The Weekly Bean - January 22, 2026 by yourwestcentral

EEKLY

An appreciation dinner was held on January 20th for the volunteers who regularly help at Kindersley FoodMesh every week. Several volunteers were unable to attend, but this group enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Kelly Skappak.

These volunteers love serving their community

BY JOAN JANZEN

An appreciation dinner was held on Tuesday, January 20th in honour of the more than two dozen volunteers who help make the Kindersley FoodMesh program possible. They are the hands and feet that collect, sort and distribute the food throughout each week.

Everyone gathered together in the gym at Kindersley Christian Fellowship to enjoy a delicious meal catered by Kelly Skappak. Pastors Dana and Marge Bailey expressed their appreciation for all the work the volunteers do.

Several of the volunteers briefly spoke

about the program. Not only do they enjoy giving back to the community, but they love having fun while they’re doing it. One volunteer appreciated the fact that everyone can come in and choose the food they need for themselves and their families.

I have been volunteering at FoodMesh for several years, and it has been a very rewarding experience. It’s also an opportunity to connect with all the people who come through the doors, who I may otherwise never have met.

The end result is a total of 126,500 pounds of food was rescued and distributed at Kindersley FoodMesh in 2025.

PHOTO BY MARGE BAILEY

It Takes a Village

~ It’s not a baby boom, but it’s a start: Lara Bussi Trabucco is the first baby to have been born in the tiny rural Italian town of Pagliara dei Marsi in almost 30 years, The Guardian reported on Dec. 26. Lara’s arrival bumped the village’s population to roughly 20. “Pagliara dei Marsi has been suffering from drastic depopulation, exacerbated by the loss of many elderly people, without any generational turnover,” said Mayor Giuseppina Perozzi. Lara’s mother, Cinzia Trabucco, 42, lived in Rome for years before moving to her grandfather’s hometown for a quieter lifestyle. Birth rates in Italy have been falling for 16 years, reaching a record low in 2024, per the country’s statistics agency. Government incentives and “baby bonuses” can only do so much, leaving parents and communities struggling as nurseries, schools and even maternity wards close down. In this landscape, little Lara has become a symbol of hope -- and a tourist attraction, says her mom: “People who didn’t even know Pagliara dei Marsi existed have come, only because they had heard about Lara. At just 9 months old, she’s famous.”

News to Bear

~ Ken Johnson has been living with a 550-pound black bear under his home in Altadena, California, since November, reported Fox 12 Oregon on Dec. 22. After weeks of attempting to scare the ursine squatter off with loud noises and fake dog barks, Johnson got

a little help from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which set up a cage trap near the crawl space and sprayed it with caramel and cherry scents to lure the bear inside. In a classic case of “good news, bad news,” the cage was successful, in that it captured a bear, but unsuccessful, in that it was not THE bear, but rather a different bear that had wandered onto Johnson’s property. That bear was relocated and released, but Johnson’s unwanted guest remains. “I thought this would be over by now,” Johnson said. “It’s still going on, and there’s no sign of him leaving.”

Dude, Where’s My Seafood?

~ The FBI is on the case of a $400,000 shipment of lobsters that has gone missing, Boston.com reported on Dec. 30. The truck and its valuable cargo disappeared somewhere between its departure point at a warehouse in Taunton, Massachusetts, and its destinations at Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota. “It followed a pattern we’re seeing more and more,” said Dylan Rexing, president and CEO of Rexing Companies, “where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers using spoofed emails and burner phones to hijack high-value freight while it’s in transit.” U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement estimates that the U.S. economy loses $15-35 billion annually to cargo theft, with high-value items like pharmaceuticals, electronics and alcohol among the most frequent targets.

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ALSASK

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

• Cornhole Tournament at the Alsask Rec Centre 6 PM start. Call Wonona 306-460-4489 to register or for more info.

EATONIA

- Every Thursday from 11:30 AM -1:30 PM come to the Eatonia Library for puzzles, visiting and grab your books for the week!

- Check out our TOPS Chapter … it’s free to try! Every Wednesday. Weigh in: 5:45 PM. Meeting: 6:00 PM at Corcoran Place. Contact Cora Knuttila 306-460-9047.

- The Lions Club meets on the last Tuesday of each month.

- The Rec Board meets the second Monday of each month 7:00 PM at the Town Office.

- Town Council meet the second Tuesday of each month 7:00 PM at the Town Office.

ESTON

- Wheatland Centre Potluck Supper fourth Friday of each month 6:00 PM. $5.00. Bring your own utensils. Coffee & tea provided.

- Wheatland Centre Bingo - 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00 PM. Regular Bingo plus Bonanza, 50/50 Draw. Must be 14 years of age. Call 306-962-7117 (ask for Linda) for more info.

- Every Monday - Adult Exercise Program 10:0011:00 AM at the AGT Community Centre

- Make sure to check the AGT Community Centre recreation calendar on eston.ca for ice schedule.

- Drop in Bowling Sundays 1:00-4:00 PM. $5 bowling. No need to book, just drop in.

HOOSIER

- Sunday Service Hoosier Community Church 10:30 am at the Community Hall. Contact Joel Hamm 306-460-7056 or Curtis Kornelson 306460-7327.

KERROBERT

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

• Kerrobert, Luseland & District (KLD) Wellness Foundation Annual General Meeting 7 PM Town of Kerrobert Council Chambers (433 Manitoba Ave.)

- MS Support Group at Kerrobert Health Centre Meeting Room every 3rd Saturday 2:004:00 PM. Contact Gail Wiebe for more information 306-834-7068.

- Walk This Way Group Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30-11:30 AM

- Walk This Way with Lao Thursdays at the PCC from 9:30-10:30 AM. Everyone is welcome and it’s FREE.

- Shuffle Club Mondays at the PCC 1:30-3:00 PM

- Winter Wear Drive ongoing until March. Drop off at the Seniors Hall Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30-11:00 AM. Contact Yvonne at 306-834-8292 if you need an item.

- Make sure to check the Kerrobert Memorial Arena schedule for upcoming games.

KINDERSLEY

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24

• Kindersley Screen Arts presents “Deliver Me From Nowhere” (Bruce Springsteen) 4 PM Sunset Theatre. $10 cash at the door. Wine & Beer available for purchase.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5

• Kindersley and District Arts Council presents: Americana/Alternative Country Artist Kyle McKearney 7:30 PM Norman Ritchie Community Arts Centre.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

• Kindersley Wildlife Federation Awards Banquet at the Elks Hall. Door Prizes, Raffle Prizes, Silent Auction. For tickets / info call Ray 306-831-9920 or Lori 306-460-7638.

EASY PLAY & SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

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306-463-6707 • 807 - 9th St. W., KINDERSLEY, SK

- Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month 1:30 PM at 401 - 4th Ave West (New Life Church). Everyone welcome! For more info call Nancy at 306-4634514.

- Monday Night Jam Sessions at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre. Doors open at 6:30 to set-up, then the fun begins at 7-11 PM. Call Keith 306-460-8633.

- Interested in a support group for weight management? TOPS meetings; every Monday at 6:00 PM in the Kindersley Senior Centre OR contact Jill at 306-463-4210.

- Pickleball meets Sunday & Wednesday evenings 7:00 PM at Elizabeth School for the indoor season. Cost is $50 for the season or $5 drop in. Our club is a part of Pathway To Wellness. More info call Teresa Knight 306460-7304.

- Fit Fighter Group Class. Helping individuals with Parkinson Disease, Fibromyalgia, MS, Arthritis and mobility issues. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00 PM at Anytime Fitness. Call Karen 463-3607 for more info.

- 365 Kindersley Air Cadets meet Thursday evenings at the Kindersley Museum. No charge to be a member, youth ages 12-18, must be a Canadian resident. Contact Ian Kehrer via text at 306-460-0057 or Sheila Kehrer via text 306604-9044. Come Fly With Us!

• Every Tuesday: Community Badminton 6:30 - 9:00 PM at Westberry School. Everybody welcome.

LEADER

- Make sure to check out the G3 Iceplex Arena Schedule online at leader.ca

- Community Walking Club Monday - Thursday 7:00-8:00 PM at Leader Composite School (Use student parking lot door). You must pre-register at the Town Office.

KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 300 W. STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY

Welcome Home!

SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT.

Are you new to Kindersley? Would you like the Welcome Wagon to visit your home?

Contact Marge Bailey with Better Together at 306-500-1173

#12345_20260119

RELEASE JAN. 19, 2026

Jackson

Credit: Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Caption: Abigail Spencer in “Timeless”

Celebrity EXTRA

Q:Who plays the woman who ended her engagement to the sheriff on the new show “Best Medicine”? Was she on “Schitt’s Creek”? — D.D.

A:Abigail Spencer plays Louisa Gavin on the new Fox series “Best Medicine,” which is based on the long-running British comedy “Doc Martin.” She’s been a regular on many shows over the years. Her first television role was as Becca on the daytime soap “All My Children.” She also played a young Sally Draper’s schoolteacher on season three of “Mad Men” before landing main character roles on shows like “Rectify” and “Timeless.” In addition, Spencer has recurred on “Suits” and “Grey’s Anatomy” and co-starred alongside Jon Cryer in the short-lived NBC sitcom “Extended Family.”

Q:Is there going to be a sequel to the movie “Sinners”? I heard there wasn’t, but I can imagine that the studio would want to make more money. — F.B.

A:Never say never, but the film’s writer-director Ryan Coogler states that he has no interest in making a sequel to “Sinners.” In fact, he made the movie in order to get away from directing franchise films. He achieved huge box-office success with Marvel’s “Black Panther” and its sequel, as well as all three “Creed” films. He told Ebony magazine last year that with “Sinners,” he was “looking forward to working on a film that felt original, focusing on originality rather than building a series.”

“Sinners” recently won a Golden Globe for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, a newer award category that recognizes popular films. The unique period drama/horror film earned over $360 million at box offices worldwide. Undoubtedly, Warner Bros. Pictures is pro-sequel, but it’s ultimately up to Coogler. According to MSN, Coogler secured the rights to his movie, “meaning that ownership of the film will revert back to him 25 years in the future.”

***

When is “NCIS” coming back with new episodes? It seems

By Dana Jackson

like these holiday breaks are getting longer and longer. — S.D.

A:According to TVLine, “NCIS,” “NCIS: Origins” and “NCIS: Sydney” will all return to CBS with new episodes beginning Tuesday, March 3. They were supposed to resume their current seasons a week earlier but have been postponed due to President Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress in February.

Emily Wickersham will return to “NCIS” as Ellie Bishop — but just for one episode. The actress has been taking a sabbatical from Hollywood since she left “NCIS” eight years ago — that is, until she popped up on the winter finale in December. Since her departure in 2018, she wed actor James Badge Dale (“Hightown”) and welcomed two children, both boys, into their family.

Showrunner Steven D. Binder told TVLine that Ellie is not the same person she was years prior, and she’s been away on a dangerous mission that has affected her deeply. Look for her brief return to kick off a new story arc for “NCIS” this spring.

Abigail Spencer in “Timeless”

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Carol Taylor

• 1 1/2 cups sweet bell peppers (red, yellow and green), seeded and chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 teaspoons ground cumin (substitute with 1 1/2 teaspoons taco seasoning if you prefer)

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• Salt to taste

• Shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese for garnish

Photo by Amy Anderson

Warm up on Super Bowl Sunday with White Chili

Good Fortune (Cookies) Ahead

Combine all ingredients except cheese in a standard slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

cookie turns a light brown color. While you wait, let your kids be “writers” and compose lines for 21/2 by 1/2-inch strips of paper. When the cookie is done, an adult should remove it from the oven. Quickly loosen cookie with a spatula and place on a clean kitchen towel. Set a fortune strip across the center with an end hanging out the side. Wearing potholders, fold the cookie in half to make a semi circle with the curved edge upward. Press edge together for a few seconds until it seals.

Don’t put away your holiday baking supplies yet. Start 2026 with your own homemade fortune cookies complete with a special message or prediction hidden inside. They’re fun party favors for a New Year’s celebration or a unique dessert for a weekend meal.

Find winter’s warmth in a big bowl of easyto-prepare white chicken chili. This irresistible recipe is a hearty meal, and I can assure you that it will warm up tummies after an afternoon of sledding or satisfy appetites at a family Super Bowl LX party on Sunday, Feb. 8. Prepare it in a big pot in less than an hour on your stove, or better yet, let it cook for a few hours in a slow cooker so that it’s conveniently piping hot whenever you’re ready to eat.

For 6-8 cookies, you will need:

1/4 cup flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Let kids get involved in prep work that is appropriate for their age and skills. If the older junior chefs in the family have never peeled and chopped fresh garlic, show them how to mince it properly with a sharp knife. They can also take care of chopping the bell peppers and shredding the cheese for the garnish.

1 egg white at room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 teaspoon water

Younger kids can shred chunks of chicken or turkey with their hands and pour the beans in a colander to drain.You can get out your measuring spoons and let them accurately measure the herbs and spices, too. Here’s what you’ll need for 6 servings:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

• 2 15-ounce cans of great northern or pinto beans, drained

In medium bowl, combine sifted flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt. Stir in oil. Add egg white, vanilla and water and stir until smooth.

• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth

• 3 cups of cooked, shredded chicken or turkey (Save time and pick up ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken at your local market.)

Pour 1 tablespoon of the batter onto a greased baking sheet. Spread with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to form a 3-4 inch circle. Make 2 more rounds of dough on the sheet, although I suggest you bake one at a time at first until you get the hang of the folding technique which follows.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, bring the broth, peppers, garlic and seasonings to a simmer in a saucepan on your stove. Cook until peppers are tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans and meat. Simmer for 10-20 minutes. Ladle in bowls and garnish with the cheese. For variation, add crushed tortilla chips, if you wish. Serve with slices of French bread.

While the cookie is still pliable, immediately grasp the pointed ends of cookie with both hands and pull them together to crease. At this point it should be cool enough for your child to hold in place for about 20-30 sec-

Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson. com.

onds until the cookie is crisp and keeps

Set cookies in mini muffin tins to hold their shape until completely cool.

TIPS: Use 1/3 cup batter for each cookie and bake for 2-3 minutes longer to create giant fortune cookies.

Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun.

Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com.

Bake about 10-12 minutes or until

* On Feb. 2, 1925, musher Gunnar Kaasen and his 13 dogs successfully delivered an antitoxin serum to Nome, Alaska, which was dealing with a widespread diptheria outbreak, in a relay spanning 674 miles in five and a half days and in temperatures as low as 85 degrees below zero.

* On Feb. 3, 1780, Barnett Davenport murdered Caleb Mallory, in whose house he was a boarder, along with Mallory’s wife, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, in their home. One of post-Revolution America’s most famous crimes, it contributed to a change in the way the country viewed lawbreakers.

* On Feb. 4, 1703, 47 samurai were forced to display the ultimate act of loyalty to the regional Japanese lord they had followed by committing seppuku -- ritually disemboweling themselves -for the crime of killing the official who had ordered the forced suicide of said lord.

* On Feb. 5, 2003, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a speech to the United Nations outlining America’s case that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and making an argument for the invasion that would take place the following month. Unfortunate -

ly, some of his talking points were either incorrect or misleading, and Powell later described the speech as a blot on his record.

* On Feb. 6, 1998, a judge reinstated schoolteacher Mary Kay Letourneau’s suspended sentence and returned her to prison for seven years after she was caught violating a no-contact order with her former student, Vili Fualaau, when she was found in a parked car with the boy.

* On Feb. 7, 1984, Navy captain Bruce McCandless II became the first human to perform an untethered spacewalk while in orbit 170 miles above the earth, maneuvering freely with a jet pack of his own design after exiting the Challenger space shuttle.

* On Feb. 8, 1994, actor Jack Nicholson approached Robert Blank’s car while they were stopped at a red light in North Hollywood, accused Blank of cutting him off in traffic, and then bashed Blank’s roof and windshield with a golf club. Charges were dropped after Nicholson apologized and the two reached an undisclosed settlement that included a reported $500,000 check from Nicholson.

Manage your health, mobility or begin your Wellness Journey in a safe and monitored environment or join a class all led by our Exercise Therapist!

PROGRAMS

1:1 APPOINTMENTS AQUAFIT

ADULT/CHILD POOL TIME SNOWSHOEING SKATING PICKLEBALL

WELLNESS PROGRAMS

My 21-year-old daughter called me up the other day, concerned about what she’d been seeing on the news. ICE agents in the US with their faces hidden by masks are sweeping into communities and dragging people off.

She felt it was reminiscent of the German Gestapo.

And she’s not wrong.

“We’re living in 1938,” I said.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, I opened up CNN. Here’s the lead story:

President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States will impose new tariffs on several European countries unless a deal is reached for the purchase of Greenland, escalating his long-running push for US control of the Arctic territory.

Trump said Saturday he will impose a 10% tariff on “on any and all goods” from Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other countries starting February 1, increasing to 25% on June 1, until an agreement is reached.

“We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back World Peace is at stake!”

Trump argued that Greenland is central to US and global security and said Denmark’s defenses were insufficient, warning that the nations deploying small numbers of military personnel to Greenland amounted to “a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet.”

Here’s Trump’s post on his own social network, Truth Social.

Does anyone not hear the echoes of 1938, where nations seized neighbours? The Anschluss Hitler imposed on Austria? And then the Sudetenland, when Hitler took over a good chunk of Czechoslovakia, because that’s where “German-speakers” lived? After that it was the rest of Czechoslovakia, and then Poland. And that’s when we, in Canada, went to war.

In 2022, we heard that echo, when Russia invaded the rest of Ukraine, after its 2014 invasion of the

Donbas area were “Russian-speakers” lived. That was Putin’s justification.

I’ve been following military affairs and geopolitics since I was 12, during the height of the Cold War. I served seven years as a commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces as a reservist, from 200108, mustering out as a lieutenant. I may have been the lowliest form of an officer, as a cadet instructor, but I did indeed serve. And my enrollment paperwork showed up one day before the World Trade Centre fell down.

I’m now 50. In my entire life, I have never, ever heard of the Canadian military seeking to add 300,000 reservists, and yet now this is being seriously discussed. There’s already an order in the works for that many rifles.

Why? What for? Who are we going to fight? And most importantly, why?

If we didn’t need them during the Cold War, why do we need them now?

Are they going to take up arms against Russia in Europe? China in Taiwan? Or the United States in Greenland? Or on our own 49th parallel, to prevent us becoming the 51st state?

Remember the first eight months or so of his current term, President Trump wouldn’t shut up about making us the 51st state. Every argument he is currently applying to Greenland you could easily substitute Canada.

Let’s try that, from the above story:

“Trump argued that Canada is central to US and global security and said Canada’s defenses were insufficient, warning that the nations deploying small numbers of military personnel to Canada amounted to “a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet.”

It’s like that sketch from the British comedy show That Mitchell and Webb Look, which Knowyourmeme. com says, “two men play Nazis who realize they’re the “bad guys” of World War II. The line has been used as a reaction image to situations where a person who identifies with a cause or group realizes their aims may not be good.”

Democrat lawmakers, all having previously served in the US armed forces or intelligence services, made a video in November telling current members not to follow illegal orders. the current Secretary of War (no longer Secretary of Defence) Pete Hegseth had a conniption and moved to demote and possibly court martial Sen. Mark Kelly, retired US Navy captain and astronaut, even though he is long retired.

Let me make that clear – American lawmakers are telling their own soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and guardians, whom they served among, not to be the baddies, and the Secretary of War moved to punish them? And Trump said it was “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOUR, PUNISHABLE BY DEATH!”

This is not Trump Derangement Syndrome. This actually happened in recent weeks.

The National Post noted last April 25, “Less than one per cent of students rank the Canadian Forces as their top career choice.” There is no way Canada will add 300,000 people to their reserves without a draft. And I have an 18 year old son and 21 year old daughter. Both military age, both former senior air cadets.

Let us remember in our progressive 21st century, if there’s going to be a draft, both men and women should expect to be called up. That means your daughters, too.

Think about that for a minute.

There’s no way to add that 300,000 without your daughters, too.

Even though I, and my wife, were both commissioned officers in the reserves, do I want our kids drafted for some foreign war? Over what?

My late grandfather’s brother, Steve, was drafted into either Russian or Polish service over 100 years ago (most likely Russian). I don’t know which, but there was a little-known war between Poland and Russia in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution which saw both Kyiv and Warsaw change hands. Steve Zinchuk spent a year in jail because he refused to serve. When he was threatened with five more years in jail, he went and served.

As I write this, I just today realized that the area he grew up in, western Ukraine, would have seen battle. It was where the family was evacuated from during the Great War, only to return by foot some 1,500 kilometres during which much of his family died from the Spanish flu and God knows what else. Born in 1917, Harry would have grown up in an area that still would have had the detritus of war all around – from trenches to graves, rusted rifles and artillery shrapnel. Running a plow through a field, you might have been as likely to pull up bones as you would rocks.

As soon as they were able, in 1930, the Zinchuks got the hell out of there and emigrated to Canada.

They could do this because they were in Polish-occupied Ukraine. A few years later, on the Russian side of the border, Stalin soon decided Ukrainians didn’t need food, and something like six to 10 million Ukrainians died in the Holodomor.

This very much clouded my grandfather Harry’s view of the military. Harry was called up three times during the Second World War, but because he was the only son on the farm, with elderly parents, someone needed to keep the farm going, and he was left to remain.

Harry used to say to me, “Brian, why would you want to go and stop a bullet?” As a young man, full of patriotic bluster, I replied I would die for my country.

Now, with years of reflection and perhaps some wisdom, I see much more deeply the meaning behind his words. And I tell my own kids, “Why would you want to go and stop a bullet?”

Canadians need to wake up. The drumbeats of war are beating louder by the day, and your kids could be swept up in it. Chinese President Xi, the same one Prime Minister Mark Carney just signed a trade deal with a few days ago, famously warned his army to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Trump just grabbed the president of Venezuela and said the US now runs the place. In the same news conference he threatened Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. Now he’s amping up the Greenland rhetoric against an ally, no less.

In George Orwell’s prophetic book 1984, there’s continual ongoing war between three world powers – Oceania (Americas, British Isles, Australasia, Southern Africa), Eurasia (Europe & Northern Asia), and Eastasia (China, Japan, South Asia). Partway through the book, the enemy of Oceania switches, war continues, and no one seems to notice.

Our real world is now shaping up like this – U.S., Russia and China. We trade right now with China, but are preparing for possible war against them.

Open your eyes. Be aware of what’s happening. We are living in 1938 all over again. And we all know what happened in 1939.

If you disagree with me, I fully expect you to have the courage of your convictions and will take your 18 or 21 year-old son or daughter down to the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre and sign them up to be one of the 300,000. It’s at 1783 Hamilton St, Regina. Their hours are 8-4, Monday to Friday.

But before you do, ask yourself this:

Do you want to send your kid to “go stop a bullet?”

Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca

ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

Although you’re getting kudos and other positive reactions to your suggestions, don’t let the cheers drown out some valid criticisms. It’s better to deal with them now rather than later.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Following your keen Bovine intuition pays off as you not only reassess the suggestions that some people are putting in front of you but also their agendas for doing so.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You continue on a high-enthusiasm cycle as a new project that you’ve assumed takes shape. You’re also buoyed by the anticipation of receiving some good news about a personal matter.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your eagerness to immerse yourself in your new assignment is understandable. But be careful that you don’t forget to take care of a pressing personal situation as well.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) This is a good time to learn a new skill that could give the clever Cat an edge in an upcoming competition for workplace opportunities. On another note, enjoy the arts this weekend with someone special.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) You could risk creating an impasse if you insist on expecting more from others than they’re prepared to give. Showing flexibility in what you’ll accept could prevent a stalemate.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Although you can weigh all the

factors of a dispute to find an agreeable solution for others, you might need the skilled input of someone you trust to help you deal with an ongoing situation.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The good news is that your brief period of self-doubt turns into a positive “I can do anything” attitude by midweek. The better news is that you’ll soon be able to prove it.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is a good time for Sagittarians to start making travel plans while you can still select from a wide menu of choices and deals — and not be forced to settle for leftovers.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Like your zodiac sign, the sure-footed Goat, you won’t allow obstacles in your path to keep you from reaching your goal. Don’t be surprised by who asks to tag along with you.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Let your head dominate over your heart as you consider the risks that might be involved in agreeing to be a friend’s co-signer or otherwise acting as their backup in a financial matter.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Resolve to close the door and let your voicemail take your phone calls while you finish up a task before the end-ofweek deadline. Then go out and enjoy a fun-filled weekend!

BORN THIS WEEK: Your capacity for care and compassion helps bring comfort to others. You could serve as a reliable foundation to many.

Owens & Sweitzer (1972) Ltd., in Eston, Saskatchewan is looking to fill the following positions:

Parts Service Supervisor

This is a full-time permanent position, 40 hours per week. Salary is $30/hr

Duties may include but not limited to:

• Oversee operational logistics of the organization

• Plan and organize operational logistics of the organization

• Co-ordinate activities with other work units of departments

• Prepare and submit reports

• Ensure smooth operation of computer equipment and machinery

• Arrange for maintenance and repair work

• Resolve work problems, provide technical advice and recommend measures to improve productivity and product quality

• Arrange training for staff

• Requisition or order materials, equipment and supplies

Marketing Director / I.T. Person

This position is a permanent position that could be considered on a full-time, part-time or flexible schedule pending the individual and agreed duties scheduled. Base salary starts at $22/hr with additional salary dependent on experience and duties that the individual can take on. Owens & Sweitzer offers a comprehensive benefits package and pension program.

Apply in person with resume to Cordell Goheen. 124 Railway Ave. Eston, SK • 306-962-3637 cordell@owensandsweitzer.com

* The Statue of Liberty was originally brown.

* Parrotfish are among the sleepiest of sea creatures, averaging around a good 13 hours of rest per night. When not dozing, they spend as much as 90% of their time eating algae that grows on coral reefs.

* Reindeer eyes change color according to the seasons -- they’re golden in the summer and blue during winter.

* The at symbol was invented more than four centuries before email was.

* The U.S. Postal Service employs a sharp-eyed group of folks whose job is to determine where to send letters and packages with illegible addresses. They work their magic at the USPS Remote Encoding Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, the first facility of its kind and now the only one still standing.

* Just 43 people have been known

to have “golden blood,” the rarest of blood types.

* Pomatoes are potato plants that also grow tomatoes. The hybrid occurs when a tomato plant is grafted onto a potato plant, a relatively easy thing since they’re both members of the solanum genus of the nightshade family.

* LEOnardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper” originally included Jesus’ feet.

* Portland, Oregon, was named in a coin toss in 1845 between Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove when the two couldn’t agree on a suitable moniker for their new land claim.

* Cacti aren’t native to most deserts.

* The human stomach can expand to hold as much as a 2-liter soda bottle, since its inner surface, the mucosa, is lined with folds called rugae that unfold and stretch out to accommodate food as it arrives.

Thought for the Day: “If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience.”

-- Robert Fulghum

The Regal Recipe

A Smarter Muffin for January

to Carry You from Christmas to the New Year

Does last week already feel like a month agBy week three of the new year, my willpower has usually packed a bag and left a note on the counter. The holidays feel long over, my good intentions are still technically alive, and yet my afternoon coffee continues to demand a sweet treat.

At this point in life, I know that white-knuckling my way through cravings has never worked for long. If I don’t plan a healthier treat I actually look forward to, I will default to whatever not-so-great option is closest. Judging by the chorus of agreement from friends and family lately, this isn’t a personal flaw so much as a shared human experience.

After the whirlwind of Christmas cooking, I like to glide into the last week of the year with recipes that practically make themselves. This is the stretch when time feels wobbly, leftovers rule the fridge and we’re all leaning toward lighter meals that don’t require much effort. Let me introduce you to an old classic: Coronation Chicken Salad, the makeahead marvel we all need right now. If you’ve ever enjoyed English tea sandwiches, you’ve likely met this jewel of a recipe. Created in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation luncheon, it has been gracing tea tables and ladies’ luncheons ever since. Think of it as chicken salad that went to finishing school but still knows how to have fun.

So instead of giving up on goodies altogether, I decided to outsmart human nature and create something that feels indulgent, nourishes the body and keeps our best intentions from wandering off.

This is an ideal “between holidays” dish. It can be made ahead, improves overnight and waits patiently in the fridge until hunger strikes.

What makes these muffins work is the combination of sweet potato and applesauce, creating a muffin that’s naturally sweet, deeply moist and satisfying. Instead of relying on flour, this recipe uses oats, which helps slow digestion and keeps blood sugar on an even keel. The result is a treat that feels steady and sustaining, not spiky.

There’s flexibility built right into the recipe so you can use what you have handy. Any orange-fleshed cooked vegetable works

The magic comes from a creamy dressing kissed with curry, a bit of fruit for sweetness, a squeeze of lemon for brightness and toasted almonds for crunch. It’s comforting yet fresh, transforming humble chicken into something fit for a celebration.

Below is the classic version,

chicken is a perfectly acceptable shortcut.

here, including sweet potato, butternut squash or pumpkin. I recommend roasting it to cook off excess moisture and concentrate the flavor.

There’s just a half cup of sweetener in the entire batch. You can reduce it to 1/4 cup if you prefer a less-sweet muffin. It’ll still be delicious.

A note on mango chutney: Many traditional recipes call for Major Grey’s mango chutney. It does add subtle depth, but not enough to justify buying a whole jar for just a few tablespoons, unless you plan to make this often or already enjoy chutney.

CORONATION CHICKEN

The fat is modest, just 1/3 cup, since the batter already has plenty of moisture. A little flax meal adds fiber, omega-3s and antioxidants.

SALAD

Yield: 8 servings

Total Time: 50 minutes

1 1/4 pounds (4 cups) cooked chicken, diced (all breasts or a mix)

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

3/4 cup mayonnaise, plus more as needed

The add-ins are optional but encouraged. Pecans are lovely, but walnuts, almonds or pepitas bring texture. And the streusel topping? Optional, yes, but it’s what gives these muffins that “fancy-pants bakery” feel. A small flourish that makes an everyday muffin feel special.

1/2 cup sour cream or plain unsweetened Greek yogurt

SNEAKY LITTLE SWEET POTATO MUFFINS

1 tablespoon curry powder, plus more to taste

Yield: 12 muffins

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Total Time: 35 minutes

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups quick oats

3/4 cup diced celery

1/2 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour

1/4 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup finely sliced shallots, green onions or scallions (I used a mix)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste

2 teaspoons cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup diced dried apricots and/or dried mango (I used half of each)

1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato (pumpkin or butternut squash)

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Optional - 2 tablespoons mango chutney

2 eggs

1/3 cup coconut oil, or butter, melted, or neutral oil

1/2 cup brown sugar, maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional add-ins: up to 1 cup of pecans, dried cranberries, raisins and/or finely chopped dates

CINNAMON PECAN STREUSEL

1/4 cup white or whole wheat flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

Shred or cut the chicken into small, evenly sized pieces (about 1/2-inch).

In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, curry powder, ginger, lemon juice and sugar. Add celery, onions, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Fold in the chicken, almonds and dried fruit. Add a little more mayo if it looks dry. -

ing: with additional salt and pepper, more curry for warmth, more lemon for zing.

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons coconut oil or softened butter

3 tablespoons chopped pecans

Allow the salad to rest in the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving. The flavors bloom over time, and it keeps beautifully for up to four days.

Serving Ideas:

Heat oven to 350 F. Line or grease a muffin tin.

• Spoon onto crackers for an instant snack.

In a mixing bowl stir together oats, flour, flax, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

• Serve over mixed greens for a lighter lunch.

In another large bowl, whisk together the sweet potato, applesauce, eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients gradually until all are incorporated. Fold in add-ins if using. Divide batter evenly into muffin cups. They’ll be pretty full, that’s alright.

• Serve with basmati rice.

• Make tea sandwiches or mini croissants for a New Year’s brunch board.

• Roll into lettuce cups to balance out a month of cookies.

Make the Streusel: Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, chopped pecans and coconut oil or butter in a medium-size bowl. Top each muffin with a big pinch of streusel.

Bake 18-22 minutes, until set and lightly golden. Cool completely.

Good treats should do more than satisfy cravings. They should nourish the body, comfort the spirit and fit into real life without negotiation or guilt. These muffins manage all three, and that’s no small thing.

As we wrap up one year and step (thankfully) into the next, here’s a recipe that makes it all feel easier. A little sweet, a little savory and a whole lot of comfort. And that, my friends, feels like the right way to start 2026. Happy New Year from Divas On A Dime!

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime — Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.

Kindersley & District CO-OP Kid’s

KID’S CLUB BIRTHDAYS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDS!

BIRTHDAY CAKE VOUCHERS can be picked up at the Kindersley Co-op Food Store Bakery Department.

Korner

Posting Date January 19, 2026

TAX TIPS

STUDENT LOANS

The Canada Student Loans Program provides financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to post-secondary students who demonstrate financial need. In order to prove that they meet the eligibility requirements, the provincial government agency administering the program usually requires the applicant to provide them with information from the previous year’s tax return or authorize the CRA to release the information.

#12345_20260119

RELEASE JANUARY 19, 2026 and Kim Kovel

Paper Valentines

For many of us, receiving paper valentines may be the stuff of school days — a piece of the past. The tradition goes back much further, of course, and wasn’t always just for kids. The first commercial valentines in America were made by Esther Howland in Massachusetts in 1850. They were made with paper lace and featured written verses. Before then, people exchanged homemade valentines. Surviving examples are collected as folk art today.

Happy Valentine’s Day! This cutpaper valentine was made for February 14 over a century ago. Today, it is valued as a piece of folk art.

West Central

CREDIT: Jeffrey Evans & Associates

& Family Support

Programs:

• Mental Health & Addictions

• Family Support (FSW) & Diversion Support

CAPTION: Happy Valentine’s Day! cut-paper valentine was made for over a century ago. Today, it is piece of folk art.

• Family Violence Intervention (FVI)

• Rapid Access Counselling (RAC) for Children Youth/Caregivers

• Rapid Access for Counselling (RAC) for Adults

• Crisis Intervention & Debriefing

• Suicide Intervention & Suicide Impact Supports

• Sexual Assault Victim Support

• Trafficking Intervention

• Family Intervention Rapid Support Teams (FIRST)

• Client Advocacy

• Intimate Partner Violence Intervention

• Court Mandated Supports

The West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre’s mission is to provide support services to individuals and families experiencing trauma, violence, addiction, or crisis in their lives, as well as outreach programs to communities within our boundaries.

105 Colton Drive, Box 2235, Kindersley, SK. S0L1S0 Office Phone: 306.463.6655 Fax: 306.463.6410 crisis@westcentralcrisis.ca www.westcentralcrisis.ca

The one shown here, preserved in a frame with fabric backing, dates to the mid-1800s and sold at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates for $279. It is an example of scherenschnitte (literally “scissor cuts”), a paper-cutting art that originated in Germany and was later brought to America. It was especially popular among the Pennsylvania Dutch. It features hearts, tulips, and birds known as distelfinks (a name for European goldfinches that means “thistle-finch”), all of which were favorite motifs. Scherenschnitte could be made for any festive occasion, or simply as artwork. We know this one must have been a Valentine because it is inscribed with a verse commemorating “the fourteenth day of February.”

* * *

Q:I

am curious about the bronze sculpture my father purchased from an estate sale around 1950. He converted the sculpture into a lamp. The sculpture shows a woman in a draped gown with one hand raised and the other arm outstretched. It is 27 inches high and weighs 26 pounds. I did not find any markings or signatures. Where was it made, when was it made, who was the artist and is there any value?

A:Bronze

sculptures like yours were a common decoration in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. They were often made in the art nouveau style of the time. The most famous were made in France, but some were made in other European countries and the U.S. as well. They were often copies of sculptures by famous artists. Many were made into lamp

bases, like yours. Unmarked bronze sculptures or lamp bases usually sell for about $200. We have not been able to identify its maker, but a book like “The Encyclopedia of Bronzes, Sculptors & Founders” by Harold Berman may help. A library or museum in your area may have a copy.

* * *

TIPS on framing paper documents and prints: No glue, transparent tape, or rubber cement. No scissors — don’t trim anything. No pencils or pens, and don’t try to rewrite an autograph. No staples or clips. No extremes of temperature or humidity. No direct sunlight — it fades the ink.

* * *

CURRENT PRICES

Clothing, bodice, Edwardian, needle lace collar, frilly trim, French knot embroidery, trapunto, bracelet length sleeves, button back, cotton, 1905, 18 inches, $110.

Furniture, chest, hinged lid, twig decorated, robin’s egg blue paint, applied stars and crescent moons, shaped bracket base, 20th century, 23 1/2 x 33 1/2 inches, $450.

Glass-Venetian, lamp, electric, figural, fruit basket, multicolor, turquoise blue base, paper label, Murano, c. 1980, 8 1/2 x 9 inches, pair, $2,065.