Table of Contents
Everybody’s Talking | Quotable Quotes | Trivia | What’s Happening | Your Weekly Horoscope | Did You Know? | On the Lighter Side
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Vol. 1 No. 8:19 August 19, 2024
Everybody’s Talking
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Big Pumpkin: In Appleby, New Zealand, John McKay really knows how to grow pumpkins. The chimney sweep grew a whopper, weighing in at 616 kilograms (1355 lbs.), which took first prize at the Mapua Mega Pumpkin competition. The New Zealand record is 721 kilograms (1586.2 lbs.). The world title is held by a Canadian couple who grew a 825 kilogram (1815 lb) pumpkin. In Appleby, McKay says his secret is a blend of lots of horse manure, mixed with fish and seaweed. What does he do with such a big pumpkin? He saves the seeds to grow an even bigger one and feeds the pumpkin flesh to his cows. Apparently, the cows love it!
A Fish Tale: Well, it’s not exactly a fish tale; more accurately, it’s a snake tale. Susanne Hemetsberger, who heads up the Austrian Animal Protection Association, reports that a man from Salzburg boasted he’d found a 7.5-foot boa constrictor on the riverbank. He claimed that he bagged it and called the authorities to come and get it. As it turns out, the man actually owned the snake and just wanted to get rid of it, so chose this very creative method. Hemetsberger explains that the jinx was up quickly because no passer-by would ever have the nerve to approach a snake of that size, let alone capture it.
Long Run: Running across the United States is a feat in itself, but doing it by running barefoot is quite an achievement. That’s what 18-year-old Rae Heim did both to prove she could do it and to raise money for a charity called Soles4Souls. The charity gives shoes to needy kids. Heim, of Carroll, Iowa, reported that the soles of her feet were almost like leather. She only puts on shoes occasionally, and only on gravel roads or where there is a danger of cutting her feet on broken glass. Whenever she felt near the breaking point, she simply remembered the help she would be able to provide to Soles4Souls and that kept her going.
Long Journey: One of the visitors to the summer Olympic Games in London, England, has a very special story to tell. Chen Guanming, a poor farmer from Jiangsu province in eastern China, came to London on his three-wheeled rickshaw. The journey took him two years and involved traveling through floods and cold weather in 16 countries. His reason for embarking on this adventure was to spread the Olympic spirit. This is not the first time Guanming has proven that he is a big fan of the Olympics. He cycled to the Games in Beijing in 2008.
Quotable Quotes
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“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”
– E. E. Cummings
“The shortest distance between two people is a smile.”
– Victor Borge
“Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn’t mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.”
– Edward R. Murrow
Trivia
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- Which coffee drink is lowest in calories?
- Who invented the zipper?
- What is a snaffle?
- What is the name of the Japanese martial art that means “the way of the sword”?
- What are “tatties and neeps”?
▼ Trivia answers at the bottom of the page! ▼
What’s Happening
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August 2024
Red Deer
Dance Your Troubles Away – Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra
Date & Time: August 25, 11 a.m.
Location: Canada 150 Square (210, 5589-47 St., Red Deer)
Details: Enjoy jazz favorites with the CACO Little Big Band as part of the Capstone “Sounds Like Sunday” concert series. Expect toe-tapping, clapping, and maybe even dancing in the square.
For More Information: Call 403.598.3843
Auditions for Red Deer Children’s Choir
Date & Time: Starting September 18, rehearsals on Wednesdays from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Location: Red Deer
Details: Children in Grades 2-5 are encouraged to audition to be part of the award-winning Red Deer Children’s Choir. The choir runs through until the beginning of May. It is $40 for the entire year, thanks to our benefactor Musicplay Online.
For More Information: Email Director Annette Bradley at [email protected] to set up an audition time ahead of September 18 or with any inquiries.
Seniors’ Dance
Date & Time: Every Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Location: Red Deer Legion Branch #35
Details: Join the fun at the seniors’ dance.
For More Information: Visit the Red Deer Legion website.
Lacombe
Mary C. Moore Public Library Lego Robotics Club
Date & Time: Tuesdays in August from 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Mary C. Moore Public Library
Details: Free, drop-in program for children ages 10 and up.
For More Information: Visit the Library Facebook page for complete details.
Lacombe and District Historical Society Annual General Meeting
Date & Time: September 19, doors open at 5:30 p.m., AGM starts at 6 p.m.
Location: Flatiron Building Museum
Details: Public welcome to join.
For More Information: Visit the Lacombe and District Historical Society’s website for more details.
Try-It Program
Date & Time: Every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: City of Lacombe Kinsmen Aquatic Centre
Details: Dive into summer fun with activities ranging from the Junior Lifeguard Club to Water Baseball. Learn lifesaving skills, improve your strokes, or just have a ball in the pool!
For More Information: Sessions cost $6 per person or $15.50 for the whole family. Register today at this link or call 403.782.1278.
Senior Drop-in Bowling
Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Friday at 10 a.m.
Location: Ambassador Bowling Centre, 5020 – 50 Street, Lacombe
Details: Seniors (50+) are invited to stop by for fun. $10 fee includes two games of bowling, shoe rental, coffee/tea, and snacks.
For More Information: Call 403.309.6387
Music in the Park
Date & Time: Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Echo Stage, Lacombe Memorial Centre
Details: Enjoy performances by Blueprint on July 10 and Misery Mountain Boys on July 17. Bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets for a great atmosphere and wonderful entertainment!
For More Information: Visit lacombepac.com.
Blacksmith Workshop Series
Date & Time: Ongoing in 2024
Location: Lacombe Museum
Details: The Blacksmith Workshop Series is back for 2024!
For More Information: Email [email protected] or call 403.782.3933.
Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake Municipal Library Book Sale
Date & Time: August 30 & 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Sylvan Lake Municipal Library
Details: Items will be for sale by donation, with proceeds going to support the Library’s collection and programming. Starting August 6, the Library will begin accepting donations of books, movies, CDs, and games in good condition.
For More Information: Interested in volunteering for the book sale? Call 403.887.2130.
Penhold
Pumkin to Talk Bout One Gourd-geous Outdoor Fundraiser Market
Date & Time: August 24 at 10 a.m.
Location: Penhold Museum
Details: Presented by 2 Sisters Market & Events (Annmarie Latour & Rozanne Oakley).
For More Information: Call 780.678.9104 or email [email protected].
Your Weekly Horoscope
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Lucky numbers this week: This week’s odds favour Aquarius winners with the luckiest number being 3.
Aries (March 21 - April 20)
You may need to take a break from the rigid schedule you’ve been under. Others may sense your needs and try to help you come up with a plan. Lucky Numbers: 2, 14, 18, 20, 24, 41.
Gemini (May 22 - June 21)
You could find that it may be a little more difficult to stay on course. Family matters might take a great deal of time. Look at new ways to handle your duties. Lucky Numbers: 8, 10, 19, 21, 22, 24.
Taurus (April 21 - May 21)
It may not be easy to be optimistic. Even though you may only see the negative side, things may not be so bad. Attend to what needs fixing and make any necessary changes. Lucky numbers: 22, 28, 32, 38, 42, 48.
Cancer (June 22 - July 23)
Take your own advice. Make sure you know what you want to say. You could spread your influence via your network of friends and family. Lucky Numbers: 12, 15, 16, 20, 24, 34.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 23)
Protect yourself against the many things that could go wrong. Your good sense of others should enable you to engage experts where needed. Lucky Numbers: 1, 4, 8, 25, 28, 34.
Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23)
Strong personal ties may enable you to stand up for what you believe in. Your past experiences should help you to appreciate where you are in life. Lucky Numbers: 4, 10, 11, 23, 29, 49.
Virgo (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23)
You may receive some news that creates a bit of distress in your life. Learn the new game plan, then carefully play the cards that are dealt you. Lucky Numbers: 20, 21, 28, 29, 33, 35.
Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
You don’t always have to be dramatic to reach the sensitive side of others. Your creative interests should illustrate how genuine your motives are. Lucky Numbers: 5, 15, 18, 21, 22, 40.
Sagittarius Nov. 23 - Dec. 21)
You can’t let your inner emotions affect who you are perceived to be. You need to stand up and communicate your side of the story, and with a little more passion. Lucky Numbers: 7, 8, 28, 29, 44, 45.
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19)
You may need to assert your true needs and desires. In order to help you understand the new rules, perhaps you should ask more pertinent questions. Lucky Numbers: 3, 11, 14, 20, 26, 46.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)
You may feel much warmth and comfort from the support you receive. You only need to communicate to others that you are ready to embrace it. Lucky Numbers: 4, 17, 19, 24, 28, 48.
Pisces (Feb. 20 - March 20)
Your needs may far exceed your initial expectations. Even though many may try to gain from your experience, only you will know who best to trust. Lucky Numbers: 9, 10, 14, 27, 37, 44.
Did you Know?
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Copycats: There is a relatively new discipline in the world of science called biomimicry. In this case, researchers use interesting occurrences in nature to influence the design of man-made items.
Famous Signers: A group of famous musicians signed a Fender guitar, which was sold at an auction in Qatar as a fundraiser for victims of the 2004 tsunami. Among the many signers included Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney of the Beatles.
Berry Good: The pigment which gives blueberries their distinctive blue colour is called anthocyanin, a flavonoid having antioxidant properties. These berries are also good sources of vitamins C, A, and E, as well as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Flowing Flock: A flock of starlings is known as a murmuration. When hundreds or thousands of the birds get together, it’s an amazing sight and looks as though they are moving in the sky in undulating waves.
On the Lighter Side
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I don’t have lungs or a chest, but need air. I am not alive, but I grow. I don’t have a mouth and I’m allergic to water. What am I? Answer: Fire
How do you find King Arthur in the dark? You use a knight light.
A golf ball is a golf ball no matter how you putt it.
Better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own.
Why did the boxer wear gloves to bed? He wanted to hit the sack.
A little girl was typing very fast on her father’s computer, telling him she was writing a story. When he asked her what it was about, she replied, “I don’t know, I can’t read!”
Trivia answers:
- Non-fat latte
- Gideon Sundback
- A bit for a horse
- Kendo
- Scottish mashed potatoes
This edition has been brought to you by Heritage Lanes
© Published with permission of Costain Corp