Category Archives: Business

Beware of travel discount scams!

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The Saskatchewan government warned residents this week about scammers selling discount travel packages. The government press release is reprinted below:

The recent cold snap has people dreaming of sun and sand but the Consumer Protection Division of the Saskatchewan Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority reminds consumers to be aware of scam artists claiming to sell discount travel packages.

Callers claiming to represent Luxury Getaway Group have been offering travel packages to people in Saskatchewan. Luxury Getaway Group is not licensed as a direct seller.

Unsolicited sales calls are considered direct sales under The Direct Sellers Act.  If a salesperson or company calls you to sell something, they are required to have a licence.

Red flags include:

  • Unsolicited phone calls or mailers that offer travel packages that sound too good to be true.
  • High pressure sales – If a caller pressures you to “buy now or lose out on a limited time offer”, you should be wary.

Protect yourself by:

  • Asking for the licence number and confirming it is valid on www.fcaa.gov.sk.ca/fcaa411/.
  • Not giving out your credit card number over the phone unless you initiate the call and know who you are calling.
  • Checking with the Better Business Bureau and researching the company for free online at www.bbb.org/saskatchewan/.

If you think you are the target of a travel package scam, record the date and time of the call, the name of the telemarketer, their phone number, website or additional identification information and contact the Consumer Protection Division at consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca or toll free at 1-877-880-5550.

Like the toucan below, captured in a shot on a trip south, keep your eyes open!

travel photo

 

New gas and power usage records set in Saskatchewan

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With temperatures dropping, both SaskPower and SaskEnergy/TransGas set new records for power use and natural gas consumption January 4 and 5. According to Environment Canada, records at their weather station at Scott, Saskatchewan, showed the temperature dropping to -35C the night of January 4.

SaskPower says the new peak power load record of 3,583 megawatts was reached at 6:20 pm January 4.

According to a press release issued by SaskPower, they acquired approximately 7,800 new residential, commercial and industrial customers over the course of the 2014 year. Acting president and CEO Mike Marsh said, “We continue to set new records for power consumption, the result of more people living and working in our province than ever before.”

Meanwhile, TransGas delivered 1.27 PetaJoules of natural gas in 24 hours from Sunday, January 4, to Monday, January 5. According to a SaskEnergy press release, this was a two per cent increase over the previous record of 1.24 PetaJoules, set Dec. 6, 2014.

The release explained, “A PetaJoule is a unit of measurement equivalent to one million GigaJoules of natural gas — the average home in Saskatchewan consumes about 105 GigaJoules of natural gas annually.”

Like SaskPower, SaskEnergy has also been adding new customers. Since the previous record was set, about 7,300 new customers have been added to the TransGas distribution network.

SaskPower provided the following tips both to lighten the demand and to lessen your power bills.

Turn down the thermostat. For every degree you lower your thermostat overnight for an eight-hour period, you can save up to two per cent on your heating costs.

Plug in your car with a timer. Your car only needs to be plugged in for four hours. Using a block heater timer will save you around $25 a year.

Turn out the lights. Shorter days and longer nights mean interior lights in your home are on longer. Remember to turn them out when you leave a room. Better yet, use LED light bulbs and cut down the power used by about three-quarters.

Grand in Your Hand winners drawn

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Congratulations to residents Ed Lantz and Bob Heilman, winners of $1,000 each in the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce 2014 Grand in Your Hand draw.

Here’s Chamber president Helena Long reaching deep into the thousands of collected ballots gathered up in the back of a 2015 Chevy Traverse to pull the first of the two names drawn Dec. 23, 2014, at Unity, Saskatchewan.

2014 Grand in Your Hand

Photos of people of Unity, Saskatchewan in October

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Unity Hospital AuxiliaryPresident of the Unity and District Hospital Auxiliary Rose Mauthe presents Bill McCubbing (above) and Don Robertson (below) with their cheques as the lucky winners of the auxiliary’s 50/50 fundraiser.Unity Hospital Auxiliary

Peter Gartner of the Unity Golf Club gives Amber and Jody Sperle the winning certificate for the November Trip of the Month – a four day trip to Palm Springs, Cal. Contact a member of the golf club to get your ticket for next year’s Trip of the Month draws.trip

Also “in the news” last month was the upcoming retirement of long-time Unity dentist, Dr. Daniel Azuelos. A retirement celebration and farewell tea was held for Daniel and his wife Lynn at the New Horizon Hall Oct. 18. The couple will be living in an urban centre outside Montreal, Quebec, when Dr. Azuelos leaves Unity, Saskatchewan at the end of the year.Dr. Daniel Azuelos

 

 

Next week’s paper

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Be sure to check out the Evolution 2014 pages in next week’s paper and learn more about some of the people and businesses serving Unity and area. Along with Evolution, in next week’s paper, you will find:

  • who won what where in Delta Co-op’s and local credit unions’ Members Matter Most promotion;
  • an introduction to our new staff member at the Press-Herald;
  • the game report on the Midget AA Lazers’ first win of the season; and
  • more lucky winners – Trip of the Month and the Hospital Auxiliary’s 50/50.

Pastor Bruce Moir’s take on the sometimes scary times we are living in, thank you cards,  and upcoming events, among other items, round out the October 27th issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald.

As part of Co-operatives Week in October, Credit Union Day was celebrated October 16. Staff at the Unity Credit Union brought all kinds of home baked goodies to treat any and all members who came to the branch that day.
Unity Credit Union, Unity, Saskatchewan

Fall fair and trade show winners

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The Unity Agricultural Society held its annual fall fair at the Unity Community Centre in Unity, Saskatchewan, October 3 and 4, 2014.

Grand aggregate winners in the fall fair classes were as follows:

  • Needle work and handicraft – Nina Burnell
  • Hobby exhibits – Glenda Hunter-Craig
  • Amateur photography – Morag Riddell
  • Photography, People’s Choice – Emma Baker
  • Home baking – Eileen Schafer
  • Home preserves – Marcella Pederson
  • Plants and flowers – Alice Wagner
  • Fruits and vegetables – C.L. Kortright
  • Youth, 7 and under – Jenessa Bakken
  • Youth, 8 to 12 – Makayla Bakken
  • Youth, 13 to 18 – Ashley Mock
Unity SK Fall Fair

Prize boxes for the three winners of the youth aggregate awards at the Unity Ag Society’s 2014 fall fair.

Door prize winners and reported winners of draws at trade show booths were:

  • Husqvarna hand-held blower, with fuel, donated by Moody’s – Irene Weber
  • $200 grocery voucher sponsored by Delta Co-op and the Unity Ag Society – Jane Tirk
  • Unity Ag Society, guess the weight of the pumpkin – Caroline Cey
  • Knock off Pandora Beads, scarf/necklace/bracelet – Karalyn Brown
  • Partylite – Verlie Deuchar
  • Pat Trask book –Nicole Landry
  • Town of Unity, Rider hat – Mark Krpan
  • Norwex – Sally Crisp
  • PennCorp/La Capitale/Lorianne Mawbey, $100 co-op gas card – Pat Logan
  • Investor’s Group/Norm Tarasoff, $25 gift card for Family Foods – Pearl Thomas
  • Veritas Design, $500 discount on drafting fee or a 3D image – Alfreda Colbow
  • 2Pro Gear, $25 gift certificate – Albert Wildeman
  • Tupperware – Shea Worthington
  • Unity Lions – Phyllis Weisbeck, Marie Boucher and Joan Sperle

K.P. Gardens celebrates anniversary – 25 years in business!

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Where our Dreams Have Grown

By Nikki Paggett

Colors so bright and smells so sweet
that joy & peace is hard to beat.
Dirt under your nails and sweat on your brow,
when we started, who’d dream we’d be here now!

 With concrete and wood, a dream was sown,
as part of the family, a greenhouse had grown.
It came with its struggles, trials and pain,
but even more, there was so much to gain.

 A small framed shelter, we watched as it grew,
biting off more sometimes, then we knew how to chew.
The square feet expanded, the family got older,
so did our dreams, getting bigger and bolder.

 If this plastic could talk, oh the tales it would share,
memories & moments, more than our hearts could bear.
Under these roofs, more than flowers have grown,
laughter, love and friendship were sown.

 25 years and we’re not done yet,
much more to blossom & memories – you bet!
To this milestone we’ve made it, only together we succeed,
with our family & friends, our hopes and dreams to exceed!

Kathy Paggett and Diane Eby smile at the people lining the route as they ride the K.P. Gardens float in the Unity, Saskatchewan annual Western Days parade, on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Kathy Paggett and Diane Eby share a chuckle with the people lining the route as they ride the K.P. Gardens float in the Unity, Saskatchewan annual Western Days parade, on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

At K. P. Gardens, customers happily breathe in the aroma of spring as they choose their plants from the great selection that has been given to them in a labour of love from the Paggett family,  serving Unity, Saskatchewan and surrounding area for 25 years.

In their 25 years of being in the greenhouse business, located on Highway 14 just east of Unity, Jim and Kathy Paggett have seen continual changes as K.P. Gardens has evolved into the business it is today.

Starting with a small shed and growing into several buildings has taken commitment, passion for their work and pride in what they do.

In 1994, the big structure that now houses their main greenhouse was erected by Jim and his boys. Year by year more buildings were added, including a perennial house, a tree and shrub structure and, most recently, a lawn accessory area.

The family business started out as just that – Jim, Kathy and their three kids. As the kids grew up and moved on, staff members came on board. K.P. Gardens now employs 11 people in season. Son Steven,  visiting from B.C. with his kids, was also working on their 25th anniversary celebration day. May 24.

Kathy said her staff has grown into her family and she “couldn’t do it without my staff. They spend the off-growing season researching new products and plants and coming up with ideas for the displays and new ventures they might take on the next spring. It’s a combined effort. Each year we try a little something new in plants, displays and products to keep our customers always wanting to return to a fresh and new look as well as wanting to return for their old favourites.”

Their season is definitely affected by the weather. Whether Mother Nature delivers drought conditions or a cold spring, K.P. Gardens forges on. It is one of the reasons for their longevity – always being there for the customer regardless of what the weather might bring.

Plants are started in February and the staff begins working in March. The greenhouse season to customers may seem like a short one, running from April to the end of July, but it is a year-round process for the Paggetts. Following the selling season, Kathy starts planning for the next growing season, placing her orders, visiting greenhouse shows and designing the product layout and sales features for the following spring. And there is always building and yard maintenance.

K.P. Gardens helps out in the community by donating and assisting with flowers for long term care, the museum grounds and the hospital. Kathy also does some custom growing of orders given for special occasions or people’s yards. This year she held some potting classes that included a mom’s and tots group.

K.P. GardensJim and Kathy have no plans to slow down as they love the business they are in, they have developed great relationships with their customers and their staff have become like extended family. Their customer base has grown as other greenhouse operations have closed; they even have shoppers coming from Provost, Lloydminster and North Battleford.

Everyone, regardless of where they hail from, is treated with the same down-home, friendly and knowledgeable service. ensuring K.P. Gardens is sure to be around for many more years of shopping pleasure for gardeners.

“Worst street” poll results in Monday’s paper

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Be sure to get your copy of the May 12th issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald to see which streets fellow residents think are the worst in town! As promised last week, Monday’s paper will also have details and additional photos of the April 30th fires near Unity, SK, as well as information on:

  • UCHS student success in the Royal Purple essay and video contest;
  • the upcoming swimming pool season, courtesy of this year’s head lifeguard, Natalie Kiefer;
  • a change in ownership at JayDee AgTech; and
  • an introduction to the 2014 Rodeo Queen candidates.

There are plenty of job opportunities in town, as well as new events coming up. And don’t forget to check out the other ads to see what’s available in our stores!

Meanwhile, near Landis, Saskatchewan, a semi driver learned the hard way it always pays to stop and look at railway crossings. Fortunately no one was injured in the incident. See Monday’s Press-Herald for more details and photos. This photo was provided by the RCMP.

train-truck