May 25, 2009.pdf - Watrous Heritage Centre

4 • MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 THE WATROUS MANITOU
Editorial and Opinion
Just Layzing Around
Do we ever have a good problem around here. There is so much
going on in our communities, and so many stories and pictures to
publish, that our pages are stuffed to bursting with it all! Sometimes
we have write-ups that can be held over for another week, but
just as often, we have an article that absolutely has to run or it will
have to be tossed, and I hate having to do that. It seems like not only
a waste of time and effort on behalf of our reporter Daniel, but
also a disservice to the subject of the story.
So in the interest of providing a little extra space and saving an
article from extinction, Just Layzing Around has had her brief say,
and the rest of this column is devoted to a different topic altogether.
See you back here next week!
Program offers way
to donate clothes
By Daniel Bushman
TWM
In some households it can be considered an annual tradition;
whether or not people enjoy spring cleaning is another story altogether.
The Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clothesline Program
will help those who are tackling the chore by taking items such as
clothing off their hands.
Operations manager with the Canadian Diabetes Association
Marlow Dallin said the program will make a stop in Watrous May
28 to pick up donations. “If donors would like a household pick up,
they can call 1-800-505-5525 and they will reach our office here in Saskatoon
and we can book them in for a pick up.”
Dallin said there is another way for people to donate. “If donors
would like to drop off their used clothing, they can take it to the
Interlake Human Resources centre and they will store the donations
there for us until we can pick them up.”
There are a few different things people can donate, according to
Dallin. “We only pick up clothing, clothing accessories and linens in
Watrous.”
Vice president of business operations Kelly Parascandalo said,
“What sets us apart from other recycling programs is the convenience
of donating right at your door, the environmental advantage
of diverting millions of kilograms of clothing and other items from
our landfills and helping the Canadian Diabetes Association find a
cure.”
Each year, Clothesline donations divert more than 42 million kilograms
of clothing and household items from landfills. Those numbers
mean savings of 766 million kWh of energy and reduces donors’
carbon footprint by 105 million kilograms of CO 2
emissions.
Also, 100 per cent of the proceeds from donations are used to support
the association’s mission of promoting the health of Canadians
through diabetes research, education, service and advocacy.
In Canada, there are about 8.5 million people living with or at risk
of diabetes.
the
Watrous Manitou
The Watrous Manitou
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Email:watrous.manitou@sasktel.net • Website: www.thewatrousmanitou.ca
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Founded in 1933 by J.A. McGowan
“Yeah, so whose big idea was it to plant water lilies in the fish pond . . . ”
Roadside attractions = summer fun
Now that summer is almost
here - well, maybe not according
to the weather but
the calendar says otherwise
- families start thinking about
taking vacations. The end of
June is nearing and school
will be out for two months. It
is time to start planning that
road trip.
Even for those with no
school children, summer road
trips can be a lot of fun. Taking
what is termed a “homecation”
(holidaying at home)
is an opportunity to discover
those hidden secrets close to
home.
Visit the local museum.
It may be hard to believe but
some people can live in a community
for years and not ever
realize what treasures lurk
behind the doors.
Do some research and
maybe you will be able to
unearth a local u-pick farm
or even an artist who does absolutely
beautiful landscapes.
Maybe the local church has
a collection of stained glass
that has a rich historic connection
to the community.
Or if you want to go further
afield, source out what is
in the area. And, as you are
travelling down the road be
sure to check out the roadside
attractions - you know the
large “chochkas” many communities
have stationed outside
the entrance to the town:
the moose standing guard at
Moose Jaw, the giant turtle at
Turtleford, the grasshopper at
Wilkie, the Ukrainian Easter
Egg (Pysanka) at Vegreville,
the dinosaurs at Drumheller,
the starship at Vulcan,
the camel at Glenboro and the
giant Viking at Gimli.
These are nothing compared
to the giant jack-in-the-box
located in Connecticut, the
largest ketchup
bottle in Illinois or
the largest sundial
in Arizona.
The jack-in-thebox
is attached
atop a 33 foot silo,
the head weighs
600 pounds and
extends 50 feet in
the air. The owner,
Bill Ziegler, says
the tourists love it.
Some attractions are
“interactive”. The owner of the
world’s largest ball of twine in
Kansas gives tourists twine so
they can add their own touch
to the structure and thus make
. . . these roadside
attractions . . .
all serve the
same purpose -
a welcome mat
inviting people
to linger . . . and
discover.
it grow some more. The ball
is now 40 feet across, weighs
approximately 19,000 pounds
and contains 7.9 million feet
of twine.
North Dakota is home to
the world’s largest cow - 38
feet tall, 50 feet long and is
made of 12,000 pounds of
fibreglass.
Viewing these structures
as a form of art makes them
all the more interesting.
Often they make a statement
about the area or the local
culture of the community. It
is a way for towns to promote
themselves and give passers
by a brief glimpse into their
lifestyles.
It is possible to make an
entire holiday out of touring,
looking for roadside attractions.
Make a game of it.
Choose your favourite. Choose
the most ridiculous. Choose
the most inventive. But, always
stop and take a picture.
Then venture into the community
to see what other hidden
treasures
may be around.
You might
find a really
great tea and
bakery shop, a
hardware store
that has “everything”
or a park
that speaks to
you.
While some
feel these roadside
attractions are really a
hobby gone out of control,
they all serve the same purpose
- a welcome mat inviting
people to linger . . . and
discover.