January 2021 Issue Country Hills Country Hills Village Coventry Hills Harvest Hills Panorama Hills Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 2 President’s Message January 2021 I am writing this on New Years Eve, and it is with great pleasure for most of us that we are leaving 2020 and entering a new year characterized so far by cautious optimism. The NHCA had a lot of plans at the beginning of 2020, plans that were put awry by a global pandemic. Although 2021 will likely still have it is share of lockdowns, as more and more people get vaccinated, we should see fewer and fewer restrictions as the year goes on. There is light at the end of an exceptionally long tunnel. Nonetheless, the NHCA did accomplish a great deal this past year, and although it was Ian McAnerin not according to the original plan, it was important work indeed. We fed the hungry, President - Northern Hills Community Association comforted the lonely, entertained the young, and fought hard for our community and the people in it. In 2021, we shall face new challenges – loss of revenue chief among them. We will need to suspend programs that do not support themselves either through fees or grants and will likely need a few fundraisers to keep providing for our community. It will be challenging but I believe doable. Every year, I do something I call a “Descartes”, after the French philosopher who famously decided to doubt everything, even his own existence. I do it for both myself personally and my company. When I do a Descartes, I challenge everything – why does this organization exist? Should we do the things we have always done? What opportunities and trends are we missing out on? What is the purpose of this? Is there a better way? Why am I friends with this person? What do I want out of life? Is spending so much time on social media such a good idea? Doing a Descartes can be exhausting, which is why I only do it formally once a year, but it is a good way to identify bad habits, toxic relationships, and new opportunities. I find it is a lot more useful than just making some (often quickly broken) New Years resolutions. I will be doing a Descartes on the NHCA as well – questioning everything. 2021 is going to be focused on reflection, recovery, and resilience. I look forward to going on this journey along with all of you and hope you have a Happy New Year! Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 3 Crossword by Myles Mellor In This Issue Northern Hills Neddie...………………..……………………………………………...12 Rhubarb Square ……………....……..……………… ……………………………...13 Elected Reps ……..………………..………….……………………………………….17-21 Celebrate Aging ……....……..……...…………………………………………………24 Photography Corner.……..……...……………………………………….……………28 and so much more! Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 4 Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 5 Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 6 NHCA CONTACTS STAFF & CONTRACTORS BOARD MEMBERS OFFICE: Executive Director: Yana Soldatenko President: Ian McAnerin NHCA at Vivo Bookkeeper: Surina Gupta 1st Vice President: Tamara Keller 11950 Country Village Link NE Newsletter Editor: Heather Hubert 2nd Vice President: Leah Argao Calgary, AB, T3K 6E3 Ad Sales: Heather Hubert Secretary: Amanda Mauch Tel: 403-226-6422 Office & Newsletter Treasurer: Azim Riaz Fax: 403-226-6421 Administrator Assistant: Jiyoung Lee DIRECTORS: Chris Abdalla, Manveer Dhadda, E: [email protected] David Hartwick, Winnie Huang, Lindsay Lantela, Public Hours: VOLUNTEERS Tara Melhus, Tavis Settles Mon-Friday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm The NHCA is a self-funding, non-profit COMMITTEES: Remote assistance, check the organization. All our board members and Accessibility: Chris Abdalla website for more information about committee members are volunteers. Advocacy: Tamara Keller in-person appointments. Arts & Crafts: Lindsay Lantela Closed on weekends and At Home in the Hills: Winnie Huang & Samana Zehra statutory holidays Beautification & Gardens: Tara Melhus, Coventry Garden, and Harvest Garden Building Safer Communities (Blockwatch): Tavis Settles Business Development: Ian McAnerin Communications: David Hartwick Creating Coventry: Asim Riaz & Moraig McCabe Government Relations / Advocacy: David Hartwick Harvest Hills Hub: Tamara Keller & Victoria Henry EDITOR’S NOTE: Membership: Manveer Dhadda All articles submitted by the general Planning & Development: David Hartwick public are the author’s opinion and Sports & Rinks: Leah Argao and Daniel Sennhauser not necessarily reflective of the Seniors: Leah Argao opinion of NHCA. SPRY in the Hills: Jay L Emond Volunteer Relations: Tamara Keller Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 7 Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 8 Last Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 9 By Punctuation Association Joni R. [email protected] Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 10 Happy New Year Design and digital publishing credit to: The UPS Store 264 612-500 Country Hills Blvd NE Calgary, AB T3K 5K3 403.226.9361 [email protected] theupsstore.ca/264 Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 11 Northern Hills Neddie 100% Dear Northern Hills Neddie, I am in love with my new neighbor who moved in a couple weeks ago. I watch him from my window as he comes and goes from work, when he shovels the snow or works on his garden. I dream of us having a wedding and raising our chil- dren. Only there is one problem-we have never met. What can I do Neddie-I am in love!! Sincerely, Happy Drowning in my dreams 2 Dear Drowning in my Dreams, First-sorry girl I do not think you are in love. How can you be in love-you don’t even know him. Is he nice or kind? Does he have a special person already? Do you share the same morals and values and interests? I believe you have created a fantasy world for yourself through a window-you need to get out of 0 this NOW before it turns into stalker behavior!! Start with a kind neighborly gesture and bring him a pie. Start a friendship and see where it goes. Swim above the waves and float out of drowning dreams to reality!!! 2 If you would like to send in any of your problems or questions to ask Neddie advice-please send to [email protected] and we 1 will pass it along to Neddie for the next issue! New Year Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 12 JANUARY WINNER! RHUBARB SQUARE Winner: Colleen Winhold Bottom Base: 1 cup margarine 2 cups flour *Mix and pat in pan Filler: 5 cups rhubarb (cubed and pour boiling water over rhubarb and drain well) 1 ½ cups sugar 2 eggs ½ cup margarine ½ cup flour *Mix and spread on bottom base Top Layer: 1 cup coconut ¼ cup flour 1 cup sugar 2 tbsp. margarine 1 egg *Mix together and put on top (I double the top layer recipe as I love coconut) Bake at 350 for 45 minutes until top is golden Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 13 Sudoku Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 14 Answer keys Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 15 Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 16 Your Government Representatives Muhammad Yassen Calgary-North MLA HAPPY NEW YEAR Covid-19: Recently, the Alberta Government announced bold measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of Albertans. This pandemic poses the greatest challenge our province has faced in more than a generation. Albertans must act together to protect the vulnerable and help stop the spike in COVID cases. By acting now, we can bend the curve and ensure our health care system has the capacity to protect Albertans. My office staff have received many enquiries regarding exemptions to covid restrictions. To request an exemption, please send your request to [email protected]. Supports for Alberta’s Small Businesses: Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of Alberta’s economy. The Alberta Government has been supporting job creators that have suffered the unfortunate impacts of COVID-19. In light of additional health measures, I am pleased to let you know that affected small and medium-sized businesses will receive additional support through the opportunity to apply for a second payment from the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. For more information, please visit www.alberta.ca/sme-relaunch-grant.aspx. Fiscal Update: The global health crisis, economic recession and low oil prices have significantly affected Alberta’s finances. Our mid-year update shows improvement under responsible fiscal management in the face of the pandemic. Alberta’s government is projecting a $21.3-billion deficit for 2020-21, $2.8 billion less than the last quarter, largely due to improving revenue and government efforts to hold the line on spending. While there is a long road ahead to full recovery, Alberta’s economy is gradually emerging from the depths of the downturn. Alberta has also seen a significant rebound in employment already this year, recovering more than 258,000 of the 360,900 jobs lost between February and April. Connecting Families, Removing Barriers to Adoption: Bill 48, Red Tape Reduction Act 2020 (2) was introduced in the Legislature and if passed it will make it easier to access adoption information for adult adoptees, birth parents and siblings. Muhammad Yassen Calagry North MLA [email protected] 403.274.1931 104, 200 Country Hills Landing NW Calgary AB T3K 5P3 Northern Hills News January · 2021 Page 17 Your Government Representatives Jyoti Gondek City of Calgary –Ward 3 Councillor Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you found some time to relax and reconnect with family and friends via phone calls, video chats or physically distanced outside visits. I have hope for the upcoming year that our lives will slowly return to greater interactions with each other, something we’re all missing. That being said, it is crucial that we keep up to date with the latest advice from our health officials.