18,14 by Spotlight Magazine

DREW BARNES MLA Cypress - Medicine Hat

cypress.medicinehat@assembly.ab.ca â&#x20AC;˘ 403-528-2191

VOLUME 4.14

Lena Headey

Star of Game of Thrones & 300: Rise of an Empire

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spotlightmagazine.ca Cover photo Joan Bateman / Gainsboro Studio

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Greek Night Monday to Friday Page 18

Gainsboro Spotlight: Lena Headey 4 Scott Cowan Dealing With Employment Transitions 6 Dan Hein

Page 29

Veterans Affairs 7 LaVar Payne Yearly Mammograms: Should you have one? 9 Blair, Gripp, Stubbs and associates

“Just Make It Settle” 10 Scott Stenbeck Reach For Success 12-13 Scott Cowan Getting Ready for Summer Fishing 15 Patrick Schile The Easter Season 17 Larry Enslen Notes from N’Kenge 18-19 N’Kenge Create an Art Gallery Wall 22 Leslie Cochrane To Blend or to Juice? 24 Marla Howard There’s a Story Behind Every Smile 25 Bobbi-Jo Moch Improve Your Own “Investment Environment 24 Jackson Woodruff

Have Politicians Really Become Worse? 28-29 Brent Dunstan

Medicine Hat Woman’s Shelter Society 30 28 Annual Toy Run 31 Heather McCaig th

What is Voodoo Cosmetics 32-34 Aimme Carr Crossword 40 Doubling Down on Dept: Budget 2014 42 Drew Barnes

SCOTT COWAN - EDITOR (403) 504-7092

PHONE (403) 504-7092

ART DIRECTOR JOAN BATEMAN

FAX (403) 504-0041

SALES OREST TKACHYK (403) 878-3260

LYNNETTE SCHILE (403) 581-8075 AVA BARTSCH (403) 952-6872 DESIGNER MICHAEL MALINOWSKI

info@spotlightmagazine.ca

ADDRESS 377 - 4 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0K4 For a complimentary subscription to Spotlight, forward your email to:

info@spotlightmagazine.ca

Published and Printed by Spotlight Magazine

Disclaimer: No resplinsibility can be taken by Spotlight Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responisbility of Spotlight Magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spotlight Magazine. Comments are welcome.

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Gainsboro Spotlight:

Lena Headey L

After many years of service in the Medicine Hat community, we feel confident that we can cater to your needs. We get the job done and we don’t just meet expectations; we exceed them. Our customers keep coming back because we’re dependable, knowledgeable and pleasant to work with.

When she was only 17 years old, Headey had her first experience of acting as a pupil at Shelly College. Her performance caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition. Later, she got a supporting role in the drama Waterland. She had the opportunity to work with actors who had been in the business several years before her. She landed a small role in Waterland, which came out in 1993 and received eight Academy award nominations.

Aside from our amazing staff, we take the time and care to make sure even the tiniest detail is managed, in every circumstance. There, really, is no other way.

ena Headey (born 3 October 1973) is an English actress. Headey was born in Bermuda. Her father, a police cadet, was stationed in Bermuda at the time. She grew up there and in West Yorkshire.

After working steadily as an actress in small and supporting roles in films throughout the 1990s, she found fame for her lead performances in big-budget films like the fantasy film, The Brothers Grimm (2005). In which she acted opposite Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. In the action film 300 (2007), portraying the role of Gorgo, Queen of Sparta.

eadey is also known for playing the starring role Sarah Connor on the television spin-off of James Cameron’s film series Terminator, the Sarah Connor Chronicles. As of 2011, she has appeared as Cersi Lannister, on HBO’s television series Game of Thrones. Recent roles include the film The Red Barron. Headey has completed shooting the first four seasons of the HBO series The Game of Thrones, based on the first, second and third books of the series by George RR Martin. She plays the cruel queen,

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Cersi Lannister.

In real life she isn’t anything but completely charming. For over an hour she fielded questions with Game of Thrones co-star, Peter Dinklage. Unlike their on screen battles, they laughed and spoke of enduring friendship for each other. She claims to be an instagram, and twitter lover. Its there on these venues she sometimes shows her crazy side.

hile on the set of “300: Rise of an Empire,” her four year old son visited. He was impressed with her role telling everyone, “My Mom is a bit of a ninja.” Lena would have us believe she is a tom boy at heart.

Our employees provide unmatched service, delivering top quality service for your business! Each is committed to personal service. In keeping with this desire, we’re not satisfied with our work until you are.

For the few who are not Game of Thrones fans, her character in the book is that of a political trouble maker, and is morally deviant. As such, if the producers stay true to the book, she has to do a penance walk. This involves the shaving of the head, and parading through the city naked amongst the jeering crowds. Headey claims we may have to wait until next season to see how that plays out. Here at Spotlight, we are thankful she took the time to pose with one of our famous ball caps.

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Finances

Politics

Dealing with Employment Transitions Even Positive Career Transitions can be Tough You’ve just been offered an early retirement package. While you’ve always thought it would be great to retire early, you’ve never been certain you could actually afford it. Even now, with the company offering you a sweetened package, you are still not sure what you should do. Or perhaps you’ve lost your job due to corporate restructuring. Even if it wasn’t a complete surprise, it’s a difficult time. While you are trying to adjust to all of the personal ramifications, you are also being asked to make some important financial decisions that will affect your future security. Your company has given you an outline of your options – maybe you’ve even attended a seminar – but you’ve still got more questions than answers. The problem is that even though you’ve been told your choices, you aren’t sure which one is right for you. Whether you’ve lost your job or been offered an early retirement package, you need someone who can show you how the termination options integrate with your other financial resources, and how they impact your future. Once you have the complete picture, you can decide whether you’ll need to find another job or have the resources to go back to school, launch a second career, start your own small business or begin a leisurely retirement. The BIG Picture is the REAL POINT Whatever your situation, when you are at a career transition point, good advice can make all the difference. The right Investment Advisor will understand that you are facing many decisions which are difficult to make unless you can see the big picture. They will also understand that not all of the decisions are about money. However, once your financial situation is clear, you can begin to resolve the other issues. A severance or early retirement package usually includes several elements – everything from your sick pay credits and company savings programs to retiring allowances and complicated choices about what to do with your pension plan. Each element will impact you on many dimensions: income tax, current cash flow, future cash flow, and perhaps retirement plans, your net worth and the value of your estate may also be affected. By working with your Investment Advisor to completely update your net worth and cash flow statements, you will gain a greater insight into the implications of making various choices. Your Investment Advisor will also show you the difference between your various pension plan payment options, purchasing a life annuity, or rolling the commuted value of

your pension into a Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA), Life Income Fund (LIF), Locked-in Retirement Income Fund (LRIF) or prescribed RRIF. This will help clarify your options and allow you to make an informed decision about which alternative would be best for you. Invest Wisely to Protect your Future Once you’ve determined how much money you will be receiving from all sources and whether the various segments will have to remain tax sheltered or not, your next major decision will be how to invest the funds you receive. If you’ve been laid off and have some concerns about paying the bills or are unsure what your future plans may be, you’ll want to maintain investment flexibility until you see how things sort themselves out. Your Investment Advisor can provide you with advice on secure, liquid investments that offer better rates of return. If your path is more certain, this is the ideal time to completely review your investment strategy. You may want to review your longer term goals and then integrate your new financial situation into your investment program to ensure that your goals will be met. If you are unsure whether your present investment strategy is appropriate, your Investment Advisor will review your portfolio in light of your current circumstances. An important step in reviewing your investment program is to determine how you should allocate your investments among the various asset classes: cash, bonds and equities. Asset allocation takes into account the current economic environment and the outlook for the economy and investment markets, then overlays your objectives and investment temperament. If early retirement is a possibility, you will want to incorporate all of your current and future sources of retirement income into your overall investment plan. Your Investment Advisor can help you integrate your government and company pension plans, RRSPs, TFSAs and other investments, tax rates and inflation into your analysis. You need to be sure that there will not be a shortfall between your lifestyle expectations and your financial ability to support them.

One Chance to Make the Right Decision Whether you are taking an early retirement or have been displaced by corporate restructuring, you have a lot of important decisions to make. Talking to your Advisor should help remove the guesswork from your transition. Together, you can determine a plan that is right for you.

For more information, contact:

Dan Hein, BRE

Associate Investment Advisor BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Medicine Hat, AB Tel.: 403-528-6771 Dan.Hein@nbpcd.com www.bmo.com/nesbittburns

Veterans Affairs LAVAR PAYNE - MP, Medicine Hat, Alberta

would like to write to you about an issue that has attracted a lot of media attention recently. Our Veterans are very special to us, and our Conservative Government realizes this. We have made record contributions to Veterans Affairs and have invested billions of dollars since forming government in 2006. I am deeply concerned by the issue of misinformation that has been presented to our Veterans surrounding the closure of Veterans Affairs offices in various locations in Canada. I am concerned that our Veterans have been seriously misled and may have been provided incorrect (or a lack of ) information in order for certain groups to play political games and engage in partisan activity. The following information will provide the facts on the services we are providing to our Veterans. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) as I understand, has been deliberately misinforming our Veterans that the vital services they rely on will simply be removed and unavailable as a result of the closure of these offices. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is interesting that there is concern over the closure of 9 VAC offices while we have actually expanded the number of offices to maximize services to Veterans by utilizing approximately 600 Service Canada offices nation-wide to provide Veterans with the services they need. This information is something that PSAC failed to provide to Veterans. It is very sad that PSAC, or anyone else, would attempt to use our Veterans as a means to accomplish their own political goals. o set the record straight, Veterans will always have the services and support they need from our Conservative Government. It should be noted that where the VAC office has closed in 5 of the 8 offices a Service

Canada office offering services for veterans is in the same building where the former Veterans affairs office was located. I have helped our Veterans through my local offices in our riding or through their local Legion representative. Now they can also be served at Service Canada offices in the Medicine Hat riding. Services will always be there for Veterans. We have moved a Veteran’s Affairs employee into the 8 service Canada offices to ensure our Veterans continue to receive the benefits and services for which they are entitled. For those Veterans who cannot come to an office, a case worker will be able to visit them in their home. urthermore, this Government has been exceptionally supportive of our Veterans through several initiatives such as the Helmets to Hardhats program to provide training and skills needed in the civilian community as well as doubling Government contribution rates to the Burial Services Fund. We have increased investments in veteran’s benefits by nearly $5 billion in new funding since coming to office in 2006. I have the utmost respect for the men and women in this country who have risked their lives to protect us. I urge the Public Service Alliance of Canada to respect our Veterans and provide them with the full story; do not manipulate them into playing your political games. Veterans have fought enough for all of us. They should not be expected to fight PSAC’s political battles as well. In closing, I would like to assure all Veterans in Canada that the services they need will always be there for them. I urge Veterans to contact my office should they have any concerns surrounding Veterans Affairs and my office staff will be glad to work with you.

The comments included in this article are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax applicability or trust and estate law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances. . All insurance products and advice are offered through BMO Nesbitt Burns Financial Services Inc. by licensed life insurance agents, and, in Quebec, by financial security advisors. ® “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. Opinions are those of the author and may not reflect those of BMO Nesbitt Burns. The information and opinions contained herein have been compiled from sources believed reliable but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness.

Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund

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Page 7

Yearly Mammograms: Should you have one?

by Blair, Gripp, Stubbs and Associates

Early detection of breast cancer could save your life.

Did you know that a referral from your family physician is not always necessary if you are between 50 and 74 years of age? Alberta Breast Cancer Screening program(ABCSP), in conjunction with Alberta Health Services, allow women between the ages of 50 to 74 years to self - refer for a Screening Mammogram every 2 years.

• Radiology • Radiology • • • •

Screening does not include the following: Previous Breast Cancer Fluoroscopy • Fluoroscopy Breast Implants Breast Pain Bone Density • Bone Density Breast Lump • Radiology Nipple Inversion Digital Mammography • Digital Mammography Nipple discharge • Fluoroscopy Skin discoloration Ultrasound • Ultrasound

• Bone Density

• For the in-between years, you will require a referral from your family physician.

• Digital Mammography

Satellite •Clinic Satellite in Brooks Clinic in Brooks Ultrasound If you are not between 50 and 74 or have any of the above conditions, you will need to talk providing providing UltrasoundUltrasound to your physician to have it scheduled for you. Satellite Clinic in Brooks services by services appointment. by appointment. providing Ultrasound How do you self-refer?

services by appointment.

Call our CAR/ABCSP Accredited Breast Screening site at 403-527-7334 to book your appointment today! We use the latest Digital Breast Image Technology and our Medical Radiation Technologists are certified by the National Association CAMRT and licensed to practice by ACMDTT.

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Page 9

The Law

“Just Make It Settle”

Scott Stenbeck

“Can’t we just go before a Judge and simply ask for what we want and get this over with?”

his is something that I hear a lot of, or variations, such as “just get it done”, “just finish this”, “I want this done with”, and so forth, and not only in the context of my family and divorce practise, but in the other areas of litigation that I practice in as well. Usually where I hear it is in the middle of the litigation process. There have been a couple of settlement offers exchanged, and a person wants the litigation completed, but doesn’t want to go to Court for adjudication.

our last offer. I will then explain that I can make the other side aware of the risks they face. I can advance litigation aggressively in such a manner that they will hopefully be motivated to settle, I can’t actually force someone to settle on terms that we offer. Inherent in the concept of reaching an agreement is that the parties have to agree. Which is something at the end of the day that no lawyer can make anyone do. Unillaterally we can only make the prospect of agreement as attractive as the alternative of going to Court.

I often explain that after all the legal mumbo jumbo, I can do only two things. I can ask someone to agree to what my client wants, or I can go to Court. do my best to force them to accept what my client wants. Even in mediations, JDR’s, as so forth, they are still predicated upon people agreeing. So really, put another way, either we can reach an agreement or we can go to Court. Those are the only two choices I always can offer.

Then, after someone tells me that they won’t take the other side’s offer. I explain that they won’t take ours, they reply, what do we have to do to get this done? I tell them that we have to go to Court. Then I usually get asked if we can just go before a judge and ask for what we want.

Often, a person finds themselves in a position where they don’t want to accept whatever the other side is offering, but on the other hand, they don’t want to go to Court either. This is frustrating for both the client and the lawyer, and usually leads to a lot of tense meetings. I end up saying the same thing over and over. We may have a position that we feel is a reasonable settlement, but the other side won’t take it. Where does that leave us?

would probably say that I get locked in the above cycle about once every ten cases. Espcially where the other side won’t take what I offer, or we won’t accept what they offer. I do not get instructions to either accept the other side’s offer, or to go to Court. Months sometimes pass, and the lawyer feels like their hands are tied. While a client won’t take the last offer, they won’t instruct the lawyer to do what is needed to finish the case, namely go to Court.

ometimes a client will ask, “Can’t we just go before a Judge and simply ask for what we want and get this over with?” Well, that’s going to Court, and there is no such thing as “just going before a Judge.” Material needs to be filed in advance and a Court date set. There are expedited processes. The system is set up so there is fair disclosure of each side’s position beforehand, and a fair opportunity to respond. Then, on the other hand, when I explain what is involved with going to Court, I will often get asked “Well, can’t you just finish this?” Again, the only alternative to going to Court is that the parties agree. So, if my client won’t accept whatever the other side’s last offer is, or they won’t accept ours, that is out as well. When someone asks me, “how can we just get this done right now without carrying on to Court.” I will say something like, well, if you want it done today you can just accept their last offer. The response will usually be that they don’t want to, and they should accept Page 10

These conversations can become very circular.

I think a way that someone can save themselves frustration and legal fees is to have expectations that are consistent. When I get instructions from clients to either refuse an offer, or to propose some other terms, I often make sure I clarify the “or what.” The “or what,” is simply what a client is prepared to do if the matter does not settle on the terms offered or demanded. I think that in dealing with their legal matters, before making demands or deciding to refuse settlement terms, people should consider. “If this doesn’t settle right now, am I ok with going forward with the Court process.” Because as said above, that is really the only other choice to a negotiated settlement. Even if that negotiation is assisted by a Judge in a JDR or by a mediator in mediation. I think if we should approach settlement discussions with “Am I prepared to go to Court if this doesn’t settle now.” If this is in the back of our minds at all times, we have an approach that cuts down the delays and frustration for all concerned.

Casting Call

Are you a model in the making?

International Designers coming to Medicine Hat November 1st, 2014 We require 50 models for Alberta’s first Black Tie Couture Event Candidates will have experienced European and New York models training them in an intensive 4 day modelling program. Our top model will be chosen November 1st by Heartland CEO, New York. The winner will receive an all expense paid trip to New York City with a guaranteed walk on a New York runway. Top models chosen will be offered Heartland modelling contracts. Qualifications for females: 5’8” or taller Size 00- size 6 Limited body ink

Qualifications for Males: 5’9” or taller Athletic build Limited body ink

(Malmo-New York-Paris-London-Toronto-Moscow) A professional portfolio will be shot by Gainsboro Studio. Bring your own clothing and shoes. Training and portfolio fee applies. Please apply to contact@spotlightmagazine.ca or call Lynnette 403-581-8075 cell for more details and dates.

Opinions

Reach For “So how does Exxon, the Oil Sands, or Keystone look now?” Scott Cowan

sat mesmerized by an Australian speaker sharing his work of saving third world children from lives of sexual slavery. Literally tens of thousands of children are abducted annually. Many times, they’re sold by their own families into a life of servitude in brothels. I praise the speaker for his selflessness and bravery. We spoke after the seminar. I asked if he wished to meet a friend of mine who dedicates 50% of his company’s net profits helping children around the world. He enthusiastically agreed. The next day we met. Both men shared their values and passion for charitable endeavors. The CEO asked if the speaker would be interested in opening Australia for his company. He shared a generic video on his website. It outlined the opportunity his company offered. Granted, it was motivational in nature. Also, it was designed to give a “big picture,” pertaining to income. My speaker friend was offended, and the

meeting soon ended. Little did he realize, or did he care to find out, that he was being offered a multi-million dollar package.

hen we got to the car, I listened how he felt “scammed.” This brings me to my point. My friend was very excited to possibly be the recipient of millions of dollars in charitable donations. This from the very CEO he accused of trying to scam him into working for his company. He was happy to take money, but not work to get any. I’ve kept both parties anonymous because they are indicative of many in today’s society. We hear non-stop about corporate America being ruthless, not caring about workers, or the environment. Yet companies claiming to offer vehicles to success are labeled pie in the sky charlatans. The underlying presupposition presupposes that corporations are “problematic.” No one really believes they can personally be a monstrous success in business anymore. More than ever people look to the government as a protector of sorts. Government keeps us safe from these suspicious business people. Those who are only planning to take advantage of the general naive public. Universities train the best and brightest to “get a job.” My question to this year’s graduates is, if none of you want to open a business, which will employ you or those who come after. Remember how the rich 1% is disparaged by the media, even President Obama himself. Consider this, less than 5% in North America own a small business. Yet they pay all the bills of both countries. The 5% demographic employ all the workers, who in turn pay taxes. But if not for those 5%, there would be no wealth created. The 5% indirectly pay for the roads, the military, the welfare and food stamps, the post office, schools, and health care, even government itself. I would also conclude if not for megacorporations, big oil and the like, small business couldn’t survive. If I had no gasoline, steel for cars, textiles, or food; how could I manage my business? So how does Exxon, the Oil Sands, or Keystone look now?

So where does that leave us? In order to maintain our standard of living one must look beyond weekly pay cheques. Whale oil merchants mocked gasoline and heating oil start-up companies. Buggy makers and blacksmiths were lobbying elected representatives for government regulations against Henry Ford. Why buy gas for a Model T when horses can stop and graze? Besides, there are no roads to drive the crazy thing. Consider the tax expense to build them so only the wealthy can drive. What if the blacksmith’s liberal politicians had successfully stopped Ford’s assembly line production? You’re smiling because these are comments heard today by politicians, people, and the “Occupy Wall Street crowd.” Back then such comments were not uttered. Progress and success was celebrated and personal achievement was virtuous.

ow is your buggy or whale oil stock doing these days?

My point is, just as auto workers are seeing robots replace them in factories we have to examine the future and adapt. It’s absolutely true change and progress devastated blacksmiths. Interesting, when the same type of change now affects auto workers, unions lead the charge to restrict identical progress. Unions didn’t care when they replaced the metaphorical blacksmith. We’ll strike if non-union workers or mechanization replace us! To hell with progress or profit! Let taxpayers top up our poorly managed pension funds, so we retire early. We have to study what others do not, to prepare. Home based businesses are one of the surest and fastest ways to leap ahead of this impending future. History begs the middle class to listen. A surging tidal wave of financial evolution fueled by debt, threatens to sweep savings and retirement funds into oblivion. We must adapt. My liberal friend was angry when offered an opportunity. Wash away your socialist thinking in favor of optimism and self reliance. Be your own boss; take charge of your life. Reach for success; join the 5% or even the rich 1%. Be the answer, an example for society, instead of a victim.

Smarter people than me characterized the beginning of this century an agriculturally based economy. We then moved to industrialization, and recently information and technology. Now economists claim we’re shifting to a financial model. We’ll begin to see multi-billion, even trillion dollar deals. Corporate space travel, our kids may honeymoon on the moon. Page 13

Man Cave

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Getting Ready for Summer Fishing

ou ask what do I have to do to get ready for summer fishing? The first question is, have you checked your equipment lately. Nothing is worse than going out fishing on opening day of spring putting your favourite hook on and after the first cast, your line breaks. You hook the first fish and your reel seizes up .I check and change my monofilament line ever year and braided line every three years or so. Before I put my stuff away for the winter, I wash my line in clean water. So every spring I wash my reels and oil them, and checking for loose parts. Don’t forget to examine your rods. You my say for what? I run a q-tip in the eyes to make sure the glass isn’t rough which will fray or break my line. Don’t forget about the lures in your tackle box. Make sure they are clean and the hooks are sharp and not bent. If so, sharpen them or even replace them for the year. o let’s look at the types of fishing line out on the market. My old favourite is still monofilament. That has changed in so many

ways and still has lots of advantages. First you have the different colors, which there is low visibility clear to hi visibility yellow. Second the different types of stretch factors, low stretch which is great for feeling the light bite. Extra soft this is easy to cast, to extra tough, for when you are in the rocks and the weeds. Now lets talk about braided lines. The nice thing about braided line is, it sinks faster and has very little stretch at all. The biggest thing is that is very strong. So when we compare the diameter of braided line to monofilament line, we can get 6lb test braid in the same diameter as 1lb test monofilament line. What does that mean to you? Small diameter is great for fishing with lighter hooks, so you get a little more finesse on the fussy fish like walleye and inactive pike. So we have the line figured out, lets talk about fishing rods. There are various and different types of material. Fiberglass rods are very tough and are great for crank baiting

Jack Fish Chowder

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Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds fish-fresh or frozen 1 C chicken broth 1/2 Tsp salt dash ground black pepper 1/4 Tsp sweet paprika 1 1/2 C diced peeled potato 3/4 C diced carrots 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp flour 2 C milk

Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes

and using jerk baits. Graphite is great for sensitivity and having a smaller diameter, but is more expensive then fibreglass rods. They both are great for different types of fishing.

ow we have the line figured out. What types of rods match it up to a good reel. I like a reel with lots of ball bearings for a smoother retrieve. You have to watch the line recovery ratios. Some are very fast, so every turn of the handle you could be reeling to fast. Next issue, bait caster or spinning reel? Spinning reels are easier to use, I like a bait caster for casting and the retrieve on my spoons, or a plug. They do take some practice to use, and you may get a birds nest or two. They are fun to use when you get practice using them. Match up your favourite rod and reel and spool, some good line and fishing can be a lot of fun. Remember a bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work... by: Patrick Schile

Preparation: Cut fish fillets into small pieces; put in a large saucepan or kettle with chicken broth, seasonings, and potatoes and carrots. Cook, covered, for about 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. In a medium saucepan, sauté onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour until well blended. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Continue stirring and cooking until thickened. Add to cooked vegetables and fish; continue cooking for about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Page 15

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Page 16

The Easter Season

love the Easter season, and I love springtime. After the seemingly endless cold and darker days of winter, who doesn’t enjoy the increase in sunshine and warmth that spring offers? The awakening earth during spring is a most fitting analogy of the historic event of Easter and it’s ongoing reality in the lives of people today; dormancy and new beginnings – death and resurrection.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6).

istorically, Easter marks two events in the life of one man; the death and the resurrection of Jesus. Two events occurring just days apart, but two events of world-changing proportion. Only one man, but a man who has become the person of the greatest notoriety on planet earth – ever. In fact, our world history timeline is divided by the life of Jesus – history which occurred before Jesus, and history which occurred after Jesus – B.C and A.D.

It was John the baptiser who declared: “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”(John 1:29). The powerful story of Easter is powerless without the second event – Jesus rising from the dead. Jesus himself eluded to his own death and resurrection, promising that after being dead for three days he would in fact rise from the dead. Because Jesus rose from the dead, ALL of his promises are true. The Bible declares: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

The death and resurrection of Jesus is God’s answer to the biggest problem you and I will ever face; separation from the loving God who created the universe and everything/everyone in it. From the Bible we learn that God is set apart from humanity in that he is a being of absolute purity, justice and righteousness. Nothing impure can enter his presence, and yet he made provision for people to draw near to him through the process of sacrificing unblemished lambs. In fact, the first persons mentioned in the Bible, Adam and Eve, had sinned, thus their idyllic situation with each other and with God was ruined. One of the results of their sin was experiencing shame at being naked, so they hid when God came to visit them. In their case, once they confessed their sin, God himself took the initiative to restore their relationship by taking the skin of an animal and making clothing for them to hide their shame. In time, this practice of taking a perfect lamb’s life in exchange for the forgiveness of the sins of his chosen people, Israel, was God’s way of showing people the consequences of their sinful choices, and the remedy for those choices. The Bible states in Hebrews 9:22 “. . .without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” This is where the death of Jesus comes in. The life of Jesus was relatively short, a mere 33 years, and yet what he accomplished in that brief time had been prophesied hundreds of years in advance, and has given followers of Jesus victory of Satan and his demons ever since. Approximately 680 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote these words describing the death of Jesus: “He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weakness he carried; it was our sorrows that weighted him down.

he word “saved” in the above verse should mean the world to us. It literally means that those who believe in Jesus have complete forgiveness of all of their sins, freedom from any bondage from the devil including addictions and curses, healing for all sicknesses and diseases, and provision for everything we need in life, be it material, emotional, financial, relational, etc. Because of Easter we have been given the right to become the children of God who have free access to being forgiven, healed, set free and provided for in every sense, in this life and in the life to come! The only requirement is to confess and believe! When Jesus said “. . . . .My purpose is to give them [believers in Jesus] a rich and satisfying life,” he had the effects of the resurrection in mind. To me, this is Easter –not merely an ancient story, but the reality of experiencing the fullness of the life of Jesus every day! Do you love Easter?

Larry Enslen River Park Church 403-527-2438

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Spotlight Around the World - New

York

NOTES from I

N’kenge

love performing and the hustle and bustle of New York City life. I decided to take a short break from Motown, and the cold weather, to visit my mom in sunny Florida. Although, I was looking forward to a nice relaxing trip, plans quickly changed. I mentioned my trip on facebook to Richard Cameron of Theater Chat. Almost immediately, I received multiple invitations to perform and make appearances at various Florida theatres. This certainly was an honor to be requested, but definitely not the vacation I was planning.  Before we knew it, my mom and I were on a 5 hour road trip from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale. I attmepted to convince my mom that this was just a mere extension of our

vacation. She knew better and was happy to join me on the excursion.  The first stop was the Parkway Middle School of the Arts, a magnet school. The only public middle school in Broward County dedicated to performing and visual arts. Remembering my wonderful days of plays and musicals at my public school in the Bronx, made me even more excited and eager to meet the kids. My teachers’ encouragement enhanced my creativity and grades. I can’t thank them enough. Today, we continue to see how the arts are vital to providing a wellrounded education for children. I love hearing statistics of SAT scores being 103 points higher

for students who study the arts. Statistics also say, young people who participate in the arts are:

Greg Matix Harlem Fine Arts Show and NFL’s Smocks & Jocks Press Conference Page 18

• 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement • 3 times more likely to be elected to Student Government • 4 times more likely to participate in math and science fairs • 3 times more likely to win awards for school attendance • Read for pleasure nearly twice as often • Perform community service more than four times as often, and so much more hen we are arrived at

Parkway Middle School, it was remarkable to see such a large group of students. Including their parents and a number of faculty members on a Saturday afternoon. Michelle Wagner Terl, the teacher who organized my trip to the school, conducted a Q & A segment for the students and myself. Afterwards I sang both a classical and musical theatre selection. After the performance, I noticed many parents lined up to speak with my mom. Being a parent of an aspiring artist is no easy task, and I’m glad these parents had the opportunity to speak to her about the journey in supporting me in everything I wanted to accomplish.  Two hours later, we were back on the road to our next destination. I was scheduled to perform at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre Gala. An annual event to raise money for kids who can’t afford theatre program expenses. These students come year round for training. They take part in yearly student productions. Some even travel up to 2 hours just to be a part of the theatre program. This year’s Gala was in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Hotel. The theme was Wonderland. This being my first experience with the children’s theater, I was astonished at how they transformed the

ballroom into a fairytale. All the kids, in costume, took part in greeting the guests. They put on a delightful show that got the audience on their feet by the end of the evening. I went backstage to say hello to the kids and congratulate them. The overwhelming energy I received

from them was extraordinaire. They even did a impromptu, a cappella performance for me of their upcoming production, “In the Heights.” I felt so honored. It reminded me of when I attended Harlem School of the Arts. The pure excitement of learning, and ability to be

creative and of course; show off a little bit. Although, kids tend to compete with one another early, they soon realize that their toughest competitor is themselves. Harlem School of the Arts was my foundation. I will

continue to give back whenever I can. I recently performed at a Press Conference there for the Harlem Fine Arts Show. I got a chance to meet some of the students. NFL Smocks and Jocks donated 10K to the school. I know first hand those generous gifts go straight to the students. I was a scholarship student at Harlem School of the Arts for many years. I will always be grateful for everything they taught me.

he Fort Lauderdale Children’s Gala was the finale of my Florida holiday. A magical evening, I was happy to be a apart of, and a trip my mom and I will never forget.

Platinum Jukebox This month I am giving you a sneak peak to a very special project of mine. I had the wonderful fortune to collaborate with Singer-Songwriter Chris Willis who not only is a fabulous producer, but a wonderful friend and mentor. Chris Willis received international attention with his collaborations with house music artist David Guetta including “Just a little more love,” “Love is Gone,” “Getting Over You,” and many more. The song we wrote together is entitled, “That’s Why I Love This Man.” It has not yet been released commercially. I shot a music video of the song. It’s about finding that one person that loves you unconditionally, and allowing yourself to welcome that love with open arms. It’s on my youtube channel divankenge. We have already been receiving some amazing and supporting feedback since its been posted. Please check it out and share with friends and family at the divankenge youtube channel or go to the link at www. nkengemusic.com. Happy Listening!

To find out information on how to support and get involved with these great schools, please go to: Parkway Middle School of the Arts www. parkwaymiddlesota.com 754-322-4000 Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater www. flct.org 954-763-6882 Harlem School of the Arts www. harlemschoolofthearts.org 212-926-4100

N'Kenge is currently starring as "Mary Wells" in Broadway's Motown: The Musical Visit her at www.nkengemusic.com

Page 19

Create an Art Gallery Wall D o you love how groups of frames look on a wall but are afraid to try it at home? It can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. As an Interior Designer, I have done this dozens of times and will share some easy secrets with you! Be creative…you can include much more than just framed photos.

Here are just a few suggested combinations to try, but really anything goes! Try adding frames of your child's artwork to your gallery. Stairwell walls are great places to include a large gallery. Get creative using two different color mattes. Try using black and white photos with white mattes against a bold wall color for interest. Hang mementos from a trip or frame tickets from your favourite concert. Try hanging shelves and then leaning your framed photos on them as well as other special mementos. A small arrangement brings interest to a built in. Mix and match frames for an eclectic look.

re you ready? Follow my easy step by step process to hanging frames, then get started creating your own gallery. This is a great project for one person or fun for two! First decide where you would like the gallery to be. Do you need a great focal point for a room? Is there a bare wall in the stairwell or hallway that could use a little something? Once you decide where it will go measure the height and width your wall space. This is important so that when you lay out your wall art you will know how wide and high it can go on the wall. If you have a small wall you don't want to come up with an arrangement that doesn't fit. And on the opposite end, if you have a large wall you want to make

sure it fills up the space. Make paper templates of each frame. Then using the point of your pencil, poke a hole exactly where the nail will go. Give each frame a number using painters tape. Then write the same number on its template. Set the templates aside.

n the floor create a layout using all of your frames (and whatever else you wish to add on the wall). When you have a layout you like, using your paper templates, arrange them on the wall. This is where the numbering system comes in. Just follow the numbers on each frame. Tweak it until it is where you want it.

TickeTs AvAilAble Now For All ProducTioNs February 6 - April 13

April 17 - June 22

June 26 - August 31

This lAugh-ouT-loud

iN The liTTle villAge oF ANATevkA, Tevye, A Poor dAirymAN, Tries To iNsTill iN his Five dAughTers The TrAdiTioNs oF his TighTkNiT Jewish commuNiTy iN The FAce oF chANgiNg sociAl mores ANd The growiNg ANTi-semiTism oF czArisT russiA.

AveNue Q is A guT-busTiNgly hilArious moderN musicAl FocusiNg oN A grouP oF uNiQue 20-someThiNgs mAkiNg Their wAy iN The big ciTy, seekiNg Their PurPose iN liFe. AlThough The show Addresses humorous AdulT issues, iT is similAr To A beloved childreN’s show; A PlAce where PuPPeTs Are FrieNds, moNsTers Are good ANd liFe lessoNs Are leArNed.

You are almost done....hammer the proper sized nail through each hole you made in Step Two for each paper template on the wall. Always use a ruler and level when hanging art, this ensures hooks are always aligned. Now hang your wall art!!! Remember to be brave with your selection of frames and mattes; you don't have to match them. Use varied colors, styles and shapes. Hang personal achievements with photos, and mementos. Use black and white photos on a bold wall. Use colorful photos on a neutral wall-and FILL THE WALL UP!!!!!!

comedy hAs everyThiNg oNe cAN hoPe For iN A moderN-dAy FArce…” - doNAld v. cAlAmiA, beTweeN The liNes Two coPs. Three crooks. eighT doors. go!

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Leslie Cochrane Interior Designer Loft 3 Design Company (403)487-5636

sTAge wesT box oFFice 403.243.6642

To Blend or to Juice? I get this question quite often in my line of work. And the answer is....BOTH! You can get very important nutrients from both methods. When blending, you can incorporate more fiber and protein. With juicing, you can pack more nutrients into less volume. If you want muscle growth, endless energy, and glowing skin-work both into your weekly clean eating plan!

I am happy to share with you my favorite juicing recipe that is packed with greens! As well as my favorite protein shake that has cinnamon to help balance blood sugars and turmeric which has over 600 positive health benefits, one being a cancer fighting agent. A lot of punch for a little pinch of spice! Lean Mean Green Juice 1 head romaine lettuce Big bunch of kale or spinach 6 stalks celery ½ long english cucumber ½ lime Fresh mint ½ fresh pineapple

Purple Power Smoothie 1 scoop chocolate protein powder ¾ cup frozen blueberries Big handful spinach 2 cups unsweetened almond milk Dash cinnamon Dash turmeric

Insure your life. Assure your legacy. Crystal Metz Ins Agcy Ltd Crystal Metz, Agent 2-1335 Trans Canada Way SE Medicine Hat, AB T1B 1J1 Bus: 403-526-1345

But that’s just the start. I’ll show you how life insurance can also help you reach other financial goals, like retirement. GET TO A BETTER STATE™. CALL ME TODAY.

State Farm International Life Insurance Company, Aurora, Ontario 1203073CN.1

Always remember to choose organic and non- GMO products as much as possible! Eat better and move more!

Gainsboro photography studio

Host a Party!

Marla Howard Owner/Operator

Heartbreaker Dance and Fitness Questions regarding health, fitness, and nutrition? Drop me a line anytime! Email: heartbreaker@telus.net | Call or text : 403-952-6191 Follow me on Twitter: heartbreakermh| Facebook: Heartbreaker Dance and Fitness

Hello, my name is Bobbi-Jo Moch and I am a Dental Hygienist at the Crestwood Dental Clinic. I was recently welcomed to the Crestwood team in January and am truly enjoying being back home in Medicine Hat. My mission is to provide families with a sparkling clean smile while educating them on a ways to promote great home care. I was born in Medicine Hat and graduated from McCoy High School in 2006. That August I started the pre-requisites for the Dental Hygiene Program in Sheridan, Wyoming. I was raised a farm girl and did not think that the big city was where my heart would be settled in order to achieve my best education. Wyoming did just that with their small town attitudes and giant heart. New Years Eve will be a wonderful time to celebrate in my life as I just married my best friend Andy. He is a welder and was thinking of me as he decided we needed to move back home to Medicine Hat after living in Red Deer for almost 4 years. We chose to move to Red Deer in 2010 after my graduation from the hygiene program. I feel very lucky to be welcomed into an office as wonderful as Crestwood Dental. We work in a very large environment and it took me awhile to make sure I was going in the right direction. For any of you who have had the privilege in seeing our wonderful clinic you will know what I am talking about. For the rest of you I would love to show you around one day and give you that sparkling smile.

377 4 Street Medicine Hat, AB joan@gainsboro.ca • 403-526-3054 Page 24

There’s a Story Behind Every Smile!

Outside of the office you can find me on our acreage or headed down the road with the truck and trailer to the next barrel race with my two horses. In life we must find something that makes us smile and to have at least one true belly laugh a day. I look forward to meeting you.

Bobbi-Jo Moch, Registered Dental Hygienist Crestwood Dental Clinic

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Finances

2B-40 Strachan Court S.E. Medicine Hat, AB Bus: 403-504-0550 Fax: 877-335-9404 jackson.woodruff@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com

Improve Your Own “Investment Environment”

s a citizen of the world, you may have a keen interest in protecting your physical surroundings. That's certainly a concern for many especially as we near Earth Day on April 22. As someone trying to reach long-term financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you’re probably also interested in improving your own investment environment. So here are a few suggestions: Respond to environmental factors Over the past few years, we’ve had a favorable investment climate, marked by low inflation, low interest rates and generally strong corporate profits. And investors who have taken advantage of this positive environment have, for the most part, been rewarded. But things can change, so it’s always a good idea to understand the current investment environment, as it may affect your investment choices. For example, if it seems likely that long-term interest rates are going to rise significantly, you might need to review your longterm bond holdings, as their price would be negatively affected by a rise in rates.

Avoid “toxic” investment strategies Unfortunately, many human activities are bad for the environment. Similarly, some investment strategies are “toxic” for your prospects of success. Consider the pursuit of “hot” stocks. They sound inviting, but, by the time you hear about them, they may have lost their sizzle — and in any case, they might not be right for your needs. Here’s another “poisonous” investment strategy: trying to “time” the market. If you’re always jumping in and out of the market, looking for “low” points to buy and “high” points to sell, you’ll probably be wrong most of the time — because nobody can accurately predict highs and lows. Even more importantly, you may find yourself out of the market during the beginning of a rally, which is when the biggest gains tend to occur. Diversify your “species” of investments Drawing inspiration from Earth Day, the United Nations has designated 2011–2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. And, just as preserving the diversification of species is important for life on Earth, the diversification of your investment portfolio is essential for its health. By owning a variety of investments — stocks, bonds, securities, Guaranteed Income Certificates (GICs) and so on — you can help protect yourself from downturns that primarily affect just one asset class. (Keep in mind, though, that while diversification can reduce the effects of volatility on your holdings, it can’t guarantee profits or protect against loss.)

“You can help protect yourself from downturns that primarily affect just one asset class.”

Nurture your investments One area of environmentalism involves planting seeds or saplings and nurturing them to maturity. You can do the same thing with investments — and a good way to nurture them is to give them time to grow in all investment climates. But how long should you hold these investments? You might heed the advice of Warren Buffett, one of the world’s most famous investors, who says this about his investment company: “Our favorite holding period is forever.” It takes patience to follow the buy-and-hold strategy favored by Mr. Buffett — and it also requires the discipline necessary to keep investing through the inevitable downturns you will encounter. But over the long term, your perseverance may well be rewarded.

arth Day happens just once a year — but the lessons of environmentalism can help you, as an investor, for all the days and years ahead. Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund

THIS ISSUES

CROSSWORD

ANSWERS

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Politics

past politicians likely were worse.

Have Politicians Really Become Worse?

ut here is a sobering thought; who in their right mind would subject themselves, and their families, to the meat grinder of modern media? Who among those of quality and substance, wants to be placed under the light of such unyielding examination? Every misstep, magnified. Every word, analyzed. Every expression, photographed; without explanation or context. The point is not just that the media of today serves only to expose the same blemishes imperfect politicians have likely always possessed. Such unrelenting media exposure may actually doom us to the very kind of leadership it purports to prevent; eroding it by discouraging quality people from public service. In an atmosphere where something as simple as a glass of orange juice can irreparably damage a career, other alternatives may prove too attractive to resist to those of real character. This leaves the political arena to whoever is foolish or desperate enough to enter it; not a very reassuring prospect.

Guest Column by Brent Dunstan

t seems not a day goes by without the media reporting a new political scandal. The French President’s affair, and Spain’s PM accused of taking bribes, are two overseas examples. In the US, the New Jersey Governor’s staff is vindictively messing with bridges. President Obama’s administration has a full menu;Benghazi and IRS harassment of political opponents being two items. Here in Canada, the ongoing saga of our Senators may be tame in comparison to scandals abroad, but we also have Rob Ford and his scandal de Jour. These examples point to politicians being more corrupt and of lesser character than we remember from “the good old days”. But are they really, or do we just know more about them than we used to?

Similarly, but far more scandalous, the personal life of John F. Kennedy has fallen under a great deal of attention, particularly his womanizing. It strains credulity that the press didn’t know, but it went unreported at the time. In today’s reality, not only would JFK’s dalliances be widely reported, they would have been impossible to be kept secret. The unblinking eye sees all. Ask President Obama. He can’t even be a bit friendly with the Danish PM without pictures posted instantly, much less have a clandestine rendezvous with the modern equivalent of a celebrity like Marilyn Monroe.

The media scrutiny that politicians are placed under has grown tremendously. TV has grown from 5 channels, each offering 2 or 3 news reports daily, to what you see on your TV guide menu. News is now a 24 hour a day endeavor. Ted Turner was told that a 24 hour news channel would never succeed; CNN is now one of many.

Newspapers, once the principle means of reporting the news, have nearly gone the way of the dinosaur. Not long ago, US Presidential news came almost exclusively from his Press Secretary, and White House reporters often went home at 5. Now their desks are occupied 24/7/365. The Internet, making information instantly available 24 hours a day, has completed the transformation of media into the unblinking eye. It has changed the very nature of news media. A photographer lurking in the bushes, or reports of a public figure’s personal life in sordid detail, was once dismissed as “tabloid journalism”. Now, it’s standard faire. To see this, we need look no further than Toronto. This is certainly not a defense of Rob Ford’s behavior; it’s indefensible. However, how the media has covered him illustrates the point. A story that got a lot of attention was an altercation between Mr. Ford and reporters in his front yard. This begs the question; what was the media doing in front of his house? Ford was also widely criticized by the media for having the boldness to take his children out on Halloween, mid-scandal. Cameramen were following his kids from door to door. A politician’s home & children Page 28

media not publishing ANYTHING, merely at the request of a politician? In truth, the very nature of modern media compels its members to report virtually everything. If one reporter fails to break a story, another undoubtedly will.

ere at home, we have our much ballyhooed Senate scandal. Many years ago, on a tour of Parliament, I listened to fellow tourists’ cynical comments about Senators and pork barrel politics. Current behavior pales in comparison to days gone by. Senate excess is hardly a new phenomenon, but it has now fallen under the light of far greater scrutiny.

used to be “off limits” to reporters.

oday, media output is unbridled, with little to no discretion. This was not always so. Franklin D. Roosevelt was President through WWII. He also had polio and was often in a wheelchair. This is not to suggest that this was in any way scandalous, or impeded his ability. It does, however, provide an example of the press of the day showing restraint and compliance with FDR’s wishes. He did not want his infirmity reported or photographed, lest it be seen, given the times, as weakness on his part. To this day, only a handful of photos of FDR in his wheelchair exist. Can you imagine today’s

One could easily conclude that media now makes politicians more accountable, evidence to the contrary not withstanding. It was recently suggested to me that politicians are likely more careful than in the past, simply due to the media scrutiny. This also suggests that

1750 Gershaw Drive SW, Medicine Hat, AB Phone: 403-526-9500 Toll-Free: 1-800-403-1891

Page 29

he Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society has been providing safe shelter and services to women and children fleeing family violence for 34 years. In 2012-2013 they served: • 289 women and 195 children in the 21 day shelter at Phoenix Safe House • 26 women and 55 children in the one year second stage shelter at Musasa House • 52 women and 39 children in the Housing First - Family Violence Stream Program • 338 women and children in Outreach Services Phoenix Safe House provides 21 day emergency shelter for women and their children who are experiencing family violence. Crisis Intervention Workers assist women in developing a case plan for returning to community living, including information on community resources, referrals and, when needed, advocacy. Each woman is responsible for putting into place the necessary finances and accommodations needed for her safe re-entry into the community. Musasa House is a second stage program that provides long-term, safe accommodation and accompanying support services for women with children escaping family violence. Family Support Workers provide a holistic approach to education and support to prepare all members of the family for re-integration into the community, equipped with the skills and resources necessary to live their lives free from family violence. The Housing First Program is an innovative service delivery model used in efforts to eliminate homelessness which has proven Page 30

to be successful in reducing homelessness in Canada and the US, and has been adopted by the Province of Alberta in their goal to end homelessness by 2018. The program provides intensive case management to homeless individuals using scattered site housing. The goal of the program is safe and sustainable housing. The 24 Hour Crisis Line provides telephone support to women in distress. Trained Crisis Intervention Workers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Workers offer emotional support and guidance, assist women in exploring their options, provide information on family violence, and direct women to services available in the community. Last year they answered 1,507 crisis calls.

hildren are well cared for in these programs. The Child Support Program provides 1:1 counselling and support groups for children in the programs and from the community at large. Tree-House Child Care is an in-house licensed day care, offered to Phoenix Safe House and Musasa House clients, 5 days a week, free of charge. The MHWSS employs three outreach Workers. The Public Education Outreach worker is available to provide presentations, information service, and in-service training workshops on issues related to family violence to schools, businesses, community groups, and other service providers. The Community Outreach worker provides support and guidance to women in the community who have been impacted by family violence, working with clients to identify goals and develop a plan of action to fulfill those goals. This program is open to all women in the community.

Musasa House Outreach provides followup support, advocacy and counselling for women, children and youth no longer living at Musasa House. The organization provides a wide variety of weekly support groups for women, youth and children who have been impacted by family violence, running each year from September to June. Courage to Change is an educational group offered in partnership with Medicine Hat Family Services, geared to assist women in pursuing healthy choices to protect the emotional wellness and safety of their family. Emphasis is placed on changing destructive relationship patterns while promoting self-awareness.

omen of Strength Support Group offered in partnership with Alberta Health Services, Addictions Services, for women experiencing addiction related problems who have experienced trauma in their lives. This program is open to all women in the community. The Growing Together Program is a 6 week psycho-educational group for women and children who are recovering from the impacts of family violence. Participants learn how family violence affects children, specialized parenting strategies to help children heal from family violence and communication and coping strategies to help their family recover and flourish. The programs and services of the MHWSS are led by Natasha Carvalho, Executive Director and a team of 29 dedicated professionals.

Annual Toy Run F

or the last 27 years, the Medicine Hat Motorcycle community has been working to raise toys for the local Santa Claus Fund. A run that started with about 7 riders has turned into a major event, which draws people from all over the Prairies and even from the neighboring state of Montana! The Motorcycle Enthusiasts' Toy Run is scheduled the second Saturday in September. It benefits the Medicine Hat and District Santa Claus Fund. Starting in the morning, bikes loaded with toys will make their way across the prairie to Irvine, Alberta. There the local Irvine Hotel puts on a pancake breakfast with proceeds going to the Santa Claus Fund. Close to 75 riders volunteer to help block traffic as the ride winds from Irvine into Medicine Hat past cheering citizens, who come to line the streets. The last few years the line of bikes has been over 800 strong. It is quite a sight! In recent years, the run has ended at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede. Local businesses donate prizes for raffles, plus 50/50 draws occur and a band entertains the crowd for the afternoon. Childrens' laughter can be heard in the children's play area of this family event. The last two years the people attending the toy run have, through their generosity, raised over $25,000.00 in cash, raffle donations and toys. The 28th Annual Toy Run will be held on September 13th, 2014, leaving Irvine at 11:30am.

September 13th, 2014

For more information, you can contact: Heather McCaig at 403-528-0562 Respectfully submitted, Heather McCaig Promotions Director

Page 31

Spotlight Around the World - New

Orleans

What is

imee and Ron Carr, extraordinary makeup artist and photographer, are founders of the Louisiana Voodoo Makeup Cosmetic Line. Aimee was originally inspired to design a makeup line that would protect her clients skin, as well as her own. Voodoo experienced many trial and errors testing various makeup lines to avoid allergic reactions. Aimee is extremely sensitive to certain ingredients and has allergic reactions to corn, gluten, fragrances, and soy. So it was very important to her to create a product that would be beneficial to clients with similar issues.

he Voodoo line of cosmetics are so close to being completely natural that many claim they can’t even feel the product on their skin. Voodoo Makeup have been used by celebrities, spas, and many more nationwide.

All photos by: Ron Carr @aimeezingfaces.com

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“Together Voodoo Makeup and Skin Care will magically Romance your Skin Beautiful.” oodoo Makeup has been featured on the runway of many prestigious fashion shows. Including New York Couture Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Tiffany’s Fashio “City of the Lights.” Voodoo Makeup is recommended by personal care professionals. Our products are used by celebrity makeup artists and hair stylists, politicians, pageant contestants, fashion designers, and celebrities. We offer a natural to dramatic evening and day look that will last over 24 hours. Voodoo Makeup can be transformed in to the night on the town look by dazzling up your makeup with some glitter and sparkle. With Voodoo Makeup there is nothing you won’t experience. Remember the Magic is in your Makeup.

As a esthetician having worked in the medical field, Aimee expanded her skin care to include a makeup line for all skin types, and nationalities. This husband and wife team have developed makeup that is customizable for all skin types and nationalities. Voodoo Makeup is a makeup line that will always match your skin tone perfectly while healing and nourishing the skin.

“Aimee was originally inspired to design a makeup line that would protect her clients skin, as well as her own.” Voodoo Makeup Bar- New Orleans

Editors Note: Aimee Carr is our guest columnist this month. She is the creator of Voodoo Cosmetics in Louisiana. Her husband, Ron, is an internationally recognized photographer. Ron offers us a photographic introduction to Voodoo and the world famous Mardi Gras. Aimee Carr

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Photos by: Joan Bateman-Cowan House Photographer Couture Fashion Week, New York, New York 2012 - 2014

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PUZZLE Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (http:/www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.

Earth Day - Aprill 22, 2014 Page 40

Across 1- Campus mil. group 5- Parsonage 10- Christmas 14- Buck follower 15- Extra-terrestrial being 16- Beige cousin 17- Queue before Q 18- Style 19- School orgs. 20- Rapid breathing 22- Go over again 24- Fury 25- Arch type 26- Attacks 29- Drilling result 33- Like a toad 34- Humming sound 36- Elton’s john 37- Polished off

38- Conical dwelling 39- German article 40- Fire starter? 41- Interpret 42- ___ bleu! 44- Hormone of the pancreas 47- Leather covering for the ankle 48- Ump’s call 49- Bobby of hockey 50- “Fiddler on the Roof” setting 53- Moderate 58- Prepared to drive 59- Golf clubs 61- Zeno of ___ 62- I smell ___! 63- Peachy! 64- “The King and I” setting 65- San ___, Italy 66- Boarded 67- Shrivelled, without moisture Down 1- Freeway access 2- Yes ___? 3- Implement 4- Imitator 5- It’s attractive 6- “Hard ___!” (sailor’s yell) 7- 1492 vessel 8- Sun. talk 9- Electrify 10- Son of one’s brother or sister 11- Twice tetra-

12- Periods 13- Succulent 21- Ask for divine guidance 23- Electric fish 25- Seeped 26- Hindu teacher 27- Kind of kitchen 28- Long lock of hair 30- Choose 31- River of Tours 32- Hermit 34- Designer Geoffrey 35- Put ___ fight 38- Trivial 42- Reddish-brown gem 43- Lacking oxygen 45- Familiar with 46- Back muscle, briefly 47- Male godchild 50- The closest one to us is the sun 51- Roll call response 52- Side 53- Castle ring 54- Hooked on 55- Nastase of tennis 56- Become closer to 57- Amusement 60- Stutz contemporary

The Patio Cafe, in the heart of downtown Medicine Hat offers appetizing, home cooked restaurant meals using only the freshest ingredients. 90 percent of their menu is sourced from local producers, including beef, ground beef and veal proudly supplied by Deerview Meats. The salami and breakfast sausages, also from Deerview, are completely preservative, gluten and filler free. The succulent chicken used in Patio Cafe’s dishes is supplied by the Cluny Hutterite Colony, and the fresh, locally grown produce comes from Huber’s Market and Sunshine Greenhouses in Redcliff. Owners Corey and Werner welcome you to their restaurant where care is taken into each prepared dish. We invite you to enjoy a sweet enticing treat from our selection; we have baked pies including the five pound apple pie, crisps, and Corey’s famous cheesecake. All of which are baked fresh daily, and made with real butter and from scratch ingredients. We are fully licensed and open for supper on Friday nights only! Come downtown and enjoy live entertainment every Friday evening as you enjoy a delicious and freshly prepared meal. Or, start your morning with an energizing breakfast, complete with the new Patio Cafe Blend signature coffee, roasted by the Madhatter Coffee Roastery. Let us accommodate your gluten free needs- over 90 percent of our menu can be adapted to gluten free, and, we have a variety of vegetarian options available. Come down and enjoy the many tempting items we have to offer, and savour a tasty and satisfying home cooked meal.

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Answers on page 26 WWW.CITYSIGNSANDCANVAS.CA

Politics

Get Ready for Spring!

DREW BARNES MLA Cypress - Medicine Hat

Doubling Down on Debt: Budget 2014 Submitted by Danielle Smith & Drew Barnes

“The fact is, the PCs have long since abandoned the goal of a balanced budget.”

he numbers are in and they’re not pretty. The PCs have tabled their seventh straight deficit budget with Budget 2014. What’s worse, they’re taking on debt at levels Albertans haven’t seen since the 1990s. By 2016, Alberta taxpayers will be on the hook for $22 billion. Servicing that debt will cost $820 a year. That’s $820 million that won’t be spent on building new schools, reducing health care wait times, or policing our cities and neighbourhoods. We all remember the dark days of the early 1990s. Crushing debt severely hampered our ability to deliver services, and it took years of painful cuts to eliminate the debt and get back on our feet. The PCs seem intent on taking us back down this path. The fact is, the PCs have long since abandoned the goal of a balanced budget. Rather than prioritize their spending on core services by eliminating waste, they continue to let the spending taps run without regard for future generations. The PCs also think Albertans can be tricked. They have craftily broke the budget into separate components to conceal the debt and try to sell their budgets to Albertans as

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appointed staff to save $5 million annually. We could also save $6 million annually by eliminating the 10 underperforming associate ministers and by reducing the number of ministers to 16.

In contrast, before Budget 2014 came down, Wildrose proposed 16 common sense solutions that would have put Alberta on the path to a real balanced budget, paid down debt, saved for the future and protected front line services.

For instance, Wildrose would save $450 million by ending corporate welfare and $900 million within four years by finding efficiencies in the bureaucracy. We would limit bonuses for senior public sector executives and managers to save $35 million each year and all future severance packages for government executives and politically

Wildrose would never seek savings by gutting front line services like education, health care or supports for persons with developmental disabilities. By contrast, the PCs have only sought savings by gouging our front line workers and cutting the services our most vulnerable rely on. There are clearly savings to be found. If the PCs haven’t found any savings yet, it’s because they refuse to look.

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lbertans need new schools, hospitals and upgraded roads. Building needs to be a priority for the long-term prosperity of the province. This will be harder and harder to do as interest payments become more and more burdensome under the PC plan of more and more debt. We hope you will take the time to review the Wildrose 2014 Budget recommendations at wildrose.ca/ feature/wildrose-releases-2014-budgetrecommendations.

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balanced. Even the brightest minds have had trouble deciphering the real numbers. But they all agree on one thing: Budget 2014 means more debt, more burdensome interest payments and less funding for schools, hospitals, long-term care centres and roads in the long run. And without a sound fiscal plan for balancing the books, it also means the threat of more cuts to front line services like education and health care. espite revenues of $44.4 billion, the PCs plan to take on an additional $5.1 billion in debt this year. That’s $14 million per day, $585,000 every hour, and a staggering $160 each minute.

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