Quitter Quitter Quitter

MAY 2010
EVENTS
in Calgary
Be a
LITTER
Quitter
Mother’s Day
IDEAS
To advertise in this space, call 403-880-1819
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
3
In Our City
Signal Hill Community Association
403-246-4848
www.shca.ca
Elected Officials
Alderman:
Joe Connelly
403-268-2430
[email protected]
MLA:
Ron Liepert
403-216-5439
[email protected]
MP:
Rob Anders
403-292-6666
[email protected]
Suburban Journals Publishing
Editor & Article Submissions:
[email protected]
Submission deadlines for this monthly publication are
the 10th of the month, prior to the distribution month.
Advertising Sales:
Pam
403-880-1819
[email protected]
The ad booking deadline is the 14th of the month prior to
the distribution month.
This publication is published 12 times a year by
Suburban Journals Publishing and delivered to residents
by Canada Post. This publication is also available for
pickup from local retail outlets.
Please note: the information and opinions in this
newsletter are subject to change, and do not necessarily
represent the opinions of the publisher or editor. Content
contained in this publication may not be reproduced
without the written consent of Suburban Journals Publishing. The information herein is believed accurate but
not warranted so. Any advertisements, home businesses,
babysitters & nannies, or other parties listed in the
Signal Hill Suburban Journal should not be interpreted
as recommendations or endorsements by the editor or
the publisher.
Signal Hill
Library
Library Renovations: During construction, programs will be reduced
significantly. Check out programs at
other library locations.
Self Checkout Stations: You can
check out your own materials without
waiting in line while staff handles
more complex transactions.
Program for Kids
• Lost in Time, the 2010 Summer
Reading Adventure: Starts on Thu.
Jun. 17. Scavenger hunt on Sat.
Jun. 19, between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m.
Visit www.calgarypubliclibrary.com
for more information on these
programs. Registration is required for
all programs unless otherwise noted.
Wage Gap
Persists
According to a recent report from
the Parkland Institute, Canada-wide,
women's full-time, full-year median
earnings were 74% of men's. But in
Alberta in 2007, the median income
for women working full-time, fullyear—in good, stable jobs—was 66%
of what men earned. Alberta has the
largest pay gap in Canada between
women and men, says the Institute.
To learn more about this issue, go to
www.parklandinstitute.ca.
Literacy Facts
• 40% of adult
Albertans do
not have the
literacy skills
needed to
reach their full
potential in our
knowledgebased society.
• In Alberta 30%
of youth drop
out of high
school.
• At least 10% of Albertans have a
learning disability and more than
80% of these individuals have difficulty learning to read.
• 44% of adult Albertans do not
have basic math skills; almost
50% have low-level problem solving skills.
• Most people who contact literacy
programs in Alberta were born in
Canada and speak English as their
first language.
• People with low literacy are
more likely to be unemployed,
have low-paying jobs and poorer
health.
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
5
In Our City
Events In and Around Calgary
"Believe It" Youth Singers of Calgary: May 6, 4:00 p.m., Southern
Alberta Jubillee Auditorum. Calgary's
youth bring singing and dancing
together in their 25th anniversary production. www.youthsingers.org
Wine and Wishes: May 6, Halo
Restaurant & Lounge. Annual FundRaiser in support of The Rainbow
Society of Alberta. Five course menu
with wines chosen to complement
each course. http://www.rainbowsociety.ab.ca/calgary/pageTwo.asp
Sears Stars on Ice: May 9, Pengrowth
Saddledome. Visitors will be dazzled
by professional skaters in striking costumes, telling stories through movement on ice-skate. www.starsonice.ca
Madison Violet & The John Henrys
No Ordinary Highway Tour:
May 10, Ironwood Stage. Featuring
the 2010 Juno Nominee Madison Violet and The John Henrys, who will be
touring their new album White Linen.
www.truenorthrecords.com/noht
Earth Science for Society Exhibition: May 10 – 11, Stampede Corral.
Youth can experience a once-in-a-decade opportunity to learn about earth
sciences through hands-on exhibits.
Admission is FREE. http://www.
geocanada2010.ca/geocanada/earthscience-for-society.html
Take Off Your Clothes clothing
swap: May 15, Belgo. Clean out your
closets and come on down for some
great music and eco-friendly shopping.
www.theswapteam.org
Rock Against Abuse 2010: May 22,
Ceili''s Irish Pub & Restaurant. A
benefit concert in support of Calgary
Tickets, admission or registration may be required
for events. Event details are believed correct as of
press time but may change at any time.
Women''s Emergency Shelter. Featuring: The Time Machine, Kensington
Road and The A Cappella Fellas.
www.soundloftstudios.com/rockagainstabuse2010.htm
Calgary International Children's
Festival: May 25 – 30, EPCOR
CENTRE for the Performing Arts and
Olympic Plaza. Presenting a diverse
line-up of performances and workshops in theatre, music, dance, puppetry & more. www.calgarychildfest.org
6th Annual Scotiabank Calgary
Marathon: May 30. A challenging,
competitive event with a race designed
for participants of all fitness levels
and abilities, including a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 4 X 10K
corporate challenge, 5K family walk/
run and a kids’ marathon.
www.calgarymarathon.com
Mayor's Environment Expo: Jun.
1 – 3, Municipal Building. An interactive event for students. Everyone is
welcome to visit the 50+ booths from
the City of Calgary, environmental
organizations and Calgary businesses,
showcasing their action programs and
products to reduce our impact on the
environment. All teachers required to
register. www.calgar.ca/mee
The Heebee-Jeebees: Jun. 3, The
Vertigo Theatre. An internationally
acclaimed, award-winning comic a
cappella group will be performing at
the to help raise money for the Federation of Calgary Communities.
www.calgarycommunities.com
Carifest Calgary 2010: June 5 – 12,
Shaw Millenium Park. Sights and
sounds of the Caribbean fill Calgary's
Downtown. Includes a Caribbean Gos-
pel Concert, the Friday Night Gala,
and the Carifest Parade down Stephen
Ave. http://www.carifestcalgary.com
14th Annual Betty’s Run for ALS:
Jun. 13, North Glenmore Park.Prizes,
live entertainment, food & refreshments, children’s activities, massage
therapists. Registration forms at any
Calgary Running Room Location.
www.runningroom.com
Concerts
• Brooks & Dunn “Last Rodeo”
Tour: May 4, Pengrowth
Saddledome
• Wailin’ Jennys: May 9, Knox
United Church
• Charley Pride: May 10, Jubilee
• Our Lady Peace: May 10 & 11,
Jack Singer
• Danny Bhoy: May 14, MacEwan
Hall
• Celtic Woman: Songs from the
Heart: May 18, Stampede Corral
• Gerry and the Pacemakers:
May 29, Deerfoot Inn & Casino
• Nickelback: May 31, Pengrowth
Saddledome
• Xavier Rudd: May 30 & 31,
Banff Centre
• Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles:
Jun. 3, Stampede Corral
• Star Wars in Concert: Jun. 26
Pengrowth Saddledome
• Lilith: Jun. 27, McMahon Stadium
Festivals
• Calgary Comedy Festival:
Apr. 29 – May 9
• Calgary International Children’s
Festival: May 25 – 29
• Calgary Jazz Festival: Jun. 21 – 27
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
7
In Our City
An Inside Look at Calgary’s Water
The City of Calgary produces some
of the world’s highest quality
drinking water.
From the river to your home
Calgary’s main sources of drinking
water are the Bow and Elbow Rivers. From the river to the tap and back
to the river, your water is vigorously
tested for about 150 parameters. The
City’s Water Services works 365 days
a year to bring you the highest quality
drinking water. Before re-entering the
rivers, The City’s leading-edge wastewater treatment facilities clean water
from homes, businesses and industries.
A leader in water management
The new Pine Creek wastewater
treatment plant has been celebrated
by international organizations for its
innovative technology and treatment
standards. Currently serving more than
250,000 Calgarians and processing
roughly 100 mega litres of wastewater
a day, the plant has the largest tertiary
filtration system in all of Canada.
Pine Creek was designed with the
ability to expand to serve our growing
population for the next 30 years, helping to ensure we’re doing our part to
protect the integrity of our water well
into the future.
Be water-wise
We all play an important role in keep-
A heartfelt motherdaughter story
ing Calgary’s water supply safe and
clean. The storm drains located on
your street empty directly into the rivers. Remember that what you put on
your lawn or property can be washed
into the river when it rains or snow
melts. Here are some simple things
you can do to protect the health of
Calgary’s rivers:
• Sweep walkways and driveways
instead of hosing dirt and debris into
the storm drain.
• Scoop pet waste before runoff carries
it to the storm drain.
• Limit the use of fertilizers that can
also be carried away be runoff.
Water from your home also ends up
returning to the river after treatment.
To keep the treatment plant from
having to work harder, dispose of
household chemicals at designated fire
stations and landfills. Call 3-1-1 for a
location near you.
What is “Cloud Computing?”
In simplest terms, the "cloud" is a big
computer or big hard drive that's not
physically attached to your computer.
It could be hundreds or thousands of
miles away from you, but your files
and even the computer programs you
work with are stored on this hard
Traveling with
Pomegranates
drive. You access your files or programs over an internet connection, so
even if your computer breaks down,
all your files and programs are safe.
You can also access your favorite
programs or files from anybody's computer anywhere.
If you are a
mother, and you
have a daughter
in her twenties, this is a
must-read. Sue
Monk Kidd, the
author of the
best-selling The
Secret Life of Bees, has teamed-up
with her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor
to write this “memoir.” It gets to the
heart and soul of a mother-daughter
relationship.
Traveling with Pomegranates
(Viking) takes the 50+ mother and
the 20+ daughter over a number of
travels to Greece and France. Together they discover each other and
their inner selves. As readers we
share the sadness, pain, joy—and
insights—of their journeys.
Every mother will recognize Sue’s
struggle: “I realize I’m still trying
to work out the boundaries. How to
love her without interfering. How
to step back and let her have her
private world and yet still be an
intimate part of it. When she talks
about her feelings, I have to consciously tell my self she wants me to
receive them, not fix them.”
This book is a perfect gift for mom
or daughter—whatever their ages.
Book of the Month
MAY 2010
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
9
In Our City
It Starts with You…
Be a Litter Quitter Today!
Spring is here and we look forward to
warm days, budding leaves, and green
grass. Unfortunately when the snow
melts, we encounter what is left on the
ground…litter and properties that need
a good spring clean. What can we do
to clean up our City so it reflects a safe
and healthy environment?
Awareness
• Aside from in an appropriate receptacle, waste must not be disposed of
on any public property.
• If a vehicle is involved in a littering
offence, the registered owner of that
vehicle may be charged.
• The improper disposal of burning
material, including lit cigarettes,
may result in an increased fine. Not
only is this unsightly, but it poses a
potential fire risk.
Fines
• Littering: $500
• Littering from a vehicle: $750
• Disposing of burning litter: $1,000
Education
The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw
Services will be promoting a Litter
Idling Linked to
Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Did you know that for every litre of
gasoline used, the average car produces about 2.3 kilograms of carbon
dioxide—the principal greenhouse gas
linked to climate change?
This may not seem like much, however today, Canadians own more than
19 million vehicles. We typically drive
more than 300 billion kilometres per
year, emitting more than 85 million
tonnes of greenhouse gases.
campaign the last week of April and
first week of May.
Action
Get involved and be a proud Calgarian
who takes pride in their City by:
• Picking up litter.
• Keeping your property tidy.
• Getting involved in a community
clean up.
Visit calgary.ca/bylaws or call 3-1-1
for more information.
Animal & Bylaw Services
Did you know this about Calgary?
• Calgary had Canada’s highest personal income per capita in 2009 at $54,422.
• Our city had the highest retail sales per capita in 2009 at $16,438.
• Calgary had the highest concentration of head offices among the Census
Metropolitan Areas of Canada. In 2006, it boasted 9.7 major corporate headquarters per 100,000 population. By 2008, it reached a concentration of 10.1
head offices per 100,000 population.
• We had the second highest labour force growth of all major Canadian cities
in 2009 at 2.5%.
Source: Calgary Economic Development.
So it's easy to see that changing the
way we drive—even slightly—can
have a big impact on our wallets and
the environment. For example, if all
drivers reduced unnecessary idling
by three minutes a day, every day,
we would save more than $630 million per year (assuming a fuel cost
of $1/litre). What's more‚ we would
eliminate 1.4 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
This change would save more than
630 million litres of fuel and be the
equivalent of taking 320,000 cars off
the road for the entire year.
News Canada. Source: Natural Resources
Canada, www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca.
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
11
In Our City
Window & Balcony Safety
With the return of warmer weather,
Alberta Health Services EMS would
like to remind parents of an often
overlooked hazard in the home – open
windows.
Every year, paramedics respond to
emergencies where a child has fallen
from an open window in their house—
often from the second floor. Falls such
as these are preventable by taking
time to assess your home and ensuring
windows are safe.
Windows and screens:
• Move furniture such as cribs, beds,
stools, and change tables away from
windows to prevent access to them.
• Keep drapery cords out of childrens’
reach. Wrap excess cord around
cleats or tie-downs to avoid a choking hazard.
• Screens are designed to keep bugs
out, NOT to keep children in!
Balconies:
• Do not underestimate a child’s ability to climb. Furniture and other
items stored on balconies and decks
can be used to climb resulting in falls
over the railing.
• Consider installing a balcony guard
to eliminate access between the vertical bars of a balcony or deck.
Further prevention tips:
• Children aged one to four are at
highest risk of falling from a window
or balcony.
• Direct supervision of children is the
single most effective way to prevent
falls from windows and balconies.
• Consider installing safety devices
which limit windows opening to a
maximum of 4 in or 10 cm.
• Ensure the safety device can be
released quickly so the window can
be used for escape in case of fire or
other emergency.
Take time to assess your home for
window and balcony hazards and
eliminate the risks before a preventable fall occurs.
Alberta Health Services
100th Anniversary of Calgary’s
Chinatown
The present Chinatown was established
in 1910. Before the current location,
there were two other locations, one destroyed by the “Great Fire,” the other
moved to make room for the railway
station. According to the Census of
Canada, the population of Calgary
Hudsons
Doesn’t Measure Up
Hudsons Canadian Tap House,
601 12 Ave. S.W.
For a pub that boasts about their
“world class kitchen” and “fine pub
grub”, they sure don’t live up to the
hype—the food was mediocre at
best. The nachos were abnormally
salty, the mini burgers were dry and
over priced, the cream of broccoli
soup was served warm, the pot stickers and spring rolls were overcooked.
The menu had no low calorie
options. If you are trying to eat
healthy, this is not the place to eat.
The service wasn’t much better.
Getting a drink at the bar took quite
a while and it was painful watching
the bartender try to mix a martini.
Once seated, our server brought me
the wrong drink, then spilled the
replacement drink all over our table
and food. The next drink took over
15 minutes to arrive because the
bar wasn’t stocked with the proper
amount of alcohol. Needless to say,
I was not impressed.
The pub’s décor was the only thing
that stood out. Canadian memorabilia adorned the walls and TV’s
were everywhere. I could tell that
this would be a great place to watch
the game with a bunch of friends,
but be sure to eat before you go. I,
however, have no desire to return.
Megan Hidson
then was just over 43,700 people, of
whom 485 were Chinese (three being
women).
Food * *
Atmosphere * * * *
Service * *
Watch for lots of exciting cultural
events to mark the celebration of this
historic part of Calgary.
Restaurant Review
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
13
Your Family
This Mother’s
Day: Save a Life
This year, the day to celebrate Mothers is on May 9, 2010. The usual
itinerary is brunch, flowers, gifts, and
cards. Why not change it up this year.
The Sport Chek Annual Mother’s Day
Run/Walk would be a great active
way to celebrate motherhood. The
proceeds from this event go towards
funding and purchasing equipment
for the neonatal intensive care unit,
and special care nurseries at the Peter
Lougheed, Rockyview, and Foothills
Hospitals. Spending time with your
family exercising is a healthy way to
celebrate and will potentially help
save lives.
Go to www.mdrunandwalk.com to
register and pledge. Registration for
individuals closes at midnight on
May 5, 2010.
Megan Hidson
“Every mother thinks her child is beautiful.”
Yiddish proverb
Mother’s Day Ideas
Many fun activities are spread
throughout Calgary to celebrate
Mothers on Sunday May 9, 2010.
• The Calgary Zoo is putting on a
brunch, and will also educate the
family on the different roles that
animal mothers play in nature.
Go to www.calgaryzoo.com for
details.
• Flowers are always nice, but why
not personalize it a bit more?
Find out your mom's birth month
flower and get a bouquet of those.
You could try mixing it up too,
how about planting a tree in your
mother’s honour.
• Breakfast in bed is an oldie; but
a goodie. Just remember to use a
tray!
• For a Mom who likes adventure,
you could plan a bike ride or hiking trip at Nose Hill Park, Edworthy Park, or outside of the city.
Pack a homemade Mother's Day
card and a picnic lunch in your
back pack.
• Surprise your mom with a night on
the town. For example: movie or
theatre tickets and a gift certificate
to her favourite restaurant.
“A busy mother makes
a lazy daughter.”
Irish proverb
• A lot of mothers enjoy being pampered. How about a gift certificate
at the spa?
• An inexpensive way to please your
mom is to make a coupon book.
Make coupons for tasks around the
house that your mom usually has to
do. For example:
• Clean bathroom
• Dust shelves
• Do dishes
• Vacuum
• Laundry
You can also throw in coupons
for Hugs and kisses, Lunch with
mom, and Mom time. She will be
impressed for sure!
When trying to find the right gift
idea, remember what this holiday is
celebrating; your mom. Let her know
how much you appreciate her, and
how much you love her. That is, after
all, exactly what she wants.
Megan Hidson
Cut out this section for your family
MAY 2010
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
15
Your Family
Building Study Skills
No matter how smart you are, if you
don’t know how to study, your marks
will never reflect your true abilities. Study time addresses not only
test preparation, but also any form of
schoolwork (ex. book reports, essay
writing).
Effective study skills are not something we’re born with; they’re something that you have to learn and
practice. Studying isn’t just a habit
that you’ll use during your school
years either. If you know how to use
study time effectively, you’ll be able
to translate that into other skills in the
workforce and in life.
4. Decide ahead of time what you
want to accomplish in that scheduled
study time.
5. When you meet your expectation,
reward yourself – ex. meet up with a
friend, have a favourite snack, play a
video game or read a book – anything
you enjoy.
6. Tackle the hardest (and most
disliked) assignment first. Getting
that one done will help you feel like
you’ve really accomplished something
and you’ll sail through the rest.
2. Have a set schedule and place for
to study.
7. There will always be subjects you
don’t enjoy and assignments that seem
insurmountable. Try and find something you enjoy despite your feelings
of loathing and disgust. It will make
it much easier to get through it if you
can find something you like about it.
3. Make sure your study area is comfortable (but not too comfortable – no
napping!) and it’s someplace you like
to spend time.
8. Reread the assignment and corresponding notes before you begin so
that you’re not spending time doing
the assignment incorrectly.
1. Study for short periods at a time
and take regularly scheduled breaks.
Simple Rules for Buying a New Car
Buying a new car this spring? There
are many web sites that can help you
get mentally ready to negotiate a great
deal for this major purchase. Here are
some simple rules from edmunds.com
to steer you in the right direction:
• Don't buy a car in a hurry.
• Eat before you go to the dealership— you might be there for four
hours or more.
• Check the numbers and get as
much information before you begin
negotiating.
• Don't enter negotiations with someone who intimidates you. It should
be a win-win proposition.
• Take risks. Treat negotiating as a
game—know the car salespeople are
doing the same.
• Always, always remember to
walk out if you don't reach a deal
you like.
According to the site, negotiating is
just another way of asking for what
you really want.
9. If you’re struggling with something, it’s okay to call a friend to request assistance or speak to the teacher
to clarify any issues.
10. If it makes it easier, it’s okay to
study with friends, but only if you are
doing schoolwork, not if it’s a social
gathering.
11. Avoid procrastination. The longer
you wait, the harder it is to tackle that
calculus assignment or book report
you’ve been avoiding and the more
work that’s piling up.
12. Remove distractions – for example, if you’re going to be tempted
to answer the phone when you see
it’s your friend calling or can’t help
yourself from texting, study in a room
without a phone or leave your cellphone in another room.
13. Regularly review your notes and
texts so that when test time comes,
you’re ready and not cramming anxiously the night before.
14. Remember why you’re doing this.
You have goals and aspirations, and
realizing them takes hard work!
Roxanne Rizzuto, B.Ed., B.A., T.E.S.L.
MAY 2010
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
17
Home & Garden
Container Gardening:
It’s easier than you think!
A great way to
add colour to
your front porch,
patio, and garden
is to fill planting
pots with annuals.
Container gardening requires less
maintenance than
digging in your
garden. Here are
a few tips to help you get started:
• Choosing a pot is as simple as going to your local garden centre and
picking what you like. A terracotta
pot dries out quicker than a ceramic
glazed pot. Be sure that your pots
have a drainage hole in the bottom.
• Potting soil is best to use in order to
have healthy plants.
• Make sure to choose your plants
based on where they will be located
in your yard. Sun loving annuals in-
Outdoor Living:
This is the Year!
clude marigolds, petunias, lantanas,
and salvia. Shade tolerant flowers
include impatiens, begonias, flowering tobacco, and caladiums. Your
local garden center can help you
choose plants as well.
• Start with larger plants in the centre
and smaller plants towards the edge
of the pot.
• The soil should be kept slightly
moist, like a wrung out sponge. This
may take daily watering. When watering your potted plants, stop when
the water begins trickling out the
drainage hole.
• Fertilize your flowers often to keep
them blooming and healthy throughout the summer.
• Rotate your pots every few days to
ensure even growth.
• Grooming often will also help keep
your pots looking beautiful.
Megan Hidson
Hazards Lurking in Your Home?
The Government of Canada has a new site that provides information on simple
and effective ways to protect your family’s health and to get a free Hazardcheck Guide. Some common health risks you can investigate are household
chemical products, second-hand smoke, carbon monoxide, lead and dangerous
consumer products.
The more you know about the health risks that may be present in your home,
the better you can protect your health and that of your family, notes the site.
Check out www.HealthyCanadians.gc.ca/Hazardcheck.
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled
by a spark from another person.”
Albert Schweitzer
With summer just around the corner, it
is time to get our yards cleaned up and
begin preparations for a season like no
other. Are you tired of seeing those
commercials on TV advertising outdoor furniture and thinking “nobody’s
yard looks like that!”. Well, there is
where you are wrong! With a few
simple inexpensive additions to your
yard, you can create an outdoor living
space to be proud of!
• You would be surprised how different your home can look after a good
pressure wash and window washing.
• Yard clean up is key. Get rid of dead
shrubbery and leaves, trim your trees
and bushes and add a new coat of
paint to your fence and deck.
• If you don’t have a green thumb, you
can fill your garden with low maintenance shrubbery and put flowers in
pots for a hit of colour.
• Line your side walk or fill in spaces
in your garden and around your deck
with solar lights. They add warmth
and dimension to any space.
• Keep your grass fertilized, watered
and trimmed. This will keep your
lawn looking healthy and vibrant all
summer long.
Megan Hidson
MAY 2010
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
19
Home & Garden
Hosting a Successful Garage Sale
As an avid garage saler who has hosted
many successful sales, I have compiled
some ideas to assist in the planning
of your own spring sale. If you want
a successful garage sale, remember
that making money is a bonus; it is the
purging of all your unused treasures
that is the far greater payoff.
Signage: Participating in a community
garage sale is a great opportunity to
get a lot of traffic to your sale. If this is
not possible, you will need signs that
are large, easy to read and placed at
every intersection in your area. Signs
on main streets should be placed well
before the turn. If there can be any
doubt which direction to turn, post a
sign. Also, do not forget to check your
signs a few times during your sale. If
you have a lull of customers, it may be
because one of your signs blew over or
fell down.
Pricing and Product Display: Be
cautious of pricing items too high.
When people perceive your prices
as high, they are less likely to buy
from you. Make offers that encourage
people to buy more. Kids’ books are
great items to do this with. One book
may be twenty five cents but five for
a dollar is even better! If a child is at
your sale and looking at a small toy,
give it to him for free. You will have
a very happy child, a parent who now
has time to look at your higher priced
items, and one less item to drag to a
donation bin.
Do not waste time pricing everything
in your sale as this takes unnecessary
time and effort. Make use of boxes.
Write a price on the side and fill it
up with items of the same value. A
“free” box is a great place for the little
junky items you are unlikely to sell.
For items you want people to
be able to see more easily, use
blankets and have one sign
that applies to all items on that
blanket. Four chairs and a piece
of wood make a great table for
showcasing your merchandise.
String tied between two trees is
an effective way to hang clothing. When you have items that
you want a specific price on,
do not waste money on costly
stickers, masking tape will do
the trick.
Change and Bags: Make buying
easy! Be sure to have enough change
on hand. Want people to buy multiple
items? Provide bags to make it easier
for them to transport purchases.
Hours: The best time for a garage
sale is Saturday between 9:00 a.m.
and 2:00 p.m., being more liberal with
your pricing as the day goes on. At this
point, remove any items you are not
willing to give away, and start telling
all your buyers everything is now free.
Yes, you read that right! Free! People
will cart away free items by the boxful,
saving you the hassle of getting rid of
them yourself.
Balloons: Balloons are wonderful
things, especially at a garage sale!
Place balloons on all your signs and
in your yard and people will flock to
your sale.
At the end of the day, remove all your
signs. Your neighbours will thank you,
not to mention you will need those
signs for the garage sale you will host
next spring. We all swear we will never
accumulate that much junk again, but
we always do! It is not a bad thing either. Without unwanted treasures, there
can be no sale, and garage sales are
fun. Good luck at your next sale!
Dawn Sanson
ATV Maintenance 101
Riding the trails on an all-terrain
vehicle is a great way to spend a warm
day. But regular tune-ups and fixes
are crucial to take proper care of your
four-wheeler.
• A proper clean after each use will
expand your machine's lifespan, so
after each ride close off the exhaust
and air box and clean the ATV
• Check the oil regularly.
• Always clean and lubricate the drive
chain before each ride.
• Make sure the foam air filter is clean
and lubricated.
• Learn to read spark plug colors to
tell whether the engine is working
properly.
• Check the tire pressure regularly.
• Use proper rust-proofing methods to
keep the machine in great shape,.
News Canada, www.giomotors.com
MAY 2010
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
21
Beauty
Pamper Yourself with Essential Oils
Tom Havran, aromatherapy product
developer at Aura Cacia, suggests trying these aromatherapy applications
as original and effective motivational
treats for your senses.
"New you" shower wash: How about
some fresh inspiration every morning
with a natural, home-crafted shower
wash that is much less expensive than
chemical-laden bath products? Start
with 4 ounces of unscented liquid
soap. Add 36 drops of an invigorating essential oil, such as peppermint,
rosemary, tangerine or grapefruit. Use
a bath sponge or loofah to work up the
fragrant lather.
Warming muscle
soother: A great
after-exercise
massage oil will
reward you for
your workout
and inspire you
to maintain your
exercise routine.
Start with 2 ounces of base oil. Add 18
drops of warming, soothing oils, such
as nutmeg, cardamom or eucalyptus.
Learn more about aromatherapy and
essential oils at www.auracacia.com.
The Foot Exposed
OK, it’s time to get out the strappy
sandals and the flip flops, but are your
feet ready? Or have you been ignoring
them all winter?
• Start with a weekly foot soak to
soften the feet. With a pumice stone
rub away dead, dry skin and calluses.
• Push back cuticles on your softened
toes.
• Moisturize, then put your feet in
socks overnight to soften them
even more.
• And don’t forget the polish!
ARA Content
Amazing Nails
Greek or Italian women have a secret when it comes
to olive oil. Among the many beauty uses for the rich
oil, this one will give you amazing nails—especially if
you’re going to be working hard spring cleaning and
gardening.
And it’s simple. Pour a bit of olive oil in a small dish
and soak your nails for 15 to 20 minutes about once a
week. You’ll find your cuticles will be silky soft, and
your nails will be strong and nourished. For an extra
bonus, relax and meditate while you soak it up.
Inspiration for Beauty
Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic. ~Rosalind Russell
I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author Unknown
You can take no credit for beauty at 16. But if you are beautiful at 60, it will be
your soul's own doing. ~Marie Stopes
Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't
want a $50-haircut on a 50-cent head. ~Garrison Keillor
Blueberries for
Your Skin
Want better skin? Swap your morning
blueberry muffin for a pile of fresh
blueberries. According to a study in
the British Journal of Dermatology, a
diet high in sugar can damage collagen, increasing the effects of aging.
Blueberries, on the other hand, are
loaded with vitamin C, which helps
to build collagen and anthocyanins,
which help battle free radicals.
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
23
Fashion
Upgrade Your Wardrobe for Free
You know you desperately need a new
outfit, but you don't have the time or
money to deal with it. To spice up
your closet, why not host an ecofriendly clothes swap party? Here's
how it works:
• Rummage through your closet and
sort out any items that either don't fit
or haven't been worn in six or more
months. When you have at least 10
or more gently-used items, give them
a good wash and move to step two.
• Send an invite to your friends and
ask them to invite their friends as
well. The more people, the better
selection of clothing.
• Set a minimum number of clothes for
each person to bring and ask them to
wash and iron their clothes for the
day of the party.
• Charge an admission fee and donate proceeds to a charity that helps
children and families globally, like
Christian Children's Fund of Canada
www.ccfcanada.ca. Challenge your
guests to think of children and families in other countries.
• The day of the party, assign a station area to each participant and
have them arrange their clothes in
a neat display. Once everyone is set
up, start shopping. Tell participants
to start at the next numeric station
from their own. The person with the
highest station number starts at the
lowest number. For example, if 15
people are participating, the person
at station 15 will begin at station 1.
• Allow each person to spend one
minute per station, selecting one
item only.
• Donate any leftover clothing to a local charity.
By the end of the party, you'll have 10
or more new items to accessorize and
spruce up your look. Best of all, you'll
be helping your friends to not only
look good, but feel good too as they
help local and international charities.
Melissa Yue, News Canada
It’s All in the Bag
Hardware is still a big fashion statement for summer 2010 when it comes to
handbags. The bling of 2009 has now become edgier. Hardware ranges from
chains to studs, to zippers and buckles. Update your bag, and you’ll be updating your summer wardrobe instantly.
More Comfort
in Summer
Footwear
Japanese-style sandals, clogs, and kitten
heels are all making
a summer fashion
statement—to the
great relief of our feet!
Try a pair of clogs with your walking shorts or safari-style shirt dress.
A kitten heel gives you just enough
height to show off your legs in that
soft, summer dress—and you can still
walk. And as always, safari print even
in your lower-heeled sandals can never
go wrong. Thankfully, there are lots
of comfortable options in this year’s
summer shoes.
Lips or Eyes?
There are some fantastic looks for
lips and eyes this season. But fashion
experts are quick to point out you
shouldn’t get carried away. Definitely
don’t try to do everything with your
makeup—all at once.
Pick one feature on your face to
highlight, either your lips or your eyes.
When you go with a bold eye, tone
down the lips. When going with a
bright, bold lip, keep the eyes
lower key.
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
25
Your Health
How About a Tall One? Water That Is…
The body is a remarkable piece of
machinery. When water intake is low,
our body will turn into survival mode
and begin to hold onto all the available
water present in the body. This survival action can cause an increase in your
body weight, swollen feet, legs, hands,
and ankles.
Most people release 1500-2000ml (6-8
glasses) of water just with every day
‘living’, that is, without much extra
movement or sweating. If you are
more active you need to increase you
water intake to compensate for your
additional water loss. A good recommendation is to drink 2-3 liters (8-12
glasses) of water a day. Your body is
made up to 60-70% of water. You need
to help your body perform its everyday
tasks by getting in your recommended
water intake.
The many benefits of increasing your
water intake…
• 75% of all North Americans are
chronically dehydrated.
• In 37% of North Americans, the
thirst mechanism is so weak that it is
often mistaken for hunger.
• Even MILD dehydration will slow
down one’s metabolism by 3%.
• One glass of water will shut down
midnight hunger pains for most
people.
• Lack of water is the #1 trigger for
daytime fatigue.
• Preliminary research indicates that
8-10 glasses of water a day could
significantly ease back and joint pain
for up to 80% of sufferers.
• Drinking 5 glasses of water daily
decreases the risk of colon cancer
by 45%, breast cancer by 79%, and
bladder cancer by 50%.
• A low water intake interferes with
proper fat metabolism.
• Water can be use as a natural laxative
helping to relieve constipation.
• You could loss up to 10 pounds of fat
in one year by just increasing your
water intake.
The take home message is that most of
us need to get more water! Sometimes
we think we’re hungry when we’re
really just dehydrated. Maintaining
positive hydration levels will go a long
way to support your weight loss and/or
maintenance.
With warmer temperatures just around
the corner, it’s more important than
ever to consider your water needs.
Now, go pour yourself a tall one…
Shawna Kaminski
(Thanks to Danielle Cobbett, www.SimplyforLife.com, for some of these useful water facts.)
Test Your Whole Grain IQ
Many Canadians say they are confused
and misguided when it comes to whole
grain facts. Take the quiz and find out
how your knowledge rates.
1. Some whole grain foods aren't
high in fibre, but they still provide the
healthy benefits of whole grain. True
or False?
2. If a food label says “multi-grain,”
“100% whole wheat” or “high fibre”
it will be a whole grain food. True or
False?
3. Most Canadians get enough whole
grains in their diet. True or False?
4. The consumption of whole grains
can help reduce the risk of heart disease and may help with weight maintenance. True or False?
5. The primary reason whole grains
are healthy is due to the fibre they
provide. True or False?
Quiz Answers
1. True. Some whole grains contain a
lot of fibre, but other kinds of whole
grains have less fibre naturally pres-
ent in the grain kernel, and so do the
foods made with them. Either way you
still get the nutritional benefits of the
whole kernel of the grain.
2. False. Only the words “whole” or
“whole grain” mean that the food is
made with all three parts of the whole
kernel of grain. Look for these words
at the top of the ingredient list.
3. False. According to an Ipsos Reid
poll from 2008, six out of 10 Canadians do not get enough whole grain in
their diet.
4. True. We are learning more about
the health benefits of whole grains all
the time.
5. False. Whole grains provide many
other healthy components beyond fibre
such as vitamins, minerals, protein and
phytonutrients. Some whole grains
do not contain a lot of fibre since the
grain kernel they are made from is
naturally lower in fibre.
News Canada. Learn more about
whole grains by visiting www.areyougettingenough.ca.
SIGNAL HILL SUBURBAN JOURNAL
MAY 2010
27
Food & Drink
Asian Noodle Bowl with
Spicy Almond Sauce
Makes: 6 servings
Active Time: 18 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) sliced almonds
• 3/4 pound (340 g) whole-wheat
spaghetti
• 1/2 head broccoli (about 3/4 pound,
340 g), tops cut into flowerets, stems
peeled and sliced thinly
• 2 cups (500 mL, about 4 ounces) of
snow peas, trimmed
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch
pieces
• 1/2 cup (250 mL) of unsalted almond
butter
• 1/4 cup (120 mL) of reduced sodium
soy sauce
• 3 tablespoon (45 mL) fresh lime
juice
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of brown
sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) chili-garlic
sauce, such as Sriracha
• 1 scallion, green part only (about 3
tablespoons, 45 mL)
Directions:
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Toast the almonds in a dry skillet
over a medium-heat heat, stirring frequently, until they are golden, about
3 minutes.
• Cook the pasta according to the
directions on package. Three minutes before the pasta is ready add the
broccoli to the pasta pot. One minute
before it is ready add the snow peas
and red peppers.
• While the pasta is cooking, make the
sauce. Place the almond butter, soy
sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, chiligarlic sauce and three tablespoon of
boiling water (from the pasta pot)
into a large bowl and whisk until
smooth.
• Drain the noodles and vegetables,
return them to the pasta pot, add the
sauce and toss to coat. Serve garnished with the toasted almonds and
scallion greens.
Nutritional analysis per serving,
1 1/2 cups (375 mL):
Calories: 410 kcals, Fibre: 17 g, Total Fat:
16 g, Cholesterol: 85 mg, Saturated Fat:
1.5 g, Sodium: 460 mg, Monounsaturated
Fat: 10 g, Calcium: 135 mg, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g, Magnesium: 181 mg,
Protein: 15 g, Potassium: 626 mg, Carbohydrates: 60 g, Vitamin E: 6.4 mg
News Canada, Developed by Ellie Krieger,
R.D. for the Almond Board of California
A Cup of Tea
to Relax
In 19th century England, a hot cup of tea
was the promise of
a soothing beverage
whenever needed, but
tea was also popular for its medicinal
benefits. A brew of
small-particle leaves, for example, was
found to relieve indigestion — and
indeed, Britain's best-known brand
name, Typhoo, means in part, the Chinese word for doctor.
“The nutritive value of tea has been
the focus in countless studies,” says
Alan Hargreaves, Typhoo Master Tea
Blender. “Tea is thought to be one of
the most relaxing hot beverages and
researchers are comparing notes to
know why. At the same time, a cup of
tea is also revitalizing, perhaps signalling the reason for its popularity in the
workplace. With a single teabag it is
quicker and easier to make than a pot
of coffee—and now that decaf tea is
vastly improved in flavour, there's no
reason at all to limit what it brings.”
News Canada
Old Cheddar Should Be Crumbly
A classic five-year Canadian Cheddar is on par with the best of any fine international cheese. When aged correctly you should get a wonderful combination of the fresh cheddar flavour, the sharpness that has developed with each
passing year of aging, along with a rich but crumbly texture. The flavour
should be pleasing but sharp, and should clear the palette quickly so that
you're ready for some more.
More information, including recipe tips, is available online at
www.baldersoncheese.com.
News Canada