By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The familiar murals on Davidson’s Giant Coffee Pot will live on.

Members of a new coffee pot restoration committee met for the first time recently, discussing plans to revitalize the 24-foot-high monument and protect it from further deterioration.

Coun. Arlene Low reported on their progress to her fellow town councillors during their regular meeting on Tuesday.

The group has decided to go ahead with repainting the murals, which have faded after decades of year-round exposure.

The fate of the murals had previously been in question, as other options had been proposed for the outside of the coffee pot.

For instance, a proposal to repaint the structure with a speckled paint finish — giving it the look of an antique enamelware coffee pot — had attracted some support.

However, Low said, residents ultimately seemed to prefer the idea of trying to maintain the murals.

“So far it seems to have a very positive momentum,” said Low.

Gail Prpick, Karen Reich and Dee Ulmer have agreed to lead a team of community volunteers in repainting the mural, which they hope to do in June of next year.

Before that happens, the coffee pot will be sandblasted to combat the rust that has appeared in several places.

The finished paint job will be followed by the professional application of a clear coating, to extend the paint’s lifespan and protect the artwork.

Coun. Jessica Foster, who also serves on the committee, said they are researching what materials and approaches will work best for the project. The committee is planning a follow-up meeting this week. Continue reading Team to recreate murals on coffee pot →

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Time to roll up your sleeves again — flu season is here.

Health officials are again advising Saskatchewan residents to protect themselves by getting immunized against influenza.

The vaccine is available free of charge to all residents six months and older.

Public flu vaccination clinics are being held across the province beginning this week.

The first clinic for Davidson residents is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Davidson Town Hall. (A complete list of scheduled clinics in Davidson and other communities follows at the end of this article.)

Patients aged nine years and over can also receive the vaccine at participating pharmacies, including Midway Pharmacy in Davidson.

Local pharmacist Dave Nykiforuk said just over 180 people received the vaccine through his business last year. Customers have already been asking about this year’s vaccine for a couple of weeks, he said last week.

The program is designed not to compete with the scheduled clinics, but rather to improve access to the vaccine across the board, said Nykiforuk.

“I think people find it convenient,” he said. “Lots of people like to go to the clinic when they have them, but it doesn’t always work for everyone.”

The vaccine will be available from the pharmacy till sometime in March, generally considered the end of flu season.

Nykiforuk said 90 per cent of customers looking for the vaccine will receive it in the first month. After that the demand drops off substantially, though they will still get the occasional request — from snowbirds returning home in the new year, for instance.

The vaccine is also available through the Royal Street Pharmacy in Imperial, according to a list provided by the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan.

Officials advised that high-risk groups — such as seniors, children, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems — are particularly encouraged to get the vaccine.

This year’s vaccines contain the influenza A and B viral strains predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most likely to circulate in the upcoming flu season.

The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the match between the vaccine strains and the flu strains circulating in the patient’s community. The patient’s age and immune response are also factors. Continue reading Flu vaccine available starting today →

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Canada Post is cracking down on rural postal employees sorting mail by hand.

The company says all mail received at rural post offices like Davidson must be sent to a regional centre — in this case, Regina — to be sorted automatically.

A Canada Post spokesperson said the corporation is simply enforcing an existing policy, and that there haven’t been any changes to the rules.

“To confirm, this is not a new process for Davidson or other rural post offices in your area,” Phil Legault said in an email to the Leader.

At a recent district meeting, rural employees were reminded of the policy, which is intended to standardize services for all customers.

The policy applies to all outgoing mail, whether it’s going to a post office box in Davidson or across the country.

Continue reading Canada Post to staff: Stop sorting mail by hand →