You know what almost the end of January means? We are almost a little closer to spring and the first sign is watching the sun out a little longer each day!
Just another precaution to residents to keep those doors and vehicles locked and property secured. Recently a family had their vehicle stolen right from in front of their house at 5:30 a.m. while warming it up for work. Please be aware of strangers and unusual activity in our neighborhoods and we can help be the eyes and ears needed for these cowardly acts of theft.聽
Things at St. Peter鈥檚 School are never slow or idle. School curling wraps up this Friday with a mini spiel. Students are also looking forward to the Mark Mallett concert taking place at the church at 7 p.m. Jan. 29. And you can be sure the St. Peter鈥檚 Saints are doing their part for the fundraising efforts for Telemiracle 39!
Unity Public School staff and students are enjoying some warmer days as it makes recess a lot more fun. Students are well into both their basketball and curling season. As well, choir and classes are in preparations for the annual upcoming music festival. Telemiracle fundraising is on the go with lots of fun activity including hat day, sunglasses day and聽 a popcorn day. UPS families are invited Jan 27 to celebrate Literacy Day, with UPS holding their annual reading night and encourage everyone to come in their pyjamas and bring pillows. The SCC will serve some goodies. And staff and students were sad to see the last day of Mrs. Roth at the secretary鈥檚 desk as Jan. 16 was her last day on the job after a 40-year career and she now enters the wonderful world of retirement. Good luck, Mrs. Roth, in your latest adventure!
UCHS is a continual action packed venue. Exam prep for upcoming semester one finals is happening. Basketball season in high gear with teams preparing for upcoming district and conference playoffs. The curling teams are also preparing for their upcoming district playoffs. The drama club preparing for their regional drama. This busy list of 鈥渢o dos鈥� also includes the SADD, SLC and yearbook committees and the UCHS ACTIVATE campaign. The travel club is eagerly anticipating their event this Easter as they travel to Europe. And now that the successful grad bottle drive fundraiser is over, Grade 12 students have recognized in less than five months their school years are done at UCHS. They are now busy with finalizing grad plans and beginning or fine-tuning their post-secondary applications, scholarships and other plans for their next adventure past high school. Telemiracle fundraising has included a burger sale and Grade 7 movie and popcorn on the last day before Christmas. A 鈥減ersonal assistant鈥� auction is upcoming as well as other creative ways each class chooses to help out this Saskatchewan tradition. Students will also be beginning their annual magazine fundraiser that helps funds the many activities students get to enjoy throughout the year.
Minor hockey weekend was jam packed with action as every team in Unity hosted at least one home game, as well as the Miners holding home games Friday and Saturday. As teams are now into provincial games and will soon be in league playoffs, the action at the Unity Community Centre is going to get a whole lot busier.
The Unity Skating Club hosts a regional competition Feb. 21 and 22 and will be following that up quickly with their annual ice carnival.
The curling rink is still buzzing with excitement from the Decisive Farming/CrescentPoint Energy 鈥淐urling Ville Tour鈥� that saw the Steve Laycock team host a junior clinic in Unity. Organizers put a bid in for this opportunity in October and were thrilled to learn they had secured a finalist spot. Unity was cheering 鈥渉urry hard鈥� for a couple of local teams taking part in Men鈥檚 Northern Playdowns in Prince Albert last weekend. Drew Heidt, who plays in super league in Unity, advanced to the Tankard provincials coming up in February. Organizers are hopeful to build off this momentum and capitalize on interest for the remaining events of the men鈥檚 open, oilman鈥檚, ladies鈥� open and year-end funspiel.
The Unity Wildlife Federation is holding their annual Wild Game Supper and Awards night on Feb. 7 at the Unity Community Centre Hall. Tickets are available at Unity Auto Body, Unity Radiator Shop, Unity Motor Products, and Sperle鈥檚 Tire.聽
The Unity Sports Wall of Fame is looking for nominations for their next induction to be held May 9. Nomination forms can be picked up at the town office or downloaded from the town website.聽
We鈥檝e all heard it or we may be one of the ones stating it 鈥� 鈥渙ur recreation rates are so high, how come?鈥�
When uttering that groan or statement, here鈥檚 information you didn鈥檛 know. In November, Unity was part of a survey on recreation facility rental rates and it was most interesting to see that Unity offers one of, if not always, the lowest fees in a variety of recreational activities.
By many other factors, and including this new survey results, Unity is the destination with the most affordable opportunities year round. Compared to other communities that participated in this survey, Unity is offering a bargain price for the same services for residents.
A complete schedule of fees for recreational facilities in Unity can be seen at the Town of Unity or by calling the Parks and Recreation Director, Nicole Goldsworthy at 306-228-2621.
Unity is excited to announce another new adult-only housing complex coming to town. With an open house held Dec. 11 the official sign up began for a 24-suite BridgeRoad Developments Ltd. building, 8th Avenue Estates. Long waiting lists for other complexes in town drove the need for an additional complex such as this. For example, as of only a week ago, there were more than 70 names on the waiting list for a suite at existing complexes like Luther Place. This complex is not just open to retirees, however it is an adult-only building.聽
The Unity and District Museum entered 2015 celebrating their 35th anniversary. They are in the preliminary stages of planning a celebration day. Museum Sunday brunches are running until April for the bargain price of only $6. Attendance has been low and this is one of the museum鈥檚 main fundraisers for the year so let鈥檚 try to help them out. Organizers are planning the annual St. Patrick鈥檚 Day supper March 17.
Coffee row folks are back in routine. They are debating the weather that has been and what鈥檚 expected for the rest of winter. Some are talking of their hot holidays this winter. Some are reviewing their favourite hockey teams or their favourite curling teams and putting down their guesses for what the next few weeks will hold for their favourite players and teams. All are part of the community culture of coffee row that we all recognize as a mainstay in our community. So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week.
