Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Feed The Need

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By Todd Curran

Although more families than ever needed to use the Oilfields Food Bank services, the organization had a banner year for donations.
“We gave out 347 hampers to 642 adults and 290 children this year,” says Ida Wegelin of the Oilfields Food Bank. “Twenty-eight new clients show the increasing need for what we do.”
Forty volunteers rallied to fill Christmas hampers for 102 families in need. “We owe a big Thank You to all the volunteers and donors who contributed food, money, gifts and time to the success of the Food Bank,” Ida says. “Volunteerism has remained strong over Christmas and throughout the rest of the year.”
Receiving more support from the community at large, Ida highlights that 2010 food donations are the highest they've ever been. “The Fire Department pickup was really good,” she says. “There was more participation this year but we can always use donations because it's a year-round project and usage is up. We don't just operate at Christmas time.”
The new GIFTS program launched by Suzan Nagel of FCSS Black Diamond and Nyree Bond of the Salvation Army of the Foothills based in High River also saw success over the holiday season. Gifts collected in Oilfields area were sent to High River for sorting and packaging, along with money donated to purchase gifts needed to fill the bags. “This is the first year doing this and it went really well,” says Ida. “We picked up the gift bags in High River and put them with the food hampers for our Diamond Valley clients.”
The Oilfields Food Bank assists clients of all ages and is open every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm for people to pick up hampers. Their annual AGM is being held on January 25th at 3:00 pm in the United Church on Royal Avenue in Turner Valley. Anyone interested in participating or learning more about the Food Bank is welcome to attend.
Call Ida at 403-938-7713 for more information.

Diamond Valley Business Expo Shop local! We all want to – but – Where is it!

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With over 600 business licences registered in Turner Valley and Black Diamond, lots of services are available right here!  The Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce hopes to create awareness of all the skilled tradesmen and professionals and businesses that are located in the Diamond Valley region. With the support of the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley and an enthusiastic group of individuals called the Diamond Valley Economic Partnership, the Diamond Valley Business Expo concept has gone beyond the planning stages and will be a reality on March 18th and 19th.
Friday evening, after set up, the registered businesses will have a time to meet, mix and mingle over hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. A short presentation will be given, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, joint initiatives, partnerships and mutual support. Then on with the fun!
From 10:00am till 4:00pm on Saturday, the general public will be able to visit the booths of 40 local businesses to find out who has the answers to all our needs. What about installing solar panels! What building renovation pitfalls could I avoid? Where do I find grief management support? What help is there locally for chronic pain?  Find hundreds of answers under the roof of the Flare ‘N Derrick in March.
For even more in depth information, attend one of 24 presentations given in the meeting rooms of the Sheep River Library, located right next to the Flare! Sign up for dozens of gift packages! And take advantage of the lunch counter hosted by the Friends of the Sheep River Library.
To register your business for one of the 40 tables, look on the Web page of the Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce at:
www.diamondvalleychamber.com or email the chamber at:
info@diamondvalleychamber.com. Watch your mail for the registration form which should be going out this month. The first 24 paid up businesses wanting to take advantage of the additional 'speaking presentation' opportunity will be registered on a first come first serve basis. And keep an eye on this paper for  ads and listings of the information presentations.

Submitted by Diane Osberg

St. George’s Anglican Church

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FAMILY FUN SALE

St. George's Anglican Guild is trying something different.
We will be holding a Family Fun Sale consisting of the sale of used soft cover books for children & adults, used board games, puzzles with all the pieces and in good shape, video games, etc. This sale will take place on Saturday, February 5th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Anyone who wishes to donate some of these items, can bring them to the Church Hall (south of the 4-way stop) in Turner Valley on Tuesday, February 1st and Wednesday, February 2nd from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. We will not be accepting any Readers Digest or Encyclopedias. This sounds like a lot of fun, so hope to see there on the 5th of February.

Submitted by Gail Briggs
St. George's Anglican Guild

Student FundScrip Rides Magic School Bucks

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By Todd Curran

Ding Dong. “Were you in the shower? Great. We're collecting bottles for a school field trip.”
“We're selling chocolate covered ants to purchase new uniforms for our porcupine wrestling team.”
Between school fees, sports fees, grad fees and trip fees, students and parents are constantly participating in fundraisers to keep costs down, which means everyone they know is also participating. Now, you're probably thinking, 'Todd, if my kid has to hawk fake Rolexes on a street corner to get to the jamboree, then that's what he's gonna do - you handsome devil!' Well thank you, but what if I told you there was a better way?
FundScrip is a new program that puts a percentage of what you (or people you know) spend at certain stores towards fees of a student of your choice. It doesn't cost more, these are stores you already shop at, and the only catch is that you pay with a gift card for that store. Sobeys, Esso, The Bay, Chapters and dozens of other stores make it easy to earn money for your child's education and extra curricular activities.
Leading the use of this revolutionary program is Oilfields High School Councilor Paulette Morck, who tracks the amounts that participants are earning through FundScrip. “An average family can earn about $350 a year in free money using this program,” she says. “100% of your earnings will be credited back to your child's school based programs and you can also get family and friends to buy gift cards from you to earn even more money.”
The money goes into accounts that can be accessed by parents, doubling as a budgeting tool. “If you know you spend $200 per month on groceries and $100 on gas, you can buy your gift cards in advance,” says Paulette. “If your account has paid all the fees for your child or children and there is still money left over, the funds can be carried on to the next year, be donated to a student in need or go toward benefitting the school in general. Any member of the community can contribute.”
Your cards can be ordered through Paulette, who places orders on the last Wednesday of every month or online. They are delivered to Oilfields High School approximately one week later, conveniently available for pickup or sent home with the student you’re sponsoring. It’s that easy!
Five easy steps at www.fundscrip.com take you from registering for the program to ordering gift cards, earning money for your student. The process is private, safe and secure, and remember, reducing fees through FundScrip doesn't cost you anything extra!
For additional information on the FundScrip program visit:
www.fundscrip.com or contact Paulette Morck at 403-938-4973.

Millarville-Stockland 4-H Beef Club

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By Hunter Egeland
On Wednesday, December 8th, the Millarville Stockland 4H Beef club held their general meeting at the Millarville Hall, where we received our record books for the year.
On Friday, December 17th, our club held their Christmas party at Laser Quest in Calgary. At Laser Quest, you get a pack that goes over your shoulders and has 5 places on it that people can shoot you with their laser gun that is attached to the pack. When you get hit, you are out of the game for 5 seconds, nobody can shoot you but you can't shoot anyone either. Everyone playing has to make up code names so when someone hits you, you don't know who it actually is. We played 2 rounds so we got to pick 2 different code names. For the first round, my code name was Clay, which is my horse's name, and my name for the second round was Gillian, my heifer's name. After our games, we went to the party room. A BIG thanks to the Campbell family for bringing the pop and ordering the pizza - it was yummy!
This year, we also did Secret Santa. At our last meeting before the Christmas party, everyone picked a name out of a hat and did not tell anyone. I got Shaelynn and when Shaelynn told me that she got me as well, I was amazed at the coincidence. My gift was a gingerbread house-making kit and a pair of warm fuzzy socks from Shaelynn! I got Shaelynn a chocolate bar, reindeer ears and warm socks! We had a great night!
My heifer, Gillian, is doing really well. She is in with 17 other heifers, but she has figured out if she pushes her way to the front of the crowd, we let her out the gate and give her a tub of grain all to herself. She is still eating about 10 pounds a day and gaining about 2 pounds of body weight a day.
Our regular meeting is January the 12th. Happy New Year to everyone!

FCHS - AHSFA - Main Stage Performing Arts Program Encourages Students to Move Beyond Barricades Toward Success

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Nothing less than a professional calibre performance is expected from students in Foothills Composite High School / Alberta High School of Fine Arts' upcoming production of Les Misérables. Students and staff directors have been preparing, even before the start of the school year, for this enormous undertaking. Les Misérables will be one of the crowning achievements of Main Stage – only a handful of high school programs are capable of producing this epic and powerful musical which runs from February 4th to 19th, 2011. This blockbuster show is based on Victor Hugo's classic novel about ex-convict Jean Valjean. He attempts to start a new life, through the tumult of revolutionary France, yet is relentlessly pursued by policeman Javert. This story is one of the most powerful and exciting ever published; Les Misérables remains a timeless classic for all nations since being penned in 1862. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's brilliant stage adaptation, in collaboration with Herber Kretzmer, has caught the essence of Hugo's work precisely.  The musical is now more accessible to modern audiences in the school version which is exclusively available through Music Theatre International. Les Mis showcases a Tony award winning score including the songs “I Dreamed a Dream”, “Castle on a Cloud”, “One Day More”, “Master of the House” and “Bring him Home”.
The strenuous preparation and rehearsal schedule demands that the students are especially prepared before classes begin each day.  Musicians and actors have thirty-two pieces of music to master before opening in February. Music Director, Nicole Hounjet, held orchestral auditions last June and the directing team held cast auditions prior to school starting in September. When asked why the FCHS/AHSFA Directors chose Les Misérables, their response was unanimous. “Few high schools would ever attempt this beautiful but demanding musical. We feel that the vocal and dramatic training these Main Stage students have been given in the past couple of years confirms our belief that if there was any group of individuals who could pull it off, it would be this years' crew!”
No pressure there!  But the performers are truly up for the challenge.  Hounjet says “this is perhaps one of the most perplexing scores to interpret because it requires such sensitivity and sophistication in terms of musicality.  I am so impressed with the student musicians who are so eager to meet this challenge.”  The show will not only be demanding musically, yet dramatically. Artistic and Technical Director, Mr. James Keary, is requiring that students go beyond the performance to immerse themselves in the lives of the characters. The directors' decision to perform Les Mis was, in part, due to the universal themes reflecting the frailty of human nature and personal life choices. Keary was initially apprehensive about the show's somewhat provocative content yet it is reflective of the era and the period's prejudices toward various social classes.  Despite those cautions, the show's universal message is most worthy to deliver. Keary and his cast strive to impart Hugo's strong message of the need for mercy and forgiveness - lessons from which we could all learn. As lyrically shared in the show, we can all “remember the truth that once was spoken: to love another person, is to see the face of God”.
The collaboration necessary to deliver the show's philosophically challenging message involves tremendous effort on a day to day basis.  Technical Theatre students, twenty-three in all, have been diligently working on production elements of the show including costume and set design, theatrical make-up and lighting. Under the guidance of Choreography Director, Mrs. Kelly van Sluys, and Ms Hounjet, the talented performers have been learning the demanding vocal score and movement. Mr. Keary has been busy with the acting and blocking portion; rehearsals will continue on an onerous schedule until opening night February 4th. The Main Stage Parent Guild are also tremendous contributors through co-ordinating ticket sales, front of house, the Gala evening, fund raising and set construction.
On a school basis, a major portion of FCHS/AHSFA students are exposed to Main Stage productions through roles as performers, staging assistants or as fans.  Teachers, outside the program, also donate considerable time with supervision and production support. Few other programs offered at the high school level reach so many within a learning community; that involvement reflects its value. Main Stage promotes the concepts of leadership, accountability and confidence building as well as develops strong communication and time management skills. Main Stagers must make a considerable commitment beyond what is ordinarily offered in comparable school programs, while meeting all their curricular requirements. This extra investment pays off in large ways. There are the obvious ones, such as students consistently delivering quality productions and for some, preparing to pursue careers in professional theatre. Yet, Main Stage students also benefit outside of theatre walls. Employers and post secondary education institutions agree that the life skills acquired in Main Stage are extremely desirable.
The Directors of this year's Main Stage production of Les Mis know that their students will go "beyond the barricade” as they bring 1815 to life. The show will be a most proud achievement; students will surely “hear the people sing” of their accomplishment for many years to come.
Tickets for Les Mis go on sale commencing December 8th; just in time for Christmas giving.
The production runs February 4th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th & 19th, 2011, with Gala (dinner and show) on February 5th, 2011. Tickets for evening shows are $20; shows start at 7:00pm. Gala costs $45.00; dinner is at 5:30pm with show to follow.
Tickets can be ordered by calling the Ticket Line @ (403) 540-6574 or you can email
mainstagetickets@hotmail.com

Views on Vision - by Dr. Charles A. Boulet

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What Is A Reading Disability?


What is a reading disability? Is this an imaginary thing? It seems with each passing year, school resources are stretched ever further to accommodate and treat children with reading problems. Likewise for post-secondary institutions.
While there is a difference between a 'learning disability' and a 'reading disability', reading today IS learning. That is, for the most part, instruction (teaching) is based on transmission of knowledge and understanding through printed text (paper, electronic, or in any other form). Furthermore, for the most part, learning (student understanding and retention of knowledge) is assessed through primarily text-based means such as written exams, essays, and so forth. So it follows that any block to reading is an impediment to learning in the traditional classroom.
In clinic, we distinguish between a reading 'impediment' and a reading 'disability'. Both can be defined as factors that impact negatively upon reading (learning). The difference, however, is that impediments can be overcome given the right circumstances. A disability, on the other hand, is permanent and intractable.
There are many definitions of 'reading disability', but the primary reference for most physicians in this area, (the DSM-IV-TR) defines 'Reading Disorder' as requiring three criteria (paraphrased):
A.    Reading achievement is substantially below that expected on standardized tests, given the person's age, measured intelligence and age-appropriate education.
B.    The disturbance in 'A' significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living that require reading skills.
C.    If there is some other physical/medical problem present, the reading difficulties are in excess of what is usually associated with it.
Put another way, we might say dyslexia is a severe delay in reading in an otherwise normal child - in spite of the efforts of parents, teachers and doctors. (We'll focus on school children for the time being, though adults are equally impacted by reading difficulties.)
When it comes to dyslexia, there are more questions than answers. Even the definition itself is constantly evolving and in perpetual dispute. However, we do know some things. For starters, not all children with a 'severe delay in reading' have dyslexia, even though they may have been diagnosed (labeled) with dyslexia.
Some estimates suggest between 5% and 10% of the population is affected by dyslexia, but this figure depends on how dyslexia is defined, how it is tested, and who is doing the assessments (motive and training are important factors for anyone assessing dyslexia). These estimates are high, I feel, and reflect more accurately the number of people who have trouble learning to read AND those with dyslexia, as opposed to those with pure dyslexia alone. Dyslexia, true dyslexia, is exceedingly rare. But regardless of the accuracy of the diagnosis, virtually all children with a dyslexia diagnosis receive ongoing remedial training in and out of school at great expense to taxpayers and parents, and potentially great costs to the child's self-esteem.
Frequently, assessments of reading ability and acquisition are fairly narrowly focused on the act itself - is this child having trouble reading? If the answer is 'yes', then we can simplify our lives as parents and healthcare professionals by applying a diagnostic label (dyslexia) and put our faith in science to come up with a solution. (Indeed, some researchers have suggested that different medications might solve things in a tidy and easy-to-administer solution for parents, teachers, doctors and school administrators). In focusing our attention this way, we tend to view reading disability as the problem (or the 'disease', to take a western medical viewpoint) and not an artifact or 'symptom' of other intruding factors or disease. Furthermore, by ignoring the elephant in the room (the possibility that dysfunctional reading is not dyslexia), we miss out on the opportunity to solve the immediate problem - the fact that the child is having trouble learning to read due to some modifiable reason.
If you treat it and it disappears, was it really there to begin with? There are many reasons why a child might have trouble learning to read. If you eliminate these factors and the child can now keep up with their peers, then the dyslexia diagnosis is obviated - except, perhaps, as a means to permit the continuation of remedial therapeutic care.
In the next article in this series, I will look at a number of reasons why children have difficulty learning to read, including dyslexia.


Dr. Boulet is an optometrist and owner-operator of Diamond Valley Vision Care in Black Diamond (403-933-5552 or info@dvvc.ca.) He is also a former high school teacher and continues to work with children who have trouble learning.




Fortis Donates Desktops

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Understanding how important community libraries are to residents in the areas they serve, FortisAlberta is helping the Sheep River Library provide the best resources and most current technology possible for the community. In support of the new Library in Turner Valley, FortisAlberta donated eight refurbished desktop computers on January 7th.

Sheep River Library Is Moving

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In only six weeks or so, the Sheep River Library will be moving to a new home in Turner Valley. The vinyl flooring is complete and the stone work on the fireplace is done. Rug should be put into the children's area and around the fireplace the middle of January.
Jeff Paul of Spring Creek Woodworking has done a masterful job of creating cupboards for the back room work area, the circulation desk, meeting rooms and the Community Archives. A few of these lockable storage spaces are still available for community groups to keep their association documents. Just register your group with one of the librarians and the space will be yours!
Volunteers Gearing up for the Move: Several teams of volunteers are preparing to assist in the huge task of moving.  Several volunteers will be taking training sessions this month in shelf reading so that they will be able to move the 19 thousand items currently on our shelves, in an orderly manner to their new home. These individuals will be part of the team that will keep our publications in order in the future.  Other volunteers will be helping with phoning. And another team will be helping with the reading garden, entrance flower pots and the indoor plants that we are hoping will be donated to the library.
Courses: You many have noticed in the Foothills Continuing Education Council program booklet that there are no courses being offered at Sheep River Library during January and February. This is due to the fact that packing will begin this month. We apologize for the inconvenience. However, registration is underway for the March programs which include Book Buddies for little children, Fly Fishing on Wednesdays, A Career Expo on March 3rd by the McBride Career Group, the first 2011 Travel Talk on Demark and Nigel Douglas's look at Alberta's Grizzly Bears – Science, Politics and Public Engagement. Watch this space for many more upcoming spring programs including photography, how to manage digital photographs and how to handle Facebook and emails.
Volunteers Planning MORE Programs: Terrific Tuesday Talks is a series of presentations (talks, stories, slide presentations, poetry reading) that will be held the fourth Tuesday of every month from 2 till 3:30 pm. Volunteer presenters, coordinated by Doris Daley, will entertain the group while another team of volunteers will serve up coffee and goodies. This salute to senior's event will start the fourth Tuesday of March, so mark your calendar. Working with the Boys and Girls Club, the library will begin offering Saturday Matinees from 1 till 3:00 pm … a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon on a wintery day.
Family Literacy Day: Throughout the region, many agencies will be celebrating Family Literacy Day on January 27th. Check out page 17 and page 71 of the Foothills Continuing Education Booklet, for great Family Day Literacy activities. Page 17 lists the activities that you could engage in throughout the month. Page 71 is the chart that you can fill out during the month. Turn this chart into the library on the 27th to collect your gift of participation. If you complete more than 20 spaces, you can receive more than one gift. Check out Literacy for Life Foundation website at www.litforlife.com. Come and join the fun.
Fundraising: The Friends of the Sheep River Library are completing their Tiles for Smiles project. Two paint days have been scheduled for this month which will complete the painting part of the project. Tiles will be installed early in February near the children's section of the new facility.  While this is the end of this huge community endeavour, fundraising still continues. The library is still in need of money to complete the furnishing of this magnificent facility in order to make it completely functional. Contributions can be made to the Friends of the Sheep River Library Foundation by contacting Holly Quan at 933-5811. Some of the requirements are a floor cleaning device, vacuum cleaner, more comfortable chairs, meeting room chairs, video-conferencing equipment, easels, flip charts and signage. Your donations will be recognized on the donors' wall in the new library. Your generous donation will be appreciated by members of your community for years to come. Please help out if you can.

Travel Tracks by Dave Heron

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Politics, Religion & Lost Luggage

Three arguments that will never see a win or an even draw of understanding.
Politics is an easy one to dodge - someone once said the biggest problem with the voting public was ignorance and apathy to which I responded I don't know and frankly didn't care.
The moment I mention I'm an agnostic dyslexic that doesn't believe in the existence of a dog as a Higher Power - the crowd distances themselves from me and I avoid getting drawn in.
Lost luggage on the other hand is an item that finds its way into my life on a daily basis.
I'm half way towards understanding some of the reasons a passenger's 'home away from home' goes AWOL:
-multi-million dollar software capable of reading Tolstoy's War and Peace that in a nanosecond displays an apparent inability to read a baggage tag marked Cancun and sends said bag to Cucamonga California.
-the implementation of a charge for a 2nd piece of checked baggage resulting in carry-on bags now weighing more than the passengers themselves which puts the aircraft at maximum takeoff weight before any checked bags are loaded.
-baggage handlers at some airports that earn less than the kid pouring coffee at the airport cafeteria.
And while I grudgingly accept that lost and/or misrouted luggage is a sad reality in today's mass transit environment, I'm not convinced there isn't a solution.
Airlines have been nickel and diming passengers for years - in fact it's gotten to the point where there are so many miscellaneous a-la-carte options offered at time of booking, most passengers are now hitting the "skip all options" button and just booking the basics.
How's this for a concept?
Limit the amount of carry on cabin baggage to 1 piece per passenger with a maximum weight of say, 15 lbs - and begin enforcing the restriction.
This now reduces the weight of the upstairs cargo by some 3800 lb on the average 150 seat aircraft over what appears to be getting hauled on board at present.
"But I need all this with me in case you once again lose my luggage".
Not necessarily.
Airlines have no problem charging and passengers no problem paying :
-$30 for advance seat selection
-$12 for a day old chicken wrap and dried biscuit
-$7 for a blanket
-$20 for a 2nd checked bag
-$5 for a 30 cent headset
The 1st airline to offer a LUGGAGE GUARANTEE will reap some hefty benefits.
Here's how it would work.
At time of booking, passengers are given an option for say $25 to purchase GUARANTEED BAGGAGE space for 1 bag.
Airlines take note - as per the calculations above when enforcing the carry on limit, you've now got some 3800 lb of unused weight space to work with.
That's 76 pieces of baggage.
At $25 each that generates close to $2000.
Now up the ante.
The GUARANTEE is that if for whatever reason your bag doesn't arrive, the airline refunds half the cost of your ticket.
People are gamblers.
On a 150 passenger aircraft, two thirds of the passengers will take the gamble and bet against the airline being able to live up to its guarantee and purchase the option.
That's an additional revenue stream of $2500 per flight.
Worst case scenario for the passenger is that their luggage will actually arrive when they do.
Worst case scenario for the airline is that if they screw up, they're forced to correct a situation which currently costs them more than refunding half the flight cost would anyhow.
On the other hand, knowing airlines as I do, I can just see the end result of this one.
150 bags arrive in Cancun.
149 passengers get off the flight.
"Where's Freddy?"
"Uh - I think we left him behind in Calgary - we were overweight in the baggage hold".

Adios until next time
Dave Heron

Dave Heron is the owner and operator of: Pace Setter Travel & Tours (1995) Inc; P.O. Box 612, 49 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks.
Tel: 403.938.5454
Toll Free: 1.800.206.7223.
Fax: 403.938.5568
Email:
pacesetter@nucleus.com

New Title Same Great Advocate - Ted Menzies

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Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod, was sworn in by the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, as Minister of State (Finance).
Prime Minister Harper completed a minor cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall where he recognized Menzies' hard work over the past three years while assisting The Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, as Canadians have continued to weather the economic uncertainty.
“Ted's new role as Minister of State for Finance recognizes the increasing work load that he has undertaken while serving as Flaherty's Parliamentary Secretary during the challenges of the global recession. In this new role Ted will continue his exemplary work with Minister Flaherty on all of his responsibilities.” Harper continued, “including finalizing budget 2011 in order to continue to ensure we emerge strongly from the global recession, and to do so during a period of fiscal restraint.”
“I thank the Prime Minister for this opportunity and I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Macleod and fellow Canadians in my new capacity as Minister of State for Finance” said Menzies when asked of his new position. “I am honoured to be given this new mandate and will continue to work hard on Canadian's number one priority: the economy.”
Menzies looks forward to assisting the Minister of Finance in finalizing Budget 2011 as well as in supporting Minister Flaherty and the Government as we move towards balanced budgets.
For further information, please contact the Office of Ted Menzies at (613) 995-8471, or visit www.tedmenzies.ca

Longview Link By Chey Nickerson

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The Blue Sky Motel in Longview was the recipient of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Good House keeping Award for 2010. Our congratulations to Lorna and Brian and best wishes to all residents and business owners in 2011!
Our Light up Longview, Christmas Party and Memorial Tree were all great successes with the help of our many VOLUNTEERS. We can never give enough thanks to those who give their time to make these events possible.
Christmas in the Park was also a great success with the wagon rides, great music, warm bonfire and temperatures much more seasonal than they were for the 2009 event! Each year these events grow and more people take part which is great to see.  Looking forward to bigger and better in 2011!
In keeping with the spirit of Christmas I would like to say that my faith in our fellow man was renewed when my partner lost his wallet at the Black Diamond car wash during the holidays. We returned to Longview before it was noticed and then, in a panic, we headed back to Black Diamond but even before getting there we had received a call from Mr. L. MacDonald to say he had found the wallet and where we could pick it up! What a great relief to know that we would not be spending holidays trying to cancel and renew cards, etc. There are good people out there, we just all need to remember that when we run into some of the bad ones. To Larry, thank you so much for giving us an extra dose of “CHRISTMAS SPIRIT”.
For Longview residents, please note that dog licenses as well as business licenses are due by January 31st, 2011. Please come into the Village Office for more information.
To dog owners; once again we have been getting complaints about dogs roaming unleashed and owners not picking up after pets. We ask that you carry doggy bags (or plastic bags of some kind) and pick up after your pet. More enforcement will be a part of 2011 and fines will be applied!

Happy New Year!
Chey

Longview Library Literally Speaking

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Our membership continues to rise, which is very encouraging to Joan and the board. Joan is beginning a pre-school story hour beginning January 19th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. The library will be presenting 20 to 30 minute "Computer Quicks" for those who have limited or no knowledge of computers. On January the 18th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm there will be a class on how to order and put a hold on books from your home computer. On January 27th there will be a class on setting up and using a simple e-mail account at 1:00 pm. And on January 18th, just before the workshop on ordering books on-line, there will be a video-conference on how best to run a meeting and how to participate productively during one. That will be from 12 to 1:00 pm. It would be helpful to Joan if you would register for these events at her desk beforehand so she has some idea of how many to prepare for.
Our annual Pancake Supper will be on Shrove Tuesday, February 15th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Community Hall. This event is being headed up by Erika Smith. We have a good selection of new releases of Westerns, so come in and peruse them soon. Jan Roenisch is our featured artist for the next three months. Jan is a well known Western artist and many of you may know her from the Arts and Music Festival where she has shown her work since its inception. She's good, so don't miss it!
We have Anita Shreve's new book, Rescue, in the library. Also this month I enjoyed reading Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard by Richard B. Wright. It's an engaging blend of invention and historical fact. It tells of the life of Shakespeare's illegitimate daughter, Arlene Ward, and her search for her father over the years. Wright writes so beautifully, that even if he did not have an enchanting story to tell, it is pure pleasure just to read his words. Another is a Short History of Women by Kate Walburt. The title has duel meaning in Walburt's hands. The book is a short history of feminism [the political] as experienced by a multi-generational family of women [the personal]. It begins in rural England at the beginning of the century and ends in New York City in the 2000's. The book is profound, thought provoking, yet filled with wry wit. It asks the questions that women have been asking themselves forever and suggests satisfying answers by her subtle observations and innuendos.
Joan would like to have any recent magazines that you might have heading for the recycling. They must be current ones and in good condition. Check with her before donating them, so that she is not inundated with duplicate issues. We have on our shelves Todays Parent and ATV Trailrider, both new additions to the library. Joan is also looking for some new volunteers to help with shelving, unpacking new books and book maintenance.
Happy Reading
Sylvia Binkley

literacy For Life - The Family That Reads Together…

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By Todd Curran
The annual Family Literacy Day takes place on January 27th, encouraging the celebration of adults and children reading and learning together. The event challenges Canadians to spend at least 15 minutes per day on a learning activity as a family and provides a moment for Canadians to come together in their homes, at work and in their communities to practice literacy-building activities and have fun.

Sheep River Health Trust - Recognizing Someone Special Is An Annual Tradition In The Foothills!

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Submitted by Melissa Pryor
The Sheep River Health Trust's 7th Annual Points of Light campaign ran from November 16th to December 31st.
The Points of Light campaign is a community favourite every year. The campaign provides people the opportunity to recognize someone special by lighting a bulb in their honour.
The lights are displayed on trees in front of the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre, Oilfields Hospital, Town of Turner Valley and Town of Black Diamond. 
“I love this campaign, because it provides us an opportunity to reconnect with the donors and the people who have truly made the Trust what it is today. One of the highlights this year was receiving a gracious donation from a local elk farmer.  The donation was made in honour of exceptional healthcare the farmer was provided with in the Black Diamond area. When I spoke with the farmer he told me that Dr. Cunning and Dr. Branch saved his life and he is happy to be in a position to give back”, said Melissa Pryor, Fund Development Officer for the Trust.
Dr. Cunning retired in 2007 but is very active in our rural health system.  He is also a member on the Trust's Advisory Board. Dr. Branch practices medicine out of the Foothills Family Medical Centre and Oilfields Hospital. 
Donations made through the Points of Light campaign support the provision of quality health services, programs and equipment needed to provide exceptional care. This is a perfect example of how the Points of Light campaign goes full circle.
This year the campaign raised $18,000.00 and will be allocated to support the programs, services and equipment with an emphasis on Spiritual and Palliative Care.

Oilfields High School Presents the Harlem Crowns

(Page 10)

The world famous travelers known as the Harlem Crowns are coming to Black Diamond to play the Oilfields Drillers Senior Boys Basketball Team on Saturday, January 29th, at 7:00pm.
The Harlem Crowns began their existence in the mid-50's when a former Harlem Globetrotter by the name of Chico Burrell formulated a team composed of highly talented basketball players.
Chico Burrell was born in Harlem, New York. He attended New York University and upon graduation, he joined the Harlem Globetrotters. Chico played with the "Trotters" for twelve years during which time he was an outstanding performer. Chico blended his talents with such Harlem Globetrotter greats as Goose Tatum, Sweetwater Clifton and Maquis Haynes.
After years of success with the Harlem Crowns, Chico Burrell retired and sold the team to a group of Northern California Businessmen. One of the incumbent members on the Harlem Crowns, Herbert Scaife, is presently managing the team. Herbert Scaife hails from Arkansas and resides in Oakland, California during the off season.
Members of the Harlem Crowns are chosen for showmanship as well as their ability to play above average basketball. At the beginning of each season, approximately two weeks in October, a very organized training camp is held in a designated Northern California city. Candidates and possible new additions are brought in from all over the United States.
The requirements for being considered a member of the Harlem Crowns are:
1. To have former college basketball experience.
2. To have good character and the ability to get along with others.
3. To have basketball ability, the potential to be a showman and a knack for comic improvisations.
The Harlem Crowns play a regulation four quarter game against any opposing team furnished by the sponsors. There is never a dull moment during the game because of the zany acts and laugh-a-minute routines that are very numerous.
From California, eastward, the Harlem Crowns have staggered the comical imagination of spectators in places such as Canada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.
The Harlem Crowns have also taken their show several times abroad to places like Tokyo, Japan the city of Manila in the Philippines Islands and Singapore. They also venture south of the border into Old Mexico.
The Harlem Crowns are sponsored by various groups that include the local Police and Sheriff departments, F.F.A., Booster Clubs, Lettermen Clubs, Student Body Clubs and various cities’ Service Groups.
January 29th is bound to be an evening of laughter and entertainment. Tickets are available at Oilfields High School. Come on out and support the Drillers!

Millarville’s Cool News

(Page 11)

January 27th is Family Literacy Day and I have been given the opportunity to share some ideas about literacy in this month's Gateway Gazette
    Read aloud to your children, not just when they are babies and toddlers but when your child has begun to read for their own enjoyment
    Read for enjoyment; read with excitement;  read to relax;  make reading a part of the daily routine; if you are away from home, take books along
    Let your child see you reading books, newspapers, magazines, manuals, cookbooks, poems, maps, letters, e-mails
    Talk about the books before, during and after reading; encourage your child to ask questions and ask questions of your child; as children get older encourage critical thinking i.e. do they agree or disagree with the author
    Read stories with repeating parts and patterned stories and encourage your child to chime in
    Children pretending they are reading books once they have memorized them is not cheating, it is part of the learning process and builds confidence
    Point to words in picture books; have children make pictures in their heads about what they hear or read
    As your child begins to read, let them choose books to read to you that aren't too difficult; take turns reading or read together to support your young reader
    When children are encountering new words, help them use a variety of strategies to figure out the word: use the sounds of the first letters and think what word would make sense, check to see if the letters match the word, look for parts of the word that are familiar; read ahead to decide what would make sense; go back and read again
    Get involved in the activities this month that promote Family Literacy by checking the Foothills School Division website for the January Literacy Calendar at: www.fsd38.ab.ca; and explore the suggestions at: www.familyliteracyday.ca
    Share your love of reading with someone you love, not just today but throughout the years!

Pam Irving
Learning Support Teacher
Millarville Community School

From My Bookshelf....by Lynn Willoughby

(Page 21)

Canada Reads 2011 - the choices have been unveiled. I have read some of the top five, or other books by the top five authors, but certainly plan to get them all read. Here are the selections. I hope you can read along too and take part in the defense and voting for these books in March.
The Best Laid Plans - Terry Fallis
Essex County - Jeff Lemire
The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou
Unless - Carol Shields
The Birth House - Ami McKay
Weather and how it affects us is the theme of the two books reviewed here. Who can live in Canada and not start most conversations about the weather?
Russian Winter - Daphne Kalstoy
This is a debut novel, and while it gets wordy at times, it held some interesting nuggets of life in Russia under Stalin. The Bolshoi Ballet and the backstage tumult of theatre life is a large part of this novel. The lives of various artists of the time, poets, composers and dancers give a behind the scene look at life in Russia in the early 1900s. The powerlessness of the people, the poverty, starvation and unending cold, plays against the sumptuous waste of the elite.
A collection of remarkable jewels smuggled from Russia by Nina Revskaya causes a real stir as the auction day comes closer in present day Boston. The jewels, particularly the unique Baltic amber pieces, form the mysterious thread unraveled throughout the novel.
I found the descriptive sections wonderful. "...dirty icicles hanging from eaves, the sun waiting until ten to rise..." Emotionally, Kalstoy takes us on a roller coaster - ...the fear of doing or saying something that might be misinterpreted, pride in performing and boosting morale." The anti-sematicism and the reality of banishment to the gulags, the private concerts at caviar serving clubs, makes for a layered plot.
There are alot of people in this book and I found the characterization somewhat weak.  Nevertheless the story of the arts in Russia and an inside look at a contemporary auction house make it a worthwhile read.
A Student of Weather - Elizabeth Hay
This is a complicated novel written in beautiful prose with unforgettable characters. High praise indeed for a wonderful Canadian author. We can taste and smell the dust of the prairies during a dust storm in the 1930s.  It not only blankets everything with a fine dust, it blow drifts against fence posts, barns and porches.
Norma Joyce Hardy is a strange, dark, self-possessed child who struggles through the death of her twin and the death of her mother. Her stern, unbending father somehow blames her for those deaths. When Norma Joyce can no longer stand the blame or the rivalry of her beautiful, dutiful sister - she leaves for New York City.
This compelling novel spans thirty years and the setting moves between Saskatchewan, New York and Ottawa. The relentless quest for love and for art is played against day to day chores and duties. The beauty of prairie light, the intricacy and tenaciousness of prairie plants, especially grasses, will tug at anyone who has lived on the Canadian Prairies.
I loved this book of contrasts - light and dark, snow and dust, love and rejection, truth and deception. Although it is at first glance a love story, none of the characters are very lovable. The real story is how Norma Joyce learns to live in a way that is comfortable for her soul.
This book may be an exception for me - NOT one I will give away. It will stay on my bookshelf until I have read it at least once more.
    Late Nights on Air
    Garbo Laughs
    several books of short stories and non-fiction.

Who Knew?
Caraganas - planted as wind breaks around so many pairie homesteads, were imported from the Russian Steppes in the 1890s. They are native to Siberia and Manchuria.

From The Lions Den

(Page 22)

Submitted by Lion Lona Lineham
Welcome to year 2011 - the year of the Rabbit. We have been so lucky with our weather considering what is happening all over the world.
The Foothills Lions Club will no longer be managing the Longview Campground. We will still continue managing Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
"The Longview Youth Group" has requested funding for various projects for the coming year. This organization is involving youth from Longview and the rural community in sports and activities to build character and develop integrity. This group is run by parents and adults who donate their time and often their resources. It is their desire to offer the youth an opportunity to experience some of the benefits larger communities have with their amenities. The Foothills Lions Club is proud to give this Organization $2,500.00.
"Oilfield High School Quest Program" - is an alternative learning program designed to engage youth in many facets of learning. The Quest Program challenges students to develop behaviours and attitudes to become healthy, productive citizens. The Foothills Lions Club donated $5,000.00 to this program.
Every year, since 1998, the Foothills Lions has donated a $1,000.00 Bursary to a deserving, graduated student from Oilfield High School. This year the ceremony will be at the High School on February 11th at 8:00 am.
We are very disappointed in the attendance we are getting at the Lions Bingo. Our next Bingo will be held at the Valley Neighbours Club on Friday, January 18th at 6:30 pm.


The Foothills Lions Club

“Serving Our Community”

Faith Forum by Gloria Wessner - Sacrifice

(Page 22)

Researchers tell us they believe the concept of 'sacrifice' is basic to all of humanity. They say in one way or another that all cultures have practiced sacrifice, though not all of them to the extreme of human sacrifice. It was important to their social beliefs and most of those were religious. As they say it:
“Almost every human being, whether religious or not, throughout history, has 'sacrificed' or 'offered' something in return for a goal. Whether the sacrifice is one of time (as we sacrifice our time to study or to work) or, in the extreme case of human beings, the notion of sacrifice has been with us since the beginning of time.”1
In the first two thirds or so of God's word, often referred to as the 'Old Testament,' that is, the time period before Jesus Christ came, sacrifices of animals (never human which was strictly forbidden by God) were commanded by God. Without going in-depth into the subject, God designed sacrifice as a way for his people to seek forgiveness and to restore a relationship between Him and them. These offerings taught the people and guided them in bringing back their relationship to God, helping them to realize that …“the animal symbolically took the sinner's place and paid the penalty for sin (wrongdoings) and… the animal's death represented one life given so that another life could be saved.” At that time, these symbolic offerings acted as a 'covering' over their wrongdoings – in other words, a temporary solution. These were but substitutes for the punishment the people themselves should have paid for those wrongdoings.
In the last part of God's word, known typically as the 'New Testament,' God made a permanent and lasting solution regarding sacrifice and closing the gap that our wrongdoings made between us and God. The animal sacrifices, up to this point, covered the price of the wrongdoing; but it did not redeem the person himself. However, God's solution did. This is what God himself says about this switch from the animal sacrifices over to his own Son, the perfect sacrifice given for us:
“First, Christ said, 'You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them' (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, 'Look, I have come to do your will.' He cancels the first covenant (which included the sacrifices in the Old Testament) in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest (Jesus) offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy… And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” (Heb. 10:8-14, 18 NLT)
There is nothing we can add to that perfect sacrifice, already offered. Our part is to accept his sacrifice that he made for us in love and then choose to live our lives for him and not for ourselves. With such a sacrifice made at such a high price – we can go forward with confidence that he has in mind only what's best for us, wherever and whatever that may lead us, because we choose to walk each day hand-in-hand with the best friend we'll ever have.

Readers are encouraged to write Gloria at: gloriawes@hotmail.com.

1.http://gallery.sjsu.edu/sacrifice/home.html

FCHS - AHSFA - Christmas Market Musings

(Page 23)

On December 11th, 2010, the Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts were hosts of the 1st annual Foothills Composite Christmas Market. With over 45 different vendors, there were so many amazing buys for the visitors to the Market. Many hand-made items such as jewelry, wood-working creations, ornaments, baking, art, knit creations, accessories and sausage, were bought up by the last-minute Christmas shoppers. Shoppers could also find those items that they could not find in our malls, such as Tupperware, Pampered Chef and Norwex products. And while the parents were busy with their purchases, the kids were entertained with face-painting, cookie decorating, movies and coloring.
The Business Studies 20 Students from the school were the ones who organized, marketed, planned and ran the Market, applying the knowledge and skills learned in class to a real-life event. They were able to see how the background planning and preparations come together to produce a successful venture. But the learning did not end there, as the students also got to experience what it means to “give back”. Through the proceeds from the table rentals, and the donations generously given at the door, $1000 was raised to help to send students from the school to compete at regional and provincial Skills Canada competitions. And another $1000 was donated to help sponsor a project through Samaritan's Purse in Nicaraugua. Arlene Howard, a personal friend, and one of our very own Foothills School Bus Drivers, will be participating in this project, where she will be helping to help to build a school in a very impoverished community. It was through a discussion with her about this trip, that we realized that the Market would be a fabulous way for the students of FCHS/AHSFA to help other students in another country, who are far less fortunate then they are.
At a glance back, this Market was more than successful - it was an amazing learning experience, a community-building event and it was life-changing, with impact farther reaching than the Market itself. I would like to extend a special thank you to all of the vendors, customers and sponsors, who helped to make this dream a reality. And we hope to see everyone next year, where an even bigger and better Market experience awaits!

Lyndsi Irwin
Business Education FCHS/AHSFA

Household Hints by Rosemary

(Page 26)


Leftover Yummies

I know this is supposed to be a “Hints” column, but I never turn my nose up at a good recipe and recently several have come to my attention, read kitchen here. There are also those leftovers from the holiday feasts that can't be tossed into the stew or soup pot but are really handy in other ways.
We had two types of cranberry to serve with the turkey, because the younger members of the family aren't partakers there was a lot left over. Checking with the Canadian Cranberry Growers websites they've got several good ideas. You can mix some cranberry sauce, either the jellied or whole, with a batch of muffin mix. Even if it's an apple, or lemon flavoured one, mixing the cranberry will add a zing.
If you're tired of leftover turkey and cranberry, glaze a pork roast with the cranberry sauce, it's really delicious, and looks great served too. Add the glazing about half way through the roasting and baste as needed. 
Leftover stuffing, as if there is such a thing, can be added to ground turkey, mashed potatoes and made into croquettes. Or, slice a pork fillet almost in half, sear the inside in a pan and put the stuffing in the middle, tie up with cotton string, and bake in the oven. You can also serve cranberry sauce with this.
Take care of leftover onion, celery and wine by making a fast and easy confit to serve with meat dishes. In a pot cook the onions (about two large) and celery, if you wish, in butter over low heat until they're translucent. Add a pinch of salt and a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved, then add a half cup or so of leftover wine (red, white, port or even a light ale). Continue to stir until the mixture begins to thicken and turns a golden brown. Remove from heat store in a glass jar and use within a couple of weeks. To spice it up a bit you can add a pinch of ground clove or a tablespoon of steak sauce. Delicious with ham, or pork dishes, great with barbecued meats.
Leftover diced potatoes. Grease a baking dish, toss the potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, rosemary or thyme and a good helping of olive oil. You can add leftover onions, carrots, parsnips, etc. Bake until golden brown and serve hot; also good served with sour cream.
Leftover mashed potatoes: use it up as the topping on a Shepherd's pie or mix a cup of potato with a half cup of sour cream, a half cup of whatever cheese you have on hand, bake and serve. 
Bread and/or pound cake and/or dinner rolls do a wonderful bread pudding. Shred the bread, cake or rolls into a deep baking dish with about a half cup of hot milk to soak. Mix two eggs, three cups of milk, a half cup of sugar and a couple of pinches of cinnamon and/or allspice, add raisins or currants if you choose, pour it over the bread mixture and bake in a medium oven for about an hour to an hour and a half. Serve with leftover Christmas pudding sauce or maple syrup.  
Waste not, want not; we hope none of these will be found wanting. 

Rosemary can be contacted through the Gazette at: gazette@telus.net.

The Oral Health Connection - By Penny Judson-Benny, Registered Dental Hygienist

(Page 26)

 My Teeth Are Grey and Discoloured

Teeth can be grey and/or discoloured for many reasons. Although it may be esthetically unpleasing, the discolouration doesn't necessarily mean there is anything seriously wrong with your teeth.
    Tooth trauma – a hit or blow to the face can cause a tooth or teeth to turn grey. Most times it is not harmful, unless the discoloured tooth becomes symptomatic and becomes infected.
    Excessive fluoride ingestion can cause a grayish tint to the teeth. This dark staining is called 'dental flourosis'.
    Taking the antibiotic tetracycline during the formation of teeth (ie. between the ages of 0 and 8 years old) or if a mother is taking tetracycline during pregnancy can cause a dark, greyish-brown staining on the child's teeth.
    Dark, grey patches on individual teeth may indicate that there is a suspected cavity. This should be checked by a dentist.'
    Baby bottle tooth decay' occurs when there are brownish stains on the tips of the primary teeth.  This can be caused by frequent ingestion of sweetened liquids (juice, milk…) through the bottle during the night while a baby sleeps.
    Darker areas can also occur on the teeth when the enamel has not formed properly on the teeth. This is called 'hypocalcif-ication'.
    In most cases, colour change in primary teeth does not affect the permanent teeth. White fillings can be placed to cover up discolouration of the teeth.
    In very rare cases, tooth discolouration in primary teeth can be caused by a systemic disease.
Prevention of Tooth Discolouration
    It is important to start cleaning a child's teeth as soon as each tooth appears in the mouth.
    Do not consume the antibiotic tetracycline during pregnancy and do not give it to a child between the ages of 0-8 years of age.
    Ingestion of excessive fluoride should be avoided.  It is important to check and see if your local community water has fluoride in it. If there is no fluoride in the water supply, it is important to give your child the recommended dosage in order to prevent tooth decay.
    Do not let your child ingest toothpaste. Most kids will try to swallow it, but it is important to teach children to expectorate toothpaste. Eating too much toothpaste on a regular basis can cause flourosis. Only allow small amounts of toothpaste on the toothbrush while brushing.

'Keep Your Smile For A Lifetime'



Penny Judson-Benny, RDH, is the owner and operator of Mountain View Dental Hygiene Clinic in Black Diamond and can be contacted at 403-933-7722.

Winter Increases Our Need For Vitamin D Supplements

(Page 26)

The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium, which is responsible for keeping bones, muscles and even the heart healthy and strong. Without enough vitamin D, men and women are at a heightened risk for osteoporosis, a bone condition in which bones become brittle and fragile due to tissue loss. Vitamin D is also beneficial for those who love to exercise. Muscles that don't get enough calcium will cramp, hurt or feel weak, possibly leading to chronic muscle aches and pains. If the body is getting enough vitamin D, muscles are less likely to cramp or ache. While it's possible to include vitamin D in a daily diet, it's also difficult because there are not many foods rich in vitamin D. Talk to your Health Care Advisor to find the recommended amount of vitamin D you should be taking.

Lunch With Jaqueline Guest Contest Winners

(Page 30)

Sawyer, Dryden and their mom, Amber Harding.
Sierra (age 10) and her dad, Todd Virostek.
Emily (age 8) and Erin Gilbart.

a STRANGE GRANDMA Christmas
We have a STRANGE GRANDMA in our family.  She lives far away and always sends us the most interesting Christmas presents.  Last year she sent us books that read themselves.  The year before that she sent us pencils that do all your homework, and before that, clothes that never get dirty.
After every gift, no matter how strange, Mom always says, “How thoughtful!  Write a thank you letter to grandma.”
Just before Easter (STRANGE GRANDMA gets her holidays mixed up) three packages arrived in the mail.  We knew they were from STRANGE GRANDMA. 
My sister opened her gift.  It was a card game of Go Fish.
“How thoughtful! Write a thank you letter to grandma.” said Mom.
We opened the box to play Go Fish.  Suddenly, a mighty river began flowing through our house and fishing poles appeared in our hands.  After we had each caught a few fish, we decided to open the next present.
My brother opened his gift.  It was a game of Candy Land.  
“How thoughtful!  Write a thank you letter to grandma.” said Mom.
We opened the box to play Candy Land.  Suddenly, we had gumdrop furniture and a peanut brittle floor.  After we had all eaten, or played, our share of Candy Land, we decided to open the final present. 
I opened my gift.  The box read, “Hungry, hungry Hippos!”
“I don't think so,” said Mom.
 That year, Mom wrote a letter to STRANGE GRANDMA and I don't think she said, “Thank you!”

Written by Sawyer, Dryden and their Mom, Amber Harding.

Play Games
Close my eyes and count out loud
Then open them up and look around
The boys and girls were scrambling…… when I could not see
Now they are all hiding and waiting so very patiently.

I found Johnny hiding secretly within the trees
But he is not alone ……there are lots of bees.

Then we found Amy way up in the loft
Behind the golden straw so soft, soft, soft

We found Tommy buried in the sand
We never would have found him….. but he had a lollipop in his hand

Down in the pig pen….. Sarah was really stuck
She was hidden behind the pigs and up to her knees in sticky sticky muck

Billy was finally found in the little garden shed
He was in the dark and didn't notice…….. the spider webs all over his head.

We looked and looked for Mary and finally…….. in the garden
Standing in the corn…….. she was almost forgotten

Mommy told us to play outside and not go in the house
But I knew Bobby wouldn't listen and found him in his room….. quiet as a mouse

We couldn't find Jimmy for real long time until we heard a little squeal
He was curled up like a kitten in a big old tractor wheel.

Down by the duck pond there was long hollow log
That is where we found Cindy hiding in the dark like a cute little frog

When the sun was about to set, Scout our dog found Andy sleeping…………….. on his blanket under the deck

Written by Sierra Virostek (age 10) and her Dad, Todd.

The Bored Game
“I'm so bored Jake,” Suzie grumbled to her brother. “Let's go down to the basement and find something to do.” Together, they tiptoed downthe steps. “Hey look at that!” exclaimed Jake. A shiny gold box called 'The Bored Game' lay before them. “Oh, let's play it!” said Suzie. They each took a game piece and spun the spinner. WOOSH!!! With a flash of light, they found themselves whisked into the game. “How do we get out?” Jake whined. “I guess we have to play our way out” said Suzie. She grabbed the spinner and spun it again. They moved to a space marked 'Battle the Clown'. “That doesn't sound so easy...” Jake whimpered. “Let's get this over with” Suzie har-rumphed. Suddenly a gigantic clown with flaming red hair, huge freckles and razor sharp teeth started to chase them. “Let's shut this clown down!” Suzie shouted. She dashed toward the clown, jumped as high as she could, twisted open the clown's bow tie and took out his batteries. “YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE CLOWN! MOVE ANOTHER TEN SPACES!” boomed a voice. They landed on a space that read 'Pick a card or miss a turn'. Jake snatched one off the pile. “We have to go the finish square and battle a dinosaur!” It lunged toward them but Jake grabbed it while Suzie tickled it under the armpit. Suddenly, the dinosaur shrunk into a stuffed animal and Jake and Suzie were back in their basement. “I'm not bored anymore!” they laughed.

Written by Emily (aged 8) and Erin Harding.

The Gateway Gazette Grassroots Editor and staff would like to congratulate all the winners and runners-up. We would also like to thank Michele Geistlinger for taking the time to submit these winners to us for inclusion in your local paper. You can’t get better “Good News” than this. The runner-up stories will be printed in future editions.

The Life of a Calmed Artist

Happy new year to you, lovely reader. This new year marks the ten-year anniversary of teaching art. Milestones like that are important, and according to life coaches, we need to be celebrating these moments of great accomplishments. Since my meditation practice began five months ago, I have found a sense of calm and clarity. The first main positive result was recognizing when I needed a break and not doing this:
“Too stressed to think about a problem? Distract yourself with other things to do. Too tired to get up early in the morning? Stay up late and finish it tonight. Got a headache from a lack of sleep? Have more coffee.” All of those choices were made as a result of not giving myself that seemingly elusive, “me time.”
Finding peace in our crazy, mixed up world full of seemingly endless bad news, incessant instant messaging, creeping deadlines and forcing one 'last' thing into our days can feel like wearing an increasingly huge and heavy pack, climbing the most treacherous windy mountain with predators lurking all around us, just to find… an escape. All we need to do is be calm. Where I found mine is right here, in my home. Given that I started giving myself some guilt-free 'me time' those little moments are now deeply treasured. They can be a day, an hour, fifteen minutes, even five minutes. But those five minutes are ALL YOURS TO KEEP. And the best part? They're free.
For an artist, finding peace is something we absolutely need. Scientists have even proven that creative types use more of their 'alpha' (light rest) state of mind than their 'beta' (fully awake) state. The reason for this is that our brains need to be at a restful or peaceful state in order to effectively create our artwork. So much needs to be studied about our little brains… for now… lets just give them a rest.

~Love and light from The Real Robin Thibodeau


RobiN Thibodeau
allseasonchick@gmail.com

Personal Protection New Year's Resolutions

(Page 31)

With the coming of a New Year comes an old tradition, the New Year's Resolution. The tradition was started by early Babylonians and continued by the Romans as a way to make peace with neighbours to begin the New Year without conflict and in essence to “Bury the Hatchet” from any disputes from the year before. 
Many people in Western Culture make resolutions for the sake of continuing a tradition. But how many people stick with them? In my observations most people make a resolution and within a matter of days have given up on it. Some of the most popular ones are to lose weight, stop smoking, reconnect with loved ones or lost friends, travel, attend classes, get promotions and exercise. 
In fact almost every resolution I ever heard was something healthy. So why not stick with it? Most people don't stick with it because they don't have a plan. “This year I resolve to lose weight,” is a great goal, but it's not a plan. To get results you must have a plan with objective measurable goals along the way.
So below are my tips for making a better you in 2011.
1.     Start small and measurable i.e. “I'm going to lose weight.” That's a lofty goal. How about “By the end of 2011 I'm going to have lost 20lbs,” “I'm going to get fit,” can become “By March I'm going to be able to jog 5km without stopping.” These are both smaller goals and measurable.
2.    Develop your plan. How am I going to lose the 20lbs? I need to eat healthy nutritious food. I need to stay hydrated. I need to exercise. But what if you don't know how to do any of those things? Perhaps the first step should be research your goal and get a professional to help develop the rest of the plan.
3.    Plan stages. My new years resolution plan should be staged. I'm not going to work all year to step on the scale in 12 months for the first time. If I resolve to lose 20lbs by December 2011 I should be losing 5lbs every 3 months. Instead of focusing on a 12 month goal I can focus on my mini goals every 3 months.
4.    Surround yourself with success. Looking to lose weight? Join a club, get a trainer, work out with friends, get magazine subscriptions that educate and motivate you. Surround yourself with all the parts of a successful equation, including people who support and motivate you, not give you excuses for failure, tear you down or otherwise limit your chances of success.

Start with those steps and your 2011 New Years Resolution can be more than just lip service to an old tradition. It can be your equation to make a better you for 2011!!! I used the example of weight loss for this illustration but this formula can lead to success for any self improvement plan. For help with fitness, weight loss, healthy living or hypnosis or hypnotherapy reach me at:: tom@ftsma.com
.