The Newsy Neighbour March Issue 89

Newsy Neighbour

The A Complimentary Magazine Since 2008

MARCH 2015 Issue 89

The

Downtown

Nutrition

STRATHMORE

BOOTCAMP

Shopping

CHALLENGE

Eliminate Chronic Pain

Fitness

CHOOSE HAPPINESS

Issue

dŚĞ ƚǁĞŶƚLJ ŵŝŶƵƚĞ ƐŬŝŶ Įdž ƚŚĂƚ ŐĞƚƐ LJŽƵ ŝŶ͕ ŐĞƚƐ ƐŬŝŶ ƌĞƉĂŝƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŐĞƚƐ LJŽƵ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŽƌ ŝŶ Ă ƐŶĂƉ͊ Kƌ ŐƌĞĂƚ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĞƌŵĂůŽŐŝĐĂ &ĂĐŝĂůƐ͘

403 273-LAKE (5253) www.thelakeshorespa.com ϮϬϮ͕ ϯϮϬ tĞƐƚ ƌĞĞŬ ƌŝǀĞ͕ ŚĞƐƚĞƌŵĞƌĞ ;/Ŷ ZĂŝŶďŽǁ &ĂůůƐͿ

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ICONIC. ICONIC.

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Stephanie's Monthly Car-Buying Tips March is...

TEST DRIVES

Do you ever get the feeling that a sales person wants to take control of the situation when buying a new vehicle? THEY direct you to the vehicle they want to sell you and on the test drive, THEY tell you where to go. Doesn’t seem right, does it? A vehicle purchase is a major decision that should be made carefully and you should definitely have some say! Let me help! YOU tell me what you want in a vehicle and YOU tell me where you would like to go for a test drive. And if you need to try it on a gravel road because you live in the country, I am OK with that. I want to make sure that you and your vehicle are a complete match. You are making a purchase that should give you years of enjoyment. Give me a call and let’s go for a drive!

When you purchase your family's next vehicle,

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The Newsy Neighbour is a proud media sponsor of the Alberta 55+ Games

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We2ddings at

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Brulotte Bookkeeping & Tax Services Patricia PHONE: 403.901.2105 pbrulotte@telus.net

With 29 years of experience, we look forward to working with you for your accounting needs.

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Proteins In VEGETABLES

easiest nutrients to get and all foods have plenty of protein. In other words, every “whole food” is a “source of protein”. You don’t have to eat certain, special foods to get protein. You just have to eat any “whole food”. That’s it.

There is a site called: www.health-alternatives.com and they have pretty much any and every vegetable you can ever think of and it lists every single protein, vitamin or mineral it contains – it is an amazing site; I would not have believed it if I had not seen it for my own eyes!!

We were sitting around the dining room table just the other day, discussing protein. No, I am not kidding – we really were! When I think of “protein,” my mind goes directly and swiftly to the thought of beef, pork, chicken, eggs and fish. Well, apparently there may be more protein in vegetables than in meat!

Live and Learn Kathryn Hartwell

References: michaelbluejay.com and healthalternatives.com

10 FUN FACTS

Are you as surprised as me?

Who would have known that common vegetables have much more protein than you need, and contrary to popular myth, they’re complete proteins?

The reason you’ve heard otherwise is, like me, you probably haven’t bothered to look up the actual numbers. So let’s look at what the science actually says — as well as what doctors and dietitians who are actually familiar with protein say.

We need only 2.5 to 11% of our calories from protein, according to peer-reviewed research and that amount is easily supplied by common vegetables. Vegetables average around 22% protein by calorie, beans 28%, and grains 13. Protein is one of the

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1. You can’t wash your eyes with soap.

2. You can’t count your hair.

3. You can’t breathe through your nose, with your tongue out.

4. You just tried number 3.

6. When you did number 3 you realized it’s possible, only you look silly.

7. You’re smiling right now, because you were fooled.

8. You skipped number 5.

9. You just checked to see if there was a number 5.

10. You are thinking this is dumb!

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Winner of 2013 Business of the Year - Small Enterprise

Since 2008 Where can you get a copy of The Newsy Neighbour?

We deliver door to door and through the mail to Strathmore, Chestermere, Langdon, Carseland, Delacour, Shepard, Lyalta, Dalemead, Standard, Conrich, Rockyford, Cheadle, Nightingale, Namaka, Speargrass, Cluny, Hussar & Rosebud. We go to more locations than any local publication.

The Business Awards provide recognition for Strathmore and Area businesses that demonstrate a continued passion for excellence and promote the advancement of business leadership within our community.

Get In Touch With Us!

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Pick Up Locations: Strathmore & Chestermere: Gas Stations Medical Offices Hotels and other lodging Grocery Stores Strathmore: Value Drug Mart More Than Ice Cream Booster Juice Studio 86 Tanning Chamber Of Commerce The Road House Pranava Yoga Chestermere: Chestermere Library Town Of Chestermere Recreation Centre M & M Foods Catalyst Supplements Chestermere Optometry Trend Fashions Caribbean Sun Tanning Sak’s Music The Lakeshore Esthetics Sunnyz Vietnamese Sub Langdon: Kimmer Market Botsford Deli Prairie Pharmacy IDA

Rockyford: Dee’s Cold Beer & Liquor Standard: Co-Op Tom’s General Pet’s Bakery UFA Petro Cluny: Cluny Liquor Store Country Farmhouse Gleichen: Family Foods Medical Center Arrowwod Co-Op Rosebud Museum Emmes Esso Bassano: Rosies Road Side Bassano Empty Bottle IDA Pharmacy Mossleigh: Out Post Mossleigh Hotel Inn Aspen Crossing Carseland: Food Mart Reds Family Cook House

www.thenewsyneighbour.com Please Recycle This Magazine!

The Newsy Neighbour is published 12 times a year, printed by Central Web and distributed by Strathmore Standard, Sun Media, Canada Post and The Newsy Neighbour delivery team.

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We accept Cheque, Visa and M/C PLEASE DO NOT MAIL CASH! Please make cheques payable to “The Newsy Neighbour Inc.” Total subscription cost for one full year is $39.95 including G.S.T. Please return this voucher to: G-510 Highway 1, Strathmore, Alberta T1P 1M6 Questions please call 403-478-9114 aleesha@thenewsyneighbour.com

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Our Team

Publishers Letter:

Owner/Editor, Content Development & Articles

Kathryn Hartwell Phone: 403-561-0888

kathryn@thenewsyneighbour.com

Owner/Publisher, Layout, Design, Accounts Payable/ Receivable & Website.

Aleesha Gosling Phone: 403-478-9114

aleesha@thenewsyneighbour.com

Advertising; Regional Sales Manager

Denise Geremia Phone: 403-608-0686

denise@thenewsyneighbour.com

Our Contributors JockTalk

Life Lines

Jock Wilson

Jody Brown

Shaken & Stirred

Natural Choices

Marcy Field

Cynthia Barnesky

Interior Design

Holdin’ Holden

Emily Hogan

Jenny Schoberl

A Mindful Minute

Stories Musings

Rebecca Stone Guiding you OVER the steps ..... of Real Estate.

The REPs

Suzanne Shaver Lomenda Energy

Carla Lomenda

The month of March seems to be marching upon us, where the heck did January and February go? I swear it was just January a few days ago, it can’t be just me?

So, March seems to be the month that marches into Spring, perhaps its name? We have chosen our March Issue to spring you into your health, happiness and nutritional place of mind.

Suzanne, is going to remind you of your “New Year’s Resolutions” – who needs reminding of how we have the free option of changing our minds!! Speaking of minds, you know we have a conscious and sub-conscious one, isn’t one enough to worry about?

This amazing “Health and Nutrition” issue should be all you need to get a healthy start to 2015! Choose happiness, step into your journey of change, focus on the good, spring is coming, eat real food, and the most IMPORTANT truth in life – if you do not have your health –you have nothing!

Did you know we have a contestant for Miss Universe from Strathmore? How proud are we?? We wish our special “Miss Bailee Simonin” the most extraordinary gift of being the most special Miss Universe ever. We are there for you! Just think,,, A special girl from Strathmore, Alberta, being Miss Universe!! I can see it, it could happen and probably will – that’s how Karma works.

We did a little wake up call for all you men out there who think we ignore you. Are you watching your health? Make sure you keep up with your “check-up’s” and be in top performance for your own good.

One article you may not want to miss is Carla Lomenda’s, she has stepped up to the choice of “Step into your journey of change, focus on the good and you will create more good.

Trust me on this… we are all on our own journey in life. Be aware of your own personal choices and take control of who you are as a person and your health choices. This was what we have tried to achieve with this inspirational March Issue.

Kathryn, Aleesha and Denise

Photo Credits Go To: COVER: tongo51 at shutterstock.com All other images in magazine: Horiyan, Stokkete, Hitdelight, Ariwasabi, alexmillos, Iriana Shiyan, Aleutie, Johan Larson, racorn, Michael-John Wolfe, Blazej Lyjak, Gustavo Frazao, TijanaM, Robert Kneschke, CREATISTA, Doctor Letters, Vladislav Nosick, Algefoto, vladilada, Fabio Berti, panbazil, YUSRAN ABDUL RAHMAN all at shutterstock.com

Natural Options

Derek Henry

Additional contribution provided by:

Langdon Chiropractic, PJ’s Appliances, Langdon Dental, John Godsman, Carol Shields, Backstrong Health Group, Anndee King, Joanne Watson, 5 for Life, Hope Bridges, Bailee Simonin facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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How are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? but I’m sure those creative types at Weight Loss, Inc. will come up with something.

Stories, Musings, A Little Adventure And Humour Suzanne is a native Calgarian that lived in Langdon for 15 years before transplanting to Chestermere in 2013. By day she is an accountant with a frustrated creative side that occasionally escapes in form of written musings, which is far more interesting than adding stuff up for people.

W

Well, it’s March already. How are those New Year’s resolutions coming along?

I’m not exactly a fan of the concept, but I thought I should probably do something to combat the general bad diet, lack of working out and out of shape-ness in my world, so come January 1, I actually did think about resolving to do something novel; things like, “eat less, exercise more” or “eat better” or “get back in shape”… or something. Learning how to set proper goals might have been a better resolution.

Sadly, my approach to good nutrition, exercise and the overall adoption of a healthy lifestyle tends to be as vague as my goal-setting technique. It’s also hampered by the enjoyment of beer and wings at local pubs. On a side note, if anyone comes out with a new diet that incorporates those two elements, I’m in! Can’t be low-carb or gluten-free, because, you know… beer…

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Coincidently, as I sat down to write this, one of my favourite fitness writers, James Fell (www.bodyforwife.com) posted this on his Facebook page:

“Excess fat can’t be blamed on insulin, carbohydrates or the Loch Ness Monster. Gaining body fat comes from taking in more calories than you burn. Anyone who can prove otherwise will surely win a Nobel Prize in physics for disproving the first law of thermodynamics. I am unaware of that particular Nobel having been awarded.”

(James’ website provides a free report on metabolism that expands quite nicely on this concept, in a much more educated way than I ever could, should you be interested.)

Personally, I was rooting for the Loch Ness Monster to be the cause but apparently it’s not that simple.

Nutritionally speaking, I have a pretty good idea what I need The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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to do, or not do, as the case may be. Watch the fat intake or the percentage of fat that comes from calories. Don’t attempt to eliminate fat completely as the body needs some; just watch the source and quantity. “Diet” food comes with a myriad of pit falls and traps; particularly the “single serving, 100 calorie snack” types. Labelling in general can be hideously misleading.

Portion control is important. Restaurant food, including many of the meal-type salads, can be very bad for your waistline.

Restaurants should be a treat, not a lifestyle (drat!). Any plan that completely eliminates one food group is most likely a waste of time and, in some cases, fairly unhealthy. Since I do not have a diagnosed medical condition that warrants it, I do not have to waste my money, or insult my taste buds, on buying “gluten free” food. If you are genuinely celiac or have a legitimate medically diagnosed intolerance for gluten, which is the only reason one should attempt to eliminate gluten from one’s diet, you have my sympathy – deep sympathy. Some “gluten free” food would only be approaching tasty if it had gluten, never mind without. If you avoid gluten because you think that’s the healthy thing to do… uh… well… have fun with that.

Exercise-wise, it should be easy. Not the actual act of exercising – that part is supposed to be hard – but the “getting to it” part.

I have a basement full of assorted exercise stuff – a TRX, a huge ball, a step thing to trip over, mats, some bands, free weights, assorted gadgets that look like they could do double duty on the set of a certain recently released movie, and so on. Other than a large cardio implement to hold my laundry while I’m not busy cardio-ing (aka, always) I’m pretty set. And I own a bike that apparently is a good form of cardio. Or I hear a pair of decent shoes and a sidewalk can even work for that part of “exercise”.

I have the stuff, I have the basic knowledge to use the stuff, I have the vague New Year’s goal that should prod me to using the stuff, I have a wedding to attend in June that should provide ample motivation for using the stuff, but… there are cobwebs on my stuff. Seriously. I think the spiders in the basement saw the TRX hanging there as a motivational challenge (at least it motivated something) and went to town. It would almost be sad to disturb such fine, spidery art.

So to answer my own question, the New Year’s resolution is not coming along all that well at all, thank you very much. But as a responsible adult, I can examine the situation and accept placing the blame for this downfall exactly where it belongs… with the Loch Ness Monster.

Are Bugs Good to Eat?

A boy asks his father, “Dad, are bugs good to eat?”

“That’s disgusting — don’t talk about things like that over dinner,” the dad replies.

After dinner the father asks, “Now, son, what did you want to ask me?”

“Oh, nothing,” the boy says. “There was a bug in your soup, but now it’s gone.”

P.S. Happy Green Beer month!!!

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HEALTH Fitness & Exercise Physical Health Fitness Exercise Yoga Beauty Tanning Relaxation Massage Therapy Stress Reduction Mental Health Dental Nutrition Acupuncture Supplements Vitamins Skin Care Holistic Hypnosis Chiropractors Personal Trainers Coaches Recipes Food Labels Men’s Health Women’s Health Kids Health

This issue has it all!!

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Orthodontic Treatment Orthodontic Treatment congers up many questions for parents whose children are headed in to treatment, as well as adults who are contemplating correcting crooked teeth and other concerns such as TMJ disorders.

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

- Buddha

Orthodontic care means more than unravelling overlapping teeth; it is designed to address bite problems that encompass skeletal abnormalities due to insufficient or excessive jaw growth and misalignment of teeth that has occurred as a result of an inadequate eruption pattern.

Patients should consider orthodontic treatment to improve dental issues that are the result of a poor bite. Patients dealing with excessive tooth wear, clicking and popping of jaw joints and challenges eating because of a lack of balance and fit between top and bottom jaws can benefit from orthodontic treatment as often muscular pain, headaches and neck discomfort may be due to a bad bite. Of course, there are also esthetic issues that motivate people to have an orthodontic consultation – as along with poor tooth alignment and mis-sized jaws bring facial imbalance.

Acknowledging that some patients orthodontic needs go far beyond just ‘straightening teeth’, the importance of a consultation prior to beginning any course of treatment is advised, and your dentist will work closely with Certified Orthodontists and Oral Surgeons, should a patient benefit from a referral.

The thought of Orthodontic Treatment can evoke mixed feelings for a patient – excitement at the thought of having a new smile and nervousness about how braces or an orthodontic appliance will look and feel.

Seeking an orthodontic consultation is a great place to start in gaining accurate information and an understanding of potential outcomes.

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Langdon Dental See ad on page 9

Question:

Does a healthy mind make a healthy body, or does a healthy body make a healthy mind?

Personally, I think it works both ways; if you don’t keep your brain healthy, your body can’t be healthy and if you have failing health, it would absolutely affect your brain and the way you see yourself.

I was doing a bit of research over the weekend on these thoughts because I had a huge angioedema attack and was feeling a little down in the dumps. I found this site with these Healthy The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Habits and these thoughts brightened my day a little bit. Have a gander and see what you think!

When you’re truly healthy, you are healthy in your body, mind, and spirit.

• When you are generous to your body, you nourish your body with physical activity, good foods, water, and sleep.

• When you are generous to your mind, you care for your mental and emotional health in ways that reduce your stress, increase your sense of calm, and embrace yourself and your glorious imperfections.

• When you are generous to your spirit, you connect with yourself and others in meaningful ways. One in which you make a habit of taking care of yourself while taking care of others so that you reach your full potential and make the world a better place.

• If you take care of your physical health, practice mindfulness, connect with others and yourself, express gratitude, practice simplicity, and give time and money to causes you care about, your life will naturally unfold as a generous life that is good for you and good for others.

• Being generous with yourself means eating and exercising regularly, finding time for meditation and/or prayer regularly, and taking other actions that nurture and improve your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

• While taking care of yourself is critical, so is taking care of others. One of your deepest human needs is to make a contribution. At the end of your life, you’re going to look back and ask, “Did my life matter?” And you can answer that question with a resounding “Yes!” when you make a positive impact on the world and improve the lives of others.

• But in order to do that, you must be generous with others and help improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual conditions.

You must be generous with the world and work to solve problems at their roots so that fewer people suffer in the future.

Medical Weight Loss Protocol Body Fat Analysis, Counseling and Food Provided

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• Stay physically active. By keeping your heart, lungs, and blood vessels healthy, exercise helps ensure that all parts of the body, including brain cells, receive the oxygen and nutrients they need.

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• Challenge your mind. The old saying “use it or lose it” applies to our brain and muscles alike. “Many new lines of research show that the human brain has much more plasticity than previously thought, and in many ways, it’s like a muscle. Challenging the brain to learn new things -- by reading, taking up a language, doing crossword puzzles, or playing a musical instrument, for example -- can help keep the brain and informational processing in top form and may even reshape brain circuitry.

Are you in the Beauty or Health Business?

• Eat a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables. Researchers are only beginning to understand the many healthful components in plant-based foods that help protect against chronic diseases.

For a healthy brain, antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, and A may be especially important. Dozens of studies have shown that foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and walnuts, slow age-related decline of brain function in laboratory animals.

Kathryn Hartwell Excerpts from webmd.com and changegangs.com

Come and share our fabulous space with us. We have room to share!

Ideal Nutrition is looking for individuals to share our office space downtown Strathmore.

We are looking for three professionals in health or beauty. Cost is $500 per month utilities included.

Please call Estelle at 403-680-6733. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 15

ELIMINATE CHRONIC PAIN Natural Options

T

Derek Henry, B.Kin, is a highly revered holistic health coach and world renowned natural health blogger from Kelowna, BC who created Healing the Body to help people understand the fundamental principles and intimate details to exceptional health so they can overcome their own health challenges. In this pursuit, he created the THRIVE online holistic health program to give people the step by step solutions to achieve a healthier body and mind, while empowering them to maintain that lifestyle on their own terms. If you would like to learn more about what he can do holistically to improve your health, check out his website, www.healingthebody.ca.

THE BEAUTY OF THE BODY IS THAT IT HAS SEVERAL FEEDBACK MECHANISMS TO ALERT YOU THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG. We often call this feedback a “symptom”, and rather than valuing it and seeking to remedy the imbalance, we often set out to destroy the mechanism that provides that signal. This is equivalent to shorting a circuit to the smoke detector so we aren’t annoyed by the sound while the fire burns.

If you truly want to eliminate chronic pain, there are some foundational requirements that need to be followed. In addition to that, one needs to be aware of natural painkillers that can provide relief while making the transition to a lifestyle devoid of physical pain. Together, they can help you eliminate chronic pain.

Let’s get started.

You want to completely eliminate the following foods for at thenewsyneighbour.com

• ALL forms of sugar (including high sugar fruits) • Wheat and any grains containing gluten, as well as all flour products • All forms of dairy (save grass fed butter, in moderation) • All forms of alcohol • Pork • Caffeine (in coffee, soda, and black teas) • “Dirty” seafood (like shrimp, mussels, lobster, crab, scallops, and some salmon) • Peanuts, and non-soaked nuts and seeds • Legumes • Unfermented, non-organic soy products • All corn products • Non-organic canola products • Vinegars (save apple cider vinegar) • Nightshade foods (like tomatoes) • ALL heavily processed and/or unnatural ingredients (like nitrates, MSG, HFCS, TBHQ, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavours, artificial colours, trans fats, maltodextrin) In addition to these foods, avoid EMF’s, chronic stress, mercury (in dental fillings and vaccines), drinking from plastic containers, and heavily polluted outdoor and indoor environments.

Choose cleansing foods and activities that help eliminate chronic pain There are plenty of good foods that can help eliminate chronic pain, but are often overlooked in favour of more processed and addictive foods (which is why chronic pain is so prevalent).

However, if you are determined enough and make the following foods at least 70% of your food and beverage consumption, you can expect most chronic pain to be alleviated. These foods and beverages include: • Green, leafy vegetables • Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage (slightly steamed for those with serious digestion or thyroid issues) • Garlic • Onions • Sea vegetables • Berries • Lemons and limes • Granny Smith apples • Hot peppers • Ginger • Turmeric • Cayenne • Coconut oil and kefir

Eliminate foods and activities that contribute to chronic pain 16 •

least 60-90 days. Each of these foods are heavily implicated as contributors to chronic pain due to their toxin load or the fact that they are hard on the digestive system.

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Altogether Different

• Algae (chlorella and spirulina) • Hemp • Aloe vera • Chia (soaked) • Fermented vegetables • Pure water • Herbal teas This is certainly not a complete list, but it is a great core list of foods to incorporate for most people who suffer from chronic pain. In addition to these foods, be sure to get grounded, get plenty of vitamin D and EFA’s, curb your stress, and spend more time in fresh air.

Use strong, natural painkillers During your transition to a pain free lifestyle, it is important to consider a plan with your physician that can reduce and eliminate your need for prescriptions and medications. Fortunately, there are several natural painkillers that can reduce and eliminate inflammation, especially when combined with the food and lifestyle factors above.

It is important to understand that chronic pain can be due to a large variety of factors, but following these recommendations will provide you with an approach to systemically eliminate chronic pain so you can enjoy a happier and healthier 2015.

3 NATURAL PAIN RELIEVERS THAT ARE AS POWERFUL AS DRUGS, WITHOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS Unfortunately, acute or chronic pain is something that everyone in their life experiences at one time or another. Even though this is a powerful reminder from the body that something is either healing or going terribly wrong, a way to manage the pain is often required in order to live a functional lifestyle.

The first resort to manage this type of pain has typically been prescriptions or over the counter drugs. These medications do have side effects, however, and people are beginning to realize there are more natural solutions that can be as effective, or more powerful than drugs. Here are 3 natural pain relievers that are as powerful as drugs without the side effects.

Boswellia

Often called Indian Frankincense, boswellia originates in the dry areas of India, Africa, and the Mediterranean. It is a remarkable plant and is becoming better known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the root of chronic pain. The unique acids (boswellic acids) block the overproduction of cytokinetic activity in damaged tissues while enhancing blood flow to the joints. This combination has also been shown to increase joint mobility and loosen stiff joints.

Boswellia has shown great success at reducing inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis, and other painful conditions. Many studies have shown that it is as effective as NSAID’s, which are the most commonly prescribed drug for issues related to inflammation and chronic pain.

Turmeric

Another powerful anti-inflammatory food with exceptional pain relief properties, turmeric is an ancient spice commonly used in Indian and Asian cuisine. Turmeric has shown to work

better than many other pain-killing drugs at relieving arthritis, joint pain, stiffness, muscle spasms, and other chronic pain conditions.

A natural painkiller and COX-2 inhibitor, turmeric has been shown to be a safe and effective remedy due to its ability to not only stop inflammation, but to suppress nerve related pain as well. This makes it exceptional for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin (asta-zan-thin) is a deep red coloured phytonutrient synthesized by microalgae called Haematococcus, and is also known as the “King of Carotenoids”. It’s grown in fresh water using sophisticated techniques that encourage the algae to grow its own powerful medicines protecting it from oxidation, UV radiation, and other environmental stressors.

Even though astaxanthin may not be as powerful as leading pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, it is found to be one of the strongest ones in nature. Several double blind, placebo controlled animal and clinical trials shows that astaxanthin naturally inhibits many of the known inflammation mediators, which eases inflammation and pain without side effects.

It has been used effectively for joint pain, muscle recovery, and other painful conditions. Since astaxanthin is fat soluble (unlike most antioxidants) it gets carried by fat molecules directly to your muscles, tissues, and organs where it is needed most, like your brain, breast tissue, prostate tissue, skeletal muscles, and retina.

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• 17

You only get one.

Food Labels and

“Look well to the spine for the cause of disease.”

–Hippocrates

Canada Organic Regime: A Certified Choice

Most people are conscientious of getting regular oil changes and seasonal car maintenance checks to ensure their cars are functioning optimally and efficiently. The idea is to increase the longevity of the vehicle, maintain value of, as well as prevent unexpected repair costs down the road. What would happen if you didn’t maintain your car? If you did not have regular oil changes for your car, it would likely drive for a while, then you may notice your gas mileage may start to drop, it may start sputtering a bit… until you either HAVE to have it maintained or quit driving it altogether. Improper alignment of your vehicle leads to uneven wear on your tires, reduced gas mileage and could potentially leave the driver at risk of accidents. Vehicles require regular maintenance and attention. Imagine if we put the same energy and care towards our health.

While the organic standard is defined differently in different jurisdictions, in general, organic farming responds to site-specific farming and crop conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers are not allowed, although certain organically approved pesticides may be used under limited conditions. In general, organic foods are also not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives. All organic products bearing the Canada Organic logo or represented as organic in interprovincial and international trade must comply with the Organic Products Regulations. Only products with organic content that is greater than or equal to 95 per cent may be labelled as: “organic” or bear the Canada Organic logo.

Are you having regular “maintenance” checks for your body?

When was the last time someone checked your spinal alignment? Just as with your vehicle, improper alignment leads to uneven wear and tear and requires more energy for day-to-day tasks, often leaving people lethargic and fatigued. Luckily with our cars, we are able to change parts, or even get a new car if necessary. Honour yourself by taking better care of your body than you do your car. Do you provide your body with optimum fuel? Do you recognize the importance of regular maintenance and movement? Spinal health is an essential component for daily living, activity and ensuring that the one body we have is able to function optimally for as long as we are alive. You only get one.

Gluten-Free

A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). A gluten-free diet is used to treat celiac disease. Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines of people with celiac disease.

Some simple clues that you may have spinal imbalance: - The heels of your shoes may wear out unevenly.

- You have uneven movement when turning your head, hips or shoulders to the right or left.

Learn more at http://www.thenewsyneighbour. com/#!highlights/c1srt

- You are often lethargic for no known reason.

- One leg appears shorter than the other. Sometimes this appears as wear on one pant leg, or needing to hem one pant leg shorter than the other.

- You have poor posture. You may be rounded forward when seated, adding strain to your back and neck. A quick check is to stand upright and your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle should create one straight line.

- You have trouble taking a satisfying big breath without pain or restriction. This can be a clue for misalignment of your ribs and/or spine, and can contribute to fatigue due to the fact that shallow breathing relates to less oxygen intake.

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Rehabilitation Wellness Sports Injury and more

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Altogether Different

what they mean!

Genetically modified foods

Genetically modified foods (or GM foods) are foods produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering.

GMO crops, when first introduced, were touted as the answer to world hunger. The argument was that by developing pesticide and herbicide resistant crops, farmers would be able to increase their yields and decrease their costs.

This may not be the case. Are bugs and weeds becoming increasingly resistant to the widespread applications of these chemicals, leading to increased use of both? Could this mean spraying increases costs for the farmers, more damage to the environment and more health concerns?

Food irradiation

Food irradiation is the process of exposing foodstuffs to a source of energy capable of stripping electrons from individual atoms in the targeted material (ionizing radiation). The radiation can be emitted by a radioactive substance or generated electrically.

This treatment is used to preserve food, reduce the risk of food borne illness, prevent the spread of invasive pests, delay or eliminate sprouting or ripening, increase juice yield and improve re-hydration. It is permitted by over 50 countries, with 500,000 metric tons of foodstuffs annually processed worldwide.

Resources: www.inspection.gc.ca Wikipedia Gov. of Canada Website www.hc-sc.gc.ca

5 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight 1. You’re not eating enough.

Although this sounds counter intuitive, this is the #1 reason I see with my weight loss clients. We have been forever told that if you want to lose weight, you need to eat less. Yes, if you drastically cut your calorie intake you will lose some pounds initially.

Typically, the pounds lost are not fat. When the body is calorie restricted, it believes there is a famine and goes into survival mode. This is especially true for women, as we are designed to keep babies alive as well. Calorie restriction only works for a short period of time, and if done long term it can damage your metabolism.

2. Eating the wrong foods thinking they are a healthy choice.

With health and wellness being big business, there is a new health food or diet food being released on a daily basis. Just because something is labeled “all natural” or “low calorie” doesn’t mean that it is healthy or good for weight loss. Typically, diet food is low in fat, and to make it taste good they add fillers, chemicals and salts. These foods tend to be low in nutrients, and chemicals and fillers can make it harder to lose body fat.

3. Not keeping a food journal.

Keeping a food journal is a huge part of being successful. Recording everything that goes in your mouth keeps you accountable. It also shows you a true picture of the nutrients you are consuming, or lack thereof. Most times, clients don’t even realize that they only ate twice in a day. Recording what you’ve eaten allows you to look back and find trends or areas in your diet that can be tweaked for fat loss.

4. Not moving enough.

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3 workouts a week is considered maintenance. Walking your dog or going for a stroll with your friend is great for your health, but is not going to do very much if your goal is fat loss. Fat loss doesn’t mean you have to work out extremely hard every time, but consider how fast you want to get to your goal. You get what you give. Workouts don’t have to be hours long; workout smarter, not longer. Intervals or HIIT training is very helpful for fat loss. Move or workout as often as possible for the best fat loss results.

5. Not sticking with it.

How long did it take for you to build the body you are in right now? It’s going to take a while to build the body up you want.

It’s very common for people to start a new program and go full force for a few weeks and if they don’t see immediate results, they quit. Start slow, making small changes to your lifestyle.

You’ve built the body you have now by living a specific lifestyle, and your body will not change if you continue the same habits.

Anndee King See ad on this page facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 19

How Healthy Is Your

Conscious

or

Sub- Conscious

Mind?

Natural Choices

H

any of them, that is good, but there is always room to grow! If you have answered ‘no’ to just one or more of these questions, that is a sure sign that you are not as healthy in the conscious or sub-conscious mind as you thought you were. How can we work on improving this? The answer requires patience, awareness, repetitive positive thoughts, feelings, and actions and the willpower to never give up!

By Cynthia Barnesky – Holistic Practitioner/Certified Professional Spiritual Life Coach and owner of SunRise Healing Center: Specializes in helping you with the natural ways of healing through her services of Inner Clarity Spiritual Life Coaching, Intuitive Massage, Reflexology, IonCleanse Detox Foot Bath, Intuitive Readings, Reconnective Healing, and many natural healing products. For more information visit her website: www.sunrisehealingcenter.com or give her a call: 403-934-6416.

Have you ever wondered why you are doing and experiencing certain things in your life?

Where this is all coming from? As a Spiritual Life Coach, I often ask clients this question: “Does your conscious or sub-conscious mind have anything to do with what is going on in my life?” The answer is usually “Yes,” but what is the conscious mind and sub-conscious mind?

The Webster’s version of conscious is: “Aware of one’s own experiences, situations, etc…” The short and sweet version I know it to be: “Your consciousness is when you are aware of your thoughts, feelings, actions and accomplishments.” Webster’s version of the sub-conscious: “Existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond conscious awareness.” The short and sweet version: “Not realizing what you are really doing, thinking, saying, feeling or why you are acting a certain way. It just happens without control or a habit.”

The big question is: “How do we know if our conscious or sub-conscious mind is healthy?” Well, just look around your life and ask some of these questions: “Am I physically active, feel alert? Do I have what I really what out of life? Am I financial free? Do I have strong relationships? Do I find my job fulfilling?” These are just a few. If you have answered ‘yes’ to

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How do we start? Simple; start with the most important part of your life right now. For example, your health. Ask yourself some questions: “Is my health as good as it should be or can it be improved? Am I negative or positive about my well-being? How do I look at my health? Do I tell myself it will never get better?” With these questions, you are really getting to know your conscious mind in the here and now. Now ask these questions: “Do I do the same things over and over again and I never get the results I am looking for? Am I saying or thinking negative thoughts? When I try something new does it just not get the results they claim it will?” These are ways of reconnecting to your sub-conscious mind. The sub-conscious mind does not really care if you are healthy or not, it will still do the same old, even if you were to try something new for the first time. You have to reprogram the sub-conscious into consciousness. That is where patience, awareness of positive thoughts, feelings and action comes into play. Visualize a positive and strong end result before it actually happens. This will start changing the negative into the positive results you really want.

You need to follow the universe’s bread crumbs. Positive affirmations of good health will help with the vibrational change of the sub-conscious into the conscious. This should be done twice a day, every day until you have reached your goal(s). It is simple, but a lot of willpower and the desire to achieve what seems impossible are very important. Anything is possible if you really want it to be; just be aware of what is going on around you (conscious), and then switch to a positive, opposite way of thinking, feeling and acting in order to change your sub-conscious mind into confident healthy mind and watch your world change right in front of you!

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403.901.0440 • 115 2 Ave. Strathmore, AB or pathway and facing the obstacles along the way. I dozed off most of the time. I think it lasted 10 or 15 minutes at most.

Since trying hypnosis, I am doing better and not dwelling on my grief as much. I have partly moved on. I will see my CHTP again next week and have the second of the three sessions.

I wonder if there is another script that might help me quit smoking! I look forward to trying hypnosis again with my questions. I know this has already helped me!

You might want to give it a try!

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Healing Touch and Hypnosis I went to see Healing Touch practitioner (CHTP) last week. I mentioned that I was having a difficult time dealing with the recent death of my sister. We were very close in age, and it made me fearful and depressed. My CHTP suggested that perhaps hypnosis might help me. She explained that I still get the clearing and balance treatment of Healing Touch, but while this was taking place she would read a script called “Boulders and Bridges”. I would be very relaxed and my subconscious would hear the messages helping me to have more confidence so I could overcome my fears. She explained that three sessions are recommended. I agreed to try it. I remember traveling a road

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• 21

Luscio u Joys s

And the definition of nutrition is: Noun: nutrition - the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. “A guide to good nutrition” food; nourishment. Nourishment, nutriment, nutrients, sustenance.

Recip

es

So here is the fun part: try typing in “Luscious Healthy Food” in your search engine. Really try it; it certainly does not make my job any easier! Most of the “helpful” listings are for books you can buy on Amazon, like Luscious Lorraine’s Organic Juice Bar, but I was vigilant and persevered to find you not just “healthy” but also “luscious” recipes. This has certainly been an arduous task but you will be extremely happy with my results – I left no stone unturned!

FOOD

Since our theme for March is Health and Nutrition, I’m obliged to give you recipes that will be good and healthy for you, but I promise you these recipes will also be very superbly luscious. I certainly don’t see why something can’t be good and bad for you at the same time; it’s like the concept of santosha (Santosha is about allowing the good and the bad in our lives to live together without overshadowing one another).

I would think that same thinking could apply to food – why, of course it could!

The definition of luscious, according to Wikipedia, is: Adjective: luscious - (of food or wine) having a pleasingly rich, sweet taste. “A luscious and fragrant dessert wine” synonyms: delicious, succulent, lush, juicy, lip-smacking, sweet, tasty and appetizing.

I’m feeling hungry all of a sudden!

Baked Apples

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When I found this recipe, it brought back so many memories, they came rushing into my heart; oh, the good old days when I was just a child and had no worries and came home after school to the smell of baked apples! Big sigh; those were the days.

Baked Apples

These are most certainly luscious and nutritious! Good warm or cold, they make a perfect do-ahead treat. You can even freeze them without losing their fabulous flavour and texture.

4 medium crisp apples ⅓ cup dark brown sugar ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs 2 tbsp butter, softened 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp freshly grated lemon zest ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ½ cup apple juice 3 tbsp honey 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from ½ lemon) Heat oven to 350°F. With melon baller or paring knife, remove stem and core from apples, making a ¾”-wide cavity in each nearly to blossom end. With vegetable peeler or paring knife, remove a ½”-wide strip of peel around the top of each apple.

If the apple doesn’t sit flat, slice a thin piece off the bottom, being careful not to slice into the cavity. Combine sugar, graham cracker crumbs, butter, cinnamon, lemon zest, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Mix with fork or rubber spatula until evenly moistened. Pack filling into apple cavities. Place apples in 8” x 8” baking dish. Pour apple juice, honey, and lemon juice into microwaveable cup. Microwave on high just until warm, about 30 seconds. Stir to blend and pour around the apples. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Uncover pan and baste apples with pan juices. Bake until apples are very tender, 10 to 20 minutes longer. Serve warm or cold with the pan juices. Top with dried fruit and nuts.

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Now, I have got to say I am not a fan of quinoa. I tried it and thought I would like it and there are hundreds of recipes using this “new super food,” but I’m sorry – there is just something about the texture of the stuff that doesn’t do it for me. But I might just give it one more try, as this recipe sounds quite “Healthy and Luscious,” as promised.

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Warm pineapple quinoa cakes

2 egg whites 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup canola oil 1 cup cooked quinoa 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tbsp baking powder 2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided 1/2 tsp baking soda 3 cups chopped fresh or canned pineapple 3 tbsp packed brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla In a bowl, whisk together egg whites, applesauce, milk and canola oil. Stir in quinoa. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, 1 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon and baking soda. Pour applesauce mixture over top of flour and stir to combine.

Divide among 12 sprayed muffin tins. Bake in 375°F oven for about 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat pineapple, sugar, vanilla and remaining cinnamon over medium heat until softened and hot.

Turn out cakes onto small serving plates and top with pineapple mixture to serve.

Sweet and luscious – anything with pineapple is luscious to me!

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Add pears and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon juice. Season with a pinch of fine salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Keep warm.

In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and yogurt; stir until smooth. Set aside. To serve, place the pears in a shallow bowl. Top with yogurt mixture. Sprinkle with peanuts. Serve immediately.

Stay healthy, my friends!

Kathryn Hartwell

References: prevention.com, prostate cancer.ca and healthylivingtips.com

I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.

-Joyce Meyer

Sautéed Pears with Vanilla Yogurt and Honey Peanuts

Filled with protein, fibre, and calcium, this fresh dish can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a simple dessert.

1 tbsp unsalted butter 4 large pears, such as Bosc, Anjou, Bartlett, Forelle, or Red Pears, peeled, cored, and sliced 1 tbsp sugar ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground ginger 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice Pinch of fine salt ¼ cup smooth peanut butter 1 tbsp honey 1 cup low fat vanilla or plain yogurt ¼ cup honey roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped Melt butter in a large heavy-bottomed sauté pan over medium high heat.

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• 23

Lomenda Energy

Carla is a wife, a mother and an agent for happiness.

As a Senior Life Strategist and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Carla helps people get amazing results while having fun and deepening their relationships. Carla founded Lomenda Energy Inc. in 2010 to create community, life balance and wellness for professionals and organizations. Connect with Carla by phone 403-861-4810, by email carla@lomendaenergy. com and on twitter @LomendaEnergy

“Choose happiness on each step in your journey of change.”

Helllllllooooo March!!

M

MARCH IS A MONTH OF NEW BEGINNINGS. Winter in Canada is in the home stretch. Spring is around the corner and within sight. Many of us feel the urge to be doing more. We definitely see it in our children as they get good ol’ ‘Spring Fever’. On one hand, we are so ready for something new for a change. It feels like we have been waiting for a while for this change. But, have you found that this time of change comes and goes and you are still left feeling empty inside? Feeling like something is missing?

The reason this happens is because we haven’t been real with ourselves in what change we are really seeking. We need to step up. We need to get real. We are ready so let’s do this thing. Ok, so what are we doing again? Oh yes, changing… oh wait… we are changing; I thought the environment was changing. I’m so confused.

This is a typical dialogue that happens within us when we are about to change. We get confused again and again. We lose clarity. What we are truly seeking here is a closer, more loving relationship with ourselves.

When we have the best marriage with ourselves, there is no need to change our outside environments.

We find bliss. We find the truth.

How do we find this unforeseen truth? How do you find this bliss in change? You know the answers, they ring true unlike any other truth. Three simple strategies to finding your answers and road to the level happiness you desire are:

1) Live life by your core values. Any parent can describe that pure feeling of how we are when we are first created. We see it soon after the birth of our babies. Seek back into that time, it will be so easy

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Altogether Different

for many parents. Just sit in that energy of your first or second or maybe it was your third child. You truly feel who they are.

You feel who they were created to be. You know they chose you and you chose them. That piece of who they are is who they will always be at their core. You have that inside you, that essence of your core. After many years of battles and life challenges we sometimes forget who we are. So how do you remember? How do you find it again? Who are you at your core? Just sit with this question. Allow the answers to come to the surface. Return to this question again and again over a few days. Write or spend time visualizing. Sit with who you truly are. Enjoy every moment.

2) Speak your truth. This may sound simple, but really can be tough at times. When we hold back on what’s true for us, it’s like denying ourselves from ourselves. So stand tall in your truth. You will know you are on the right track when you feel love inside you or happiness when you speak your truth.

Start with noticing what’s true for you so that you can start aligning with your truth. From there you can start speaking your truth. Stand tall in your truth from love.

3) Keep moving. Keep taking actions aligned with your heart mind. What is your heart desiring in your life? We are not talking material items here, we are again looking at the essence of your heart’s desires. If you want a happy marriage, start noticing everything about your marriage that makes you happy. Take more and more of those actions that bring happiness in. If you want to be happy and take the next step in your business, notice the next steps that make you uncomfortable and dive in and take them. They will bring you tremendous personal growth and personal growth leads to inner happiness. If you want to be a better parent, be happy with all the amazing parenting moments you have already had. You know there are many.

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Focus on the good and you will create more good. Embrace this time of change. Yell at the top of your lungs, “Helllllooooo March!” Choose happiness on each step in your journey of change.

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Spring is Coming A Mindful Minute

By Rebecca Stone – Becky is a yoga instructor and the owner of Pranava Yoga in Strathmore, AB. Pranava yoga is a community minded studio, fostering the growth of the yoga community in Strathmore (and the world) by promoting the values of personal practice, creativity, abundance and community spirit. Make sure to check out her website at www.pranavayoga.ca, call her at (587) 365-3651 or email her at: info@pranavayoga.ca

S

Spring is coming! Whether or not there is still snow on the ground, or the sun is still lacking the warmth I am craving, this thought is sustaining for me. And as my thoughts (and heart and soul) turn towards the changing season, I find myself thinking of spring cleaning.

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thenewsyneighbour.com

Have you ever got to cleaning a long neglected corner in your home and been astonished at the level of clutter and filth that has accumulated? How does this happen? Sometimes it has been my choice, a conscious choice, to leave it for a better day or time or having the right tools, only to forget about it.

Sometimes, it has been ignored because I feel it is not my responsibility to clean it up, that someone else needs to step up and take care of it. And sometimes, it has been completely out of my conscious awareness entirely and it is only when I trip over it, or smell it, or see the consequences in some way that it comes to my attention.

You know, though, that once you begin to see it, it is really hard to continue to ignore it. I have tried. I have closed the door, thrown a towel over it, asked someone else to go take care of it... But now that I have seen it, it will eat at me. I can no longer live in a blissful state of denial. My house, no matter how much I WISH it to, will not clean itself. And as you know, when the house gets this way, it is a dirty, messy job to bring it back to par.

It takes a huge amount of work. You have to pull it all out of the closets, look at it, throw out the broken and unused stuff that no longer serves you, and shine up the things worth keeping before putting it back. You have to look in the corners, be on hands and knees using elbow grease, move furniture, shake out rugs and lay them in the sunshine. Throw open the windows and bless your home with clean, fresh air.

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

•

Altogether Different

You have to have the right tools. If you don’t have them, you go and find them or the job will be that much harder, if not impossible. It is a great idea to have someone help you – with the labour, with perspective, with encouragement.

It may look a disaster to anyone who looks in on your home in the middle of the process. They may judge you for what they see. Piles of junk and garbage, cupboards laid bare, truly a sight to behold. And honestly, when I am in the middle of the process, I am often judging myself. How did I let this get to this point?

How did I not see it building up to the point that it came to? But what choice now? The spring cleaning has begun and now the only choice is to finish the job, no matter how big or daunting the task.

healing scents of

Essential Oils Use essential oils to reduce stress, relieve headaches, or just to enjoy their natural scents.

But oh, the feeling when it is done! Blessed home, full of light and calm. Every corner has been cleared and decluttered, it smells good, and it feels good. And at this point, I always promise myself I will keep it this way for good. But come this time next year, I am sure, my thoughts will once again turn to the dusty corners of my home and find that, indeed, there are places of neglect collecting things I no longer want or need. A never-ending task with such benefits as to make it worth doing again and again.

Now what if the home I speak of is not one of four corners and a roof? What if this home in need of conscious care, clearing of clutter, and unused or unneeded stuff is MYSELF? What if the place that is our ONLY home for our entire life is what needs my full attention? This body, this mind, this spirit of mine – they call for a spring cleaning, too. There are parts of myself that are neglected, things I no longer want or need, parts of myself I have ignored on purpose or had no awareness of until a circumstance or consequence arises.

What will happen if I scrub and clean and look into the dark corners of my heart and mind with as much attention as I give my home every spring? What if I find out what tools I need for the task and ask for help when I need it? What will happen if I make a conscious choice to return to this task again and again in my life? And what will happen if we all do this? And if you do, or have thoughts or experiences that you would like to share with me, please do – email, call, or drop in to the studio. I would love to hear from you. Cleaning is better when we can do it together!

Namaste, Becky

Pranava Yoga - See ad below

®

Marlborough Mall ph:403-248-1077 When I was a kid, my English teacher looked my way and said, “Name two pronouns.” I said, “Who, me?”

Whoever invented knock-knock jokes should get a no bell prize.

What is Forrest Gump’s password? 1forrest1 A magic tractor drives down the road and turns into a field.

A yoga workshop exploring the integration of mind, body and spirit with Marion (Mugs) McConnell

April 10 - 11, 2015 Friday The

April 10th 6:30 - 9:00pm

Five Tibetan Rites & The Chakras

Saturday

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Vinyasa, Mudra and Mantra

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Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

1

2 DOWNTOWN

Complimentary Market Evaluations 403-934-5533

Reopening STRATHMORE mid March!

Locally owned & operated, AND Proudly Independent serving Strathmore and area since 1993

Helping You Find Your Dream Home!

#106, 304 - 3rd Ave. Strathmore, AB T1P 1Z1

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101-307-3rd Ave. Strathmore • 403-901-0049

STRATHMORE, AB

Downtown

Match the number on each ad in the Downtown Section (Pages 28-32)

Wheatland Trail

ve 1A

1617 15 14

Kingsman Park

de d Blv

et

tre

2S

et

tre

3S

9 34 12

10 8 7 56

ve 3A

esi Lak

11

1213

Ave s ’ n era t e V

1. NV Hair & Body Studio 2. Aztec Real Estate 3. Ideal Nutrition 4. Lil Hoots Consignment 5. The Red Carrot 6. Macarina Sari-Sari Store 7. Beautiful Shenanigans 8. Sole Discretion 9. Beltone 10. Masala Hub 11. Bubbles Drycleaning 12. The Royal Canadian Legion 13. Valley Dental 14. The Standard Shoe Shop 15. Value Drug Mart 16. Active Solutions for Health 17. Re/Max Realty Horizon.

Trans-Canada Hwy

Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

2015 Project REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN STRATHMORE

28 •

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The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

Ideal Nutrition You loose on average 3 3-5 lbs per week!

7

Email Estelle, RN and Lead Coach at hiestelle@shaw.ca

www.idealnutritioncalgary.com

Lil Hoots Children's and Maternity Consignment Boutique

Come check out our new location!

Visit us on

We’ve Moved!

5

403-934-9979 /lilhootsconsignment 239 - 3 Avenue, Strathmore

(old Music Centre Canada building)

clothing – crafts – gifts

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223 – 3rd Ave., Strathmore, AB

Across from the Co-op. Downtown.

All occasion gifts, décor, women’s fashions & more.

Visit our website @ www.theredcarrot.ca

Macarina Sari-Sari Store

6

211A - 3rd Avenue Strathmore, Alberta Macarina Ford Store OWNER

Phone:

EstheticAB #203 205 3rd Ave Strathmore Services Tanya Rycroft | Manicures, 403-983-3100 Pedicures,

BEAUTIFUL

236 - 3 Avenue (downtown) Strathmore, AB · 403-934-6065

4

BEAUTIFUL SHENANIGANS

403.852.3055

“Living in a small town...is like living in a large family of rather uncongenial relations. Sometimes it’s fun, and sometimes it’s perfectly awful, but it’s always good for you.” - Joyce Dennys

Facials, Reflexology, Waxing, Tinting & SHENANIGANS Microdermabrasion

#203 205 3rd Ave Strathmore AB Tanya Rycroft | 403-983-3100

BEAUTIFUL SHENANIGANS

GO LOCAL!!!!

#203 205 3rd Ave Strathmore AB Tanya Rycroft | 403-983-3100

Strathmore, Langdon, Chestermere and the surrounding area’s and communities are unlike anywhere in the world.

We are completely unique. The people who live in these areas are proud to say they live in a small town that has everything they need or is only a short drive away.

By choosing to support locally owned businesses, you help to maintain our community. The Newsy Neighbour is published thanks to the businesses in your community.

The goals of our magazine are to encourage, educate and create awareness about the benefits of buying local, encouraging the support of locally owned businesses, and to increase support for local business owners in our community!

One-of-a-kind businesses are a distinctive character in our communities. Research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Here is why consumers should support their local, one-ofa-kind businesses: - Buying local keeps dollars in our economy. Of every $1 spent at a local business $.45 is reinvested locally. For every $1 facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

spent at non-local businesses only $.15 is reinvested locally.

HEARING TEST SET FOR SENIORS

- It makes us unique. Homegrown businesses are a part of what makes our communities a special place to live.

9

Our Certified Hearing Specialists will evaluate your hearing, explain your test results, and provide you with straightforward answers and solutions in cases where hearing loss is discovered.

CALL TODAY Phone: (403) 901-6332

- It creates local jobs. Local businesses are the best at creating higher-paying jobs for our neighbours.

• AADL Vendor

- It helps our environment. Buying locally saves transportation fuel. Plus, you get products that you know are safe and wellmade, because our neighbours stand behind them.

All Day Sunday Buffet $12.99 Lunch Special $10.99

10

• MON - FRI 11AM - 10PM • SAT 12PM - 10PM • SUN 12PM - 9PM

403-983-1114

134 - 2ND STREET, STRATHMORE, AB

- It supports local farms and helps preserve the local landscape.

Bubbles

The goal of The Newsy Neighbour is to support local business owners in their stewardship of our community, and in turn, encourage our community to support these businesses. We would not exist without the support of all the local businesses, and neither would the communities you live in. So show your thanks by supporting them and by telling them where you heard about them!

11

NOW 100% ECO FRIENDLY

Ĺ—Ĺ–Ć–ČąÂ˜Ä›Čą Čą Â›Â˘ÂŒÂ•ÂŽÂŠÂ—Â’Â—Â?ȹȹ’—ȹ Š›Œ‘ OnSite Dry Cleaning SAME DAY AVAILABLE 316A 2nd Ave, Strathmore, AB • 403-934-1807

We have many things to offer the Community:

Sole Discretion is a NEW boutique shoe and accessory store that will inspire you to express your individuality through fun, adventurous and unique ladies footwear.

Facilities For Banquets, Weddings, Meetings, Receptions, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Business Luncheons, Crib, Darts, Pool, Bingo & More.

12

Please visit us on Facebook

Quality shoes and boots from brands such as..

Our kitchen provides, breakfast, lunch and supper – special suppers every Friday.

The Royal Canadian Legion Strathmore Branch #10

• Miz Mooz • Gold Button • Pikolinos • Josef Seibel • Dorking • Cloud • Art • Minx

403.934.5119

124, 3rd Avenue. Strathmore, AB (Between CIBC and the old SAAN store)

thenewsyneighbour.com

Fine Drycleaning & Coin Laundry

The ONLY quality onsite drycleaner IN TOWN! We are also the fastest and the least expensive IN TOWN!

Opening March 12

30 •

• WCB Claims Provider

Fully Licensed

- It nurtures our community. Studies show that local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of chains.

8

• DVA Taps Cards Accepted

Meat draws every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

Jamming sessions on Friday evenings and too many more events to list.

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

•

Altogether Different

Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

THE GET TO KNOW YOUR

Presented by

Valley Dental Clinic

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13

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231 2nd Avenue, Strathmore

231-2nd Avenue, Strathmore

Family Owned and Operated by

Kelly Warrack, Katelyn Haffner & Jillian Warrack Spring is coming!

Come into the shop and get your sandals and heels for the upcoming warmer weather.

New brands and styles arriving weekly!

14 403-983-0020

thestandardshoeshop@gmail.com

136 - 2nd Ave. Strathmore, AB (in the old Strathmore Standard Building)

www.valuedrugmart.com

15

The first meeting of the Downtown Festival went splendidly, with 8 people attending, 4 of whom thought they were at a totally different meeting, but hey… we put them to work anyway!

A lot of great ideas for the Festival were thrown around on February 12 at the Legion, and we look forward to our meeting in March (date TBD: watch our Facebook page / TheNewsyNeighbour for more details!)

We are REALLY excited for this event, and hope that there is something for everyone that day. However, we NEED your help! We need sponsors and volunteers galore. If you are interested in volunteering, or if you are a local STRATHMORE business who wants to help out with this event, here is a list of things we need.

This list will most likely grow every month.

Please contact Denise (denise@thenewsyneighbour.com) for donation and volunteering needs:

SPONSORS NEEDED

• Food • Drinks • Port-A-Potties (reserved by F.B. Boersema) • Music (reserved for Strathmore Musical Arts Society) • Pancake breakfast • Contests (burger-eating, pool tournament, etc) • Anything else you can think of!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED E: strathmore@valuedrug.ca

132-2nd Ave Strathmore AB T1P 1K3

403-934-3122 ph 403-934-6474 fax

• Fun events for the kids in the town • Local clubs in Strathmore who want to showcase their work facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

• We are in need of individual volunteers to help direct people and keep everything running smoothly!

• Anything else you can think of!

DONATIONS NEEDED

• Any local Strathmore business who wants to donate items for gift baskets, please contact Denise (denise@ thenewsyneighbour.com). All donations will be put into gift baskets as part of the grand prize, to be given away at the festival to those who complete the SHOPPING CHALLENGE (see page 33 in this issue, and it is also in the February issue!)

We want to give a big special THANK YOU to The Strathmore Legion and the Strathmore Hotel (”Green Bar”) for all of your volunteer work and help you’ve given us so far for this festival!

16

Our Location in Strathmore is NOW OPEN!

RULES:

1) Spend $25 at 10 of the 14 stores on this brochure by June 20th 2015.

Shockwave Therapy, Chronic pain issues, Myo-Fascial Release, Custom Orthotics including Sport specific, Knee and Ankle Bracing

activesolutionsforhealth.com 121 Second Ave Strathmore, AB •

Phone:

How To Play: Go shopping for some treats, or lunch with your honey, visit these stores, share some of your money!

2) Make sure the store owner/employee initials the card in the white circle and then takes down your first and last name for their records.

403-983-3675

3) Once at least 10 of the spaces below are full, deliver or mail the completed page (next page) to us to be entered to win one of several AMAZING PRIZES.

17

Visit: www.thenewsyneighbour for more details on these prizes.

Visit all of our listings & virtual tours at

www.nancystairs.com

You can bring this page to us at our booth at the festival on June 20th, which is where the draws for winners will be made, or you can deliver it or mail it too:

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RE/MAX REALTY HORIZON, P.O. Box 2116. Strathmore, AB

Call DEBBIE MITZNER Now

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine, G-510 Highway 1, Strathmore, Alberta T1P 1M6. (At Studio 86 Tanning)

For a

FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your property

17

Good luck and have fun!

(403) 934-5555 1-800-661-6262

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debmitzner@gmail.com NO EXPIRY DATE. File with important documents.

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32 •

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The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Revitalize Downtown Strathmore

Name:

THE GET TO KNOW YOUR

DOWNTOWN STRATHMORE

Phone #: Email:

Presented by

Beautiful Shenanigans

Lil Hoots

2

239 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-934-9979

Red Carrot

3

223 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-934-6112

1) Spend $25 at 10 of the 14 stores on this brochure by June 20th 2015.

2) Make sure the store owner/employee initials the card in the white circle and then takes down your first and last name for their records.

3) Once at least 10 of the spaces below are full, deliver or mail this page to us to be entered to win one of several AMAZING PRIZES. You can deliver this page to our booth at the festival on June 20th or you can deliver it or mail it too: The Newsy Neighbour Magazine, G-510 Highway 1, Strathmore, Alberta T1P 1M6. (At Studio 86 Tanning)

4 Ideal Nutrition

5

236 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-934-6065

Beltone

8

136 2 Ave. Strathmore 403-983-0020

Valley Dental

231 2 Ave., Strathmore 403-934-2882

9

10 12

13

14

Bubbles Drycleaning

316A 2 Ave, Strathmore 403-934-1807

11

Standard One-Stop Shoe Shop

Sponsors:

Rob Desjardins

132 2 Ave., Strathmore 403-934-3122

121 2 Ave., Strathmore 403-983-3675

134 2 Street, Strathmore 403-983-1114

Ripperz

6

Value Drug Mart

Active Solutions for Health

Masala Hub

Thank You Shopping Challenge Downtown

129 2 Ave. Strathmore 403-934-2420

7

325 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-901-6332

Go shopping for some treats, or lunch with your honey, visit these stores, share some of your money!

RULES:

1

203 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-983-3100

How To Play:

Sole Discretion 124 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-901-9350

Nancy Stairs

COLDWELL INSURANCE Strathmore, AB

Macarina Sari-Sari Store

211A 3 Ave., Strathmore 403-852-3055 Strathmore Branch #10

Debbie Mitzner

For more details visit:

www.thenewsyneighbour.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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Pol

itic

s

ONLY ALBERTANS CAN CHANGE ALBERTA Shaken & Stirred

A

Marcy enjoys helping others experience the joy in life. She started Mountain Lion Leadership, in 2003. As a leadership & community advocate, she is actively involved with organizations & businesses working to aid growth and development. This is combined with a passion to see women grow both personally & professionally whatever their stage of life. Contact Marcy: marcy@mlleadership.com. Follow Marcy on Twitter @MarcyLField to my profile.

Alberta’s current political state is not a new phenomenon. It has occurred in other times and places. It even has a national “unofficial” holiday. On February 6, National Lame Duck Day was celebrated to recognize and celebrate elected officials who are about to leave their term in office. Are you beginning to wonder exactly how many current Alberta MLAs are lame ducks and won’t be returning to office after the next provincial election?

thenewsyneighbour.com

Premier Prentice was crafty in enticing former Wildrose MLAs to cross the floor, thus extending the lame duck period in Alberta.

The opposition voice that a great number of constituents wanted was muted and trust in the democratic process shattered.

There is talk that many of these same MLAs will face significant opposition to retain their seats, even in the short time frame that is being bunted about should Prentice disregard current legislation by calling an early election.

The following statement by MLA Bruce Rowe provides confirming insight regarding how exactly the ruling party is seeing that issues concerning Albertans are addressed: “You know, it’s a shame to have to say this, but it’s amazing to me the doors that are open since I crossed the floor. I get into ministers’ office(s) and get things done. It’s just – it’s amazing.

It’s really not the way it should be, but it is the way it is.”

The expression originated in the 1700s, referring to a stockbroker who did not meet his debts. In the 1860s, it gained acceptance as a term for officeholders, specifically elected officials who no longer felt accountable to their constituents so took advantage of their position prior to leaving office. They also recognized that they were ineffectual in garnering any support in bringing items forward in legislation. The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Lame Duck Amendment, was passed to shorten the length of the lame

34 •

duck term and came into effect on February 6th, 1933; hence, the national day of celebration. In U.S. politics, the period between (presidential and congressional) elections in November and the inauguration of officials early in the following year is commonly called the lame duck period.

How sad for the electorate. Shouldn’t what is best for the entire populace be a primary consideration or a minimum what benefits the majority of Albertans?

When asked what returning “true conservatism” to government was, Rowe replied to reporters: “It means managing the money properly. We all know that this crisis they’re calling it – is self-made. They have drained off all of the interest from the Heritage (Savings) Trust Fund, they’ve drained the Sustainability Fund, they’ve over-spent, and they’ve mismanaged health care, education and so on. He (Prentice) wants to get it back to where it should be.”

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

After 43 years as governing party, it appears that Alberta PCs are primarily concerned with retaining power and their place in the history books rather than addressing the primary needs and concerns of the populace. History shows us that inappropriate spending, significant dependence on a nonrenewable resource and lack of foresight created the current economic situation. If we do not learn from history, we fail to learn and we are responsible for what we receive as Albertans. The power to change things lies solely in our hands.

A recent article in the Huffington Post informed us that early in January 2015, Norway’s oil fund — which collects taxes from oil profits and invests the money, mostly in stocks — exceeded 5.11 trillion crowns ($905 billion) in value, making it worth a million crowns per person, or about $177,000 per Norwegian…

About the same time this happened, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released calculations showing that the taxpayers of Alberta are on the hook for $7.7 billion in debt, or about $1,925 per person. It expects the debt to spike to $17 billion by the end of the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Same natural resource, yet much different results in a “socialist” country, plus the 46.24% of their energy sources is renewable. That is impressive next to Alberta’s current stats.

adapted version of suggestions for doing so: • If you are a Lame Duck: Reflect back on what you have learned - your successes, triumphs and failures. We tend to learn most from failure.

• If you know a Lame Duck: Say thank you, recognize their successes and support their future. It is the kind thing to do.

• If you are not a Lame Duck or do not know a Lame Duck: Think about what you’ve just learned and consider the difference you can make.

Are you planning on breaking the cycle? If so, how?

In a recent blog post, Dave Cournoyer asked: “Who will undo the Jim Prentice juggernaut?”

We’ve learned that it won’t be the politicians. The only ones empowered to create change for Albertans is Albertans through their votes. It is not a time to be disheartened by events in Edmonton rather it is a time to say “no more”. Accurate representation takes place through voter participation. The current government is in place representing 43.95% of the popular vote received from 54.4% voter turnout during Election 2012. That means that less than 25% of Alberta voters are deciding who the province’s governing party is.

Every vote counts. If you are unhappy with the status quo, take time to become informed and participate. Your vote does count and options are being provided.

Albert Einstein provided the following definition: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

How do we break the cycle? Perhaps we should start by recognizing and celebrating Alberta’s Lame Ducks. Following is an facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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ily Famge Pa

I

Eat Real Food

This is natural. If food doesn’t rot, it is unnatural.

• Last but not least, when faced with the option, select whole grains over white flour products.

Now, having said all that, we all know when it comes to our kids it’s just not that easy, so I found these little tips on the WebMD site that I think are no-brainers!! The brain is the part of our body that we can control (most of the time) – so control it! We need to consume foods that will help our brains function properly. Especially when it comes to our children, right?

10 “Brain Foods” for Kids

I think I’m becoming a little radical when it comes to the food I purchase and eat; it just seems that in this day and age of crappy eating habits and foods chalked full of pointless, harmful ingredients, I’m always looking for healthier options. I know sometimes trying to eat healthier seems like a job in itself and just another thing to have to think about. But it doesn’t have to! In fact, it is actually really very simple when you think about it; just use your own common sense.

These are the top 7 RULES I follow in my life: • Eat real food; avoid processed foods as much as possible.

• When possible, choose meat and dairy products from grassfed, free-range animals.

• Avoid food products that contain more than five ingredients.

If a product has more than five ingredients, it is likely highly processed.

• See an ingredient you can’t pronounce and think it was made in a lab? Put that baby back on the shelf.

• It is more important that you eat vegetables (even if they are “conventional”) than it is waiting until you can afford organic or you can find organic.

• Don’t eat anything incapable of rotting. Think about it: your fruits and veggies get green and fuzzy if you don’t eat them.

1. Eggs Eating a high-nutrient protein like eggs (which have nutrients including choline, omega-3s, zinc, and lutein) will help kids concentrate.

How to Serve It: Fold scrambled eggs into a whole-grain tortilla for a filling breakfast or late-afternoon snack.

2. Greek Yogurt Fat is important to brain health, and a full-fat Greek yogurt (which has more protein that other yogurts) can help keep brain cell membranes flexible, helping them to send and receive information.

How to Serve It: Pack Greek yogurt in your kids’ lunch with some fun mix-ins, like cereal with at least 3 grams of fibre and blueberries for a dose of nutrients called polyphenols, or add a few dark chocolate chips. Polyphenols in cocoa are thought to keep the mind sharp by hiking brain blood flow.

3. Greens Full of folate and vitamins, spinach and kale are part of a healthy diet linked to lower odds of getting dementia later in life. Kale contains sulforaphane, a molecule that has detoxifying abilities, and diindolylmethane, which helps new brain cells grow, says Ramsey, coauthor of 50 Shades of Kale.

How to Serve It: Whip spinach into smoothies for snack time. Add it to omelets.

“If it came from a plant, eat it;

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The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

Sauté it at dinner, drizzled with olive oil (the dash of fat helps your body absorb vitamins). Make chips out of kale: Cut kale from stems/ribs, drizzle with olive oil and a bit of salt, and bake.

4. Purple Cauliflower Low in sugar, high in fibre, and full of folate and B6 that help regulate mood, memory, and attention, purple cauliflower also delivers inflammation-fighting nutrients called anthocyanins.

How to Serve It: Roast and puree cauliflower to make a nutritious dipping sauce for carrots and other veggies such as peppers, celery, and radishes.

5. Fish Naturally fatty fish are a good source of vitamin D and omega-3s, which protect the brain against cognitive decline and memory loss. Salmon, tuna, and sardines are all rich in omega-3s.

“The more omega-3s we can get to the brain, the better it will function and the better kids will be able to focus,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It. How to Serve It: Grill it, roast it, or add it to a salad or sandwich.

6. “Clean” Meat Animal fat is where pesticides and antibiotics are stored. A high toxic load can contribute to brain fog. For better behaviour and focus, choose meats (and other foods) that are free of artificial ingredients, dyes, flavouring, preservatives, and sweeteners.

How to Serve It: Ditch deli sandwich meat for preservative-free roast beef left over from last night’s “clean” dinner.

7. Nuts and Seeds Packed with protein, essential fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals, nuts and seeds may boost mood and keep your nervous system happy.

How to Serve It: Spread sunflower seed butter -- rich in folate, vitamin E, and selenium -- on a whole-grain cracker or bread.

Or make pesto: Nuts combined with olive oil and dark leafy greens make a healthful sauce for whole-grain pasta.

8. Oatmeal Protein- and fibre-rich oatmeal helps keep heart and brain arteries clear. In one study, kids who ate sweetened oatmeal did better on memory-related academic tasks than those who ate a sugary cereal.

How to Serve It: Add cinnamon. Compounds in the spice may protect brain cells, preliminary research shows.

9. Apples and Plums Kids often crave sweets, especially when they’re feeling sluggish. Apples and plums are lunchbox-friendly and contain quercetin, an antioxidant that may fight cognitive decline, according to lab studies.

How to Serve It: The good stuff is often in the skin of fruit, so buy organic and wash well.

10. Turmeric “The curcumin in turmeric can actually make the brain grow,” Ramsey says. He says studies show curcumin fights inflammation and blocks Alzheimer’s plaque formation.

How to Serve It: Visit an Indian restaurant or experiment with Indian recipes. Even if your child just eats the puri (fried bread), they’ll likely get some curcumin benefits and be primed to be more adventurous eaters.

I take a turmeric capsule every single morning; I used to just add a tablespoon to my juice, which is also a great alternative, but I got tired of the flavour, which I like, but prefer the tastes of the pineapple, grapefruit or carrots in my juice. I add turmeric to my soups, stews and even pasta sauces – use your imagination! In my opinion, everyone should be eating turmeric – I even have my husband using it now and trust me – that is quite a miracle in itself!

AND REMEMBER: “If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.”

Kathryn Hartwell Source: webmd.com

if it was made in a plant, don’t.”

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Upcoming Events:

Ongoing Events: Public Skating (check website for details)

Indus Preschool Registration - March 4 Come Try Ringette - March 7 Society Tournament (BVAS members) - March 27/28 Annual Men's Auction (fundraiser) - April 18

Indus is located approximately 15km East of Calgary on Hwy 22x

www.indusrec.ca 403-936-5474

Feeding your children Article by: 5 for Life An Early Childhood Development Coalition www.5forlifeforever.com

F

Feeding your child can be challenging! Their appetites and likes and dislikes can change on a daily basis.

You may find yourself wondering if they need vitamin supplements or if they are growing well. We all want our children to develop healthy eating habits early on in life. When it comes to feeding children, setting up a routine is the start to success.

• Eating together as a family allows older family members to model healthy eating & behaviours. A child is more likely to try something if someone else is eating that food.

• 3 meals a day and 2 – 3 snacks work best. Don’t forget that adults need breakfast too! Breakfast can as simple as cereal with milk and ½ cup of unsweetened juice or toast with peanut butter and banana.

• Planning meals & preparing food ahead will make life much easier. Get the kids to help with the shopping and in the kitchen. Wash, peel and put into containers the fresh produce for the week. It may feel like this will take more time but it teaches them

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The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

Expressions The Dance Gallery

Kids

Check out the FREE Making Baby Food Class March 5 from 10:00am – noon at Parent Link in Strathmore

Dance classes for anybody, with ANY BODY!

New 8 week programs beginning in April Tot Trot (18 months and up)

Jump Hop Skip

the skills to be sufficient in feeding themselves. Keep fresh fruit washed and in a bowl on the counter.

(hip hop for 3/4 yr olds)

• Trust your child’s appetite. Encourage children to listen to their feelings of hunger and fullness.

Adult Dance Fit Saturday Sampler

KinderKombo (3,4,5 yrs)

(6 years and up)

Aerial Dance

• Create an environment that supports healthy eating. Turn off the screens when eating. Keep healthy snacks in easy to reach locations. Pack snacks to go and limit stops for fast food.

(Children & Adult programs)

Hand Balancing

(No experience necessary)

If you still aren’t sure if your child is eating well, try the easy nutrition screening tool at: www.nutritionscreen.ca. This will reas-

Summer Dance and Activity Camps July and August

Now Taking Registrations *Princess Tea Party *Tutus and Tiaras *Pop Stars *Kaleidoscope*

sure you on all of the things you are doing well and help you tackle some of the challenges.

For more information on feeding your family, go to www.dietitians.ca

www.expressionsthedancegallery.com 126 Canal Garden. Strathmore, AB Ph: 403-901-6392

Sign up for e-tips at: www.eatipster.com or check out some delicious recipes at: www.cookspiration.com

Easy snack recipe:

Ants on a Log Celery – washed and cut into pieces Spread: nut butter, cream cheese, spreadable cheese Ants: raisins, currants, dried cranberries, Cheerios (be creative) This is an easy snack for kids to make. Put the celery on the plate. Use a knife to spread the filling into the groove. Top with ants and eat!

#1 H

PS

“Offence wins Games Defence wins Championships”

#1 Hoops will be entering its fifth season this year!

Established in 2011 this basketball program is designed to teach the game of basketball to all children. #1 Hoops has grown immensely over the five seasons. We are now able to offer two sessions for children, kindergarten to grade 7. This year the basketball program will run every Monday, in May and June. The program not only offers expert instruction of the game of basketball, but also focuses on the rules, teamwork and etiquette of the game. As head coach, I am a strong believer in everyone being able to play the game of basketball no matter what your skill level.

This six week program will run for one and half hours once a week. In this time, there will be a skill learned as well as game time in the last half hour to put that skill to the test. Coaches of #1 Hoops all have a background in the game of basketball and will be there to offer one on one instruction. #1 Hoops will have 30 spots available in each session. Spots can only be held with payment (Cash or Money Orders only, No Cheques, Thank you.)

If payment is made and later on decided to cancel there will be a cancellation fee of $40.00 to cover costs. Included in the #1 Hoops program is a reversible jersey, water bottle, and a basketball.

The cost of the program is $98.95.

The program will run once a week on Mondays.

Kindergarten - Grade 3 will run from 6:00pm - 7:30pm Grade 4 - 7 will run from 7:30pm - 9:00pm Location - Strathmore Junior High School April 20, 2015 will be the final day registration will be accepted.

No late registrations will be accepted.

Please contact: Coach Shantelle Gieck Phone: 403-660-3896 Email: basketball1hoops@gmail.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 39

Kids vs. Teacher TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?

GLEN: Well, I’m a lot closer to the ground than you are.

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America.

MARIA: Here it is.

TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America?

CLASS: Maria.

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with “I...”

MILLIE: “I is...”

TEACHER: No, Millie... Always say, “I am.”

MILLIE: All right... “I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.”

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?

JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn’t punish him?

LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell ‘crocodile?’

GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L TEACHER: No, that’s wrong GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?

SIMON: No sir, I don’t have to; my Mom is a good cook.

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?

DONALD: H I J K L M N O TEACHER: What are you talking about?

DONALD: Yesterday you said it’s H to O

TEACHER: Clyde, your composition on “My Dog” is exactly the same as your brother’s. Did you copy his?

CLYDE: No, sir. It’s the same dog.

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago.

WINNIE: Me! 40 •

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Altogether Different

Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre - Programs / Special Events www.chestermerecrca.com / 403-272-7170 Mind Body & Spirit EXPO

Saturday, March 21 10 am - 4 pm Chestermere Rec Centre

Find out what products and services are available in our community to enhance your health and well being . Plan to check out the Interactive Wellbeing Rm and learn how you can help yourself to relieve stress, eat healthier and much more!

Interested Exhibitors or for more info, please email recreation@chestermerecrca.com.

Chestermere CRCA Outdoor Rec Soccer

Register online starting Feb 9th. Deadline - March 20th, 2015 Late Registration Fee of $25.00 after March 20th, 2015

Age as of May 4th 2015.

MUNCHKIN SOCCER PROGRAM FOR 2 – 4 YR OLDS A 7 week partner program with SPORTBALL 2- 3 yrs Parent & Tot / $100.00 Includes a tshirt and a ball!

Mondays, 4:30 – 5:15 pm / May 4 - June 22/(no class May 18) OR Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:15 pm / May 7 to June 25 (no class May 21) 3 – 4 yrs / $100.00 Includes a tshirt and a ball!

Mondays 5:15 – 6:15 or 6:15 – 7:15 / May 4 - June 22/(no class May 18) Or Thursdays 5:15 – 6:15 or 6:15 – 7:15 / May 7 to June 25 (no class May 21) RECREATIONAL HOUSE LEAGUE SOCCER For 5 – 8 yr olds 3/4 hr of practice and 3/4 hour game at the Chestermere Rec Centre!

5– 6 yrs / $60.00 / Mondays 6:15 - 7:45 pm April 27th - June 22nd /(no class May 18) 7 - 8 yrs / $60.00 / Wednesdays 6:15 – 7:45 pm Apr 29th to June 24th (no class May 20th)

PRE-SCHOOL OPEN GYM: 9 - 10:30 am Main Hall Wed Jan 7 - Apr 29 $2.00/Drop-in/Child An unsupervised parent and tot outing where you can play on mats, bounce balls, run, jump and play with other tots. Membership is required.

CRCA LEARN TO SKATE PROGRAMS Ages 3 - 6 yrs ues & Thurs @ the Rec Centre Cost: $120.00 (12 classes) Check the website for the levels and times.

Session #2 Runs Mar 10th – Apr 23rd No class April 7th & 9th CRCA SPORTBALL Thursdays $100.00 Mar 5, Mar 12, Mar 19, Apr 2, 16 & 23 Parent & Tot 2 - 3 yrs: 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm MultiSport for ages 3-4 yrs: 1 – 2 pm/ 5 – 6 yrs 2 – 3 pm CRCA/YOGART $90.00 Mar 4th – Apr 22nd No class Mar 18th or April 8th Ages 3 – 5 1:30 - 2:30 / Ages 6 – 9 6:30 - 7:30 / Ages 10 – 14 / 7:30 - 8:30 CRCA/STARS YOUTH VOLLEYBALL Wed: 6:00 - 7:30 pm Middle School Session 2 runs April 15th - May 20th Gr 1 - 4 & Grades 5 – 10 $120.00 6 wks CRCA YOUTH REC BASKETBALL Mon @ the Middle School $80.00 for 8 wks Gr 2 - 5 6 - 7 pm & Gr 6 - 9 7 - 8 pm Mar 23– May 25t(No Apr 6 & May 18) NEW: TEEN DROP IN VOLLEYBALL (AGES 12 – 17) Wednesday 6 – 7:30 East Lake School $2.00 drop in CRCA Community Membership req’’d NEW: ADULT DROP IN BASKETBALL (18+) Mondays 7:30 – 9 until Mar 9th 8 – 9:30 Mar 23 – May 13 Please email Vicki for more info.

DANCE SAMPLER FOR ADULTS (18+) Email recreation@chestermerecrca.com if you are interested and we can start once we have 8 participants.

New KARATE program for kids Thursday nights: www.acku.org ADULT CLASSES: English Language Learning, Spanish, Internet for Seniors and French. Info: www.communitylearning.rockyview.ab.ca, call 403-945-4114, or email communitylearning@rockyview.ab.ca.

Little League Baseball Program for Ages 4—16.

Offering a developmental Program for TBall & Coach Pitch Play in a Calgary League for Minors, Majors & Juniors! .

For more info and to register go to the new Little League website:

www.chestermerelittleleague.pointstreaksites.com

Why did Tigger stick his head in the toilet?

He was looking for Pooh!

the hill to a small pond.

On a rock on the edge of the pond is the biggest frog the librarian has ever seen. The chicken walks up to the frog, drops the book on the pond’s edge, and says, “Book, Book, Book!”

The frog hops over, uses the front leg to push through the pile, and says: “Read it, read it, read it…”

Muffins in the Oven

The Best Joke You Can Tell Your Kids

JOKES There are two muffins in an oven.

One muffin turns to the other muffin and says, “Boy, it’s hot in here.”

The other muffin says, “OH MY GOODNESS, A TALKING MUFFIN!”

Knock knock!

Who’s there?

Olive.

Olive who?

Olive you!

Chicken in the Library

A chicken marches into the library, walks up to the library desk, and says: “Book, book, BOOK!” The librarian hands over a couple of slim children’s paperbacks, and watches the chicken as it leaves the library, walks across the street, through a field, and disappears down the hill.

The next day, the chicken is back. He walks right up to the librarian, drops the books on her desk, and says, “Book, Book, BOOK, BOOK!” The librarian hands over a few books and again watches the chicken drag them away.

The next day, the chicken comes for a third time. Drops the books on the desk, and says, “Book, Book, Book, BOOK!!”

This time, once the chicken is out the door, the librarian follows him — across the street, through a field, and down

Little Acorns Fine Arts Preschool

104 Springmere Way, Chestermere www.littleacorns.ca marilyn@littleacorns.ca

403-663-9542

Now registering for 2015/16 classes Information packages available

facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 41

It’s Time to be “To me, beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It’s about knowing and accepting who you are.”

- Ellen DeGeneres

I

I find that self-esteem issues and lack of confidence are two things that men and women alike are ashamed to admit they struggle with. Just think about it – whenever you compare yourself to another out loud, the first thing the person next to you says is a criticism. “Stop it, you’re beautiful,” “Shut up!” or the ever-popular “At least you don’t look like that.”

(As if the latter is some sort of compliment and not just another attack.)

Both men and women struggle with self-worth and confidence every day. I am a 33-year old mother of two living in suburbia, and I find myself nitpicking on every visual flaw of not only myself, but others (strangers, people I know) and everything “wrong” with the world. I look in the mirror and focus on every little thing that needs to be changed, from my looks to my personality. I even look at my house and nitpick every little thing that I’d like to change, from wall colour to backsplash.

And why is that? Why do I compare myself to everyone else?

Why do I care if I’m not as thin as another mom in my daughter’s preschool class? Why do I care if someone’s home décor is so much nicer than mine?

thenewsyneighbour.com

I want to focus on the positives of life, on beauty of not only myself but everyone around me; on the beauty of the world – because, despite what you hear on the news, there is a lot of beauty, kindness and true humanity out there. Unfortunately, many years of focussing on the negatives has made seeing the good daunting.

So I need your help – the readers. Email me (denise@thenewsyneighbour.com), Facebook me (Denise AtThe Newsy Neighbour) and text me with something positive. Compliment yourself. Focus on what makes YOU beautiful will shine a light on what makes everyone beautiful. Do you have a small house? Tell me how cosy and close it makes your family.

Do you hate your stretch marks? Tell me how they are battle wounds for the little loves of your life.

This is my 2015 Resolution – to be happy and grateful for where I am at presently, rather than hate or think negatively.

We get one chance at life, and I know I’m wasting so much and missing out on a lot of good by focusing on the opposite of what I should be focussing on.

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”

- Coco Chanel “You are beautiful. It’s society that’s ugly.”

- Marilyn Monroe

So here is my mission: to change. I’ve created and birthed two children – I should wear those battle wounds proudly. Those

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battle wounds are extra girth, stretch marks, exhausted arms, a messy kitchen, and a toy-filled living room. To me, these “faults” are better than the alternative: a clean, one-bedroom apartment, which would be my life if I hadn’t met my husband and had children with him!

Denise Geremia

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

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Find Answers on http://www.thenewsyneighbour.com/#!highlights/c1srt

Bubbles

This space is sponsored by...

Fine Drycleaning & Coin Laundry

OnSite Dry Cleaning Same Day Available

Open

• Laundry Drop Off (Wash & Fold) Everyday • 10% Senior Discount • Shirt Service • Horse Blankets • Leather Club Jackets • Wedding Gowns (Preservation Boxes) 316A 2nd Ave, Strathmore, AB Phone: 403-934-1807

Do you have room in your heart and home for a child in need?

McMan Calgary & Area is currently looking for singles, couples and families who are willing to support a child through our Foster Care Program.

You provide a child or youth with a loving, nurturing and stable environment and McMan Calgary & Area provides you with training, support, respite and financial remuneration. Together, we provide a child with the opportunity to thrive.

Become a Foster Parent today.

Contact Rayna Fudge at 403.508.7665 or visit www.McManCalgary.ca

Making a Difference in our Community

Wheatland Meals on Wheels: Frozen Program Wheatland Family & Community Support Services (WFCSS) is partnering with Calgary Meals on Wheels Frozen Program to provide Wheatland County residents with nutritious and affordable meals. All items are prepared by a blue-ribbon chef in the most up-to-date facility for safe food production. Recipes are reviewed by a registered dietitian prior to production to ensure meals are balanced and meet dietary standards.

The Wheatland Meals on Wheels Frozen Program is available to anyone in Wheatland County, regardless of age, finances or status.

The menu is extensive and offers a variety of entrees, soups and baked goods for individuals and families. Renal and gluten-free options are also available and we would be glad to give further information on that should you be interested.

Costs vary by product. Payment is by cheque or cash only and is due when you place your order. Pick up is at Wheatland County Administration building.

For more information, or to place an order please contact Wheatland FCSS at 403-934-5335. You can also get this information and order form on the Wheatland FCSS website: www.wfcss.org

WHEATLAND

Phone: 403-934-5335

Ph: 403 777-9393

FAMILY & COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES

SOME OF OUR SERVICES: • Home Support Services • Wheatland Meals on Wheels: Frozen, in partnership with Calgary Meals on Wheels • Good Food Box Program: Fresh produce at reduced cost • Community Programming

Check out our website for current programs & events: wfcss.org

Serving Wheatland County since 1978!

4321 84th St NE

Every Saturday!

9:00AM - Bargains on new furniture, electronics, household goods, shop tools, clothing, food.

12:30PM - Regular Vehicle Sales

www.grahamauctions.com

SEE YOU SALE DAY!!

www.grahamauctions.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 43

HERE IT IS AS PROMISED. If you read the Editor’s note in our January Issue, you may have noted that “Penguin Random House Canada” has given us the magical gift to publish one of Carol Shields stories from her “The Collected Stories” National Bestseller.

Prize-winning novelist, playwright and critic Carol Shields was also a renowned short-story writer. With an eye for the smallest of telling details, her stories illuminate the absurdities and miracles that grace all our lives.

“No writer in the English-speaking world has written more eloquent, witty and graceful sentences than Carol Shields…Spending a few days in the company of Shields’ stories allowed me to re-experience the poignancy of human life and, at the same time, its undeniable comedy, its sensuality and beauty.” – Susan Swan, National Post Carol Shields received many literary awards and commendations in her lifetime, including the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Charles Taylor Prize in Canada, the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award in the United States, the Orange Prize in the United Kingdom and the Prix de Lire in France.

Her many novels include The Republic of love, The Stone Diaries (one of my personal favourites), Larry’s Party and Unless.

We at The Newsy Neighbour cannot express our sheer excitement and appreciation to have the chance to share one of her short stories from “The Collected Stories”. The moment after you read “Keys,” I am absolutely sure you will be on your way to your local library or bookstore – I find I am addicted to all of her books and have read perhaps just about all of them at least twice. If you are a reader of astonishing and bindingly beautiful stories, Carol Shields will become your new favourite writer – undoubtedly!!

Keys The Collected Stories of Carol Shields

by Carol Shields

B

BIFF MONKHOUSE, THE MAN WHO BROUGHT

bebop to Europe, collapsed and died last week in the lobby of the George V Hotel in Paris. His was a life full of success and failure, full of love and the absence of love. The famous “teddy boy” attire he affected was a kind of self-advertisement saying: I am outside of time and nationality, beyond gender and class.

No wallet or passport was found on his person.

thenewsyneighbour.com

No rings, wristwatches, chains, tattoos or distinguishing scars were found on his person.

No alcohol, caffeine, heroin, crack or HIV-positive cells were found in his bloodstream.

No odor attached to his body.

No coins, snapshots, receipts, letters or lists were found on his person.

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No spectacles, prescriptions, pills, phone numbers, credit cards were found on his person.

His hair had been recently cut. His nails were pared, his shoes only lightly scuffed. His right hand was closed in a tight fist.

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Altogether Different

An ambulance attendant pried open Biff Monkhouse’s fist half an hour after the collapse and found there, warm and somewhat oily, a plain steel key ring holding nine keys of various shapes and sizes.

Photo credits: Horiyan at www.shutterstock.com

Dr. Marianne Moriarty of Agassiz University read the Biff Monkhouse news item (Reuters) and found it not at all surprising. She’s evolved her own complex theory about keys, why people cling to them, what they represent. Every time you turn a key in a lock you make a new beginning—that’s one of her beliefs. Keys are useful, portable and highly metaphorical, suggesting as they do the two postures we most often find ourselves in—for either we are locked in . . . or locked out. In her 1987 doctoral thesis she reported the startling fact that North Americans carry, on average, 5.3 keys. (Those who are prudent have copies hidden away, occasionally in places they no longer remember.) She herself carries twelve keys—condo, office, mailbox, garage, jewelry box and the like, also a hotel key (Hawaii) she can’t bear to send back. Using an approved statistical sample, she’s worked out the correlation between the number of keys carried and the educational or economic or age level of the key carrier. Her mother, Elsie, for instance, a sixty-six-year-old housewife in the small town of Grindley, Saskatchewan, carries only three keys—back door, front door, safe-deposit box, period—while Marianne’s lover, Malcolm Loring, professor emeritus of the Sociology Department, a married man with a private income, carries sixteen keys, one of which unlocks the door of a boathouse that burned down two years ago.

Arson was suspected, but never proven. Sixteen-year-old Christopher MacFarlane, skinny, ponytailed, bad skin, a gaping, shredded hole in the left knee of his blue jeans and a single unattached, unidentified key in his back pocket, happened to be in the vicinity at the time of the fire. He was questioned, but later released after a somewhat rougher-than-usual body search. The young police sergeant eyed him closely and said, “We’d like you to tell us, sonny, exactly what this key is you’ve got in your pocket.” “I don’t know,” the boy replied.

He had found the little key in the grass behind the marina.

He’d been lying there flat on his belly, running the palm of his hand back and forth across the dry, colorless, shaven blades, feeling the unbreathable heat and thinking about sex—the fundamental circularity of sexual awakening, first longing, then intention and discharge, then satisfaction and finally quiescence. What was the use of it, he wondered, this wasteful closed rhythm that presented itself again and again like an old fable that wheezes out its endless repetition. It wore away at him. He kept hoping to drive it away, but a kind of anxiety was forever regrowing around his heart, and he felt he would never be free.

And then he saw something burning in the grass near his head, a coin or a bottle cap. But no—when he reached out, he found it was a key. It lay lightly in his hand, small and almost weightless, rounded at its head and punched with a ridged hole. The other end—the business end, as some people call it—was dull-toothed, cheaply made, stamped out rather than cut; possibly it was a bicycle key or the key to a locker. Or else—and he pushed himself up on one elbow, peering at it closely, turning it over in his hand—or else it was the key to money or mystery or fame or passion. He slid the little key into his back pocket, where it remained for several weeks,

long enough for its silhouette to leave an imprint on the faded denim material, a thready raised patch of white shading off into blue.

The key was later discovered in the dryer of the Harbor Heights Laundromat by one of its regular clients, Cheryl Spence, thirty-four, who lives on the fourteenth floor of a high-rise across the street. It was a Saturday morning. She dumped in her blouses, her full cotton skirts and sundresses, her socks and underwear, her pillowcase and duvet cover. She turns all these items inside out when she launders them, giving them a hard shake as her mother had done, as her grandmother once did, and then she examines the pockets for stray tissues and paper clips. Buttons are buttoned and zippers zipped. She checks the temperature setting, measures the detergent in the little Styrofoam cup provided by the management.

Oh, how orderly and careful I am, she says to herself, how good! In her change purse there are plenty of quarters to feed the machines, little silvery stacks of them lying on their sides, rubbing solidly together. If other people doing their laundry on a Saturday morning run short of change, Cheryl can always help them out. Whenever this happens, she reflects on what a kind, generous and altruistic person she is, and what a pity there aren’t more good-hearted people in the world like herself. She thinks this, but doesn’t say it. As a very young child, not more than six or seven years of age, she understood that she was scheduled to have a double existence—an open life in which her actions were plainly visible, and a hidden life where thought and intention squatted darkly. This powerful separation seems wholly natural to her, not a thing to rage against or even to question. The real world, of course, is in her own head, which she sometimes thinks of as a shut room provisioned facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 45

Photo credits: Stokkete at www.shutterstock.com

with declaration and clarity, everything else being a form of theater.

in the dark air as it descended, a soft little satellite of foam and fabric. Next she threw into the driving phosphorescence a compact disc she had bought on sale only one week earlier, a medley of country ballads, wailing, weak and jerky with tears. In a kitchen cupboard she found a family-sized package of Cheese Twists, then a brownedged head of lettuce in the refrigerator—out they went, one after the other, sailing off the tips of her fingers. And finally, in a gesture that was a kind of suicide or ritual cleansing, she didn’t know which, she emptied out the cracked china cup with its miserable, broken, mismatched contents, its unsorted detritus of economy and mystery. It seemed to her she could hear the separate items rattling down through the frozen tree branches and landing like a shower of meteorites on the rooftops of the cars parked below—the paper clips, the thumbtacks, the little bent key.

Ping. Tut. Tsk, Tick. Gone.

The little key she found at the Harbor Heights Laundromat was bent from being tossed about in the dryer’s drum. Some of its particularity had been rubbed away by heat and friction.

She straightened it as best she could between her fingers, dropped it into her purse and carried it home. Who knows when she might be confronted by a lock she can’t open?

For several months it sat, or rather lay, in a kitchen drawer, in a cracked teacup to be precise, along with a single hairpin, a handful of thumbtacks, a stub of a candle, half an eraser, a blackened French coin, a book of matches from the Infomatic Center, a rubber band or two and a few paper clips. Odds and ends. Flotsam and jetsam.

In the evenings, tired out from a day at the accounts office, she likes to read long romantic novels and listen to music on her CD player. One night—it was in the middle of January, in the middle of an ice storm—she sat reading a book called The Sands of Desire and listening to a concert of soft rock when she felt herself seized by an impulse to purify her life. The way her thighs broadened out as she sat in her chair, the printed words slipping out of focus, the notes of music—their excess and persistence crowded up against her, depriving her for a frightening moment of oxygen. She opened a window and let the icy air come into her apartment, but it was not enough.

She grasped a small corduroy cushion and hurled it out the window, observing with satisfaction the way it spun around

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thenewsyneighbour.com

This same Cheryl Spence has visited the Pioneer Museum at Steinbach and the Reptile Museum on Highway 70 and the Wax Museum in Minneapolis, but she has never even heard of the Museum of Keys in the city of Buffalo, that dark old American city of cracked alleys and beef-colored bricks. A rough place, a tough place—but underlying its rough toughness, buried there like a seam of limestone, is the hoarded and invested money of a dozen or so millionaires no one’s ever heard of, men made rich on meat, screws, plastics, textiles, optics, leather and the like. One of them, a manufacturer of table silver, established the Museum of Keys some years ago as a showcase for his own extensive key collection.

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Altogether Different

His interest in keys began at the age of sixty, at a time when he was recovering from a serious heart attack. It was Christmas morning. He was seated in an armchair, a blanket over his knees, ashamed of that soft-fringed covering, ashamed of his cold feet in their slippers and the weak light that drifted in from the east-facing window. His wife presented him with an antique porcelain music box shaped like a shepherdess. Always before she had given him practical, manly objects such as fountain pens or fishing gear. What was he to make of a figurine with flounced china skirts, revolving slowly and playing the same merry waltz tune again and again and again? He sensed some covert meaning in his wife’s offering—for there she stood, inches away from him, so rounded, pale-fleshed and mildly luminous, so timid in her posture and so fragile (with a head that tipped sideways and one hand clasping the pleats of her skirt), though her gaze at the moment of gift-giving was oddly sharpened and sly; she held her breath in her throat as though it were something breakable like ice or glass or part of the solitude she sometimes drew around herself.

He loved her, and had never thought of her as a shrewd or demanding woman, yet here she was, waiting to be thanked, that much was clear, to be awarded an explosion of gratitude he had no way of formulating. He was not schooled in such expressions. Tact or shyness had kept him ignorant.

Her name was Anna. He knew, intimately, after thirty years of marriage, the floury cellular creases of her neck and elbows, her breasts, hips and round, shining ankles; he knew too, or rather sensed, that real intimacy was essentially painful—to those locked in its embrace as much as those shut out. In his confusion, his embarrassment, he seized on the exquisitely fashioned silver key, which at least possessed familiar weight and form.

How beautifully it fit his hand. How concentrated was its purpose. He had only to insert it in the shepherdess’s glazed petticoats, that slender place at the back of her waist that has no name, and the mechanism was engaged. A twist or two released a ruffling of bells in triple meter. In the moment before the music began—and this was the part he grew to love best—there could be heard a brief sliding hum of gears shifting into place, anxious to perform, wonderfully obedient to the key’s delicate persuasion.

The second key he acquired belonged to the lost oak door, or so he imagines it, of a demolished Breton chapel. It is thirteen inches long, made of black iron, rough in texture but beautifully balanced. “Notice the beautiful balance,” he says when showing it off, always employing the same exclamatory phrase and allowing the key to seesaw across the back of his wrist. Some of his other keys—before long there were hundreds— are made of rare alloys; many are highly decorated and set with semiprecious stones, pieces of jade or turquoise. One of the most curious is fifteen hundred years old, Chinese, and another, dating from the days of the Roman Empire, is made so it can be worn on the finger like a little ring. There are keys from the Middle Ages with elaborate, ingenious warding devices and there is also a small, flat, unprepossessing key—entirely unornamented—which is said to be the prototype of the Yale (or pin tumbler) key invented in Middletown, Connecticut, in the year 1848.

The Museum of Keys is located in the southwest corner of the city, admission free, closed on Mondays, and offering school tours every Tuesday. A portrait of Anna ____, the founder’s wife, 1903–1972, hangs on the wall behind the literature display. Ten thousand visitors come through the doors each year, and often they leave the museum jingling their own keys in their pockets or regarding them with new respect, perhaps thinking how strange it is that keys, the most private and secret parts of ourselves, are nevertheless placed under doormats or flowerpots for visiting friends, or hung on a nail at the back of the garage for the gas-meter man, or mailed around the world in padded envelopes, acknowledging in this bitter, guarded century our lapses of attention.

A seven-year-old boy taken along with his class to the museum in Buffalo stares into a display case. His gaze settles on a long, oddly shaped wooden key (Babylonian), and his hand flies instantly to the key he wears around his neck, the key that will let him into his house on North Lilac Avenue after school, one hour before his mother returns from her job at the bottling plant. When first tying the key in place, she had delivered certain warnings: the key must not be lost, lent or even shown to others, but must be kept buried under his sweater all day long, accompanying him everywhere, protecting him from danger.

He doesn’t need protection, not that he could ever explain this to his mother; he knows how to jump and hustle and keep himself watchful. The key leads him home and into a warm hallway, the light switch waiting, a note on the refrigerator, the television set sending him a wide, waxy smile of welcome. There is no danger, none at all; his mother has been misled, her notion of the world somehow damaged. Still, he loves this key (so icy against his skin when he slips it on, but warming quickly to body temperature) and has to restrain himself, whenever he feels restless, from reaching inside his clothes and fingering its edges.

He is a solemn child whose thoughts are full of perforations (how it would feel to bite into a red crayon or put his tongue to the rain-soaked bushes behind the schoolyard fence), or else opening onto a lively boil of fantasy that tends to be dotted with bravery and tribute. And yet, for all his imaginative powers, he cannot—at his age—begin to picture the unscrolling of a future in which he will one day possess a key ring (in the shape of the Eiffel Tower) that will hold a pair of streamlined rubber-tipped car keys, as well as a rainbow of pale tinted others—house, office, club, cottage—and a time when he will have a curly-headed wife with her own set of keys (on a thong of red leather stamped with her initials) and a fourteen-year-old daughter whose miniature brass key will open a diary in which she will write out her secret thoughts, beneath which lie a secondary drift of thought too tentative, too sacred, too rare to trust to the inexactitude of print and to the guardianship of a mere key.

Excerpted from The Collected Stories of Carol Shields by Carol Shields.

Dressing Up for the Carnival Copyright © 2000 Carol Shields Literary Trust. Published by Random House Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited, a Penguin Random House Company.

Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved. facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 47

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e Trav

Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory located in the Caribbean. The island is located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, in the West Indies and is nicknamed The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish ancestry of some of its inhabitants.

Montserrat

of the destruction. But don’t miss out on Rendezvous Bay – this beautiful white sandy beach is a lovely (though facility-free) perfect for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Montserrat has many landmarks, monuments, natural beautiful landmarks, museums, galleries and don’t forget to enjoy dancing in the sand at Soca Cabana, a classic beach bar that serves delicious lunches and is always packed for Saturday night karaoke! There are hiking trails, beautiful beaches and unique sights only to be found on this ‘Emerald isle of the Caribbean”. Sounds like a plan to me!

Before its lower half became devastated by cataclysmic eruptions of the Soufrière Hills Volcano in 1995, Montserrat was a carefree little island paradise famous as the birthplace of the late “Alphonsus Cassell”, creator of the soca hit ‘Hot, Hot, Hot’, and as the home of Air Montserrat, the famous recording studio founded by Beatles producer Sir George Martin. Sting and Eric Clapton were among the stars who recorded here.

Life changed dramatically on July 18, 1995 when a series of ash falls, pyroclastic flows and mud flows buried the capital, Plymouth, and smaller settlements, farmland and forests. Around 11,000 residents were evacuated and resettled in the north or immigrated to Britain. Today, most tourists come for volcano-related day trips. Driving down the coast, you quickly get a feel for the island’s rich tropical life and take in jaw-dropping vistas

48 •

thenewsyneighbour.com

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

•

Altogether Different

Alaska

My sister and her husband took a road trip up there a couple of years ago and she mentioned the other day she would love to see Alaska’s beauty again.

Alaska is actually part of the United States that has always seemed strange to me, being it is north of Canada, bordering the Yukon and British Columbia, the Arctic Ocean to the North and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and right across the Bering Strait is Russia. Sounds a little out-there to me. It is the largest state in the United States by area, and the least densely populated of all the 50 states. Alaska’s economy is dominated by the oil, natural gas, and fishing industries, resources which it has in abundance; but tourism is also a significant part of the economy.

Bill Walker, the Governor of Alaska, states: “Alaska is different from every other destination in the world. Every day offers an unforgettable memory: a mother moose and calf, glaciers and mountains, unique Native cultures, our Russian legacy and Gold Rush days. Even lifelong Alaskans are amazed! And we have a wide range of accommodations and dining to suit every budget.

I hope you’ll come to visit the ‘Great Land’ soon!”

I’ve heard the Alaskan Cruises are spectacular and I would love to go just to see the great humpback whales. Wildlife viewing is among the most popular activities in Alaska, whether on land or at sea. Each summer, thousands of humpbacks migrate to Alaska’s rich waters to feed. I also hear it is probably the best place in the world for salmon and halibut fishing. I could probably write a novel on the sights and beauty of Alaska and spend days viewing all the web-sites on this incredible state, but I think you should take the time to check out all it has to offer – start with travelalaska.com.

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By Kathryn Hartwell facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 49

Gibraltar

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e Trav

r Lette a fromder rea

T

The Rock of Gibraltar is located on the southern tip of Spain, at the entrance to The Mediterranean Sea from The Atlantic Ocean. It is 6.5 square kilometers in size, most of it at sea level, but the top of the Rock is 426 metres/1400ft high. Below the north face of the Rock is RAF North Front, Gibraltar, which provides landing rights to many civilian airlines, from across Europe. Gibraltar also provides easy access to mainland Spain, as well as North Africa and in particular Tangier and Morocco. In past years, Gibraltar has been a military bastion, controlling access through the Straits, by sea and by air, but nowadays has become a tourist haven for people who enjoy history, beaches, deep sea fishing, sailing and yachting. Gibraltar is well known as a financial center, and therefore a natural choice for a gaming jurisdiction. It is a tax-free haven, resulting in prices of goods being very low.

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thenewsyneighbour.com

There are beautiful sand covered beaches on the Mediterranean side of the hollow Rock, which is covered with cement catchment areas, to catch the rains that normally fall from November to April. Inside the Rock are huge water reservoirs that provide the inhabitants with their fresh water requirements for everyday use. On the west side of the Rock is the harbour, facing the Bay of Algeciras, where sailing, yachting, snorkeling and other water sports take place. On the far side of this bay is the town of Algeciras, and further east is the town of La Linea, both in Spain.

La Linea is on the north side of the border with Gibraltar, and is a Custom Post.

A visit to Gibraltar would be incomplete if you did not see any of the official animals of the Rock - The Barbary Macaques are known throughout this area. About 160 of these monkeys inhabit the Rock. They roam freely around the Rock, but are naturally born scavengers, and will steal anything they fancy.

However, do not attempt to feed them, as there is an automatic fine of up to CDN $950. To this day, there is a belief that as long as these Barbary Macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule.

My wife and I lived in Gibraltar from 1963 to 1965, and our son was born there in 1964. There have been many changes to this British Territory, but we urge readers to visit Gibraltar if/when you are in the vicinity. It will be well worth it.

John Godsman

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

•

Altogether Different

At Coldwell, we are real people serving real people.

With the right insurance in place, you know you have peace of mind.

Uniquely Deadly Animals in the World

Blue-Ringed Octopus The Blue-Ringed Octopus is a gorgeous animal.

The average sea diver that looks at these creatures is immediately attracted by the beauty.

However, you’ll be in trouble if you don’t keep a safe distance.

I am not kidding when I say that the venom contains tetrodotoxin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, hyaluronidase, tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, octopamine, taurine, acetylcholine, and dopamine.

You may recognize some of these from medications, like dopamine. But inside this animal, the effects of all these combined can be vicious. There is no antivenom for this animal, but humans can survive it. How so?

The only way is by instant CPR. You will develop paralysis within 5 minutes. So, that’s enough time to yell for help and tell someone to call 911. You can also tell them to deliver CPR. The average person dies from cardiac arrest or a lack of oxygen to the brain, causing suffocation. If CPR is performed immediately,

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We value the opportunity to learn how we can work for you. Call one of our experienced agents today at (403) 934-3221 and let Coldwell Agencies demonstrate our dedication to delivering quality insurance policies that include comprehensive value and superior customer care.

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you have a better chance.

You could also suffer permanent blindness or even permanent paralysis if help does not come soon.

As a rule, the most beautiful animals in the world are the ones you don’t want to mess with. The Blue-Ringed Octopus makes that statement exponentially true.

Blue-Ringed Octopi live in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Japan to Australia (mainly around southern New South Wales and South Australia, and northern Western Australia).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, www.oddee.com

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• 51

Jocktalk

BOOTCAMP FITNESS! Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results!

for the majority of people and the stats don’t lie! According to statisticbrain.com, 67 percent of people who buy a membership never even use it. Of the 33 percent who do use it, maybe 5 percent will see the results and the progress they want and get value for their money.

M

Millions of people worldwide create New Year’s resolutions, yet very few stick to them and follow through. You know the trend, buy a gym membership, use it for a couple of months, lose interest and watch your hard-earn money go down the drain.

Are you really getting a good bang for your buck? Do you really know what you are doing when you spend an hour working out? Why did you join the gym in the first place? To get a date, socialize or actually lose some weight and get into better shape?

It’s a widely known fact that gym memberships do not work

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Gyms typically sell memberships with the expectation that a mere 18% of people will actually use them. This means there is a 1/5 chance you’ll use yours consistently for longer than a month. It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?

The purpose of this article is not to slag or disparage gym memberships. It’s about finding the right gym or workout routine that works for you.

I have joined a couple of gyms in the past and, to be honest, I really didn’t enjoy the experience. The main reason is I really didn’t know what the heck I was doing. I don’t think you have to be a fitness guru or have a kinesiology degree to realise two key factors are support and accountability. This is why so many people are turning to a personal trainer if they are serious about getting into shape. The problem with a personal trainer is they are expensive.

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Altogether Different

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If you can’t afford a personal trainer, you may like to try a fitness boot camp. The boot camp craze started out in the parks and has now moved indoor to the gyms and warehouses. The term “boot camp” is currently used in the fitness industry to describe group classes that promote fat loss, camaraderie and team effort. It does have a little bit of a military flair to it but the trainer is there to correct and encourage, not to yell and scream.

A typical boot camp session will start with stretching and running, followed by interval training, weights, TRX straps and various types of intense explosive routines (cardio and core).

Sessions usually wrap up with yoga stretching.

I have to be honest, my first experience with a boot camp was very intimidating. You’re a newbie in a fairly big class and you really don’t know what to expect. However, you soon realize that you are not being judged or evaluated. It’s not a contest and the idea is everyone works at their own pace as you team up and work towards one goal. It really does provide social support for those taking part.

Like anything, there are positives and negatives. The positive being you get a personal trainer in a group environment so the costs are a little cheaper. The negative is you just can’t show up anytime you want. Obviously schedules and training times have to be booked in advance.

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saying no to snack foods, processed meat slices, dairy, baked goods and alcohol.

Step Four: Get Juicing.

These ingredients are fantastic for your recovery juice: fresh ginger, spinach, cucumber, kale, green apple, lemon, and celery.

Step Five: Get Moving.

So you’ve put an end to the eating madness, you’ve hydrated, you’ve eaten only whole foods and you’ve enjoyed a recovery juice…it’s now time to sweat it out.

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On Twitter: @talkwithjock

Me personally? I am hooked. I don’t think I will ever go back to a normal gym again.

Thanks to my boot camp friends, I will leave you with 5 steps you’ll need to quickly and seamlessly get back on the fitness fast track.

Step One: Get Focused.

Don’t beat yourself up for falling off the fitness wagon this once.

Simply get back up, dust yourself off and get re-focused.

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Step Two: Get Hydrated.

While bad eating can take on many forms, the end result is most often dehydration and water retention. The only way to restore balance is to get hydrated. Drink plenty of water.

Step Three: Get Picky.

Don’t eat packaged foods for the next few days. This means

Hail Damage, Minor Dents & Dings facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 53

MEN

ARE YOU LOOKING AFTER YOURSELVES, MEN?

W

We all know men are big and strong and are here to look after their families, but sometimes their families have to look after them and make sure they go for their yearly physical, whether they like it or not. Do you know the top men’s health threats? The list is surprisingly short — including heart disease, cancer and unintentional injury. Thankfully, most men’s health threats are largely preventable. Out of the 15 leading causes of death, men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer’s disease. Although the gender gap is closing, men still die five years earlier than their wives, on average. Men go to the doctor less than women and are more likely to have a serious condition when they do go, research shows. As long as they’re working and feeling productive, most men aren’t considering the risks to their health.

thenewsyneighbour.com

Things to watch for: • Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 20 to 35. If you notice a lump or abnor-

mality in your testicles, first see your GP. Most testicular lumps are not cancer, but it is essential to have any abnormalities checked. This is because treatment for testicular cancer is much more effective if the cancer is diagnosed early.

• Check your moles regularly and be aware of any change in colour or shape, or if they start bleeding. Most changes are harmless and are due to a

non-cancerous increase of pigment cells in the skin. See your GP if a mole looks unusual or becomes itchy. It can then be checked and removed if necessary. To minimize your risk of skin cancer, avoid exposure to the sun between 11am and 3pm.

Cover up and use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 when you’re in the sun.

• If you’re depressed, you may lose interest in things you used to enjoy. If you’ve been having

feelings of extreme sadness, contact your GP .Depression is a

Most men need to pay more attention to their health. Com-

54 •

pared to women, men are more likely to smoke and drink, make unhealthy or risky choices and put off regular checkups.

There are also health conditions that only affect men, such as prostate cancer and low testosterone. Many of the major health risks that men face - like colon cancer or heart disease - can be prevented and treated with early diagnosis. Screening tests can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. It’s important to get the screening tests you need.

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Altogether Different

real illness with real effects on your work, social and family life.

Treatment usually involves a combination of self-help, talking therapies and drugs. Depression is more common in women, but men are far more likely to commit suicide. This may be because men are more reluctant to seek help.

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• When the prostate is enlarged, it can press on the tube that carries urine from the bladder. This can make it hard to pass urine, which can be a sign of prostate disease, including cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. More than 30,000 men are diagnosed with it every year. Other symptoms include pain or burning when you pass urine and frequently waking up in the night to pee. If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP.

• They call it atherosclerosis, meaning “hardening of the arteries, but it could as easily be from the Latin for “a man’s worst enemy.” Heart disease

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and stroke are the first and second leading causes of death worldwide, in both men and women. In cardiovascular disease, cholesterol plaques gradually block the arteries in the heart and brain. If a plaque becomes unstable, a blood clot forms, blocking the artery and causing a heart attack or stroke.

Just do it - without your health, you have nothing!

Kathryn Hartwell

References: webmd.com, mayoclinic.com nih.gov.html and nhs.uk

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FEEDING THE ALLIGATOR

An elderly man in Florida had owned a large farm for several years. He had a large pond in the back, fixed up nice with picnic tables, horseshoe courts, a volleyball court, and some apple and peach trees. The pond was properly shaped and fixed up for swimming.

One evening, the old farmer decided to go down to the pond and look it over, as he hadn’t been there for a while. He grabbed a five gallon bucket to bring back some fruit. As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee. As he came closer he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in his pond. He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end.

One of the women shouted to him, “We’re not coming out until you leave!”

The old man frowned, “I didn’t come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked.” Holding the bucket up he said, “I’m here to feed the alligator.”

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• 55

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23 Things That Will Make You

10. It takes a whole ocean and the moon to erase your mere footstep in the sand.

11. At one point you were the youngest being in the entire universe, and at another point you will be the next to die.

Re-Consider Your

12. We’ve named our entire galaxy after the secretions of a cows udders.

Entire Existence

13. Aliens invaded the moon on July 20th, 1969.

14. Everything we eat is processed sunshine.

1. There’s only one sunset, and it’s been going around the earth for billions of years.

15. Life on earth is the cosmic equivalent of what happens when you don’t store things in a cool, dry place.

2. Instead of looking up into the sky, you’re actually gazing down into the infinite cosmic abyss, with only gravity holding you to the surface of the earth.

16. Whenever you dig up dirt or a rock, that very moment could be the first time that rock has seen the sun in millions of years.

3. You are the same age as the universe because matter can never be created or destroyed.

4. There exists an area so unfathomably large that humans refer to it simply as “space.”

5. Considering how big the universe is, there are probably space battles going on somewhere right now.

6. Your shadow is a confirmation that light has traveled nearly 93 million miles unobstructed, only to be deprived of reaching the ground in the final few feet by you.

19. There might be people in the Andromeda galaxy who are thinking about whether or not there are people in the Milky Way galaxy thinking about them.

21. You have NEVER been in the same physical place twice since the earth, solar system, and galaxy are all moving through space.

8. When the first child is born on Mars, we will have to add planet of birth to our passports.

9. Eventually, the human race will develop to a point when we shoot sci-fi films in actual outer space. thenewsyneighbour.com

18. Every year, everybody on earth collectively experiences more years than the earth has existed.

20. If you’re watching a sunset, someone on the other side of the earth is watching the same sun rise.

7. If someone 50 years ago was told that one day there would be only eight planets, they would think something incredibly exciting happened.

56 •

17. If people on a planet 65 million light years away look at earth, they see dinosaurs.

22. We might be the first species to get this far.

23. Not all starlight is the same age; some of it is millions or even billions of years apart, even though it hits your eye at the same time. So the night sky isn’t a single moment in the universe, but rather a patchwork of time billion of years in breadth.

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

•

Altogether Different

27 Two-Line Jokes 1. Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet up.

2. My wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort.

3. Women only call me ugly until they find out how much money I make. Then they call me ugly and poor.

4. How many Germans does it take to screw in a light bulb? One; they’re efficient and not very funny.

5. What do you call a dog with no legs? It doesn’t matter; it’s going to come.

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6. Someone stole my Microsoft Office and they’re gonna pay.

You have my word.

At the end of the rainbow you will find your next mower… GRASSHOPPER!!!

7. What’s green, fuzzy, and if it fell out of a tree it would kill you?

A pool table.

Lift with your finger. Not your back.

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10. I went to a really emotional wedding the other day. Even the cake was in tiers.

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12. You know what makes me smile? Face muscles.

13. What did Woody say to Buzz? A lot. There were three movies.

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14. What are green, blue, red, yellow and pink? Colours.

15. Why can’t you trust atoms? Because they make up everything.

16. There’s a band called 1023MB. They haven’t had any GIGS yet.

17. What’s another name for Santa’s elves? Subordinate Clauses.

18. What do you say when you’re comforting a grammar Nazi?

There, Their, They’re.

19. What is a physicist’s favourite food? Fission Chips.

20. C, E Flat, and G walk into a bar. The bartender says, “Sorry, no minors”

21. What is brown and sticky? A stick.

3/31/08 4:08:26 PM

22. What did one lawyer say to the other lawyer? “We are both lawyers.”

23. What is red and bad for your teeth? A brick.

24. Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot.

25. Why does a chicken coop only have 2 doors? Because if it had 4, it would be a chicken sedan.

26. Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom?

Because the “P” is silent.

27. What’s a bagel that can fly? A plain bagel.

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• 57

Miss Canada MissUniverse Universe Canada

W

When you hear of a beauty pageant, you automatically think that it is all about beauty and what you look like, but it is definitely much more than that. “We should overcome all our fears and this in turn would make us stronger. As soon as we overcome our fears, we can face any challenge.” This was Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler’s of Venezuela’s clever answer. Having brains, as well as being a humanitarian and an ambassador for your country, is what Miss Universe Canada radiates.

My name is Bailee Simonin and I am 21 years old. I was born and raised in Strathmore, and I am proud to say that I will be representing my hometown, as well as Alberta at the Miss Universe Canada pageant this May in Toronto. I am represented by the Patti Falconer Modelling and Talent Agency in Calgary, and I have been modelling for almost two years now. In the last year, I have started teaching the children’s modelling and acting class at the agency, and have had the honour of helping out at events and pageants with Patti Falconer. Being able to mentor and train children has definitely boosted my confidence and advanced my skills.

Throughout this ten day event, we will have many amazing opportunities, such as attending events and visiting many restaurants in the city. While we are there, we are rehearsing and training diligently to prepare ourselves for our stage debuts. Contestants are judged in four categories: bathing suit competition, evening gown, interviews with the judges and humanitarian work. Sixty five girls will be competing for the title of “Miss Universe Canada,” in Toronto, and the pageant gets broken down into the Top 20 girls, then the top 10, and finally the top five. The interviews with the judges are perhaps one of the most nerve-wracking competitions because you never know what you will be asked and must be prepared for everything.

The contestants must also organize and plan a fundraiser event to raise money and awareness for “Operation Smile.” I plan to create awareness and raise money for this amazing charity in a very creative way, and I am still planning the details. When we go to Toronto, we will be judged on how we created awareness and raised money for our charity. I have also been working hard finding sponsorship from local businesses and companies. The money I collect from sponsors goes towards paying my expenses for my journey to Toronto!

If you are interested in donating breastmilk visit:

www.calgarymothersmilkbank.ca or call 403-475-MILK (6455) This advertising space is sponsored by The Newsy Neighbour.

58 •

Once a month, all the Alberta contestants get together at the Patti Falconer Agency to train and prepare for the pageant. We do everything from working out together at the gym to practicing our runway walks and turns. Miss Universe Canada believes that it is important to have a healthy and fit body. In order to become Miss Universe Canada, you must be someone that the Canadian people can relate and look up to. You become an ambassador and spokesperson for Canada and its people. I would like to be Miss Universe Canada to make fellow Canadians proud, and use my title to help others that are in need. Being a realistic role model for young girls and women is something that is very important to me, and I believe that children need someone to look up to. Being able to be a contestant in Miss Universe Canada will be an amazing experience, and I plan to make Strathmore and Alberta proud!

Bailee Simonin thenewsyneighbour.com

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Confidence for Curtis

by Wanda Reinholdt

Winter 2015 launched Hope Bridges’ third year doing regular programming. Since the beginning, they have had a very fun and engaging inclusive adult workshop called “Go Green Upcycling,” which encourages participants to take something that could be recycled or thrown away and turn it into something that is useful and beautiful. Pieces like a large mural called “Flight” made out of plastic gift cards mounted on an old doorframe, and the bench called “Belong”, a pew from the Anglican Church made into a beautiful community bench for the library, are now adorning the community of Strathmore. In addition, many participants’ homes and friends’ homes are blessed with pieces that have been made.

encourage him in his exploration and help him feel at ease with his choices.

Recently, Trish reported that she realized that Curtis is no longer questioning his choices. In fact, he seems to be confidently making decisions about what he is going to do with a piece and is enjoying sharing what he has done with others.

Hope Bridges connects all adults through the universal language of the arts, encouraging expression and creation in a non-judgmental atmosphere. For more information, see their website www.hopebridges.ca, call 403 983 3640 or see this video http://www.hopebridges.ca/video/994/.

One of the participants in this Upcycling workshop is Curtis.

Curtis is a young man who has been coming to Hope Bridges workshops and events regularly for the past year. He attends with a job coach, who gives him the support he needs to walk safely and also help him handle any details. Curtis loves meeting with his friends at Upcycling and enjoys sharing his love for colour, shapes, and music.

Curtis began his journey creating at Upcycling with some nervousness and doubt about his ability to do this well. In particular, he was concerned that the choices he was making would work and that they would look good. Each time he was creating, he would ask the facilitator, Trish, and creative support, Heather, if what he was doing was ok. They would simply facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 59

The Newsy Neighbour BULLETIN BOARD LANGDON GLASS

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60 •

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Your Real Home Estate

STAINING CONCRETE

C

50% SOLD OUT

Concrete can be soooo boorring! It’s so drab and just colourless, but wait, I’m here to rescue you from your old no personality concrete floors or patio or deck or sidewalk and driveway. This is going to change everything. I hope spring arrives early this year because I can barely contain myself. This is going to rock your world.

LAKE FRONT LOTS $225,000

Staining concrete can be an inexpensive way to update the exterior look of your home. Acid stain can be one of the cheapest things you can do and it provides a great bang for your buck.

This look is achieved by creating a chemical reaction that alters the color of concrete. Concrete acid stain contains a mixture of water, mineral salts, and muriatic acid. The finished stain will create natural tones that are an impressive improvement from unstained concrete.

One thing to remember is that concrete staining is PERMANENT. Once you stain your slab, you will not be able to remove the stain. This is something to think about before you get started.

Concrete acid stain is not paint. The stain soaks into the pores of the concrete and reacts chemically with the cement, limes, and mineral salts. Each piece of concrete will colour uniquely because of this. For this reason, you can’t tell what the final result will look like simply by surveying the concrete. Colour and hue is completely dependent upon the slab.

One thing you can do is test the stain on small areas before deciding to stain large areas. Remember to let it dry for 24 hours to make sure you like the resulting colour. Applying sealers can also alter the tone.

Areas where miniscule lime deposits are present will render lighter hues of a colour while darker tones will be seen areas with rich lime deposits. Although you may have heard that concrete stain won’t fade, this can be misleading. Acid stains may begin to fade very slightly after 5-8 years. Any material will begin to fade and oxidize as a result of direct exposure to sunlight.

No matter what you’re dealing with, you can expect the sun to cause slight fading over time.

1. Preparation. Scrub the floor to remove all dirt, debris, and loose objects. You can use a combination of water and mild detergent. Scrubbing can be done with a push broom, a pressure washer, or a floor buffer if you want to speed up the process.

Mop clean with water and suck up excess H20 with a Shop Vac when complete. When finished with the initial scrub down, use a stiff bristled brush and a scraper to remove gum, paint drip-

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Article continued on page 70 facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 61

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Time, Money and Laundry

in electronics. The electronics in many new appliances will actually sense the conditions that the unit is operating in and adjust the operation for maximum efficiency and best results.

A

An optimist sees the glass as half full, a pessimist sees it as half empty, an engineer sees it as made twice as large as it needs to be and a skeptic wonders what is the agenda behind the thinking of the first three!

As a consumer, we should be a little skeptical. We want it all and are told we deserve it all. Unfortunately, modern efficient appliances can be a compromise but there are some big benefits.

Modern appliances are much more efficient and adapt to usage type situations that older style appliances would not even have attempted to address.

The driving force behind many appliance innovations is mandated energy consumption and water use guidelines. Appliance manufacturers have had to comply with them while at the same time providing the consumer with an appliance that costs less and does more.

To make this possible, new appliances rely heavily on advances

62 •

thenewsyneighbour.com

MLS®:C3636012

A new fridge may actually sense when it needs to defrost itself.

Some will cause the freezer to get colder immediately before a defrost cycle. This helps prevent freezer burn and uses less energy to return the temperature to normal after the defrost cycle.

Considering the efficiencies of new fridges, it is possible to run at least three new fridges on the energy it takes to run one old model. Some new refrigerators never actually turn off the compressor but still use less energy than their older counterparts.

There may be up to three different control boards in one high efficiency washing machine. A very common comment from consumers is that their new super efficient appliance (mainly washing machines or dishwashers) takes much longer to run a cycle than the old one.

Let’s look at an example of the kinds of energy used to clean in a washer or dishwasher: Thermal (hot water), Mechanical (agitator/spinning drum) and Chemical (detergent).

The old style top loading washer used lots of these and took a fairly short time to do it. Generally, the clothes were fairly clean and somewhat spun dry when the cycle was done.

The new high efficiency washers (top or front load) use much less of all the energy types and the clothes are spun considerably dryer than the older style washers at the end of the cycle.

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A further benefit is that our expensive clothes last longer than with older style machines.

To paraphrase a writer named Larry NIVEN, ‘TANSTAAFL’ – There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. We pay for this higher efficiency with longer run times.

Is That A Fact? by Canadian Mark BATTERSBY (even the Edmonton Oilers are mentioned). It is actually used in some university courses (perhaps they should be used before the university level?). Further interesting stuff can be found at www.scitechdaily.com and www.newsdaily.com.

PJs Appliances - See ad on this page.

Your energy and water savings, as well as cleaner, longer lasting clothes will more than justify the extra time. In the case of new HE washers, you do get some of this time back as they hold larger loads, therefore less laundry loads in a week.

Cost-wise, appliances are the same or less than they were in the ‘good old days’. If you find an old catalogue, check out the prices model to model style. The difference is new appliances cost much less to use.

As a savvy consumer, you need to know what you require and which appliance will best suit your needs. Hint: Those who frequently wear business or business casual clothes will appreciate the advantages of a steam featured dryer.

As a shameless plug, various marketing organizations are reporting that many consumers are searching out smaller independent appliance dealers. These dealers must have an in-depth knowledge of their products and in some cases, maintain their own service departments. That makes for a much more supported environment for the consumer. The purchase prices are usually pretty competitive with the big boxers.

An informed consumer will avail themselves of as much knowledge as possible while keeping a skeptical eye out. Check out;

The wonderful world of home appliances now makes it possible to cook indoors with charcoal and outdoors with gas.

- Bill Vaughan

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• 63

Are We Being Watched?

te ouri v a F My bulous d Fa tic an tas Fan n Stuff Fu

So it all started when my husband and I were watching “Person of Interest” (the T.V. series) the other night. It is about a fabulous mega-brained computer that watches every single person on this planet and directs these few people on how to save lives and get rid of the “bad guys”.

B

“Bad guys” seem to be on my mind a lot lately as we had our home broken into just this past weekend and the $@%&* evil person who took my jewelry has left me feeling a little differently about the world in which we all live.

I have always been one of those cup-half-full people and always see the good in people. I’m way too trusting; not naïve, but just never like to think that anything BAD will happen to me (maybe I am naïve!). I have been selling stuff on various sites on Facebook and my little voice is telling me that the person who broke into my home has been here before – I could be wrong, but that is what my “Spidey” senses are saying. Just be careful out there, everyone! Of course, we are having a security system installed, including outside cameras. We believe the evil person was in the house just for a short time, heard our garage door opener as we were coming home and fled the house – the back door was wide open (the one he pried open with a crowbar- you can see the marks) so only the jewelry on my dresser was taken – right out there in the open just like a jewelry store, a nice gift – that’s now going to change. My two little dogs were not harmed and I actually feel blessed – this could have been WAY worse. Did I mention this happened at 6:15 in the evening?!

Now, getting back to “Person of Interest” and having a camera watching your every move – well, I’m guessing that part is not too far from the truth. For example, there are between 4 million and 5.9 million CCTV surveillance cameras in the UK, according to a new report from the British Security Industry Association (BSIA). There are approximately 70 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on The University of Calgary campus and the growth of camera surveillance in Canada is undeniable, and is steady. Roughly half of the Canadians surveyed think camera surveillance is somewhat effective in reducing crime.

The role of ‘National Security’ initiatives in fostering the growth of camera surveillance has been considerable, especially since 9/11. While Canadian authorities lack equivalent national funding for surveillance, they commonly consult UK authorities when

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thenewsyneighbour.com

considering surveillance camera schemes.

For example, the ‘Lion’s Eye in the Sky’ open‐street CCTV scheme in Sudbury, Ontario, one of Canada’s earliest, was conceived in 1994 when Police Chief Alex McCauley learned of Glasgow’s downtown CCTV. McCauley visited Scotland in 1995 and then planned a similar system for Sudbury (KPMG 2000). In 1996, Sudbury introduced five cameras monitoring the downtown area and rail yard. Sudbury has one of the longest running surveillance camera systems in Canada which has, in turn, become a model for other Canadian surveillance initiatives, such as those in London, Ontario, Hamilton, Barrie and Vancouver. The influence of the ‘Lion’s Eye in the Sky’ system increased after KPMG, a consulting firm hired by the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS), released an audit of the system stating that ‘at least 300, and as many as 500 robberies, assaults, thefts and other criminal offenses’ have been deterred by the Lion’s Eye in the Sky project, saving as much as $800,000 in direct monetary losses (KPMG 2000: 1). A growing number of Canadian cities are implementing open‐street CCTV. Camera surveillance systems are now very often found in private spaces such as banks, convenience stores and malls, and their use is expanding to other venues as well, especially public transportation systems.

(Information from sscqueens.org) I could not find the stats for Calgary and I’m pretty sure Strathmore, Chestermere and Langdon do not have any surveillance cameras except for some businesses and some homes.

Now, moving on - did you know that if you own a Sumsung Smart TV, it is listening to you? Samsung is warning customers about discussing personal information in front of their smart television set? When you’re relaxing in front of the TV with your loved ones, it may sometimes seem like a good time to open up and get some private thoughts off your chest. But if you have a Samsung Smart TV, you may be opening up to more people than you intend. The warning applies to TV viewers who control their Samsung Smart TV using its voice activation feature, even if you have not set the voice activation up! The TV set “listens” to what is said and may share what they hear with Samsung or third parties. There are hundreds of articles about this all over the internet; just have a look!!

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And not only that – if you have a webcam on your computer to stay in touch with friends and family, they also pose risks of people hacking into them and spying on you. A recent Pennsylvania lawsuit accused a school district of using webcams on school-issued laptops to spy on students and their families. And in China, a sophisticated network of hackers known as GhostNet has cracked 1,295 webcams in 103 countries. Since most laptops now come with a built-in webcam, it’s critical to understand the risks, says Richard Stiennon, a malware expert with IT-Harvest, a research firm that specializes in Internet security. “We all have to become aware that our every action could be watched,” says Stiennon.

Roofing

Before

You can protect yourself, most hackers utilize so-called Trojan horse attacks, says Stiennon. You click on an attachment or download a piece of music or video infected with malware, and a hacker is able to remotely control your PC’s functions.

Fortunately, you can take steps to secure your webcam. Experts offer these do’s and don’ts: Don’t click on suspicious attachments. You’ve heard it before, but too often we click without thinking. Email attachments remain a prime source for malware. Be wary of those supposedly funny emails forwarded by friends and family. You should also avoid suspicious sites offering free downloads of music, TV shows or videos.

Do use a firewall. “Firewalls provide a measure of protection against unwanted traffic,” explains Fox. Your computer comes with a firewall, but you need to make sure it’s turned on. If you use a Windows operating system, click on the Windows symbol in the lower-left corner of your screen, search for Windows Firewall, and you’ll be able to check the firewall settings. If you use a Mac OS, open System Preferences, click on the Sharing icon, select the Firewall tab and click Start.

Do use strong anti-virus software. Install a security suite that offers malware and spyware protection, then make sure you keep the protection up to date.

Don’t keep PCs with webcams in bedrooms. Limit webcam use to high-traffic areas, and remind family members not to do anything in front of a webcam they wouldn’t want the world to see.

Do secure your wireless connection. Make sure your wireless connection is protected with a unique password (not the default one that came with the router).

Don’t talk to strangers. Avoid IM conversations with people you don’t know, and advise your kids to do the same.

Do be cautious about accepting tech help. Would-be hackers have been known to ingratiate themselves with acquaintances by offering computer help. But that gives them the chance to rig webcams so they can spy on the computer user.

Do look for the indicator light. On external webcams, you’ll usually see a red light indicating the camera is on. Laptops with internal webcams usually have a blue LED indicator. If you use an external webcam, simply detach it from the USB port when it’s not in use.

It does not matter who you are; we are all bound to one another and to the small planet we call our home.

After www.newspaceconstruction.com

Renovations, Roofing Residential Contracting, Interior & Exterior Brett Presley 403-888-9931

CONSTRUCTION Ltd.

Because a Great Experience Begins with a Great Agent. TM

As your real estate agent, I am committed to providing you with the best possible real estate experience. I will offer you an exceptional level of service and knowledge, whatever your real estate needs.

www.carolwarawa.ca E: cwarawa@cirrealty.ca

Carol Warawa, C.C.S, SRES REALTOR R

C: 403-585-5270 B: 403-291-4440 F: 403-366-6708

Kathryn Hartwell

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• 65

Fitness, Home Gyms & Real Estate The REPs... Guiding you over the STEPS... Of Real Estate.

I

We are... 3 REMAX horizon Real Estate Professionals ...

DEDICATED to work together and licensed in Residential, Rural, Commercial, Condo. We are here to help our clients reach ALL their real estate goals. Contact us: reps.remax@ gmail.com.

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As far as the room itself, you will want it to be decorated simply, so as not to distract you from your workout. Cheerful paint colours will brighten your mood, and having a nice view of your garden or other focal point will make your time in the gym more enjoyable.

If you know me, you know that an active lifestyle and fitness are just a way of life for me and my family. This is made easier for us because we have a home gym. It is an excellent investment for anyone and adds value to any home.

Working out is imperative if you want to feel better, have stamina and good health to ward off preventable diseases. For many people, however, working out in a gym can be intimidating.

Long equipment lineups, hidden membership costs, hygiene issues, and self consciousness all contribute to a growing distaste with the public gym. In order to solve this problem, more homeowners than ever are building their own home gyms, thereby seeing their waistlines shrink and property values rise.

When considering having a home gym, ask yourself if you will you use an existing room in the house, or build an addition?

Certainly, adding on to your house is expensive, but think about the advantages that this option has to offer. You will add valuable square footage to your home, which prospective buyers will be able to use however they wish. Also, you may not have a suitable room already present in your space

66 •

thenewsyneighbour.com

Another thought is that basements provide the best option for home gyms because they are separate from the main living quarters. Aside from offering privacy, you will be less likely to disturb other family members with the noise of your workout music and clanging free weights. The basement is also a good choice because you don’t have to worry about having sufficient floor support. The last thing you want is to have to worry that a dropped dumbbell or a large exercise machine will go crashing through your floor.

Also, good ventilation is a must in a home gym, so be sure to have adequate windows and fans.

Once you have a space for your gym, you need to select the equipment. Before you rush out and buy everything that a professional gym has, figure out what your needs are. My motto is always KISS... Keep it Simple Simon.

Decorate the room with a convenient towel cupboard, a small fridge for water bottles, and a large mirror are good investments. You will want to have a good sounding stereo system to get you moving. You may also decide to have a small television set in the room as well.

As one of the top three specialty rooms that buyers are looking for in a house, a home gym can be a great addition to your home. Increased property value and improved physical well being: this is the beauty of a home gym.

Hayley Poirier One of the Real Estate REPS See ad on back cover The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

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Garburators

YES

• Pour a little dish soap inside and let the garbage disposal run for a minute or so with some cold water after washing dishes.

• Grind food waste with a strong flow of cold water.

Why cold water? It will cause any grease or oils that may get into the unit to solidify.

• Grind small chicken and fish bones, egg shells, small fruit pits, etc. Particles such as these clean the garburators walls.

• Grind peelings from citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges to freshen up drain smells.

• It is best to cut large items into smaller pieces. Put them into the garbage disposal one at a time.

Truck mounted carpet and furniture cleaning We do furnace and duct cleaning!

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TO CLEAN & PROTECT

NO

• Don’t Put Anything In The Garburator That Is Not Biodegradable Food.

• Don’t grind anything combustible.

• Don’t grind metal or glass.

• Don’t grind cigarette butts.

• Don’t pour grease, oil or fat into your garburator.

• Don’t use hot water when grinding food waste. Hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing drains to clog.

• Don’t grind extremely fibrous material like corn husks, celery stalks, onion skins, and artichokes. Fibres from these can tangle and jam the garburators motor and block drains.

• Don’t turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed.

Source: www.horizonservicesinc.com

BDSProperties

Rental Properties in Strathmore 8 units available for rent June 1, 2015. In quiet location of downtown Strathmore! 2 bedroom units complete with 1.5 bath and single garage, $1400 a month including water, sewer and garbage.

Apply now on our website. bdsproperties@shaw.ca

Kelly Camden

Formerly of Strathmore Carpet Cleaning

www.bdsproperties.com facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

• 67

Creating your master bedroom getaway Interior Design

Emily Hogan is an interior designer from new and local design company Blyss Interiors. Her strong experience in the window covering industry has inspired her to offer those services to Strathmore and area as well as her savvy & stylish design style. If you have any questions for her call her at 403-901-4467 or email to info@blyssinteriors.ca. She would be happy to hear from you!

Emily Hogan

If you don’t have a picturesque view from your bedroom, create your own. A large serene piece of artwork or a cluster of favourite photographs will give you something to both fall asleep and wake up to with a smile on your face.

Custom window coverings & Interior styling Free in home window covering consults!

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Select a serene palette. In bedrooms, I like to keep it soft and neutral while layering texture upon texture. This also allows you to change things easier and more frequently, by adding pops

info@blyssinteriors.ca ● www.blyssinteriors.ca

thenewsyneighbour.com

U

Usually, when decorating a home, the bedrooms seem to be last on the list, focusing much of our attention on the main areas of the home. When it is time to turn in for the night, having a relaxing getaway of a bedroom to relax and recharge is a must. This will provide the perfect environment to unwind and get the best sleep possible. Here are some tips and tricks to make your master bedroom retreat your favourite room in the house.

We sleep a third of our lives and as we know, a good night’s sleep is good for our overall health. The most important area of the space is the bed. Investing in a quality mattress and bed linens is a must to make this the most inviting space for you possible. Layering pillows, throws, quilts, etc. creates the perfect sleep nest. The bed is also the focal point of this space and what better way to draw attention to this than to add a dramatic headboard? Upholstered options are my go-to, adding another soft finish to the room with maximum impact.

Blyss Int eriors

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Fax: 866-708-5807 Apply Online: http://jason.axiommortgage.ca Email: jason@axiommortgage.ca If you have the space, create a sitting area. This could be a nook under the window with a couple accent chairs and a side table, or a simple bench at the foot of the bed. This could serve as a reading nook, or simply somewhere to lay tomorrow’s outfit.

Draperies add instant elegance to any space and can give you the ability to add some pattern and even more texture. Draperies also serve as a great room darkening solution and a sound dampener; both beautiful and functional.

of colour with décor and accessories without having to redo the entire space. Soft greys and creams on the walls will serve as the perfect back drop.

Don’t forget about the ceiling; this is the space you are usually gazing at as you make your mental lists for the next day, so let’s make it count. Painting the ceiling is an easy and dramatic way to change the mood of a room, while it is usually forgotten completely. Painting the ceiling a few shades darker provides a cosier and more intimate feel within the space. Don’t forget about lighting, either; a sparkly pendant fixture above the bed adds drama to this focal point of the space and gives something beautiful to bounce the light around.

Hopefully, with some of the above additions to your bedroom, you can create the best space to relax and rejuvenate and wake up refreshed and ready for the day!

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• 69

30+ Y*e5a;/&3 rs

*& . %&## ard Winning Aw

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Based on Calgary market share.

Debbie Mitzner, AgfefS`V[`Y [` ZWd ÀW^V t t t t t debmitzner@gmail.com

Article continued from page 61

pings, or other foreign elements that may have been lodged in the slab. If your patio has grease or oil stains, be sure to use a heavy degreaser to remove these stains.

Be Green! – In order to protect the Earth’s environment, we recommend covering the surrounding area with painters plastic.

Allowing harmful chemicals to flow into the soil is hazardous for the environment. Wet shrubs and grass to prevent stains from affecting your garden. Always be careful when applying acid concrete stain to your patio.

2. Applying Acid Concrete Stain. You can use a pump sprayer or a paint gun to apply the stain. While the pump spray will require a bit more work, it will cost you much less than purchasing an air compressor that you will only use one time. Pump sprayers only cost $20-40 and can be stored away easily.

Spray slowly in a circular motion and make sure that you get an even layer covering all areas of the slab. You can use a push broom to work the acid stain into areas that are bumpy or not receiving the stain very well. Be generous with the amount of acid stain that you spray but don’t create puddles.

3. Adding Additional Layers. It’s best to coat your patio at least two times to make sure that you get an even pattern. Lighter colours can be achieved by diluting the acid. You can create darker hues by adding multiple layers. Follow the same steps as aforementioned and make sure that you allow each coat to dry in between coats.

Tip: You don’t need to wash off acid residue in-between coats. You can remove all residues at the same time at the end of your project. This will save you time and remove any unnecessary steps.

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4. Neutralize Acid. When you’re done applying the stain, you need to neutralize the acid with a 50/50 solution of baking soda and water. This will stop the chemical reactions between the acid stain solution and the concrete. Total reaction time can range anywhere between 8-24 hours and this neutralizing agent will help the process.

5. Clean Up & Drying Time. As aforementioned, it can typically take anywhere from 8-24 hours for the reaction between the acid and concrete to take place. Tape off the area to make sure that nobody accidently steps on the slab until everything has cured. Once completely dry, you can spot check the final coating to see if it appeases your taste.

6. Applying Concrete Stain Sealers. Concrete sealers come in 2 forms; solvent and water based. When you’re washing residue stain off and the slab is wet, this is what the finished product will look like if you sealed it with a solvent based sealer. When the slab dries and is still damp, this is what it will look like if you were to seal it with a water based sealer. It’s important to note that the colour on the bottle does not tell you what the true coluor of your slab will turn out to be. This is because each slab contains different amounts of mineral salts and limestone deposits. The true colour of the stain won’t be revealed until the stain is completely dry and all remaining residue has been removed.

Kathryn Hartwell All instructions found on www.patioproductions.com

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Altogether Different

Langdon Medical is a family medical practice that opened to the public January, 2010.

New Physician - Dr. Petrus Masekoameng opened his practice in Langdon and is accepting new patients - Book with Dr Masekoameng through our receptionist or online booking

New Online Booking - Now you can book appointments or walk-in visits online new appointments added daily - Click the book it link on www.langdonmedical.com and create your own user name and password - No more long waits for walk in appointments, access this system 24 hours a day from home or mobile device

Dr. Lukubisa & Dr. Masekoameng are both accepting walk-ins and Dr. Masekoameng Services Provided within clinic - Massage Therapy is accepting new - Chronic Disease Management with Registered Nurse - Nurse Practitioner lead Child & Adolescent Specialized family practice Health Services (coming in April 2015) - Private Registered Psychologist patients.

Accepting New

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Langdon Medical Clinic

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106, 355 Centre Street Conveniently located on “Main Street” Langdon

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Phone: 403-936-5990 facebook.com/TheNewsyNeighbour

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Carey Rose Debbie Enslen Hayley Poirier

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The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

Top-Floor Condo 2 Beds, Fireplace,Near to Downtown Calgary & LRT, Titled Parking $279,900

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