margaret MacNabb. Ardes Petersen came in third.
There were donated door prizes and raffle prizes awarded. Ryan Becotte and Jake Krahn took home potted flowers, Jennifer Lamb won ratchet tie-downs, Jenn Giocolli won a screwdriver set while Shalynn Gatzke, Marlene Hildebrand and Jenn Yaeger were the recipients of dish cloths. Bernice Wiebe took home the Lia Sophia necklace.
The committee members, Karen Kuffert (president), Jeanette Krelow (vice-president) Janette Klaassen and Cindy Miller (secretary-treasurer), would like to thank everyone who helped with and donated to the supper. See you all next year at the annual spring supper.
Congratulations go out to Donna German. Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation held its fourth annual volunteer recognition program in Neilburg April 24. Donna German was named Artist of the Year by Rivers West for her work with Kids' Art Club, a program of the Rabbit Lake library.
All we do in Rabbit Lake is celebrate. The community hall was filled to capacity April 28 with friends and family of Cornie Martens gathered to celebrate his 50 years as an ordained pastor with the Hoffnungsfelder Mennonite Church. Cornie was ordained to the ministry in August of 1963 and has served continually since.
The day began with a worship service followed by an excellent noon meal. During the service Chad Doell, the present pastor, highlighted Cornie's years with a message that included scripture and humour. After lunch Pastor Don Unger was the master of ceremonies for an interesting and humorous program that included music and reminiscing and culminated with a PowerPoint feature. It was very evident how much the church community and the village community have come to appreciate all the work and time Cornie and Marlene have invested in Rabbit Lake.
If you go to the village office, you will find a different face doing village business. Cindy Miller will be filling in as administrator, completing the maternity leave of Brenda Aumack. Welcome back to the village books, Cindy.
So what is coming up? We are fortunate to have the Mayfair Art Show and Sale May 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Mayfair Hall. Come see the work of local artists and enjoy the work of professionals such as Doreen Kalmakoff, Al Nelson Weitzel and Earl D. McKay. Proceeds from the afternoon will go to the Mayfair library.
If the snow is gone and the ground is dry, there will be a community cleanup May 18 in the village. Village cleanup may take the form of devoting that day to cleaning your own lot or spending time sprucing up empty lots or community lots such as the hall or seniors. Watch for signs.
Just a note of encouragement-fishing season opens May 1 and they say the best fish are the ones that come from cold water.
