All is well and wintry here in Winnipeg. Stuart is in Grade 12 this year and is the president of the Student Council, as well, he works part-time in the produce department at Superstore. Andrew is in third year university, studying economics. He plays trumpet in a couple of community bands. All members of the family made our You Tube debuts during the past year. Carol was part of a 'flash mob' at Portage Place mall downtown, part of the promotional launch for 1HopeWinnipeg, a campaign to raise awareness of and funds for five community/outreach ministries of Winnipeg Presbytery of The United Church of Canada. You can view the dance at 1hopewinnipeg.com.

Last year, during a cleaning bee at the church, a package of letters were discovered. the letters dated to the Second World War. The letters were written by men and women from Transcona who were serving in the Armed Forces. Carol thought it would be moving to invite youth from our congregation and their friends to read the letters (they being about the same age as those who had written the letters originally) A couple of youth read letters which had been written by one of their grandparents. A few read letters written by people whose names are on the Memorial List we read every Remembrance Day Sunday (names of people from the Transcona community who died while serving a war) Carol used a flip camera to record the readings, then edited them into three videos and posted them on You Tube. You can see them by googling You Tube, then searching Transcona Memorial United Church. The video posted Nov 9 features all of the readers, each reading the beginning and end of a letter. Stuart reads the letter from R. Warner and Andrew reads the one from Leslie C. Brewster.

While posting these videos, Carol discovered that I, Jeff, was already on You Tube. You will find this 2 minute video also referenced on the TMUC You Tube site. It is an interview I gave while at River Running - a United Church conference on inter-cultural ministry.

That's some news from Winnipeg - Jeff

TRIVIAL PURSUIT

Chris Haney, co-creator of

TRIVIAL PURSUIT

(Montreal) Chris Haney was one of the co-creators of Trivial Pursuit, but there was lttle that was trivial about the former journalist who died on May 31 at the age of 59.

He was remembered by friends as a kind and generous man who brimmed with ideas and charm.

"He was at least as impactful on my life as anybody, including my parents, my wife and son," Scott Abbott, who co-created Trivial Pursuit with Haney, said. "We did a lot together."

Haney died in a Toronto hospital after a long illness. Born in Welland, he was photo editor at the Montreal Gazette when he and Abbot, a Canadian Press sports journalist, teamed up to create the game.

Editor's Note: Haney and Abbot proved that even trivial things are not trivial when they became millionaires as a result of a simple idea.

Carbon Monoxide

On Friday, May 28, Anne and Digby had their furnace and ductwork cleaned by "The Ontario Ventilation Company Inc." of London. Two young men did the job between 1 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.

Half an hour later the carbon monoxide detector sounded in the basement of the Sargeant home. Digby wondered if the detector was malfunctioning, removed it from the basement, and plugged it in in the garage. The detector stopped beeping.

Clearly, the device was working properly.

Windows and doors were opened. Anne contacted 911. A fire rescue truck and 4 firemen arrived at the house and spent almost 2 hours working to test and remediate the air.

Basement readings were as high as 189 parts per million in the furnace room. In the living room the reading was 89 parts per million.

From 4:30 to 6:30, Anne and Digby were advised to stay out of the house by the fire crew chief. So they went out for supper at Kel's Diner and then watered flowers at the condo.

By 6:30 p.m. the readings were normal, as determined by the crew chief. Many thanks to the Paris Fire Department.

Every home should have carbon monoxide detectors!

SICK BAY

Two weeks ago Joan Cook had a fall in her kitchen. She required five stitches to her head, above the hairline. Her two black eyes have healed.

She will be spending two weeks at a retirement home where she can receive around-the-clock care.

FAMILY PICNIC

Saturday, June 12

any time after 1 p.m.

at the home of Frank & Joanne Bucek

Meet and greet Mandy & Hannah Bucek!

Food will be provided.

Bring your lawnchairs.

Signs of Spring

When the robins come back to ....

March 20th was officially the first day of spring (the vernal equinox) and there were signs in Ontario that spring had arrived. The sun was shining and two male robins were visiting in our backyard ... the first we had seen this year. Well, not quite!

During our March 5 to 15 trip to North Carolina, robins were strutting their stuff, singing their best songs, and flitting competitively about in the garden at the Javidi residence.

Christine, Farhad and Arya were in Florida where Farhad was speaking at a conference. Nanny and Grampa were staying with Hannah, who couldn't miss her school band's competition at a site outside Charlotte. This involved some early mornings when Hannah had to be at school at 7 a.m., either for band practice or for Math tutorials.

Oh, you thought I had forgotten about the robins! No, no, not at all!

Before departing for Florida, Christine prepared a list of things that she wanted us to do for her. One task was to return a metal "plaque" bearing a colorful picture of a male robin to TJ Maxx. We were going to kill two birds with one stone one day. That is, after dropping Hannah off at school, we were going to return the plaque to the store.

That morning at 7:15, as we were about to depart for Hannah's school, I was in the driver's seat and Hannah was in a middle seat of the van with the plaque on the seat beside her. As Anne was about to enter the front passenger seat the fluttering of a bird's wings caught her attention and she swatted at the creature. I only got a sideward glance at the encounter.

Now Anne has always been afraid of birds. That is, when they are close to her in a confined space, she becomes very upset. However, this time she was sure that she had knocked the bird away from the car. A quick examination of the interior of the vehicle produced no evidence of the presence of a bird and so we started the drive to Hannah's school.

On the way, Anne did notice a few fluffy feathers on her window.

As we neared the school, Anne decided that she should apply some lipstick. As she opened her purse, which was on the floor of the car, she was shocked to see a dead robin lying there in her purse. We stopped at the front door of the school and Anne decided that she would try to find someone to remove the dead robin from her purse.

She and Hannah headed for the front door of the school as I drove ahead and parked the van in a temporary parking spot on the school grounds. I carried her purse out of the car and used a J-cloth to remove the bird from the purse. I placed the deceased on the school's lawn and returned the purse to the car. Just as I did so, Anne came along with a parent she had enlisted to "move the body". Somewhat embarrassed, we thanked the man and sent him on his way.

Now, the story should end there, but it doesn't.

Anne and I drove off the school grounds and travelled about twenty feet when suddenly another male robin suddenly appeared from over my shoulder and was fluttering frantically at my window in an attempt to escape from "the muder room". I lowered the window and he was gone in an instant.

Now the question is:
1) Did the bird on the plaque entice the two robins into our car? OR
2) Do American robins attempt to hitch a ride to Canada in Canadians' vehicles? OR
3) Do robins know that Anne is afraid of birds and take joy in scaring her?

I guess I'll never know the answers to these questions.

Spring Cleaning

"Spring cleaning doesn't have to cost you money," according to the March 7 edition of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. "Spring cleaning can be a must, but it doesn't need to bust your budget." The paper suggests that you clean with supplies you have.

If life gives you lemons ... make lemonade ... or use the lemon as a cleaner.

Pour lemon juice onto countertop stains and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with baking soda and watch the stains disappear. Lemon rinds can be ground into the garbage disposal to freshen the drain; hot water with a little lemon poured down the drain will do the same. Lemon juice also acts as a natural bleaching agent; blot lemon juice onto white linens and clothing and allow them to dry in the sun.

Mix equal parts olive oil and lemon juice for a natural furniture polish. Just apply with a soft cloth and buff to a shine. You can also use this on wood panelling.

Vinegar

Mix water and vinegar to remove dirt and soap scum from the bathroom. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle as a natural fabric softener; it can break down typical store-bought detergent, removing soapy or dull residue.

Carefully combine vinegar with baking soda to make a great foaming toilet cleaner. Add boiling water to clean out a clogged drain.

To clean windows and mirrors, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray on windows and wipe off with crumpled newspapers.

If you try any of the above and it doesn't work, or it causes damage, blame the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, and not me!

WEDDING

Congratulations and best wishes to Mark Bucek and Mandy Heinbuck, who were married in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gadshill, Ontario, on February 7, 2010. Welcome to the Sargeant and Bucek families, Mandy and Hannah!

Front Page Photo

Richard Cook, president of the local St. Leonard's Society board of directors, is pictured on the front page of the February 23, 2010 edition of the BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR.

The page A3 story is under the headline "Agency gets top marks".

St. Leonard's Community Services has received the Children's Mental Health Ontario stamp of approval. The agency, which delivers a range of social services in the area, has received a four-year accreditation from the government agency.

St. Leonard's employs about 200 people and has an annual operating budget of about ten million dollars. It provides a range of social services including addictions counselling, youth employment services, youth homes and rehabilitation services in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties.

Richard Cook is the son of Joan Cook and the late Howard Cook.

March Birthdays

Happy birthday to you!

Christine Javidi (1)

Violet Baird (3)

Shayne King (7)

Fraser St. Amand (17)

Josiahs Cook (18)

Abby Flinders (22)

Martha Simpson (30)

Julie Middleton (30)

CURRIE

Strathroy area fans plan to honour

First World War hero with statue!

Fans working to erect a statue in honour of Strathroy-raised war hero General Sir Arthur Currie are approaching their task the same way Currie approached warring: methodically and with determination. "One thing Currie used to say was, "I'm not brilliant, but I'm determined," says John P. Sargeant, vice-chairperson of the Currie monument committee.

The committee's aim is to raise as much as $85,000 for a life-sized bronze or stone sculpture of Currie in the community where he was born and raised. Strathroy-Caradoc and the Sir Arthur Currie branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is Strathroy have each donated $1,000 to the cause, while several hundred dollars in private donations have come to the registered charity. The committee hopes to have the work done by November 11, 2010. Sargeant said 2010 is also the 150th anniversary of the founding of Strathroy.

Currie, who died in 1933, was the first Canadian commander in World War I. Considered one of the finest Canadian generals ever, Currie was pivotal in making Canadians a force to be reckoned with.

Renowned for his strategic approach to battle - he was first to make sure every soldier knew the objective, in an age when only officers were usually made privy to that information - Currie rose to NUMBER 24 on a recent poll of 100 most influential Canadians.

Currie wasn't a brilliant tactician, although he knew which battle strategies to adopt for which situations. He cared deeply about the welfare of the men under his command and they respected him in return, although he was not naturally charismatic. He deflected praise for First World War victory to his soldiers at Vimy Ridge and accepted his duty at Passchendaele - both battles where Canadians fought with nation-building distinction - even though he knew it would result in many deaths.

Organizers are planning a fund-raising dine-in mess dinner in Mt. Brydges on May 1, 2010, with Great War historian and author Tim Cook as guest speaker. Find more information at: http://curriememorialproject.tripod.com/

(EDITOR'S NOTES: On the DOCUMENTARY channel, I recently viewed a documentary on the U.S. army's contributions in World War I. According to the film, the US had more soldiers in the field than Canada; they took fewer prisoners; they had a higher rate of wounded and dead than Canada; they took part in fewer major battles.)

SICK BAY

Norma's MRI

On Friday, February 5, Norma had her MRI at hospital in London. Joan Cook, Anne & Digby Sargeant drove to London with Norma. Nick and Anne Sargeant accompanied Norma to the hospital, while Joan, Rose Reilly and Digby did some spot shopping.

Roseanne Baird joined the others at the Reilly home for a visit before Rose treated the group to supper at Huron House restaurant.

Results of the MRI are expected soon.

Blue Pencil Review

CONSUMER REPORTS CANADA

We recently received a promotional booklet from this publication. Of course, they wanted us to subscribe. Following are some tidbits of info from the booklet.

"Cottonelle Ultra toilet paper proved to be a strong toilet paper, BUT you can buy good toilet paper for HALF the price." You may remember that a few years ago, toilet paper manufacturers increased the diameter of the cardboard rolls, thus giving you less toilet paper for the same money. More recently, manufacturers of bottled foods, such as peanut butter and mustard, created bottles with a depression in the bottom; thus giving you less product for the same money.

"Don't overlook less expensive brands that perform well and deliver good value. White Cloud was soft, had good strength when wet, and was less than half the price of Cottonelle. A family of three could save roughly $130 per year."

"The Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870 upright vacuum cleaner for $170 outperformed upright vacuums that cost $700." My Eureka had poor suction and quit working after three years. Did I get the exception to the rule, or has Eureka improved its products?

"Of the 70 regfrigerators CONSUMER REPORTS tested, with prices ranging from $500 to $8,300, one of the top performing models, the Amana ABB2221FE {W}, cost only $1,020."

"Overall the pro-style ranges tested performed no better than less expensive conventional models and several brands had sub-standard repair records."

"In blind taste-tests, experts rated a $5 bottle of wine better than wines costing more than 5 times as much. It's a 2007 red carmenere wine called Frontera Concha Y Toro."

"The Kenmore (Sears) 1374 (2) for $700 cleaned dirty dishes better than the Maytag MDD8000AW(S) that cost $1,400." Further: "Skip the extended warranty on appliances; washers and dryers don't break during the extended-warranty period and when they do break repairs tend to cost about the same as the warranty." Also: "Don't bother with an extended warranty when buying electronics. Salespeople push them because they are high-profit items. The exception to this rule: Consider an extended warranty if you want the best tech support from Apple computers."

"Switching to grocery store brands can help the average family save $2,500 a year in groceries. In tests, the store brands sold for 27% less on average, and many tasted just as good as name-brands. In fact, many store brands are made by those very same national-brand companies."

"If you want the tastiest oatmeal, longer-cooking oatmeal tastes better. Consider Quaker Steel Cut Oats (25 to 30 minutes). For an on-the-go alternative, try Quaker Quick (one minute).

"The best way to boost the value of your home is to add square footage that will bring your house up to - but not beyond - neighborhood norms. Renovations that merely update styles will only sell your house faster if you sell when the style is, well, in style. Over-improving yields diminishing returns. You'll get the biggest bang for your buck by keeping up with the Joneses - not by going them one better. For example, DON'T add a swimming pool or a third storey if you're the only one on the block to have one." A cheaper way to add living space to your home is to convert part of your unfinished basement to living space (rec room or additional bedroom and bathroom).

"We compared 525 chickens from 27 brands, and in January 2007 we reported that only 17% of the chickens were free from salmonella and campylobacter. Whatever brand you buy, protect yourself: Make chicken one of the last items you pick up before you check out, and always cook with a thermometer to 165 degrees F."

"Try a sound machine (which makes sounds that seem like you're in a forest or at the beach to help you sleep better. It worked almost as well as drugs at putting many respondents to sleep."

"Don't expect to be notified if someone is using your social security number under another name. That violates the privacy of the other account holder, the one who stole your identity. You will only be clued in after the fraudster fails to make payments and you get harassing calls from debt collectors."

"Cut car insurance costs when you can. As a rule, it's a good idea to drop collision coverage for any car more than 10 years old, when it's usually worth little more than your deductible."

"Even heating and excellent defrosting make the Samsung SMH9187(B) for $280 our top-scoring over-the-range 30-inch microwave - and a CONSUMERS REPORT best buy!"

For kitchen remodelling: "Thirteen counter materials were tested (including granite, marble, tile, laminate and others) and quartz was found to be best for busy kitchens. It excelled at stain and heat resistance, and is available in vibrant colours that mimic natural stone."

"Don't assume that the more expensive camera is the best performer. CONSUMER REPORTS found a compact that performed just as well as the $450 Nikon Coolpix P6000: The Canon PowerShot A1000 IS for just $150. You can save $300.

"Lower grades of paint do not cover as well as premium paints. A premium paint may require two coats, but lower-quality paints are likely to need even more coats. That makes them a poor value even if they cost less to buy. Behr Premium Plus Enamel Satin was one of the best-value low-luster paints in tests. It was a winner in one-coat ability and at just $24 per gallon, it was a CR best buy."

"Consider Verizon's Nationwide Basic Family Share Plan 1400. When 152 cell-phone service plans were compared, it appears that a family could save up to $1,393 per year with this plan."

"Ditch credit cards that carry a fee."

"Consider Comet Scratch Free Disinfectant with Bleach. This shower cleaner was affordable and rated 'excellent' at removing mildew and preventing scum."

"Reduce pesticides in the food you eat. Buy organic produce including apples, bell peppers, nectarines and strawberries. If cost is an issue, you can save money by NOT buying organic bananas, citrus fruits and onions, whose skins or outer leaves are not eaten."

"Consider Michelin HydroEdge tires because of their all-weather performance, good fuel economy and tread life."

"Don't negotiate a new car's price based on the monthly payment. It gives the salesman a chance to spoil a good deal on a new car with a bad deal on your trade-in or loan. Negotiate each separately, and focus on getting a firm quote based on the car's price, not monthly payment."

"Don't bother buying premium gas if your car specifies regular. It won't make your car go faster or operate more efficiently - and it costs more per gallon."

"The Toro Recycler 20332 was the top-rated lawn mower."

BEST CARS FOR 2009:

small sedan : Hyundai Elantra SE (c. $18,000)

midsized SUV : Toyota Highlander ($26,000 - 42,000)

pickup truck : Chev Avalanche ($36,000-47,000)

family sedan : Honda Accord ($21,000-31,000)

upscale sedan : Infiniti G37 ($33,000-36,000)

fun to drive : Mazda MX-5 Miata (($22,000-29,000)

minivan : Toyota Sienna ($26,000-38,000)

green car : Toyota Prius ($22,000-24,000)

(With their accelerator sticking problems, would Toyota still make the list?)

For $39 (Canadian), you get 11 monthly issues, 1 Annual Auto Issue, 1 Buying Guide 2010, 1 Buying Guirde 2011, 1 How To Clean Book.

If you're in the market for buying new products with an eye to saving money, a subscription to CONSUMER REPORTS CANADA might be for you!

On Parade

The King Family in Cuba

Members of the King family have been vacationing in Cuba, their favourite destination. Here Al catches the rays!

MATH MIRACLE

Hannah Javidi & Math

Hannah scored 97 on the quarterly Math test, the third highest mark in her high school Math class. She is working two years ahead of her grade level in Math.

Hannah also enjoys playing basketball. In the spring she will play a viola duet at a special chanber music concert. Hannah also takes flute lessons.

Congratulations, Hannah!

Team Spirit

PINK GLOVE DANCE

An American hospital's employees dance up a storm as part of their efforts to increase breast cancer awareness. Originally on "youtube", Jane Flinders has posted the video on her "facebook" page, along with several other very funny videos.

Jane, Bob and Abby return from their Caribbean cruise on February 7 to deal with the weighty matters of the modern world. Eating is reportedly the favourite pastime on ocean voyages.

Thanks, Jane, for the funny films!

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Happy Birthdays in February

David Summerhays Sr. (1)

Hannah Javidi (6)

Susan Simpson (8)

Norma Summerhays (12)

Farhad Javidi (24)

Melanie Mansi (26)

Jim Reilly (27)

SICK BAY

Norma's MRI cancelled!

Digby and Anne drove Norma to Rose's house today. She was scheduled to have an MRI.

Nick drove Norma and Anne to the hospital for the procedure. However, because Norma has recently had stents inserted, the MRI was cancelled. Another trip will follow in a few weeks.

Thanks to Rod and Roseanne for the delicious supper, enjoyed by Rose, Norma, Nick, Anne and Digby.

On the drive home along Highway 401 a major accident delayed traffic by about an hour. It would appear that a transport truck and several cars were involved.

Sargeants' MESS

HOW TO CLEAN SILVERWARE

by Roseanne Baird

To clean silver, line your sink with tinfoil, shiny side up. Add enough water to cover the silver and 1/4 cup of Calgon water softener crystals. Leave the silver for 3 minutes, then rinse and let dry.

Slave Market to Flea Market

At the Isle of Pines in the Carolinas, Hannah Javidi and the rest of her family visited a flea market. In the early 1800's the facility was used as a slave market.

January Birthdays

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Nora Hignell (5)

Pamela Reilly (5)

Rod Baird (14)

Jeremy St. Amand (25)

Geoffrey Plant (31)

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year

Norma, Norm, Anne, Digby and Jaime had New Year's Eve supper at the Flinders home. Thanks to Jane and Bob!