It's a girl! Yes, on or about Dec. 11 we will be grandparents to a baby girl. Why am I so excited? Three boys and five grandsons - does that tell the story?
Maymont has been blessed with two new additions to our village. Jennifer and Kyle Combres welcome Jaxon Lorne Combres, Proud grandparents are Brian and Shirley Ducharme of Maymont and Wayne and Norma Combres of Richard and proud great-grandmothers are Bernice Ducharme, Maymont and Mary Dearborn, North Battleford . The second addition to the village is Cooper David Sevick. His parents are Kinley and Amanda Sevick. Proud grandparents are Doug and Diane Sevick and Dave and Elaine Woloshyn. Congratulations to all.
We also have a new addition to Ruddell. Baby boy Jacewas born to Kayla Day and Lee Smith. Proud grandparents Liz and Geordie Smith.
Ruddell hosted a street wiener roast Aug. 13. It was a nice evening in great company, thanks to all those who helped organize the event.
Here's a little history on Ruddell's Lilac Old Timers Picnic. Settlers arrived in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Barr Colonists were at that time going through to what became Lloydminster. Some of the Barr Colonists stopped in the area. At the time there was a grove of maple trees near the North Saskatchewan.
In 1904 the settlers decided to have a July 1 Canada celebration and have a picnic in that grove. There was a large grassy area between the grove of trees and the river. There is no actual road just a trail through the pasture. In time there was a committee formed called Ruddell-Lilac Old Timers and they carried on what started July 1, 1904. It was sometimes just called the Maple Grove Picnic. There is still a committee consisting of Liz and Geordie Smith, Erin Soul and others.
Small events were run for the children (as today) with money prizes. A children's ball game took place in the afternoon, then a picnic lunch. A couple men were responsible for heating a copper boiler of water for coffee complete with the "bag" of coffee grounds. Adult ball games were held in the evening. In time a booth was built in the grove where ice cream, lemonade and small treats were available.
Years later the Ruddell Fastball Club hosted their home games at the "Grove."
Only bad weather caused the picnics to be cancelled. That was the reason they first met in the centre due to rain, where they played bingo and ate inside. Horses could manage the road to the "Grove" but in time the trail was too much of a trail for cars it was held by the Ruddell Centre and now that has become the norm.
It is fortunate the area of grass north of the Ruddell Centre is large enough to accommodate the children's and adult sports but no ball games. Now there are always door prizes, contents and raffles. There are voluntary donations to provide cash prizes for the sports and to provide "cheap" ice cream and lemonade.
The Ruddell Community Association graciously provides the use of the centre and area. Just a curious note of interest. The maple trees in the Grove never reproduce! They do bloom and produce seeds but never do small trees sprout, so as time has gone by the grove is disappearing.
