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Lacombe Express, February 25, 2016

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COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Lacombe Special Olympics organization continues to make a difference – PG 3

PLAYOFFS: The Blackfalds Wranglers’ season came to an end last week in the playoff rounds – PG 17

MOTIVATION: Lacombe instructor outlines fi tness benefi ts and popularity of indoor cycling – PG 15

DETERMINATION - Bentley General Carter Rigby tries to catch up to Innisfail Eagle Chris Bailer during a playoff game against the Innisfail Eagles at the Lacombe arena last Friday. The Generals tied up the series 2-2 at the following game on Sunday. Game fi ve will be played on Feb. 28th at the Lacombe arena. Sarah Maetche/Lacombe Express

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Lacombe Special Olympics provides athletes opportunityArea participants range in age from 10 to 70 years old

BY ZACHARY CORMIERLACOMBE EXPRESS

Tuesday night may be one of the busiest of the week at the Ambassador

Bowling Centre.The place is packed for a

Tuesday night. About 50 people are gathered around the front fi ve lanes of the 10-lane alley, all craning to make sure they can see the lanes and the 35 bowlers who are doing their best to post a good score. The roar of bowl-ing balls and the clatter of pins fi lls the small establishment in downtown Lacombe.

Suddenly, a cheer goes up from one of the lanes as they cele-brate a strike by one of their competitors, who is grinning from ear to ear as he walks back to his seat, high-fi ving everyone along the way.

“It’s basically the same as any other bowling program,” said Dwayne Campbell, the chair-person of Special Olympics Lacombe Affi liate, whose bowl-ing team practices on Tuesday nights every week in the city.

Campbell said the program is very similar to other youth bowl-ing programs in that the bowlers are organized into eight teams of four to fi ve bowlers who rotate through playing other teams week to week, but there is one key difference.

“One of the key parts with Special Olympics is, really, you compete against yourself,” he said.

Every week the bowlers try to improve their scores from the previous session with the help of a group of volunteer coaches.

“We do go to tournaments and that type of thing, but at the same time the thing is you es-tablish your range for your abili-ty and then you compete against that to try and improve as an individual and advance.”

Lacombe’s Special Olympics program, which is now in its 11th year, allows athletes an op-portunity to get active and com-pete with others at their own level and pace.

“We need to have a recre-ational opportunity for any ath-lete that doesn’t fi t into other community-based programs,” Campbell said.

“Some of them are just here for the fun, they just come and participate each week. Others have a little bit more interest or commitment to improve their performance, so we give them a little bit more coaching and give them the opportunity to be more successful.”

According to Campbell, the Special Olympics program in Lacombe has a very wide variety of participants.

“What we call it is ‘Lacombe and district,’ so we have athletes from Mirror, Ponoka, Lacombe, Blackfalds. We used to have a few from the west country; Bentley, Rimbey. Our athletes range from 10 years to 70 years, so a wide range of ages, a wide range of situations that limit them from other community sports,” he said.

Participants can choose to compete in a couple of different sports, including fi ve-pin bowl-ing and swimming in the winter and softball and bocce in the summer.

“The fi rst thing is it’s just something for them to do for their own health and lifestyle and as far as their own well-be-

ing where you change it out and have some physical exercise,” Campbell said.

In addition to providing ath-letes with an opportunity to compete, the weekly practice sessions and games are also good places for participants to socialize and fi nd acceptance, said Salene Matheson.

Matheson’s son, Kobe, is a ju-nior high student who has been participating in the Special Olympics for four years.

“It makes him feel like part of the community and part of a team. A lot of kids that have spe-cial needs don’t ever get to go to sports and challenge with other people. So when they come to the practices, they feel that they are on a team.”

“I get strikes. I get to come out and meet new people. I have a

bunch of new friends here,” Kobe added.

The sports also give younger participants, like Kobe, a chance to develop communications skills that will help them later on in life.

“He’s been able to develop a lot as an athlete. For him, having that opportunity, I think in a lot of different sports, gives him a sense of belonging and some-thing to aim for. So it’s been good for him as a bowler and it’s been good for him to adapt and learn, meet new people. It teaches him how to communicate and how to celebrate, all the other things that he can’t do in a lot of other areas,” said Kobe’s father, Dan.

One thing both the Mathesons and Campbell wanted to encour-age was participation in Special Olympics.

“I don’t think a lot of peo-

ple know that there is Special Olympics in Lacombe. To get some of the younger people out here would be really good, be-cause I think a lot of the ath-letes are the older participants,” Salene said, adding that Kobe is the second youngest athlete in the bowling program.

Campbell added that they are always looking for volunteers who would be willing to help out during any of the sports.

“We probably have about 15 volunteers — a number are par-ents, a number are non-parents. It’s good support and good inter-est to come out and be involved.”

If you would like more infor-mation on the Special Olympics programs in Lacombe you can visit the web site at www.specia-lolympics.ab.ca/lacombe.

[email protected]

“WE DO GO TO TOURNAMENTS AND

THAT TYPE OF THING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE

THING IS YOU ESTABLISH YOUR RANGE FOR YOUR ABILITY AND THEN YOU

COMPETE AGAINST THAT TO TRY AND IMPROVE

AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND ADVANCE.”

DWAYNE CAMPBELL

STRIKE! - Scott Borthwick celebrated bowling a strike during a Special Olympics Lacombe bowling practice at Ambassador Bowling Centre in Lacombe this week. The Special Olympics program in Lacombe offers athletes who may not fi t in to other community sports an opportunity to compete. Zachary Cormier/Lacombe Express

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4 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

GIVING BACK - Bowl for Kids Sake, the premiere fundraiser for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lacombe and District (BBBS) recently received a donation of $2,000 from the Lacombe and area Servus Credit Union. From left are Gloria Mamchur (Servus), Chelsey Hudkins and Karissa van der Heiden (BBBS), Dustin Nakonechny, Jessi Da Ponte, Teresa Wiebe and Kristen Hall (Servus). The donated funds will help make the fundraiser, held on Feb. 27th at the LMC, a reality. photo submitted

Find the Right Fit offers fi tness possibilities at no costBY SARAH MAETCHELACOMBE EXPRESS

Through the City of Lacombe’s program Find the Right Fit numerous fi tness facilities in Lacombe have opened their doors to offer something for free to the public one day per month.

Like a fi tness smorgas-bord, Find the Right Fit al-lows Lacombians to sample a variety of fi tness facili-ties throughout the month. From yoga and spin, Cross Fit, Zumba, swimming or bootcamp, the possibilities can be endless in the quest to fi nd the right fi t.

This past week a new pro-vider has also been added to the number of participating facilities. POUND fi tness, a rock out workout with lunges, squats and cardio

using weighted drumsticks, will be open to the public on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at All That Jazz Studio (5029 56A St.)

Sonya Beauclair, City of Lacombe Recreation and Culture administrative as-sistant said the idea be-hind Find the Right Fit is for participants to try out different fi tness facilities and activities with no cost hindrance.

“We know that everyone has different fi tness needs and likes different things, so the best way for them to fi nd what works is to be able to try it and fi nd the right fi t,” said Beauclair.

The program launched on Jan. 1st and has been well attended thus far. When participants do attend a facility, they are required

to check in so the City can gauge the success of the program. Some of the providers offer different classes, some are open all day, or have different times they are open to the public.

“You can basically take a month, try everything, see what you like and then hopefully you will sign up for whichever one you want to keep doing,” said Beauclair. “We know if you enjoy what you are doing, you are more likely to continue with it.”

There are some lim-itations to the program. Each facility has one day a month that allows attend-ees in for no cost. You can attend each facility a total of three times. The pro-gram is open to anyone liv-ing in the City of Lacombe or Lacombe County.

Some of the providers do have limited space so attendees are encouraged to show up early or contact the facility before hand to reserve a spot.

“As the ChooseWell leader for Lacombe, I am always

trying to get people out and moving and eating healthy,” explained Beauclair. “The Active Alberta policy directs us to get more people more active more often and that’s exactly what we are trying to do.”

Find the Right Fit runs until the end of December. For more information call 403-782-1267 or visit www.lacombe.ca/choosewell for a full list of providers and dates.

[email protected]

Annual Lacombe Victim Services Comedy Cabaret returnsBY SARAH MAETCHELACOMBE EXPRESS

The annual Lacombe Victim Services Comedy Cabaret returns for the 14th year.

The premiere fundraiser for the Victim Services Unit will be held this year on March 11th at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.

Debbie Barron, Lacombe Victim Services Program Manager said the evening is of course, St. Patrick’s Day-themed and fea-tures a silent auction, a 50/50 draw and a live band.

“We are looking forward to it,” she said. “It is going to be a really fun night.”

New this year to the fundraiser is a live band, the Rockin Erbs, who will keep at-tendees dancing the night away to music from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

Comedian Brad Muise is the featured

headliner and is sure to bring along many laughs. He will be joined by fellow come-dians Todd Ness and Noor Kidwai for the comedy portion of the evening.

HT Catering will be selling hot appetizers like hot wings, burgers and fries through-out the evening for attendees to snack on. There will also be a cash bar operated by the Lacombe Lions Club.

All the funds raised from the comedy cabaret go directly towards volunteer ad-vocate training and education.

The Lacombe Victim Services Unit was created in 1993, operating with a volunteer board and several hands-on volunteers.

“One of our roles is to inform victims of their right to a victim impact statement, restitution and fi nancial benefi ts as well as assist them through the court process,” said Barron.

She noted that Victim Services is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through volunteer advocates in the local community.

“Over the last year we have seen an in-crease of around 200 per cent in the need for the service we provide,” said Barron.

“Our volunteer advocates are crucial as they are the ones who deliver the program.”

It is imperative advocates keep their training up-to-date in order to better serve the community.

“During a crisis, any time, day or night, its our volunteer advocates who answer the call,” explained Barron.

Those looking for more information on the programs offered can check out www.lacombevictimservices.com or call 403-782-3279 ext. 152.

Doors to the Lacombe Memorial Centre open at 6:30 p.m. The entertainment will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $30 each and a table of eight is $220. Tickets can be purchased at the Lacombe Police Services building or by contacting Barron.

[email protected]

“DURING A CRISIS, ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT,

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THE CALL.”

DEBBIE BARRON

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Echo Energy funds channeled to Echo Lacombe AssociationBY SARAH MAETCHELACOMBE EXPRESS

City of Lacombe councillors approved the reallocation of Echo Energy funds to a newly named association this past Monday.

Echo Energy is the City’s energy boutique that works off a simple concept — power is offered to local homes and businesses and the generated profi ts are funneled into a fund that it to be used to fund community projects within Lacombe.

Modeled after Mountainview Power, an energy retailer created by the Olds Institute as a community sustainability initiative, Echo Energy was established in Lacombe in November 2013.

The City itself does not generate power, but acts merely as an energy retailer, com-peting with other big name energy retailers, offi cials said. Up until this point, the Echo Energy funds have been collecting in an

account, set aside for community-minded projects.

Guy Lapointe, City of Lacombe com-munity economic development manager, told council the group formerly named the Community Economic Development Organization (CEDO) has now renamed itself to Echo Lacombe Association.

“The group has been meeting regularly and has decided to name itself Echo Lacombe Association to take advantage of brand awareness already generated by Echo Energy and the Echo Lacombe Fund,” he said. “The group has also successfully recruited a total of eight members from a wide range of backgrounds within the community.”

The group has achieved not-for-profi t status and has also solidifi ed a terms of reference and objectives. Its initial pri-orities include growing and adjudicating the Downtown Storefront Enhancement program (DSEP).

“To assist in further development of this program, the group will provide $4,000 from their existing funding to bring the total DSEP budget to $10,000,” said Lapointe. The group also wishes to promote the Echo Energy initiative.

“The group also sees merit in gaining access to these proceeds to support their project goals in much the same way the Olds Institute does,” explained Lapointe. “Rather than fi nding another project, the Echo Lacombe Association believes they can maximize the potential of Echo Energy by bringing greater awareness to this opportunity.”

In 2015 the Echo Energy proceeds totalled $11,250 and $1,900 in 2014. The funds have yet to be distributed to any projects or programs in the community. A minimum of 10% of the proceeds would remain in the Echo Lacombe fund.

”This is an opportunity for them to get

some necessary dollars to really energize that group and take some necessary fi rst steps,” said Lapointe.

Councillor Wayne Rempel, who sits on the board for this group, made the motion to reallocate the Echo funds.

“Once we get the funds for this group, we can really start moving on doing some great things in the community,” he said.

The group will commit to supporting other initiatives in the community like arts and culture or fi tness.

“One thing the group wants to do is stimulate economic development, but do it through these other sources as well. The money would be used in a wide variety of different objectives” said Rempel.

Council accepted the CEDO report as information and moved to reallocate the Echo Energy funds to the Echo Lacombe Association.

[email protected]

Urgent slope repair to be undertakenBY SARAH MAETCHELACOMBE EXPRESS

As an urgent repair, the City of Lacombe will be rebuilding a slope near an environmen-tally sensitive area.

Councillors approved the 50th Ave. (Hwy. 12) slope re-pair contract at their council meeting this week.

The area located north-west in the city limits, just before the QEII Hwy. interchange, along Crescent Lake, is an environmentally sensitive area.

“It came up unexpectedly due to a blocked catch basin

causing erosion down a fairly steep slope on the south side of Hwy. 12,” said Director of Operations and Planning Services Matthew Goudy. “It is what we con-sider a critical issue if left un-addressed. In the spring it could cause stability concerns for that section of Hwy. 12, which would be a major concern for the City.”

In November of 2015, a resident advised the City roads manager of a possible sloughing issue along the roadway, next to Crescent Lake. After inspection of the site, City staff confi rmed a

portion of the north slope has sloughed into Crescent Lake. The damage had likely occurred prior to November. A contract was immedi-ately set with Stantec for a detailed design and pro-fessional services at a cost of $20,463, funded from the street reserve.

The project was put out to tender earlier this year and closed on Feb. 17th. A total of six bids were re-ceived. Council awarded the construction portion of the project to Urban Dirtworks at a cost of $67,392. Stantec Consulting was also award-

ed the contract at a cost of $29,081 for construction management and post con-struction services. Parkland Geo was awarded the con-tract at a cost of $1,160 for geotechnical testing.

Goudy stated the City re-ceived good pricing as the project was one of the very fi rst Capital Works projects tendered in the Central Alberta area this year.

“The engineering is a large component of this proj-ect, larger than you would typically see on a Capital Works project that the City is undertaking,” he said. “That was due to the environmen-tal concerns of working within the lake. There is a lot of siltation that has eroded into the lake.”

Due to the concerns, strin-gent reporting and moni-

toring of the lake will occur before, during and after the project.

“This is highly sensitive work from an environmen-tal standpoint,” he said. “It is also quite diffi cult work from an actual construction standpoint.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at $118,276, fund-ed from the street reserve.

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Take notice that the following development permits have been approved as PERMITTED USES in that they conform in every respect to the Land Use Bylaw:

permits have been approved asry respect to the Land Use Bylaw:

DATE PERMIT# LOCATION DEVELOPMENT

February 25 61/250.23.16 5511 Wolf Creek Drive Class 2 Signs – 3 Fascia, 1 Canopy

February 25 61/250.33.16 4725 59 Street Demolition of Fire Damaged Residence

DEVELOPMENT PERMITSCurrent to February 25, 2016

Documents pertaining to the development permits may be inspected at City Hall, 5432-56 Avenue, during

regular business hours.

Anyone claiming to be aff ected by the approval of the Permitted Uses with Variances or Discretionary

Uses may submit an objection within 14 days from the date of notice. The appeal must be in writing,

accompanied with a $50.00 fee and be directed to: Lacombe Subdivision and Development Appeal Board,

Attn: Secretary to the SDAB, 5432 - 56 Avenue Lacombe, AB T4L 1E9

6 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

WINTERSCAPE - A raven fl ies high above a meadow during a winter day in the J.J. Collett Natural Area, northeast of Lacombe. Sarah Maetche/Lacombe Express

I’m throwing in the towel. I just want to go back. I feel like giving up. Why did I ever agree to go there? I just want to walk away.

In the news this week they began talking about ‘jingle mail’, where people are in so deep in house mortgages they mail their home keys to the bank and walk away with nothing.

Some people may feel so bad about a setback they feel like throwing every-thing away. Troubles and impossible situations real-ly are hard to address.

I will never forget the night back about 1971, where a team of Bible college students got off the North West Bible College bus in North West Territories at Alexandra Falls, to drive on late into the night to Yellowknife for Sunday services.

Back in those days the gravel roads were very hard on the vehicles.

A nurse working on the mission field hospital, Marian Parks, met us to transport us in her car on the long lonely night trip to Yellowknife. Knowing the isolated road and the

wear on tires she told us she had her car and tires checked before picking us up.

The mechanic said they were in fair shape and so we pushed on with two spare tires to handle the hundreds of miles of rough gravel road. There was no traffi c and we started on an about a 300 mile trip. With fi ve ladies and my-self, I was appointed to drive the car.

After driving along the road for an hour or so, we had a fl at which I changed. We headed into the lonely night on an isolated road. Sometime later, we had another fl at and so we were very thankful for the bringing of two spare tires.

As we pushed on north, about 50 miles north of Fort Providence, I felt the third tire going down. It wasn’t totally fl at yet but

we stopped with unbe-lief that we had now face three fl at tires.

Now it is late night and we are stranded, me and fi ve ladies.

On our trip we would maybe meet a vehicle once an hour.

As young Bible college students with a goal to get to Yellowknife, we prayed.

After about 90 seconds, Marian said, “Praise the Lord. I believe the answer is coming.”

In about a minute a semi-truck heading south stopped and as it turned out, the driver was related to other missionaries serv-ing up north.

Marian took the two fl at spares and headed south to Fort Providence.

A couple hours later she showed up in a taxi with some more gas and two new tires mounted. I changed the tire and we were on our way to the church Rev. Don Schneider was pastoring in Yellowknife. We arrived about 7 a.m. We had felt like giving up on the goal and heading back but we kept on and had wonder-ful services and met great people.

The interesting thing we realized was, by stop-ping before the tire was totally fl at, we made the connection with Chet the truck driver and that was the last vehicle we saw that night for many, many hours.

This entire situation, crisis and solution, made quite an impression on us as young Bible college stu-dents. We saw an answer to prayer, experienced a life memory and had a great time sharing with the church people. After the evening we headed back driving all night to Hay River to meet the rest of the college group and travel back to Edmonton on the bus.

Sometimes we have to face near impossible sit-uations for us to take the time to really pray.

Sometimes prayer is the only way to fi nd the an-

swer and our only hope.As we are walking into

2016 in view of our Alberta economy with the huge downturn and very little natural solutions on the near horizon, prayer is one resource that can’t be ex-hausted.

Looking at our full pic-ture, a number of people ended up getting us up to Yellowknife.

We may also find through our prayers, oth-ers will share as part of the answer. Don’t lose hope as long as we can pray.

Many years ago running an orphanage in Great Britain, George Muller had little money and prayed for daily provisions. The best known story involves a morning when the plates and bowls and cups were set on the tables, but there was no food or milk. The children sat waiting for breakfast while Muller led

in prayer for their daily bread.

A knock at the door sounded.

It was the baker. “Mr. Muller,” he said, “I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, so I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread.”

A second knock sound-ed.

The milkman had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he wanted to give the children his milk so could empty his wagon and repair it. In his lifetime he housed 10,000 orphans and saw 50,000 answers to prayer. When setbacks pressure us to stop and give up, it is time to look up.

There is hope as we push on to our goal.

Greg Rathjen is the pas-tor of Bentley Community Church.

Finding hope during challenging times

Greg

R A T H J E N

In Good Faith with

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 7

OPINION

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5019A - 51 StLacombe, AB T4L 2A3

403-782-5303

The Lacombe Express

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Improving Alberta’s addictions and mental health systemSteps are being taken to improve

Alberta’s current addictions and mental health system.

The provincial government an-nounced on Monday they will be acting on the recommenda-tions that came out of the Mental Health Review, which includes creating new addiction treatment beds.

The government launched a re-view of the existing policy last September. At the time Premier Rachel Notley stated the current mental health system did not measure up and the government would act on the matter.

The Mental Health Review was co-chaired by Dr. David Swann, Alberta Liberal Party leader, and Danielle Larivee, Lesser Slave Lake MLA, both who have health

care backgrounds.An online questionnaire was

launched allowing Albertans to provide feedback on the import-ant service.

“The Albertans who took part in the Mental Health Review shared their experiences with courage and strength,” said Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman.

“I wish to thank the members of the review committee and ev-eryone who came forward to pro-vide their ideas and feedback. We look forward to working with our partners as we begin to build on the vision for a stronger mental health care system in our prov-ince. ”

The report generated from the review included 32 recommen-dations, which aim to strengthen

service delivery for those in our province with mental illness and addictions.

Six of the primary recommen-dations include adding detoxifi -cation beds for adults, including converting 20 beds in Red Deer, expanding access to treatment by opening three social detoxifi ca-tion beds for children and youth in Calgary, working in partnership with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities to develop an opiate addictions plan, creating an im-plementation team to work with communities and health partners and launching a youth mental health web site in the spring.

“The current mental health sys-tem is not meeting the needs of an increasing number of Albertans,” said Swann. “We can and must

do better. Unfortunately, this is not the fi rst time Albertans have heard this. Successful imple-mentation of the Mental Health Review will require a higher level of leadership from Alberta Health, and the new AHS board, than that provided by previous governments. Today’s six priority recommendations are an excel-lent start.”

It is good news that a review of a portion of our health care sys-tem that has been in neglect for so long has fi nally been complet-ed. Many Albertans struggle in si-lence with mental illness and this report should be seen as a positive step forward.

The report, titled Valuing Mental Health, is available on the Alberta Health web site.

Students are citizens of the digital worldOne of the ever-changing

aspects of our daily lives is technology.

Many of us remember a time when computers were either non-existent in schools or were just being introduced. At that time computers couldn’t do a lot and were not the educational tool they have become today.

With the advancements in technology comes a dig-ital world that exists not just in our homes, but our schools. And, it’s a world our students and children are living in.

In responding to this evolving landscape, STAR Catholic School Division has developed and is im-plementing its own Digital Citizenship Curriculum.

But fi rst, what is a digital citizen?

Alberta Education, in a report released in 2012, de-

fi ned citizenship, “As the state of being a citizen of a particular social, polit-ical or national commu-nity. Citizenship carries both rights and responsi-bilities.”

Similarly, a ‘digital’ cit-izen should embody all those civic rights and re-sponsibilities, but now as they also relate to his or her activity on, or use of the Internet, social media and digital platforms.

The separation between the offl ine and the online world is narrowing.

InternetWorldStats.com

reports that there are more than three billion Internet users worldwide.

That accounts for 42.4% of the world’s population.

There are 750 million Facebook users, 300 mil-lion tweets sent out on Twitter per day, and 100 hours of video uploaded to You Tube every four min-utes.

The digital world is here, and everyone — parents, co-workers, school staff, administration and stu-dents — are digital citi-zens.

As digital technology is further embraced as a use-ful and effective means of teaching, the question of balance has come up.

The question has been raised in an Alberta Education study, asking: should we consider stu-dents to have two separate lives— a relatively digitally

unplugged life at school and a digitally saturated life away from school, or should we consider them to have one life that inte-grates their lives as stu-dents and digital citizens?

In STAR Catholic, we have a responsibility to not only provide high-quality education to our students, but we do so through a lens of faith, rooted in the gospel and in the words and actions of Jesus Christ.

We seek to impart not only knowledge, but are committed to the full de-velopment of the person.

Students cannot be ex-pected to live two lives, a digital and non-digital life.

As the digital world con-tinues to grow and expand, our students are further immersed in this online world, online communi-cation and online social structures.

This means it is just as important for our schools to do our part in develop-ing proper ‘digital’ citizens as it is to develop simply a citizen.

A digital citizenship cur-riculum is critical for the growth of the 21st century student — academically, socially and spiritually.

The aim is to teach stu-dents proper conduct, be-havior and responsibility whether in the chat room or in the classroom, on facebook, face-to-face, on-line or off.

Thalia Hibbs is a Lacombe trustee on the STAR Catholic Schools Division Board. STAR Catholic Schools has more than 3,700 students in 10 schools located in Beaumont, Drayton Valley, Leduc, Lacombe, Ponoka and Wetaskiwin. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Thalia

HIBBS

We would like to receive‘Letters to the Editor’

as well as local story ideasfrom the community.

We want your input.

Please submit to the Lacombe Express editor at

[email protected]

or call 403-782-5306

asas

uttt..Lacombe & Blackfalds

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Commercial & Industrial BusinessCleaning Services

Your weekly Community Events Calendar

The FYI, Community Events Calen-

dar is a free-of-charge service

for not-for-profi t organizations

and upcoming community

events within the Lacombe and

Blackfalds region. To submit your

information, please email news@

lacombeexpress.com, call 403-

782-5306 or fax 403-782-5344.

If you would like your event or

organization to be included,

please submit your information

to the editor by noon, the Mon-

day before the publication date.

Annual meeting for the Lin-

coln Community Hall Soci-

ety: Feb. 29th, 7:30 p.m. at

the hall. All are welcome.

1st Lacombe Scouts 64th Annual

Bean Supper: The members

of the 1st Lacombe Scouts are

again preparing for our Annual

Bean Supper. It will be held on

Sunday, Feb. 28th at the Lacombe

Memorial Centre from 4:30 p.m.

to 7 p.m. The purpose of the

annual bean supper is to provide

a low cost bean supper to the

community of Lacombe and to

provide the members of the 1st

Lacombe Scouts an opportunity

to interact with people of all

ages in Lacombe in a service

role and emphasize awareness

of Scouting within Lacombe.

Tickets are $6 each, children four

and under are free. Tickets are

available from any member of

the 1st Scouts or at the door.

Lacombe Figure Skating Club

is holding its annual Skating

Carnival on Sunday, March 6th

at the Lacombe arena 1 p.m. The

theme this year is “A Skating

Stampede.” Tickets are $5 (fi ve

and under are free) and will be

available at the door. Come on

out and cheer on our local skaters

for more information go to our

website www.skatelacombe.ca.

Easter Bake Sale: Featuring Easter

breads. Sponsored by the St.

Vladimir Parish UCWLC. Saturday,

March 19th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic

Parish Hall, 3632-46th Street,

Red Deer. For more information

call Zonia at 403-347-2335.

Lacombe Ukulele Group: Every fi rst

and third Tuesday in Lacombe.

We’ll be meeting at Kavaccino’s

in the front room between 6:30

p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Join us for

the evening or drop in for a bit.

All ages and all levels of ability

are welcome! For more informa-

tion call 403-477-4630 or check

out our Facebook page www.

facebook.com/LacombeUkulele.

The Jesus Fatwah: Love Your

(Muslim) Neighbor as Yourself

- a Thursday evening discussion

group starting at 7 p.m. Using

print and video resources and

encounters with representatives

of both Christianity and Islam,

we will seek to dispel stereotypes

about Islam, explore the diversity

of Muslim belief and practice and

discuss how we can build respect-

ful relationships. This program

would be appropriate for Chris-

tians, Muslims or those without

faith commitments. Held at St. An-

drew’s United Church. Please con-

tact Ross Smillie at 403-782-3148

to indicate your interest and to

get background reading material.

Lacombe Hospice Steering Commit-

tee: Volunteers needed. Commit

to 24 – 48 months’ term. Contact

Florence at 403-782-5641 or

email: [email protected].

Friends of the Library will welcome

Effi e Bullis on Feb. 25th, 7 p.m.

at the LMC in the County Room.

Effi e, born in the Ukraine, shares

the story of her family’s journey

back to Germany, the homeland

of their great grandparents, and

then on to Canada. Light refresh-

ments will be served after the

presentation in the Special Events-

History 2016 series. Free admission.

Friends of the Library is looking

forward to present to our faithful

audience and their guests, an

evening of a new adventure in the

Armchair Travel series on March

8th, 7 p.m. at the LMC in the

County Room. Take in a wonderful

story presented by Kirsten and

Brent Bouwsma of their 2015,

6-week Scottish adventure with

their young children, where they

lived in a small industrial town

in the “hillfoots of the Ochil

mountain range.” Light refresh-

ments will follow. Free admission.

Friends of the Library History in

the Making/History series will

introduce guest speakers Dr.

Janni and Christa Prins to present

their experience living in South

Africa and leaving 10 years ago to

provide a safe and better future

for their children, on March 17th

7 p.m. at the LMC County Room.

They will discuss the “new” South

Africa, including education,

government and people of the

nation. Light lunch will follow.

Free admission. An educational

evening, come and bring a friend.

Al-Anon: Does drinking alcohol by

a relative or friend bother you?

Al-Anon may be able to help you.

Meetings are held every Wednes-

day at 8:30 p.m. in the lower fl oor

of the Lacombe Masonic Hall at

4722 - 49B Avenue, Lacombe. For

more information call 403-307-

3732, 780- 668-4395 or check the

web-site at www.al-anon.ab.org.

Calling all musicians! A jazzy new

place to blow your horn or strum

your strings - A jam session every

fourth Thursday from 7 p.m. - 9

p.m. at the Lacombe Legion.

$2 a person. For more informa-

tion, call Rod at 403-782-1842.

The Parkland Classical Singers, a com-

munity choir based in Lacombe,

is looking for more members. If

you like to sing, please join us.

Rehearsals are held on Thursdays

from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the

Wolf Creek Community Church,

beginning Oct. 15th. Two per-

formances: Christmas 2015 and

Spring 2016. For more informa-

tion, call Carolyn 403-782-7365.

The Red Deer Legion Pipe Band is

actively recruiting experienced

and inexperienced people from

the Central Alberta area, who

are interested in joining the pipe

band. Anyone with piping or

drumming experience, or if you

would like to learn piping or

drumming, are asked to please

contact us at 403-782-7183.

Practices are held at the Red Deer

Legion on Tuesdays at 7:00.

St. Andrew’s United Church

youth choir for ages fi ve to 18.

Meets Thursdays 5:30-6:30 p.m.

contact Jessica at 403-352-5486

or [email protected].

St. Andrew’s United Church Adult

Choir for those 18 and old-

er. Practices on Wednesdays

from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. Contact

Roberta at 403-782-0443 for

more information. Cost is free.

Invitation to join CNIB Peer Support

Group: The Peer Support Group is

a program dedicated to helping

CNIB clients adjust to vision

loss. Feelings of fear, anxiety,

intimidation and anger are

extremely common in adults who

are diagnosed with vision loss.

The goal of the group is to help

transform these feelings into

those of confi dence and inde-

pendence through education and

group discussions. The program

is facilitated by a volunteer who

has gone through the process of

adjusting to a life with vision loss.

The group offers seniors a way to

connect to others experiencing

similar challenges. Participants re-

ceive empowering, practical and

useful information about vision

loss and how CNIB services can

help, as well as suggestions from

other participants on how to

reduce the impact of vision loss

on their daily lives. There is no

cost to participate in the program

which will meet once per month.

The group meets at the Spruce

Terrace located at 5002 – 51 Ave.

EVENTS

Ti

an

av

th

Laco

is

Ca

atEEEEVVVVENTS

““I love working out here for the friendships I hhave made –– iit has made me healthier pphysically, mentally and spiritually.”

Jacky McAfee – Member since 2007

““AAwesome motivation and cconversation with aamazing people. It’’ss the highlight of my day aand aa great way to start it off.””

Sandy Dick – Member since 2013

“Working out at the Gwen Bader Fitness Center is more than a physical workout. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual experience for me. I have met so many friends that I am now good friends with outside of the gym. I can’t imagine not coming here!”

Shelby Sproule – Member since 2001

“I have made incredible friendships here. We workout together 5 days a week. They are all such an inspiration to me as a senior! I love it here!”

Jude Batty – Member since 2011

6415 University Dr. Lacombe, AB

403.782.2822

Gwen Bader Fitness Center

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 9

Come see what the library has to offerTwo weeks ago our theme

was, of course, Valentines and the level of excitement in the young children is similar to Christmas.

Receiving those little cards fi lled with hearts makes a three-year-old giddy with joy. One little girl told me that she even loved the Spiderman card cause it showed her that, “Boys have feelings too.”

We were playing ‘Hot Heart’ which is Hot Potato with a stuffed heart and the comments in the game were priceless.

“Miss Mary, she stole my heart!” “Miss Mary, he dropped my heart and stepped on it.” “Miss Mary, I don’t want to pass my heart to anyone.”

These statements will come up again although in slightly different circum-stances.

Do you and your family enjoy a good swim?

The library now has some weekly swim passes that pa-trons are allowed to borrow for one week.

This works just like a book but at the end of the week if the pass is not returned the card is cancelled and is no longer valid. So much has changed in libraries since Mrs. Schmidt used to reprimand me for breathing too loud.

Our fi rst meeting of the Drop-in Colouring Club for Adults was a huge success.

The next meeting will be next month in the library. Materials are provided or you may bring your own and there is no charge to come and commune with other adults and enjoy the stress-free environment free from children. (Not that we don’t love children - just some-times adults need a breather).

On March 1st at 7 p.m. in

the Read and Relax area of the library the MCMPL Book Club will be discussing the novel March by Geraldine Brooks.

This novel follows the life of Mr. March, the father of the girls in the famous Alcott novel Little Women, as he goes off to war. Everyone is welcome.

We will be having a Jungle Jamboree special event in the children’s program room on Saturday, March 5th.

I have added an additional class from 1 to 2 p.m. since the morning class fi lled up quickly.

It’s fun for ages eight and under. Children must be ac-companied by an adult. There will be stories and crafts and prizes! Space is limited. Please register by Feb. 29th.

Our next Armchair Travel lecture will be presented on Tuesday, March 8th at 7 p.m. in the LMC.

Our own Kirstin Bouwsema and her husband Brent will be regaling us with tales of their travels in Scotland with a lecture called: Over the Sea to Skye: A Six-Week

Scottish Adventure with Two Small Children.

Our book this week is No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in WWII by Robert Weintraub.

This book describes the bond that developed be-

tween a RAF technician and a fi ercely loyal purebred pointer named Judy, a pair who met in an internment camp during World War II where they became a symbol of hope to the other prisoners.

This book was purchased

in memory of one of our loyal patrons. We appreciate the generous donation.

Enjoy the week and come visit the library.

Mary Poole is the children’s programmer at the Mary C. Moore Public Library in Lacombe.

Mary

P O O L E

ARTISTIC BOOST - The Lacombe Arts Endowment Fund recently received a dona-tion from the Lacombe Knights of Columbus at City Hall. A cheque for $500, the proceeds from the Knights’ Oktoberfest fundraiser, was presented to help the arts in the City. From left, Knights of Columbus Grand Master Larry Riep, Lacombe Arts Endowment Committee representative Ellen Corea, City of Lacombe Recreation and Culture Services Manager Sandi Stewart. photo submitted

out together 5 days a

City Pagelacombe.ca

DID YOU KNOW

RELOADABLE?

CARDS ARE

NOW p a s s h o l d e r s c a n re l o a d yo u r c a rd a t M a r y C . M o o re Pu b l i c L i b r a r y.

Vi s i t w w w. l a co m b e. c a / b o l t fo r m o re i n fo r m a t i o n .

THIS EARTH HOUR,SHINE A LIGHT

ON CLIMATE ACTION.Switch off your light and switch on your

social power at earthhour.org

19 MAR 2016 | 8:30 PM

#ChangeClimateChangeEARTHHOUR.ORG

Free Candle Light Yoga for Earth Hour 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm at Lacombe Yoga

101 3402 Highway 12Reserve your spot at lacombeyoga.ca/schedule

Sponsored by the City of Lacombe

A p p l i c a t i o n D e a d l i n e i s Fe b r u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

Does your group or organization have an idea for a new initiative that would enhance the quality of life in Lacombe through recreation and culture? If so, you may be able to access the $12,500 in available funding through the City of Lacombe’s Recreation and Culture Grant.

This grant is open to all non-profit community groups

and businesses within the city. For more information visit www. lacombe.ca/recgrant, phone 403.782.1266, or email [email protected].

All submissions will be reviewed by the Lacombe & District Recreation, Parks and Culture Board.

Recreation and Culture

Grant

$12,500

IN AVAILABLE FUNDS

Call For ApplicationsThe City of Lacombe has provided Lacombe FCSS with $22,000 in additional funds to facilitate the 2016 Community Grant Program.

This program supports local social service programs that are preventive in nature and that promote and enhance the well-being of individuals, families and their communities.

The Community Grant Program is open to social non-profit community groups in Lacombe. The deadline to apply for grant funding is February 26, 2016.

For information on the grant eligibility criteria and the application process, please contact:

Lacombe & District FCSS#201 5214-50 AvenueLacombe, AB T4L 0B6

ph: (403) 782-6637e: [email protected]

Lacombe & District

Lacombe & District FCSS

2016 Community Grant Program

10 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

City Pagelacombe.ca

Did you know that distracted drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash? The Lacombe Traffic Safety Committee would like to remind everyone not to use your phone while operating a motor vehicle. When you are in your vehicle, your primary focus should be on driving. You cannot drive safely when you’re distracted.

• Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel – put your focus where it should be.• Multi-tasking while driving could prove to be a fatal error in judgment.• Distracted driving literally impairs your driving ability.• Sending even a short text can take a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds - enough time to travel

the length of a football field

Alberta’s Distracted Driving Law restricts the use of hand-held cell phones and activities such as texting, reading, writing, personal grooming, and the use of other electronic devices while driving. The fine for distracted driving is $287 and three demerit points, and drivers who exhibit what is deemed to be more serious or risky behaviors could be charged with “driving carelessly” under the Traffic Safety Act. The penalty for driving carelessly carries six demerit points and a fine of $402.

City adopts service level changes for snow removal

Mayor Steve Christie wishes to acknowledge achievement or outstanding community work by citizens or organizations with a custom certificate of congratulations or recognition to acknowledge special events and achievement in our community.

Certificates are often presented to people and organizations on reaching a significant mile-stone in their life or history - an anniversary, birthdays for persons celebrating 65th birthdays and older, certificates to athletes, and to businesses on official openings, etc.

Requests for these items must be made in writing at least a month in advance.

Requests can be made to:

Office of the MayorCity Hall,5432-56 Avenue,Lacombe AB T4L 1E9Fax: (403)[email protected]

Lacombe City Council Meetings are open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Meeting agendas are posted online at www.lacombe.ca by 3 p.m. on the Friday before every Council Meeting.

The next scheduled Council Meeting dates and times

are:

• Monday, March 7, 2016, at 5 p.m. (Committee)• Monday, March 14, 2016 at 5 p.m. • day, March 29, 2016 at 5 p.m.

Property Assessment Notices will be mailed out on February 19, 2016. Don’t forget to check your mailbox.

The Outdoor Rink is now closed. Please stay off the lakes due to thinning ice conditions.

BOLT Transit is now paperless. We are now using re-loadable cards for the automated fare boxes. Visit www.lacombe.ca/bolt for more information.

Arts Endowment Grant is now accepting applications. If you’re a Lacombe or Lacombe Country resident involved in any art form – visual, performing, or literary you may be eligible. Go to www.lacombe.ca/artgrant for a downloadable application form. Application deadline is March 31, 2016.

Find the Right Fit program is up and running. Try a variety of physical activities at no cost. For more information go to www.lacombe.ca/choosewell orcall 403.782.1267.

www.lacombe.ca

What’s Happening?

City Council Dates

Upcoming Events

Reminders

Lacombe- live a beautiful life.

Earth Hour Friday, March 19, 2016- City of Lacombe is sponsoring free candlelight yoga from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Reserve your spot at lacombeyoga.ca/schedule

Seasonal Workers #2016-03

The City is recruiting for seasonal Gardeners/Trail Maintenance/Park Mower Operators/Labourers. To

view the full job description and to apply, visit www.lacombe.ca/employment

Employment Opportunities

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 11

12 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

The Herr Lecture Series presents ‘Love Knows No Bounds: A Christian Response to Omar Khadr’ by Dr. Arlette Zinck on Feb. 25th at 7:30 p.m. at Underhill Lecture Hall, McKibbin Centre, Burman University. Admission is free and open to the public.

Beginning in 2008, Zinck, along with a Christian com-munity of professors and students, spent years men-toring and tutoring Khadr, the former Guantanamo Bay prisoner. In her upcoming Herr Lectures talk Zinck, who fi rst met Khadr at the notorious Camp Echo detainment camp in Cuba, will explore the meaning of love without bounds.

Zinck is an associate pro-fessor of English at The King’s University, a Christian liberal arts university in Edmonton. She is one of King’s top-rated professors. Some of her published academic works include Learning to Read Salvation: Psychological & Spiritual Change in Bunyan’s Grace Abounding and The Pilgrim’s Progress and Reverend James Evans & the HBC: How a Cree Translation of Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress May Shed New Light on an Old Scandal.

The Denise and Larry Herr Lectures in the Humanities feature presentations by highly qualifi ed speakers on issues of public interest. The lectures provide a forum for dialogue, open discussion and reasoned debate in Central Alberta.

For more information visit http://www.burmanu.ca/herrlectures or call Dr. Glen Graham, lecture series coordinator, at 403-782-3381 ext. 4106.

- Maetche

Culture and Recreation grant deadline approachingBY SARAH MAETCHELACOMBE EXPRESS

The deadline to apply for a Recreation and Culture grant through the City of Lacombe is approaching.

Those with an idea on how to enhance the quality of life for Lacombians through recreational or cultural ac-tivities are encouraged to apply for the grant.

The City has been allo-cated $12,500 to distribute to the community towards

new programs. Applications must be in by next Monday, Feb. 29th.

The application can be downloaded from the City web site under the Recreation and Culture tab. Information on where to submit the application is available at the same place.

“We are still taking ap-plications,” said Sonya Beauclair, City of Lacombe recreation and culture ad-ministrative assistant. “They can apply for doing things

on the art side or for rec-reation.”

The grant is open to busi-nesses, community groups, not-for-profi ts or individuals within the city.

“Nothing has changed from the year before,”-said Sandi Stewart, City of Lacombe recreation and culture manager. “It’s im-portant to know it’s for new initiatives and services that fall under recreation and culture.”

The grant was fi rst in-

troduced in 2014 and was utilized to bring programs like Music in the Park, the FCSS Pass program and the Bill Nielsen Trail Run to fruition.

In its fi rst year, the grant program had $10,000 avail-able, which was then in-creased to $12,500 the fol-lowing year and matched this year.

Last year grants were awarded to the Lacombe Cross Country Ski Club and the Canada Day concert

among others. Past recip-ients have included youth groups and dance studios.

Beauclair added that the more aspects of the criteria that the application meets, like programs targeting youth, involving kids during after school hours between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., can be seen as a strength.

Grant application initia-tives could also promote things like aging well or inter-generational partic-ipation. Application cri-

teria is based on the 2013 Recreation and Culture Master Plan.

As there is no specifi c amount that each group can be awarded, funds are distributed as needed after applications are re-viewed by the Lacombe and District Recreation, Parks and Culture Board. A large variety of programs may be eligible for a grant, so attendees are encouraged to check with Beauclair to see if their idea or initiative fi ts the program.

For more information, contact Beauclair at 403-782-1267.

[email protected]

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Burman University

hosts lecture series

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 13

Buying or Selling your home?

Check out Homes for Salein Classifieds

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Personals 60

Farm Work 755

Medical 790

Sales &Distributors 830

Truckers/Drivers 860

BusinessOpportunities 870

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Tired of Standing?Find something to sit on

in Classifieds

EmploymentTraining 900

HealthCare 1210

LegalServices 1260

Misc.Services 1290

PersonalServices 1315

Roofing 1370

Auctions 1530

Equipment-Misc. 1620

GardenSupplies 1680

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TravelPackages 1900

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Pasture/Land Wanted 2180

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To place an ad, call Toll Free: 1.877.223.3311or email: [email protected]

Lacombe Express

TENDER FOR CARETAKERS

OPEN CREEK DAM

CAMPGROUNDFrom May 1, 2016

to September 30, 2016

For contract details please contact:

MARC DUBIELEW Phone: 403-704-3780

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Rimbey Fish and Game Association

PO Box 634 Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0

Lowest tender will not necessarily

be chosen.

DEADLINE FOR TENDERS

MARCH 15, 2016

PublicNotices 6010

1942 – 2016

It is with great sadness that

we announce the passing of

Arnold Haakonson, beloved

husband, father, grandfather and

great grandfather. He passed away February 21,

2016 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, at the age

of 73 years, surrounded by his family.

Arnold was born in Lacombe, Alberta, the youngest

son of Barney and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Haakonson

on June 18, 1942. He took his schooling in the

Lincoln and Iowalta districts and then in Lacombe.

After graduating he went to work at Lacombe Feed

Services working for Allan Hodge. In 1966, along with

two partners, he started Lacombe Fertilizer and Farm

Supply where he worked until he retired in 2009.

In 1964 he met the love of his life, Shirley Moore,

and on May 8, 1965 they were married. Arnold

lived his entire life on the farm with the exception of

three years that he and his family lived in Lacombe.

In 1971 they moved back to the farm and in 1980

they bought their own farm where he lived until

his passing. Arnold loved working with his cows,

the smell of fresh cut hay and newly turned soil;

whether it was in the fi eld or the garden he loved to

watch things grow.

His children and grandchildren were his pride and

joy. He loved passing on his wisdom and teaching

them new or different ways to do things.

Arnold is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, of

50 years, his children: Angie (Allan) Vanderzwan

and their children Garret (fi ancé Victoria), Mitchel

and his son Treyce, and Cole, all of Sundre, AB;

Edmund Haakonson of Edmonton, AB; Treena Cox

and children Matthew, Emily and Stephanee of

Lacombe, AB; Leslie (Sam)(Shannon) Haakonson

and their children Ryan, Tristan and Chris of

Lacombe, AB. He is also survived by his siblings,

Gladys Jeglum of Clive; Elmer (Linda) Haakonson

of Lacombe and Adeline (Richard) Bellerive of

Lacombe; his mother in law Freda Gillespie of

Innisfail, AB; numerous nieces and nephews,

extended family and many friends. Arnold was

predeceased by his father Barney in 1994; his

mother Lizzie in 2006; his father in law Les Moore

in 1977; his step father in law Delbert Gillespie in

2000; six brothers in law and one sister in law.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday March 1,

2016 at 2:00 p.m. the Lacombe Memorial

Centre, 5214-50 Ave, Lacombe. In lieu of fl owers,

donations may be made to the charity of the

donor’s choice. Condolences may be made by

visiting www.wilsonsfuneralchapel.ca

Wilson’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium

serving Central Alberta with locations in

Lacombe and Rimbey in charge of arrangements.

Phone: 403.782.3366 or 403.843.3388

“A Caring Family, Caring for Families for 40 years”

and

HAAKONSON, Arnold Thomas

Obituaries

MoneyTo Loan 4430

ComingEvents 52

ComingEvents 52

14 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

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ANSWER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 15

ARTS & LEISUREThere’s more to spin than a bike and sweatBY SARAH MAETCHELACOMBE EXPRESS

On any day of the week, a group of around 20 gathers at a second storey stu-dio to pedal and sweat together, all to the constant beat of high energy music.

Some may call this type of fi tness ‘spin’ or ‘spinning,’ and it’s only growing in pop-ularity. So what exactly is it?

“It’s basically indoor cycling, just on a stationary bike,” explained Dawn Larson, owner/operator at Spin Out Studio in Lacombe. “You add a lot of tension to your bike to get increased cardio, more of a muscular work out. It’s not just riding a bike. It’s actually doing weight lifting on a bike, using your own body weight, setting tension and stuff.”

The concept of spin began in the late ’80s in Los Angeles. A man who worked as a personal trainer and participated in endurance cycle races decided to take cycling off the street and it paid off. Since then, spin has only increased in popu-larity with studios cropping up across the nation, with most gyms offering cy-cling-based classes and also inspiring a reality TV show following a Los Angeles-based spin studio called Soul Cycle.

While spin can sometimes be thought of as something ‘fl ashy’ or the latest craze, for Larson and her studio, there is an emphasis on year-round fi tness, train-ing, achievement and community.

Larson fi rst became interested in indoor cycling a few years ago after she took up running.

“I found running was really hard on my knees and joints so then I took up cycling and doing triathlons,” she said. “Out of all the parts of the triathlon - run, bike and swim - the bike was my favourite. I started doing bike races and working a lot on the indoor trainer. During winter you can’t be outside so then I would ba-sically do my own spin class in my own basement. I just got hooked and I started taking spin classes.”

Most spin classes follow a similar for-mula. Riders enter the room fi lled with custom made stationary bikes and if they are new, they are shown how to sit on the bike, how to adjust their seat and where to place their hands on the handlebars. After that, with a warm greeting from the instructor, it’s off to pedaling to the set to the beat of music, fi rst warming up then gradually building. Classes revolve around intervals - bursts of energetic cycling with higher intensity - mimicking hill climbs,

sprints, or gliding downhill, depending on the type of class and length.

Larson said the intent of her studio is to share fi tness with people all throughout the year.

“I would love to be outdoors everyday but we don’t always have that choice,” she said. “Our intent is to maintain that fi tness level so that when you do go out-doors, you are able to hike. You are able to do whatever you want with your family, your friends.”

Spin truly does suit all fi tness levels, from beginner to advanced.

“People often come in under the im-pression that they have to keep up with the instructor and it scares them,” noted Larson. “But that’s defi nitely not the case.

It’s your own challenge. It’s your own work out.”

The spin instructors can be thought of as motivators, inspirational coaches

encouraging riders to push themselves further each class.

So what exactly is the allure of indoor cycling? Larson said it’s that perfect com-bination of low impact exercise with cardio.

“It’s at your own pace,” she said. “The instructor can say bump up your tension, but if you are not there yet, you just pedal. That’s the joy of it. You just have to keep spinning your legs. You can work as hard or as little as you want. It’s basically your own workout. The instructors are there to challenge what you can do.

“We try to keep it fun and light,” said Larson. “It’s not just all about working so hard that you are not enjoying yourself.”

[email protected]

NEON GLOW - Riders pedal on specially-designed stationary bikes during a recent spin class held at Spin Out Studio in Lacombe. Sarah Maetche/Lacombe Express

“THAT’S THE JOY OF IT. YOU CAN WORK AS HARD

OR AS LITTLE AS YOU WANT. IT’S BASICALLY YOUR OWN

WORKOUT.”

DAWN LARSON

For information and Tickets: 403-885-5351 Or 403-396-9660

Lacombe-Ponoka Wildrose Constituency AssociationLacombe-Ponoka Wildrose Constituency Association

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BALONEY EVENT FUNDRAISERJoin us for an informative evening with MLA Ron Orr

Guest Speaker Mark Smith, MLA for Drayton Valley and Education Critic

Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 pmCounty Room, Lacombe Memorial Centre,

Lacombe

$25

16 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016ARTS & LEISURE

Properly thawing meat for cookingMost of us all lead very

busy lives, or at least we claim to.

We also freeze meat for future dinners because we either bought too much, it was on sale and so we stocked up, or we just plainly don’t want to gro-cery shop any more often than we have to.

Perhaps you have freez-ing meat down to a sci-ence, such as airtight bags, labels, freezer stock rota-tion, etc. But what about the thawing process?

There are a couple of thawing processes that I cringe at the thought of, a couple more that are ques-tionable and two that are ideal depending on how far advanced you are in

your meal planning pro-cess.

We have all been there: you come home from work, you have little time to prepare dinner and there is no meat thawed to cook with.

If you are vegetarian, vegan, or it is the fi rst day of the work week and you celebrate ‘Meatless Monday’, then you are in luck. For the rest of us meat-loving carnivores, what are our options?

One of the worst things

we could have done was to leave meat out on the counter all day to thaw.

Food-borne bacteria growth happens at a fast rate between temperatures of 4C and 60C (40F-140F) and food should be kept out of this danger zone as much as possible.

Leaving your meat on the counter is not an ideal climate as chances are your kitchen temperature is never below 4C.

Some claim that small portions of meat that have been frozen in a fl at man-ner (a thinner mass and more contact with the thawing surface area) can be thawed faster at room temperature if placed on an aluminum pan.

Supposedly the alu-minum will conduct the heat in the air faster to the meat, and thus provide faster thawing.

However, I still believe that this would not be fast enough for safe tempera-ture stabilization.

Thawing in the micro-wave (you know we have all tried this) will bring parts of the meat into the danger zone, but for very little time in contrast to the all-day exposure to room temperature.

However, this is still not ideal and microwave thawing also adds the un-desirable effect of cooking the outer parts of the meat

during this so-called thaw-ing process.

Some insist that leaving the meat in a sink of cold water is best, but I still have to disagree.

This is also an uncon-trolled environment. Eventually the water temperature will change, albeit slowly because of the chunk of frozen meat submersed in it, because the surrounding air is still room temperature.

The two best options in my opinion are as follows.

Think ahead and trans-fer meat from the freezer to the refrigerator for 24 to 72 hours (depending on the mass size of the meat) before you intend on cook-ing it.

This will keep the meat in a safe temperature con-trolled environment while it thaws.

Keep in mind you will want to practice food safe measurements by keeping the meat well contained and in the lower levels of your refrigerator so as to less likely transfer raw meat bacteria to your fridge or other foods.

The other option is to make sure the frozen meat is completely sealed in bags with little air.

Transfer to a large con-tainer that will fi t in your sink, but also will not block the fl ow of water through the drain.

Fill the container with cold water, and then reduce the fl ow of water to a slow trickle (or slightly more).

Let the water continu-ously overfl ow over the sides of the container and run down the drain until the meat is thawed. This is very fast as long as the meat has been frozen in individual sized portions (not a bunch of chicken breasts stuck together for example).

The continuous cold water will keep the water cold and the movement of the fl owing water will also aid in the thawing process.

Take note: this is to be done while you are at home and staying focused on the situation - not while you are away from the home. Prepping other parts of the meal while this is happening is a good habit to get into.

I have thawed chicken breasts in this manner in less than 30 minutes and seafood in even less time. The obvious down-side would be the waste of water.

So contained in all good advice of meal planning, retirement savings and countless other situations and topics: plan ahead for best results. Happy cooking!

Chef Dez is a food colum-nist, culinary travel host and cookbook author. Visit him at www.chefdez.com.

A double-barrelled package to treat hypertensionToday millions of North Americans suf-

fer hypertension and 99% are being treat-ed by prescription drugs. Studies show that nearly 50% discontinue their medi-cation due to unpleasant side-effects. But tossing away drugs is a hazardous move which can result in earlier death.

This week, a double-barrelled natural remedy that helps to prevent high blood pressure. It can also be helpful to those with hypertension who wish to try man-aging it fi rst without the use of prescrip-tion medication. It’s been said that, ‘soci-eties get the blood pressure they deserve.’ It appears we deserve a lot. It’s estimated that 75 million adult North Americans have hypertension. What is more fright-ening is that doctors are now seeing this disease in young children who are obese and diabetic.

What causes hypertension? In some cases doctors cannot pin-point the rea-son. Sir William Osler, one of the world’s great physicians, said it was good to be born with ‘genetically good rubber’. He was referring to soft, springy arteries less likely to cause hypertension. But since we cannot choose our parents many peo-ple, as they age, develop atherosclerosis

(clogged, hardened arteries), the big killer. Good sense tells us that if water pipes in our homes are clogged, the pressure affects the entire house.

Similarly, the constant pounding from increased blood pressure on all our ar-teries and organs results in a host of problems, coronary attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation of legs. So what can a double-barrelled approach do to prevent this major killer?

Dr. Nathan S. Bryan, at the University of Texas, says that for 100 years researchers have known that nitroglycerine eased angina heart pain by increasing the blood supply to the heart’s muscle. But it was a mystery how this happened. Then re-searchers discovered the miracle mol-ecule of nitric oxide (NO). They were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1998. Early in life we all produce large amounts of NO in the endothelial lining (the innermost lin-

ing of blood vessels). This keeps arteries expanded. But after age 40 the production of NO decreases, arteries constrict caus-ing hypertension. This constant pressure injures the endothelium and triggers a chemical and infl ammatory reaction that kills one North American every 37 sec-onds.

A natural remedy, Neo40, is now avail-able. It sends a message in nanoseconds to endothelial cells to start producing nitric oxide. Dr. Bryan reports some people take L-arginine to produce NO. But Neo40 is more effective since it con-tains L–citrulline, Vitamin C, beet root and hawthorne. The prescribed dose is to slowly dissolve one tablet in the mouth twice a day for two weeks, then one daily. This provides a quick start to lowering blood pressure. But it’s a life-time treatment as once a defi ciency oc-curs the body will never again produce suffi cient NO.

The next part of the double-barrelled attack involves high doses of Vitamin C and lysine. It’s also a lifetime treatment because, unlike animals, humans, due to a genetic mishap, lost the ability to produce this vitamin eons ago. Vitamin

C is needed to produce collagen, the glue that holds cells together and its lack sets the stage for atherosclerosis. The addition of lysine, an amino acid, strengthens ar-teries, decreasing the risk of rupture and stroke.

However, unlike Neo40 that dilates ar-teries, high doses of C can prevent athero-sclerosis, and if already present, begins to unclog all arteries. The dose is 4,000 - 6,000 mg daily of C and 3,000 – 4,000 mg of lysine daily either in capsule or pow-der form. Dr. Sydney Bush, the English researcher who made this revolutionary discovery, reports it takes six months be-fore the fi rst signs of arterial reversal can be seen. See the dramatic before and after photos at my web site www.docgiff.com

It’s unfortunate that most doctors do not know about these natural ways to treat hypertension. Of course there is a place for prescription drugs to treat hypertension. But it’s tragic that these natural, safe and often effective remedies are not tried fi rst. And they are as close as your Health Food Store. And remember prevention of hypertension is as import-ant as treatment.

For comments, email [email protected].

Dr. Gifford

JONES

Chef

DEZon Cooking

16023LL0

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 17

SPORTSWranglers swept from playoffs in second round

BY ZACHARY CORMIERLACOMBE EXPRESS

It wasn’t the way the Blackfalds Wranglers had expected this season to go.

The Wranglers’ rollercoaster ride of a year came to an end on Sunday, when they were swept in four games in the Heritage Junior Hockey League North Conference semi-fi nal series by the Mountainview Colts.

“I’m proud of these guys. It’s just a crappy way to end it but that’s hockey. Someone’s got to win, someone’s got to lose. We can’t win every year,” said Wranglers Head Coach Sean Neumeier after Sunday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the fi rst place Colts at the Blackfalds Multiplex.

The Wranglers have sure seen their fair share of bad luck this season. They lost several key players to injury early in the season, including 2014-15 league-leading scorer Robin Carlson and runner-up Garrett Glasman. Despite that, though, Blackfalds managed to hold their own, especially in the sec-ond half of the season when a few of those players returned.

“We’ve had a hell of a run. With all of the injuries and stuff that we went through, I think it’s a great year,” Neumeier said.

Blackfalds fi nished the regular season with a 22-12-4 record, enough to put them in fourth place in the North and set up a best of three elimination round meeting with the Three Hills Thrashers. Blackfalds swept the series in two games, including an 8-2 romp in Three Hills in game two, to move on to the best of seven Conference semi-fi nal series.

That second round was never going to be easy, though. As the fourth place team, the Wranglers

were the lowest ranked of the four teams that moved on to the semis, which meant they would have to play the fi rst place Colts, a team against who they posted only a 1-3-0 record during the regular season.

And the disparity between the two clubs showed during game one in Didsbury.

“Game one should have been ours. That was one that got away in fi ve minutes. They scored two goals in the fi rst two minutes and then three goals in three minutes in the third and that can’t happen. That was one that

we had to have,” Neumeier said of the 5-2 loss during which the Wranglers out shot their oppo-nents 32-31 and went 0 for 9 on the power play.

Game two in Blackfalds, Neumeier said, was a slightly dif-ferent story, despite the 7-2 loss.

“The score in the second game didn’t really indicate that game at all. They had an empty net goal, we made a late push. The game was a little closer.”

Then came game three, which wasn’t nearly as pretty.

“Last night we laid a bit of an egg,” Neumeier said of

the third game, during which Mountainview trounced the Wranglers 7-1 to take a 3-0 se-ries lead and push them to the brink of elimination.

That set the stage for game four, which was hands down the best game Blackfalds played throughout the entire series.

They kept it close throughout the entire game, never falling behind by more than one goal. Blackfalds trailed 3-2 heading into the third but a late goal by Tyrell McCubbing, his second of the night, tied the game in dramatic fashion to send it to overtime.

Unfortunately for Blackfalds, the celebration was short-lived.

A quick scramble in front of Blackfalds goaltender Nicolas Herrebrugh and a quick fl ip of the Colts’ Ryan Klinck just 1:19 into OT spelled the end of the game and, with it, the Wranglers’ season.

Part of what makes the Colts so good is that they are excellent at exploiting the opportunities that they are given.

Over their four game series with Mountainview they man-aged to outscore the Wranglers 23-9, despite being out shot in two of the games. They had a shooting percentage of 15.2, which is incredibly high for a four-game series.

To put that in perspective, when the Chicago Blackhawks swept the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2015 NHL playoffs, they outscored the Wild 13-7 despite being out shot 131-113. They posted a shooting per-centage of 11.5 in that series and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

“They’re fi rst for a reason. That’s a good hockey team. We can’t be devastated that we lost to them, we’re the underdogs. On paper we were supposed to lose but you still never like to,” Neumeier said.

Despite the disappointing end to the season, the coach added he’s optimistic about what next year might hold.

“I think next year we’re going to be strong. Those affi liate play-ers that we had are really good and they’re going to come join us. We might lose fi ve or six guys but we get fi ve or six APs that are ready to jump in too. We’re going to miss our 21-year-olds, they’re phenomenal people and great athletes but I think next year we’ll be really strong.”

[email protected]

TOUGH LOSS - From left, Evan Ingram and Jacob Vander Zaag of the Mountainview Colts celebrated team-mate Ryan Klinck’s overtime winner while goaltender Nicolas Herrebrugh and defenseman Curtis Rajotte of the Blackfalds Wranglers looked on during game four of the best of seven HJHL North Conference semi-fi nal at the Blackfalds Multiplex on Sunday. The Colts won the game 4-3 in overtime to sweep the Wranglers in four straight games. Zachary Cormier/Lacombe Express

ATHLETES - The Zone 4 female hockey team fi nished fi rst in Pool A at the recent Alberta Winter Games. The team battled hard in the gold semi-fi nal only to fi nd a loss four minutes into overtime. They fi nished the 2016 Alberta Winter Games strong battling the fi rst place Pool B winner for the bronze. Unfortunately, with a few minutes left in the third, the opposing Zone 6 squeezed them out by one goal. The girls fi nished fourth overall. Players from the Lacombe area include Hailey Hoogkamp, Zoe Lorenz-Boser, Racheal Wood and Julie Wagner. photo submitted

It’s going to be a very busy weekend around the rinks in Lacombe.

The 2016 Ringette Alberta AA Provincial Championships are set to kick off in the city this week, with the top teams in the province competing for the chance to repre-sent Alberta on the nation-al stage.

“It’s really a neat thing for us,” said Shawn Wagar, the media contact for the Central Alberta Sting AA Ringette Club, who are hosting the tournament this year and are represent-ing Lacombe.

“You get lots of parents and grandparents and friends coming out to watch the various games and for us to have it in Central

Alberta is pretty cool.”More than 20 teams

across all three divisions of AA ringette in Alberta will be in the city to take part in the tournament, which runs from Friday through Sunday this week, with the opening cere-monies taking place on Thursday evening.

“It’s a very prestigious tournament. If you win the tournament at the 16 or the 19 level, you rep-resent Alberta and be-come Team Alberta for Nationals and if you win it at the 14 level you become Team Alberta to go on to Westerns, so there’s some incentive there too,” said Wagar, who coached the CA Sting U14AA team to a Provincial Championship in St. Albert last season.

The majority of the games this weekend will

take place at the Barnett Arenas in Lacombe, with a few scattered matchups at the Dawe Centre in Red Deer.

“The games start off early Friday morning and go all the way until Sunday and Sunday’s the champi-onship round, so our play-offs will be in the morning and then the gold medal games will go later in the day,” Wagar said.

All three Central Alberta Sting teams are going into the tournament in a good position to compete.

“Our U19s are having a great New Year, here. They’re coming in ranked very high,” said Wagar, adding the team won a pair of back to back tour-naments in January, in-cluding the prestigious Calgary Golden Ring.

The U16 Sting, he said, are coming off two very successful weekends playing in Vancouver and Regina, where they played Team Saskatchewan.

“They ended up winning four of fi ve in Vancouver and then two of three in Saskatchewan,” Wagar said, adding the U14 team also made the trip out to Vancouver where they swept their series.

“We’re all coming in on a fairly good high.”

In addition to the great ringette, tournament at-tendees on Saturday after-noon will have the oppor-tunity to meet six mem-bers of Canada’s National Ringette team and have their picture taken with the World Championship Trophy, which Canada won in December.

“They’re going to do some autographs and some things like that.”

All three Central Alberta Sting teams are in action on Friday, with the U19s starting at 8:15 a.m., the U14s at 12:15 p.m. and the U16s at 1:45 p.m. All of those games take place at the Barnett Arenas.

[email protected]

Public Meeting to Discuss Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Use

on Gull Lake Environmental Reserve

Interested persons are invited to attend a community meeting to discuss this matter on March 8th at 7pm at the

Lacombe County Municipal building on Spruceville road.

Please refer to the article on our website at www.lacombecounty.com and in the February County News. If you have any questions or concerns please contact

Blayne West, Environmental Coordinator at 403-782-8959

County Room Lacombe Memorial Centre

5214 - 50 Avenue

www.lacombeminorsoft ball.comRegistration forms

& Information available @

Feb 29th 2016 @ 7:00pm

Lacombe Minor

Soft ballAGM/AGM/

REGISTRATION REGISTRATION NIGHTNIGHT

18 LACOMBE EXPRESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016SPORTS

COMPETITORS - The Zone 4 ringette team attended the Alberta Winter Games in Medicine Hat earlier this month. The team is made up of players from Lacombe and Red Deer. Top row from left are Ami Rintoul, Kaylee Ludlow, Megan Taylor, Erin Musselman, Kianna Doyle, Katelyn Litwin, Victoria Derwantz, Holland Wagensveld, Bev Smith and Melissa Drake. Middle row from left are Aspen Dorn, Sierra Hilman, Kaylie Lyons, Adrienne Boudreau, Cassidy Lyons, Kaity Engel, Elyssa Leedahl. Bottom row from left are Camyrn Hutchison and Kendra Pollock. photo submitted

Central Alberta Sting ready to host provincials

BY ZACHARY CORMIERLACOMBE EXPRESS

PUBLIC NOTICE Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Hearing An objection has been made to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board against a February 3, 2016 decision made by the City of Lacombe MunicipalPlanning Commission to approve an application for conversion of two vacant commercial spaces to residential use, within a mixed use commercial/residential building at C3 and C4, 4425 Heritage Way, Blocks 41 and 42, Plan 052 3783, zoned C2, with a 53 percent variance to the amount of space required to be designated for commercial use within the mixed use commercial/residential building to allow for the additional residential suites. The appeal relates to effects on the value and business growth of an occupied commercial bay.

TIME OF HEARING: 7:00 p.m.DATE OF HEARING: March 9, 2016PLACE OF HEARING: City Hall Council Chambers City of Lacombe Municipal Office 5432 56 Avenue, Lacombe

Any person affected by the proposed development may present a brief at the hearing. Written submissions should be presented to the Secretary of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, and must be received no later than 1:00 PM on Friday, March 4, 2016.

DATE of First Publication: February 25, 2016 DATE of Second Publication: March 3, 2016

For information contact: Secretary, Subdivision and Development Appeal BoardPhone: 403.782.1287

2015

Inspiring Change for 37 years!

FriSat

Sun4 5 612pm-8pm

10am-6pm10am-5pm

www.RedDeerHomeShow.ca

Mark Your Calendars!

MARCH 4, 5 & 6thMARCH 4, 5 & 6th2016

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 LACOMBE EXPRESS 19

HOMES & LIVING

Lately there has been a great inspiration for change in my life.

When I switched my career last fall it felt like jumping out of an airplane but the free fall was exhilarating and life affi rming. I am always looking for new ways to reinvent myself and sometimes I can get ahead of what life is actually offering me. Now that I am working on selling homes I fi nd that the reach back into what is comfortable and safe is all too tempting and when the new path I am on gets diffi cult I’m fi ghting the urge to run back to what is familiar.

It can take a great deal of courage to step out into something new, like a new home or a new life.

There will be times of doubt and many days of panic as you wonder what the heck you have done to yourself. Whether you are bidding on a new home or tearing

down walls in your existing house that ini-tial leap can be terrifying and sometimes that fear can completely stop the progress. The journey to success begins with a sin-gle step, so how do you dig down and fi nd the courage to put that fi rst foot out?

It is a matter of being alright with the outcome and to believe in your ability to make good decisions.

I know that my home has potential for rental income and I’ve got to take the big leap to develop the basement and trust that this is the best decision for my future both with added revenue and for

future sale.Many people hold off on home renova-

tions until they are just about to list and then do all the things that they had been planning for years.

If a renovation is planned well and bud-geted correctly you can benefi t from the immediate enjoyment or increased reve-nue without worrying about when you will sell the home, it is a win-win situation.

I always advise people who are unsure to take baby steps; paint a wall or buy new accessories. I had a client last week who started by painting one wall and soon area rugs and accessories were purchased.

The thrill of accomplishment was palpa-ble for her and I was so happy to see her be able to start making this house (that I had sold her) into her home. It just took a fi rst step and I know that the fi re has been lit and that she and her husband will be

diving into some more signifi cant home renovations soon!

Many times we fear stepping out be-cause we don’t want to look foolish or like we don’t know something.

I was hanging out with my new beau on Valentine’s Day and his dad called and wanted help feeding the cows because he had broken his arm. I was invited to help and to ride on the back of the tractor! I’m a city girl through and through and had to swallow my pride and climb up on that beast to take hay out to the large, stinky beasts. Before too long I was in the tractor learning how to drive – me in my sparkly nails and blinged out jewelry was quite a site shifting gears!

Have courage, grab onto that next project with confi dence and just go for it!

Kim Wyse is a local freelance designer. Find her on Facebook at ‘Ask a Designer’.

Don’t be afraid to explore fresh design ideasKim

WYSE

WITH A VIEW - This upstairs lounge area in a Colbray Homes show home in Blackfalds features large windows, offers views of the surrounding neighbourhood and gives the room an open feel. Zachary Cormier/Lacombe Express

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