Calgary Citizen Newsletter Tuesday Oct. 8

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Good morning !

Last week in the newsletter, I had noted that my dogs and I were skunked twice in a week recently in McKenzie Towne and that the skunks were taking over the community (and I saw two more last night on my walk trying to avoid them!). I coincidentally just watched a CBC Eyeopener segment talking about skunks—namely in McKenzie Towne—(or maybe not coincidentally, hey guys - love ya!). It was interesting, not just because I have firsthand knowledge of how putrid it is to be skunked, but also because I didn’t know that many skunks don’t make it through the winter for various reasons, which is sad.

They’re cute from afar, but let me tell you, these are not your grandpa’s weed smelling skunks. The scent when skunked is pure acidic toxic sludge that seeps into the pores of your body and soul and everything in between! Anyways, the pest control expert also said people rarely get skunked unless they are being careless—so I had to comment on how I got skunked not once but twice because I wasn’t being careless.

The first time, I just came home from the dog park with my one-eyed rescue (more on that later) and it wasn’t even that dark yet but there was apparently a skunk to the side of the porch and as soon as she saw it, she started to surge towards it (because she didn’t learn from the porcupine incident that stole her eye before I adopted her) and the skunk sprayed in self defence. Because I was standing behind her, it got me too—though not directly—but let me tell you, people who even came to our house within a week or two smelled like skunk when they went to work afterwards. It was/is bad.

The second time—just a week later—my friends and their dogs were over and we went to let the dogs out into the backyard, and as soon as they ran out back in the dark, two out of the five dogs were sprayed directly as they ran into the yard, and as a result of standing at the door with the door and our windows open, so did we and the house—again! We didn’t have a chance to react.

We’ve also gotten a lot of emails back from readers noticing more skunks out and about and all I can say is, be careful! The expert on CBC said to use lots of light at night, keep the garbage away, and try not to have comfortable dens for them to nest. Otherwise, do not use tomato soup when skunked! (And don’t use water right away, our first mistake!)

👀 In today's edition:

• House explosion victims recount horror

• Calgarians launch court battle against city

• It’s pie season—we mean—Thanksgiving

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WORTH KNOWING

⛅️ Today: High 20C, Low 6C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

QUICK POLL

House explosion victims recount horror days after fire guts four northeast homes

Monterey Park residents were rocked awake on Saturday night when several townhomes exploded, leaving six people injured and several homes uninhabitable. The Calgary Fire Department said crews responded to reports of an explosion and house fire at the Las Americas Villas around 11pm Saturday night. Since then:

As CTV reports, less than 48 hours after his Monterey Park townhome was gutted by a fiery explosion, Owen DeFoe returned on Monday to see what was left. "It’s like a war zone," said DeFoe, who added he was still "trying to come to grips" with what happened. His unit was destroyed. "I’m speechless," said DeFoe. "It’s wild."

According to CityNews, a relative of one of the families displaced by the explosion says they have been left with only the clothes on their backs as they try to wrap their heads around what to do next.

 The cause is still under investigation.

Need to know

⚖️ Hundreds of residents launch court challenge of Calgary rezoning bylaw.

🏍️ Teen killed in motorcycle crash in southeast Calgary.

🧑‍⚖️ Fatal shooting was self-defence not murder, judge hears in plea.

⛽️ Popular gas station/truck stop west of Calgary is set to relocate. 

🚆 Pedestrian fatality involving the CTrain was not criminal, say police.

🚓 'They didn't do their job': business says AHS inspectors failed to properly investigate claims before ordering shutdown.

☀️ Warm weather for October on Tuesday still… and again on the long weekend. 

🎤 Sponsor the Owen Hart Foundation’s Jerry Seinfeld event and become a “Friend of the Charity.” As a sponsor, you will be given recognition at the event and be provided with two main floor tickets to the 6pm or 9pm show on November 16. By supporting the foundation, you help empower individuals with limited opportunities but boundless potential.*

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Enjoy Calgary’s Pie Junkie right at home this Thanksgiving holiday season

This Thanksgiving, Calgarians can bring home the warmth and comfort of freshly baked, handcrafted pies from Pie Junkie. Enjoy classic flavours like pumpkin and apple, or indulgent twists like salted honey, banana toffee and chocolate mocha. We previously sat down with co-founder, Nancy Goemans to learn the story behind this delicious local business.

What’s new this year for Thanksgiving?

Calgarians can now purchase frozen pie shells in Pie Junkie’s popular mini size. Previously, Pie Junkie only sold pie shells for at-home baking in their large size, but with the addition of pre-made mini pie shells, there’s now individual sized pies available. Pie Junkie will also have a slew of savoury pies available to make the main course just as easy to serve as dessert. Hearth warming flavours like Aussie beef, steak and mushroom, butter chicken, and steak, stout & gruyere will all be available, in addition to Pie Junkie’s Thanksgiving showstopper—the Turkey Dinner Pie—filled to the brim with all the fixings of the perfect turkey dinner, including homemade cranberry sauce, light and dark turkey, stuffing, and rich gravy.

What makes your pies so unique and special?

Pie Junkie is Calgary’s premier pie shop, making sweet and savoury pies the way your grandmother did—with love and pride. Our pies are made from scratch with an all-butter crust and homemade fillings. All of our pies are made by hand, the same way you’d make them at home—one at a time. We bake everything fresh each day and our fillings are made in small batches (without preservatives or fillers) to ensure that you get to enjoy nothing but the best. Everyone loves pie and we love providing Calgarians with delicious ready-made meal options that can offer a healthy alternative to the typical fast-food dinner, as well as tasty desserts for any occasion.

Where to eat and drink

🍴Joodam Drink & Talk: Now two years old, this Inglewood Korean spot boasts an extensive drink menu and a selection of traditional dishes meant to be shared.

🍴 River Café: Did you know this Prince’s Island spot has been titled as one of La Liste’s best 1,000 restaurants in the world—along with many other honours such as top 100 restaurants in Canada. You must try!

Things to do

🎟️ Telus Spark Adult After Hours: The only thing better than the Science Centre is the science centre after dark! Explore criminology, criminal psychology, and all things crime at Friday’s Killer Psyche edition.

🎟️ Stamps vs. Elks game: Sure, both CFL teams may not have made it to the playoffs but you know pride is on the line for this game so catch it in person on Saturday.

That’s it!

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And before you go, we’d love to know…

We’ll see you back here on Thursday, same time, same place!