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Fascinating Valentine’s Day Facts That Will Probably Surprise You

There’s a super interesting history behind the most romantic day of the year. BY

AMANDA HAWKINS AND HANNAH JEON

When February 14 rolls around, lovers and friends exchange letters, chocolates, jewelry and other gifts in honor of Valentine’s Day. While this popular holiday has become known for its sweet Hallmark cards and romantic dinner ideas for two, the history of Valentine’s Day is actually pretty dark.

St. Valentine wasn’t just one person.

You may already know that Valentine’s Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine — but there’s actually some confusion surrounding which St. Valentine the holiday technically honors. According to History.com, there are at least two men named Valentine that could’ve inspired the holiday, including one Valentine who was a priest in third century Rome. As the story goes, this Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage (he thought it distracted young soldiers), illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death.

Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and that he actually sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed “From your Valentine.”

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Valentine’s Day has its roots in an ancient Pagan festival.

Though some historians believe that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine on February 14, others believe that the holiday actually has its origins in a Pagan fertility festival called “Lupercalia,” which was celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. Dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus, the day was celebrated by sacrificing animals and smacking women with animal hides, a practice that was believed to encourage fertility.

In the 1300s, it officially became a holiday associated with love.

At the end of the 5th century, Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared the date of February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day.” It wasn’t until until the Middle Ages, though, that the holiday became associated with love and romance, a tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.

Cupid has its roots in Greek mythology.

He’s the charming cherub that appears on Valentine’s Day cards, often depicted with a bow and arrow — but how did Cupid become a common symbol of Valentine’s Day? According to Time, the figure can actually be traced all the way back to 700 B.C., to the Greek god of love named Eros, who was actually a handsome, immortal man with the intimidating power to make people fall in love. It wasn’t until the 4th century BCE that the Romans adopted Eros into the image of a cute little boy with a bow and arrow, naming him “Cupid.” By the turn of the 19th century, Cupid had become linked to Valentine’s Day due to his love-matching powers.

The first valentine was sent in the 15th century.

The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History.com, was a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. Charles penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. One of the lines in the poem? “I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.” Swoon!

The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1861. It was created by Richard Cadbury, son of Cadbury founder John Cadbury, who started packaging chocolates in fancy boxes to increase sales. He introduced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for V-Day in 1861, and today, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That’s 58 million pounds of chocolate!

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What do pickles say on Valentine’s day? Will you be Brine!

What did one boat say to the other boat? Are you interested in a little row-mance?

Do you like Star Wars? Because Yoda only one for me!

What do Italians say to each other on Valentine’s Day? You’ve got a pizza my heart.

Why are we like chips and avocados? You guac my world!

What do you call two birds in love? Tweethearts!

How do werewolves send Valentines? By hair-mail!

What did the cucumber say to the pickle? You mean a great dill to me.

What do you call a very small Valentine? A Valen-tiny!

Mike walked into a post office just before Valentine’s day, he couldn’t help noticing a middle-aged, balding man standing in a corner sticking “Love” stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. Then the man got out a bottle of perfume from his pocket and started spraying scent over the envelopes. By now Mike’s curiosity had got the better of him, and so he asked the man why he was sending all those cards.

The man replied, “I’m sending out 500 Valentine cards signed, ‘Guess who?’”

“But why?” asked Mike.

“I’m a divorce lawyer,” the man replied.

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STRANGE BUT TRUE

By Lucie Winborne

* Leona Woods was the only woman physicist on the team that built the world’s first nuclear reactor as part of the Manhattan Project. She became a mother during the project, but hid her pregnancy as not to miss work. Afterward, as a professor, she authored more than 200 papers in physics and astrophysics.

* A 10-second French kiss spreads around 80 million bacteria between the two smoochers.

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Alcoholics Anonymous

Monday: Kindersley AA Meeting

8:00 PM, Legion Hall

Tuesday: Brock AA Meeting

8:00 PM, Vesper Club

Tuesday: Leader AA Meeting

8:00 PM, Leader United Church

Wednesday: Eston AA Meeting

8:00 PM, St. Andrew’s United Church

Thursday: Kindersley AA Meeting

8:00 PM, 401 - 1st Avenue West

Friday: Kindersley AA Meeting

8:00 PM, St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church

Narcotics Anonymous

Tuesday: Kindersley NA Meeting

7:30 PM, 113 Main Street

heat)

* Director Michael Bay (“Transformers”) traced his interest in action films to when he attached firecrackers to a toy train and filmed the ensuing fiery disaster with his mother’s 8 mm camera. The fire department was called, and Bay was grounded.

* The African country of Zambia entered the Space Race in the 1960s with a plan to visit Mars and convert aliens to Christianity. The plan unraveled when one of the “Afronauts” got pregnant, another pulled out to join a local dance group and a third went missing.

* Sharks can grow up to 50,000 teeth in their lifetime.

* Libyan revolutionary Moammar Gadhafi had a serious obsession with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, showering her with over $200,000 in gifts and having a famous local composer write a song for her called “Black Flower in the White House.”

* Ever notice that the word “phonetic” is not phonetic?

* As if job interviews weren’t stressful enough, some notably head-scratching questions asked by employers include “If Germans were the tallest people in the world, how would you prove it?” (Hewlett-Packard), “Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?” (Xerox), and “Are you exhaling warm air?” (Walker Marketing)

Thought for the Day:

thaw & heat)

“Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel

* On Feb. 19, 1851, an angry mob in San Francisco’s business district “tries” two Australian suspects in the robbery and assault of C.J. Jansen, a store owner. When the makeshift jury deadlocked, the suspects were returned to law-enforcement officials. Local authorities convicted the men at a real court trial.

* On Feb. 15, 1898, a massive explosion sinks the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor, killing 260 crew members. A U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry ruled that the ship was blown up by a mine, with Spain the likely suspect.

* On Feb. 17, 1915, after encountering a severe snowstorm, the German zeppelin L-4 crash-lands in the North Sea near the Danish coastal town of Varde. The Danish coast guard rescued 11 members of the crew; they were brought to Odense as prisoners to be interrogated.

* On Feb. 16, 1968, the first official 911 call is placed in the United States, but 911 was not standard across the country for many years after its adoption by Congress. By 1987, only half of the nation was using the system.

* On Feb. 20, 1974, Reg Murphy, an editor of The Atlanta Constitution, is kidnapped by William A.H. Williams after being lured from his home. For the next 49 hours, Williams drove Murphy around the city, stopping to phone in ransom demands to the newspaper. The money was finally delivered to Williams and Murphy was released. Williams served only nine years in prison.

* On Feb. 14, 1990, 3.7 billion miles away from the sun, the Voyager 1 spacecraft takes a photograph of Earth. The picture, known as the Pale Blue Dot, depicts our planet as a nearly indiscernible speck roughly the size of a pixel. Voyager 1’s journey continues.

* On Feb. 18, 2001, racer Dale Earnhardt Sr. dies in a last-lap crash at the 43rd Daytona 500, the fourth NASCAR driver to die within a nine-month period. Earnhardt, 48, was driving his famous black No. 3 Chevrolet and vying for third place when he collided with another car, then crashed into a wall.

ANCIENT DOG BREEDS

Akita-hunting dog from Japan-lots of energy and high endurance

Mastiff-courageous, territorial, excellent guard dog

Alaskan Malamute-from Inuit descent, friendly, great with kids

Chow chow-originally Mongolian, challenge to train

Pug-bred in Buddhist monasteries, cheerful and curious

Shih Tzu-beautiful house pet, traced back to 8000 BC

These are just a sample of some of the majestic ancient dog breeds that we training and ownership they can all be a vital part of your household. Here enjoy the diversity of dogs we have board in our facilities. It is quite evident little quirks and personality. Looking forward to seeing YOU at Sonshine Kennels grooming. We love to serve you and your pet. Call Barbe 306-460-9304 to

These are just a sample of some of the majestic ancient dog breeds that we enjoy today. With proper training and ownership they can all be a vital part of your household. Here at Sonshine Kennels we truly enjoy the diversity of dogs we have board in our facilities. It is quite evident that they all have their own little quirks and personality. Looking forward to seeing YOU at Sonshine Kennels for quality boarding and grooming. We love to serve you and your pet. Call Barbe 306-460-9304 to book in today.

West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Temper that Aries impatience. Demanding answers or results before they’re ready to be revealed could create more delays. Take time out for fun with family or friends.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)

Someone involved in your latest venture makes new demands that you find disturbing. While you dislike being a quitter, it might be best to drop this project and move on.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A decision could involve more serious implications than you first thought. Get more information and seek the counsel of trusted friends before you sign or say anything.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) It’s a good time to reconsider some of your plans, especially those involving major investments of money and/or time. Expect to hear from someone in your past.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Love continues to dominate for both single and paired Lions. In the workplace, deal with a co-worker’s thoughtless comments before they cause problems later on.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) You might be angry enough to end

a friendship because of something you were told. But consider the source of the gossip before you act.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your career move seems to be stalled. Request a meeting to discuss the situation. It will be a learning experience for everyone involved.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) That important relationship is about to move to a new level. Continue to be patient, and resist pushing it even further. It still needs time to blossom.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Paired Sagittarians do very well at this time. However, some challenges loom for single Archers who are considering stronger romantic commitments.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Be patient. A misunderstanding is close to being completely resolved, as new facts emerge that will help change those stubborn minds.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A change in a personal relationship reveals some long-hidden truths. Your challenge now is to use this new information wisely for all concerned.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Draw on your deep reserves of good Piscean common sense to avoid taking the lure from someone who thinks he or she can get the best of you.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a remarkable ability to make friends with strangers. This allows you to command an army of devoted admirers.

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Sask brings in $6 million for Crown land sales, but some parcels went for next to nothing

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

Twice last week, SaskEnergy set new daily natural gas usage records, and we can thank Alberta for most of our supply

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca

Not only was Saskatchewan setting electrical consumption records during the cold snap of last week of December, we also set two consecutive natural gas consumption records, too.

REGINA – For the first time since June, 2019, a Crown land sale for oil and gas mineral rights exceeded $6 million. But while the total dollar value was up significantly compared to sales over the last 2.5 years, some parcels went for exceedingly low dollar values, as low as $2.40 per hectare.

According to SaskEnergy in a Dec. 31 release, “Extreme cold weather across Saskatchewan this week resulted in record-breaking natural gas demand in the province. On December 28 and 29, natural gas consumption surpassed the previous daily record of 1.57 petajoules (PJ) which was set in February 2021.

“A new daily record of 1.62 PJ was set on December 28 and broken again on December 29 with total system delivery of 1.64 PJ. Delivery numbers for December 30 and 31 are not yet finalized, but are also expected to exceed 1.6 PJ.”

The natural gas records coincided with record power consumption. On Dec. 29, SaskPower set another record in power consumption for Saskatchewan. At 5:27 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2021, Saskatchewan homes and businesses reached 3,868 megawatts (MW) in power use, according to the Crown corporation. The previous record of 3,792 MW was reached four years ago to the day, on Dec. 29, 2017.

The Feb. 1 Crown land sale brought in $6,144,244 in revenue for the province. This is the highest oil and gas public offering result of 2021-22 and significantly exceeds the amount of revenue raised in other oil and gas public offerings during 2020-21, a period which saw the oil and gas industry laid low by the COVID-19 pandemic. The February public offering completes the scheduled 2021-22 fiscal year oil and gas public offerings, with total revenue of nearly $15 million, according to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources.

This compares $1,400,142, an average of $321/hectare received at the last offering held on Dec. 7, 2021.

Of the 84 parcels posted, 75 parcels received acceptable bids. Total bids covered 11,493 hectares. The average bonus bid was $535 per hectare with the highest acceptable bid at $7,814 per hectare.

Saskatchewan’s power production has increasingly shifted from coal to natural gas as a fuel source. In December, Boundary Dam Unit 4, a coal-fired generating unit, was retired, reducing the Boundary Dam Power Station to 672 megawatts capacity. On the natural gas side, Saskatchewan has seen the construction of several new natural gas-fired power plants. They include the baseload North Battleford Power Station (289 megawatts), Yellowhead Power Station peaking plant (also at North Battleford, 135 megawatts), the baseload Chinook Power Station at Swift Current (353 megawatts) and peaking plant Spy Hill Power Station (89 megawatts). Another 353 megawatt baseload

Of that, 81 leases totalling 10,000 hectares were posted, with 72 parcels totalling 8,452 hectares went for $5,060,757. The lease parcels averaged $599 per hectare.

There hasn’t been a lot of explorato-

ry licence action in recent years, but this sale had three parcels posted and all three sold. The licences totalled 3,041 hectares for $1,083,487. The licences averaged $356 per hectare.

plant, very similar to Chinook, is under construction at Moose Jaw.

All of this added natural gas-fired power generation has, in turn, driven higher usage of natural gas during times of high electrical consumption.

Lloydminster

The Crown noted that increased demand from SaskEnergy’s industrial customers, including natural gas use for power production, was the main driver of this week’s record-setting consumption.

SaskEnergy said it measures daily natural gas consumption for the 24-hour period from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. A PJ is a unit of measurement equivalent to one million gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas. An average Saskatchewan home consumes about 100 GJ of natural gas each year.

In the Lloydminster area, three leases were posted totaling 567 hectares. All three sold, but the bonus was just $8,384, or $15 per hectare. In other words, they picked up the mineral rights for 8.75 quarter sections for substantially less that the cost of hiring a drilling rig for a single day.

“SaskEnergy’s natural gas system design can accommodate additional capacity to manage increased consumption even on peak days,” SaskEnergy president and CEO Ken From said in a release. “Throughout the year, SaskEnergy employees inspect, maintain and enhance the system to support safe and reliable natural gas delivery in all weather conditions. In addition, employees monitor the system 24 hours a day to ensure sufficient system capacity to meet customer demand across the province.”

The highest bonus bid received on a lease in this area was $3,323 for a 261 hectare lease is located six kilometres southeast of North Battleford. That worked out to $12.73 per hectare. This was one of a number of leases that went for low numbers. The mineral rights for a section of land were acquired for less than the cost of hiring a service rig for six hours.

This province is now largely dependent on neighbouring Alberta to fulfill roughly two-thirds of our natural gas needs.

This lease was awarded to Lexterra Land Ltd. That area near North Battleford is essentially the undiscovered country, totally new development. It would also be relatively close to the Northlands Yellowhead Power Station, a baseload gas-fired power plant.

When natural gas prices took a tumble roughly 14 years ago, Saskatchewan’s domestic gas production fell off a cliff. Targeted gas drilling went essentially extinct, with next to no gas-specific wells being drilled in this province for most of the past decade. Our domestic gas production is now largely based on associated gas production that comes with oil production. As a result, Saskatchewan went from being a net gas exporter for the period of 1988 to 2009 to a net importer that year.

The highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in this area was $37/ hectare. This 48 hectare lease was awarded to Caltex Resources Ltd and is located 15 kilometres southwest of Turtleford, within the Westhazel Mannville Oil Pool.

Kindersley-Kerrobert

In the Kindersley-Kerrobert area two leases were posted and purchased totalling 486 hectares. The bonus was $62,764, or $129 per hectare.

West central Saskatchewan was also home to two of those exploratory licenses, totalling 2,075 hectares. They accounted for nearly all the dollars expended on licences in the sale, collecting $922,424. They brought in $445 per hectare.

The highest bonus bid and dollars per hectare received on a lease in this area was $35,865 or $158 per hectare. This 227 hectare lease was awarded to Teine Energy Ltd. and is located 15 kilometres southeast of Plenty, adjacent to the Dodsland Viking Oil Pool.

Prairie Land & Investment Ltd. bid $922,424 for two exploration licences totalling 2,075 hectares posted in this area. These licences are located 19 kilometres southwest of Major, near the Hoosier North Viking Pool.

The highest bonus bid received on an exploration licence in the sale was $501,130 for a 1,037-hectare licence in the Kindersley Area by Prairie Land & Investment Services. This was also the highest dollars per hectare received on a licence at $483 per hectare.

Swift Current-Shaunavon

In the Swift Current-Shaunavon area, 12 leases were posted, and all were sold. Those dozen parcels totalled 908 hectares, but only sold for $2,183, or $2.40 per hectare. In other words, the mineral rights for 14 quarters of land went for less than the cost of running a service rig for four hours.

was the most active bidder in this area picking up 10 leases totalling 650.157 hectares for $1,983. These leases are located approximately 21 kilometres west of Fox Valley.

Estevan-Weyburn

Over in southeast Saskatchewan there were 64 parcels posted for lease totalling 8,039 hectares. Of that, 55 parcels sold, totaling 6491 hectares for $4,987,426. The average was $768 per hectare.

The remaining exploratory license was in the southeast, totalling 966 hectares. It went for $161,063, or $167 per hectare.

The highest bonus bid received on a lease in this area was $528,018 or $2,715 per hectare. This 195 hectare lease was awarded to Midale Petroleums Ltd. and is located 13 kilometres northwest of Alameda, within the Steelman Frobisher Oil Pool. This bid was also the highest across the province for this sale.

Millennium Land Ltd. bid $7,814 on two parcels located three kilometres southeast of Lampman, within the Steelman Frobisher Oil Pool. This is the highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in this area. That area has seen some of the most prolific drilling activity in southeast Saskatchewan in recent years.

Silver Hawk Resources Ltd. bid $161,063, or $167/hectare to pick the lone exploration licence posted in this area. This 966 hectare licence is located 22 kilometres north of Stoughton, near the north end of the Viewfield Bakken Oil Pool.

The first sale of the new 2022-23 fiscal year is scheduled for April 5, 2022, and features 207 leases covering 26,634 hectares and one exploration licence covering 812 hectares.

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

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Posting Date January 31, 2022

Poilievre attended the 2019 Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show. Here’s what he had to say about energy

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK WEYBURN

– On Feb. 5, Ottawa Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre announced that he was “running for prime minister,” his way of saying he was entering the federal Conservative leadership race after the ouster of Erin O’Toole was leader.

It is apparent, now, that he’s been laying the groundwork for this run for quite some time. In 2019, he attended the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show in Weyburn, and took the stage briefly, something uncommon for an Ontario member of Parliament. He was joined at the time by Quebec MP Gerard Deltell, member of Parliament for Louis-Saint-Laurent, who also addressed the crowd.

Asked why he was present, Poilievre replied, “to show Ontario’s strong support for the Western energy sector.

“Trudeau has created the unfortunate sense in Western Canada that people out here all alone. I’m here to tell them that that’s not true. Ontarians strongly support pipeline construction, to get world prices for Canadian oil, and to sell Canadian energy to Canadian consumers. So, I wanted to be here today to support the strong vibrant, world-class energy sector that has helped build Canada’s national economy.”

Did Poilievre, at the time, see any possibility of the Energy East Pipeline being revived?

“Well, the proposed Energy East would have run right through my riding, and I made no bones about my support for that project. Trudeau killed it. Andrew Scheer is now proposing an east-west energy corridor, which would connect Canadian energy with Canadian consumers and get our energy to tidewaters. He believes that corridor would clear a right-of-way so that business could build and jobs could be created. That would be a triple win, a win for eastern (and) western energy workers, eastern refinery workers and Ontario steel workers. It would also allow Quebec and Manitoba to sell their abundant and clean hydro electricity to other provinces at low prices,” he said.

In Western Canada, particularly Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the TC Energy mainline, TransCanada Highway, and Canadian Pacific Mainline all fall within a relatively close corridor that’s perhaps 30 kilometres wide at places, and often less. Asked about this, Poilievre said, “It would depend on the consultation with business, First Nations and customers. You have to connect where the energy is to where it can be bought. So what Scheer’s proposing is a focused consultation to determine a right-ofway passage, get the regulatory approvals out of the way, and then let business, with private money, decide what to build, and how.”

The environmental assessments would be done in advance, allowing projects to go ahead unimpeded by that hurdle. “Exactly,” Poilievre said. “It can combine all the environmental assessments into one single process, and then clear the regulatory right-of-way, so that business can build with private money.”

He said he wasn’t in a position to say how long it would take, “But I know that time is of the essence. We can’t afford to waste any more time.

Regarding Bill C-69, the Impacts Assessment Act, which has since passed, Poilievre said, “It’s a terrible bill. Our goal should be to kill Bill C 69. Amendments are not. You know, anything that that waters down the bill is an improvement over the bill itself, but still, our goal should be to kill it.”

The same should have applied to Bill C-48, the tanker ban bill, he said.

In the six months preceding the oil show, held in June of 2019, there had been more activism in the oilpatch against the federal government’s energy policies than in the previous decade, combined. People who generally never protest anything were taking part in protest convoys. Asked about that, Poilievre said, “Well, it’s time the energy sector fought back. You know, quite frankly, for the longest time, the energy sector believed it could just sit back and stay out of politics. The lesson of the last three years is that if you don’t take an interest in politics, politics will take an interest in you.”

For a sturdy chore board, here's what you need:

—

1 piece of white foam board, cut in a rectangle thatís 18 inches wide by 9 inches long — 6 adhesive-backed plastic hooks — 6 metal rings (available at office stores)

A Family Chore Chart That Gets the Jobs Done

— Several plain index cards, cut in 1-inch-by-5-inch strips with a hole punched at the top of each strip (one strip for each child for each chore and privilege).

— Markers and ruler

Make it in three easy steps:

With a marker, print the chores across the top of the board. Draw vertical lines down the board to separate the categories.

Whose turn is it to do dishes? You'll always know with this easy homemade chore chart.

Most chore charts — the ones where the days of the week run across the top and the chores are listed down one side — don't take into account that family days are unpredictable! What if no one's home for dinner because of a basketball game? Does one child get to skip her turn doing dishes? Or does she have to do it the next night, thereby throwing off the whole chart? See what I mean?

So here's a new plan that really gets the jobs done — unless you have a gremlin in the house. (I'll explain later.) Discuss with your kids the basic chores that need to be done in your home. Five or six jobs is a good number for starters. You might want to add a category for the most-sought-after privilege. In our house each of the kids ALWAYS wants to sit in the front seat of the car.

Under each chore, attach a hook. Let your kids each print their name on their own six strips, then have them loop their strips on each ring and hang on each hook.

Explain that the person whose name appears on top of the ring is "up" for the task/privilege in the category. When she completes the job, she gets to flip her name over so that the next child's name appears. Now it's his turn!

As for the gremlins? Well, it can happen that a name is mysteriously missing from one loop (washing dishes) and is subsequently found twice in another (gets to choose any dessert). So suddenly someone's saying, "Hey! When's the last time Amelia had sink duty?"

Nothing's perfect. Mostly, though, this chore chart works like a charm. Because not only is the method clear and fair, but the kids are involved in the process. ***

How to plan a hassle-free Valentine’s Day meal

Do you and your sweetheart want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic dinner? If so, consider keeping things simple by choosing one of the following options.

• Cater the meal. If you hire a caterer for Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy a decadent, freshly prepared dinner without having to leave the comfort of your own home.

• Go to a restaurant. Take a break from cooking by enjoying your Valentine’s

Day dinner at a restaurant. If you prefer not to go out, order a meal for pick up or delivery instead.

• Order a meal kit. You can choose a ready-made meal that simply needs to be reheated or have fun cooking a recipe that comes in a kit.

Since other couples will likely have the same idea as you, make sure you reserve your table or order your meal in advance.

A long-distance Valentine’s Day: 3 ways to celebrate

If you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a sweetheart who lives faraway, you’ll need to do a little planning. Here are three ideas to help you organize a memorable date.

1. SHARE A VIRTUAL MEAL

Choose a meal you both love and cook it together over your preferred video chat application. Decorate your tables the same way, then sit down to enjoy a romantic dinner for two.

2. WATCH A MOVIE TOGETHER

Curl up on the couch and enjoy some snacks while you and your valentine down-

load or stream the same movie. You can experience it together in real time by text, phone or video chat.

3. GIVE A WEARABLE GIFT

Send your valentine a gift they can wear such as jewelry, a watch, a sweater or a scarf. When your sweetheart wears the item, they’re likely to think of you.

Keep in mind, Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to show your love interest who lives far away how much you care. To find the perfect gift, visit the shops in your area.

Do you want your sweetheart to have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day? If you’d like to plan a memorable experience, here are four unique ideas to consider.

1. ROCK CLIMBING

Get your valentine’s blood racing by taking them rock climbing. This activity requires trust and communication, so it can be the perfect way to bond. Follow up with a smoothie or casual lunch.

2. ROLLER OR ICE SKATING

Enjoy gliding along hand in hand at your local ice or roller rink. Some places allow you to rent skates if you don’t have your own. Consider finishing your date with an ice cream sundae or a cup of hot cocoa.

3. AXE THROWING

Awaken your sweetheart’s inner lumberjack by taking them axe throwing. Learn different techniques from a coach and set high scores while having fun together.

4. SIMULATION EXPERIENCE

Do you dream of flying a plane or driving a race car? Are you and your valentine adrenaline junkies? If so, you may want to book a ride in a simulation machine. You can experience what it’s like to fly a plane or drive a car in a Formula 1 race.

To find a unique activity for Valentine’s Day, look into the options available in your area.

Do you want to spoil your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day? If so, here are five great reasons to surprise them with jewelry.

1. IT’S DURABLE

Jewelry lasts much longer than flowers or chocolates. Make sure you choose a metal that doesn’t tarnish, such as gold, to ensure the piece will look beautiful for years to come.

2. IT’S COMPACT

The best gifts come in small packages, and your sweetheart is sure to be excited to open their present. In addition, the compact size of jewelry makes it a gift that’s easy to hide until the big day so it can be a surprise.

3. IT CAN BE PERSONALIZED

Jewelry is easy to customize. For example, you can choose a gold locket, bracelet or ring and have a meaningful word or date engraved on the inside.

4. IT’S WEARABLE

If you carefully select the piece of jewelry, your partner is likely wear it every day. This can help them feel connected to you even when the two of you are apart.

5. IT’S SYMBOLIC

The shape and colour of the jewelry you choose can hold a deeper meaning. For example, heart-shaped earrings and classic infinity necklaces are timeless symbols of love.

To find the perfect gift for your valentine, visit the jewelry stores in your area.

FREE groceries through the

Program

We are excited to tell you about a new program in Kindersley called FoodMesh, a collaboration between Kindersley Christian Fellowship and Buy-Low Foods. This program makes free groceries available to individuals in need by collecting surplus food and groceries from local stores.

Please see the details below on how you can access this program and get free groceries. Everyone is welcome and this program is operating every week.

When: Every week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Location: Christian Fellowship Church (East Door) 800 - 12th Ave. E., Kindersley, SK

Please bring a grocery bag or box with you.

For more information, please contact Kindersley Christian Fellowship at 306-463-6146 or Barb at 306-460-9304.

“The

Best Little Drycleaners Close To Home”

Mike & Arlene Hankewich

OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM 600 Main Street, Kindersley • 306-463-2464

CENTRE

Our Hours are:

Monday 11 AM - 6 PM

Tuesday 11 AM - 6 PM Wednesday 11 AM - 6 PM

Some stores may differ in hours. Our Hours Are: Monday 10 AM - 6 PM Tuesday 10 AM - 6 PM

10 AM - 6 PM

10 AM - 6 PM Thursday 10 AM - 7 PM

306-463-6076 608 - 12th Ave. E.

Our Hours are:

• PIZZA HUT • MINISTRY OF CENTRAL SERVICES

CLOSED Some stores may differ in hours. • BUY-LOW FOODS • COOPERATORS INSURANCE • DOLLARAMA • LABELLE BOUTIQUE • MARSOLLIER PETROLEUM • PEAVEY MART

11 AM - 6 PM

Monday 11 AM - 6 PM Tuesday 11 AM - 6 PM Wednesday 11 AM - 6 PM Thursday 11 AM - 7 PM

• THE SHARPER IMAGE • WAREHOUSE ONE

Thursday 11 AM - 7 PM Friday 11 AM - 6 PM Saturday 11 AM - 6 PM Sunday CLOSED Some stores may differ in hours. 306-463-6076 608 - 12th Ave. E.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

* If you store nail polish in the fridge, it will dry more quickly and last longer.

* “In cold winter months, keep your robe (and slippers or whatever else) under the covers with you when you sleep. Pull it next to or over you a few minutes before you get up. It’ll be toasty and will help make the transition into the cold a little less harsh.” -- G.G. in New York

* As tax time draws ever closer, try taping a large manila envelope to the fridge, leaving the top open. Immediately place all tax-related forms and receipts in the envelope as they come in. This way, when you are ready to start your taxes, all items will be together and easy to find.

* “To help moisten really dry feet, slather on lotion, wrap feet in plastic wrap, then slip on some socks overnight -- or for as long as you can stand it.” -- B.H. in Michigan

* “My no-iron tip: I toss the wrinkly garment into the dryer for about five to 10 minutes with a damp washcloth, and it steams most wrinkles out. It won’t look starched and pressed, but it’s good enough for casual wear or running-late mornings. I haven’t ironed in years.” -- E.W. in Florida

* Don’t forget to clean your washing machine every so often by running it on the highest-temperature cycle empty after adding a gallon of vinegar. This will clean out the hoses and get rid of stuck-on detergents.

* To remove soot from your carpet, sprinkle it with salt, let sit and then vacuum. Repeat as many times as necessary to remove all traces.