ONLINE EDITION

Welcome to the online edition of the Central Alberta Coffee News!

February 17th, 2025

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“News To Be Enjoyed Over Coffee”

Delivering Smiles Since 1988

Everybody’s Talking

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Shark sense: When faced with danger, many animals ‘freeze’ so that no movement can be detected by an approaching predator. There is a shark species, called the bamboo shark, that appears to have developed an instinct for becoming immobile even before birth. Living in the ocean waters from Australia to India, bamboo sharks lay eggs which would make a great meal for many predators. However, the baby shark embryos can detect predators by sensing their bio-electric fields. When that happens, the embryos stop making movements and the predator goes on its merry way.

Orange-faced muggers: In the popular children’s book and movie, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” by Roald Dahl, there is a group of characters called Oompa-Loompas. These individuals are short and have green hair and orange skin and they wear white pants. They are employed by Charlie in his chocolate factory. It must have seemed very strange then when a man in Norwich, England, found himself being mugged by what appeared to be a couple of Oompa-Loompas. The victim escaped serious injury, and the police are still trying to find the colourful criminals.

Lion’s mane: It was a scary day in Norfolk, Virginia (US) when the police started getting reports about a lion on the loose. A quick call to the local zoo, however, confirmed that all the lions were safe in their cages. It turns out that the ‘lion’ was actually a dog named Charles the Monarch that belongs to owner Daniel Painter. Charles the Monarch is a Labradoodle, which is a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. Painter likes to groom his pet so that the fur around his face looks like a lion’s mane. Apparently, the haircut works, as the dog is often mistaken for a lion.

Many layers: The price for excess baggage when boarding an airplane can come as a big surprise to the unsuspecting passenger. That must have been the case with an unidentified man who was flying from China to Kenya. When told his luggage weighed well over the allowable amount, he opted to wear many of the clothes packed in his suitcases, including 60 shirts and nine pairs of jeans. When going through the metal detector, he had to remove some of them again, as items in the pockets were setting off the alarms. In the end, the airline let him onboard, although he must have been quite uncomfortable squeezing into the small seat of the plane.

Quotable Quotes

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“Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Trivia

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What is the term for a farmer who is well-to-do and farms for pleasure?
Finish this weather proverb: Halo around the sun or moon, …
In Greek mythology, how many tasks did Hercules have to perform?
Where do mice that are proverbially poor live?
Name the term for a plant and animal community that covers a large geographical area.

▼ Trivia answers at the bottom of the page! ▼

What’s Happening

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February 2025

Red Deer

Self-Improvement Course: BOSS – Building our Stronger Selves

Date & Time: January 28 through March 20, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: EPSS (2830 Bremner Avenue)
Details: Free for anyone over 18. Covers topics such as Knowing Yourself, Problem Solving, and Conflict Resolution. Call 403.343.6249 for more information.

Gowns4Grads Free Formal Wear Event

Date & Time: Monday to Thursday, February 17-20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Elks Hall, 6315 Horn Street
Details: Free dresses and suits for all graduates. Please bring a non-perishable food item. For more information, email [email protected].

Trenville Royal Purple Elks #248 – Gowns4Grads Event

Date & Time: February 17-20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Elks Hall (6315 Horn Street).
Free formal wear for grads! Dresses and suits will be available at no cost to all graduates. Please bring a food item. For more information, email [email protected].

Lacombe/Blackfalds

Drop-in Valentine Card Making

Date & Time: Wednesday, February 12, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Mary C. Moore Public Library, Kinsmen Program Room
Details: Free event for adults, teens, and families. All supplies provided. Visit the library website for full details.

NOWCO Studio Time

Date & Time: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: NOWCO Fireside Room, Lacombe Performing Arts Centre
Details: Drop-in studio time for adults to work on personal projects. Bring your supplies and create in the company of others. Free to attend. Supplies not included. Registration is not required. Visit Lacombe Performing Arts Centre for more details.

Encore Art Sale: A Celebration of the Arts

Date & Time: Friday, April 11, 1 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Lacombe Memorial Centre.
Explore stunning handcrafted fiber art, wood carvings, paintings, ceramics, photography, and more. This event celebrates the remarkable talent of local and regional artists.

Sylvan Lake

Mystery Book Club – Sylvan Lake Municipal Library

Date & Time: Monday, February 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Sylvan Lake Municipal Library
Details: Discuss The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny with fellow mystery enthusiasts. New members welcome! Refreshments provided. Request or pick up a copy at the library. Visit the library website for details.

Ice Dragon Boat Festival

Date & Time: Saturday, February 15 (Practice) & Sunday, February 16 (Races)
Location: Sylvan Lake
Details: Gather your rowdiest teammates for this winter rowing event on ice! Compete in the second annual Sylvan Lake Ice Dragon Boat Festival and race for the 2025 Championship title. Visit the Town website for full details.

Your Weekly Horoscope

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Lucky numbers this week: This week’s odds favour Capricorn winners with the luckiest number being 16.

This weeks edition is sponsored by:

Torrens Real Estate

Aries (March 21 - April 20)

Although loved ones enjoy your company, you will need some rest if you make yourself too accessible. A different side to your personality may emerge following a little repose.
Lucky Numbers: 4, 12, 15, 23, 31, 34.

Gemini (May 22 - June 21)

If you need to make important personal decisions, take some extra time to think about and deal with overly demanding situations.
Lucky Numbers: 1, 9, 21, 29, 31, 39.

Taurus (April 21 - May 21)

Unfinished business could be nearing its expected conclusion. Complete it all, then concentrate on your personal affairs and try to be more open-minded.
Lucky Numbers: 10, 16, 20, 26, 30, 36.

Cancer (June 22 - July 23)

An invitation may be extended to you to share your creative ideas. Others may want to know how you do the magic that you do and, in turn, understand you better.
Lucky Numbers: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 23)

Express the idealistic ideas that are significant to you. Someone close to you, who thought they understood you, may now see a new side of you.
Lucky Numbers: 10, 11, 12, 21, 29, 37.

Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23)

If you are a self-starter, work independently and you could be recognized for your originality. This may help you to complete pending jobs on a more timely basis.
Lucky Numbers: 2, 24, 29, 32, 34, 39.

Virgo (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23)

Check out your health concerns. Make positive changes in your routine. You may be invited to an event that opens up an unexplored area of interest.
Lucky Numbers: 6, 17, 22, 26, 37, 42.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)

You could attract important people resulting in fortunate circumstances. You may find that you are numero uno right now, so make the most of it and enjoy the limelight.
Lucky Numbers: 5, 18, 25, 38, 45, 48.

Sagittarius Nov. 23 - Dec. 21)

If you’re eager and hungry to learn, perhaps you should go back to school or take up a new hobby. Travel and adventure can broaden your horizons.
Lucky Numbers: 4, 7, 14, 17, 44, 47.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19)

You are on a continual learning curve if you find enjoyment in discussions regarding religion, philosophy, and the issues people are concerned about today. Remember to be a good listener and hope that your opinions are equally appreciated.
Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 13, 15, 17, 19.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)

Take a good look at your career and the direction that your life seems to be taking. Don’t pretend to be something that you’re not.
Lucky Numbers: 16, 17, 28, 29, 31, 44.

Pisces (Feb. 20 - March 20)

Travel is one of the best ways to expand your knowledge of the world around you. Expect to focus on unfamiliar experiences and meeting people from different backgrounds.
Lucky Numbers: 4, 8, 18, 24, 31, 40.

Did you Know?

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Poor start: The famous song of the 1960s, “Blue Suede Shoes,” was written by American Carl Perkins. He was a poor farm boy from Tennessee who, from the age of six, picked cotton while listening to the gospel songs of the black labourers.

Far star: Stargazers will know that the constellation, Orion, has a bright left foot. That is because the star in that location is called Rigel, which is one of the brightest stars in the sky. At 910 light-years away from Earth, Rigel casts its glow a long, long way.

Facebook Barbie: Barbie, the famous fashion doll that has captivated little girls since her creation in 1959, has kept up with the times. She has her own Facebook site where her ‘friends’ can keep track of her activities.

Dr. King: Famous American Martin Luther King, Jr., received a doctorate of divinity degree in 1955 from Boston University (US). Therefore, he became known as Dr. King.

First cars: Cars first started to be manufactured in France in the late 1800s. The first models to be made were not standardized, as they are today, so each car was different from any other.