Red Deer Advocate, December 26, 2015

REBELS GEARING UP FOR SECOND HALF

THE AZORES: PAGE B1 UNTAMED PARADISE

PAGE B3

WEEKEND EDITION

Red Deer Advocate SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

www.reddeeradvocate.com

Your trusted local news authority PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

RCMP shoot man after rampage ASIRT INVESTIGATING

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff

Vincent Burns and his grandson, Quinn Burns, 6, snowshoe through Kerry Wood Nature Centre, taking advantage of the freshly fallen snow on Christmas Eve.

A 37-year-old man was shot and killed by police after rampaging through industrial parking lots in a stolen front-end loader.

Red Deer RCMP said they were looking for the man in connection to a sexual assault on a 47-yearold woman and an attempted murder on a 20-yearold man.

The sex assault and attempted murder occurred Christmas morning in the same incident.

All the people involved in the morning incident were known to each other and all from the Red Deer area.

The two victims’ injuries are not life-threatening and they have received medical attention.

Mounties confronted the man at about 2 p.m. on Christmas in northwest Red Deer.

Police said the man had been rampaging through Burnt Lake and Edgar Industrial parks, crashing into unoccupied vehicles in a stolen front-end loader.

He also hit an truck with people in it, but there were no serious injuries.

In an attempt to stop the front-end loader, an unoccupied police cruiser was also smashed by the 37-year-old.

The man was shot dead in a field near Range Road 273 and Twp Road 391, just north of Red Deer.

Please see RAMPAGE on Page A2

County residents upset over tree-cutting plan FORTISALBERTA UPGRADING DISTRIBUTION LINE

BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Landowners want to save the trees on a one-kilometre stretch of road along Range Road 275 in Red Deer County.

FortisAlberta is currently upgrading a regional electrical distribution line to bring power to the Gasoline Alley area.

But county residents such as Peter Fleck and Bev Finlay are upset that hundreds of mature trees will need to be removed in order for the project to go ahead.

The land in question is along the border between the country residential communities of Woodland Hills and Broderson.

Finlay, who lives across the road from the trees, said there are route options that would make more sense. She also owns a five-acre parcel on the corner of Range Road 275 and Township Road 380.

‘They want to clear cut trees from the corner,” said Finlay, 80.

“Some of them are very old Spruce trees and they are very high. Some of them I have actually planted.

They just want to go in with one of those big machines … and clear cut the whole thing.”

Fleck said the clear cutting of trees is just required because of the chosen method of constructing the new line.

He said it would not be required for the maintenance or safe operation of the line once it is in place.

“I have also been informed that alternate methods of construction would be available,” said Fleck in an email.

Sunny. High 17. Low -21

FORECAST ON A2

INDEX Four sections Business . . . . . . . . . B7-8 Canada . . . . . . . . . . A4-6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . D3 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . D6 Entertainment . . . . C6-7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B3-6

— BEV FINLAY “They would just be a little more time-consuming and costly.”

FortisAlberta is working with the concerned landowners in the area to come up with a solution.

Finlay hired a lawyer and submitted a complaint to the Alberta Utilities Commission in August.

The Alberta Utilities Commission does not regulate distribution line routing and construction, except on a complaint basis.

The AUC is encouraging landowners and Fortis to discuss concerns including different routes and construction methods.

No formal hearing process has been set at this point.

The AUC will consider holding a hearing, if a mutually-agreeable solution cannot be reached. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate Staff

Peter Fleck and Bev Finlay stand on Range Road 275 in front of the one-kilometre stretch of trees FortisAlberta plans to remove in order to upgrade the electrical distribution line in the area.

Could consumers go cashless in 2016?

Credit cards, apps ease the need for consumers to carry around cash.

PLEASE Story on PAGE B7

RECYCLE

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WEATHER

“SOME OF THEM ARE VERY OLD SPRUCE TREES AND THEY ARE VERY HIGH. SOME OF THEM I HAVE ACTUALLY PLANTED. THEY JUST WANT TO GO IN WITH ONE OF THOSE BIG MACHINES … AND CLEAR CUT THE WHOLE THING.”

A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Lacombe firefighters making a difference in Paraguay

BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF It used to be that when a home caught fire in Caazapá local volunteers raced to the scene in their pickups and cars.

Firefighting equipment was, more often than not, tools grabbed from mechanic shops; and respirators and fire-proof clothing were just a dream.

That changed when volunteers with the Lacombe Firefighters Association chose the community of 24,000 to receive a retired Clive fire engine donated

by Lacombe County.

Lacombe firefighter Uwe Kurth was born and raised in Paraguay and became the key to linking both communities and their firefighting volunteers.

He and fellow Lacombe firefighter Heith Johannson went down to Paraguay last summer to train their counterparts on the new truck, hand out a huge amount of donated equipment and tutor them on modern firefighting techniques.

The gratitude showered on the two Canadians was unforgettable, says Kurth.

“It was a real party, basically, when we got there,” he says. “They were very happy to receive us.”

Forget about finding a restaurant for dinner, Kurth and Johannson were invited into local homes for almost every meal.

One local resident marvelled in a website post how Canadians would donate such a gift to a community and people they had never met.

It was that kind of response, and the knowledge that the donations will save lives, that convinced the Lacombe firefighters to keep their charitable efforts rolling.

When a second truck came due for retirement from Mirror, the association asked Lacombe County to once again donate a truck, which county council gladly did.

This will go to Artigas, a community about 100 km further down the highway from Caazapá.

Artigas’s fire department was only formed five years ago and now has about 10 active members.

Their only equipment is a small ambulance.

Kurth said the goal is to train them like their Caazapá colleagues so both fire departments can work together while responding to the dozens of calls a year on the highway between the communities that is currently being paved.

“We’re trying to create a culture in the area so they are pretty much working in the same (firefighting) language basically,” he says.

Local enthusiasm for the previous donation and training meant 14 applications came in from the area around Caazapá for the second donation effort.

“It was a pretty tough process to try to pick be-

LOCAL

BRIEFS

Body found downtown Mounties are investigating the death of a person early Christmas morning, in front of a downtown business.

Red Deer RCMP were called to a report of an unconscious person at about 5:20 a.m. Friday morning. Red Deer Emergency Services also attended and pronounced the person dead.

The RCMP secured the scene and investigators are in the very early stages of determining the nature of the death.

Police will release more information as the investigation continues.

Mountie bit after struggle with suspect A Mountie trying to take a bite out of crime, ended up getting bit by a suspect instead.

Devon RCMP recovered a vehicle stolen out of Rocky Mountain House from a Devon gas station Tuesday evening.

STORY FROM PAGE A1

RAMPAGE: Sequence No police or civilians were injured in the

LOTTERIES

FRIDAY Lotto Max: N/a Western Max: N/a

Contributed photo

Heith Johannson, front, of the Lacombe Firefighter’s Association works with local volunteers in the Paraguay village of Caazapá who were the recipient of a retired Clive firetruck from Lacombe County. cause everyone has needs. We had to try to figure out which one needed it the most.”

Artigas was chosen because its fire department had nothing in the way of equipment.

Lacombe Firefighters Association is aiming to raise about $10,000 for the project, as well as taking donations from anyone who has surplus equipment and gear. Artigas is raising around $13,000 to pay to ship the fire truck to South America, where it can be off-loaded and driven or transported by truck to its new home.

Once again, Lacombe firefighters are expected to travel to Paraguay to train the local firefighters on the truck and modern extrication and firefighting techniques, including the always critical skill of ensuring there is water available in an area where fire hydrants are rare.

Kurth said the Caazapá firefighters were enthusiastic students.

“They are really eager to learn and apply every-

thing. They get basic training but nothing compared to the level of training we have here.

“Pretty much every single minute we were there we were training them,” he says, adding typical days started at 7 a.m. and ended at 8 p.m.

The intensive schedule was needed because they were trying to condense a year’s worth of training into a week.

“We tried to cover as much as we could and (meet) their expectations as well. We were really happy with the outcome of the training.”

When the truck leaves for Paraguay depends on fundraising there. It’s hoped it can be on its way in the late spring.

Up to four Lacombe firefighters are expected to head down to help with training. Last year, the plan was to send four but by the time the trip was organized only two could free up the time off work. pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com

Police, conducting patrols that evening, located the vehicle at about 11 p.m. Officers identified a male to be in possession of the vehicle and made an attempt to arrest the suspect.

The male attempted to flee on foot, but was caught a short distance away. A lengthy struggle ensued with the arresting officer before the male was taken into custody.

One of the officers sustained minor injuries in the struggle when the accused bit him.

A 33-year-old Edmonton man has been charged with obstruction, assaulting a police officer, possession of marijuana, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a stolen vehicle.

employ non-family workers have some new obligations. For information on registering with the Worker’s Compensation Board and basic health and safety rules that apply as of Jan. 1 people are invited to visit www.farmandranch.alberta.ca People can also sign up for regular updates on these topics at the website or by emailing farmandranch@gov.ab.ca or calling 310-0000 for information.

Province launches website with info on Bill 6 A lot of new rules and regulations are leaving farm and ranch owners puzzled, but the provincial government is offering some help sorting it all out.

While family-owned farms and ranches that have no waged, non-family workers will remain exempt from occupational health and safety rules and mandatory worker’s compensation in the New Year, others have new rules to learn.

As of Jan. 1, farm and ranch operations that sequence of events.

The director of law enforcement for Alberta Justice and the Solicitor General has ordered the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team take over the investigation into the shooting of the deceased man.

Red Deer RCMP will remain as the investigating agency for the earlier sex assault and attempted murder, collisions with vehicles and theft of the

Platinum a finalist for award from Alberta Chambers It’s been a good year for Red Deer’s Platinum Homes and Developments.

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce recently announced that the local home builder is one of four finalists for the Small Business Award of Distinction.

Platinum, owned by Terry Loewen and Sam Wong, is also eligible for the Premier’s Award of Distinction. Winners will be announced at a gala set for Feb. 26 in Edmonton.

Earlier this year, Platinum walked away with Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award for firms with one to 10 employees. Platinum has also racked up a significant list of awards from the Canadian Home Builders Association over the last eight years. front-end loader.

ASIRT said more information will be released on Saturday.

Mounties will release more information on their investigation at a later time.

The name of the deceased will not be released, to protect the victims’ privacy. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

Extra: N/a Pick 3: N/a

Weather TONIGHT

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

HIGH -17

LOW -21

HIGH -16

HIGH -8

HIGH -11

Sunny. Wind chill -32.

Clear

A mix of sun and cloud. Low -17

A mix of sun and cloud. -16

Sunny. Low -15

REGIONAL OUTLOOK Calgary: today, a few clouds. High -12. Low -13.

Olds, Sundre: today, a mix of sun and cloud. High -11. Low -18 Rocky, Nordegg: today, a few clouds.

High -17. Low -22 Banff: today, mainly sunny. High -12. Low -18 Jasper: today, a few

TONIGHT’S HIGHS/LOWS

clouds. High -13. Low -17 Lethbridge: today, mainly sunny. High -10. Low -11.

Edmonton: today, mainly sunny. High -14. Low -19.

Grande Prairie: today, 30% snow. High -18. Low -19 Fort McMurray: today, 30% snow. High -19. Low -26

WINDCHILL/SUNLIGHT

FORT MCMURRAY

-19/-26 GRANDE PRAIRIE

-18/-19

EDMONTON

-14/-19 JASPER

-13/-17

RED DEER

-17/-21 BANFF

-12/-18 Windchill/frostbite risk: Moderate Low: Low risk Moderate: 30 minutes exposure High -5 to 10 minutes: High risk in 5 to 10 minutes High -2 to 5 minutes: High risk in 2 to 5 minutes Extreme: High risk in 2 minutes Sunset tonight: 4:27 p.m.

Sunrise Sunday: 8:45 a.m.

7361935L21-26

LOCAL TODAY

CALGARY

-12/-13

LETHBRIDGE

-10/-11

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A4 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Fire rips through home on Christmas eve

BY ADVOCATE STAFF A young Central Alberta family is left homeless after a fire gutted their home in the early hours of Christmas Eve. The fire broke out about 1:30 a.m. near Hoadley, north of Rimbey.

Rimbey fire chief John Weisberger said the crews were called to the house near Hoadley around 1:30 p.m.

Fire crews were on scene fore about five hours. “We’re not sure what caused it but it was a total loss,� said Weisberger. “(The family) was sleeping when it started but fortunately they woke up and got out.�

A couple with children lived in the one-storey house. “They were pretty shaken up,� said Weisberger. “They went to her mother’s for the rest of the night.�

He said they were able to escape the blaze and take shelter in a vehicle.

The fire is under investigation.

Hoadley is about 90 kms north of Red Deer.

CANADA

BRIEFS

B.C. man launches lawsuit claiming ownership of $50M jackpot VANCOUVER — A British Columbia man is taking the province’s lottery agency to court, saying he is the rightful winner of a $50 million jackpot handed out earlier this month.

George Wilson-Tagoe filed a notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme court this week, saying that he purchased the winning ticket from a gas station on his way to work on March 11, 2014.

He said he scanned the ticket, noticed an unusual pattern, and then lost it, possibly throwing it in the trash with old tickets.

Wilson-Tagoe said he called the B.C. Lottery Corporation and told them what happened.

The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been proven in court Angela Koulyras, a spokeswoman for BCLC, said she could not comment on the specifics of the case, but that the agency will be filing a defence against the allegations.

Photo by SCOTTY AITKEN/freelance

A Central Alberta family has been left homeless after a fire on Christmas Eve near Hoadley.

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The true meaning of Christmas was on display as about 15 Rimbey people gave up most of their Christmas day to put on a free Christmas dinner at the Rimbey Drop-in for a crowd of about 70 people. The volunteers helped people who have nowhere to go, are alone or are unable to make Christmas dinner. The Meal was as good as you would get in a top class restaurant and it was all for free. LEFT: Volunteers worked from 10 a.m. until after 5 p.m. preparing the meal. RIGHT: Some of the guests filling their plates.

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FOCUS

A6

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

Hard to keep promises The Trudeau government seems intent on locking itself into promises that it may not be able to keep.

The promise to balance the budget by the fourth year of its mandate, the same approach as that of the previous Harper government, puts it into a potential fiscal straitjacket that may require eventual DAVID tax increases, CRANE big spending cuts or delayed INSIGHT promises if the commitment is to be kept.

Now there’s the promise on climate change — to do even better than meet the Harper government’s commitment on greenhouse gas reductions though currently it lacks a strategy that would even meet the Harper commitment.

Both issues have to be addressed by late March or early April in the coming year. The fiscal course will have to be set out in the new government’s first budget. Canada’s climate change action plan has to be completed by the end of March — within 90 days following the recently concluded Paris summit on climate change.

The climate change action plan may turn out to be just as difficult as the fiscal strategy.

The Trudeau government has committed to delivering on the Paris commitment made by the Harper government last April, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, while indicating it aspires to do better, describing the Harper commitment as merely a floor.

What does this mean? Canada will have to limit annual emissions to 524 megatonnes by 2030, about 15 years from now just to meet the Harper commitment. In 2005, Canada’s emissions totalled 749 Mt and by 2013 were down slightly to 726 Mt, thanks mainly to actions by Ontario. So Canada has to find ways to reduce emissions by at least 202 Mt by 2030. This is a huge challenge in itself. But over the next 15 years Canada’s population and economy will continue to grow, putting upward pressure on emissions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chaired a First Ministers’ summit last month, where he and the provincial premiers launched discussions on how Canada will meet its commitment, mindful of the fact that Canada failed to meet its 1997 Kyoto commitment and its 2009 Copenhagen commitment.

The Liberal election platform declared that a Trudeau government would “partner with provincial and territorial leaders to develop real climate change solutions, consistent with our international obligations to protect the planet, all while growing our economy.” Within 90 days after the Paris climate change summit it will meet with the provinces “formal-

ly meet to establish a pan-Canadian framework for combatting climate change.”

It pledged to “establish national emission-reduction targets, and ensure that the provinces and territories have targeted federal funding and the flexibility to design their own policies to meet these commitments, including their own carbon pricing policies.” It promised that Canada “would do its part” to prevent average global temperatures from rising to more than two degrees Celsius above the level at the start of the 19th century industrial revolution. The world, currently, is at about halfway there.

What is clear is that the various provincial plans, including those of Ontario and Alberta, come nowhere near to

meeting Canada’s Paris commitment, let alone the Trudeau government’s talk of an even greater reduction commitment. So how do we get to a credible climate change action plan by next spring?

Before heading off to Paris, Trudeau declared that “the way forward for Canada will be in a solution that resembles Canada, that is shared values and shared desires for outcomes and different approaches to achieve those outcomes right across this great country.” At the same time, he said a Canadian solution would ensure “no further harm” to the oil industry, the largest single source of new greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

But can Trudeau, like some chairman of the board, just sit there with a

pocket calculator adding up provincial commitments and hoping for the best? Not if he is serious about acting on climate change. As the Pembina Institute, Canada’s leading independent voice on climate, says, relying on the provinces will not ensure Canadaís meets its global promise. Federal leadership is critical.

Having given the impression of climate leadership in Paris, the Trudeau government now has to deliver real leadership back home. Right now, it is hard to have confidence that the Trudeau government has even an early draft of a plan that would truly deliver on its Paris pledge as well as its election promise to Canadians.

Economist David Crane is a syndicated Toronto Star columnist.

Gratitude in the midst of life on the street “It’s really the only thing I could do,” she stated emphatically, “it was a gift to me so the least I could do was to share it! Besides, I think this is something God would want me to do!”

Five or six years ago this joyful middle aged woman was a sickly 95 pounds, and livCHRIS ing on the street SALOMONS in a drug infused state.

STREET TALES Today? Today she is a good chunky 145 pounds and bounces around the kitchen like a high pressure hose let go of.

Now gainfully employed, she in her loud voice is not shy to let everyone know that the street life is permanently behind her, and that life for her is now very full and satisfying.

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER Published at 2950 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 1M9

by The Red Deer Advocate Ltd. Canadian Publications Agreement #336602 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Mary Kemmis Publisher mkemmis@reddeeradvocate.com Josh Aldrich jaldrich@reddeeradvocate.com Managing editor

It was a recent inheritance that prompted her to desire to give back by adopting a family for Christmas, and now she has had offers from others at the kitchen to help.

So of course this got me to thinking and then paying attention to how the others that come to the kitchen express their gratitude in different ways.

Here is just a short example of what I have observed.

During the course of a meal, as people are leaving, thanks are expressed not just for the food, but also for all who have prepared and served it.

After a meal, there is always someone offering to help clean up and to wash tables etc. or just to help in any way possible.

Many are the small gifts and tokens of all kinds given to say thank you in one form or another.

Although there is always the conflicts that are inherent with street life, there is also, and especially at Christmas, a sharing amongst themselves of different articles.

The other day one fellow, who helps some of the older shut-ins who have

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lost a lot of their mobility, gave me a brand new vehicle air purifier that he had found at a thrift store.

He gave me this for helping him to care for others. I may never use it, but the thought and the expression is worth more than the gift at times.

At times it is difficult to think of the folks on the street as having exactly the same feelings and emotions that everyone else has, so in order to look at a certain portion of their lives, you have to look deep and hard to see those characteristics.

That there is a bias based on their addictions, etc., goes without saying.

Even those of us who work directly with them have difficulty at times not to focus on their misbehaviours.

So in order to see the good and the beauty that is sometimes present in these people, our/my focus has to change.

What is so unique about these folks is that many of them have terrible memories of Christmas time; they knew what it was supposed to represent, but different factors interceded and so their memories are often flood-

cate.com Classified ads: 403-309-3300 Classified email: classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com Alberta Press Council member The Red Deer Advocate is a sponsoring member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent body that promotes and protects the established freedoms of the press and advocates freedom of information. The Alberta Press Council upholds the public’s right to full, fair and accurate news reporting by considering complaints, within 60 days of publication, regarding the publication of news and the accuracy of facts used to support opinion. The council is comprised of public members and representatives

ed with pain, guilt, and remorse, but in spite of the past, they often are very grateful for anything they receive.

As with all of society the expressions of gratitude vary but all people regardless of their station or condition have a way to say thank you.

It may not always be readily discernible, or viewed as such, but at Christmas time we all change a bit.

An older lady stopped by and gave a rather large donation for the work of the kitchen. As I looked at her to express my thanks, she interjected by thanking us for allowing her to be able to help in this way. It is this kind of attitude that keeps us going and makes us aware of just how totally unique and awesome Christmas is.

So I say on behalf of Potters Hands and all the folks associated with us; Thank you.

I wish to thank all of Red Deer and area for a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a hopeful New Year!

Chris Salomons is kitchen co-ordinator for Potter’s Hands ministry in Red Deer.

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RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 A7

After the Spanish election “I’m going to try to form a govern- nothing wrong, neither Podemos nor ment,” said Spain’s Prime Minister us would exist,” said Albert Rivera, Mariano Rajoy as the results of the leader of the even newer party, Ciunational election came in on Sunday dadanos (Citizens). Last January it was night, “but it won’t be easy.” barely known outside CatHis right-wing People’s Paralonia, with only 3 per cent ty (PP) still won the most support in the polls. Last seats in parliament, 129 — Sunday Ciudadanos got 14 but that was far down from per cent of the national the 176 seats it would need vote and 40 seats. So formfor an absolute majority, let ing a new government in alone the 186 it had before Spain is going to be a long the election. and messy process.

Pablo Iglesias, the man Ever since the dictator who founded the Podemos Francisco Franco died (“We can”) party only two and democracy returned years ago, agreed with Rato Spain 40 years ago, onjoy on this, if on little else. ly two parties have matGWYNNE “Ladies and gentlemen, tered at the national level.

DYER this is the captain speaking The PP was the traditional INSIGHT in the name of Podemos,” right, close to the Catholic he told a rally during the Church, and getting most of campaign. “We thank you its votes from rural areas for choosing the path of change. We’re and older voters. The PSOE was tradiexpecting a bumpy ride with political tional left, and got the urban vote, the turbulence.” young, and what’s left of the working Podemos ended up with 69 seats, class. not bad for a two-year-old party in its The PP and the PSOE alternated in first national election — but it doesn’t power, and during the three-decade seem interested in cooperating with boom after Spain joined the European the other left-wing party. “Hopeful- Union nobody much minded the lack ly Podemos would be willing to work of viable alternatives. with us,” said Juan Fernando Lopez Then came the world financial criAguilar of the Spanish Socialist Work- sis of 2008, with stagnant or falling ers’ Party (PSOE), which got 90 seats, wages for most Spaniards and an un“but so far I perceive a threatening employment rate that reached 27 per mixture of arrogance, self-infatuation cent. and condescension.”

Each party had a turn at trying to “If the socialists or PP had done deal with the crisis, and each cut the

national budget, rescheduled or repaid as much debt as possible, and imposed severe austerity on the population.

Even Spain’s population began to fall, as the young left in droves to find work elsewhere in the EU. Maybe all that austerity has finally worked. This year the Spanish economy is growing at 3 per cent, the highest rate in the EU, and unemployment is down to 21 per cent. But that’s still higher than anywhere else in the EU except Greece, and it’s too late for a lot of voters. They don’t believe that either traditional party’s policies had much to do with the upturn in the economy (and a lot of them don’t even believe the statistics that say there is one).

So there was plenty of room for a new party offering an end to austerity, and for a while it looked like Podemos was it. It was anti-capitalist, its 36-year-old leader wore a pony-tail, and it promised radical change. Some people worried that it had “Venezuelan” tendencies, but a year ago the polls suggested that it could even come out ahead of both traditional parties in an election.

Not so fast. Since January the other new party, Ciudadanos, has been luring away the more timid people who once considered voting for Podemos, but were alarmed by its “Venezuelan” tendencies. Ciudadanos also has a 36-year-old leader (no pony-tail) who talks about radical change, but it is re-

ally a centre-right party that sits comfortably in the middle of the road, long left empty by the traditional parties of left and right.

That split the protest vote, so now Spain has four major parties, and creating any sort of coalition government is going to be very hard.

The arithmetic means that either the PP or the PSOE must be in any coalition that can command a majority in parliament, but Ciudadanos swears that it will not join any government that it does not lead.

Podemos is being equally difficult, saying that it will ask its supporters to vote on joining any coalition. (Being fed up with both traditional parties, they would probably say no.) So unless there is a “grand coalition” between the PP and the PSOE — which is also very hard to imagine — it may not be possible to form a new government at all. In which case, after two months, there must be another election — and you can forget the economic recovery.

Hard times do not usually make people more moderate and open to compromise.

Spain was a perfectly reasonable country that managed its democracy well for forty years, but it may just have made itself ungovernable.

Gwynne Dyer is a freelance Canadian journalist living in London. His latest book, Crawling from the Wreckage, was published recently in Canada by Random House.

The true origin of Boxing Day Say it ain’t so! Another Christmas Day come and gone? And here we are once again in a blink of a swollen, sleep deprived eye at the Day of the Boxes, also known as “Boxing Day.” You may be wondering just how this famous Boxing Day got its name. No? Well I was, and I’m the one with the typewritHARLEY er (well, keyHAY board) so here HAY’S DAZE goes. After extensive research in the sense that I had a wee nap and thought about it a bit, it is my conclusion that Boxing Day was invented sometime in the 1700s or possibly the third century A.D. by a minor British aristocrat called Hank the Grand Duke Marques of Cardboard. Apparently, G.D.M. Sir Hank, after one particularly disappointing Christmas gift-wise, decided that there should be another celebration the day after Christmas. And one preferably involving boxes. He was after all, as previously mentioned, a medium-ranking Duke of Cardboard, and really — what is cardboard without boxes. And visa versa?

So old Hank decreed that his somewhat tiny fiefdom consisting of three small merchant shops selling small cardboard souvenirs, a Walmart and one large pub (The Goat and Gallbladder) where Hank the Sovereign spent most of his time and which may explain many of Sir Hank’s decisions, he declared that the entire tiny town celebrate Dec. 26 each and every year by “hereby gathering strong and worthy pieces of cardboard, henceforth congregating at the Goat and Gallbladder establishment, whereupon thereby together all shall hereto forthwith make boxes, large and small, sturdy and praiseworthy.” By way of incentive, the popular Duke Hank, it should be noted, provided copious amounts of free mead during the entire day after Christmas. And so it was that this day became known as Boxing With Mead Day and grew to be very popular indeed in the happy little village.

Unfortunately, many Christmases later, after Hank the Grand Duke Marques of Cardboard tragically died from a fatal paper cut, the local Walmart created a mead monopoly

and the powerful beer-like beverage was no longer available in the Goat and Gallbladder on Boxing With Mead Day. Henceforth, making boxes on the day after Christmas wasn’t nearly as fun and the unhappy participants began referring to it as simply: “Boxing Day”.

Now, as the legend goes, the feudal domain of Cardboard was right next to the vast and bountiful kingdom of Sandwich, which was ruled by a rather hungry overlord known as the Earl of Sandwich. (Honest, you can look this guy up.) Good old Earl, whose name, if you believe the interweb, was Sir Edward Montagu and probably not related to Romeo — apparently on a whim, old Earl Ed placed some dead meat in between two slices of fresh bread, took a big bite, smiled, burped, and called it a “Montagu.” But all the citizens of Sandwich, many of them being Iron Chefs and Chopped champions and foodies of some repute, demanded that the Earl’s creation be named after their bountiful kingdom which had coincidentally just built the world’s first underground railway and henceforth to wit, the good Earl’s accidental culinary creation became known as the “Subway Sandwich.”

But what, you may ask, has this all

this talk of sandwiches to do with Boxing Day — and this would be an excellent question, were you to ask it.

The answer, of course, is nothing at all, except that most people have leftovers on Boxing Day and many of these leftovers take the form of sandwiches.

Also, I’m a bit peckish right now, and I was kind of thinking about sandwiches.

But isn’t it interesting how the medieval origins of Boxing Day have evolved into the 21st century madness rivaled only by something called “Black Friday” which as we all know began many many years after the Industrial Revolution when a group of British ruffians who were busy rolling some stones got together on a Friday afternoon and created a popular song entitled: “Paint It Black.” Not to be outdone, the nearest Walmart put everything on sale for 97 per cent off list price, thereby inaugurating the first known case of what historians like to call the “retail riot” or “greed warfare” or most frequently “sheer mercenary lunacy.”

I’m sure the Grand Duke Marques of Cardboard and all his subjects, predicates and adjectives would roll over in their cardboard coffins if they had even an inkling that their happy days making boxes and chugging mead has

turned into an embarrassing debacle of commercial conflict.

Be that as it may, as somebody unfortunately once said: “It is what it is.” So if some people’s idea of a wonderful Boxing Day is lining up outside a store in the freezing cold at 4 a.m., rushing headlong into throngs of elbows-to-the-face, shoulder-checks-tothe-sternum, and body-slams-in-theHigh-Definition-Wide-Screen-TV aisle; if those deal-seeking citizens get an adrenalin kick risking life and limb just to save a few fading Canadian dollars on mass produced big ticket soonto-be-obsolete merchandise, then I say: “Have at it. It’s your Boxing Day and last time I checked, it’s a free country.”

It’s just a good thing all those nice people in the Earl of Cardboard era invented boxes for deal junkies to stuff their Boxing Day booty into. After “shopping” their cheap merchandise will be safe in the car when they have to stop to get patched up in emergency on the way home.

Harley Hay is a local freelance writer, award-winning author, filmmaker and musician. His column appears on Saturdays in the Advocate. His books can be found at Chapters, Coles and Sunworks in Red Deer.

Finding the silver lining in a gloomy year SO LONG, FAREWELL, GOOD RIDDANCE

BY DOUG FIRBY SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE It’s hard not to say “good riddance” rather than “goodbye” to a year like 2015. There were good moments, for sure, but plenty more reasons to make us happy to start afresh in 2016.

Strangely, Paris figured largely in the world psyche in more ways than expected. The Paris climate spectacular was expected; the tragic murder of innocent people by terrorists there, and in San Bernardino, was not.

It was that kind of year, a tentative step forward followed by two steps back. The first wobbly moves toward world-wide action to fight climate change was overshadowed by the monstrous cloud of a hate-filled movement hell-bent on triggering the Apocalypse.

With a force like ISIS afoot, the very future of civilization seems to be on shaky ground.

Things were not much better back home in Canada, largely as a result of international events beyond our control. The high-flying oil-and-gas indus-

try, which has provided the revenue to keep the country on positive financial footing, has been brought to its knees by OPEC mischief-making. With the price of a barrel of oil south of $40, no one is expecting a recovery any time soon. The financial impact on Alberta has been brutal. An estimated direct job loss figure of more than 60,000, a provincial budget deficit of more than $6 billion and stories of lost fortunes and even spikes in suicides. The impact, however, does not stop at the provincial border. With the country’s once-richest province in the tank, revenues to the federal government have dropped to the point that the entire Liberal election agenda is being recalculated. The federal government is reported to be so worried about the state of Alberta’s economy, in fact, that it has called together leading policy-makers, academics and business people to try to pull the economy out of the death-spiral. Our dollar, meanwhile, is just above 70 cents US and sinking fast, making travel and shopping abroad a bad bet. There is a good side to a low dollar, of course —

it makes our products cheaper on the international market, a potential boost to central Canada’s beleaguered manufacturing sector.

The year’s political changes are either positive or a disaster, depending on your political bent. Albertans surprised the country by throwing out a tired, corrupt and incompetent Progressive Conservative regime and voting in the NDP. Socialists in Alberta?

Now that challenges every bias the country has ever held.

Nationally, another tired conservative regime got the boot, a Baby Boomer cabal pushed aside by the country’s first federal Generation X leader. As much as they may not be happy about the return of the Grits, a lot of reasonable conservatives will quietly tell you they were not unhappy to see the dour and dictatorial prime minister Stephen Harper sent into retirement.

And now, here we are on the brink of a new year, with a new federal government, a basket full of promises and — soon — 25,000 new Syrian refugees who will call our land of ice and snow home. Perhaps it is in this, our collec-

tive act of compassion, that we can find the silver lining to year that had a lot of clouds.

This year, Canadians assembled in service clubs, church basements and extended families to turn heartbreak into action. We showed that when we could see a real, concrete way to help people in desperate need we can spring into action with vigour and determination. As a result, thousands of people will learn for the first time what a truly free and democratic society feels like. And I’m willing to bet they will turn into some of the most loyal Canadians among our number.

Yup, 2015 had some miserable moments. But as we turn our eyes to the year ahead, we can savour the way in which we rose, as a country, above our first-world worries and showed the mettle that makes us the envy of the world. Let us hope we can use some of that same resourcefulness and determination to get our economy rolling again, too.

Doug Firby is Editor-in-Chief and National Affairs columnist for Troy Media.

A8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Canadians recall their refugee past as they write cheques for Syrian families

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS HALIFAX — Writing a cheque for a Syrian refugee family gave Gabrielle Horne a powerful sense of connection to her own grandparents.

The Halifax cardiologist is among the thousands of Canadian donors who reached into their bank accounts this fall to ensure privately sponsored refugees can make the voyage from crowded camps in the Middle East to resettle here in the New Year.

As she read media reports and watched footage of the Syrians attempting to cross into Europe, Horne says she found herself thinking of her maternal grandparents Aaron Belenkie and Rose Friberg.

“My grandparents came to Canada in the 1920s by what was then the Soviet Union and so I know firsthand the importance of providing a safe haven for people in desperate circumstances,” she said.

The couple met in Montreal and married, launched a business and raised a family. But the anguish of separation from their families and their struggle to come here after persecution for their Jewish faith was seldom spoken of.

It was too painful, says Horne.

When she heard of a refugee support group in Hubbards, N.S., the physician contacted organizers to promise a $2,000 cheque.

“I appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of welcoming refugees to Canada. So that cheque didn’t hurt. I felt it was a personal opportunity.”

The federal government requires the groups provide $30,000 for a small family, and many of the privately formed groups have been going beyond that in recognition that that figure may not be enough to provide for four or five people during a 12-month period.

The group in Hubbards began in a church hall in the small community on the province’s south shore with the goal of sponsoring one family, and has been fundraising with community meals and art shows.

Susy MacGillivray of the Bay Refugee Project said in an email that donations of $1000, $2000 and $5000 have flowed in, helping lift the group beyond its original expectations.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Supreme Court dismisses appeals from B.C. murderer and Montreal woman Canada’s top court has rejected appeal bids by a convicted murderer from B.C. and a Quebec women convicted for trying to kill her husband. The

“We have raised enough to sponsor two families and may well have enough to sponsor a third. We have turned our focus from fundraising to settlement,” she said in an email.

“However, many other groups are not quite there yet with their fundraising.”

The motives for those writing cheques are diverse, but often converge on a view that the Syrian struggles mirror those of past generations of refugees.

Jack and Nancy Jefferson, retirees who live in Vancouver, made the first private donation to the Bay Refugee Project. The couple provided $800 after reading a newspaper story about the group as they travelled through the province visiting their daughter.

“The war has changed the Syrians’ lives and changed the lives of their children. … They are people who have no place to go and they’re desperate,” said Jack. “I wanted to do something to bring them out of this and give them something brighter.”

By writing a cheque, “you don’t feel completely helpless,” he explained.

The federal government has said 10,000 of the 25,000 Syrians it will bring to Canada by the end of February will be privately sponsored.

The federal website that updates progress says that as of Christmas Eve there were almost 5,000 refugees who have either arrived in Canada or whose application has been finalized but have not yet travelled to Canada.

In a news conference on Wednesday, federal immigration minister John McCallum said corporations including CN, RBC, and Scotiabank had provided $8.5 million, and many other companies were contributing.

“We have an anonymous company who’s just pledged $2 million, but doesn’t want its name to be known,” he said.

The minister also noted that Khalid Usman, a leading member of the Muslim community in the Toronto area, held a fundraiser and had raised $1 million, while mosques in the area raised a further $2 million.

“At the other end of the spectrum, we have little children across the country committing to produce 25,000 toques for the refugees, and this started in Quebec, but has spread across the country,” said McCallum.

Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it won’t hear appeals from Peter Quon San Wong and Elena-Gabriela Zugravescu. Wong was convicted in February 2012 of first-degree murder for killing a sex worker and discharging a firearm at her pimp inside a Burnaby, B.C. condo as part of a botched robbery.

Wong was just shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the offence, but was sentenced as an adult to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years after an application by the Crown.

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The Azores AN UNTAMED ISLAND PARADISE ONLY A FEW HOURS BY AIR FROM NORTH AMERICA

Santa Maria’s houses bear distinct traditional chimneys.

Photos by ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES

BY JEANINE BARONE ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES Claustrophobia aside, who wouldn’t be a bit anxious standing in a cave at the bottom of an active volcano?

I looked warily at a device that was tracking carbon dioxide levels, set to alert us if they became dangerously high (and quietly hoped I’d get an excuse to scurry up the 183 spiral stairs to fresh air). Nearby, a mud fumarole bubbled and boiled at nearly 180 degrees, filling the air with a pungent sulfurous odor.

Yet, incongruously, this potentially lethal landscape shared space with an immense lake full of crystal-clear, and refreshingly cold, drinkable water. (In fact, before the stone stairwell tower was built, in the early 20th century, the locals would use ropes to lower themselves down to access this water for their cattle.) More than 160 feet overhead, two openings in the vaulted ceiling allowed light to pour into the basaltic lava cave. I was standing in Europe’s largest volcanic dome, referred to as the Sulfur Cave, or Furna do Enxofre - one of many reminders that Graciosa, like the other eight islands that compose the Azores archipelago, had a turbulent birth.

Set in the middle of the Atlantic, almost 1,000 miles from any shore, these nine islands that are an autonomous region of Portugal retain a lostin-time quality. The archipelago is an unspoiled Eden of black-sand beaches, gushing waterfalls, hydrangea-rimmed roads, aquamarine lakes and Old World hamlets.

Craters, geysers and thermal waters are just some of the many features that remind visitors of this archipelago’s dramatic volcanic origins. Yet, for the most part, despite direct four-hour flights from Boston and new EasyJet and Ryanair routes from Lisbon and London, respectively, the word hasn’t gotten out about how accessible this exotic paradise is.

I’ve been traveling to the Azores for years, returning time and again, scoping out each island’s distinct character. On grand Sao Miguel, I dug into a hearty stew that was cooked underground in the volcanic heat saturating the lakefront ground in Furnas.

Pico’s signature sight is a perpetually snow-covered and climbable mountain peak, but I chose instead to prowl its vineyards, which grow in a stark landscape of lava-stone corrals that protect the grapes from salt and wind. Cheesemaking is renowned on Sao Jorge, where I meandered down lush trails that plunge into secluded, fertile seaside plains backed by soaring cliffs.

Deeply rooted in a seafaring tradition, Faial is home to a buried town, where I saw roofs peek out above their ashand-lava encasement, frozen in time thanks to a year-long underwater volcanic eruption in the 1950s. And on Terceira, I sunbathed in the town of Biscoitos, whose seaside resembles a moonscape with great expanse of natural pools carved out of black lava stone.

Most recently, I explored the two least visited islands, Graciosa and Santa Maria, both of which epitomize the quintessential Azorean features: fantastic volcanic geology and untamed

Pico Vermelho, an old quarry carved in an ancient volcanic cone, makes for a perfect picnic spot on Santa Maria.

Word hasnʻt gotten out about how easy it is to get to this island, which has black sand beaches and volcanoes. natural beauty.

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Flying into Graciosa, I gazed out of the window to spy Pico Mountain rising above the swirling clouds like the cherry atop an ice cream sundae.

When Graciosa appeared on the horizon, it was a dark, rocky coast jutting out into the rough seas with a blackand-white-banded lighthouse, Farol da Ponte da Barca, standing sentinel on a clifftop.

Once on the ground, I relaxed easily into the pastoral setting, spying on a small flock of goats that wandered onto my hotel’s property to chomp on the landscaped foliage. This tranquility, however, belies the island’s turbulent past.

Nearly everywhere on Graciosa, there are abundant reminders that the island emerged from the Earth’s fiery core. One day, my guide, Lizete, and I spotted three fishermen standing on the shore of Porto Afonso, throwing their lines into the tumbling

Goats often stray onto the property of the Graciosa Hotel.

surf, hoping to snag kingfish, abrotea (hake), black veja (parrotfish), chicharro (horse mackerel) or sargo (porkfish). But I was more interested in the stunningly beautiful cliffs that rose behind them, curiously striped with many-hued bands. Seeing my fascination, Lizete explained, “The variety of colors - yellow, red and black - each represent different sorts of volcanic eruptions over the centuries: basalt, red and black scorias, ashes and volcanic sands.”

The island’s most iconic feature, the Caldeira da Graciosa, resulted from the collapse of a volcanic cone 12,000 years ago. Before embarking on a onehour walk around this vast summit depression, Lizete and I stopped along the crater rim at a cave that is said to resemble the shape of an oven, hence the name Furna (oven) da Maria Encantada.

The way one version of the story goes, Maria, a married woman who lived here, regularly baked bread, handing it out to the underprivileged.

One day, her elderly husband urged her to flee the area with him because he’d dreamt of an imminent volcanic eruption. But Maria opted to stay behind to meet her young paramour and the volcano erupted, killing them both. After contemplating this melancholy story, we walked up a steep path through a landscape lush with bay leaf, heather and other foliage to prowl through a lava tube - a cylindrical tunnel created when flowing lava cooled on the outside, and the molten lava within drained out.

After exiting the tube, our view opened up to the base of the caldera, some 900 feet below us. It was completely unlike anything I had expected from a volcanic crater. This once-arid expanse is now coated with such bright-green verdancy that it reminded me of Ireland. Rising up on all sides, steep slopes burgeoned with Japanese cedar, acacia and wild pine. (Even more incongruous was our later stop: the Sulfur Cave, with its steamy fumaroles, which lies directly beneath these fields of green.)

The Caldeira walk attracts botanical and ornithological enthusiasts, like myself. “Above Graciosa and the ocean, this walk has a stillness and beauty, a sense of relaxation just interrupted by the songs of the birds,” Lizete gushed.

The air was alive with the twittering and chirping of starlings, quail, sparrows and other species. And, because it was summer, the route was adorned

with clusters of blue and pink hydrangea blossoms, as well as fragrant white ginger and the purple blooms of African lilies. From this height, the island’s quaint beauty came into panoramic relief, from the village of St. Matthew - with its pearly white chapel, Our Lady of Health, perched on a lone hill - to Carapacho, a town of whitewashed buildings roofed with terra-cotta tiles that’s famous for its thermal pools.

As a reward for my exertions, I decided to check out the various therapies on the menu at the renovated early-20th-century spa, Termas do Carapacho, choosing a hot stone massage with - what else? - volcanic rocks. And to end the day, I settled myself atop a thick beach blanket along the seafront, where there are two natural pools one for kids, shallow and protected from the ocean tide, and the other for adults with an opening to the rough sea.

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A short flight brought me to the sleepy isle of Santa Maria, the warmest of the Azorean islands, nicknamed the Sunny Island. It’s blessed with golden, sandy beaches formed by the erosion of sedimentary rock, unlike the black seaside expanses found on the other eight islands. Approaching by air, you see topography that appears almost schizophrenic. While the east is blanketed with a dense tangle of vegetation and ridged with rolling hills and foliage-covered peaks, the west is flat and arid.

I landed after dark in the capital of Vila do Porto, a 15th-century hilltop village and the oldest in the Azores, and met Laurinda, my friend who owns the Casa do Norte, a charming rural accommodation on the east end of the island.

With just enough time to grab dinner in town at Garrouchada before the kitchen closed, she suggested I order telha de marisco, a dish in which clams, mussels and shrimp are grilled on and served atop a terra-cotta tile.

We found ourselves sitting at a table adjacent to the mayor, who was dining with a dozen colleagues and friends.

This intimate island is the epitome of six degrees of separation, and after Laurinda greeted him, he generously offered some of his grilled cherne (Atlantic wreckfish) to tide us over until our meal arrived.

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B2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

AZORES: Island’s myriad of water features Over the next few days, we drove the narrow, winding and foliage-canopied roads, past cows grazing on terraced slopes of green and tiny ribbons of tumbling water. As we passed through the island’s five towns, Laurinda told me that, traditionally, each town has a predominant color painted around its doors and windows. For example, in Sao Pedro, a once wealthy district, the color is yellow, representing gold; Almagreira has windows of red trim to signify the fertility of the land; and cobalt blue was chosen for Santa Barbara’s windows because it was an inexpensive color for such a poor, rural parish.

When we weren’t exploring the island’s myriad water features (I was particularly taken with Cascata do Aveiro, a 300-foot-high waterfall with a perfectly positioned picnic table at the base, enveloped by a misty spray), we were relishing the light-hued sands, including Sao Lourenço, a popular summer hamlet with a quaint village feel. By far, the loveliest shore is Praia Formosa, meaning “beautiful beach,” backed by soaring cliffs along a bay. There are only a handful of buildings, including a restaurant serving local fish dishes. According to Laurinda, “in the summer, it’s the best beach in all the Azores with an open bay to the ocean; fine, beige sand; clear, warm water; and surfing waves. It’s perfect in every way.” On several of the days, the weather showed its temperamental side - despite its sunny reputation displaying occasional cloud-filled skies or soaking rains. But I welcomed this moodiness, relishing the beaches cloaked in mist and the wispy curtains of fog that lent an eeriness to woodlands.

Because Santa Maria is noted for its biodiversity, one morning we visited the Environmental Center in Vila do Porto to see the private collection of Dalberto Pombo, a self-educated local who pioneered the study of the island’s geology, ecology, marine biology and entomology.

“He discovered dozens of new insect species, five with the scientific name ‘pomboi’ in his honor,” Laurinda said. Once covered by the sea, Santa Maria is the only Azorean island with fossils, and many are displayed here, including sea urchins, sea snails and tiny crustaceans.

The island is also home to Europe’s smallest bird, estrelinha de Santa Maria. “It only weighs five to six grams and it moves so fast that it makes your day when you’re able to see it. I’ve seen it twice,” Laurinda said. A good place to spy one is along the Costa Norte trail, a five-mile trek that heads through landscape often nicknamed the Red Desert - a scarlet-colored, wavy-surfaced expanse, formed when lava erupted from a volcano some 5 million years ago and degraded into clay that became red because of oxidation and undulating thanks to wind and water exposure. We took the trail the next day, savoring the topography, rich with tree heath, St. John’s wort, Azorean candleberry tree and other plant life.

The path ended at Baia dos Anjos, a small seaside village. There, we took advantage of the sun, joining residents and other visitors, some seeking shade under the umbrellas beside the swimming pool or soaking in the shallow natural tidal pool waters. Then, as the sun dropped lower in the sky, we didn’t have to move far to enjoy a crisp glass of white wine at the glassed-in Bar dos Anjos, where the fading light of the day streamed in. The mayor, coincidentally, had the same idea: He was holding a meeting at this casual waterfront cafe.

Though many travelers skip visiting Santa Maria, I had to agree with Laurinda, who compared it to a box full of wonderful surprises. That’s something that can also be said about Graciosa - or, for that matter, any one of the other Azorean islands.

Barone, based in New York, is a travel and food writer.

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A view of the Islet of Romeiro in the Bay of Sao Lourenço.

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Restaurant Garrouchada Rua d. Luis Bettencourt 25, Vila de Porto, Santa Maria 011-351-296-883-038 facebook.com/pages/Garrouchada/230719996975566?sk=info&tab=overview An informal restaurant noted for its fish and seafood served on a terra-cotta tile. Recommended appetizer: the local sausage sampler, $6; entree: seafood on a terra-cotta tile for one person, $13.

Quinta das Grotas Caminho das Grotas, 28 Ribeirinha, Santa Cruz, Graciosa 011-351-295-712-334 facebook.com/quintadasgrotas?fref=ts This petite restaurant housed in a converted traditional Graciosa house is well loved by locals. Try the local cheese with honey, $3; and the grilled neru fish, $16.

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Sulfur Cave (Furna do Enxofre) Centro de Visitantes da Furna do Enxofre Caldeira da Graciosa, 9880-205 Santa Cruz da Graciosa 011-351-295-714-009 Winter hours: Tuesday-Saturday 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Summer hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

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Rua Dr. Manuel de Menezes, Carapacho, Graciosa 011-351-295-714-212 www.facebook.com/ Termas-do-Carapacho-168144069892224/timeline/ Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $1. Dalberto Pombo Environmental Interpretation Center

Rua Teofilo, Braga #10/12/14 Vila do Porto, Santa Maria 011-351-296-206-790 http://parquesnaturais.azores. gov.pt/en/smaria-eng/what-visit/interpretation-centres Winter hours: Tuesday-Saturday 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Summer hours: Daily 10-1 p.m., 2-6 p.m.

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B3 Rebels using break to ready for run

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

MEMORIAL CUP SUCCESS IN THEIR SIGHTS

BY DANNY RODE SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE The Red Deer Rebels, like the rest of the Western Hockey League, are enjoying a much needed break.

“It’s always good to have a break in the middle of the season and for the guys to get away and get home and see their friends and family,” said Rebels owner/GM/head coach Brent Sutter. “It will be a long haul after Christmas as we will be going through to May.” The Rebels will return to action Sunday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings at 5 p.m. at the Centrium.

Sutter is expecting his troops to return refreshed and ready to forget a dismal December.

“We didn’t have a good month of December so far … we’re .500 and that’s not good enough,.” he said.

“We set our goals at the beginning of the season and to achieve them we need to be better.”

Despite a so-so December the Rebels are still right in the running for top spot in the Central Division and the Eastern Conference.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes sit first in both races with 48 points (24-11-0-0), two better than the Rebels (23-12-0-0) and the Calgary Hitmen (22-13-1-1). The Oil Kings are fourth in the Central Division with 31 points.

Sutter knows he has the talent to be an elite team and expects his players to perform at a level needed to show that.

“Some of the guys need to come back and play at a level we expect from them and what we need from them to be where we want to be as a team,” he said.

Sutter has been looking at any possible trades to be made to strengthen his club as they head toward the Memorial Cup as the host team.

“We absolutely have areas we need to be better at,” he said. “We’ve discussed in length what we can do to improve and have been working on improving

those areas and will continue to work on them. We feel there are certain areas we can strengthen” Sutter wasn’t about to name any specific areas that need improving or certainly not mention any names he may be looking at. What he wants his his players to play up to their capabilities and then strengthen from there.

“There are certain individuals who need to play up to their standards and abilities,” he said. “We need to get what is expected from our top players.”

One player who is expected to pick up the pace offensively is Conner Bleackley, who has eight goals and 16 assists.

“Conner has been good in other areas, but just not putting up the points so far,” said Sutter, who will be short two of his top players — rearguard Haydn Fleury and centre Michael Spacek — until they return from the World Junior Championships in Finland.

Ivan Nikolishin leads the team in scoring with 19 goals and 24 assists while Spacek is second with 30 points, including 20 assists. Defenceman Colton Bobyk has had a solid offensive season with 10 goals and 15 helpers for 25 points.

Brett Pollock leads the Oil Kings with 37 points on 13 goals and 24 assists while Lane Bauer is their leading goal scorer with 17 goals and 34 points.

The Rebels finish the year off on the road as they have a return visit to Edmonton on Monday and take on the Kootenay Ice Dec. 31.

They return home Jan. 2 against Brandon.

Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter who can be reached at drode@reddeeradvocate.com. His work can also be seen at www.rdc.ab.ca/athleticsblog.

Canada gets early test against archrival WORLD JUNIORS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS HELSINKI — It won’t take long for Canada’s junior hockey team to find out how it stacks up against the other heavy hitters at the 2016 world championship.

Canada kicks off the defence of its world junior title with a matchup versus the archrival United States on Saturday. The Americans are one of the favourites of the tournament and will measure just how well Canada’s roster has come together in the short time since training camp started at the beginning of the month.

A stiff challenge this early in the tournament is something new for the Canadians. Over the past four seasons, Canada and the U.S. have played on New Year’s Eve or Dec. 30, with the Canadians easing into the tournament with an opener against an opponent not considered a favourite (Slovakia last year, Germany the previous two).

Playing another potential medallist so early in the tournament could be a boon or a curse for Canada, as the result, good or ill, could set the tone for the rest of the preliminary round. Regardless, Canadian head coach Dave Lowry said his team will be ready.

“We always have good games, Canada and the U.S,” Lowry said after Canada’s exhibition win over Sweden.

“They’re always easy to get up for. Fortunate or unfortunate, they’re our first opponent. That’s the way we’re looking at it. We just get ready to play.”

Canada prepared for its big opening

match with three exhibition games, with the last game coming against a highly skilled Sweden team. Canada won 7-6, but gave up a 5-1 lead in the third period and saw some of its flaws exposed.

“There are obviously some areas in our game we’re going to have to get better at,” Lowry said. “No. 1 is playing with the lead.”

It was a tough game for goaltender Mason McDonald, the likely starter against the Americans with projected starter Mackenzie Blackwood suspended for the first two games of the tournament. McDonald was burned for five goals in the third period against Sweden.

Lowry defended his goaltender, instead citing a lack of discipline and defensive breakdowns for the Sweden comeback. Canada was penalized six times in the period and gave up two 5-on-3 chances, something that will have to be addressed before playing the opportunistic Americans.

“We don’t have any problem with our goaltending,” Lowry said. “The fact is, you take six penalties in the third period, that’s going to expose everyone.

“We just have to defend better, that’s it.”

If the exhibition series highlighted some problem areas in defence and discipline, it also highlighted Canada’s potent offence. Canada scored seven goals in two of the games, with expected offensive leaders Jake Virtanen, Dylan Strome and Mitch Marner all contributing.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Mitchell Marner, left, skates the puck past Travis Konecny during practice in Helsinki, Finland on Friday, prior to the start of the IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec 26. Canada will face the United States in their first game of the championship.

“When we play a certain way, we put ourselves in a position to create and generate offence,” Lowry said.

“Our games have been getting harder and harder, and our opponents have been very good.

“Every game gets bigger and bigger, and your opponent plays more of a complete game. There are areas we have to clean up in our game and we know that. We’re going to face a very tough opponent in the first game, and

that’s something our guys will be prepared for.”

The United States won two of its three warm-up games, including a 10-1 rout of Switzerland and a 3-2 victory over host Finland, another team expected to contend for a medal.

“They’re a very highly skilled team, and they play a very good team game,” Lowry said. “They have some dynamic forwards, and it’s going to be a challenge that we get right off the bat.”

Bautista bat flip among plays of the year

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista flips his bat after hitting a three-run homer during seventh inning game 5 American League Division Series baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015.

Greg Meachem, Sports Editor, 403-314-4363 E-mail gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Sometimes, games, seasons and championships were at stake. Sometimes, ordinary moments turned extraordinary in an instant. They were the kind of moments that made fans leap from their seats in disbelief and grab their phones to share the excitement.

The plays of the year.

An arbitrary list, for certain, but this much is not in dispute — 2015 was laden with spectacular moments that will be talked about for a long time to come.

Take American Pharoah, opening his lead with every stride down the stretch of the Belmont Stakes on the way to becoming the Triple Crown winner that horse racing had waited nearly four decades to see.

Or Georgia Tech winning only one football game in the Atlantic Coast Conference all season, that win coming on a blocked field goal return for a touchdown as time expired against Florida State. Or Michigan State keeping its national-title hopes afloat when rival Michigan fumbled a punt snap in the final moments and the Spartans ran it in for a score as time expired.

Or even Matt Kenseth driving Joey Logano into the wall at Martinsville during NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, clear retaliation for a Logano move that Kenseth blamed for knocking him out of contention.

All scintillating moments — and they didn’t even make this list. Here, the top 10 plays in sports for 2015: 10. Messi vs. Bilbao

>>>>

Barcelona’s brilliant Lionel Messi takes a pass on the right wing, and what happens over the next 13 seconds is spectacular even by his lofty standards. Messi dribbles down the wing, freeing himself from three converging defenders, darts into the penalty box, cuts past a fourth Bilbao player and fires a left-footed blast into the net as two more opponents look on helplessly.

9. Ovechkin from his knees Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin takes a pass near centre ice at Madison Square Garden, splits two New York Rangers defenders and gets knocked to the ice. So as he’s falling to his knees, the Russian star has enough wherewithal to get a stick on the puck and somehow fire it past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist — and the whole play took only 3 seconds.

8. Spieth’s 3-wood to finish U.S. Open The 2015 U.S. Open will probably be best remembered by Dustin Johnson three-putting on the 72nd hole, but the shot Jordan Spieth made moments earlier was one of the best of his incredible year. Spieth struck a 3-wood from 284 yards into eagle range, settling for a birdie that put him one shot ahead of Johnson. Turns out, that was all Spieth needed, since Johnson three-putted to give the 21-year-old his second consecutive major.

7. Rodgers to Rodgers beats the clock Down 23-21 with no time left, Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay needed a miracle to beat Detroit.

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B4 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Cavs can’t avenge NBA finals loss

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry drives past Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James during the second half of an NBA basketball game Fridayin Oakland, Calif.

Golden State won 89-83.

Warriors 89 Cavaliers 83 OAKLAND, Calif. — Draymond Green had 22 points and 15 rebounds and the Golden State Warriors got defensive in their NBA Finals rematch against Cleveland, beating the Cavaliers 89-83 on Friday.

Stephen Curry added 19 points and Klay Thompson had 18 for the Warriors, who improved to 28-1 by winning their 32nd straight regular-season home game. Instead of doing it with 3-pointers, defending champion Golden State maintained its edge over Cleveland by limiting the Cavaliers to 32 per cent shooting.

LeBron James scored 25 points to lead the Cavaliers. They had their sixgame winning streak snapped.

The Cavaliers were short-handed when they lost the final to the Warriors in six games, missing power forward Kevin Love the entire series with a shoulder injury and losing point guard Kyrie Irving to a knee injury late in the first game.

Having both those players healthy for the rematch did little to help Cleveland. Love scored just 10 points on 5-for-16 shooting, and Irving missed 11 of 15 shots in a 13-point game.

With those two struggling, the Warriors built a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter following a jumper by Thompson and a layup from Green.

But James responded with a pair of dunks and a blocked shot on Thompson before Love’s tip-in made it 81-77 with just over 2 minutes to play.

James missed two free throws after Cleveland got another stop and Curry responded with a pair of layups around J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer to make it 85-80 with 57.6 seconds to play.

James shot an air ball from 3 with 12.7 seconds to play to end Cleveland’s comeback attempt.

There was an increased intensity at the start of the seventh Christmas Day rematch of the previous season’s finals with fans on edge far more than for most regular season games.

The officials let both teams play through contact early and the Warriors built a 28-19 lead after one behind 10 points and six rebounds from Green.

But the Cavaliers picked up the defence in the second quarter against Golden State’s reserves, taking advantage of an extended absence from Curry who get his strained right calf retaped in the locker room. The Warriors led 45-42 at the half.

TIP-INS Cavaliers: Cleveland started a stretch of 10 road games in 12 contests. … C Timofey Mozgov had zero points on 0-for-5 shooting.

Warriors: Golden State had its streak of 47 straight regular-season home games with at least 100 points snapped. … Golden State had scored at least 20 points in 108 of 112 quarters coming into the game and then was held to 17 in the second quarter and 19 in the third by the Cavs. … G Shaun Livingston scored a season-high 16 points off the bench. … G Leandro Barbosa left the game with a sprained left shoulder.

STARTING BIG After falling behind 2-1 in the finals last season, the Warriors moved Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup in place of centre Andrew Bogut and took control of the series. Interim coach Luke Walton saw no need to make that kind of switch this game.

“Well we’re 27-1,” he said. “As fun as today should be, it’s not about making drastic changes for one game and then going back to something else the next game.”

UP NEXT Cavaliers: Visit Portland on Saturday.

Warriors: Host Sacramento on Monday.

Butler, Gasol lift Bulls over Thunder DURANT UNHAPPY WITH TEAM’S ABILITY TO PLAY FROM BEHIND Bulls 105 Thunder 96 OKLAHOMA CITY — The Chicago Bulls were angry and on edge after three straight losses. They channeled those emotions into one of their best wins of the season.

Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, and Pau Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Bulls’ 105-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

In a game that featured several skirmishes, the Bulls outrebounded the NBA’s No. 2 rebounding team 53-48.

“We’ve just got to go out there and attack,” Chicago forward Taj Gibson, who got a double technical with Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka, said. “It’s no time to be friends with anybody right now. We’ve got enough friends in here.

We’re with each other 24-7. We can’t go out there and look to be nice to everybody.”

Derrick Rose added 19 points, and Gibson had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Chicago held the Thunder to 38.5per cent shooting, Oklahoma City’s third-worst showing of the season.

Kevin Durant had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, and Russell Westbrook added 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Thunder had won three straight and nine of 10.

“I think we did a really good job of making sure we closed out to 3-point shooters,” Rose said. “We trusted the game plan. We know K.D. is a great 3-point shooter, (Anthony) Morrow, and Westbrook when his feet are set, and you just can’t let them get hot. Everybody else on the team, we forced them

STORY FROM PAGE B3

PLAYS: Bat flip number 5 And he delivered. Getting one untimed play after a penalty on the Lions extended the game, the Packers’ quarterback took the snap, rolled left, was chased back to his right, then unfurled a pass that sailed about 68 yards through the air and ended in teammate Richard Rodgers’ hands for a stunning win.

6. Holly’s kick heard ‘round the world Ronda Rousey was unbeatable.

Then again, everyone is until it actually happens. And unheralded Holly Holm erased Rousey’s air of invincibility in an instant. With one swift left-footed kick that caught Rousey on the right side of the head, Holm won their UFC fight and became the wom-

en’s champion of their sport — setting up a rematch coming in 2016 that should be one of the biggest events of the year.

5. Joey Bats’ bat flip Game 5 of the American League Division Series, tie game, seventh inning.

Who better than a guy who goes by “Joey Bats” — real name, Jose Bautista — to deliver? Bautista connected on a no-doubt, three-run home run that would eventually lift Toronto to a series-clinching victory over Texas, punctuating the hit by admiring the drive from the plate for a moment before flipping his bat in celebration.

4. Carli from midfield Have a World Cup, Carli Lloyd.

With the U.S. women’s national team already up 3-0 early against Japan in the World Cup final, Lloyd got her hat trick in absurd fashion. She collected a ball around the centre circle, took two dribbles and saw Japan’s goalkeeper was inexplicably about 12 yards off

to make shots and make plays.”

Durant said he didn’t like the way the Thunder played at times when they got behind.

“If you try to get it all back in one play, try to get a steal, try to come down and shoot a pull-up 3 — just doing stupid stuff that we did all night, it will be tough to win,” Durant said.

Chicago led 51-37 with 4:58 left in the first half, but the Thunder cut it to 54-52 at halftime. Durant scored 19 points in the half, and Westbrook had 12 points and five assists.

Gasol and Butler each scored 11 points in the first half for the Bulls.

Chicago scored the first eight points of the second half to go up 62-52 and force the Thunder to call a timeout.

The Bulls led 86-68 at the end of the third quarter.

The Bulls led by 18 at the end of the

third quarter. Oklahoma City changed things up and played Morrow and Enes Kanter with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka for most of the fourth quarter. A pair of 3-pointers by Morrow cut Chicago’s lead to 97-89 with just under 5 minutes to play, but the Bulls hung on.

“We withstood their run, which I think everyone knew they were going to go on in the fourth quarter, and they (the Bulls) made big plays down the stretch,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.

STAT LINES The lineup that Oklahoma City started the fourth quarter with — Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Kanter and Morrow — outscored the Bulls 28-19.

Morrow and Kanter don’t start, in part, because of defensive shortcomings, but that group held the Bulls to 6-for20 shooting.

the end line. Lloyd booted the ball high, getting just enough on it to reach the goal over the outstretched goalie’s arm.

3. Steph off the dribble (twice) Poor Chris Paul. As if Stephen Curry didn’t do enough on his way to winning the MVP and leading Golden State to an NBA title last season, he victimized Paul twice on the way to those achievements. The first comes when Curry is dribbling under the basket toward the corner, then goes behind his back twice as Paul falls to the floor — a victim to the misdirection.

The other comes with Curry going between-the-legs and behind-the-back on the dribble, weaving around three Clippers. And in both cases, Curry made the ensuing jumper.

2. Butler’s Super Bowl moment Seattle was a yard away from a touchdown that would have almost certainly given the Seahawks a Super Bowl win. New England’s Malcolm Butler — an undrafted rookie signed as a free agent — changed all that.

With the Seahawks electing to not give

the ball to Marshawn Lynch and trying to score through the air Butler perfectly read a slant pass from Russell Wilson, and made the interception that clinched the title for the Patriots.

1. The Miami miracle Did it count? Yes. Should it have?

No. And did Duke score on the previous play? Miami says no, which only adds to the fun of this one. Duke gets a debated touchdown with 6 seconds left to take a 27-24 lead, then kicks the ball deep. After eight laterals, one knee down that would have ended the game but wasn’t called and tons of controversy, Corn Elder takes the ball 91 yards into the end zone for a Miami victory. The Atlantic Coast Conference said a day later that it was suspending the officiating crew for two games, then later told Miami that some of the 23 penalties against the Hurricanes — including ones that led to Duke’s debated go-ahead touchdown — shouldn’t have been called. “They’ll talk about this game forever, I guess,” Elder said. “And they’ll always say we won.”

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BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 B5

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon watches a pass get away from him under pressure from Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md. The 2015 NFL football season has been marked by mediocrity, not parity. From the porous offensive lines to the suspect quarterbacking and poor tackling, from the inconsistent officiating to the multitude of key injuries, the season has been filled with the unwatchable.

2015 NFL season marked by mediocrity BAD BLOCKING, OFFICIATING AND INJURIES TO KEY PLAYERS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The NFL likes to call it parity. This season, it looks closer to mediocrity.

From the porous offensive lines to the suspect quarterbacking and poor tackling, from the inconsistent officiating to the multitude of key injuries, the 2015 season has been filled with the unwatchable.

Yes, the playoff races, particularly for the AFC wild card, have been intriguing. Carolina’s chase for perfection has been worthy of headlines. The performances by the league’s top players — particularly the ones making substantial breakthroughs such as Cam Newton and Doug Baldwin on offence, Khalil Mack and Ziggy Ansah on defence — have been mesmerizing.

There’s also the noteworthy, if maddening, race to relocate to Los Angeles involving the Rams, Raiders and Chargers.

As for the rest, well, let’s hope the playoffs and Super Bowl go in a different direction than we’ve witnessed since September.

One team not concerned with the post-season for the 16th straight time — remarkable in itself that anyone could miss the playoffs that many years in a row — is Buffalo. The Bills under Rex Ryan epitomize how disappointing the level of play has been in so many cities. They brought in a high-profile coach and upgraded their talent level. They paid huge salaries to hold on to some key players.

And they flopped.

“I mean, I could tell you the common thread is this: that when you have high expectations and you don’t reach those things, that obviously you’re going to have a little more questioning,” Ryan says.

Here’s what has been most worth questioning through 15 of the 17 weeks on the schedule: PARITY If what the NFL wants is nearly every team in contention to win a division or grab a wild card when the calendar turns to December, it came close to that goal in 2015.

If what it wants is high-quality football from many of those teams, sorry.

It’s worthwhile to praise the work of the Panthers and Patriots, Cardinals, Broncos and Bengals, who pretty much for the entire season have risen above the morass. Second-half surges by the Chiefs, Steelers and Seahawks have been impressive.

But also recall that Kansas City lost five in a row, going into a funk after blowing a game against Denver. Seattle wasted the best home-field advantage in the sport, falling twice at CenturyLink Field and basically being handed a win over Detroit by incorrect officiating. Pittsburgh was 4-4 and somehow lost to Baltimore at home.

Most disturbing, even laughable, has been the level of play and coaching throughout the NFC East and

AFC South. It’s still possible both wretched divisions will be won by teams without winning records, who then deservedly will be underdogs as hosts to a wild card in the playoffs.

The league can brag all it wants about how packed together so many clubs are. It’s sort of like finding a slew of fast-food restaurants together along a busy roadway.

BLOCKING AND TACKLING Shield your eyes.

These basic skills appear to have gone the way of the chip shot extra point (one of the good things about this season, incidentally). One reason quarterbacking has been so spotty (see below) is the inability of linemen, tight ends and running backs to provide protection. No area requires bonding more than the O-line, but even some units that enjoy that continuity have underperformed. If the Broncos disappear quickly in the race to the Super Bowl, the lack of solid blocking could be the determining factor.

On the other side, it might be difficult to find a dozen fundamentally strong tacklers in the entire NFL. In their, uh, defence, the rules about what’s a legal hit have made some of them gun-shy or confused. But the very basics of wrapping up and keeping the head out of the play have been lost.

QUARTERBACKING Someone recently wondered why the league doesn’t simply expand to get teams into Los Angeles — or the cities abandoned through relocation — and maybe even into London in the near future. One good reason: Where will NFL-quality quarterbacks come from?

And what is NFL-quality for the position today?

It’s seems fair to say that half of the 32 teams aren’t sure what they have behind centre, and a bunch of those don’t like what they have.

There is hope with the likes of Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles as the new wave, and with Newton and Russell Wilson in the MVP conversation. But future eliteness for QBs is unpredictable — see Matt Ryan — and when the aging crop of stars leaves, it’s hard to see the college game producing an ample number of replacements.

OFFICIATING For decades, it’s been fashionable for fans to blame the officials for losses, while team owners, general managers and coaches have bitten their tongues and tried to shrug off officiating problems.

Not anymore.

There’s a growing sentiment that game officials have lost their way, and the NFL will need to look long and hard into how it handles who is blowing the whistles how to simplify the rule book and how to better use the ever-improving technology.

One thing the NFL must hope as this season of mediocrity winds down is that a wrong call doesn’t decide that big game Feb. 7.

No Grand Slam, but Williams named AP Female Athlete of the year FOURTH TIME TENNIS STAR HAS WON

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Serena Williams spent a good portion of 2015 deflecting questions about whether she could complete the Grand Slam. After coming oh-so-close, she can acknowledge how much she cared about the rare feat.

“I wanted it. But … winning one (major title) is not easy. And then, (when) you have a ‘bounty’ on your head, it’s even harder,” she said with a laugh. “If you know anything about me, I hate to lose. I’ve always said I hate losing more than I like winning, so that drives me to be the best that I can be.”

Williams’ will was on display time and again, along with her best-in-the-game serve and other skills, fashioning comeback after comeback to nearly become the first tennis player in more than a quarter-century to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a season. In a vote by U.S. editors and news directors, Williams was chosen as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the fourth time.

Results were announced Friday.

Williams collected 50 first-place votes and 352 points. Carli Lloyd, whose hat trick in the final lifted the U.S. women’s soccer team to the World Cup title, was the runner-up, with 14 first-place votes and 243 points. UFC star Ronda Rousey finished third, one Serena Williams spot ahead of the woman she stunningly lost to last month, Holly Holm. UConn basketball player Breanna Stewart was fifth.

The AP Male Athlete of the Year will be announced Saturday.

Williams, who also won AP awards in 2002, 2009 and 2013, joined Chris Evert as a four-time honoree.

The only woman with more AP selections is Babe Didrikson, with six — one for athletics in 1932, and five for golf from 1945-54.

“It’s not even winning the Grand Slam titles as much as the way she got herself out of the deep holes that she dug, just repeatedly. It’s not like she had two or three narrow escapes,” Evert said about Williams.

“It really was the year of the comeback. It was just unbelievable.”

Williams won the Australian Open on hard courts in January, the French Open on red clay in June, and Wimbledon on grass in July, before losing in the U.S. Open semifinals in September in one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history.

Williams went 53-3 with a WTA tour-leading five titles and was ranked No. 1 every week. She raised her Grand Slam singles trophy count to 21 only two women have won more.

It did not come easily this year for Williams, who grew up in Compton, California, and turned 34 in September.

At the French Open, already dealing with a painful right elbow, Williams caught the flu. Four times in Paris, she lost the first set before rallying to win.

“My elbow was killing me. It’s about fighting and just never giving up. You hear that and it sounds cliche,” Williams said, “but it’s really just about, ‘OK, I’m going to at least try and see what happens.”’

Five things to watch in Canada vs. U.S. showdown

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS HELSINKI — Canada faces the United States on Saturday in both teams’ first preliminary round game of the world junior hockey championship. Here are five things to watch for as Canada begins its defence of last year’s title.

MASON MCDONALD — Mason McDonald was expected to backup Mackenzie Blackwood as Canada’s goaltender throughout the world juniors.

However, Blackwood was suspended for eight games by the Ontario Hockey League after slashing an opponent and will have to miss Canada’s first two games of the tournament. That puts McDonald between the pipes where he’s looked shaky in pre-competition

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exhibitions including a 5-4 shootout loss to a team of Canadian university all-stars on Dec. 12 and a 7-6 win over Sweden on Wednesday.

CAPTAIN CANADA — Brayden Point was always going to be an important piece of Canada’s world junior championship title defence. He’s one of four returning veterans from last year’s gold medal-winning squad and arguably the best player in the Western Hockey League this season.

Point was given the captaincy on Thursday, saddling him with a key leadership role for Canada. Fellow world junior vets Lawson Crouse and Joe Hicketts are Point’s alternate captains.

OHL SHOWCASE — The top five scorers in the Ontario Hockey League will be playing in this game. Ameri-

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cans Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk are Nos. 1 and 2 in the OHL, followed by Canadian Mitch Marner.

Alex DeBrincat, the fourth-highest point getter in the OHL, will lace up for the United States, while No. 5 Dylan Strome will be on Canada’s top line centring Marner.

All five players know each other exceedingly well: Dvorak, Tkachuk and Marner are all teammates on the London Knights, while DeBrincat and Strome are the core of the Erie Otters’ offence.

AUSTON MATTHEWS — Auston Matthews isn’t just considered the top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft this summer but some argue he’s the best player in the world that’s not in the NHL. Instead of playing junior in the Canadian Hockey League or going

to the NCAA, the American has chosen to play professionally for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League A. This makes international tournaments like the world juniors a rare chance to see Matthews’s talent before he breaks in to the NHL. INTERNATIONAL ICE SURFACE — Canada has not won a world junior championship on European ice since 2008 in the Czech Republic. The larger Olympic-size rink is definitely a contributing factor for Canada’s struggles outside of North America, with defensive schemes, playmaking and stamina all effected. The Canadians have been practising and playing on Olympic-size rinks all month, but there’s still a learning curve. Fortunately, the Americans will presumably also be unused to the larger ice surface.

SCOREBOARD Local Sports

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

Hockey

Today • Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Macs tournament — Red Deer Optimist Chiefs vs. Tisdale Trojans, 12:45 p.m., Flames Community Arena Blue.

Sunday • Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Macs tournament — Red Deer Optimist Chiefs vs. Austrian U18 national team, 11:45 a.m., Max Bell Centre.

• Peewee AA hockey: Red Deer TBS at Central Alberta Selects, 3:45 p.m., Blackfalds.

• WHL: Edmonton Oil Kings at Red Deer Rebels, 5 p.m., Centrium.

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct y-New England 12 2 0 .857 N.Y. Jets 9 5 0 .643 Buffalo 6 8 0 .429 Miami 5 9 0 .357 South W L T Pct Houston 7 7 0 .500 Indianapolis 6 8 0 .429 Jacksonville 5 9 0 .357 Tennessee 3 11 0 .214 North W L T Pct x-Cincinnati 11 3 0 .786 Pittsburgh 9 5 0 .643 Baltimore 4 10 0 .286 Cleveland 3 11 0 .214 West W L T Pct Denver 10 4 0 .714 Kansas City 9 5 0 .643 Oakland 6 8 0 .429 San Diego 4 10 0 .286

B6

PF 435 344 341 278

PA 269 272 336 361

PF 275 285 343 269

PA 301 372 380 359

PF 378 378 292 253

PA 243 287 360 387

PF 308 365 319 280

PA 259 257 356 348

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Washington 7 7 0 .500 316 Philadelphia 6 8 0 .429 318 N.Y. Giants 6 8 0 .429 373 Dallas 4 10 0 .286 246 South W L T Pct PF y-Carolina 14 0 0 1.000 449 Atlanta 7 7 0 .500 302 Tampa Bay 6 8 0 .429 311 New Orleans 5 9 0 .357 350 North W L T Pct PF x-Green Bay 10 4 0 .714 347 Minnesota 9 5 0 .643 296 Detroit 5 9 0 .357 302 Chicago 5 9 0 .357 289 West W L T Pct PF y-Arizona 12 2 0 .857 445 x-Seattle 9 5 0 .643 370 St. Louis 6 8 0 .429 241 San Francisco 4 10 0 .286 202 x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division

PA 332 362 358 324 PA 278 312 353 432 PA 265 272 363 352 PA 269 248 294 339

Thursday, Dec. 24 San Diego at Oakland, 8:25 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 26 Washington at Philadelphia, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27 Houston at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

Cleveland at Kansas City, 11 a.m.

New England at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m.

Indianapolis at Miami, 11 a.m.

San Francisco at Detroit, 11 a.m.

Dallas at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

Chicago at Tampa Bay, 11 a.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 11 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 11 a.m.

Jacksonville at New Orleans, 2:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 2:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Arizona, 2:25 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Cincinnati at Denver, 6:30 p.m.

NFL league leaders Scoring, non-kickers TD Rus Rec Ret X2 Pts Baldwin, SEA 13 0 13 0 0 78 Beckham Jr., NYG 13 0 13 0 0 78 A. Robinson, JAX 13 0 13 0 0 78 Eifert, CIN 12 0 12 0 0 72 D. Freeman, ATL 12 10 2 0 0 72 Dav. Johnson, ARI 12 7 4 1 0 72 Je. Hill, CIN 11 10 1 0 1 68 Gronkowski, NE 11 0 11 0 0 66 B. Marshall, NYJ 11 0 11 0 0 66 An. Brown, PIT 10 0 9 1 2 64 De. Hopkins, HOU 10 0 10 0 1 62 Leading Receivers No Yds Avg Long TD Ju. Jones, ATL 118 1544 13.1 54 7 An. Brown, PIT 116 1586 13.7 59 9 Fitzgerald, ARI 99 1131 11.4 44 7 De. Hopkins, HOU 97 1315 13.6 61t 10 Landry, MIA 97 974 10.0 50t 4 B. Marshall, NYJ 93 1261 13.6 69t 11 D. Thomas, DEN 93 1128 12.1 48t 5 Beckham Jr.,NYG 91 1396 15.3 87t 13 Crabtree, OAK 82 888 10.8 38t 8 G. Tate, DET 82 720 8.8 43 6 Maclin, KC 79 985 12.5 61 6 A. Green, CIN 77 1206 15.7 80t 8 D. Walker, TEN 76 935 12.3 61t 6 Cooks, NO 74 993 13.4 60t 8 J. Reed, WAS 74 778 10.5 32 9 Ca. Johnson, DET 72 1000 13.9 57 7 Decker, NYJ 72 930 12.9 35 10 Jo. Matthews, PHL 72 839 11.7 78t 5 Woodhead, SND 72 704 9.8 61 6 Olsen, CAR 71 1048 14.8 52 7 A. Cooper, OAK 70 1050 15.0 68t 6 R. Cobb, GBY 70 777 11.1 53t 6 Witten, DAL 70 643 9.2 35 2 A. Robinson, JAX 69 1141 16.5 52 13 T. Riddick, DET 69 605 8.8 34 3 Barnidge, CLE 68 930 13.7 40 9 D. Freeman, ATL 68 543 8.0 44 2 Sanders, DEN 67 969 14.5 75t 5 B. Watson, NO 67 761 11.4 46 5 K. Allen, SND 67 725 10.8 38 4 Gronkowski, NE 66 1072 16.2 76t 11 M. Evans, TAM 66 1046 15.8 68 3 Baldwin, SEA 65 905 13.9 80t 13 T. Kelce, KAN 65 822 12.6 42t 4 Amendola, NE 63 631 10.0 41 3 Snead, NOR 62 874 14.1 63 3 K. Aiken, BAL 62 802 12.9 48t 5 Garcon, WAS 62 648 10.5 36 4 Hilton, IND 61 1016 16.7 87t 5 T. Benjamin, CLE 61 893 14.6 61 5 Moncrief, IND 61 720 11.8 33 6 Edelman, NE 61 692 11.3 59t 7 Boldin, SNF 59 691 11.7 51 3 Joh. Brown, ARI 58 933 16.1 68 6 Mar. Jones, CIN 57 745 13.1 47 4 LEADING RUSHERS Att Yards Avg Long TD A. Peterson, MIN 286 1314 4.6 80t 9 D. Martin, TAM 256 1305 5.1 84 5 L. Murray, OAK 255 1035 4.1 54 6 Gurley, STL 210 1023 4.9 71t 9 J. Stewart, CAR 242 989 4.1 44 6 Ivory, NYJ 230 951 4.1 54 7 D. Freeman, ATL 218 907 4.2 39 10 McFadden,DAL 208 898 4.3 50 3 L. McCoy, BUF 203 895 4.4 48t 3 Rawls, SEA 147 830 5.6 69t 4 Ch. Johnson, ARI 196 814 4.2 62 3 Gore, IND 226 806 3.6 25 4 De. Williams, PIT 178 799 4.5 55 9 L. Miller, MIA 160 781 4.9 85t 7 Ma. Ingram, NO 166 769 4.6 70 6 Forte, CHI 190 768 4.0 27 4 Yeldon, JAX 182 740 4.1 45 2 Hillman, DEN 183 711 3.9 72t 6 Blount, NE 165 703 4.3 38t 6 Bernard, CIN 140 680 4.9 28 2 Lacy, GBY 162 664 4.1 29 3 Forsett, BAL 151 641 4.2 33 2 Gordon, SD 184 641 3.5 27 0 Je. Hill, CIN 188 635 3.4 17 10

Transactions Friday’s Sports Transactions FOOTBALL National Football League DALLAS COWBOYS — Placed TE Gavin Escobar and QB Tony Romo on injured reserve. Signed QB Jameill Showers and DT Casey Walker from the practice squad.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Waived RB Toben Opurum. Signed WR Seantavius Jones from the practice squad and OT Bryan Witzmann to the practice squad.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Placed DT Markus Kuhn and LB James Morris on injured reserve.

Signed DE Brad Bars and TE Matt LaCosse from the practice squad.

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Brandon 35 21 11 1 2 131 Prince Albert 34 20 11 2 1 108 Moose Jaw 34 17 12 4 1 117 Regina 35 15 15 3 2 107 Saskatoon 33 13 17 3 0 102 Swift Current 34 10 20 3 1 78

GA 99 102 107 121 138 109

Pt 45 43 39 35 29 24

CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 35 24 11 0 0 148 35 23 12 0 0 127 37 22 13 1 1 123 36 14 19 3 0 99 34 12 19 2 1 108 36 6 28 2 0 70

GA 105 104 115 118 134 154

Pt 48 46 46 31 27 14

Lethbridge Red Deer Calgary Edmonton Medicine Hat Kootenay

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Kelowna 35 25 9 1 0 133 Prince George 34 21 11 1 1 118 Victoria 35 21 12 1 1 117 Kamloops 32 17 11 3 1 117 Vancouver 36 12 19 3 2 102

GA 101 95 85 101 127

Pt 51 44 44 38 29

U.S. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 33 19 11 3 0 113 32 19 11 0 2 89 34 17 13 3 1 114 33 16 16 1 0 113 34 14 19 1 0 105

GA 99 70 117 108 130

Pt 41 40 38 33 29

Seattle Everett Spokane Portland Tri-City

Sunday, December 27 Everett at Vancouver, 3 p.m.

Regina at Brandon, 3 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Swift Current, 3 p.m.

Calgary at Kootenay, 4 p.m.

Edmonton at Red Deer, 5 p.m.

Lethbridge at Medicine Hat, 6 p.m.

Saskatoon at Prince Albert, 6 p.m.

Tri-City at Portland, 6 p.m.

Seattle at Spokane, 6:05 p.m.

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Victoria, 8:05 p.m.

WHL Scoring Leaders Tyson Baillie, Kel Brayden Burke, Let Adam Brooks, Reg Devante Stephens, Spo Reid Gardiner, P.A. Parker Bowles, TC Dryden Hunt, MJ Egor Babenko, Let Ivan Nikolishin, RD Brayden Point, MJ Alex Forsberg, Vic Mathew Barzal, Sea Radel Fazleev, CAL CollinShirley, Kam Justin Gutierrez, Let Nolan Patrick, Bra Jonathon Martin, SC Tyler Wong, Let Keegan Kolesar, Sea Giorgio Estephan, Let Cameron Hebig, Sas Brett Pollock, Edm Jesse Gabrielle, PG Matthew Phillips, Vic Dominic Turgeon, Por Ethan Bear, Sea Andrew Nielsen, Let Remi Laurencelle, Eve

G 23 9 17 14 20 19 20 19 19 18 12 9 14 21 17 10 23 22 16 14 16 13 20 18 17 11 9 19

A 35 41 31 34 26 27 25 25 24 25 31 34 28 19 23 30 16 17 23 25 22 24 16 18 19 25 27 16

Pts 58 50 48 48 46 46 45 44 43 43 43 43 42 40 40 40 39 39 39 39 38 37 36 36 36 36 36 35

2016 IIHF World Junior Championship schedule At Helsinki, Finland PRELIMINARY ROUND Group A Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and United States Group B Belarus, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Slovakia Saturday, Dec. 26 Russia vs. Czech Republic, 5 a.m.

Sweden vs. Switzerland,. 7 a.m.

Belarus vs. Finland, 9 a.m.

Canada vs. United States, noon Sunday, Dec. 27 Slovakia vs. Belarus, 9 a.m.

Switzerland vs. Denmark, 11 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Czech Republic vs. Slovakia, 5 a.m.

United States vs. Sweden, 7 a.m.

Finland vs. Russia, 9 a.m.

Denmark vs. Canada, 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 Russia VS. Belarus, 9 a.m.

Canada vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m.

How Canada Fared at the World Junior Hockey Championship (year, finish, coach and parent club in parentheses): 2015 — Gold (Benoit Groulx, Gatineau, QMJHL) 2014 — Fourth (Brent Sutter, Hockey Canada) 2013 — Fourth (Steve Spott, Kitchener, OHL) 2012 — Bronze (Don Hay, Kamloops, WHL) 2011 — Silver (Dave Cameron, Mississauga St. Michael’s, OHL) 2010 — Silver (Willie Desjardins, Medicine Hat, WHL) 2009 — Gold (Pat Quinn, Hockey Canada) 2008 — Gold (Craig Hartsburg, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) 2007 — Gold (Craig Hartsburg, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) 2006 — Gold (Brent Sutter, Red Deer, WHL) 2005 — Gold (Brent Sutter, Red Deer, WHL) 2004 — Silver (Mario Durocher, Sherbrooke, QMJHL) 2003 — Silver (Marc Habscheid, Kelowna, WHL 2002 — Silver (Stan Butler, Brampton, OHL) 2001 — Bronze (Stan Butler, Brampton, OHL) 2000 — Bronze (Claude Julien, Hull, QMJHL) 1999 — Silver (Tom Renney, Hockey Canada) 1998 — Eighth (Real Paiement, QMJHL) 1997 — Gold (Mike Babcock, Spokane, WHL) 1996 — Gold (Marcel Comeau, Kelowna, WHL) 1995 — Gold (Don Hay, Kamloops, WHL) 1994 — Gold (Joe Canale, Beauport, QMJHL) 1993 — Gold (Perry Pearn, Northern Alta. Institute of Technology, CCAA) 1992 — Sixth (Rick Cornacchia, Oshawa, OHL) 1991 — Gold (Dick Todd, Peterborough, OHL) 1990 — Gold (Guy Charron, Hockey Canada) 1989 — Fourth (Tom Webster, Windsor, OHL) 1988 — Gold (Dave Chambers, York Univ., CIAU) 1987 — Disqualified (Bert Templeton, North Bay, OHL) 1986 — Silver (Terry Simpson, Prince Albert, WHL) 1985 — Gold (Terry Simpson, Prince Albert, WHL) 1984 — Fourth (Brian Kilrea, Ottawa, OHL) 1983 — Bronze (Dave King, Univ. of Saskatchewan, CIAU) 1982 — Gold (Dave King, Univ. of Saskatchewan, CIAU) 1981 — Seventh (Bob Kilger, Cornwall, QMJHL) 1980 — Fifth (Mike Keenan, Peterborough, OHL) 1979 — Fifth (Ernie McLean, New Westminster, WHL) 1978 — Bronze (Ernie McLean, New Westminster, WHL) 1977 — Silver (Bert Templeton, St. Catharines, OHL) 1976 — Silver (Ghislain Delage, Sherbrooke, QMJHL) 1975 — Silver (Jackie McLeod, Saskatoon, WHL) 1974 — Bronze (Roger Neilson, Peterborough, OHL)

Spengler Cup champions 2014 — HC Geneve-Servette (Switzerland) 2013 — HC Geneve-Servette (Switzerland) 2012 — Canada 2011 — HC Davos (Switzerland) 2010 — SKA St. Petersburg (Russia) 2009 — HC Dynamo Minsk (Belarus) 2008 — HC Dynamo Moscow (Russia) 2007 — Canada 2006 — HC Davos (Switzerland) 2005 — HC Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia) 2004 — HC Davos (Switzerland) 2003 — Canada 2002 — Canada 2001 — HC Davos (Switzerland) 2000 — HC Davos (Switzerland) 1999 — Kolner Haie (Germany) 1998 — Canada 1997 — Canada 1996 — Canada 1995 — Canada 1994 — Farjestad Karlstad (Sweden) 1993 — Farjestad Karlstad (Sweden) 1992 — Canada 1991 — CSKA Moscow (Russia) 1990 — Spartak Moscow (USSR) 1989 — Spartak Moscow (USSR) 1988 — U.S.A. Selects (U.S.) 1987 — Canada 1986 — Canada 1985 — Spartak Moscow (USSR) 1984 — Canada 1983 — Dynamo Moscow (USSR) 1982 — Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia) 1981 — Spartak Moscow (USSR) 1980 — Spartak Moscow (USSR)

Saturday’s games Montreal at Washington, 5 p.m.

Columbus at Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.

Buffalo at Boston, 5 p.m.

New Jersey at Carolina, 5 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Detroit at Nashville, 6 p.m.

Dallas at St. Louis, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Arizona, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Vancouver, 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 27 Boston at Ottawa, 3 p.m.

Toronto at NY Islanders, 4 p.m.

Columbus at Florida, 4 p.m.

St. Louis at Dallas, 4 p.m.

Carolina at Chicago, 5 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Winnipeg, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at Anaheim, 6 p.m.

Arizona at Colorado, 6 p.m.

Edmonton at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Monday, December 28 Washington at Buffalo, 5 p.m.

Montreal at Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

NY Rangers at Nashville, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Vancouver, 8 p.m.

Colorado at San Jose, 8:30 p.m.

NHL Scoring Leaders

NHL Eastern Conference Atlantic Division GP W L OL GF 36 20 13 3 105 33 19 10 4 104 35 19 12 4 95

GA 89 85 81

Pt 43 42 42

Metropolitan Division GP W L OL GF Washington 33 25 6 2 105 NY Rangers 36 20 12 4 104 NY Islanders 35 19 11 5 96

GA 71 93 82

Pt 52 44 43

GF GA 89 89 105 104 83 87 74 92 87 82 76 84 79 89 86 93 80 101 88 112

Pt 41 40 39 37 37 35 32 31 31 29

Montreal Boston Florida

WILD CARD W L OL 17 10 7 17 12 6 17 13 5 15 12 7 17 15 3 16 14 3 14 16 4 12 14 7 13 16 5 13 20 3

Detroit Ottawa New Jersey Philadelphia Tampa Bay Pittsburgh Buffalo Toronto Carolina Columbus

GP 34 35 35 34 35 33 34 33 34 36

Dallas St. Louis Chicago

Western Conference Central Division GP W L OL GF 35 26 7 2 124 36 21 11 4 92 36 20 12 4 96

Los Angeles San Jose Vancouver

Pacific Division GP W L OL 33 20 11 2 34 17 15 2 36 13 14 9

2015 Spengler Cup schedule At Davos, Switzerland Preliminary Round Pool A Automobilist Yekaterinbergs (Russia), Canada, HC Davos (host) Pool B Adler Mannheim (Germany), HC Lugano (Switzerland), Jokerit Helsinki (Finland) Saturday, Dec. 26 Adler Mannheim vs. HC Lugano, 7 a.m.

Canada vs. Automobilist Yekaterinberg, 12:15 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27 Jokerit Helsinki vs. Mannheim/Lugano Loser, 7 a.m.

HC Davos vs. Canada/Yekaterinbergs Loser, 12:15 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Jokerit Helsinki vs. Mannheim/Lugano Winner, 7 a.m. .

HC Davos vs. Canada/Yekaterinbergs Winner, 12:15 p.m.

End of Preliminary Round Tuesday, Dec. 29 Quarter-finals QF1 — Second B vs. Third A, 7 a.m.

QF2 — Second A vs. Third B, 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 Semifinals First A vs. QF1 Winner, 7 a.m.

First B vs. QF2 Winner, 12:15 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 31 Championship

New Jersey 4 Detroit 3 Florida 2 Ottawa 1 (SO) Minnesota 2 Montreal 1 Dallas 4 Chicago 0 Arizona 3 Toronto 2 Calgary 4 Winnipeg 1 San Jose 5 Los Angeles 3

Semifinal Winners, 4 a.m.

GA 88 85 87

Pt 54 46 44

GF GA 84 76 93 94 91 103

Pt 42 36 35

WILD CARD GP W L OL GF GA Pt Minnesota 33 18 9 6 91 80 42 Nashville 34 17 11 6 90 86 40 Colorado 35 17 17 1 99 97 35 Arizona 33 16 15 2 90 104 34 Calgary 34 16 16 2 91 113 34 Winnipeg 34 15 17 2 92 104 32 Edmonton 35 15 18 2 91 106 32 Anaheim 33 12 15 6 62 85 30 Note: a team winning in overtime or shootout is credited with two points and a victory in the W column the team losing in overtime or shootout receives one point which is registered in the OTL or SOL columns. d — automatically qualifies for playoffs w — qualifies for playoffs through wild card Tuesday’s results NY Rangers 3 Anaheim 2 (OT) St. Louis 2 Boston 0 Vancouver 2 Tampa Bay 1

Patrick Kane, Chi Jamie Benn, Dal Tyler Seguin, Dal Taylor Hall, Edm Vladimir Tarasenko, StL Erik Karlsson, Ott Johnny Gaudreau, Cgy Joe Pavelski, SJ Daniel Sedin, Vcr Blake Wheeler, Wpg Mike Hoffman, Ott Michael Cammalleri, NJ Bobby Ryan, Ott Alex Steen, StL Patrice Bergeron, Bos Henrik Sedin, Vcr John Klingberg, Dal Brent Burns, SJ Nicklas Backstrom, Wash Artemi Panarin, Chi David Krejci, Bos Alex Ovechkin, Wash Evgeni Malkin, Pgh Mats Zuccarello, NYR Evgeny Kuznetsov, Wash Leon Draisaitl, Edm Ryan O’Reilly, Buf Nathan MacKinnon, Col Mikko Koivu, Minn Mark Stone, Ott Matt Duchene, Col Loui Eriksson, Bos Bryan Little, Wpg Derick Brassard, NYR Jeff Carter, LA Claude Giroux, Pha Max Pacioretty, Mtl Kyle Palmieri, NJ Justin Faulk, Car Patrick Sharp, Dal Tomas Plekanec, Mtl John Carlson, Wash Henrik Zetterberg, Det Scott Hartnell, Clb Kyle Turris, Ott Sean Monahan, Cgy Roman Josi, Nash Gabriel Landeskog, Col Kyle Okposo, NYI Lee Stempniak, NJ Steven Stamkos, TB Patrick Marleau, SJ John Tavares, NYI Jason Spezza, Dal Max Domi, Ariz Jaromir Jagr, Fla Shea Weber, Nash Mathieu Perreault, Wpg

G 21 22 19 15 22 9 15 18 16 10 17 12 11 11 11 9 5 14 10 10 9 17 17 15 10 9 12 10 8 8 16 13 13 13 11 11 14 14 12 12 7 6 6 13 13 12 9 8 8 8 14 13 13 13 10 10 10 4

A 29 24 27 24 16 29 22 18 20 25 15 20 21 21 21 23 27 17 21 21 22 13 13 15 20 21 17 19 21 21 12 15 15 15 17 17 13 13 15 15 20 21 21 13 13 14 17 18 18 18 11 12 12 12 15 15 15 21

Pts 50 46 46 39 38 38 37 36 36 35 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 31 31 30 30 30 30 30 29 29 29 29 28 28 28 28 28 28 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25

Basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB Cleveland 19 8 .704 — Atlanta 19 12 .613 2 Miami 17 11 .607 2.5 Toronto 18 12 .600 2.5 Chicago 16 11 .593 3 Orlando 17 12 .586 3 Indiana 16 12 .571 3.5 Detroit 17 13 .567 3.5 Boston 16 13 .552 4 Charlotte 15 13 .536 4.5 Washington 13 14 .481 6 New York 14 16 .467 6.5 Milwaukee 12 18 .400 8.5

Brooklyn 8 21 .276 12 Philadelphia 1 30 .032 20 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB Golden State 28 1 .966 — San Antonio 25 6 .806 4 Oklahoma City 20 10 .667 8.5 Dallas 16 13 .552 12 L.A. Clippers 16 13 .552 12 Memphis 16 15 .516 13 Houston 16 15 .516 13 Utah 12 15 .444 15 Denver 12 17 .414 16 Sacramento 12 17 .414 16 Phoenix 12 19 .387 17 Minnesota 11 18 .379 17

Portland New Orleans L.A. Lakers

11 9 5

20 .355 20 .310 24 .172

18 19 23

Friday’s Games Miami 94, New Orleans 88, OT Chicago 105, Oklahoma City 96 Golden State 89, Cleveland 83 Houston 88, San Antonio 84 L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Washington at Brooklyn, 2 p.m.

Toronto at Milwaukee, 3 p.m.

Houston at New Orleans, 5 p.m.

Miami at Orlando, 5 p.m.

Memphis at Charlotte, 5 p.m.

Boston at Detroit, 5:30 p.m.

New York at Atlanta, 5:30 p.m.

Indiana at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Denver at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.

Chicago at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Utah, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Portland, 8 p.m.

Sunday’s Games L.A. Lakers at Memphis, 4 p.m.

Denver at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.

New York at Boston, 5 p.m.

Portland at Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Heat add to Christmas record BOSH, WADE LEAD HEAT OVER PELICANS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Heat 94 Pelicans 88 MIAMI — There’s no team better on Christmas than the Miami Heat.

And even in an ugly game, their future Hall of Famers delivered when it mattered most.

Chris Bosh scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 19 points, and the Heat survived some shaky moments late to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 94-88 in overtime on Friday — spoiling Anthony Davis’ dazzling debut as part of the league’s holiday lineup.

“Just an ugly game by both teams, but in this league you’ve got to win the pretty ones and the ugly ones,” said Wade, the Eastern Conference’s All-Star leading votegetter among guards so far this season. “It wasn’t going right for us — Chris had it going to keep us afloat — but at the end I think it just came down to getting some great stops and we got some timely buckets.”

The win moved the Heat to an NBAbest 10-2 all-time on Christmas, including seven straight wins. Bosh and Wade combined for 13 of Miami’s 16 points in overtime.

“When the pressure is highest, that’s when they show the most courage,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Hassan Whiteside had 17 rebounds for Miami, in just under 25 minutes.

Davis was stellar in his Christmas debut, leading the Pelicans with 29 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

But he missed a contested jumper on New Orleans’ final possession of regula-

Harden scores 20, Rockets snap Spurs winning streak Rockets 88 Spurs 84 HOUSTON — James Harden had 20 points and the Houston Rockets slowed down the soaring San Antonio Spurs with an 88-84 victory Friday night.

The improved Houston defence held the Spurs to a season low in points to

tion, and the Heat controlled the extra session.

“That’s why I get paid the big bucks, to win games for us down the stretch,” Davis said. “I was actually missing shots in the fourth and the team actually did a good job of carrying me.”

Ryan Anderson scored 18 points, including a tip-in with 1:45 left in regulation that gave New Orleans its first lead, and Eric Gordon finished with 16 for the Pelicans. Gordon’s four-point play with 31 seconds left in overtime got New Orleans within four, but they got no closer.

The Heat had 18 turnovers in the game — and New Orleans scored on only one of them. Miami outrebounded the Pelicans 57-45, and Bosh had 21 of his points after halftime.

“Christmas Day against one of the best in the league,” Bosh said. “I’m going to rise to the occasion.”

Davis had more points than his teammates combined in the first half, the reason why New Orleans still had a shot.

New Orleans’ largest first-half deficit was 13 points, which was trimmed to 4238 going into intermission after Davis’ follow-slam closed the scoring. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks at the break — according to STATS, no player had done that in any half since at least the start of the 2002-03 season.

“None of that matters,” Davis said, “because we still lost.”

TIP-INS Pelicans: There have been two noon starts in the NBA this season and the Pelicans were the visitors in both, the other being a loss at New York. … This was the

first of three consecutive one-game trips for the Pelicans, who are back in Florida on Monday to play Orlando. … Gordon celebrated his 27th birthday.

Heat: Miami (.833) moved past Portland (14-3, .824) for the NBA’s best Christmas record. … Miami is 9-1 against teams from the West, 8-10 against the East.

WADE’S HISTORY The Heat are now 10-1 when Wade plays on Christmas and only seven players in NBA history have appeared in more Dec. 25 games than the Heat star.

“I’ve been blessed,” said Wade, who ranks among the top five all-time in Christmas Day points (277), assists (70) and steals (19).

“HOME STRONG” MOMS Miami has honoured soldiers before home games for years as part of its “Home Strong” program, and Friday’s instance was a family affair. Heat guards Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson presented their mothers, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jennifer Johnson and Lt. Col. Alice Richardson, with the plaques that the team gives servicemen and women as a thank-you for service to the country.

COLE’S HOLIDAY STREAK Pelicans guard Norris Cole, in his fifth pro season, played in his fifth Christmas Day game. His first NBA game was on Dec. 25, 2011 when he and the Heat — the team he spent parts of his first four seasons with — opened what became a championship season with a win at Dallas.

UP NEXT Pelicans: Host Houston on Saturday.

Heat: At Orlando on Saturday.

snap their season-best seven-game winning streak.

Houston used an 8-2 run to take a 7871 lead with about 5 minutes left. Tim Duncan made a hook shot after that, but Harden hit a 3-pointer. A layup by Duncan came next before Harden brought the crowd to its feet with an off-balance 3-pointer from the corner that made it 84-75.

The Spurs resorted to the Hack-AHoward tactic soon after that, inten-

tionally fouling Dwight Howard on two straight possessions. He missed all four free throws, and a basket by LaMarcus Aldridge got the Spurs to 86-81.

Kawhi Leonard made a 3-pointer after two free throws by Houston to allow San Antonio to cut the lead to four, but he missed a shot a few seconds later and Houston held on for the victory.

Leonard had 20 points to lead San Antonio.

BUSINESS

B7 Can consumers go cashless in 2016?

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

CREDIT CARDS, APPS EASE NEED FOR CARRYING CASH

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Maureen Turner still makes a point of carrying coins and bills in her wallet — but not for her own personal use.

“I have four kids, and often the teenagers will say: ‘I need $20 for lunch at school,”’ says the Georgetown, Ont., resident, whose children range in age from five to 15.

“I keep cash in my wallet sometimes just for my kids. Anything else I don’t see why I would need it.”

Turner, a 42-year-old account executive and social media strategist for a PR firm, relies on her debit card for purchases, and also uses mobile apps for banking and coffee runs at Starbucks.

She’s among a growing number of Canadians finding there’s no longer a real need to carry cash.

An online survey of 1,000 people conducted by processing payments firm Moneris earlier this year found that 77 per cent of respondents preferred to pay for purchases by debit or credit card, and 65 per cent said they rarely buy anything with cash anymore.

“I think we’re at a point where you don’t need cash for most of what you need to do today,” says Rob Cameron, chief product and marketing officer for Moneris.

“I do think people will continue to use cash because it’s been around so long…. But this growth in contactless (payments using credit cards or mobile apps) I think is going to lead towards that end of cash.”

Moneris data shows a 162 per cent increase in tap transactions for the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2014.

Most Canadian banks have their own mobile apps that allow for some tap-based purchases — although there are varying limitations around which credit cards can be attached to accounts, what mobile operating systems are compatible, and which wireless carriers are on board.

2015 also saw the official launch of Apple Pay in Canada, although it, too, is limited. It’s only compatible with the newest iPhones and the Apple Watch, and can only be linked up with an American Express credit card.

David Wolman says he encountered just a few hiccups when he decided to shun cash for a year, which he documented in his book “The End of Money.”

“There were three or four times that I was totally in a pickle,” he recalls during an interview from Portland, Ore. “Travelling to India, it was like ‘Oops! I’m going to have to hit the pause button on this experiment if I want to leave the airport.”’

Wolman says his experiment brought into focus how mobile technology could benefit those who don’t already have access to money in electronic form.

“That doesn’t mean at the same time you’re shaking a pom-pom hoping for the death of cash. It’s just an indication that these new tools have a profound effect. It’s not just cutesy technophilia.”

Participants in a Toronto Region Board of Trade panel on Canada’s readiness for a cashless future

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Maureen Turner uses her phone to pay for her coffee at a Starbucks in Mississauga, Ont. Instead of using cash, Turner uses digital apps for banking and coffee and relies on her debit and credit cards for everything else. pointed to advantages for both buyers and sellers in embracing high-tech transactions.

Data from cashless transactions can help businesses make better strategic decisions and woo consumers.

“A lot of what you see happening in the marketplace today is … (enhancing) the consumer experience — so reward them in a way that matters, really targeted offers,” says Wendy Braithwaite, head of market development at MasterCard Canada.

“I think that without being part of the electronic payments system, small merchants miss that.”

Jessica Mills, director of brand management for Starbucks Canada, says one in five of the coffee chain’s North American customers uses mobile devices to pay for purchases.

She describes growth in the last 18 to 24 months as “exponential.”

Mills says “peer influence” has been the strongest driver in boosting the adoption rate of mobile pur-

2015 a tough year for stocks in Canada 2016 EXPECTED TO REMAIN CHALLENGING

chasing.

“Our biggest advocates are those that are already on the program and using their app frequently.

They’re telling their friends about it. They’re showing their peers in line about it.”

While there is an obvious convenience to mobile and credit card payments, a consumer debt expert says shoppers still need to set spending limits to avoid spiralling into debt.

“Without the physical attribute of taking cash out of your wallet and paying for something, we’re missing one of the senses that allow us that brake on some of the decisions that we make,” says Jeff Schwartz, executive director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada.

“This disconnect is a concern because with the average Canadian over $20,000 in debt on the unsecured side, it’s a challenge. So we’re already having trouble paying what we owe. Do we really need to make it easier to part with our money?”

DraftKings, FanDuel sue Illinois attorney general

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OTTAWA — The Toronto Stock Exchange was pounded this year as the price of oil and other commodities took a beating.

Down more than 10 per cent heading into the final trading week of the year, even the Canadian banking sector — a stalwart of many portfolios — has struggled.

And 2016 is expected to continue to be challenging for Canadian stocks.

Sadiq S. Adatia, chief investment officer at Sun Life Global Investments, says 2015 started out bullish, but unwound in second half of the year with a bigger hit on oil prices and weakness in China.

“It was a tale of two halves,” Adatia said.

“As we close off the year, people are going to be looking at how the Canadian fares with even lower prices than people were expecting in 2015.”

The energy sector grabbed the headlines in 2015 as the price of oil went into freefall, taking stocks and the loonie with it.

But the drop in the Canadian dollar wasn’t all bad news.

Canadian investors with U.S. stocks benefited enormously from the drop in the loonie.

In U.S. dollar terms, gains by American stocks this year were modest, but because of the plunge in the loonie, the gains in Canadian dollar terms were impressive.

Headed into 2016, Adatia is still bearish on the Canadian market, but he suggested the banking and telecommunication sectors are areas where investors might want to ride out the volatile markets.

“You still want to have some of the staple names out there,” he said.

“If the economy gets weaker and consumers tighten their spending, what they are going to spend on is what they actually need.”

CIBC is forecasting the S&P/TSX composite index to gain five per cent in 2016 and the S&P500 in the U.S. to climb about three per cent in Canadian dollar terms.

Luc de la Durantaye, managing director for asset allocation and currency management at CIBC, says he’s looking outside of Canada for opportunities.

“If you look at France, Germany, Italy — these markets have done eight, 10, 12 per cent returns in local currency, plus the Canadian dollar depreciated more than the euro,” he said.

However, he doesn’t expect much from the U.S. market this year.

“We are probably going to have low single-digit expected returns for the S&P500 for the next 12 months,” he said.

De la Durantaye also suggested that it’s unlikely oil is going to drop another 50 per cent.

“You’re starting to put some elements in place for things to change,” he said.

FILE photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

A display board shows the closing figures for the Toronto Stock Exchange, in Toronto, after a day of high volatility in the financial market caused by fears over the Chinese economy.

With oil prices around US$35 a barrel, higher-cost producers are going to be forced to cut production.

Investments in the oil patch have slowed and the costs for energy companies to borrow have climbed.

“If you go to a bank or the market to get some funding to do a project in oil, it is going to cost you a lot more today than a year ago,” de la Durantaye said.

HSBC suggested that higher OPEC supplies, a stronger U.S. dollar and record levels of inventories were the biggest downside risks for the price of oil. However, the big bank also pointed to healthy demand growth and cuts to shale oil production as helping prices.

HSBC suggested oil prices will stay between US$40 and US$60 a barrel with volatility likely driven by shifts in investor sentiment as well as geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

Adatia suggested long-term investors looking for opportunities in Canada may also want to start sniffing around the energy sector looking for bargains.

He recommends looking for companies with strong balance sheets and management, because they’re the ones best-positioned to ride out the drop in oil prices.

“It is going to be a rough ride for the next few months,” he said.

CHICAGO — New York-based FanDuel and Boston-based DraftKings filed separate lawsuits against Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on Thursday, a day after she declared daily fantasy sports betting illegal in the state.

The companies argue that their contests are games of skill allowed by state law. They’re seeking to stop Madigan from enforcing her interpretation of the law and putting them out of business in Illinois.

Madigan’s action “has set off a chain of events that — if unchecked — will unjustly destroy a legitimate industry,” the lawsuit filed by DraftKings in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago contends. The Illinois decree followed decisions in New York and Nevada to ban the online sites as illegal gambling.

Attorney Randy Mastro, who represents DraftKings, said the company took legal action “so that the hundreds of thousands of Illinois fans who have played openly and honestly for nearly a decade will know they can continue to enjoy the fantasy sports games they love.”

Illinois residents make up 10 per cent of DraftKings customers, according to the court filing.

FanDuel filed its lawsuit in Illinois’ Sangamon County along with Arizona-based Head2Head Sports LLC, a season-long fantasy contest operator. The state capital of Springfield is located in Sangamon County, and state lawmakers there will consider a measure to regulate the contests.

A Madigan spokeswoman said the attorney general’s office would have no comment on the companies’ lawsuits outside of Wednesday’s opinion.

Illinois law allows contests with prizes awarded for skill, the DraftKings lawsuit argues, and the entry fees that the company charges to participate aren’t bets or wagers. Contestants use “their strategic know-how and ingenuity to select” a winning lineup, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit asks the court for an expedited opinion declaring that fantasy games do not constitute gambling within the meaning of Illinois law and nullifying Madigan’s Wednesday opinion letter. DraftKings also requests that the court prevent Madigan’s office from taking any enforcement action.

Daily fantasy sports differ from the traditional model in that contests are organized around short periods — a week, or a day — instead of a season.

Players compete for a predetermined prize by assembling virtual teams of real pro or college athletes winners are determined based on the statistics those athletes compile.

In her opinion letter, Madigan pointed out that while state law allows prizes or compensation for “actual contestants,” that doesn’t include fantasy gamblers.

B8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 Barrenechea said in a statement.

Two of Dominion Diamond’s independent directors quit board

British Columbia and Quebec. Automotive Properties says the latest land acquisition is under a 44,800 square foot building that houses Porsche Centre and Jaguar Land Rover Edmonton, owned by Go Auto. Upon closing of the land deal, the Go Auto tenants will lease the space under a 17-year agreement with the trust. Automotive Properties also announced Thursday that it has completed a similar deal for the land under Toyota Woodland in Montreal. The property was purchased for $7.2 million and he Dilawn Group has signed a 16-year lease with the REIT.

TORONTO — Dominion Diamond Corp. (TSX:DDC) says two of its independent directors have resigned, as the board of Canada’s largest publicly traded diamond producer faces shareholder pressure for a shakeup. One resignation is Fiona Perrott-Humphrey, an investment analyst who has worked with the London-based Rothschild group, which has been hired by the Toronto-based company to “maximize shareholder value.”

The other resignnation is Ollie Oliveira, managing partner at Greengrove Capital and a former senior executive at Anglo American and De Beers — one of the world’s largest diamond producers.

Dominion Diamond owns the Ekati diamond mine and a 40 per cent share of Diavik — Canada’s largest diamond mine — both in the Northwest Territories.

The departures come just days after a group of Dominion Diamond shareholders publicy called on the company’s independent directors to deal with the “misguided policies and missed opportunities” that have hurt their investment.

The group — led

by K2 & Associates Investment Management Inc. — says it recognizes that the mining industry faces “headwinds” but believes Dominion Diamond’s shares are “significantly undervalued by the public markets.”

The shareholders addressed their complaint to Daniel Jarvis, Dominion Diamond’s lead independent director, and sought a meeting with him and other independent members of the board, which includes former Harper minister Chuck Strahl.

The board also includes two members who are not considered independent because of their employment with the company, former chief executive Robert Gannacott, who is chairman, and current CEO Brendan Bell.

Canadian Tire adds 33 types of Holiday Collection lights to safety recall TORONTO — Canadian Tire is expanding a recall of Christmas lights sold under the Holiday Collection brand for safety reasons.

It says the lights should not be used and can be returned to Canadian Tire stores for a refund.

Health Canada says it has received one report from a consumer who received a minor electric shock from the coloured lights.

The agency also says the affected lights may pose a fire hazard. The recall includes another 33 types of Holiday Collection lights sold by Canadian Tire after Aug. 1, in addition to 12 types identified two weeks ago. A complete list is on Health Canada’s website healthycanadians.gc.ca.

The recall does not include Noma lights — which are another brand carried by the national retailer.

Open Text hires senior Oracle VP to be president WATERLOO, Ont. — Open Text Corp.

(TSX:OTC) has appointed a former Oracle senior executive to be its president, starting Jan. 4.

Stephen Murphy — who will report to Open Text chief executive Mark Barrenechea — has been senior vicepresident for North American services at California-based Oracle, one of the world’s biggest software companies.

Open Text is Canada’s largest publicly traded software company, with Barreneche as its president and CEO since January 2012.

After Murphy becomes president, Barreneche will assume the additional role of chief technology officer.

“With Steve now part of our executive leadership team, I can focus more on OpenText strategy, M&A, customers and our next generation products,”

Automotive Properties expanding reach into Edmonton TORONTO — The land under two luxury car dealerships in Edmonton has been sold for $23 million to a real estate trust.

It’s the first acquisition in the city for Automotive Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:APR.UN), which already has 27 income producing properties in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta,

The head of troubled pharmaceutical company Valeant has been hospitalized. An emailed statement from Valeant spokeswoman Laurie Little says CEO Michael Pearson has been admitted for “severe” pneumonia. No other details were given. Last week, Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc. slashed its fourth-quarter financial predictions and issued a profit outlook for 2016 that was short of Wall Street’s estimate. Its sales have been hurt after scrutiny from Congress and the media led it to end a controversial distribution arrangement with the Philidor mail-order pharmacy.

The Canadian company’s shares have dropped 57 per cent from an August record high. Valeant had grown rapidly since Pearson joined in 2008 and began buying smaller drug developers, hiking drug prices and then slashing research spending for new drugs.

The New York Times reported Pearson’s illness earlier.

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SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

In time for Christmas, a warm hug in a gift bag

Photos contributed

A room filled with gift bags, and happy volunteers (from left): In back: Julie Schmidt, Cassie Schimdt; front: Tanya Christians, Mya Christians, Hailey Christoffersen, Adults: Sheri Christoffersen, Jesse Christoffersen, Marge McGuire, Cole Elliott, Travis Winnichuk; kids: Cohen Christoffersen, Kahlan Christians, Grace Christoffersen, Macy Christoffersen, Clay Christians.

(Missing from picture but there helping: Chad Christians, Cory Naidoo).

Inset right: Clay Christians, 8 and Grace Christoffersen, 5, design cards. A handmade card was tucked into each bag.

We did it! On Dec. 19, family and friends of Everybody Deserves A Smile (EDAS) Red Deer gathered and gave with their whole hearts, creating beautiful cards, gift bags and cookies. In each hand-painted bag we put a new toque, scarf, mitts, four sugar cookies, wool socks, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and a homemade greeting card.

EDAS started out as an idea in Edmonton 12 years ago, with a small group of friends delivering homemade care packages to the homeless, as an effort to let them know they had not been forgotten over the holidays. It’s an idea that has spread to other cities, with thousands of packages being delivered each year.

Some of the bags were truly works of art that the clients at the Warming Centre were thrilled to receive as gifts. gifts I feel we fulfilled our smiles to some of intention to bring b the homeless here in Red Deer; they were vvery appreciative and loved hearing the kids lo say, “Merry Christmas” sa as they handed them their gift bag. th A special thank you to all our volunteers and everyone who donated. eve Our major sponsors were Paving, High Energy TJ P Electric, Dr. Chabalo at Elec 52nd Street Dental and The Hideout, we could not have Hideo made this happen with out them! Thank you!

Mya, Tanya and Chad Christians and Cole Elliott at work assembling the gift packages.

Time for delivery! Cassie Schmidt, Tanya Christians, Mya Christians, Cauy Schmidt, Julie Schmidt, Macy Christoffersen, Clay Christians, Cohen Christoffersen, Kahlan Christians, Grace Christoffersen and Sheri Christoffersen.

Sheri Christoffersen, with two gift bags. Each one was individually created.

WORLD

C2

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

Clinton, Obama find unlikely ally in Bush on Islam

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Taunted by Republicans to declare war on “radical Islamic terrorism,” Democrats are turning to an unlikely ally: George W. Bush.

President Barack Obama, under pressure to be more aggressive on terrorism, regularly cites his predecessor’s refusal to demonize Muslims or play into the notion of a clash between Islam and the West. It’s a striking endorsement from a president whose political rise was based on opposition to the Iraq war and Bush’s hawkish approach in the Middle East.

As Hillary Clinton put it, “George W. Bush was right.”

Clinton reminded voters earlier this month of Bush’s visit to a Muslim centre six days after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. She even quoted his words from that day about those who intimidate Muslim-Americans: “They represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behaviour.”

Leading Republican candidate Donald Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. Fellow candidate Ben Carson deems traditional Muslims unfit for the presidency. Marco Rubio warns of a “civilizational struggle against radical, apocalyptic Islam.” Ted Cruz berates Clinton and Obama for refusing to declare war on “radical Islamic terrorism.”

Clinton and Obama argue that rhetoric just helps the Islamic State group and like-minded extremists, whose recruitment pitch is based on the narrative of an apocalyptic battle between Islam and the West.

The Democrats warned that proposals like Trump’s Muslim ban jeopardize national security, drawing a contrast with Bush.

“I was very proud after 9-11 when he was adamant and clear about the fact that this is not a war on Islam,” Obama said recently. His message to today’s Republican leaders: “They should follow his example. It was the right one. It was the right impulse.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s top challenger for the Democratic nomination, visited a mosque this month in a show of solidarity that evoked Bush’s after 9-11. And the Democratic National Committee released an ad contrasting comments by the 2016 Republican contenders with footage of Bush declaring that “Islam is peace.”

Bush’s example has become particularly poignant for Democrats following recent attacks in Paris and California that have left people more preoccupied with terrorism than at any time since 9-11. Both Clinton and Obama have sought to deflect the critique that they’re too soft on the domestic terrorism threat.

Not all Republican candidates have been as harsh about Muslims as Trump has been. Jeb Bush

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taunted by Republicans to declare war on “radical Islamic terrorism,” Democrats are turning to an unlikely ally: George W. Bush. Obama, under pressure to be more aggressive on terrorism, regularly cites his predecessor’s refusal to demonize Muslims or play into the notion of a clash between Islam and the West. It’s a striking endorsement from a president whose political rise was predicated on opposition to the Iraq war and Bush’s hawkish approach in the Middle East. has joined his challengers in describing the enemy as “radical Islamic terrorism.” But he’s also said the U.S. should follow his brother’s lead, arguing in the last party debate that “we can’t dissociate ourselves from peace-loving Muslims.”

The former president has stayed mostly silent throughout the recent debate. His spokesman, Freddy Ford, recently said Bush wouldn’t comment on “Trump’s bluster” but repeated Bush’s insistence that “true Islam is peaceful.” Ford declined to discuss what Bush thinks about Democrats quoting him now.

Muslim groups have called on Obama to follow Bush’s example by visiting a mosque, a move that would be risky for a president who has faced longstanding but false claims that he is a Muslim. White House officials didn’t rule out the possibility Obama would visit a mosque, but said there were no imminent plans to do so.

IN

BRIEF 30 hurt in late-night earthquake in Pakistan, Afghanistan ISLAMABAD — A strong earthquake shook parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan early Saturday, rattling buildings and forcing sleeping residents out of their homes.

More than 30 people were injured as houses or walls collapsed in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, said emergency rescue service spokesman Bilal Ahmed Faizi. A total of 41 people were taken to hospitals in the city, according to doctors and rescue officials. Pakistani official Ghulam Rasool told The Associated Press that the magnitude-6.9 quake was centred in Tajikistan near the Afghan border, beginning after midnight and lasting for 59 seconds.

However, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake measured at magnitude 6.2 and was centred in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.

Twitter users in the Afghan capital, Kabul, reported feeling the tremors.

Hamid Nawaz, the head of Pakistan’s disaster management authority, said they were still assessing damage. He confirmed that some old homes and walls collapsed in Peshawar, but he refused to share further details. Some people panicked and ran out of their homes in New Delhi and other parts of northern India. But there were no immediate reports of fatalities or major property damage, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The quake was also felt in the Kashmir region.

In Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, some residents remained outside their homes despite the chilly winter weather, fearful of aftershocks. Sahiba Khan, an 18-year-old student, said she was reading when the earthquake jolted her home. All of her family members emerged, reciting verses from the Qur’an.

Muslim prayer hall damaged, firefighters injured PARIS — A crowd vandalized a Muslim prayer room in Corsica a day after an ambush left firefighters injured on the French island.

The region’s top police official was on the tense scene at a housing project Friday evening.

The violence began Thursday night, when firefighters responding to an emergency call were ambushed in Ajaccio, according to the local France 3 television. On Friday a gathering that started as a show of support for the injured emergency officials turned violent, and some in the crowd vandalized a prayer room. France 3 reported new police reinforcements at other prayer rooms. France’s prime minister, Manuel Valls, called Friday for respect for French law after “the intolerable aggression toward firefighters and unacceptable profanation of a Muslim place of prayer.”

Judge lets case against US woman accused of trying to join terror group stand PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge has let stand the case against a Philadelphia woman accused of plotting to join the Islamic State group in Syria.

Thirty-year-old Keonna Thomas was arrested in April and charged with attempting to provide material support for a foreign terrorist organization.

Authorities allege that she was preparing to fly to Spain with hopes of reaching Syria and told an Islamic State fighter that taking part in a martyrdom operation “would be amazing.”

Defence attorneys argued that the charge violated her rights to freedom of speech and association and was improper for other legal reasons.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that a federal judge rejected the arguments Wednesday and said the case should be decided at trial.

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo released by Press Information Department, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, reviews guard of honor with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday. Modi arrived in Pakistan on Friday, his first visit as prime minister to this Islamic nation that has been India’s long-standing archrival in the region.

India’s PM Modi makes surprise visit to Pakistan

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ISLAMABAD — India’s Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan on Friday, his first such trip as prime minister to this Islamic nation that has been India’s long-standing archrival in the region.

The previously unannounced visit is a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The two heads of government also had an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks earlier this month.

Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, the Himalayan region that both countries claim.

Modi landed on Friday afternoon in the eastern city of Lahore and met with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, state-run media reported. The visit coincides with Sharif’s birthday and the wedding of his granddaughter.

Security was beefed up at the Lahore International Airport shortly before Modi’s arrival.

After spending about two hours with Modi at his residence, Sharif went to the Lahore airport along with Modi to see him off. Sharif and Modi held a meeting in a “cordial and positive atmosphere” and they agreed to continue working for the welfare of people of their countries, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters. He said Modi called Sharif at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday and expressed his wish to visit Pakistan “This is how this visit was suddenly planned,” he said. Chaudhry termed Modi’s visit a “gesture of good will” and hoped that it will help resolve all of their outstanding issues when the two sides resume talks in the near future.

John Kirby, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said the visit was a welcome one.

“As we have long said, better relations between

neighbours India and Pakistan will benefit the people of the entire region,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said India had informed Pakistan about the visit on Friday. He refused to share any further details. One of the first public signs of the visit came Friday morning when Modi, during a stop in the Afghan capital of Kabul, tweeted that he is “looking forward to meeting” Sharif in Lahore, “where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.” He said he also called Sharif and wished him happy birthday. Sharif’s sprawling residence had been colorfully decorated for his granddaughter’s wedding reception when Modi arrived along with the Pakistani prime minister. The two leaders were later shown sitting together in a room looking happy and relaxed. Analysts viewed the visit as a potential turning point in Pakistani-Indian relations.

“I think it is going to play a significant role in improving ties between the two South Asian archrivals,” said Amanullah Memon, a professor of international relations at Preston University in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

Amitabh Matto, an Indian foreign policy expert, described Modi’s birthday diplomacy visit as a “very positive step.”

“Any step toward trying to stabilize and provide a new beginning to India-Pakistan ties is welcome and needs to be supported by all those who believe that India and Pakistan have a common destiny and it is in their interest to fight together their common problems, including terrorism and economic under-development,” he said.

Tarun Vijay, a spokesman for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party, praised Modi’s visit as a sign of statesmanship. “This is the best Christmas gift to the mankind which believes in peace and amity. He has risen to the commanding heights of being a statesman who can take a bold step surprising his friends and foes but melting ice in the relations,” Vijay said

Arson suspected in fire at President Clinton’s boyhood home LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Authorities say a fire that caused minor damage to former President Bill Clinton’s childhood home in Hope, Arkansas, was apparently caused by arson.

Hope Police Department Chief J.R. Wilson says a motorist spotted flames early Friday at the Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site. Wilson says that when firefighters arrived a short time later, flames were 8 feet (2.4 metres) into the air on one side of the structure. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the fire was quickly extinguished, and only one interior room was damaged.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Arson is suspected because investigators smelled an accelerant at the scene. Clinton lived in the home as a child before moving to Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 2011.

Colombia captures eight members of guerrilla group BOGOTA — Colombian authorities say they have captured eight members of the National Liberation Army and rescued a minor who also belonged to the guerrilla group. Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas says national police detained the guerrillas in a rural area of the southern department of Cauca. Among them is the presumed leader of the local front of the ELN, as the group is known for its initials in Spanish. The minor was being transferred to the custody of the governmental Family Welfare Institute. Villegas said Friday that authorities seized weaponry including grenades, grenade launchers, rifles and handguns, as well as computers and cellphones. With an estimated 1,500 fighters the ELN is the second-largest guerrilla army in the country after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

New wave of migrant children caught at U.S.-Mexico border MISSION, Texas — U.S. Border Patrol agents recently caught several Central American immigrant children after they crossed the Rio Grande.

Among them was a 6-year-old boy who was travelling alone and a 15-year-old boy who fled gang violence in Honduras. They are part of a recent spike in the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, with more than 10,000 total crossing in October and November.

RELIGION

C3

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

IN

Nine ways Star Wars parallels the Bible

BY PAUL KENT SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE Paul Kent has authored eight books and coauthored or contributed to many more. His life goal is to spur interest in the Bible for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Paul has loved the Star Wars saga since he saw the original movie poster at age 11. He is the author of The Real Force: A 40-Day Devotional. Here he lists 9 ways in which the Star Wars series parallels the Bible.

1. Tatooine and humanity We all want to be stars, but we’re actually dust (Genesis 3:19). Humanity is a lot like Tatooine — dusty and disreputable. Still, Tatooine was a home to heroes, a place of relationships that changed lives . . . and an entire galaxy. God sees that potential in each of us, too. As we obey Him and “work out” our salvation “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), we can become “blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’” And then we will “shine among them like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15).

2. Luke Skywalker and Moses When Obi-Wan Kenobi called Luke Skywalker to “learn the ways of the Force” and join the rebellion against the galactic empire, the younger man suddenly found all kinds of reasons to contradict his stated goal of leaving Tatooine. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt, the adopted grandson of the pharaoh argued against the job four times (Exodus 3-4). Both ultimately followed their calling . . . and changed history.

3. Count Dooku and Judas Iscariot Once a Jedi knight, Count Dooku walked away in apparent disgust with the galactic republic the Jedi served. Trained by the great Yoda, Dooku ultimately sided with the evil Darth Sidious. Maybe his original motives were pure, but at some point he crossed the line to an outright betrayal of all that was right and good. “Judas,” Jesus once asked His own disciple, “are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

(Luke 22:48). No wonder the apostle Paul told Timothy to “hold on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith” (1 Timothy 1:19).

4. Major Derlin and the early church This background character appears in The Empire Strikes Back as a Rebel officer on Hoth. While Princess Leia describes the evacuation mission to a group of orange-suited pilots, Derlin (in real life, John Ratzenberger) stands by quietly in a tan uniform, large goggles perched on the bill of his hat.

When Leia finishes, he claps his hands and says, “Everybody to your stations. Let’s go!” Derlin and dozens of other minor players fill out the storyline, supporting the stars like Luke, Han, and Darth Vader . . . kind of like those 3,000 unnamed people who responded to Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, shortly after the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost. Big star or backgrounder, we’re all important to God’s overall story.

Death Star. It was a thermal exhaust port, less than two meters wide, connected to the space station’s main power reactor.

Because the Death Star defenses were designed for a full-scale assault, rebel analysts had determined an attack by small, single-pilot fighters could possibly succeed.

The Grand Moff Tarkin and the Emperor, focusing on their battle station’s power while ignoring its vulnerability, exemplified the truth of Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

8. Tauntauns and providence In the frigid wastes of the planet Hoth, Han Solo cuts open the abdomen of his tauntaun, pushing the freezing Luke inside.

“I thought they smelled bad,” Han gasps, “on the outside.” It’s a disagreeable place, to be sure, but in reality the safest spot for Luke — similar to some places God puts His own people.

The apostle Paul faced flogging, beatings, stoning, and shipwreck in his work, but he was always safe in God’s hands. “I desire to [die] and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain” (Philippians 1:23-25).

9. Podracing and life In the Boonta Eve Podrace, young Anakin Skywalker careens over the landscape like a lightning bolt late for a date, twisting and turning, climbing and plunging, fending off surprises both random and of evil intent.

That’s a lot like our lives — some feature more twists and turns . . . some have more hills and others more valleys . . . but every life passes quickly. As Job said, “my days are swifter than a runner . . . like eagles swooping down on their prey” (Job 9:25-26).

It’s why David prayed, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you” (Psalm 39:4-5).

7. The Death Star and pride It seemed invincible. But we all know the story well enough to recognize the vulnerability of the

WASHINGTON — American Muslim leaders are planning voter registration drives and open-house days at mosques to fight a rise in anti-Muslim harassment.

U.S. Muslim leaders also pledged to counter recruitment efforts by extremists such as the Islamic State group.

The plans were announced Monday in Washington, one day after an emergency summit on anti-Muslim bias that drew about 100 leaders from across the country.

Among the participants were the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Organizers say they’ll work with civil rights and interfaith groups to try to defeat politicians with bigoted views.

The recent backlash against Muslims follows Islamic extremist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, and remarks by Donald Trump and other presidential candidates.

Pope encourages work for cease-fire in Syria praises Libya unity accord as reason for hope VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is praising a diplomacy-backed plan for a cease-fire in Syria’s war as well as a recent breakthrough in efforts toward creating a national unity government in Libya.

In comments to the faithful Sunday, Francis expressed “strong appreciation” for the plan calling for talks between the Syrian government and the opposition to begin next month. The U.N. Security Council has given the peace plan unanimous support. Francis says he encourages all to continue with “generous impetus on the path toward the end of violence and a negotiated solution that brings peace” to Syria.

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Cardinal Bertone, whose apartment makeover came at hospital’s expense, donates cash for amends ROME — An Italian cardinal whose penthouse apartment was reportedly renovated using funds from a Vatican-owned children’s hospital is making a large donation for medical research in a bid to make amends, the hospital’s president said Saturday.

Bambino Gesu Hospital President Mariella Enoc told reporters that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone is donating 150,000 euros ($165, 000) for research on orphan diseases.

Bertone has insisted that he paid for the renovations himself. The scandal put him on the defensive, since lavish lifestyles clash with Pope Francis’ insistence that prelates live modestly.

Bertone was formerly the secretary of state, the Vatican’s No. 2 official, under Pope Benedict XVI and for the first months of Francis’ papacy. Now 81, he no longer holds any top Vatican post.

The questionable renovation was one of the scandalous episodes cited in a bestselling book by an Italian journalist, one of two reporters on trial at the Vatican now for publishing confidential documents.

A Spanish priest, the priest’s aide and an Italian PR specialist are also on trial in the case of leaked information.

“Cardinal Bertone didn’t directly get the money,” Enoc said. “However, he acknowledged that all that which happened damaged our hospital and our foundation … and thus he is making amends to us with a donation.”

The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Bertone as stressing that the money he’s giving “is a voluntary donation. It’s not reimbursement, because I personally haven’t done any damage.”

U.S. Muslims plan voter registration drives, anti-extremist push to counter anti-Muslim uproar

Celebrate

5. Darth Sidious and Satan Well, of course, for various reasons — including the politician-turned-dictator’s penchant for deceit.

As mentor to the young Queen Amidala of Naboo, the senator named Palpatine seemed exactly the wise and experienced leader needed to manage the crisis of the Trade Federation invasion. But we learn later that Palpatine himself — as an evil Sith lord — actually initiated the conflict, and orchestrated an attempt on Amidala’s life. As Jesus once said of Satan, “there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

6. The garbage masher and the fiery furnace The Death Star trash compactor scene of Episode IV is a metaphor for life. Sometimes, in a world that’s scary and dangerous enough by itself, you find yourself in a really tight spot — and, frankly, it stinks. Three young Jewish nobles in Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — were in a scary, dangerous world that demanded they bow to the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3). They chose to rebel, and ended up in a tight (actually, hot) spot, the “fiery furnace.” The good news: God delivered them through, if not from, the flames.

BRIEF

Minister: The Rev. James Strachan

10:30 am Worship Service “The Dark Side” www.knoxreddeer.ca

WILLOW VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN 26016-HWY 595 (Delburne Road)

Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Speaker: Rev. Bert deBruijn Everyone Welcome

MOUNT CALVARY (LC-C)

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Pastor Don Hennig | Pastor Peter Van Katwyk

10:00 a.m.

Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Divine Service www.mclcrd.org King Kids Playschool Growing in Faith Through Word and Sacrament

UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Gaetz Memorial United Church “Sharing Faith, Serving Community” 4758 Ross Street, Red Deer 403-347-2244 www.gaetzmemorialunitedchurch.ca

Carols & Creche Service 10:30 a.m.

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Sunnybrook United Church

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Sundays at 9:30 am, 11:15 am and 1:00 pm

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YOUTH

C4

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

Has ‘Netflix and chill’ replaced dating?

It’s NOT her fault. Alcohol and substance abuse is a disease.

My last day of treatment was June 12, 2012, and I have been sober ever since. I don’t want to lose my husband, whom I married when I was in my early 40s. Falling down the basement stairs all the time was not good for me.

My husband told me I needed help after I was loaded onto a stretcher and taken to the emergency room. I could have lost my life due to my actions.

I am now 64 years old and hope that was the last time I will have to go through that. Today, I am still gorgeous and men open doors for me, tell my husband how lucky he is to have someone who looks like me and women tell me how beautiful I am.

I look better now than when I was 50. I hope she gets the help she needs.

You’re the one who is turning her attention away from her drinking problem. I’m glad I didn’t run into you. I’d probably still be drinking. — Meredith Hi Meredith; I appreciate your story and strength. Still, I didn’t feel comfortable telling a survivor of sexual assault that she needed to examine her own behavior immediately after she reached out for help. The self-examination part comes later.

Yes, excessive drinking is dangerous on many levels. Yes, she needs to minimize her risk in the future. But no, rape is never the survivor’s fault.

Write Harlan at harlan(at)helpmeharlan.com or visit online: www.helpmeharlan.com. All letters submitted become property of the author. Send paper to Help Me, Harlan!, 3501 N. Southport Ave., Suite 226, Chicago, IL 60657.

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Dear Harlan; Can you explain what A relationship without being able to “Netflix and chill� means?

Guys will text me to watch Netflix communicate while sober is dangerand think it’s a date. What happened to ous. Before I list why this is dangerous, I want to be clear: I don’t traditional dating? How can I care who you sleep with stop Netflix and chill? — Not or what you do with othChilling er people; as long as it’s Dear Not Chilling; “Netflix consensual and there is and chill� is another way of clear communication, it’s saying: “I want to kiss you, but not for me to judge.

I don’t have the testicles or The arrangement you ovaries to tell you the truth. have right now leaves you I’m going to use ‘Netflix and emotionally detached chill’ to get close to you withand vulnerable to vioout telling you how I feel.� lence, sexually transmitOn the other hand, when ted diseases and emotionyou ask someone out to dinner al trauma. If you don’t and a date, you’re telling that HARLAN feel good enough or comperson “I’m interested in you.

COHEN fortable enough to talk If things go well, I might want to someone while sober, to kiss you.� Netflix and chill HELP ME HARLAN you shouldn’t be sleeping is just a way for people who with that person. are afraid of rejection to get Dear Harlan; Your answer to the together without having to state their woman who blacked out and was asintentions.

Want to end Netflix and chill? The saulted is wrong.

I am a woman who has suffered next time someone texts you about Netflix and chill, text the person from alcoholism from age 18 to 40. I back with: “Is this Netlix and chill only had sex when I was drunk. Period. as friends, or is this a date? I want to There’s no getting around this. Her alcohol problem has to be taken care know if I need to shower.�

Dear Harlan; A boy and I text each of first before she receives any one-onother when drunk strictly to hook up, one therapy. She cannot make any debut we don’t talk otherwise and look cisions and especially carry them out the other way most of the time when in the future until her drinking and the results from her drinking (alcohol we see each other on campus.

I don’t want a relationship, and he addiction) is resolved.

I have a feeling that she probably obviously doesn’t, either. Any advice on how to make things less awkward? suffers from social anxiety and low The hook-up part is working well for self-esteem, and is shy when talking to us - it’s just the seeing each other when men. Alcohol calms those nerves and not hooking up. Any advice? — Trouble anxieties. But she doesn’t know how Dear Trouble; Throw away your cell- to control her alcohol intake and gets phone. Crush it. Break it. Step on it. drunk probably every time she goes out.

Stomp on it.

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RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 C5

A resolution revolution It’s almost that time again; time to caveat though it has to be perfect. In ring in the New Year. the case of gluten “a little” won’t just A time for a “clean slate,” when hurt, it will pretty much negate any posmost of us will set exciting itive effect. Don’t worry about CABEL new goals for 2016. Accordhow much you eat just try to MCELDERRY ing to CNN.com our top add protein and vegetables three goals include: mak(other than potato, peas and FITNESS F/X ing more money, quitting corn) to every meal and keep smoking and losing weight. fruits to every second or third In fact at 45% of all resolutions, every meal. Stick to this for 21 days and great year losing weight tops the list as the things are going to happen! number one New Year’s resolution goal. Sadly the same CNN article goes on to explain more than 91% of those I know it’s a lot, and you will be runsetting a New Year’s resolution will give up or abandon it in the first 60 ning to the bathroom a lot for the first days (which the majority of those actu- few days, but you’re inspired! You can do it for a couple weeks! Drinking 4 ally give up in the first 21 days.)

The odds are daunting and it’s a litres of water each day will assist in tough battle because we’re working detoxing your body and increasing the against our own mind. We’re all wired likelihood of rapid weight loss, it will for instant gratification, we’re all less also curb appetite and some cravings patient than ever before, and it’s get- and ensuring proper hydration enhances metabolic function. ting worse.

I could blather on about showing you how to set realistic goals, how to slow down a little and use baby steps to Resistance and cardio, intervals and develop new habits for a great chance of success. Even though that would be a steady state, I don’t care what it is if it good plan you wouldn’t do it, I wouldn’t get’s your heart rate up for 20-40 mindo it, because our sense of inspiration utes it’s great. Feel free to workout evfuelled by emotion (did you catch my ery day (unless you’re very sore then take a day off to recover.) Ultimately TEDx Red Deer talk on YouTube?) wouldn’t allow us to slow down and follow through with that simple and sensible plan. So I say let’s try to create a Resolution Revolution for 2016 with these five massive action strategies:

Drink 4 Litres of Water

weight training and the addition of new muscle tissue will enhance your metabolism long term (each pound of muscle burns 50 times as much energy as a pound of fat at rest in a 24 hour period) but for our Resolution Revolution any sustained exercise will do.

Stay Off the Scale

This is the tough one; I know you’re not going to listen. The scale is the least accurate tool we have to measure progress, based on hydration, when, what and how much we’re eating and even what the weather is doing our weight can fluctuate by a few pounds each day.

Take photos today, try to only way yourself on the same day and same time each week and also use the tape measure along with. Oh and find that favourite pair of jeans that presently doesn’t fit and try them on each week as well for a final measuring tool.

Exercise

The Secret Sauce

And here’s what’s unique about this Resolution Revolution. I want you to pull out your calendar and plan out your workouts for the month of January and February now while you are inspired. On January 22nd I want you

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Dramatic Nutritional Change

Many people start their new Year’s resolution off by “eliminating all the junk” and slashing calories to sometimes dangerously low levels, unfortunately this doesn’t work for long because it ends up shunting the metabolism.

You get hungry, you get cranky, you get cravings.

You versus the body and the body is going to win, you will find yourself at the pizza parlour before you know it.

This isn’t going to stop you from trying so here’s where you should focus your efforts. Eliminate gluten and dairy, it’s hard, it takes some label reading but eliminating these inflammatory agents will have you dropping weight pretty steadily after a 2-3 week detox of these items being removed, there’s a

to plan to have a cheat meal of anything you wish, and starting the next day incorporate a few foods you enjoy that you’ve been avoiding until then. I want you to reduce your workout plan duration by half, or even plan only to exercise every second day. I want you to plan now to reward yourself with less effort in 3 weeks.

You need to do this because it’s about that time that inspiration will begin to dwindle, whether you’ve had massive success or not it’s about that time that getting up earlier, going to the gym, avoiding all of those tasty terrible foods won’t be as fun anymore.

You need to do this to avoid the urge to throw it all back in the closet until next year. You need to do this because we both know that sustained activity and comfortable nutritional changes are the only way to achieve your weight loss goal long term.

Emotion, inspiration will tell you that, “this year will be different,” and it can be if you’re willing to engage in a revolution and use new tactics!

Cabel McElderry is a local personal trainer and nutrition coach. For more information on fitness and nutrition, visit the Fitness F/X website at www.fitnessfx. com.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

Ring in the New Year with steampunk

BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF Alberta’s “steampunk swing” band Punch Drunk Cabaret will be rolling back the clock almost a century on New Year’s Eve. As cameras film a music video for the new song, Elixxxer, the three-piece group will entertain a live audience at a prohibition-themed New Year’s Eve concert on Thursday, Dec. 31, at Fratters Speakeasy in Red Deer.

“Bandmeister” Randy Bailer encourages fans to dress like 1920s flappers or ‘30s gangsters and gun molls so the vintage look of the hatted, vested musicians carries over into the crowd.

No actors were hired for the video shoot. “We’re going to go with real people, and just go for it!” said the frontman, who decided fairly late in the game that the retro look of Fratters would be a perfect setting for a video about a drifter-turned-bartender.

Word of mouth about the New Year’s Eve show must have spread like a grass fire, however. It’s already sold out — just like a previous Punch Drunk Cabaret performance in Red Deer was last spring.

Bailer said he’s in a tricky spot now, having to tell friends he’d invited there are no tickets left. But he promised to come back to Red Deer in the

first half of 2016 for a return engagement, saying “it’s cool” there’s so much interest.

The trio live in three different Alberta centres: Wetaskiwin is home for gravel-throated singer/guitarist Bailer, Spruce Grove for bassist Terry Grant, and Hanna for drummer Sean Watt.

Together, the musicians create “a potent cocktail of rockabilly, outlaw country and steampunk swing, delivered with the raw energy of AC/DC.” This means they get dance floors hopping.

Drawing on eclectic inspirations, including The Stray Cats, Tom Waits, Hank Williams, even big band swing, the group manages to sound more expansive by using unique instrumentation. Grant performs on a 12-string bass instead of the usual four-string instrument, and Watt’s cocktail drum kit is played while he’s standing up.

“It’s very unique and high-energy,” said Bailer, who noted Punch Drunk Cabaret thrives on crowd participation and interaction.

Bailer said the “steampunk” association came about because he thought the word aptly described the band’s unique meld of new and old sounds.

Next thing you know, Edmonton’s Steampunk Society was calling up to ask if the group could entertain at its Steampunk Ball “I didn’t know if we’d go over at all,”

Contributed photo

Punch Drunk Cabaret perform at Fratters on New Year’s Eve. he admitted. “But it turned out great” — so great that the society has hired the band to play three years running.

Punch Drunk Cabaret has opened for Road Hammers, Hawksley Workman, July Talk, Sweet and Kim Mitchell. The group has two albums out including the latest, The Juke Joint Revival Hour.

The musicians are planning to start recording a third album in the new year that will include the song Elixxxer, which passed the live-performance test with audiences, said Bailer.

He expects both the single, its music video and new album to be out by next spring. lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

Ponoka-area home to be featured on TV show

BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF An 8,000-square-foot log home built for a Ponoka-area family will be featured on the new season of the Timber Kings.

The house described as “a work of art” is owned by Brad and Amanda Kelly. While they could not be reached for comment, a Central Alberta couple with the same names won $18.4 million in a Lotto 6/49 draw in July 2014.

Like other homes on the HGTV show, the residence was built in Williams Lake, B.C. by Pioneer Log Homes —the largest builder of hand-crafted log homes in the world.

Chainsaws were fired up for the sixmonth construction project starting in March. The structure was completed, under a tight schedule, by the end of August. The home was then disassembled into numbered pieces and moved to Ponoka, where it was put back together a few months ago.

“It’s a beautiful work of art… with great, big massive red cedar logs,” said the company’s co-owner, André Chevigny, who co-hosts the show along with his brother Bryan Reid.

The log home was custom built for the Kellys, who wanted four-bedrooms and lots of entertainment space for their family. Chevigny said, “It’ll be very different from anything else

around there… We do everything by hand, peel the logs, the notches…”

Hanging trusses are visible in the rafters, and there’s a load-bearing aesthetic “family tree” in the middle supporting the roof. Chevigny ‘s 25-person construction crew also made a “beautiful bar and rec room… with lots of event space” in the house. The upstairs is mostly open-concept, with a rear entry and double garage.

After the residence was reassembled in Central Alberta, Chevigny said the home’s owners had to hire a general contractor to enclose the roof and add shingles, install kitchen cabinets, flooring and other finishing work.

The house is much larger than the average 2,500 log residence built by the company, but far smaller than the largest, at 21,000-square feet, said Chevigny, who did not want to talk costs.

The biggest challenge was the tight time frame for construction. “We wanted to get a roof on it before the weather turned bad,” he recalled. “There were thousands of pieces and we were trying to get the work done…”

He believes the Timber Kings show has popularized log homes. The Williams Lake-native believes they have the best value, are most natural, environmental and long-lasting.

In Europe, where some of the houses have been shipped, they are rated to last 300 years, said Chevigny. “It’s

Contributed photo

An 8,000-square-foot log home built for a Ponoka-area family will be featured on the new season of the Timber Kings. really opened up people’s eyes as to what’s possible…”

The new season of Timber Kings

begins on Jan. 3. The Ponoka home episode is expected to air mid-February. lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.

Jacobson songs show experience and innocence

BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF Years of songwriting, and all the experience he’s packed into his two decades of life, are wrapped into Charlie Jacobson’s new album, Alberta Flood.

The 23-year-old Red Deer singer/ guitarist will kick-start 2016 by playing some jumping blues-rock with his band at an album release party Jan. 1 and 2 at Fratters Speakeasy in Red Deer.

Alberta Flood is “a landmark for me,” said Jacobson.

It’s his first professional, self-produced full-length album, recorded over the last year at a DanLyn Studios near Edmonton.

And it contains songs of innocence and experience.

Some tunes on the album are brand new, while others go back to his teenage years when he was attending Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School and honing his skills by listening to music by traditional blues artists.

“It’s great to see this album finally come together, and get those songs out there for everyone to hear,” said Jacobson.

“It’s like turning the page and ending a chapter” — which is high time, he noted, “since I have a lot more songs to come.”

Jacobson is backed by a veritable super-band of blues musicians on the recording: Maple Blues Award-winning pianist David Vest, former-B.B. King bassist Russell Jackson, and Grammy-winning drummer Donald Ray Johnson.

The young guitarist’s been performing with these veterans on the Western Canadian blues circuit over the last couple of years.

He considers himself lucky to have learned from the real-deal musicians, all in their 60s and 70s now.

Jacobson, who also just wrapped up some gigs with Juno Award-winning boogie-woogie pianist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne and renowned harp player Sherman “Tank” Doucette, said “I’m a student of life, a student of blues music…”

Alberta Flood should prove he’s

learned his lessons well — the album’s party tune, Cruisin’ Susie, is already getting CKUA radio play.

Other songs include I’ve Got Doubts, “about a past relationship that I had,” said Jacobson of the rocking tune about the end of a romance.

The more plaintive High River Flood is similarly self-explanatory.

“I wrote it as a Delta blues kind of shuffle,” said the singer.

By contrast, Jacobson likes to play the upbeat Shake It Out at his shows to get people onto the dance floor.

The musician divides his free time between Red Deer, where his parents live, and his home in the Kootenays, where he likes to camp and decompress from busy periods on the road.

Some tours are so hectic, “I don’t have time to shave my face,” he admitted, with a chuckle.

Jacobson has played hundreds of gigs at festivals, house concerts, blues clubs and theatres since releasing his solo debut EP Live from the Chop Bin in 2013.

At Fratters he will perform with the Charlie Jacobson Band, including Red Deer brothers Cory Gomez on bass and Craig Gomez on guitar and Ben Parker on drums.

Jacobson doesn’t see his life slowing down at all in the new year.

Amid more touring in Western Canada and Ontario, he’s planning a trip to Toronto to showcase his music at the 2016 Maple Blues Awards.

“I was invited out by the Toronto Blues Society president,” said Jacobson.

He was told more familiarity with his music in Ontario could put him in good standing to receive a new artist nomination in future.

It would be a big step forward, admitted Jacobson, who will also perform on New Year’s Eve at the Springbrook Multiplex.

Tickets for that 9 p.m. event are $20 from the Springbrook General Store.

There’s a $10 cover for the Jan. 1 and 2 album release shows at Fratters.

Alberta Flood will also be available there, or from Jacobson’s website or The Soundhouse in Red Deer. lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

Contributed photo

Red Deer singer Charlie Jacobson releases his new album on Jan. 1 and 2 at Fratters.

RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 C7

2015 the year streaming ‘went mainstream’

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Whenever Anushie Mahavitane gets a chance to watch TV, the busy working mom has a choice to make: Will it be live, on-demand or streamed?

It depends on several factors, not the least of which is her five-year-old son’s nightly routine — a consistent schedule involving after school activities, dinner and a bedtime ritual.

“By the time all of that is done it’s usually 8:30, 9 o’clock and usually around that time I will have missed my shows,” says the 35-year-old Toronto resident.

“So that’s when I will actually use Rogers On Demand. That is one of the main reasons I still subscribe to Rogers cable, is because of the on-demand function.”

She does still catch some of her favourite shows as they air, but she admits she’s increasingly turning to streaming and on-demand sources that offer convenience and flexibility.

And she’s not alone.

Industry analyst Carmi Levy calls 2015 “a watershed year for streaming in Canada” and predicts even more viewers will shift online in 2016.

“This was the year when streaming really went mainstream,” Levy says from London, Ont. “CraveTV came into its own as did Shomi, and Netflix of course continued to be the juggernaut that it is. This is the year when streaming went from being the domain of the early adopter to something that was largely the option of pretty much everyone else — and 2016 will simply consolidate those gains…. It is firmly entrenched in the Canadian cultural, technological landscape.”

As such, the big broadcasters have been working to meet demand as best they can.

Bell Media is stacking CraveTV with premium content from Showtime, including the new Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti series Billions, debuting Jan. 17 — the same day it airs on The Movie Network and in the U.S. CraveTV will also be offered to all Internet-connected Canadians in the new year.

“Our hope and our belief is that ‘Billions’ on Crave serves as a barker for the high quality premium drama available,” says Tracey Pearce, senior vice-president of specialty and pay.

In February, CraveTV will also release its first-ever original series, Letterkenny. It’s a six-part comedy based on the YouTube series Letterkenny Problems, from 19-2 star Jared Keeso.

Not to be outdone, Shomi — backed

by Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B)and Shaw Communications (TSX:SJR.B) — is touting the addition of Patrick Stewart’s comedy Blunt Talk on Dec. 30.

Stewart nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Walter Blunt, a badly behaving British journalist living in Los Angeles.

That’s in addition to a new season of Transparent that launched earlier this month.

Shaw Media president Barb Williams says the advent of on-demand use “hasn’t hurt our business, it’s changed our business.”

“We’re watching VOD platforms become more and more successful … so we’re finding ways to monetize the audience,” says Williams, adding that they are also investing in short-form content for websites, Facebook, Snapchat and other platforms.

“All of those things keep people in the system and keep them in television and keep supporting our

Stephen Colbert may not respect much of what Donald Trump says, but he does admire the Republican’s ability to craft a message that many voters are responding to.

“There is a populism to Trump that I find very appealing,” Colbert said on an interview to be shown on CBS’ Face the Nation this Sunday.

“And it’s only this: The party elders want him to go away, but the people have decided that he’s not going to.”

The Late Show host, like most late-night comedians, has feasted on the New York businessman’s campaign.

And he makes it clear that he disagrees with many of Trump’s “more than a little shocking” policy proposals.

But his ability to attract support in the face of establishment rejection is “the one saving grace of his candidacy,” Colbert said.

Colbert’s comments come with their own backdrop.

After a fast start in September, he’s been sagging in the ratings against competitors Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.

or Shomi — that there’s really a broad base of consumption habits … and they’re not just all high-end dramas or conceptual comedies,” says Mindell, VP of TV programming and content.

Those looking for mobile options when catching up on their current faves must turn to broadcaster apps such as CTV Go, Global Go and City Video, but they each have their hiccups, says Levy, who hoped for improvements in 2016.

Gary Pelletier, president of the Canadian chapter of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing, says his group is working with all the big players to make so-called

“TV everywhere” apps easier to use.

He notes that stumbling blocks include clunky interfaces, awkward authentication processes, inconsistent viewing windows and wide variances from platform to platform.

“The pain points are recognized,” says Pelletier, whose association provides information and education to cable companies and content providers.

“That’s a function of negotiating the rights and the availability of the rights and that’s improving every month. It’s better than it was last year and hopefully three months from now it’ll be better than it is today.”

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SHOWTIMES FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 25, 2015 TO THURSDAY DECEMBER 31, 2015 THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 (PG) (FRIGHTENING SCENES, VIOLENCE) CLOSED CAPTIONED FRI-THURS 6:30, 9:35 ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP (G) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 5:00, 7:40, 9:55; SAT-THURS 11:50, 2:30, 5:00, 7:40, 9:55 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (PG) (VIOLENCE) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 4:40, 8:00; SAT,WED 1:20, 3:20, 4:40, 8:00; SUN,TUE,THURS 1:20, 4:40, 8:00; MON 1:20, 4:40, 8:00, 10:00 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 3D (PG) (VIOLENCE) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 6:40, 10:00; SAT,WED 12:00, 6:40, 10:00; SUN,TUE,THURS 12:00, 3:20, 6:40, 10:00; MON 12:00, 3:20, 6:40 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 3D (PG) (VIOLENCE) NO PASSES FRI 6:10, 9:30; SAT-THURS 11:30, 2:50, 6:10, 9:30 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 3D (PG) (VIOLENCE) ULTRAAVX, NO PASSES FRI 4:00, 7:10, 10:30; SAT-WED 12:30, 3:50, 7:10, 10:30; THURS 12:30, 4:00, 7:10, 10:30

SISTERS (14A) (COARSE LANGUAGE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 4:30, 7:30, 10:25; SAT-THURS 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:25 POINT BREAK 3D (PG) (VIOLENCE) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 4:50, 7:20, 10:05; SAT-THURS 2:00, 4:50, 7:20, 10:05 JOY (PG) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 4:05, 7:00, 10:10; SATSUN, TUE-THURS 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:10; MON 1:10, 4:00, 7:10, 10:10 THE GOOD DINOSAUR (G) CLOSED CAPTIONED SAT-THURS 3:40 THE GOOD DINOSAUR 3D (G) CLOSED CAPTIONED SAT-THURS 1:10 CONCUSSION (PG) (MATURE SUBJECT MATTER, COARSE LANGUAGE) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 6:50, 9:45; SATTHURS 12:20, 3:30, 6:50, 9:45 DADDY’S HOME (PG) (COARSE LANGUAGE) CLOSED CAPTIONED, NO PASSES FRI 5:20, 7:50, 10:15; SAT-THURS 12:10, 2:40, 5:20, 7:50, 10:15 DOCTOR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 (PG) MON 11:00

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Colbert says Trump’s ability to fight GOP establishment is saving grace

channels, if you will. Although we may define ‘what is a channel’ more broadly than we ever did before.”

The streaming phenomenon does seem to be changing the kind of shows that get made, as several newcomers prove they can compete with the old guard.

Netflix leads all other TV networks in Golden Globe nominations with eight, for shows including Orange is the New Black, Narcos and Master of None.

And the best musical or comedy series category is dominated by streaming shows, including Hulu’s Casual, Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black, and Amazon’s Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle.

Krysten Ritter, star of the Netflix series Marvel’s Jessica Jones, says streaming series have a cachet that’s hard to ignore.

“It sort of (has become) what independent film was 10 years ago when everybody wanted to go do the really juicy parts,” says Ritter, who also writes and develops TV projects through her company Silent Machine Entertainment.

Contrast that with network shows that generally chase bigger audiences to draw in advertisers, and are bogged down by a host of other factors like show lead-ins and whether they jive with the broader lineup, she adds.

“And that’s really frustrating. I’ve done two pilots that were amazing (but) were held onto because they wanted to wait for the right time slot to open up,” says Ritter.

Rogers Media executive Hayden Mindell dismisses any notions of ideological divide between streaming and conventional shows, noting “everything is a streaming show now, in some form.”

On Shomi, slick cable fare and sophisticated streaming properties mix with current seasons of the CW’s Jane the Virgin and ABC’s Fresh of the Boat — two network shows in the United States that might have been comfortable on City or Global.

“There’s an understanding maybe that streaming services have to serve a particular niche but we’re seeing more and more — whether it’s Netflix, Hulu

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Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image released by Netflix, from left, Eric Wareheim, Aziz Ansari and Noel Wells appear in a scene from the Netflix original series Master of None.

LIFESTYLE Saturday, Dec. 26 Miller: “Do anything but let it produce joy.”

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t be surHenry Miller, Jared Leto, 43; John Lynch, 54 prised if a loved one behaves erratically today THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Today will be Libra. It will be difficult to work out where they intense and unpredictable so pace yourself. are coming from, so don’t even try. Just slip HAPPY BIRTHDAY: You into a relaxing holiday groove. are a powerhouse and thrive on SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): getting things done. 2016 is the Issues from the past could cloud year to introduce regular relaxyour judgment today. So enjoy ation into your daily routine. the holidays — and leave imARIES (March 21-April 19): portant decision-making for anAdditional tact is required today other time, when you’re thinking Aries, otherwise you could find more rationally. yourself smack bang in the midSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22dle of a feisty family feud. EmoDec. 21): Adventurous Archers tions are running high so choose are in the mood for plenty of your words wisely. holiday hi-jinks and family fun!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’re in high spirits, as Jupiter With the Moon in your neighrevs up your boisterous side — bourhood zone, it’s a great day and lowers your tolerance levels.

JOANNE MADELINE to get out-and-about in your local CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. MOORE community as you connect with 19): Friendship and fun are faSUN SIGNS friends or show family members voured today, as you participate the surrounding sites. in holiday activities and socialize GEMINI (May 21-June 20): with family and friends.

With Jupiter in your family zone, do all you If you have to make an important decican to catch up with relatives over the holi- sion, follow your gut instincts. day season. Gung-ho Geminis will also grab AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Over the some good bargains at the post-Christmas festive season aim to balance your sociable sales. side with your need for privacy and solitude, CANCER (June 21-July 22): Some away from the holiday madness.

Crabs will have trouble getting started, as And is it time for a break from so much your body reacts to all the food and drink social media? you’ve consumed over the festive season. So PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It’s the persimple meals — in small amounts — is the fect day to catch up with family and friends as smart way to go. you share your hopes, dreams and wishes for LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’re keen to the coming year. bag some bargains at the post-Christmas Then you can start formulating your New sales but — with impulsive Mars charging Year Resolution. through your money zone — stay away from tempting buy now/pay later schemes.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): With MerSunday, Dec. 27 cury and Jupiter activating your sign, many CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: Virgos will feel full of holiday cheer today. Be Gerard Depardieu, 66; Eva La Rue, 49; Lisa inspired by birthday great, the writer Henry Jakub, 37

C8

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015 THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The stars favour communicating, connecting and creating.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: 2016 is the year to take life — and yourself — a little less seriously, as you strive to get the balance right between work and play.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): A fabulous idea could set you off in a creative new direction. But, when it comes to a complicated family matter, resist the temptation to promise the Moon and then fail to deliver.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Today’s stars favour taking the time to catch up with your favourite friends. As birthday great Marlene Dietrich declared, “It’s the friends you can call up at four am that matter.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gung-ho Geminis are keen to power ahead with holiday projects and Mercury’s in Capricorn, which will help focus your quicksilver mind, and ground your creative ideas in robust reality.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make the most of the holidays Crabs! Even if it’s raining, your positive mood will boost the spirits of those around you. A child expects you to set a mature and responsible example.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Positive aspects make for a day full of creative communication and holiday fun for convivial Cats. Catching up with family members helps you see a relative in a flattering new light.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Strive to replace self-criticism with positive action, as you enjoy finding satisfactory solutions to pressing problems. You may also play the role of learned teacher or curious student.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The stars favour eating out, or entertaining at home in relaxing style.

If you have to work, try to organize a long lunch with colleagues, where you can catch up on Xmas and holiday news.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re keen to communicate and converse with a wide range of interesting people today Scorpio.

Travel is also favoured. But don’t take on more than you can comfortably handle.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’re in an exuberant frame of mind Sagittarius, as you amuse and entertain family and friends.

You’re also keen to help someone in need but remember that promises are cheap!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s a wonderful day to catch up with overseas friends or international contacts, either in person or online. Group activities and team sports are favoured so jump off the couch and get moving.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re in the mood for some heavenly holiday relaxation, as you spend quality time with yourself.

But — when it comes to financial matters — have you got your head buried in the sand?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When it comes to your aspirations for 2016, use your imagination to create the most positive future possible Pisces.

Write down your goals and dreams —and then start chasing them.

Joanne Madeline Moore is an internationally syndicated astrologer and columnist. Her column appears daily in the Advocate.

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D1 HOMES Think seasonally, all year round

SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 2015

BY ELIZABETH MAYHEW SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE

During the months of November and December, a decorating fervor sweeps through as people prepare their homes for the season. Furniture is displaced to make room for a tree, mantels and staircases are draped with swags of greenery, and homes are illuminated with strings of twinkling lights.

The winter holidays unleash a commitment to tradition, and, for many, strong decorating convictions. People know how they want their homes to look for Christmas.

If only everyone were as decisive about decorating the rest of the year.

The same person who has no problem deciding where to put a Christmas tree can become paralyzed when she has to decide where to place her new bed. My remedy for such uncertainty is to channel your holiday behavior.

Follow these six decorating principles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all ones you probDEO\ SUDFWLFH DV \RX¡UH readying your home for the season â&#x20AC;&#x201D; throughout the rest of the year and your rooms will undoubtedly be merry, bright and full of joy.

O Limit your color scheme. ,W¡V OLNHO\ WKDW you trim your house for the winter with two, maybe three colors at most.

If you are a traditionalist, you decorate with red and green, but if you are a modernist you might choose turquoise and silver or fuchsia and white.

Regardless of the colors you choose, limiting your color palette in all your decorating endeavors not only makes the process easier because you narrow down your choices, but it also makes your rooms flow better. It can be jarring to go from a red room to a green room to a turquoise room and then WR D IXFKVLD URRP ,W¡V EHWWHU WR VWLFN WR D IHZ colors and vary their shade from one room to the next.

O Rearrange your furniture from time to time. Most of us have to shift furniture around or even remove a piece entirely to accommodate a big spruce Christmas tree. Although LW¡V D KDVVOH WKH FKDQJH LV JRRG :H DOO JHW too set in our ways or lazy and forget that a different furniture arrangement can give a room a fresh look.

O Always have something green or natural in your rooms. The pleasure many of us get from having a fresh evergreen tree indoors (the smell alone!) is worth the nuisance of regularly watering it and dealing with the messy fallen needles when we forget.

Something green adds texture, scent and life to your rooms.

O Rely mostly on ambient light. Everyone I know loves sitting in a room illuminated only by the glow of a well-lit Christmas tree. I am not advocating that you do away with all

overhead lighting, but I do think that rooms (and people!) look better in less-harsh lighting. In general, opt for strategically placed table and floor lamps throughout your rooms, use candlelight when appropriate and limit overhead lighting to bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens.

O Go with what you love. :KHQ \RX EX\ &KULVWPDV RUQDPHQWV \RX GRQ¡W EX\ WKHP

Above: A table A Ab bl iis set ffor a fformal Christmas dinner. But parties can occur at any time p during the year. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not d ssure how your decor works i your home, throw a party, in and watch how people move a tthrough the rooms of your home. You might get hints h at what arrangments make a people comfortable in a room. p LLeft: Walnuts, spray painted gold are a textural eyeg ccatcher. Simple things can make big impressions. m

b because they are modern o traditional; you buy them or b because they speak to you.

P Perhaps they remind you of a moment in time, a place o a person. The more you or c channel that gut feeling into your bigger decorating decisions, the more likely you are to love your rooms.

I have always maintained that the closer you come to loving every single thing about every object in your home, the more consistent the style of your home will be.

O Have a party! The holiday season might indeed be the only time of the year that you HQWHUWDLQ EXW GRQ¡W OHW LW EH The easiest way to see if your rooms work is to host a party. There is wisdom in groups, so invite people over and see how they interact with your rooms.

Observe if they sit comfortably on your sofa or if they are constantly rearranging themselves. See if they move nimbly around your room or if they have to move things aside. :DWFK WR VHH LI DQ\RQH VFRRWV D FKDLU RXW RI its place to better talk with someone and if people have a place to put their drinks.

Take stock and then make adjustments.

Elizabet Mayhew, a Today show style expert and former magazine editor, is the author of Flip! for Decorating.

Photos by THE WASHINGTON POST

At Christmas, you might wind a staircase with a garland, with a big taupe bow. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing to say you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do something similar in summer, with small sprays of flowers, or a vine.

D2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Living the period lifestyle

Photo by Andy Bate

A bedroom in a privately owned stately home in England dazzles in Downton Abbey style. such as shooting, fishing, or visiting a falconry centre. You will be greeted by a host and staff in period dress, and at dinner, actors are interspersed with guests (a dowager duchess here, a marquis or Russian Princess there).A brief mini-drama will break out immersing the guests in their own Downton moment.

An aristocratic bedchamber awaits you. “All furnishings and decor are authentic” says Dickins. The wallpaper and fabrics have been reproduced and refurbished to match the Georgian and Victorian designs that were there originally. The art on the walls is real; all the antiques in every room are genuine (some priceless) and the books in the library can date back 400 years.

No one lives like this anymore.

Your home may be simply decorated and practical for todays needs, but there is nothing more romantic than jumping into the world of pure opulence from a bygone era. We can pretend, and organize a tea party or dinner complete with all the pomp and finery. Costumes can be rented, appro-

priate menus can be created from this period in history. Like-minded friends might even volunteer to be the compulsory “staff”. What a fun and immensely memorable evening that would be.

Debbie Travis’ House to Home column

is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter. com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s new website, www.debbietravis.com.

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As the immensely popular television series Downton Abbey airs its final season of intrigue, love and betrayal in the fictional Yorkshire country estate set in the early 1920s in England, we have watched in fascination as the dramas unfold. We live in a time where practical issues of economy and ecology have led to simple styles in much smaller homes.

And yet, period films have nevDEBBIE er been so popular. We have TRAVIS dreamed of HOUSE TO HOME what it would be like to be a lord or lady in one of those stately homes or castles, to experience the aristocratic life in Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian England.

Just to visit one of these historic residences is exciting. Many have sections that are open for daily visits. Also, through charitable trusts such as Landmark Trust, you can experience the atmosphere, the settings and the interior decor that make these buildings so special. Landmark Trust has been set up to restore ancient properties that would otherwise fall into ruin, www.landmarktrust.org.uk. Their goal is to restore ancient properties with care so that the sense of antiquity remains. These unique historical homes are then made available for holidays at a reasonable price so that they can be enjoyed by all now and for future generations. The selection of destinations is broad, showing medieval long-houses, artillery forts, clan chiefs castles, cotton-weaversí cottages, homes of famous writers and architects to name a few. As one visitor who stayed at the Gothic Temple at Stowe wrote, “I am glad the Gothic Temple exists so that ordinary people can stay in places as extraordinary as this.” On these self-catering holidays, the guests are responsible for their meals and entertainment.

If you have bigger dreams and would enjoy the opportunity to live a quintessentially British experience just like the lord and lady of Downton, Dickins and Hawkes have created a company that organizes a bespoke holiday experience like none other. www. dickinsandhawkes.com. They can provide access to an extraordinary collection of privately owned stately homes that are not open to the public. Guests are provided with period dress, and can participate in patrician pursuits

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AVAIL. IMMED. large 2 bdrm. in clean quiet adult building, near downtown Co-Op, no pets, 403-348-7445

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Publication Dates: Saturday, January 2, 2016 Monday, January 4, 2016 Deadline is: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 @ 12 noon

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Over 2,000,000 hours St. John Ambulance volunteers provide Canadians with more than 2 million hours of community service each year.

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Mark Cornell July 29, 1981 - Dec. 27, 2005 Ten years have gone by since you were taken from our lives, but it seems like only yesterday that it all happened. We hide our tears when we say your name, but the pain in our hearts is still the same. Though we smile and seem carefree, there is no one who misses you more than your Mom, Dad, Greg and Brad. You will always be in our minds and close to our hearts, so know that you will never be forgotten by us all.

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59 YR. old farmer, Sylvan TRAILERS for sale or rent Lake area, seeks n/s, non Job site, office, well site or storage. Skidded or drinking, loyal, honest, roWANTED PROFORM 400S treadmill, mantic, healthy, slim lady wheeled. Call 347-7721.

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Personals PH. Lyle 403-783-2275

WARD (née Hill) - Betty Mar. 2, 1932 - Dec. 17, 2015, Our wife and Mom Betty died on Dec. 17, 2015 before bringing an end to her several - year journey with Parkinson disease. Violet Elizabeth Jean (Betty) was born to Violet and Roland Hill, the 6th of 7 children.

She was born, raised, educated, and worked in Turner Valley Alberta, in particular at Alberta Government Telephones and the Oilfields Hospital, where she met her future husband Bert and where her long-held desire to become a nurse was confirmed. She graduated as a registered nurse at the Holy Cross Hospital school of nursing in Calgary in 1954.

Bert and Betty were married in Turner Valley in 1954 and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in September 2015.

They settled in Calgary where they raised their five children. In 1984, Bert and Betty moved to Alix, where they lived on the lake and enjoyed a return to small town life. In February 2006, they moved to Wetaskiwin where they shared a home with their son Wade. Betty found Wetaskiwin to be the right match for her - close to medical facilities, a suitable size for folks who like to walk, grand old trees, living near a school so she could see lots of kids, and especially living in an area she really liked with great neighbors. Betty was predeceased by her parents; sisters and brothers Margaret, Frances, Mary, Alfred, and George (WWII); and her brother-in-law Roland. She is survived by her husband Bert; children Robin (Nancy), Kevin (Cath), Garth (Sue), Wade, and Geoff (Marlene); grandchildren Sarah, Sheena, Meghan, Breanne, and Nyla (Gran’s Girls); great-grandchildren James, Cameron, Rileigh, Robert, Ryder, and Derik; her sister Eileen; and her lovely little dog Sunshine. All her life, she cared for others, regardless of who they were.

In keeping with this, she wished to donate her body to medical education and research, in hopes that others would benefit. We encourage others to consider this option, or organ donation. The family wishes to thank Dr. Stiaan van der Walt and the staff on units 35 and 33 at Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre for their excellent care of Betty over the last 2 1/2 years of her life. At Betty’s request, there will be no formal service, simply a gathering of the family. In lieu of flowers, if desired, donations may be made to Parkinson Alberta (http://parkinsonalberta.ca/) or to the Lois Hole Hospital for Women (http://www.royalalex.org/) Betty felt a connection with Lois Hole because they were both gardeners, and because they had both gone through the experience of having a newborn in precarious health.

With Mom, we were looking for a rose and found an orchid.

BAKER FUNERAL CHAPEL - Wetaskiwin 780-352-2501 or (888) 752-2501 Condolenceswww.womboldfuneralhomes.com

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D4 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Queen emphasizes hope in Christmas message

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SANDRINGHAM, England — Queen Elizabeth II used her Christmas message Friday to proclaim that light can triumph over darkness in these perilous times — and to comment on the joys of having a new great-granddaughter, Princess Charlotte.

Elizabeth acknowledged the difficult times the world faces but said there is no cause for despair, no reason to give up hope. The Queen’s speech has been a tradition since Elizabeth first delivered a Christmas message live on radio in 1952.

“It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’.”

On a lighter note, she remarked on the birth of Charlotte to Prince William and his wife, Kate, in May. “One of the joys of living a long life is watching one’s children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun,” she said.

She spoke in a prerecorded message from the 18th Century Room at Buckingham Palace, sitting next to a decorated fireplace and Christmas tree.

The highly personal Christmas message is a focal point of the royal family’s holidays. The queen writes the brief speech herself, while she receives help from senior ministers on most other speeches.

She often refers to her Christian faith during the talk, as she did this time, but she also made clear that the beauty of a decorated Christmas tree can be enjoyed by people of all faiths and by those without formal religious belief.

Elizabeth wore a white and silver tweed day dress by Angela Kelly during the speech, accessorizing it with an art deco diamond and aquamarine brooch that belonged to her late mother. The table she sat next to was decorated with a portrait of Prince William, Kate and young Prince George.

The senior royals usually spend the Christmas holidays at Sandringham, a sprawling estate in Norfolk, 175 kilometres north of London. They usually exchange gifts on Christmas Eve and attend a church service on the grounds before enjoying a gala lunch and, sometimes, a walk in the woods.

This year Princess Charlotte and “big” brother Prince George, age 2, did not attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

The Queen, in a festive red coat, arrived in a Bentley to lead the family to the service amid some sprinkles of

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II shelters under an umbrella as she leaves, after attending the British royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, Friday. rain.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were among the royals attending as some 1,000 well-wishers gathered outside hoping for a glimpse.

Prince William, Prince Harry and

Kate came as well. Kate wore a green coat and matching hat.

The Christmas message — a time-honoured British tradition — will be posted on the royal YouTube channel for maximum exposure.

Pope issues Christmas prayer for peace in Syria, Libya

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis issued a Christmas Day prayer that recent U.N.-backed peace processes for Syria and Libya will quickly end the suffering of their people, denouncing the “monstrous evil” and atrocities they have endured and praising countries that have taken in refugees.

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis issued a plenary indulgence for all Catholics in hopes of spreading the church’s message of mercy in a world torn by war, poverty and extremist attacks. The sun-soaked St. Peter’s Square was under heavy security, as it has been since the Nov. 13 Paris attacks by Islamic extremists that left 130 dead.

An indulgence is an ancient church tradition related to the forgiveness of sins. Francis announced it after delivering his annual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the city and the world) speech listing global hotspots and his prayers for an end to human suffering.

Francis referred to the “brutal acts of terrorism” that struck the French capital this year, as well as attacks in Egypt’s airspace and in Beirut, Mali and Tunisia. He denounced the ongoing conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine and issued words of consolation to Christians being persecuted for their faith in many parts of the world.

“They are our martyrs of today,” he said.

In an indirect reference to the Islamic State group, he urged the international community to direct its attention to Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and sub-Saharan Africa, where atrocities “even now reap numerous victims, cause immense suffering and do not even spare the historical and cultural patrimony of entire peoples.”

Francis said he hoped the plenary indulgence he issued for this, his Holy Year of Mercy, would encourage the faithful “to welcome God’s mercy in our lives, and be merciful with our brothers to make peace grow.”

“Only God’s mercy can free humanity from the many forms of evil, at times monstrous evil, which selfishness spawns in our midst,” he said.

Francis has made the church’s message of mercy the focus of his pontif-

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pope Francis delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and to the world) blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Friday. Pope Francis is praying that recent UN-backed peace agreements for Syria and Libya will quickly end the suffering of their people while praising the generosity of those countries that have taken their refugees in. icate, and dedicated an entire jubilee year to stressing it. Holy Years are generally celebrated every 25-50 years, and over the centuries they have been used to encourage the faithful to make pilgrimages to Rome to obtain an indulgence.

Indulgences got a bad rap during Martin Luther’s time, but they continue to be offered free by the church when the faithful meet certain conditions. Francis has made them plentifully available.

Libya has been in a state of lawlessness since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown in 2011. Syria has seen a five-year war that has killed over 250,000 people and forced millions to flee. The surge of refugees flowing out

of Syria to Europe has created a migration crisis for the entire continent.

The U.N. Security Council last week threw its support behind a peace process for Syria, including a ceasefire and talks between the Damascus government and the opposition. The council has also recently endorsed the U.N.-brokered deal to form a unity government that Libya’s rival factions have signed.

“We pray to the Lord that the agreement reached in the United Nations may succeed in halting as quickly as possible the clash of arms in Syria and in remedying the extremely grave humanitarian situation of its suffering people,” Francis said. “It is likewise urgent that the agreement on Libya be

supported by all, so as to overcome the grave divisions and violence afflicting the country.”

Francis praised both individuals and countries that have taken in refugees fleeing “inhuman conditions,” saying their generosity had helped the newcomers “build a dignified future for themselves and for their dear ones, and to be integrated in the societies which receive them.”

Francis’ Christmas celebrations, which began Thursday night with a late-night Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, continue with a noon blessing on Saturday and a Mass on Sunday dedicated to families as part of Francis’ Holy Year celebrations.

Violence clouds mood as Christians celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territory — Christian faithful from around the world on Thursday descended on the biblical city of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations at the traditional birthplace of Jesus, trying to lift spirits on a holiday dampened by months of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

The fighting cast a pall over the celebrations. Crowds were thin and hotel rooms were empty.

While the annual festivities in Bethlehem’s Manger Square went on, other celebrations in the city were cancelled or toned down.

“There’s lights, there’s carols, but there’s an underlying sense of tension,” said Paul Haines of Cornwall, England, who arrived in Bethlehem following a four-month trek from Rome.

Bethlehem has been a focal point for clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian protesters during a three-month wave of violence that has gripped the region.

The city was quiet on Thursday, although violence raged elsewhere in the West Bank.

Israeli authorities said three Palestinian assailants were killed as they carried out or tried to carry out stabbing or car-ramming attacks against Israeli security personnel, and a fourth Palestinian was killed in clashes with Israeli troops, a Palestinian hospital official said.

Two Israeli security guards and a soldier were wounded.

Lisette Rossman, a 22-year-old student from Albuquerque, New Mexico,

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Christian pilgrim prays inside the Grotto of the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. said the violence made her think twice about visiting a friend studying in Jerusalem. She said she was glad she made the trip because “it was one of my dreams to come here.”

Since mid-September, Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings and shootings, have killed 20 Israelis, while Israeli fire has killed 124 Palestinians, among them 85 said by Israel to be attackers. The rest were killed in clashes with Israeli forces. Israel accuses Palestinian leaders of inciting the violence. The Palestinians say it is the result of nearly 50 years of military

occupation.

In Manger Square, local activists placed an olive tree they said was uprooted by the Israeli army in a nearby village, and surrounded it with barbed wire and decorated it with spent tear gas canisters fired by Israeli troops and photographs of Palestinians killed or arrested in recent violence.

“We’re in Bethlehem celebrating Christmas, celebrating the birthday of our lord Jesus Christ. This is the birthplace of the king of peace, so what we want is peace,” said Rula Maayah, the Palestinian tourism minister.

In the evening, several thousand people crowded into Manger Square, admiring the town’s glittering Christmas tree and listening to holiday music played by marching bands and scout troops. Palestinian vendors hawked coffee, tea and Santa hats.

Young children sold sticks of gum.

But at 9 p.m., traditionally a bustling time of the evening, there were few tourists to drink local wine sold on the square or to eat freshly fried falafel.

As the festivities got underway, Miral Siriani, a 35-year-old publicist from Jerusalem, said she was relieved to get a break from three months of tension that has included numerous attacks in her city.

“I feel safe in Bethlehem,” she said.

In recent years, Bethlehem had enjoyed a relative calm and thousands of revelers and pilgrims poured into Manger Square each Christmas. But vendors and hotel owners complained of sagging business this Christmas season.

Xavier Abu Eid, a Palestinian official, said hotel bookings were down 25 per cent from last year, which itself was weak following a war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip several months earlier.

Some Palestinians hoped holiday cheer would replace the gloom. Said Nustas, dressed in a Santa Claus suit, rang a Christmas bell on a narrow asphalt street as he prepared to deliver gifts from a toy store to children nearby.

“The situation is what it is, a war and intifada,” Nustas said. “But God willing, we’ll overcome it and celebrate.”

RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 D5

Storm in southern U.S. leaves many homeless SURVIVORS THANKFUL TO SEE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Emergency officials transport James Simmons by boat because water over Byler Road prevented them from reaching him in Moulton, Ala., Friday, Dec. 25, 2015. They carried him by boat before loading him into an ambulance. Unseasonably warm weather helped spawn severe storms Friday after violent storms in the Southeast left dozens of families homeless by Christmas Eve. with your family,” he said.

Dozens of people were injured in the storms, some seriously, said Greg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

Search teams combed damaged homes and businesses for people still missing, a hunt made complicated because so many had left for the holidays.

“Until they know for sure where those folks are, they’re going to keep looking, because we’ve had in some

Syrian rebel commander killed in airstrike

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAMASCUS

BEIRUT — An airstrike near the Syrian capital on Friday killed top rebel commander Zahran Allouch, the head of one of the most powerful Saudi-backed insurgent groups fighting against President Bashar Assad’s government near the seat of his power Damascus, opposition activists said.

Allouch’s death a month before expected peace talks between government and opposition representatives in Geneva is a blow to insurgents fighting to topple Assad and a boost to government forces who have been bolstered by the Russian military intervention in Syria in the past few months.

It was not immediately clear who was behind his death.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an airstrike hit an Army of Islam meeting near the Damascus suburb of Otaya, killing several rebel commanders including Allouch. It said it was not clear whether it was a Russian or Syrian airstrike.

The Observatory said the warplanes struck a meeting during which Army of Islam commanders were preparing to launch an offensive against government forces and those of Lebanon’s Hezbollah near Damascus.

The Local Coordination Committees earlier said that Allouch was killed along with his deputy and chief spokesman in an airstrike believed to be Russian in Otaya.

The Syrian military, in a statement published on the state-run SANA news agency, said later Friday that Allouch was killed in a Syrian army airstrike.

It said that the strike was carried out after a series of aerial reconnaissance operations against groupings of “terrorist” organizations and their headquarters in Eastern Ghouta. In addition to Allouch, it said the airstrike killed “a large number of commanders of Ahrar al-Sham and Faylaq al-Rahman.”

It did not provide other details.

It was not immediately clear how Allouch’s killing would affect his group, which is entrenched in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. Several rebel group commanders have been killed in the past — including most of the command of the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham group in a mysterious bombing in northern Syria last year.

For the government, it represents a further boost following recent military advances by the army, which has been on the offensive in several parts of the country since Russia began its military campaign in late September to shore up Assad’s forces.

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV led with the news of Allouch’s killing, touting it as a victory. Syria’s state news agency SANA highlighted the news, reporting the killing of the “terrorist” Zahran Allouch. They did not say who was behind the airstrike that killed him.

The Lebanon-based AL-Mayadeen TV said Allouch was killed during a meeting to reconcile two feuding militant factions near Damascus. The station said 13 airstrikes hit eastern Damascus on Friday.

Mazen al-Shami, an opposition activist based near Damascus, said war-

planes believed to be Russian fired 10 missiles at the site where Allouch and top commanders in his group were meeting in Otaya. He said several officials and commanders were killed or wounded.

Another activist based near Damascus, Hadi Munajed, said four warplanes flying at high altitude attacked the meeting killing Allouch and other officials. He said he believed the warplanes were Russian because Syrian fighter jets fly at lower altitude and are not as accurate as the Russians.

“He was martyred this afternoon,” Munajed said via Skype, referring to Allouch.

Allouch, who was in his mid-40s, was widely known to be supported

by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He was one of the most powerful rebel commanders with thousands of fighters controlling large parts of the eastern Damascus suburbs known as Eastern Ghouta and Douma. In addition to fighting government forces, the Army of Islam faction fought pitched battles against its rival, the Islamic State group near Damascus.

A former prisoner who was released in a general amnesty after the uprising against Assad began in March 2011, Allouch joined the armed opposition and formed the Army of Islam — which became one of the most organized rebel factions in Syria.

Critics accuse him of sectarian politics and brutal tactics similar to that of the Islamic State group.

He is blamed by other opposition groups for the December 2013 kidnapping of four prominent activists including human rights activist and lawyer Razan Zaytouni. He denies holding them although they were kidnapped from an area under Army of Islam control.

Allouch regularly made sectarian comments against members of Assad’s Alawite sect as well as Shiite Muslims, although when he spoke to western media earlier this year he said all sects should be part of the rule in future Syria.

Earlier this year, after government airstrikes on the suburbs of Damascus killed dozens, Allouch placed some Alawites that his group was holding in cages in public areas and markets, using them as human shields to try to prevent further airstrikes. Men and women were put in large metal cages on top of trucks that drove around Damascus suburbs.

Most of the Syrian militants, like Allouch, are Sunni Muslims and see themselves as oppressed by Alawites.

His group was behind the shelling of Damascus in recent months with mortar shells, including an attack that targeted the Russian Embassy.

Such attacks have killed and wounded scores of civilians.

The Army of Islam took part earlier this month in an opposition meeting held in Saudi Arabia to agree on an opposition delegation that would negotiate with government representatives in planned peace talks. The government has always said it will not negotiate with terrorists and considers the Army of Islam to be terrorists.

cases houses levelled, and they’re just not there anymore,” Flynn said.

In Benton County, Mississippi, relatives helped Daisy and Charles Johnson clean up after the storm flattened their house. They carried some of the couple’s belongings past a Santa Clause figure on a table.

Daisy Johnson, 68, said she and her husband rushed along with other relatives to their storm shelter across the street after they heard a tornado was headed their way.

“We looked straight west of us, and there it was. It was yellow and it was roaring, lightning just continually, and it was making a terrible noise,” she said. “I never want to hear that again for as long as I live.”

Mona Ables, 43, was driving home when the storm hit. She abandoned her car, ran to a house and banged on a window, seeking shelter.

The startled man inside couldn’t open the door, which appeared to be blocked, Ables said.

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FALKNER, Miss. — Barbara Perkins and her husband were hunkered down inside a closet when violent winds peeled the roof off their Mississippi home. The storm sucked the central air conditioning unit beside the couple straight up from the floor and into the howling sky.

As the couple surveyed the damage Thursday, broken glass and mud covered most of their home’s interior. Many of their belongings had been thrown hundreds of feet away into the woods. A visiting insurance agent told them the house was a total loss.

Newly homeless, Perkins said she was happy just to be alive — especially after learning two of her neighbours had died in the storm.

“You kind of stop and realize what Christmas is all about,” Perkins said.

The unseasonably violent weather that spawned deadly tornadoes Wednesday in the Southeast forced families to spend Christmas Eve taking stock of their losses. At least 14 people were confirmed dead — seven of them in Mississippi, including a 7-year-old boy who perished while riding in a car that was swept up and tossed by storm winds.

Six people were killed in Tennessee and one in Arkansas. Dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Unseasonably warm weather Wednesday helped spawn twisters from Arkansas to Michigan. The line of springlike storms continued marching east Thursday, dumping torrential rain that flooded roads in Alabama and caused a mudslide in the mountains of Georgia.

In Linden, Tennessee, Tony Goodwin ducked into a storm shelter with seven others as the storm passed. He emerged to find his house had been knocked off its foundation and down the hill.

He managed to climb inside and fetch some Christmas gifts that had been under his tree. Goodwin’s neighbours weren’t so fortunate. Two people in one home were killed.

“It makes you thankful to be alive

D6 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

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Dec. 26 1986 — Montreal Canadiens Doug Jarvis, age 31, sets a National Hockey League record as he skates in his 916th consecutive game; started string in 1974.

1925 — New York Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates notch an NHL record 141 shots on goal as the Americans (with 73 shots) beat the Pirates (68 shots) 3-1 1901 — Guglielmo Marconi arrives in North

Sydney from Newfoundland two weeks after he had received the First transatlantic radio VLJQDO DW 6LJQDO +LOO LQ 6W -RKQ·V 1HZIRXQGland; the Anglo-American Telegraph Company, owner of the undersea cable and holder of a monopoly of telegraphy in the province, notified him that it would take legal action unless he immediately ceased his wireless experiments and removed his equipment .

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You can carry additional insulation batts into the attic and lay them down yourself; you can rent a DIY machine to blow loose-fill insulation into the attic space; or you can hire a firm to add insulation for you.

Either way, there are technical things to watch for. The first is maintaining ventilation.

Most homes with unfinished attics are built to allow outdoor air to move through the attic space above the insulation. This space isn’t intended to be heated, but rather its vented to the outdoors to allow moisture to escape.

In modern homes this venting happens in one of three ways: along the edges of the attic; through mushroom-shaped vents installed through the roof surface itself; and sometimes in a raised louver along the ridge of the roof.

Of these three venting options, the vents along the edges are the ones you need to pay attention to during insulation upgrades.

You should be able to see small tunnels of open space along the edges of the attic floor, often created by white styrofoam baffles that hold the insulation away from the underside of the roof. Its often necessary to fasten more of these baffles to extend the ventilation tunnels high enough to clear the higher height of added insulation. If an insulation contractor is out to cut corners, one way is to ignore the need to keep ventilation channels open along the edges of the roof. Ask potential installers what they intend to do to keep eaves vents open as they work. This way they’ll know you understand the issue and are more likely to be honest.

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D8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015

Fireplace brings room together Q — We have struggled to find a reasonable arrangement for our living room and to date have shoved the furniture around a dozen times.

Frankly, I think the room is simply not big enough to do what we need it to.

We would like to have some seating near or around the fireplace where I can read and sew, and the opposite part of the room can be dedicated to the TV. One problem is, by the fireplace there is a door leading to the porch and nothing can really be put in the way.

We currently have a monstrosity of a TV but that will be replaced with a new wall-mounted version.

We are willing to replace our current furniture if there is an arrangement that will work with new pieces.

Incidentally, the fireplace was decommissioned many years ago when it was deemed unsafe, but it’s still an attractive feature and I fill it with candles, which has a nice effect.

We have recently built a new man-

tel, made from old oak wood from out cottage, and that gives it a softer look We have looked into relocating the porch door, perhaps integrating it into the windowed area.

The price DAVID was well-beFERGUSON yond what we CREATIVE SPACE can afford right now, so we will have to work around it.

We are hoping that you can see the solution that eludes us.

A — There are several elements of the design that make this room a tricky space to plan.

A long, narrow shape is never easy to plan because inevitably the space will be severed into two or more small-

er spaces.

This room is almost twice as long as it is at its widest, and foot traffic abounds at various points in the room Although I’m sure it’s a handsome piece, the fireplace is oddly located directly in the path of a foot traffic that typically would run from the stairs to the porch.

Each of these reduce the number of options for any single furniture arrangement.

Any arrangements around the fireplace using major pieces would obviously obstruct access to the porch or staircase.

From the perspective of creating a more floor plan, moving the door from the corner to a more central location on the exterior wall is probably going to be the best option in the long run.

Of course, doing that can create its own issues by adding foot traffic through the centre of the room.

One further idea that could be considered is relocating or eliminating the fireplace.

Since it is a non-operating feature,

it seems to me it could be located anywhere in the room that is more conducive to the way you want the space to work.

The logical area for the new fireplace would be on the south wall where it might be integrated to a book shelf and electronics centre where the television will hang.

Admittedly, it does little to resolve the problem of cutting the fireplace off from the rest of the space, but I think it does make the fireplace area a bit more cosy.

That area with two comfortable chairs and an ottoman, a place where one can recline comfortably to work, read and for casual conversation.

Locating the sofa in front of the window rather than cutting the room in half, will make the overall space appear more open, and the two seating areas more “tied together”.

David Ferguson is a regular contributor to CBC Radio’s Ontario Today. Write to David at: david.ferguson@hotmail.ca.

Renovation tips for your next DIY venture

BY BRYAN BAEUMLER SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE How to be a good renovation customer Everyone has heard a story from a friend or family member about a renovation gone bad. I hear from a lot of homeowners about projects they’ve attempted to do themselves, or contractors that did not live up to their expectations. Of course, where there’s disappointment, there’s blame.

One of the first things I do when I’m assessing a job that needs to be repaired is ask, “What happened!?” On most jobs, the blame usually falls on the tools, the material, the lack of instructions, or the contractor. No matter who’s at fault, there are three sides to every story — your’s, their’s and the truth.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of people sabotage their renovations. Whether you’re planning on DIY, or hiring a contractor to handle the job, here are a few tips to keep in mind before and during your renovation.

Know what you want If you don’t know what you want, and you don’t have a realistic budget set aside, you’re not ready to hire a contractor let alone start tearing apart your home. Setting sail on a renovation without a detailed plan is a recipe for an expensive disaster. Depending on the size of the project you’re planning, you might want to bring in a designer or architect to walk you through some options and come up with plans that you can submit to the city to get permits if necessary. Until you have plans and permits, you’re just kicking tires.

Be realistic, with budget, design and timeline.

Everyone knows you can’t get an exotic car for the

price of a compact, yet many still expect skilled trades to work for $15 an hour and deliver flawless results almost instantly.

If you’re not planning to DIY, make sure to do your research on which company you’re going to hire. Finding a contractor is a lot like online dating — you don’t know a lot about the person before meeting them but you expect a lot out of the relationship! Make sure they are licenced, insured and experienced, and be sure to follow up with their references. Bring in more than one contractor before making your decision, and remember that trust and communication are important parts of the equation.

Be patient Renovating your home isn’t like hitting the drive-thru for a burger — there’s a reason most fast food isn’t good for us. All the good things in life take time — wine, cheese, romance … you get the idea.

You can’t decide today that you want to build an addition and get started on it tomorrow. The design, planning and permit process can take anywhere from three to six months.

Real quality takes time, and we all know that time is money. However, rushing the job or hiring the wrong person because the right one wasn’t available “tomorrow morning” usually takes longer and costs more in the long run. The goal of any reno is to have the job done properly and be pleased with the results, not to bang it off as quickly and cheaply as possible and be unhappy and have regrets.

Clean up and clear out If you’re planning a major renovation, get out of the house! Renovating one room at a time while your family tip-toes around the chaos isn’t the most efficient or enjoyable way to spend your evenings.

Jobsites can be dirty, dangerous and stressful. Clear out all of the furniture and personal items and tape

plastic over doorways that lead to unaffected areas of your home. It’s a lot easier to get to work when you’re day isn’t spent moving things out of the way, or worrying about creating a mess all over the house.

Let the contractor work!

Everyone appreciates a little social interaction, but if you chat with them for an hour a day about your dog, cat, vacation, or what you had for dinner last night, that’s an hour that you’re paying them.

Make sure you’re happy with your design before the reno begins. Any changes that are made once the project has begun (moving a wall, changing a light location, moving a sink, etc.) will add more time and more money to your budget. The more detailed you are in the planning stages, the more stress you’ll avoid when the dust starts to fly.

Make sure you check out baeumlerapproved.com for trades and services in your area who have been vetted for quality and consistency and who are held to the highest professional standard. If you really want to ensure the job goes smoothly and get your hands on a few of those free “extras,” leave a plate of cookies and a cold glass of milk out for your contractor. Oh wait, that’s the other guy!

Bryan Baeumler has filmed over 300 television episodes including his hit series Leave it to Bryan, Disaster DIY, Canada’s Handyman Challenge, and House of Bryan, the highest rated series on the HGTV network.

Based out of Ontario, Bryan successfully owns and operates Baeumler Quality Construction, a full service construction and renovation firm, Baeumler Approved, an association of pre-screened quality contractors, trades and services for homeowners, and founded the Baeumler Family Foundation, a charitable organization that provides renovations to families in need of safety, accessibility and security. For more information visit bryanbaeumler.com.

A look at how real home JANUARY 29, 2016 IN THE life has changed over the years, while the ideal of ‘home’ hasn’t

Babies on

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Home sweet home. It seems so simple.

But while the idea of “home” remains constant — the epitome of the familiar and reliable — actual home life is messier and changes all the time.

So says Judith Flanders, author of “The Making of Home: The 500-Year Story of How Our Houses Became Our Homes” (Thomas Dunne Books, September 2015), in which she traces the evolution of the home, and concepts of home, in northern Europe and America from the 16th century to the early 20th century.

She looks at changes in technology, such as plumbing and toilets, tableware and furniture, windows and window dressings, light bulbs and kitchen gadgets, as well as changes in culture, such as marriage patterns, hopes and customs.

“There’s a huge disconnect between the mental construct of home and the reality, and it turns out that that’s been the case for centuries,” says Flanders, reached by phone recently in her London home.

For instance, while some might think that families and marriages used to be more stable, “broken homes were the absolute norm in most of history,” she says. “A home can’t be any more broken than if one parent is dead.”

As for appearance, “the paintings of the Dutch golden age did not depict what Dutch households of the time actually looked like,” Flanders says. While the paintings are heavy with symbolism and appear sparse and sparkling, actual homes were crowded with furniture.

She likens the disconnect to the images featured in today’s interior-design magazines, which are generally devoid of toothbrushes, electrical outlets, hampers, dish racks and other basic amenities, as well as the tchotchkes that clutter many real homes.

“It really proves that our desire to believe in this ideal of home overrides everything. We don’t like to be told or reminded that it’s not true,” she says.

Something as basic today as the fork, she says, did not appear as a standard eating implement in most places until well into the 18th century. “You had a cutting and a piercing instrument in your knife. You had a scooping implement in your spoon. You were set,” Flanders says.

But then pasta came along as a standard starch in Italy, and the earthenware plate replaced wooden trenchers. Tableware needs rapidly changed.

“Suddenly a twiddling instrument becomes more frequently seen on tables. Except for the British Navy, which remarkably held out on adopting the fork until 1897,” Flanders says.

Similarly, she traces the impact on home life of glass windows, electric lighting and indoor plumbing.

“The only real stability we have in the home, if one looks at the centuries of history, is the belief that home is a stable thing. Everything changes all the time,” she says.

The shift to computers and then to individual handheld devices is similarly changing social norms at home, she notes it’s much more rare now to see everyone sitting together around a radio or TV.

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