19 minute read
Seniors Scene
Senior Chat Beat the heat this summer
By Camrose Senior Coalitition
Beat the heat by staying hydrated this summer!
Staying hydrated is important in the summer months and throughout the year. It’s especially important for seniors 65 years and older.
Staying hydrated means you are drinking enough fluid to replace the fluid you lose (example, through sweat and urine) and to feel alert and well.
Drinking enough fluids helps with digestion, regulation of body temperature, and organ function. It can prevent dehydration, constipation, and urinary tract infections. Signs of dehydration include: • Headaches, confusion, dizziness, feeling light-headed, fatigue • Thirst, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing • Dry or fragile skin that breaks down easily • Poor appetite and weight loss • Constipation • Passing small amounts of dark-colored, strong-smelling urine
The amount of fluid you need to drink per day depends on your diet, health, body size, environment and activity level. Most seniors need at least six cups (1.5 L) and up to 10 cups (2.5 L) of fluid each day. Some examples of fluids include water, tea, coffee, milk or fortified soy beverage and broth.
Some ways to increase your fluid intake: • Sip on fluids throughout the day • Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge or on the table. This will remind you to drink water • Drink fluids at meals and between meals • Fill a water bottle and carry it with you • Include foods with higher fluid content such as vegetables and fruits • Take medications with a full glass of water
Article content provided by Alberta Health Services. For more information about Camrose Seniors Coalition visit the HUB website www.camroseseniorscoalition.com or call SOS at 780-672-4131.
ASK THE EXPERT
Q.
I’ve come into possessionssessi of some
“second-hand” hearing aids. Can they be used on anyone else?
APossibly. Modern hearing aids are minicomputers. Technologies evolve and hardware can also wear out and break down. If the hearing aid is the style that fits behind the ear, and can successfully connect to fitting software for programming, then there is hope. The equipment must be free from the need of repair or cleaning and the part(s) needed to fit into the ear canals must be available and functioning. Even after all that, there are limits to the strength of the aid, and sometimes, certain factories will not release their programming software to any clinic that requests it. We are pleased to do all we can to assist someone wishing to make use of used hearing aids, sometimes for little or no cost. Call our office today to book your consultation.
Claire Milligan, RHAP, BC-HIS
Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner Board Certifi ed in Hearing Instrument Sciences
Call us!
780-672-4808
5015-49 St., Camrose, AB T4V 1N5 WWW.HAUCKHEARINGCENTRE.COM
Improving your sleep
By Murray Green
Everyone has a bad sleep once in a while. Dogs barking, the wind howling, or overeating may make it hard to sleep.
It is estimated that 35 per cent of adults have occasional sleep problems, which can have many causes.
The medical term for trouble falling asleep or staying asleep is insomnia. Insomnia can include such things as having trouble getting to sleep (taking more than 45 minutes to fall asleep); frequent awakenings with inability to fall back to sleep; early morning awakening; and feeling very tired after a night of sleep.
Insomnia is not usually a problem unless it makes you feel tired during the day. If you are less sleepy at night or wake up early, but still feel rested and alert, there usually is little need to worry.
Occasional insomnia may be caused by noise, extreme temperatures, jet lag, changes in your sleep environment, or a change in your sleep pattern, such as shift work. Insomnia may also be caused by temporary or situational life stresses, such as a traumatic event or an impending deadline. Your insomnia is likely to disappear when the cause of your sleep problem goes away.
Short-term insomnia may last from a few nights to a few weeks.
Long-term insomnia, which may last months or even years, may be caused by advancing age. Insomnia occurs more frequently in adults older than age 60.
Causes to watch for include mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression or mania; many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause sleep problems; chronic pain, which often develops after a major injury or illness; other health problems, such as asthma, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or menopause; alcohol and illegal drug use or withdrawal; cigarettes and other tobacco use; and drinking or eating foods that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, chocolate or soft drinks.
Sleep apnea refers to repeated episodes of not breathing during sleep for at least 10 seconds (apneic episodes). It is usually caused by a blockage in the nose, mouth, or throat (upper airways). People who have sleep apnea usually snore loudly and are
Pre-planning for tomorrow means peace of mind for today
The idea of advance funeral planning is one which many people would rather not think about. However, planning your own funeral is one of the kindest things you can do for your loved ones. At a time of grief, your family members will be spared the stress of making important, emotionally draining decisions.
Pre-planning also ensures your final arrangements will be carried out according to your exact wishes, in a cost-sensitive manner. Call us today for more information about advance funeral planning or to arrange a no-obligation consultation with one of our directors.
4817-51 Avenue, Camrose Phone 780-672-2121 RECORDED OBITUARY LINE: 780-679-2400
www.burgarfuneralhome.com
Serving your community for over 110 years
Plan Now For Their Future Needs
You’ve worked your entire life to build your assets. Sound estate planning can ensure these hard-earned assets are passed on to your family according to your wishes, without interference. Talk to us today about developing a plan that makes sense for you and your loved ones.
Estate Planning • Wills • Enduring Power of Attorney • Personal Directives Estate Administration • Legal services associated with probate of the will
4918-51 STREET CAMROSE 780-672-8851
very tired during the day. It can affect children and adults.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that has distinct symptoms, including sudden sleep attacks, which may occur during any type of activity, at any time of day. You may fall asleep while engaged in an activity such as eating dinner, driving the car, or carrying on a conversation. These sleep attacks can occur several times a day, and may last from a few minutes to several hours.
Sudden, brief periods of muscle weakness while you are awake (cataplexy); hallucinations just before a sleep attack; brief loss of the ability to move when you are falling asleep or just waking up (sleep paralysis) are other symptoms.
While almost everyone experiences daytime sleepiness from time to time, it can have serious consequences, such as motor vehicle accidents, poor work or school performance and work-related accidents.
Sleep problems may be a symptom of a medical or mental health problem.
If you are having sleep issues, see your doctor or call Health Link at 811 to speak with a registered nurse.
By Lori Larsen
The Masonic Hall was a mosaic of colourful blooms on July 21 with the dozens of entries for the Rose City Rose and Lily Show hosted by the Camrose and District Horticultural Society.
A variety of beautiful roses and lilies lined two rows of tables with art work, photography and crafts displayed on another set of tables.
When the show opened at 2 p.m. there was already a line up to get in and take in the hard work and dedication of local gardeners and artisans, while enjoying a cup of tea and a slew of scrumptious homemade baked goods (courtesy of Horticultural club members and others).
With so many wonderful entries to choose from, judges had a difficult task of deciding on awarding prizes.
Earning the Best Lily of the Show was Glenys Smith from the Railway Station with a spectacular Martigon.
Earning Best Rose was Anita Baier with a gorgeous yellow tea rose.
Tessa Leask won the Youth 11 and under flower garden arrangement and Joan Rudyk won the adult potted houseplant.
Glad to have been able to offer the show again this year, the Hort Club looks forward to many more to come.
For more information on the Camrose and District Horticultural Society visit the Facebook page or contact Janine Carroll at 780-608-6243.
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
Rose City Rose and Lily Show attendees, left to right Ardis and Gordie Blatz and Bev Baumle enjoy the variety of entries in the show including some first prize paintings.
By Lori Larsen
It is hard to imagine in today’s world the longevity of a family letter spanning over 50 years sharing news of lives connected by kinship and love.
For Agnes Rupertus (maiden name Lutz) and her mother and five siblings the “Big Letter”, as they fondly refer to it, has been a mainstay in their lives for over 50 years and has been the thread that has kept the family news sewn together.
In January 1965 Agnes started this “round robin” letter, a journal, of sorts, after her and her sister, Erma (Schwitzer) moved away from their home town area in Saskatchewan to Alberta.
Agnes’ other siblings (sisters Lee (Gollinger), Joan (Peslari), brothers Harry (sister-in-law Elizabeth) and Sidney (sisterin-law Gladys) and mother Mary Lutz remained in Saskatchewan close enough to each other to be able to share family news.
“We (Agnes and Erma) were feeling left out,” smiled Agnes. “I started the letter but I have no idea where I got the idea from.”
The letter began with Agnes sharing news on her personal family happenings, then mailing it to the next family member on the list who was then able to read Agnes’ letter and in turn include their own letter reporting on all their family news.
The letter(s) were then sent on to the next family member, one at a time until all six family members’ letters were included in the “Big Letter”, which eventually returned to Agnes so she could read all the news from others.
“When it comes around it is quite big. At that point I would do another letter and then remove my original letter and send the new letter on with the other letters to the family on the list who did the same.”
Eventually all six members of the family letter chain would have read each other’s news and the cycle would continue to repeat itself over and over, as it has for a remarkable 50 years.
Agnes said that each of the six family members adding to the letter were allowed to keep the Big Letter for only one week which meant the letter circulated every six weeks.
“Nobody was allowed to keep the letter longer than a week because otherwise it would take too long,” said Agnes adding that the letters themselves were often
quite long.
Originally all the letters were handwritten but in keeping with the times the family members have turned to technology and the letters are now computer generated to help expedite time, yet oddly enough Agnes said the letter now takes up to six months. “And we have no kids at home and we don’t work any more,” laughed Agnes. “You get the letter back and (when reading the news) think, ‘well that was in the spring.’
“I have to keep a journal because I don’t know what happened six months ago.”
When the letter originally started it wasn’t difficult to quickly fill pages with news on the children, happenings around the household and farm, trips, vacations and other important family events, but as the children moved away and began their own lives the size of the letters became a little less stout.
Agnes admits her letters are shorter now because the news is a little scarcer, so she delights in including jokes in every letter. “That is how I end my letters. I get a lot of stuff out of The Booster Banter (jokes included in the weekly edition of The Camrose Booster),” she chuckled sharing one of her most recent funny bits.
Sadly Agnes’ mother, brothers and sister-in-law Elizabeth have all passed away making the chain a little shorter as well but the letters continue to circulate, if not for anything else but to stay connected and share some news and maybe even a laugh or two.
In an effort to spread the delightful tradition, Agnes has created another letter with her daughters and her daughter-in-law.
“Quite often both big letters will arrive around the same time. So I wait for one so I can add some news from that one because these are all relatives. Or the other way around. Something from my girls letters might be of interest to the others.”
Agnes and husband Roddie Piller (since passed away), moved to Camrose in 1981. Five children, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter later, Agnes is now able to share contents of the Big Letter with her extended family. She married again, 19 years ago, to Orville Rupertus who also enjoys reading the news that is shared by, and with, other family members.
Agnes has also put the information provided in the letters into a book format, entitled The Past is My Heritage, the Present is My Responsibility, the Future is My Challenge: Part One, relating important family history and occurrences accompanied by pictures done by Agnes’ daughter, which Agnes feels makes the stories that much more interesting and meaningful.
“I wrote five chapters about the seasons of the year and what we would do in those seasons,” explained Agnes of the book. “I wondered if I should put that in but that was how it was back then. Now you can’t even tell if it is spring or winter or fall.”
The book is Agnes’ gift to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, one that she hopes will shed light on her life and the life of her family growing up and one that she hopes will spark an interest in carrying on this wonderful tradition.
On June 16, Agnes celebrated her 90th birthday. Family members attended a gathering held at the Stoney Creek Centre and I’m sure there was plenty of laughter, love and family stories to go around, no doubt material for the next edition of the Big Letter.
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
Agnes Rupertus reminisces about the many letters that have gone the distance, both geographically and of time
Call for Grant Applications
The Battle River Community Foundation is now receiving applications for grants from our Community Fund and Field of Interest Funds. Grants are made to organizations operating in eastcentral Alberta that are recognized as qualified donees by the Canada Revenue Agency. This includes registered charitable organizations and municipalities. Community organizations that are not registered charities may apply in partnership with a qualified donee. Forms for applications from partners must be submitted in addition to grant application forms and can be found on our website. Organizations seeking funds must demonstrate a strong and committed volunteer board of directors, fi scal responsibility, and eff ective management of resources. Projects that impact the greatest number of individuals possible with a modest investment of funds are preferred. Grants are made for definite purposes and for projects covering a specifi c time period. In general, grants are approved for projects not met by other funding sources. In addition to unrestricted grants available from the Community Fund, some Funds provide grants targeted to projects refl ecting donors’ interests. They include Animal Welfare, Arts, Brain Injury Prevention, Education, the Humanities, Health and Wellness (including Mental and Emotional Health and Wellness), the Humanities, Literacy, Music, Nutrition and Food Security, Outdoor Education, Palliative Care, Preservation and Protection of the Environment, Preservation of History, Prevention of Family Violence, Services for Individuals with Special Needs, Sustainable Agriculture, Youth Athletics and Youth Projects and Programs. There are also Funds targeted to support projects serving residents of Alliance, Camrose, Flagstaff County, Forestburg, Galahad, Hardisty, Hay Lakes, Hughenden, Irma, Killam, Lougheed, Merna, Rosalind, Sedgewick, Strome, Viking and Wetaskiwin. The deadline for receipt of 2022 applications is close of business Monday, August 15, 2022. Grants will be announced in December. For further information and/or an application form, please check our web site at www.brcf.ca, email brcfoundation@gmail.com, call our office at 780 679 0449 or write Battle River Community Foundation, Box 1122, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 4E7.
The Rudy and Flora Baker Scholarship in Medicine
Up to $4,200 to be Awarded
Application Deadline: August 15, 2022
To be eligible, applicants must: Currently be enrolled in a Canadian Faculty of Medicine seeking an MD designation. Have graduated from Grade 12 at a high school located in the area served by the Battle River Community Foundation. Considerations: Strong preference to an applicant entering their fi rst year of studies. Preference to an applicant with community service experience. Preference to an applicant considering a career in rural medicine. Preference to an applicant who graduated from a school in The Battle River School Division.
An application form is available on the Battle River Community Foundation website, www.brcf.ca by clicking on the grants link, by contacting the Battle River Community Foundation at Box 1122, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 4E7, by email at brcfoundation@gmail.com or by telephone at 780 679 0449.
The automotive section of The automotive section of
Vassberg’s Morris Ten is a rare vehicle
By Murray Green
Marvin Vassberg of the Bawlf area owns a 1933 Morris Ten vehicle.
“These cars had a 12 volt electric system, electric fuel pump and an electric cooling fan for the motor. This 1933 model had power brakes and I paid $1,200 for it and that included five tires and tubes. It has an English radio in it. I had some trouble with the charging set up on it. The battery sits under the seat, so you have to move the seat and get at it and slide the seat back over top of it,” explained Marvin.
“The car also has electric wipers. I had to make all of the doors for this vehicle. I didn’t get any doors with it. I found this car about eight miles west of Stan Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin. The guy that was working on it, started restoring it, but passed away before finishing it. The family was going back to Ontario, so the estate said to just get rid of it. Our daughter saw it online and told me about it. I went and had a look at it and found it pretty interesting,” explained Marvin.
Morris Motors Limited was a British privately owned motor vehicle manufacturing company formed in 1919, to take over the assets of William Morris’s WRM Motors Limited and
RIGHT-HAND DRIVE
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Marvin Vassberg spent a lot of time finding and building parts to restore his 1933 Morris Ten automobile over the years. The British vehicle was ahead of its time with a 12-volt system and full gauge panel.
continue production of the same vehicles.
“It is the only car that I have had with steering on the right side. I usually drive on the wrong side,” laughed Marvin.
“I made all of the doors and put in windows. I added a track for the window and installed running boards. It had duel antennas on the back for the radio, but I added a single one in front. I put in a generator to operate the electric fan to keep the engine cool. The old one quit, so I put one in from a 1960 John Deere tractor. I’m still working on that,” added Marvin.
The car features dual carburetors. One Morris carburetor produces 10 horsepower, but two can produce between 17 and 20 horsepower.
“It just about doubles the power. I still don’t think you can go too fast with this car,” said Marvin.
“I made a track for the windshield because nothing was there, it was a mess. It didn’t have a top on it (Marvin made most of the parts from scratch). For the doors, the guy that was working on it before, put the hinges on where it was rotten and he just put bond mixture in. The screws would not tighten. I had to put all new wood all the way around the doors,” Marvin explained.
“The Morris car had a lot of gauges considering the year of the vehicle. To have a 12-volt system was different. We didn’t get that here until the 1950s,” recalled Marvin.
“I have a manual for the car. It has the wire-spoken wheels instead of wooden. It is also a large, wide tire for that year as well.”
FUN FACTS
By 1926 Morris Motors production represented 42 per cent of British car manufacture—a remarkable expansion rate attributed to William Morris’s practice of buying in major as well as minor components and assembling them in his own factory.
The Morris Ten announced on September 1, 1932 that a medium-sized car introduced for 1933 as the company’s offering in the important 10 hp sector of the British market. Morris Ten was a new class of car for Morris, now equipped with wire wheels and a new type of mud guarding—domed wings with wing side shields—it was powered by a Morris four-cylinder side-valve engine.
The gearbox was a four-speed manual transmission unit, behind a wet cork clutch and Lockheed hydraulic brakes were fitted to 19 inch wheels. Early models had a centre accelerator pedal and large sidelamps on the wings, the propeller shaft had Cardan (Rag joint) disc couplings made from leather. After 1933, wheels became 18 inch and the accelerator pedal was moved to the right of the cluster to become the modern convention.
Body styles at launch in August 1932 were restricted to a saloon and two-door coupé, but a four-door tourer joined the range in December.
Old Ride?
If you have a vintage ride (rebuilt or original) or even if you’re in the midst of a build: street, rat or restoration, we’d like to profile your project.
