Re: Moses Lake and Lee Creek clean up.

Town of Cardston Mayor and Council wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who participated in the Moses Lake Clean Up this past Saturday, May 7th, 2011. You demonstrated the spirit of voluntarism at work and the results of your team work are most visible and pleasant to see. We want to commend you all for your great efforts in this worthwhile endeavour.

We also would like to thank our Blood Tribe Liaison Officer, Horton Weasel Fat, and our Town Peace Officer, Lloyd Stewart, who spearheaded the clean up of Lee Creek’s banks between 3rd and 5th Avenue with a group of Blood Tribe members. Bags of rubbish were removed from our Town by this hard working team.

Thank you to our Town Staff and Transfer Station Staff as who worked diligently to make the 2011 Clean-up Day a great success.

Mayor and Council

In Town limits:
First and foremost, clear all snow and ice from all windows, head, tail and signal lights, side view mirrors and license plate.

Always buckle up and make sure your head rest is properly positioned (the centre of your head rest should be even with the top of your ears).

Keep your fuel tank more than half full. This reduces moisture problems in your fuel system and adds extra weight which helps with traction.

Stay back and do not pass heavy snow blowing equipment, the town machine will let you pass when it is not actually blowing snow and whatever it may pickup into the dump trucks.

Remember that bridge decks may be slippery even when the rest of the highway looks clear.

Know your braking system and how it reacts on ice, gentle braking always works better then jamming them on.

When you see a curve in the road ahead, slow down before you get to it to avoid the skid of braking on a curve.

When driving on snow with 4-10 centimeters of snow, drive outside of the previous tracks this may give you extra traction.

Signal well in advance of your turn, not everyone knows where and when you are going to turn.

Always give yourself more time to stop on ice and/or snow and give yourself three times the normal following distance to stop.

Use your transmission gears to help slow you down, even with an automatic transmission gearing down one level at a time will reduce your speed. Be careful of abrupt downshifting as it can cause a skid to occur, particularly when turning.

Out of Town Limits:
As well as those noted above.

Never use cruise control when ice or snow is possible.

Carry an emergency road kit in your vehicle. Consists of: blanket, extra clothing and footwear, emergency non-perishable food, waterproof matches, first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, booster cables, fire extinguisher, ice scraper and snow brush, paper towels or rags, compass, road map, candle in a deep tin, shovel and traction material like sand or cat litter.

Speed limits are posted for ideal driving conditions, they indicate the speed you may drive at not should drive at. Slow down, plan to take extra time to get to your destination.

Motorists have a legal obligation to drive according to road and weather conditions. You can be charged with a traffic offence if you are found not to be doing so.

Be safe – be winter wise.

An interesting thing happened in Cardston last month; the Cardston Animal Control Officer caught as many skunks as he did dogs. Why are so many skunks coming into the urban limits?

The human factor plays a very big roll in this problem, people often inadvertently feed and/or shelter wildlife. Feeding your pets outside is the biggest contributor to attracting wildlife (especially skunks and racoons) into town. Wild animals that are fed, even inadvertently, often lose their fear of humans and could even become aggressive when not fed as expected. If you find you have a skunk residing in your yard and you want to get rid of it call the Animal Control Officer at 382-8614 or be sure to use an enclosed trap, skunks can spray up to fifteen feet and it is pretty hard to move a trap from that distance. Experience proves that a lot of the old stories that say; if a skunk cannot lift it’s tail it won’t spray, or if you get it’s feet off the ground it can’t spray; just are not true.

Prevention is the key to this problem. Wildlife related problems around homes can be prevented by taking a few simple steps, such as: never handle or feed them, put your trash out only on the day of collection, make garbage and compost inaccessible by putting it in covered trash containers, do not leave pet food out (especially over night), clean up spilled seeds, etc. from bird feeders, cover dryer vents and secure your chimney with a chimney cap. The harder you make it for these varmints to create a home in your yard the less likely they will stick around.

Some people have asked, “What do I do with a varmint once I have caught it?” Most think it should just be relocated to another area, this rarely resolves conflict issues and just passes the problem onto someone else. It is far better to remove the animal and block the access to the area so it cannot return, chicken wire under a shed and out a foot around the perimeter of the shed deters marmots, skunks and even gophers from trying to reclaim a den, if you cut it and pin it to the ground you can still grow grass and mow it without a problem. Food sources must be removed and potential shelter resources are made inaccessible the same animal or others will take advantage of your kindness.

Just a final note of interest this problem extends to feral or stray cats as well, if you don’t want them in your yard, don’t feed them.

For more information on this or any animal problems in Cardston call your Animal Control Officer at (403)382-8614.

Cardston Elementary School in conjunction with the Town of Cardston and Trout Unlimited Canada will be working on the Yellow Fish Road Program.
 
Students from the Grade 4 Science classes of Carol Johnson, Dienna Quinton, Michelle Quinton and Leslie Dittmann will be out marking the storm sewer intakes with Yellow Fish.
 
These Fish are there to remind people that all our storm drains feed directly into Lee Creek and eventually into the St. Mary’s River and hopefully deter them from putting any pollutants
 
in or around the storm drains that could harm the fish population.
 
Storm drain pollution can increase with each new home owner, car buyer or road built. The easily understandable message of the Yellow Fish Road program needs to be continuously reinforced
by volunteers to tens of thousands of Canadians each year. Congratulations to all of those who increased awareness in 82 cities/communities across the country this year.
 
We remind all motorists to be aware of this project and watch for the students who will be supervised by teachers and parents on October 5 and 6, 2010.
 
This is going to be a great learning opportunity for these young students.

Brian was diagnosed with critical diabetes at the age of 15. He has suffered multiple complications due to the diabetes. As a result he had not been able to recieve any insurance coverage.
 
Brian Passed away suddenly August 31, 2010 at 7:00pm at the age of 51. Leaving behind his young family to mourn his loss.
 
Please come and help support his family in their time of need.

Monday, September 13, 2010 5:00pm to 8:00pm
At the Cardston reunion Centre
 
BBQ $3.00
Cotten Candy $1.00
Music
Carwash
Hayrides
& SILENT AUCTION

 
All proceeds go to the Brian Atwood fund.
 
Donations can also be made at the RBC Royal Bank in Cardston to the Brian Atwood Fund.

A gold wallet was lost on main street. Owners are offering a reward for it’s return. If you have any information call 403 653-2081.

Helping children in need locally and around the world

Join us on Friday, September 17th for an “Evening of Art” At the Remington Carriage Museum from 6:30pm – 9:30pm

This event is a reception with the artists participating in Art Days at the Remington Carriage Museum (Sept. 17-19) and will be used as a fundraiser for the following organizations:
Petion-Ville Orphanage, Haiti
(orphanage in Haiti)

Proyecto Ninos de Guatemala
(orphanage in Guatemala)

Shinah House Art Centre
Art program for children with special needs within the Cardston School District.

~ Silent Auction ~ Light refreshments will be served ~
~ Piano performance by Josh Burton ~
Tickets $15 vailable at: Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston Farmer’s Market, Shinah House office in Re/Max building, Silverline photography/Behind the Door, Imagination Un-limited, Pro Hardware, all in Cardston and Canadian Martial Arts Centre in Lethbridge,. Or by calling Janet Mein-Wilde 403-653-2748, Maurine Laing 403-653-4806, Sharon Unger 403-448-0209

More fun with the ONEHEART group......

We are excited to have the ONEHEART Mosaic up on the main street
...
Shinah House is sponsoring a new social inclusion project for the KAINAI CARDSTON area in 2010-2011 and the Alberta Government Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund is making it all possible.

Youth will be given the opportunity to write a musical (script & songs) with the help of talented mentors. The project will take place every Friday after school from 1:30-3:30pm. Our first workshop will be learning the art of 'improve' with facilitator Jerry First Charger.

This Oneheart project does not require you to be an actor, dancer or singer. You can learn or there will be loads of different ways to participate from costume and prop design to tech and lighting or if you just like to enjoy the company of great people then that is OK too, an audience is always good.

Please pass on this invite to all youth who live on Kainai Reserve and in the Town & County of Cardston and also to those who may be willing to volunteer their time and talents. We need volunteers to help with transportation, advertising and also those with experience in the areas of music and script writing, dance, lighting, costume design, sewing, and art of painting etc for props.

The exciting final chapter to the project is youth will take the musical on the road during the summer of 2011and perform on an outside stage for the towns of Standoff, Cardston, Magrath and Fort MacLeod.

Watch for casting announcements.

Hope you can join us. If you have any questions please call the Shinah House office @ 403-653-7579.

www.shinahhouse.org

Canada has been fighting the insurgency in Afghanistan since 9/11 (as of 13 Feb 2010). To date Canada has lost 141 soldiers in Afghanistan (since 2002), an exceptional number for such a small military force.

Wounded Warriors.ca is a not-for profit charity that support Canadian service members and veterans that have been wounded overseas.

It is primarily a fundraising mechanism that supports existing programs that tends to injured soldiers. (Programs like Canadian Segways for Wounded Warriors, run by Dept of National Defence.)

In little more than three years, Wounded Warriors.ca has raised in excess of $700,000. This is easily a credit to the overwhelming benevolence of Canadian citizens and companies alike.

Wounded Warriors Benefit
September 11, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Cardston Legion, Branch 170
Raising $ for our wounded soldiers.
Dinner and entertainment.

Pioneer Day at the Card Home held Saturday August 7th 12:00pm – 2:00pm (immediately following the parade) with Hamburgers, Larry’s beans, Pop, Dessert. Also free admission to museum, guided tours, old fashioned games, and entertainment. Sponsored by the Cardston Historical Society

The youth of Cardston-Kainai region have united under the banner, “Many Hands, Many Minds, ONEHEART” in their creation of a 16 foot ‘Community Social Inclusion’ Mosaic, which will be unveiled in a public ceremony, August 4th, 10:30 a.m.

The mosaic will be displayed on the Main Street of Cardston, across from the Card Home in the Reddi-Mart parking lot. The beautiful design features many symbols of a socially inclusive future and the diversity we all share; including portraits of children from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, as well as the influential Chief Red Crow of the Kainai-Blackfoot Nation. This original design was taken from the ideas of dozens of youth in the area and combined by Cardston local artist, Janet Mein.

Dignitaries from across Alberta will give their remarks at the ceremony, including Alberta Human Rights Chief Commissioner, Blair Mason, Blackfoot Chief Weasel Moccasin, Cardston County Reeve, Cam Francis, and Cardston Mayor, Rick Schow. Performances by Cardston Elementary Soaring Eagles, local musician Joanne Hansen, and the Blackfoot Confederacy Band will also be given.

The youth-driven project, ONEHEART is an initiative of the non-profit organization, Shinah House, and is funded by the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund, Home Hardware, the Kinsmen Club, and local organizations and merchants. Through various initiatives, it is ONEHEART’s goal to promote social inclusion; eliminating prejudice because of race, religion, illness, handicap, or other differences that exist across the globe.

“What we are hoping for is a symbol of the future- a new beginning of respect for diversity and appreciation for equality.”

As those of ONEHEART would say, the mural has come into being through ‘Many Hands, Many Minds, and ONEHEART’, as countless volunteers, community members, organizations, and youth have contributed to its creation over the past eighteen months.


About Shinah House
The Shinah House Foundation is a registered charity, working to promote personal and community wellness. Through the use of innovative strategies and unique facilities, the foundation collaborates and works cooperatively with communities to provide a pathway to wellness that is socially inclusive and congruent with full community involvement and civic engagement.
Currently Shinah House operates an Art & Living centre in the heart of Cardston, Alberta. The Centre focuses on community needs by supporting wellness through the Arts, Health and Nutrition, Education, special needs support and continuing support for women with mental illness. It is reflective of cultural diversity and is available to all members of the community including all ethnic backgrounds, levels of wellness and learning abilities.
In the future Shinah House Foundation has plans to build a ranch where women struggling with mental illness can go to become well. While Shinah House works towards this goal of need it continues in strengthening the mental wellness of individuals through its programs and services.

For more information see www.shinahhouse.org

The Town of Cardston has applied for funding under the Provincial Disaster Recovery Program to assist those affected by the recent storms.

Any residents who have experienced flooding or damage due to the storms, should take the following steps:

First, contact your insurance company to see if you have coverage for the damage caused. As sewage backup insurance is available it is not covered under the provincial Disaster Recover Program.

If you have no insurance coverage for the damages sustained, contact the Town of Cardston at (403) 653-3366 to register your property.

Take pictures of the damages and document the steps you have taken in the clean up effort to assist the process if disaster assistance funding is approved.

For further information, please contact the Town Office.

UPDATE - WATER USAGE WARNING HAS BEEN LIFTED. Sewer volume is close to normal now. JUNE 17 - Due to the heavy rainfall the Town has asked that residents limit water consumption and avoid large water usage such as baths, showers, washing machines etc., until the rain subsides as the water plant unable to process current volumes.

The Town of Cardston would like to thank the many volunteers who came out to help with the Cardston-Moses Lake Clean up last Saturday on June 5th. We also like to give a special thanks to David Innes for organizing the event and also to the Town Public Works Department, the Cardston County, the Blood Tribe, Mac Reeder, and the Chief Mountain Solid Waste Authority for providing equipment.
We appreciate all the hard work everyone put in to help with the event this year!

Check out this Cultural Vignette of the Carriage House Theatre with Dr. Robert Russell from YouTube.
Also, found at their website.

The annual cleanup of Moses Lake has been postponed due to the weather, the snow still being on the ground , and the amount of standing water in the ditches and low places. We are going to try to hold it in a couple of weeks. After a meeting with the Moses Lake committee on Monday, we will let everyone know which day we will hold the clean up on.

The Yard Sale for the Guatemala Orphanage that was scheduled for last weekend will be held this weekend, May 7 12-5, May 8 8-5 at 389 5th Ave. West. (The yard with the paintings on the fence) All funds raised will be used to build a new orphanage in Guatemala. There will be household items, bikes, tables, lamps, books, stoves, and lots of other \"good stuff\". Also fresh Whole Wheat Breads,Giant Cinnamon Buns and Donuts will also be for sale. IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE...please call 403-795-8678 and leave a message. We will call you back and set a pick up time. See you there!

The Cardston Health Care Auxiliary thanks the donors of baking / cash donations for the annual Christmas Bake Sale. We are especially grateful to the Hutterite Colonies. Thanks to the customers too!
The Cardston Health Centre will soon be the recipient of a new IV System. Thank you Cardston!

Thank you to Cardston and the Hutterite Colonies!
The Cardston Health Care Auxiliary Bake Sale
was a great success because of you.

The Community Food, Clothing & Toy Drive is postponed until next Saturday December 12th, 2009. Same pickup time 9:30am.