Stratton seniors have been members of the United Seniors Clubs of Ontario Inc. for many years. We first organized in 1971 and for many years met in homes and then in our local curling club.
It was not until 1989 that we acquired our own meeting place, which was an abandoned Catholic school purchased by our municipality. With a government grant, and our own labour, we remodelled it to our liking.
We now have 74 members from the Stratton area.
We have a very enthusiastic card-playing group, which meets to play 500 every Tuesday, and another group meeting on Mondays, which has proved to be very competitive at carpet bowling.
Tuesday morning is line dancing while the exercise group meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.
We are fortunate to have a very active executive, and they have found some very interesting local talent to entertain us after our monthly potluck dinner.
Stratton has a park by the Rainy River and we met there for a picnic this past summer. And after lunch, we had fun playing outdoor games.
Before Christmas, one of our seniors (Mary Anderson) made and donated a quilt which we raffled. The proceeds ($500) we gave equally to the Rainy River and Emo hospitals.
Another member, Merveline Brown, made a quilt for the centennial with the names of all the seniors on it. It is displayed in our centre.
Two community groups entertain during the year. One such event takes place on Valentine’s Day when the Catholic Women’s League will serve a lunch and we will play some fascinating games.
The other one is our Mennonite neighbours, who serve luncheon and sing songs. This takes place in February and again in September.
Our group has names of deceased members entered in U.S.C.O. Book of Remembrance sent in once a year for the cost of $5.
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Homemakers’ “Time Out” continues every second Thursday of the month. The next one goes tomorrow (Feb. 8) from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Barwick Church.
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Mel and LaVaune Shrum of International Falls were out at the home place and also visited Clark Neilson on Sunday.
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The Stratton United Church will be having the service for the World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 2 at 2 p.m. The United and Catholic women will be involved.
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Kelly’s Old Time Band of Roseau, Mn. will be supplying the music at the Brink Center in Baudette this Friday (Feb. 9). The next dance at the Emo Legion is slated Saturday, Feb. 10 from 8 p.m. until midnight.
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Condolences to the Hyatt family. Many were shocked to hear of Beverley Hyatt’s death in a snowmobile accident this past weekend.
Not only family but many friends and communities will sadly miss her.
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Joyce Georgeson’s mother, Carol Patimore, currently is in La Verendrye hospital in Fort Frances. While recovering from surgery on one hip in December, it so happened the other hip also broke so it’s been a long winter for Carol and her family.
I hope with the therapy she’s receiving, she will soon be well enough to come home.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
