VOLUME 17 ISSUE 1/2 January/February 2021 This family of Hungarian partridges was spotted in the Northmount Community in Edmonton. Photo by John Zapantis YOUR VENDOR PAYS 75 CENTS PER COPY PAPER SOLD BY DONATION ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 2 We will ALBERTA STREET remember 2020 NEWS By Linda Dumont Founder/Publisher/ As we face the challenges of the Editor, Design and layout: year ahead, we will remember 2020 as Linda Dumont the year when everything changed. Who ever would have believed we would all be walking around wearing masks or that we Writers: would be limited in so many of our activi- John Zapantis ties. Joanne Benger We don’t know what the new normal Allan Sheppard will be like, but the ten months of pan- Sharon Austin demic will de(cid:277) nitely leave a lasting mark on the world. Timothy Wild come to pass. Some said according to the Many businesses are gone for good - Linda Dumont Mayan calendar, the world was supposed Army and Navy closed down last spring, Rodney Graham to end in 1984 when the planets lined up. now other stores are holding closing out  e end was nigh again in 1993 if you Norma Harms sales. In addition, many small businesses believed in the Children of God move- everywhere are gone. ment. As the year 2000 approached there For Alberta Street News, I made a Photos: were people rushing to buy generators and decision to continue publication even with John Zapantis stocking up on water for that end of the limited opportunity for sales, and continue Linda Dumont world scenario. I remember driving home to keep an on line presence to avoid be- that midnight to a world that appeared Norma Harms coming another casualty of the pandemic. completely unchanged.  e Shaw Confence Centre has become  e one end time prophecy that ap- the drop in for homeless people where Cover photo: pears to be coming to pass is that “many they can get three meals a day and use John Zapantis false prophets shall come speaking great, bathrooms , wash clothing etc.  e Mus- swelling words of wisdom and taking silly tard Seed has another drop in shelter on women captive.” I prefer not to be one of Deadline for the March/ the south side. those silly women. April issue is February 15, From some Christians, who are listening Whatever happens in the new year, to end time prophets I have heard doom 2021 we need not change our basic principles of and gloom messages foretelling the end love and respect for one another, nor turn of the world.  e conspiracy theories ap- Alberta Street News away from our fellow man in need. Times pear to be running rampant, a re(cid:280) ection of crisis are the times when our true nature 9533-106A Avenue of the underlying fear that has gripped is revealed. And if this were indeed the Edmonton, Alberta the world.  ere are all kinds of fears - the end time that we are living in, it is even vaccine will contain microchips heralding T5H 0S9 more important to face this time with the mark of the beast for unwary persons 780-975 -3903 grace and to continue to do all that we can who take it, COVID-19 was man made [email protected] to create a better future, limited though it to reduce the world population by 2021, would be. Canada is becoming a communist coun- As for me, I believe there is still a future, Web: try......... and once that vaccine rolls out, we will I have survived likely because of im- albertastreetnews.org gather momentum to reclaim things we munizations for scarlet fever, diptheria, had to lay aside for a period of time. typhoid fever, tetanus, polio and smallpox. VENDORS PAY 75 As Paul Artriedes said in Dune, “Fear is All of them were at one time fatal diseases the mind killer.” CENTS PER COPY that wiped out many children. I did get We are not afraid! German measles when I was a year old and If you have not read Dune, a new Dune nearly died, but they now immunize for movie is coming out soon. that as well. I have lived long enough to have seen many end time prophets proved to be false prophets when their prophecies failed to THE VIEWS PRESENTED ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 3 New Year. New Start By Joanne Benger January is Hot Tea Month and hopefully a cold month for the saying is “A summerish January, a winterish spring. January 1 is New Years Day. Eat peas on New Years Day and you will have good luck all year. Sicilians also eat lasagna for luck and consider it unlucky to eat any other pasta today. Some resolve to have a Dry January with no drink for the entire month as the saying goes, “New Years was fun but now its done. Joyful night, sorrowful morning.” Dry or not, Happy New Year and may you have food, health and good spirits in 2021. January 4 is National Trivia Day, National Spaghetti Day, and toss the Fruitcake Day. January 6 is National Whipped Cream Day, National Kito Day, and National Bird Day.  e Christmas bird count ends today. January 5 is Epiphany, or the Feast of the  ree Kings which celebrates the arrival of the magi. It is Ukrainian Christmas Eve and as soon as the (cid:277) rst star appears in the sky. the meal begins.  ere are twelve meatless dishes to represent the 12 apostles. In Ireland it is Small Christmas and it is lucky to share Small Christmas dinner with a dark haired stranger. January 6 is when Christmas decorations are taken down in most countries but some prefer January 14 (Octave of Epiphany) or February 2 (Candlemas).  e season of Epiphany begins now and will con- tinue until Lent. January 7 is Ukrainian Christmas with hay or straw under the table to represent the stable. January 11 is Milk Day, Hot Toddy Day and National Girl Hugs Boy Day. Air hugs, please. January 11, 1964 is the day the Surgeon General (cid:277) rst warned of the dangers of smoking. January 12 is Pharmacists Day. January 13 is St. Hilary’s Day. Close Season is over and you can get married from now until Lent. January 14 is Rubber Ducky Day. It is also Ukrainian New Year. Happy New Year. New year, new start. It is also Organ- ize Your House Day and Octave of St. Epiphany when some take their Christmas decorations down. January 16 we commemorate United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. It has also been National Religious Freedom Day in the United States since 1993. January 17, 1706 was the birthday of Benjamin Franklin who wrote, “Be always at war with your vices and at peace with your neighbour and let each New Year (cid:277) nd you a better person.” January 18, the third Monday of the month, is Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year as holiday expenses (cid:277) nally catch up with you. Pay those bills if you can.If you are short of cash, remember it is also Use Your Gi Card Day. January 18 is National Winnie the Pooh Day. As A.A.A. Milne wrote, Winnie the Pooh said, “I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me.” Hug your teddy bear today. January 20 is Martin Luther King Day. How he would have approved of “Black Lives Matter” protests and peace marches. Do something about racism today. January 25 is John Handcock’s Birthday, which is National Handwriting Day. Work at making your signature more impressive. January 25 is Robbie Burns’ birthday when we celebrate all things Scottish, wear kilts and eat haggis. Robbie Burns wrote, “An honest man is the noblest work of God” and “ e best laid plans of mice and men go a a-gley.” January 25 is also St, Paul’s Day. It is an old belief that the weather of the entire year depends on what happens today. “Sun on St. Paul’s Day means a good year, rain or snow foretells indiff erent weather, mist means want, while thunder pre- dicts twelve months of winds and death” according to the Shepherds’ Almanac of 1626. Here’s hoping for sun. January 26 is National Peanut Butter Day as well as National Spouses Day. January 28 it is 82 years since the Lego Company patented its lego bricks. Happy birthday Lego.  e last week in January is National None Smoking week.  e saying is, “You pay for cigarettes twice, once when you get them and once when they get you. Butt out. ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 4 Lucy By Norma Harms You were more than just a friend to me, Lucy You were like a sister, too, Always caring, always thoughtful Through every trial of life. Always praying always singing Always there to say I care. You were more than just a friend to me Lucy. You were like a sister, too. And when I wanted to give up on life I would phone you And you would always say Never give up. God will make a way Where there is no way You were more than just a friend for me, Lucy. You were like a sister, too. In the good times and the bad times Yu were always there to lend a helping hand You gave and gave some more But never gave up the battle of living for Jesus alone And I know my dear sister, that you are in heaven with Jesus. In your new eternal home. You were more than just a friend to me, Lucy. You were a sister, too. I will love you and miss you forever. Lucy passed away November 3, a victim of COVID-19. She was a resident of the General Hospital Continuing Care Centre in Ed- monton. When she was near death, family members were permitted to visit, protected by masks, gowns and gloves.  ey could not touch her,.  ey were instructed to wash all of the clothes they wore to the hospital, shower and wash their hair when they reached home. Although Lucy regularly attended Peoples Church before the pandemic, she had no funeral service, just a number of people gathering for the interment at the cemetary. Photo by Norma Harms Happy zodiac year.  e celebration lasts 15 days and is a time of family reunions and celebrating the family which includes both the living and the Lunar New Year dead. Continuity of the family is very important to the Chinese. Departed ancestors are honoured with gi s of fake money, fake gold bricks and other paper symbols of prosperity that are then By Joanne Benger burned so they can have continued good luck and good fortune  is month we have the Chinese New Year, which is also in their a erlife. referred to as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. It marks Older relatives give money in red envelopes to the children. the end of the Chinese winter and the beginning of planting When they do this they are symbolically transferring money to season, and can occur any time between January 21 and February the next generation, their future heirs. 20.  is year Chinese New Year occurs on February 12 as we en- Red is used extensively in the New Year celebrations. Red ter the Year of the Ox. Oxen were born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, clothes are worn and homes are decorated in red as protection 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, and of course 2021. People born in the against Nian, the evil monster who is present at the New Year. year of the ox are bright and patient and are known to be good Fireworks will also hold Nian at Bay. listeners.  ey like success and are distainful of failure in love It is usual to clean the house before the new year.  en, during and business matters.  e ox is attracted to the snake, rooster the celebration it is important that the family does not (cid:277) ght and and rat but should avoid the ram at all costs. nothing must be broken. No sharp objects should be used and If you are an ox you must take care this year for the Chinese it is unlucky to cut hair or (cid:277) ngernails.  e menu o en includes believe that in the year of your zodiac animal you are in a year pork and oranges and the extended family should have a happy of rebirth. Rebirth and renew your life with an eye to the future. loving reunion. Some people wear red all year for protection when it is their ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 5 OPINION Why Don’t  ey Do Enough To Help the Poor? Because they don’t want to, it would be counterproductive to their desires. By Rod Graham.  e mayor merely does what the chamber of commerce wants. He is their little errand boy - if he’s a bad little boy they will push him out.  e chambers of commerce do what the status quo in the community want. And the status quo - the ‘good citizens’ in the community are heartless devils.  e police and security community also do what the chambers of commerce want, and what the status quo they might actually live as human beings around - they would be seen. And nothing want. - enjoying life itself. If they were to enjoy makes the snooty XXXX in Canada more  ey want the poor kept in a state life - they would be mobile - not hiding in uncomfortable than seeing, or God forbid, of shock - trauma, suff ering. In poverty. the bushes and in corners of the infra- being in the presence of a poor citizen in Living as walking dead people they are structure and on the street. our wonderful democracy. manageable.  ey don’t want them really  ey might become really visible, vis- ‘helped’ - if they were, they would do what ible and mobile too, and healthy. If they the business people are most afraid of - were mobile and healthy and moving  oughts During an Extreme Cold Warning you look. 9. You can’t be sure if that man in the belaclava is a robber or a By Joanne Benger serious winter athlete. 1. Most cars have dash read outs that won’t record temperatures 10. School buses don’t run and all social events are cancelled. below minus 40. But its cold outside, minus 48 with the wind  is is pure democracy.  e popular and unpopular are equal. chill. 11. We’ve replaced “Have a good day,” with “Stay warm out 2.  ere are emergency power alerts. Reserve energy is being there.” used. I feel so guilty I turn the thermostat down to 18 and wear 12. I now understand the old saying, “Stick to your underwear three sweaters. until your underwear sticks to you.” 3.  e furnace runs non stop. I have visions of my next heating 13. I know how to get to the muster point for a warming centre bill. Do they have any poor houses le in this city? should my electricity go off but I have never been there and don’t 4. I don’t do the laundry during energy emergencies. I picture know what to expect. It’s never had to be used yet. my best clothes trapped in a washer full of frozen water. 14.  e plumber just drove past again and I am grateful my 5. You know it’s cold when you see people waking around with furnace still clicks on and my toilet still (cid:280) ushes. I have two of the icicles hanging from their noses. necessities of life. 6. We’ve learned the hard way. It’s not safe to kiss outdoors when 15. We’re all a risk for hypothermia and we can get frost bite in a the temperature is under -35. Blow that air kiss instead. minute if we go out. Cabin fever is epidemic and SAD is com- 7. You know it’s cold when your glasses freeze to your face. mon. 8. We all want to look cool but dress warm. To this end forget 16. We must go low tech. Batteries die faster in the cold and dead fashion. Toque hair is in. Bundle up. It doesn’t matter how fat batteries can lead to dead people. ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 6 But that kind of freedom is fragile, it is not She understood that having nothing to a foundation for a ful(cid:277) lled life. Or for a lose can be a matter of socially approved relationship; Bobby dri s away, surely in- oppression, not just choice or bad luck. evitably, leaving only memories. “Nothin’ Having nothing to lose thrust upon one- le is all she le for me.”  ey are happy self or someone else, without having made memories, but… the choice, is an insult to our common Hundreds of artists have sung Me and humanity. It is an example of inhuman- Bobby McGee, on record and in perfor- ity to others (and, if we are honest, to mance. Most notable among them: Janis ourselves) that we should be ashamed to Joplin, who recorded the song in 1970, tolerate. Yet we do tolerate it, shamelessly, scant days before her death. Joplin’s ver- while pretending we do not, even as we What price sion remains hugely popular, topping all deem ourselves virtuous in our doings and others in browser and YouTube searches. pretensions.  at popularity is certainly due to Joplin’s To those of us who can choose them, freedom? (And unique and widely appreciated blues rock attachments to things, including people, style, but I suggest credit should also go to ideas, and beliefs, can seem impediments what bene(cid:277) t?) a subtle, but profound, change she made to happiness and freedom. To those who to the lyrics and, thereby, to the thrust of have no choice but to do without, having, By Allan Sheppard the song. acquiring, and holding onto things can “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ Instead of “nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but seem the only way to experience happi- le to lose…” its free,” Joplin sings, “Nothin’ ain’t worth ness and freedom. Kris Kristoff erson and Fred Foster’s classic nothin’, if it ain’t free.” With that simple What does this have to do with anti-mask- country-pop song, Me and Bobby McGee, change, Joplin’s version transcends the ers and COVID-19? has been an earworm burrowing through original’s notion of freedom derived from Let me say (cid:277) rst that we need naysayers my brain for weeks now. It steals into my detachment due to choice (or inertia, go- and doubters in our lives and communi- consciousness whenever I hear anti- ing with the (cid:280) ow) to remind us of some- ties.  e essence of freedom, as I under- maskers or their political enablers (Jason thing more complex and disturbing. stand it and aspire to it, is not the right Kenney, that means you!) cry Freedom!  ere are many kinds of nothingness, and and capacity to do and say whatever I (or the loss of it) over mandatory masking many kinds of life lived with nothing to want; whenever, however, and to whom- and other common-sense public precau- lose. To paraphrase Shakespeare’s words ever I choose. It is the right and capacity tions against Covid-19. and distort their meaning, some are born to resist anyone and anything that threat-  e lyrics invite diff erent interpretations into nothingness, some achieve it, and ens my integrity as an individual and as an and meditations. Here, for what they are some have nothingness thrust upon them. equal participant in the common human- worth, are my thoughts in perilous times: To achieve nothingness, to experience the ity I enjoy and share with every other  e Kristoff erson/Foster lyrics suggest bene(cid:277) ts of detachment by deliberately let- individual, no matter who or where. one meaning of freedom: freedom is what ting go of things, as advocated by mystics  at and is absolute.  e right to say no is remains, when we let go of everything and self-help gurus, is worth attempt- non-negotiable. But it carries responsibili- else. Freedom means not being burdened ing, and something we can admire and ties. with things.  at’s not the religiously respect, when achieved. Freedom is not the right to say, as I un- in(cid:280) ected meaning favoured by pandemic To be born into nothingness, or to have derstand the anti-maskers would have it, naysayers, but it makes sense to me: free- it thrust upon oneself, is not admirable “You can’t tell me what to do,” to anyone dom means living in the moment; today, or desirable, especially when it takes who would put limits on my choices and not for tomorrow. It does not mean doing the common forms of endemic poverty, behaviour. It is the right to say (and have whatever the hell one wants, at whatever oppression, repression, and literal or said to me) “I should not have to tell you cost to anyone (everyone) else. metaphorical slavery. With three little what to do. You (and I) should know what  e next line to the song underscores words, “if it ain’t,” Joplin reminds us that to do; as individuals certainly, but also as that unheroic dri : “Nothin’ ain’t worth having nothing to lose in the literal sense members of a family, a community, or a nothin’ but it’s free.” Having nothing is not does not release anyone from the burdens nation: humanity. I should be able to trust a luxury. It has no inherent value, but at our consumerist society forces us to suff er, you to do the right thing, as you should be least it’s free; in both senses: costing noth- tolerate, or seek, unless one chooses to able to trust me.” ing and making no demands. live without them. Without opportunity  e right thing is not (or should not be) a In the right circumstances, with the right to become attached to things, detach- case of either/or (them/me). It should be, companions, through lamentation and ment from them is an imposition; it is not and in times of crisis must be, both/and celebration (singing the blues), one can enlightenment. (them/me). live fully and well in the moment:  at Joplin should have changed the lyrics Yeah, right, anti-maskers say.  ey have “Feelin’ good was easy, Lord, when Bobby as she did is not surprising.  ough white, no trust le .  ey feel betrayed by govern- sang the blues she placed herself within the tradition of ments and politicians; corporate leaders “And buddy, that was good enough for me blues singing that rose out of Black experi- and entrepreneurs; banks and (cid:277) nancial “Good enough for me and my Bobby ence of slavery, sharecropping, and Jim institutions; law enforcement and justice McGee.” Crow governance in the American South. systems; medical, academic, artistic, and ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 7 media elites; employers; property owners; lifelong slaveholder), Patrick Henry.  e of us—the community in which they are neighbours; even, too o en, family and bitter reality for some of them is that their embedded—to risks we are not willing to friends. expressions of personal liberty do result accept and share with them.  ey are all trusted out.  ey have lost in their deaths, o en with last-minute Yet that is what every freedom-wor- much. Or they feel on the verge of losing regrets and recantations, if reports from shipping anti-masker does by appearing much: everything they have worked, or the Covid-19 frontlines in the U.S. can be in public spaces without a mask and other would work, their lives for.  ey see the believed. preventive precautions. It can be all about system rigged against them.  ey see Despite seeming to understand the you, if you are the only one involved; myriads of others and othernesses threat- ambiguities of freedom, Janis Joplin, died when it includes me, or him, or her, or ening and competing against them and in an expression of personal freedom, due them, it becomes about us. And that their aspirations unfairly. to an accidental drug overdose, ironically means doing the right thing—making the You must earn my trust, they say: step reminding us that, no matter how much right choices—to respect and protect each by step, increment by increment. Betray we let go or are forced to give up, there is other. my trust once, shame on you. Betray it always one (cid:277) nal thing le to lose: life itself. I don’t blame or wish to shame anti- twice, shame on me. Betray as a matter of Sad and, in so many ways, wasteful as her maskers for feeling as they do. I have no policy or indiff erence, and you leave me death was, Joplin’s (cid:277) nal assertion of per- doubt they have good reasons for draw- no choice: to trust only myself and the sonal freedom, and its tragic outcome, did ing imaginary lines in imaginary philo- close few to whom I owe allegiance, or not put anyone else’s life, liberty, or secu- sophical sands. I can only reply, with deep from whom I can demand it. rity at risk. She made what we can regard respect, that those reasons, whatever they  e most extreme among them seem to as a bad choice, and she paid the ultimate are, are possessions or obsessions that we say, “I will defend my possessions—my price. But she (and others who have died must let go, if we are to emerge from our toys, my tangibles, my things—with all my the same way) did not infect anyone close current crisis stronger, rather than weaker. strength and will. But if you (cid:277) nd ways to to her, or the community at large, with a Trust begins with trusting. Taking the (cid:277) rst cheat me out of them, I will defend to the fatal contagion. step, especially for those who feel their death my obsessions: my faith, my beliefs, Anti-maskers are not so considerate, trust has been betrayed, is a hard but nec- my loyalties, my certainties; my intangi- intentionally or by default. Some of them essary beginning on a long road to mutual bles. My identity.” deny the existence of the virus or the trust.  at many of us should (cid:277) nd the (cid:277) rst For anti-maskers, not wearing a mask, disease, but most surely realize what is ob- steps so diffi cult re(cid:280) ects less on them than social distancing, and accepting other vious: COVID-19 exists, and it kills, o en on our communities. Above all, it re(cid:280) ects preventive measures—doing the right people who are most vulnerable and who on the leadership, or lack thereof, shown thing in a community context—seem to are least in position to make choices about by our elected and accepted leaders. be an expression of freedom, individual their own circumstances.  ey make what At a time when our leaders should be liberty, courageous choice, in the face of I believe is a conscious decision to take working to restore and build trust, we are social disapproval, amounting to enforced, risks they know exist.  at is their right, lumbered with politicos and charlatans sheeplike conformity. and they are welcome to it. who manipulate trust, who play with it “Give me liberty or give me death!”  ey can expose themselves to whatever transactionally (for personal and in-group they seem to say, channelling American risks they choose. What they cannot, must gain) rather than strategically. (Jason Ken- Founding Father, Virginia governor (and not be allowed to, do is expose the rest ney, that means you, among others.) Attack of the mad veered towards the car and began to beat the $500 deductible because the woman frantically on the side window, her face didn’t have insurance to cover her ac- woman a contorted mask of rage She struck the tions. widow and the windshield in front of I am le wondering. Did she think me repeatedly until the windshield gave she knew me from somewhere or was it By Linda Dumont way into a whorl of crack. She didn’t just just a random act of violence. Was she We watch horror movies with rabidly beat on the car, she spat repeatedly on the a mental patient off her medication and out of control people possessed by who window next to me, her face twisting. hallucinating or was she high on drugs? knows what but never expect to encoun- I put the car in gear, but it spun out in Will she strike again? ter them in person. the deep snow, so I had to reverse before I no longer feel safe outside my It was a quiet Saturday a ernoon. Snow I could drive ahead.  e woman contin- house. I no longer park by the side of the was falling and the side of the street had a ued her attack damaging the mirror and street to answer the phone and when I build up of snow. leaving dents all around the window and have to go to the mail box, I look both I was in the car in front of my house on the door. I was afraid another whack ways to make sure there is no woman on 95th street preparing to drive off , on the windshield would shatter the glass approaching. when the phone rang. It is a one way completely but the car moved forward street so I pulled over to the right side and I was able to drive around the corner of the street again to answer the call. and call the police.  ey said she was My son was on the line. As we were probably high on crystal meth. talking, a woman approached from up I didn’t know the woman.  e car ahead. carrying two sticks. Suddenly she had $3,662 in damages, and I had to pay ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 8 MMM Adopt a Family helps families in need on Facebook was quickly spreading its help a family that was really struggling, Story and Photo by John Zapantis cyber reach like wild(cid:277) re, as more women a family of seven.  ey were just really joined the ranks of this mom’s group and down on their luck. It’s amazing how an individual’s within two weeks, Sarah had established “ I thought, well, I can’t help them per- emotional state can sometimes elevate a over 100 newer members to her hard sonally. I didn’t have the funds. Maybe if a person’s creativity. inevitably advancing a working eff orts that added strongly to bunch of us got together the mom’s group worthwhile cause. Sarah Hall is that moral this incredible movement.  e exciting could create something amazing.  e situ- example of what she was experiencing thought of proudly encountering a total of ation was, the father had just lost his job. about a year a er moving from Edmon- 100 new members in such a short period  e mom was the only one that was work- ton to Morinville. She was feeling totally of time, encouraged Sarah to host a wine ing.  ey had (cid:277) ve kids.  e dad was laid isolated in a new town with three children and cheese night, just to add to the enthu- off , just before Christmas.  e dad was of her own and another on the way in siasm of a very meaningful social engage- working on the oil rigs in Fort McMurray. addition to her list of priorities. So, on one ment for its single moms. “What happened then, was the car of those very isolated and lonely days, she  e year 2012 was about to become a broke down. So mom wasn’t able to make was determined to break that lonely feel- very special calling for the mom’s group it to work and she got (cid:277) red. I think she ing of isolation and searched around town founder Sarah Hall, when another mem- worked in a grocery store, but she was the to (cid:277) nd some friends. In time she’d met a ber of her Facebook group approached only income for that family at that time. total of six new friends and maintained Hall asking her to take on the noble task  ere were things that they needed.  ey those contacts as a social circle. of helping a desperate and needy family in needed to get their car (cid:277) xed.  ey needed Once she got the ball rolling in main- despair. some basic groceries, some help with the taining those contacts she was in(cid:280) uenced In a interview with ASN Sarah Hall bills. Now we couldn’t help with bills nec- to come up with the concept of starting elaborates on that unique situation in essarily, but we thought food and gi s and her own mom’s group on Facebook, where helping her to realize what her calling in stuff for Christmas, we were all able to do” she constantly maintained a group social life would one day mean to other fami- Right at that moment, Sarah realized interaction with these casual contacts, lies in despair, Hall said, “In 2012 we had that she had a very special calling to com- while sharing camaraderie and lifetime been operating for about a year. We had mit to and the exciting thought of taking friendships. just over 1000 members at that point and on such a challenging task to help that Word through that popular grapevine another somebody had approached me to family down on their luck, encouraged a very determined Sarah to step up and help make that big diff erence that without her knowledge of knowing at the time, was about to change her life forever. Hall said, “So at the same time that I had posted about this family’s needs. I wrote, “Hey, does anybody know a mechanic, or can anybody help supply gi s for kids of these ages. A friend of ours, Misty Featherly, posted the exact same time to help a fam- ily with the same thing. “Misty Featherly is actually the School Trustee for the Sturgeon School Divi- sion. So she had posted the same time for a family that she knew that was going through the same thing. and that she had the same idea. We were like, ‘Why don’t we just make it a collection for these two families and see where it goes.’ Well. we had so much input from the people that were in the mom’s group at that time. We had so much stuff and then more families were being nominated by other moms saying, ‘Hey, I know another family that could use help too.’ MMM Adopt-A-Family volunteers at Tim Hortons. Le to right are “So by the end of that season, we didn’t Brandi Robinson, Adopt-A-Family Founder Sarah Hall and Jennifer know what the heck we were doing. We were operating out of Morinville Public Smith. School, because the public school got on ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 9 board. One of the families was from the their circles, or are surrounded by circles, agencies have to turn people and families public school.  e next thing you know, like moms are. We will do anything. We away when on over(cid:280) ow. Hall said, “Now we had thirteen families that we helped. I will swallow our pride and ask for help if they had gone to the food bank and don’t know how we pulled it off that year, when we desperately need it. Mind you, it they needed more food then that would because we were just (cid:280) ying by the seat of takes a long time to get to that point.” be the call that somebody would make to our pants, literally. Like people say, build-  e reputable organization works in us.  ey can’t get any more food through ing the plane as you (cid:280) y it!” partnership with various self-help organi- the food bank.  e family needs a gas  ose miraculous feats of human kind- zations. card, or a food hamper, or something like ness encouraged Sarah Hall to inevitably One of the many vital components that.  at’s something we can help with, change the mom’s group on Facebook to that is essential to families, is the local another one is like, so a school counsel- Morinville Marvelous Moms.  en, while food banks that MMM Adopt-A-Family lor will call, once in a while.  is family giving it some more serious thought, feel- works with that operates in the Sturgeon needs to get to a medical appointment at ing a moral obligation in helping fami- County area. the Stollery so we help with a gas card. lies and making that big diff erence, she Every year the demand for food sup- Gas cards are a big one that we get and included an additional name symbolic of port doubles and the MMM Adopt-A- it usually has to do with medical needs. her compassion in nominating families in Family off ers a nomination process as a So those are the types of one off s that we need and renamed it Morinville Mar- helpful policy that works more conveni- do, but those come from a counsellor or velous Moms Adopt-A-Family (MMM ently for individuals and families that an outreach worker as a request to us. If Adopt-A-Family). are o en turned away from the support somebody just called us, we can’t do that;  e following year in 2013, to add to of other food banks, Hall explains the it’s not our mandate and I wish we could.” her society’s list of great accomplish- eff ectiveness of her organization’s results Christmas was too far away during the ments, MMM Adopt-A-Family doubled when giving a referral to a family look- writing of this article and Hall elaborates their reputable track record in helping 26 ing for a food hamper. Hall said, “What on her organization’s application process families in the Sturgeon County area. was happening was, there were families in by people in need to be (cid:277) lled out for Word was getting around on the or- Sturgeon County that maybe weren’t eligi- those essential items that are needed for ganization’s Facebook page and volun- ble to get food from the Legal Food Bank, Christmas, Hall said, “So we get applica- teers picked up on the postings asking or our food bank, or Gibbon’s Food Bank. tions. So right now we’re in the applica- for volunteer help. Hall elaborates on the  ey weren’t being able to get the resourc- tion process.  e applications are coming reactions of newer volunteers stepping up es that they needed. So they weren’t able in. So we build food hampers most of the to join in and extending their hands of to go to the food bank. time, when we’re getting a food hamper support, “ ey weren’t able to get extra help through a food bank, or getting toys, or Hall said, “As the years went by, we for bills, those kinds of things, because things like that you’re usually getting a had systems come into place. We had they didn’t (cid:277) t into a municipality that bag of toys unwrapped, you know boys permanent volunteers come in. People they were able to help. So we were able to from three to six, girls from eight to ten that wanted to help. We had so many vol- help, because we don’t have a jurisdiction. years of age. unteers. Every year we had to turn people We’re not led by a provincial mandate or “Ours is a little diff erent. We call and away, because there’s just not enough anything. So we’re able to help these fami- talk to our families. We (cid:277) nd out what space to (cid:277) t in the people, right, but we lies by referral. We do our due diligence their allergies are. We (cid:277) nd out what their have it quite well organized. I’d say right where we’re able to connect with the Red situations are. We (cid:277) nd out what their now with a really good system, a system Water Food Bank, or the Gibbons Food special kinds of needs are. So if they have right now that people are copying in other Bank, or Onoway Food Bank, to see if special needs kids, well maybe that one places. I get phone calls about it all the their families are already being helped kid needs a walker, or something like that. time.” and that also helps to protect everybody, We’ll use our resources through a network Two winning contributing factors so that nobody’s double dipping and eve- of moms maybe, (cid:277) nd a used one, that determine why MMM Adopt-A-Family rybody whose needing help, is getting the kind of thing. We can help to (cid:277) ll those founder Sarah Hall has such sympathy help they need.” needs. Otherwise we collect money in for families who desperately need her “ e organization provides many op- donations full time and any one of those organization’s services and why she is so tions for people or families, who need an specialty items, the jacket or maybe work passionate about her moral duty to serve informal referral when inquiring on food boots for a dad that needs to start a new those in need. support, Hall said. “An informal referral job.  ings like that we will get that. We Hall said, “I was just lucky that I was means that there’s no paper process from will get that information from the family in that position, because this whole initia- our end that we need to do. If a family and do our best to match exactly what tive means so much to me. Growing up reaches out to us, or someone reaches is going to help the most right now and in poverty. I know what it means to make out to us saying, ‘Hey this family needs that’s where we’re special.” things better for others.  at was because help, OK, well here’s the number, they can Donations are great for supporting a of my mother. I want to emphasize that call us.  ey can go here if they need us cause, but various organizations have we, probably all moms, feel that connec- for help supports.  ey can call FCSS. It stepped up to the plate, while hosting tion and realize what our moms did for depends on what is needed.” us, but dads don’t carry that mental load  e caring organization’s reach is sym- Continued on page 11 that moms do. Dads don’t reach out to pathetic in (cid:277) ling that void, when other fund raisers and allocating those funds to ALBERTA STREET NEWS PAGE 10 $20 ONE WAY taxi service is a (cid:280) ag company I hope to start soon By John Zapantis, I’m a go getter and always have been destined to succeed with what ever I’ve pursued and have succeeded in the long term. Recently I came up with this creatively entertaining idea that I’m well aware of that would not bore you the readers when following my story on paper. I’ve worked a lot of challenging jobs in my time and have also been known to be creative in the work place as a Media Relations Coordinator with Alberta Street News. John Zapantis proudly displays the $20 ONE WAY sign I’ve come up with innovative ideas that he designed for his proposed taxi service. have helped to enhance the marketability of our provincial street newspaper. Photo by Linda Dumont One of many ideas that I took pride would essentially vote on my proposal to in was when I came up with the creative idea of in(cid:280) uencing the Edmonton Journal I’ve done so much as far as organiz- see if they approve of taking this new re- to donate two free vendor boxes to our ing, adding to the excitement of working form to another level which could possibly paper and in exchange for the free boxes, in this honorary position that I currently advance the quality of service for Edmon- I assured management at the Journal that hold. ton’s Taxi industry. I’d commend their staff members in charge Now with the COVID-19 era that’s Also my riders would be assured of a of donating those boxes in a future write upon us, world governments have recently reimbursement cost if my taxi was to have up that I did on this project that helped to con(cid:277) rmed to the world that vaccines been held up by an accident on the QE2 make that diff erence for our paper. have been developed, tested, and some Hi-way, causing them to be late for an air- I’d mentioned to a member in manage- have been approved and will be distrib- plane departure at the Edmonton Interna- ment that once the boxes were donated, uted shortly in order to help us defeat tional Airport, but when that happens and I’d be taking them to Northern Alberta this deadly virus, I’m no longer feeling I know there will be a time it will, I’d as- Institute of Technology (NAIT) where the depressed about what’s ahead, other then sure the riders that they could also re-book Painting and Decorating students of NAIT determined to share some exciting news their (cid:280) ight for another date and time and would refurbish and re-paint those boxes about establishing my own taxi service (cid:280) ag as a convenience, I’d pick them up again with black lettering reading Alberta Street company which I’ve named and have the and drive them there at no charge. News with a yellow backdrop covering the patent rights to call $20 ONE WAY. My cab’s colours would obviously be a boxes. It’s a one of a kind taxi company that will retro black and white with the logo placed  en I noti(cid:277) ed the Italian Bakery, who pick you up in any area of Edmonton and on both the drivers door and front passen- agreed to drive the boxes out to the Town then essentially drive you one way straight ger door.  e logo I’ve designed duplicates of Morinville where I once worked as an to the Edmonton International Airport the white ONE WAY arrow you o en see ASN vendor back in September 2012 to o en referred to as an airport limo service. in a one way street colored typically white September 2013. I established enough Some from the many convenient poli- with the common colour black on the clients through my vending eff orts to later cies that I’ve implemented for travelling ONE WAY letters and a &20 dollar sign employ two vendor boxes that I’d be plac- customers could range from my cab being incased in the middle of the arrow. Now if ing at two adjacent restaurant locations at licensed to employ a combination utility I can be eligible for my taxi licence and it Morinville’s A&W restaurant and Friends driver and security ride- along, who’ll not gets approval in the distant future, it’s very and Neighbours Restaurant.  ey were only provide a security presence for my possible that you will see for the very (cid:277) rst later installed between September 2013 to passengers with three riding in the back time a once in a life time, one of a kind $20 February 2014 up until a cold snap froze seat, but security for me while behind the ONE WAY taxi rolling up to your door our two boxes and made them inoperable. wheel. at your convenience. I hope you all had a I eventually paid a client of our paper $50 I intend on proposing this in a future Merry Christmas and have a Happy 2021 dollars to remove those two eye sores. Edmonton City Council Meeting, (Free of COVID-19) New Years! where I suppose members of city council