facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 1
E R O e
om M h H ll
T oc A R et
a
STa plac
A Master Planned Residential Community in Strathmore, Alberta
City Conveniences and Real Country Values More freedom, space, and features are yours at Wildflower Ranch. Incredible lot value, village center and acres of parkland right outside your door. All Country Close to Calgary Exclusive Wildflower Builders
Affordable Phase 2 Homes Now Available Visit www.wildflowerranch.ca 2 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 3
A MATCH MADE IN CHESTERMERE.
CLAUDETTE SINCLAIR (403) 460-3606 800 EAST LAKEVIEW ROAD
HOLMES APPROVED EXECUTIVE HOMES. At Lifestyle Homes, we believe homes should be handed down from one generation to the next. It’s why we strive to design sophisticated interior spaces, adorn them with dramatic, timeless exteriors, and craft each and every one with cutting-edge materials and technologies.
MON-THURS SAT-SUN FRI+HOLIDAYS
2-8PM 12-5PM CLOSED
It’s also why Mike Holmes, Canada’s Most Trusted Contractor, has partnered with us in our shared effort to push building standards ever higher. From the
PREMIUM LUXURY LIVING
75’ WIDE LOTS
SUPERIOR BUILD QUALITY
$900s
800 EAST LAKEVIEW ROAD CHESTERMERE, AB
Including Lot + GST
BEAUTIFUL HOMES BUILT BETTER. | L I F E S T Y L E H O M E S . C A
4 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Contact me to put your name in a draw for a free detail.
Sprucing up your ride is not just for men. Come buy your own Christmas gift! Check out our website and click on this ad.
Come Ask Us About our Weather Tech Floor Mats! Starting at $130! Have You Always Wanted A Remote Start? Let's make it happen this year, starting at $350!
Check out our cool winter hats! We have coffee mugs and wall clocks that make great Christmas gifts.
www.strathmoremotors.com Let's get a jump start on the cold season together! ~ Stephanie Kluserits
For the month of December, RECEIVE 20% OFF PARTS and accessories when you present this coupon to Stephanie. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 5
NOW FEATURING 6 QUICK POSSESSION HOMES OTHER QUICK POSSESSIONS AVAILABLE CORPUS CHRISTI 4
BARCELONA
KENYA
MIAMI 4
DEVONSHIRE
MONTE CARLO 4
2 STORY/3 BEDROOMS 121 HART COVE CHESTERMERE, ALBERTA $639,900 INCL. LOT & GST
2 STORY /3 BEDROOMS 80 RAINBOW FALLS BLVD CHESTERMERE, ALBERTA $599,900 INCL. LOT & GST
2 STORY/3 BEDROOMS 141 RAINBOW FALLS HEATH CHESTERMERE, ALBERTA $539,900 INCL. LOT & GST
2 STORY/3 BEDROOMS 419 SANDFORD PLACE LANGDON, ALBERTA $324,900 INCL. LOT & GST
BUNGALOW 153 MUIRFIELD BLVD LYALTA, ALBERTA $439,900 INCL. LOT & GST
2 STORY/4 BEDROOMS 153 KINNIBURGH WAY CHESTERMERE, ALBERTA $659,900 INCL. LOT & GST
CURRENTLY BUILDING IN RAINBOW FALLS KINNIBURGH MCIVOR
CALL JOHN 403-560-4621 76 RAINBOW FALL BLVD. CHESTERMERE, AB
CALL TERESA 403-828-9596 109 KINNIBURGH WAY CHESTERMERE, AB
CALL TONY 403-850-9736 575 WEST CHESTERMERE DR. CHESTERMERE, AB
CHBA - Calgary Region
LAKES OF MUIRFIELD 2013
HOMESTEADS
WWW.DOUGLASHOMES.NET
Find us online!
CALL JOHN 403-560-4621 650 MUIRFIELD CR. LYALTA, AB
CALL CHUCK 403-542-4352 415 SANDFORD PL. LANGDON, AB
BAY 12B 4101 19 ST NE CALGARY, AB T2E6X8
403.717.0505
Since the late seventies TACOTIME CANADA has been rolling great taste, value and quality ingredients into all of our tacos, burritos and other menu offerings.
Suite 110-800 Pine Rd Strathmore, AB T1P 0A2 6 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
(403) 934-3439
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
* Li m i t e d Ti m e*
* Limit e d Time* * Limited Time*
ASK ABOUT ASKHOME ABOUT OUR OUR HOME SHOW SHOW SPECIAL SPECIAL
*Book a FREE in home consultation prior to September*Book 29,2012 andinqualify for our Calgary a FREE home consultation prior to
September 29,2012show and qualify for our Calgary HOME & DESIGN special. HOME & DESIGN show special.
1
* Limit e d Time* ASK ABOUT OUR HOME ASK ABOUT NO-MESS INS SHOW Superior to Slab OUR HOME SPECIAL
SHOW SPECIAL
Durable, Lasting
*Book a FREE in home consultation prior to September 29,2012 and qualify for our Calgary
Installs in About
HOME & DESIGN show special.
No Demolition, L
NO-MESS*Book INSTALLATION Neverprior Needs Sea a FREE in home consultation to September 29,2012 and qualify for our Calgary NO-MESS INSTALLATION
Maintenance Fre & DESIGN show special. Superior to SlabHOME Granite
Superior to Slab Granite
Environmentally
Durable, Lasting Beauty
Durable, Lasting Beauty Lifetime Warrant Installs in About a Day Installs in About a Day No Demolition, Less Mess No Demolition, Less Mess Call for a FREE in-ho design consultation: Never Needs Sealing Never Needs Sealing
403-279-260
Maintenance Free Maintenance Free Environmentally Preferred Environmentally Preferred
1655 32nd ave NE Calgary, AB T2E 7S5
Just east of Deerfoot on 3
Lifetime Lifetime Warranty Warranty
2
403-279-2600 403-279-2600
HELD OVER SAVE MORE EVENT! * Book your FREE in-home consultation prior to Dec. 24, 2014 and receive up to $1250 off your purchase. Conditions apply, ask for details.
Call in-home Callfor foraa FREE FREE in-home design designconsultation: consultation:
®
*Purchase required. Offer expires 09/29/12 and may speak to a design consultant for complete details of
165532nd 32ndave ave NE 1655 Calgary,AB ABT2E T2E 7S5 7S5 Calgary,
3
Justeast eastofofDeerfoot Deerfoot on Just on32nd 32nd
®
®
©2012 Granite Transformations.
©2012 Granite Transformations.
*Purchase required. Offer expires 09/29/12 and may not be combined with any other offer. Please speak torequired. a design consultant for complete of promotion. *Purchase Offer expires 09/29/12details and may not be combined with any other offer. Please 12/24/2014
speak to a design consultant for complete details of promotion.
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 7
Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season Prosperous Clean upand all winter long. New Year!!! Even when the all snow iswinter falling outside, Grasshopper gets the job done. Grasshopper True ZeroTurn™ Clean up long. SNOW DAY!
you the power and maneuverability to gets sweep,the pushjob and done. blow through snow EvenFrontMount™ when themowers snowgive is falling outside, Grasshopper Grasshopper with thethe greatest of ease. Our complete line of snowthrowers, rotary broomsand and maneuverability dozer blades install to sweep, push When other mowers are hibernating for the winter, your Grasshopper True ZeroTurn TM FrontMount TM mowers give you the power inblow minutes. With only one engine to maintain, you’ll saveThrow time andcomplete money,up so to your profit forecast andTrue through snow with the greatest ofup. ease. Our line30 offeet snowthrowers, rotary ZeroTurn™ mower is just warming snow with is always brooms andsunny. dozerblades install in minutes. With one one engine to maintain, you'll save time and a “no clog” snowthrower or slice a 60-inch path with a dozer blade, broom money, so your profit forcast is always sunny!
or V-plow. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Dozer Blade
V-plow
403-901-0018
Rotary Broom
124 Orchard Way. Strathmore, AB
Visit grasshoppermower.com for more information.
DEALER NAME
Call 620-345-8621 to find a dealer near you, or visit www.grasshoppermower.com
www.clarkssupply.com YOUR NEXT MOWER ®
YOUR NEXT MOWER ® © 2008 The Grasshopper Company
© 2007 The Grasshopper Company
1234 S Northwest Hwy THE KS MONTH DECEMBER Nearhere, • (620)OF 555-1212
GRA.9907_3cx4_snow_4C 1
4/11/08 2:22:59 PM
December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and one of seven monthsCwith © THE GRASSHOPPER OMPANY31 days. December’s flower is the holly and the birthstone is turquoise. December is the month with the shortest daylight hours and the 21st is the 1st official day of winter. Yuck!
Over the years, December has not always been a happy month – on December 7th, 1941, before many were even awake, the Japanese Navy struck the United States naval base at Pearl Harbour with a surprising and deadly attack. The very next day, the United States became a part of World War II, almost a full year after the 1st Canadian Infantry Division had arrived in Britain on January 1st, 1940 and on May 4th, 1945 World War II was finally ended.
In my books, it is by far the happiest month of the year. I mean, you have Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve – all in one month! Christmas music, presents and lights. Yes, by far the happiest month.
John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City, December 8th, 1980, and Walt Disney was born December 5th, 1901. The first human heart transplant was performed by Christiaan Barnard, a South African surgeon on December 3rd, 1967 and Sir Isaac Newton, the English scientist who discovered the law of
www.grasshoppermower.com
Domino’s Pizza in Strathmore
your choice of
MEDIUM BBQ Chicken Canadian Deluxe
8 •
Donair ExtravaganZZa™ Hawaiian
thenewsyneighbour.com
MeatZZa™ Pepperoni Philly Cheese Steak
Veggie your choice of
LARGE
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
gravitation, was born December 25th, 1642. Sir Mackenzie Bowell, prime minister of Canada from 1894 to 1896 was born December 27th, 1823. And, my number one most favourite Christmas program was shown December 18th, 1966 – How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It is absolutely a tradition in our house to watch this show every single December. I love it. On Christmas Day in 1758, Halley’s Comet was first sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch. The most famous of all comets, having been observed in 1531, 1607, 1682, 1758, 1834, 1910 and 1986. Edmond Halley entered the picture in 1705, realizing that the appearance of the comet in 1682 was the same comet as those observed on the previous two dates listed above. Surmising that the comet was following the same laws, which governed planetary orbits, he calculated the orbit corresponding to a 76-year period and predicted its return in 1758. Though he did not live to see it, the return of the comet in 1758 was a triumph for orbit calculations based on Newton’s laws and led to the naming of the comet after Halley. Subsequent to Halley’s analysis, historical research showed that Halley’s Comet had been observed at every passage since 240 BC.
Reindeer Story at Christmas
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa’s reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should have known... only women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.
You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger. ~ Robert Paul Santa Clause has the right idea: visit people once a year. ~ Victor Borge
SECTION Coming SOON!! February Issue 88 BOOK NOW How fantastic would it be to have all of the take-out menus nicely kept in one place, easy for you to grab and flip through when you are trying to decide what you feel like eating and where you feel like ordering from? One fantastic issue of The Newsy Neighbour magazine is going to do just that.
Our Readers LOVE the idea!! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your menu into every home and business from Chestermere to Cluny. This will happen
once a year only!
FARM SUCCESSION Farm succession is a process not a single event. With planning you will save taxes and provide all of your children with an equal share value of the farm, thus creating a legacy of harmony and goodwill for your family. CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION ON HOW PLANNING CAN BENEFIT YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FARM. Monika (Independent Financial Advisor) or Ken (Certified Financial Planner) 403-512-5227
All menu’s will be available for download on our very popular website thenewsyneighbour.com
for one full year.
Book your menu space NOW! Take advantage of the special pricing in place for booking your menu early! Contact Denise Geremia for more information! Phone: 403-608-0686 denise@thenewsyneighbour.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 9
Winner of 2013 Business of the Year - Small Enterprise
The Newsy Neighbour’s Mission Statement: The Newsy Neighbour... A magazine dedicated to helping towns and people connect. The Newsy Neighbour’s Vision Statement: The Newsy Neighbour’s vision is to offer an attractive, unique and interesting magazine that promotes and supports the businesses and community groups who define the towns and villages east of Calgary by distributing our magazine free of charge to homes and business monthly. The Newsy Neighbour is published 12 times a year, printed by Central Web and distributed by Strathmore Standard, Sun Media, Canada Post and The Newsy Neighbour delivery team.
A Note To Our Readers:
The opinions expressed in the advertisements of this publication are those of the advertisers and not of The Newsy Neighbour directly. The information in this paper is believed to be accurate but not warranted to be so. Before taking action based on the information in this magazine, study the information independently. The mention of any brand in article or photos does not imply endorsement. Images are supplied by readers, advertisers and from shutterstock. com. Our database is confidential we will not share our information with third parties. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of The Newsy Neighbour Inc.
The Business Awards provide recognition for Strathmore and Area businesses that demonstrate a continued passion for excellence and promote the advancement of business leadership within our community.
Where can you get a copy of The Newsy Neighbour? We deliver door to door and through the mail to Strathmore, Chestermere, Langdon, Carseland, Delacour, Shepard, Lyalta, Dalemead, Standard, Conrich, Rockyford, Cheadle, Nightingale, Namaka, Speargrass, Cluny, Hussar & Rosebud. We go to more locations
than any local publication.
The magazine is viewed over 19,000 times a month (on average) through our very popular website. www.thenewsyneighbour.com If you don’t get a copy of the magazine to your home or are out of our distribution area, there are many places to pick one up:
www.thenewsyneighbour.com
We are the largest magazine of our kind. Thriving since 2008.
Digital Subscriptions: Simply subscribe on our website and we will email you the magazine every month, once a month - and we will never share your email address with anyone and we will never spam you! www.thenewsyneighbour.ca/pages/subscription
Strathmore & Chestermere: Gas Stations Medical Offices Hotels and other lodging Grocery Stores Strathmore: Value Drug Mart More Than Ice Cream Booster Juice Studio 86 Tanning Chamber Of Commerce The Road House Pranava Yoga Chestermere: Chestermere Library Town Of Chestermere Recreation Centre M & M Foods Catalyst Supplements Chestermere Optometry Trend Fashions British Iles Fish & Chip’s Caribbean Sun Tanning Sak’s Music The Lakeshore Esthetics Sunnyz Vietnamese Sub Langdon: Kimmer Market Botsford Deli Prairie Pharmacy IDA
Rockyford: Dee’s Cold Beer & Liquor Standard: Co-Op Tom’s General Pet’s Bakery UFA Petro Cluny: Cluny Liquor Store Country Farmhouse Gleichen: Family Foods Medical Center Arrowwod Co-Op Rosebud Museum Emmes Esso Bassano: Rosies Road Side Bassano Empty Bottle IDA Pharmacy Mossleigh: Out Post Mossleigh Hotel Inn Aspen Crossing Carseland: Food Mart Reds Family Cook House
Subscriptions Voucher YES! I would like to subscribe to The Newsy Neighbour Magazine NAME____________________________________ ADDRESS________________________________________ CITY_________________________POSTAL CODE______________ PHONE #____________________________________(optional) Visa or Master Card #_____________________________________ Expiry_________________________________ Signature__________________________________ The magazine will be mailed every month from our head office through Canada Post.
10 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
We accept Cheque, Visa and M/C PLEASE DO NOT MAIL CASH! Please make cheques payable to “The Newsy Neighbour Inc.” Total subscription cost for one full year is $39.95 including G.S.T. Please return this voucher to: 126 Westwood Street Strathmore, AB T1P 1A9 Questions please call 403-478-9114 aleesha@thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Please Recycle This Magazine!
Altogether Different
Our Team
Publishers Letter:
Owner/Editor, Content Development & Articles
Kathryn Hartwell Phone: 403-561-0888
kathryn@thenewsyneighbour.com
Not quite sure where to start with this amazing Christmas Issue, seriously, make doubly sure you have at least a few hours or the whole afternoon to be totally wrapped in the inspiring delight of this Christmas Issue, a special gift from us to you!
Phone: 403-478-9114
Thoughtful Christmas quotes fill the pages in between the heartfelt articles in this issue. Jock’s playing Santa on page 46, and you will believe in Santa after reading “Holdin Holden” on page 22. Cynthia will guide you through “Counting down to Christmas – the healthy way”. And the Family Page is just for, well, “Everything that really matters”.
Advertising; Regional Sales Manager
Christmas is all about Goodwill, Peace , Love and Christmas cheer and once again we have shared the “Christmas Truce story” and the Newsy traditional “Night Before Christmas” (a must read to every single child Christmas Eve).
Owner/Publisher, Layout, Design, Accounts Payable/ Receivable & Website.
Aleesha Gosling
aleesha@thenewsyneighbour.com
Denise Geremia Phone: 403-608-0686
denise@thenewsyneighbour.com
Our Contributors
We have decided to take on the task to put our hearts and souls into revitalizing downtown Strathmore, starting a shopping challenge and hosting “The 1st Annual Newsy Neighbour Festival” in June. You will find all the important information on pages 37 through 40!! We still need to come up with a name for this festival. Visit our facebook page to participate in this.
JockTalk
Life Lines
Jock Wilson
Jody Brown
Shaken & Stirred
Natural Choices
Marcy Field
Cynthia Barnesky
We wish each and every one peace, love and the Merriest Christmas you ever thought imaginable.
Interior Design
Holdin’ Holden
Emily Hogan
Jenny Schoberl
Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.
A Mindful Minute
Stories Musings
Rebecca Stone Guiding you OVER the steps ..... of Real Estate.
The REPs
Suzanne Shaver
Recipes, celebrations from all around the world, unique gift ideas, nuts, jokes and probably some of the most creative and entertaining articles I’ve read (since the November Issue) are in this issue. We have the best team of contributors in the entire world!!
Kathryn, Aleesha and Denise
Additional contribution in this issue provided by:
Langdon Chiropractic, Dr. Tonya Coutts, Carla Lomenda, PJ’s Appliances, Joanne Watson - Healing Touch, Animal Care Center, Landscape Plus, Denise Geremia
Cover Photo Credits: Romrf from Shutterstock.com
Additional Photo Credits:
Invisible Studio, Azuzl, Scorpp, bluedarkat, Matthew Cole, puhhha, luminaimages, s-ts, Syda Productions, rvika, nelik, Daniele Carotenuto, Ekaterina Kondratova, Petr Vaclavek, Giada Canu, zeljkodan, Steve Cukrov, Pressmaster, romakoma, meunierd www.shutterstock.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 11
IT'S A NEW STORE EVERY DAY! NEW HOURS: 10-6 Monday - Saturday 12-5 Sundays
Consign or drop off at any time!
Voted Calgary’s Best Consignment Shop! CHESTERMERE STATION WAY • Unit 213, 175 Chestermere Station Way Phone: 403-235-0352 The meeting of enemies as friends in no-man’s land was experienced by hundreds, if not thousands, of men on the Western Front during Christmas 1914. Today, 90 years after it occurred, the event is seen as a shining episode of sanity from among the bloody chapters of World War One - a spontaneous effort by the lower ranks to create a peace that could have blossomed were it not for the interference of generals and politicians. Christmas day began quietly but once the sun was up the fraternisation began. Again songs were sung and rations thrown to one another. It was not long before troops and officers started to take matters into their own hands and ventured forth. No-man’s land became something of a playground. Men exchanged gifts and buttons. In one or two places soldiers who had been barbers in civilian times gave free haircuts. One German, a juggler and a showman, gave an impromptu, and given the circumstances, somewhat surreal performance of his routine in the centre of no-man’s land.
CHRISTMAS TRUCE A true story
T here is truly something magical about Christmas – the most amazing events can happen. I would call this one a MIRACLE; a Christmas miracle. You are standing up to your knees in the slime of a waterlogged trench. It is the evening of December 24, 1914 and you are on the dreaded Western Front. Stooped over, you wade across to the firing step and take over the watch. Having exchanged pleasantries, your bleary-eyed and mud-spattered colleague shuffles off towards his dug out. Despite the horrors and the hardships, your morale is high and you believe that in the New Year the nation’s army will march towards a glorious victory. But for now you stamp your feet in a vain attempt to keep warm. All is quiet when jovial voices call out from both friendly and enemy trenches. Then the men from both sides start singing carols and songs. Next come requests not to fire, and soon the unthinkable happens: you start to see the shadowy shapes of soldiers gathering together in no-man’s land laughing, joking and sharing gifts. Many have exchanged cigarettes, the lit ends of which burn brightly in the inky darkness. Plucking up your courage, you haul yourself up and out of the trench and walk towards the foe...
12 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
Captain Sir Edward Hulse of the Scots Guards, in his famous Kurt Zehmisch of the 134th Saxons recorded in his diary: ‘The English brought a soccer ball from the trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued. How marvellously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.’ The Truce lasted all day; in places it ended that night, but on other sections of the line it held over Boxing Day and in some areas, a few days more. In fact, there parts on the front where the absence of aggressive behaviour was conspicuous well into 1915. Captain J C Dunn, the Medical Officer in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose unit had fraternised and received two barrels of beer from the Saxon troops opposite, recorded how hostilities re-started on his section of the front. Dunn wrote: ‘At 8.30 I fired three shots in the air and put up a flag with “Merry Christmas” on it, and I climbed on the parapet. He [the Germans] put up a sheet with “Thank you” on it, and the German Captain appeared on the parapet. We both bowed and saluted and got down into our respective trenches, and he fired two shots in the air, and the War was on again.’ In the public’s mind the facts have become irrevocably mythologized, and perhaps this is the most important legacy of the Christmas Truce today. In our age of uncertainty, it comforting to believe, regardless of the real reasoning and motives, that soldiers and officers told to hate, loathe and kill, could still lower their guns and extend the hand of goodwill, peace, love and Christmas cheer. FirstWorldWar.com The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
LANGDON, AB
The Good Luck Town
403.936.3670 angelamarieinc.ca
Formerly Prairie Pharmacy IDA NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN!! Unit 201, 97 Centre Street SW Langdon, Alberta
Pre-Order Your Christmas Trays, We Always Sell Out! We do homemade from scratch Cookies, Tarts, Pies, Turkey Stuffing Bread, Buns, Desserts, All the Christmas Goodies you can think of!
Pre-Book Your Buffet Catering for Christmas Parties NOW!
Winter Hours: Daily. 6 am - 7 pm
Check out our new website:
www.botsforddeli.com
103 355 Centre St. Langdon Ph: 403-936-7691
Reiki Life Coaching Organic Facials Holistic Nutrition
Your Neighbourhood Dentist
Langdon dental Your complete stop for cosmetic and family dentistry & proud sponsors of the Langdon Community Phone:
403-936-8432 www.langdondental.com
langdon pottery studio doug don SAT, CET, ASET resident potter
s e s s cla
Langdon, AB Sebastopol, CA (California), USA langdonpottery@gmail.com
Just returned from a pottery tour in Northern California with lots of good information and ideas!
T: (403) 874-8313 Consider a pottery class Christmas gift!
Langdon Chiropractic
Family Chiropractic Care, Holistic Nutritional Consulting, Massage Therapy, Decompression, Custom Orthotics, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nutritional Products.
Langdon Chiropractic & Wellness Centre #117, 355 Center Street 403-936-2450
We Sell Snowblowers! Tires
Sell/Repair
Fuel 24/7 365 days a year WENSTROM EQUIPMENT • 403.936.5801 124 Center St N. Langdon, AB
Give the gift of fitness for Christmas! 6 Personal tel: 403-936-3611 email: corrie@DOCpersonaltraining.com website: www.DOCpersonaltraining.com Langdon, AB
Training Sessions for $44.00 (plus GST) per session Offer expires January 15, 2015
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 13
There is no time more fitting to say “Thank You” for all your support. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year of health, happiness and prosperity!
Newsy Neighbour
The
14 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
------------------------------ Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul, .--------------------------------
CHRISTMAS TREES 403-934-4421
How to Care For Your Christmas Tree
R emember, a Christmas tree is a living thing; look after it as carefully as you would a cut flower. Once you select a Christmas tree, follow these suggestions to keep it fresh and safe: 1. If you buy your tree several days before you plan to set it up, store the tree outdoors or on a cool porch or patio until you are ready to decorate. An area that provides protection from the wind and sun will help the tree retain its moisture. 2. If you plan to store the tree for several days, make a straight cut across the butt end of the tree about one inch from the end. This opens the tree stem so it can take up water. Store the tree upright and place the butt end in a container of water. 3. When you bring the tree into the house for decorating, make another fresh cut across the trunk about an inch from the original cut. Use a tree stand that holds plenty of water.
Trees are thirsty. They may drink up to four litres of water per day. 4. Be sure to check daily and supply fresh water as needed. A stand that holds at least four litres of water is recommended. If you allow the water level to drop below the bottom of the tree, a seal will form just as it does on a cut flower, and a new cut will be necessary. 5. Place your tree away from fireplaces, radiators, television sets and other sources of heat. Turn off the tree lights when you leave and before you retire at night. 6. Avoid the use of combustible decorations. Check all electric lights and connections.
Do not use lights with worn or frayed cords and N-E-V-E-R use lighted candles on a Christmas tree. Following these care and precaution measures should ensure an attractive tree that stays fresh indoors for two to three weeks. Please also refer to the section on holiday safety tips Provided by Landscape Plus. See ad on this page. Source: www.christmastrees.on.ca
Choose from: Lodgepole and White Pine, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir and Fraser Fir Sizes from 2’ to 13’
Open Nov 29th 7 days/week LOCATIONS: · Langdon Main Street · Chestermere Rec Centre · Calgary Trans Canada Mall · Strathmore Country Lane Mall
Your Christmas Gift Store in Strathmore!
Christmas Décor, Tree Ornaments & Dishware Painted Ponies, Willow Tree , Lug Bags, Foundation Angels, Boyd’s Bears & RedNek Glassware. Natural Products for your Home, Bath & Laundry Rocky Mountain Soap, Barefoot Venus & Caldrea We are a women’s clothing boutique that also carries scarves, hats, slippers, sleepwear, jewellery, purses, etc.
403-934-6112 223 – 3rd Ave., Strathmore, AB Across from the Co-op. Downtown.
The
Red Carrot clothing – crafts – gifts
www.facebook.com/TheRedCarrotStrathmore facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 15
-------------------------------------------- Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane.---------------------------------------- -
Where does the tradition of evergreens at Christmas originate? L
egends tell of the decorated tree used in winter celebrations long before the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people during winter. Just as people today decorate their homes at Christmas with pine, spruce and fir trees, ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries people believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes in late December as a symbol of growing things. Romans trimmed evergreen trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun god to celebrate Saturnalia. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice. In the middle ages, the feast of Adam and Eve was held on December 24. Its symbol was the Paradise Tree, a fir tree hung with red apples. It is generally agreed, however, that the use of an evergreen tree as part of the Christian Christmas celebration started 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe by the l9th century. Canada was first introduced to the Christmas tree in 1781 in Sorel, Quebec, by a German immigrant, Baron Friederick von Riedesel. The Baron’s tree was a balsam fir cut from the dense forest of Quebec and was decorated with myriads of white candles. The Christmas tradition that is celebrated in Canada today has borrowed many customs from many lands, but families who have come from all over the world have all adopted the Christmas tree as the symbol and centerpiece of the festive season. As it has for centuries, the evergreen still symbolizes our belief in renewed life and the hope and faith that lives in all mankind, regardless of race or creed. Article Provided by Landscape Plus. See ad on page 15 Source: www.christmastrees.on.ca
Get A Little Nutty This Christmas!!
B
ecause it is Christmas and nuts are so good for you, and because Christmas seems to be the one time a year when you will find bins of nuts at the supermarket, I decided to write an article about them. Nuts are one of those things you can indulge in and not feel guilty about eating! Nuts are underrated as nutritious snacks go - particularly raw tree nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and more, which have been linked to lower cholesterol, better heart health, weight control, and even a lower cancer risk.
FRESH CHICKEN: FROM FARM TO YOU Tastes Like the Chicken Grandma Used To Cook!
Antibiotic Free & No Animal Byproducts
934-2755 CHECK WEBSITE FOR NEXT DELIVERY DATE (403) Order online www.countrylanefarms.com or by phone! Locally Produced Year Round
For many people, roasting chestnuts and snacking on fresh nuts is a Christmas tradition. Nuts are a good source of protein and contain many vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Sadly, many people in North America have developed life-threatening allergies to nuts. Not all nuts are alike; some nuts, like hazelnuts, are fruits with thick outer shells. Other nuts, like almonds and walnuts form a hard pit in the centre of a fruit called a drupe, like a peach or a cherry. So just because you may be allergic to some nuts does not mean you are allergic to them all. You should be tested to be sure.
Almonds
Almonds are a small tree related to plums, peaches and apricots. The fleshy coats of
16 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
------------------------------------------------- Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light-------------------------------------------------------almond fruits crack open, releasing the nut inside. Sweet almonds are edible, while bitter almonds, which contain toxic prussic acid, are used to obtain almond oil. Almonds are low in saturated fat and contain many other protective nutrients - calcium and magnesium - for strong bones, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease and even cancer.
Brazil nut
Brazil nuts grow in clusters of 12-24 inside coconut-like capsules. Native to South America, Brazil nuts are popular snacks in Europe and North America. Brazil nuts are not commercially grown outside South America as they perform poorly in monocultures, relying on wild bees for pollination. Brazil nuts are particularly healthy due to their high selenium content, which makes their protein content “complete”. This means that, unlike the proteins in most plant products, Brazil nuts’ proteins contain all the necessary amino acids to foster optimal growth in humans (in the same way as proteins from animal products do).
COLDWELL INSURANCE 133 - 2nd Ave STRATHMORE, AB Phone: 403-934-3221 Fax: 403-934-5163
General Insurance – Auto, Home, Business, Farms, Modular Homes, Feedlots, Holiday Trailers, Motor Homes, Contractors Liability, and Contract Bonds.
Coldwell Insurance would like to thank all of our customers for your support this past year. Wishing you all the best this holiday season & in the coming new year. We look forward to helping you with all your insurance needs in 2015
Chestnut
Sweet chestnuts are a wind-pollinated, deciduous tree native to southern Europe. American chestnuts grew abundantly in eastern deciduous forests of North America but, sadly, the introduction of chestnut blight disease in 1904 destroyed almost all the trees on this continent. Three chestnuts grow inside each prickly husk. Roasting chestnuts splits the shell so the nut can be easily removed.
Hazelnut/Filbert (Corylus spp.)
The species of hazelnut we purchase in the store (Corylus avellana) is native to Asia Minor and Europe but there are two edible Canadian species: beaked hazelnut (C. cornuta) and American hazelnut (C. americana). Hazelnuts are a wind-pollinated deciduous shrubs or small trees. The nuts are encased in a greenish coloured husk. Hazelnuts were traditionally roasted and eaten by the aboriginal peoples of North America. In Europe, hazelnuts are often used to make chocolates, chocolate butter spread and cakes like the Italian Panforte and German Lebkuchen.
Pecan (Carya illinoensis)
Pecans are a large, wind-pollinated deciduous tree native to North America that can reach heights of 170 ft. The nut is encased in a leathery green husk that cracks open when ripe. A single tree can yield over 400 lbs of pecans each year. Pecans were harvested extensively by aboriginal peoples. European settlers quickly embraced the pecan, eating them plain, spiced or in baking. Pecan pie, often served at American Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, is a classic example of pioneer “fusion” cooking. Pecans are often added to Canadian butter tarts as well.
THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS SINCE 1937 HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday to Friday 9AM - 5PM
Rental Properties in Strathmore
BDSProperties Merry Christmas from BDS Properties! E: bdsproperties@shaw.ca
www.bdsproperties.com
Walnut (Juglans spp.)
There are several edible species of walnuts: the English walnut (J. regia) grows in south-eastern Europe and western Asia, while black walnut (J. nigra) and butternut (J. cinerea) grow in the forests of eastern North America. Walnut trees are valued for their timber as well as their nuts. The walnut, like the almond, is a drupe; the nut is encased in a fleshy, green husk. Walnuts are used in such Christmas treats as Spanish Pastel de Navidad and Hungarian nut bread Beigli.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Kathryn Hartwell
Providing Strathmore with beautiful rental properties you would be proud to call home.
BDSPropert
ies
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 17
-------------------------------------------------- Have a holly, jolly Christmas; It’s the best time of the year.---------------------------------------------------
Luscious Joys I just cannot decide what my favourite thing is about Christmas; is it the Christmas tree? Giving presents? The Christmas turkey dinner? Christmas decorations? Having all the family home? My Christmas Angel? Melt away mints, Grand Marnier, or eggnog? Decorating the house, pretty wrapping paper, Christmas shopping, or Christmas music? Santa? Classic Christmas Movies? Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and Christmas Day? The Christmas Spirit or the baking?
I think I just love everything about Christmas – every thing! Just writing about it gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. But I do look forward to the Christmas baking every year; I have old favourites I make, like my world famous banana bread, but I also like to try out new recipes for my children’s gift boxes. I love to surprise them with new tasty treats, so each year around this time I start my treasure hunt; this is what I found for this year’s gift giving. Graham Cracker Toffee
You will not even believe how easy this recipe is to make and how incredibly DELICIOUS it is! 16 graham cracker sheets ½ cup brown sugar 1 cup butter 1 cup chopped pecans 6 oz. milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Cover prepared cookie sheet with whole graham cracker sheets. In saucepan, bring brown sugar and butter to a boil over medium heat. Boil for four minutes, stirring constantly. Pour over graham crackers and bake for 8 minutes. After baking, immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of graham cracker and let sit for about two minutes. Spread melted chocolate with a knife. Sprinkle nuts over the top. Let sit for about two hours and cut and serve or freeze in a sealed container. Sometimes, if I am in a hurry, I will cool the cookies in the freezer for a quicker serve time. Author: Nikki
Easy Homemade Peanut Brittle
1 cup sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 2 cups unsalted shelled dry roasted peanuts, pecans or cashews
18 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
or some of each. 1 tablespoon baking soda Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper lightly sprayed with cooking spray and set aside. Stir sugar and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Stir in nuts. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring frequently to avoid burning, until candy thermometer reaches 295° and mixture becomes a golden amber colour, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Quickly pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet and spread evenly. Set aside to cool and harden. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Pecan Pie Cookies
1 prepared single pie crust (homemade or purchased; I used Pillsbury) 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 cup pecans, chopped 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup corn syrup 2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chip for decorating Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large non-stick pan, combine butter, pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt and eggs. Cook on the stove top over medium-low heat just until thickened. (You don’t want it dry, just slightly thickened, about the consistency of pudding). Remove from heat and set aside. Unroll dough and using a 3” cookie cutter, cut out circles. Gently fold about 1/8-1/4” up on the edges. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the pecan mixture into each circle. Place on a parchment lined pan (it’s important to line it) and bake 8 minutes or until filling is just set. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Place chocolate chips in a small Ziploc bag and microwave about 15 seconds or until mostly melted. Snip off a tiny corner of the baggie and drizzle chocolate over the cookies. Cool until set.
Candied Ginger Shortbread Cookies
The only reason this recipe is here is because of my grandson, Hunter. I was babysitting him the other day and we were watching Sesame Street, and good old Cookie Monster was eating Shortbread Cookies with candied ginger (are you kidding me?!) two of my favourite things in the world!!! This is the recipe – I’m making at least a couple double batches of these babies. Yield: 48 cookies 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
------------------------------------------------------- Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree-------------------------------------------------------
Customer Appreciation Saturday December 13
Scratch And Save
10 To 50% Off
All Regular Priced In Stock Merchandise
Free Coffee And Cookies 14 Spruce Park Dr. Strathmore, AB T1P 1J2 • 403.934.3802 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg yolk 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cornstarch 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup finely chopped candied ginger (you can buy this at any grocery store; I buy it at No Frills and love to snack on it at night with tea). With an electric mixer on low speed, combine butter and sugar for about 30 seconds. Beat in egg yolk, then flour, cornstarch, and salt, until the mixture barely holds together. Do not overbeat. Gently fold in the candied ginger. Lay out 2 pieces of plastic wrap that are about 12’’ long. Divide dough in half. Place each half on the center of separate pieces of plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap, gently shape each piece of dough into a 6’’ long log, about 2’’ in diameter. Wrap tightly with the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Preheat oven to 275°F. With a sharp knife, slice cookies 1/4’’ thick and place on baking sheet, spacing 1’’ apart. Bake cookies until just firm but still quite tender and not at all brown, about 30 minutes. Cool for a minute on the baking sheet before removing to a rack to finish cooling. Adapted from the New York Times recipe by Mark Bittman.
Buttery Mint Stars
1/2 cup butter, softened 4 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted 2 tbsp + 2 tsp heavy cream 1 tsp peppermint or spearmint extract Red and green food colouring In large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Add sugar, cream and extract; on low speed, beat until creamy. Divide mixture into thirds into 3 bowls. Tint 1/3 pink (1 drop red colouring) and 1/3 pastel
green (1 drop green); leave remaining third white. Keep at room temperature. Line 2 large baking sheets with nonstick reusable baking-sheet liners or waxed paper (coat baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent liner or paper from pulling up during piping). Scrape white butter mixture into pastry bag fitted with 1/4 inch star tip. Holding bag perpendicular to prepared to sheet, squeeze out 1 inch star on sheet (about 50 total). Repeat with pink and green mixtures. Let air-dry at room temperature overnight. With small spatula, carefully turn mints over to expose bottoms. Let dry, another hour. Transfer with spatula to airtight container. Store at cool room temperature up to 6 weeks.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Kathryn Hartwell
Wheatland Towing Incorporated
Merry Christmas to Everyone! Thank you for your support! 24 HOUR SERVICE
• Flat Deck • Towing/Winching • Recovery • Battery Boosting •Fuel Delivery • Lock-out Service • Tire Change Service • Cargo Hauling
Dennis
403-325-0158
403-325-0519
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 19
----------------------------------------------------------Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la!-----------------------------------------------------
“Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy new year” This year get a personalized gift for that special someone. Come in and Check out our engravable gift ideas. Engraving, embroidery, signs and more.
Gift certificates available Hours: Monday - Friday 10am-6pm. Or call for appointment.
11 Spruce Lane. Strathmore, AB. • Phone: 403-934-1133 • Email: jenny@phoenixsigns.ca •
Dear Lifelines: It’s the Holiday season and I’m all into the spirit of things, but I’m not sure how to deal with a neighbour who has decorated his house so much that it’s actually interfering with my life. It’s so bright it shines through my window at night and I can’t sleep. I think I’ll have to buy blackout curtains and I don’t think that’s right. What should I do? Blinded by the Light
www.phoenixsigns.ca
because it not only interferes with the neighbours and the lighting issues in their homes, but it also increases the light pollution that makes it very difficult to star gaze for the community that many people do as a pastime. Some people have extravagant light and music displays and considering how close homes are built to each other nowadays, making sure all is ok with your neighbours in advance might help to alleviate neighbour fall-out and dissatisfaction in your community. Good luck with your neighbour and let us know what you decide to do. Sincerely, Lifelines
Dear Blinded, Thanks for your message - this might be an issue impacting a few people at this particular time of year. It seems that you have mentioned one of the options in order to solve the problem. You could purchase some curtains and put up with the lights for the next few months in order to be able to function. Another option might be to approach your neighbour and ask if the lights could be put off earlier at night – perhaps they could be placed on a timer so that they could go off at a reasonable time and you could still get to sleep when you need to. You could approach your neighbour in a gentle way with a note in the mailbox asking him/her to please speak with you or by a phone call or in person if you have a good relationship with them and can approach them in a very non-threatening way. It’s important to keep your language positive and that you request their help. If you start making demands and have a negative, complaining tone it could result in a long future of tension between the two of you, which could be avoided. If you keep in mind and stay focused that your neighbour is simply trying to be festive and is trying to enjoy the spirit of the season, it might help you remain positive and non-threatening during your conversation. You might use language like, “I love how you have great holiday spirit but was hoping to share with you that I’m having some trouble sleeping at night because of how the lights glows into my home at night…” or something to that effect. Just keep reminding yourself that they are not doing this to deliberately make your life a challenge.
“For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.” -- Millard Fuller
Life Lines This monthly column by Joanne (Jody) Brown, MSW, RSW, is designed to help you make better connections, and live happier lives. Sometimes we just need to ask the question. You can learn more about her practice at www. Authenticbeing.ca or contact her at 403-983-2230 or NLP4you@ shaw. ca to book a free 30 minute consultation today.
It’s a real consideration when putting lights up
20 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
-------------------------------------------------O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree! How are thy leaves so verdant!---------------------------------------------------
Gifting a Pet for Christmas
T is the season where Christmas is just around the corner, and what better gift to give than a pet for Christmas… or not? To give or not to give, that is the question! It’s always important to do your research and weigh out the pros and cons of gifting a pet over the holidays. We would like to cover a few basic things to consider prior to purchasing a pet to gift. Who will be the primary caretaker of the animal in the household? Will it be a parent, a child, an elderly person? When choosing a pet, it is important to consider that person’s lifestyle and what type of animal would work best within their daily routine. Puppies can be very demanding, with needs close to that of a child. They require potty breaks often, as well as multiple feedings and playtime throughout the day. Not to mention training, the cost of supplies and veterinary bills, and the lifetime requirement of caring for that pet throughout all stages of his life. Will his caregiver be able to accommodate these particular needs? Or will his caregiver be more suited towards a caged animal, such as a hamster or a fish? Another consideration is the stress that the animal will undergo during the Christmas season. When a new pet comes into the household, it requires a calm, relaxed environment. With all of the festivities going on, maybe it isn’t the ideal time to introduce a pet during the rush of the season. If you are intent on gifting a pet, maybe instead consider gifting the supplies for that pet under the tree, along with a gift certificate to a local animal shelter. That way, you are not only allowing that person to pick a pet that suits their needs, you are also providing a loving home to an animal in need. The animal can then be introduced into the household after all of the festivities have calmed, and it will give them something to look forward to after the adventures of the holidays.
Happy holidays to all, and happy gifting, from your friends at The Animal Care Centre of Strathmore! Chelsey Chevrier Registered Animal Health Technologist Animal Care Centre. See ad on this page.
15% Off All Christmas Sweaters $5.00 Off Grooming
www.thepawticularpooch.com (403) 273-0060 /ThePawticularPooch 404, 320, West Creek Drive, Chestermere Tue 9am-6pm • Wed 10am-7pm • Thur & Fri 9am-6pm • Sat 12-6pm.
“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes, there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.” -- Joan Winmill Brown
HOLIDAY HOURS
December 24th - 9am - 1pm December 25th & 26th - CLOSED December 31st - 9am - 3pm January 1st - CLOSED clinic & emergency 403.901.1800 email: info@animalcarecentre.ca www.animalcarecentre.ca Box 62, Site 8, RR 1, Strathmore, AB T1P 1J6 North of Trans Canada Hwy on RR 254, 2 km West of Strathmore.
Because we care. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 21
-
Holdin’ Holden Jenny Schoberl is a 30 year old professional musician turned stay-at-home. In order to keep some semblance of her adult-brain working, she began writing the popular Mommy Blog “Holdin’ Holden” in 2008, which receives over 1,000 unique hits per day. Jenny also enjoys entertaining her ever-growing Facebook Fan Page with over 51,000 fans who have dubbed her the “Howard Stern of Mommy Blogging”. Contact Jenny at http:// holdinholden.com or email her at: holdinholden@yahoo.com
Yes, I believe in Santa. No, I’m not crazy!
I ’m not sure what the average age is for kids to stop believing in Santa, but if I had to make a wager, I’d guess it’s probably around 8. I can remember being at my Grandma’s house in North Carolina (where we went for EVERY holiday) with all of my cousins when my brother, the kind soul that he is, broke the news to me. Yes, he was smiling. I don’t recall it being some kind of devastating realization that my WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t happy about it. POOF. Just like that, the magic of Christmas disappeared. Of course, it’s still awesome; the food, the treats, the decorations, the PRESENTS – but there’s no illusion of a fat man coming
22 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
down the chimney and delivering the perfect present. It became my job to keep that illusion alive for the younger cousins. That was a job I took very seriously, but I’d be lying if I said Christmas still felt the same. It feels like a thousand years ago, but I was only about 10 when Santa stopped getting credit for presents and I knew it was my parents writing FROM: SANTA on my gifts. They did that junk until I moved out! 19 years later, I finally realize that my brother was WRONG! Santa IS real! No, I haven’t lost my mind. I’m not suddenly seeing little elves running around, flying reindeer, or a man in red coming out of my chimney. You don’t need to call the mental hospital and tell them to come quickly with a straight jacket. I promise! I’m also not talking about getting into the holiday spirit and being figurative. The spirit of the season is Santa and he’s as real as you want him to be! Yeah… no. I mean REAL. The man is REAL. Not however long ago he was Saint Nicholas, but TODAY. And he’s in my house, and not scarfing cookies for once! Don’t look at me like that, I’m being serious! Oh, and his magic is real, too. VERY real! It all started a few weeks ago, but this morning, it was confirmed. That magical mofo is my new tenant until Christmas morning. The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
-------------------------------------------------Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose.-------------------------------------------------There are breakfast issues in this house. Parker wakes up as early as humanly possible, but is NOT a morning person. I know, makes no sense, right? Do kids ever? He requested a bowl of oatmeal, and proceeded to give me a ration of crap about it. I don’t know why he’d pick something he didn’t really want, but sometimes it’s best not to ask questions. We don’t let him get away with eating NOTHING, so naturally, breakfast devolved into a fight- and with a 4 year old, a lot of crocodile tears. We don’t have a lot of time to waste in the morning unless it’s the weekend, and we don’t wake up early enough to make for more time to waste. Do you even KNOW me?? There is under an hour to get dressed, make and eat breakfast, before we have to get out of the house and get Holden to school. We have yet to be late and I’m not about to break that record now over a bowl of maple & brown sugar oatmeal. I’d love to get through a single meal without having to tell Parker to hurry up, but the kid is the slowest eater on the planet, and instead of just chewing faster than a snail moves, he cries. Or yells. Or ignores us. Or finds something to distract him.
Santa Shops Here! Give the Gift of Sunshine... A perfect fit every time!
Christmas Gift Packs Christmas Gift Certificates
This morning we were quickly running out of time. I had left the kitchen to fix Holden’s intense case of bed head, and that left Thomas to try to get Parker to hurry up. It wasn’t going well. That’s when it happened. Santa, my new tenant, really came through for us. Amidst the blubbering, and moaning, I heard Thomas threaten to call Santa if Parker didn’t stop crying and start eating, and you know what? The kid instantly shut up! INSTANTLY. POOF! MAGIC! HO HO HO! Santa’s presence from the day after Halloween until the day after Christmas absolutely can’t be denied! There is no one who keeps my kids from being bratty better than him; not even me! The “mom-voice” can’t compare to the threat of letting Santa know about their shenanigans. It’s no wonder people consider the holiday season to be so joyous; it’s the mildest childhood brattiness time of the whole year – and all thanks to one man who people think is nothing but make-believe. Lemme tell ya something – the silence at breakfast this morning was NOT make-believe! Don’t worry, Santa. Those snot-nosed non-believing 10 year olds will regret telling their younger siblings and cousins that you don’t exist! We parents who aren’t above threats, bribery, and manipulation have your back!
Cr3istmas De2cor3 & Gifts!
Party supplies! Home decor
Instant colour with a Mystic HD sunless tan is the perfect accessory. Book ahead to guarantee your preferred appointment time!
Ready for your sunny vacation ... Get your base tan before you go to help prevent sunburn! Start early for best results!
Studio 86 Tanning
Monday - Thursday 9:30 - 8:00, Friday 9:30 - 7:00, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 - 3:00 Holidays as posted
Vitamin D Sunbeds · UV Tanning · Infrared Sauna Mystic HD Sunless · Whole Body Vibration
Phone: 403-207-2006
403-983-1803 Strathmore, AB
Monday - Friday 9am-8pm Saturday 9:30am-6pm Sunday and holidays 10am-5pm
Independent business
Mystic HD Sunless Spray Tan!
Your best tan is our business!
...and a bit of everything else!
Servicing Chestermere And Area Since 2007
Attending a Christmas Party?
209 - 175 Chestermere Station Way. Chestermere, AB
studio86tanning.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 23
------------------------------You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen, Comet, and Cupid, and Donder and Blitzen----------------------------------good working condition.
Natural Choices By Cynthia Barnesky – Holistic Practitioner/Certified Professional Spiritual Life Coach and owner of SunRise Healing Center: Specializes in helping you with the natural ways of healing through her services of Inner Clarity Spiritual Life Coaching, Intuitive Massage, Reflexology, IonCleanse Detox Foot Bath, Intuitive Readings, Reconnective Healing, and many natural healing products. For more information visit her website: www.sunrisehealingcenter.com or give her a call: 403-934-6416.
Counting Down To Christmas in a Healthy Way
D ecember 1st is almost here and now you have only 24 days until the Big Day. There is so much to do, but take a deep breath in and out slowly. Here is a countdown list to help you plan and prepare for a stress-free holiday season with family and friends. December 1st: Book your babysitter, house or pet-sitter now. Get a jump on this important step to avoid disappointment when you cannot find a sitter on the days you need one. December 2nd: Write your Christmas gift and grocery list. Set a budget, as it is so easy to over spend at this time of the year and you will feel much better in January. December 3rd: Make sure you have winterized your car; if not, make an appointment today. Don’t forget an oil change, tire rotation or make sure you have the right winter tires on, as this will help relieve the worry that something might happen on winter roads. Also prepare or restock a winter safety kit (blankets, fully charged cell phone, snacks, bottled water and a flashlight and so on). December 4th: Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure the furnace and fireplace are in
December 5th: Be prepared for any emergency. Consider enrolling in a First Aid or CPR course. You can also download the tip sheets from the St. John Ambulance Canada website. December 6th: Do a deep clean of the fridge, freezer (make room for those holiday treats) and the bigger rooms of your home. This step will give you more time later just to spot clean! Remember not to overdo it and stretch before and after. December 7th: This is a wonderful day for Christmas Cards! Writing out best wishes to family and friends can help relax and rejuvenate you. Wrap and mail gifts that are going out of town. December 8th: Take a stab at your shopping lists today, even if it is for an hour or two. Mondays are usually the slower days for shopping and you reduce stress levels when there are less people to deal with. Remember to stay hydrated and eat natural healthy choice snacks, giving you more energy. December 9th: Prepare meals & baked goods. Pick meals (vegetarian lasagne, chili, soup) and baked goods (shortbread, peanut butter, ginger cookies) that freeze well to use later. December 10th: Sharing with the others. Christmas is supposed to be a special time of year for everyone, but some just do not have enough to eat or gifts for their kids. Please help out today by dropping off some non-perishable food items or an unwrapped toy at your local food bank or grocery store. Or help out a neighbour in need. This act of kindness will warm your heart for the whole season! December 11th: Pull out the lights and decorations. Being organized is a great way to reduce stress. This also allows you to see what needs replacing. Remember to get help with lifting heavy boxes and bend at the knees! December 12th: Family Night - Popcorn, pizza, holiday music, or movie and decorating the tree. In the days to come, guests will be arriving but before they do get the family together for an intimate evening of love, support and peace. December 13th: Lighting it up with Christmas lights inside and out. There is no doubt this will give you a bit of a work out, remember to stretch before starting to hang the lights and after. Make sure you have a partner when using a ladder. Festive lights will lift your spirits but be safe. December 14th: Do a quick spot clean and relax! You have been doing a lot for others so take some quiet time for yourself. A good day to release, renew and relax. December 15th: Bring out the fine china, check to see if any cleaning needs to be done. Use a homemade polishing paste of baking soda and water, rinse well and dry with a soft cloth. Wash extra glasses, serving dishes and cutlery too; everything needed for holiday entertaining. December 16th: Christmas wrapping can be a little crazy, so get organized. Make sure you have enough wrap, gift tags and ribbon for all your gifts. You can make wrapping a fun evening with Christmas music and get the kids to help.
24 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
-------------------------------------------------------------Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright.----------------------------------------------------------December 17th: Poinsettia shopping; pick up red, white or pink! Are Poinsettia Plants poisonous? Parents of young children and pets can be assured that the poinsettia plant is not a dangerous risk in the home. But we rarely think about some of the other holiday plants that are used as decorations or in bouquets. Sadly, some of these plants are much more toxic and even have the potential to be fatal to your pets. Plants such as; all parts of the lily, including the pollen; holly and some types of mistletoe, are also poisonous and are commonly used in holiday decorations. Pets and young children should always be supervised!
A ‘Beyond the Basics’ Facility!
December 18th: Holiday Cheer. Enjoying a drink or glass of wine is part of the celebrations. By planning ahead, you can still enjoy quality time with your family and friends while keeping up healthy habits. Just be wise and have water, coffee, tea and other beverages around. Try not to mix alcohol and for every one drink, have a glass of water; this help with the unpleasant feeling the next day. December 19th: Christmas cookie time. Find your favourite Christmas cookie recipes and enjoy baking time. You can also call a friend and have a cookie exchange. December 20th: Craft day, Gingerbread House and dance off! Decorate a gingerbread house with you kids or a friend. Get your family to help make personalized place mats for extended family when they come for dinner. Turn up the Christmas tunes and dance away those shortbread cookies. December 21: Pamper yourself! Your body is feeling the effect of marathon shopping, cleaning, cooking, and numerous office Christmas parties. Sleep in, then pamper yourself at home with a good book, a bubble bath with lavender and Himalayan crystal bath salts or epson bath salts. Give your feet extra attention after the bath by rubbing them with a peppermint foot cream. Or make an appointment at a favourite spa or beauty salon. December 22: Organize meals. With three full days to go, check your lists and see if you have missed anything. Decide if you are going to buy a fresh or frozen turkey. If you are having a frozen bird, you need to remember safety on thawing one out. Go to: http://www.butterball.com/how-tos/thaw-a-turkey to check out your options and on food safety. December 23rd: Holiday Magic. You are now down to the wire, you have almost everything ready. Do some last minute shopping, try doing it first thing in the morning when there are less people out. Wrap up the last few gifts. In the evening, pack up the car and go around the neighbourhood, admiring the fabulous Christmas lights with Christmas tunes on the radio.
Now offering young athlete development programs!
Like us on Facebook!
@ Target Fitness Strathmore
Gift Certificates Available Ph: 403-934-9866
∙ BAY A/B 202 CANAL COURT, STRATHMORE
Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season! - from your friends at Marlborough Sangster’s
December 24th: Take a deep breath in and out! You are only one day away so check those lists one last time. You are READY, relaxed and organized! You have everything you need. Do your last clean and pull out everything you need. If time permits, treat your family to skating or tobogganing. You might be surprise that you might have the whole rink or hill to yourselves. December 25th: Merry Christmas everyone, you made it! Get up early, start your day with a good breakfast, opening of presents, music and family time! Working together with family and friends is what’s it all is about. Enjoy the day with good food, love and laughter. Happy Holidays, Everyone! Sources: www.canadianliving.com, www.diabetes.org, www.drfranklipman.com
Stop in and pick-up your FREE 2015 Sangster’s Calendar
Clip this coupon and save Spend $50.00 - Get $10.00 Off
®
(Your next purchase)
Marlborough Mall ph: 403-248-1077 facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 25
“Feats of Strength” (which I always win), and the labelling of easily explainable events as “Festivus Miracles”. Watch the episode of Seinfeld. It is awesome.
Pancha Ganapati:
Happy Holidays Ok, this whole issue is about Christmas. But did you know there are other holidays being celebrated right now, not only around the world, but in our own backyards? W e are blessed to live in a highly diverse country, with many religions, beliefs and traditions. As Christmas-celebrators, we sometimes forget that there are so many other celebrations happening with our beloved friends and families. Here are a few: Bodhi Day:
December 8 – Celebrating the day that Buddha experienced enlightenment while he sat beneath the Bodhi tree (a type of fig tree), thus escaping the repeated cycle of reincarnation (birth, life, rebirth). It is observed by many Mahayana traditions. People may choose to commemorate the day through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards others. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake and readings.
Festivus:
December 23 – Ok, this isn’t a real holiday. But my husband and I celebrate “Festivus for the rest-of-us” every December 23. You can thank Jerry Seinfeld for this one! It is a great way to remove yourself from the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season. You have a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, you then celebrate the “Airing of Grievances” and
26 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
December 21-25 – A modern five-day festival in honour of Lord Ganesha, celebrated by Hindus in North America. The festival began in 1985 as a Hindu alternative to December holidays like Christmas. During each of the five days of Pancha Ganapati, the entire family focus on a special spiritual discipline, or sadhana. Because of the festival’s importance as a new beginning and mending of all past mistakes, a shrine is created in the main living room of the home and decorated in the spirit of this festive occasion. At the center is placed a large wooden or bronze five-faced statue of Lord Pancha Ganapati. If not available, any large picture or statue of Lord Ganesha will do. Lord Ganesha is often depicted as coming from the forest; therefore, pine boughs (or banana leaves) may be used. Flashing lights, tinsel and colourful hanging ornaments may also be added. Each morning the children dress or decorate Ganesha in a different colour: golden yellow on December 21, then royal blue, ruby red, emerald green and finally brilliant orange. These are the colours of his five powers, or shaktis.
Yalda:
December 21 – The Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. In modern times, Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning ‘night gazing’. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red colour invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra.
Kwanzaa:
December 26-January 1 – A week-long celebration held in North America. The celebration honours African heritage in African-American culture, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles, highlighted by the candle holder (kinara) with seven candles (Mishumaa); 3 red, 4 green. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles: Umoja (Unity; strive to maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination; to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility; to build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics; to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together), Nia (Purpose; to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness), Kuumba (Creativity; to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it), and Imani (Faith; to believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle). The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
403-934-5774 Phil, Harold & Dale
AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSMISSION
GENERAL REPAIRS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSMISSIONS
Wishing Everyone A Very Merry Christmas! 14A BAYSIDE PLACE. STRATHMORE, AB
Hanukkah:
Sunset on December 20-Sunset on December 28 – 8 day observance which recalls a miracle in the Jerusalem temple during a war fought by the Maccabees in the cause for religious freedom (funny anecdote: I remember all of this from Ross Gellar as the Holiday Armadillo on Friends trying to teach his son Ben about Hanukkah). Temple candles only had enough oil to burn for a single day, yet they burned for 8 days. The menorah is lit; 2 the first day, 3 on the second, to nine on the 8th day.
This is just a few of the wonderful holidays happening in December. We hope you have a beautiful holiday season, regardless of what or who you celebrate. With so many traditions in Canada, we should be tolerant of each and every one – foreign and domestic. So, Happy Bodhi Day, Happy Festivus, Happy Pancha Ganapati, Happy Yalda, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, and from us here at the Newsy Neighbour, Merry Christmas!
Like us on facebook
/PHDAutomotive
www.phdautomotive.com
What a Boy Wants For Christmas
Darren remembers accompanying his father out shopping in the toy department of Sears one Christmas Eve. Dad said, ‘What a marvellous train set. I’ll buy it.’ The girl behind the counter looked pleased and murmured, ‘Great, I’m sure your son will really love it.’ Dad replied with a glint in his eye, ‘Maybe you’re right. In that case I’ll take two.’
Father Christmas Calls
Alex was five years old. All of his Christmas presents were always signed, ‘from Father Christmas.’ A little while after Alex had opened all his presents on Christmas morning, we became aware that he was looking quite sad for no obvious reason. ‘What’s the matter, Alex?’ I asked. ‘Ummmm,’ replied Alex slowly. ‘I really hoped that you and mommy would give me something for Christmas.’
Denise Geremia References: www.wikipedia.org
Lar-Don Rentals Ltd.
Unique Christmas Gifts!
We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks for your patronage this past year and may you all have excellent visits and safe travels over the holidays!
Sales & Service
t en
Light Construction & Garden Equipment Trenching
www.lardonrentals.com 15 Spruce Lane, Strathmore 403.934.3727 facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 27
---------------------------------------------------------On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:---------------------------------------------------------
Reindeer
Reindeer are featured on Christmas cards and in movies worldwide this time of year, flying Santa through the sky and being admired by girls and boys from all over the world.
Reindeer Christmas Facts:
• Rudolph is the most famous reindeer. He is the leader of the other 8, whose names are Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donner, Prancer, and Vixen. • The reindeer are cared for by one of the Christmas elves. • On Christmas Eve, the reindeer are sprinkled with the magic dust that gives them enough magic to fly right around the world. They can fly at the speed of a Christmas light. • Long ago, when Rudolph was just a young deer, his nose was touched by Christmas Magic, and since that day his nose has glowed bright red!
But, There is more to reindeer than Christmas ornaments.
• Reindeer are usually 4-5 feet tall, not including their antlers. Their antlers are 3’ tall! • Did you know that reindeer are the only deer in which both male and females grow antlers? They shed their antlers in the winter. • Like a human’s fingerprint, no two reindeer antlers are exactly the same. • Did you know that reindeer can run 50 miles per hour? • A male reindeer is called a buck. • A female reindeer is called a doe. • A baby reindeer is called a fawn. • Reindeer were built for the snow and cold. Their bodies react to changes in temperatures by making adjustments. When temperatures become frigid, they have the uncanny ability to lower the temperature in their legs to near freezing levels. This keeps their core body even. • Reindeer are strong, energy-efficient running machines. A 20 pound new calf can outrun a man, and reindeer in general are more efficient than most other land mammals. • Reindeer are great swimmers! Their thick coat of hollow hairs keeps them warm in the freezing waters but also acts as a kind of natural life jacket, giving them buoyancy. 28 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
---------------------------------------------------------City sidewalks, busy sidewalks. Dressed in holiday stye--------------------------------------------------------
Score:
Gift Dance
Christmas Squares
Give The
Score:
Dance gift certificates available for Christmas!
Dance Classes for anybody with ANY BODY!
New programs beginning 2015 for everyone!
Take turns drawing a line between two dots (no diagonals). When the line you draw makes a square, write your initial in it. You get one point! Squares with a star are worth two points. Continue to take turns until there are no moves left. The player with the most points wins!
Bubbles
This space is sponsored by...
Fine Drycleaning & Coin Laundry
OnSite Dry Cleaning Same Day Available
Of
www.expressionsthedancegallery.com 126 Canal Garden. Strathmore, AB
Ph: 403-901-6392
Open
• Laundry Drop Off (Wash & Fold) Everyday • 10% Senior Discount • Shirt Service • Horse Blankets • Leather Club Jackets • Wedding Gowns (Preservation Boxes) 316A 2nd Ave, Strathmore, AB Phone: 403-934-1807
Santa’s Wish
A man was walking along one day and found a Jack-in-the-Box lying in the street. He looked around and didn’t see anyone who might have dropped it, so he decided to turn the handle and open the Jack-in-the-Box. All of a sudden, Santa appeared and thanked the man for letting him out of the box. Santa said, “I am so grateful to get out of that crazy Jack-in-the-Box, that I will grant you a wish. BUT, I can only grant one at this time of year. I have SO many wishes to grant.” The man thought for a while and finally said, “I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I’ve never been able to go because I cannot stand flying in an airplane, and boats tend to make me claustrophobic. So for my wish, I want a road to be built to Hawaii.” Santa thought about the road for a few minutes and finally said, “No, I don’t think I can do that. Just think of all the work involved. Consider all the piling needed to hold up a highway and how deep they would have to go to reach the bottom of the ocean. Just imagine all of the pavement needed. No, I’m sorry, but that is just too much to ask.” The man thought for a few minutes and then decided on his second choice. The man said, “There IS one other thing I have always wanted. I would like to be able to understand women. What makes them laugh and cry, why they are temperamental, and why they can be so difficult to get along with. Basically, I’d like to know what makes them tick.” Santa pondered the request for a moment, and finally said, “So, do you want two lanes or four?”
www.HammerHillStables.com Phone: 403-901-3360
CORPORATE OR FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTIES? MAKE IT MEMORABLE WITH A TRUE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE! Call now to book one of our Belgian Draft Horse Teams to come Call now to book one of give our your staff to your location and Belgian Draft Horse Teams to or family a magical Christmas come to your location and give your staff or experience. family a magical Christmas experience.
Horse drawn hay wagon and sleigh rides on picturesque Hammer Hill, followed by all the relaxing you Horse drawn haytime wagon andwant sleigh sitting around a bonfire drinking hotonchocolate. Bring Hill, your rides picturesque Hammer followed by all the relaxing you toboggans for the kids to play on the hillsides. A time short wantof sitting around a bonfire drinking 25km drive Southeast Strathmore. hot chocolate. Bring your toboggans
There is nothing like a sleigh ride and bring for the kidsjingle to play bells on the to hillsides. A short out the magic in25 km drive Southeast of Strathmore. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
There is nothing like a sleigh ride and jingle bells to bring out the magic in
No snow, no worries, we have wagons too. Call for more information, quotes, or to book your fun-filled event.
We offer horses and no wagons/sleighs/carriages for just about No snow, worries, we have wagons too. every venue possible.quotes, Pleaseor check website. Call for more information, to bookout yourour fun-filled event. We offer horses and wagons/sleighs/carriages for just about every venue possible. Please check out our website. www.HammerHillStables.com
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 29
-
Christmas Love A Mindful Minute
By Rebecca Stone – Becky is a yoga instructor and the owner of Pranava Yoga in Strathmore, AB. Pranava yoga is a community minded studio, fostering the growth of the yoga community in Strathmore (and the world) by promoting the values of personal practice, creativity, abundance and community spirit. Make sure to check out her website at www.pranavayoga.ca, call her at (587) 365-3651 or email her at: info@pranavayoga.ca
Christmas is coming! I love this time of year – the snow falling outside as I drink my hot chocolate, my beautiful boys’ rosy cheeked from the cold and laughing as they tumble in the snow, Christmas lights twinkling, decorations making the house and neighbourhood feel festive.
I ’d like to tell you a Christmas story. This story is from over a decade ago, my son’s first Christmas. We were so young, uneducated, struggling to adapt to this new human being in our life and the demands that come with becoming a parent. I wanted to provide the kind of Christmas that I felt my son deserved – but really all I could provide was a winter jacket that I picked up second hand and a few small toys from Walmart. I remember that year so well. We couldn’t even afford a Christmas tree.
thenewsyneighbour.com
Here is what I am learning in this life. Love is not a thing, not just a feeling, it is an act. Compassion is not just empathy, but a drive to lessen the suffering that we see. We are all striving for happiness in life, every single one of us. And we are all in suffering. The most remarkable thing is when we strive to lessen someone else’s suffering, we also lessen our own. When we bring happiness to another human being, we also feel happy. When we give our love freely, the love is returned in abundance. Christmas is a seasonal reminder of our interconnectedness. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another”. Whether you celebrate the season as the birth of Christ or are more secular in your beliefs, it matters not. It is a fundamental truth of nature that we are all in this together. Pssst... it’s a truth all year round, but Christmas is the season that we are all reminded of that fact and can rejoice in it together. In a time when the media and retail frenzy starts the season before we have had a chance to put away the Halloween decorations, and our children have Christmas lists worth 1000’s of dollars, and Visa is willing to up our limit (and interest rates), it is easy to lose track that the true gift of Christmas is not a ‘thing’. It is not even a ‘Spirit’ of the season. The best gift of all is the gift of the reminder that love and compassion are real, and the most valuable thing in all our lives. When I say Merry Christmas, I hope you hear I love you.
Something magical happened. While my little family was out of the house one afternoon shortly before the big day, my mom and dad dropped off a stack of boxes stuffed full with colourful Christmas ornaments and tucked them under a beautiful bare fir tree. It was the best Christmas present ever. Even though underneath the tree stayed pretty bare that year, its beauty was a reminder of how loved we all were. And how blessed that is.
30 •
It was not the gift, but rather the act, the love and compassion shown in the giving of the gift of that tree that touched us then, and still warms me now.
As a small gift to you from me, follow this link: http://www. pranavayoga.ca/#!meditations/c18bm . Compassion and love are centred in the heart, and this is the focus of this guided meditation created just for this busy season. Namaste, Becky
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
--------------------------------------------------------It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Ev’rywhere you go--------------------------------------------------
Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre CRCA 2014 Fall Recreation Programs www.chestermerecrca.com 2 0 1 4
F A L L
Community Christmas Party
CRCA Winter 2015 Programs
Saturday, December 6th Rec Centre Main Hall 12 – 4 pm Musical Performances by local talent!
The CRCA Winter Program Brochure will be available for upcoming recreation programs with CRCA mid December. Please watch the website as well for Winter Session Registration Information
Santa’s Workshop – Crafts & Activities.
Put the Candy Cane away and Get Active!
Coffee, hot chocolate, treats & Santa visit! Hayrides Outside: 1 – 3 pm
Christmas Marketplace Shopping Lots of homemade crafts!
Saturday, December 6th
10 am - 4 pm Chestermere Rec Centre MPP Room
P R O G R A M S
201 West Chestermere Dr. Chestermere AB T1X 1B2 403-272-7170
BROADWAY KIDS MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE
Support the new Broadway Kids Musical Theatre Group in their first local performance! Sunday, Dec 7th at 2:00 pm
“Our Gift To You!”
$5.00 at the door Chestermere Rec Centre Main Hall
2 0 1 4
MINI ENERGIZER Wed, Jan 7th 6 – 8 pm Rec Centre
Clubs and Organizations interested in having a table to share upcoming programs and services info please email to register. No cost! recreation@chestermerecrca.com
GO GIRL Ages 10 – 15 “Theme: “Finding Your Voice” An active day to promote physical activity to girls in our community. Cost $15.00
Saturday, January 17th from 8:45 am – 5 pm For more info email recreation@chestermerecrca.com
CRCA Wishes Everyone a Very Festive Holiday Season and All The Best In The New Year!
Register for CRCA Programs online at www.chestermerecrca.com
F A L L
P R O G R A M S
Need more information contact us at 403-272-7170 / ext - 228 or 224
or by email at recreation@chestermerecrca.com (Vicki) recadmin@chestermerecrca.com (Penny)
Bike For Christmas
Mom was just about at her wits end with her eight year old. She phoned her husband and told him to pick up a bicycle on his way home for a Christmas present. He asked her if she thought that would improve his behaviour. “No,” she said. “But it will spread it over a wider area.”
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” -- Andy Rooney “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” -- Burton Hillis
December 12 - Family Christmas Celebration from 6:00 - 8:00pm Ongoing Events: Free Parent and Tot Program (Wednesdays 10:30am - 11:45am) Free public skating (see website for details)
Banquet Hall Rentals & Catering Services
Indus is located approximately 15km East of Calgary on Hwy 22x
www.indusrec.ca 403-936-5474
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 31
----------------------------------------------------We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,-----------------------------------------------
Christmas Tree Cookies
E very year I make Shortbread cookies for Christmas. I don’t know why I only make them at Christmas because they are absolutely the best cookies of all time! I usually use my antique Mirro Cookie press to make them, but something terrible happened last year as I scoured the house and spent hours looking for my beloved cookie press to no avail and this summer, as I was cleaning out my pantry, lo and behold there it was hidden under a stack of dishcloths! I almost cried I was so happy to find it!
Just a little tip – make sure your butter is pretty soft (mine wasn’t and there was a little cursing going on under my breath as I tried to cream the butter and the sugar together). I used my kitchen aid mix master but I still had to stop and scrape the paddled way too many times because the butter just kept sticking (pain in the you-know-what). So anyhow, you cream the shortening (butter), adding the sugar gradually. Once it is soft and creamy you add the unbeaten eggs, the flour, salt and baking powder which you have sifted together, the almond extract and the drops of food colouring and mix very well.
I did a little research to find out how old this baby really is and the best I could find was that it came out in 1957 (the same year I was born) – I guess lots of really good things happened that year!! So, I will get around to making my famous shortbread cookies before Christmas this year. Well, since it was such a crappy cold Sunday afternoon yesterday, I thought to myself, what a wonderful day to stay inside and try one of the original recipes out of the book that came with the press – Christmas Tree Cookies. Now, at this point I got a little worried because the dough looked a little too thick for my liking but I carried on. Next time I would use a little less flour. I pushed the dough into my handy dandy cookie press using the Christmas tree plate (for the shape) and started cranking the handle, which pushes the dough onto the cookie sheet. As with anything, the first few didn’t turn out that great but once I got the hang of it they actually started to look little cute little Christmas trees. TIP: do not grease or flour the cookie sheet.
A very simple recipe indeed (I doubled the batch; after all, if you’re going to make cookies, make lots!). The recipe called for shortening but I used butter (it’s the same thing in my mind). Here is the recipe doubled: 2 cups of real butter 1 ½ cups sugar 2 eggs 4 ½ cups flour ¼ tsp salt ½ tsp baking powder 2 tsp almond extract Green food colouring. I did not have any green left so I used three drops of blue and three drops of yellow and that worked just fine.
32 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The recipe says you should bake them in a 375°F oven for 10 – 12 minutes, but I cooked mine for 9 minutes and they were absolutely perfect!!
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
---------------------------------------------------------------------Come they told me; Pa rum pum pum pum-------------------------------------------------------
Some Christmas Gift Ideas From Us
The I Am A... Series
Fruits & Vegetables With doubling the batch I ended up with (wait for it) 148 beautiful little Christmas Tree Cookies. So I guess it is off to the dollar store to buy some pretty little bags; it seems lots of friends and family will be receiving a little surprise of delicious cookies this year
A Light-Hearted Guide to the Health Benefits of Fruits & Vegetables. Includes Dozens of Easy-to-Prepare Recipes!
Only $27.95 www.thenewsyneighbour.com
Ph: 403-561-0888 Only $12
Ph: 403-608-0686
www.thepoutypuppy.com
Advertising Gift Certificates!!!
I’ve tried the new plastic cookie presses but I have found there is just no comparison to my old antique Mirro – you can buy them on eBay and Amazon but you are going to have to pay quite a bit more for one. I laughed out loud when I saw the price was still on the box I have: $3.69. Can you imagine?! But I’m thinking that back in 1957 that probably wasn’t that cheap! On eBay they are going anywhere between $50.00 and $75.00. Who knows, maybe your grandma might have one hidden in the back of a closet somewhere (or under a stack of dishcloths). It would make a wonderful hand-me-down Christmas gift. I’m telling you, I would love to have another one in my house just in case something ever happened to mine!! They just don’t make things the way they used to!!
Merry Christmas Trees (Cookies) Kathryn Hartwell
I have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem to open their hearts freely, and so I say, God bless Christmas! ~ Charles Dickens
P E A C E O N
The First Christmas Night Live Outdoor Christmas Nativity Pageant Chestermere Christian Fellowship Invites you and your family to attend
December 12,13 & 14 - 7:30pm Young and old will love this quaint retelling of the historical Christmas event. We will do our best to keep you warm with glowing bonfires, seasonal music and serving of steamy hot chocolate. Plenty of parking available We are located 1.6 km north of Hwy#1 on Conrich Road (RR 284) Phone: 587-437-5903 for more info.
E A R T H facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 33
Christmas Gift Ideas
Give the gift of Sunshine this Christmas!
Recline for Christmas! Save 2 X The GST on any Ashley Recliner! Regular & High Leg In Stock!!
A Studio 86 Tanning Gift Certificate will make that happen ... available for all services offered
Studio 86 Tanning
PJ’s Appliance & Mattress Gallery
Country Lane Mall, Strathmore, AB
18 Spruce Park Drive, Strathmore, AB
403-983-1803
403-934-6919
Buy one, get the second at 50% off!
Winter Tires! Strathmore Motor Products
Trend Fashions
900 Westridge Road, Strathmore, AB
175 Chestermere Station Way, Chestermere AB
403-934-3334
403-235-0352
www.HammerHillStables.com Phone: 403-901-3360
$150.00 Gift Certificates Good for up to 4 people, including a bonfire and hot chocolate on Hammer Hill.
www.HammerHillStables.com
Zoya Polishes, Hempz Body Lotion, Manicure Kits & More
Hammer Hill Stables
The Lakeshore Esthetics & Tanning
403 888-2102
403 273-LAKE (5253)
Strathmore, Alberta
202, 320 West Creek Drive, Chestermere
The gift for you that is intrinsically a gift for your loved ones.
Work with Your Happiness Coach! Book with this ad and receive 10% off 2015 Fast Track to Success Program.
My Bakery Shop
Carla Lomenda-Segovia
#111 - 355 Centre Street N. Langdon, AB 34 •
lomendaenergy.com
403 880-9875
thenewsyneighbour.com
403.861.4810
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
GIFTS
We Also Have Cool Winter Hats!
Strathmore Motor Products 900 Westridge Road, Strathmore, AB
403-934-3334
Free Market Evaluations give us a call today!! 403-934-1625
Gift Certificates Available clothing – crafts – gifts
The Red Carrot
223 – 3rd Ave., Strathmore, AB
403-934-6112
Typical pen that works but it has an high definition camera built in! Takes Hi-Resolution video and still images; Records audio memos
Nancy Stairs & Steve Farran
Farm & Acreage Security
403-901-9335
403-616-6610
Re/Max Realty. Strathmore, AB
Beauti by Nature
4949 Barlow Trail SE. Calgary
SunRise Healing Center Falling into Christmas Sale
10 to 50% Off
Gift Certificates & Packages Available
Natural Healing Products December 5th & 6th
Beauti by Nature
SunRise Healing Center
403-901-8900
403-934-6416
Strathmore’s Sugaring Salon
www.sunrisehealingcenter.com
This Christmas, give the gift of dance!
Gift Certificates Available Target Fitness
Expressions the dance gallery
403-934-9866
403-901-6392
Bay A/b 202 Canal Court, Strathmore
Christmas Gift Ideas
Coffee Mugs & Clock
126 Canal Gdns, Strathmore, AB
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 35
Twas the night before Christmas Clement Clarke Moore (1799 - 1863) came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the Night Before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a Worldwide institution and tradition. It is also a tradition for us to put it in the Christmas Issue of The Newsy Neighbour each year! Enjoy! Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" thenewsyneighbour.com
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
36 •
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Veterans Ave
10 reasons to shop local
1. Dollars you spend locally support vital public services in our town. 2. Your community is unique, and our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of our distinctive character. Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. 3. You can grow a relationship with your local merchants. They can get to know you, and cater to your preferences.
Downtown Strathmore
4. Local merchants care about and invest in your community. They donate part of your dollars back to local groups and charities. 5. Your local purchases support local jobs. 6. When you shop at one local merchant, you're supporting a whole host of other business. Banks, restaurants and other business cluster around our local shops. 7. Local shops are more accessible for everyone. This is especially important for elderly, young people and those without transport. 8. You save money by shopping at home. You drive less, save time, and you'd be surprised how often the retail prices are lower, too.
www.valuedrugmart.com
Selected Christmas Decorations, Lights, & Giftware Now 25% Off or More!
E: strathmore@valuedrug.ca
10. Your purchases help the town attract new entrepreneurs and skilled workers. Towns that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character are more successful in recruiting.
Strathmore, Alberta Veteran’s Ave
403-934-3122 ph 403-934-6474 fax
Stylz Salon & Spa All your family hair care and spa needs!
E S
Strathmore Legion
ve 1A n’s
era Vet
Ave
ve 3A
Kingsman Park
3S et
tre
Phone: 403-934-3940
N
W
Wheatland Trail
S
132-2nd Ave Strathmore AB T1P 1K3
9. You can reduce your environmental impact by cutting out those long drives to the big city.
119 - 2 Avenue. Strathmore, AB
At Coldwell we are real people serving real people.
Trans-Canada Hwy
www.strathmore.ca
COLDWELL INSURANCE 133-2nd Ave Strathmore, AB Phone: Fax:
403-934-3221
403-934-5163
Representing and accessing over 30 of the worlds leading insurers
At Coldwell Agencies we earn your business.
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 37
Veterans Ave
We all know how fun it is to shop locally in Strathmore, but there's more to it!
Ripperz
Downtown Strathmore Rippin' with skateboards, longboards & supplies.
Bench.
1. Protect Local Character and Prosperity. Strathmore is unlike any other place in the world. By choosing to support locally owned businesses, you help maintain Strathmore’s diversity.
Come in and check us out!
129 - 2nd Ave. Strathmore, AB • Ph: 403-934-2420
2. Community Well-Being. Locally owned businesses build strong neighbourhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbours, and by contributing more to local causes. 3. Local Decision Making. Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. 4. Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy. Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on your community as dollars spent at national chains. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services, invest in neighbourhood improvement and promote community development.
Ph:
403.230.0837 • 115 2 Ave. Strathmore, AB Under New Ownership • Your Local Denture Experts
Come visit us today for your Free Consultation Immediate Dentures - Equilibrated Dentures - Dentures over Implants - Removable Partials - Relines & Soft Liners - Repairs
5. Job and Wages. Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do. 6. Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship fuels Alberta’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class. 7. Public Benefits and Costs. Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services. 8. Environmental Sustainability. Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers, which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.
& Gma's Strathmore
Hours: Monday - Saturday 12-8pm Closed Sundays & Holidays
123 2 Ave, Strathmore, AB ' (403) 934-4200
www.chads420.com
9. Competition. A marketplace of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. 10. Product Diversity. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices. Adapted and reprinted with permission of Stacy Mitchell, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
38 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
Visit all of our listings & virtual tours at
www.nancystairs.com
Proud A+ Members of The Better Business Bureau RE/MAX REALTY HORIZON, P.O. Box 2116. Strathmore, AB
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Veterans Ave Tracy’s All Breed Dog Grooming
$5 OFF
107b - 2nd Ave., Strathmore, AB
Tracy: 403-901-5162 www.facebook.com/groups/ tracysallbreeddoggrooming
Hair Salon & Barbershop We Do Roller Sets!
Ear Piercing, Waxing, Nails and More!
Marlene Hill: 403-934-3442
107A-2nd Ave Strathmore, AB
Lil Hoots Children's and Maternity Consignment Boutique
Get your kid's Christmas outfits here!
Visit us on
We’ve Moved!
403-934-9979 /lilhootsconsignment
329 - 3 Avenue, Strathmore
(old Music Centre Canada building)
Strathmore Dental Centre EĞǁ WĂƟĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞƌŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ tĞůĐŽŵĞ͊ Dr. Terry Lee Alston Dr. Hugh Kennedy ƌ͘ ŚƌŝƐƟŶĞ >ŝůŐĞ ƌ͘ ZŽďĞƌƚ <ŝŶŶŝďƵƌŐŚ 115-2nd Ave. Strathmore, Alberta
;KƌƚŚŽĚŽŶƟƐƚͿ
Ph: 403-934-5620
ǁǁǁ͘ƐƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞĚĞŶƚĂů͘ĐĂ
Downtown Strathmore
The Newsy Neighbour is going to throw a huge festival in downtown Strathmore on June 20, 2015. One major factor to the festival is creating a “buy local” campaign for our town. Lots of towns do this! It can make a difference in your local economy, your community, and your services.
You can make a difference in your community!!! Research shows that if you shift a portion of your spending from national chains and the Internet to independent locally-owned and operated businesses, you can have a dramatic effect on your local economy when you take the pledge and commit to shop local. There are Local groups emerging across the country. Today, the number of groups promoting "local first" or "buy local" campaigns is at an all-time high. That's the message we were trying to get out: YOU are the backbone of the community. Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, believes there's a growing sense that the big corporate economy no longer works. "There is this larger, cultural shift ... to buy local." The movement gained steam during the recession. "Rather than pulling back and buying into the idea that they could save a few bucks elsewhere, in many communities, people seemed to make even more of an effort to steer their spending to businesses owned locally." No longer considered a fad, the local food movement has been around for about 10 years already and is particularly strong in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. In fact, the majority of Canadians indicate at least some desire to purchase local because they want to support their local economy. 2 Great Examples: 1. “If you have a fire, you need help and you need it quickly. Every time you shop locally a percentage of your dollar goes to keep our town running, including our Fire Department. When you spend your dollars elsewhere, your money goes to equip somebody else’s Fire Department. Be smart. Shop local first. It helps you and it helps your neighbours.” 2. Every taxable dollar spent in Strathmore benefits important services like police and fire, senior services, libraries, street maintenance, street lights and parks and contributes to the quality of life you enjoy.
Take The Pledge. Join The Movement. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY! References: cnn.com, canadiangrocer.com, independent we stand and rockyview.ca
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 39
Let’s Revitalise Downtown Strathmore. dŚĞ EĞǁƐLJ EĞŝŐŚďŽƵƌ ŝƐ ďŝŐ ŽŶ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ ůŽĐĂů͘ ^ƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ ůŽĐĂů ŝƐ ǀŝƚĂů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŽĨ ĂŶLJ ƚŽǁŶ͘ ^ƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞ ŚĂƐ Ă lot ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ĞĂƐLJ ƚŽ ĨŽƌŐĞƚ͘ tĞ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ĐŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ ƐŽŵĞǁŚĞƌĞ LJŽƵ ŵĂLJ ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƐĞĞŶ ŝŶ Ă ǁŚŝůĞ ďLJ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ƐƚƌŽůů ĚŽǁŶ ϮŶĚ ĂŶĚ ϯƌĚ ǀĞ͘ 'ƌĂď Ă ĐŽīĞĞ͕ ĚƌĞƐƐ ǁĂƌŵ͕ ǁĞĂƌ LJŽƵƌ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ǁĂůŬŝŶŐ ƐŚŽĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ĨƵŶ͘
The Newsy Neighbour has taken on the challenge to help revitalise downtown Strathmore.
džĐŝƟŶŐ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ĂƌĞ ŚĂƉƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĚŽǁŶƚŽǁŶ͊ /Ĩ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ Ă ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽǁŶĞƌ ŝŶ ĚŽǁŶƚŽǁŶ ^ƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ƵƐ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƐŽŵĞ ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͊
Denise Geremia: Phone: 403-608-0686
Visit www.thenewsyneighbour.com for more ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĂƐ ǁĞ ƵƉĚĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ůŝƐƚ ŽĨ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ businesses. ĞƚĂŝůƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ͗ ϭͿ ĂĐŚ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ǁŝůů ŚĂǀĞ ĐĂƌĚƐ ĂŶĚ ďƌŽĐŚƵƌĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƐŚŽƉƉĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ͘ ϮͿ WĞŽƉůĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƐƉĞŶĚ ΨϮϱ Ăƚ ϴϬй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƌĚ͘ ϯͿ tŚĞŶ ΨϮϱ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐƉĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƚŽƌĞ ŽǁŶĞƌͬĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ ǁŝůů ŝŶŝƟĂů ƚŚĞ ĐĂƌĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƉĞƌƐ ŶĂŵĞ͘ ϰͿ KŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƌĚ ŝƐ ϴϬй ĨƵůů͕ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƉĞƌ ĐĂŶ ŵĂŝů ƚŚĞ ĐĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƵƐ͕ Žƌ ƚŚĞLJ ĐĂŶ ďƌŝŶŐ ŝƚ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ƚŚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƌ͘ ϱͿ dŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ĚƌĂǁ ĨŽƌ ƐŽŵĞ ,ƵŐĞ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ƉƌŝnjĞƐ͘ ƌĂǁ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŽŶ :ƵŶĞ ϮϬ͕ ϮϬϭϱ
ĚĞŶŝƐĞΛƚŚĞŶĞǁƐLJŶĞŝŐŚďŽƵƌ͘ĐŽŵ ǁǁǁ͘ƚŚĞŶĞǁƐLJŶĞŝŐŚďŽƵƌ͘ĐŽŵ
If you are a business in Downtown ^ƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƉĂƌƟĐŝĂƚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ contact us!
ΎKƉĞŶ ƚŽ Ăůů ^ƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ͖ ƐŽŵĞ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ĂƉƉůLJ͘
thenewsyneighbour.com
dŽ ŐŽ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ZĞǀŝƚĂůŝƐĞ ŽǁŶƚŽǁŶ ^ƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ůĂƵŶĐŚŝŶŐ Ă ^ŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ŝŶ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϭϱ͘ dŚŝƐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ŝƐ ŽƉĞŶ ƚŽ Ăůů ƐŚŽƉƉĞƌƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŝƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ ĚŽǁŶƚŽǁŶ ^ƚƌĂƚŚŵŽƌĞ͘
dŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ĨĞƐƟǀĂů ŽŶ :ƵŶĞ 20th, 2015 hosted by the Newsy Neighbour that is open to all Strathmore businesses*, we are launching a shopping challenge and will have some huge giveaways!!
40 •
DOWNTOWN STRATHMORE
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
The Newsy Neighbor ADD.pdf
1
2014-11-18
10:39 PM
MY BA K E R Y S H O P C
M
Y
CM
custom cakes cupcakes mini cupcakes
MY
CY
cakepops
CMY
K
frozen yogurt
&
Shop
Cupcake Frozen Yogurt
whole wheat bread homemade jams OPEN Monday to Saturday 10 to 7 #111- 355 Centre Street N Langdon, AB 403 880 9875 facebook.com/mybakeryshop
Christmas Is The Most Magical Time Of The Year
C hristmas is most certainly the time of giving, not just of gifts but also of yourself. Really have a great Christmas, this year and every year. We at The Newsy Neighbour really are grateful for our sixth Christmas with you and thank you all for the success and growth we have achieved; we couldn’t have done it without all our faithful readers and advertisers. A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. – Garrison Keillor
gifts under the Christmas tree, not knowing where to start. Christmas really warms my soul; I sit up late at night alone in front of my Christmas tree in the dark and listen to old Christmas songs and think about how my children have grown and now have homes with their own Christmas trees – how times have changed. A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires. – Paulo Coelho Have the most happy, healthy, prosperous and joyous Christmas Season and remember to read your children The Night before Christmas on page 36 before they go to bed Christmas Eve. Kathryn Hartwell
Isn’t Christmas always in the back of your mind, even in the middle of summer? I know I will be strolling around at a fair or farmers market and see the perfect gift for Christmas giving. Now, I don’t always purchase the gift and think later – why didn’t I buy that when I had the chance? This thought normally comes into my mind then I’m furiously searching through the malls December 22nd, not really being happy with anything I see. Well, next year I will purchase that perfect gift when I see it. Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible. - Norman Vincent Peale
Pianissimo Piano Studio
I used to love the look of wonder in my children’s eyes when they would get out of bed on Christmas morning and look at all the
www.pianissimopianostudio.com
Piano Lessons 403-480-1060 Peru1@shaw.ca
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 41
For Everything That Really Matters
Family Pages
The Eight Best Surprises A Kid Ever Had
Do you ever ask yourself what is really important in life? I know you do – we all do; although, some more frequently than others. I think this question arises when we are perhaps unhappy with choices we have made or we feel stuck in a job we don’t like or we have to make a big decision about making changes in our circumstance.
1. Pajama Ride
But seriously – What really is the most Important thing in life?
One night, after the kids are in their pajamas and tucked into bed, wait about ten minutes, race into their rooms, flip on the light and yell, “PAJAMA RIDE!” Wrap a blanket around them, toss them in the car and go to Dairy Queen for a hot fudge sundae. Your kids will love the memory, they’ll get to see Mom and Dad act crazy, and you’ll have a wonderful opportunity to talk with them about what’s going on in their lives.
My answer would be “family and health”. I recently picked up a book at a garage sale called, “Lists to Live By” and what a great book it is. I wanted to share one of the “Lists” included in the book for this special Christmas Family Page.
When was the last time you as an adult went tobogganing? Is it slightly dangerous since we are older and don’t bounce back like
42 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
2. Go Tobogganing
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
we use too? You bet – and an absolute riot. The chance for your kids to see their parents have fun makes it memorable.
3. Scavenger Hunt
Wake your kids up in the morning and announce they have an important task. After breakfast, they’ll have two hours to find everything on your list (a red button, a yellow rose, a Beanie Baby, two jokers, a picture of a mountain, a penny from the 70’s, a mattress advertisement, etc. – the sillier the better!) The fun is the hunt and in the chance to let everyone tell their stories at the end of the game.
4. Build a Fort
Take the time to build something with your kids, be it a tree house, clubhouse, backyard tent, or even a living room fort made of couch cushions. There is something about the memory of working together and building a structure that stays with children.
5. Kids-in-Charge Night
Put your children in charge some Saturday. Let them choose what you’ll do in the afternoon, and then ask them to set the table and give them simple recipes to cook for dinner. Use an easy menu (like spaghetti or pancakes) and let them go at it. The lesson will be worth the mess! After dinner, guide them through washing dishes, sorting laundry, emptying the trash, and sewing on buttons. During these activities, talk with your kids about the importance of fulfilling responsibilities.
The most important present you can ever give to another – and to yourself – is the gift of love, without strings, conditions and judgments; just pure love and acceptance. May we all give and receive the gift of boundless love as often as we can, spreading it far and wide.
Christmas is the time to touch every heart with love and care. Christmas is the time to receive and send blessings. It is the time to breathe the magic in the air.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. Kathryn Hartwell
6. Notes in Lunch Box
Write an encouraging note to each of your children and stick them in their lunch boxes. If you’re really brave, add a cartoon. An unexpected positive word can sometimes make a memory that lasts a lifetime.
7. Surprise Party
Throw a surprise party. Make a cake, hang decorations and invite your child’s friends (make sure they keep it a secret). If it’s for a birthday, that’s great…but it doesn’t have to be for anything special! Just the thought that you would go to the trouble of creating a surprise will be enough to make it memorable.
8. Day Off from School
One day, after one of your children has received a good report card, show up at school and say, “Sorry, but I have to take you out of school today. I need you to do something important with me.” Then take him or her fishing. That’s right: fishing. Sometimes a day with Mom or Dad is more important than a day with the teacher. (If you can’t take the entire day, make it a lunch date!)
Family is the most important gift you will ever have!! Family is the most important thing in the world. ~Princess Diana The most important gift you can give your children is the gift of self-esteem and to make them feel like they are the most important people in your life; please don’t ever forget that. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 43
Calgary’s Premium Supplier of Electronic Cigarettes. E-liquid and Accessories
Gift Cards Now Available!
ATTENTION LADIES!
THIS IS A JOKE – NOT MEANT TO MAKE ANYONE MAD OR UPSET!! Yesterday, scientists for Health Canada suggested that men should take a look at their beer consumption, considering the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. The theory is that drinking beer makes men turn into women. To test the finding, 100 men were fed 6 pints of beer each. It was observed that 100% of the men gained weight, talked excessively without making sense, became overly emotional, couldn’t drive, failed to think rationally, argued over nothing & refused to apologize when wrong. No further testing is planned.
Come and see our full-sized vapor sampling bar 315-2555 32 Street NE (Right of the Sunridge Cineplex) www.hotshotsvapor.ca
Time To Go Home
Two men are sitting at the bar. One starts to insult the other one. He screams, “I slept with your mother!” The bar gets quiet as everyone listens to see what the other man will do. The other says, “Go home dad, you’re drunk.”
How To Make Cucumber Shot Glasses.
Cucumber shot glasses can be used for gazpacho servings, or mini-Bloody Mary’s. The coolness of the cucumber makes it idea for clear alcohols, like vodka or gin-based drinks. Take a long, English cucumber and rinse it. You can peel it, if you prefer a paler look. Slice three-inch “logs” width-wise along the cucumber. Use a small melon-baller, and remove the soft, seedy core – remember to leave at least a half-inch of cucumber at the base so that alcohol does not seep through the bottom.
Celebration Of Lights
Family New Years Eve Bash When: December 31 from 5 pm to 9 pm Where: The Livestock Pavilion at the Strathmore Agricultural Grounds.
Sweet Liqueur Shot Glasses
Fee is $5.00 per family You get an entry form for a prize draw!
For the guest who enjoys a shot of Bailey’s, Drambuie or any liqueur that is cream-based or just sweet, try making a shot glass out of something you may already own: flat-bottomed ice cream cones. To ensure that the cones will not become soggy when alcohol is poured, hardened melted chocolate provides a protective layer that also flavours the liqueur.
Kids colouring contest! Kids dance-off for prizes! Free pizza, cookies and refreshments for everyone!
Have the best Christmas Season ever!
Fireworks at 8 pm! The Christmas Park will be open until 9 pm!
Looking for family fun? Please come and join us!
44 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Keep your New Year's celebrations safe and fun! Call for a quote today! We offer limos for any night out, any occasion : New Year's Celebration, Stag, Staggette, Engagement Party, Rehearsal Dinner, Graduations etc.
www.whitepearllimos.ca Not only will it ruin your life, but it could affect lives of so many other people!!
JUST DON’T DO IT!
It is that time of year again, with all the Christmas parties and special times we spend with family and friends, and there always seems to be a cocktail or two (or more) involved in this special Christmas time celebration. Trust me, I have been there; I am one of those people who, after three, I’m done with good perception and start believing, “Oh my, this is wonderful and because I only do this occasionally it’s ok because, after all, it is the Christmas season” (and that makes it all seem right, right?). I remember when I was 19 years old and had my bright yellow Trans-Am – the one with the big bird on the hood and the cops pulled me over at 3:00 in the morning going down Elbow Drive at 120 km per hour after a night of drinking and told me to park the car and they actually drove me home (the good old days), I think about that now and realize, thank God I did not hurt anyone with my total stupidity. Did you know that impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in Canada? Please, please do not drive after your Christmas Party, office party or any wonderful house party. There are so many other options, Strathmore & Economy Taxi and White Pearl Limos, have a designated driver or just call a very good friend to come and get you. See both of their ads on this page.
Call or Text (403) 369-LIMO(5466) “Impact” course. 3rd charge: sustained license suspension, 7-day vehicle seizure, “Impact” course. Mandatory ignition interlocks after criminal conviction – 1 year for 1st conviction; 3 years for 2nd conviction; 5 years for 3rd conviction.
Implemented September 1, 2012
For drivers with Blood Alcohol .05 to .08: 1st offence - Immediate 3-day license suspension and 3-day vehicle seizure. 2nd offence - Immediate 15-day license suspension, 7-day vehicle seizure, “Planning Ahead” course. 3rd offence - Immediate 30-day license suspension, 7-day vehicle seizure, “Impact” course.
Implemented July 1, 2012
For new (GDL) drivers with blood alcohol over .00 GDL driver found with any blood alcohol - Immediate 30-day license suspension and 7-day vehicle seizure Please be smart and safe this Christmas season! One stupid choice could change the rest of your life – and someone else’s! Kathryn Hartwell
References: www.transportationalberta.ca
DID YOU KNOW?
On July 1, 2012, Alberta implemented tougher sanctions for graduated drivers license (GDL) drivers and drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08. On September 1, 2012 tougher sanctions were also implemented for drivers with a BAC of .05. Since the tougher sanctions came into force, starting on July 1 through December 31, 2012, there has been a 46% decline in the number of alcohol-related fatalities compared to the same period for the previous five years.
Implemented July 1, 2012
For drivers with blood alcohol over .08: Criminal charge Immediate license suspension, which is sustained until criminal charge is resolved. 1st charge: sustained license suspension and 3-day vehicle seizure, “Planning Ahead” course. 2nd charge: sustained license suspension, 7- day vehicle seizure,
Strathmore Taxi • Economy Taxi 24 HOURS
Out of Town • Special Events Airports • Vehicle Drive Homes (Not available in Chestermere) Deliveries • Hourly Rates
Serving Strathmore, Chestermere, Gleichen, Rockyford, Carseland, Langdon, all points in - between, and .... beyond.
Strathmore Taxi 403-934-4474
Economy Taxi 403-888-9058
We take reservations online at
www.s-e-t.ca or info@s-e-t.ca facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 45
Jocktalk Calgary becomes a prime market for NHL free agents!
Calgary and Edmonton took the top spot in 2014, up from 5th place in 2012. Florida, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Nashville fell from the top spot. Vancouver is seventh, Winnipeg 12th, Ottawa and Toronto 18th and Montreal in 30th.
At the start of the NHL regular season most hockey experts (including myself) gave the Calgary Flames zero chance of making the playoff. One month into the season, the team was red hot but again the experts were taking the cautious approach. Now here we are into month three of the 2014 - 2015 season, 2 years into a rebuild, and optimism is at an all time high!
“The numbers don’t lie; NHL players take a financial hit to play in certain jurisdictions,” said paper author and CTF Research Director Jeff Bowes. “Obviously, there are other factors at play besides taxes, but the fact remains that disparities in tax rates leave some teams at a major disadvantage.” The study confirmed that 57% of the unrestricted free agents who moved teams, signed with teams with lower taxes.
Granted, it’s a long season and the Flames play in the ultra competitive Western Division but how can you not get excited with the direction this team is heading? The Hockey News has already compared them to last year’s Colorado Avalanche! An energized young team, riding great goaltending and playing inspired hockey for a motivating coach. Even if the Flames don’t make it to the post season party this season it’s going to be a fun ride watching this team grow into a potential Stanley Cup contender in the next few years. The prospect cupboards are no longer bare and soon Calgary will again be a destination where top free agents want to sign. While a hockey mad Canadian market will never be a top destination for a player that wants a life away from the game, the economic reality is Alberta is the best choice for the free agent looking to make the biggest bang for his buck!
thenewsyneighbour.com
“No question about it,” says former Flames GM Craig Button, who by the way does have an economics degree. “The Flames have lots of salary cap flexibility and there’s a very real possibility the NHL salary cap will not be going up next season because of the weak Canadian dollar. If it doesn’t go up then a lot of teams will be in serious trouble next season and that could certainly benefit a team like Calgary who’s on the upswing.” The Flames are certainly a team to watch in 2015! With great team speed, great character and no expectations, Christmas has certainly come early for hockey fans in Southern Alberta. Too bad the Grinch is still in Edmonton!
Speaking of Christmas and since this is our Holiday Issue, I thought I would play Santa and hand out some presents to our local sports stars.
Normally when I receive a press release from the Canadian Taxpayers Association, it ends up directly in my trash bin. That was not the case when they sent out a new study that examined the impact of personal income taxes on NHL players. A study that showed the Calgary Flames paid the lowest team tax rate of 38.2% last season. The Montreal Canadiens paid the highest tax rate of 54%.
46 •
Considering the weak Canadian dollar and all players are paid in American funds, you don’t have to have an economics degree to figure out there is a huge Alberta advantage.
Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau - The Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year!
Flames captain Mark Giordano - The Norris trophy and a new 8 year contract next summer.
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Commercial & Residential Paving EQDD DRSHL@SDR
100% Workmanship Guaranteed
Rdquhbdr Hmbktcd:
- Acreage Paving - Parking Lots - Resurfacing - Patching and Repairs - Gravelling/Loam - Commercial Lot Sweeping - Bobcat Excavation - Sanding/Snow Removal
- Concrete - Post holes - Gravel pads - Retaining walls - Excavations - Bobcat, mini hoe and dump truck available
sales@8ballpaving.com
403.899.1136
Asphalt”
“Because we
Flames head coach Bob Hartley - a new three year contract (hopefully that is signed before Christmas)
Olympic Gold Medalist John Morris - another Brier
championship in your own backyard at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Olympic Gold Medalist Kaillie Humphries - more ink
and a couple of podium finishes against the boys in the 4 man mixed gender bobsleigh event.
Stampeder Head Coach and GM John Hufnagel - a
healthy Jon Cornish in 2015 and another coach of the year trophy. The job Huff did in 2014 was the best in his career!
www.8ballpaving.com
Calgary Hitmen Forward Jake Virtanen - World Junior Gold! It’s about time Canada is back on top of the podium.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Peter Maher - a great retirement or another NHL play by play gig because there is no one better!
Calgary Roughneck faceoff specialist Geoff Synder - an NLL championship and broadcasting career. He is one of the funniest guys I know.
To all of our all readers of the Newsy Neighbour and listeners of Newstalk 770 - a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!
Stampeder slotback Nik Lewis - a new contract for 2015. Unlikely with the Stampeders but “Nik at Night” still has CFL game.
Stampeder QB Drew Tate - a trade and a chance to be a CFL starter again. I will hate to see you go, but I do think you’re too good to be a back up. Pro golfer Stephen Ames - 3 wins on the Champions Tour including the Shaw Charity Classic (beating Fred Couples in a playoff)
About Jock Wilson: Jock has been involved in the Calgary sport media scene for over 30 years. He hosts the Calgary Stampeder football broadcasts on News Talk 770 and is the co-host of Sportstalk with Mark Stephen from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Jock@am770chqr.com
On Twitter: @talkwithjock
Ph: 403 777-9393 4321 84th St NE
Alberta's Premium supplier of Electronic Cigarettes, E-Liquid and Accessories. Specializing in Authentic Mods and coil builds. Come and sample over 200 flavours of e-liquid, in 15 different premium brands.
vapexcape.ca
www.
Locations in Strathmore, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge.
#2, 124 3 Ave, Strathmore, AB - 403.650.1288
Every Saturday!
9:00AM - Bargains on new furniture, electronics, household goods, shop tools, clothing, food. 12:30PM - Regular Vehicle Sales
www.grahamauctions.com
SEE YOU SALE DAY!!
www.grahamauctions.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 47
lieve they NEED us. This may sound terribly harsh to some or all, but the universal truth is they don’t NEED us. What do they need then? They need us to stand in our confidence, so that they learn to stand in their own confidence. They will find their way.
PARENTING HANDBOOK
Our place is to help them find their way. Really, did you listen to everything your parents told you to do? No, I bet you didn’t. In fact, I’m sure at least once in your life you remember completely defying your parents. Why did you defy them? Probably to make your point, yes you’ll show them, or maybe it was out of pure anger. Either way, those actions came from a place of fear. Anger is just an emotion, based in fear. Now, what if the only thing you taught your child was to act from a place of love? To never ever allow their fears to rule their world? Some of you may be thinking, that’s so unrealistic, the world doesn’t operate like that. Hear me out. When we come from love, what happens? Our way of being shifts, we speak our truth. We stand in confidence. When we come from fear, what happens? We play small, we speak someone else’s truth. We stand in EGO.
Lomenda Energy Carla is a wife, a mother and an agent for happiness. As a Senior Life Strategist and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Carla helps people get amazing results while having fun and deepening their relationships. Carla founded Lomenda Energy Inc. in 2010 to create community, life balance and wellness for professionals and organizations. Connect with Carla by phone 403-861-4810, by email carla@lomendaenergy.com and on twitter @LomendaEnergy
The Parent’s Handbook
So you choose, what is best for you to teach? I say, teach LOVE and respect. I say let your children teach you the same, for many of us parents are learning the lessons we are trying to teach our children, because we are ready to learn a whole new level of something in that moment. So open yourself up to LOVE.
Merry Christmas and May Peace Be With You and Yours! No handbook required; just one thing to remember: LOVE provides all the answers to everything in life.
W e have been in great search for this handbook. Since there never seems to be one in existence when our little ones, who are growing so fast, do the things that make me search for answers, we figured we would write one for all of our amazing readers near and far.
Carla Lomenda-Segovia
Are you a mommy? Are you a daddy?
Living the Life of Your Dreams You are Closer than You Think!
Are you struggling with something in your relationship with your child?
Work With Carla One-on-One
Is your child all grown up and you are still struggling?
Limited Spots Available
lomendaenergy.com
Why do we put all of this on ourselves? We do because we be-
48 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
403.861.4810 •
Altogether Different
Traditional Chinese medicine
T raditional Chinese medicine is a complete system of medicine with its own forms of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and therapies. Chinese medicine views the body as an energetic system in a dynamic balance. Qi, which can be translated as energy or life force, flows in a regular pattern through a system of channels or meridians to all parts of the body. When Qi flows unimpeded there is harmony, balance and good health. Qi blockages lead to disharmony and therefore disease. Chinese medicine helps restore the body’s balance and works at an energetic level to affect all aspects of the person (mind, body and spirit). The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it can be used to correct imbalances that have become illnesses and pain, or even correct imbalances prior to the appearance of symptoms there by preventing disease. Chinese medicine treatments address imbalances using diet, acupuncture, herbal remedies, Chinese exercise (Qi Gong) and meditation. With over 3000 years of history, Chinese medicine is one of the longest continuous medical systems practiced in the world. The primary goal of Traditional Chinese medicine is to create wholeness and harmony within a person, allowing the mind/ body/spirit to heal itself. Chinese philosophy states that there are two polar principles of life; yin and yang. They are opposing forces, but each carries a piece of the other. Imbalances of yin and yang within an individual may be reflected as illness, emotional instability or even a feeling of being ‘off’. Chinese medicine defines the physiological components of illness using the concepts of Qi (vital energy), Xue (blood), jin-ye (body fluids), jing (essence) and shen (spirit) as well as using organ systems. Organ systems are domains within the body that govern particular body tissues, emotional states and activities. For example, as in western medicine the kidney system governs fluid metabolism. In Chinese medicine the kidney system is also responsible for reproduction, growth and regeneration. The bones, inner ear, marrow, teeth and lumbar area are all part of what the kidney system governs, therefore what would be considered a kidney system imbalance may present as frequent urination, lower back pain and the emotional state of fear. Each organ system has functions that are unique - Chinese medicine theory states that it is the internal ability of the body to remain strong that is the key to health. People are born with a certain amount of Original (congenital) Qi, which is easily depleted as energy is used by the body and not replaced. It can be replaced but it is not easy to replace the Original Qi. A person must work hard during their lifespan to retain it. In Chinese medicine, it is recommended to maintain a practice of preventative self care, using a combination of therapies such as regular acupuncture and herbal remedies to maintain the Original Qi and prevent disease. Langdon Chiropractic Dr.Tonya Coutts Wirth RAc, DTCM Telluric Therapy Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: www.acupunctureinstrathmore.com, www. docmisha.com/understanding/what.htm
INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR
Amalia Zarokostas
P: 403-934-7997 amzarok@gmail.com www.youngliving.com/en_CA/
Young Living ® Independent Distributor
Distributor ID: 1574872
E:
Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to what happens. Not by what it brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst; a spark that creates extraordinary results. - Philippians 2:5 11
Valley Dental Clinic GENERAL FAMILY FAMILY DENTISTRY DENTISTRY GENERAL Ph: (403)
934-2882
Gentle Dental Care
• Gentle Dental Care Direct Billing to Insurance • Direct Billing to Insurance Hours •Extended Extended Hours • Sedation Dentistry
New Patients & Emergencies Welcome
& (New ) 934-2882 403Patients
Emergencies Welcome
231 2nd Avenue, Strathmore 231-2nd Avenue, Strathmore
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 49
cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer. Given the vast array of phytonutrients in cranberry and the known connection between so many of these phytonutrients and digestive tract health, we expect to see the digestive benefits of cranberry becoming more and more apparent in future research on this incredible berry. • No area of cranberry research has been more intriguing in the past 10 years than research on cranberry and cancer, even though the majority of studies in this area have involved lab studies on human cancer cells or animal experiments. On a virtual year-byyear basis, scientists continue to identify new mechanisms that establish cranberries as anti-cancer agents. • With its unique array of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, cranberry seems ideally positioned to help us lower our risk of cancer development.
Christmas And Cranberries
Cranberry Orange Relish
Well, you just never know what you’re going to find by accident when you are looking for interesting articles to write about. I was looking for Christmas stuff for our December Issue and also looking for wonderful Christmas Recipes because we get the greatest number of comments about our jokes (good and bad) and our recipes! I did cover cranberries in my book (Fruits & Vegetables – which would make a VERY WONDERFUL Christmas present, by the way) but I just could not help myself to write another article on this incredible little berry. So, here are some interesting facts and some super delectable recipes just in time for Christmas! •Just in time for Christmas, researchers have discovered that cranberries have five times the antioxidant content of broccoli, which means they may protect against cancer, stroke and heart disease. Even before the recent discovery about the antioxidant properties of cranberries, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, cranberries had a lot going for them. Not the least of which is the scientific confirmation of the old wives’ tale about the value of cranberries in reducing the risk of urinary tract infections. Once established only anecdotally, the tale has now been confirmed by at least eight scientific studies. Research has shown that cranberries keep E. coli from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. Eighty to 90 percent of urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli. • Antioxidants are essential to optimizing health by helping to combat the free radicals that can damage cellular structures as well as DNA. Provided that you do not experience any digestive difficulty, we recommend enjoying cranberries raw because they provide you with the best flavour and the greatest benefits from their vast array of nutrients, and may also offer the benefit of digestion-aiding enzymes. • Cranberry’s special combination of phenolic antioxidants, proanthocyanidin antioxidants, anthocyanin antioxidants, flavonoid antioxidants, and triterpenoid antioxidants is without a doubt unique. Also unique is the particular combination of three antioxidant nutrients—resveratrol, piceatannol, and pterostilbene— found in cranberry. Dietary consumption of cranberry has also been shown to reduce the risk of chronic, unwanted inflammation in the stomach, large intestine (colon) and cardiovascular system (especially blood vessel linings). • Now, recent studies suggest that Cranberries may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, lower LDL and raise HDL (good)
50 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
2 cups fresh cranberries 2 oranges, pitted, peel removed from one orange 6 heaping tbsp toasted, chopped pecans 6 tbsp dried cranberries 6 tbsp maple syrup 2 tbsp Grand Marnier 2 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg. Wash the fresh cranberries, and grind them in a meat grinder using a fine blade or process in a food processor until the cranberries are finely chopped. Cut the oranges into eighths, and grind or process until finely chopped. Combine fresh cranberries, oranges, pecans, dried cranberries, maple syrup, Grand Marnier, sugar and nutmeg; stir well, and refrigerate at least an hour but up to 3 or 4 days.
Cranberry Butterscotch Brownies
From Julie B. in Ottawa 2 cups chopped nuts 2 cups brown sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup cranberries 1/2 cup butter 2 whole eggs, slightly beaten 1 200-gram bag Skor toffee bits 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp salt Preheat oven to 300°F. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a saucepan, melt butter on low heat and combine well with brown sugar. Remove from heat. Add beaten eggs to brown sugar mixture, blend with dry ingredients. Add vanilla, nuts and half of the Skor bits. Stir well. Spread mixture into a buttered 9- by 13-inch (23- by 33-cm) brownie pan. Sprinkle cranberries over top, pushing them into the batter mixture. Bake 30 to 35 minutes (do not overcook; brownies should still appear moist). Sprinkle remaining Skor over surface and return to oven for 2 minutes to melt into surface. Remove from oven, cool slightly; cut into squares while still warm, then cool completely in in the pan before serving. Makes about 12 brownies
Cranberry Crock Pot Roast
From Evelyn M. from South Mountain Pork roast (3 to 4 pounds) 1 cup cranberries, finely chopped 1/4 cup honey 1 tsp grated orange peel 1/2 tsp salt The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Ph:
403.901.0440 • 115 2 Ave. Strathmore, AB Come visit us today for your Free Consultation
Under New Ownership • Your Local Denture Specialists Immediate Denture - Equilibrated Dentures - Dentures over Implants Removable Partials - Relines & Soft Liners - Repairs 1/2 tsp pepper 1/8 tsp ground cloves 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg Sprinkle salt and pepper onto all sides of meat and place meat in crock-pot. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Spread this mixture over meat. Cover and cook 8 to 10 hours on low.
$300 Off with purchase of Standard Dentures With this coupon. Offer expires Dec 31, 2014
We’ll make you smile at
Cranberry Cake
2 1/2 cup fresh cranberries (frozen berries can be used, but thaw first) 2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 3/4 cup butter or margarine 2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1 tbsp almond extract Beat eggs and sugar for about 5 minutes, until light in colour then add softened butter or margarine and extract. Next, add flour and baking powder, but do not over mix. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Place mixture in a greased 9 x 13 and smooth top. Bake for 45 minutes at 350°F. Remove from pan and cool. Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!
Kathryn Hartwell
References: whfoods.com, nytimes.com, nationalgeographic.com, oceanspray.com and uc-cranberries.com
Want more facts with recipes like this? See the “I Am A... Series” Cookbook on page 33
Please call 403-934-9681 to schedule your appointment Dr. Elizabeth Robinson • Dr. Leanne Lesniak
Now Offering Full Denture Services!
NEW PATIENTS WELCOME www.crystalridgedental.com
#11 - 55 Wheatland Trail, Strathmore facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 51
Letter to Santa from Mom
Dear Santa, I’ve been a good mom all year. I’ve fed, cleaned and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor’s office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter’s girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son’s red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I’ll find any more free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes:
Saturday, January 17th, 2015 8:45 am—5:00 pm Chestermere Town Hall 105 Marina Road 14 workshops for women aged 18 –108 to choose from:
Edible Gardens Tracing Your Family History Yin and Yang Yoga Speak Up! Share Your Wisdom Living a Passionate Life Relieve Stress Now Preparing for a Successful Retirement Living with Chronic Food Restrictions The Story of Me Who Am I? The Importance of Social Media Branding One Day Wonders with Travel Alberta Infant CPR Anytime Introduction to Calligraphy Vision Boards with No Limits
I’d like a pair of legs that don’t ache after a day of chasing kids (in any colour, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don’t flap in the breeze but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I’d also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
Registration fee includes keynote speaker, gift bag with book She Said, workshops, resource fair, doorprizes, breakfast, lunch and closing reception.
If you’re hauling big ticket items this year, I’d like a car with fingerprint-resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn’t broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
$65 EARLY BIRD RATE UNTIL OCTOBER 31!
On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, “Yes, Mommy” to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don’t fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, “Don’t eat in the living room” and ‘Take your hands off your brother,’ because my voice seems to be just out of my children’s hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
Register today at
chestermere.ca/sharedwisdom
or by calling 403-207-8152
And please don’t forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colours and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet, making the in-laws house seem just like mine.
The Newsy Neighbour is a Proud Media Sponsor of “Shared Wisdom”
Some thoughtful Christmas quotes.
If it’s too late to find any of these products, I’d settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
Christmas seems to be a time of reflection for people, a time to look back over the year and think about your family and friends. Some of these quotes may bring into prospective what is really important in our lives.
If you don’t mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family, or if my toddler didn’t look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pyjamas at midnight.
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~Larry Wilde I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~Harlan Miller
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don’t catch a cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don’t eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis 52 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
Yours Always... Mom.
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Beauti by Nature Strathmore's Sugaring Salon
ENERGY MEDICINE The Colour RED
R ed is for Christmas in my world. It is the first colour of the rainbow and is the colour associated with the first of the seven major chakras or energy centers. This chakra is referred to as the ROOT. In Energy Medicine and Healing Touch, it signifies the earth, being firmly grounded, courage and vitality. It is the chakra of our first years of growth and is found at the base of the spine. If you are a person who meditates or spends quiet time, you might imagine a grounding cord or some strong tree roots going deep into the earth past every layer of floor, cement, rocky soil to the very center of the earth. If I want to remember about being grounded, I wear red socks or even underwear. How about a red onesie? They are the rage these days!!! In winter when the ground is frozen, we can’t run barefoot to feel the earth but we can do inside plant pots and feel the soil. The root chakra is about bones and teeth and the low sounds of the drum. Some hear the song of mother earth! I have a few mantras or affirmations for the root to remind me of my own vitality and courage. “I fear less and trust more.” “I am stable, safe and secure.” “I am rooted in life and in myself.” Each chakra has a colour, sound, affirmation and emphasis. You might like to learn more!! Joanne Watson Healing Touch. See ad on this page.
HEALING TOUCH Joanne Watson HTCP Dip P.T.
Caring For You Reiki, Hypnosis, Energy Medicine, Chi Machine, Electro Energizer, Cancer Care, Pain Relief Strathmore & Chestermere
403-608-0619
joanproc@mac.com
Sugaring is an advanced hair removal technique using sugar paste, which is made from natural ingredients. The sugar paste is applied at body temperature making it safe for all areas! The sugar paste will extract only the hair and dead skin cells, leaving you feel silky smooth!
beautibynature.com
Jennifer Eckenswiller Body Sugaring Practitioner
/beautibynaturesugaring Phone: 403-901-8900
Youth is when you are allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to. ~Bill Vaughn An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.~Bill Vaughan Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown New Year’s Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darknesson other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 53
The Accountable$
“We make your dollars make sense”
Corporate Taxes Bookkeeping Business Plans
Self-Employed Payroll Services CRA Appeals Contact:
Personal Taxes GST, WCB Filings CRA Audits
Bud Duncan for a FREE Consultation
Ph: 587-717-7621 Email: theaccountables@yahoo.ca Visit us on the web at www.theaccountables.ca
Let us help! Holiday cheer? T
was the night before Christmas and all through the house, nothing was stirring – not even the clothes dryer…oops! Paraphrasing apologies to author C. Moore, sometimes it seems that our ever-serving appliances have a deep seated revenge motive. The holiday season is a busy one and there will be no shortage of ‘experts’ advising you on seasonal stress reduction, etc. How about some simple appliance tips to help you achieve those esoteric heights of stress-free holidays??
Refrigerators Many fridges have a fan
54 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
Accountable for keeping your books straight!
that forces air over the condenser (thin black tubes) that may be at the bottom behind the front toe plate or at the back behind a very important cardboard/metal panel. If this condenser becomes blocked by lint, pet hair, etc., the fridge can’t cool. Cleaning your condenser is a very good idea and saves both energy and wear & tear on your fridge. While doing this, it’s a good idea to clean out the fridge – those old bottles of sauce, dressing, etc. Don’t overload. Allow air flow so the temperature sensor can read properly. Tips: Store unopened pop/water bottles, juice, pickles, etc. in the basement to pre-cool them. Store a couple of 2 litre plastic pop/ water bottles 2/3 full of water in your freezer; this is great for reducing freezer run time and any sudden need for extra cooling (like a power outage, coolers).
Ranges Along with your fridge, your range is going to work hard. Big Tip: If you are going to self-clean your oven, do it at least three weeks before Christmas. If your oven has a visible bake element, take a look at it. Any ‘bubble spots’ or visible damage? These can be a sign of impending element failure although it may be a ways away. If you line the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil, be aware that it can be a factor in visible bake element failure. If there seems to be something ‘not right’ with your temperature of range operaThe Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
Whirlpool and Amana Top Load High Efficiency washer & dryer sets as low as 799.00!!
CLEARANCE
Restwell Queen Mattress Set Pillow Top Gel Infused Memory Foam Supporting Foam Encasement Clearance Price: $579.00!!
In Store Sealy Posturepedic Mattress Clearance' on now must go!! We Provide In Home or In Shop Service!
APPLIANCE & MATTRESS GALLERY s ‘ PJ 403-934-6919 · 18 Spruce Park Drive, Strathmore, AB
tion – get it checked now. December 22 will be too late.
Clothes dryers This is a fire safety and appliance issue: safely check and clean the dryer venting and make sure your lint screen is clean and in good condition. Dryers require proper air flow and without it, dangerous lint buildup and dryer overheating can occur. Is there good ‘warm’ air flow at the outside dryer vent? In the winter, the humidity vented out of partially blocked venting can condense (even freeze) in the vent, resulting in further air flow blockage and lint buildup in the dryer. A clue to air flow problems? The dryer is warm/hot and the clothes are not drying. Do not run your dryer without venting to the outside attached. Whether simple maintenance or if any of your appliances are making different or strange noises, not working right or other issues, the first step is to read your use and care guide; it is full of hints and tips. If that doesn’t help, this is the time to call your local independent appliance retailer for advice. Don’t wait until the night before Christmas – even the week before… parts can need time to come in! Speaking of stress – take a look at the Nov 2014 Scientific American magazine. Timely and interesting article on a study of meditation, (www.scientificamerican.com). Article provided by PJs Appliances See ad on this page. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 55
“Company’s coming!”
A re these words exciting or terrifying for you? They may create a flight or fight response leading to either of the following reactions: “I’m out of here!” or “Who? What? When? Why didn’t you talk to me first?” Either scenario creates the possibility of a heated conversation. Although I’ve had that experience, I’m always excited about the prospect of company (family, friend or stranger) and welcoming people into our home. The planning and preparation are enjoyable. Even housecleaning becomes an acceptable use of my time. Honestly, it is the primary motivator to get/keep the house clean. Each guest is a gift and our time together precious, hopefully creating a treasured memory. Murray, my husband, and I have been told we share the gift of hospitality, something I am extremely thankful for. As opening our home is something we enjoy doing, I puzzled over the fact that for others it is often a stressful undertaking, especially when many of these same people share stories of times when they gathered in the homes of neighbours and friends. The stories usually start with “When we were kids...” or “When our kids were young...” and end with “Nobody does that anymore.” My curious mind wants to understand what changed and why. Right now, many magazine headlines indicate they hold valuable insights and help for “Holiday Entertaining”. In a quick Google search of “Holiday Entertaining”, the first link directed me to Martha Stewart’s website. I credit her for building an empire on her interests and skills; however, she also created a prevalent mindset that homes or lifestyles may lack what is necessary to welcome others. Other articles advised me that entertaining is about the host(s) and making an impression, while hospitality is guest focused. In discussing this topic with a friend, it was mentioned that hospitality was perhaps an old fashioned word for entertaining; however, these explanations failed to provide an answer that satisfied me. Knowing there is power in our words creating the world we live
56 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
in both individually and collectively, I looked to etymology (the history and evolution of words) for a better understanding of the difference. Entertain at its root is “to keep up, maintain, to keep (someone) in a certain frame of mind” , while hospitality derives from the Latin hospes, which is formed from hostis, which originally meant “to have power.” My interpretation: to entertain from its earliest appearance in the English language (15th century) carries a responsibility for others both physically and mentally; while hospitality (14th century) holds its power to make a difference. Perhaps both consciously and subconsciously, entertaining is avoided because it is perceived or sensed as a burden. Given the many expectations and responsibilities in the home and workplace, another thing on “the list” can be overwhelming; yet, it is still undertaken because of expectations. If the root explanation embodies its essence, we are empowered to practise hospitality. Sometimes, it is nice to colour outside the box and do what isn’t expected and perhaps hospitality provides the opportunity for that. Dr. Wayne Dyer teaches that, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Rather than walking from this power, we need to embrace it, not only during the holiday season but all year long. Each of us has what it takes to make others feel warm, welcome and valued. We have the ability to make a difference. Hospitality’s power not only helps us to succeed with opening our homes, but more importantly aids us in opening our hearts. Through hospitality, we have the opportunity to connect with others on a deeper level, enriching thoughts, experiences and lives. An introduction of strangers in your home might be the first step of a lifelong friendship, a new business opportunity or perhaps even love. Life is about relationships. Not everyone that comes across your path becomes your intimate friend, but every person and every meeting can teach us something about this journey we all are on. Be in the moment, learn from differences, and enjoy your company, yourself and the memories made.
Wishing you a joyous and peaceful Christmas! Shaken & Stirred
Marcy enjoys helping others experience the joy in life. She started Mountain Lion Leadership, in 2003. As a leadership & community advocate, she is actively involved with organizations & businesses working to aid growth and development. This is combined with a passion to see women grow both personally & professionally whatever their stage of life. Contact Marcy: marcy@mlleadership.com. Follow Marcy on Twitter @MarcyLField to my profile. The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
W e
B u i l d
M o r e
T h a n
S a t i s f a c t i o n
WHY BUILD WITH US? Aquilla Homes offers superior quality homes that fit your family's lifestyle. Our dedicated staff works with you to personalize all aspects of your home with anytime, anywhere access to your project. ATTACHED BUNGALOWS STARTING AS LOW AS $350,000 SECURE YOUR LOT TODAY
DnD Sheet Metal HEATING
AIR CONDITIONING VENTILATION
4 Reasons to Choose DnD:
DnD Sheet Metal would like to thank the following local builders for their business in the past, present and future: Abe Fehr Developments Character Homes, Clearwood Homes, Crystal Ridge Developments, Dewald Homes, Glen-Lor Developments, Rich Lee Custom Homes, Strathmore Homes, Traditional Custom Homes & Trendsetter Homes
1. 39 Years Experience in the Sheet Metal Industry 2. Proudly Dedicated 15 Years to Strathmore (this is my home!) 3. More New Home Installations in Strathmore Than Anyone in Town's History 4. 3,500 New Home Installation Experience
MENTION THIS AD AND RECEIVE a
FREE
10% Off Your Quote OR
General Air 1042 Flo-through humidifier and a Honeywell Focus Pro 4000 5-2 Programmable Thermostat (with any new installation)
(403) 934-8442 Strathmore, Alberta
DnD is now expanding and offering our services to the general public. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
â&#x20AC;˘ 57
Photocredits: Andy Dean Photography from shutterstock.com
GUIDING YOU OVER THE STEPS of SELLING your HOME at CHRISTMAS The REPs... Guiding you over the STEPS... Of Real Estate.
We are... 3 REMAX horizon Real Estate Professionals ... DEDICATED to work together and licensed in Residential, Rural, Commercial, Condo. We are here to help our clients reach ALL their real estate goals. Contact us: reps.remax@ gmail.com. Web: www.the-reps.ca
W ith the holidays approaching, sellers often wonder if they should keep their properties on the market or take them off. Or, if they haven’t listed their homes yet, should they wait until after the first of the New Year? Maybe hold off until spring? Conventional wisdom used to be that you shouldn’t even try to sell your home during the busy holiday season. Potential home buyers were too preoccupied with attending parties, cooking meals, buying presents or planning vacations. With all that going on, there just wasn’t time to ride around with a real estate agent, looking at properties. BUT, with the Internet, smartphones, tablets and our always-on lifestyle, that conventional wisdom isn’t relevant anymore. The reality is, the home buying season is now year-round. Here’s why you should consider listing your home during the holidays, or even in January.
Today, serious buyers are always looking — and the holidays are no exception. Surprised? Real Estate is changing. Our hectic lifestyles also play a role. Many serious buyers today thenewsyneighbour.com
The inventory — and the competition — is usually lighter. Despite our always-on lifestyles, many sellers still believe buyers can’t be bothered to look for a home between, say, Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. At the same time, sellers who’ve had their homes on the market often take them off during the holidays. The net effect is that the inventory for good homes often tightens this time of year. So there’s less competition for sellers at a time when motivated buyers are out there looking — and no doubt wishing there were more properties to see. If you’ve been considering selling, are motivated, are flexible on timing and have a home that truly sparkles, consider listing right now. There’s still a window of several weeks to get buyers into your home before the end of the year. And those buyers flipping through listings at their kids’ hockey game will be excited to see something new and awesome hit the market — especially if there’s a lack of good inventory in their area. These buyers will be motivated to see your home, regardless of what the calendar says.
Home not selling? Now’s the time to lower the price or change your strategy.
Today’s buyers never stop looking online.
58 •
work hard. They don’t shift into holiday mode until the last minute. Even during the holiday break, they’re still squeezing in work. There’s no such thing for them as “going off the grid.” So why not continue to monitor real estate listings, too?
If your property has been on the market for months, most buyers and their agents will see it as stale or overpriced and disregard it no matter how great it is or how light the competition is. In that case, it’s time to take action, and the year-end holidays can be a great opportunity to shift course. Dramatically reducThe Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
New Kitchen or Bathroom for Christmas??
www.newspaceconstruction.com Renovations, Roofing Residential Contracting, Interior & Exterior Brett Presley 403-888-9931 ing the price or overcoming some major obstacle that’s been preventing the sale might be what’s needed to sell your home. If you received lower offers early on but weren’t ready to accept them, or you keep hearing there are issues with how your property shows, this is a good time to show the market you’re listening and are serious about selling. The motivated buyers, desperate for good inventory, will notice you and take a look. You might even get a sale closed before the end of the year. Before you make any big changes, talk it over with your realtor, as always.
Don’t want to be bothered during the holidays? List in January.
CONSTRUCTION Ltd.
search for a home in January because of year-end tax planning. Whatever the buyers’ motivation, for sellers it means one thing: Demand for homes can increase at a time when inventory is traditionally low. And that means if you’re ready to sell, you’ll have an even more “captive” audience during the holidays, all the way through January. INTERESTING NEW THINKING... if you want to discuss this idea, the Real Estate REPS are here to help guide you over the steps.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE from The REPs Truck mounted carpet and furniture cleaning
Admittedly, the thought of keeping the house clean, holding open houses and vacating to accommodate last-minute showings during the holidays is a deal killer for some would-be sellers. If so, consider listing your property after New Year’s Day. Traditionally, not much inventory comes onto the market in January. It’s cold, snowy, and landscaping is dead. Many sellers wait until the spring instead, a more conventional time to sell. January inventory is still very tight. And yet, each January, buyers call up agents, wanting to get into the market. Often, new buyers — with their fresh New Year’s resolutions to stop wasting money on rent and buy a home — are ready to jump into the market as soon as possible. Some buyers are motivated to
We do furnace and duct cleaning! Phone: 403.991.6192 Serving Strathmore, Langdon & Chestermere Areas.
TO CLEAN & PROTECT
Kelly Camden
Formerly of Strathmore Carpet Cleaning
facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 59
Light it up! Along with your Christmas lights attached to the house, light up the walk way when your guests arrive. Lining your walk way or by placing one on either side of stairs going up to the door, place a mason jar with an electric tea light for the perfect touch. Whether the mason jars are plain or decorative, this is a simple and inexpensive way to add a little more ambiance to the first impression your guests will receive.
Blyss Int eriors
Christmas décor is not just your traditional red, green and gold anymore. I think it is important to express yourself all year round and Christmas is a perfect time to get imaginative and create an experience for your guests, family and friends. Happy Holidays and happy entertaining!
Emily Hogan Custom window coverings & Interior styling Free in home window covering consults!
403 901 4467
●
info@blyssinteriors.ca ● www.blyssinteriors.ca Emily Hogan is an interior designer from new and local design company Blyss Interiors. Her strong experience in the window covering industry has inspired her to offer those services to Strathmore and area as well as her savvy & stylish design style. If you have any questions for her call her at 403-901-4467 or email to info@ blyssinteriors.ca. She would be happy to hear from you!
Impress Your Guests this Holiday Season
T is the season for family, friends and entertaining! Create a welcoming appeal as soon as your guests arrive by decorating your front porch or entrance. Large urns and planters stationed either side of the door is a dramatic way to add some Christmas flare. Utilise things you would find in your own back yard or items that you already own. Twigs, driftwood, pinecones and balsam foliage are going to be the base of your creation and should be arranged to create height and fullness. Additional touches to add some colour could be some ribbon wrapped around or cascading down the twigs, Christmas baubles hanging or planted within the greenery. The possibilities are endless. Create a unique door decoration – there are many options for wreaths and classically they are hung on the front door. I like to mix things up and utilise a wreath to hang on a foyer mirror for instance, as if floating ( 3m strips ) or as a dining room table center piece lying on the table and filling the center with a cluster of candles. Alternatively, for your door, think outside the box – a spray painted frame with your family’s initial in the center or with a grouping of Christmas ornaments hanging down the center with ribbons is a creative, and individual Christmas touch that your guests will appreciate and enjoy. Utilise garland to create a lush and earthy feel to the entrance of your home. Frame the door way, wrap around pillars and stair banisters. This is an area also to be creative, adding your own flare to this typically traditional seasonal décor option, try mixing in something that speaks to you. A faux string of pearls, feathers, bright ribbons, baubles and bows to name a few. This will add another dimension to your décor and overall Christmas colour scheme.
60 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
Plants for Christmas
T lants are wonderful gifts at Christmas; your friends can enjoy them the whole year through and each time they look at the plant you gave them, they will remember you. Poinsettia These plants do not like to be moved. They also do not like cool temperatures. The leaves tend to curl up and fall off when they are unhappy. Poinsettias want a warm, bright place to live. It is difficult to get this plant to flower a second time. They are usually treated as a seasonal plant, discarded after the season. The milky sap can irritate the skin and mucus membranes. Poinsettias are native to Mexico. The large, oval, lanceolate leaves are mid to dark green. In winter tiny, greenish, yellow flowers appear, surrounded by large colourful bracts. These are usually bright red, but can also be creamy white, creamy yellow or a salmon pink. Water generously while flowering, keeping soil very moist. Feed every two weeks while flowering. Christmas Cactus These plants have trailing stems, sometimes as much as 24 inches long. They are medium green, flat segments with pointed edges. They have tubular flowers, consisting of several layers of star-like petals. They are about 1 inch in diameter. The colours are pink, red, white, and yellow. They bloom in late fall or winter. Christmas cactuses are easy to grow. In spring or summer, take the stem, cuttings 2 or 3 segments. Allow them to dry for a few hours then plant them in a mixture of peat and sand. Once it flowers, the plant will likely drop the buds if it is moved or exposed to sudden temperature changes or cold drafts. From spring to fall water regularly. When flowering, keep soil moist, but do not let the plant sit in water in the saucer. Reduce watering during the 2 to 4 weeks after flowering, and again in the fall before flowering. They like bright light. Keep out of direct light. Feed every two weeks in spring and summer. Repot after flowering. In fall, give your plant cool temperatures of about 15 to 18°C. This will encourage abundant flowering. You can decorate them and make them really Christmassy. Years ago, I had a poinsettia that I had to keep transplanting and it grew to almost three feet high – they are very beautiful and it is true: if you put them into a dark closet during their dormant season and take them out in November, the leaves really do turn red. It is quite amazing. Merry Christmas and remember: plants have feeling too! Kathryn Hartwell The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
F.B.BOERSEMA ACREAGE DEVELOPERS From Start to Finish ! we'll work with you to build ! "Your Dream Home" ¥ Septic Þelds - CertiÞed Designers! Site Evaluations for Subdivisions" New - Repairs - Replacements • Excavating for - Foundations! Wells - Stock Waterers • Driveways Constructed
• Trees Planted - Moved !
in association with"
F.B.Boersema & Partners Ltd. • Consulting - Design - Working Drawings! RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL" we'll work with YOU to put " "your" thoughts on paper" with special emphases on energy efÞciency" "cost and energy efÞcient homes come" not by chance but by good design!" • I.C.F. (insulated concrete forms)! Basement or Whole house" "one of the most energy efÞcient" construction models available today"
• Fire Resistant Homes! Metal roofs" • Lawns prepped - Seeded I.C.F. exterior walls clad with cementitious materials" • Horse paddocks cleaned and Harrowed Concrete ßoor slabs c/w in-slab heat" "sprinklers systems are now cost effective " • Pastures and Rough areas maintained for residential construction" Serving the Foothills Since 1978 Tree Spades to 50" Tree Augers to 44"
(403) www.fbboersema.com Phone934-1888 (403) 934-1888 (403) 651-4637 E-mail fbbp@efirehose.net fbbp@eÞrehose.net facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
• 61
Season’s Greetings and Warmest Wishes to You and Yours for a Healthy and Prosperous New Year! From
Jason Eldridge of “Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display- so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn’t the holly, it isn’t the snow. It isn’t the tree, not the firelight’s glow. It’s the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again.” -- Anonymous “There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” -- Erma Bombeck
Shur-Lock Self Storage 13 Bayside Place. Strathmore AB, T1P 1C8
Storage Solution Centre Commercial or Residential
Big or small you can store'm all unit sizes 10x20'- 8x20'-5x8'
Keith: 403-333-8411 shurlock@outlook.com Wayde: 403-333-8155 Ph: 403-934-3502 62 •
thenewsyneighbour.com
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different
ia
rc me
sid
e l/R
m
s
cre
A
s~
e ag
rm Fa
o ~C
al
ti en
30 Years
Of Award Winning Service!
Development R elo ca tio n~ Es tat es ~C on do mi niu Sell your home ms
FASTER and for
TOP DOLLAR!
DEBBIE MITZNER (403) 934-5555 1-800-661-6262 debmitzner@gmail.com
OPENING DOORS Call DEBBIE MITZNER Now For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your property
(403) 934-5555 1-800-661-6262
debmitzner@gmail.com NO EXPIRY DATE. File with important documents. This is not intended to solicit properties already for sale.
Complimentary Market Evaluations ~ Retirement ~ Empty Nesters ~ Adult Living facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour
â&#x20AC;˘ 63
Carey Rose Debbie Enslen Hayley Poirier
Best wishes to your Family this Christmas!
Overlooking the golf course, fully dev. walkout w/ MIL Suite 3-Season sunroom $564,900
2-Storey Condo steps from Kinsmen Lake. GREAT investment or Family Home. $235,000
1260+ sq ft, Fully Developed, 4 Beds, 3 Baths, Dbl. Att Garage, Lrg Yard, Park Views! $399,500
19.99 acres, 1903 sq ft Bungalow, O/S Garage, Shop $449,500
Adult 40+ Condo Living, mainfloor laundy, Dbl Att. Garage, RV Parking $345,900
1447 sq ft, maple hardwood, river rock & granite counters, hickory cabinets. $449,888
CHERRY Hardwood, Granite, Stainless Steel Appliances, 2445 sq ft Backing lovely pond in Hillview Estates. $559,900
Contemporary 2-Storey, walk-out basement backing canal, west views! $556,900
Immaculate 2-Storey, 4 Bdrm, 3.5 Baths, Greenspace in Front, Quiet Area. $399,900
AQUILLA NEW BUILD! 2347 sq ft, 2-Storey, backing golf course Ready Nov. 2014 $699,900
Attn. INVESTORS or RENOVATORS! Lrg. fenced lot. Some upgrades. $79,000
D D L L O O S S UPDATED HOME! +40 Adult gated community. Quick Possession! $119,000
833 Bayview RD $164,900
5 min southwest of Strathmore. 3 Acres. NEW BUILD. High-end features, 30’x40’ shop. $739,900
LDY SO NE DA
O RKET A M E ON TH
Great Potential in this 1664 sq ft 2-Storey in Langdon Large yard. 424,900
D L O S
Perfect STARTER or DOWNSIZE home. Hardwood, Granite, Fireplace $330,000
D D L D L L O O S S SO
405 Ranch Ridge MD $299,900
416 – 9 Street Beiseker $219,900
24 Cambridge Glen DR $409,900
D D D D D L L L L L O O O S S S SO SO 5.5 Acres Rural Wheatland County
Hardwood & slate. Quiet location backing onto park $429,900
64 •
23 Strathmore Lakes Bay $394,900
thenewsyneighbour.com
24 Green Meadow CR $229,900
130 Camara CO
$169,900
$317,900
The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
•
Altogether Different