The Newsy Neighbour January 2020

NEWSY JANUARY 2020 ISSUE 147

A Complimentary Magazine for Strathmore, Langdon, Chestermere & Area.

The

Neighbour Magazine

Business Awards

Business Excellence Awards 2019

PERSONAL GROWTH JOURNEY Become a “New You” for 2020

Full Transmission Service

Full ENGINE Service

@ZegilEngine

hzegil@yahoo.com

Strathmore, AB facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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www.valuedrugmart.com 132-2nd Ave Strathmore AB T1P 1K3 | Phone: 403.934.3122

Pharmacy/ Drugstore At Value Drug Mart, our mission is clear... to provide quality health care and great products in community minded, independently owned and operated stores. This is as true today as it was when we first opened our doors in 1978.

Hallmark Gift Store - Post Office - Photocopy/Fax Service Books/Magazine - Cosmetics - General Merchandise Home Decor - Home & Office Supplies Stationery & Back to School - Household Products

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CALL US FIRST! YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED AUTOMOTIVE GARAGE, SERVICING ALL MAKES AND MODELS!

FULL-SERVICE Auto Care

FROM OIL CHANGES, TIRES, AND MAINTENANCE TO ENGINE PERFORMANCE, CHIPS & LIFT KITS. WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR RIDE TO MAKE SURE YOU STAY ON THE ROAD!

FREE ESTIMATES COMPETITIVE PRICES QUICK & EASY

IGHT, R E N O D E! M I T T S R THE FI

Langdon Automotive is proud to be licensed by the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC), and to have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, as well as being a member of the Langdon and District Chamber of Commerce.

In business for just a few short months, Langdon Automotive was nominated in November 2016 for 3 Newsy Neighbour Best in Business Awards – Auto Service, Tire Service, and Customer Service.

We venture to provide Langdon and area residents with quality and affordable service and repairs to their daily drivers and special toys. We are a Satellite Store for Auto Value, and proud to supply our customers with a wide variety of parts from the finest retailers.

WWW.LANGDONAUTOMOTIVE.COM 403-936-5320 | 254 Centre Street, Langdon Hours: Mon - Thurs: 8-6 Friday: 8-5 Saturday: 9-1 Closed Sunday & Holidays facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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LIL H

TS

CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE KIDS

MATERNITY

GIFTS

NEW

It's a new store everyday whenever I can get to it.

Strathmore's ONLY Kids and Maternity Consignment Store!

Sell & Shop

New & Used

Winter Boots! Snow Suits!

Hockey Equipment! Dance Clothes!

Silver Sharks Bathing Suits!

Boys & Girls clothes from Newborn to Size 16!

Maternity Melissa & Doug 582 Soap Ltd Hayloft Naturals Pumpkin's Diaper Lulujo BLOOM by Girl Gotch Lainey's Inspirations All Things Jill - Pea in a Pod Pebble to Peak Silicone Teethers Healing Amber Necklaces

#103 307-3 AVE. STRATHMORE, ALBERTA

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Aleesha Gosling, CEO Phone: 403-478-9114

We Are More Than Just A Magazine

Winner SBC 2013 Business of the Year - Small Enterprise Winner of SBC 2015 Chamber of Commerce Award

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Advertising can be expensive but integral to the survival of any business. Anyone who is willing to give us their hard earned advertising dollars, will get a promise from us, to do everything we can to promote and advertise their business and return the support in multiple ways. We are passionate about supporting local and it's the local businesses that are to thank for the existence of The Newsy Neighbour Magazine.

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Certificate of Recognition 2019 From the Strathmore Chamber of Commerce for contribution to the Strathmore Community

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The opinions expressed in the advertisements and articles of this publication are those of the advertisers and authors and not of The Newsy Neighbour Inc. The information in this magazine is believed and fully intended to be accurate but not warranted to be so. The Newsy Neighbour Inc. disclaims responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas or products referred to in the articles or advertisements. The mention of any brand in article or photos does not imply endorsement. Images are supplied by readers, advertisers and from shutterstock.com.

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Langdon, AB T0J1X1 Questions please call 403-478-9114 aleesha@thenewsyneighbour.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH JOURNEY For the “New YOU” these tips will help you to become the “New You” for 2020. Remember, change is not always easy! Start with baby steps and you will be running in no time. Good luck with your personal growth journey!!

1.

Read a book everyday. Books are concentrated sources of wisdom. The more books you read, the more wisdom you expose yourself to.

2. Learn a new language.

3. Pick up a new hobby.

4. Take up a new course. Is there any new course you can join?

Courses are a great way to gain new knowledge and skills.

5. Create an inspirational room. Your environment sets the mood and tone for you. If you are living in an inspirational environment, you are going to be inspired every day.

6. Overcome your fears. All of us have fears. Fear of uncertainty, fear of public speaking, fear of risk… All our fears keep us in the same position and prevent us from growing.

7. Level up your skills. If you have played video games before especially RPGs, you’ll know the concept of leveling up – gaining experience so you can be better and stronger.

8. Wake up early. Waking up early (say, 5-6am) has been acknowledged by many (Anthony Robbins, Robin Sharma, among other self-help gurus) to improve your productivity and your quality of life.

9. Have a weekly exercise routine. A better ‘you’ starts with being in better physical shape.

10. Start your life handbook. A life handbook is an awesome idea. Basically, it’s a book, which contains the essentials on how you can live your life to the fullest, such as your purpose, your values and goals. Sort of like your manual for your life.

11. Write a letter to your future self. What do you see yourself as 5 years from now? Will you be the same? Different? What kind of person will you be? Write a letter to your future self – 1 year from now will be a good start – and seal it. Make a date in your calendar to open it 1 year from now. Then start

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working to become the person you want to open that letter.

12. Get out of your comfort zone. Real growth comes with hard work and sweat. Being too comfortable doesn’t help us grow – it makes us stagnate. What is your comfort zone? Do you stay in most of the time? Do you keep to your own space when out with other people? Shake your routine up. Do something different. By exposing yourself to a new context, you’re literally growing as you learn to act in new circumstances.

13. Put someone up to a challenge. Competition is one of the best ways to grow. Set a challenge (weight loss, exercise, financial challenge, etc) and compete with an interested friend to see who achieves the target first.

14. Acknowledge your flaws. Everyone has flaws. What’s most important is to understand them, acknowledge them, and address them. What do you think are your flaws?

15. Get into action. The best way to learn and improve is to take action. What is something you have been meaning to do?

How can you take action on it immediately? Waiting doesn’t get anything done. Taking action gives you immediate results to learn from.

16. Learn from people who inspire you. Think about people you admire. People who inspire you. These people reflect certain qualities you want to have for yourself too. What are the qualities in them you want to have for yourself? How can you acquire these qualities?

17. Quit a bad habit. Are there any bad habits you can lose?

Oversleeping? Not exercising? Being late? Slouching? Nail biting? Smoking?

18. Cultivate a new habit. Some good new habits to cultivate include reading books, waking up early, exercising, reading a new personal development article a day and meditating.

Is there any other new habit you can cultivate to improve yourself?

19. Avoid negative people.

20. Start a journal. Journaling is a great way to gain better self-awareness. It’s a self-reflection process. As you write, clarify your thought process and read what you wrote from a third person’s perspective, you gain more insights about yourself.

21. Learn chess (or any strategy game). Chess is a terrific game to learn strategy and hone your brainpower. Not only do you have fun, you also get to exercise your analytical skills.

22. Stop watching TV. 23. Start a 30-day challenge. Set a goal and give yourself 30 days to achieve this. Your goal can be to stick with a new habit or something you’ve always wanted to do but have not. 30 days is just enough time to strategize, plan, get into action, review and nail the goal.

24. Meditate. Meditation helps to calm you and be more conscious.

25. Let go of the past. Is there any grievance or unhappiness from the past, which you have been holding on? If so, it’s time to let it go. Holding on to them prevents you from moving on and becoming a better person. Break away from the past, forgive yourself, and move on.

26. Show kindness to people around you. You can never be too kind to someone. In fact, most of us don’t show enough kindness to people around us. Being kind helps us to cultivate other qualities such as compassion, patience, and love.

27. Take a break. Have you been working too hard? Self-improvement is also about recognizing our need to take a break to walk the longer mile ahead. You can’t be driving a car if it has no gas. Take some time off for yourself every week. Relax, rejuvenate and charge yourself up for what’s up ahead.

28. Read at least 1 personal development article a day.

29.

Commit to your personal growth.

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Strathmore & Langdon /WomenTalkStrathmore /WomenTalkLangdon Monthly Events Come Join Our Tribe

WOMEN TALK events are evenings gathering where women present and share their inspiring stories, thoughts, ideas and experiences. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn and you’ll be entertained by amazing WOMEN TALKers!

The evenings are fast-paced with each presenter speaking for 20 minutes, TED TALK style.

We are ordinary women, sharing extraordinary stories!

Everyone's uniqueness is celebrated. It is a beautiful harmonious place where you can feel the unconditional love of the Divine Feminine.

Overly focused on the business side – though we do a lot of that too.

Professional speakers only, many step up to the mic for the first time with us, and some have done Tedx Talks.

What to expect: What is Women Talk?

WOMEN TALK events are evenings gathering where women present and share their inspiring stories, thoughts, ideas and experiences. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn and you’ll be entertained by amazing WOMEN TALKers!

The evenings are fast-paced with each presenter speaking for 20 minutes, TED TALK style.

We are ordinary women, sharing extraordinary stories!

Everyone's uniqueness is celebrated. It is a beautiful harmonious place where you can feel the unconditional love of the Divine Feminine.

Women Talk membership is more than a community it is your TRIBE...

Women who will have your back.

Women who share your experiences, laughter and tears.

Who will support your business.

Empower yourself and others.

Grow your network and community with deep connections.

A safe place to heal and overcome.

Have Fun!!

Women Talk is not:

Your typical networking group – we are a community

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Amazing opportunities to learn public speaking, or to support other women that share their stories.

Share Your Story at many locations – Non-members can only speak at one location.

Participate in small monthly events or larger special events.

Get featured on our various marketing platforms, including a podcast, Weekly Facebook live, 13 live events monthly, and quarterly major events – with more being added all the time.

Free webinar trainings on a variety of business and marketing topics.

Business masterminds – free and paid.

Coaching Triads with other members – to focus on specific issues in your business or goals.

Build connections through games with improv and murder mystery nights.

Business promotion in our Facebook Groups.

Discounts on programs and events offered by Women Talk.

Discounts on programs and events from other Women Talk members.

Referral partner commissions for helping us to grow the tribe.

And so much more…

Join us once a month at our Strathmore and Langdon Chapters! www.facebook.com/WomenTalkLangdon/ www.facebook.com/WomenTalkStrathmore/ The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Journaling A Great Way to Record

Memories and Relive Them If you know anyone who is elderly, chances are you find yourself regretting that you did not ask them about their past sooner. Perhaps it is too late and that elder simply cannot remember. Maybe you were just too busy with family or career to ask those questions or record them.

However, awareness is half the battle. If you are aware that you would like to do something in regard to journaling an elder’s life story, now is the perfect time. With the internet being what it is, it is easier than ever to record it all.

Journaling is a great way to record memories and to relive them.

Journaling while you are young enough offers many benefits.

scrap book or using programs on the internet to create memory books, then look at journaling as an opportunity to match times, places, and dates all in one place while you still remember them.

Journaling is a great way to take some quiet time to yourself as well. Going back to visit your past with fondness is a great way to reminisce.

If you are journaling with an elder, what a wonderful time to bond once again. Journaling provides that elder with a sense of accomplishment looking over a life well lived, those who have gone, and how grateful they are for you and their family and loved ones.

Journaling is not only a great way to record memories and relive past memories, it is also a great way to stay young. Believe it or not, fond memories contribute to a happier and healthier life.

Journaling is something that you can do in your middle ages or as an older adult, by yourself, or with the help of someone else.

Recording special memories and events helps to pass the time and leaves something for future generations. Journaling keeps you young in mind, body, and spirit as well.

For example, journaling while you are in your middle age offers you the benefit of looking back while you are still able to recall some of those memories. Your childhood memories can bring lots of laughter, tears, and memories to cherish.

Journaling also gives you the opportunity to bond with your children and other younger family members. They will more than likely get a kick out of seeing the clothes you wore, the styles that were popular, and most of all laugh at your hairstyle back in the day.

If you have children that are old enough to assist you in creating a facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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So to make this time of pleasure even more pleasurable, I thought I should be adding some soothing oils or Epsom salts to the water, so, as usual, onto the internet I go to do my research on the most beneficial products to use and I was astounded on all the information I found on using Epsom Salts – not just for soaking your feet, BUT, holy cow just the 100 other things you can do with this amazing salt!

Founded in 2011, the Chestermere Chamber of Commerce provides an avenue for businesses in the community to create a positive business environment and essentially exists to make the community a better place in which to live.

The Chamber works closely with its municipal government and peaks for the business community at public hearings, the media and behind closed doors. It is the "United voice of Chestermere business".

READY TO GET STARTED?

Join The Chamber TODAY! Phone: 403 770 9680

Email: info@chestermerechamber.com

www.chestermerechamber.com

EPSOM SALTS It

all started when I purchased a fancy foot spa off my favourite garage sale site in Strathmore. My feet get so darn dry in the winter and there is nothing better than a nice long foot soak while watching your favourite movie – am I right?

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Did you know that Epsom salt was named for a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England? It is not actually salt, but a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. Long known as a natural remedy for a number of ailments, Epsom salt has numerous health benefits, as well as many beauty, household and gardening-related uses. Studies have shown that magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy its amazing health benefits. Firstly, magnesium plays a number of roles in the body, including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function and helping to prevent artery hardening. Sulfates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins and help ease migraine headaches.

It seems the wonders of Epsom salt have been well known for hundreds of years and unlike other salts, Epsom salt has beneficial properties that can soothe the body, mind and soul. Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body. One of the simplest ways to ease stress and stress-related problems is to soak in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom salt.

We all know stress it a very bad thing and it drains the body of magnesium and increases levels of adrenaline. When dissolved in warm water, Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin and replenishes the level of magnesium in the body. The magnesium helps to produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Research shows that magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy packets made in the cells. Experts believe that bathing with Epsom salt at least three times a week helps you to look better, feel better and gain more energy. Just add 2 cups to your tub and for the added benefit of moisturizing your skin, add 1/2 cup olive oil or baby oil. Do not use soap, as it will interfere with the action of the salts. Try to rest for about two hours afterwards.

If you have arthritic joints, move them as much as possible after an Epsom salt bath to prevent congestion in the joints. Magnesium ions also relax and reduce irritability by lowering the effects of adrenaline. They create a relaxed feeling, improve sleep and concentration, and help muscles and nerves to function properly. An Epsom salt bath is known to ease pain and relieve inflammation, making it beneficial in the treatment of sore muscles, bronchial asthma and migraine headaches.

Your skin is a highly porous membrane and adding the right minerals to your bathwater triggers a process called reverse osmosis, which actually pulls salt out of your body, and harmful toxins along with it. Whether you like a relaxing soak or wish to enhance your beauty effortlessly, making Epsom salt a part of your daily routine can add a whole lot of goodness to your way of life. If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, check with your doctor before using Epsom salts.

Here is the part I like; I can soak my tired aching feet in my foot spa with half a cup of Epsom salt to soften my feet and it will The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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BUILDING in STRATHMORE, AB RECIPIENT OF Silver in the category of Best In Home Building Wildflower Ranch and Lakeview are beau�ful addi�ons to the neighbourhoods of Strathmore.

With great access to Highway 1, good proximity to Strathmore schools and abundant pathways and walkways, Wildflower Ranch features excellent lot prices, allowing us to have homes star�ng in the $350’s!

Brian Martin 403.830.0949

trilogyhomes.ca even neutralize foot odour. Just add 1/2 cup of Epsom salt to the warm water, relax and soak feet for 20 minutes. If you like, rub away any calluses using a pumice stone. Dry feet, then add two drops of peppermint essential oil to your favourite natural moisturizer, like shea or coconut butter, and rub in thoroughly to lock in the moisture.

If that isn’t enough, there are more benefits of Epsom salts: • Athlete’s Foot - soak feet in an Epsom salt bath to help relieve the symptoms of Athlete’s Foot.

• Remove splinters - soak affected skin area in an Epsom salt bath to draw out the splinter.

• Treat toenail fungus - soak your affected toes in hot water mixed with a handful of Epsom salt three times a day.

• Soothe sprains and bruises - add 2 cups Epsom salt to a warm bath and soak to reduce the pain and swelling of sprains and bruises.

• Ease discomfort of gout and reduce inflammation by adding 2-3 teaspoons of Epsom salts into a basin and immersing the affected foot/joint. The water should be as hot as it is comfortable. Soak for about 30 minutes.

• Exfoliate dead skin - in the shower or bath, mix a handful of Epsom salt with a tablespoon of bath or olive oil and rub all over your wet skin to exfoliate and soften. Rinse thoroughly.

• Exfoliating face cleanser - to clean your face and exfoliate skin at the same time, mix a half-teaspoon of Epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream, gently massage into skin and rinse with cold water.

• Dislodge blackheads - add a teaspoon of Epsom salt and 3 drops iodine into a half cup of boiling water. Apply this mixture to the blackheads with a cotton ball.

• Remove foot odour - mix a half cup of Epsom salt in warm water

and soak your feet for 10 minutes to remove bad odour, sooth achy feet, and soften rough skin.

• Remove hairspray - combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup Epsom salt. Cover the mixture and let set for 24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes before shampooing as normal.

• Hair volumizer - combine equal parts deep conditioner and Epsom salt and warm in a pan. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

You can even use Epson salt in your home: • Clean bathroom tiles - Mix equal parts Epsom salt and liquid dish detergent and use as a scrub on bathroom tile.

• Prevent slugs - sprinkle Epsom salt on or near interior entry points to prevent slugs.

• As a hand wash - mix Epsom salt with baby oil and keep by the sink for an effective hand wash.

• Clean detergent build-up in washing machines; fill the machine tub with hot water, add Epsom salt, and run an agitate/soak/ agitate cycle to dissolve detergent build-up (please consult your machine’s instruction manual for specific instructions).

I bought a huge container of Epson salts at my favourite downtown drugs store in Strathmore (Value Drug Mart!) and I now soak my feet at least three times a week and I feel fabulous!!

Do not procrastinate and get on it you will be thanking me that you did.

May something wonderful happen for you today!

Kathryn Hartwell

References: saltworks.us

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Planning A Special Event?

Cheadle Community Hall Book your next gathering at the

Wedding Celebrations, Family Reunions, Celebration of Life, Christmas Parties, Meetings, Full Commercial Kitchen & Table Settings

Conveniently Located: 15 min from Chestermere, 9 min from Strathmore, 9 min from Langdon, 30 min from Calgary

The Perfect Space at Reasonable Rates!

Contact us for more information or to setup a viewing: www.CheadleAlberta.ca Phone: 587-355-6300 Facebook.com/CheadleHallAlberta source of Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Protein, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Iron and Zinc. AND they are cheap to buy.

Actually, gizzard and chicken heart nutrition might surprise you.

As an animal protein, both the hearts and gizzards provide all the essential amino acids, making it a complete source of protein.

Protein is found in every cell in your body, and the protein in your diet is used to help replace and maintain protein levels. Gizzards also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals including B12, iron, phosphorus, zinc, selenium and niacin. Vitamin B12 plays a role in the healthy function of the brain and nervous system and iron is vital in making sure that our red blood cells can transport oxygen throughout the body. Phosphorus helps remove waste from our kidneys and is involved in bone formation and zinc, mostly known for its immune-boosting benefits, also helps cell growth and wound healing. Niacin plays a part in converting macronutrients into energy utilized by the body. They contain selenium, a mineral that is typically difficult to obtain from food. Selenium plays a role in the production of thyroid hormones. Although chicken hearts and gizzards are low in calories and high in protein, they are both high in cholesterol, and the chicken hearts are high in fat. But seriously, you do not eat enough of them to worry about. It’s not something you would eat every day.

CHICKEN HEARTS Have you ever looked at the ‘Chicken Hearts” in the grocery store and wondered to yourself, “what on earth do people do with them, other than feed them to their cat”?

I am here to tell you what people do with them! We eat them. If you take the hearts and roll them in flour and fry them in butter to make them all crunchy, they are delicious. Seriously! I used to feed the chicken hearts to my children, and they loved them. My mother used to feed us chicken gizzards and hearts all the time – she called them “buttzel-books” (I think it is an old German thing).

Nowadays, I fry them and use these little morsels as treats for my dogs and I will tell you why. They are low in Sodium and a good

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Now, when you look at chicken gizzards, you might think there is no way you are going to eat them; I get that, but seriously, once you give them a try, you may be surprized. I know they are a little tough and not very flavourful on their own. But a few simple cooking methods can help you transform them into tender and delicious edibles. Here are a few ideas if you ever decide to give them a try.

How to Fry Chicken Gizzards Place gizzards, onion, celery and celery salt in a saucepan and add enough water to cover the gizzards by about an inch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the gizzards are tender, about three hours. Remove the gizzards and discard the celery and onion. Make sure to reserve the broth.

Season the gizzards with celery salt, salt, pepper, garlic powder, hot sauce and cumin. Pour saved broth over the gizzards and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. Stir often. Heat frying oil in a large pan until oil starts crackling. Place flour in a plastic bag and put the gizzards inside. Shake the bag to coat the gizzards with flour. Gently add about half of the gizzards to the hot pan and fry until golden brown, about five minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

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How to Bake Chicken Gizzards

At Coldwell, we are real people serving real people.

Cut the gizzards in half. Season lightly with salt, pepper, herbs and preferred spices. Drizzle with olive oil.

Bake at 500 degrees for just under 30 minutes or until the gizzards are browned.

500 sounds too hot to me, is that right?

How to cook Chicken Hearts

This chicken hearts recipe is easy, healthy and paleo. Chicken hearts are small and delicate, and they are ready fast – 5 minutes of pan frying and dinner is ready!

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Place the chicken hearts, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin in a large bowl.

Use a large spoon, or your hands, to mix everything together, coating the chicken hearts with the oil and seasonings. Heat a large, heavy frypan over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes.

Add the seasoned chicken hearts. Cook, stirring often, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Chicken Hearts with Onions and Mushrooms

With the right insurance in place, you know you have peace of mind no matter what happens to you.

We at, Coldwell Agencies pride ourselves on providing solutions to our customers’ insurance needs. We provide professional insurance advice and problem solving. Our expertise is in home, automobile, farm and commercial insurance.

We’re committed to you and your family’s peace of mind. Call one of our experienced agents today at (403) 934-3221 and let Coldwell Agencies demonstrate our dedication to delivering quality insurance policies.

COLDWELL INSURANCE 133-2nd Ave Strathmore, AB Phone: Fax:

403-934-3221

403-934-5163

Representing and accessing over 30 of the worlds leading insurers

1½ lbs. Chicken Hearts ½ cup vegetable oil ⅓ cup flour 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ¾ cup sliced onions 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1 teaspoon garlic salt, divided 1¾ cups chicken broth ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon dried oregano 6 cups cooked rice

In a 6-inch skillet, over medium-high heat, add ½ cup oil. Slowly add flour to make a roux. Cook for 6 minutes or until it is light to medium brown in color. Turn heat off. Cut the tops off of the hearts. Slice the hearts in half. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms, cook for 3 minutes. Add chicken hearts and ½ teaspoon garlic salt. Cook for 3 minutes.

Slowly stir in chicken broth, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, black pepper and oregano. Add roux and stir. Bring to a rapid simmer. Reduce heat to low simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.

Serve with cooked rice.

There are a ton of recipes on the internet on how to cook Chicken Hearts and Gizzards. So next time you look at these little beauties in the grocery store, do not turn up your nose – be adventurous – live a little and give them a try, you might be surprized.

Remember how good they are for you and such an inexpensive meal!

Kathryn Hartwell

1-888-818-8750 facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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year. If your diabetes is well managed, most physicians recommend a doctor's visit every 3-6 months for a regular checkup, including blood work such as an A1C test. If your blood sugar is higher, a doctor may recommend a visit every 3 months.

Make sure to talk with your doctor about what he or she recommends for your individual needs.

Advanced Foot Care, Reflexology, Reiki, Ionic Foot Cleanse, Raindrop Technique, Meridian Balancing, Balancing with Crystals and Oils, Healing Jewelry.

403.901.9472 | www.enlightenedsoles.ca

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF LARRY AND ROGER:

A Pair of Diabetic Feet

Written by: Vicki L Myhre CPOD (I) CMP PFRP. Enlightened Soles. Internationally Certified Podologist. Registered through the Canadian Examining.

Board of Health Practitioners

Happy New Years, Everyone!

Larry here. Roger and I hope that your Holiday Season was as terrific as ours was. We had a lot of

amazing family time, ate a lot of great holiday foods (in moderation, of course), made sure we got our exercises in, visited the Festival of Lights in Strathmore and the Santa Claus Parade, checked out the Hometown Hockey Event, spent some time outdoors enjoying the snow, and spent time at the pool swimming lanes and at the walking track chatting with all of our friends as we put some miles on. We played hard, and we worked hard at being good diabetics.

2) Know your numbers. A great goal to incorporate into your New Year's resolutions is lowering your hemoglobin A1C. This number shows your average blood glucose level for the previous three months. Keeping your A1C in check is one of the best ways for your doctor to tell if your diabetes is managed well.

If you don't know your A1C, ask your doctor to give you more information. Keeping track of your A1C can help you make better-informed decisions about your health.

3) Plan healthy meals. The best way to make sure you eat healthfully is to plan out and prepare your meals in advance. That way, you know exactly where and when your next healthy meal is coming from. It also keeps you on track with eating constantly throughout the day. Consistent eating helps keep your blood sugar stable, prevents you from overeating, and sets you up to make healthy choices.

4) Add exercise into your routine. Every little bit helps

when it comes to exercise! If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of adding exercise to your day, here are some great ways to sneak it in: • Park a few blocks away from your destination to add in a quick stroll.

• Get outside! Being outdoors can make exercise seem effortless.

A quick walk around the block, gardening, or even a swim at your local pool can be fun and get your cardio in.

• You can stretch before you even get out of bed. Set aside 2-3 minutes every morning for a quick few stretches to wake your body up.

5) Manage your stress. While we often think about the physical aspects of health, emotional health is equally as important and connected to physical health. Stress can have a massive impact on your health and wellbeing. Something to keep in mind when you're making your resolutions is prioritizing your health above all else and cutting out things that bring you lots of stress.

You'll feel happier, and your body will thank you too.

Both Roger and I feel that this list gives you a great base. From here, you identify and specialize and create something that is right for you. That is what we did this year for sure.

We are excited to share our resolutions for you in February. We are

hoping to re-motivate by sharing our goals and successes in February (the month that most give up on their New Years Resolutions and fall back into the “same ol” routine.

January 2020 brings new challenges for all of us; Roger and I know that all too well. We continually strive to make New Year’s Resolutions each year, just to keep us moving in the right direction as far as our health is concerned.

We found a great list of things to focus on when formulating our resolution for moving forward. Thank you, Siren Care, for your list of things to focus on when creating your New Years Resolutions!

We will talk to you next month, and until then….

Five Things To Focus On For Your New Years Resolutions 1) See your doctor regularly. Talk to your podiatrist, endocrinologist, or general practitioner to come up with a plan for how many visits you should make to the doctor's office each 16 •

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Make your Footprints Count.

Larry and Roger The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

Funny New Year Resolutions

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Email less. Cancel at least a few of the 9 or 10 e-mail accounts I currently have. Your teenage HotTrophyWife@ hotmail.com account can probably be your first one to get rid of.

Not talk on my cell phone while in the bathroom, doing... you know what.

Try driving at (or under?) the speed limit... at least when I'm not hungry, tired or late.

Watch more television - it is the "window into the world", right?

Stop procrastinating... maybe save this for the spring.

Enjoy the sweeter side of life - M&Ms, Hershey kisses, candy corns, and cheesecake.

Be more decisive ... I'll absolutely try to attempt to think about resolving to be more decisive, if I possibly can.

I will avoid taking a bath whenever possible and conserve more water.

I will give up chocolates totally. 100%. Completely. Honestly…

I will stop sending e-mail, SMS, Instant Messages and be on the phone at the same time with the same person.

I will spend less than one hour a day on the Internet. This, of course, will be hard to estimate since I'm not a clock watcher.

I will not tell the same story at every get together.

I will only get divorced and remarried once this year.

I will spend less than $1825 on coffee at Starbucks this year.

I will claim all my pets as dependents on my taxes.

I will watch more cute and cuddly kitten videos on YouTube.

I will switch my username to “password” and my password to “username” to make each a lot harder for hackers to figure out.

I will stop buying worthless junk on Ebay, because Etsy has better specials.

I will open a new credit card with a higher limit to pay off my old credit cards once and for all... and finally start going to the mall again.

I will put more embarrassing items in random people’s carts while shopping at Wal-Mart. After all, who doesn't need a family size bottle of lube?!

My New Year’s resolution is to write 2020 instead of 2019.

I will stop ignoring the auto-correct.

Less T, way more G and L. Put more faith in the GPS lady.

I will try hard not to consider tequila my best friend.

Do not say "I can skip the gym today, I played Wii Bowling."

Do not say, “It was the dog,” when I fart.

Stop pretending it isn't time to take the garbage out yet, by repeatedly smashing it down 'til my arms ache.

Stop drinking water instead of pop just so I can eat a sweet snack after dinner. Seriously, just drink the Pepsi and get the sugar craving over with.

Stop setting three alarms on my phone, just so I can turn the volume off after the first one.

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Dr. Ashkan Hamzehi DDS; Dr. Sharif Faizi DMD; Dr. Arzy Kafrouny DDS I changed my password everywhere to ‘incorrect.’ That way when I forget it, it always reminds me, ‘Your password is incorrect.”

My friend thinks he is smart. He told me an onion is the only food that makes you cry, so I threw a coconut at his face.

Scientists have discovered a food that diminishes a woman’s sex drive by 90%.

It’s called a wedding cake.

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and think: am I making a resolution or goal? Often, goals can be more attainable, when done appropriately, as they are often smaller and measurable within a set time frame.

Tiffany Mitchell

(403) 936-8432

I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist located in Strathmore. I reside in town with my husband, three 109-355 Centre 2 Langdon, AB T0J 1X2 how can you create a wise goal? the question becomes, kids, and our cat and dog.

I am an active Street volunteerNW SSBut Often people speak of making SMART goals: with the Community Therapy Dogs Society, going S – Simplistic: Are you able to describe your goal in one seninto schools and different community events with my COMPLIMENTARY Teeth Whitening! dog Jezzie. I am also active with the Special Olympics tence to someone who does not know you? With only one senAirdrie club, volunteering as the Secretary and coachtence, can and the other person have a reasonable understanding of When you complete a full checkup cleaning ing the young athletes (3-8) programs. When I’m not how the goal will look?

Now open Saturdays!

M – Manageable: Can you make time to focus on the goal within your schedule and current commitments?

www.langdondental.com A – Attainable: How easy will it be to achieve this goal? Is it a

Creating Resolutions & Goals Well it’s that time of year again. The New Year, which often involves New Year’s resolutions. Researchers say around 88% of New Year’s resolutions fail. That is a staggering high number. The question becomes; “Why are so many people not achieving their resolutions?”. I would argue that the questions should be, “Is a New Years resolution the best way to create a new chapter in the new year?”, and “If I do make a resolution, how do I increase the chance of accomplishing it?“.

Before getting into an understanding of how to make a good resolution, it is important to define resolutions and goals. Resolutions are a strict lifestyle change of “I’m going to change this” while a goal is a specific quantifiable change often with an addition of a specific time frame. For example, a resolution may be “I’m going to stop eating junk food”, compared to a goal as “I’m going to lose 50lbs by March.” Now, I want you to sit back

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goal that you can complete if you do not have the time to focus on it?

R – Reasonable: Is it a goal that another individual would judge as possible?

T – Timely: How long do you expect the goal to take? Will there be immediate results to keep you motivated?

How would this look in practice? Let’s take the earlier example of weight loss.

The goal is to lose 50lbs by March 30.

Is this a manageable task? It means losing an average of 4.16lbs a week consistently.

Is this attainable? The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention suggests a healthy loss is 1-2 lbs a week, meaning this goal is not likely to be attainable.

Is it reasonable? With weight loss, it often varies on who you speak with, so let me ask you as the reader – do you think it is reasonable?

Is this goal timely? Yes, it has a clear deadline that is not excessively distant.

When viewing this goal in the SMART breakdown, it does not appear to be the wisest of goals. Physically, it is not healthy to have such a high degree of weight loss in a short time. Mentally, the goal is high and strict with an unrealistic timeline, the likely cause is undue stress and feelings of failure and frustration when one fails to accomplish the goal.

A similar breakdown can be used with resolutions but there will be 2 similar problems that will come up regardless of the resolution. The first being manageable, when making a lifestyle change, what are the protections put in place to help deal when one has hiccups? The other is the time, lifestyle changes are without an end. Granted, once a habit has developed, it is easy, The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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but there is no set time frame on how long it can take to develop.

So what do we do? Setting goals can be helpful but often are too lofty. The concept of a resolution is nice, because it motivates us to make a big change that we want to make. The key is to create a goal within your resolution. Develop a step plan that lists where you want to be at specific time intervals. Be kind to yourself; change does not happen over night and forgive yourself when you have hiccups. What rewards will you have when you accomplish each step? Ensure that the resolution is reasonable and one that is possible for you to complete and enjoy while you achieve it.

The fattest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

No matter how much you you push push the the envelope, envelope, it’ll it’ll still stillbe be stationery.

A dog gave birth to to puppies puppies near near the the road road and andwas wascited cited for littering.

A grenade thrown into aa kitchen kitchen in in France Francewould wouldresult resultinin Linoleum Blownapart.

Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

Resolution: To be more financially stable and responsible.

Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: ‘You stay here; I’ll go on a head.’

For the first month I will only buy coffee 3 times a week, and the rest of the week I will make it at home. During this month I will begin to meal plan and prep meals for the week on Sunday.

I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

The next few months I will focus on meal planning and decreasing the times I am buying coffee and eating out. At the end of each month, the extra money in my account will go to my Credit card debt.

By April, I want to be only buying coffee 4 times a month and eating out 2 times a month. I will keep birthday gifts to a maximum limit of $50 per person. To help with groceries, I am going to create a list and stick to this list and not buy things because they are on sale or look tasty.

By September I want to have $2000 down on my Credit card.

Christmas next year I am going to only buy a maximum of 2 gifts per person and keep my price below $600 for everyone.

This explanation is much more detailed than maybe you may want or need, but it gives an idea of how to break down the resolution into quantifiable and manageable chunks. The important thing to remember is to have something that you can see a change in and to give yourself grace for the hiccups.

Remember, a desire to change and enact on the change is healthy and manageable. Just do it SMART. Tiffany Mitchell Provisional Psychologist References: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/2489711/new-years-resolutions-2018-how-longkept/ https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/

The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you’d be in Seine.

A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons.

The stewardess looks at him and says, ‘I’m sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.’

Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says ‘Dam!’ Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it too.

Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, ‘I’ve lost my electron.’ The other says ‘Are you sure?’ The first replies, ‘Yes, I’m positive.’

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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The Impact of

POSITIVE

REINFORCEMENT in Children

When raising children, there are typically two different methods used to help them mature. The first is discipline, which helps children recognize their limits and is used to correct negative behaviours. The second method, positive reinforcement, is often overlooked, but when it is practiced with consistency, many parents notice they do not need to discipline their child’s negative behaviour as often. Here are three reasons positive reinforcement is the unsung hero of raising happy children.

1

1. Everyone needs verbal affirmation.

Everyone loves the feeling of being told they did a good job. Oftentimes, your child may be modeling certain positive behaviours so regularly that it seems commonplace, and you simply don’t think to acknowledge or praise their behaviour. Overlooking positive behaviours in your child can leave them feeling like failures, especially when you spend more time disciplining negative behaviours than noticing all of the positives. Look for opportunities to praise your child, and you will notice an increase in positive behaviours.

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A young child that expects their positive attributes to be overlooked can become an incredibly insecure young adult. Someone that does not receive positive reinforcement may eventually feel that what they do does not matter and that they are worthless.

Everyone needs to know that their contributions matter. Regularly providing your child with positive reinforcement helps them to become more secure in their role within your family.

your child make 33. It helps positive choices.

When children do not receive positive reinforcement, they are likely to become unmotivated. Positive affirmation of your child inspires them to try their hardest all the time. It is important to recognize that you only have your child for a small percentage of their life; if you do not offer praises when they deserve it now, they may eventually believe that the choices they make do not impact others. Help your child see the value in making the right choice early on, so when they are an adult and there is no one around to praise them, they still make the right choices instead of the easy choices.

There are countless ways you can provide your child with affirmation for the positive choices they make. If you grew up with a family that was critical, it may feel unnatural for you to freely offer accolades to your young child at first. However, letting your child know that you value their positive actions now will go a long way in helping them to become happy and fulfilled adults later.

Katelyn Campbell

DID YOU KNOW?

A condom will last about a month when stored in a wallet; any longer and it’s more likely to break.

In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry ice-cream in your back pocket.

Due to the many nerve endings in the sole and digits of the human foot, the sensations produced by sucking or licking the feet can be pleasurable.

Christmas became a national holiday in the U.S. in 1890.

Honey is used sometimes for antifreeze mixtures and in the center of golf balls.

In Albania, nodding your head means no and shaking your head means yes.

The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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The closest I’ve been to a diet this year is erasing food searches from my browser history.

If you think eggplant is good, you should try any other food; it’s much better.

Did you know Strathmore has a swim team?

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Facts About Pandas 1. A giant panda is much bigger than your teddy bear.

Giant panda looks cuddly and cute when you search for photos on the internet. But it's much bigger than you think.

An adult panda weight more than 45 kilos (100 pounds), and can be about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long!

2. Giant pandas are good at climbing trees and can also swim.

Giant pandas can't stand and do kung fu moves like Po in Kungfu Panda. But they are good tree climbers. They can climb trees from 7 months old.

Giant pandas are bears, and like other bears, they can swim.

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3. Pandas go from pink to white and black (or brown).

Pandas are born looking like baby badgers — fur-less, pink, and blind. The iconic black and white colour comes later, after about three weeks.

Not all giant pandas are black and white! A few are brown and white, but these are very rare.

4. Pandas are "lazy" — eating and sleeping make their day.

As about all a panda does all day is to eat and sleep, you are best to get up early for a visit to a panda park, so you see them when they are active.

They spend as long as 14 hours eating per day, and spend the rest of their time in sleeping.

In the wild, the giant pandas sleep for 2 to 4 hours between its two meals.

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Another year has come and gone. I’m still here! So many people thought this year was going to be “it”, but I proved everyone wrong. I’d like to take a few minutes to remember all the great things that happened in 2019.

Yampa.

Treats.

Being fed.

Going for walks.

I got a new collar.

Treats.

My family removed the gate to the upstairs finally, after 2 years, so I can go upstairs and wake them up again at 2 in the morning.

Now let’s talk about all the grievances I have from 2019.

Stella.

Cold days where I can’t go for walks.

Salt on sidewalks.

Being at home, not at Yampa’s.

Stella.

The kids.

Not getting treats for403-608-0686 everything I used to get treats for.

Call: Stella.

Email: denise@thenewsyneighbour.com All in all, 2019 was a great year. I adopted a couch, and I get VERY angry when people don’t let me sit on it. I also hate it when Stella decides she should cuddle with me on said couch. I pooped on my bed, so I got said couch as a consolation prize when they thought I was dying. Suckers.

I also finally snarled at that jerk dog that keeps walking by my house every day. He now knows I don’t like him. Finally.

Stella has something to say and keeps pushing me out of the way to say it. So I will bid you adieu.

Bauer HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I LOVE YOU ALL! I LOVE TREATS AND MOM AND KIDS AND DOGS AND WALKS AND FOOD AND WATER AND BELLY RUBS. HAPPY NEW YEAR! STELLA!!!!!

A child goes to his father and asks, “Father, how do parents think of names for their children?” The father answers, “Well, son, the night before the mother gives birth, the father goes into the woods and camps for the night.

When he wakes the following morning, the first thing he sees is what he names his child, which is why your sister is named Soaring Eagle. Why do you ask, Bear Poop?”

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“I am a ninja.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Did you see me do that?”

“Do what?”

“Exactly.”

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Phone: 403-361-2980

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A little bit of everything Gaylene is a Strathmore resident that has trouble taking life seriously and can usually be found making inappropriate or sarcastic remarks around town much to the embarrassment of her family and friends. (of which she has both – honest!)

A Mike By Any Other Name

Ever wonder what some people were thinking when they named their pets? There is a near infinate

amount of possible choices for your pet’s moniker and yet it would appear that one out of three black and white cats is called Oreo and one out of four dogs is still called Rex. The lack of creativity isn’t even the biggest sin in my mind when it comes to bestowing our beloved feline and canine friends with a name – it is when creativity runs without check. Pity the poor veterinarian that has to call out his patient’s name in a busy waiting room.

“Princess Paisly Von Fluffy Pants. Is there a Princess Pailsy Von Fluffy Pants?” 7 plus years of university, a student load the size of the gross national incomes of a small country, and the vet is reduced to calling out “Orville Redenbarker – time for your checkup.”

Naming pets is hard. I get you don’t want your dog to be the 79th Rex at the off-leash park but do you really want to be caught calling out “Kitty Purry” to get your cat’s attention?

Thankfully, cats are jerks and tend not to answer to anything.

You can always try psst psst pstt, I guess.

Perhaps it is because we have such little time to come up with a good pet name that so many of us fall short. Thankfully, human babyies come with about 40 weeks of prep time before you need to settle on a name. Trust me, my husband and I used up every-single-day debating names for our firstborn. I wanted something a bit unique, but not outlandish. The kid was going to be stuck with Smith for the last name so John just wasn’t going to do it. Or Ethan, or Jaden or any of the other top twenty names for the decade. Sorry, no! Mike Smith just wasn’t going to happen on my watch. We finally settled on a name about ten minutes before the last big push. Happily, it wasn’t a common name, only a dozen or so babies born in Alberta that year had my son’s

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Please contact our office:

• If you are having issues with any Federal programs or departments • If you are holding or celebra�ng a local event • If you have an Anniversary or Birthday you would like Cer�ficates for • If you would like to speak to the Member of Parliament See Our Social Media Pages for Updates

@MartinBowRiver

/MartininBowRiver

name. Awesome. BUT THEN parents in the following years started naming their boys the same name – suddenly I’m at the park and this woman is yelling her kid’s name out. But, but that’s my kid’s unique-but-not-weird name. WTF! I have never wanted to cause bodily harm to a stranger before but there I was knee-deep in toddlers trying to figure out how I could get away with murdering both mother and child. It would have been cruel to leave the child without a mother alone at the play park and there would be one less kid on role call with my name – I mean my son’s name. 9 months to pick out his name. 9 months!

Our second child was a preemie- I was short-changed two months of preparation and debate time. He just couldn’t wait. I spent two months hanging out on bed rest in the hospital trying to keep the bun in the oven until it was fully cooked but nope, came out early and yes, a bit doughy in the centre. Panic. This kid needed to be named. Mike – crap no we said no to Mike Smith on kid number one. Ah-Ha. I got it, let's name our child after the hospital that saved our lives (but sadly did little for my sanity, apparently.)

Thus he was named for Grey Nuns. And yes, I am well aware of how truly thankful he and I should be that we didn’t end up at the Misericordia!

I suppose we could have named the boys after a family member.

Question for you parents that did this. How did you pick what family member and did the parents and grandparents whose name you didn’t pick remove you from their will?

My paternal grandfather had a great name. He was french. His name was Killien Meglaware Brisbois. It took me four-plus decades to learn how to spell Meglaware and I still debate if Killien follows the I before e unless after c rule. I wasn’t the only one that struggled with the mouthful that was my paternal grandfather’s nomenclature. Everyone called him Mike. Crap – Mike! Why did it have to be Mike?

WHAT??

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

Sabrina Kooistra

Sabrina is a self-proclaimed cross-stitch nerd, ABBA fan, and hopeless romantic navigating the ups-and-downs of adulthood. A born-and-raised farm kid with a wicked case of wanderlust, Sabrina finds inspiration from world history, personal experience, and unhinged day-dreams, and hopes she will leave you inspired, deep in thought, or simply smiling.

You can contact her at storiesbysab@gmail.com for questions, comments, or if you happen to know when you’re too old to wear Minnie Mouse ears... (asking for a friend).

A MONUMENTAL UNEARTHING: QIN TOTALITARIANISM RETOLD This paper will focus on the following topics related to the Qin Dynasty: the context in which it rose to prominence, the motives for and consequences of Sima Qian’s inaccurate writings regarding the dynasty, as well as a comparison to modern totalitarianism in early twentieth century Germany and the Qin Dynasty’s successes and failures.

SECTION 1

In his ominous novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell stated that “in the face of pain, there are no heroes.” In this quote, Orwell has offered a seemingly general statement, but one that can be applied to a pattern of regimes that history has perpetuated. The idea that Orwell was perhaps alluding to is totalitarianism: “a special phase of state/society relationship in which the state controls almost all aspects of social life, and the power of the state is not under social, legal, or institutional constraint.” The era Orwell lived in was one which saw the rise of Nazi Germany, the devastation of the Second World War, and the regime’s subsequent demise. It seems this turbulence imitated an early predecessor who suffered a similar plight: the Qin dynasty, which was in existence from 221 B.C. to 206 B.C. Due to factors such as inaccurate reporting and contextual misunderstanding, the good intentions and achievements of Qin Shi Huang (The First Emperor) have been largely ignored or misinterpreted; however, one of history’s most controversial forms of governance, totalitarianism, is an ostensibly adverse natural function of political progression – a growing pain, if you will – but one aimed toward a prosperous society.

In order to understand the true nature of the Qin dynasty, one must understand the context in which it was established. The predecessor of the Qin, a dynasty championed by Confucius, was the Zhou Dynasty. Known as one of China’s golden ages, the Zhou Dynasty was

characterized by its focus on filial piety (honouring parents) and a respect for order and ritual – values sustained throughout China’s history. In spite of its seemingly faultless nature, the Zhou dynasty collapsed like its predecessor, the Shang dynasty. Fraught with corruption, material excess, and disorder nearing the end of its existence, the demise of the Shang would be echoed by the Zhou dynasty. In response, Qin Shi Huang came to power and the Qin rose to recognition. A witness of the failures of the previous dynasties, the Qin dynasty adopted the doctrine that humans are “idle, greedy, cowardly, treacherous, foolish, (and) shifty.” It appears that Confucius’ assertion that humans respond positively to good treatment was indeed correct, albeit naïve; therefore, in order for society to experience stability, it was thought that a legal code should be enacted under the premise that human behaviour can be controlled. This legal code, along with other rigidly observed laws, were a result of the implementation of Legalism. Perhaps a political remedy, similar to totalitarianism, the Legalists fostered the belief in “traditional Chinese political culture” and that it is natural for the state to control all aspects of social life and for the ruler to enjoy unlimited and unaccountable political power. Considering the familiarity of the materialistic and corrupt Shang and Zhou dynasties, it seems the political and social climate in China had been conditioned for a more structured form of governance, taking the form of totalitarianism.

After decades of instability in China, the promise that Legalism would remedy the country was met with much enthusiasm. Achieved by its theme of conditioning the state for success via arms build-up and economic prosperity, Legalism continues to be propped by nearly all Chinese reformers with a statist orientation today. Simply examining the order within the Qin army demonstrates the precise and systematic existence of the country during this time. The army boasted productive agricultural practices as well as a central system that collected taxes, organized lists of recruits, and managed food distribution within the army. Within civilian society, the Qin dynasty was regimented through mandatory labour service towards construction projects, early border patrols to protect the country, and an expansive and complex transportation network. While these features of the state strictly govern important aspects of people’s lives– a high toll it seems– as the definition of totalitarianism asserts, they were instrumental in achieving what were once deemed lofty endeavours. While undoubtedly distressing at the time, the promotion and permission of activities such as book burnings has been viewed by detached observers as “a policy of unification rather than destruction.” Repeatedly torn apart, thrown together, and improperly mended, China was desperate for unification, which for centuries remained as only an “ideal in abeyance”; however, the previous 5,000 years of China’s history were unparalleled to Qin Shi Huang’s “[brilliance] and [originality]” in creating a unified nation. A microcosm to the macrocosm of a more “grandiose [ambition],” Qin Shi Huang’s rise and cultivation of power was credited by former Republic of China leader Mao Zedong who believed the First Emperor’s “ruthlessness (was) necessary egg-breaking to complete the omelette of unification.” Considering the hyper development and anticipation of future prosperity achieved in a mere decade, one can appreciate the assertion that essentially all modern Chinese self-styled reformers have shared some sympathies with Legalists. This was an expansive area that had failed to be unified previously, and its consequences have created a strong and established China today.

SECTION 2 to be printed in the February Issue of The Newsy Neighbour

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• Here's a toast to the future, a toast to the past, and a toast to our friends, far and near. The past a bright dream; may our friends remain faithful and clear.

• May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live!

• As we start the New Year, let's get down on our knees to thank God we're on our feet.

• Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. — Benjamin Franklin • We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. — Edith Pierce • For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. — T.S. Eliot Best wishes to all for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Leela Sharon Aheer MLA

I am thrilled to be part of the Newsy Neighbour family and honoured by the trust you have placed in me by electing me as your representative in the Legislature.

Please contact me at Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca.

Hello Newsy Neighbour readers!

A few thoughts as I reflect on Christmas and the coming New Year.

“Scrooged” - The Christmas story of a man who didn't believe in Christmas. He was educated by three ghosts and he learns to be generous, and he embraces the spirit of Christmas. This is Bill Murray's speech as Scrooge at the end of the film.

"I'm not crazy. It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, and we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be. It's a miracle. It's really a sort-of miracle because it happens every Christmas Eve. And if you waste that miracle, you're going to burn for it. I know what I'm talking about. You have to do something. You have to take a chance. You do have to get involved. There are people that are having trouble making their miracle happen. There are people that don't have enough to eat. There are people that are cold. You can go out and say hello to these people. You can take an old blanket out of the closet and say, "Here." You can make them a sandwich and say, "Oh by the way, here." I get it now. And if you give, then it can happen. Then the miracle can happen to you. It's not just the poor and the hungry; it's everybody who has got to have this miracle. And it can happen tonight for all of you. If you believe in this spirit thing, the miracle will happen, and then you'll want it to happen again tomorrow. You won't be one of these jerks who says, ‘Christmas is once a year, and it's a fraud.’ It's not. It can happen every day! You've just got to want that feeling. And if you like it and you want it, you'll get greedy for it. You'll want it every day of your life, and it can happen to you. I believe in it now. I believe it's going to happen to me now. I'm ready for it. And it's great. It's a good feeling. It's really better than I've felt in a long time. I'm ready. Have a Merry Christmas, everybody."

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As always, we love to hear from you.

I’m going to start my own YouTube channel just so my kids will start listening to me.

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Baking soda. Effective mineral with mildly abrasive cleaning, whitening, and deodorizing properties.

Vinegar.

Derived from the fermentation of fruits or grains, vinegar has a high acid content that makes it great at killing germs, cutting grease, and dissolving mineral deposits.

Borax. A naturally occurring mineral (containing water, oxygen, sodium, and boron) with tremendously useful antiseptic, antifungal, deodorizing, and disinfectant properties. It stops the growth of mold and mildew, and kills roaches.

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A local business was looking for office help. They

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A short time afterwards, a dog trotted up to the window, saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it and whined.

Getting the idea, the receptionist got the office manager. The office manager looked at the dog and was surprised, to say the least. However, the dog looked determined, so he led him into the office. Inside, the dog jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager. The manager said, “I can’t hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type.”

The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair.

The manager was stunned, but then told the dog, “The sign says you have to be good with a computer.”

The dog jumped down again and went to the computer. The dog proceeded to demonstrate his expertise with various programs and produced a sample spreadsheet and database and presented them to the manager. By this time the manager was totally dumbfounded! He looked at the dog and said, “I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I still can’t give you the job.”

The dog jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the part about being an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The manager said, “Yes, but the sign also says that you have to be bilingual.” The dog looked at him straight in the face and said, “Meow.” facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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Body Debt

Toxic Load

Malnourishment Malabsorption

Stress

5 Lifestyle Factors You Can’t Ignore If You Want To Be Healthy There are many processes your body undertakes on a daily basis in order to keep you functioning normally. Unfortunately, these processes have been hampered, which has resulted in a lot of pain, suffering, and mental anguish.

28 •

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In order to live a healthy life, we need to come to grips that we don’t live in the same world that people did 50 years ago. Things have changed dramatically, and we need to be much more proactive in order to avoid untimely pain, disease, and even death.

In order to even begin the healing process, we have to have a basic understanding of the factors our body has been forced to deal with and how that affects our ability to live a healthy life.

Body Debt

Body debt is quite simply the damage incurred internally that has not been rectified and has you paying interest on it every day through compromised function of key systems like your immune, hormonal, skeletal, mental, and nervous systems. As a result, your body becomes easily contaminated and is continually dealing with the residual effects through common annoyances like food allergies, headaches, poor sleep, muscle and joint pain, anxiety, depression, blood sugar imbalances, digestive problems, constipation, skin issues, and much more.

What most people don’t realize is that in their noble goal to get healthy, it isn’t as simple as turning to cleaner and more nourishing foods and avoiding toxins. We have to come to the sobering conclusion that decades of mistreatment, known or not, has created a body debt that cannot be reversed by a simple change of ones habits. It needs to incorporate very specific actions and protocols to pay off the body debt, and from that point forward, your new healthy lifestyle will serve you well.

You see, you can’t just paint over a wall that is rotten and full of termites and expect it to be structurally sound. In the same vein, you can’t just decide to eat healthier and ignore your body debt and expect for things to be strong foundationally. It’s just not how it works.

So in order to live a healthy life, you do need to address your eating habits and other factors, BUT you also need to tackle your body debt and knock down the principal in order to avoid paying interest on it for the rest of your life.

Things will NEVER be close to normal in your body until you can grasp this very simple principle, and address it systematically.

Malnourishment

Living in a world of continually tilled soils that are treated with various chemicals, our food supply has become degraded to the point that a lot of our food has up to 50% less nutrients than it did 50 years ago.

This compromised soil, which has been largely stripped of crucial The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria, can no longer supply us with the nutrients our body requires in order to function properly and be free of disease.

When the body becomes nutrient deficient, simple processes become difficult and some shut down altogether, creating glitches and stagnancy that has a direct effect on how you feel and operate on a daily basis.

Many of people’s health problems originate in a simple nutrient deficiency, and if they understood which ones they were missing, they could undertake therapeutic dosages through specific foods and supplementation in order to bring it relatively quickly up to speed.

It’s amazing how easily someone can start healing their body through the simple identification of largely absent nutrients and replacing them through specific food and supplementation protocols.

Malabsorption

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It is one thing to get the appropriate nutrients into your body, and often quite another to have them properly absorbed in your intestinal system so they can be delivered to various areas of the body where they can do their work.

tified through a simple avoidance of toxins. Although that is a smart move in the right direction, it does nothing to address the toxic load lodged in your body, which needs to be specifically removed in order to be truly healthy.

Malabsorption is a serious issue and has become more profound due to the proliferation of over the counter and prescription drugs, antibiotics, mercury poisoning (largely through dental fillings and vaccinations), and stress.

People often tackle this through herbal detox kits, but don’t realize that until your body is strong enough to properly detoxify, the results can be dangerous.

In the case of prescription drugs, even taking them for a very short period of time (3 months or longer) can affect your intestinal tract through the development of an unhealthy biofilm (or plaque) that resists the absorption of nutrients.

Stress is a well-known killer, yet many people seem to ignore the fact that they are dealing with it on a daily basis, to a point that it becomes chronic and debilitates your body.

In order to live a healthy life, one must strip that unhealthy biofilm and reseed with beneficial bacteria so the healthy foods you begin eating will deliver the appropriate levels of nutrients to your body through proper absorption.

Toxic Load

Stress

Stress creates a state of contraction and an acidic reaction that upsets the normal functioning of the muscles and the body’s delicate pH balance. Not only that, but a body that is in a chronically stressed state has difficulty in absorbing nutrients and also negatively affects the immune system, your main line of defense against pathogenic organisms and disease.

Anyone who has decided to become healthier has typically addressed the toxins present in the food, air, and water so the intake is minimized. This is a smart move, as toxins are a major factor in low energy, ageing, and all disease processes.

Until you fully understand how stress affects you, and how to deal with it efficiently, it will slowly wear you down and ultimately is the trump card that can initiate disease and ultimately take you out. So understand the signs of more serious stress, and negate it appropriately.

However, stopping the intake of toxins does not relieve you of your toxic burden.

Once you are able to effectively address each of these areas, your body will take the appropriate action to heal itself.

Derek Henry

Consider the following example. You are sitting in a bathtub that is slowly filling up with toxic water. As time passes, you soak up these various toxins through your skin, and the water level gets higher, and approaches the edge of the tub. For some, it starts to overflow and this triggers signals (symptoms) from your body that something is going horribly wrong and it can’t be dealt with in its current state. You respond to helping the body recover by bailing out water with a shot glass, but the tap is still turned on and the toxins keep flowing in as fast as or faster than you can get rid of them.

For others, you recognize some signals early, and you decide to eliminate as many toxins you are aware of and that slows down the tap. Over time you manage to work down the water level in the tub, but the slow flow also works against you enough that you get tired before you can ever make it close to emptying the tub.

What do you need to do to stop this toxic bath, and get yourself out of danger? You need to pull the plug!

People often forget the years of damage done that can’t be rec-

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Diary OF A SNOW SHOVELER

December 25

December 8 - 6:00 PM

It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window just watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. It was so romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9

We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a lovelier place in the whole world? I shovelled for the first time this year and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplough came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!

December 12

Merry f---ing Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - Snowed in. The idea of shovelling makes my blood boil...

God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplough driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel.

The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s an idiot. If I have to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to lose it.

January 8

Snowed in. Why the hell does anyone even live here? It had to be all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.

January 16

The temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

January 20

Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The wife is driving me crazy!!!

The sun has melted all our lovely snow... Such a disappointment!

My neighbour, Bob, tells me not to worry - we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Neighbour Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I’ll never want to see snow again. I don’t think that’s possible.

Bob is such a nice man, I’m glad he’s our neighbour.

January 31

Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shovelling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplough came back this afternoon and buried everything again... I didn’t realize I would have to do quite this much shovelling, but I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and puff so.

Roof caved in. I beat up the snowplough driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, for not only the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his butt.

The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.

December 16

December 24

Neighbour Bob was right about the white Christmas – 13 inches of that white crap fell last night. It’s packed so hard by the snowplough, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack.

If I ever catch the son of a b---- who drives that snow plough, I’ll drag him through the snow and beat him with my broken shovel.

I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shovelling and then he comes down the street at 100 km an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplough.

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10 more inches. Neighbour Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

February 1

February 2

I set fire to what’s left of the house. No more shovelling.

February 15

Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

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2. Advertise Continuously.

Shoppers don't have the store loyalty they once did. You must advertise to keep pace with your competition. The National Retail Merchants Association states: “Mobility and non-loyalty are rampant. Stores must promote to get former customers to return and to seek new ones.” Furthermore, if a business only advertises one month, they may not reach every potential customer. Shoppers who don’t need a specific merchant one month may need it the following.

3. Advertise to Remain With Shoppers Through the Buying Process.

Many people postpone buying decisions. They often go from store to store comparing prices, quality and service. Advertising must reach them steadily through the entire decision-making process. Your name must be fresh in their minds when they ultimately decide to buy.

4. Advertise Because Your Competition is Advertising.

There are only so many consumers in the market who are ready to buy at any one time. You'll need to advertise to keep regular customers and to counterbalance the advertising of your competition. You must advertise to keep your share of customers or you will lose them to the more aggressive competitors.

5. Advertise Because it Pays Off Over a Long Period.

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Continuous store traffic is the first step toward sales increases and expanding your base of shoppers. The more people who come into the store, the more possibilities you have to make sales and sell additional merchandise. For every 100 items that shoppers plan to buy, they make 30 unanticipated "in the store" purchases, an NRMA survey shows.

7. Advertise to Make More Sales.

Advertising works! Businesses that succeed are usually strong, steady advertisers. Look around. You'll find the most aggressive and consistent advertisers are almost invariably the most successful.

8. Advertise Because There is Always Business to Generate.

Your doors are open. Salespeople are on the payroll. Even the slowest days produce sales. As long as you're in business, you have overhead to meet and new people to reach. Advertising can generate customers now and in the future.

9. Advertise to Keep a Healthy Positive Image.

In a competitive market, rumours and bad news travel fast. Advertising corrects misleading gossip, punctures "overstated" bad news. Advertising that is vigorous and positive can bring shoppers into the marketplace, regardless of the economy.

10. Advertise to Maintain Employee Morale.

When advertising and promotion are suddenly cut or cancelled, salespeople may become alarmed and demoralized. They may start false rumours in an honest belief that your business is in trouble. Positive advertising boosts morale. It gives your staff strong additional support.

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

I swear that, somewhere out there, my Tupperware lids and single socks are chilling together laughing at me.

Cleaning with children in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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profit, but it’s not something you want to risk getting into unless you know exactly what you’re doing. If you can organize your own team of tradesmen and carry out a lot of the work yourself, your profits will be much greater.

2. Find the Right Location

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that location is one of the most It shouldn’t come as any surprise that location is one of the most important factors when buying any property, but this is doubly true in the case of investments. You’ll need to find a neighbourhood with a high appeal if you want to have any hope of getting a good resale or rental price. In the case of rental properties, it’s much safer to buy something in a good area where the likelihood of getting bad tenants who disturb the neighbours and default on their payments is less likely.

When you’re investing in a property to renovate and resale, you’ll need to be able to see the potential in otherwise unattractive and derelict buildings.

The best opportunities often come in the form of the worst-looking house on the street but, after plenty of work, it will look new and inviting to potential buyers.

3 Essential Tips for Buying Your First Investment Property Buying an investment property is a great way to secure your financial future for the long term, but it is not a decision to take lightly.

Aside from the price of the property itself, there are many other costs to factor in, and it’s easy to end up going way over budget to the extent you end up losing out. Before making any commitment, you’ll also need to study the local real estate market exhaustively.

The following tips will help you get started on the right track:

1. Consider the Type of Investment

For most first-time property investors, a rental property tends to be the obvious option. However, investing in a property that you can profit from by renting it out to long-term tenants also requires a very specific set of market conditions. Most importantly, you’ll need to be sure you can get enough money from rental payments to cover any mortgage, insurance and maintenance costs while also leaving a healthy profit.

More experienced investors might look into buying a property for short-term holiday lets. While there is always a degree of uncertainty when it comes to relying on holiday lets as a consistent income, you will always be able to ask for a lot more than you can with a long-term tenancy.

Before parting with any money or even making any offers, be sure to thoroughly examine the area first.

If possible, get to know some of the people living in the region, and spend some time there to truly get to know it. Finally, consider buying in a growth area that is under redevelopment and increasing demand.

3. Factor in Ongoing Costs

It’s important to remember that there are many more costs involved when buying an investment property than the actual money you put down initially. For starters, all of the same costs involved in buying a home for your own use also apply, such as buildings insurance and conveyancing costs. However, with investment properties, you’ll also need to factor in any additional taxes that might apply as well as ongoing maintenance costs.

When buying an investment property, particularly one that you plan to rent out, you’ll need to have plenty of additional savings available to pay for unforeseen problems. The last thing you want is to have a tenant calling you because of a major issue that you cannot afford to fix. As such, you should always have enough money saved up to pay for any unforeseen consequences without having to apply for emergency funding.

Final Words

Investing in real estate can be extremely profitable, but taking the wrong steps can lead to financial meltdown. You’ll need to have plenty of funding available as well as a contingency plan in case of things going wrong. As such, it’s always a good idea for first-time property investors to start small by buying a low-value but liveable home that needs only a small amount of work and money spending on it to get a good rental return. Only once you feel comfortable with the marketplace and you have built up a large amount of capital should you consider expanding your property portfolio.

Yet another option to consider is buying a dilapidated property for renovation and resale. Such a project can net you an enormous

32 •

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Charles Owen-Jackson The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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GUARANTEED!! |PRIDE |PASSION |PURPOSE

| REFINANCES | DEBT CONSOLIDATIONS | EQUITY TAKE-OUTS Purchase - Refinance - Transfers - Equity Lending - Spousal Buyouts Debt Consolida�on - Second Homes - Revenue & Vaca�on Proper�es - New to Canada - Self Employed Applicants - Bankruptcy - Foreclosures - Clients With Bruised or Poor Credit - FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS

JASON ELDRIDGE Mortgage Specialist PFP, B.Admin

403.630.1718 F: 866-708-5807 E: jason@axiommortgage.ca facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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Renting comes with lower carrying costs than owning, When this is the best option for you, Emerald Management is the expert in setting the standard!

Are you a family that needs multiple bedrooms?

We have the answer!

APPLIES TO STRATHMORE LOCATIONS ONLY. OFFER EXPIRES DEC. 30, 2019

Darlis-Keily Ireland

A believer in the power of sharing knowledge & expertise, Darlis-Keily has been gathering (and passing along) information for more than 20 years through conversation, presentations and workshops. Knowing that one simple ‘learning’ can be a critical turning point, she shares ideas, insights, referrals and solutions with those looking for new ways to be seen, heard and be exceptional in a noisy world. Through her business, True Turning Point, she trains entrepreneurs and organizations how to grow by sharing who they are and what they know. www.True-TurningPoint.com

Have2 A G3r3e2at Ye2ar3!

“I've heard there are troubles of more than one kind; some come from ahead, and some come from behind. But I've brought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see; now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” ~ Dr. Seuss

Every great year includes great moments that remind us why we are in business. But let’s be honest, it isn’t always easy being a business owner and troubles of all sorts show up along the way.

There are days when sales are down, expenses are up, unexpected things happen that effect our business, paperwork demands our attention, fires have to be put out and we constantly need to be aware of what people want, how to let them know we have it

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and ensure we provide it in a way that makes them want to come back again.

As a business owner, we have a lot of responsibilities and it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities and lose sight of the long-term vision we have for our business. We are so busy working ‘in’ our business that we do not work ‘on’ our business… the weeks fly by and suddenly, a new year has arrived. When we refocus our attention on the big picture (our vision) and take consistent action forward, and we create many moments that result in a great year.

It starts with a plan, being mindful and having an attitude of success. You must have an idea of where you are going, how you will get there and who can help you along the way. You need to see your business with fresh eyes. You are best served when you seek out opportunities in adversity. These things allow you to be proactive instead of reactive to the troubles that come along. Being reactive is stressful and draining. Being proactive is energizing and rewarding. Proactive sure sounds like a lot more fun!

If you are like many entrepreneurs and you prefer (or only have time for) a plan that is simple, flexible and adaptable, consider selecting four areas of your business to focus on this year. Each quarter, commit to taking action on one area.

Maybe you want to attract new clients or customers, decrease your expenses, rebrand your business, identify a new product or service to offer, expand your peer network or become known as an expert in your field. Make a list of possibilities and then ask yourself these questions about each one:

1. Will working on this potentially move my business closer to my long-term vision?

2. Is this something I can fully commit to?

3. Do I have the resources, or am I willing to find the resources, that I need? Resources could be funds, time, knowledge, connections, equipment, etc.

Once you have decided on the specific areas of your business that you will work on, write down activity ideas for each area.

Could you read books on a topic, enroll in training or get a coach? Could you hire someone with special skills? Could you interview existing clients or customers? Could you join a mastermind group?

Look for ways every week (or even better, every day) to make a positive impact on that area and do this for 90 days. Be mindful of working ‘on’ your business and give it your conscious attention. Be curious, ask questions, seek out input, test new ideas, and see your business through the eyes of your target market.

There may be occasions when things do not go as planned.

That’s ok. This is where having an attitude of success comes to the rescue. Remember that setbacks are momentary. Maya Angelou says, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Fretting over an experience will not change the experience, but you can choose to see it from a new perspective and learn from it.

Throughout the year, be aware of your thoughts and keep things in perspective in relation to the big picture. Progress sometimes is achieved with small steps forward. Remember to celebrate the little victories along the way. Before you know it, you will look back on this year and see all the troubles that came along that turned out not to be so troublesome after all. Instead you will see the progress you made, one day at a time.

So grab your big bat of business success and flourish in 2020!

If you have questions about selecting impactful areas of your business to work on this year or are looking for ideas on things you can do to move an area forward, post in the ‘Business Growth by Sharing Expertise’ Facebook Group (https://www. facebook.com/groups/ShareExpertise/) or email me directly at Darlis@True-TurningPoint.com.

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

Youth is when you are allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to. ~Bill Vaughn My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car which is designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the car trunk.

They Walk Among Us! I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area and went to the lost luggage oďŹƒce and reported the loss. The woman there smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and said I was in good hands. 'Now,' she asked me, 'has your plane arrived yet?'...

(I work with professionals like this.)

They Walk Among Us! While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time then said "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces."

They Walk Among Us!

In soft glistening night of stars, hope all your aspirations come true.

May every star present in the sky, Bring love and wealth to you.

Happy New Year 2020!

Join the Chamber Today!

langdonchamber.ca facebook.com/groups/langdonABchamber

2019 Business Excellence Awards

An evening recognizing local businesses in a variety of amazing categories.

Jan 31, 2020 @ 6pm

Strathmore Civic Centre Presented by your Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce NOMINATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW! The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, December 20, 2019 @ 4pm Please pick up and drop off nominations off at: Renaissance Bakery 104.5 More Country Radio Murray Chrysler (Attn Shawn Kisling) Lil Hoots Clothing Town of Strathmore Or email us attn: BEA Nominations Strathmorechamber@gmail.com 11 Awards to be Won and ALL nominations will be presented to an unbiased panel of judges to determine the winners!!

RSVP TODAY!

strathmoredistrictchamber.com

Phone: 403-901-3175 info@strathmoredistrictchamber.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different