Who’s ready for a good Spring?

As we move towards Spring let’s hope we return to more normal weather patterns. But then again, what is “normal” these days?

Scientists will tell you all about climate change but many politicians don’t want to listen or give too much credibility to the “green” or environmental movement.

But it is obvious from recent strange weather patterns across North America, never mind other parts of the world, that elements of the various global warning theories do have some substance. The major snow and ice storms in the southern U.S., Japan and even the Middle East make one wonder what the future might bring. The message is to always be prepared.

But as the days start to get longer and we move the clocks ahead to enjoy more daylight hours, we shall soon forget the perils of winter and start to smell the flowers and get back on the golf courses. Good weather can’t come soon enough!

Did you enjoy the Winter Olympics from Russia coming at you all hours of the day. The most expensive games on snow and ice could be better renamed the “media” games as it seemed all outlets were trying to outdo the coverage by the host networks CBC and NBC.

And so many commentators trying to become the next “Grapes”. Yes, this is probably the last time Don Cherry will be covering Olympic hockey and you could tell he knows it. He was pretty subdued with his comments. Maybe he didn’t want to be sent to Siberia along with most of the Russian hockey players, who were duds on home ice!

It seemed the most compelling story that came out of Sochi was that American sports broadcasting icon Bob Costas developed “pink eye” – and in both eyes. Imagine, a condition that many people suffer every day received such wide spread attention. Maybe a better cure will be found because of all the attention he received.

While congratulations goes out to all the athletes who did so well, some of the coverage really went over the top with hyperbole. These are only games, and medal winners will soon be forgotten. The real world problems in the nearby Ukraine showed how fortunate we are to be living in North America.

It is easy to start picking these games apart as they generate so much controversy. They have become big, big business and professionals are involved instead of amateur athletes.

You can enjoy them more by looking at the scenic coverage of parts of the world you may never get to visit. The area of Sochi and the cultural tourism features of Russia showed a country filled with historic landmarks and an area that is sure attractive. It will be interesting to see what is done with all those expensive new buildings and facilities – and if there is any future economic impact.

The popularity of curling continues to grow and the unique team sport was given great coverage at the Olympics, especially with Canada winning two Golds. Even movie star Will Smith was talking about it as a game he would like to try. Smith was one of the first guests on the new Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and it was surprising he even mentioned it.

If you have never tried it, the place to go at the end of the month is the Langley Curling Centre. The club is holding an open house at the end of the month as it tries to recruit curlers of all ages for next season.

The Langley and Cloverdale clubs will then play host to the Optimist International U-18 Championships featuring youthful curlers from various nations. Volunteers are needed to help put on the event over the first weekend in April.

March 20 is the United Nation’s official  International Day to recognize the Elimination of Racism. Look for events or activities in your community to mark this annual day.

Most people would agree that an annual “Spring Cleaning” for your house is NOT the most effective way to keep things clean & tidy throughout the year. The same principle applies to keeping our bodies “clean” or detoxified. The truth is that on-going support to keep our bodies clean is a more gentle and healthy way to keep the organs of detoxification functioning optimally and preventing toxins from building up.

As we mentioned in Part 1: Healthy Holiday Detox, the main organs of detoxification are the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system and the skin. In general, the body wants to take any toxin and turn it into either a fat-soluble or water-soluble molecule that it can then remove from the body. Fat-soluble molecules can be excreted in the bile, which ends up in the feces, whereas water-soluble molecules can be excreted in the sweat or through the urine. Often, these metabolic processes are classified into Phase I or Phase II reactions, depending on whether the end metabolite is fat- or water-soluble.

Through supplementation, we can support both the metabolic reactions that convert toxins into a form that can be excreted as well as the organs that do this. REDUCED GLUTATHONE is an antioxidant that is found in virtually every cell in the body and is important in rendering toxins water-soluble for excretion. SAM-E (s-Adenosylmethionine) is a pre-cursor to glutathione, thus is supportive of detoxification. As an aside, SAM-E has also been shown to reduce inflammation associated with joint pain as well as improve symptoms of depression.

L.C.H., a formula developed by Thorne Research, is a blend of herbal medications that support both Phase I and II reactions in the liver. L.C.H. can be taken in conjunction with L-TREPEIN (also from Thorne Research), as the latter provides some of the co-factors that the body needs in order to perform the detoxification reactions.

If one has it in mind to improve their diet and maybe lose some weight at the same time, ULTRACLEAR and ULTRACLEAR PLUS (by Metagenics) can be considered. These medical foods can be used on a daily basis and provide the nutrients needed as co-factors in detox reactions. Mixed with water or juice, they can be used as meal replacements because each serving contains 15g of protein and can help you feel full. While both products support both Phase I and II reactions, UltraClear Plus gives extra support those who may benefit from added Phase II support. Furthermore, people with fibromyalgia may benefit from ULTRACLEAR RENEW, as this formula also contains a proprietary form of hops that can reduce inflammation and pain. ADVACLEAR(by Metagenics) can be added to any of the UltraClear line of products and is used cyclically to provide further support for detoxification.

Fibre is a very important component of detoxification because as fat-soluble metabolites of toxins are excreted, we need to make sure that they are cleared from the body in the feces. If a person is constipated, there is a potential for these toxic metabolites to be reabsorbed. Thus, make sure you are increasing the fibre in your diet (ideally by eating more leafy, green vegetables) or by taking a supplement such as FIBERLICIOUS or HEMP HEARTS.

Lastly, but definitely not leastly, ensuring adequate hydration through the intake of water is important in helping our bodies flush out the toxic metabolites. Not only does adequate fluid intake support the kidneys’ function, it also helps to improve the bulk of the stool so that when we increase the fibre content in our diet, we don’t get constipated.

Keeping your body “clean” on a regular basis is important to ensure you are absorbing nutrients properly and that these nutrients are used properly. To maintain a healthy body, always start with a healthy diet and use supplements where necessary to achieve your health goals. And of course,  always check with your healthcare provider to make sure the product you choose is appropriate for you.

(Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  Their pharmacy celebrated its 30-Year Birthday this year.  They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.  They would love to hear from you! 604-576-2888; www.cloverdalepharmasave.com. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)

Nothing says Spring like jazzing up the inside of your home.  So, with a few simple ideas, let’s get started.

For a small change with a large effect, wallpaper one wall with an unexpected colour, or the back of a shelling unit.  Consider a patterned paper on the wall with windows, less product is needed, keeping the cost down yet adding texture and sophistication.

(Wallpaper is a decorating tool that gives walls a sophisticated option, wallpaper has come back better than ever.  Pre-pasted paper has an easy-to-apply adhesive backing.  Peel and stick wallpaper is convenient to remove for a less permanent choice).

Next shop at home, by re-imagining your bed.  Bedding sets are easy, they are already coordinated, so let’s swap out a few items from each set, such as mixing a solid bottom sheet with a patterned print top sheet, include two patterned print pillow cases as shams with the solid pillow cases.  Choose a prominent colour from the sheets, then add a throw in the prominent colour at the end of the bed!

Have fun mixing it up, bring out your inner decorator?  Unsure what colours to use together? (Use a colour wheel, and gravitate to complimentary colours on the opposite side of the wheel, it’s a fail safe tool).

Shed new light with patterned print lamp shades; an easy update.  Consider adding an “inverted” lamp shade to a pendant light!  It’s a surprising easy way to change the look of the pendant light without having to do any rewiring.

Here’s the trick!  Have a look at your pendant light, is there a finial at the bottom of the light?  If there is, your in luck, simply buy a shade slightly larger than the pendant light both in width and height, invert your new shade – unscrew the finial – place the new shade on the post, right over top the existing light, tighten the finial and voila a new look; to an old light.

Just for kicks, add a couple of new patterned toss cushions to living-room seating; to dress up your new patterned spring look.

Roxanne Griese is a writer and an artist; visit www.artbyroxanne.ca.

By Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

Prior to departure for Belfast, I was warned that full auto insurance coverage was essential. Losing a mirror is a common tourist hazard on roads in Northern Ireland.

A week later, when my left side mirror connected with a van mirror in picturesque Ballycastle in County Antrim, I appreciated the advice.

With characteristically cool Irish courtesy and concern, the van owner, interrupted from whitewashing a village pub, sauntered over. “I wondered about the sound,” he said. “You’re not to worry. We’ll sort it.”

Calling Dan Dooley Car Rentals he patiently explains that our vehicles were minus mirrors, and their client was having a nervous breakdown.

Ballycastle, reminiscent of a KCTS 9 film set, sadly got no more of my attention. Now ‘sorted’, I retreated back to the dramatic, almost deserted (maybe word travels fast in Ireland), Causeway Coast route.

Wild. Blustery. Imposing. The ancient 60,000-year-old rocks and cliffs bring me down to earth. I park, and take my frazzled nerves for a walk. Cold sea air fills my lungs. Reassured by the mystical terrain, I remind myself that one shattered mirror does not an earth-shattering disaster make.

By dinnertime at Bushmills Inn, Michael from Dan Dooley in Belfast (an hour and a half away) arrives to exchange the blue Toyota Corolla for a red Ford Focus (with two mirrors). “It’s smaller,” he says pointedly, handing me a GPS.

The Game of Thrones cast, guests at the Inn during filming at nearby historic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, glanced over in amusement.

County Antrim is home to Bushmills, Ireland’s oldest working whiskey distillery. Now seems like the perfect time to relax before the fire, and see if the 400-year-old brand lives up to its reputation.

It does, and so does the roast lamb I order for dinner.

Adjourning to the claw-footed tub in room 108, I reflect on the day. A four-poster bed beckons, and I sink gratefully into it.

At check-out the next morning, Matthew assures me, “You can’t get lost in Northern Ireland. It’s all the scenic route.”

Cautiously, with a eye on my new left mirror, I head for Seamus Heaney country.

Magherafelt, in County Londonderry, is about an hour from anywhere in Northern Ireland (unless you’re driving with me).

I’m a big fan of B&Bs, so Laurel Villa in this quaint village is right up my alley.

Owned by Eugene and Geraldine Kielt, Laurel Villa was bought by Eugene’s widowed mother as a revenue property when he was 11. Gradually ensuites were added to the five bedrooms, upgrades implemented, and Eugene’s passion for poetry grew.

My room, The Patrick Kavanagh Room, reminds me of my childhood. Familiar dark wood furniture, copies of Kavanagh’s poetry, and a glimpse of the back garden. Downstairs a sitting room, study, and dining room comfortably invite exploration of books, poets’ pictures, and memorabilia.

Poet Seamus Heaney, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, grew up in the area. Well versed in history and genealogy, Eugene has crafted Heaney tours of the poet’s local haunts.

Armed with Heaney poems, Eugene reads Heaney works to me at locations described in verse – the river, the sports field next to the old cemetery, and a stop at the smithy to meet 95-year-old retired blacksmith Barney Devlin, Heaney’s inspiration for “The Forge”.

Eugene’s admiration and affection for Heaney is clear. “He was a very kind man. I can’t believe he’s gone,” he tells me.

Two American couples also staying at Laurel Villa tell me this is their second Laurel Villa Boutique Guest House “roots” visit.  In addition to the warm Magherafelt welcome, they remarked that Northern Ireland was more affordable than the south, and equally worth exploring.

For more information, go to : discovernorthernireland.com ,http://laurel-villa.com and www.bushmillsinn.com

By Rick Singh

Have you ever bumped into an old friend and been shocked to see how much they had changed over the years? After a quick conversation, you may have felt a little introspective about your own life and how much things had changed for you.

You may be facing some of the same feelings if your focus has changed from saving to generating income for retirement. Not long ago you could rely on the stability of government bonds and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) to protect your savings while providing you with an attractive rate of return. But as interest rates change so too does the amount of interest income that a GIC portfolio produces. With current low interest rates, payout rates are also low.

Traditionally safe investments may no longer provide enough interest income to meet your needs. GICs and bonds still play a role within a portfolio since they guarantee your principal investment and a rate of interest. However if you are looking for higher total returns, you will need to consider diversifying across a range of income-oriented investments.

To better diversify their retirement income portfolios, many investors today are taking advantage of mutual funds’ or Guarantee Investment funds (GIF) that focus on investing in a variety of income-oriented securities. Many fixed income mutual funds invest in various asset classes including investment-grade corporate, high yield bonds that have different risk profiles and varying levels of upside return potential. Income can also be generated through equities, primarily by investing in companies that have a proven track record of paying out dividends to shareholders.

Here is an overview of some types of diversified portfolios of mutual funds or Guaranteed Investment funds (GIF) that you can use in your portfolio in an effort to produce a more reliable income stream.

Corporate bond funds invest primarily in bonds issued by stable corporations that need working capital to invest in their business. Because these bonds are issued by corporations, they are considered higher risk than government bonds, since a government can always pay its debt by printing more money or raising taxes. To compensate investors for this additional risk, the amount of interest that corporate bonds pay is almost always higher than government bonds and GICs.

Dividend and equity income funds invest primarily in common shares that pay regular dividends to shareholders. While these cash payments are never guaranteed, companies that pay dividends tend to be large, financially secure corporations in mature industries, such as the banks. If you are looking for a tax efficient source of income, dividend payments receive preferential tax treatment in Canada when compared to interest income from bonds and GICs. Mutual funds that provide access to broadly diversified portfolios of dividend-paying companies are an excellent way to invest in these equity securities without taking on undue risk.

Diversified income funds invest in a broad range of income producing assets classes that may include the types of securities mentioned above. Diversified income funds benefit from active portfolio management since the various income producing asset classes can perform differently under given market conditions. By investing in a broadly diversified portfolio of income-producing securities, you have the potential to obtain higher total returns than with bonds and GICs without having to put all your eggs in one basket. One such investment that has been consistent for generating income and protecting the assets for my clients is the Manulife Monthly High Income fund, managed by Alan Wicks.

YTD Return- 15.01% (as of Dec. 31, 2013)

– Returning 15.01% calendar year 2013; top in its category

– The current asset mix is roughly 66% equity, 23% fixed income & 11% cash

– 31% in Canadian equities and 28% in US equities

– The Fund is rated 5-Stars on Morningstar

– Fund performance is top decile over 1, 3 and 10 year periods and top quartile over the last 5 years

Investing for income in today’s markets can be a difficult task. Are you ready to adapt to these changing times by considering new sources of income? Mutual funds or (GIF) can be an effective way to help diversify your retirement income portfolio. Be sure to discuss the risk and return characteristics of income-oriented mutual funds with your advisor. If you would like a copy of my recommended list of diversified income portfolios please contact Rick at 604-535-3367 or email: rick@crsfinancial.ca . You can also find us on our website at www.crsfinancial.ca

“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind. Yes, we are still in the middle of winter.  Thoughts of taking a cozy stroll through a grassy knoll or along a park trail lined with flowering buds may seem only but a dream.  However, spring is just around the corner, and if you suffer from arthritis, now is the time to arrive at a solution to your achy joints since some medications and supplements require a few weeks to take effect.  There are countless non-prescription options for dealing with arthritis symptoms.  Read on for a few natural ideas on how you can get a grip on arthritis this Spring.

“SAM-E” stands for “S-Adenosyl Methionine”.  It is a naturally-occurring molecule that is found in many parts of the body.  Levels are highest in childhood and dwindle with age.  When people look for an arthritis treatment, they do not usually think of SAM-E.  It is more typically used orally for depression, anxiety, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and liver disease.  However, studies show that SAM-E can be as effective at controlling osteoarthritis symptoms as a type of anti-inflammatory prescription drug called Celebrex (“celecoxib”).  Its inflammatory and analgesic properties tend to take a bit longer to kick in than Celebrex, but offers the benefit of much lower incidence of reported side-effects.  Furthermore, SAM-E may also stimulate cartilage growth and repair.  Be sure to get one made by a reputable company such as AOR.

“KAPREX” is a proprietary blend of hops, rosemary leaf extract, and olive leaf extract developed by Metagenics.  It has improved the clinical symptoms of arthritic clients for many years.  This combination of herbs interferes with the inflammatory response of the cells in an arthritic joint, thereby offering pain relief.  It can take affect quite quickly, and thus is often used as both a short-term symptomatic relief agent as well as a long-term maintenance supplement.

“WOBENZYM N” has been a highly-popular natural product in Germany for decades.   It consists of an exciting combination of plant-sourced enzymes (“bromelain” from pineapple, and “papain” from papaya), pancreatic enzymes (“trypsin” and “chymotrypsin”), and an antioxidant flavonoid (“rutin”).  Enzymes help regulate the biochemical reactions in our body, including joint inflammatory reactions.  This formula works great for joint and muscle conditions, as well as for improving circulation and immunity.  It is particularly helpful in elderly patients, as our body’s inherent enzyme activity diminishes with age.  Wobenzym N’s capsules are protected by an enteric coating that ensures the unique formula is not destroyed by stomach acid and is absorbed by the small intestine.

We are full-speed ahead into the new year now, and if a more active lifestyle was your resolution this year, let us help you get a grip on your arthritis.  There are many classes of supplements that can benefit arthritis patients.  Choose wisely.  Enlighten yourself by joining support groups and forums, and attending one of our arthritis seminars (next one is at 6:30-8:30pm on Feb.18th), where we will offer you a closer look at the various classes of arthritis supplements, how they work, safety profiles, as well as give you a few examples within each class.

(Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  Our pharmacy celebrated its 30-Year Birthday last year.  We specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.  We would love to hear from you! 604-576-2888; www.cloverdalepharmasave.com. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)

Many regard the city of Oaxaca, Mexico’s culinary capital, so I was pleased that on the 1st night our group of Canadian food writers and Iron Chef Rob Feenie, were dining under the stars on the roof of  well known Exec. Chef Alejandro Ruiz’s Casa Oaxaca restaurant overlooking the church of Santo Domingo de Guzman. Chef Alejandro’s passion for Oaxacan  cuisine made it a fun experience, tasting salsa made at table side, blue bean soup with a hint of curry and duck tacos smothered with chili and chocolate mole topped with Oaxaca “string” cheese. The Chilean ’09 wine Terra Andina Varietal Carmenere with its spicy, chocolate notes went well with several courses.

Next morning Chef Celia Florian, the delegate from the Conservatory of Mexican Gastronomic Culture accompanied us on a full day tour, enhancing the sightseeing with tasting and laughing over fine, traditional, indigenous meals.

In the town & municipality of San Martin Tilcajete, 23 km from the city of Oaxaca, on the highway between Oaxaca & Ocotlan, is  the brightly painted La Azucena Zapoteca Restaurant & Gallery owned by Master Painter & Traditional Cook Maria del Carmen & husband  Master Carver Jacobo Angeles. On the comal or large flat pan, set over the open-air wood fire oven Maria baked a huge tortilla filled with cottage cheese, quintoniles( wild herb prehistoric leafy greens), garlic, roasted tomato salsa & shredded nopalita prickly pear.

After visiting the gallery next door & viewing Jacobo Angeles alebrije carvings & other artisans’ Huichol chaquira beaded animals, we decided  to go to Jacobo Angeles family’s alebrije factory in San Martin Tilcajete. Alebrijes are wooden figures, carved from the soft white wood of the female copal tree, indigenous to Oaxaca. Each piece is carved while the copal wood is wet, &  to remove insect infestation, figures are soaked in gasoline & insecticide, followed by baking to destroy the insect eggs and then dried for up to 10 months.  Wife Maria’s exceptional style of  painting the figures with colours from pomegranate seeds, red cochineal, huitlacoche corn fungi etc. reflected  her Zapotec culture. Jacobo held in his hand powdered bark of the red male copal. Adding lime juice it changed to yellow, & crushed pomegranate seeds & lime created the colour green. To prevent fading, these natural colours are mixed with an infusion of honey & Copalharz.  Exquisite figures included an octopus, jaguar, iguanas & delicate butterflies.

Fortunately we  arrived in Zaachila  during their weekly Thurs market. Homemade chocolate mice, liquid honey, purple peanuts & live, brightly coloured chickens were being sold or bartered.

The Traditional Cook Yolanda Geminiano invited us to lunch at her huge outdoor La Capilla Restaurant in Zaachila, capable of feeding 2000 people. She showed us how to make her mole, fused with over 20 ingredients. Her underground earth oven cooked tender ribs & chicken in a similar fashion to the Polynesian luau.

Tequila may only be made from the blue agave in government-specified areas of Jalisco, Mexico. However mescal may be made from any variety of  agave. In Santiago,Matatlan, Anastacio Santiago Cernas, is the owner of the Palenque Don Tacho Mezcal factory. His artisanal, organic Real Matlatl Mezcal is made from Espadin agave traditional to Matatlan,Oaxaca. The plant cores or pinas are roasted in pre-hispanic ovens & then  crushed by the horse-drawn stone. We saw the Mezcal distilling via copper stills, a custom developed over 400 years ago. The Real Matlatl Mezcal Reposado, aged in American oak barrels for 6 months, had hints of smoked herbs, orange zest & spices. The Real Matlatl Anejo, aged 3 years in American oak, was velvety smooth with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla.

At the Tlamanalli Restaurant in Teotitlan del Valle it was a pleasure to meet  Traditional  Cook Abigail Mendoza who was part of the Mexican Culinary Team on Nov. 16, 2010, that persuaded the United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization(UNESCO) to add the cuisines of Mexico to the Intangible Cultural Heritage List. On a metate or mortar, Abigail demonstrated the grinding of maize into flour for tortillas. Out of her pretty, tiled, open kitchen, Abigail served a Zapotec squash blossom soup & a black mole chicken dish. Her Master Weaver sisters, Marcelina & Rufina Mendoza produced Zapotec wool rugs & tapestries, part of the long weaving tradition of Teotitlan del Valle.

At Chef Carina Santiago Bautista’s Tierra Antigua Restaurant, we also learned  how to make the huge Tlayudas, similar to a tortilla- based pizza in her cocina de humo or smoke kitchen.

Back in Oaxaca, I can recommend the tasting menus at several restaurants who serve exquisite cuisine in equally beautiful surroundings. Exec. Chef Jose Manuel Banos at La Pitiona offered venison, suckling pig tacos & prepared nitro ice cream by infusing rich flavoured cream with liquid nitrogen & vigorously beating to form a solid  ice-cream stick.

Exec Chef Rodolfo Castellanos at El Origin invited Exec. Chefs Jose Manuel  Banos, Alejandro Ruiz & Iron Chef Rob Feenie to have fun in his kitchen. Rob Feenie did a fresh shrimp ceviche with Oaxacan sea salt, Chef Alejandro Ruiz seared tuna with Huatlacoche corn fungus, tomato & mushroom & Chef  Jose Manuel Banos, duck with avocado cream. We tried the dry salsa Chile Chiltepil, a sautéed mixture of chilies de arbol, sesame and pumpkin seeds.

We took time out  to visit, just 9km from town, the archeological site of Monte Alban inhabited for 1500 years by the Olmecs, Zapotecs & Mixtecs.

Our final stop was meeting Chef Ricardo Lemus, at the new & glamorous cantina Mezquite, Gastronomia y. Destilados. They offer fabulous cocktails, artisanal beers & wines and a complimentary, upscale tapas with each drink!

We stayed at the Hostal de la Noria, a beautiful hotel in the historical centre near the Zocalo.

Thank you Oaxaca. What a gastronomic playground you have!

Will 2014 really be a Happy New Year?

Will the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup?

Will the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl?

Will Prime Minister Stephen Harper retire as some political pundits are already predicting?

Which of your New Year’s Resolutions can you actually accomplish?

Will Canadians feel less cash-strapped, especially those aged 55 and older, according to a Sun Life Financial survey done by Ipsos Reid?

Will B.C.’s child poverty rate, the highest in the country, start improving next year?

Will politicians think before they speak and stop putting foot in mouth?

Where in the world will the next natural disaster strike?

Will age discrimination be addressed? When do people become too old?

Will a long-term housing plan be developed by all orders of government and the private sector to address the near-crisis situation in this country due to rising housing costs?

What will become the new hot social media network topping Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn?

Which Mayors will be replaced in local government elections in the fall of 2014 in Ontario and B.C.? Will Toronto remain Ford Country?

Will Don Cherry and his colorful, flamboyant jackets finally be replaced on hockey broadcasts?

So many questions can be asked as we start another year, remembering to be grateful that we live where we do, given the world’s calamities we saw in 2013.

These and many more questions will probably go unanswered as we start a new year, but as long as the average citizen keeps asking and shows concern for others, some progress might be made.

Twenty six communities throughout B.C. will receive Age-Friendly Grants in 2014 to support a variety of projects designed to help older adults stay mobile, physically active and healthy. Each approved project reflects the vision of an age-friendly British Columbia, in which older people are supported to live active, socially engaged and independent lives, according to Health Minister Terry Lake.

Close to $500,000 will be awarded in this program. The new projects address the three provincial priorities for seniors: elder abuse prevention, dementia care and non-medical home support.

Projects include Addressing Aging in Rural Communities in the Fraser Valley Regional District, an Age-Friendly Plan for Harrison Hot Springs, Planning for an Age-Friendly Richmond, and an Age-Friendly Community Assessment of Port Moody. Each gets the maximum grant of $20,000.

Tips for a better year:

*Don’t waste your time arguing about something that is trivial.

*If you find yourself losing your temper with someone, just turn and walk away.

*If your “common sense” tingles and you think you are right, follow your ideas.

*Accidents will happen but do your best to prevent them by being cautious.

*Be careful with your money matters and guard your wealth. Make sure you are not being taken advantage of by others but help the less fortunate.

*Take care of your health first. All the money in the world will not find a cure to what ails you. It never has.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!

Try these cozy “West Coast” winter ideas, for living amid rain, wind, plus the odd January snow fall.

Burr it’s cold outside, so “Light a Fire” in the fireplace. No fireplace, then let’s improvise with pillar candles placed in a large fire retardant container such as a ceramic flowerpot or large serving dishes.  Nothing says toasty, like safely placed flames.

Place a foot stool draped with a cozy folded throw, in front of your favorite place to sit, nothing says relaxation more, than the invitation to warm your feet, sipping a hot beverage.

Fresh flowers are always a warm and cozy welcome, especially in winter, remember to add fresh flowers to your grocery list.

Old books add warmth and interest to a room, bring out a few “tucked away” old volumes, then stack a few on a console or coffee table.

It’s a good time to layer on the rugs, keep your toes happy by putting a rug by your bedside, in the bathroom, and at the front door.  A faux sheep skin can be draped at the end of a bed, on the seat of an occasional chair, or layered on the floor, careful it may become your pets favorite place to curl up on a winter day.

Pile on the pillows, on the bed and the sofas.  Choose soft and comfortable throw pillows to encourage cuddling up and reading a good book in front of the fire, your feet up and covered in a cozy throw blanket.  Sipping a latte, with the smell of fresh flowers lingering in the air. Now that’s the way to get cozy on a chilly January winter day!

Roxanne Griese is a writer and an artist; visit www.artbyroxanne.ca.

For many years as I have travelled across Western Canada delivering home-improvement information, I have stressed that this is the time of the year when we must be vigilant as the cold weather sets in and snow may start to fall.

How do you handle ice and/or snow on sidewalks and driveways? The big question is what to use that will not damage concrete driveways, sidewalks, stamped concrete or paving stones. Folks, you would likely be surprised to know how much damage is caused by using the wrong products. Consider these questions and follow these suggestions and you will be happy with the outcome.

All concrete surfaces

Do they have a water sealer? Does the water drain away from the concrete area? If in doubt, have a professional give you advice.

If there is no sealer, the surface of the concrete will remain wet for long periods. (To test whether there’s a sealer, lay down a garbage bag and mat down the edges. If it is damp after 24 hours, it is not sealed.)

Choose a penetrating water-based crystallization sealer, which is applied by puddling out and spreading with a roller, allowing the concrete to take what is required to seal.

On shovelling

All driving surfaces should be shovelled before a non-slip material is applied.

Be careful with calcium- or salt-based products that can damage unsealed concrete. Non-salt or safety-type products can melt ice and snow, only to refreeze and produce a slippery and unsafe surface.

After removing the snow, consider old-fashioned sand (play sand), which can be swept up or washed into your garden in the spring.

Plastic bags of sand also make for great ballast in the trunk of your car and can be useful if you get stuck on ice.

If you are using safety types of ice melts, please be sure to read the label and test the product.

Remember folks, it’s not the fall on ice that hurts; it’s the sudden stop that does the body damage.

For more home-improvement information or to send Shell an email, go to www.AskShell.com and become a member of Shell’s HouseSmart club.