RING SIZING - The Shopper
Shopper The Medicine Hat Week of December 20, 2014 Phone 403-527-5777 Angie’s Best Choice PROPERT Y MANAGEMENT 1001 Kingsway Ave SE 403-580-3666 www.angiesbestchoice.com 1001 Kingsway Ave SE Commercial $1250 +GST 2BR Bungalow $895 3BR $900 262 Railway St Duplex 2BR $795 1144 Bridge Street SE Condo 1BR $750 1214 Dominion St SE #3 Triplex 2BR $995 567 5th St SE Duplex 1+1 BR $995 206 - 105 Main St. S Condo 3BR Town $895 105 Cooney Rd SE House 3BR $1100 317 Southlands Pt SE Condo 209 1 St SE www.shoppergroup.com Our circulation is audited by: "Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend." - Sarah Dessen Like us on: Please call 403-580-3666 for more available rentals. All tenants must carry tenant’s insurance. 108 Pacific Ave, Irvine 431 N. Railway St SE 636 Stark Way SE Glyn Yuhas 1154 Dominion St SE 96 Vista Cl SE 125 5 Ave and 14 Acadia Cres List with Confidence NEW LISTING MH0050620: This classic Irvine 1.5 storey home with loft has many beautiful features including sky light in loft, jetted tub, spacious kitchen area, close to school and rec center. NEW LISTING MH0050634: Own one of Medicine Hat’s most successful antique stores and moving companies, “The Triple E”. Includes 3 buildings. Call for more information. GREAT LISTING MH0050046: Loaded Southridge 2 storey with hot tub ensuite, mainfloor laundry. fireplace, some hardwood, oak kitchen, vaulted ceiling, decorative arches, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, mainfloor den, double attached ... so much more. CUTE AS A BUG’S EAR Community Realty Medicine Hat, AB Cell: MH0049071: River Flats great home for the Bachelor or Bachelorette... complete with a 50x150 ft lot, 24x26 ft double garage and 3 sheds! Clawfoot tub in the bath. NEAT AND CLEAN! MH0047252: 1200 sq ft 3+1 bedroom home in Vista Heights. Features include vaulted ceilings, kitchen, open floor plan, maple cabinets, large master bedroom 3 pce ensuite. Large family room, bedroom, office and 3 pce bath down. ELKWATER MH0033915/MH0024666: Two extraordinary Elkwater homes with new leases and many special features. Call Glyn for more information or go to our website and view the videos. $ 403-548-1414 Res: 413,900/ $ $ $ 165,000 219,900 389,900 89,900 372,800 403-527-1011 264,900 Call Glyn at 403-528-4222 for Day Planners and Calendars • Access all multiple listing properties at www.glynyuhas.com $ $ $ O CHRISTMAS TREE By Barbara Watson “The old man could replace fuses faster than a jack rabbit on a date.” Maybe you know the source of that line. If you don’t, there’s a Christmas movie you might want to rent or buy. Ralphie’s estimations of his father’s abilities to fix things broken, like furnaces and tires, and in this case the fuse that shorted out the lights on the Christmas tree. Like BBs, they are peppered throughout the movie. It’s called A Christmas Story, and is set in the 1950s. An adult Ralphie reminisces about one particular Christmas. We enter the simple world of a time without cell phones, without video games, without robotic dogs, and without dishwashers. But there were daily family dinners as well as soap to wash out the mouth of a little boy heard using the “F bomb”. Ralphie’s memories become the story, and we learn the lessons he learns. There’s profound learning in another classic Christmas movie, this time animated. Charlie Brown’s Christmas also features a Christmas tree. It’s not a silver or a pink aluminum tree, nor yet a pre-decorated, artificial tree. Charlie’s tree is real, but small and not very strong. He is determined to make it represent Christmas although it has dropped a few needles. To add to the pathos, it can’t support a large decoration that Charlie snitches from Snoopy’s abundantly decorated doghouse. When all the children find Snoopy and his pitiable tree, their hearts warm to its potential. Linus, the wise philosopher, places his precious blanket in a tender gesture around the base of the tree. No tree ever had a finer tree skirt. Snoopy’s remaining decorations wind up on Watch for our latest news on Facebook 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL OUR HOMES CALL JENNIFER AT AMRON BUILDER DIRECT SALES 403.952.0712 View more of our homes at www.amronhomes.com The Trepassy 592 Vista Drive SE Charlie got it right, this time the little tree. It is transformed into a strong and beautiful symbol of Christmas. Perhaps the children have given it that strength because they have taken time off from the commercial world to return to a purer spirit of Christmas. A genuine spirit of Christmas is the theme throughout the 1940s film White Christmas. Most people over a certain age know the song, the singer, and some have seen the movie. Youngsters under that certain age will have heard Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”, repeated in every retail store since the beginning of November. Some stores began to crank up their intercom renditions before Halloween. The words are simple, the melody memorable, and the sentiment quite wonderful. “May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white.” The movie begins amidst the noise of bombs and gunfire in a Europe torn by war in 1944. Soldiers, exhausted by the gruesome need to fight the enemy and stay alive, watch some hastily arranged entertainment on Christmas Eve. It’s Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, one the crooner and one the crackpot. Soldiers look at a stage with a semblance of a Christmas tree decorated as elegantly as possible. Bing’s beautiful melody about a white Christmas, totally unlike the one they are experiencing, takes them momentarily to whatever happy Christmas they can remember. The outgoing general allows them one more song, and then the broken walls they’ve used as shelter come crashing down. The remainder of the film begins after the war, as life returns to normal. I haven’t watched it for a few years and look forward to the continuation. Clark Griswold is intent on having a huge tree for his family 1390 sq.ft 2 storey with back lane access. 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths. Master bedroom has large ensuite and walk in closet and second bedroom has walk in closet as well. This home is also built with a convenient main floor laundry room and a 21x26 heated attached garage. Basement can be developed in to an additional bathroom and family room. 344,900 $ with lot and GST! Trendy new floor plans Continued on page 10 RING SIZING DONE ONSITE WITHIN DAYS! 910 910 Allowance Allowance Avenue, Avenue, Medicine Medicine Hat Hat •• 403-526-0467 403-526-0467 •• golddustjewellery.com golddustjewellery.com Page 2, THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014 GREETINGS OF SEASON Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com BOB HERMAN, DVM LEAH TURNER, DVM KENDRA KREMENIUK, DVM MEGAN HERMAN (RISLING), DVM THE phone 403-527-4888 fax 403-527-2060 www.amcsouth.ca email:[email protected] Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. On behalf of the entire Management and Staff, we would like to wish everyone all the Peace, Love, and Prosperity this Holiday Season has to offer and Health and Happiness for 2015. Medicine Hat, MLA #5, 1229 Trans Canada Way SE 403-528-2191 [email protected] Agriculture Automotive FOR SALE: Two 1950’s Ford 8N tractors, not running, can be rebuilt. Phone: (403) 526-4864 or 403-528-7628 (c) FOR SALE: 1952 Chev 4 door, headliner done $800.00. Phone: (403) 548-4950 Automotive FOR SALE: 4 LT 235/75R/15 tires, Spector Advanta, new, only 200 km on them, $50 each. Phone: (403) 502-2785 FOR SALE: 17’ Tandem holiday trailer, clean, $1900 obo. Used RV parts and water tanks for sale. Phone: (403) 502-3405 FOR SALE: 1989 Honda station wagon, 5 speed standard transmission, 4 cyl. 196,000 km. Text: (403) 502-0199 FOR SALE: 4 winter tires with steel rims, Goodyear Nordic, fits 2010 Kia, size 215/65R-16 like new, $100 each. 4 Hankook winter tires 215/70R-16, 80% wear, $75 each. Phone: (403) 581-7050 LOCATED JUST EAST OF CO-OP GAS STATION IN DUNMORE Yuletide Greetings Drew Barnes FOR SALE: 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4, 6 cyl engine, auto, 250,000 km very nice condition, $2200 obo. Phone: (403) 928-8394 59 East 3rd Avenue Dunmore, AB T1B 0L2 Medicine • Surgery • Diagnostic Imaging • Ambulatory • All Species Equine Dentistry and Reproduction • We Care for All Animals, Large and Small Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5:30pm, Sat: 9:00am - Noon 24 hours emergency services available Household FOR SALE: Wood dining table with 2 leaves and 6 padded chairs and matching china cabinet. $300.00. Phone: (403) 527-2444 FOR SALE: Antique fireplace set, includes coal bucket, tools and stand, $75 firm. Phone: (403) 526-8329 Household SUPER DEAL: Spring Air, Mattress/box, brand new still in plastic, $200. Can Deliver. Phone: (403) 526-3628. FOR SALE: Small round table with 4 chairs, $50.00. Phone: (403) 527-2444 FOR SALE: Kenmore stove white true convection self cleaning, glass top, very clean $150.00 obo. Air King stove hood fan, internal vent, clean. $25.00 obo. Phone: (403) 5261799 QUEEN SIZE MATTRESS & BOX: New, orthopedic pillow-top, mattress. Still in plastic. Sell for $280. Can deliver. Phone: 403-5263628 • Dr. Bob Herman has over 30 years of experience with Beef and Dairy Cattle. He pregnancy checks thousands of cows every fall and semen tests thousands of bulls each spring. • Dr. Leah Turner has over 30 years experience in Equine Reproduction taking her first of several short courses in Al at Colorado State University in 1978. She is a member of the ICEVO and has taken many courses in Equine Dentistry. • Dr. Kendra Kremeniuk has over 10 years experience working with small animals. • Dr. Megan Herman (Risling) who has just graduated from UCVM in Calgary with her DVM. She has worked with us in the summers since 2009 and comes to us with lots of experience and familiarity with our operation. Megan is willing to work with large and small animals, but cats are her favorite! • Dr. Cheryl Cant occasionally comes out of retirement to help us on orthopedic cases. CLASSI- Hours and Deadlines CLASSI FIED ADVERTISING DEADLI NES: Publishing Date Saturday, Dec 27, 2014 Saturday, Jan 3, 2015 Deadline Monday, Dec 22, 5 p.m. Monday, Dec 29, 5 p.m. bring your item to the Medicine Hat Shopper before Tuesday 5:00 pm and... 922 Allowance Ave. SE (403) 527-5777 Publishing Date Saturday, Dec 27, 2014 Saturday, Jan 3, 2015 Deadline Tuesday, Dec 23, noon Tuesday, Dec 30, noon The Medicine Hat Shopper will be CLOSED Thursday, December 25, 2014 Friday, December 26, 2014 Thursday, January 1, 2015 922 Allowance Ave SE Phone: 403-527-5777 Fax: 403-526-7352 Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. www.shoppergroup.com -or bring your own picture for ONLY.... Miscellaneous FOR SALE: 2 love seats, 1 recliner, coffee and end tables with 2 table lamps and 1 pole lamp, $100 for all. Phone: (403) 527-2444 FOR SALE: 1989 Suzuki King quad, 300cc, runs good $750.00. Phone: (403) 5805889 or 403-502-3325 (c) FOR SALE: Cuckoo clocks, mantle clocks and wall clocks, $50 to $450. Phone: (403) 5262567 Cell: 403-866-6217 BEDROOM SUITE: Extreme value 3pc bedroom suite, new still in boxes, $499. Can deliver. Phone: 403-5263628 Hunting FOR SALE: 12,16 and 20 ga shotguns.22 rifles. New spotting scope.94 44-40 Winchester.New ice fishing hut.Phone: (403) 580-9922 FOR SALE: Medalta crocks from 1 gal. to 40 gal., also butter churns 3 gal. to 10 gal. Ice water coolers, butter crocks, 3 lb - 5 lb & 10 lb sizes. Cookie jars and cream pitchers with ships. What do you want of Medalta? 1 gal. Medicine Hat Pottery Co. limited salt glaze crock - Rare. $300. Medalta Stoneware 1916 to 1920 Indian head dress crocks plus Alberta Potteries pieces with beaver stamps, large and small stamps. Phone: (403) 548-4950 FOR SALE: 1974 Matel big Jim sky commander airplane $50.00. Phone: (403) 526-5194 MISSING: Missing from Crestwood area Honda keys with remote starter. If found please contact Medicine Hat Police> FOR SALE: Cow skulls $20.00. Phone: (403) 548-4950 WANTED: Pottery crock lids wanted, all sizes. Phone: (403) 548-4950 15 $$ We Take The Picture! Household CLASSIFIEDS SELL!! DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADL INES: sell your stuff fast with CLASSI-PIX! PIX Here’s How: NEW KING MATTRESS: New King Mattress, orthopedic pillow top. Still in plastic. Sell for $400. Can deliver. Phone: 403-5263628 Office Holiday Hours Dec. 24th: 8:30am - 12 Noon Dec. 25th to 28th: CLOSED Dec.29th & 30th: 8:30am -5:30pm Dec. 31st: 8:30am - 12 Noon Jan. 1st: CLOSED Jan. 2nd: 8:30am - 5:30pm Jan 3rd: 9:00am - 12 Noon 00 00 (for 25 words or less) INCLUDES GST ALL ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID FOR RENT #1 Hwy Frontage Office / Showroom For lease. Includes all utilities and taxes. 1125 sq. ft. $1,500/month 403-952-4071 Miscellaneous FOR SALE: Fancy, black/black white face stock bred to start calving February 2015, priced to sell. For more information contact Joe Chappell 509-3014402 Milton-Freewater. FOR SALE: Buffalo skulls $95.00. Phone: (403) 548-4950 FOR SALE: Mens 100% muskrat hat, extra large, $100.00. Phone: (403) 5268329 FOR SALE: 3 HP ice auger Jiffy. Fire proof coveralls size XXX. Phone: (403) 487-1952 or 403502-2534 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Medicine Hat Co-op is seeking nominations from members who are interested in serving as a director of the Co-op. There are three positions available: Three for a three year term. All Nominees ... 1. Must have been a member for 2 years. 2. Must reside within trading area. 3. Must have purchases equal to or greater than $3,500.00. 4. Must be 18 years of age or older. 5. Must provide copy of current criminal record check. Nomination form must be completed and received by no later than 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 24, 2014 to the attention of: Nominating Committee Medicine Hat Co-op 100, 3030 - 13th Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1B 1E3 A copy of the nomination form can be picked up at the above address or printed off our webpage www.medicinehatcoop.ca. For further information, please contact the Co-op Administration Office at 403-528-6620 or call Sue Edwards at 403-528-9724. Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 3 OLY’S ALEHOUSE & EATERY 403-548-OLYS(6597) 417 - 7th St. SW Make it Oly’s for an ALE of a good time! Happy Hour: 3 pm - 7 pm & all day Sunday Merry Christmas ear’ss Eve Eve Bash Bash New New YYear’ December 31, 31, 9 9 p.m. p.m. December December 31, December 31, 31, 9 9 9 p.m. p.m. p.m. Friday, December 19 TH Kneffla and Pork Hocks OR 6 oz steak with choice of sides Closed Dec 25th & 26th Reopening Sat, Dec 27th Join us for our New Year’s Eve Bash • Dance to the Music of Aim for Theo • Hors D’oeuvres • Party Favours • Champagne at Midnight • No Cover Charge Serving All Day! 8 oz New York Steak with Shrimp Special Choice of Potato/Vegs 403-548-OLYS(6597) 403-548-OLYS(6597) 417-7th 417-7th St. St. SW SW Miscellaneous Real Estate FOR SALE: 96 Grand Caravan, runs excellent, 900.00. Newer mid efficient furnace. 4 foot, 3 point hitch blade for smaller tractor. Assorted used tires. Used 33 gallon hot water tank.Phone: (403) 580-9922 FARMLAND FOR SALE: RM of Fox Valley, 171 south 1/2 of 2518-27, 2 gas wells. Derry Eresman. Phone: (403) 5807167 FOR SALE: Ice fishing huts and equipment. 303 ammo. 100 lb propane tank. Rocking chair. P185/75R/14 tire and rim. Rifle scopes. 12 volt amp and speaker. Tan leather sofa. Phone: (403) 548-3164 Real Estate Services NEED EXTRA X-MAS MONEY?? CASH FOR SCRAP CARS/TRUCKS: I pay cash on the spot. Tow your vehicle away for free. Call: (403) 866-3590 FOR SALE: Beautiful Grandview Village condo, 2 bedroom, 2 baths, 1243 sq. ft., new paint, 4th floor, east view.Phone: (403) 529-6859 HOME RENOVATIONS: Home improvements, maintenance & renovations, licensed and fully insured. No job too small! Call Mike Phone: (403) 504-7772. CLASSIFIEDS THAT WORK! CLASSIFIEDS.... YOUR SOURCE! Dance to the music of Aim for Theo Join us for Wing Wednesdays VLTs are here, try your LUCK Services TOSHIBA LAPTOPS: $175 for dual core. Tech Certified, 6 months warranty. Computers starting at less than $100. Desktops, $150. Anti-virus and MS Office available for only $30 more. I am a Tech. Trades welcome. Free pick-up and delivery for repairs. Phone: 403-9282700 SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SERVICE: Servicing all makes and models of small engines as well as ATV’s, snowmobiles, UTV’s, motorcycles, generators, snowblowers, lawn and garden equipment and much more. Affordable rates and guaranteed work. Phone: (403) 952-1371 WAG & WASH DOG CARE: Small dogs, $25. Medium, $35 & large, $55. Trimming extra. Nails only $10. NO dematting. Cash & debit. For appointment Phone: (403) 581-6610 COMPUTER TECH: House calls up till 9pm. Free diagnosis of your computer. Lowest rates. Seniors rates. Will teach you the basics. Will pick-up of old computers. Virus removal and data back-up. Free pickup and delivery for repairs. Phone: 403-928-2700 LOOKING TO BUY? CHECK OUT THE CLASSIFIEDS! Wanted WANTED: Medalta 3 gallon & 8 gallon ice water coolers. Also good used 300 or 350 Honda 4WD quad. Phone: (403) 5484950 SINGLE MEN WANTED: Do you enjoy dancing? Come join some unattached ladies at the Redcliff Legion Friday nights and New Year’s Eve. WANTED: Vintage motorcycles, snow mobiles, marines, collectibles and other estate items. Phone: (403) 580-4772 Lethbridge TIMESHARE - TO GIVE AWAY: We currently have a Club Wyndham Plus timeshare at the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Glade with 154,000 annual Wyndham points. We will give it away, we are not traveling anymore. The monthly maintenance fees are approximately $54 per month. If interested, please call (403) 394-4562 for any details. This is not a scam, it is deeded ownership. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!1991 Olds Cutlass Supreme. 4 door, 3.1 V6 auto. PS, PB, PW. Stereo, air, tilt, cruise, super heater, new windshield. 176,500 km. Lady driven, body in good condition. $795. Call Monday-Friday after 6 pm (403) 929-0515 and weekends anytime or call (403) 328-5713. HEALING WITH NATURE DARKFIELD BLOOD ANALYSIS Donna Rae This is also called Live Blood Cell Analysis which uses one drop of live blood from the finger to be viewed under a microscope using a special condenser. No chemicals or stains are applied to the blood so it is viewed ‘live’ and you can then see the character of the blood and its weaknesses. Although in natural health we do not diagnose disease, this screening technique of the live blood allows us to see nutritional deficiencies from the shape and size of the red blood cells; gut permeability and digestive health may be shown as undigested fats and proteins in the blood; biochemical imbalances eg. pH of the body tissue; and activity of the immune cells can be seen. When looking at the dried blood you can get a picture of the Antioxidant levels and free-radical load in the body. Can you really see all this in only one drop of blood in a finger? Of course. When you think about the fact that the blood is coursing through the body, all mixed together, it makes sense. The blood in the toe is the same blood that is in the neck. Once you have this information, you can proceed to help correct imbalances eg. by adding more water, fatty acids, vitamins, digestive enzymes or other supplements that help strengthen and support optimal body functioning. Donna Rae at the Natural Healing Clinic. Phone 403-526-5700 DeJong’s Tours UPCOMING 2015 Tours STAGE WEST March 25, 2015 - Day Trip - Cost $82.00/person Includes transportation, hot buffet lunch, show called ...And Then, the Lights Went Out. Leaving 6:45 am from Medicine Hat Mall Food Court. MOOSE JAW March 30 - April 2 - 4 Day Trip - Cost $295/person dbl. Includes transportation, 3 nights accommodation, casino package, and day trip to Regina Casino. Leaving 6:45 a.m. from Lethbridge Premier Inn & Suites (on Mayor Magrath Dr). RIVER CREE RESORT & CASINO & WEST EDMONTON MALL April 20 - 22 - 3 Day Trip - $189/person dbl Leaving 7:00 a.m. from Medicine Hat Mall Food Court. COEUR D’ALENE May 11 - 14 - 4 Day Trip - Cost $190/person dbl. Includes transportation, 3 nights accommodation, side trip to the Spokane Mall. Leaving 9:30 a.m. from Lethbridge McDonald’s on Scenic Drive. NEW YORK - WASHINGTON D.C. May 25 - June 7 - 14 Day Trip - Cost $3,225/person dbl. Includes transportation, air fare from Toronto to Calgary, 13 nights accommodation, shuttle bus service, all breakfasts and 3 dinners. Call for full detailed brochure. For any of the above trips, call 1-866-362-5416 for a full detailed brochure, or visit our website www.dejongstours.com Skip out of work early, you know you want to! Page 4, THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014 Gift Cards make the perfect gift Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com DeJong’s Tours Merry Christmas to everyone and thank you for your loyalty and valued business throughout the year! G FERIN F O W NO S N O S ES L R A GUNIUTARY 2015 JA MAKES THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANYONE ON YOUR LIST! Christmas shopping has never been easier! ors truct s n I ified Qual CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-362-5416 or visit www.dejongstours.ca $ DeJong’s Tours Many exciting upcoming 2015 tours that may be of interest for the New Year. Check our website www.dejongstours.ca or call toll free 1-866-362-5416. Pamela’s Foot Care Pamela’s Foot Care Services offers basic and advanced foot care in the privacy of your own home. For appointment, call Pam, Licensed LPN at 403-928-3666. BASIC & ADVANCED FOOT CARE • • • • • • • • In the privacy of your own home Foot & Leg Massage Diabetic Foot Care For Appointment, Clip & File Toenails Contact: Fungal Nails Ingrown Toenails Pam • Licensed LPN Calluses, Corns Padding as required INDIVIDUALS: /MONTH 80.00 4 - 1/2 HOUR LESSONS GROUP LESSONS AVAILABLE REGISTRATION: Register at #108 - 1201 Kingsway Ave., SE 403-928-3666 403-526-0076 Gift Cards Available Lethbridge Lethbridge Lethbridge Lethbridge WANTED: Looking for 22’s, 410’s, other Hunting Rifles and Reloading powder, Etc. Phone: (403) 381-3275. FOR SALE: Old, Model 555, Massey Ferguson Tractor & 12 ft. Cultivator, $1,200/both. Phone: (626) 543-0415 FOR SALE: 2002 Dodge Dakota for parts. Engine is gone but everything else works. Call: (403) 360-8028. FOR SALE: 1994 Chrysler Intrepid. 4 door, well equipped, brand new Michelin’s. $1,050. OBO. Phone: (403) 328-5713. WE’VE MOVED Highway #1 East Next to: Sterling Trailer Sales 25.00 $ Lethbridge Lethbridge FOR SALE: Blanket Support for people with foot pain. Lifts blanket off feet for a much more comfortable sleep. Made of strong steel tubing covered with hard plastic. $30.00. Call: (403) 330-6260 FOR SALE: 2007 Ram 1500 Laramie 4 door 4x4. Loaded w/Bluetooth, heated seats & many extras including blownin box liner & running boards.Power rear sliding window & remote start. Low km. Asking $16,500. Phone: (403) 328-5713. FOR SALE: 1 used Wheelchair Porch Lift. 52 in. high. $2,985 installed. 1 year warranty. Phone: 1-800-3186000 or Phone: (587) 2202759. FOR SALE: 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan. Air, tilt, cruise, DVD, PW, PL & power back windows. Inspected. Asking $4,250. OBO. Phone: (403) 328-5713. FOR SALE: 2004 Kia Magenta. 4 door, auto. PW, stereo. Decent shape. Must be seen. Will accept part trade. $1,500. 0B0. Phone: (403) 328-5713 FOR SALE: 2002 GMC Envoy. 6 cyl. Auto. AWD, 4Hi, 4Lo. Lots of features. Only 129,500 km. $6,800. OBO. Phone or Text: (403) 3152118. FOR SALE: 2007 Ram 1500 Laramie 4 door 4x4. Loaded w/Bluetooth, heated seats & many extras including blownin box liner & running boards.Power rear sliding window & remote start. Low km. Asking $16,500. Phone: (403) 328-5713. YOUR CLASSIFIEDS! Jayman Metals Mark’s Towing • Frame & Unibody Straightening • Complete Collision Repair • Big Rig Painting • Windshield Replacement 403-504-8160 • Rock Chip Repair • Insurance Claims • RM Lifetime Paint Warranty • Industrial Sandblasting & Coating ! We’ve Moved Highway #1 East Next to: Sterling Trailer Sales Auto Wrecking & Metal Recycling Used Auto Parts Free Scrap Car Removal Free Scrap Metals Removal We pay $25 - $1000 for scrap cars Deliver your scrap vehicles and scrap metal to our yard at the junction of Hwy 41 & Hwy 41A and receive EXTRA CASH. We take old batteries, radiators, stoves, scrap bikes and steel pipes for recycling. Ph: 403-581-0454 or 403-548-5576 www.JaymanMetals.com Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com Have a Safe DRIVE SAFELY! Holiday Season Farm Land Supply BUS: (403) 527-5657 FAX: (403) 526-9460 1639 - 9th Avenue SW Medicine Hat, AB T1A 5C4 [email protected] AY SAFE T S This Holiday Season from all of us at CENTRE INC THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 5 STORAGE: RV and container Sealer containers Fenced compound Graveled RV sites Reasonable rates 403-529-7659 403-529-7379 www.safekeepingstorage.ca Season’s Greetings #4 3RD Street SE Redcliff www.ddoil.net info@ddoil-net 403-527-9112 www.edensbluff.com Redcliff Home Hardware 317 Broadway, Redcliff 403-548-3606 OPEN weeknights ‘til 9pm Calfrac Well Services Ltd. “Our Reputation is Your Guarantee” COLLISION SPECIALISTS! 8-1685 Semrau Dr. NW Medicine Hat, AB, Canada Tel: 403-504-5560 BE SAFE! 403-527-1141 Website: www.calfrac.com Medicine Hat Toll Free: 1-866-771-FRAC(3722) or 1-888-527-1141 1270 TransCanada Way SE Medicine Hat, AB All they want for Christmas is... you. Stay alive, don’t drink and drive. 100% Canadian Owned Hardware... and a whole lot more! Check Your Furnace Before It Checks Out On You! 64 Carry Drive S.E. Medicine Hat (403) 526-8198 403-526-2835 Shop online at: peaveymart.com DRINK RESPONSIBLY! Complete Family Dentistry 101 - 7 Strachan Bay SE Medicine Hat 403.548.7077 Medicine Hat [email protected] www.broadwaydental.ca New patients always welcome! SEASON ’ S GREETINGS Management and staff wish to remind everyone not to drink and drive this holiday season! CONCRETE CR ACK REPAIR 2051 Strachan Road SE Drive Responsibly CALL PETER 403-504-4410 1-403-952-1733 www.vanderhaar.ca Cypress Battery Patti Vivier 214 South Railway St., Downtown Medicine Hat 403-487-5420 [email protected] Batteries in all shapes and sizes! 403.526.2255 [email protected] Bay #2 749 14th St SW Medicine Hat AB 7-6 weekdays 8-12 Saturdays MEDICINE HAT MONUMENTAL COMPANY LTD. and Owned Family Since 1970 d ted Opera anufacture M ly Local Craftsman by our 765 - 12th Street SE 974 - 13th St SW 403-527-5422 HAND-CRAFTED JEWELLERY in Medicine Hat 403-529-2777 www.golddustjewellery.com Phone: 403-526-0467 910 Allowance Ave. SE 4-645 South Railway St. SE 403-527-9900 www.mainfloorcarpets.com www.rodeoford.ca Brier Park Auto Village Stay Safe this Holiday Season! Proud to Support Mothers Against Drunk Drivers 403-526-0777 Please Don’t Drink and Drive This Holiday Season! 841C - 18th Street SW 403-527-7955 Shine Factory is the Largest Auto Cleaning & Polishing Company in the Industry Kaleigh Haslbek Madison Ryan Please Drive Responsibly this Holiday Season! Excavating of all types for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural & hauling of aggregate Making Sure You Make It Home Safe This Holiday Season! 403-529-2211 Certified Service Technicians 403-526-5269 79 Southwest Dr. SW Medicine Hat www.baumanns.ca artsexcavating.com 403-529-9744 Page 6, THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014 Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com Find the way to their hearts Even though we don’t always think about giving a basket of food products, it is a gift that is always appreciated. After all, people who don’t like eating are pretty rare! So, if you’re feeling short on ideas, why not offer some gourmet foods and mouthwatering treats that anyone would love. Offer a basket of mouth-watering treats this Christmas. For the sweet tooth What could be better than a gift that al-lows you to give free rein to your sweet tooth? For those who adore sweets, think pastries, delicious macaroons, lemon meringues, madeleines, almond cookies, cho-colate truffles, nougat, orange confit, coco bread, caramel or strawberry popcorn, laven- der and chocolate cookies, maple products, or mango chutney. For savoury snackers For those who prefer salty or savoury tastes, give a basket of locally crafted breads (baked with olives, nuts, or cheese), tapenade, yellow tomato coulis, truffle oil, smoked salt, lobster terrine, dry sausages, cheddar cheese biscuits, good quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil, spiced nuts, a pot of caviar, onion comfit, marinated hearts of palm, or even daisy buds! For the dry throat For those who like to have a cup or glass in their hand, give a coffer of organic teas, fair trade coffee, locally produced beer, sparkling wine, ice wine, a bottle of scotch, or a sparkling cider. www.newspapertoolbox.com Amazing gifts under $25 It can be quite a challenge to find a gift for less than $25, at least one that the recipient will not want to re-gift immediately. Here are a few ideas to help you out. For her Lots of small gifts could make her smile: the latest bestseller, a reading lamp, Celine Dion’s or Michael Bublé’s latest CD, a yoga mat, a yoga or Pilates DVD, a relaxation CD, a glamour cosmetic bag, a purse table hook, a smart phone case with a trendy pattern, a teapot, cocktail glasses, a pretty carafe, or a restorative hand cream. For him There are many gift ideas to please the men: a good detective novel, a remote control holder, a reusable stainless steel water bottle, a headlamp, beer glasses, ice-cube whiskey rocks, a Swiss knife, a battery-operated screwdriver, a work trestle, an organizer for storing nuts and bolts, a tool box, a game of darts, or a silly cooking utensil such as a hamburger mold for perfect patties. For children and teenagers Think of gifts to entertain or fascinate them: board games (Monopoly, Risk, Clue, Life), a Justin Bieber CD, a Hello Kitty home phone, a personal diary, a sparkling pendant, or a pretty moneybox. For baby Any useful article for a baby is bound to be a success: pyjamas, onesies, sleep bag, rattle, or teething ring. www.newspapertoolbox.com Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 7 Give an adventure to the thrill seeker in your life Do you have to find a Christmas gift for someone who loves adventure, risk-taking, and extreme sports? Perhaps you’ve already come to the conclusion that buying him or her a pair of slippers or a teapot is pretty pointless. So why not opt for a gift that will provide a few thrills? Here are some gift ideas for those who love an adrenaline rush: • An introductory course in snowboarding or downhill skiing (if they haven’t already tried these sports). Most ski hills offer this type of package deal. • A gift certificate for an introductory course in ice climbing. Check with your local climbing gym or outdoor equipment store for resources and recommendations. • A winter camping expedition on snowshoes or cross country skis. • A gift certificate for a spring or summer sport. Think parachute jumps, deltaplane excursions, or bungee jumping. • For those who like to fly high, there are hot air balloon rides, learning to pilot a Cessna, or taking a flight in a helicopter. • For fast car lovers, a day at the racetrack behind the steering wheel of a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. • For water sport lovers, windsurfing, surfing, kayaking, white water rafting, jet boating, or swimming with dolphins. www.newspapertoolbox.com Fun gifts What can you possibly give to someone who already has everything? How can you please such a person with something as trite as jewellery, tools, or yet another necktie? The solution is to find a fun gift that’s worth a giggle or that serves as a conversation starter. Not only will it make the recipient laugh, there’s a pretty good chance that he or she doesn’t already have one! Here are a few ideas: • For beer lovers, a cell phone case with a built-in beer opener • For couch potatoes who hate the cold, an electric pyjama warmer • For the mom who takes care of everything, an apron printed with Wonder Woman’s body • For the person who loves to start the day with a laugh, a nose-shaped soap dispenser for the shower • For the clumsy foodie, adhesive bandages shaped like bacon strips • For well-behaved but fun-loving teenagers, fake body jewellery • For the food-loving handyman, a pizza cutter shaped like a circular saw • For a playful girlfriend, an illuminated bra • For a cheese lover, a cheese plate and knife in the form of a mousetrap • For a social media fan, a Facebook-page shower curtain • For a cat with character, a lion suit • For the incorrigible smoker, a lighter in the shape of a gun. www.newspapertoolbox.com Give a hilarious gift this Christmas SAVE 40% CarryDrive DriveSE, SE, 64 64 64Carry Carry Medicine Medicine MedicineHat Hat Hat ❄Toys, ❄ Toys,puzzles, puzzles,games, games, ❄ Christmas ❄ Christmas trees, trees, ❄ Christmas Christmas lights, lights, ❄ ❄ Decorations, ❄ Decorations, ❄ ❄Wrapping Wrapping paper... paper... and aa whole whole lot lot more more and 403-526-8198 403-526-8198 peaveymart.com peaveymart.com • Gift Cards • Music Lessons • In-store Financing OAC • Instrument Sales & Service Stop in for all your: ◆ Last Minute Gifts ◆ Stocking Stuffers ◆ Snacks ◆ Pop ◆ Lotto Tickets ◆ Cigars ◆ Adult Novalties #101, 73 - 7th Street SE Phone: 403.529.2900 www.hatnewsandtobacco.ca Evangelos Music Ltd. 560 4th Street S.E., Medicine Hat (403) 527-1214 www.unitedmusic.ca Like us on Facebook! Page 8, THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014 Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 9 Dear friends, readers, and advertisers, We thank you once again for your loyalty and hope that you will take advantage of every moment of happiness in the year to come. Here’s to a calm and prosperous new year! Best wishes from our entire team. Page 10, THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014 Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com O CHRISTMAS TREE Continued from front page Christmas. Perhaps you’ve seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Perhaps you have not. If not, then you might have a treat in store for you. Clark “Sparky” Griswold is determined to have a family Christmas. It’s to be “the most fun-filled family Christmas ever”. First on his agenda is going into the forest to cut down a tree that is alive, not to get some dead thing from a Christmas tree sales lot. There are loads of adventures just arriving in the forest. Clark is not altogether without flaws and cannot resist some dangerous competition with trucks on the road. The tree he chooses is probably evidence of his competitive nature. It’s unlikely to fit into the living room, but Sparky tries anyway. The crown is bent over under the ceiling and his adoring wife wonders, “Will the angel fit on top?” That’s not the least of the problems that tree presents. A Christmas tree cannot be upstaged by any other Christ- mas decoration. Some people like the artificial variety, some the natural. Some people purchase the tree, store it all decorated until the next year, and then set it up again. Some people delight in making home made decorations that they store from year to year until the children have left the house. Others simply enjoy the glory of living, snow-laden trees outside. “O, Christmas Tree, How lovely are your branches!” 51. Island in Venice 56. 1981-82 Sec. of State 57. Young man 58. Skylighted central area 59. Oily skin disorder 60. East northeast 61. 1945 Crimean conference city 62. Transfer property 63. Used to be United __ 64. Daze CLUES ACROSS 20. Spanish neighborhood 21. Portable computer screen material 22. 20th Hebrew letter 23.“Blue Bloods” lead actor 26. Scholarly 30. Raleigh NC river 31. Alongside each other 32. Electronics Support Module 33. Dogma 34. New Deal statesman Harold 39. A corporation’s first stock offer 42. Slender tower with balconies 44. Young eel 46. Deviation from the normal 47. CBS police drama 49. Cliff 50. Resting place Business 1. Murderers Leopold & ___ 2. Southern veggie 3. Henry’s 6th wife 4. Practice fight 5. Dinners 6. Hermaphrodite 7. Centers 8. Fathers (Spanish) 9. For each one 10. SW Belarus city 11. Australian slang for a kiss 13. Ability to begin 17. Short whistle blasts 24. Were introduced 25. Glowing quality 26. Ingest 27. Relative biological effectiveness 28. Footed vase 29. River in NE Scotland 35. English Univ. river Directory SNOW REMOVAL SNOW REMOVAL LA LA LA STUCCO STUCCO LA LA LA STUCCO STUCCO STUCCO STUCCO SNOW REMOVAL REMOVAL SNOW Now accepting new clients for the upcoming season SNOW REMOVAL •••Parking Parking ParkingLots Lots Lotsand and andAcreages Acreages Acreages Also Alsoequipped equipped equippedwith with withSnowblower Snowblower Snowblower Also equipped with Snowblower •••••Also Also equipped with Snowblower Call Call Wes Wes Wes Yanke Yanke Yanke 403-529-7219 403-529-7219 403-529-7219 Call Wes Yanke 403-529-7219 Call Call Wes Yanke 403-529-7219 Chris’s Handyman Services For all your snow removal and yard clean-up needs Residential & Commercial WOOD ADVERTISING Advertise your business here! WINTER TUNE-UP PACKAGES SNOWBLOWER TUNE-UP (2-Stroke or 4-Stroke Single Stage) 89.95 $ From all the members of the Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Unit, have a very merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year! WES’S 403-504-8976 403-545-6932 • 403-952-6731 The Medicine Hat Police Service would like to remind you that: SNOW REMOVAL Call Call Call Landon: Landon: Landon: 403-528-0643 403-528-0643 403-528-0643 ||||| [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Landon: 403-528-0643 [email protected] Call Call Call Landon: 403-528-0643 [email protected] FOR ALL YOUR FIREWOOD NEEDS BUNDLES, CORD OR ½ CORD - PICK UP OR DELIVERY NORTHERN BIRCH, AND OTHER WOOD TYPES. EXCELLENT MEASURE. Traf f ic T ip of the We ek Tool Repair Services SNOWBLOWER TUNE-UP (4-Stroke Two Stage) 99.95 $ Includes: • Change Spark Plug • Change Oil • Carburetor Adjustment & Clean • Cables & Paddles Adjustment • One Hour Labor *EXTRA PARTS NOT INCLUDED FOR SPECIALS* Book Your Snowblower NOW! 403•504•6140 103-633-16th St. SW YOUR COMMUNITY PAPER Published weekly by the proprietor ALTA NEWSPAPER GROUP LP 922 Allowance Avenue S.E., Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3G7 Office Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday to Friday Phone: 403-527-5777 ADVERTISING TERMS & CONDITIONS: the following terms and conditions apply to all advertising and other material printed by or distributed by the Medicine Hat or Lethbridge Shopper. All copy and type arrangements are subject to approval of the General Manager on behalf of the Shopper who has the right to refuse any advertisement or insertion. The advertiser agrees that the liability of the Shopper, or its employees for damages or costs arising out of errors in printing or insertion of advertisements or other material is limited to the actual amount paid for the space used by that portion of the advertisement containing the error or the actual cost paid to have the advertisement or any other material inserted in the Shopper. Notice of error is required before the second insertion. The Shopper will not be liable for any other claims of damages for not printing or non-inserting of any advertisement or other material. NOTE: Files can be e-mailed, however The Medicine Hat Shopper will not accept responsibility for colour inconsistencies. E-mailed files must be accompanied by an electronic PDF proof and a faxed proof. BulletBoinard COMMUNITY COMMUNITY BOBCA BOBCA BOBCA T T & & HAULING HAULING BOBCA BOBCA BOBCAT T T T & & & & HAULING HAULING HAULING HAULING YELLOW Pages Brought To You By: Police Service 36. Malaysian Isthmus 37. Soft-finned fish 38. Eyelid infection 40. Fred & Wilma’s baby 41. New __, Louisiana city 42. Tse-tung or Zedong 43. Hindu weather god 44. ___ May, actress 45. Hauled laboriously 47. One suspender 48. More peculiar 49. N. Central African country 52. Macaw genus 53. Rhythmic swing or cadence 54. Ballerina skirt 55. Arabian sultanate CLUES DOWN 1. Cuts off a branch 5. 13th Hebrew letter 8.“Hair” producer Joseph 12. Giraffa camelopardalis 14. Indicates near 15. Capital of Samoa 16. Roving adventurously 18. Help 19. Deafening noises tip The of theMedicine week tip of the week Hat tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week tip of the week Call Linda or Tereena 403-527-5777 17 $ as low as 95 per week ST. AMBROSE ANGLICAN CHURCH - On December 24 at 7:00pm, Historic St. Ambrose Anglican Church, 505 Fifth Street SE, Redcliff will hold a traditional Christmas Eve Service of Holy Communion. A Christmas song sing-a-long will take place from 6:307:30pm. We welcome all faiths and those with none to this service. THE GERMAN CANADIAN HARMONY CLUB Welcomes you to their New Years Eve Dance. Held Wednesday, December 31. Dinner at 7:00pm, Dance to follow with the Harmony Band. Free party favours and snacks. For more info. Please call 403-581-9140 or 403528-3139. LIFETREE CAFE - Presents Declutter Your Life - Practical ways to find outer order and inner calm - Hillcrest Church Coffee House, from 7-8pm Wednesday, January 7, 2015. 3785 - 13 Ave SE. Coffee provided. All are welcome. Free. Check our Facebook page: Lifetree Cafe- MH or visit lifetreecafe.com for more info. LEARN TAI CHI - We are offering a new Taoist Tai Chi beginner class starting Wednesday, January 7 at 7pm in Room 3, Gas City Kiwanis Centre, 826 – 11 Street SE. The first night is a free open house and information session. For more information: call 403504-5514 or visit www.taoist.org/medicinehat LEARN TO PLAY CRIBBAGE Strathcona Centre 1150 - 5th Street SE. January 11. Starts at 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Every one is Welcome. Coffee and Cookies. For more information call Mel Oerlemuns 403-527-4300 AJ'S LOAN CUPBOARD Lends medical equipment such as electric beds, wheel chairs, walkers, etc. to residents of our community. (Donations keep us going). We are also seeking several Volunteers to assist in serving our clients, familiar with computer software, entering data, maintenance and janitorial duties. Approximately 10 - 12 hours/week. Phone us at 403-580-5580 or visit us at 749 14th ST. SW. Office hours Monday to Friday 10am 2pm. JEST TOASTMATERS - meet every Thursday at 6:30 pm in room F2004 in the Business Building at Medicine Hat College. Come join us. Call Lynn at 403-529-5377 for info. COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE MEDICINE HAT PUBLIC LIBRARY - The library is offering a range of free computer classes for adults. For most classes, class size is limited and advance registration is required. For more information about dates and times of computer classes and to register, stop by the library or call 403-5028525 SOUTHVIEW CHURCH OF GOD - Free Movie Night every 2nd Friday @ 7pm (Please phone for title) 403527-3483 PERSIAN DREAMS & CANINE THEMES - Is looking for pet foster homes, we provide the necessary supplies and vet care, and you provide safe loving home for an animal in need. For more info please phone 403-529-2287 or Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 11 lingerie and underwear #4 - 3rd Street SE in REDCLIFF! Large Selection of Adult Specialty Items! • Toys, Toys, Toys • Books, Magazines • Lingerie, Role Playing • Gifts and Prizes • Novelty Items We also carry gif certifica t te for all! s careers Look Here for Your New Career! Come see our great selection today! Ph: 403-527-9112 Canadian Lord’s Day Association For the purpose of preserving the sanctity of the Lord’s Day A sabbath well spent, Brings a week of content, And strength for the toils of the morrow. But a sabbath profaned, What ever be gained, Is a certain forerunner of sorrow. By Judge Matthew Hale C.L.D.A. Box 1369 Picture Butte T0K 1V0 Lethbridge Lethbridge FOR SALE: Canon EOS 650 Camera with Speedlite 420 EZ Flash 50 mm & 28 mm lenses. EF Zoom lens 70-210 mm, 2 carry cases & 450 Victory Tripod. $500. Phone: (403) 3455449 FOR SALE: Island Clean Air Purifier Downdraft 3000. Mint condition, original filters. New was $7,900, asking $4,500. Phone: (403) 330-4000 FOR SALE: 3 and 4 wheeled scooters - used. Great shape, 1 year warranty, free delivery. Phone: (587) 220-2759 or 1800-318-6000 FOR SALE: 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan wheelchair van. Low rear application, 220,000 km. Great shape. $13,900. Phone: (587) 2202759 or 1-800-318-6000. 4 LOTS IN BARONS FOR SALE: Two lots are side by side, 78’ x 125’, at $19,000 each; Two lots, separate, 78’ x 115’, at $17,000 each. OBO. Utilities to Property line. Phone: (403) 795-3906. PARTING OUT - A large selection of vehicles. New units arriving daily. U pull and save. Airport Pick A Part, 1st left South of the Lethbridge Airport. Cash paid for scrap cars. Phone: 403-380-3035 Would You Like To Earn Some Extra Cash? Carriers are required for two afternoon/evening deliveries per week! Lethbridge FOR SALE: 414 Noble Street. Fully renovated house. Built in early 60’s. 900 sq. ft. 2 storey detached. In Barons, AB. New services and fixtures. New 2 car garage. Lot size 78’ x 115’. Move in ready. Phone: (403) 795-3906 FOR SALE: Beautiful 7’ Flocked Christmas Tree w/garland, balls & 800 lights; Numerous Christmas tabletop ornaments, Villages, etc. Phone: (403) 327-6407 WANTED URGENTLY: Gold, Silver, Coins, and Stamps. Gold and Silver Jewelery, even broken. We pay TOP prices. Have cash, will travel. Call us last at 403752-3099. Don’t be afraid to leave a message! FOR RENT: 3 acre yard. 5 minutes from town at Stewart Siding Industrial Park w/2 bedroom mobile home for office. 1,200 sq. ft. heated shop & 2,500 sq. ft. canvas quonset w/dirt floor. Available December 1, 2014. $1,300/month + utilities. Phone: (626) 543-0415 FOR SALE: 1 acre fenced yard, 3,000 sq. ft. Brand new heated steel building. Rented with tenant. 5 minutes from tow, Stewart Siding Industrial Park. REDUCED TO $290,000. Phone: (626) 543-0415. HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? CALL THE SHOPPER! We’re Waiting For You! We are looking for boys, girls and adults. To find out how you can become a carrier Call us at 403-527-5777 is expanding our team REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY: FULL TIME DENTAL ASSISTANT CERTIFIED LEVEL II Please submit resume in person to Matt Ridley Clinic Manager at Crestwood Dental Clinic 200 - 1899 Dunmore Road S.E. Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z8 Or email: [email protected] TRICAN WELL SERVICE is one of Canada’s fastest growing pressure pumping companies, with operations in Canada, the US, Russia, Kazakhstan and North Africa. Recognized for technical leadership and innovation, Trican provides specialized, engineered and integrated solutions to customers involved in the exploration and development of oil and natural gas reserves,Trican’s services include fracturing, coiled tubing, cementing, acidizing, nitrogen, microseismic and industrial services. At Trican, we are proud to have received numerous accolades as a top employer, as we believe success begins with our people. We hire and reward those who are motivated, results and service-oriented, team players, career-driven, honest, ethical and adaptable. If that sounds like you, we invite you to apply for the following positions: MEDICINE HAT BASE REQUIRES: - FRAC OPERATORS - FLUID and ACID PUMP OPERATORS - COIL TUBING OPERATORS - JOURNEYMAN MECHANICS Class 1 and 3 License Required S TRETCH If this will fit your schedule we are currently looking for carriers in these areas: NWCH, NECH AND OTHER AREAS D E N TA L C L I N I C Like us on: ...YOUR DOLLAR WITH CLASSIFIED You get more for your money with Classifieds in Primary responsibilities & duties: • Ensure adherence to Workplace Safety, National Safety Code, Trican Well Service Ltd, government as well as client policies and regulations • Drive various large duty trucks over diverse outdoor terrain and conditions while under mentor supervision • Learn to perform pre-job calculations with blending and mixing • Attend all operations, field pre rig-up and job safety meetings • Learn to effectively inspect and properly configure all equipment • Participate in site rig-up treating iron, manifolds and recording equipment while under qualified supervision • Assist in rig-out of all equipment for travel and conduct movement to following site under supervision • Complete and submit all position required paperwork • Assist in all required equipment maintenance • Successful completion WHAT MAKES US ATTRACTIVE: Excellent base salary with one of the best benefit programs in the industry. Global technical leader within our industry. Long-term commitment, including a training and career development program. Above average career advancement opportunities. To apply for one of the above positions, in confidence, please email or fax your cover letter, resume and a copy of a current driver’s abstract. Visit us online at www.trican.ca or drop in at one of the bases listed on our website. Trican Well Service Ltd. 922 Allowance Ave. SE 403-527-5777 Browse the Shopper online or place your ad at: www.shoppergroup.com 117 Elbow Dr. NE, Redcliff, AB T0J 2PO Fax: 403-526-5286 I Email: [email protected] We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Page 12, THE MEDICINE HAT SHOPPER, Week of December 20, 2014 Visit The Ultimate Classified Website At www.shoppergroup.com May all your dreams come true as we embark upon this magical time of year. Seasons Greetings from the many businesses featured here and the management & staff of Page 2, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Cajun Auto & RV Sales To Our Loyal Friends at Christmas Thanks for all the joy you’ve given us these past 25 years. Have a happy holiday! Season’s Greetings Ph: 403-548-6333 In Redcliff 1081 Highway Ave. N.E. Redcliff, AB T0J 2P0 BUY ~ SELL ~ CONSIGN Ph: 403-529-5000 • Fax: 403-529-5001 Email: [email protected] Your Best Insurance Is An Insurance Broker Happy Motoring! redcliff autobody Frame & Unibody Repair Without your support, we wouldn’t be here... without your friendship, it just wouldn’t be Christmas! Merry Christmas and many thanks! Merry Christmas COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR TO OUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS At the Holidays SPECIALIZING IN INSURANCE CLAIMS • Kansas Jack Frame Repair Equipment • Sikkens Paints/ Lifetime Warranty • State Of The Art Down Draft Paint Booth with Bake Cycle RICK STERN RES. MEDICINE HAT 403-526-3289 310A-SOUTH RAILWAY DR. N REDCLIFF PHONE OR FAX 403-548-3554 403-548-3536 1900 S Hwy Dr SE, Redcliff Best wishes to our customers and friends this holiday season. ROSS and Staff at 1000 Highway Avenue NE Redcliff 403-527-7974 V. Taxi Fuel Stop “No” Taxi Ride Here But “Great Service” when you need it WE SPECIALIZE IN HONDAS, NISSANS & DURAMAX TRUCKS Sun City Automotive Bay 1 - 900 Highway Ave NE Redcliff, AB Phone: 587-289-1239 [email protected] Merry Christmas to all from everyone at RV and Container Storage See us at north side Hwy #1 Redcliff Look for the palm tree 403-529-7659 • 403-529-7379 www.safekeepingstorage.ca Merry Ch ristmas and Happy New Year & AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES LTD. Bay #3 - 511 South Railway Drive NE, Redcliff AB Phone 403.527.1137 ✔ 24 HOUR SERVICE ✔ 32 YEARS EXPERI ENCE AUTO • FARM • INDUSTRIAL • OILFIELD • COMMERCIAL WEBASTO • PROHEAT • COPPERCORE • GLACIER SALES & SERVICE —from management and staff D&D OILFIELD RENTALS www.ddoil.net • [email protected] Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 3 History of Advent WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS Ray, Teresa and all the staff at Fast Times Machining take this opportunity to thank you for your support and loyalty in 2014. They look forward to earning your business again in 2015. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Fast Times Machining & Gas Compression It cannot be determined with any degree of certainty when the celebration of Advent was first introduced into the Church. The preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord was not held before the feast itself existed. One of the earliest references to Christmas being celebrated on December 25 appeared in Antioch in the middle of the second century. At that time, Christians were still persecuted. An official determination was made in the fourth century, when the Roman emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, thereby ensuring the legality of Christmas celebrations. The Council of Tours in 567 established the period of Advent as a time of fasting before Christmas. They also proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany a sacred, festive season. According to present usage [1910], Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) and embracing four Sundays. The first Sunday may be as early as November 27th, and then Advent has twentyeight days, or as late as December 3rd, giving the season only twenty-one days. The popular idea that the four weeks of Advent symbolize the four thousand years of darkness in which the world was enveloped before the coming of Christ finds no confirmation in the Liturgy. The familiar carol "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" belongs to the Advent season since it celebrates the expectation of Christ's coming rather than His actual birth. Source: Christmas.com Office: 403-527-6876 Cell: 403-548-4672 Fax: 403-529-2159 654 - 17th Street SW Medicine Hat AB, T1A 4X7 [email protected] www.fasttimesmachining.ca 403-527-7278 1-877-527-7278 www.mhtractor.ca Fax: 403-526-4747 • Hwy. 41A East, Medicine Hat, AB Ralph Richardson Sales Dan Welten Sales John Gillis Sales Tony Alcock Sales Put your family and friends in style this Christmas! We appreciate your visiting us this past year MEDICINE MEDICINE HAT HAT TRACTOR TRACTOR SALVAGE SALVAGE INC. INC. & CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION & Clayton Knutson Sales Gifts from Aldo’s Workshop Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Liz Aucoin Sales Rochelle Edwards Sales Our wish for you this Christmas from the sales staff at Murray Chev Cadillac... The blessing of good health; The spirit and joy of the season; The warmth of friendship and fellowship; today, tomorrow and every day! Please drive safely during the holiday season and throughout the New Year. Allan Blott Sales Chris Hall Sales Glen Bader Sales Bryan Kitching Business Manager Irene Truscott Business Manager Mario and his family wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! A LDO’S SHOE REPAIR Bay 2 - 110 Carry Dr SE 403-527-9770 “Our Reputation is Your Guarantee” 1270 Trans Canada Way 403-527-1141 Page 4, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 The History of Presents In Canada, the custom of giving Christmas presents is relatively recent. From the beginning of New France to the end of the 19th century, gifts were exchanged at New Year’s and not at Christmas. Newspaper advertising gradually led people to give some of their presents at Christmas and to keep others for New Year’s. As with gifts, Christmas stockings soon replaced shoes placed by the chimney. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Christmas began to be the time to give children presents, at least in middle-class families. Department stores sold a great variety of children’s toys and suggested a wide selection of gifts for adults to give one another. With the growing popularity of Santa Claus , and Take good care. Happy Holidays! a little later in the 1930’s of “Père Noël” (Father Christmas), presents came to be exchanged only at Christmas. Children's Presents As long ago as 1860, Germanmade toys were widely advertised by department stores, a dominance that lasted up until Japanese production overtook the market in the 20th century. At that time, toys for boys and for girls were clearly differentiated. For boys, there were miniature fire trucks and police cars, small delivery vans and cars, trains and trams, lead soldiers, sets of wooden blocks, mechanical toys of all kinds, carpenter’s tool boxes and soldiers and firemen’s uniforms. As for girls, they mainly received toys linked to their future roles as mothers and housewives. They were given dolls, miniature stoves complete with pots and pans, sets of dishes, irons, washing machines and other doll-size furniture, like upright pianos. Up until the end of the Second World War, these beautiful toys remained the preserve of the upper middle classes. Working class children could expect much more modest gifts. In their Christmas stockings, children would find oranges, candies, gingerbread men or dolls (called “nolais” in Acadia) and Christmas biscuits. The lucky ones might find a small homemade toy and, more rarely, a beautiful store-bought toy purchased by their parents at great expense. Christmas Stockings In North America, the traditional Christmas stocking actually dates back to the end of the 19th century. The first to mention Christmas stockings being hung from a chimney were the illustrator, Thomas Nast, through his pictures and the writer, George Webster, in a story about a visit from Santa In Quebec and Acadia, children traditionally put their shoes close to the fireplace so that the Infant Jesus, and later “Père Noël” (Father Christmas), could put gifts there on Christmas Eve. This custom, which probably came to us from European countries where it was a common practice in the 19th century, does not seem to have survived this period. In some Quebec families, children hung their stockings at the end of their bed rather than hanging them close to the fireplace or putting out their shoes. This custom ended during the 1930s when Christmas trees started to be set up in houses with gifts placed underneath. Japanese oranges have a special meaning to the people who live in the Canadian Prairies. A gift from the East, their arrival at the coldest time of the year has brightened many homes and Christmas feasts for 110 years. To many, the festive season begins when Santa Claus welcomes the first major shipment of Japanese mandarin oranges at the Port of Vancouver, accompanied by young Japanese girls dressed in tradition kimonos. On Christmas morning the flavourful fruit find their way into many children’s Christmas stockings. 901A Kingsway Ave SE Medicine Hat Home Is Where the Heart Is Thanks for warming our hearts with your friendship and kind support this year. Neighbors like you make us especially proud to call this fine community home. Merry Christmas! #4 645 South Railway St. Medicine Hat, AB T1A 2V8 403-527-9900 From our family to yours, Merry Christmas! Deryk J. Woodman, Chelsie R. Woodman and Staff Denture Care Ltd. D C 403-527-7900 Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 5 “…And they followed the star, until it came and stood over where the place where the Child was”. (Matthew 2:9). You might recognize that as the story of the three wise men from the East who followed a miraculous sign- a star where it shouldn’t have been, in a time when it shouldn’t have been. But it was. And so the story goes, that they followed it and it led them to the place where the promised Messiah- the Lord Jesus Christ was. They followed…though they were “wise” men- which means they were highly educated and highly respected and highly regarded by the general populace of their day, (except for an evil dictator king). Still- they followed. That brings up an observation, if not a point- we all follow somebody or something. Even the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada or leader of any other country for that matter- follow. Even dictators follow…some kind of philosophy stemming from some other persons thinking- twisted as it may be…they follow. Yes, the greatest leaders among us or behind us all followed someone or something. There is something in us- all of us- that compels us to follow. So whom do you follow? What do you follow? In the end, does it lead you to joy? Or to peace? Joy and peace are not a matter of what makes us happy because happiness is a choice we make based mostly on our circumstance. If things are good, were happy! If not, well…not so much. But joy and peace are a state of beingmuch deeper and not dependent on circumstance- on a spiritual level. Whatever it was that those wise men found that night, it ultimately led them to this inner joy and peace and also led them away from imminent danger. Though they are never mentioned again, it is safe to assume that they followed this Saviour the rest of their lives.You see, it wasn’t the star that made the difference- it was who find Him, and none who seek Him, the star led them to- Jesus! The Christ ignores”. May you be richly Saviour of the world! blessed this Christmas! It is my prayer for you, that you may be in a “following” mood this Murray Jaster, Major Christmas. One of our songs in our The Salvation Army Salvation Army songbook says,“for Medicine Hat Corps those who seek Him are sure to May the love of home and family be yours this Christmas. We would like to thank one and all for their ongoing support. May God Bless you during this Season of Joy & Peace Wishing Sending all the best to you and yours this beautiful holiday season. From Management and Staff at you and your family a season filled with love, faith, and joy. 117 Elbow Dr. NE Redcliff 403-504-3750 Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education 1251 - Avenue SW, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8B4 Telephone: 403-527-2292 • Fax 403-529-0917 www.mhcbe.ab.ca In partnership with family, church, and community since 1911 Page 6, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Christmas Tree Tips To some, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a real Christmas tree. The following are a few hints to help you select that perfect tree whether you purchase it from a neighborhood lot or a Christmas tree farm. Decide on where you will place the tree. Will it be seen from all sides or will some of it be up against a wall? Be sure to choose a spot away from heat sources, such as TVs, fireplaces, radiators and air ducts. Place the tree clear of doors. • Measure the height and width of the space you have available in the room where the tree will be placed. There is nothing worse than bringing a tree indoors only to find it’s too tall. Take a tape measure with you to measure your chosen tree and bring a cord to tie your tree to the car. • Remember that trees sold on retail lots in urban areas may have been exposed to drying winds in transit. They may have been cut weeks earlier. Buy trees early before the best trees have been sold. • Choose a fresh tree. A fresh tree will have a healthy green appearance with few browning needles. Needles should be flexible and not fall off if you run a branch through your hand. Raise Merry Merry Christmas Christmas from Peter, Pam & Staff at Wishing you a joyous and safe Holiday Season OLY'S ALEHOUSE & EATERY 417 417 -- 7th 7th St St SW SW 403-548-OLYS 403-548-OLYS (6597) (6597) Wishing Wishing all all of of our our patrons patrons aa very very Merry Merry Christmas! Christmas! the tree a few inches off the ground and drop it on the butt end. Green needles should not drop off the tree. It is normal for a few inner brown needles to drop off. • Remember to choose a tree that fits where it is to be displayed. For example if the tree is displayed in front of a large window, then all four sides should look as good as possible. If the tree is displayed against a wall, then a tree with three good sides would be okay. A tree with two good sides would work well in a corner. The more perfect a tree, the more expensive it is. • Make sure the handle or base of the tree is straight and 6-8 inches long so it will fit easily into the stand. • Do a little research on different Christmas tree types. Some Christmas tree varieties will hold needles longer than others. • Now that you and your family have chosen that perfect tree it’s time to bring it home. Cover your tree with a tarp or plastic for the trip home to keep it from drying out. The following are a few tips on how to keep your tree fresh throughout the holiday season. If you are not putting the tree up right away store it in an unheated garage or some other area out of the wind and cold (freezing) temperatures. Make a fresh one inch cut on the butt end and place the tree in a bucket of warm water. • When you decide to bring the tree indoors, make another fresh one inch cut and place the tree in a sturdy stand that holds at least 1/2 gallon of water. • Be sure to keep the water level above the base of the tree. If the base dries out resin will form over the cut end and the tree will not be able to absorb water and will dry out quickly. Commercially prepared mixes; aspirin; sugar and other additives added to the water are not necessary. Research has shown that plain water will keep a tree fresh. • Check all Christmas tree lights for worn electrical cords. Use UL approved electrical decorations and cords. Unplug tree lights at night. • Miniature lights produce less heat and reduce the drying effect on the tree. • It’s a nuisance to water a Christmas tree once it’s decorated with a tree skirt and surrounded by presents. Here’s an easy solution: Buy a funnel and a 3 to 4 foot length of vinyl tubing to slip over the funnel outlet. Fasten the funnel/tube with a twist-tie or twine in an out-of-the-way but reachable part of the tree. Extend the tubing down the tree trunk and into the tree stand reservoir. Now you can water the tree through the funnel without bending over or disturbing the tree skirt or its ornaments. • Take down the tree before it dries out. Many fresh cut trees if properly cared for will last at least five weeks before drying out. • Recycle your tree after Christmas. Many communities will pick up trees and turn them into chips. You might put the tree in your back yard and place bread and suet among the branches for the birds. Season’s Season’s Greetings Greetings It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we hope it brings you much joy! From Management and Staff! Make Make it it Oly’s Oly’s for for an an ALE ALE of of aa good good time!! time!! From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas and many thanks for your generous support this past year. Your friendship makes it all worthwhile! To Our Valued Customers at the Holiday Season www.mobil1autoservice.com • 403-528-4110 5 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB 403-526-5269 artsexcavating.com Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 7 The True Story of Rudolph On a December night in Chicago many years ago, a little girl climbed onto her father's lap and asked a question. It was a simple question, asked in children's curiosity, yet it had a heart-rending effect on Robert May. "Daddy," four-year-old Barbara May asked, "Why isn't my mommy just like everybody else's mommy?" Bob May stole a glance across his shabby two-room apartment. On a couch lay his young wife, Evelyn, racked with cancer. For two years she had been bedridden. For two years, all of Bob's small income and smaller savings had gone to pay for treatments and medication. The terrible ordeal had already shattered two adult lives. Now, Bob suddenly realized the happiness of his growing daughter was also in jeopardy. As he ran his fingers through Barbara's hair, he groped for some satisfactory answer to her question. Bob May knew only too well what it meant to be 'different'. As a child he had been weak and delicate. With the innocent cruelty of children, his playmates had continually goaded the stunted, skinny lad to tears. Later, at Dartsmouth, from which he graduated in 1936, Bob May was so small that he was always being mistaken for someone's little brother. Nor was his adult life much happier. Unlike many of his classmates who floated from college into plush jobs, Bob became a lowly copy writer for Montgomery Ward, the big Chicago mail order house. Now at 33, Bob was deep in debt, depressed and sad. Although, he didn't know it at the time, the answer he gave the little child on his lap was to bring him fame and fortune. It was also to bring joy to countless thousands of children like his own Barbara. On that December night in the shabby Chicago apartment, Bob cradled the little girl's head against his shoulder and began to tell a story . . . "Once upon a time, there was a reindeer named Rudolph, the only reindeer in the world that had a big red nose. Naturally people called him "Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer." As Bob went on to tell about Rudolph, he tried desperately to communicate to Barbara the knowledge that, even though some creatures of God are strange and different, they often enjoy the miraculous power to make others happy. "Rudolph," Bob explained, "was terribly embarrassed by his unique nose. Other reindeer laughed at him; his mother and father and sister were mortified, too. Even Rudolph wallowed in self pity." "Why was I born with such a terrible nose?" he cried. "Well," continued Bob, "one Christmas eve, Santa Claus got his team of husky reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen, and the others -ready for their yearly trip around the world. The entire reindeer community assembled to cheer these great heroes on their way. But, a terrible fog engulfed the earth that evening, and Santa knew that the mist was so thick that he wouldn't be able to find a single chimney." "Suddenly Rudolph appeared, his read nose glowing brighter than ever. Santa sensed at once that here was the answer to his perplexing problem. He led Rudolph to the front of the sleigh, fastened the harness and climbed in. They were off! Rudolph guided Santa safely to every chimney that night. Rain, and fog, snow and sleet -- nothing bothered Rudolph for his bright red nose penetrated like a beacon." "And, so it was that Rudolph became the most famous and beloved of all the reindeer. The huge red nose he once hid in shame was now the envy of every buck and doe in the reindeer world. Santa Claus told everyone that Rudolph had saved the day, and from that Christmas on, Rudolph has been living serenely and happy." Little Barbara laughed with glee when her father had finished. Every night she begged him to repeat the tale until finally Bob could rattle it off in his sleep. Then, at Christmas time, he decided to make the story into a poem like the 'Night Before Christmas' and prepare it in a booklet form with crude illustrations, for Barbara's personal gift. Night after night, Bob worked on the verses after Barbara had gone to bed, for he was determined that his daughter should have a worthwhile gift, even though he could not afford to buy one. Then, as Bob was about to put the finishing touches on Rudolph, tragedy struck. Evelyn May died. Bob, his hopes crushed, turned to Barbara as his chief comfort. Yet, despite his grief, he sat at his desk in the quiet, now lonely apartment, and worked on Rudolph with tears in his eyes. Shortly after Barbara had cried with joy over his handmade gift on Christmas morning, Bob was asked to an employee's holiday party at Montgomery Wards. He didn't want to go, but his office associates insisted. When Bob finally agreed, he took with him the poem and read it to the crowd. At first the noisy throng listened in laughter and gaiety. Then, they became silent, and at the end broke into spontaneous applause. That was in 1938. By Christmas of 1947, some 6 million copies of the booklet had been given away or sold, making Rudolph one of the most widely distributed books in the world. The demand for Rudolph sponsored products increased so much in variety and number that educators and historians predicted Rudolph would occupy a permanent niche in the Christmas legend. Through the years of unhappiness, the tragedy of his wife's death and his ultimate success with Rudolph, Bob May has captured a sense of serenity. And as each Christmas rolls around he recalled with thankfulness the night when his daughter's questions inspired him to write the story. HO... HO... HOPE IT’S MERRY! With warm holiday wishes from our gang to yours. We couldn’t have done it without your support. Thanks for everything! Mickey McGarvie General Manager Shaun Hagemeister Team Leader Warren Klein Team Leader Lorraine Harper Financial Service Manager Steve Frasier Financial Service Manager Ryan Foster Sales Consultant Andrew Coombes Sales Consultant Devan Little Sales Consultant Derek Fuhr Sales Consultant Justin Scherer Sales Consultant Rod Insko Sales Consultant John Bjarnason Sales Consultant 1500 Strachan Road SE www.jacksondodge.ca 403-527-5581 Another Another Christmas Christmas Is Is On On The The Way! Way! And so are our best wishes and gratitude. Happy Holidays! • Frame & Unibody Straightening • Complete Collision Repair • Big Rig Painting • Windshield Replacement • Rock Chip Repair • Insurance Claims • RM Lifetime Paint Warranty • Industrial Sandblasting & Coating ved! We’ve Mo 403-504-8160 Highway #1 East Next to: Sterling Trailer Sales Page 8, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Looking at the History of Carols In looking at the history of carols, we can find no better expert than the late Maria Augusta Trapp who's life story became known as "The Sound of Music." On a South American Christmas concert tour in Caracas, Venezuela, she wrote, " Singing at Christmas goes back to the early centuries of Christianity. It is the oldest of those innumerable folk customs still alive throughout the world during the Christmas season. Books have been filled, years have been spent in research on this subject." The early Christmas music compositions are regarded as chants and hymns. The original carols referred to a circle dance which did not have any singing - that came later. As the church struggled against the influences of pagan customs, the singing of carols was barred from sacred services. However, outside the church, Nativity carols were written and became popular. Nearly all were simple folk songs created by people from the countryside. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with bringing carols into the formal worship of the church during a Christmas Midnight Mass in a cave in Greccio, in the province of Umbria in 1223. It's said that the music sung that night was more akin to what we know as carols than to hymns. Carols enjoyed further development and popularity when they were used in the mystery plays of the Middle 403.526.2255 Batteries in ALL Shapes and Sizes! [email protected] Bay #2 749 14th St SW, Medicine Hat, AB 7-6 Weekdays • 8-12 Saturdays Ages. Wandering minstrels traveled from hamlet to castle, performing carols in the distant past. In later years, villages had their own bands of waits. Waits were originally watchmen who patrolled the streets and byways of the old walled cities keeping guard against fire and singing out the hours of the night. During the holiday season, they would include some carols for the people along the way, although some folks complained that they would rather get a good nights sleep than have somebody singing under their window. Eventually the term was used to describe groups of musicians who sang and played for various civic events during the Christmas season. Today, a look at a small-town newspaper lists dozens of caroling events, not just on Christmas Eve, but throughout the holiday. Source: Christmas.com We’re displaying our holiday cheer, To thank everyone for stopping here And for your winning attitude, You surely have our sincere gratitude ... So without any fanfare or further delay Please accept our best wishes for a great holiday! 1081 30 Street SW, Medicine Hat 403-526-3294 Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 9 DELIVERING DELIVERING OUR OUR BEST BEST AT AT CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS TIME TIME At this joyous time of year, we’re filled with gratitude and good cheer. For helping our dreams come true, we’re deeply grateful to all of you! And thank you to our many valued customers and friends! Have a Great Holiday Season 403-529-6665 1686 - 32nd St SW, Medicine Hat www.industrialbackhoe.com 403-952-1245 kandlheating.com WITH BEST WISHES & GRATITUDE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! Have a safe and wonderful holiday season... and thank you to all our loyal customers. Len, Linda, Ed, Henry, & Wayne Tool Repair Services M A I N T E N A N C E LT D. Unit 103 - 633-16th St. SW 403-529-2365 403-504-6140 MERRY CHRISTMAS We’re really grateful to have friends and customers like you! CARPET CLEANING AND PAINTING INC. Power steam, for the ultimate clean! From the gang and many thanks for your patronage throughout the year. Wes’s Bobcat & Hauling Rocky Cross Construction Wes Yanke - 403-529-7219 Trusted by Homeowners & Insurers For Over 30 Years 3224 - 18 Ave. S.W. • 403-529-2590 From our family to yours A Healthy and Merry Christmas Troy 403-952-1673 Office 403-952-1248 * Carpet, upholstery, RV * Emergency water removal * Bio recovery * Truck mounted service * Deodorize, scotch-guard * Painting [email protected] We wish to express our gratitude and warm wishes to the many folks who have helped us along the way. From management & staff at ALL SEASONS A1 AIR COOLED ENGINE SELF STORAGE RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL STORAGE 403-526-8534 872 25th Street SW SALES & SERVICE 843 - 7th Street SE 403-526-3520 ’tis the season of Special Gifts At this holy time of year, may the spirit of Christmas bring gifts of joy and serenity into your heart and home. SUPERCENTRE Save Money. Live Better. 2051 Strachan Road SE 403-504-4410 403 -526-0002 2431 - 10 Avenue S.W. I Love Used JOYOUS NOEL! In the spirit of the season, we’d like to extend our best wishes and deep gratitude to all the people that we had the pleasure to meet and serve this year. Season’s Greetings Best Wishes for the Holidays Happy Holidays to all customers, staff and friends with many thanks! Thank you to all our valued friends and clients for your support all year. A Buzz! s U e v i G 403 526-4088 5116 HWY 41A EAST, MEDICINE HAT AREA “Service Beyond Boundaries” www.midwestsurveys.com 100 - 1825 Bomford Cres. SW 403-527-2944 Happy Holidays Wishing you a season that’s merry and bright, with many thanks for your kind support. Merry Christmas from the staff at 851 Industrial Ave SE 403-952-6266 www.bamboo-innovations.ca Page 10, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 The Poinsettia A favorite flower in the United States is the poinsettia, with its beautiful, red, star-shape. It is called the "Flame Leaf" in Central America or "Flower of the Holy Night" and was brought here over a hundred years ago by Dr. Joel Poinsett, our first ambassador to Mexico. Most of the poinsettias used now come from California. The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing. One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today. Source: Christmas.com Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Holiday Season Here’s hoping Santa delivers everything you’ve been waiting for, including our best wishes and gratitude. Merry Christmas! HARLEY-DAVIDSON® OF MEDICINE HAT 1923 2ND AVE. DUNMORE, ALBERTA, T1B 0K3 www.hdmedhat.com 403-527-9235 403-528-6470 403-528-6470 www.onside.ca www.onside.ca www.onside.ca www.onside.ca www.onside.ca www.onside.ca Under new management Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 11 The Evolution of Modern Day Santa North Pole - as well as what to do with the letters. Mail clerks gravely stamped them with a certification that the addressee could not be found and forwarded them to the dead letter office in Washington. But children had faith in the Postal Service and knew Santa would get their letters. They came from children from all walks of life. One Christmas Eve, eight-year-old Edsel Ford, son of Henry and Clara Ford, and the future president of the Ford Motor Company, penned his letter in Detroit, Michigan: It was in an 1870 edition of A Visit From Saint Nicholas that Saint Nicholas wore a red cloth coat. Thomas Nast has depicted him in a reddish brown outfit, trimmed in white ermine, in 1866. This illustration appeared in George P. Walker's verse story Santa Claus And His Works was probably a major contributor to the idea that Santa wore red. Walker's story also contributed the legend of Santa Claus that he lives in the North Pole. In the early twentieth century, red Santa Claus suits became popular and were sold by department stores and mail-order houses such as Sears and Roebuck. By the middle of the nineteenth century, stores began referring to themselves as "Santa Claus headquarters." One of the first was J.W. Parkinson's in Philadelphia in 1841. The owner, Mr. Parkinson, had a real "Criscringle" come down a chimney above the door of his store right before the eyes of the children present. It was a great success and in 1846, Mr. Parkinson was advertising his store as "Kriss Kringle's Headquarters." It took forty years for another store to catch on and expand the idea. The Boston Store in Brockton, Massachusetts, became the father of department Santas when it hired Edgar, a Scottish immigrant, a tall, roly-poly man with a white beard, a warm voice and a hearty laugh, to be Santa Claus. To top it off, he loved children. In 1890 he darned a Santa Claus to wear during and after school hours. But his fame spread so rapidly that within a few days long lines had formed outside the store and more parents and children arrived by train as far away as Providence, Rhode Island. Before the turn of the century, department stores across America had added Santa Claus and even sat him on a throne. Children sat on his knee and whispered their deepest secrets into his ears. Also in the latter part of the eighteen hundreds, children wrote letters to Santa Claus. By the 1890s post offices were overrun with letters for Santa each December. There was great diversity in the correct spelling of his name and where he lived - South or In the spirit of Christmas, we’d like to offer a chorus of thanks and good wishes to our kind friends and neighbors. From Norm, Don and staff at Though no mention was made of her, Santa Claus' wife made her debut in 1899 in Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride, one of a set of thirty-two books by Katharine Lee Bates, composer of "America the Beautiful. In 1908, another story encouraged children to start leaving a little food for Santa Claus because he would be tired after his hard work. Carrots and other treats were later added for his reindeer. Of course, Santa always left a note thanking the children for their kindness. A 1910 advertisement for Ivory Soap showed a child sitting in front of the fireplace Dear Santa Claus: with a bowl of water, a towel and a bar of Ivory soap I Haven’t Had Any Christmas Tree in 4 Years And so that Santa could wash up after coming down the I Have Broken My Trimmings And I Want A Pair of chimney. Following the ad to the letter, soiled wash Roller Skates And A Book, I Cant Think Of Any Thing clothes and dirty water was often found on Christmas More. I Want You To Think Of Something More. morning. Good By. Edsel Ford Source: Christmas.com With Thanks For Your Patronage —And a generous serving of warm wishes to our customers and friends for a memorable and satisfying holiday season. For your friendship and goodwill we are sincerely grateful. Seasons’s Seasons’s Greetings Greetings from from Don Don & & Deni Deni and and the the staff staff at at Trukker’s Trukker’s Closed Christmas Eve at 2pm Closed Christmas Day Open Boxing Day 7am Prime Rib New Year’s Eve 1900 S Hwy Dr SE Redcliff • 403-548-3536 On the farm and in the town, Goodwill and cheer are all around, In the mountains and the valley too, Signs of the season are on view So wherever you are, North, south, east or west... We’re sending you our very best And hope glad tidings come your way To brighten up your Christmas Day! • Line Exposure - Electric, Gas, Phone • Pipeline • Catch Basins • Environmental Clean-up • Piling Holes • Trenching • Cattle Guards • Snow Removal & Plowing • Debris Removal & Cleanouts • Basements • Dugouts • Demolitions • Trail & Road Graveling • Sand • Gravel • Clay • Topsoil • Contamination Hauling Closing December 23, 2014 Reopen January 5, 2015 1835 Dunmore Rd S.E. Phone (403) 527-2606 [email protected] C. SEHN TRUCKING LTD. 12 STARK AVE. SE MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA 403-580-7280 Tandem Gravel Truck (Contamination Seal) Tandem End Dump (Contamination Seal) Backhoe • Excavator Belly Dump (Trail Graveling with Splitters) Page 12, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Evolution of the Christmas Tree Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition in the sixteenth century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. The Christmas tree custom became popular in other parts of Europe. In England, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria made Christmas trees fashionable by decorating the first English Christmas tree at Windsor castle with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits and gingerbread in 1841. Of course other wealthy English families followed suit, using all kinds of extravagant items as decorations. Charles Dickens described such a tree as being covered with dolls, miniature furniture, tiny musical instruments, costume jewelry, toy guns and swords, fruit and candy, in the 1850s. Most nineteenth cen- tury Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania. They put one on show to raise money for a local church. In 1851 a tree was set up outside of a church. The people of the parish thought it such an outrage and a return to paganism and asked the minister to take it down. By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas to reach from floor to ceiling. The early twentieth century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German- American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the Merry Christmas country. All important buildings, private and public, signaled the beginning of the Christmas holiday with the tree ceremony. Early Christmas trees had, in place of angels, figures of fairies – the good spirits, though horns and bells were once used to frighten off evil spirits. In Poland, on Christmas trees there were always angels, peacocks and other birds as well as many, many stars. In Sweden, trees are decorated with brightly painted wooden ornaments and straw figures of animals and children. In Denmark, tiny Danish flags along with mobiles of bells stars, snowflakes and hearts are hung on Christmas trees. Japanese Christians prefer tiny fans and paper lanterns. Wishing You a Holiday Wrapped in Happiness All the best to you and yours. Merry Christmas and many thanks! from the Management and Staff of Auto-Star 636 11th Avenue SW 403-529-2777 403-529-2777 www.rodeoford.ca www.rodeoford.ca Lithuanians cover their trees with straw bird cages, stars, and geometric shapes. The straw sends a wish for good crops in the coming year. Czechoslovakian trees display ornaments made from painted egg shells. A Ukrainian Christmas tree has a spider and web for good luck. Legend has it that a poor woman with nothing to put on her children's tree woke on Christmas morning to find the branches covered with spider webs turned to silver by the rising sun. Another story comes from Germany about spiders and Christmas trees. Long ago families allowed their animals to come inside and view the Christmas trees on Christmas Eve. Because the Christ Child was born in a stable, they felt that the animals should take part in the Christmas celebration. But spiders weren't allowed because housewives didn't want cobwebs all over everything. Of course the spiders were unhappy about this, so one year they complained to the Christ Child. He felt sorry for them and decided that late at night He would let them in to see the trees. The excited spiders loved the Christmas trees and all night long they crawled about in the branches, leaving them covered with webs. On Christmas morning the housewives saw what the spiders had done . But instead of being angry, they were delighted. For in the night the Christ Child had turned all of the cobwebs into sparkling tinsel. And even today, tinsel is often used to decorate Christmas trees to add that same sparkle the Christ Child gave the cobwebs long ago, in Germany. Source: Christmas.com Join our team TO THE WORLD! And Many Thanks To You, Our Neighbors And Friends, For All The Goodwill You’ve Shown Towards Us This Year. Bill Bishop Sales Manager Grant Jennings Client Relationship Manager Karla Oliphant Finance Manager Barry Finnimore Finance Manager Michael Lant Fleet Manager Leo Frey Sales Consultant Justin Taupert Sales Consultant Jim Oliver Sales Consultant Sparky McCulloch Sales Consultant Andre Therriault Todd Petreman Sales Fixed Operations Consultant Manager Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 13 Heart-Melting Holiday Lay Over Fields, Through Woods By Gaye Huges Whenever December snow starts falling, I’m reminded of a white Christmas in the early 1930’s-one that taught me the magic of rural ingenuity and the meaning of “family”. By the time that day dawned, drifts had piled high. My new foster parents, who ended up raising me, knew the roads would be nearly impassable. Still, Mom and Dad hadn’t missed a Yuletide dinner at Mom’s parents’ in years, and I had not yet met my new grandparents. What’s more, Mom and I had already baked all sorts of goodies to bring. The last thing we wanted was to set carefully made plans aside because of a few icy flakes! Unfortunately, Dad’s 1929 Model A Ford wasn’t up to making the trip over slick lanes. Nor did we have a sleigh that his horses, “Maudie” and Charlie”, could pull. For a short while, it looked like this first Christmas with my new family would be a homebound one. Old-Time “Mud Boat” Led Way Then Dad snapped his fingers and hurried to the barn. In no time, he returned-leading the team hitched to a simple heavy mud boat. On top, he’d attached the spring seat from a wagon. A strip of rusty bells jingle-jangled festively from the sled’s harness. With big grins and nimble steps, Mom and I loaded up our “chariot” with spicy pumpkin pies, a moist hickory-nut cake, rolls and a date pudding. That done, we climbed aboard. Dad tucked a huge cowhide robe around our legs to protect us from belowzero temperatures, then clicked “giddyap” to the two draft horses-and we were off! It wasn’t over the river, but it was through the woods and fields to Grandmother’s house we went. Piercing cold and pellets of wind-driven snow made my eyes water and skin smart. I turned my head away and into the soft fur collar on my mother’s winter coat. Soon, we approached the last gate leading into Grandpa’s barnyard. He was standing beside it, waving to us, an immense smile lighting up his face. After we slid to a stop, Grandpa stepped forward and peered at me through squinted eyes, exclaiming, “Oh my, she’s a keeper. She’s got blue eyes, just like me!” “Spotty”, his English Bulldog, ran frantically around and around the horses in greeting, a corncob from the granary clenched between his teeth. As we reached the porch, the stout pooch laid the cob down at our feet and wagged his stump of a tail, eager to be petted. While Dad and Grandpa put the team away, Mom and I unloaded our sweet cargo into the aroma-filled kitchen and Grandma’s waiting arms. After putting everything in its place, Grandma removed my cap, brushed back a strand of hair, then hugged me ohso-tight. I couldn’t have felt more welcome! Hearty Christmas Fare Soon, we all sat at a table piled high with tasty dishes-succulent turkey, savory dressing, tart cranberry sauce, fluffy mashed potatoes with a golden pat of butter gleaming in the center, candied sweet potatoes, warm gravy and assorted cooked vegetables. I perched atop a thick Sears catalog so I could reach the table. How I enjoyed each morsel on my plate, particularly the luscious pudding and cake I’d helped make. After dinner, we gathered in the formal parlor made cozy by a crackling fire in the big wood-burning stove. There, we each opened a present. All were simple handmadesexcept one. Mine was a store-bought teddy bear, a gift unlike any I’d ever received. Before I knew it, the day was over. We bundled up and retraced our almost-covered tracks through the fields and woods toward home. Clutching my precious teddy, I was snug on my mother’s lap as our makeshift sleigh whisked us along. It had been the best Christmas of my life. Dryw a ll Insulation T-B ar C e i ling Painting • Warranty • Workmanship Guaranteed • Your Local Insulation Company GAS CITY DRYWALL • ACOUSTIC CEILINGS LTD. • MERRY CHRISTMAS From all of us, to all of you, go our very best wishes this holiday Season. For your support in the past 28 years, we are truly thankful. For Energuide Home Evaluation Insulation Information Call 403-529-1717 For Your FREE Estimate OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE Page 14, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Gift-Giving Traditions Around the World Provide Inspiration WE KNOW YOU’VE BEEN GOOD... ESPECIALLY TO US! May May all all your your hopes hopes and and dreams dreams come come true true this this holiday holiday season season and and beyond. beyond. For For helping helping to to make make our our dreams dreams come come true, true, we’re we’re deeply deeply indebted indebted to to each each one one of of you! you! Happy Holidays From All Of Us To All Of You! Ashton Crawford D.D. Denture Specialist 3074 Dunmore Road S.E., Medicine Hat, AB 403-528-2226 Perhaps you feel like you give the same old gifts year in, year out to family and friends. You've tried to get inspired but its as fruitless as a bad fruitcake. A trip around the world might cut into your holiday funds, but taking a look at holiday traditions around the world is a great way to find gift ideas.This year turn gift giving into a lesson in diversity. Here, a melting pot of ideas that will impress your friends and family: SOUTH KOREA During the fall harvest (which arrives in midAugust, depending on the lunar calendar), families gather to share a meal. At this celebration, adult children give money to their parents and, at day's end, parents pack up the harvested crops for their children. "It's like our Thanksgiving," says Jiyong Ahn, 26, who spent 8 years in South Korea and now lives in River Edge, New Jersey. Pretty presentation is another lesson to be learned from South Koreans. Everything in Korea is giftwrapped and the packaging is important, says Claudia Chung, 26, who lived in South Korea until age 5 and now lives in New York City. "You buy a cake and the wrapping is prettier than the cake itself," she adds. "They even put ribbons on a box of pizza." Remember, it's all about the packaging, so get out the bows and streamers, even if you decide to give Mom and Dad cash this year. CHINA Using red wrapping paper and envelopes will delight those in China, who think the color brings good fortune and wards off evil. Traditionally on the Chinese New Year, people exchange red envelopes filled with money. But, even if ensconced in red, a clock is an inappropriate gift for someone who is Chinese. The English word for clock sounds like the Chinese word for death, so when you give someone a Southland Powersports Ltd. Sales & Service Fax: 403-526-2855 Phone: 403-527-7202 3141 Gershaw Drive S.W. clock, he might think you are hexing him, warns Gladys Cheng, 23, of San Gabriel, California, who lived in Hong Kong until she was 8. "Giving 'time' is like predicting death," she says, "If I give you a clock or watch, it's like I'm saying that you're going to die soon." ISRAEL Every December, Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of lights or celebration of the Macabees' victory over the Greeks, who wanted the Jews to give up their culture and faith in favor of a Hellenistic life in 166 B.C. After the Macabees won the war, they needed to rededicate their temple but only had enough oil for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days. As a result, Jews today light candles on the menorah for each of Hanukkah's eight nights and often they exchange gifts. Originally, Jews gave monetary presents to teach children about sharing and in Israel that sentiment remains. Parents often give their children "gelt," which are coin-shaped chocolates wrapped in gold foil. Potato latkes and jelly doughnuts are the holiday's signature foods should you be invited to a Hanukkah celebration. The goal of the giver should be to provide a sweet thought as opposed to a fancy or expensive gift. NETHERLANDS Sending postcards, via snail mail, for special occasions may not be common in this e-mail based world. But it is still common in the Netherlands. "It's more personal to write a note than to email or call someone," says Lonneke Amijs, 21, who lives in Helmond in the Netherlands. "You can better express your feelings." If putting it in writing is not your style, you can always offer a floral bouquet. Flowers are the typical offering when you are invited to someone's home in the Netherlands, not surprising for a country famous for its tulips. The Dutch also exchange gifts on Sinterklaas, or Santa Claus Day, on December 5, which celebrates the actual feast day of Saint Nicholas for whom Santa Claus was named. On this day, people indulge in traditional Dutch cookies and candies, adults often make little presents or write poems for one another, and children receive a piece of chocolate in the shape of their first initial. PORTUGAL In Portugal, and in other parts of Europe, handmade gifts are often seen as the most sincere. Although Christmas is the most popular time of year to exchange gifts, most people bring homemade baked goods or knitted tablecloths, shawls or blankets whenever visiting someone's home, says Portuguese American Helder Gil, 26, of Washington, D.C. Even celebrities, including Julia Roberts, have taken up Portuguese habits like knitting, proof that even old-fashioned hobbies can be chic. Joyous Noel With best wishes to the best people we know - our customers! O F F I C E F U R N I T U R E WA R E H O U S E OFFICE SUPPLIES 522D Maple Avenue S.E., Medicine Hat 403-526-6475 www.desknfile.net Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 15 Why We Use Red and Green at Christmas By Brenna Hall Clara and Maria entered their house and closed the door. They were living in Germany in about 1572 and they had just come in from getting apples. They had just brought home apples from the market and were now getting thin cookies, cutting out paper roses and apples to put on their Christmas tree. Maria, the younger of the two sisters, asked, "Why do we use green and red at Christmastime?" Clara, the oldest said, "Well, we use green because we use evergreens like our tree. Evergreens represent everlasting life. Christ died for us and he still lives -- maybe not on earth but in heaven. That is what everlasting life is." While the girls decorated the rest of the tree, Clara continued telling Maria other legends and stories of the green and red colors at Christmas. "Even before Christ, there were men and women called druids that worshiped the earth. They used evergreens in the winter to show that the woodland and fairies live with them during winter. The Romans kept branches during winter through the beginning of January and then they would exchange branches with their friends. They would trade them to show a sign of good luck. The Egyptians treasured and worshiped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrived they would bring palm trees into their homes to show triumph over death, even though it doesn't last all through winter. There are even several legends of the Christmas tree. Like Martin Luther, in the year 1535. I will tell you about him. He was the one that first put lights on the Christmas tree. He was walking home one evening after he had been giving a sermon and he saw the stars above the evergreens and he was very amazed. He wanted to be able to show his family and recapture the scene so he brought candles and a tree into his living room, put the candles on the tree and that is how we got the lights." Maria smiled and looked up at their tree. She loved Christmas. The tree made the drab days of winter just outside their little home a lot brighter. "Do you know any more stories?" she asked. "I know two more," Clara continued. "One about a man named Saint Boniface. Saint Boniface was an English missionary and was out walking when he came upon some men about to cut a huge oak tree as a stake for a human sacrifice to their pagan god. With one mighty blow, Saint Boniface chopped down the tree and a beautiful young fir tree sprang from the center. He told the men that its branches were pointing to heaven. My last story to tell you is about a poor woodsman. He was walking home one night when he came upon a hungry child. Even though he was very poor himself he gave the child food and shelter for the night. When he awoke the next morning he rose to find a sparkling tree outside his house. The child was really the Christ child in disguise. And the tree was a gift as a reward for his charity." Maria smiled again as the thought of her own Christmas tree warmed her. "Before you were born and I was very young, there were these things called Paradise Plays." Clara said. "They were plays showing parts of the Bible. And they had things in them like evergreens and apples, wafers and things like we are using right now. They were plays of the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. The apples were the fruit and they would play out the story every year on December 24th." Clara paused, and then frowned a little. "But a little while after the people in the plays became very rude. And the Catholic Church didn't think the plays were very respectful. So they made it so we couldn't have those plays anymore." Clara stopped and thought for a moment. "Well, I have explained green and I guess these plays are a good way to explain why we use red." "First, remember how I told about the apples from the Paradise Plays? They were red. They were used to represent the fall of Adam. When the Church stopped the plays people brought trees into their homes and now we use apples in our celebrations at home." "Holly is also red and is used to represent Christ's drops of blood. The Romans used holly to make wreaths to represent the crown of thorns that Christ wore. Druids, the men and women that worship the earth, used holly in the winter to show that during winter when all the trees lose their leaves there is still beauty on earth. They also wore holly in their hair when they went to watch the Pagan priests cut the mistletoe." About one hundred to two hundred years after Maria and Clara's time, German and English people coming to America, brought the Christmas tree tradition with them. Now, four hundred years after Maria and Clara's time things have changed a lot. Today we still use evergreens at Christmas time, but sometimes now we even use artificial trees. We use red and green with the tree, decorations, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons. Red and green is used everywhere! The The Glovertown Glovertown “D” “D” 647 647 Vista Vista Dr. Dr. SE SE • Quartz Counters • Custom Cabinets • Vaulted Ceilings • Oversized Windows Perfect Family Home • 21x23 Heated Attached Garage Thanks for hanging wi th us! We’d like to wish our good friends and neighbors a string of good tidings this Christmas: We value your support at the holidays and all year. Thanks for doing business with us. from the management and staff Medicine Hat Co-op Page 16, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Christmas Bells By Abby Westover Long ago people believed that they could use bells to frighten away evil spirits. Bells were a simple form of noisemaking. They could be easily obtained or made and everyone knew how to use them. Many people thought that as winter began, evil spirits would come to harm them. So during the dark days after the harvest or the hunt, people would engage in ceremonies to keep bad things from happening to them while they waited for Spring and warmer days. The tradition of using noisemakers like bells during these times carried over into the celebration of Christmas. But instead of making noise to keep away evil things, people made noise to celebrate something happy. In many villages, there was a church and most churches had a And we’d like to say thanks for helping to keep us on a roll! With best wishes for a merry season. K i r k ’s M i d - Wa y T ire & A lignment Redcliff • 403-548-3941 • 24 Hr. Service bell. When something important was happening such as remembering the birth of Jesus Christ they would ring the bell. You might hear this saying at Christmas: "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings". Most people remember this saying from the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". But over a hundred years ago, this was a very common saying amongst kids. Back in those days, kids believed that making noise was just a part of Christmas. And bells were an easy way to make that noise. Bells were inexpensive musical instruments that people could take with them caroling or wassailing and almost every family had one or more. Bells also provided a bright and cheery sound and were acceptable to parents as proper tools to celebrate and make noise at Christmas. Bells play an important part in other areas of celebrating Christmas. Some people probably picture Santa's reindeer with bells draped over them for decoration. Santa might also use bells to help find the reindeer in the dark or in the fog or snow. And bells have always had a place in Christmas songs. The famous Christmas hymn I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day began as a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the 1860's. The poem was actually about the tragedy one felt during the civil war. Some of the lesser known verses go like this: Then from each black accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, goodwill to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearthstones of a continent And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, goodwill to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men!" Christmas bells are remembered in classic holiday songs such as "Jingle Bells", "Silver Bells", and "Christmas Bells are Ringing". Bells make a happy sound and are enjoyed in "ringing out the old and ringing in the new" each season as has been done in times past. Hebert Wellness Colon Hydrotherapy Clinic We’re All Smiles at Christmas With friends and neighbors like you, we have every reason to smile at the holidays and all year! We hope you have a merry and bright Christmas and a dazzling New Year. Best wishes to you and yours! Mohawk Medical Arts Building #129 770 6th St SW Phone: 403-580-4175 Fax: 403-580-4157 [email protected] It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. -And we loved every minute of serving you all year long! With Christmas greetings from all of us. Penny and her Staff 549 - 17th Street S.W. Medicine Hat 403-525-0095 Renew Your Health & Youth Have a Happy, Hea lt hy Holiday 87 Prairie Drive NE Medicine Hat 403-488-0815 hebertwel [email protected] www.hebertwel lnessgroup.com Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 17 Quick Christmas Trivia The common abbreviation for Christmas to Xmas is derived from the Greek alphabet. X is letter Chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet. 26 December was traditionally known as St Stephen's Day, but is more commonly known as Boxing Day. This expression came about because money was collected in alms-boxes placed in churches during the festive season. This money was then distributed to the poor and needy after Christmas. In 1836, Alabama is the first state in the USA to declare Christmas a legal holiday. In 1843, the first Christmas card was printed in England for Sir Henry Cole. He was a busy man who wanted to save time in his own Christmas letters, but was also interested in encouraging the expansion of the postal system. 1000 copies of the card were sold at one shilling each. It was not until the 1860s that the production of cards accelerated, with cheaper printing methods. Then in 1870, the Post Office introduced a half penny stamp for sending cards. Oliver Cromwell, in England banned Christmas Carols between 1649 and 1660. Cromwell thought that Christmas should be a very solemn day so he banned carols Melbourne, Australia and parties. The only celebration was by a sermon has a sporting Boxing Day tradition. The Melbourne and a prayer service. Cricket Ground hosts a In 1643, the British Cricket test match. SomeParliament officially abol- times this attracts 90,000 ishes the celebration of spectators. Cricket is Australia's premier Summer Christmas. sport. The Puritans in AmerThe first printed referica tried to make Thanksgiving Day the most ence to Christmas trees In 1856, President important annual festival appeared in Germany in Franklin Pierce decorates 1531 instead of Christmas. Silent Night was written in 1818, by an Austrian priest Joseph Mohr. He was told the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken and would not be prepared in time for Christmas Eve. He was saddened by this and could not think of Christmas without music, so he wanted to write a carol that could be sung by choir to guitar music. He sat down and wrote three stanzas. Later that night the people in the little Austrian Church sang "Stille Nacht" for the first time. St Francis of Assisi introduced Christmas Carols to formal church services. Telesphorus, the second Bishop of Rome (125-136 AD) declared that public Church services should be held to celebrate "The Nativity of our Lord and Saviour." In 320 AD, Pope Julius I and other religious leaders specified 25 December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ. the first White House Christmas". At first the allied soldiers thought it Christmas tree. was a trick, but they soon In 1907, Oklahoma climbed out of their and shook became the last USA trenches state to declare Christmas hands with the German soldiers. The truce lasted a legal holiday. a few days, and the men At midnight on Christ- exchanged presents of mas Eve 1914 firing from cigarettes and plum pudthe German trenches dings, sang carols and suddenly stopped. A Ger- songs. They even played man brass band began a game of Soccer. playing Christmas carols. In 1937, the first Early, Christmas morning, the German soldiers postage stamp to comcame out of their trench- memorate Christmas was es, approaching the allied issued in Austria. lines, calling "Merry In 1974, the Australian city of Darwin is devastated late on Christmas Eve and in the early hours of the morning by Cyclone Tracy. In 1834, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert brought the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for the Royal family. December sixth is St Nicholas's Day - the first of the gift giving days, especially in Holland and Belgium. “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” -Charles H. Spurgeon Come Celebrate the birth of Jesus with us on Christmas Eve Family Communion Service - 6:30pm 0 Selling Houses! Traditional Christmas Eve Service - 11:00pm 403-928-1110 635 - 4th Street SE 403-526-7713 In the Heart of Downtown Medicine Hat From Our House To Yours... 1006 South Railway Street SW • 403-527-3673 Serving Medicine Hat for more than 50 years Colleen Kelly May the spi rit of the season shine brightly in your heart and in your home. May its sights and scents fill your heart with many warm and wonderful memories. May your days and evenings be filled with simple pleasur es, may you and yours be blessed! From our home to yours... wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas Thank you to all of my clients & friends for your loyalty and business over the past few years! - Colleen & Otto LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING YOU IN 2015! Page 18, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Quick Christmas Trivia Every year since 1947 the people in Oslo have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster. The gift is an expression of goodwill and gratitude for Britain's help to Norway in the 1939-1945 war. The first American Christmas carol was written in 1649 by a minister named John de Brebeur and is called "Jesus is Born". Mexicans call the poinsettia "Flower of the Holy Night" - the Holy Night is the Mexican way of saying "Christmas Eve". Visitors to Bethlehem rarely exceed a few thousand at Christmas. In 1995, there were rowdy celebrations of the first Christmas in a Palestinian-controlled Bethlehem. The Christmas Eve service televised on 25 December is celebrated not in the Church of the Nativity, which stands over the place where Jesus was said to have been born, but in the nearby Franciscan Church of St. Catherine. Cheers! Here’s to the greatest bunch of people we know... our customers! Merry Christmas and sincere thanks. See our displays at: STEEL ROOFING & SIDING ALUMINUM & VINYL SIDING 838 - 16th St S.W., Medicine Hat Phone 403-526-3342 • Fax 403-526-6326 Wishing You You Wishing Peace && Peace Happiness Happiness This Holiday Holiday This Season!! Season The largest functional Christmas cracker was 45.72 metres long and 3.04 metres in diameter. It was made by Australian international rugby player Ray Price in Markson Sparks of New South Wales, Australia and was pulled in the car park of the Westfield Shopping Town in Chatswood, Sydney, Australia on 9 November 1991. A goose was customary Christmas fare until Henry VIII took it upon himself to tuck into a turkey. Mince pies were once shaped like mangers and are thought to date back to the sweetmeats formerly presented to the Vatican on Christmas Eve. the festivities. As the centuries wore on, depending upon the country, a Christmas goose, turkey or other animal was adopted as the main course in the Christmas feast. The Christmas tree was first decorated with lights in the 16th century. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to add lighted candles to the tree. He was so taken with the Christmas night sky that he wished to bring "the lights of the stars" into the home of his family. From this, decorating the tree with ornaments, messages and notes, and small gifts emerged in later centuries leading to our customs today. Hanging the Christmas stocking on the hearth on Christmas Eve in the hope that it will be filled with presents the next morning is a custom that goes back about 400 years. It derived from the custom in Holland of children placing wooden shoes next to the hearth the night before the arrival of St. Nicholas. The children would fill their shoes with straw and food for St Nicholas's donkey that carried the gifts. In exchange he would leave them a small gift such as small cakes, fruits and other gifts. Stockings were substituted for the shoes in Britain, most of Europe and in North America. Santa's Reindeers are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. A wreath with holly, red berries and other decorations began from at least the 17th century. Holly, with its sharply pointed leaves, symbolised the thorns in Christ's crown-of-thorns. Red berries symbolised the drops of Christ's blood. A wreath at Christmas signified a home that celebrated the birth of Christ. Ancient Roman observances of the Natalis solis invicti and the Saturnalia occurred in December and involved much feasting, singing, parades and other forms of celebrating. Not to be outdone, when the Church adopted Christmas it introduced a major Christian celebration and feasting became a part of On Christmas morning since medieval times, church bells have been rung to announce to the world the coming of the saviour. It was customary from the 18th century to wear clothes and carry a small bell to signify the birth of Christ. The ringing of the bells was to signify the importance of the His Birth. When a blanket of white covers the ground, And plenty of good cheer is easily found. When houses and trees are decked out in their best, With icicles, tinsels and lights and the rest. When the world seems fresh with hope anew, That’s the time we give thanks for friends like you! 1343 1343 TransCanada TransCanada Way SE 1343 1343 TransCanada TransCanada Way Way Way SE SE SE Medicine Medicine Hat, Hat, AB AB Medicine Medicine Hat, Hat, AB AB 403-529-5335 403-529-5335 403-529-5335 403-529-5335 May the coming season bring peace, joy and harmony for you and your loved ones. For your trust, we are truly thankful. LTD. Custom Made Kitchen Cabinets and Tops 76 Brier Estates Way NW Phone: (403) 548-6221 Medicine Hat, Alberta Fax: (403) 548-6307 403-526-9528 FAX 403-529-5645 #1 790 - 23 St. SW Medicine Hat, AB RD Christmas Greetings & Heartfelt Thanks Wishing you a bounty of glad tidings and all the joy, your heart can hold. It’s been a pleasure serving you this past year. REG’S HOMESTYLE MEATS & DELI Home of the Original “Reg-A-Roni” Quality fresh meats guaranteed #2 - 12 Sierra Drive SW Reg Stein - Owner (403) 529-2385 Medicine Hat, AB Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 19 The Color of Christmas Joy By Julie Ann Miller My childhood memories of kindergarten consist of several things: cold concrete walls, little coats and boots, pencils which didn't fit in the hand, lined paper, desks, a blackboard and the alphabet in black and white. Recess only meant that I had to be outside, dressed in coat and hat. Aimlessly, I circled the school grounds while children around me played. Years later, my mother told me that she went to my teacher with the question, "Tell me what is going on at school? My daughter was a happy kid, until I sent her to school. She's depressed and I don't know why." The teacher was as dumbfounded as my mother. She said that I seemed well enough at school. Perhaps the child is tired? Does she eat well? Does she sleep? Maybe the truth lay somewhere in between. My bedroom always seemed chilled and silent until mother stepped through the door. The warmth of her smile lit into my heart. She would sit on my bed and kiss me goodnight. Long after her goodnight kiss, I would lie awake, staring at the ceiling as I hugged my doll. If only the morning would come and I could be somewhere other than school! What had I said to mother, so many times, when she'd asked me? "They don't like me." It was all I knew. It was all I could understand. The winter turned colder as Christmas approached. A week of school still remained before the holiday break. I awoke one morning to my mother's voice. Through blurry eyes I looked up at her. She was telling me to get dressed. Pulling my clothes on, I looked out the window. How could it be time to go to school? The sky was still dark. I stared down at the fresh layers of snow covering our lawn. "You don't have to go to school today," mother announced as she tied the hat strings under my chin. "You're going to see Santa today." My heart leaped with joy at her words! This day belonged to my mother and me! We took the morning train to Detroit. I stood at the window of the train, drinking in every sight. Christmas lights, brightly decorated wreaths swaying in the wind and street lamps glittered under the half light of the morning sky. Mother sat beside me, her hand against my back, as the train chugged down the track. Whenever I hear the expression, "seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child," I remember that day. As mother led me into the J.L. Hudson store, the world transformed to my size; like magic seeds which sprouted and grew a dream into a reality, a place of make-believe suddenly was there before my eyes. I could touch my hand to anything I could see. It was all there, within my reach: every decoration, every toy and every colorful, delicious looking piece of candy. Christmas songs filled the air and many of the movable toys seemed to bounce in time with the music. Children rushed past me in all directions. Some ran to the toy trains, some to the Christmas trees from which dangled candy canes, while others rushed to the red playhouse. Outside of that house, sat Santa Claus. "Ho! Ho! Ho!" he called out. With a white gloved hand, he beckoned me. The delightful sound of sleigh bells was in the air, accompanied by Santa's hearty laugh. He called out to his reindeer, proudly lined up and there waiting at his side. With my heart at the bursting point, I turned to look at my mother. She stood outside of the room, looking in. I wanted her to share this experience. I wanted her to get a look at me as I wandered joyfully through this children's wonderland. As summer arrived, the school year drew to a close. Books were packed up and desks emptied out. As the silence closed in around the schoolyard, my mother, once again, came to see my teacher. The teacher sat before my mother sobbing; words were difficult, but she tried to explain. "I didn't want to work. I never wanted to teach. I was forced into it. I singled your daughter out and took the frustration out on her." When I grew up, I came to understand that the human heart has its limits when it comes to harsh disappointment. As adults, we don't always respond in the way we might hope. What I took from that year though was not the misfortune of an unsettling beginning, but the gift of a single beautiful day. Merry Christmas and Many Thanks! We hope the coming holiday season brings joy and good fortune to all our loyal customers and friends From management and staff at Mark’s Marine & Leisure 1047G - 30th Street S.W. 1554 Brier Park Cres NW Medicine Hat 403-527-4190 www.hranco.com 403- 527-4255 Season’s Greetings Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Blake Pedersen MLA, Medicine Hat 537 - 4th Street SE 403-527-5622 [email protected] May the gifts of love, faith and joy be yours to cherish this holiday season. We’re truly grateful for the gift of your friendship. Ted’s Autobody 403-526-3110 Serving Medicine Hat Over 38 Years 665 S. Railway St. SE Page 20, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 The Holly and the Ivy By Cheryl Mayoss Caroling or rejoicing loudly in song during Christmas is a tradition borne many years ago. The word 'carol' means a dance of celebration. It is said that the first carol was sung by the angels announcing Christ's birth to the shepherds. Others claim that in the Middle ages poor, nomadic minstrels sang in public in exchange for donations. But no matter how it came to be, Christmas carols are a firm tradition still celebrated today. What is intriguing is that although most of the lyrics are religious, evergreen plants such as the holly (ilex aquifolium) are frequently mentioned too. A 15th century carol tells of the contest between holly and ivy for the best place in the hall, the holly finally winning as the red berries were found to be far prettier than the black berries of the ivy. The sans day carol, traditionally Cornish, also mentions the berries and 'Deck the hall's with bough's of holly' is the beginning of another popular one. 'The holly and the ivy' carol dates back to the seventeenth century and was revamped by a famous folk music collector Cecil J. Sharp (18591924) and included in his collection of songs, hymns and carols of 1911. In this particular carol, which is undoubtedly religious, the holly's features symbolize Jesus and his suffering. The holly produces a white blossom representing His purity. Its scarlet clusters of berries reflect His blood. The holly also has a sharp prickle, which is a prominent feature of its leaves. This could symbolize the crown worn by Jesus at the time of his death or the thorn could represent the sword, which went into His side. The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in wood, The holly bears the crown Merry C hris tmas The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To be our sweet savior The holly bears a berry, as red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To do poor sinners good The holly bears a prickle, as sharp as any thorn and Mary Bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas day in morn O the rising of the sun, and the running Of the deer, the playing Of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir Evergreen plants that bear fruit in the winter months have been used for centuries to decorate homes. In the Victorian era evergreens were symbolic of renewed life and the coming of spring. In a season where nothing flowered, holly, fir Auto Value 231 North Railway Street S.E., Medicine Hat, Alberta 403-526-0494 403-502-4202 Clare Lindsay Have a Safe and Merry Holiday Season May the holiday spirit flourish in your heart at Christmas time and all year. Professional Home Inspection “Quick Convenient Foods, Old Fashioned Flavour” PH: 403-832-2224 • Fax: 403-832-2177 www.premiumsausage.ca AUTO UPHOLSTERY CENTRE CUSTOM AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS & ACCESSORIES Another Christmas is on the way! And so are best wishes and gratitude. Happy Holidays! COMMERCIAL AUTO & INDUSTRIAL UPHOLSTERY 403-526-3554 503C North Railway Street SE., Medicine Hat, AB and pine were believed to be magical and it was regarded as good luck to adorn your home with greenery. The people at that time were also very superstitious and believed that the ivy (Hedera helix) warded off witches, lightning, evil spirits and ghosts of the dead. Another folk tale explains the manner in which the holly was brought into the homes. The prickly kind depicted the man, forecasting that he would be in charge the following year. The smooth kind meant the woman would reign. A Victorian merchant in 1851 claimed that he sold 250 000 bushels of holly during the Christmas season, that's how popular it was. Another tale tells of how the Romans used to send boughs to their friends for good luck during a winter festival called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, their God of agriculture, a custom the Christians later adapted. One old legend says that holly sprang up under the footsteps of Jesus when he walked the earth to the cross and merely holding it brought good luck. In old church calendars it also documented that the churches on Christmas Eve were decked (temple exornate). Now in the 21st century, having become so technologically advanced and having broken away from so many things of that era, we still cling like ivy to all the old tapestry of traditions and year after year during the festive season we bring greenery into our homes. So this year as you lay out your ivy and put up your sprigs of holly bear in mind that although they look pretty in your home you will be guarded against all evil forces and you'll be able to sleep soundly at night. Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 21 Christmas Food throughout the World As you can see, Christmas food varies by geography, culture, and climate. This year when you eat your own Christmas food keep in mind the diverse food served throughout the world. Geography and climate play an important role in the choice of Christmas foods. Traditional Christmas food varies throughout the world. The difference in the type of food is based primarily on the geography of the region. There are vast differences in the type of food enjoyed for this holiday throughout the world. Christmas food is as diverse as the cultures and customs present around the world. America Does It Right Americans probably have the most diverse set of traditional Christmas food. The reason is simply because of the different cultures that settled this continent. In rural areas, the most common meats served on Christmas are turkey and goose. All types of vegetables are enjoyed because these are grown domestically. For dessert, Americans enjoy pumpkin pie because of the huge availability of pumpkins at this time of year. The Variety of Overseas Dishes In Europe, Christmas food varies by country. The Germans eat a roasted goose that is served with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. In London, Christmas pudding is the top dessert of choice. Cod fish and baked potatoes are enjoyed in Spain and Portugal. Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, enjoy shellfish, pork, caviar, and cheeses that are served in a smorgasbord fashion. The Russians enjoy an array of cakes, pies and meat dumplings. In Italy, the residents enjoy a huge five to seven course meal consisting of multiple salads, roasted meats, antipasto, a portion of pasta, puddings, cheese, fruit, and chocolates. The Europeans typically enjoy their Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve with the exception of the Italians who enjoy their main meal on Christmas day. Weather Matters The Christmas season is not always associated with cold weather, and the choice of Christmas foods reflects the climate as well. Africa and Australia enjoy Christmas during the hottest time of the year. South Africans enjoy a turkey feast with all of the traditional trimmings. The Australians celebrate Christmas with summer time food such as barbecues, steaks, and chickens. The Australian dessert consists of ice cream or sorbet. To Our Good Neighbours At CHRISTMAS I’m proud to be a part of this fine community and I’m grateful for the privilege of serving you! Happy Holidays and heartfelt thanks! BOB MACAULAY Associate Community Realty INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED BROKER Bus: 403-528-4222 Cell: 403-580-9199 Toll Free: 1-877-528-4222 [email protected] We Wish You a Merry C h ristmas With warm wishes for a happy holiday season, along with our thanks for your patronage We do paintless dent repair COMPLETE AUTO BODY REPAIR Where friends are made by acciden t 946 S. Railway St SE Medicine Hat Fax 403-527-5259 403-527-9689 It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! What makes the holiday season so special for us? It’s the opportunity to let all of you know just how much we appreciate your friendship and patronage throughout the year. Merry Christmas Shane Herter 403-580-1022 [email protected] Medalta Real Estate May peace, love, harmony and joy be yours over this special holiday season. We are grateful for your patronage. From the management and staff of Jayda Sprague 403-878-0821 [email protected] Your Commercial & Home Improvement Professionals Call Call Callus us us usat at at at403-548-6965 403-548-6965 403-548-6965 403-548-6965 •••••• www.ramexteriors.ca www.ramexteriors.ca www.ramexteriors.ca www.ramexteriors.ca Call Call Call us us at at 403-548-6965 403-548-6965 www.ramexteriors.ca www.ramexteriors.ca Page 22, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 Charles Dickens: A Merry Old Soul By Jeff Westover Life and times were hard in London of 1824. For one boy in particular, the second of seven children, life was especially difficult. At the age of Holiday Greetings From Our Family To Yours We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Thank you for choosing us and we look forward to serving you in 2014. 578 South Railway Street Medicine Hat, AB 403-504-4446 twelve, his father was tossed into a debtor's prison, leaving an already poor family utterly destitute. The entire family moved into the prison with the boy's father. And the boy set out to work -- twelve hours a day, as was common for child laborers in London in the early 19th century -- in a shoe polish factory. He was not poorly treated there. Fortunate that was for him, for such was common of child laborers too. But he experienced enduring shame over his family's condition. Their poverty, their shabby dwelling and his mother's insistence that he continue working through his youth built such resentment that it hardened his heart even still as an old man late in life. No, this is not the history of one Ebeneezer Scrooge. This is the beginning of the story of the man who invented Scrooge -- and who may have been more like Scrooge than most ever really knew. ~ Prelude to A Christmas Carol ~ Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England on February 7, 1812. His father, supporting such a large family, had difficulty avoiding debt and his challenges shaped the impressions of young Charles. His early life was one of drudgery and despair. He was made to scrape and struggle at a young age to provide. In 1827, at the age of 15, he worked professionally as a solicitor's clerk. During his tenure there he learned shorthand and, being bright, became a reporter. His talents grew to include drawing. By 1833 he worked to submit stories and sketches to newspapers under the pen name "Boz". By 1837 Sketches by Boz and The Pickwick Papers made him famous and financially stable. From there he delved into works of fiction that have long since become classics. His stories were ripe with tales of the harsh treatment of the poor and the woes of ignorance. Through words and art, he told the story of 19th century English poverty and the realities of child labor as such as he endured. ~ A Christmas Carol ~ In the fall of 1844 Dickens took up a project that consumed him. Fresh off a tour of London's Ragged Schools, Dickens felt he had found the inspiration to wholly address the issues of Want and Ignorance among the poor. These schools were privately funded charitable organizations who took in the poorest of London's poor children. And it was a visit that both disturbed and moved Charles Dickens. In just six short weeks that brisk autumn, Charles brooded over a story with a Christmas setting. A ghost story that had him alternately weeping and laughing as he turned the tale over and over in his head while walking the dark streets of the city late at night. He worked during this inspired time both night and day. The story contained elements drawn from his own angst known in poverty. The home of Bob Cratchit was inspired by his own boyhood home. His own brother was known as "Tiny Fred" and the character of Cratchit's beloved son Tiny Tim has some basis in the real life handicapped nephew of Charles Dickens. The central character of Scrooge gained many of his worst characteristics from Dickens himself, who was known to be miserly and obsessed with the creation of wealth. Dickens was so sure of the success of the story that he insisted on illustrations and a quality binding for the first edition. The first run of 6,000 copies was released on December 19, 1843 -- and sold out in only five days. By Spring of 1844, the book was enjoying it's sixth edition. Letters came from all sides to Dickens, claiming the book was almost as important as the Bible in the family home. Many wrote to say it was kept in a special place, and read aloud as entertainment for their families. By 1853, Dickens himself was performing readings of A Christmas Carol. Reportedly, his renditions of the tale were particularly well presented and known for their dramatic flare. Dickens had re-edited his own personal copy of the book, adding emphasis and deleting redundant detail for the sake of performance. He was able to deliver the reading in just two hours. continued on the next page... t Ma tters M I en t™ os Wh •• Enhanced Enhanced Educational Educational Skills Skills for for the the Workplace Workplace •• Adult Adult Basic Basic Education Education At the Walk-in Clinic on Carry Drive SE Medicine Hat, AB Ph: 403-528-2111 Wellness is a priceless gift! Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014, Page 23 Charles Dickens: A Merry Old Soul - cont. For a time, his life was anchored by readings of A Christmas Carol. While many times he drew huge crowds for the benefit of charities, he made a respectable living as a reader of his own works. By 1865, he was reading A Christmas Carol in the United States. By then his fame and that of the tale preceded him. The two dollar tickets drew lines of more than half a mile on the night before opening and were later scalped on the streets of Boston for an unheard of sum of twenty-six dollars the next day. He toured to Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. In New York, more than 5,000 turned out to purchase tickets on a bitterly cold evening. By the Spring of 1870, Dickens grew weak from performing. It was widely noted at the time that the exhausting effort he put into the readings of the story caused him to collapse backstage during intermissions, doctors waiting on him to check his vital signs and tend to his needs. On March 15th of that year he had a particularly difficult time and he returned for a final round of applause to tearfully announce to the audience that they had witnessed his final performance. Within three months, Dickens was dead. He was buried in Westminster Abbey next to George Frideric Handel -- another name made famous by Christmas. (He was the composer of Messiah). ~ The Revival of Christmas ~ The profound effect of this one work on Dicken's own life cannot be denied. Neither should it be minimized for the effect A Christmas Carol had upon the entire world. At the time of Dicken's birth, Christmas was not a roundly celebrated holiday. Certainly it was nothing as we know it today. In fact, Christmas in London of the 1820s might not have even been a day off for most working folks. Christmas was still derided by a puritanical generation who claimed it had roots in pagan rituals. While the crossover to mainstream observance had taken place as churches invoked the name of Christ upon the pagan festivals of winter, open societal acceptance of the same was slow in coming. Until Dickens released his book. The images conjured up in A Christmas Carol were as endearing to the generations who loved the story then as they do now. References to the Christmas tree, the merry dress of the Ghost of Christmas Present, of families engaged in frivolous holiday games and the gathering around the table for the Christmas feast were all inspired by what Charles Dickens wrote and by how he himself approached the holiday of Christmas. A son of Charles Dickens once said: "Christmas was a great time, a really jovial time, and my father Hope It’s SPECtacular! The focus is Christmas, and everyone here is filled with warm wishes and lots of good cheer. But amid all the bustle and holiday fuss, we’d like to thank you for seeing us! KRAUSE OPTICAL #103 3030 - 13 Ave. S.E. Co-op Mall • 403-529-6671 was always at his best, a splendid host, bright and jolly as a boy and throwing his heart and soul into everything that was going on.... And then the dance! There was no stopping him!" Indeed, as Scrooge's redeeming transformation warms the hearts of readers everywhere, one cannot help but wonder if his story isn't more closely aligned with that of his inventor. Charles Dickens seemed to relish in Christmas. And so do we with each passing season as his work is celebrated on screen and in print -- even now, some 160 plus years since it was first published. Charles Dickens & AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES LTD. Bay #3 - 511 South Railway Drive N.E. Redcliff, AB Phone 403. 403.527.1137 Phone ✔ 24 HOUR SERVICE ✔ 32 YEARS EXPERIENCE AUTO • FARM • INDUSTRIAL • OILFIELD • COMMERCIAL WEBASTO • PROHEAT • COPPERCORE • GLACIER SALES & SERVICE Merry Christmas Beautiful, peaceful, full of happiness too, is the holiday season we wish for you. May it find you surrounded by family & friends good cheer and good times, from beginning to end. With appreciation for your friendship and patronage, we wish you a warm and wonderful season DR. SAUJANI 403.928.5824 www.reflectionsmedispa.ca 4 - 3151 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat Page 24, Holiday Wishes, MH Shopper, Week of December 20, 2014 T was the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Why not sit down with your Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" Brought to you by: He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" family on Christmas Eve and enjoy this timeless classic together... Merry Christmas Joyeux Noel No matter how you say it we hope it’s grand! Thank you for your patronage this past year. Bay 2 - 928 Allowance Avenue SE 403.526.5053 WHEN SERVICE COUNTS - COUNT ON US www.computer-central.ca
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