The Borden Lions held their annual Festival of Music in the Borden Community Centre on Dec. 4.
Performing were the First Sask. Lutheran Choir from Langham, Glenn and Joan Julseth, Casey Wensley and Esther Harkness. Also on stage were members of Celtic Country — Ed Neufeld on guitar, Perry Nicol on drum, vocals by Archie Wainwright and Bob Wardhaugh playing accordion — and the Borden Lions Choir. With Mary playing the piano, Peter Thiessen sang two songs. Borden Friendship Club Singers with Marlene Derbawka directing and Sheila Block playing piano, sang three Christmas songs and George Sparks read a Christmas poem.
Performances by the Siebert family featured Nicholas, Jodeine, Grace, Julia and Rachel. The Lions Chorus led in singing 10 Christmas carols, closing with We Wish You a Merry Christmas. After the festival, Santa was on hand to give out candy canes to the kids while everyone enjoyed cookies, hot chocolate and coffee.
The Borden Friendship Club held their annual Christmas supper Dec. 8, with 70 out to enjoy a ham and turkey supper with all the trimmings and desserts catered by Ed and Dianne Rawlyk. After the banquet, the Friendship Club Singers, with pianist Sheila Block, sang three selections. Director Marlene Derbawka, on behalf of the group, presented Ed Neufeld with a special calendar and Florence with an adult colouring book in recognition of the three years Ed accompanied the group with his guitar.
Kimball and Nicholas Siebert and Cody Giesbrecht, the Borden Bogey Men, entertained with Cody playing guitar and dobro guitar, Kim on mandolin and guitar and Nicholas providing percussion.
Radisson firefighters and Santa Claus handed out candy bags to all the children in the lower hall of Radisson Hall, while the Royal Purple held their annual tea, bake sale and raffle upstairs. Vendors displaying their wares to purchase were Gary Sherwin with his woodworking, Sherry Rempel with baking, ABC Pedlars with a variety of items and Mary Werezak with Tupperware.
More than 70 adults and 25 children signed in to enjoy strawberry shortcake and make purchases from the two long tables of Royal Purple baking.
Special guest for the afternoon was Terri Paziuk of Cut Knife, national president of Canadian Royal Purple Society, who helped serve. She also spoke about the Royal Purple, describing how members volunteer in the community and support the surrounding communities with monetary donations. She said she hopes everyone recognizes what the Radisson Royal Purple do for the communities.
Paziuk also spoke about the motto, “Your Cause is Our Cause,” and the four principles of Royal Purple — love, faith, hope and charity. She then read a letter to Santa, that stated what she wanted was two new members to join the Radisson Royal Purple as they have only six members. HRL Roberta Harris presented her with a pansy plate painted by Lillian Hamilton.
Santa then arrived upstairs to hand out candy canes to everyone. He had his photo taken with the RP ladies and helpers Colleen Nelson, Terry King and Eileen Fountain then led in singing Jingle Bells.
Winning the children’s door prizes donated by L. Olinyk were Jayden Rempel, Dawn Ryder, Cherish Kovath and Logan Rooke. Adult prizes donated by R. Harris and T. Hessell were won by Paul Spence and Scott Curie.
The grocery hamper raffle prize went to Sheri Sutherland of Borden, the ham to Chase Neher of Langham, two boxes of oranges to Ilene Youchezin of Borden and chocolates (donated by Kay Shipowich) to Lucille Wilkie of Radisson.
St. Paul Lutheran Church at Radisson held their 17th annual Carols, Candles and Cookies on Dec. 11. Choir leader is Lawrence Schensney, organist Twyla Stott, pianist Jackie Meister and candle lighter George Hamp.
The program featured songs, Bible readings and intermittent lighting of seven candles.
Special music by the Flath family featured Joan Julseth accompanying Jessica for Silent Night, Joelle for Once in Royal David’s City and Jeremy playing The First Noel.
Glenn and Joan Julseth sang two songs followed by Celtic Country from Borden. Eugene Hamp playing violin and Wilmer Hamp playing guitar, sang four carols.
The Borden Lions carol group included Perry Nicol playing bell and drum, Ed Neufeld on guitar, Stephen and Marlene Derbawka with shaker and bells, Wendell Dyck, John Buswell, Archie Wainwright and Bob Wardhaugh with accordion.
Also participating were Eileen and Russ Fountain on guitar, Erwin Hamp on guitar and Chris Schultz on mandolin. First Sask. Lutheran Church Choir, directed by Connie Neudorf, sang Waiting and Song in the Air.
Following a closing prayer, Joy to the World was sung and then everyone enjoyed coffee or juice with a variety of dainties and cookies in the lower hall. Non-perishable food items were donated for local needy families.
