Independent the
Stettler SERVING THE
Heart
December 9, 2015 STETTLER, ALBERTA
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED NINE NUMBER FORTY-NINE PM40011853 R08546
$1.09 Plus GST
OF CENTRAL ALBERTA FOR 108 YEARS
Sports
Stettler girls win weekend tournament p.13
See story
Community Cantus Choir and Jazz Guys perform to seasonal tunes
p.2 District
See story
Children’s Christmas party on Sunday See column
p.18
Stacey Lavallie/Independent reporter
Steve and Candace Maruk stand outside their home, which is decorated from rooftop to foundation in lights. The lights, which are also strung up to make little Christmas trees on the lawn and on the property’s trees, are timed to music, which can be heard in the vicinity of the home on 88.5 FM.
Distant experiences inspire musical Christmas decoration at Stettler home STACEY LAVALLIE INDEPENDENT REPORTER It was while separated from his family, sitting in the sweltering heat of the Egyptian desert, that the idea came to Steve Maruk. He was sating his longing for Christmas decorations and snow by watching Christmas videos on YouTube when he discovered houselights set to music. The rhythmic flashing and pulsing captivated the Stettler man, whose wife and son were back in the community while he worked for oil in the Middle East. “I told myself I was going to do that when I got home,” Maruk said. “It was Christmas
Over 20% Off the MSRP
Only 12 2015 models 2 left le on the Lot!
away from my family, and there’d been several Christmases away from them.” The dream of returning home to spend Christmas with his family, and creating a majestic musical lightshow, kept him going through the rough times that were to come. Maruk was working in Egypt during the “Arab Spring,” a revolution that saw the Egyptian government overthrown and the Muslim Brotherhood take power. It wasn’t long after that the military staged a coup, unseating the Brotherhood and imprisoning its leader. All the while, the Muslim terrorist group, ISIL, was threatening the company Maruk worked for. “It was an everyday thing,” he said. “You
continued on page 4
P LAY TO WIN!! & WIN A MINIMUM CASH CREDIT OF $1000…..
$
UP TO
10,000
TOWARD THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF ANY 2015 OR 2016 GMC
*
CASH ASH S CREDITS C CREDITS* DIT
WININ 1 OOFF 3300 VVEHICLES WI EHICLE
ALL THE 2015’S NEED TO GO! www.stettlergm.com
paid attention to it, but didn’t let it get to you.” Still, Maruk dreamed of Christmas with his family. Whether or not he’d be able to go home that year depended on the political situation, because unless it stabilized, it wouldn’t be safe for Maruk to be out and about. After the death of a colleague, and given the continuing destabilization of the safety situation in Egypt, Maruk finally made his way home to Canada, meeting his newborn son Nash and reuniting with his wife, Candace and son, Gage. And still, he dreamed of Christmas lights.
VALUED UP TO $35,000
CHEVROLET BUICK GMC & Detailing Service
www.Stettlergm.com
403-742-3407
Everyone’s a Winner!