Feature

Gentle Hands helps the poor
By David Willberg
Estevan is halfway around the world from Manila, but the economic and cultural differences are even greater than the distance for Evan and Charity Graff - missionaries from the Philippines who are living in Estevan until next summer.
The Graff's operate Gentle Hands ministry, a Christian humanitarian agency in downtown Manila. Charity's parents, Dennis and Denie Heppner - opened Gentle Hands in 1990 as a birthing centre for the poor. More than 5,000 babies have been born at Gentle Hands in the last 17 years.
It now doubles as a rescue centre and an orphanage, and it's a registered social welfare agency.
The Graff's also lived in Estevan in 2003 and 2004.
Much time in their latest stint in North America will be spent fundraising for Gentle Hands. About 80 per cent of Gentle Hands' donations come from Canada and the U.S. Charity would like to have a fundraiser in Estevan next year.
Their kids are enjoying life in Estevan - going to school and playing organized sports.
"I asked them if they would like to stay for maybe two years, because they are so happy, and they are doing a lot of things they don't get to do there," said Charity. "Every one of them said 'no, we need to go home.'"
Evan and Charity will return to the Philippines in December to deliver presents and gifts for up to 500 children - continuing a tradition that began when they started working for Gentle Hands in 2000.
"We have done this for every year for seven years - specific presents for all of the children that we know and that we work with in the poor communities," said Charity.
Gentle Hands has gained a reputation for helping children that nobody else will, Evan said.
"Our mandate, our mission, is we take children who are abused, abandoned, neglected and orphaned," said Evan. "We have babies that have been left in hospitals, we have babies that have been left with friends because nobody knows where their parents are. We also get some funding from other welfare agencies in the Philippines."
They rescue children being abused. They teach children. When students graduate from their program, Gentle Hands helps with post-secondary tuition. A few children have been adopted from Gentle Hands.
They also help adults by taking them to the hospital, providing counseling or first aid, or accompanying a parent to visit a child in jail. The Graff's estimate they gave away over 100 kilograms of rice per month.
Children suffering from malnutrition and brain damage, often close to death, have been left at Gentle Hands' door. Three or four were "living skeletons," Evan said.
Other children that arrive at Gentle Hands door have been discharged from the hospital to die, Charity added.
Gentle Hands has about 75 people at all times in their three-storey, 1,250 square foot building. There are currently 25 children five years old and under, and 32 teenage boys. Gentle Hands has purchased adjacent land so they can expand their building.
They don't work around the clock but they are on call 24 hours a day. Evan said they would get at least one call a week between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. when they were in the Philippines.
"I don't necessarily work hard 24 hours a day, but there is no definable end to the work day," said Evan. "I may be doing stuff all day, and get up in the middle of the night to go to the hospital."
Extreme poverty, sickness and starvation are present all the time, they said. Coming back to Canada is a shock. Poverty in Estevan isn't prevalent like it is in the third world. People sometimes turn away when they see photos of starving children that Gentle Hands has helped.
Charity said they love to share their experiences and educate people on the plight of the poor. Several people from Estevan have travelled to the Philippines to work at Gentle Hands, and if anyone would like to help, Charity said they would be welcomed at Gentle Hands.

News

Let's go Riders!
Spruce Ridge School in Estevan voiced their support for the Grey Cup-bound Saskatchewan Roughriders November 20. Carolyn Walliser's Grade 5 class was one of many classes that sported green in honour of Rider Day. Students carried signs and waved flags.
Saskatchewan advanced to the Grey Cup game with a 26-17 win over the B.C. Lions in the Western Final. The Riders will play their top rivals, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in the Grey Cup November 25 in Toronto. Kick-off is shortly after 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

Police report
*A 21-year-old male, a 24-year-old male and a 17-year-old female have been arrested for possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking. A traffic stop led to the execution of a search warrant at a local hotel room. A large quantity of cash, cocaine and other drugs - marijuana and magic mushrooms - were located and seized. The drugs have a street value of around $30,000. A vehicle has been seized for being the proceeds of crime.
*An I-pod was stolen from a vehicle in the northwest part of the city.
*The windshield and side window of a vehicle were busted out at the end of October. The incident was recently reported. Police are seeking assistance.
*A motorist was charged with speeding and driving while suspended after he was pulled over in east Estevan. His vehicle was seized for 30 days.
*A 20-year-old male was charged with impaired driving, resisting arrest and refusal to comply with a breath sample demand.
*A 27-year-old male was arrested for public intoxication. He was attempting to fight with patrons. He had outstanding warrants.
*An intoxicated 22-year-old male attempted to enter a residence in Hillside. He was so intoxicated that he went to the wrong residence.
*A 19-year-old male was arrested and lodged after being involved in a fight at a local nightclub. When he was sent on his way with a sober friend, he attended a party that police were called to due to a disturbance. He was allowed to stay as an invited guest. He was later apprehended for causing problems at a convenience store.
*A single vehicle lost control on slippery roads and hit the curb at 10th Avenue and Second Street. No injuries occurred and the matter has been turned over to SGI. Several other accidents occurred due to the icy streets.
*Police have a suspect in the theft of several magazines from a local convenience store.
*Theft of gasoline was reported from a local gas station.
*A camper window was shot out with what appears to be a pellet gun. The camper was parked in the victim's yard. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
*Police assisted with locating a 14-year-old girl who didn't come home the night before. She was found and returned to her parents.

Eagles not part of cabinet
Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles wasn't disappointed with her omission from the new Saskatchewan Party government's cabinet.
Premier Brad Wall and the cabinet ministers were sworn in November 21. Eagles and the other MLAs not named to cabinet posts will be sworn in December 4.
"I knew Brad had very, very tough decisions to make," said Eagles. "There are 38 MLAs, and 17 appointments that he gets, 18 in cabinet including him. That means that more than half of us aren't going to get something."
A lot of factors are considered when making cabinet decisions, Eagles said - background, political experience, demographics and the urban-rural split. She has a good working relationship with all of the cabinet ministers, she said.
Eagles also lost her spot as party whip. That job went to Randy Weekes.
"We can't all be cabinet ministers," said Eagles. "I understand that. And I am just proud to be part of Brad's government."
Eagles was surprised with some of the cabinet decisions. Veteran MLA Yogi Huyghebaert was left out of cabinet. She was also surprised with some of the portfolio choices for the ministers.
Veteran Cannington MLA Dan D'Autremont, one of the founders of the Sask. Party, was named Minister of Government Services, Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), and Minister responsible for the Information Technology Office.
A brief fall sitting of the legislature begins December 10 with Wall handing down the throne speech. Eagles expects the speech will contain some of the Sask. Party's election promises, such as eliminating the PST on used vehicle purchases and setting fixed election dates.
The fall sitting will likely continue until December 21, Eagles said.

Environment minister to visit Souris-Moose Mountain
Federal Environment Minister John Baird will be visiting the Souris-Moose Mountain constituency on Friday, November 23.
"This is an excellent opportunity to show the Minister first hand some of the exciting opportunities that exist right here in Southeast Saskatchewan with respect to the environment, energy, natural resources, and industry," said Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki.
"It is also an opportunity to share our vision for the future. Everything from our oil and gas industry, to mining, to progressive green technology will be emphasized during the visit."
Baird will have a very busy schedule during meetings with stakeholders and interested parties, Komarnicki said.
Watch next week's edition of Lifestyles for more on Baird's visit.

Chamber reminds people to shop locally
The Estevan Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to shop locally instead of going to the U.S., and to remember the importance of small business in the community.
The loonie attained parity with the American greenback in September, and reached a record high of US $1.10 in early November. Many Estevan residents have flocked to Minot, N.D., for cross-border shopping excursions.
Chamber president Lynn Chipley said local business should be rewarded for their investment in Estevan.
"They've made not only a financial investment in terms of setting up shop in some manner, they've made a family investment," said Chipley. "They have decided to raise their families here, and invest in the community."
The local shopping message is even more important at this time of year, Chipley said, because people are purchasing Christmas gifts.
Chipley said the Chamber is trying to encourage people to shop locally through media interviews and special events like the Kick-off to Christmas November 30.
Specialized retailers are having a good year, she said. But other merchants are concerned.
Frank's on Fourth owner Joyce Wallin said a lot of people have told her that they can buy clothing at a lower price in Minot. Wallin purchased her current products six months ago, before the dollar reached parity. If she lowers her prices, profit margins will drop. She has held extra sales to entice customers.
Some of the products she ordered for next year have lower prices, she said.
"Within the last couple weeks, I've met with reps for my spring orders, and I've seen prices drop. Not substantially, only six to eight per cent, so that doesn't come close. I've noticed in a couple other companies that prices are reflective of how the dollar was before."
Fashion Sense owner Tammi Kittelson said sales are down. She said sales can dip in November, prior to the Christmas shopping rush, especially if there isn't any snow on the ground. But even Saturday's have been quiet, which might be due to people leaving town to go to Minot.
Small businesses have a big impact in the community, she said.
"Every fundraiser you go to, the local small businesses are there with their donations as door prizes," said Kittelson. "Everywhere you go, that's where all the money comes from. A lot of people in attendance are small business owners as well. Small business is a big deal."
Chipley questions what kind of service customers will receive if a television, computer or home appliance that they purchased in the U.S. breaks down.
"Are you going to get that same service from someone outside of here?" she said. "You might get the service, but not quite as quick."
The loonie ended trading November 21 at 101.25 cents US.

Relay committee sets dates, goals
Preparations are already well underway for the Canadian Cancer Society's 2008 Relay for Life in Estevan.
Most of the committee heads have already been established. Pat Steinke is back for a second year as co-chair of the relay. Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) student Brady Johnson is the other co-chair. Johnson was involved with the Relay for Life in 2007.
"Her (Steinke's) enthusiasm just made me want to be involved more, and I really wanted to get involved more … and get more youth involved," said Johnson.
Two-time cancer survivor Melodye Pierson has been named this year's honourary chair. Steinke said Pierson will be the face of this year's Relay.
The Relay will start on Saturday, June 14, and end on Sunday, June 15. Their goal is to raise $123,000, and to have 75 teams. Four teams have already signed up. Last year's Relay saw 51 teams entered, and more than $172,000 raised through pledges, luminary sales and sponsorships.
Steinke and Johnson said ECS is buzzing with excitement and students want to be involved.
Many of last year's committee heads are back, and Steinke said they have lots of ideas. Advertising and entertainment committee chairs are still needed.
They have several young people chairing committees.
"We're all on board for the same reason: we want to get rid of this disease," Steinke said. "The youth is bringing us the energy, the excitement and the enthusiasm. Brady is a definite sign of that.
"When Brady and I first met, she had dozens of ideas, and I just can't wait until we can implement them. Her voice is one that you're going to hear lots of in the next few months, and I know she'll just be a positive, positive part of our Relay.
Steinke attended the American Relay for Life Conference in Dallas in August. She and three other committee members from Estevan were at the Western Canada Relay for Life leadership summit earlier this year, too.
Steinke and Stacy Dutka facilitated a class on youth leadership in the Relay. She said Estevan is the only Relay in Western Canada to have youth chairing committees.

Hamper association preparing for Christmas
The Estevan Community Hamper Association is seeking hamper recipients for this year.
Barbara Dodd, the new president for the hamper association, said that people can request a hamper or they can be referred by a friend. No hamper requests have been filed, she said. The deadline to apply for a hamper is December 7.
Hampers will be filled December 21 and 22, and then they will be delivered.
Dodd said they receive a lot of support from service groups and churches. Many will fill several hampers. Individuals can also contribute hampers.
"The need is there," said Dodd. "I know from personal experience that there is a need."
Dodd has been involved with the Community Hamper Association for three years. This is her first year as president. Kevin Smith had been the president for the past three years. Dodd was a hamper recipient in the past.
"This is my way of giving back to the community," said Dodd.
She expects the hamper association will fill about 200 hampers. Each hamper contains a variety of food products: a turkey or a chicken, plus macaroni, soups, candies, eggs, bread, milk, dried goods and other items.
The Community Hamper Association also runs the Angel Tree project. The Angel Tree will run from November 26 to December 8 at the Estevan Wal-Mart. Supporters will pluck an angel from the tree: a pink angel for girls or a blue angel for boys. Each angel will have an age inscribed.
Toys are to be returned to the Angel Tree booth at Wal-Mart. Monetary donations, which will be used to purchase toys, are also accepted.
The basement of St. Giles' Anglican Church will be converted to a toy store December 19 and 20. Hamper recipients with children can drop by St. Giles' and pick up a toy to round out the hamper.
"We don't want to mess with a system that seems to have worked for a number of years," said Dodd.

Quota craft carnival
Estevan and area residents tackled their Christmas shopping, and purchased a variety of goods and merchandise, during the Quota Club of Estevan's 24th annual craft carnival November 17 at the Wylie-Mitchell Building.
Shoppers had more than 40 different booths to choose from. Products available included artwork, jewelry, baking, cooking, specialty drinks, woodwork, sewing, and Christmas decorations and ornaments.
Proceeds will be directed to Quota projects such as the Violence Intervention Program, the Estevan Family Resource Centre, the Estevan and District Music Festival, Christmas hampers, Estevan's public and separate schools, a Southeast Regional College scholarship, hearing and speech projects, and other community initiatives.

Reception for latest exhibit
The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum hosted a reception November 17 for their latest exhibit in the community gallery - a printmaking exhibit by Regina artists Jason Thiry and Nicole Brabant.
"Works on Wall/paper" features several entries from each artist. Thiry and Brabant want to expand the public's views of art making and traditional medium through the exhibit. Thiry's wallpaper works are of building windows.
Brabant uses paper to look at issues of identity and race. She uses two quotes from golf icon Tiger Woods, who has several different racial backgrounds. She also has several pictures of her own family in her exhibit.
Thiry and Brabant studied printmaking with EAGM curator Cheryl Andrist.
Brian Ring's "Here and Then" is on display in the main gallery, and it will continue to be on display until the end of the year. "Here and Then" has large-scale reproductions of digital photos of details and newspaper reproductions of original photographs.

Employers learn about immigrant workers
Estevan employers learned how they can attract foreign workers to address the city's current labour shortage during a meeting November 15 at the Days Inn.
"There are a number of foreign workers being recruited in this area, and we're seeing the number of applications rise considerably," said Debbie Walliser from Service Canada.
"As well there's an awful lot of questions coming from employers in terms of how do I do this, how do I tap into the pool of skilled immigrant workers. Because Estevan has such a strong economy right now, we need to not only access the Canadians who are qualified for the jobs, but because those pools are now being depleted, look outside the country."
Walliser said the session went well. About 50 people were in attendance. Walliser said a lot of good questions were asked during the question and answer period.
"Speaking with employers at the break, it was something that they needed, and they were really looking forward to hearing the information that was presented," said Walliser.
Walliser expects the demand for foreign workers in the southeast to continue as long as the economy remains strong and the unemployment rate remains low.
Three partners participated in the session: Service Canada, Citizenship and Immigration and the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program.

Inspirations by Colour grand opening
(L-R) Hunter Douglas sales representative David Hahn, Para Paints sales representative Al Puscas, Mayor Gary St. Onge, Inspirations by Colour owners Crystal and Paul Quilliams, staff members Bev Nieviadomy, Tressa Whitman and Mary Elford, and Estevan Chamber of Commerce President Lynn Chipley participated in the ribbon cutting for Inspirations by Colour November 21. Inspirations by Colour (previously Heart 'n Home Décor) opened in mid-October. They offer interior decorating, custom framing, custom blinds, paint and window treatments.

Walking for addictions awareness
The Addictions Services department at St. Joseph's Hospital hosted several activities in Estevan for Saskatchewan Addictions Awareness Week November 19 to 23. "Reality Check" was the theme of this year's awareness week.
A Lights of Love Walk was held on the 20th. Several dozen people, many of them carrying flashlights, gathered to remember those who have passed away due to addictions.
They braved the cool, windy conditions and walked several blocks in downtown Estevan. St. Giles' Anglican Church was the start-finish point.
Pat Ottesen from Addiction Services has worked in the department for over 13 years. She said addictions affect many people, and she is proud to be part of the fight against addictions.
Other activities during the week included a drug-free public skate with the Estevan Bruins November 19, and a come and go tea at the hospital November 22. Police will conduct a check-stop November 23.

Storyteller visits Estevan
Author, storyteller and entertainer Dan Bar-el was in southeast Saskatchewan November 21.
Bar-el shared his thoughts on storytelling and pre-school children during a visit to the Estevan Public Library. Storytelling is an elemental part of a pre-schoolers' life, he said. Just a voice and gestures can be enough.
Play-based education is also important for children to learn, he said. Stories can be a central part of play.
Bar-el also spoke to students at Sacred Heart School in Estevan and Bienfait Weldon School. His visit was part of Canadian Children's Book Week.

Salvation Army sets goals
The Estevan Salvation Army has set a goal of $41,000 for their annual Christmas campaign.
Included in that total is $20,000 through mail-outs, $11,000 through kettles and $10,000 through other donations.
"It all comes back to helping the people in the community," said Estevan Salvation Army Captain Heather Fudge. "You're helping your next door neighbour; the person across the street. It all stays in the area, and it helps people locally."
Fudge just arrived from Nova Scotia. Planning for the Christmas campaign has occupied much of her time since she came to Estevan. She said she has spent some time each day getting organized.
A kick-off for the kettle campaign is Saturday, December 1 at the Estevan Shoppers Mall, starting at 2 p.m. For the first time, the Salvation Army will have three kettles: one at the mall, one at Southern Plains Co-op, and one at the Estevan Wal-Mart. Usually they have had kettles at the mall and the co-op.
"We decided we'd try one," said Fudge. "We'll give it a try for this year, and then we'll see if we do it again next year or not."
Much of the money raised will go to filling Christmas hampers. Fudge said the Estevan Salvation Army handed out about 150 hampers last year for Christmas. Money will also be directed to Family Services to help keep it running throughout the year.

Cornerstone board holds meeting
Audrey Trombley was re-elected as the chair of the Southeast Cornerstone School Board during their organizational meeting November 15.
Trombley, who lives in Griffin, has been the board's chair since the board was created in June 2005. Carol Flynn, the representative for Subdivision 1 (Rocanville, Moosomin, and Wapella) was named the vice-chair.
Garry Hammett, Pam Currie, Janet Foord, Bryan Wilson and Len Williams - along with two members from the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division - will sit on a board that governs comprehensive schools in Estevan and Weyburn.
The board also held their regular monthly meeting on the 15th. A collective agreement was ratified with the Service Employees' International Union, Local 299, that started January 1 and ends December 31, 2008. A collective agreement between the board and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Locals 3951, 4377, and 4765 was ratified for the period of January 1, 2006 to August 31, 2008.

A high school musical in Estevan
Students from the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) will perform a recent Disney hit in their upcoming musical.
"High School Musical" will be performed at 7 p.m. on December 7 and 8, and at 2 p.m. on the 9th. There will also be performances for elementary school students.
"I think the younger teenage girls will want to be there," said ECS vice-principal Alison Holzer. "All the elementary kids will probably see it, and we're hoping they'll tell their parents to come out."
Rehearsals are progressing well. They rehearsed with the band, dancers and singers together for the first time November 16 to 18.
This will be the first year with assigned seating for the musical. Each performance will accommodate 650 people. Holzer said they want to sell out each performance. More than 350 tickets were sold on the first day they were available.

Lampman School to perform "Annie"
Lampman School Drama will perform the Tony Award-winning family musical "Annie" on Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a matinee on December 9 at 2 p.m. All performances are at Lampman School.
Annie is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan.
Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil shenanigans, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt, and finds a new family and home with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a dog named Sandy.

U.S. border open to older cattle
Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz is applauding the implementation of Rule 2 and the opening of the U.S. border to Canadian cattle at least 30 months of age.
"The American market is now open to the vast majority of our beef exports," Ritz said. "This government and our industry partners have worked closely with the American industry and with the USDA to achieve this goal. It's great to see our work pay off with the USDA final rule normalizing trade for all cattle born after March 1, 1999."
The border officially opened to older cattle November 19. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) submitted Rule 2 for review on November 24, 2006. It was then moved on December 29, 2006 to be published in the Federal Register for a public comment period that began on January 9 and ended on March 12.
The USDA then reviewed the approximately 400 comments and submitted it for final approval on August 2.
"This government continues to stand up for Canadian livestock," Ritz said. "Today's news proves we can work together to get things done for industry on both sides of the border.
"We appreciate the strong support of the USDA and the U.S. beef industry as we defend the safety and quality of our integrated industry. Scientific, rule-based trade is the key to our respectful working relationship and the World Organization for Animal Health has recognized that the U.S. and Canada have both achieved the same high level of BSE control."

Columnists

A Good Funeral As I write this article, it is Monday morning and I am getting ready to go to a funeral. As I think about the day ahead, I am not anticipating a sad day. There will be sadness in it, some tears will be shed for sure, but this will be a day of celebration.
For as long as I have known them, and for many years before that, George and his wife Doris have been faithful followers of Christ. Their faith was not just something that they talked about or something that they had in name only. Rather, it was something that influenced how they lived, what they valued and how they saw their entire lives.
George was not a very vocal man, but he was influential. His home was always open to anyone who needed a meal or a place to stay. In fact, that is how I first met them. When I was an intern, preaching in the town of Wawota, I stayed with George and Doris. When our Bible camp needed a place to go for a hayride, George and Doris were the first to volunteer their farm. Generous, kind and faithful are words that come to my mind today as I remember him.
George's children were with him during his final few days, but even that time was marked with joy and hope. They believe that there is more to this life than what we see. This life only lasts a short time. It is "like a mist" (James 4:14), but we are not living for this life. We believe that there is more to come and another home beyond this one.
I am reminded today that I want to live my life with God's priorities guiding me, so that when my time comes, people can celebrate my life with joy and hope as well.
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

LEARNING NEW WAYS
By Linda Wegner It's been the combination of reading, listening and a social event that have formed this week's article. As for the reading part, I'm currently working my way through a meaty book on the effects of an ever-changing culture on the church, locally and globally. If I am to properly digest its contents, I'll need at least one or two more reviews of the material.
As for the social event, we had a great opportunity to visit with two lovely young people this evening. Pia and Agripine are in our city, courtesy of a program that allows young people from Canada and another country (in this case, Namibia, Africa) to spend a total of six months learning about the way each other lives. They and sixteen others have been in our community for nearly three months; in a few days they board a plane for Namibia where they will spend another three months in that nation. Wherever they go, these young people perform community service while partaking in a crash course in cultural identities. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I admit to being most pleased when our new African friend had two servings of my homemade soup.
I've been doing a lot of listening and thinking, as well. Our world is shrinking in direct proportion to the speed at which communications are speeding up. The mysteries of my childhood (i.e. "I wonder what it's like in such and such a country") are not nearly so mysterious anymore. What with Internet, digital photography, hand held electronic devices and economy flights to just about anywhere in the world, it's hard to plead ignorance as a valid reason for not learning new ways.
In all my learning and appreciating new ways, however, I rejoice in knowing that God's sacrificial love for us never changes, wherever we are.

GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann
HOUSEPLANT HELPS (Part 1)
With all the outdoor gardening at a standstill, I thought I could give you some interesting tips on plants indoors. Plants sometimes get infested with pests that must be kept under control for a healthy survival of the plant. I am not much of an expert on indoor plants and I do not have the time and space enough to get deeply involved on this subject, however I have some very interesting notes I have kept on the subject. Just remember, not all houseplants need the same care so the following are generalities pertaining to most plants.
SOIL: Sooner or later your plant will have to be shifted to a larger pot. You cannot go from a small pot to a very large pot. This does not work. The potting must go in stages by increasing the pot size gradually. The soil is very important as this will usually dictate the condition of the plant. All plants need different types of soil structure but I have come up with a 'general type' potting mixture. This should be 1 part loam (soil), 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite or vermiculite. The peat moss must be moistened prior to using. This mixture will do well for most plants. Ferns, azaleas and camellias, plus plants that need a more acid soil require more peat moss to do well.
INSECTS: Some of the insects are so small that they are not visible to the naked eye however the plant will show a weak condition. Many people are trying to stay clear of chemicals by using home-made environmentally safe insecticides.
One solution you can make is a soap solution. Use two tablespoons of soap in 2 cups of lukewarm water. DO NOT USE detergents or dishwater soap -they may harm the plants. Use pure soap flakes or use granulated bar soap with a minimum of additives and perfumes. This solution will kill aphids, whitefly, mites and mealy bugs plus soft brown scale on houseplants. Pour into a small hand-sprayer and spray both sides of the leaves as well as the stems. Spray twice a week until problem is corrected. I personally do not like to use aerosol sprays as they can 'freeze' or gas the plant. Very damaging. After using the soap solution, leave for 1 hour; spray again with luke-warm water to wash off soap and dead insects.
Next week I will try to attempt to discuss the watering of houseplants plus fertilizing See you next week:
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Bruins beat Melville
The Estevan Bruins scored four power play goals to beat the Melville Millionaires 4-3 in Melville November 21.
Payden Benning and Riley Tetrault scored 30 seconds apart in the second period. Niko Grose scored late in the second to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead, and Kealin Wong scored the winning goal early in the third.
Goaltender David Ritz made 43 saves for the win.
Estevan lost their two previous games, both against the Weyburn Red Wings: 3-2 on home ice November 16, and 3-0 the following night in Weyburn.
The Bruins record is 13-12-2. They have 28 points, which puts them in fifth spot in the Sherwood Conference.
Up next for the Bruins is a quick two-game northeast road trip. The Bruins visit the Nipawin Hawks November 23 and the Melfort Mustangs on the 24th. Nipawin will visit the Civic Auditorium November 28.
In off ice news, the Bruins traded defenceman Morgan Bell to Manitoba's Winkler Flyers for future considerations. Bell had five assists in 26 games.
The Bruins also acquired defenceman Dmitri Levin from the Lindsay Muskies in Ontario for future considerations. The Russian-born Levin played a handful of games with the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals the last two seasons.

Weyburn wins peewee tournament
The Weyburn Kinsmen defeated Estevan Sanjel 5-1 in the tournament final to win the Estevan Minor Hockey Association's peewee tournament November 16 to 18. Five teams entered the tournament - two from Weyburn, two from Estevan and one from Moose Jaw. Teams played four games each in a round-robin, and the Kinsmen and Sanjel advanced to the final. Sanjel went 3-2 in the tournament. Estevan Wal-Mart was 1-4.

Estevan hosts junior qualifier
Nineteen teams were at the Estevan Curling Club November 16 to 18 for a Saskatchewan Curling Association junior qualifying bonspiel.
Two junior boys' teams and two junior girls' teams advanced to the southern playdowns, to be held in Davidson and Maple Creek, respectively. Most teams were from Regina, Moose Jaw and the southeast.
There were 14 boys' teams in Estevan. Kody Hartung from Langenberg and Johnny Read from the Bushell Park Curling Club in Moose Jaw advanced to Southerns.
Trish Paulsen of Regina's Tartan club and Alexandra Williamson of Regina's Callie club were the successful entries in the five-team girls' draw.
Jana Anseth skipped a local squad that also included Stephanie Gress, Natasha Seymour and Megan Greenwald. Chelsey Peterson, also of Estevan, was the second on Melissa Hoffman's team.

Elecs win once at provincials
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs boys' volleyball team won one of four games at the provincial championship November 16 and 17 in Yorkton.
Estevan opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss (25-23, 25-16) to Prince Albert St. Mary's. The Elecs rebounded to pick up their only win of the tournament, 2-0 (25-20, 25-16) over Saskatoon Mahoney.
But two straight losses eliminated Estevan from the tournament: 2-0 (29-27, 25-17) to Regina Campbell and 2-0 (25-13, 26-24) to the eventual provincial champions, Meadow Lake.
Estevan's 1-3 record put them fourth in their pool in the round robin. The top three teams from each pool advanced to the quarter-finals.

Mustangs enjoy unbeaten start
The Midale Mustangs are off to a 4-0 start, and they have the best record in the Big Six Hockey League.
Midale's most recent wins were on home ice: 6-2 over the Carlyle Cougars November 16 and 7-2 over the Pierson Bruins the following night. The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 32-6 in their first four games.
Midale already has a five-point lead in the West Division. The Arcola-Kisbey Combines are second at 1-2-1, thanks to a 13-2 victory over the White Bear RedHawks November 17 and a 4-4 tie with the Bienfait Coalers November 21. The Cougars are third with a 1-1 record.
The fourth place Wawota Flyers are 0-3. Their most recent loss was 7-1 to Bienfait. White Bear is last at 0-3.
The Oxbow Huskies opened the season with a pair of wins: 4-1 over the Arcola-Kisbey Combines and 4-1 over the Redvers Rockets. The Huskies are tied with the Carnduff Red Devils and the Bienfait Coalers for first in the East Division. Carnduff is 2-0, and they beat White Bear 13-0 in their most recent outing.
Bienfait has four points, thanks to a win, a tie and an overtime loss. Their only win came against Wawota. The Rockets are fourth at 1-1.
The loss to Midale was Pierson's first game in the Big Six Hockey League.

From the Sidelines
Riders off to
the Grey Cup
By Kyle Kapiczowski
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are off to the 95th Grey Cup after they beat the B.C Lions 26-17 in the Western Final. The Rider attack was led by quarterback Kerry Joseph, receiver Andy Fantuz, kicker Luca Congi and fullback Neal Hughes. On defense, Reggie Hunt, Fred Perry, John Chick and Eddy Davis shut down the B.C. Lions' attack. The Riders will now face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after Winnipeg beat Toronto in the Eastern Final. I hope the Riders bring the Cup home to Regina.
In the NFL, the New England Patriots continued to roll as they beat the Buffalo Bills 56-10. The Patriots are four wins away from tying the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Pats record is 10-0 and their next game is against Baltimore.
Other scores from Week 11 were: Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 31-7, Minnesota got past Oakland 29-22, St. Louis beat San Francisco 13-9 and Dallas got past Washington 28-23.
In NCAA Division I football, the No. 12 Florida Gators hammered Florida Atlantic 59-20. The Gators record is 8-3 overall and 5-3 in conference play. Florida's next game is against Florida State.
Other scores were: Miami Ohio got past Akron 7-0, Utah beat New Mexico 28-10, No. 10 Virginia Tech beat Miami Hurricanes 44-14, No. 13 Hawaii got past Nevada 28-26 and No. 7 Ohio State beat No. 23 Michigan 14-3.
In NCAA Division IAA football, the No. 5 North Dakota State Bison lost 29-24 to South Dakota State. North Dakota State's final record is 10-1 overall and 3-1 in divisional play.
In NCAA Division II football, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux wasted Winona State 44-2. The Sioux's record is 10-1. North Dakota's next game is against Grand Valley State in the second round of the playoffs. The Fighting Sioux's head coach, Dale Lennon, got his 90th win. He is tied with North Central Conference commissioner Rodger Thomas as the winingest coach in Sioux football history.
That's all, folks!

Viewpoints

Editorial:
Tea Time
What if Tomorrow Never Came?
By Dani Stobbs
What if tomorrow never came? What if today was the last day you had to leave your mark on the world? You have your past behind you and that you cannot change that. It's all down to just this day. You live in Estevan, and you have lived in Estevan for ten years or more? What would you do?
I got to thinking this. I try not to bypass the thought (morbid it sounds I know, but I don't mean it to be) that I might not be here tomorrow. I sat talking with a friend and discussing how old I would be when her son is 18. I figured that I would be around 42. In 18 years time that's less time that I've been alive for.
It made me start to think about the things that I hadn't done in my already 22 year old life. Now I know the first part was being a baby, then I did the whole school thing, and then the whole party scene quench my searching soul for around six years. Now I have realised that my searching soul was not fully quench by alcohol, or by the many magnificent trips I have taken to foreign countries, or from the boys I have dated, or from the gossip sessions with my friends.
They are all disposable. Some hold great memories and that is all well and good, but if today was my last day, I would be wishing that I had of filled some of those days with something everlasting.
So how would I fill my last day? Would I write letters to the people that I love, telling them all the great things that I have loved and appreciated about them? Would I write letters to those people I have offended over the years or fallen out with, so I can mend bridges before I leave this earth? Would I run naked through the city of Estevan, just because it would be funny?
I'm not asking thee questions so that I can answer them. I know many of my articles are perhaps opinion based, on the things I believe, or the things I think.
But this week I wanted to leave you thinking about these questions.
One day will be our last, and what will be the mark that we have left? Will the only mark that we have left be the butt mark on the couch. Or will it be by the mess we have left our bedrooms? Will people realise you are gone because there is an empty stool at the bar?
What if tomorrow never came? What would you leave behind?

What's Happening

Scrapbook basics
The Estevan Arts Council hosted a scrapbook basics course for children November 17. Instructor Melanie Hiske took the youth through some scrapbook techniques to help them collect, preserve and accentuate their photographs and other items.

Christmas is coming
Estevan residents have received another surefire sign that Christmas is coming. Christmas decorations have been placed on street lights around the city. Larry Doan installed a decoration with two stars and lights on King Street November 16.

Donation for new arena
RBC Royal Bank representatives Leo the Lion, Angie Stelnicki, Dawn Johnson, Paulette Denouden and Janet Gabriel presented a $25,000 cheque to Mayor Gary St. Onge of Estevan's new arena committee November 16. The funds will be directed to the naming rights campaign for Estevan's new arena. The RBC Royal Bank hasn't decided what they will purchase with their naming rights. The donation pushed the naming rights campaign over the $3.7 million mark.

Mall craft show
The Estevan Shoppers Mall's annual Christmas craft show started November 22, and it will continue through November 24. Customers had a wide variety of products to purchase, ranging from gifts to Christmas baking and goodies.