Davidson School students are busy setting up the lights, studying their lines, decorating the stage and rolling out the red carpet in anticipation for the 2013 SaskEnergy Willow Awards Gala that will be held at the school next Wednesday.

“The students have been busy for the last few months getting the activities completed,” said Debbie Jestin, Davidson School librarian and co-chair of the 2013 SaskEnergy Willow Awards Gala. “All the decorations are student work and the students are in charge of the program and they’re the ones who are going to be presenting it. The emcees are going to be students. The entertainers will be students and it all revolves around the 30 books (up for awards).”

The school is welcoming Saskatchewan Lieutenant-Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield, authors, dignitaries and guests from across the province to the Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice–Willow Awards (SYRCA) Gala held in the Davidson School gym April 24. The day will begin with writing workshops presented by Canadian authors for Kindergarten to Grade 9 students before moving on to the Gala that will feature student writing, art displays, singing, public speaking and acting during the awards program and finally end with a reception in the school library.

The SYRCA is a volunteer-run, non-profit charity that promotes reading among

Kindergarten to Grade 9 students by granting Willow Awards to the best Canadian and/or Saskatchewan book voted on by Saskatchewan school students in three designated categories. Ten 2012 books are nominated in each category with a Shining Willow Award presented to the top young readers’ book (Kindergarten to Grade 3), the Diamond Willow Award given out to the best upper elementary readers’ choice (grades 4 to 6) and a Snow Willow Award handed to the favourite young people’s book (grades 7 to 9).

“It’s a celebration of Canadian authors that write for children,” said Jestin. “Students all across Saskatchewan read these 10 books in each category and then vote on which one is their favourite, so it is actually the kids that are choosing the book that is going to win the award.”

To read more please see the April 15 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Masich
Frances Joan Masich passed away peacefully in her sleep with family at her side, on Good Friday, March 29, 2013 at the Watrous Health Care Centre after a brief illness. Her funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Kenaston.
Frances is survived by her loving family: daughter Milly (Randy) Biederman and family Curtis and Aaron, son Tony (Margo) Masich and family Tyce and Tori, and son Bob, as well as nieces and nephews and other family members. Frances was predeceased by her loving husband Louis and daughter Teresa Masich, parents Steve and Mary Siroski as well as brothers, sisters and in-laws.
Frances was born and raised in the Kenaston district. Upon leaving her family home she started working as a cook and baker. One of the places she worked was the Kenaston Hotel. It was at the Kenaston Hotel that she met her future husband, Louis Masich. Frances and Louis were married in October, 1951 and began farming and raising their four children.
Frances was an avid homemaker and gardener. She often said her garden was the perfect therapy for her, a place where she could go and relax and connect with nature. She enjoyed growing flowers, fruit and vegetables.
Frances was an active member in the St. Andrew’s Catholic Women’s League, was a lector and participated in study of Sacred Scripture.
Frances spent the past few years of her life in residence at Jubilee Court in Watrous. She enjoyed the independent living, the active social programs and the daily interaction with other residents.
Milly, Tony and Bob thank all family and friends for their outpouring of kindness, cards, gifts and good wishes and for sharing their memories of Frances. We also extend our thanks to Brian and Todd for all their support.

Foster, Gary
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gary John Foster on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at the age of 64 years. Gary was predeceased by his parents William and Ruth. He will be lovingly remembered and forever missed by his wife Sandy; brother David (Kelly); sisters Joy, Joan (Troyha), Wendy (Henry) and Brenda (Gary); brother-in-law Allen (Elizabeth); daughter Christine; numerous nephews, nieces and great-nephews and -nieces; as well as many other relatives and dear friends. Gary was born and raised in Davidson, Sask. and farmed at Davidson for many years. Gary had a great love of life, and enjoyed fishing, square dancing, golfing and curling until his Parkinson’s of 20 years and Stroke of 10 years made it impossible for him to continue. A memorial service for Gary will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Regina Funeral Home, Hwy #1 East, Regina, Sask. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be made to the Parkinson Society of Saskatchewan, 610 Duchess Street, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 0R1 or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home (306) 789-8850.

Concerned citizens of Imperial have five days left to convince the Highway Traffic Board to keep their parcel and travel services with the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) before it is eliminated in mid-May.

The STC is proposing to discontinue the Regina to Lanigan bus service route via Nokomis and Watrous beginning May 18. Before the route can be discontinued the Highway Traffic Board must approve the move, but riders can make their opposition known to the board until April 17 through emails and letters stating how removing the service would hurt residents of the affected communities. The board will make the final decision on whether the bus route stays or goes in early May.

Gaylene Parry, a resident of Imperial, said removing the route would particularly hurt seniors who use the bus to get in and out of the cities for shopping, friendly visits and medical appointments. She said eliminating the service would also marginalize the town as a whole.

“Every time a small rural community loses another one of these things, it’s just one more bit of instability in the community,” said Parry. “People need to know that this is slated to happen. Really a letter writing campaign is what their option is to try and voice their opinion if they consider it a problem.”

Dean Madsen, director of business development with the STC, said they have identified the Regina to Lanigan bus service route as unjustifiable due to low ridership. He said discontinuing this route would also save the company costs as they deal with increased financial pressures.

“We were looking at routes and ridership which is very low and (the Regina to Lanigan route) has been low for the past five years with just an average of two passengers utilizing the service per trip,” said Madsen. “It is hard to justify keeping the service if it is not being utilized.”

Madsen said they have provided a mechanism for concerns of discontinuing the service to be made to the Highway Traffic Board, but it is up to the board now if the service is eliminated.

To read more please see the April 8 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson Playschool students are entering the world of visual arts this spring thanks to a recently received $4,180 Creative Partnerships Explorations grant.

Terra Fazakas, grants representative with the Davidson Playschool Association, said they are putting the grant money towards bringing visual artist Derek Pho to the classroom in early May to help the 42 kids who attend the playschool to create a papier måché project. She said the two-, three- and four-year-old students would compile the hands-on piece into a larger-than-life local wildlife animal.

“Our focus is going to be on sustainability,” said Fazakas. “It’s got an environmental twist and it’ll be how the community interacts with your surroundings. It’ll be an animal that is local to Saskatchewan in our area that’s native in a local environment.”

Fazakas said the project is still in the development stage, but what would likely happen is the kids would create small shapes individually before combining them to make a bigger shape. She said the playschool, which is located in a room at Davidson School, would have the artist come in for two days to work with the students and give them directions on how to build the papier måché animal.

This is the first time the Davidson Playschool Association has been awarded a Creative Partnerships Explorations grant. The grant program’s mandate is to explore how the visual arts can enhance environmental stewardship within the classroom and funding partners include the Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCulture Inc., Saskatchewan Lotteries and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.

“We hope to do more (Creative Partnerships Explorations projects) in the future,” said Fazakas. “This one is actually geared towards communities. We hope to be involving local businesses and local groups and volunteers from the town for recyclable donations to help build the structure.”

Communities in Bloom has entered into a non-competitive judging category that will grade the “overall health” of the entire community of Davidson.

Erin Gust, treasurer of Communities in Bloom, said judges from the provincial organization of Communities in Bloom would head to town this summer to rate the beauty of various attractions in Davidson. She said the community as a whole and all community groups would be rated in order to give Communities in Bloom a “benchmark” of what the beautification of the town is and what they would need to improve on.

“What (the judges) do is they provide you with an evaluation report and there is eight key criteria that they look at,” said Gust. “There is tidiness, tree and urban forest management, landscaped areas, floral design, turf and ground cover, environmental awareness, community involvement and natural and cultural heritage conservation.”

Gust said items such as the new planters that are located throughout the town, the new garbage cans on Washington Avenue, the parks, playground, library, landfill and the reverse osmosis water system are some of the things the provincial Communities in Bloom judges will be grading. She said Davidson would not be competing against other towns in the judging, but Communities in Bloom will still put in the extra effort once the snow melts to make sure everything is as beautiful as can be.

“We don’t have an exact plan set out yet, but we definitely would like our town to look as good as it can look,” she said. “We’ll be talking to businesses and talking to other community groups and just make sure everybody is on side.”

To read more please see the April 1 print edition of The Davidson Leader.