Page 3 Shootin’ the Breeze May 23/12
Serving the communities of the Livingstone Range School Division
My Little Corner
By Shannon Robin Look both ways.... From our earliest years, we’re directed to look both ways before crossing the street. Sometimes it seems more appropriate to suggest looking both ways and then looking again! Over the past few weeks I’ve had several close calls where I’m not sure the offending drivers even looked one way. Ironically, the first to almost hit me was an RCMP vehicle! The cruiser backed out from a driveway in Pincher Creek, and I’m not sure the officer driving noticed me even after I slammed on my brakes to avoid the collision. The second incident happened in Fort Macleod. I was travelling west on Highway 3, in the left lane, when the woman driving the truck beside me decided to change lanes. She did so abruptly, and forced me to the curb and a sudden stop to avoid a smash up. In both cases I honked my horn, but neither driver looked in their rear view mirror in response. My daughter was with me, and I hope she will remember the close calls as she prepares to take her learner’s test for driving. Traffic increases at this time of year as pedestrians, skateboarders, joggers, cyclists and motorcyclists join our vehicles on town streets and sidewalks. It’s not just the motor vehicle drivers who need to pay attention. I’ve also almost been run over on a downtown sidewalk by a young fellow on a skateboard. He was texting, had headphones on and was quite oblivious to the danger he
was causing with his lack of attention to others on the sidewalk. This all reminds me of an incident that happened right around my 10th birthday, long before there were cell phones and other gadgets to distract a driver’s attention from the road. As a birthday gift that year I had received my first bicycle. It was a used model, a purple three-speed bike that I was thrilled about. On my first solo spin I was hit by a car. I wasn’t far from home, and was simply going for a ride straight down the street and back. As I rode through an intersection, the vehicle beside me made a right turn and knocked my bike and I to the pavement. Although it was many years ago, I have a vivid recollection of the woman with the bright red hair who was surprised and horrified to have hit a little girl on a bicycle. I wasn’t hurt badly – bloody knees and other scrapes – but, most importantly, my bike was still intact! The woman and onlookers wanted to call an ambulance but, already stubborn at that age, I would have none of that. After all, if my parents found out, they would most certainly take away my new bike. When I arrived home, I fibbed about the origin of my injuries – a spill in the back alley was a plausible story. I kept the secret tucked away until many years later when we were celebrating my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. We were telling “I’ll bet you didn’t know” type of stories and, much to my parents’ surprise, this was one that came out. Look both ways!
Wheeling meals around Nanton By Rachel Miller Looking to spend time helping your community? Love volunteering? Then the Quality of Life Foundation in Nanton is the place for you. It offers a large variety of preventive social services and proactive support programs for individuals and families in Nanton and the surrounding rural area. In 1996, a group of concerned citizens met to discuss the need for a safety net to protect local support services, in the event that government funding was not available. The group decided a society should be established which could raise funds to assist individuals and groups in the community. This includes Meals on Wheels, a volunteer-operated program delivering meals to those who have difficulty cooking or getting to the grocery store. Lunches are made at Silver Willow Lodge and then dispensed throughout Nanton. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete the deliveries. Although the volunteer roster is set for the year, Bev Deibert, community support worker with the foundation, says, “We can always use backup volunteers. It’s nice to give our regulars a break if they need or want one.” Staff are available daily to assist community members in many ways, such as referring them to appropriate support programs, providing information regarding government services, assisting with completion of government forms, and providing crisis support. The Quality of Life Foundation is located on 21st Avenue, next to the Nanton Community Centre and the Bomber Command Museum of Canada. The phone number is 403-646-2436.
Advertising
Editorial
Share your stories and news ideas! Submitted articles, letters to the editor and photos are always welcome. Shannon Robin, Publisher – Writing and Design Cary Robison – Editing and Printing Rachel Miller – Freelance Writing Amber Mohl – Freelance Writing & Distribution Brenda Shenton – Administrative Assistant Stan Skahl, Helen Friesen – Distribution
www.shootinthebreeze.ca
Daily news updates, sports scores and more! Submit to news@shootinthebreeze.ca . Online interactive edition of STB has additional local and syndicated content.
Office hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to link to our website. Check it out!
Display ads (black and white or colour), classified and classified display ads, obituaries, business directory ads and national ads are accepted for print. Web options include advertising in the online paper only, website ads and the STB business directory. Shannon Robin – Ad Sales ads@shootinthebreeze.ca or 403-904-2227
Deadline
Deadline for editorial content and advertising is 4 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication.
697 Main Street | Box 1060, Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0
Shootin’ the Breeze is distributed every Wednesday to communities in the Livingstone Range School Division
Shootin’ the Breeze is 100 per cent locally owned, locally staffed and locally printed! www.shootinthebreeze.ca
403-904-2227
info@shootinthebreeze.ca