Castlegar News Thursday, February 7, 2013
Community
Keeping the faith, keeping hope SUBMITTED
The congregation in Mazatlan has become so involved with the people near the dump that they are helping them build small schools there. There is no welfare in Mexico so many people sift through the garbage to look for recyclable items that will yield cash. About one hundred people lined up to receive the lunch and much needed water at the dump itself. The congregation in Mazatlan has become so involved with the people near the dump that they
FEBRUARY 07
PUZ Z LE C ROS S
United Church Speaks While in Mazatlan, Mexico where many Canadians and Americans flock for the winter months, my husband and I joined a church group that regularly makes hundreds of lunches and delivers them to extremely poor people who lived near the city dump and many who were right inside the dumpsite.
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Beyond the scenic vistas, residents of places like Mazatlan have crucial daily survival challenges. en.wikipedia.org
are now helping them build small schools there. We were heartened to see that us northerners were not simply basking in the lovely vacation sun all winter but had noticed with concern that many native residents were destitute and were stirred to action. Even in vacationland, it is apparent that the human spirit is alive with compassion. And so, too, up here in Castlegar we try our best to support the Harvest Food Bank with its endeavours to help those in need by providing hampers and lunches and counselling. The churchrun Sharing Dinner Pot serves its hearty meals weekly and St. David’s Thrift Shop offers much for those on low income. Recently, advocates of
raising our minimum wage have been getting the attention of politicians. Next month I am going on a Habitat for Humanity build. This will be my third time going to Guatemala to help build a house for a family there. I’m hooked. Now retired, it has become my favourite type of holiday in winter. This kind of trip satisfies my urge for exploring our world while at the same time doing something useful for those less fortunate than us. Habitat for Humanity offers a family a leg up in owning their own home. Through H4H, applicants get a 0 per cent interest rate on their mortgage. Once families are in a better position as homeowners, they in turn, are then able to benefit their communi-
A break from the ordinary
ties, so the positive assistance has a spinout effect. There are other important ways to make a difference, however, to speak out. From your chair or desk at home, you who patiently write letters to your political representative advocating for change, whether protesting the inequality in our society, the abuse of power or the degradation of our environment. Speaking out, writing letters, petitioning for change, this has power. Everyone doing a little in their own way to make a difference in our world, this is keeping the faith, keeping hope alive. Related websites: w w w. h a b i t a t . c a , www.united-church. ca/social justice. -Rosemary Manarin
A cross section of the local business community were enjoying the Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce “Business after Business” mixer, Jan. 31 at Chances Gaming Centre Jim Sinclair
Across 1 Allow in 6 Behind the times 11 Keg insert 14 Nasty 15 Idol whose fans are called Claymates 16 Acapulco article 17 Traditional Christmas dessert 19 ER personnel 20 Swings about 21 Crunchy snack 23 LeBron James, e.g. 26 Ruler in old St. Petersburg 27 __ Diamond 30 Sweet spread 32 More than vexation 33 Red Army leader Trotsky 34 Run-of-the-mill 35 Liquid-Plumr rival 37 Jamaican music genre 39 Something to skip at the beach 42 Bollywood dress 44 Face cream ingredient 46 Kenny G plays one 47 Fiber-rich cereal 50 Hung on to 51 “Show Boat” novelist Ferber 52 Roger with 17 Grand Slam wins 54 Shrinking Asian lake 56 Scary bacteria 59 Downturn 60 Coffee break treat 64 “Little Red Book” chairman 65 Chipped in a chip 66 Comics friend of Nancy 67 Windup 68 Dallied (with) 69 Helped with dinner cleanup—or, a hint to the relationship between the starts of 0-/17-Across and 47-/30-Across
WORDS WORDS
Down 1 Dangerous reptile in the Nile delta 2 Pol. convention attendees 3 Rough up 4 Not susceptible 5 Laid-back sort 6 Push-up bra feature 7 It may be financial 8 Slopes headwear 9 Men of La Mancha 10 Career for a sci. major 11 Sets free 12 Once-a-year bloomer 13 60-Across, for one 18 Grammarian’s concern 22 Explosive experiment 24 Sellout signs, briefly 25 Big mug 27 Holed up 28 NHL legend Bobby 29 Well-matched pair 31 No-way man? 33 “Tank Girl” star
Petty 36 Sounding stuffy 38 Winglike parts 40 Short rest 41 Office contact no. 43 Really hot spot 45 No right __: traffic sign 47 Software installation info file 48 Rocky’s love 49 Loveliness
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50 Swedish currency 53 Digital greeting 55 Lovers’ clash 57 Taylor of “Mystic Pizza” 58 One of the Antilles 61 Alumna bio word 62 Teacher’s deg. 63 Coal carrier56 Thailand neighbor