Well (big sigh inserted here) it's over for another year. Unless, of course, you have Ukrainian heritage. Then you have the privilege of enjoying the cultural festivities of Ukrainian Christmas this weekend. I know I am always appreciative of grandparents who choose to carry on the traditions of these holidays as it is great to have our children learn about their culture and heritage in this personal manner.
The curling club is hosting a senior men's and women's curling bonspiel Jan. 6 to 8. Please call the local curling club at 228-2212 for more details. League curling action continues each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night so if you want to watch some live action curling, or join your favourite team in the lounge, there is lots of room for visitors.
Hockey is back into full swing with all teams back in full action. Saturday, Jan. 14 each home team will host a game in honour of the annual Minor Hockey Day. This is always a big event and offers a game from each division in our local minor hockey ranks.
The museum pancake brunches are back on Sunday, Jan. 8. This is the museum's main winter fundraiser so come join them every Sunday until April from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Adanac Hall on the museum grounds.
The Grad 2012 class will be doing a door to door bottle drive until Jan. 7 after 5 p.m. each evening. This will help towards their fundraising goals. You can also bring your capless bottles to Sarcan and make a personal donation at anytime in the upcoming months by informing the Sarcan employees the bottle refund is designated for this cause.
Jan. 27, 28 and 29 is the multiple 4-H clubs' Craft Retreat Weekend at the Unity Community Centre. It is a weekend to come and work on craft projects, scrapbooking, card making, quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting and more. It is a great time to spend with friends and get great ideas from others. Local craft consultants will be present. Registration is $95 and includes snacks, lunch, and supper. Registrations can be picked up at Jay Dee Ag Tech or call Corinne at 228-3604.
The mild weather was certainly a bonus to holiday travelers for the most part. However, my family and I experienced the negative factor warm weather brings, which was the freezing rain that fell over much of Saskatchewan Dec. 29. One appreciates the great safety features new vehicles offer as well as the work of those highway workers who keep our roads drivable.
During the holidays I had the great privilege of attending the Titanic Exhibit at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina. It will be in Regina until March. Our son is a great Titanic enthusiast so he and I eagerly toured the artifacts recovered. As well, each admission was given an "official' boarding pass with an actual name of a Titanic voyager. After exploring the large screen TVs showing both the re-creation of the collision, as well as the actual underwater footage of Titanic on the sea bottom, and touring through the many other halls of interesting facts and dates (eerily accented by haunting sounds of the ship groaning and moaning in its final hour), we were led to a wall of survivors and victims where we looked for our name to see if the boarding pass we held had us as in the lucky 700 who survived, or unfortunate 1,500 who perished. It was most interesting reading these lists and finding last names of people you currently know and wondering how their lives would have changed if circumstances on that fateful night would have been different.
Our kids are back to school this week and their schedules will be full of academic and extra-curricular activities. The high school will be busy getting students ready for exam week Jan. 23 to 27 to wrap up semester one.
Coffee row folk are always discussing the abnormally warm weather trend we have been experiencing. It brings about worry for the upcoming crop year as well as those who believe Mother Nature always comes through with what is needed for the land. I am always grateful for the thoughts and humour of this group, and look forward to more of their wisdom in the New Year.
So, you can see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week