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Post-secondary education begins at home

Mayfair News
summer rural scene
Photo by Louise Lundberg

 

Most students are anxious to leave home and start a new chapter of their lives, but for Taylor Salisbury this will not be a reality. As for thousands of other students choosing to further their education, Taylor's education will continue long distance with online education implemented in April continuing into the fall semester.

Taylor, a Grade 12 student attending Hartley Clark School in Spiritwood, was accepted into the University of Saskatchewan. She will be studying education, with the goal of becoming a teacher in four years. Taylor is the second youngest child of Amanda and Paul Salisbury. Her grandparents, who for the past two years have resided in Spiritwood, are Sally and David Salisbury. Congratulations, Taylor, as we know you have a bright future.

Condolences to Rick and Annette Saccucci on the recent lost of his mother, 91-year-old Eva Saccucci. For the past two years she has been a resident of Diamond House in Warman. Lorena Lafrenier is her younger sister and stated Eva lived on a farm by herself and grew the most incredible, beautiful, immaculate garden every year. From a family of six, Lorena, Ester from Red Deer and a brother at Fox Valley are still living. Lorena and Eva lived only eight miles apart on their farms east of Mayfair.

Get well wishes to Ruth (Paul) Bilanski, who has been living with a broken hip since the middle of April. She slipped and fell on ice in North Battleford. Two neighbour ladies planted a garden for her. Ruth is a master gardener, and in 1996 joined the Battlefords and Area Horticultural Society. She entered vegetable and flower exhibits at the annual fair, winning constantly. Sad to say, with only seven members remaining in the society, it folded eight years ago. With gardening really taking off these past few years (especially the past three months in response to COVID-19) maybe the society will be rejuvenated. It seems the younger generation have taken a liking to growing their own food and preserving. If revived, I am sure Ruth would be the first member to join. As a member of such an organization, you obtain valuable information and can pass that on to your family and friends.

The plant sale this past Saturday was popular, bringing people from miles to patronize four vendors. Dora and Barry Brown's beautiful yard was a great setting for the event. Vendors were Dora, her daughter Marilyn Satrycki from North Battleford, Les Pethic from Mayfair and Denise Taylor from Hafford. Being outdoors and practicing social distancing were not a problem. The youngest person was Braxton, six-month-old son of Becky (Daniel) Bezmutte of Hafford. He had all the old women oohing and aahing from six feet, trying to peer at him in his stroller. It was a gorgeous morning for this annual gardening sale usually held near Mayfair Hall.

Farmers are wrapping up spring tasks. Some seed all night, which became a must on our farm, employing eight seasonal workers alongside my husband and youngest son Ryan. Now to keep the frost away. The wind has been atrocious since Sunday. Here's hoping it will bring much-needed rain to keep the dust down.