Haying in the 30s

BY JOHN MATHER BY JOHN MATHER

It had been two years since there were community activities in the St. Michael Community Hall but on Apr. 9 more than 300 guests arrived to enjoy the Haying in the 30s community auction to raise funds for cancer victims.

By the time all the donations had been counted up more than $40,000 had been raised.

“We’ve made over 3,500 perogies and we have a complete program for the evening,” said local organizer Mae Adamyk. She said while there had been a couple of previous events at the hall recently, it “is a great feeling to have people and noise in this building again.”

Martin Neundorff spoke about the background of the Haying in the 30s, a program that began in 1999 and still continues in Mallaig each summer.

“Haying in the 30’s is a one of a kind organization,” he said. “It is run strictly by volunteers.

“We have no officers, no staff and pay no salaries,” he stated. “One hundred per cent of your donations go entirely to the victims of cancer.”

He said there was a volunteer board of 14 people and for their annual fundraiser they got 300 volunteers to help out.

It is held July 30 and 31 in Mallaig.

The day features demonstrations of farming as it took place during the depression era.

“Its success relies on all of us, and it is successful because of people like you,” Neundorff said. “Because of Covid, the past two years have been a struggle. But we have still been able to provide assistance to 747 cancer victims.”

In 22 years, he added, assistance has been provided to 6,700 cancer victims and $5,600,000 has been raised.

“I can assure you as a result of your fundraising this evening there will be a grateful person, a grateful family, who will struggle a little less because of your kindness.”

And then donations started rolling in.

Stella Stevens from CFCW brought a cheque for $1,000. A representative from Alberta Floor Curling Association in Northern Alberta gave a cheque for $5,000. Chris Klita from the St. Michael Agricultural Society told the crowd it was 15 years they had hosted Haying in the 30’s and then donated $2,000 from the Skaro District Community Society, which is connected to the Knights of Columbus. And then the Lions Clubs from around the area including Chipman, Andrew and Lamont donated amounts totalling $1,300. Lamont County also donated $500.

Other organizations and families kept adding to the total donated.

“We are the largest fundraiser for the program outside of the Mallaig event,” said Adamyk. After all the auction items and cheques had been totalled up, more than $40,000 was raised for the program Saturday evening.

One of the more memorable moments was when the 50-50 draw was held.

The winner, Jen Palmer, from Calgary won $1,055 and she, in turn, donated it all to Haying in the 30’s.

Originally from Strathcona, she had come back to the area to visit her cousin and ended up at the event selling pull tickets as a volunteer.

“I spent $20 on the 5050 tickets and when I won I had been looking for a way to help out the cause,” she said. “I had purchased a couple of small items, but when I won I figured it was found money, so I gave it back.”

Haying in the 30s gets $40,000 boost from St. Michael

Haying in the 30s organizer Martin Neundorff shows emotion as he explains the program to the crowd at the Haying in the 30s auction event at the St. Michael Hall Apr. 9, while local St. Michael Hall organizer Mae Adamyk watches on. The auction event raised more than $40,000 for the program.

New Trail Lighting For Lamont’s Hillside Park

BY JANA SEMENIUK A project to add trail lighting to Hillside Park

in Lamont is finally complete. The Lamont Parks and Recreation Committee discussed the muchneeded addition during their regular meeting Apr. 5.

Lamont Director of Operations and Infrastructure, Tyler Edworthy, said he is happy with the results.

“We put in 10 new LED lights that are energy efficient. We got taller lights with a wider span and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. They definitely do the job,” he said.

Lamont Town Councillor Dave Taylor said solar lighting wasn’t an option.

“In our part of the world solar lighting doesn’t work for all season lighting,” he said.

“The lights basically light up all the dark areas of Hillside Park.”

Edworthy added the project took three weeks to complete at a cost of $74,000.

One of 10 new lights lining the walking trail in Lamont's Hillside Park. Photo: Jana Semeniuk

EIPS Returns To In-Person Meetings, drops online viewing

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Elk Island Public Schools has returned to in-person board meetings as of their last meeting March 17 and are no longer streaming them live online. The decision was announced on their social media page March 15.

Despite being one of the largest school divisions in the province with 43 schools from Sherwood Park to Vegreville serving over 17,000 students, EIPS Communications Director Laura McNabb said that once the province moved to phase two out of pandemic restrictions, the decision was made.

“We used YouTube when public health measures limited in-person gatherings. As those restrictions were lifted by the Government of Alberta, the Division returned to normal inperson operations—as were in place before public health restrictions were announced,” she said by email.

McNabb added that there have been no requests from the public for an online version of the meetings.

School Board decisions, discussions and debate occur between the trustees each month deciding school policies, and budget as well as hearing presentations by the public and other groups.

While EIPS has shut down their online meetings, other Alberta school board divisions have kept them.

Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Catholic Schools continue to offer an online version of their in-person board meetings as well as previous meetings archived on their website for public viewing.

Meanwhile, EIPS Communications Specialist Corrie Fletcher said the EIPS monthly board meetings are open to the public, although recording devices are not allowed.

“There is no process required to attend. When you arrive, there's a signin station at the front desk. As well, it's appreciated if you let Communication Services know before attending-it helps with chair setup,” she said by email. “Simply, send an email to communications@eips.ca.”

The next EIPS Board meeting is slated for April 21.