The Fox Runner Newsletter

DECEMBER 2013 Volume 7. 13

www.foxrunner.weebly.com

email: thefoxrunner@yahoo.com

SERVING THE PARKFARM COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

The Parkfarm Housing Co-operative Housing Newsletter is issued 7 times per year.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, JANUARY/FEBRUARY,

MARCH/APRIL, MAY/JUNE, JULY/AUGUST and a SUMMER ISSUE

Jay Jamwant

Happy Holidays!!

The most favourite time of the year is upon us and

here comes the most famous man at Christmas, the

man that makes Christmas happen? yup….Santa! The

other guy, Jesus, with His “insignificant” stories of the

baby in the manger are just incidental and only

meaningful to a handful of us older folks!! If you ask

our kids who is the most important figure at

Christmas the answer will be Santa of course, but

let’s digress.

Yes folks our little ones are so looking forward to

Santa’s miracle come Christmas morning and

rightfully so. The million-dollar flicker in their eyes

and the smiles on their little faces when they open

their gifts are incomparable. Whether they believe in

Santa or are old enough to believe otherwise is not in

contention, but Santa needs to deliver on the annual

promise.

For us the holidays give us a wonderful opportunity

to celebrate tradition, from Hanukkah to Kwanza to

Christmas all around the same time, let’s take the

opportunity to celebrate, in whatever way you know.

Shiraz has a great article on Santa Claus really worth

reading.

The children will be out of school soon for the

Christmas break so please look out for them when

driving. Keep them engaged in activities so they can

stay away from trouble. Kim has an excellent article

on helping you help them with reading and engaging

their interest in reading. Great article!

The General membership meeting was very well

attended and we do have a few changes to the board

of directors. Please see inside for the full list of

directors.

What is Christmas without those mouth-watering

dishes? Well Joanne have it all covered with some

excellent recipes that will tantalize those taste buds.

The ParkFarm Co-op Christmas party was held last

weekend. It was a worthwhile experience. Lunch was

awesome with several choices and special menu for

the children. We had a guided tour of the Black Creek

Pioneer Village and saw bread made the old

fashioned way and beer brewed like it was done in

the 1800’s. I was lucky to witness the actual brewing

process and walked away with a 2L sample. Thank

you Santa for the early present! Haley and Lorna and

the entire team at the Recreation Committee did an

excellent job in getting this organised to perfection.

The Newsletter Committee welcomes our new liaison

to the board. Director Debby Adair is our new rep.

We are sorry to see Catherine move from that role

but with a new face comes new ideas and different

perspectives. On behalf of my family and the

Newsletter Committee we wish Catherine a speedy

recovery from her recent medical ordeal.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and

all…….

Regards,

Jay Jamwant

Editor

NEWS FROM THE EDITOR

COOKING WITH JOANNE

IT'S THAT TIME...

CHRISTMAS IS COMING.

This is an easy WALNUT FUDGE

recipe It's Addictive....... Quick and easy, but be warned it's hard to stop after just one bite!!!!! INGREDIENTS 4-1/2 cups sugar 1 (120z) can evaporated milk 18 oz. semi sweet ½ lb. butter, cut into small pieces chocolate chips 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups chopped walnuts PREPARATION 1. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray or cover the pan with foil. 2. Combine sugar and evaporated milk in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Stirring constantly for six minutes. 3. Remove from heat, add butter, chips, and vanilla. Continue stirring until the chips are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. 4. Stir in the chopped walnuts. Pour into the prepared pan. 5. This should cool at room temperature overnight, but as usual I am in a hurry. I put the pan in the refrigerator to harden. Cut into squares when firm. YUMMY!!!!

Awww...... CHRISTMAS TIME This is the stuff Christmas dreams are made of: Oreo Cookies crumbs blended with cream cheese and a chocolate shell. This kids recipe for Golden Oreo Truffles is only 3 ingredients. Kids can help roll the balls and coat the cookies. A familiar taste of oreos in a truffle form. YUMMY!!!! What you need: 1 package (8oz.) softened cream cheese 1 package Golden Oreos or Regular Oreo, finely crushed (4 to 5 cups) 2 white chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate baking bars (8oz. total) What you do: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Chop up Oreos (finely in a blender or food processor). Mix the crumbs together with the cream cheese until well combined. Shape into 40 (1 inch ball) and put on prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes. FREEZING the balls is the most important step. Chop up and melt the chocolate. Dip the frozen balls into the chocolate and immediately top with sprinkles. Place back on baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes so the chocolate sets. ENJOY !!!!

By Joanne Murack

The smell of gingerbread pancakes on Christmas morning................... It takes me back when my Mother used to make them for us kids.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/4 salt 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 egg 1 1/4 cups of milk 1/4 cups of molasses 3 tbsp. vegetable oil Directions 1. In a small bowl, stir together all the dry ingredients. Set aside. 2. In a large bowl, beat together egg and milk. 3. Stir in molasses, then oil 4. Add the dry mixture and stir just until combined. 5. Pour a quarter cup of batter per pancake onto hot griddle. 6. Cook on the first side until puffy and bubbles are dry looking around the edges. 7. Flip with spatula on second side and cook until brown.

Happy Holidays Merry Christmas

from Joanne and Katie

Just a simple and quick Eggnog Recipe Egg nog is a delicious traditional holiday drink.

It is best made first and served immediately.

***To me, Eggnog is the iconic Christmas

drink****

What you need:

2 eggs, beaten 1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. sugar 1 dash nutmeg

2 1/3 cups low fat milk

What to do.

1. Blend together egg, sugar, milk vanilla and

nutmeg. Served chilled.

It is best to use a blender.

P.S. For adults, add some Spiced Rum

Ohhh.. so good!!!!!

==o==o==o==o==o==o==o==o==o==o==o== CLEVER HOUSEHOLD TRICKS

1. Having a party..... Low on counter space.

Pull out a drawer and place your cutting board on it

2. Keep your tall boots upright, put pool noodles in

them.

3. Need to clean your microwave.

Fill a bowl with water and lemon slices.

Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. The steam will

loosen any dried food

particles for easy cleaning.

4. Flattened pillows??? Put them in the sun for 30

minutes.

The sun will absorb the

moisture and plump up your

pillows.

5. Use the sticky part of the

post-it notes to clean your

keyboards.

6. Use a magnet to find nails

and studs in your walls.

Hope these tricks come in

handy

By Adrian Knaud

Methane Gas(CH4) is a cause of Global Warming.

Methane (CH4) is the second most prevalent

greenhouse gas emitted in the United States from

human activities. In 2011, CH4 accounted for about

9% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human

activities. Methane is emitted by natural sources such

as wetlands, as well as human activities such as

leakage from natural gas systems and the raising of

livestock. Natural processes in soil and chemical

reactions in the atmosphere help remove CH4 from

the atmosphere. Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere

is much shorter than carbon dioxide (CO2), but CH4

is more efficient at trapping radiation than CO2.

Pound for pound, the comparative impact of CH4

on climate change is over 20 times greater than

CO2 over a 100-year period.

Globally, over 60% of total CH4 emissions come

from human activities. Methane is emitted from

industry, agriculture, and waste management

activities, described below.

Industry. Natural gas and petroleum systems are the

largest source of CH4 emissions from industry in the

United States. Methane is the primary component of

natural gas. Some CH4 is emitted to the atmosphere

during the production, processing, storage,

transmission, and distribution of natural gas. Because

gas is often found alongside petroleum, the

production, refinement, transportation, and storage of

crude oil is also a source of CH4 emissions. For more

information, see the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse

Gas Emissions and Sinks sections on Natural Gas

Systems and Petroleum Systems.

Agriculture. Domestic livestock such as cattle,

buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels produce large

amounts of CH4 as part of their normal digestive

process. Also, when animals' manure is stored or

managed in lagoons or holding tanks, CH4 is

produced. Because humans raise these animals for

food, the emissions are considered human-related.

Globally, the Agriculture sector is the primary source

of CH4 emissions.

Waste from Homes and Businesses. Methane is

generated in landfills as waste decomposes and in the

treatment of wastewater. Landfills are the third

largest source of CH4 emissions in the United States.

Methane is also emitted from a number of natural

sources. Wetlands are the largest source, emitting

CH4 from bacteria that decompose organic materials

in the absence of oxygen. Smaller sources include

termites, oceans, sediments, volcanoes, and wildfires.

It should also be noted that an alarming amount of

Methane gas is escaping from the the warming

permafrost on the land near the melting North Pole

ice cap.This gas has been trapped there since the last

ice age 30,000 years ago.

AN incredible 55-foot skeleton of a dinosaur that

walked the earth more than 150 million years ago

sold at auction for £400,000

======= LITTLE KNOWN FACTS =========

- A 55 foot skeleton of a dinosaur has sold for 400

000 at auction A 55-foot skeleton of a dinosaur has

sold for £400,000 at auction

- The ancient specimen of the long-necked

Diplodocus longus was bought by a public institution

at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst, West

Sussex.

- The sale of the 19 foot female dinosaur skeleton

nicknamed 'Misty' is belived to be the first of its kind

in Britain.

- The bones of the dinosaur were found almost intact

in 2009 in Wyoming, America by the sons of

renowned palaeontologist Raimund Albersdoerfer.

- The skeleton will go on public display but it is not

known which institution bought the dinosaur

remains.

- The ancient specimen of the long-necked

Diplodocus longus was bought by a public institution

I'm absolutely thrilled. It has been an awful lot of

work and a very exciting project, and to finally get to

this final conclusion, we are delighted

Rupert van der Werff, of Summers Place Auctions,

said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. It has been an awful lot

of work and a very exciting project, and to finally get

to this final conclusion, we are delighted.

My wife recently told me a story of two little girls

at her school who were discussing about Santa and

how one of them told the other that Santa was a

“fake”. If truth be told, there really was a Santa it’s

just that he has been transformed into a secularized

figure surrounded by fantasy. For this reason, most

children today doubt his existence but all that will

change after you read this.

The name Santa Claus is the English version of the

Dutch name for St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas. The

historical St. Nicholas was in reality a Godly man

known for his charity and generosity.

Nicholas was born in the 3rd century to wealthy

Christian parents in Patara (a neighboring city in

modern day Turkey). It is believed that Nicholas

and his parents could trace their spiritual heritage to

the Apostle Paul, who stopped in Patara on his third

missionary journey 200 years earlier.

It is said that Nicholas’ parents were devout

believers who had long prayed for a child. When

Nicholas was finally born, they devoted him to

God. As an only child, he was raised with great

affection and special attention. However, when

Nicholas was still a young boy in his teens a plague

struck his city, and both of his parents died. Though

a loss like this might turn some away from God, it

seems to have drawn Nicholas closer to him. The

loss of his parents made the boy’s heart tender to

the suffering of others.

Nicholas was left with a large inheritance and

decided that he would use it to honor God. He

developed such a good reputation in his region that

he was chosen as Archbishop of Myra (a

neighboring city just south and east of Patara) when

he was in his early 20s, an indication that he must

have demonstrated wisdom and maturity beyond his

years.

During his service as Archbishop, a violent

persecution of Christians began. Nicholas was

almost certainly imprisoned during this time and

was likely tortured for his faith. The persecution

that began during the reign of the Roman Emperor

Diocletian was carried on by his successor,

Galerius, for a total of eight long years.

There is a wealth of stories about Nicholas’ life --

many of them emphasize his kindness

and generosity. After his death on December 6, 343

A.D, a tradition of gift giving was begun in his

honor.

St. Nicholas Day is still observed on December 6 in

many countries, but in others, Canada and the U.S

included, the practices associated with the day were

combined with Christmas. It seemed natural to

many Christians that a holiday celebrating giving

would merge with the birth of Christ, the greatest

gift ever given to the world. However, the merger

happened to the dismay of many Christian leaders

who thought that St. Nicholas started to draw too

much attention away from Christ. In Germany,

parents were encouraged to teach their children that

the Christ Child was the gift-giver.

The name Kriss Kringle is the English version of

the German name for “Christ Child.” Ironically, in

America the name Kriss Kringle came to be used

synonymously with St. Nicholas, St. Nick, Santa

Claus and even the English name Father Christmas.

In Middle Age art, St. Nicholas was typically

depicted as a tall, thin, bearded cleric. So how did

he evolve into the Santa that we know today in the

West? Santa’s white beard and red suit are actually

quite similar to the bishop’s vestments worn by the

Dutch Sinterklaas. But the “chubby and plump”

appearance of America’s Santa Claus is generally

traced to the 19th century poem “’Twas The Night

Before Christmas” – an attempt to create a more

friendly image of Santa and assure children that

they had (in the words of the poem) “nothing to

dread.”

Who is Santa and Where Did He Come From?

KELLY’S KIDS KORNER by Kelly Kedistos

Hey Kids, How are you all doing??? I hope you all have been good…’cause you know who is coming to town!!

WOW! Can you believe that the winter break is already here? There is so much to do during the break; like skating at the nearby arenas and at the Richmond Green skating trail (it’s really beautiful at night because it’s all lit up nicely), playing in the snow and tobogganing at the library. Don’t forget to help shovel the driveway…neighbors appreciate all the help they can get too! Stay warm and dry by wearing all of your winter gear.

**HYDRATE**

One important thing that we

all forget is to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. The heating systems in our homes, schools and cars keep us warm but, also dehydrates us. If you notice your lips becoming dry and chapped, or your skin becomes dry and itchy, it’s because you are not drinking enough water. We tend to drink more water during the summer months because we feel hot and thirsty but, we need to drink just as much water in the winter. Your skin is the largest organ of your body so take care of it.

January first is the mark of a new year…2014!!! What will you do differently this year??? Do you have any new year resolutions? I ask this every year and I really want to hear your resolutions. Send them to the Fox Runner email and I will include them in the next issue. From my family to yours, many wishes of blessings in love, health, happiness and prosperity for the New Year.

**COLOURING CONTEST**

Just in case you don’t get everything you want for Christmas…this is your chance to win a $50 gift card to Toys R’ Us! Look out for the flyer and colouring page in your mail boxes. I will be sending out a simple winter scene colouring page for you to colour and submit. Think outside of the colouring box. Make it a master piece by adding texture and lots of colour. Show off your artistic abilities. There will be two age categories and one winner for each of them. The colouring pages are due by January 4th. Place it in a large envelope and hand them in to me at townhouse #54. If we are not home, please leave it in the mailbox with your name, age and townhouse # on the back of the colouring page. You have the whole winter break to complete it. Show us what you got! The winners will be picked fairly and the winning pictures will be announced in the next issue. Good Luck!

Until next time Kids!!

Kelly

Happy Holidays from

The Board of Directors

Parkfarm Co-op

Have a blessed holiday season and a

prosperous New Year

Kim Maddin

Reluctant Readers

Is your child what they call a “reluctant reader?” Many children fall into this category, or so we think. A lot of children are reading, just not what we expect when we think of good readers.

Reading graphic novels, joke books, magazines and even text on the internet is helpful to encourage readers, and if that is what your child enjoys reading, let them! Don't worry that these texts may not be substantial enough. They can help kids understand some fundamentals, like how events take place in a sequence and how stories are laid out. They also help build vocabulary and show that books can be visually appealing. Sometimes e-books (electronic books) can help get reluctant readers reading. They offer a unique way of reading and appeal to those who love technology. Once your child is comfortable with the experience of reading, you can encourage other literature selections with a variety of challenging content. We would all love to have that child who devours a Jules Verne book in a weekend, but not all kids want to or can, and even among adults, these classics are not everyone’s cup of tea.

Talk to your child about the book they are reading, show an interest in the plot and try to make connections to it with what is happening in their lives. When your child finds a book they love, they will most likely want to re-read it

often, this is great! Repetition helps kids learn the text and begin to read with more ease and confidence. Any positive experience with reading will inspire your child to read more.

Other ways to encourage a reluctant reader, read to them; simple, but so important. I have many fond memories of my mom reading me the Little House of the Prairie series and Wind in the Willows, even when I was old enough to read on my own. Also, let them see you reading often and enjoying it.

If you have a real concern about your child’s reading, the best person to talk to first, is your child’s teacher. They will be able to offer advice and let you know how your child is really doing with their reading. Of course, the library is a great place to go to when searching for a book that is the right level for your child and one that will interest them, talk to a librarian for some suggestions.

Not everyone is a born reader; some of us develop a real love of reading everything, while others, in my opinion, have just not found the right kind of book to read.

Page 2 of 3Christmas coloring picture

20/12/2013http://www.coloring-book.info/coloring/coloring.php?id=12231

COMMUNITY ROUND UP by Rashida Samji

Congratulations to Gail Allison on her election to the board of directors. Gail is a very hard working people’s person

who I am sure adds a different flavour to decisions made by the board.

The Recreation Committee executed a well-planned holiday lunch at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Everyone had a

great time, though it was very cold. Santa was there to take pictures with the kids. Lunch was very appetizing.

This is just a reminder for you to sign up to the direct deposit payment of your Occupancy Cost (Rent). It is a very

convenient way to make your monthly payments.

Please take heed and clean your driveways, stairs and walkways of snow as it not only mandatory but safe.

Visit with Santa at the Santa House, at Hillcrest Mall! Tue Nov 12 - Tue Dec 24

Skate Trail at Richmond Green - now open Sun Dec 1 - Sat Mar 15

McConaghy Computer Forum - For Older Adults 55+ Sat Dec 21 / 10:00am - 12:00pm

York Symphony Orchestra Holiday Spectacular with York Highlands Chorus Sat Dec 21 / 3:30pm

Support for Depression - meets weekly at the McConaghy Centre Mon Dec 23 / 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Standard First Aid CPR/AED Course ~ December 28th & 29th Sat Dec 28 / 8:30am - 5:30pm

Calling All Tweens to a New Year's Eve Pizza Party Tue Dec 31 / 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Children aged 9-12 are invited to celebrate the new year at the Central Library!

Wellness Workshop ~ Introductory Sessions (2) Tue Jan 7 / 1:00pm - 3:00pm

The Art of Laughtercise: The Way to a Peaceful Mind

Mon Jan 6 / 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Richmond Hill Winter Carnival Fri Jan 31

At a recent Participation Committee meeting, it was discussed about reminding members about some common courtesies and by-laws that are being ignored. We wondered if a reminder could go in the next newsletter about garbage being picked up on your lawn after garbage days( seems to blow and the garbage trucks spill and don't pick up stuff they drop). Also, there is a by-law about garbage/recycling bins being kept outside next to the front door .It is unsightly and bins should be kept in the garage. Everyone could be reminded that painting your house number on your bins is helpful to your neighbours when the garbage men throw them around. When they put out the recycling, please make sure things won't blow out. With winter and snow fast approaching, members must be reminded about parking on the street and improper parking in shared driveways. The plows need room to clear and parking on both sides of Fox Run is dangerous. Most of this comes down to RESPECT for our Co-op and our neighbours. We all sign an agreement that states "We understand that upon moving into the Co-operative, we shall maintain our building, unit, adjacent grounds, keeping them in a state of cleanliness and repair." A reminder about the outside taps being turned OFF inside and ON outside could also be included. Thanks so much, Contact me if there are any questions, Cheers! Nicki ****************

Nicholas Snowden

meurlin_2000@yahoo.ca

Board Liaisons:

Newsletter: Debby Adair

Recreation: Gail Allison

Participation: Donny Bond

Membership and Bylaw: Denise Stewart

Arrears: Ron Celsie

CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Treasurer – Donny Bond

Vice President – Debby Adair

President – Ron Celsie

Director – Denise Stewart

Director – Gail Allison

Secretary – Catherine Laird

Director – Lynn Morrison

Richmond Hill Winter Carnival

Fri Jan 31

The Richmond Hill Winter Carnival is celebrating its 46th year from January 31st to February 2nd. For the past 46 years this event has been run by community volunteers and generously funded by local sponsors.

Free outdoor activities take place all weekend long at Mill Pond Park.

Some of the highlights include:

Skydivers landing on the ice Performances by Lou Moore Band Amateur band contest Junior and senior elementary school hockey finals Sunday morning pancake breakfast Children’s midway Pony rides Rock climbing wall Viking Village Muskoka wildlife shows Arts and crafts Face painting Ice carvings Skating on the pond Many more sites and activities

Everyone is encouraged to come out and enjoy this great community event.

Admission: Free

Complementary shuttle buses will be provided from strategic locations. Please visit www. wintercarnival.net or call the Carnival hotline at 905-771-5478 for details.

Location: Mill Pond

These are the people who make it all happen…….

#9 – Jay Jamwant – Editor

#54 - Kelly Kedistos - Kelly's Kids Korner and

Secretary/Treasurer

#56 - Adrian Knaud - Something to think about

#7 - Joanne Murak - Joanne's Cooking

#30 - Shiraz Hudda – Things I know

#30 - Sukaina Hudda - Birthdays, Anniversaries,

Photographer, Fun n Games

# 75 - Maria Bates - Health and Wellness

#64 – Svetlana - Distribution

#223 - Kim Maddin – Literacy and You

#38 - Rashida Samji – Committees Updates

For more information on the newsletter or any

comments please direct your enquiries to

thefoxrunner@yahoo.com or call Jay at 647-383-8466.

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