Millarville Saddle Sores - Christmas Brought Lots of Fun

This 4H group can saddle up for fun no matter what the weather is like!


November brought shorter, colder days and lots of bone-chilling mornings as the Millarville Saddle Sores 4-H kids trudged out through the snow to their waiting horses. We were kept busy with Christmas decorating at the Millarville Racetrack and a gymkhana, as well as the usual meetings and rides. The gymkhana was the evening before the Christmas decorating. The gymkhana was put together and run by the Rodeo Project kids: Nevada Rowe, Megan Rawn and Shaelynn Brogden. As always, it was really exciting and we had a ton of fun! We had a barrel racing clinic with Lori Wavercam Lohnes on October 29th so we put some of her ideas to use at the gymkhana. Everyone is getting really fast on their project horses. Christmas decorating on November 5th was entertaining, especially when Nevada Rowe climbed into the tree to attach two cords of lights together and ended up throwing pinecones at us! One of the moms went up in the tractor bucket to hang up a banner by the arena. That would have been scary. The Social club met prior to our Club meeting on November 25th to discuss the Christmas party. Then everyone else arrived and we had a Club meeting. The next morning at the ride…well let's just say not many people were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
December came along and although we didn't have a ton of events this month, we still had fun! December 3rd was our first ride and it was surprisingly nice when we rode but got colder in the afternoon. Next was our Christmas party on December 9th. We held the party at the Millarville School gym and spent the night playing games like Musical Chairs, Duck Duck Goose, volleyball and badminton. We had pizza and pop, followed by a huge selection of desserts. We also did a Secret Santa gift exchange. That was really fun! People started to clear out after that and the remaining group went skating on the Millarville ice. Unfortunately, a ride was scheduled the next day, so everyone was pretty tired. At the end of the ride, our instructor, Cassandra Day, had us do the Delsey Derby. This is when two riders hold a length of toilet paper while they try to ride in tandem. My partner and I didn't do so well since we both had mares and they were acting up. After the ride, some of our Club members participated in the 4-H District Charity Hamper Packing. Our club donated cleaning supplies for the hampers. That was it for the month of December and we look forward to the rest of our 4-H year in 2012!

Quad Regional Water Partnership

See how our communities are working together to ensure we all have good water. To stay informed on this process and how it affects you, plan to attend the Open Houses.


Provincial regulators are providing support for the development of regional water systems treatment centers through the Alberta “Water for Life” initiative. The aim is to develop “Regional Providers” which will be sustainable in terms of an adequate raw water source, modern water treatment systems and shared maintenance and operations given a larger population base.
In the fall of 2008 the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley, along with the Village of Longview and the Municipal District of Foothills # 31 formed the “Quad Regional Water Partnership” (QRWP).
The purpose of the QRWP is to investigate the feasibility of securing and implementing a sustainable and cost-effective potable water system for the region. The QRWP water initiative aligns with the long term water developments of the Calgary Regional Partnership and therefore has it's support.
The QRWP anticipates the key benefits of partnering will include:

• Provision of a safe and secure potable water supply that meets the needs of current and future generations of Albertans in this region.
• Added value in the treatment and delivery of potable water to the partnership members.
• Cost sharing of existing and future infrastructure, experienced operators, energy consumption, materials and supplies.

Urban Systems Ltd. and Brownlee LLP were engaged to outline and assess a variety of governance models that could be used to implement the partnership. The QRWP determined that the creation of a Corporation owned by the member municipalities was best suited to facilitate the treatment and delivery of potable water.
The next steps include:

• Grant application to Alberta Municipal Affairs to provide funding assistance toward the cost in creating a utility corporation.
• Grant application to Alberta Municipal Affairs to provide funding assistance toward the cost of creating an interim service agreement between the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley. This will allow the Towns to share their existing water resources prior to the creation of the utility corporation.
• Grant application to the Alberta Water for Life program to provide funding assistance toward the cost of physically connecting the water systems of the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
• Public engagement through open houses.

The member municipalities recognize that the continued health and prosperity of the region is dependent upon a sustainable supply of potable water and wastewater collection. The demand for high quality water and a reliable water supply is a key priority within today's municipal sector. With water quality standards ever increasing, the construction, operation and maintenance cost of water treatment facilities pose large burdens to smaller municipalities. Through the QRWP, the member municipalities will attain a higher level of municipal services while continuing to enjoy their independence and uniqueness.

A Beautiful Home Is Waiting For You

The Life of An Artist and the New Consciousness

Robin has inspiration for us all as we enter the Year of the Dragon.....and there is no room for doomsday messages!

2012, the Year of the Dragon: the year of prosperity and the enlightening of the human consciousness. At least that's what the leading minds of spiritual and physicist leaders have been saying. Cataclysmic annihilation of everything we hold dear in December? Hardly likely. If any of you have ever watched Ghostbusters 2, and Dr. Venkman's guests on his talk show: 'The Psychics Corner', you'll see that even then, in 1989 the media have been trying to coerce us 'lower beings' a.k.a 'the public' into believing the world will come to an end just to make a buck! Consider this: we all know about the barbaric and sadistic ways of the Ancient Mayans… and how long ago did they exist? Over 3,000 years ago. And didn't their civilization fall into disrepair? Yes. Sure I can respect their extremely advanced understandings for their time, but what other civilization did they co-exist with to broaden their understanding of the world around them? None. And how far ahead are we in understanding our world? Let's ask Stephen Hawking, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Laura Silva-Queseda. Never mind our farthest, mind-blowing discoveries into space, the time continuum, and yet we're following their predictions? How about we give our collective heads a shake?
More and more of us are becoming more aware of our personal power, the universal strength of our thoughts, and how we all must learn to re-connect and re-establish our life forces with our planet and it's other worthy flora and fauna. And this is great news for artists around the globe! Finally, as our audience grows to understand how expressing ones' thoughts in a visual form is vital to living authentically, they will in turn grow to understand the essential importance of the arts. For decades now, we artists have been walking a dangerous tight rope of displaying our work in a time when the arts are being culled not only out of education programs but also out of federal arts funding. Basically, our metaphorical carpets are systematically being ripped out from under us with no mercy. But this year of the Dragon will put an end to that cataclysmic mistake.
All hail the Dragon! Did I mention that I am a Fire Dragon? Beware apocalyptic-messengers… this Dragon is on the hunt.


Light and Love from the Real RobiN Thibodeau
allseasonchick@gmail.com

Inspiration Studio Okotoks
www.robinlisathibodeau.com

Rising Sun Fundraiser a Success Thanks to You!

We would like to send a HUGE thank you to all the supporters of our Annual Christmas Fundraiser. This was our best year yet and we raised a total of $5,121.75. We had such a great turnout from not only all the wonderful staff at Oilfields as well as all the family and community members who came out to support us!!! Thank you, Thank You, Thank You!! Just a note ~ we still have some Cookbooks for sale at $20/book. Anyone wanting to purchase one can call 933-6522.
Richelle Flitton
Recreation Therapist
Rising Sun LTC

Find Your New Home Here

Millarville-Stockland 4-H Beef Club

Here's a club that knows how to have fun!

Submitted by Club Reporter Danielle Bradish
Millarville-Stockland 4-H Beef Club held their December meeting on the 14th. We talked about our upcoming Christmas party. The Christmas hampers were packed on December 10th to be sent out. Members also received their project books and diaries. A UFA representative was at the meeting to give out a card that goes along with our membership card. This UFA card can be used all over Alberta and not just in our district.
The Millarville-Stockland club held their Christmas party on December 16th at the Millennium Lanes bowling alley. The Christmas party was tons of fun with everyone coming out to bowl. The atmosphere was great and the bowling was entertaining. After bowling the club had pizza and pop that was filling. We also exchanged our secret Santa gifts that put everyone into the holiday spirit. I hope that you enjoy the New Year to come.
The club’s last event was curling and a public speaking workshop at the High River Recreational Center. Curling and the public speaking workshop took place on the 7th and 8th of January for all 4-H members who wished to join. There were lots of different clubs that came out to play and learn at this function. All the 4-H members were in mixed teams that allowed everyone to get to know one another. With all the parents and volunteers helping to teach curling and public speaking the day was a hit. Thanks to everyone who helped out at this event. The top three curling teams won a prize for each team member. There were also prizes given out to those upstairs at the public speaking workshop. With the two days over our club is looking forward to getting back together at our next meeting.

Treat Yourself and Your Home

Longview Link - Preserving Memories

You can honour the memory of a loved one and help to further beautify this pretty Foothills Village!


The winds, still no relief from the howling winds. Please make sure that everything is as secure as it can be to keep it from landing in the neighbour's yard! We've all been busy picking up shingles and other loose objects but one good thing to look at while going through all this... We're almost to mid January and that's got to make winter a little shorter.
MEMORIAL GARDEN BENCHES, TREES, ETC.
The Memorial Gardens Committee will be ordering a maximum of 6 benches and several trees to be located in Phase 2 of the project to be completed in 2012. We are offering these items to be dedicated to family members, etc. with a memorial naming plaque attached. The cost of the benches will be a maximum of $1,200.00 each, (prices may change). The tree prices will be dependent on the species to be purchased. If you are interested in the purchase of either item please contact Winnie Hayden at 403-558-3935 or Ivor McCorquindale at 403-558-3600. The process will be first come, first served if there are more applications than items available. The committee has also decided to purchase a bronze statue of a 1st World War soldier and if you wish to donate towards this purchase, estimated at $9,000.00, please make cheques payable to The Village of Longview with the words Memorial Gardens entered in the memo location. A picture of the statue has been posted on the Council Notice Board. All donators will be recognized on a plaque to be located in the Memorial Gardens.

Take care and stay grounded.
~ Chey

For When You Need an Aaaaah Break

Millarville Horticulture Club

Every second Tuesday of the month (September to June) a speaker is arranged to talk and share their knowledge with the club. We also organize a bus trip and a plant sale in June. January 10th we will be having Evonne Smulders talk about permaculture at the Millarville church house at 7:30pm. February 8th we have Lisa Kennedy speaking on greenhouses. Whether you are a novice or expert in landscaping or gardening, join our club. It is only $5/year. We welcome new members.
For more information email svirgo@mithril.ca or call Sheila at 403-931-3989.

For the Love of Horses

Longview Library Literally Speaking - February Events and Good Reading

Sylvia has some good recommendations to bring you into this wonderful library. You will always feel welcome here!


Happy New Year to all you avid readers! We have tons of new books in the library---all the very latest, so come in soon.
On Thursday, February 9th at 5:00pm, Jun Young Lee will give a picture presentation and talk on two of the most important palaces in South Korea. Jun is returning to his home, after having spent a year with us in Longview. He is eager to share his thoughts of his homeland and also to share his feelings about the year in Canada with us.
Tuesday, February 14th, we will have our annual Pancake Supper. This is a very popular family event, so mark your calendars.
On Wednesday, February 29th, Doris Lesick will give us a picture presentation of her experiences in Indonesia, including a visit to the orphans of Batham, the Sumatran elephants, and the orangutans of Borneo.
Joan would very much like you sign up for these talks on the bulletin board in the Town Hall or call to register with her at 403-558-3927 so she has adequate seating for everyone.
The Crib Club is looking for new members. They meet every Thursday afternoon in the library at 2:00pm and they would be very happy to see you.
The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens, born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, is a novel combining love and grief in a beautiful, but obese, woman. The heroine, Mary, sets out on a journey to find her husband who has left her after having won the lottery. Lansens explores with wit, humour and compassion, Mary's courageous travels and her steps toward independence.
Another book I enjoyed over the holidays was An Audience of Chairs by Joan Clark, another super Canadian writer I have come to know. They just seem to be coming out of the woodwork and are wonderful surprises. It's a moving story of a young woman named Moranna who suffers from bi-polar disease. She is a very talented, vivacious and very pretty woman who is the mother of 2 little girls whom she adores. But bouts of mania and depression make it so that the children are taken away from her. The story is set in the Maritimes, a perfect setting to explore the many facets of mental illness. The villagers call her Mad Mory and they avoid her whenever they can. The novel is delightfully fresh, in spite of its heartbreak and is very deftly written.

Happy Reading
Sylvia

We Make the Difference – You and I and the Lions

Find out what the Foothills Lions Club are doing in your community and consider joining this hardworking group.


Submitted by Lion James Lee
A community is comprised of many great people, events and the deeds associated with the citizens. It is a wheel, a hub of life for the denizens. This wheel is composed of many spokes that directly link back to the “hub” (the people of the community). The Foothills Lions Club is a spoke in that wheel. We lend assistance in a myriad of ways to our community. We have cooked many meals for other organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club. We have supplied firewood and tended the fires for Light Up and insured that Santa had our community children on his radar and showed up to greet them. We have funded a multitude of initiatives locally, such as donating the money for the new kitchen at the Griffith's Centre, helping fund the Seniors Fun Bus and providing some of the resources to offset the costs of the exceptional Outward Bound Program at Oilfields High School. We have in the past sponsored Hockey tournaments, bought musical instruments for the high school, supported programs in Longview and Turner Valley and Millarville Schools.
We continue to entertain, participate and fund good events within our community, for good people, for good reasons. It might appear that we are blowing our own horn, but it is important to get the word out and to continue to be a strong spoke in the community wheel. We need to constantly up grade our core strength, our membership, so that we can increase the work we do within our community. The New Year is upon us, perhaps you would like to help strengthen our spoke. We are always receptive to new members and we meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month at the Turner Valley Legion. Membership into the world's largest Service Organization entails investing 3 to 6 hours per month (including 2 meetings) so, for a small investment of time, you can affect many lives in a positive way. Interested parties can email James Lee at jamio@persona.ca or call me at (403)-933-2922 or contact Barry Crane at: barry.crane@gmail.com.
Our next Lions’ Bingo happens January 6th at 7:00pm at the Valley Neighbours Club in Turner Valley.

The Foothills Lions Club

“Serving Our Community”

Legion Leanings - Things Are Cooking

A New Year brings new faces to the Turner Valley Legion but this is still your best deal in town for a great meal!


Happy New Year to everyone! What a great start to the year weather wise and equally for the ninety-odd members and guests who attended the Gala Dinner and Dance. What a way to end the old and bring in the new.
The changes that were mentioned in our last submission are now in effect, with Comrade Wayne Odegard assuming the administrative responsibilities previously carried out by our manager, Tyler Bray. Wayne will receive very welcome assistance from other members, not least of whom is Betty Foran in the accounting department.
Similarly, Buryl Poittris has assumed the role as Kitchen Manager from Wendy Williamson who went out with a bang on New Year's Eve, though for the next few weeks Wendy will be very visible as she assists Buryl to effect a smooth changeover. We thank you Wendy, not only for your long service to this Branch but also for your continued commitment to our members.
The kitchen hours remain substantially the same with the regular Friday Buffets continuing from 5:30 to 7:00 pm along with the Wednesday evening dinner menu at the same times. The Saturday morning breakfast menus are available from 9:00 am to noon while the kitchen is also open for short order meals at 5:00 pm Tuesday to Saturday with menu and prices subject to current minor fluctuations.
The popular Seniors’ Dinners will resume on Monday, January 30th at a cost of $11. Tickets go quickly for these, so book your tickets early.
The Legion bar hours are now set for the winter months as follows: 5:00 to 9:00 pm Monday to Friday and Noon to 8:00 pm on Saturday. Along with these hours we have the resumption of the regular sports' nights for pool, crib and darts.
Regular meetings are again on the calendar. The first of the year took place on the second Tuesday in January. Members are reminded that opening ceremonies are at 7:00 pm. We encourage all members to attend and support the work of the executive and other committees. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any Legion Branch and Branch 78 is no exception. We ask you to put your name forward in whatever area to which you feel you can contribute. If you are unsure, please ask and we can help with suggestions. Your efforts will be most welcome.
As reported earlier, there were 194 Member renewals made during the Early Bird Campaign and the six names were drawn for the annual prizes. There has been a significant number of renewals since it concluded on November 30th. and we urge all members to pay their dues as soon as possible. The revenue from these memberships is an important part of our budget and the $29.50 per-capita payments to Dominion and Provincial Commands help provide the services to Veterans at those levels. New member applications along with transfers continue to add to our numbers, but unfortunately, they are frequently offset by the non-payment of dues by current members.
We can assist in this regard by accepting payment for up to two missed years along with the current year so that in order to maintain all past service we can now accept make-up payment for 2010 and 2011 along with this year. Failing this, with the completion of an application, we can initiate a “Re-Instatement” starting with the current year with no requirement to pay past years' dues.
Following the very successful New Years' Eve Gala, the entertainment committee is planning this year's events and welcomes suggestions for Friday or Saturday evening programming. If you are interested in music events such as a Jam Session or varied forms of dance (eg. Square Dance, Line or Ballroom Dance) please let us know and we can see what might be possible monthly or weekly.
Meanwhile, the Ladies' Auxiliary continues with the Meat Draws and the popular “Chase the Ace” game on Fridays commencing at 5:00 pm. In addition, the ladies have announced a Pie Auction on a Saturday afternoon with the first to be held on the 15th of January and future dates to be announced.

Serving the Veterans, Seniors, Youth and the Community.
Malcolm Hughes
Branch #78. Turner Valley

Make Every Room a Living Room

Longview School - EAGLES

Do you know what EAGLES stands for? Find out what it means to this school.


The 'Big Night' of the Christmas Concert at Longview School was on Thursday, December 22nd. It was great to see such a large crowd in attendance and enjoying our adaptation, by Kathryn Schultz Miller, of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Leading up to the performance, students were extremely busy in rehearsals, learning scripts, making props and organizing costumes to wear. Students and staff put a great deal of work in preparing for the performance and it was very apparent with its great success. The dress rehearsal tea, which Longview School hosted with the gracious support and help of our School Council and parents, for community members and seniors was a wonderful event and enjoyed by all during the afternoon of December 20th. Everyone enjoyed the tea and treats served and the entertainment provided by the students. The dress rehearsal provided a great opportunity for students to work through the performance in a supportive environment. They received feedback and an opportunity to reflect and make changes to improve their performance.
The overall goal of our drama presentations at Longview School is to foster a positive self-concept in students by encouraging them to explore life by assuming theatric roles and acquiring dramatic and presentation skills. It is very important for all of our students to be involved and engaged in this school wide activity, with every student having a part in the production. Such a large scale project brings the whole school together which fosters school pride and team building. We are a team at Longview School where everyone plays an important role, has responsibilities and high expectations. Our students take great pride in being an eagle. EAGLES stand for E (Engaged), A (Academic and Athletic), G (Goal Setters), L (Leaders), E (Excellence Achievers), S (School Spirit Promoters). These words are about the qualities, characteristics and behaviors we expect from and foster in our students. Even though we are a small school we think, act and dream big. Our school is a supportive environment that empowers students, staff and parents to work together and do their best. There is heart and soul in everything that goes on at our school and it is the staff, students and community that foster this. Students would like to thank their moms, dads, family and friends for supporting their drama productions and in making them a huge success!

Plan Ahead to Benefit Your Employees

Gardens Galore: Black Knot Of Cherry ~ By Karen Brewka

Check out Karen's tips to care for this pretty tree and it will present a beautiful display come spring.
If you have a question about your garden you can ask Karen by emailing the Gateway Gazette ~ gazette@telus.net.



While pruning my flowering crab, I was thinking about what to write for the first column of 2012.
Well, pruning is a good topic. It's so easy to get some pruning done this winter without piles of snow everywhere. I'm doing some “heading back” on my crab. The branches hang over my deck and it's beautiful when blooming. But, the grosbeaks leave such a mess with dropping fruit and other 'items' that I decided to reduce the overhang. Heading back means taking a branch off at a lateral bud, twig or branch. Two important things: don't leave a stub and don't take off a large branch while leaving on a tiny twig. The twig left on should be at least 1/3 the diameter of the branch you took off.
While heading back a branch, I noticed there were really no good laterals and it looked bad. So, I'm going to “thin out” that branch. “Thinning out” means taking the branch off at the trunk. In the case of a shrub, it means taking the stem out at the base of the plant. Things to remember: don't leave a stub and don't take the branch off flush with the trunk. The slightly raised bark around the branch, where it is attached to the trunk, is called the 'collar' and needs to stay on the trunk. At the top of the branch attachment, the collar is the raised wrinkly bit of bark and at the bottom, it is the raised humpy bit. The cut will be angled toward the trunk. A perfect cut will result in a doughnut- shaped ring of wound wood around the cut location. Then you will know if your cut was too close or too far from the trunk.
Black Knot of Cherry is a fungal disease brought to us from infected nursery stock and planted in our yards and boulevards. Hard black lumps appear on branches of trees of the cherry family. Prune off these lumps by heading back or thinning. The infection extends into the branch so take off at least 8 to 10 inches below the lump. Bag the lumps and when it's safe to burn them, do so. This disease will eventually kill the branch it appears on and will kill the tree if it gets into the trunk. Black Knot has spread to infect wild Saskatoons in the river valley.
Take a look at your Schubert Chokecherries and Mayday trees. If you've got Black Knot, prune it off!
For more information about pruning (and pictures), check out ISA Pruning and for Black Knot, check out Alberta Agriculture Black Knot on the internet.
The Valley Neighbours Garden Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at Valley Neighbours on Sunset Boulevard in Turner Valley. The club welcomes new members. For information call Bea at 403–933–7131. The Horticultural Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm. For information call Sheila at 403–931–3989.

Gifts and Gripes ~ Home Inspections

Read this family's story to become a wise home buyer.


Going out to all young families looking to buy a home: please, please be aware of all small print and always get a second opinion. I'm telling you this because I thought I was crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's. This is my story:
My husband and I and our four children moved into an older home in 2008, we had it inspected and told all was great. We built rooms in the wooden basement and all was up to permit code...to find out that 3 years later our basement is falling in. On top of this we go through our insurance to see what they could do...'cuz you know everyone has insurance for this reason, so we thought..... then they sent out an engineer that informs us that the joists in our basement along our east and west walls are giving in which he said has been occurring over an extended period of time and that it should have been detected by a house inspector. Now we go back to our inspection report to the contract signed and dated that they (house inspector) are not held responsible or liable…which of course we signed....believing that you pay them to tell if you are getting a good house or not. We then later get a phone call stating the insurance company does not cover structural damage and that this is now a serious problem. GREAT! Now the ground is frozen....what do we do? Luckily we had a contractor come in and brace the walls 'til the ground thaws, thinking this is all good. Until I get a phone call from my insurance company, two months later, that they no longer want to insure a high risk basement and also if a concrete basement is not put in by May 15th they are cancelling our insurance. So we are now sitting at a stand still on what to do, who to trust and ourselves to pay for all the mess-ups that we thought would not happen, or if they did our insurance would help us out!!! I'm not trying to discourage you from buying a home or getting into any investments; I'm telling my story to hopefully help out other families looking into buying a home to make sure that you check EVERYTHING. If you have any questions don't be hesitant and just be careful!!!

~ Amanda M.

All “Letters To The Editor” are more than welcome at the Gateway Gazette and whenever possible we will endeavour to print them. We reserve the right to edit or not publish submissions if they are in extreme bad taste, vulgar or could do damage to other specific persons. Please note that published submissions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Gateway Gazette, staff, associates or family. The Gateway Gazette (along with anyone connected to the Gateway Gazette) does not assume any liability or responsibility in light of the opinions of others. With all of that out of the way, please feel free to send us your thoughts or opinions, preferably by email at: gazette@telus.net, you can fax them to: 938-2473, or you can drop them off at Pharmasave in Black Diamond.

Winter Programs at the Sheep River Library

Check out these programs in the new library in Turner Valley.....libraries are more than just books.


Now that the Christmas tree and ornaments are all packed away and the outdoor lights that survived the wind have been taken down, it is time to set our thoughts on other things. Normally, in January we are hunkering down to survive the worst that winter will throw at us, but so far this year, with the warmer temperatures and very little snow, that has not been the case. So, you have no excuse for not getting down to the library and checking out the fabulous courses we have on offer for the winter and spring.
We have many courses starting this month. For the film buffs out there, Dogtooth Mountain Film Group starts up again on Monday January 16th with a screening of “An Angel At My Table”. Our Classic Movie Matinees begin on January 31st at 2pm, so if you love the old classics, you won't want to miss this opportunity. This month's movie is “Casablanca”. Both DocProbe (1st Thursday of the month) and Book to Film (2nd Fridays) also started in January and will continue in February. Details of upcoming movies are available at the library and will be mentioned in future columns. If books are more your passion, in addition to the Library Book Club (2nd Tuesdays) we have ChickLit, beginning January 19th at 1:30pm. This month's selection is “Pride and Prejudice”. In addition we also have “The GGs”, a class beginning January 26th that will be looking at 6 of the nominees for the Governor General's Award for Literature. This month's book is “Half Blood Blues”.
Our course on Social Media starts on January 24th and runs for 3 Tuesdays. So, if you want to know more about Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus this is the class for you. On Wednesday, January 18th and 25th, Evonne Smulders is teaching a class on repurposing art journals and on Thursday, January 19th, our very own library manager will show you how to solve cryptic crossword puzzles. All of these classes start at 7pm.
Our children's programs begin again this month as well. Toddler time, Movers and Shakers, Rhythm and Rhyme all start up on January 18th. Book Buddies makes its return on January 31st. This semester we are also offering Storytime twice a week: Thursdays at 2pm and Fridays at 10:30am. Both sessions will be held in our beautiful children's area.
Don't forget about the groups that get together here at the library: Board Game Club (Tuesdays, 4-5pm), Crossworders (Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm), TIPS (Fridays, 10:30am) and Chef's United (Initial Meeting January 19th at 7pm)
Beginning January 10th we have the senior art students from Oilfields High School displaying in our gallery room.
January 27th is Family Literacy Day so watch out for local celebrities who will be out and about in Turner Valley and Black Diamond rewarding people that “Get Caught Reading”. They will be recognizable in their bright orange Family Literacy Day hats and mitts.
For those residents of Turner Valley and Black Diamond that did not receive the Foothills Continuing Education Booklet in the mail, it is available at the library and it has a full listing of all courses offered at the library until June. Please drop by and pick up your copy.
We were fortunate enough to have Untitled Productions screen their short films at the library on December 27th. A large crowd thoroughly enjoyed the offerings from the very talented film-making duo of Zoe Slusar and Bailey Kerluke. On New Year's Eve we had our telescope out at the town skating party where many participants took the opportunity to view the moon and Jupiter, which were in a great viewing position.
Remember, the telescope can be taken out on a one week loan by patrons in good standing.
“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better." - Sidney Sheldon

It's Time to Travel

C. Ian McLaren Collects for the Food Bank

At the beginning of December, the student council issued a challenge to the school. They said that if the students could collect 1000 items for the Food Bank in Turner Valley that they could throw whip cream pies at student council members and Mr. Ellis the Grade 6 and Phys. Ed teacher. The students were successful, collecting 1000 items by the Thursday before Christmas. Mrs. Draper's Kindergarten/Grade 1 class collected the most items per class. So her students also got to throw a pie in her face. The items were picked up from the school on January 10th so that the Food Bank could be restocked after the Christmas season.

Making Memories Last

From My Bookshelf: Featuring Alexandra Fuller ~ by Lynn Willoughby

Have you heard of the Zimbabwe Falls?


Requiem ~ Frances Itani
Although I knew about the expulsion and relocation of approximately 21,000 Japanese Canadians from the west coast in 1941-42, this novel adds the emotion, the faces, the anger, the families and the hardships. It is a good read from a Canadian author whose works I always enjoy reading.
Bin's family is taken away from everything he has ever known, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. They are evicted from the home his father built on Vancouver Island and moved to an internment camp somewhere in the mountains along the Fraser River. They will spend almost five years here in the freezing cold, the scorching heat, in uninsulated shacks with no electricity, in extreme poverty, in shame. There are births and deaths, families split apart, illness - both physical and mental, but also a resourcefulness that amazed me.
The unbelievable hardships - beginning with their incarceration in cattle barns at Hastings Park at the Exhibition grounds in Vancouver, to the tent town on the Fraser, to the "repatriation" papers each family needed to sign once Japan was defeated. They had two choices - to be exiled to Japan, where they had never lived, or to 'relocate' east of the Rockies. These are second and third generation Canadians!
This novel switches back and forth between the 1940s and 1997, when Bin, with his hound Basil drives across Canada. He is planning to complete the last works needed for his art exhibition. Also in the car is the persuasive voice of his dead wife, Lena and his wise, also dead, mentor Okuma-san.
Bin's journey to complete his art always involves water - the theme of his show. But the great music of Beethoven, his love of Lena, memories and the ever changing Canadian landscape are also part of his journey. It is Basil who keeps him grounded, but it is his heart that takes him where he needs to go.

• Deafening
• Remembering the Bones
• Poached Egg on Toast

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness ~ Alexandra Fuller
The more I read, the more I realize all families are more or less dysfunctional. Fuller's family falls under the "more" category, in this autobiographical look at life lived in various countries in Africa. Although it is essentially her family's story, it is also a story of the countries.
While her mother reminisces about her Scottish heritage, Fuller is appalled by the Tasmanian natives forced into slavery on the family's estate. And as Fuller delves deeper into Rhodesia's bizarre history - that the lives of 250,000 white settlers should be so much more important that the 6 million indigenous blacks, it is at times tough to swallow - but that was their life.
Her mother's bi-polar life of episodes of depression, of dogs, children, husband, working hard, drinking harder, traveling in an explosion proof jeep with an Uzi on an expedition to buy school clothes or to go to the local vet's "hunting day out" for the "colonials" gives you a taste of Fuller's life. Nevertheless, her mother Nicola and her father Tim are made of tougher stuff than anyone I know.
At times this book was laugh-out-loud funny - at the Highland School Reunion "Auntie stared into her drink. 'I wonder how these will go with Prozac?' she muttered." At times it is terrifying, but mostly it is full of history. I learned more about the Boer War and the Mau Mau Rebellion in a few terse sentences than I've ever known. The Kikuyu tribespeople, who called themselves Muigi (the Movement) and had an Oathe of Unity (Muma wa Urquano) became known as Mau Mau as an acronym.
By 1954, British soldiers were holding as many as 77,000 Kikuyu men, women and children in cramped, unhygienic concentration camps. Out of a mostly irrational fear, many whites did leave the area.
Later, while living in Rhodesia and fighting to keep it pristine for the white settlers, "the Rhodesian Special Forces with the help of the South African Military, salted the water along the Mozambique border with cholera and warfarin; they injected tins of food with thallium and dropped them into conflict zones...they planted anthrax in the villages..."
The family photos, the love of animals, her father's love of the soil and farming, day to day life in a country and climate very foreign to me, made this a great read. I highly recommend it.

• Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

Who Knew?
The Zimbabwe Ruins is a complex of conical towers and massive stone walls in the southeastern part of the country, concluded to be the royal enclosure of a medieval Shona empire. It covers over 1800 acres and is the largest ancient structure south of the Sahara. (there are photos of Fuller's family at this site in the book.)

What's Up in the Valley?

Threepoint Kitchen Presents Robbie Burns Night Along With Other Culinary Delights at the Track

The Pipers are coming....follow them to the Millarville Racetrack Hall!


Release your inner Scot with a very traditional Robbie Burns Supper at the Millarville Racetrack Hall, 6:00pm, January 25th, presented by our own Threepoint Kitchen & Catering.
Be part of the 200-year old tradition of bagpiping in the Haggis, join us in reading poetry and singing songs to honour Scotland's greatest and most beloved poet and enjoy highland dancing as part of a celebratory evening.
The Robbie Burns Supper ritual was started by close friends of Burns as a tribute to his memory a few years after his passing in 1796. The basic format and traditions of the evening have remained the same since that time and are enjoyed throughout the world by millions.
In addition to traditional Scottish Haggis, the night will feature Roast Beef and all the trimmings.
The Robbie Burns Supper is only one of the many initiatives coming out of the professional MRAS Threepoint Kitchen & Catering service run by our own Stephanie Quackenbush.
Tickets will be available at the Millarville Racetrack office starting January 2nd and reservations for groups or individuals can be made by phoning Stephanie at 403-652-6557 or e-mail: threepointkitchen@millarvilleracetrack.com.
Every Friday, starting January 6th, 11:00am to 2:00pm and lasting into May, the Racetrack Hall will be the site of our new Winter Café, featuring seasonal soups and sandwiches with many ingredients sourced from our Millarville Farmers' Market vendors. The menu will be eclectic, including a variety of soups du jour changing through the weeks and a sandwich menu that will include a toasted western, turkey clubhouse, BLT and Ham & Cheese, all placed between two slices of fresh, homemade bread.
In addition, every Sunday, starting January 8th, also 11:00am through to 2:00pm and lasting through to mid-May at the Racetrack Hall, Threepoint Kitchen will be hosting the delicious Sunday Brunch and Millarville Buffet, with a Hashbrown Casserole, Sausage, Bacon, French Toast, eggs and pancakes with an organic mix sourced from one of our Farmers' Market vendors.
Coffee, tea, juice and other beverages will also be available.
Both Friday's Winter Café and Sunday's Brunch will also take reservations for groups or individuals. Just phone Stephanie at 403-652-6557 or e-mail: threepointkitchen@millarvilleracetrack.com.
Threepoint Kitchen & Catering will also help with all your catering needs, either at the Racetrack or at a location of your choosing.

Personal Protection: Out With The Old, In With The New

Look at Martial Arts in a new way - it's likely not what you think.

Raising Funds for Quest - Oilfields High School

Find out all about this unique program and enjoy a tasty meal and wonderful entertainment this February!

The Latest Happenings from the Town of Black Diamond

Home For The Holidays Campaign Extremely Successful

The Town of High River's annual Christmas shopping contest shows how many shop at home. Check out this year's winner!

Faith Forum: Truth by Gloria Wessner

Gloria takes us through the Bible to find the truth about God.

Rowan House: Heartwarming Fundraising

Catch up on the progress of the new Rowan House Emergency Shelter and their fundraising efforts.

Arrange to Bring Some Nature Indoors

Travel Tracks: *OFF TO A GREAT START*

Grab a coffee and enjoy the latest giggle from Dave Heron.....I bet Steve isn't laughing!

More Christmas in Black Diamond

The schools got into the Christmas spirit.....

Light Up Winners for 2011

The Town of Black Diamond had several winners during their colourful 2011 Light Up!

Warm Up With Napoleon

2011 Colouring Contest for Everyone!

And the winners are.......

Keep Your Smile Healthy, Bright and White!

Pasture to Plate to Palate to Popular New TV Show

Sometime between April and June of this year our very own Chuckwagon Café in Turner Valley will be making its TV debut on the new series “You Gotta Eat Here!” on the Food Network. “It is such an honour to have been chosen for this show,” said Terry Myhre owner of the Chuckwagon. “It's been such fun doing this taping, the host is great to talk to and really gets our locals involved,” said a beaming Terry. One of those locals is Fred Taylor, who as a member of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency really knows his meats. Fred said, “Two whole years of hard work can go down the drain in about 10 seconds if it's not treated right at the restaurant. Terry really knows his stuff.” Another local who helped out is Frank Thomson and his trusty horse “Lucky”. Frank coached John Catucci, the host of the show, to ride Lucky to the restaurant for the opening and closing segments. "At least I can't lose the keys to a horse,” quipped John. Lone Eagle Entertainment Ltd, the production company for this series, had the challenging job of choosing the featured restaurants from hundreds located from coast to coast that offer 'comfort foods'.
Congratulations Terry, we're all looking forward to seeing the show.

Healthy Eyes Make for Better Learning

Household Hints by Rosemary ~ A Bit of Everything

Rosemary has some hints for cleaning out the old and shining up the new as we settle into 2012.

Now that the excitement of Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, it's back to basic housework and cleaning up. Some of our guests consisted of small boys who frequent hockey arenas and were exhibiting signs of a cold on the way. Once the decorations come down and before the usual items go back in place is a good time to go around and do a good dusting, wash down and spray with a general disinfectant.
One of the occasional jobs that needs to be done, and this is a good time for it as well, is to lift off the toilet seat by undoing the screws that hold it to the bowl. This will give you a chance to clean the area under the screws and between the lid and the seat where dust and dirt can collect. Before I scrub the bathtub, I put the whole seat in it with a covering of hot water, spray it with a disinfecting cleaner and wash it completely before reinstalling it.
While cleaning the seat, and the rest of the bathroom, toss a denture tablet (always keep a box around, whether you have dentures or not, as they are also great for cleaning stained coffee or tea cups, tea and coffee pots and jewelry) into the toilet and let it sit for a while to clean the ceramic. Swish the water around with a brush before flushing.
Winter boots, especially those worn by small boys, can get pretty smelly; the odor can be controlled by putting a cotton ball with a couple of drops of clove or tea tree oil on it in an empty film canister, punch a couple of holes in the top and put them in the boots overnight. This will stay good to use for several weeks then you simply have to renew the cotton ball and oil.
Over the holidays when I put homemade rolls in the bread basket the linen liner was grease marked, a friend told me that if I had sprinkled flour on the linen it would have absorbed the oil and the material wouldn't have marked so easily. This is a hint I'll take note of the next time I serve rolls to see if it really works. If you try it let me know how it went, as it is I'll take the grease marks out with a mixture of vinegar and dish detergent, which works well.
Also time to sprinkle baking soda on the carpets, let it sit a bit and then vacuum up for fresh clean scent. Commercially made carpet cleaners contain chemicals and perfumes; baking soda won't cause an allergic reaction.
Pour some baking soda and vinegar down the drains to help clean out whatever grease has made its way into the pipes over the holidays, repeat in a week and then every several weeks after to keep your drains clean.
Then, time to put my feet up and enjoy a cup of tea with my new stocking stuffer mystery novel. Happy New Year everyone.

How well do you know your Gateway Gazette? by Tanya Thibodeau, Publisher

Happy New Year! With every New Year comes the long standing tradition of setting resolutions both on a personal level and often in business. Here at the Gazette we too believe in the tradition of setting resolutions that will enable us to better meet the needs of our clients and our readers. Recently, it has been brought to our attention that there may be some gaps in understanding what the Gateway Gazette represents. It's interesting how, as a business that has been serving areas of the Foothills for over seven years, we can easily become complacent in assuming that our audience is aware of the ins and outs of how the Gazette ticks – despite the fact that over the years we have experienced changes and growth in our readership. It is because of this that we felt it was appropriate to start 2012 off with the goal of reducing the informational gap that seems to have developed over time.
First let's start with some facts about the Gateway Gazette:

• locally, independently owned newspaper
• operated by a small staff of 4-6 people
• is not part of a larger conglomerate or any other publication
• focuses on hyper-local, “good news”
• does not cover mainstream “doom & gloom”
• revenue is solely derived from advertisers

Points about our Grassroots print edition:

• distributed via Canada Post, various Foothills businesses and our bright red, outdoor newsstands
• inserted into every mailbox from Priddis to Longview
• reaches about 55% more residences than flyers
• subscriptions available to out of area readers

Points about our Grande online edition:

• is available online for free, in original print format
• articles fed into online blog
• blog is available via RSS feed
• qualifying ads also posted within our blog
• utilizes Social Media through Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In
• online exposure aids in providing a wider reach for our content and advertisers

So there you have it folks, the Gateway Gazette is YOUR community newspaper with the focus of bringing the GOOD of your community to you – both in print and online. And because of our very limited staff we not only accept, but encourage everyone to submit locally relevant articles that will be of interest to other residents – this helps you and us (with our limited staff) as we simply aren't able to personally attend to every article worthy of reaching the pages of the Gazette. In your travels also don't forget to let our advertisers know how much you appreciate receiving the Gazette by shopping locally and telling them that you saw their ad in the Gateway Gazette!
Next edition will give you some more insight into the content we print, where it comes from and the dos and don'ts of article submissions.

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Businesses who deserve your attention

Thank you to the individuals and businesses listed in this post who are instrumental in ensuring that you continue to receive the Gateway Gazette in print every two weeks.  Please let them know that you appreciate them as much as we appreciate both them and you!

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From My Bookshelf ~ by Lynn Willoughby

Too Many to Mourn - James Mahar
I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but after a recent visit to Halifax I needed to learn more about the Halifax explosion on December 6th, 1917.
This has been Canada's worst disaster and the largest man-made explosion in the world until the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasake. Most Canadians are aware of this history, but few know the details or the living conditions post explosion, the weather, the shortages because of the ongoing war and the deaths resulting from all of these, plus the enormous grieving as entire neighbourhoods were decimated-just completely gone!
Few ocean ports are as busy as Halifax. It is second in size only to Sydney, in Australia, and the largest ice-free port in the northern hemisphere. The harbour connects to Bedford Basin, a huge body of water, perfect for assembling convoys.
On December 5th, 1917, the Imo, laden with relief supplies was late leaving the harbour. The Mont Blanc arrived at the mouth awaiting the arrival of transfer pilot Francis Mackey, missing the open entrance by minutes, due to the closing of the submarine net.
Once on board, Mackey became privy to the knowledge known to few others. The Mont Blanc was loaded with "2366 tons of dry piric acid, 250 tons of TNT, 62 tons of guncotton, 246 tons of benzol and three hundred live shells for the deck guns."
A collision between these two ships was imminent and occurred early on the morning of December 6th. "The fire on board the Mont Blanc was out of control from the moment it began." At five minutes past nine, close to six million pounds of explosives detonated. The first effect was a "fireball with an intensity approaching the surface of the sun." The next force was the partial vacuum being created, then one more "death-dealing phenomena - a wall of water." - a tsunami!
I can't begin to describe the devastation and the heartbreak which followed as entire extended families were killed, blown to other locations, sucked out to sea or taken to make-shift hospitals, never to see loved ones again - even some who had survived. Many, especially the children, were too traumatized to speak or give their name.
Strike four was the blizzard on December 7th and 8th which dropped 40 cm of snow on the community, with temperatures plummeting to -12°C. Many who were weak or wounded simply froze to death, adding to the body count.
This is a must read if you are interested in Canadian history. It is difficult to read and I often had to take a break from it, but what a story of compassion, determination, fortitude and courage so many showed at this dreadful time. The outpouring of help and relief from around the world, the personal stories of heroism and common sense, the tenacity of life will break your heart.
The Day the Falls Stood Still - Cathy Marie Buchanan
This historical novel is set against the backdrop of Niagara Falls, at a time when daredevils shot the rapids in various vessels and protections. Some were successful, many were not. But Tom Cole, "the riverman" is generally involved - whether saving lives when the ice bridge collapses due to loss of water being drawn off by the ever increasing demands of various hydro electric companies, or saving Muddy Sloan and his improvised barrel, from a killer whirlpool.
When Tom returns from the horror of the battle fields of Passchendaele, to his wife Bess and their small son, it is the river that keeps him sane. His letters home from the front have told only a little of what he experienced during the war. As bits and pieces of his personal war emerge, he turns not to Bess, but to the Falls and the river.
He predicts the weather, feeds his family with fish he catches and becomes a local hero as he watches and learns the whims of the Falls. But he is a threat to the burgeoning power companies who seek to harness the Falls for themselves.
This novel brims with archival photos, with historical data and the romance surrounding Niagara Falls. It is readable, memorable, heart wrenching and a real barometer of post war lives in and around Niagara Falls.

Who Knew?
When Nicola Tesla invented the three phase system of alternating current power transmission, distant transfers of electricity became possible. In 1893 Westinghouse Electric designed a system to generate alternating current on Niagara Falls and in 1895 the world's largest AC power system was activated.

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Views on Vision By Dr. Charles A. Boulet ~ Eyes Wide Shut

Learning Disabilities in the Classroom Part 4 of 4:
Every week in my clinic, we see the impact of treating developmental disorders through directed therapy. Little of what we do looks like schoolwork and kids love it - it's fun and engaging, and they develop the skills and abilities they need to succeed in the classroom. Not only do we treat developmental problems, we can detect children at-risk by studying and following behavior periodically over the first 18-24 months of school, from K to 1. What we do works, every time, and where help is needed, the changes are obvious within months. We see transformations that even we don't expect. Still, it's a lot harder to help kids when they're older.
Schools have an important role to play in ensuring a) problems are avoided where possible, b) meaningful solutions are made available to parents, and c) taxpayers are neither unnecessarily nor overly burdened. The current reality is, however, that there is a significant knowledge gap concerning visual function and how it relates to learning and reading therapy. These issues are simply not covered in schools of education, medicine and psychology and so they are not even on the radar. This costs parents and it costs taxpayers.
To illustrate, the current approach to the visual development of early learners is to say all children are the same and are equally ready to handle the intensely visual tasks at school. This is equivalent to saying that since all healthy children have legs, all healthy children are ready to run a marathon. We understand this to be an outrageous statement, and expectation, and yet education (and medical) professionals are trained to view vision in this fashion - that all kids are equally well-equipped visually to handle the grueling 13-year schooling cycle. In the end, they fail to recognize the real, measurable and important differences in visual abilities between children, or that these 'might' have something to do with how well they handle visually-oriented tasks, like learning to read and write.
Schools do not provide early assessment of the status of development, nor do they provide information to encourage parents to investigate, so parents are on their own. Most often, except in rare cases, children simply aren't checked. Finding a source for such an assessment is difficult, but it amounts to a general assessment of gross and fine-motor skills by occupational therapy and a comprehensive visual functional check (including health, motor skills, eye coordination, eye-hand coordination, focussing and perceptual skills and a few others). If a child is shown to be strong in these assessments, they will almost certainly succeed at, at least, an average level without too much difficulty. Children with identified areas of concern should receive remedial care immediately. Schools can and should do more to facilitate these sorts of assessments for all children at intake.
Currently, a child must fall behind or experience other significant trouble before there is an investigation into possible causes. Frequently, the child is said to be dyslexic, or have attention problems, but this doesn't matter too much to desperate parents and frustrated kids. In fact, the rush to label probably does more harm than good. The label is of no consequence to the problem, it's what you do about it that counts and striving to avoid problems in the first place is better still.
By addressing things early, we can ensure children are on track to do as well as they can without unnecessary burdens posed by labored vision or other developmental concerns. Other countries and states do this sort of early assessment and intervention and save parents years of grief and taxpayers millions annually. Here in Alberta, there are no requirements for this sort of care - and we all pay much more for it as a consequence through unnecessary testing, intervention and healthcare costs.
Children, ALL children, should be assessed for developmental concerns, especially vision problems, by the end of Kindergarten, then again at the end of Grade 2. These are critical times in development and in school advancement. By assessing visual behavior and developmental milestones, parents can help their children avoid and overcome issues and avoid unnecessary and inflated expenses down the road.
If you have not had your Kindergarten-aged children assessed, it is not only a prudent thing to do, but a kind thing. It's easy, costs parents nothing. Don't wait until the school tells you your child has a problem. By then, it's already too late. If your child IS having learning and reading problems, we can definitely help and you can contact your local public health office or family doctor for information on locating occupational therapy services. Learn more at: LearningManagement.ca or by calling us at 403-933-5552.

Dr. Boulet is a former teacher and now operates Diamond Valley Vision Care in Black Diamond where he continues to work with children with learning difficulties.
Call 403-933-5552.
www.dvvc.ca and www.LearningManagement.ca.

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The Oral Health Connection: Being Cost-effective With Your Dental Hygiene Appointments By Penny Judson-Benny ~ Registered Dental Hygienist

The cost of dentistry in Alberta is expensive. It is not unusual to walk out of a dental appointment having spent a minimum of $200-$300 for routine procedures.
Getting some practical tips and being well-informed going into your dental appointment can minimize the stress and 'pain' of parting with your well-earned dollars. With today's unstable economy, it is important to prioritize and budget for your oral health prevention and maintenance program.
Before Your Appointment
If you have dental coverage, review your policy. Know what is covered and what is not. Keep a record of your visits and the services received. For example, if your insurance company only covers two cleanings per year (by insurance standards, a 'dental cleaning' is the polishing and fluoride codes) then make sure to inform your dental provider of this. Periodontal scaling and root planing are usually part of your cleaning, but are not limited to twice a year. Most plans have a certain number of units that can be used per year and these may be needed for periodontal therapy if required. Find out your scaling and root planing unit coverage and discuss this with your dental provider. It can be thoroughly explained and incorporated into a prevention program to keep your teeth healthy and stable as you age.
If you have no dental insurance, ask the office staff for prices on each service. New patient appointments for cleanings may involve x-rays, digital pictures, probing the gums, fluoride, oral cancer exam, dental charting and patient education. Ask what services are necessary and where you can save money during your appointments without compromising quality care.
Bring in your own current x-rays if possible. Make a list of questions and concerns to ask your dental provider during your visit.
During The appointment
At check-in, review with the front office staff the appointment time, services being provided and the payment details. Expect to see your dental provider in a reasonable amount of time. Ask the office staff for an explanation of unusual delays in a non-threatening manner. Expect courtesy in return.
Expect cleanliness! Make sure the clinical staff is wearing gloves and masks. This is for your protection as well as theirs. Ask about asepsis and sterilizing procedures. The staff should not hesitate to show you and explain their monitoring system to ensure your protection from bacterial cross-contamination.
Expect a thorough review of your medical history. A blood pressure reading may be beneficial, as well as vital signs. An oral cancer examination should be a routine part of each visit. Ask your dental provider to teach you how to check yourself at home, especially if you use tobacco or are exposed to second hand smoke regularly.
Expect to be given an explanation of each procedure performed and educated on how to maintain your oral health at home. Many offices provide educational brochures.
Get out your list of prepared questions and don't leave without your answers. Write down the prevention and treatment plan your dental provider suggests. Ask for alternate treatment options. Understand why the dental provider is suggesting the treatment.
After The Appointment
At check-out, review again with the office staff the necessary payment procedures. Try to avoid any confusion on insurance filing policies, if applicable.
If you brought your own dental x-rays, consider taking them home to file. You may choose to get a second opinion. A second opinion can be beneficial if there is a treatment plan that you are not comfortable with or that you don't understand. It may be the best money you ever spend!
Follow the patient education suggestions provided to you.
Remember always that prevention is much less expensive than treatment!

'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.

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Longview School - Let Learning Soar

Everyone is welcome to our School Christmas Concert which is an adaptation by Kathryn Schultz Miller of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. The evening performance will be held on Thursday, December 22nd starting at 6:30pm. The dress rehearsal Christmas tea will be held in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 20th at 1:00pm. The students and staff put a great deal of work in preparing for these performances from learning the script, to making props and organizing costumes to wear. The students of Longview School would also like to thank their moms, dads, family and friends for supporting their drama productions. The overall goal of our drama presentations at Longview School is to foster a positive self-concept in students by encouraging them to explore life by assuming theatric roles and acquiring dramatic skills.
All the students at Longview School had a wonderful time on December 2nd building gingerbread houses during Eagle Pride Time. It was wonderful to see all the parents helping out and sharing the magic of the season with their children. We went through 30lbs of icing and I think as many candies were eaten by students as were used to decorate the houses. One of the real joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has supported Longview School over the past year. The students and staff would like to wish everyone a happy holiday and new year of good health and happiness.

The Okotoks Doggie Lounge & Boutique are supporting your community, please view their ad.

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Western Financial Group Cooks Up Money For Sheep River Library

On a warm and sunny September day the Western Financial crew in Turner Valley held a customer appreciation BBQ. Gary, from Turner Valley Golf Course donated his time and equipment to fill the air with the aroma of burgers cooking on the BBQ as the Foothills Lions Club set up the tables and chairs.
It wasn’t long before customers were joined by passers-by lured by the delicious smells.
By the end of the day $750 had been donated to the ‘burger fest’. Western Financial in turn donated this money to the Sheep River Library.
In a surprise gesture this week James Hall, Branch Manager of Turner Valley Western Financial office donated an additional $500 to Holly Quan, Chair of the Friends of Sheep Library Society. James explained that Western Financial has a charitable arm, the Western Communities Foundation that matches donations to non-profit community groups on a dollar to dollar basis up to $500.
Holly was thrilled to accept the donation which will go towards future programs at the library.

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Travel Tracks ~ *Don't Do It - Just Say No* by Dave Heron

If this sounds a lot like Starbucks telling you to stay away from coffee because it's bad for you – so be it.
That said – If you can avoid travelling at Christmas – do so.
Every year like shop aholics addicted to Boxing Day sales, sun starved Albertans scan the ads for the coveted Christmas getaway in hopes of beating the odds and getting a Caribbean jewel for 50% less than retail.
Rule # 1: There's a difference between the price of a product and the value of said product.
As I pound the keyboard – I'm seeing unsold vacations seeking a buyer at prices as low as $800 + taxes.
If you are prepared to fly in the middle of the night.
If you don't mind making a stop or two en route.
If you're prepared to squeeze your 17 inch wide keister into a 16 inch wide seat.
If you're prepared to endure line ups at the airport that resemble those found on Black Friday at shops in the US selling flat screen televisions for $39.
And that's before you actually get to the resort.
The resort that normally accommodates 3000 guests but over Christmas when “kids fly free”, the population of this all inclusive compound soars to 6000.
With 30% less staff than normally caters to 3000 trying to appease the demands of 6000.
The one with buffet line-ups that look an awful lot like the airline check in counter you've just endured.
But hey – it was cheap.
The money you've saved can now be put to good use at the local Tienda de Beach Chair shop which is your only option after discovering that 6000 guests will hoard the 200 or so available beach and pool chairs pretty quick.
Then again – a chair's not much good to anyone when the 300 meters or so of available beach resembles a mass grave with bodies littered over every available square inch of sand.
Ah well – there's always the pool.
The one with the swim up bar that's had Freddy and his bunch sitting on the stools for the past 11 hours quaffing back copious amounts of beer without once getting off the stool.
Passing on that one – there's always the day trip away from the resort to the all inclusive eco-park.
The one at $100 each for admission + a $40 cab ride each way + a 3 hour wait to swim with the dolphins at $150 a pop.
But hey – the trip was cheap.
But suddenly not looking like having a lot of value attached to it is it?
It's Christmas.
Stay home with the rest of us poor schleps and partake in a variety of festive activities like snow shoveling, last minute shopping, entertaining the in-laws, looking for a mall parking spot, rushing the dog to the vet as a result of one of them eating the entire Christmas tree or trying to find a plumber on Christmas day to cope with having 30 people over for dinner in your single washroom house.
Hmm…it's snowing again.
Who's the wiseass that kept asking for a White Christmas?
Maybe *you* can drop by and clear the snow from the roof that's already suffering from the effects of the Prairie Hurricane we endured a few weeks back?
Or take the dogs out at 3:31AM when the thermometer's generally at its lowest reading?
I'd love to but I just found an $800 deal and…………..

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ADIOS UNTIL 2012.


Dave Heron

Dave Heron is the owner and operator of: Pace Setter Travel & Tours (1995) Inc; P.O. Box 612, 70 McRae Street, Okotoks.
Tel: 403.938.5454
Toll Free: 1.800.206.7223.
Fax: 403.938.5568
Email: pacesetter@nucleus.com

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Gardens Galore: Tree Whisperers ~ By Karen Brewka

After the fierce windstorm at the end of November, many people are wondering just how safe their trees are. The International Society of Arboriculture and certified arborists all over the world work very hard to learn how to assess the potential hazard a tree might hold.
An inspection will assess the potential for failure and includes an analysis of tree health, site conditions and tree defects. For example, an older tree might have some damage or disease that might indicate a potential for dropping branches or whole tree failure. Trees that have been topped grow a bunch of branches at the cut that have no normal connections to the trunk. These branches often fall whether it's windy or not. Also, rot usually takes place where the trunk has been cut, speeding the hollowing of the trunk.
Mature trees that have had their roots paved over, dug into or damaged in any way lose support strength and can easily be toppled in a storm. Many of the toppled trees shown on news programs after storms have minimal root masses and the pavement is evident right there beside them. Trees with co-dominant stems and incurved bark can split.
Another element of the inspection includes target assessment. If the tree fails, what kind of damage can it do? Could it fall on people, cars, houses, utility lines or would it cause very little damage if it drops branches or topples?
Sometimes there is no rhyme nor reason for a tree to fail. The wind can torque the tree to the point where it cannot withstand the pressure. I've seen old poplar snags standing after a windstorm while, nearby, a younger, healthier tree has dropped a big branch, smashing a picnic table.
Trees are living systems. Experience helps in assessing potential for damage but many certified arborists also have a knack for sensing if a tree is stressed or sound. I call these people 'tree whisperers' and we are fortunate to have three of them in our area; One in Black Diamond, one in Okotoks and one in High River. If you are concerned, call them up and arrange for an assessment. They'll help you figure out how to improve tree health and minimize potential damage. If you hire someone to do some work, make sure they're certified for the type of tree work you need.
Winter is a good time for an assessment. The structure of the tree is easier to see when the leaves are off and if any pruning needs to be done, now's the time.
The Valley Neighbours Garden Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at Valley Neighbours on Sunset Boulevard in Turner Valley. The club welcomes new members. For information call Bea at 403–933-7131. The Horticultural Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. For information call Sheila at 403–931–3989.