December newsletter - Ramsay Community Association in Calgary

Ramsay Logo designed by Janice ThoroughgoodRamsay Community Association & HallBoard of Directors & Community Chairs1136 - 8th St SE T2G 2Z7• T: 403.265.4898 • F: 403.265.4858Position Name Contact InfoPresident Kevin president@ramsaycalgary.caCunninghamPast President —Vice President– ExternalJenny Jensen vpexternal@ramsaycalgary.caVice President– InternalJosie Casale vpinternal@ramsaycalgary.caTreasurer Sierra Love treasurer@ramsaycalgary.caSecretary Joleen secretary@ramsaycalgary.caKadler2 yr Member Sean Dennie sean@ramsaycalgary.ca2 yr Member Andrew andrew@ramsaycalgary.caSquires2 yr Member Martin martin@ramsaycalgary.caL’Heureux1 yr Member Allan Baker allan@ramsaycalgary.ca1 yr Member James Cuff james@ramsaycalgary.caHall Manager Gisele Ruel hallmanager@ramsaycalgary.caHall Secretary Evelyn Bell hallsecretary@ramsaycalgary.caSafetyCommitteeNicole Schon 403-605-1074 safety@ramsaycalgary.caRecreation Shannon Fox recreation@ramsaycalgary.caCasino Pat Baker casino@ramsaycalgary.caBeautification AndrewSquiresbeautification@ramsaycalgary.caCommunityGardenCarolEngstromgarden@ramsaycommunity.caRamsay SchoolLiaisonJenny Jensen 403-248-9335ramsayschool@hotmail.comWebsitewebsite@ramsaycalgary.caSupportWebsitewww.ramsaycalgary.caNewsletternews@ramsaycalgary.caTeamNewsletterAdvertisingJosie Casale advertising@ramsaycalgary.caNewsletterLayoutFred Holliss 403-815-3733fred@holliss.caAnyone above can be contacted by leaving a message at theCommunity Hall at 403-265-4898.General Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the monthat the Hall. Elections are held in October.Complaints about Lilydale smells:• City of Calgary 311• Alberta Environment 1800-222-6514• Calgary Health Region 403-943-8060Police Contacts • Emergency: 911If you see crimes in the area, please contact the police byphone at 403-266-1234 or : pol4177@calgarypolice.caCommunity liaison officer: Const. Simon Staples 403-567-6146Drug Hotline 403-206-8100 leave msg.Newsletter ContributionsAny community member is welcome to contribute to thisnewsletter. The deadline for submissions for each upcomingmonth’s issue is the 15 th of the preceding month. Please emailyour contributions, comments, and articles to:news@ramsaycalgary.ca or drop it off the Hall.The opinions expressed by the writers of some of the articlesincluded herein do not necessarily agree with the position ofthe newsletter Editor or Committee.ON THE COVER:Jim Norton works on hot glass in his studio.Photo: Gary StefkoAdvertise With Us!Ramsay News is the perfect way to communicate with yourneighbours! The Ramsay News is a non-profit newsletter offeredfree of charge to the community each month. With a circulation of1200, the Ramsay News is a fun and affordable way to advertiseyour business.Submission deadline is the 10 th of the month.• Email us at advertising@ramsaycalgary.cahere it comesit’s like staring down the barrel of a gunchristmas, then boxing day then new year’sthen hangover, january, february and billswinterhow drollwe console ourselves with“the days are getting longer”and“but it’s a dry cold”and“winter sports -- whee!”and“thank god for the chinooks”when what we really mean is“if i can just hang in until springtime it’ll be ok”403-815-3733fred@holliss.caweb design printremember when they didn’t salt the roads?COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPContact Josie Casale at 403-265-4898You are the community – Your voice is important!Annual Membership allows you to: Participate in Community Sports • Voice your concerns to the CivicGovernment • Beautify our Community$10 Family • $8 Single • $6 Senior, Disabled, AssociateSend this form with your cheque/M.O. to:Ramsay Ramsay Community Community Association, Membership 1136 - 8th St. SE, Form Calgary, AB, T2G 2Z7Ramsay Community Membership FormFamily Name(s): Ramsay _________________________________________________________Community Membership FormFamily Name(s): Your Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________Spouse’s Name:____________________Family Your Name: Name(s): Address: __________________________Spouse’s _______________________________________________________________Name:____________________Your Address: Name: _______________________________________________________________Postal __________________________Spouse’s Code: Name:____________________Telephone: Address: Postal Code: _______________________________________________________________Email: _________________________________________________________________Telephone: Postal Email: Code: _________________________________________________________________Children:Telephone: Email: Children: _________________________________________________________________1. Age: Children: 1. 2. _______________________________________ Age: _________ Age: _________1. 2. 3. _______________________________________ Age: _________ Age: _________I 2. 3. would _______________________________________ like to become involved with:Age: ___________Board 3. _______________________________________ of Directors I would like to become involved __Heritage with: __Beautification Age: _________ __Civic Affairs__Membership I would like ___ to become Board involved of Directors with: __Casino ___ History __Sports ___ Beautification __Technology ___ Civic Affairs__Newsletter I ___ would Board like of ___ to Directors become Membership involved ___ History with: __Safety ___ Casino ___ Beautification __Traffic ___ Sports _____SocialCivic Affairs ___ Technology___ Board Membership of ___ Directors Newsletter ___ History Casino ___ Safety ___ Beautification Sports ___ Traffic ___ Civic Technology Affairs ___ As required__As ___ Membership Newsletter required Please ___ note: Casino Safety Picture Identification ___ Sports Traffic with current Ramsay ___ address Technology As required for eligible voting___ members Newsletter is required at ___ AGMs Safety and may also be asked ___ Traffic for at General Meetings. ___ As requiredAd size 1 mo. 5 mo. 10 mo.business card $45 $210 $400¼ page $75 $350 $650½ page $100 $475 $900Full page $180 $875 $1600Flyer inserts No longer available* special rates may apply for designated pagesRamsay News page 3

Otter, Timberwolves & ExplorersScouter Rick, 403-278-2547 • orders@tipacanoe.caIn the world of Otters and Explorers it has been a greatfall. It is hard to believethat in mid-October wewere canoeing at a campon the Red Deer Riverand just a month later wehave been tobogganing onthe Ramsay school hill.This was the earliest ina long time that we havehad the little guys out tocamp. They had a greatturnout of parents, kidsand the odd grandparent.The Explorers paddleddown to Bleriot ferry andcamped for the night.They were responsiblefor their own food. Wewill just chalk this oneup to experience. No onestarved, but the hot dogssure looked good whenthey arrived at the Ottercamp.The Otters rounded out the monthtobogganing whilethe Explorers wentto Battalion Ridgefor the Remembrance service.This was followed by a trip to thechocolate factory to make chocolatesand participate in an archeryprogram. At the same time theygot sized up for their cross-countryskis as we are looking forward toan active winter season.The next camp is almost uponus. It will be a survival camp completewith cooking dead animalsand other survival skills. The Otterprogram has grown this year toabout fourteen or fifteen kids. Ihave lost track as the phone keepsringing and parents keep steppingforward to help out. The Explorersare up to eight now, two boys andsix girls. There is still room for afew more.Merry Christmas to all, Scouter RickRamsay News page 6

Jim Norton - Glass ArtistNancy JanovicekI first noticed the tower of glass balls when I went toJim Norton’s house to pick up his donation to the RamsayStampede Party Silent Auction. It’s a reclaimed ham radiotower. Jim has welded decorative embellishments on the topand has added rods to keep the colourful hand-blown glassballs inside the tower. It’s one of those Ramsay treasures that alot of people miss.​Jim Norton was born and raised in Calgary, and he’s livedin Ramsay for ten years. Hecomes from an artistic family.His grandmother made ceramicsand his mother painted landscapes.His brother is a photographer(and took the picture onthe front cover). Jim studied atthe Alberta College of Art from1975 to 1979. He was also a studentat the Pilchuk Glass School in Washington, a school thatis dedicated to the idea that artists teach artists to experimentwith the craft.Jim began college as a jewelry student. He worked as awelder on the weekends when he was in college, so he hadsome experience using heat to manipulate molten materials.When Jim took his first glass-blowing course he got hookedon glass because he was intrigued by the timing and chemistryof the process. The technique was different from what heknew, and he wanted to know more. Glass-blowing was partof the ceramics program in the 1970s. Now ACAD studentscan earn a glass major in their BFA program, and they’ll studywith Jim, who has taught at the college for 20 years.Jim is internationally recognized as a master glass artist andsculptor. The City of Calgary has commissioned Jim to makegifts for the Queen and Governor-General Ray Hnatyshyn,and his work is in many other important private collections.His sculpture “Sea Thing #21” is featured in the three-volumeJapanese publication The Survey of Glass in the World(1991). This creative output is produced at the Double-Struggle Studio, which he has shared with Barry Fairbairn fortwenty-three years.​I’ve been a fan of Jim’s work for a long time. Many friendsand family members back east proudly display his work intheir home. His work is eclectic. You can get a sense of hiscreativity on his website: http://www.jimnorton-artglass.com.But visiting him at home gave me a new appreciation of therange of his style.Jim and Carol’s home is a gallery. On the porch is a clearglass chandelier with fish tails and tentacles right now. Thebobbles are interchangeable. In the spirit of 007, he’s madeguns and daggers. Or you might see glass shapes that looklike gummy drops hanging on the light fixture. The house islit with many lamps that could be in a Dr. Seuss book. Jimthinks that that Dr. Seuss is an early inspiration for many artists,including himself. The best lamp recycles a Crystal HeadVodka bottle. Jim sprayed the inside of the skull, used it asthe base and made a fantastic Tim Burton inspired top hat forthe lampshade.Fish, bugs, and sea creatures peek out from all corners ofthe house. Jim explained that the process of making glassinspires these whimsical creatures because glass lends itself tolong shapes. Mammals, he explained, have to follow a form.A dog has to have four legs, but Jim can get away with puttingas many limbs as he wants on an insect or a crustacean.Their late pets’ ashes are preservedin glass paperweights. (Ifyou’d like to memorialize yourpet, see his website.) It’s hard tochoose, but I think my favouritepiece in the house is the cameratriptych. Jim made a clear glasssculpture of a camera as an experimentwhen he was teaching. It’sflanked by abstractions on the original piece. I think it’s thesimplicity of this piece, in comparison to the rich colour andintricate design of his other work, that drew me to it.Jim is exploring other media. An “assemblage” displays hiscollection of toy cars from his childhood, which are artfullyarranged between glass plates on the wall. “It’s easier to dust,”he explained. He’s recently started to paint and uses reclaimedwood as a canvas.So just where is this tower of glass balls? You need to lookfor it. And it’s worth your time to seek it out.Photo Credit: Kevin CunninghamRamsay News page 10

Alexandra Centre SocietyDramAntics!Movement… Mime… Masking…Stage Fighting…Dialogue…andFUN!!!!Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00 PMJanuary 10 – February 28Register Now!!Ages 9-16 years old are welcome ☺WINTER YOGAMondays:January 14 to March 25Adventure 5:45 – 7:00Explore 7:15 — 8:30Tuesdays:January 15 to April 2Yin/Yang Backs 5:15—6:45Wednesdays:January 16 to April 3Foundation 5:45—7:00Adventure 7:15—8:30Saturdays:January 19 to March 23Yin Yoga 9:00 – 10:15Foundation - 10:30 – 11:45Open registration starts December 10, 2012SUZUKI BABY & PARENTMUSICFebruary 1 to June 79:30am and 10:45am classesNewborn – 36 MonthsOpen registration starts January 2013Taught by certified and experiencedSuzuki Music instructors. The course isdesigned to prepare your child fortraining on an instrument.403-269-5588_____________________________________For more information please contact Sarahat info@alexandracentresociety.org orcall 403-269-5588Recreation NewsShannon FoxRamsay Canteen Set toOpenThe canteen will open regularlybecause we want moreRamsay folks up at the rink/parkthis season. We envision a destinationthat’s convenient for parkand rink users to warm up, sip ahot chocolate or just chat withneighbours.Send your feedback on thesehours to recreation@ramsaycalgary.ca:• Wednesday Mornings• Fridays After-School• Saturday Afternoons• Other suggestions?Shinny UpdatesIf you’re interested in comingout for Ramsay shinny, emailrecreation@ramsaycalgary.ca andwe’ll get you on the mailing listfor updates about skate times.Ramsay, let’s get out and play!Flooders Wanted!Join our fun group of RinkRats and help out with floodingand general maintenance! Emailrecreation@ramsaycalgary.ca. Noice-making experience necessary –we’ll show you how.Feed Us Your RecipesWe’re creating a RamsayCookbook to celebrate the deliciousheritage of our community.We want every household inRamsay to submit their favouriterecipe and any stories that go withit! Scan Granny’s handwrittencookie recipe or type out Mom’sspecial hot chocolate recipe.Volunteer to become a blockcaptain and encourage yourneighbours to contribute theirrecipes! Have a potluck blockparty and collect everyone’s recipe!Your recipes and any stories aboutthe recipe can be emailed to recreation@ramsaycalgary.ca.Very Chili Fridays at theRink!Every Friday we’re invitingkids of all ages up to the rinkafter school. The first Very ChiliFridays event is December 7 at1:30pm! Come up for a bowl ofcomplimentary chili and activitiesfor the kids. We don’t know if theice will be ready for the event, butwe’ll have other activities plannedtoo.Wee Wednesdays at theRinkComing in January, Wednesdaymornings are a great time to meetup at the Rink with your tots.The Ramsay Canteen will beopen so visit with other parentsover a healthy snack, borrowskates, build a snowman, andmore.Rink RentalsOnly $40/hour gets your groupexclusive rink access with useof the overhead lights and thechange shack/washrooms. Emailrecreation@ramsaycalgary.ca tobook your rental!Contact usWeb www.ramsaycalgary.caPostings at the rink on our messageboardEmail recreation@ramsaycalgary.caCall Shannon at 403.966-5130Facebook Like us at ramsayrecreationRamsay News page 13

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