Dayna Weselowski is a 25-year-old self taught artist born in Thompson who moved to Brandon, Manitoba in the late '90's.  Always with a strong passion for art, and taking inspiration from everything around her, she has successfully completed and sold art pieces in an array of different mediums. These mediums include pencil and graphite, Prismacolour pencils, acrylic and oil painting, and creating and painting concrete leaf stepping stones. Her artwork style can be described as decorative art, varying from vibrantly coloured landscapes to anime characters to much more.  Dayna has showcased her artwork at several different craft shows around the Manitoba area and pieces can be viewed on her Facebook page - DaynaWeselowskiArt  

Children's Country Fair The Westman Dreams for Kids Children's Country Fair is coming up fast and they are looking for all the talented kids out there to be part of this years event. Do you dance, sing, play instruments?? Are you and acrobat or have a band?? They want you to come take center stage this year and show Brandon all the talent in our community! If you are or know someone who would love to take part in this exciting event call 204-729-1698 or 204-729-8898. Children's Country fair is June 5th at Kirkaldy Heights School, and they hope to see you all there. McHappy Day Please also keep in mind that on May 4th, $1 from every Big Mac. Happy Meal and Hot McCafe beverage will be donated to Westman Dreams for Kids! Please come by and visit them at all 4 Brandon locations and help them continue to grant dreams to children and their families who are dealing with serious illness and health concerns in the Westman area. King Louis will be handing out balloons and taking pictures with the kids from 11:am - 1:00pm at the Richmond location!

Regardless of what you’re saving for – a down payment on a home, a dream vacation, a child’s education or your eventual retirement – developing good saving habits can definitely pay off. Even relatively small but regular contributions can quickly gain momentum thanks to the power of compounding, or making interest on your interest. Most people can rationalize buying new bedroom furniture or a better and more reliable car by using small monthly payments spread over several years. However, you can also use this strategy to build hefty savings. For some, saving is instinctive. Chipmunks know they must save enough nuts and seeds to get them through the winter. They even build storage rooms in their burrows. But it’s important everyone – even humans – realize the importance of saving. Deciding on your goals for the future The first step is determining an investment strategy and that means carefully evaluating your financial goals. After all, saving for a down payment on a house or a new car requires a different approach than long-term retirement planning. So, ask yourself this: what do you want to do with your money? Crunching the numbers Next, set up a spending plan to help you determine how much you can afford to put away each month. There are plenty of online tools and calculators that can help you. Start by going over your chequing and savings accounts and credit card statements, including ATM withdrawals. Make sure to include everything – even those pricey takeout lunches. This exercise can help you trim excessive spending. Once you have a better understanding of your income and expenses, determine your savings “payment.” Be bold, as you can always dial it back a bit later on. Or better yet, keep the amount steady and reduce your overall spending. Then, as your income grows, continue to raise the amount you put away each week. Choosing the right investment solution Your financial professional can help you choose the right mix of investments and help you achieve your unique savings goals. Why it’s is crucial to start saving now Setting up a regular, automatic savings plan is an essential part of anyone’s financial health. The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be and the sooner you’ll achieve your goals.

Hockey Hockey Hockey.  The Gold Rush continues as Seattle comes to Brandon May 6th and 7th for games one and two of the WHL Championship Series at Westman Communications Group Place.  The T-Birds are lead offensively by NY Islander first round draft pick Mattew Barzal.  The 6'0, 200 lb forward has 19 points in 13 playoff games. Defensemen Ethan Bear and Winnipeg product Keegan Kolesar are others to watch.  Nolan Patrick, Jayce Hawryluk, Reid Duke and John Quenneville will need to be at the top of their game to beat Seattle's netminder Landon Bow.  For more information www.wheatkings.com CWE Wrestling at ACC.  CWE management continues to roll out huge match signings for their card at ACC on May 25th.  Three of the most in demand and active stars across the entire continent will compete in a high octane, high intensity Triple Threat Match! Lio Rush, Jason Kincaid, and Chase Owens are main event stars everywhere they compete across the World and on May 25th in the Wheat City they will test their abilities against each other in a match to not only prove who the future of professional wrestling is but who is the best wrestler on the planet right NOW!  Also on the card is former ROH Star & TNA Alumni "The Physical Fascination" Kazarian & ROH Star "The Last Real Man" Silas Young.  Check it out www.cwewrestling.ca Comedy night at Blu featuring the comedy workings of Scott Belford and Neil Rhodes. The first show on May 10th sold out immediately and as of  press time there was still a few remaining tickets for the second show on May the 11th.  Scott Belford is a a comedian based out of Edmonton who has opened for the likes of Pauly Shore and Jay Mohr.  He has previously won funniest person in Edmonton at the West Edmonton Mall's Comic Strip.  Neil Rhodes has been a comedian since 2003 and has opened for major headliners like Bryan Callen and Nick Griffin. Bubble Boy Musical Diner Theatre at Westman Communications Group Place.  Four show times are scheduled inside the MNP room over three days from May 6th-8th.    Seating is restricted to 150 guests per show.  The story centers around Jimmy Livingston who was born without immunities and spent his entire life confined inside a plastic bubble room. Enter Chloe, the girl next door, who becomes his friend and steals his heart. When she leaves town to get married, Jimmy travels cross-country in a homemade bubble suit in order to stop the wedding and finally tell her how he feels. Along the laugh-filled journey he deals with a crazy cult, a biker gang, a dead cow, and a controlling mother who will stop at nothing to get him back in the bubble.  Tickets are only $35 and include a delectable three-course meal. Westman Baby & Family Fair inside the Keystone Centre Manitoba Room on Saturday, May 7th.  The one day event will play host to a wide variety of vendors showcasing everything from toys to photography.  Entertainment starts at 11:00 am with Karl Heinz the BubbleMan and is followed by the magic of Ryan Prince at 2:00 pm.  There will also be FREE face painting and a pottery activity centre for the kids. Systems Beauty College Students will be doing FREE Haircuts for children and Princess Manicures at the event! Remember to check our our Events Calendar for a more complete listing of what is going on in Brandon and area.

Sometimes I go for a little drive out in the country, taking pictures.  And tonight's experience is best portrayed in a recap, on a few thoughts from tonight's excursion.  "I should go to the grocery store.....what was I gonna get again?" "I should go for a quick drive first." "Is this actually a road?" "What's that high pitched squealing noise coming from the front end of my car?" "Where'd that moose come from?" A moose.  1 moose.  Moose.  Me.  Beside a shed. In a field.  With a moose.  That came out of a shed. Of all the things I run across....beavers....ducks.....geese.  This has to be the best thrill yet.  When I explore abandoned farmyards and old houses, I watch out for old wells.....barbed wire. Badgers. Zombies.  Axe murderers.  It hadn't occurred to me that I'd turn around and be staring a moose in the face. That just came out of a small shed.  He was having a nap inside a shed. I saw something move as I was walking towards the building and it kind of startled me, I briefly thought it'd be a bird. Nope.  Moose.  Where do you go from there?  Can't top that for a night.  This is a moose, isn't it? Yours truly, Caley