MEOTA — It’s fascinating to see how someone in Meota has turned her hobby into an appreciated community service. Mary Shury has become a key component in local news. Mary likes to spend time in front of her computer looking for fonts and clip art that can be used to produce posters for community activities. Without Mary, several organizations in Meota would not have their events posted at the various bulletin boards around the village.
Mary is an honorary member of the Meota Lakeshore Lions, and her daughter and granddaughter are also members.
This fall Mary has taken it to the next level. She is now producing a classy local newsletter with information on all community events. It’s a free publication where local businesses can support her venture with small ads. She publishes the operating times for the Meota transfer site, the library and the Meota office administrator. She’s collected information on everything from accommodations, recreation, churches and businesses. It’s handy to have attached phone numbers for all these organizations. She has included detailed information on Lakeside Environmental so residents are informed on how garbage is handled in Meota. She gives you basic information on Meota’s pet policies. She’s included pages of puzzles, recipes, a monthly horoscope, interesting stories and jokes. Several of her posters have been sized to fit the space. Colour logos and photos for organizations are included, along with “poster size” boxes of various upcoming events.
The middle page is a monthly calendar of Meota events on one side and Meota birthdays, anniversaries and remembrances on the other side. Who knew that January has a National Peanut Butter Day (Jan. 24) and a National Hot Chocolate Day (Jan. 31)? The local library is having an open house on Saturday, Jan 25, which happens to be Robbie Burns Night and is just ahead of Family Literacy Day, which is Monday, Jan. 27.
Meota’s librarian, Brenda Zurowski, has a winter reading program happening in Meota until March 31. Join “Morris the Moose” for winter reading fun. Complete bingo cards, donate food and complete other activities for a chance to win prizes. Find out more at reading2025
Of course, it’s impossible to keep ahead of how fast things change in our fast-paced world.
Shury has published that there will be services at the Meota United Anglican Church on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. However, with the retirement of Rev. Donald Skinner and his wife Catherine, the church hasn’t had a minister for our Anglican Sundays since July. Following that the Rev. Kun Kim also decided to move back to Alberta. Thankfully we have been able to carry on with the assistance of Faye Schick from Glaslyn in both Anglican and United Lay lead services. We’ve also been blessed by having Cathy Richardson and Donna Svenkeson lead us in several services. We’re happy to see new faces in the pews who join us from the Edam area. In the meantime, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the signage beside the church door for the upcoming dates of the services.
Girl’s Club starts on Jan. 14, and the plan is in the works for World Day of Prayer on March 7 to be held at the Do Drop In (we’re praying for the renovations to be complete).
