THE INDEPENDENT

Not sure about this guy in red . . . Lorne Danskin is a wee bit tentative about this whole Santa thing while mom Paige looks on during the Biggar Legion’s annual Santa Day. No worries, Santa never holds a grudge, and we’re sure there will be something under the tree for Lorne come Christmas morning! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Vol. 110 No. 50

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

16 pages

$1.50

2 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Biggar Central School Senior Blazers hit the court for their home tournament, Friday and Saturday. Opening with a win versus Perdue, the Blazers then fell to Hafford by 5 points, finishing up the weekend with another loss, this time to Kerrobert. They played hard, however, and managed a third place on the weekend.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Local music teachers recognized Eight adjudicators were recognized, at Fall Conference, with the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association (SMFA) Adjudicating Excellence Award.

This award is a small token of SMFA’s appreciation for a truly dedicated group. A provincial scholarship will be presented at the 2020 Provincial Finals in their honour.

Peggy L’Hoir and Joy

McFarlane-Burton were present to accept their awards from President, Sherry Sproule. As well, Cherith Alexander of Weyburn was also recognized.

Also honoured and very much appreciated were Dominic Gregorio (posthumous award), Gene Aulinger, Lisa Hornung, Greg McLean and Marcia McLean.

Peggy L’Hoir, right, accepting the Adjudicating Excellence Award from SMFA President Sherry Sproule.

Joy McFarlane-Burton, right, accepting the Adjudicating Excellence Award from President Sherry Sproule.

Argo Committee continues to look into future of rec area EDITOR’S NOTE: Long-time Argo Bush Recreation Area supporter Blair Slowski who, along with wife Monica, were for many years volunteer caretakers, trail groomers for the beautiful area, wrote a comprehensive treatise on the future of the recreation area. Blair penned the following to explain the situation facing the iconic area, the challenges being faced and current plans.

by Blair Slowski The Argo Chalet and area burned on April 23, 2019.

A decision was made to proceed with a fund raiser, feeling that if this was delayed, the support

for a fund raiser would diminish. Immediately after the fire the thought process was that a structure would be built and life would go on as it did before the fire.

Through a number of meetings with the wildlife representative, we were told that to be able to use the wildlife lands we would have to have sufficient fire liability insurance in place so that the Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch would not have any liability.

Insurance was applied for and no offers from insurance companies were received.

To access the chalet and ski area, we used to drive across privately owned land. As well, the

chalet, our storage and some ski trails were on private land. After many years of chasing cattle because of gates being left open, it was time to close off this access. It was also agreed that the land owners should not be liable should there be any kind of incident on the land.

A few years ago, a new, more enclosed fire pit was purchased and installed at Argo. At that time metal in ground benches were purchased and installed to prevent people from placing the benches over the fire pit and burning them.

Over this spring and summer, there were numerous communications with the wildlife

representative. As time went by, the amount of damage caused by the fire, the costs associated with fighting the fire and the gravity of potential liability surrounding an event such a this was becoming a larger issue.

After the discussions and meetings with wildlife, permission was granted to continue with the walking/ski trails on the following conditions.

A letter was received dated June 21, 2019 from the Ministry of Environment stating terms for continuance of use of the hiking/ski trails at Argo.

They approve to have the existing trails on the land and approve associated maintenance.

They committed to

Nats put in solid effort on Huskies . . . Biggar Nat Captain, Kyle Dilosa wheels round during a rare afternoon game at the Jubilee, Sunday. Dilosa recorded a four point afternoon (1-3) while teammate Dylan Smith posted a hat trick and two helpers in the 12-4 win. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

fencing off the trail on the east side of the property (Blue trail) that ran up to the former picnic chalet area. There would be a small walk-through gate that would allow summer access to the picnic area. The walk would be approximately a quarter mile to the current picnic area. In the winter this trail would be opened up to allow vehicle access to a small parking lot by the picnic area. This access was granted on the condition that no further improvement is done to the trail.

Argo Recreation commits to remove all existing infrastructure from the wildlife land including the steel fire pit, benches, picnic tables, remaining fire box material and toilet. To avoid any future liability, any new development will be on adjacent private land and no open fire pit will be constructed or located near Argo wildlife lands.

We are to provide a list of designated maintenance assistants that my be using vehicles on the trials. This list is then shared with the local Conservation Officers.

If there is any further abuse of the area by vehicles or otherwise, the committed access to this site will be revisited.

Shortly after receiving the letter from the Ministry of Environment, an attempt was made to assess the work that would be required to repair the trails. The trails were not passable with service vehicles so it was determined that clearing the trails would be a massive undertaking.

In October, the Red trail was walked. On six kilometres of trail on wildlife lands, 150 trees were counted that would require removal. It is anticipated that this, to a lesser extent, to be the situation for a number of years as the remaining dead trees fall over the trails. It was also observed that a portion of the Red trail where heavy equipment was used to help fight the fire, that maintenance equipment would not be able to be towed over it.

It is known that there was significant damage on the Yellow trail caused by heavy equipment.

There was contact with the RM of Biggar to see if there would be willingness to clear the seasonal road in the winter. The road that runs west to the public lands has little room for snow to be pushed off the road.

For the clearing of the blue trails running north and south on the wildlife lands and following the approved conditions, the trail would not be accessible with snow removal equipment.

Dennis Martin disposed of the former chalet and other materials from the fire as requested by the Ministry of Environment.

All that remains is the cement pad that was in front of the former chalet. This work was done at no cost to use with Dennis donating his time and equipment. A big thank you to Dennis.

There have been brief discussions with the Biggar Regional Park to see if there may be some (Cont’d on pg. 16)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

4 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, When vaping first came out it was touted as a “stepping stone” down form nicotine addiction.

This has turned out to be a lie. In fact, vaping is increasing addiction and health problems of many kinds.

I don’t like more laws but in this case it is clear to me that innocent people, especially children, are being harmed by others who are not smart enough to say no!

Our politicians need to stand up against big money and exact laws prohibiting all aspect of this stupid, health-destroying problem, manufacturing, advertising, distribution, sales and possession.

Stop this problem before it gets worse!

There has to be consequences for bad behaviour, so law enforcement would be needed as well.

Maybe I’m wrong about these things but I don’t understand why concerned health care professionals aren’t speaking out, not an old cowboy like me.

Bob Wiseman Biggar LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME They MUST be signed, approximately 300 words in length and are subject to editing.

Thank Yous will not be permitted in letters

Currier and Ives popularized the typical family The scene is a dinner setting with Abby and Jed Bartlet sitting at the dining table after a family eruption. Abby says to Jed, “We have never been Currier and Ives.”

She was referring to a typical family scene where the family would gather harmoniously for Christmas dinner.

However that was next to impossible with this high powered couple and perhaps the three daughters felt some dissatisfaction with their childhood years.

Currier and Ives were successful New York lithographers in the 19th century. Their prints were considered “appropriate” for a proper home -- wrote Catharine Esther Beecher and Harriet

life -- winter scenes, Beecher Stowe, authors horse racing images, of American Women’s portraits of people, picHome. According to tures of ships, patriotic them “the great value of and historical events, pictures for the home home life. would be, The prints after all, in became their sentipopular ment. They probably should due to the express affordabilthe sincere ity. Small ideas and works sold tastes of for five to the house20 cents hold and and large not the tyranniworks sold cal dicta for $1 to of some $3. art critic The pair or neighwere very bour.” smart busiPeggy Hasein Currier nessmen.

They sold and Ives their prints specialized at many vendors -- pushin art depicting ordinary

Neighbourly News

sign their pieces.

The lithographs were produced using lithographic limestone printing plates. Each print was pulled by hand.

The prints were first produced in black and white; later colour was hand painted. It was usually immigrant women from Germany that would add the colour.

They worked in an assembly line, one colour to a worker; $6 for every 100 prints. Of course, new techniques were developed and eventually the prints were produced in full colour.

The images were standard sizes -- trade cards, very small folios, small folios, medium folios, large folios. The mea-

surement did not include the title or borders.

Interestingly these sizes are used today to determine if the print is an original or not.

Today the prints are valuable pieces of art among art collectors.

Some of the more popular are the winter scenes which were commonly used for Christmas cards.

My aunt was a fan of Currier and Ives, She was an amateur painter herself and, although she painted many original scenes of her own, one of my favourite paintings was a reproduction she did of a Currier and Ives greeting card depicting a winter scene.

Proof of the longevity of the art work.

www.biggarindependent.ca

the the Phone: 306-948-3344

carts, peddlers and book stores. But the prints were available for retail and wholesale. They had well established outlets across the world as well as taking mail orders.

They became known as “publishers of cheap and popular prints”.

In its 72 year history the firm published at least 7,500 lithographs.

Artists produced two to three images every week for 64 years. There were some famous artists of the day who contributed original pieces of work such as James E. Butterworth, Charles R. Parsons, C. H. Moore, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tati, Louis Maurer, Frances Flora Bond Palmer.

Some of the more famous artists would

Fax: 306-948-2133

Publications Mail Registrations No. 0008535 Published by THE INDEPENDENT PRINTERS LTD. and issued every Thursday at the office of publication, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan, S0K 0M0 Publishers - Dale and Trudy Buxton Editor - Kevin Brautigam Composition - Riley Campbell

E-mail: tip@sasktel.net

P. O. Box 40 Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

COPYRIGHT The contents of The Independent are protected by copyright. Reproduction of any material herein may be made only with the written permission of the publisher.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Biggar Independent invites the public to participate in its letters to the Editor section. All letters must be signed.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 5

The Scribbler (again!)

Notable Notes

day I was building, On a board that I held on my lap.

I wrote with a carpenter’s pencil . . .

The paper is ugly and wrong . . .

But still as I read I remember The thrill of a meadowlark’s song, The one that flew down to the ridge pole The day that my courage had failed, And oh how it cheered me a minute Till I laughed as I hammered and nailed A wrinkled old piece of paper . . .

But oh it is dear to my sight, As I toss it again with the others . . .

The hundreds of scraps that I write.

These are my pieces of paper All scattered and

writing . . . and then Perhaps I could finish these verses, Oh, where is my pen . . . my pen!

There is quite a bit to be said about writing.

Mebbe I’m wrong, but at least to my generation, the appeal of someone else’s ideas has never been dull.

We live our lives and sometimes expect continual thrills, but sorry!

Many times those given get kind of colourless - it is then that we pick up a book!

Sometimes many of us seek these interesting things on coffee-row.

Canterbury Tales, et cetera.

The need to express ourselves, even to ourselves, is in all of us, and the closer we get to good literature tells us we were meant to be, the better we feel!

Of course Y.T. (like all older people), worries about the future and its many distractions.

Yet he knows good books will always be!

The Majestic Theatre Biggar

~

DECEMBER

~Ă

Missoula Productions presents

Peter & Wendy 4"563%": %FD t Q N 4"563%": %FD t Q N Ratings from the Saskatchewan Film Classification Board

ragged and torn, Tattered, mishandled and battered So frayed and weathered and worn, Ugly, unfinished and useless, Artless and aimless and old, Suggesting a myriad stories . . .

But none of them are ever told.

These are as bits of confetti To a world that will stumble the street Meaning no more than a nuisance As it tramples them under its feet . . .

Unreading, unlearning, untrying . .

These lines that I write will be lost Unheeded, unheard in the crying That the greed of the future will cost.

Unseen by a world that is busy, Discarded, destroyed and distained, But Oh! How I wish as I read them That the old inspiration remained!

That I could reach out and recover The romance of

"

resting, By blaze of summer’s sun, I scowled as I scribbled and scrawled them In an effort to make them one . . .

Put here are the dust-worn pages Held in their old black frame, Crowded with dozens of verses . . .

And none of Bob Mason them quite the same!

A couple pieces of Feldpost That were ripped from a German file.

When I think of the night that I wrote them I stop for a moment and smile, For I covered my trench with a house door, And I stuck my knife in the wall . . .

And I melted the butt of a candle . . .

The light was meagre and small, But oh, like a sun from the heavens It lighted a time that was black, As I wrote with my dull old Parker Grim words of the night attack.

In the breast of my mud-worn tunic I folded them both as one And I found them there one evening Long after the war was done.

Pressed as a single paper Dirty and thin they fell, But still with their awful message Of nights they had spent in hell Dried on the old stove fender . . .

Far from the cannon’s roar . . .

And lying so lost and wasted There on my bedroom floor.

What is this I am holding?

An envelope, cancelled of old, But the letter it carried is missing Whatever the message told.

Yet I laugh as I finger it fondly, I value the ugly old scrap For I wrote there, one

Ă

Here is a scrap of paper . . .

There is a dotted line . . .

Scrawled in the poor handwriting Everyone knows . . . is mine.

The battered bits of a notebook . . .

The soiled remains of a card . . .

This has been life for me always Scattered and tattered and scarred.

This is my life that is lying So cluttered all over my room, These hundreds of pieces of paper That tell of an empty loom, These jotted missiles of minutes That came and passed with a frown, The shell of an ancient castle . . .

The wreck of a foreign town . . .

The slope of a peaceful valley . . .

The rise of a far-off hill . . .

These have I seen in my lifetime, These I remember still, Remember as I am sitting Watching the fall of night, Reading these bits of paper . . .

The scraps that I always write.

There is an old black notebook That I carried out on the plow . . .

If I had to refill those pages How long it would take me now!

And yet . . . with my five-horse tandem At eighteen miles to the day, How often we halted and rested And scribbled the pages away.

And I filled up the old black notebook With thoughts of the things that were near Invisible parts of the Prairie That the men of the West hold dear; The eager display of a swallow . . .

To brighten a day that is dull, The frightened ears of a rabbit . . .

The flocks of the Franklin Gull . . .

In random moments of

For bookings and information please NEW phone no. 306-951-8244

"

Independent Holiday Hours

CLOSED Wednesday, December 25 Thursday, December 26 Friday, December 27 Wednesday, January 1

.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

6 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

Gov’t meddling influences income There is nothing quite as discouraging in agriculture as a headline suggesting farm incomes have risen, but not because of prices.

That was the situation recently at producer. com where a headline read; ‘U.S. farm income expected to rise in 2019, but only because of government aid’.

Most farmers have generally maintained they would be happiest if governments would just get out of the way so that supply and demand could determine farm

Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority - Liquor Permit Under the provisions of The Alcohol and Gaming Regulations Act, 1997 Notice is hereby given that Biggar Bowl has applied to the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) for a Special Use-Home Delivery permit to deliver alcohol in the premises known as, Biggar Bowl, 119 1st Avenue East, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0, which the following is the correct legal description: Lot 22,23,24; Block 6; Plan D4770 119 - 1st Ave. E., Biggar Written objections to the granting of the permit may be filed with SLGA not more than two weeks from the date of publication of this notice.

Every person filing a written objection with SLGA shall state their name, address and telephone number in printed form, as well as the grounds for the objection(s).

Petitions must name a contact person, state grounds and be legible. Each signatory to the petition and the contact person must provide an address and telephone number.

Frivolous, vexatious or competition-based objections within the beverage alcohol industry may not be considered, and may be rejected by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Licensing Commission, who may refuse to hold a hearing.

Write to: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Box 5054 Regina, SK S4P 3M3

4&5 21-26 4-5 & 6 01-10 11-13 29-30 31-34 35-38 18-21

Blk/Par 20 Blk/Par 21 Blk/Par 22 Blk/Par 35 Blk/Par 35 Blk/Par 35 Blk/par 35 Blk/Par 35 Blk/Par 36

Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan

G396 G396 G396 G396 G396 G396 G396 G396 G396

1- A tender must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “Property Tender” addressed to the Rural Municipality of Rosemount No.378 Address: P.O. Box 281 Landis, Sask. S0K 2K0 2- Tenders must be postmarked or delivered to the Municipal Office by 3:00PM on: January 8, 2020 3- A certified cheque to the municipality for 10% of the amount of the tender must accompany the tender. Tenders submitted without certified funds will not be considered.

4- Highest, or any tender, not necessarily accepted.

5 Successful bidder will have 30 days to provide the balance of cash to complete the purchase. The deposit will be fortified if the successful bidder does not finalize the agreement for sale within the required time.

6- All legal costs, title transfer fees and applicable taxes are the responsibility of the purchaser and are in addition to the bid price.

Dated this 12th day of December, 2019 Kara Kirilenko,

Agriculture

In Canada crop insurance is a first line of defence to issues with production that can cause income loss. While farmers pay for the insurance, the cost is shared by the coffers of the federal and provincial governments as well.

Crop insurance is of course only one of a number of income stabilizing programs government has cost-shared with farmers through the years.

It might seem such programs run counter to the idea of government getting out of the way of strictly market-driven farm commodity pricing but it shows that there is an appreciation still that farming is a unique business in as much as it ultimately does feed the people.

It would be folly to let the sector flounder too greatly because of weather conditions or the meddling of other governments. It is a sector that might work best left to market signals and demand but is all too important not to have some safety nets in place for those times incomes need bolstered.

New Horizons report

Under the provisions of “The Tax Enforcement Act” the Rural Municipality of Rosemount No.378 offers for sale the following property in the Hamlet of Cando: Lots Lots Lots Lots Lots Lots Lots Lots Lots

commodity prices, allow- ply or demand economing farmers to then ics. respond to the signals of Of course agriculture, the marketplace. like a lot of industries, Of course governments would like less governare never ment intercompletely vention in out of the trade up picture. We until the have seen point marmarkets kets short dominated incomes through the too much, years by suband then sidies from government the United support is States and often quickly the Europesought. an Union.

The headWe have line noted seen beef above has markets the United blocked by States Calvin Daniels Department questionable government of Agriculdecisions ture increassurrounding the safety of ing its net farm income meat following the first forecast for 2019 by confirmed case of Bovine more than 10 per cent, spongiform encephalopa- to $92.5 billion, driven thy (BSE). largely by the Trump We have seen trade administration’s trade disrupted when China aid payments to farmused market access as ers and federal insura hammer in a purely ance indemnities from political dispute over the extreme weather events, December 2018 arrest states the article. in Vancouver of Huawei It has become largely CFO Meng Wanzhou the norm that governon behalf of the United ments backfill shortfalls States. of farm income in variNone of the above has ous ways. anything to do with sup-

by Chasity Braitenbach It’s been a long time since the last newspaper report on November 17 so we have a bit of catching up to do.

On Nov. 18 we had our Birthday Potluck for all of our members with November birthdays.

It was pushed back a week in November due to Remembrance Day Being held on the second Monday of the month.

The winner of the halfand-half draw was Edna Erickson and the door prizes, which were graciously donated by Ann Muc, were won by none other than yours truly (Chasity Braintenbach) and Marlene McCarthy.

We had a total of 24 guests come down for lunch and our entertainment for the day was readings by Ann Muc. You are truly a gem, Ann. I’d like to wish a warm (and belated) Happy Birthday to the following members: Wes Barnaby, Joanne Kral, Louise Lar-

son, Dar Lavoie, Margaret Molberg, Mavis Petch, Ottilla Rosser, Lois Taylor, Sylvia Thomson, Pat Turner, Agnes Watson, and Kate Yaroshko.

On Nov. 20 we had our monthly Jam Session with a total of 45 spectators. There were some wonderful performances

by Wilf and Joan Rice (singing, keyboard and guitar), Caledonia Donahue (singing and banjo), Bill Haffermehl (keyboard and singing), Gordon Laycock (trumpet), Bob McQuire (guitar) and Bob Wiseman (cowboy poetry, guitar and singing). We are ever grateful to have such dedicated and talented performers that come down to put on a show each month.

On Nov. 25 we had our Monday afternoon Kaiser with three Kaiser tables in play. The winners were as follows: in first place was Joanne Kral with 269 points, in second place was Isla Solanik

with 248 points, in third was Ken Pearce with 227 points, and in fourth was Bill Fisher with 210 points. On Dec. 4 the winners were as follows: Isla Solanik came in first place with 213 points, in second was Bill Fisher with 205 points, in third place was Joanne Kral with 197 points, and in fourth was Raymond Silvernagle with 195 points.

The highest scoring game was played by Raymond and Ken with 55 points.

On Nov. 28 we had bingo at New Horizons with 16 participants in total. The half-and-half game was a three-way tie between Linda Vermette, Pat Turner, and Agnes Small. Luckily, no fights broke out over the winnings. Phew! The winner of the Blackout game was Vi McCarthy, who generously donated her winnings back to New Horizons. Not all heroes wear capes!

Thanks for tuning in and have a great week!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 7

Report from Parliament Hill

by Kelly Block, MP, Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek 75th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign

Dear Friends, Where does one start in trying to capture the amazing experience and privilege I had in joining Veteran Affairs Canada as part of their delegation to Italy?

We were there to commemorate the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. It began with an Allied invasion from the sea of Axis occupied Sicily in July 1943. For 20 months, Canadian soldiers, joined by their American, British, and French counterparts, slowly fought their way inch by inch over the mountainous terrain of Italy. The German troops had turned Italy into a fortress, with machine gun nests on the crests of mountains and land mines in the city streets.

At the Battle of Ortona, Canadian soldiers fought street by street to liberate the town. When they discovered the homes were too dangerous to enter, they made their own way by breaking through walls to move from building to

building without coming out from cover.

This ingenious strategy, dubbed “mouseholing” by the soldiers, saved lives and allowed our soldiers to free the entire town in a week.

The ingenuity, bravery, and selflessness of these men is legendary in Italy even today.

At each stop of our tour, hundreds of Italians of all ages came to pay their respects. One owner of a hotel where we stayed left a note for each member of the delegation, simply reading: “Thank you for our freedom Canada”.

It touched me in an especially deep way to hear how incredulous the Italian people were to discover that when the Canadians drove away the Nazis, they were not simply trading a Nazi occupation for an Allied occupation.

They discovered that they were truly liberated when our soldiers moved on and simply allowed the Italians to resume their way of life. They could not believe that so many of our soldiers would risk their lives, just to see them free.

From the Ceremonies of Remembrance at the Agira Canadian War Cemetery, the Canadian Monument in Pontecorvo, the Price of Peace Monument, the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, and the Ravenna War Cemetery, to the monuments and plaques in the town and the summit of Monte Assoro, Roccasecca, Casa Berardi, Ortona, Russi, Cesena and Ravenna, the common thread of strength, tenacity and valour run deep.

You cannot revisit these battlefields, walk where our soldiers fought, or visit the final resting place of so many brave souls without experiencing a profound sense of gratitude and pride in our armed forces both past and present.

We must continue in our deep and longstanding conviction to uphold freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Their sacrifice demands it.

During the tour, I was honoured to visit the graves of many soldiers who lived in our riding.

Evening with the Legends

Robert Larrabee comes to the Biggar Community Hall, December 31. (Submitted Photo)

An Evening With The Legends, starring Robert Larrabee, will feature tributes to the stars of Country Rock and Pop, December 31 at the Biggar Community Hall.

Featuring full costume, audience interactive and comedy, the New Years Eve show will have a Las Vegas theme with party favours, table decorations, stage lighting and production, not to men-

tion a beef dinner with all the trimmings, an open bar and dance.

The full evening of entertainment will feature the likes of Dean Martin, Micheal Buble, Joe Cocker, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Tom Jones and more.

Larrabee has opened shows for the Ink Spots, The Platters, Tray Twitty (Conway’s grandson), Doug and the Slugs, and many others.

That’s An Evening With The Legends, January 31 at the Biggar Community Hall. Tickets are available from the Biggar Vet Clinic, The Independent, or online at robertlarrabee.org.

These are their names . ..

Laid to rest in the Ravenna War Cemetery: Neville Stuart Drummond of Laird – Perth Regiment; John Schmidt of Dalmeny – Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

Laid to rest in the Monte Cassino War Cemetery: Gerald G. Brisbin of Feudal – Westminster Regiment (Motors); Nick Koliniak of Mayfair – Royal Canadian Artillery; George Merton McComb of Asquith – Lord Strath-

cona’s Horse.

Laid to rest in Moro River Canadian War Cemetery: John William Herman of Hafford – Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.

Sincerely, Kelly

FRIDAY, December 20 5 - 8 p.m.

Drinks and Hors d’Oeuvres

WESTWINDS MOTOR HOTEL

*drink specials all night!

“Experience the Difference” Needing a night out but don’t want to drive… leave that to us!

FREE Shuttle Service, call 306-948-3301 19122PS0 19122PS1

8 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

Jim Reiter, MLA

Rosetown-Elrose Constituency 215 Main Street, Rosetown Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00 Tel: 306-882-4105 Fax: 306-882-4108 Toll free; 1-855-762-2233 E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0 Please call with questions or concerns

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Simple, simple, simple The first column I wrote was about how a game so simple and plain as Minecraft could be successful, and it got me thinking on how many other games feature a lack of chaos.

Games like Shovel Knight, Stardew Valley,

FORM C (Section 6) NOTICE The Tax Enforcement Act TAKE NOTICE that the Rural Municipality of Glenside No. 377 intends to be registered pursuant to the above Act as owner of the land decribed below.

The municipality claims title to the land by virtue of interest based on the tax lien registered against the existing title to the land in the Land Titles Registry as Interest Number 136680497 and you are required to TAKE NOTICE that unless you contest the claim of the municipality or redeem the land pursuant to the provisions of the above Act within six months from the service of this notice on you and, subject to the further provisions of The Tax Enforcement Act, a title will be issued to the applicant.

On and after the date that the title is issued to the applicant, you will be forever estopped and debarred from setting up any claim to. or with respect to, the land.

The amount required to redeem the land may be ascertained on application to the Clerk, Treasurer or Administrator of the municipality.

Dated this 5th day of December, 2019 Joanne Fullerton, Administrator Estate of Thomas Barber Johnson Legal Description of Land Lot 6 Blk/Par 1 Plan No. BT 5017 Extension 0

Title Number 119296783

Starring Nashville recording artist and performer of the Stars!

Robert Larrabee December 31 - 2019 Biggar Community Centre Dinner, Show, Party Favours and Dance $60.00 per person incl tax Tickets at Biggar Vet clinic Biggar Independent Dinner Supplied by or online Biggar Bite Bites Catering robertlarrabee.org

and Terraria all have of the most ambitious simple game mechanics, games I’ve played, for simple graphics, and, one its about farming, for the most part, easy not adventuring, and it’s gameplay. slow gameplay is relaxThe simplicity isn’t ing rather than exciting. necessarily what makes What drew me to this them successful, but it game was curiosity, but certainly what kept helps me was create the calm an atmofeeling I sphere to got from set up an the lack of Riley Campbell amazing violence. game. The The last simplicity of the graphexample here is Terraria, ics and audio puts less a game made to be simistrain on the mind and lar to minecraft but in allows for more focused 2D, and featuring a large and dynamic gameplay. influx of content due to A lot about them stands its simple nature. out at first glance.

These games do quite Shovel Knight for exam- well, and are often develple; It’s an action platoped by a team passionformer, designed graphi- ate about the project. cally and gameplay wise Shovel Knight is receivas an ode to the classics ing updates featuring like Mario, Sonic, and new adventures from Castlevania, although it some of the other charseems that these games acters, completely free of are esoteric as of now. charge. Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is one got a multiplayer mode

Into The Game

fairly recently and the amount of mods for the game is in itself something to write about.

Terraria is constantly receiving support from its team for bugfixes, patches, and updates but that doesn’t need to be said to see the passion inside of it.

A lot of these independent developers are making good games at a great price, and aren’t getting recognition. To add to it, they’re the developers that don’t add microtransactions or mandatory DLC (downloadable content) to the games they put out.

I’m not saying you should stop playing what you’re playing, I’m just suggesting to check out other games and support the smaller developers, because they’re the ones that really care and can make something so simple so fun.

Kindersley, 9, at Biggar, 5 Scoring Summary: Period One: Klippers at 17:25- Shayne Neigum.

Nats at 14:01- Dylan Smith.

Nats at 7:59- Dylan Smith.

Klippers at 0:43 (PP)Preston Kopek, Shayne Neigum.

Period Two: Klippers at 18:27 (PP)Brody Ryberg, Damon McKenzie and Eric Gryba.

Klippers at 15:58Landon Longmire, Damon McKenzie.

Nats at 15:36- Mike Ferguson, Curtis Piecowye.

Klippers at 5:43- Shayne Neigum, Preston Kopek and Brody Ryberg.

Klippers at 4:56- Eric Gryba, Brody Ryberg.

Nats at 4:16- Dylan Haynes.

Klippers 0:45- Christian Vogel, Austin Jamieson.

Period Three: Klippers at 19:09- Brody Ryberg, Shayne Neigum and Preston Kopek.

Klippers at 18:06- Kyle Donaldson, Jared Erickson and Landon Longmire.

Nats at 12:22- Brett Novak, Justin Edin and Cody Danychuk.

Penalty Summary: Period One: Klippers at 18:05- Jared Erickson, Tripping (2).

Nats at 1:38- Cody Danychuk, Tripping (2).

Nats at 0:43-- Cody Danychuk, Holding (2).

Period Two: Nats at 13:57- Brett Novak, Tripping (2).

Nats at 12:04- Dylan Smith, High Sticking (4).

Klippers at 10:03- Tate Page, Slashing (2).

Nats at 3:19- Clark McNulty, Slashing (2).

Period Three: Klippers at 12:22Shayne Neigum, High

Sticking (2).

Klippers at 6:37- Shayne Neigum, Roughing (2).

Nats at 6:37- Mike Ferguson, Roughing (2).

Klippers at 0:26- Tate Page, Roughing (2).

Nats at 0:26- Dylan Smith, Roughing (2).

Biggar Bowl (December 5) Bowlasaurus: Girl’s High Score, Lucy Still, 65; Boy’s High Score, Harlan Tilsey, 58.

Pee Wee: Girl’s High Single, Ellie Hawes, 88; Girl’s High Double, Ellie Hawes, 170; Boy’s High Single, Jonathan Crane, 124; Boy’s High Double, Percy Silverton, 287.

Bantams: Girl’s High Single and Triple N/A; Boy’s High Single, Chris Stephens.

88; Boy’s High Triple, Chris Stephens, 246.

Juniors: Girl’s High Single, Jayla Boobyer, 193; Girl’s High Triple, Jayla Boobyer, 553; Boy’s High Single and Triple N/A. Seniors:

Girl’s High Single, Hailey Boobyer, 216; Girl’s High Triple, Cassie Raschke, 561; Boy’s High Single, Julian Heimbecker, 228; Boy’s High Triple, Julian Heimbecker, 576.

(December 2) Monday Mixed League: Women’s High Single, Marilyn Miller, 268; Women’s High Triple, Marilyn Miller, 652; Men’s High Single, Bill Wylie, 237; Men’s High Triple, Byron Bodnarchuk, 568.

(December 5) Thursday Senior League Women’s High Single, June Hoppe, 212; Women’s High Triple, June Hoppe, 545; Men’s High Single, Bob Lemon, 2212; Men’s High Triple, Bob Lemon, 536.

DEADLINE MONDAY 5 P.M.

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 9

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE

No Catch Just Cash!

GET

CASH BACK

of CHRISTMAS DEAL

1

DEAL

LD

on select in-stock 2019 models purchased THIS MONTH ONLY!

DEAL

2

D L O

DEAL

3

4

2019 Chev Blazer True North

2019 GMC Acadia Denali

2019 GMC Acadia SLT

2019 GMC Acadia SLT

#19560, MSRP $49,125

#19040, MSRP $57,750

#19181, MSRP $53,445

#19231, MSRP $55,045

$

$

O $ 280 S

S B/W 296

Sale Price $46,995

Sale Price $53,350

B/W

plus tax

1.99% over 84 mos, OAC

5

0% over 84 mos, OAC

plus tax

0% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

6

281B/W

$

plus tax

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

Sale Price $50,645

272 B/W

plus tax

0% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

Sale Price $48,995

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

7

8

2019 Buick Enclave Essence

2019 Chev Silverado 1500 Custom Double Cab

2019 Chev Silverado 1500 RST Double Cab

2019 Chev Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab

#19275, MSRP $53,780

#19390, MSRP $47,640

#19209, MSRP $58,245

#19229, MSRP $58,615

Sale Price $51,995

289 B/W

$

plus tax

0% over 84 mos, OAC

Sale Price $40,840

$

235 B/W

plus tax

0.99% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

286 B/W

$

plus tax

0.99% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

9

Sale Price $49,745

288 B/W

$

plus tax

0.99% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

10

Sale Price $49,995

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

DEAL

11

12

2019 Chev Silverado 1500 Custom Crew Cab

2019 Chev Silverado 1500 RST Crew Cab

2019 Chev Tahoe LT

2019 GMC Yukon SLT

#19323, MSRP $51,935

#19331, MSRP $60,765

#19168, MSRP $71,715

#19520, MSRP $75,565

Sale Price $44,435

256 B/W

$

plus tax

0.99% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

Sale Price $51,965

$

299 B/W

plus tax

0.99% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

Sale Price $65,995

355 B/W

$

plus tax

0.% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

Sale Price $69,515

374 B/W

$

plus tax

0% over 84 mos, OAC

$2,019 + CA SH BACK

NOT BE UNDERSOLD ON PRICE

WE WILL PH: 306-445-3300

1-877-223-SAVE (7283)

www.bridgesgm.com Dealer License #911462

BRIDGES

10 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Saint Gabriel School Junior Saint, R.J. Dalisay busts in on a BCS Blazer defender, December 4. Saints won the contest 52-42. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Biggar Central School Junior Blazer Hayden McMahon looks for a way around a St. Gabriel Saint, December 4. Blazers and Saints were knotted up at 22 apiece at the half, but the Saints pulled away in the second half, beating the Blazers 52-42. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Come join us on

Friday, December 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a light lunch and enter your name for some great draws.

Hope to see you there!

103 highway 14 East - (306) 948-2298

Hwy #14, Perdue • 306-237-4212

WINTER IS HERE!!

Get your vehicle checked out for Winter!!!

Call Pam to book your auto service needs

Ice Blazer Tires LT 265/70R 17

198.95 each

$

plus taxes & Scrap tire fees

GC1705L Come in for year end pricing with GREAT payments!!

Fire Department called to Main Street . . . Biggar Fire Department responded to an incident at the Biggar Professional Building on Main Street, Tuesday.

Little details were released as of press time, but the important thing is that no one was hurt, and fire firefighters put things to right in short order. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)

Eatonia, 4, at Biggar, 12 (December 8) Scoring Summary: Period One: Nats at 19:21- Kyle Dilosa, Justin Eden and Clark McNulty.

Nats at 16:31- Brett Novak, Dylan Smith and Chris Henry.

Nats at 13:16- Mike Ferguson, Cody Danychuk and Keaton Silvernagle.

Nats at 8:30 (PP)- Chris Henry, Kyle Dilosa and Keenan Scott.

Huskies at 5:50 (PP)Pete Vandemeer, Adam Antkowiak and Bryton Fels.

Nats at 3:04- Brett Novak, Dylan Smith and Chris Henry.

Period Two: Nats at 17:23 (PP)Dylan Smith, Brett Novak and Kyle Dilosa.

Nats at 15:05 (PP)Mike Ferguson, Cody Danychuk and Keenan Scott.

Huskies at 12:47- Adam Antkowiak.

Nats at 9:37- Tanner Braun.

Nats at 8:24- Dylan Smith, Chris Henry and Curtis Piecowye.

Nats at 7:10- Justin Edin, Clark McNulty and Kyle Dilosa.

Nats at 3:58- Dylan Smith, Curtis Piecowye.

Huskies at 2:44- Eric Zubot, Adam Antkowiak and Ken Patzack.

Period Three: Huskies at 13:02 (PP)Spencer Sommerville, Matt McKinnon and Rett Rook.

Nats at 4:06- Keaton Silvernagle, Derek Argue and Mike Ferguson.

Penalty Summary: Period One: Nats at 12:50- Jared Barilla, Roughing (2).

Huskies at 12:50- Tanner Tiel, Roughing (2).

Huskies at 12:50- Quinton Somerville, Roughing (2).

Huskies at 8:54- Spencer Somerville, Interference (2).

Nats at 7:46- Brett Novak, Holding the stick (2).

Period Two: Huskies at 18:32- Quinton Somerville, Interference (2).

Nats at 18:16- Chris Henry, Hooking (2).

Huskies at 17:37- Pete Vandemeer, Hooking (2).

Huskies at 15:27- Lane Wagner, Hooking (2).

Period Three: Nats at 15:20- Riley Mathieson, Slashing (2).

Huskies at 15:20- Ken Patzack, Roughing (2).

Nats at 10:42- Mike Ferguson, Cross Checking (2).

Nats at 2:03- Clark McNulty, Tripping (2).

10 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

OBITUARIES Eileen Hadley In Loving Memory of Eileen Agnes Hadley, born August 2, 1934 at Saskatoon, SK., passed away November 28, 2019 in North Battleford, SK., at the age of 85 years. Funeral Service was held on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Landis, SK., with Minister Gary L. Johnson. Eulogy was given by Brittany Hadley. Music Ministry: Organist: Louise SouilettHawkins; Pianist: Bonnie Garrett; Choir - Our Lady of Fatima and Friends Choir “Rain Down�, “Here I Am Lord�; Hymns: “Amazing Grace� & “In The Garden�. Honorary Pallbearers were the Landis Community.

Active Pallbearers were Eileen’s Grandchildren. Interment was at Landis Cemetery, Landis, SK. Family: Eileen is survived by her children: †Donna (George) Braithwaite of Saskatoon, SK and their children: Jennifer (Doug), Jessica (Chris) and their children: Abigail and Charles; James; Deanna; Lorne (Karen) Hadley of Landis, SK and their children: Daniel, Katie (Gabe) and their sons: Micha and Connor; Kevin (Andrea Frolek) Hadley of Battleford, SK and Kevin’s children: David (Brittany) and their children: Noah and Madelyn; Jeremy (Allyson) and their son, Carson; Morgan, Sarah; Andrea’s daughter, Kelsey (John) and their son Theo; Rona (Terry) Hadley-Cole of Moose Jaw, SK and their daughter, Maria (Jordan); daughter-in-law, Melissa Hadley; brothers: Richard (Daniela) Dickson, Glen (Elaine) Dickson and their families; cousin and best friend, Shirley (Bob) Brack; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents: Abram and Hazel Dickson; her husband, Percy; her daughter, Donna Braithwaite; and grandson, Jonathon. Memorials are requested to Alzheimer Society Saskatchewan, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Arthritis Society- Saskatchewan Division or to a Charity of the Donor’s Choice. Condolences can be sent to www.eternalmemoriesfuneral. ca. Arrangements were entrusted to Robert MacKay of Battlefords Funeral Service (306-446-4200)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019

MEMORIAM Clark: In memory of Ives, January 14, 1937 - November 18, 2015.

If memories bring us closer, We are never far apart, For you are always in my thoughts And forever in my heart.

Lovingly remembered by Claudette 47p1

MANUFACTURED HOMES

FEED & SEED

HEALTH

Apartment for seniors at C.P.P. in Biggar, available immediately; call 306-948-5626 46tfn

COMING EVENTS Thursdays at Redeemer Lutheran Church from 9:30 to 4:30 pm, join our quilters or drop off material or blankets for quilts. Many quilts a year are made to send to refugee camps as well as pillow case dresses.

We welcome gently used sheets or tablecoths of firm weave, material from gramma’s stash that she didn’t get around to sewing; garage sales finds or old blankets you no longer need. Everyone is welcome to come and help. If you don’t sew, you can rip material and cut squares or iron.

Bring your lunch and help others in need. Stay tuned for the blessing and bundling in the spring.

43tfn DECEMBER 14, 2019: The family of Beth Young would like to invite you to help celebrate her 90th birthday at a come and go tea from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at he New Horizons Hall 48p3 DECEMBER 16, 2019: Candy Cane Christmas will take place at the Majestic Theatre at 7PM. Come out to an evening of Christmas Music presented by the students of Peggy L’Hoir, Janelle Leschinski, Joan Motz, Dolores Pedersen, Graham and Tanya Lehnert, Kolby Zangoruy.

Admission by donation 50c1

NOTICES

SERVICES

Integrity Post Frame Buildings SINCE 2008

Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More sales@ Integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678 www. integritybuilt.com

LAND FOR RENT Land for lease in RM of Marriott #317; NE 1/4-21 -32-15; 133 ciltivated acres; also SE 1/4 21-32-15, 140 cultivated acres; Highest or any tenders not necessarily accepted. Closing date is December 31, 2019.

Tenders plus GST submitted to P.O. Box 577, Rosetown, SK S0L 2V0 47c4

EMPLOYMENT

Winter Road Haul 2020 Class 1 Drivers needed for deliveries in MB & NW Ont. (800) 665-4302 ext. 251 or e-mail: orderdesk@penneroil.ca

Show off the best side of your business!

Don’t be faceless, give them something to recognize!

ADVERTISE

306-948-3344

Biggar Independent

FOR RENT

WANTED BOSCH Mixers, Ankarsrum Mixers, VITAMIX blenders, LEFSE supplies & more FREE SHIPPING. Call toll free 1-888692 6724 Hometech BOSCH Appl 375 Broad St, Regina www.hometechcanada.ca WANTED: All Wild Fur (Coyotes, etc), All Antlers (Deer, Moose, etc) And Old Traps. Phone Bryan 306-278-7756 or Phil 306278-2299

NOTICES

Deadline for Classifieds is Monday at 5 p.m.

If YOU are‌ • NEW to our communities of Biggar/Landis/Perdue • Have a new baby Call WELCOME

WAGON at 306-948-3837

Sheila Itterman We have gifts and information www. welcomewagon.ca

10 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

OBITUARIES Eileen Hadley In Loving Memory of Eileen Agnes Hadley, born August 2, 1934 at Saskatoon, SK., passed away November 28, 2019 in North Battleford, SK., at the age of 85 years. Funeral Service was held on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Landis, SK., with Minister Gary L. Johnson. Eulogy was given by Brittany Hadley. Music Ministry: Organist: Louise SouilettHawkins; Pianist: Bonnie Garrett; Choir - Our Lady of Fatima and Friends Choir “Rain Down�, “Here I Am Lord�; Hymns: “Amazing Grace� & “In The Garden�. Honorary Pallbearers were the Landis Community.

Active Pallbearers were Eileen’s Grandchildren. Interment was at Landis Cemetery, Landis, SK. Family: Eileen is survived by her children: †Donna (George) Braithwaite of Saskatoon, SK and their children: Jennifer (Doug), Jessica (Chris) and their children: Abigail and Charles; James; Deanna; Lorne (Karen) Hadley of Landis, SK and their children: Daniel, Katie (Gabe) and their sons: Micha and Connor; Kevin (Andrea Frolek) Hadley of Battleford, SK and Kevin’s children: David (Brittany) and their children: Noah and Madelyn; Jeremy (Allyson) and their son, Carson; Morgan, Sarah; Andrea’s daughter, Kelsey (John) and their son Theo; Rona (Terry) Hadley-Cole of Moose Jaw, SK and their daughter, Maria (Jordan); daughter-in-law, Melissa Hadley; brothers: Richard (Daniela) Dickson, Glen (Elaine) Dickson and their families; cousin and best friend, Shirley (Bob) Brack; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents: Abram and Hazel Dickson; her husband, Percy; her daughter, Donna Braithwaite; and grandson, Jonathon. Memorials are requested to Alzheimer Society Saskatchewan, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Arthritis Society- Saskatchewan Division or to a Charity of the Donor’s Choice. Condolences can be sent to www.eternalmemoriesfuneral. ca. Arrangements were entrusted to Robert MacKay of Battlefords Funeral Service (306-446-4200)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019

MEMORIAM Clark: In memory of Ives, January 14, 1937 - November 18, 2015.

If memories bring us closer, We are never far apart, For you are always in my thoughts And forever in my heart.

Lovingly remembered by Claudette 47p1

MANUFACTURED HOMES

FEED & SEED

HEALTH

Apartment for seniors at C.P.P. in Biggar, available immediately; call 306-948-5626 46tfn

COMING EVENTS Thursdays at Redeemer Lutheran Church from 9:30 to 4:30 pm, join our quilters or drop off material or blankets for quilts. Many quilts a year are made to send to refugee camps as well as pillow case dresses.

We welcome gently used sheets or tablecoths of firm weave, material from gramma’s stash that she didn’t get around to sewing; garage sales finds or old blankets you no longer need. Everyone is welcome to come and help. If you don’t sew, you can rip material and cut squares or iron.

Bring your lunch and help others in need. Stay tuned for the blessing and bundling in the spring.

43tfn DECEMBER 14, 2019: The family of Beth Young would like to invite you to help celebrate her 90th birthday at a come and go tea from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at he New Horizons Hall 48p3 DECEMBER 16, 2019: Candy Cane Christmas will take place at the Majestic Theatre at 7PM. Come out to an evening of Christmas Music presented by the students of Peggy L’Hoir, Janelle Leschinski, Joan Motz, Dolores Pedersen, Graham and Tanya Lehnert, Kolby Zangoruy.

Admission by donation 50c1

NOTICES

SERVICES

Integrity Post Frame Buildings SINCE 2008

Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More sales@ Integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678 www. integritybuilt.com

LAND FOR RENT Land for lease in RM of Marriott #317; NE 1/4-21 -32-15; 133 ciltivated acres; also SE 1/4 21-32-15, 140 cultivated acres; Highest or any tenders not necessarily accepted. Closing date is December 31, 2019.

Tenders plus GST submitted to P.O. Box 577, Rosetown, SK S0L 2V0 47c4

EMPLOYMENT

Winter Road Haul 2020 Class 1 Drivers needed for deliveries in MB & NW Ont. (800) 665-4302 ext. 251 or e-mail: orderdesk@penneroil.ca

Show off the best side of your business!

Don’t be faceless, give them something to recognize!

ADVERTISE

306-948-3344

Biggar Independent

FOR RENT

WANTED BOSCH Mixers, Ankarsrum Mixers, VITAMIX blenders, LEFSE supplies & more FREE SHIPPING. Call toll free 1-888692 6724 Hometech BOSCH Appl 375 Broad St, Regina www.hometechcanada.ca WANTED: All Wild Fur (Coyotes, etc), All Antlers (Deer, Moose, etc) And Old Traps. Phone Bryan 306-278-7756 or Phil 306278-2299

NOTICES

Deadline for Classifieds is Monday at 5 p.m.

If YOU are‌ • NEW to our communities of Biggar/Landis/Perdue • Have a new baby Call WELCOME

WAGON at 306-948-3837

Sheila Itterman We have gifts and information www. welcomewagon.ca

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

13 - THE INDEPENDENT,, BIGGAR,, SK

ACCOUNTING

HAULING

ROOFING

ELECTRICAL

SEEKIN G NE CLIENT W CAMPBELL S ACCOUNTING SERVICES • Income Tax Returns • Bookkeeping • Payroll • Financial Statements

HEALTH/WELLNESS

MADGE ROOFING INC.

BIGGAR ELECTRICAL & REFRIGERATION SERVICES Commercial and Industrial Electrical Wiring Licensed Journeyman Adrian de Haan

306-948-5291

Goldburg Electric Ltd. • Residential • Commercial Contact Matt Craig

PHILLIPS ELECTRIC s 2ESIDENCE s #OMMERCIAL 7IRING For free estimates, call…

Menno:

306-480-6822 Cell: 306-221-6888 Store: 306-948-1773

COURIER

“Setting a Higher Standard” New Construction Re-roofing Torch-on Tile Metal All repairs Asphalt Inspections Shakes NOW DOING Eavestroughing Downspouts Soffit & Facia We offer 10 Year Workmanship Warranty and Liability/Torch On Insurance Excellent Local References For a FREE estimate please call… 306-948-5453

306-717-2818 www.madgesaskroofing.com Biggar, Sask.

PLUMBING & HEATING

- together with -

306.237.7671 TROY MAY, owner/operator

Co-Ed Fitness Centre Healthy Lifestyle Weight Loss 30-minute Circuit Personal Training Fitness Classes …owned and operated

by Brett Barber

102 - 3rd Ave. W., Biggar

OPTOMETRISTS

Dr. Kirk Ewen Dr. Michelle Skoretz Doctors of Optometry

BIGGAR COURIER

• Biggar to Saskatoon • Same day Service • Monday to Friday • 24-hour Answering Service

~Brian and Cathy Fick~

Cell: 306-948-7524

PLUMBING HEATING ELECTRICAL

FOR RENT BIGGAR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Owners/Operators • Dallas Young • Claude Young

Housing for families and seniors Rent based on income

Call: 306-948-2101

INVESTMENTS For all your investment needs, Visit…

Biggar, Sask.

306-948-3389 Journeymen Plumber, Gas Fitter, & Electrician on staff

DENTAL

ROSETOWN DENTAL

In BIGGAR

Lyndsey Poole

Investment Advisor Credential Securities Inc.

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist, Wealth Consultant Credential Asset Management Inc.

Every Tuesday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Pamela Eaton

Cheri Steeg

Investment Advisor Credential Securities Inc.

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist Credential Asset Management Inc.

Biggar Professional Building, 223 Main St., Biggar

For appointments…

Located at the Biggar & District Credit Union 302 Main Street, Biggar, SK • 306-948-3352 Mutual funds are offered through Credential Asset Management Inc., and mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities Inc. ®Credential is a registered mark owned

by Credential Financial Inc. and is used under license.

INSURANCE

Biggar Of¿ce Hours…

Landis Of¿ce Hours:

304 Main St., Biggar Phone: 306-948-2204 Toll Free: 1-855-948-2204

100 - 2nd Ave. W., Landis Phone: 306-658-2044 Toll Free: 1-855-658-2044

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon., Tues., & Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Wed., 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thurs., CLOSED

Website: www.biggarinsurance.ca Website: www.landisinsurance.ca Email: biggar@biggarinsurance.ca

“We’ll getcha covered”

• Cattle Hauling with 21 ft. gooseneck trailer • Grain Hauling • round and large square bale

LEGAL SERVICES

BUSSE LAW PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION Barristers & Solicitors

104 - 6 Ave. East, Biggar, Sask.

Southeast entrance of Nova Wood Bldg.

Hours…

Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

306-948-3408

DEADLINE for ads, classisifeds and news MONDAY - 5 P.M.

P. O. Box 1480 Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

Ph: 306-948-5133

hauling with step-deck or highboy semi-trailers • also buying and selling straw and forage • also Machinery Hauling

RED APPLE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES “Administrative Services to

Dan • 306-948-7843 Biggar, Sask.

Meet Your Business Needs” ~ One time projects or long term service

For a FREE consultation, call Cheryl Irvine @

306-948-7402 www.redappleadmin.ca www.facebook.com/ redappleadmin

Canadian Seed Institute Accredited Pedigree, Commercial & Custom Cleaning FULL line of Cleaning Equipment including Gravity Table

Excellent Quality at a Reasonable Price!

Call: Bill: Dale:

306- 948-2807 or 948-5609 948-5394

Plant located 8 miles south of Biggar on Hwy #4, ¼ mile west on Triumph Rd.

223 Main Street Biggar

PHOTOGRAPHY

Box 580 Biggar, SK SOK OMO

306-948-2183

Stuart A. Busse, QC Larry A. Kirk, LL.B.

306-948-3346

BIGGAR DENTAL CLINIC

201B - 2nd Ave. West

For all your Cereal and Pulse Cleaning

OFFICE HOURS

th

¾ Auto & Home Insurance ¾ Farm & Commercial Insurance ¾ Health & Travel Insurance ¾ Life Insurance & Investments ¾ Farm Succession & Estate Planning ¾ Notary Publics

Rockin D Trucking & Cattle

1-855-651-3311

302 Main Street, Biggar, SK

Phone:306.882.2123 New Patients Welcome!

(New Horizons Bldg) Biggar

PROCESSING INC.

115 - 1 Avenue West Rosetown, Sask.

Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

117 - 3rd Ave. W.,

WYLIE SEED &

st

Dean McCallum, CFP, CIM, FCSI

rod.campbell@sasktel.net

Super B outfits hauling grain and fertilizer in Alberta and Saskatchewan

SEED CLEANING

For all your home, business and rural needs

306-951-8004

Fax: 306-237-TROY email: tmay@hotmail.ca

Ph: 306-948-4430 or 306-948-4460

…serving your community since 1972

Peszko &Watson is a full service law office that practices…

Photos by Jocelyn

Portraits, Family, Wedding, Sports, Passport & Firearm Photography Biggar, Sask.

www.photosbyjocelyn.com

306-948-7267

THIS SPACE

Criminal Law Commercial Law Real Estate Law Wills and Estate Law and our lawyers,

IN THIS DIRECTORY IS AVAILABLE FOR ONLY

$161.20 PLUS GST… ONE COLUMN X

Jason Peszko Lisa Watson Logan Marchand Bailee Massett

FOR

look forward to assisting you and can be contacted at:

306-948-5352 or 306-244-9865

2 INCHES

26-WEEK

PREPAID COMMITMENT (regular price is $20.16 per week = $524.16 plus gst)

Call

306.948.3344

Email: hrbbiggar@sasktelnet Website: www.hrblock.ca

BE SEEN in the BUSINESS DIRECTORY CALL

306.948.3344 FOR SPECIAL RATES AND SIZES

Use all modes of advertising… …call Independent

306-948-3344

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

Shoreline Realty

Cari Perih

BLANKET Danny Vogelsang

REALTOR®

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DO NOT receive your Independent in a timely manner, please call your local post office or Canada Post @ 1-866-607-6301

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 15

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

‘Bonehead Bevell’ and what a debut for Matthews!

Random sports headis widespread, and maglines from the last half of nificent.) the decade that’s winding July 23/18 - More NBA to an end: power in the West after Feb. 16/15 - The ‘B’ in James joins Lakers.

Bevell also stands for (LeBron James’s trip bonehead around (Seahawks the NBA offensive takes him co-ordinator to Los called for a Angeles, pass play in where he the dying joins the seconds of Lakers in Super Bowl a power49 that was packed intercepted Western and gave ConferNew Engence also land the featuring crown. Critthreeics lamenttime ed: “Should champion have given Golden Bruce Penton the ball to State Marshawn Warriors Lynch.” and perennial contender Aug. 24/15 - ‘Let’s make Houston Rockets.) a deal’ propels Blue March 4/19 - Super Jays (Toronto GM Alex sniper Ovechkin not Anthopoulos acquired slowing down. (Future shortstop Troy TulowHall of Famer Alex itzki and pitcher David Ovechkin seems to be Price to cement the Jays’ getting better with age. playoff chances.)

At 34, he’s still among March 7/16 - Votto the hottest goal scorers among baseball’s top 10 in the NHL.) (In one man’s opinion, July 1/19 - Henderson the Toronto native who at peak of Canada’s pro plays first base for Cingolf mountain. (Ontario cinnati Reds is the sixthprofessional Brooke best major leaguer.)

Henderson, only 21, capOct. 25/16 - Matthews tured her ninth profeshas a debut to remember sional tournament title, (No. 1 draft pick Auston most by a Canadian, Matthews, already hyped breaking a tie with Mike to the sky by the Toronto Weir, Sandra Post and media, put that hysteria George Knudson - the into overdrive by scoring three others on Canada’s four goals in his NHL Mount Rushmore of golf. debut. Alas, the Leafs • Comedy writer Jim lost 5-4 to Ottawa and Barach: “Bernie Matthews has evolved Sanders blasted Major into a solid, but hardly a League Baseball for superstar, forward. ‘greed’ over a plan to April 24/17 - Hitting cut minor league teams. marvel Ichiro still amazAlthough he said the ing at 43. (The Japanese same thing to the kid star was truly baseball’s who tried to sell him a hit king, with more than $5 hotdog at one of those 4,300, including 3,000games.” plus during a 16-year • Barach again: “NHL MLB career that was player Keith Yandle still going. Those other lost nine teeth after hits came in pro ball in being hit in the mouth by Japan, where he played a puck. What do you call until age 27.) an NHL player who still Dec. 4/17 - Gushue, has nine teeth? ‘Rookie.’”

Jones best bets for curl• Dwight Perry of the ing trials’ wins. (Canada Seattle Times: “Boy king was choosing its Olympic Tutankhamun, 19, curling reps during a died more than 3,000 competition in Ottawa, years ago from infeceventually won by Kevin tion that set in after he Koe and Rachel Homan.) broke his leg in a chariot March 12/18 - It’s crash, claimed Dr. Zahi showtime at a Golden Hawass, a leading Knights home game.

Egyptian archaeologist.

(The NHL’s newest team Adding further insult, doesn’t just put on a his chariot’s suspension hockey game for its fans; failed the postrace chasit’s Vegas, baby, so the sis inspection.” peripheral entertainment • Bob Molinaro of

pilotonline.com (Hampton, Va.), on scuttlebutt that Urban Meyer will be Jerry Jones’s next coach: “Can we look forward to the Urban Cowboy? The headline is too

good to go to waste.”

• Norman Chad of the Washington Post: “The NFL still retains a pervasive hold on much of the sporting public. Heck, the NFL could’ve sold

DirecTV Sunday ticket packages to passengers on the Titanic.”

• NOT SportsCentre, on Twitter: “REPORT: The NBA has instructed its officials to only call

LeBron for travelling if he literally takes the ball on vacation to another country.”

Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca.

Blazer basketball news

Penton on sports

Biggar Blazer Ethan Massie rebounds and scores.

(Photo for The Independent by Julia Egert)

Senior Boys Basketball This last week was a busy one for the Senior Boys Team.

On Tuesday Decem-

ber 3 the boys travelled to Asquith for the first action of the year. The Boys came away with a

80-37 victory. Then on Dec. 6 and 7 the boys travelled to Waldheim for a tournament.

In the first game the Blazers played Lake Lenore and fell 29-41 in a tough played defensive contest. This put the Blazers on the “B” side of the tournament. Here they played Dalmeny and came away with a very exciting 42-40 victory. The Blazers then Played in the “B” side final against Delise. The boys came back from a 14 point deficit to win 50-37.

Next action for the Senior Boys will be next weekend Dec 13/14 when they travel to Unity for their tournament. Good luck team!

Senior Girls Basketball The senior girls started their season this past weekend as they hosted their home tourney.

They opened with a Friday game against Perdue, playing well and taking the win. Saturday morning saw a back and

forth game against Hafford. The girls played hard and worked together to keep it close, but in the end Hafford bested them by five points. They finished their weekend playing Kerrobert.

Again, they played well, but despite putting up many good shots, they struggled to score and Kerrobert pulled ahead and maintained their lead.

Although Saturday’s games didn’t turn out the way we had hoped, the girls kept their heads in the games and played well together, enjoying their day and bringing home third place.

Junior Blazers Basketball Both junior teams continue to practice hard to get ready for the busy season ahead.

The Junior Boys started their season by hosting St. Gabriel on Wednesday, Dec. 4. It was a close battle but St. Gabriel came away with the victory.

Eatonia, 4, at Biggar, 12

National forward, Nathan Hawkins, right, keeps an eye no Eatonia Huskie Ken Patzack at the Jubilee December 8 in the Biggar win. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

(December 8) Scoring Summary: Period One: Nats at 19:21- Kyle Dilosa, Justin Eden and Clark McNulty.

Nats at 16:31- Brett Novak, Dylan Smith and Chris Henry.

Nats at 13:16- Mike Ferguson, Cody Danychuk and Keaton Silvernagle.

Nats at 8:30 (PP)- Chris Henry, Kyle Dilosa and Keenan Scott.

Huskies at 5:50 (PP)Pete Vandemeer, Adam Antkowiak and Bryton Fels.

Nats at 3:04- Brett Novak, Dylan Smith and Chris Henry.

Period Two: Nats at 17:23 (PP)-

Dylan Smith, Brett Novak and Kyle Dilosa.

Nats at 15:05 (PP)- Mike Ferguson, Cody Danychuk and Keenan Scott.

Huskies at 12:47- Adam Antkowiak.

Nats at 9:37- Tanner Braun.

Nats at 8:24- Dylan Smith, Chris Henry and Curtis Piecowye.

Nats at 7:10- Justin Edin, Clark McNulty and Kyle Dilosa.

Nats at 3:58- Dylan Smith, Curtis Piecowye.

Huskies at 2:44- Eric Zubot, Adam Antkowiak and Ken Patzack.

Period Three: Huskies at 13:02 (PP)Spencer Sommerville, Matt McKinnon and Rett Rook.

Nats at 4:06- Keaton Silvernagle, Derek Argue and Mike Ferguson.

Penalty Summary: Period One: Nats at 12:50- Jared

Barilla, Roughing (2).

Huskies at 12:50- Tanner Tiel, Roughing (2).

Huskies at 12:50- Quinton Somerville, Roughing (2).

Huskies at 8:54- Spencer Somerville, Interference (2).

Nats at 7:46- Brett Novak, Holding the stick (2).

Period Two: Huskies at 18:32- Quinton Somerville, Interference (2).

Nats at 18:16- Chris Henry, Hooking (2).

Huskies at 17:37- Pete Vandemeer, Hooking (2).

Huskies at 15:27- Lane Wagner, Hooking (2).

Period Three: Nats at 15:20- Riley Mathieson, Slashing (2).

Huskies at 15:20- Ken Patzack, Roughing (2).

Nats at 10:42- Mike Ferguson, Cross Checking (2).

Nats at 2:03- Clark McNulty, Tripping (2).

16 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Argo Committee cont’d

Be advised that on August 7, 2019, the members of Perdue Feeder/Breeder Co-operative passed a special resolution authorizing the voluntary dissolution of the Co-operative under the provisions of The Co-Operatives Act, 1996/The New Generation Co-Operatives Act, and that Cary Lammers of Box 167, Perdue, Sk. S0K 3C0, was appointed liquidator.

opportunities for us there.

A public meeting was held on Nov. 28 to discuss the situation at Argo and options to work with in light of the current situation there. The meeting was attended

Be further advised that: a) Any person who is indebted to the co-operative is to render and account and pay to the liquidator any amount owing at Box 167, Perdue Sk. S0K 3C0. b) Any person who possesses property of the co-operative is to deliver it to the liquidator at Box 167, Perdue SK. S0K 3C0; and c) Any persons who has a claim against the co-operative, whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent, is to present particulars of the claim in writing to the liquidator not later than two months after the first publication of the notice.

Holiday Hours Dec. 24th - Closed at 3 pm Dec. 25th & 26th - Closed

by nine people. The discussion was about the ideas brought forward from the people in attendance. We do not know if there are other ideas out there that the community would like or the extent of the interest in Argo beyond the people that attended the meeting. From the attendees, it was determined that many memories have been made at Argo. After giving consideration to the different challenges that will be faced, some decisions were made. It

was decided to clear one of the trails at Argo by hand so there will still be some access to the land for walkers. Miles Buxton has already started work on trail clearing. It was also decided to continue discussions with the Regional Park to see if there is a possibility to move the cross country skiing into the valley.

Through the winter, discussions will continue to determine the future of Argo that has made many memories for people over the last 50 years.

DEADLINE

Dec. 31st - Closed at 3 pm Jan. 1st - Closed

MONDAY 5 P.M.

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Bus: 306-445-6272 Toll Free: 1-800-667-1327 Fax: (306) 445-1399

With Best Wishes & Gratitude

To Our Many Customers and Good Friends This Holiday Season!

From Everyone at...

2 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

We’re All SMILES at Christmas With friends and neighbours like you, we have every reason to smile at the holidays and all year! We hope you have a merry and bright Christmas

Dr. James Dessouki, Dr. Danielle Briere and staff Nova Wood Bldg., east entrance, 106 - 6th "WF & #JHHBS t 306-948-3408

You’re on Our List …of good folks we want to thank this year!

Merry Christmas!

1ST AVENUE COLLISION CENTER LTD. 306-948-3356 Jeff and Cindy

Bright lights of the stage . . . Carol Festival kids took to the Biggar Majestic Theatre stage to perform, December 3, experiencing the bright stage lights, eagerly looking for parents and grandparents. They were a delight, putting one and all in the Christmas mood. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 3

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Land Christmas in Switzerland is Christmas Land indeed.

Everything glistens in t he pure white snow, the air perfumed by the stately pine trees and sleigh bells sing merry melodies as the horses travel briskly over the mountain roads.

St. Nicholas has been succeeded in many parts of Switzerland by the Christkindl, an angelic figure who travels over the land every Christmas Eve in a beautiful sleigh draw by six reindeer. The sleigh is heavily laden with Christmas trees, fruit, cookies and toys for

the children.

In every home there is Christmas tree around which the family gathers and sings carols while the youngsters play with their new playthings. In many of these homes, the head of the family opens the big Bible and reads St. Luke’s about the birth

Decorate with a nose toward inviting holiday aromas

Embrace delectable holiday scents in seasonal decor.

Holiday decor is as much about the sights and sounds as it is about the scents of the season.

Few things evoke the holiday spirit as much as the aroma of fresh evergreen or spicy cinnamon and cloves. Incorporating inviting aromas into holiday decor can make homes feel even more special.

Filling a home with fragrant decor takes a little ingenuity and planning. Here are some ideas to incorporate the scents of the holiday season into your decor. · Use a real Christmas tree. An easy way to create a pine-like scent indoors is to select a real Christmas tree. Ask the

tree farm which varieties are the most fragrant. If a fresh tree is not possible, fill a decorative basket with pine cones and evergreen boughs for that woodsy appeal. · Create a seasonal scented simmer. Take to the stove to make a homemade air infusion from ingredients in and around the house. Simmer pine branches, citrus peels, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and whatever else can be placed in a pot or slow cooker with water. The scents will permeate the house for hours if enough water is added to the mixture. · Make holiday sachets.

Some of the same ingredients for the holiday

Time to pause and be thankful for what we have, a great community surrounded by family, friends and good neighbours!

Landis Producers Co-op Management & staff

Landis • 306-658-2050

simmer can be dried and sewn into sachets. Add ribbon and hang on real or artificial trees. Or tuck the pouches into various areas around the house. · Experiment with scented candles. Scented candles can be found at various stores during the holiday season. Select among popular holiday aromas like pine, cinnamon, apples, and Christmas cookie varieties. · Utilize essential oils.

Natural food stores and other retailers may sell essential oils, which can be diluted and sprayed on surfaces or into the air. Exercise caution around upholstery, or test for staining before use. · Spend more time in the kitchen. Add delicious scents to the home by way of freshly baked goods or holiday meals.

Nothing beats the smell of cookies right out of the oven, and the scents can linger for hours. · Make beeswax ornaments. Add scented oils to melted beeswax and pour into molds. Hang these creations as ornaments on trees or in other areas of the home. · Craft some “gingerbread” ornaments. A mixture of cinnamon, applesauce and glue can be used to make ornaments or gift tags that resemble gingerbread cookies, and these ornaments have more staying power than actual cookies. · Design a pretty pomander. Stud an orange with cloves. Cut off the top of the orange and hollow out a place for a small tea light. The warmth of the flame will produce more scent.

Rich and inviting aromas can fill a home with the holiday spirit.

of Christ.

In the country district, Santa Claus does not make his visit on Christmas Eve but on December 6. December 6 is the anniversary of the first St. Nicholas who had the custom of giving secret presents to the poor, and was especially kind to children. He lived in Asia Minor where he ruled as Bishop in the 4th century. In some rural areas the boys of school age arrange a parade with Santa Claus at the head of the procession. The marchers stop at various homes to collect small gifts, and sometimes to to neighbouring towns for donations. In the evening they gather in the town hall where the gifts ae equally divided.

Santa Claus is also honoured with impressive ceremonies on December 6 at Zurich where a giant St. Nicholas leads a parade of youngsters dressed in long which nightgowns and wearing masks and headgear. The boys blow horns and ring bells as they solicit gifts of toys and fruit from the spectators along the route of the parade.

Here’s hoping your holiday season delivers a full spectrum of peace, love, joy and contenment.

306-948-7524

Welcome The Season!

There may be a chill in the air at the holiday season, But we’re filled with much warmth and you are the reason.

So to our many good friends both far and near,

We bid a most joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you to our customers for their support.

1-866-934-6675/306-934-6675

Merry Christmas

From All of Us

As we deck the halls and trim the tree, it’s very clear for us to see, that folks like you do truly make us want to laugh and celebrate!

From our bunch to you, best wishes for a healthy, happy and safe holiday season.

Your trust and kindness fill us with gratitude at Christmas time and all year!

Board, Management and Staff

4 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Just a little note to say…

We hope you have a great holiday!

Thanks for making this community such an inviting place to do business! We really appreciate your patronage.

805 Main Street, Biggar 306-948-2248

Wagons Ho! . . . The weather cooperated for the Biggar Festival of Lights, and the popular wagon rides took people on a tour around town, November 29. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Sugar, spice and everything nice with gingerbread cookie bars (NC) You can’t beat traditional treats during the holiday season and there’s nothing quite as classic as gingerbread.

From elaborately decorated gingerbread houses to crisp gingersnaps, there are many ways to enjoy the slightly spiced and cozy flavour.

These scrumptious bars combine two traditional holiday treats - gingerbread and

The Foundation wishes to thank all who have assisted with their monetary donations. Without your help, we could not support many local organizations with their projects.

May this Christmas season remind all of us of the joy in our lives and of the joy given to others due to your support.

Biggar & District Community Foundation extends to all a Joyful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Box 489, Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

cookie bars -- to create a mouthwatering bite perfect for the holidays.

Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, leaving 2

Gingerbread Cookie Bars Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Makes: 30 cookie bars Ingredients 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup margarine 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 3 tbsp white chocolate chips 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup toasted chopped pistachios Directions Preheat oven to 375˚F.

inch overhang. Spray with cooking spray and

set aside. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl; set aside.

Beat margarine with sugars in large bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla until blended. Gradually add in flour mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in cinnamon and ginger. Spread into prepared baking pan.

Combine white chocolate chips, cranberries and pistachios in small bowl.

Sprinkle evenly over dough; press gently.

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Using foil overhang, lift out of pan and cool completely. Cut into 30 pieces.

Randy Weekes, M.L.A.

Biggar-Sask Valley Constituency 306-948-4880, toll free 1-877-948-4880 Box 1413, 106-3rd Avenue West, Biggar

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 5

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The tradition of the Epiphany

While some may think the holiday season ends once New Year’s Day comes and goes, for Christians, the season continues into January with the feast of the Epiphany.

The Epiphany occurs 12 days after Christmas, which falls on January 6 (or January 19 for some Orthodox churches that celebrate Christmas on January 7). The Epiphany celebrates the Three Kings, also known as the Three Wise Men, who visited Jesus shortly after his birth.

The Epiphany is celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Among Hispanics, the day is known as El Día de los Reyes.

Many traditions are included in Epiphany celebrations. According to the Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, three historical traditions of the Epiphany include baking a “Kings’ Cake,” marking a door lintel with the Magi’s blessing, and participating in worship with lighted candles.

Some families also exchange gifts on the Epiphany to commemorate the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

that the Three Wise Men presented to Jesus upon arriving at the manger.

Chalking doors Celebrants of the Epiphany can mark their own doors, also called “chalking the doors.”

This tradition is a centuries-old practice that serves as a request of Christ to bless the homes marked so that all those who dwell inside remain blessed throughout the year. The marking includes the first digits of the year, followed by the initials of the Magi - Caspar, Malchior and Balt-

hazar - followed by the last digits of the year. For 2018 the formula should read: 20+C+M+B+18.

Others believe the letters represent the abbreviation of the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat,” or “May Christ bless the house.

King cakes King cakes vary by region. In Spain, local bakers make a special ring-shaped roll.

In France, it is a flat almond cake with a toy crown cooked inside. In Mexico, bakers put a figure of Baby Jesus inside

a cake. The person who finds the figure is awarded the honor of baking or providing the cake for the following year and hosting the Epiphany celebration.

Lighting candles Individuals are urged to keep candles lit on the Epiphany. This is to symbolize how Jesus’ presence on Earth was comparable to light entering a darkened world.

The arrival of the New Year beckons an important religious celebration that extends the magic of the Christmas season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS…

The wreaths and the trees and the parties Aren’t what we need to convey It’s the birth of our Saviour, Jesus The real reason for this holiday.

We wish to thank our loyal customers, and wish you the best in 2020.

Let’s analyze Santa Claus Every year about this time somebody starts analyzing Santa Claus.

The concept of Santa has been criticized as a jolly fat man. He is said to set a bad example because overweight people are not happy, or at least not as healthy as skinny ones.

Now comes a professor of anthropology who points out a curious contradiction in the Santa Claus legend. He says we live in a society that is based on the mass production of goods by high-

Thanks to all of our customers and friends for your patronage and we look forward to serving you in 2020

Happy Holidays From Everyone at...

ly specialized machines.

The goods are purchased with money and the desire for the goods is promoted by massive advertising.

Once a year, the professor says, we insist that the toys distributed to children emanate from the Santa Claus workshop in the North Pole.

We tell children that their toys are delivered by reindeer sled and through their chimney, and that their gifts were not bought by Mother and Father but by a mythical gentleman of extraordinary outward appearance.

Equalizer The professor states that adults use Santa Claus as an equalizer in a world that is really based on interpersonal competition and in which goods and power are won by the more successful from the less successful. At Christmastime, family

financial priorities are rearranged so that Santa Claus can give an electric train to a poor child who in the real world would have to be content with much less.

Biggar Electrical Services 306-948-5291 Adrian and Barbara de Haan, Lyle Zbeeshko

s FLOWERS s CUSTOM WEDDING DECORATING & EVENTS s RENTALS… (Tents, Bouncy Castle)

~ and ~

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6 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Full MERRY We Hope You Get Your Fill of Good Times This Christmas!

As another Christmas comes in for a landing, we’re filled with cheer and gratitude for wonderful customers and friends like you.

Merry Christmas & Many Thanks from our Entire Crew

Biggar Esso 306-948-3600

Good Tidings at C hristmas May the peace and joy of this holiday season be with you always

Management and staff 306-948-2706

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

A tailor-made tart for brunch Brunch is a great way to enjoy a lazy weekend morning and early afternoon. Unlike the hustle and bustle of weekdays, weekend mornings can often be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace.

Restaurants make substantial sums of money on weekend brunch specials, but home cooks can make brunch in the comforts of their own kitchens as well. This “Grape Tomato and Blue Cheese Tart” from Betty Rosbottom and Susie Cushner’s “Sunday Brunch” (Chronicle Books) makes the perfect flaky food to serve at brunch.

Grape Tomato and Blue Cheese Tart

Serves 6

Crust 1 cup all-purpose flour 4 ounces cream cheese, chilled and cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Topping 4 ounces creamy blue cheese, finely crumbled 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved length-wise (see note) 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar Kosher salt 11⁄2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 green onions, chopped to include 2 inches of the green parts

Treemendous Thanks With apprecition from our entire team, we wish you all a fun-filled and

Merry Christmas!

Thanks so much for supporting us this past year.

We look forward to serving the community in the future.

Biggar & District Health Services Foundation Inc. Box 1003, Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

1. Arrange a rack at a center position and preheat the oven to 375 F. Have ready a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.

2. For the crust: Place the flour, cream cheese, butter, salt, and cayenne in a food processor; pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

Remove and knead the mixture into a smooth mass and then press it with your fingers in an even layer into the bot-

tom (not up the sides) of the tart pan. Smooth the dough with the back of a spoon. Freeze the tart shell for 15 minutes to firm, and then bake the crust until golden brown, 30 minutes. Remove the tart shell from the oven and cool for about 5 minutes but retain oven temperature.

3. For the topping: Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the crust.

Arrange the tomatoes in a circular pattern and in a single layer over the cheese, cutsides up. You may not need to use all of the tomatoes. Whisk together the olive oil and vinegar and drizzle over the tomatoes, and then sprinkle with salt.

Place the tart on a baking sheet to catch any drippings and return to the oven and bake until

the cheese has melted and the tomatoes are hot, 10 to 12 minutes.

4. Cool the tart for 5 to 10 minutes and then remove the sides of the tart pan. (The tart can be made 3 hours ahead.

Leave the tart cool at room temperature and reheat in a preheated 350 F oven until warmed through, 8 to 10 minutes.)

5. Mix together the parsley and green onions, and sprinkle over the tart. Cut the tart into 6 wedges and serve.

Note: Small grape tomatoes, which have a sweet flavor, work better than larger cherry tomatoes in this recipe and can be used year-round.

However, in the summer, feel free to try the tart with one of your favorite varieties. Sweet ones that are on the small side work best.

May you and yours revel in the splendor of the season.

R.M. of Biggar #347 Council and staff 306-948-2422

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Warming up . . . Three sisters beam, getting warmed up at the Biggar Museum and Gallery during the Festival of Lights, November 29. It wasn’t bitterly cold for the Festival, but after a wagon ride around town, hot chocolate, courtesy of the Museum, hits the spot. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 7

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

From Our Hearth To Yours

Heartfelt Greetings and Best Wishes To Our Valued Customers and Friends at this Special Time Of Year

Management and Staff 201 Turnbull Ave. Biggar 306-948-2544

304 Main St., Biggar 306-948-2204 Landis 306-658-2044

When it comes to Christmas, we’ve got you covered -- with our warm wishes and heartfelt thanks.

8 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

The pageantry of Christmas Christmas is surely the happiest and most exalted day of the year -- a time for celebrations and peace and goodwill to all. Once described as “a spontaneous drama of the common folks, a prayer, a hymn”, there is indeed little doubt that this glorious festival was composed by the people. Observed in the church, in the home and in the heart, this season of great joy and renewed faith is honoured and celebrated all over the world. The very particular and cherished traditions of each country add colour and pleasure to its international observance.

Wishing You Cart loads of Joy

We hope your holiday is filled with lots of good stuff… happiness, friendship, peace, gratitude, goodwill and more of your favourite things!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and thanks for choosing us!

Committed to our Community Greg, Naomi and staff

306-948-5144

Julius I, although there is nor historical evidence to back the date up.

For almost 2,000 years Christmas has been observed by untold numbers of people, each in his own way. As its glorious message travelled around the world it was celebrated with much pomp and elegance, with brilliant displays and gifts, in silent prayer and

they are tucked in.

The humblest home in Spain is adorned by a Nativity scene modelled of clay, these colourful figures make a stirring display on table or mantle. Gifts are distributed by Three Wise Men on the night of January 6. Santa Claus is not a familiar figure in Spain.

Customs passed lovingly from generation to

The Early Years The Christmas holiday, with its spirit of warmth and love, started as a time besieged by doubt and uncertainty, and often martyrdom. Early celebrants were persecuted and forced to observe tis holy time in hiding. In 350 A.D., December 25 was proclaimed the date of the Nativity by Pope

Tidings of Comfort & Joy Wishing you a warm and cozy Christmas filled with family, friends and all the comforts of home.

We thank you for giving us such a warm welcome in the community.

Happy Holidays!

‘Almost Home’ Care Home 114 - 4th Ave. W., Biggar Management, staff & residents

Start Your Engines…

Christmas is Coming!

As we gear up for another holiday season, we’d like to send you our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for your trust in us. We look forward to serving your again soon.

Excell Tire

operating under Integra

306-948-3376

Tire Auto Centre

Chris, Raelynn, Ron, Damon, Logan, Don, Mazie, Shawn, Tyrelle

worship, in contemplation of the Spirit and its true meaning.

A Treasury of Traditions A Canadian Christmas observes a multitude of time honoured customs and traditions. Almost every town enjoys some individual celebration uniquely its own.

Plays and pageants are presented, carols sung, creches decorated, trees trimmed in special ways, following long established customs from other lands.

Traditions and customs, both reverent and merry, vary from country to country. In France, Midnight Mass is attended by almost everyone, with the exception of young children who are put to bed early. To make sure they receive a gift from le Pere Noel or le Petit Jesus, the youngsters place a shoe in front of their Christmas tree or fireplace before

generation are renewed each year. To this day the Christmas pantomime, a highly esteemed public entertainment enriches English holiday pageantry. And Dickens’ immortal classic A Christmas Carol is read and cherished all over the world.

A Legacy of Love For African Christians, a love offering at church is part of the spiritual experience of Christmas in the Congo. Those who attend holiday services are expected to come forward with a gift for Jesus on His birthday.

In Switzerland, young

people, on their way to midnight church services on Christmas Eve visit nine fountains. At each, they take three sips of water. Legend has it that if they do this, they will find their future wife or husband waiting at the church door.

A Profusion of Customs A steam bath and dressing in one’s finery precedes the Finnish observance of The Mass of Christ.

Stockings are not hung by the children since Santa Claus visits them in person with gifts, most often accompanied by elves. In Sweden on December 13, Lucia Queen of Light leads a procession of young women on visits to homes and public places.

Dressed by flowing white gowns, and wearing crowns of lingonberry leaves glowing with lighted candles, Lucia and her maidens serve coffee and special saffron buns to all.

In Italy’s churches, town squares and homes, candles illuminate elaborate creches wreathed in periwinkle and lemon blossoms. The holiday is highlighted by The Christmas Novena, a series of church services preceding Christmas and ending with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. For Christian Japanese Meri Kurisumasu is a warm, wonderful celebration. They visit hospitals and cheer patients with carols and dramatic presentations, and gifts of candles and cakes are received by everyone.

Merry Christmas

from all of us!

May the coming year bring peace, joy and enlightenment to you and those you cherish.

Village of Landis Council and staff

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thirty ways to celebrate a merry month The holiday season begins in late November and runs through New Year’s Day. It is marked by various gatherings of friends and family, decadent foods, cocktails, traveling, and gift exchanges.

The National Retail Federation says consumers will spend an average of $967 during the holiday season. However, the joy of the holidays also is about all of the memorable experiences that tend to make the season so beloved.

With that in mind, here are 30 ways to make the holiday season that much more merry.

1. Visit with an

elderly or housebound neighbor and share conversation.

2. Donate gently used toys to a children’s hospital.

3. Research the history of the holiday and share it with people you care about.

4. Make hand-

made Christmas tree ornaments.

5. Donate money

to a charity or other good cause.

6. Encourage

“pay it forward” movements in your community. Start by doing something simple like buying a coffee for a complete stranger.

7. Feed birds fac-

ing the cold, winter weather.

8. Take a ride

or walk around the neighborhood to look at decorated houses.

9. Make a fire in a fire pit in the yard and toast marshmallows while sipping hot chocolate.

10. Binge watch holiday movies.

11. Attend the

concert of a children’s choir.

12. Help a friend

decorate his or her home.

13. Host a tree-

21. Make a new

friend and invite him or her to a holiday party for the first time.

22. Babysit a newborn so his or her parents can get errands done or just catch up on rest.

23. Volunteer at a

soup kitchen.

24. Share the

religious traditions of your holiday with someone of a different faith.

26. Share favorite

memories at family holiday dinners.

27. Remember a

deceased loved one with a special tribute.

28. Construct a

gingerbread house.

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 9

STRIKE UP THE HOLIDAY F H FUN! UN UN Hope you have a ball this holiday season with plenty of good times to spare for the New Year!

Thanks for rolling with us this year.

It’s been our pleasure to serve you, and we hope to see you again very soon.

Season’s Greetings!

Biggar Bowl

greetings from Management and staff 119 - 1st Ave. East, Biggar 306-948-2255

29. Teach some-

one how to make a cherished family recipe.

30. Surprise a

distant relative with an impromptu visit.

25. If weather

permits, go sledding, build a snowman or have a snowball fight.

trimming party.

14. Schedule a day for baking cookies.

15. Sing Christmas carols at a nursing home.

16. Put together care packages of items and send them to troops overseas.

17. Share the holi-

days with a military family whose spouse is in service and can’t make it home.

18. Offer to shop

for someone who is homebound due to age, a chronic illness or injury.

19. Visit a large

city to look at Christmas window displays.

Saskatchewan’s Ag Real Estate Professionals

20. Buy and hang

real mistletoe . and use it.

Biggar

Acres of Expertise.

Congratulations Dave Molberg on a very successful year! Your integrity, loyalty, expertise, professionalism, collaboration and commitment to providing your clients with the highest level of satisfaction is appreciated by everyone you work with.

Hammond Realty would like to thank Dave Molberg for his outstanding contributions to the success of our company. Dave leverages his vast experience, valuable knowledge, and comprehensive network of contacts to deliver exceptional results to his clients. By providing Buyers with the highest quality selection of farmland listings, he provide Sellers with Acres of Expertise.

Dave Molberg 306 9484478 Dave.Molberg@HammondRealty.ca DaveMolberg.HammondRealty.ca

HammondRealty.ca

10 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Eighteen ideas for making holiday memories

Here’s hoping your holiday season finds you laughing all the way!

Merry Christmas and many thanks for your generous support.

BIGGAR HOTEL Management and staff • 306-948-3386

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

May the peace and happiness of the Christmas season carry you and your family through the new year and beyond. Thank you for your patronage.

Spyder AutoBody 306-948-2044 Fred, Patsy, Curtis, Teagon

Counting down to Christmas Day means many different things to people across the globe.

Although families likely have several different traditions they anticipate each year, it can be fun to incorporate some new merrymakers into the festivities. Here are some festive ideas to include in the days leading up to Christmas — a special family calendar of fun finds.

1. Annual memento: Have the kids or adults make one new handmade ornament each year. This way the tree is always evolving, and everyone can track milestones.

2. Cookie day: Devote one day to making Christmas cookies. Invite friends or family members over. Distribute some cookies to elderly neighbors.

3. Holiday classic: Spend a night in and watch a classic Christmas flick you’ve never seen before. Streaming movie services often put classics and obscure titles into rotation during the holiday season.

4. Christmas concert: Host a gathering of children where they can sing or perform their favorite tunes for an audience.

Take it on the road to a nearby nursing home.

5. Dine out: Take a break from cooking, shopping and hosting and stop into a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try. Keep it local to support nearby businesses.

Our best wishes for a holiday filled with good cheer, happiness, love and contentment.

Thank you for your continued support!

Staff and Families of

Merry Christmas Friends!

Unity, SK • 228-3735 www.northwestterminal.com

6. Adopt a child/family: Volunteer with a charitable organization that provides for less fortunate families. Answer the Christmas desires of a needy child or family by purchasing an item on their wish lists.

7. See the sights: Pack the children into the family car to tour nearby areas and look at Christmas lights displays.

Bring along cookies and hot chocolate.

8. Trim a tree: Get together with adult friends at a tree-trimming party. Rotate the hosting house each year.

9. Play dress-up: A gentleman can dress up as the man in red and pop into a friend’s holiday gathering.

10. Wilderness walk: Enjoy the crisp air and snow and see a local park from a winter perspective.

11. Acts of kindness: Choose any act of kindness and make it happen this Christmas. It can include feeding the hungry or helping a disabled person shop for the season.

12. Kids’ Secret Santa: Spread the joy of giving by having the kids

choose a sibling or friend’s name from a hat and purchasing or making a gift for that person.

13. Hand out hot chocolate: Make a big thermos of hot chocolate and give it out to shoppers or workers who have been out in the cold.

14. Read religious stories: Understand the true meaning of the season by reading Biblical passages.

15. Camp-in: The first night the tree is decorated, allow the kids to sleep beside it under the glow of Christmas lights.

16. Scavenger hunt: Plan holiday-themed trivia questions and hide small trinkets for children to find.

17. Surprise box: Put a gender and age nonspecific gift into a box. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the person who finds a hidden gift tag under their chair at dinner gets to open the box.

18. Family portrait: Wear your holiday finery and pose for a portrait that actually will be printed and framed.

Santa letter-writing secrets At the tip of the North Pole resides a jolly man who collects letters from children asking him to deliver all of their hearts’ desires. Although Santa Claus does a thorough job of making sure children’s treats are delivered on the same night, sometimes he needs assistance with reading and responding to the thousands upon thousands of letters sent to him each year. That is why he often relies on an extensive list of helpers to handle much of his holiday correspondence.

According to Smithsonian, the practice of writing to St. Nick dates back more than 150 years. Early depictions of Santa show him as a disciplinarian. The first Christmastime Santa letters were actually sent

by Santa, rather than the other way around.

Such letters encouraged children to be good boys and girls. Eventually, an illustration by Thomas Nast depicted “Santaclaussville, N.P.” as Santa’s address, providing children with a place where they could send their correspondences to the big guy in red.

The Universal Postal Union, an intergovern-

mental organization that coordinates postal policies across 192 member nations, indicates that 1,350,000 letters to Santa were sent by Canadians, while Americans sent more than one million and Britains mailed roughly 800,000 such letters in 2012, the most recent year from which figures are available. To account for the staggering number of letters sent, various post offices and postal programs were established to help Santa with the task of

tackling children’s wish lists.

In Canada, children can address letters to Santa and use the postal code H0H, 0H0.

Many other letters to Santa end up routing to various post offices where thousands of volunteer “elves” can adopt letters and make children’s wishes come true.

A “Letters to Santa” program enables children in serious need to get items that can help keep them safe and happy.

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306-948-5355

Monday - Friday 6am - 5pm Homemade Soups Daily Specials

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 11

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas carol spotlight:

Jingle Bells Holiday cheer is front and center in communities across the globe during the holiday season.

This year, celebrants can make this joyous season even more special by

singing some of their favorite holiday songs.

“Jingle Bells” is a popular holiday tune that many celebrants might be surprised to learn is more than 150 years

“Jingle Bells” Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way Bells on bobtail ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight! Oh, Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago I thought I’d take a ride And soon, Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side, The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot He got into a drifted bank And then we got upsot.

Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

old. Written by New England native James Lord Pierpont, “Jingle Bells” was originally published in 1857 under the title “One-Horse Open Sleigh.” Only after

a friend of Pierpont’s referred to the song as a “merry little jingle” did the name “Jingle Bells” take.

A day or two ago, The story I must tell I went out on the snow, And on my back I fell; A gent was riding by In a one-horse open sleigh, He laughed as there I sprawling lie, But quickly drove away.

A world of thanks and best wishes to our neighbours, customers and friends.

We feel fortunate to serve great folk like you!

306-948-2643 • Biggar

Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white Go it while you’re young, Take the girls tonight and sing this sleighing song; Just get a bobtailed Two forty as his speed Hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! you’ll take the lead.

Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

MERRY CHRISTMAS We hope your holiday season is filled to the brim with happiness and good fortune!!

Westwinds Motor Hotel “Experience the Westwinds Difference” Dayna,Trent and staff

306-948-3301

Lyrics written by James Lord Pierpont

Home is where your story begins.

My wish for you and your loved one’s is that you will be blessed with continued good health, great happiness and success in all your endeavours Wishing you a season filled with lots of love, laughter and joy.

From my family to yours Merry Christmas and all the best in 2020!

For all your support, we are deeply grateful.

Your local Realtor®

Cari Perih

RE/MAX Shoreline Realty

Cell: 306-948-7995 carip@remax.net Jann, Solana and family

306-948-5453

homes for sale at SoldbyCari.ca

“Keeping our community strong one sale at a time... because I call it home, too!”

12 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

The season is about the true meaning of Christmas

by Rev. Bev Dyck, Biggar Church of God Bevy had grown up in a sheltered Christian home.

She heard of Jesus and the many Bible stories.

Christmas was about the baby Jesus given to Earth, the baby lying in a manger bed, the cattle around, the angels singing overhead. Christmas was reciting a little poem at Church in a candlelight service and receiving a whole candy bag all her own. It was going home from the Christmas program and putting out her plate on the table with the rest of the family, expecting that in the night a gift would be placed in it.

Then Bevy went to school in a big, red brick building. A big yellow bus would pick her up every morning at the end of their long lane where she and her big brother waited. Bevy was learning the ABCs and the numbers and to read. It was exciting to read the colourful stories about Dick, Jane and Sally and Spot and Puff and all of their adventures.

And soon the weather grew colder and there was snow on the ground.

At school the teacher taught them new songs.

One song was all about Frosty the Snowman and how he came to life one day. This song became very special.

The children learned it well and when it was time for the Christmas program for the parents, Bevy’s class sand this song and acted out standing around the Christmas tree with

Frosty as Santa came and handed out the gifts.

And as Santa was handing our the gifts, the room grew warm and Frosty the Snowman melted into a puddle on the floor.

How this melting was acted out Bevy doesn’t remember. But Bevy remembers all the fascination with the big doll she was to hold for the program, and the special tree and Santa and all the sparkle of Frosty the Snowman.

Bevy knew she needed to share this with her younger siblings.

Her family and her little sister and little brothers hadn’t heard anything about this magical, fun stuff of Christmas. Bevy tried to teach as much as she could a home. She sang the songs she learned at school. She made pretty chains to decorate the house. She longed for a Christmas tree, but that wouldn’t happen for a while.

Bevy did wonder a bit about why her family was left out of Santa’s rounds when he distributed gifts at Christmas. But Bevy made a secret plan. She would wake up in the night and make some jingle sounds, so that her family would think Santa had come to their house, too.

But Christmas Eve, after the candlelight program and service and setting their plates on the table, Bevy and her family went to bed.

In the morning she realized that she had slept right through and missed making her fam-

THURSDAY, DEEMBER 12, 2019

MERRY CHRISTMAS

ily believe that Santa had come to visit.

That was many years ago. Bevy has grown up and gotten married, had children and those children have grown up, gotten married, and had children. So Bev is a grandma.

Bev sill loves Christmas, and loves the coloured lights and the celebrations.

But most of all, Bev likes to know that the people around her know the true meaning of Christmas.

She wants to know that the people around her feel belonging. Bev is no longer fascinated with Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman. Bev is so grateful for God sending Jesus Christ to Earth as the little baby who would grow up to be the Saviour of the world.

The faith that began with the Bible stories and Candlelight Christmas programs has become her very own faith. Jesus Christ is a very real person in her life, and she is aware of His Spirit in every aspect of her life.

Jesus is not just a theme for a celebration but the living God who longs to bring abundant life and peace to each person.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV. Together with the Biggar Church of God, I bring you well wishes of a wonderful Christmas season and that you and yours, will know the presence of the Lord.

Advent wreath signals the coming of Christ

by Rev. Sarah E. Mowat, PALs I love this time of year.

It is so full of traditions and memories.

Some of my favourite memories and traditions is the assembly and reflection of the Advent wreath.

Advent means “arrival” or “coming,” and it prompts us to pause each day in December and remember why Jesus came at Christmas.

Common ways of remembering Jesus’s birth are through Advent calendars, wreaths and candles. Ideally, any Advent tradition should involve families in a fun activity each day of December, helping them remember why we celebrate Christmas.

The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. In the current Lutheran tradition, we use three blue and one pink candle. The Advent wreath is usually cre-

ated out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death as the evergreen is continuously green. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life that He makes possible.

Advent is a time of expectations and hope.

We light the candles to help us mark our time of the expectation and hope and keeps us centered in an otherwise consumerism driven world.

The first week of Advent, is lighting of the first blue (purple) candle, the hope candle. The second week of Advent, is the lighting of the second blue (purple) candle, the love candle. The third week of Advent, is the lighting of the pink candle, the joy candle. The fourth week of Advent is when we light the final candle, the peace candle.

Christmas Eve/Day we light a white candle in the middle of the wreath,

the Christ candle.

Some families enjoy saying prayers and blessings as they light a candle on the wreath each Sunday. This is an example of an interactive family prayer.

Parent: Lord, you are the light of the world.

Child: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

Parent: Heavenly Father, we long for your plan of rescue and redemption to be realized, Give us hearts that wee Your beauty and wait in hope for You to make all things good and new again.

Child: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

Parent: May Your light and love shine brightly in our hearts, spreading hope and peace to those around us.

Child: Amen.

From my home to yours, I pray that you all have a Happy Advent and a Merry Christmas.

Christmas is a celebration of love and hope

by Fr, Edward Gibney, St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church, Biggar and Our Lady of Fatima, Landis The celebration of Christmas, the birth of the Son of God as a human being, is a celebration of the love of God for all humanity, for Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins and to lead us to eternal life.

And God’s great love for us impels us to love each other.

After all, Jesus was born into the poorest of conditions, the child of simple parents, surrounded by shepherds and farm animals, in a stable.

So, with this in mind, it is important for us today, to look for the face

of Christ in the poor and less advantaged people we meet every day. Some may only need a smile and some friendly words, but others may need some financial help to make their Christmas joyous. We are called to help the recognize God’s love in their lives.

However, we should remember that Christmas is also about repentance and forgiveness.

Love takes commitment and work, and sometimes we don’t get it right.

We’re not perfect.

But with God there is mercy and forgiveness, and second chances.

And so we must offer these gifts to others. The coming of Jesus into the world is an example

of how God has given humanity a second chance and Christmas is the perfect time for second chances in our relationships with others. Be it with family or friends we can follow the example of God’s love and work to repair our damaged relationships.

On behalf of the Parishioners of the Roman Catholic Churches of Saint Gabriel the Archangel in Biggar and our Lady of Fatima in Landis, I offer you the joy, the love, the hope and the holiness that will always be part of the celebration of Christmas.

May the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ bring peace and happiness to all our families and friends.

suffer -- taking on Himself our sin, as He hung, bleeding, dying on a Roman cross, then literally rising bodily from the dead on the third day, so that all who come to Him, not through some religious practices, but by God’s grace through faith on God’s terms. (Ephesians 2:1-10) will know a reconciled relationship with God. God loves us as people so much that He made it possible -- only through Jesus alone to be in right-standing with the God who created us.

There is no other way.

(John 14:1-6).

Only Jesus can give us this new life through a spiritual rebirth. (John 3:1-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.)

This was the hope that Isaiah had promised to the Jews and eventually to the Gentile nations.

Do you know this new birth life in Jesus?

You can know your sins are forgiven. And know the joy of being reborn of His Spirit now, and know new life in Him now and for all eternity.

Keep in mind. all the signs of Christ’s second coming to this earth are everywhere, but this time as King of kings and Lord of lords, and Judge.

Look at the weather patterns; the moral and spiritual unrest; international economic instability; the list goes on.

The warnings and reminders are everywhere in fulfillment to the prophesies of the Bible. Just as all were prophesied and fulfillment in Christ’s first coming so they will soon be fulfilled for His second coming.

Warning! Don’t be caught unprepared for this soon to happen event. Time is running out. Give your heart to Jesus today.

Advent is the time to nurture our spirit

by Sharon FergusonHood, Biggar United Church Jan Richardson writes, “In the cave of our hearts . . . in the fabric of our lives . . . you continue O God to be born.”

Richardson holds the opinion that Christ was born in a cave. And we all carry a cave, a hidden place within us into which God longs to be born. Advent is the season to enter that place, a time to turn inward and encounter the God who seeks to emerge through us.

As we prepare for the Advent season, we might remember that this could be a time of reflection.

A time to savour the quietness and the slowness of the days -- taking walks, reading, making notes for inner reflection, working at whatever it is

that gives us life.

Sometimes it seems that we hardly have time to recognize Advent -but we can slow our pace in preparation -- perhaps the season of Advent could be a time to nurture our spirit.

Every Sunday morning, I drive to Biggar from Saskatoon. I set my cruise at 100 kph and I never tire of the scene outside my car window.

Often, I stop to take pictures in the Biggar hills, of the sky, of the vast landscape, of the beaver dam, of the sun casting light over this prairie land.

Last Sunday, I slowed down to a stop when six deer, all brown in colour with black trims, came and stood in the middle of the road. Perhaps Pronghorn, someone at church said.

Christmas Season Services

They eventually moved off the road but they were magnificent.

It is taking time to be in relationship with the land, to be in touch with what surrounds us, with what makes a difference to how we feel or how we respond to the everyday.

This leads us through the Advent season.

This Advent season, I will make my last trips to Biggar to lead worship at the United Church.

My hope is to experience the fading light on the land which will lead to the Solstice, and to the return of long days which again will take us back to Advent and to a circle of reflection.

May we be a part of an Advent quietness, a time to ourselves, a time to be in touch with the spiritual as we make our way to the birth.

The Biggar and District Ministerial Association wishes you all the joy and blessings of the Christmas Season.

ST. GABRIEL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BIGGAR ~

OUR LADY OF FATIMA ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, LANDIS ~

SUN., DEC. 15… 11:00 a.m., Mass SUN., DEC. 22… 11:00 a.m., 4th Sunday in Advent Service TUES., DEC. 24… 7:30 p.m., Christmas Vigil Liturgy, WED., DEC. 25… 11:00 a.m.

Christmas Morning Liturgy SUN., DEC. 30… 11 a.m., Mass

SUN., DEC. 15… 9:00 a.m., Mass SUN., DEC. 22… 9:00 a.m., 4th Sunday in Advent Service TUES., DEC. 24… 5:00 p.m., Christmas Vigil Liturgy TUES., DEC. 25… NO Christmas morning Mass SUN., DEC. 30… 9:00 a.m., Mass

BIGGAR UNITED CHURCH ~ SUN., DEC. 15… 11:00 a.m., Joy Singers Musical Service SUN., DEC. 22… 11:00 a.m. regular service TUES., DEC. 24… 7:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Candlelight Service SUN., DEC. 29… No service

BIGGAR ASSOCIATED GOSPEL CHURCH ~ SUN., DEC. 15… 10:50 a.m., A Very Special Children’s Christmas Presentation during the service. This will include drama, singing, and a number of other interesting presentations by the Children’s Church Group. All are welcome.

TUES., DEC. 24… 7:00 p.m., We will be enjoying an evening with candlelight as we celebrate the birth of the Promised Messiah -- the Christ PALS COMMUNITY CHURCH ~ SUN., DEC. 15 ... 7 p.m. Lessons and Carols Redeemer Lutheran Church TUES., DEC. 24… 7:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Service at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

WED., DEC. 25… 10:30 a.m.…Christmas Day Service at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

"

Welcome new life in Christ

by Pastor Doug Motz, Biggar Associated Gospel Church The political, moral and social world in the sky and elsewhere that He had come, but many refused to accept Him. Jesus wasn’t born in a palace, but in a humble cow barn. He didn’t come to reign as King, to establish His millennial reign on earth at this time -- that would be futuristic. (Revelation 20:1-6).

Jesus came, yes, as God with us, but He came to serve and not be served.

As the Son of Man He came and chose to live a sinless life -- choosing good over evil.

Result -- He was rejected by many of His own people, the Jews, but to all who received Him, to those people God’s promise would be eternal life. (John 1:1-14).

Because of God’s love for this world -- it was God’s will that Jesus

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 13

MERRY CHRISTMAS

SEVENth DAY ADVENTIST ~ SATURDAYS… meet 10 a.m. -12 p.m. at Church of God on 6th Ave. East.

"

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

14 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE

MAY HAPPINESS AND BEAUTY ADORN EACH DAY OF THIS FESTIVE SEASON. WE HOPE YOUR HOLIDAY AND THE COMING YEAR ARE STREWN WITH GOOD FORTUNE, HEALTH,

JOY AND PROSPERITY. AS WE CELEBRATE ALL THE THINGS WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS YEAR, WE COUNT YOU AMONG OUR BLESSINGS. THANK YOU FOR THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY AND YOUR FAITH IN OUR BUSINESS.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Tyler Kachur, Alan Koop and Partners 306-657-8999

Merry Christmas

May your holidays be filled with seasonal joy, old-fashioned traditions, and the blessings of family and friends.

Thank you for shopping with us.

We look forward to your continued patronage with much appreciation.

Main Street Market 115 Main St., Biggar Shirley and staff • 306-948-3337

Holiday Fashionista . . . Suitably attired, this Carol Festival performer has the spirit and the threads to match the Christmas season. The December 3 noon hour carol festival brought kids to the Majestic Theatre stage in their holiday best for a concert sure to put everyone in the mood! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays!

Jim Reiter, M.L.A. May your home be blessed with peace, love, joy and contentment throughout the Yuletide season.

We feel blessed to have such wonderful friends and neighbours like you. Thanks!

WITH THE VERY BEST OF WISHES FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

Sunshine Family Care Home

Shannon and Vince Morgan Residents and Staff

306-948-3644

Rosetown-Elrose Constituency 306-882-4105, toll free 1-855-762-2233 jimreitermla@sasktel.net Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

215 Main Street, Rosetown Our wish is for a holiday season filled with enough warmth and happiness to fill every heart with gladness. May your Holiday Season be everything you’re wishing for and more!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 15

MERRY CHRISTMAS

enjoy ng you i p o h s ’ ove Here ons of l i t r o p s generou ter with family gh the and lau nds for and frie e of your urs main co s season! a Christm

Hannigan‛s Hamburgers & Pizza

Holiday bidding time . . . The Festival of Lights, November 29 gave residents a chance to enjoy a little down time, put in a bit of shopping, and maybe make a successful bid on a Christmas item. Here, the Biggar Museum and Gallery shows off the holiday items, and if you played your cards right, you could walk away with a great deal! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

“Selected on CBC Radio Blue Sky as one of Saskatchewan‛s Hidden Food Gems” 306-948-3335 • Main Street, Biggar

Wishing you and your family all of the best this magical time of year. For your friendship and support, we are deeply grateful.

The most downloaded holiday songs

May you find everything you want under the tree, and in your heart this holiday season.

For the gift of your friendship, we are sincerely grateful.

Ivan, Bernice, Ross Young and Mel Swyryda 306-948-3381

Thank you and best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.

It’s been a pleasure serving you.

Happy Holidays

from the lawyers and staff at

Peszko & Watson

Jason Peszko Logan Marchand Nancy Farenick

Lisa Watson Bailee Massett Omobolane Abioye

Biggar Professional Building 223 Main Street, Biggar 306-948-5352 306-244-9865

Music is integral to many celebrations during the holiday season.

Whether you’re planning an office party, hosting friends and family at home or simply looking to get in the holiday spirit, you might want to explore this list of the most downloaded Christmas/holiday songs.

1. All I Want For Christmas Is You — Mariah Carey 2. Mary, Did You Know? — Pentatonix 3. Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 (Instrumental) — Trans-Siberian Orchestra 4. Mistletoe — Justin Bieber 5. Christmas Canon — Trans-Siberian Orchestra 6. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree — Brenda Lee 7. Believe — Josh Groban 8. Last Christmas (Single Version) — Wham!

9. Jingle Bell Rock — Bobby Helms 10. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year — Andy Williams 11. Hallelujah — Pentatonix 12. Wizards in Winter (Instrumental) — TransSiberian Orchestra

13. Winter Song — Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson 14. Hallelujah — Lindsey Stirling 15. Last Christmas — Taylor Swift 16. Feliz Navidad — José Feliciano 17. Santa Tell Me — Ariana Grande 18. A Holly Jolly Christmas — Burl Ives 19. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) — Nat “King” Cole 20. Hard Candy Christmas — Dolly Parton

Ed Young, Kirby Heitt, Graydon Olsen, Gary Neigum, Andrea Harrabek, Mike Gerein, Carla Gerein

Merry Christmas Happy New Year

BIGGAR 306-948-2669 WILKIE 306-843-2222 UNITY 306-228-448 CUT KNIFE 306-398-2469

At the holidays more than ever, we appreciate how much joy friends like you bring to each day.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

www.gereinfuneralservice.com

Open since June 2018

REFORD TERMINAL Hwy 14, south of Wilkie, Sask.

1-306-800-6874

16 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

Reel Merry

Thank you for joining us this past year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

… from the Board and Volunteers …

For ALL shows, events and times, check our website: majestictheatre.ca

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Unorthodox stocking stuffers for grown-ups When it comes to giving memorable and fun stocking stuffers, sometimes it’s as much about what isn’t in the stocking as what is. And while sourcing affordable, outof-the-box items that are thoughtful, creative and small enough to fit in a stocking can feel like an exercise in determination, we’ve created this list of carefully curated and not-so-typical options to help.

Here are five stockingsized selections that are sure to please anyone on your list.

Retro Pac-Man Arcade Machine The original crowdpleasing video game, this Pac-Man “relic” will thrill

any kid at heart. It features a full colour, 2.75” screen, a removable joystick, has volume control and a headphone jack, and includes artwork inspired by the original arcade cabinet.

Rescue Coffee What if we told you that purchasing a bag of fair-trade, organically grown coffee meant you could enjoy a delicious cuppa while simultaneously supporting an animal rescue organization? That’s the reality of buying from this Nova Scotia-based brand, which dedicates 10 per cent of proceeds to their partnering animal rescue programs.

Liv 8” Footed Planter If you haven’t heard, indoor greenery is having a moment. This adorable footed planter will perfectly highlight your recipient’s bloom of choice, and its clay, colour-blocked natural finish will blend seamlessly with any décor.

Tile Mate Tracker Tag For the recipient who could benefit from an automatic locator for their keys, TV remote, wallet or other easily misplaced item, this attachable tile uses compatible technology (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple App Store and Google Play) to play a sound that guides

them in their search for what’s lost.

World Vision Gift Card The perfect present for would-be world changers, a World Vision gift card positively impacts the community the funds are donated to – and beyond. Recipients can choose to use their gift card toward health and nutrition, education, clean water, animals and more, and can take comfort in knowing that a donation made in their name will not only put a smile on the face of the recipient, but can also set in motion a lifetime of change and possibility.

Prepare the fireplace for holiday decorating

w r Ne ! u O Try Menu! a Pizz Thanks to all of our customers and friends here in town for dropping in on us in 2019. Your visits mean the world to us, and we look forward to continuing to serve you in the coming year.

Merry Christmas from...Management and Staff

Homestead Family Restaurant 902 Main Street 948-948-5656

“Your Family Restaurant”

A jolly holiday season can be made even more merry with a roaring fire.

Homeowners often build holiday tableaus around the fireplace to serve as festive backdrops. The mantle and the fireplace itself also may be a prime spot to dedicate to decorating this time of year.

Even though Christmas tree fires are rare, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, when they do occur they’re likely to be serious. That is why trees and other flammable decorations need to be kept clear of gas and wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.

In addition, many other guidelines should be heeded to ensure fireplaces and holiday decor safely coexist this season.

Read labels on decorative items carefully before decorating. Be

As we ring in another holiday season, we’d like to send a message of thanks to our network of valued customers for your loyal support this year. We owe our success to all of you and we appreciate your business.

Here’s hoping Santa answers all of your wishes this Christmas and always!

• SASKTEL CELLULAR & HIGH SPEED • MAX TV STREAM • HIGHSPEED FUSION

103 - 2ND AVE. E., BIGGAR • 306-948-2266 STORE HOURS • MON. - FRI., 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.

sure to only select items that are flame-resistant or retardent. Cherished collectibles and other

chimney sweep, and have the fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned at least once per

items should always be kept far away from open flames and heat.

It pays to have a fireplace inspected and cleaned for use prior to operation, advises Doherty Insurance Agency. Rely on a trained

year.

Even though it may be picturesque, do not place wrapped packages or gift boxes near the fireplace, as they tend to be highly combustible.

Keep presents and other flammable items at least

three feet away from the fireplace.

Do not be tempted to dispose of wrapping paper, boxes or even a Christmas tree in the fireplace. Wrapping paper contains additives that make it burn at high temperatures. A Christmas tree hasn’t been properly seasoned and could be a fire hazard and potentially contribute to excessive smoke and creosote.

Keep decorations that kids will be tempted to touch away from the fireplace so kids do not hang out near the heat and open flames.

Fireplaces are often a focal point of holiday decorating and entertaining. Homeowners who want to incorporate their fireplaces into their holiday decor must emphasize safety when doing so.

Hope your hoiday is trimmed with every happiness.

Thanks for hanging with us all year!

Merry Christmas!

M & N Repair Mike, Darlene and staff 701-4th Ave. E, Truck Route East, Biggar • 306-948-3996

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Seven facts about the winter solstice Nocturnal animals and human night owls may rejoice during the winter solstice. On the winter solstice, people can witness the Earth’s longest night and shortest day of the year for their respective hemispheres. For individuals living in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice generally occurs between December 20 and 23 each year. Those in the southern hemisphere experience the winter solstice between June 20 to June 23.

In 2019, the northern hemisphere’s winter solstice occurs on December 21. The solstice may come and go unnoticed, but it’s an interesting day on the calendar.

1. Not only will the winter solstice occur on a specific date, it also occurs at a specific time when the Earth’s semi-axis tilts furthest from the sun. This cor-

responds to when the North Pole is aimed away from the sun on the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis. At this point, the sun also shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. The information and trivia site Mental Floss says the solstice happens at the same moment for everyone on the plane. However, the hour it occurs depends on your time zone.

2. Areas of the Northern Hemisphere can have varying lengths of day and night on the solstice. For example, New York City may have nine hours and 15 minutes of sunlight on the winter solstice. If that upsets New Yorkers, they may be happy to be outside parts of Finland, some of which get less than six hours of sunlight on the solstice.

3. The word “solstice” is derived from Latin and means “sun stands still.”

It was chosen to describe this cosmic phenomenon because the solstice sun seemingly appears in the same position at noontime for several days before and after the winter solstice - at its lowest point in the sky.

4. It is easy to mistake the solstices for the equinoxes, which also occur twice a year. However, the equinoxes occur in fall and spring and mark when the sun is directly above the equator and night and day are of equal length.

5. Despite the winter solstice indicating the beginning of the astrological winter, it may not be the coldest time of the season. Usually those temperatures are reserved for January and February.

6. The Farmer’s Almanac reports that many cultures marked the arrival of the solstice as a time of death and

rebirth. Early man also kept track of the days by observing the sun’s position in the sky. In fact, historians believe Stonehenge was created to monitor the sun’s yearly “movement.”

7. Many traditions associated with Christmas originated during Pagan celebrations for the winter solstice. For example, Scandinavians would burn a juul (yule) log in the hearth in honor of the god Thor.

Thor’s job was to bring the sun’s warmth back to the people.

While the winter solstice and the lack of sunlight synonymous with it may not be something everyone looks forward to, there is a silver lining.

Following the winter solstice, the hours of sunlight gradually increase by the day, eventually paving the way for the spring equinox.

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 17

Your Friendship… Makes It all Worthwhile!

This is our chance to let you know how grateful we are for your friendship and support as we wish you all a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year.

It’s been a gift for us serving folks like you. Thanks!

WEASIE’S Gourmet Blends Louise and staff 211 Main St., BigGAR s 306-948-1795

Dashing through the Snow to deliver Our Best Wishes As we dash toward Christmas Day, we’d like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday!

Hope it’s merry and bright with just the right amount of excitement.

We appreciate your patronage, and we wish you all the best!

~ Landis ~ Don, Mallory, Perry, Cole and Rochelle 306-658-2002

Spiritual Christmas traditions to embrace The holiday season is a special and spiritual time of year. It can sometimes be easy to get lost in the more commercial aspects of the holiday season, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with shopping for gifts that will show your loved ones how much you love and appreciate them.

For those who want to focus back on the spiritual side of this special time of year, the following suggestions can help in those efforts.

Share the story of Christmas The Gospels of Mark

and Luke offer differing accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ. Both indicate that Jesus was born to Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. Mary became pregnant through immaculate conception, as she was a virgin when visited by an angel who informed her that she was to carry God’s son.

At the time of Christ’s birth, all Jewish people had to be counted by Roman soldiers for tax purposes. That required people to return to their places of birth. As a result, Mary and Joseph

In this season of celebration, we are reminded of both the diversity and bounty that nature provides us, and are grateful for the richness and beauty of this wondrous season.

We are also grateful to share it with good people like you, and wish you all the best during this special time of year.

Wylie Seed & Processing Dale, Bill, staff and families

306-948-2807

set out on an arduous journey to Bethlehem.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem, inns had no vacancies, but Mary and Joseph were given shelter in a stable where Jesus was ultimately born.

Attend Mass Churches traditionally hold religious services on Christmas Eve and Christmas. These services are joyful expressions of faith, music and community spirit. But Christmas mass is not the only time to head to church. During Advent, the four-week period preceding Christmas, Catholics prepare and repent. Advent calendars help count down the days until Christmas.

Set out a nativity scene Make a nativity scene the primary focus of Christmas decorations and encourage children to play with the figures and act out the Christmas story.

Focus on gifts for good Families can focus their energies on faithful endeavors and the spirit of giving that’s synonymous with the season.

Do good deeds for others, embrace peace and love and share special time with others.

Sing carols Spread the holiday spirit through song. Get together with a group of friends or neighbors and go door-to-door, or hold a caroling performance at a centralized location.

Select religious hymns, but also include some secular favorites.

The holiday season is a great time of year to reconnect with one’s faith and spirituality.

We wouldn’t be here without the generous support of friends and neighbors like all of you and we wish you all the very best at the holidays and always

de Moissac Jewellers Denise, Ross, Elisabeth, Elena, Shirley 217 Main St., Biggar

306-948-2452

Sending Our Best at the Holidays Here’s hoping your holiday delivers a bundle of joy and good cheer.

Merry Christmas!

Parrish & Heimbecker Limited Hanover Junction Biggar, Sask.

306-948-1990 www.parrishandheimbecker.com

18 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK Here’s hoping your Christmas has all the ingredients of a great time: friends, family, fun, good fortune and everything else that makes you happy. Thank you for dropping in on us at the holidays and all year.

Merry Christmas BIGGAR SAUSAGES & MORE 209 Main Street, Biggar • 306-948-2284

We’re filled with warm wishes and lots of good cheer For all the kind people we’ve served this past year.

Thanks, friends!

PERDUE AGENCIES LTD. 306-237-4373

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

How to create a durable gingerbread house Gingerbread cookies and houses are one of the many symbols of the holiday season, alongside Christmas trees and twinkling lights. In fact, few confections symbolize the holidays more so than gingerbread.

Many a child (or a child at heart) has spent hours carefully trying to create decorative gingerbread houses. Although gingerbread recipes span various cultures, gingerbread houses originated in 16th century Germany. The fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” helped solidify the popularity of gingerbread, which became part of Christmas traditions.

Even though gingerbread houses can be fun to make, there’s no denying it can be exacting work - especially for those who strive for per-

fection. Prepackaged kits attempt to take some of the guesswork out of the equation, but those who are crafting from scratch can employ these tips as they build their gingerbread houses. · Go for form and not flavor. Few gingerbread houses ever get eaten, so focus on finding a dough that will bake up rock hard as opposed to one that tastes good. · Get the right icing texture. Pastry artist Catherine Beddall says royal icing is the preferred “glue” to adhere gingerbread pieces. Beddall

says icing should be thick like peanut butter and not runny. · Mind the dough. Do not roll out the gingerbread dough too thin or it may become brittle after being cooked.

Always cut out shapes before the gingerbread is baked. Let the baked pieces sit overnight to cool completely before using them to build. · Patience is key. Allow the icing to dry for at least a couple of hours after adhering each piece and before moving and handling the house, says Beddall. Work in stages

so that individual items can be decorated and allowed to dry. Then the walls can be put together, followed by the roof pieces. · Kids likely will need help. Children may not have the patience or steadiness to handle complete gingerbread construction. They can decorate the separate pieces of the house while the components are laying flat, which is easier for kids. Adults can do the main assembly later on. · Utilize a template.

Free-handing may not be easy. Cut out templates using cardboard or posterboard for various gingerbread pieces.

One of the most important tips is to have fun.

Don’t take gingerbread house making too seriously as a novice. Rather, enjoy the experience and the centuries-old tradition.

Christmas tree recycling May the majic of the holidays fill your heart with joy and excitment.

We says thanks to all of our patrons and friends this past year and look forward to serving you in 2020

We’d like to chime in with our best wishes and thanks.

Merry Christmas!

Regal Motors Ltd. Established in 1929 124-1st Ave.W Rosetown, Sask.

One Stop Hardware

306-882-2623

Enjoy buying your next vehicle at Regal Motors!

Jean, Emil, Tammy, Janessa and Dave

306-948-5626

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

May the joy of this holiday season lift your spirits and fill you with happiness.

Thanks to all of the members and friends who have kept us going strong this past year.

See you in 2020

PUMP UP THE CHEER!!

Diamond Gym and Thuro-Janitorial Services Laurie, Cliff and staff s 306-948-5600

When choosing a real Christmas tree for holiday celebrations, consumers should think about the many ways that trees can be repurposed after the holiday season. Some towns collect discarded trees to use them for various purposes. However, homeowners can get in on the action as well. The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers these great ideas for post-holiday tree use. · Prop up the tree near a bird feeder to provide another perch and shelter to birds that stick close to home in winter, such as chickadees and finches. · String the tree with various treats for birds and put it in a sheltered location. Ideas include homemade suet, cranberries and millet. · Mulch the tree and use it in the garden in the spring. · Use boughs to insulate perennials in the garden. · Keep some branches to use as kindling in a wood stove or fireplace, or as aromatic logs for next year’s yule fire.

· Sink an old tree in a personal pond. Fish and tadpoles will live and lay eggs around this sheltered area. · Collect some pine needles and sew them into fabric packets to make scented sachets for closets or drawers.

There are many imaginative ways to come up with handy uses for Christmas trees once the holiday season ends.

40 years of serving Biggar and area 1979-2019

Carter Plumbing & Heating Water Heaters, Softeners, Pumps, Furnaces, Underground Sprinklers, Air conditioning

306-948-2624

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 19

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The origins of Christmas caroling The festive nature of the holiday season makes it an ideal time to sing, especially in groups. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that caroling, a tradition that dates back many centuries, ultimately collided with Christmas.

Caroling and Christmas caroling are two different things. According to History.org, the origins of modern Christmas caroling can be traced to wassailing, a term that has evolved for more than a millenium. What started as a simple greeting gradually became part of a toast made during ritualized drinking.

Time magazine notes that the word “wassail,” which appeared in English literature as early as the eighth century, eventually came to mean the wishing of good fortune on one’s neighbors, though no one can say for certain when this particular development occurred.

During medieval times,

farmers in certain parts of Britain would drink a beverage to toast the health of their crops and encourage the fertility of their animals. By 1600, farmers in some parts of

Britain were still engaging in this ritual, and some were by now taking a wassail bowl filled with a toasting beverage around the streets. These wassailers would stop by neighboring homes and offer a warm drink, all

Thanks for bringing so much joy to our year with your visits.

We greatly appreciate your business and your friendship.

PERDUE/SWIFT CURRENT/SASKATOON • 306-237-4212

Hope you’ll be “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” and doing the “Jingle Bell Rock” right into

306-951-7700

the New Year.

Merry Christmas

the while wishing good fortune on their neighbors.

During this period, wassailing had nothing to do with Christmas, but that began to change in

Victorian England, when Christmas became more commercialized and popular. It was during this time when publishers

began circulating carols, forever linking the tradition of wassailing with Christmas.

Christmas caroling as Victorian Englanders knew it might have fallen by the wayside. But while carolers may no longer go door-todoor singing Christmas songs and wishing their neighbors good fortune, those intent on seeing the modern manifestation of this tradition that dates back more than a millenium may be able to find some carolers at their local mall or church.

Have A Jolly Holiday Wishing all of you a most Merry Christmas, and Best Wishes for the New Year.

PRAIRIE BRANCHES ~ Board, Management, Staff and Participants

We wish you a happy holiday filled with joy and cheer to last the entire year.

Thanks for your patronage and we’ll see you in the coming year!

REBEL LANDSCAPING Ed Kolenosky and family 306-948-2879 306-948-7207 Biggar

The 12 days of Christmas “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.”

The familiar lyrics of this tune are sung as part of Christmas caroling and holiday celebrations, reaching a crescendo each time singers belt out “five golden rings.”

The song is an English Christmas carol that was written in 1720. While it references plenty of gift-giving, it’s easy to assume the song is about giving Christmas gifts.

However, the 12 days in the song actually refer to the birth of Jesus Christ.

The 12 days of Christmas, also known as the Twelvetide, refers to the festive Christian season that celebrates the Nativity of Jesus. In fact, the start of these days occurs on December 25 and extends until the evening of January 5th, the day before the Epiphany, known as Twelfth Night.

Each day corresponds to a remembrance of different religious events or people.

Christmas celebrants can celebrate well into the new year. Commemorating the 12 days of Christmas can include

small festivities from December 25 to January 5. On Twelfth Night, historically known for parties, modern-day fanfare can mark the culmination of the Christmas season — with the last of gift-giving occurring on the Epiphany.

Gifting, hosting friends and family, attending religious services, participating in charitable events, or opening one’s home to neighbors and those who can use some companionship are all ways to make the 12 days of Christmas more special.

Your visits and your trust mean so much to us, and we look forward to serving you this holiday season and for many more to come, Merry Chritmas to you!

Leslie’s Drugstore Tina, Ashlyn, Baylee, Jean, Cristina, Brooklyn and Tyra 306-948-3397 www.lesliesdrugstore @sasktel.net

POINSETTIAS are here!

Get your fresh flower pest With our dee centrepieces for your your gratitude for ge. home or gifts for the kind patrona Christmas Season!

Have a ! y a d li o beautiful h Stop in or , Karen Ann, Virginia call today! and families

Designs by Ann

121 Main Street, Biggar •

306-948-3666 •

20 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

The story of the birth of Jesus

With sincere best wishes to our neighbours, patrons and friends. Your support means everything to us.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the

“Tax Professionals” Management, Staff and Families 223 Main Street Professional Building Biggar, Sask.

306-948-2183 hrbbiggar@sasktel.net

All of us here are wishing you a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.

All the best in the New Year!

VILLAGE OF PERDUE Mayor Dave Miller; Councillors, Graham Bindle, Willie Cotterill, Terry Fyson, Jim Nicholls and staff

Christmas traditions focus on several different aspects of family and spiritual life. While many stories are shared around Christmastime, perhaps none bears more significance than the origin of the Christmas celebration. Sharing the Christmas story is an integral part of holiday gatherings, reminding families that faith is foremost during this festive time of year.

The Conception of Jesus Mary was a woman living in the Galilee area of Nazareth. She was engaged to a Jewish carpenter named Joseph.

An angel visited the Virgin Mary and told her that she would conceive a child — a son — by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When the son was born, she would name him Jesus. Mary questioned the angel, who reassured her that anything was possible by God and that Jesus would be God’s own son.

Joseph was troubled when he found out Mary was with child and even considered breaking their engagement, which was allowed under Jewish law. But God soon sent another angel, this time to Joseph, in a dream. The angel reassured Joseph that his

marriage to Mary and the birth of this child were His will. Joseph awoke from his dream and took Mary as his wife soon after, ready and willing to raise the

child despite the public humiliation he may experience.

The Census During this time the Romans had control over many parts of the world, including where Joseph and Mary resided. Ruler Caesar Augustus decreed that every person living under Roman rule had to return to his town of origin to participate in a census so everyone could be taxed accordingly.

Joseph, hailing from Bethlehem, had to return to this town with his very pregnant bride.

They traveled for many days and, upon arriving in Bethlehem, found that the inns were full and there was no available lodging. Mary and Joseph took shelter in a stable and prepared to welcome their son.

Jesus’ Arrival According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son, while in the stable.

She wrapped him in cloth and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will

cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

-Luke Chapter 2 Many people visited the baby Jesus, including three wise men from the East who traveled by following a guiding star to bestow gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh on the baby king.

When Joseph and Mary had performed all the things necessary according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Nazareth with Jesus, who was growing strong in spirit and filled with wisdom and the grace of God.

From the heart, go our very best wishes To each one of you!

Many thanks for your kindness and your continued business!

Angie’s Hair Salon & Barber Shop Dallas, Sherry, Tammy, Angie and Trevor 219 Main St., Biggar • 306-948-3696

TOP IT OFF with Cheer!

WITH WARM WISHES AND

HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING YOU THIS YEAR! Troy, Kerry and everyone at…

306-237-7671

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 21

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Randy Weekes, M.L.A. Biggar-Sask Valley Constituency 306-948-4880, toll free 1-877-948-4880 Box 1413, 106-3rd Avenue West, Biggar Even though snow is blanketing the landscape, we’re warmed by having such good friends and neighbors around us this season.

We hope you have a joyful and festive holiday, and a very happy and healthy year ahead.

Health and Happiness Good Luck and Good Cheer We Wish You All This and More at Christmas Time and the New Year

Merry Christmas Happy New Year

Biggar Veterinary Clinic Dr. M. O. Isinger and family, Paulette Ireland-Hegland 306-948-3642 Santa’s Singing Elves . . . Suitably adorned school singers perform at the annual noon hour carol festival, December 3. If the noon hour holiday extravaganza couldn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, an evening performance certainly did. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

From our branch to your family and business, we wish you a happy holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

With thanks and warm wishes from all of us to all of you.

Phillips Electric Biggar • 306-948-1773 Dave and staff

Drop by and visit Kristy, Kari-lee, Destiny, Naty and the team during the holidays at: RBC Biggar branch 303 Main St, Biggar SK 306-948-5001

May you have a safe and happy holiday season.

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada.

39540 (11/2017)

22 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Hope the holidays bring you good cheer, and fill you with the spirit of the season.

We’re very grateful for your patronage.

Please come and see us soon.

Biggar Liquor Board Store Lana and Cindy

306-948-3575

& Happy

Holidays

$ " $ & # ! $ $ " ! $ " ! ! # $

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A smile for Santa . . . Kids either love him or can’t be too sure about him, but for this wee fellow, Santa is the most important celebrity he’s met so far! Lots of smile were had during the Biggar Day Care’s Cabaret during the Festival of Lights, November 29. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

We hope your holiday hits all the high notes!

2020!

With a song in our hearts, we wish all of our neighbours here a most Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We sincerely appreciate your patronage and friendship at the holidays and all year!

Campbell Accounting Services Rod and Jennifer Campbell 117 3rd Ave. West, Biggar 306-948-4430 or 306-948-4460

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 23

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas trees brighten the season Decked out in tinsel, lights, ornaments, and garland, Christmas trees are enduring symbols of the holiday season that boast a rich history.

Evergreen trees have been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years, and eventually became associated with Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year held special meaning to ancient peoples, and were purported to keep away illness and evil spirits.

Germans were credited with tying evergreen trees to Christmas celebrations. In the sixteenth century, devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, is believed to have first added lighted candles to these trees after he was

inspired by twinkling stars in the night sky.

While early Americans found Christmas trees an oddity, the tradition, brought over by German settlers, eventually caught on. Between 25 and 30 million natural Christmas trees are sold each year. Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada.

The following is a look at some popular tree varieties.

Living Christmas trees Living Christmas tree, which refers to those with their roots still intact, are popular among eco-conscious holiday enthusiasts.

That’s because living trees can be promptly planted after they’ve served their purpose indoors.

Opt for a moderately

sized tree, as root balls on larger trees can be heavy and difficult to move. Living trees can typically be kept indoors for around seven to 10 days before they will need to be returned outside. Move such trees to a sheltered outdoor area for one to two weeks so they can reacclimate to the climate. So long as the ground is not frozen, trees can then be planted when the reacclimation period ends. Select a mild day to plant the tree.

Fraser fir Fraser fir trees are typically uniformly pyramid-shaped trees that have strong branches that turn slightly upward. These trees have good needle retention and a dark, blue-green hue. Many people feel these trees have a pleas-

ant scent. Because they are such a quintessential Christmas tree, Fraser fir, as well as their close cousin, Balsam fir, tend to be more expensive than others.

Scotch pine One of the advantages of Scotch pine trees is their needle retention.

Experts say Scotch pine needles will not drop off even if the tree is dry.

Scotch pine is an introduced species brought to North America by European settlers, and it’s known for dark green foliage and sturdy, stiff branches. The Scotch pine is one of the most popular Christmas trees today.

White spruce As a Christmas tree, the white spruce is known for excellent foliage color, short stiff

needles and good needle retention. The bluegreen color is pleasant, but when needles are crushed, the tree doesn’t produce a favorable evergreen aroma. White spruce trees keeps their needles longer than

other spruces.

With proper care, any variety of Christmas tree can look beautiful throughout the holiday season.

May peace, joy, harmony and contentment visit your home during this special time of year.

We are sincerely grateful and look forward to your continued friendship.

233 - 1st Ave. West, Biggar 306-948-2700

Easy Christmas morning breakfast

Jack, Carolyn,Jacob, Daniel and families

Spiced Yogurt Muffins (Yield: 50 servings)

“Merry Christmas”

61/2 cups Dannon plain fat-free Greek yogurt

Thank you for making our year run so smoothly.We wouldn’t be here without good friends and customers like you.

4 cups water, room temperature

Come on in we will help make your winter driving more enjoyable!!

1 box (5 lbs) Gold Medal® Muffin Mix, Whole Grain Variety 3 tablespoons McCormick pumpkin pie spice 2 tablespoons McCormick Chipotle cinnamon Combine yogurt and water in mixing bowl.

Whisk until blended. Set aside.

Add spices to dry muffin mix in a large bowl. Add yogurt and water mixture to the muffin mixture. Mix until just blended. Don’t overmix.

Using a scoop, portion into greased or lined muffin pans. Bake at 350 F for 24 minutes, or 17 to 20 minutes in a convection oven, until the tops are golden brown.

It’s time for holiday fun and gathering the family together to share a warm, wonderful Christmas Season.

We hope the holidays bring everything you want!

We wish you and yours the best season ever.

Management & Staff

AGI Envirotank 401 Hwy #4 South, Biggar • 306-948-5262

Make-ahead muffins can be a quick breakfast that’s perfect for Christmas mornings at home.

Christmas morning is an exciting and joyous time for families. Children are anxious to rush downstairs and see what Santa has left under the tree, and parents are eager to see the looks on youngsters’ happy faces.

Having a fast and easy breakfast at the ready on Christmas morning allows families to jump right into the festivities rather than spending too much time in the kitchen.

This recipe for “Spiced Yogurt Muffins,” courtesy of the National Dairy Council, Dannon and McCormick, can be made in advance and then enjoyed while peeking into Christmas stockings or watching holiday parades on television. This big-batch recipe is ideal for feeding

a houseful of overnight holiday guests. Or it can be prepared in advance and doled out as needed throughout the week.

The muffins also can be made as a treat for holiday office luncheons.

Cut the recipe in half for smaller yields.

Management and Staff 103 SK Hwy 14 Biggar, Sask.

306-948-2298

We thank you for your generous support and look forward to serving you again.

From the Management and Staff at

Hwy #4, Biggar, • 306-948-1753

24 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019