In This Issue: ● Feature article discussing

most interesting Christmas stories from locals

● Debate Section Discussing Christmas Commercialism

● Local News and Events● Feature Interview with

Millie Snow, representative from the Lacombe Foodbank

● Quick and Easy Christmas Baking and Snack Recipes

● Local and Online Charity Information

● Flashback: The Ghost of Christmas Past

● Crossword, Trivia, and Word Search

● Local Sports and National Sports

Citizen's Crazy Christmas ChroniclesBy Zoë Lorenz-BoserBentley Coffee News“So we just finished putting up the Christmas tree with all of the decorations. The little boy was all excited when we put him down to bed. About an hour later, his mom sees him come up the stairs and she thinks, oh he’s just looking at the Christmas tree because all of the lights are on. Then she walked up the stairs and she realized that he was just about to pee on the Christmas tree!” -Jason Hazlett

“My daughters, who were still pretty young but still believed in Santa Claus, were starting to have doubt, so I decided what I really needed to do to help them believe involved me getting a grater. I grated the carrots, so when the girls got up in the morning, I could show them the proof that the reindeer ate the carrots. I showed them the grated carrots and said, ‘Look you can see the teeth marks!’ And it worked!” -Scott Lewis

“My uncles and my dad were outside cooking the turkey and being idiots. The turkey blew up and went on our roof, there was a fire all over our lawn. My one uncle got stuck in a ring of fire and burnt his toe off. The fire trucks came, the ambulances came, and the police came!” -Chloe Doll

“So, about two years ago, my brother decided to get this joke gift for my mom. So we put it in a little tiny box and wrapped it with every type of tape you could think of. When we gave it to my mom, it took her four hours to open. It was a little coupon that gave her one night to go to the casino. It expired the next day, so she went to the casino the next day and won ten grand!” -Tanner Hogenson

“My dad and a few of his friends got in the truck to go to town after a day outside of Christmas decorating. They were driving on the highway and one of my dad’s friends says to him, ‘You’ve got to get your truck fixed, the old thing is rattling so much.’ My dad replied, ‘yea the transmission does this at times. She’s getting old.’ Little did they know, they had a long

Trivia1. How many total gifts were given during

the 12 days of Christmas?a. 78 b. 364 c. 12

2. What is Frosty’s nose made out of?3. How many ‘la’s are after the ‘fa’s in

“Deck the Halls”?4. What instrument was “Silent Night”

written for?5. Who traversed afar over “field and

fountain, moor and mountain”?

Across1. A famous talking snowman3. ______ fairy; a dance in “The Nutcracker”6. Cupid, Blitzen, Prancer10. A magical creature also know as a sprite

Down2. Thin strips of sparkly material attached to thread4. Used to decorate a tree5. First day of Christmas7. Crystallized water vapour8. Formed by dripping water freezing9. A winter figure

Pair of Major Trades by White Sox Highlight Winter Meetings As the MLB’s Winter meetings have drawn to a close, the 5 day event produced many high profile acquisitions. The Chicago White Sox, who have been stuck in limbo the past few years, as they were too good to finish last, but not good enough to win the division, made the decision to rebuild, as they traded away their 2 best players, Ace Chris Sale, and right fielder Adam Eaton. Sale just completed another dominant year, as he won 17 games and finished with a 3.34 ERA, was traded to the Boston Red Sox, in exchange for the No.1 prospect in baseball, Yoan Moncada, as while as 3 other high ranking prospects, Michael Kopech, Victor Diaz, and Luis Alexander Basabe. One day later, Eaton was traded to the Washington Nationals, in exchange for a trio of young pitchers, including the No.3 prospect in baseball, Lucas Giolito, along with Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning. Other major transactions include the record for total money giving to a closer was broken not once but twice, as Mark Melancon signed a 4 year 62 million dollar contract with the San Francisco Giants, breaking Jonathan Papelbon's record. The ink was barely dry on that contract, when Aroldis Chapman signed a 5 year 85 million dollar deal to rejoin the New York Yankees after winning the World Series with the Chicago Cubs. As well, former Blue Jay Brett Cecil signed a 4 year 30 million dollar contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, and Josh Reddick and Carlos Beltran joined the Houston Astros. Page 1

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Editor’s note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity

string of Christmas lights stuck on the bottom of the car going down highway twelve. A guy in a car behind them decided to drive up on the Christmas lights as a joke. This resulted in the Christmas lights being catapulted up and over the truck onto my dad’s windshield. They almost went into the ditch out of fright. I swear it was exactly like a scene out of some Christmas movie.” -Jason Hazlett

“At the time, my sister was five or six, me and a few of my cousins had her sitting in a playroom under the stairs of my grandparents house. With us liking to pick on my little sister, I went upstairs and started talking to her through the vents. I told her that I was Santa and she needed to pick up her act because Santa is watching and it’s not looking like she’ll be on the nice list. That was about two days before Christmas, and from then on she didn’t make any trouble until she opened her presents on Christmas morning. To this day she still believes Santa talked to her that night.” -Zoë Lorenz-Boser

Bentley Coffee News

International SportsBy Kyle Gerrits

Bentley Coffee News

Flames Continue to Climb Standings Although they lost their last game to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, the Calgary Flames are in hot pursuit of the San Jose Sharks and their position

as first place in the pacific division. With a record of 7-2-1 over their past ten games, they have been among the hottest teams in the league, along with the Philadelphia Flyers, who have won 10 straight, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, owners of an 8-1-1 record over their past 10 games. The Flames have been lead by the superb play of goaltender Chad Johnson, who sports a 13-5-1 record with a .928 save percentage, and star forward Johnny Gaudreau, who has 20 points in 22 games.

Citizens 2 CentsBy Zoë Lorenz-BoserBentley Coffee News

Various people around Bentley were asked the question, has Christmas become too commercialized?

“I think that the gift giving has taken over the feeling of Christmas, which is just spending time with family. [Christmas is for] Appreciating the people that are in your life and maybe enriching the people you don’t know, that have less. They’ve made it way too commercialized, it’s all about the bigger and better gifts, it’s just crazy. I still think Christmas should be about the premise of giving-and not giving more than what you have. It’s gotten to the point where people are going into debt for Christmas, and that’s never what it’s been about. The less fortunate, buying for food banks [is what it should be about].”-Nadine Schaerer

“I hardly ever go shopping, I give everyone money because I don’t know what everyone wants and the trends. The other thing is, Christmas shopping has become very much an online thing. In my business, parcels come in volumes, people are shopping Black Friday on the internet. If I do shopping, it’s probably online. I attribute myself shopping online to being a little impatient with the people and the line ups. I used to spend three to four hours walking through the mall, and I don’t have the patience or the time. You can certainly talk about time being a factor for a lot of people, everything is so much at your fingertips online. Everything is pretty much commercialized, they’re trying to fill every little niche in the market to make the extra bucks, and they have to, because rent at the moment is so expensive.”-Joan Swartz

“Yes it has, I’d say parents [feel pressured to buy things for their children]. I don’t think even the grandparents feel pressure, it’s more my generation that is feeling they need to [buy things]. Personally, no [I don’t think if I don’t buy my children presents they will think less of me]. A lot of my friends, I know that they stress about wanting to get “the gift”, and for some, replacing the time and relationship with a gift. A lot of it is separated families, they feel they can contribute that way, which they can, there is so many different facets to this issue.” -Tammy Izquierdo

“Yes, I believe Christmas has become too commercialized. One reason is, the stores putting Christmas items out too early, sometimes prior to Halloween for example. But, I also feel that it’s up to individuals to decide whether they participate in the commercialization, and that’s everyone’s choice. They don’t have to buy into everything that’s advertised, they don’t have to buy into spending more money than they should, and that sort of thing. Yes, it’s commercialized, but it’s up to the individual to participate in it. I don’t think people are pressured by society, but I guess it depends on the family. The pressure is there from children because of the commercials that start in October, the children are all ‘I want this, I want that,’ but it’s up to the family to decide whether or not to address that.”-Sherry Haarstad

“ I definitely think that Christmas is too commercial; maybe when my kids were younger I felt pressure that they sit on Santa’s knee and that stuff, but as they’ve gotten older [as parents] we would rather share experiences than gifts, and so we say let’s do something, let’s travel, let’s give experiences rather than material things.”-Travis Wessner

Featured RecipesBy Kelsey Vig and Austin Siebold

Bentley Coffee News

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients● 1 ½ cups butter, softened● 2 cups white sugar● 4 eggs● 1 tsp vanilla● 5 cups flour● 2 tsp baking powder● 1 tsp salt

InstructionsIn a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat again. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover dough and chill for at least one hour. Preheat oven to 400o. Roll dough onto floured surface ¼ to ½ inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Bake 6-8 minutes.

Makes about 60

Christmas Candy Crunch

Ingredients:

● 4 cups Chex cereal, rice or corn is best● 2 cups Pretzels, mini twists are best● 1/2 cup Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups, more if you

like● 1 cup M&M's candy● 1 cup White chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Line a cookie sheet with foil or wax paper2. Combine all ingredients except white chips in a large

bowl and toss3. Place chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat about

30-40 seconds, stir until smooth. Continue heating in 10 second intervals and stir, until completely melted

4. Pour melted chips over mixture and stir well until coated5. Spread mixture onto cookie sheet and let set about 10

minutes6. Break in pieces

Notes:

The extra ingredients added are very versatile, add as many or as little as you like. The more you add, you may need to increase the amount of melted chocolate to hold it together though.

Local Sports HighlightKyle GerritsBentley Coffee News

Basketball season has kicked off in Bentley! Four teams that represent our community started their Wolfcreek schedule two weeks ago. The two senior teams played the senior squads from archrival, Eckville. The girls battled hard, but lost a tough game to the Aces, while the boys played exceptionally, coasting to an easy victory. Meanwhile, the junior teams traveled to Rimbey to face the Spartans. The girls had a tough game against the strong Rimbey team and lost their match. After that game, the boys played the Rimbey boys team. The boys had a terrific game plan, as they attacked the Rimbey team constantly, which lead them to their first victory of the year.

Meanwhile, the Lacombe Generals are off to a strong start, sporting an 11-1 record, with their lone loss coming at the hands of their archrival Stony Plain Eagles. They have been paced by a dominant offence, as they have 5 players averaging over a point per game, including league points leader Myles Bell, who is a former 6th round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils. Page 2

Making a Charitable Donation this Season?By Austin SieboldBentley Coffee News

Many charities face an increase in need during the Christmas season and even a small donation could provide much needed help. A donation on behalf of someone else can also make an excellent gift, especially for individuals who are difficult to buy for. Here are a few organizations that would benefit from your help.

Canada Helpswww.canadahelps.org is a website that allows you to browse hundreds of registered charities with a wide variety of services dedicated to helping out here at home and around the world. Donate directly or give a Charity Gift Card to a loved one so they can donate to a charity of their choosing. You can set a design, amount, personal message, and delivery date via mail or email.

Central Alberta Women’s Emergency ShelterC.A.W.E.S. is a shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence to find counseling, food, and a place to live until they are able to get back on their feet.Donate cheque or cash to:Box 561Red Deer, AB T4N 5G1Phone 403 346-5643 or go online to www.cawes.comThey also appreciate clothing, toiletries, fresh and frozen foods, canned goods, and towels.

Lacombe Food BankThe Lacombe Food Bank provides food to individuals and families who couldn’t otherwise afford it. Donations of money, food, and nonfood items such as diapers and toiletries would be appreciated.5225 53 Street, Lacombe AB, T4L 1H8Phone 403 782-6777 or go online to www.albertafoodbanks.org/lacombe-community-food-bankOpen Tuesday/Wednesday 1pm-4pm, Thursday 6pm-8pm, Friday 1pm-3pm

Ponoka Food BankThe Ponoka Food Bank provides food to individuals and families who couldn’t otherwise afford it. Donations of money, food, and nonfood items such as diapers and toiletries would be appreciated.Bay 6B 4612 50th Street, Ponoka AB, T4J 1S7Phone 403 783-5910 or go online to http://www.albertafoodbanks.org/ponoka-food-bank-associationOpen Tuesday/Friday 10am-1pm

Red Deer SPCAThe Red Deer SPCA provides homeless animals with shelter, food, water, and medical care. 4505 77 Street, Red Deer AB, T4P 2J1Phone 403 342-7722 or go online to www.reddeerspca.com They appreciate monetary donations as well as new and gently used animal products and cleaning supplies.

Safe Harbour SocietyThe Safe Harbour Society is a homeless shelter in Red Deer for those with nowhere else to go. It provides individuals with a safe place to overcome addiction and get back on their feet, as well as to receive counseling and support.5246 53 Ave, Red Deer AB, T4N 5K2Phone 403 347-0181 or go online to https://www.safeharboursociety.org

C G U I Q I W A Q A X B W U D M W G R U B L F H P E F E C H I A J I V H K Z O L E J U H R S N O W N L I H L K D F R R E T B G I F G G S W S N A B I E L H X L Y I E R D W K T G S D E U Z R E H Z R I I L Z X T N T Y K L O F T A B F U F Q M I O L S V K V B J M R N Z I A E E R L H B Z I S T V E D B S R W P G Z O B X R M O E A O A L K I F L H L E E S K V Z D Q R V I A U G E L G N I J Z U V T V B L Q P R F Y K J Q K M E R G W D R C G K R I G Z G S A B

Interview with Millie Snow, Representative from Lacombe Food BankBy Austin SieboldBentley Coffee News

Representative from Lacombe Community Food Bank, Millie Snow discusses the needs and roles of the food bank with Austin Siebold from Bentley Coffee News.

Austin Siebold: How would you describe your role at the food bank?

Millie Snow: Oh I’m just the middleman.I just take the food in and I give it out.

AS: Can you describe the process that the food goes through when it gets donated?

MS: They bring it in here and they weigh it, then we mark it down, and then when we give someone a hamper [of] food we weigh it, and then it goes out.

AS: Do you feel that your need and the amount of food that goes out increases during the Christmas season?

MS: Oh yes, we give more out but we get lots more in, too. In fact, I would say eighty percent of the food we take in comes in around Christmas time. It has to last us into the spring.

AS: What sort of items do you need the most at your center?

MS: Children’s snacks for lunches, flour, sugar, toilet paper, soap, and then always mac’n’cheese and whatever.

AS: Do you accept perishable items as well?

MS: We accept everything in here. What we don’t put in the hampers we put out and the people will help themselves if they need it. Basically everything, we take dog food, cat food, somebody brought a whole bunch of squash and carrots in today. Potatoes, we’re always looking for, that kind of thing.

AS: The amount of donations you receive around Christmas time, would you like to see that through the rest of the year and do you think that could be sustained by the community?

MS: It would be nice! It would be nice but I don’t expect it.

AS: Do you think people could, but they just don’t think about it?

MS: They could, and yes they don’t think about it. It’s not that they’re stingy the rest of the year , it’s just not the time for giving I guess. But at Christmas everybody has parties and they have programs and they collect food and they bring it in. It’s good. I can’t say we don’t get food during the year, we do get food but not like we do at Christmas.

AS: What do you think could be done to increase the amount of donations that you receive?

MS: During the year? Just make people aware that people eat all year round, I guess. I don’t know how you do that.

AS: Me neither, thank you very much for your time.

Current Events:- Christmas Farmers Market - December 17, 2016 from 10

AM to 2 PM at the AG centre. There will be a breakfast and turkey lunch available along with activities for kids.

- Christmas Concert - The 2016 Bentley School Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, December 22. The performances will be at 1:15 PM and 7:00 PM in the Bentley Elementary Gym.

- Candles and Carols of Hope - December 24, 2016 from 7 PM to 8 PM at the Community Church

- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service- December 24, 2016 at the Grace Lutheran Church. For more information, visit the Town of Bentley website under the calendar of events.

Kelsey VigBentley Coffee News

Words to Look for:SnowMistletoeReindeerHollyGingerbread TreeJingleChristmasSleighBells

Page 3

Winter Holidays ...Time to get Outside! By Jason Hazlett

Things are so different since I was a kid 40 years ago, waiting for Christmas holidays. Winter activities consisted of being outside for hours on end. Time was taken up building snow forts that had to be larger and bigger than the year prior. Digging tools consisted of whatever could help move or dig snow. Coming into the house for lunch always meant taking my mitts and putting them on the register in the bathroom to dry them for 'Round Two' after lunch. Today with the waterproof fabrics that gloves and mitts are made of, drying is not needed.

We had a dug out that we watered our cattle from every winter. We knew it froze over every winter, and I recall waiting for it to be a foot thick...the safe width set by my dad. My Dad let us clear the ice to begin the endless shinny hockey games. We would play for hours until we could no longer see the puck as it became too dark. It was a “cool flashback” as I was out by that old dug out a few years ago in the summer and picked up a puck that must have been lost in a snowbank many years ago. I can still recall that infamous Christmas Eve when I was 10 years old, as I waited for that ultimate gift I asked Santa for. Sure enough, he brought it... a Crossman pellet gun...ironic that Santa actually brought weapons in those days! I still feel bad as I took it out that Christmas Day and shot a bird that I had no business shooting. My last memory of winters past consists of those famous 'flying saucers' that I used to race my brothers down the hill in front of our house. I still have a tender tailbone from those days when I was young and invincible! I’m not sure if they still make those, but I’m sure they’re far too dangerous now...

Today, who knew that video games, Facebook, Instagram, iPads, and cellphones are what Christmas future had in mind... but I say, "Get outside these holidays, enjoy some fresh air and relive a Christmas past, by making it the ‘present’!"

Glittering Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees

Materials:

● 3 Green Popsicle Sticks● 1 Purple Popsicle Stick● 4" of Twine● Sticker Rhinestones● Glittery Foam Star Stickers● Hot Glue

Directions:

1. Cut the green popsicle sticks into 6 pieces in ½", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2" and 3" lengths.

2. To cut the popsicle sticks, firmly cut into the popsicle stick on both sides of the popsicle stick a few times. Then bend it and it should cleanly snap apart where you scored it.

3. Add a generous glob of hot glue on the end of the purple popsicle stick, place both ends of the twine on top of the glue, then sandwich the ½" piece of green popsicle stick on top to hold the twine hanger in place.

4. Line up the remaining 5 green popsicle stick pieces evenly on the purple popsicle stick and glue them in place with hot glue.

5. Use hot glue to attach the sparkly foam sticker star.6. Decorate your tree with the glittery rhinestones!

Candy Cane Reindeer

Materials:

● Candy Cane● Brown Pipe Cleaner● Red Pom Pom (and black – optional)● Googly Eyes● Glue

Directions:

1. Twist the pipe cleaner tightly around a pencil.2. Slide the pipe cleaner off and tightly twist around the top of the candy cane.3. Glue the googly eyes about mid-way down the short end of the candy cane.4. Glue the pom pom at the bottom of the short end of the candy cane.

Display in a little jar and wrap a ribbon around, hang from a Christmas stocking or tree, or decoratively embellish a wrapped present with this cute Candy Cane Reindeer.

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CROSSWORD ANSWERSTRIVIA ANSWERS1.B. 3642.A button3.Eight4.Guitar5.We three Kings

Across1. Frosty3. Sugarplum6. Reindeer10. Elf

Down2. Tinsel4. Ornaments5. Partridge 7. Snow8. Icicle 9. Snowman

Button Snowman

Materials:

● Seven white buttons in varying sizes - four for the body snowball and three for the head snowball

● Three black buttons, one larger and two smaller with the same diameter

● One red button the same diameter as the two smaller black buttons● Yarn - 14 inches long● Ribbon - 1/4 inch wide by 6 to 8 inches long ● Ruler ● Scissors ● Toothpick - to help push yarn through the buttons' eyes

Directions:

1. Thread the yarn through the two medium sized, white buttons.2. Thread the yarn through through the largest white button to create a

wide look for the body of the snowman.3. Insert the fourth button which should be the same size as the first two.

This completes the body of the snowman. 4. Thread the yarn through a small white button. This will be the

beginning of the head of the snowman. 5. Thread the yarn through a slightly larger white button.6. Thread the yarn through another small button. This should create the

snowman’s head. 7. Next, thread the yarn through the largest black button. This is the brim

of the snowman’s top hat.8. Insert a red button that is slightly smaller than the previous black one.

This is the red band on the snowman’s hat.9. Finally, thread the yarn through the last two black buttons to complete

the top hat. 10. Tie a secure knot at the top of the hat. Be sure to allow the buttons to

remain loose in order to tie the scarf. Tie another knot at the end of the yarn to create a loop for the ornament to hang from.

11. Tie the ribbon scarf loosely between the top three white "head" buttons and the bottom four "body" buttons.

12. Trim the ribbon ends on an angle

Display the small and cute button snowman hanging from a cabinet pull, a mirror or anywhere his small size can add a smile.

(For a more detailed explanation - http://funezcrafts.com/Easy-Christmas-Crafts-Button-and-Yarn-Snowman.html

Christmas CraftsKelsey VigBentley Coffee News

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