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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007 7THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 20076 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It This is both my most favourite and least favourite time of year. My most favourite because I am a Christmas person and enjoy all the preparations leading up to the big day. I even enjoy Christmas shop- ping and shopping is usually a chore I avoid. Actually, Id rather have a root canal than go shopping any time other than Christmas. Regular readers will know that we Christmas people have been conducting a stomp out festive campaign for some years. While we have had some successes in the past couple of years, the politically correct gang is still determined to neuter one of our most cherished traditions. Here is but one of the latest transgressions: Toronto may have wondered about the message on a billboard last week. A simple message dominated the billboard: Ho Ho Ho it said. (The os were formed by traditional glass-ball Christmas tree ornaments with the last one obviously broken.) Underneath the image were the words Dont break tradition and the website address of the agency that contracted for the billboard. www.madinc.ca, a website I think is well worth visiting. My youngest elf, Erin, discov- ered why a small marketing agency in Toronto would be prompted to create such an ad. It was reported last month by a Sydney, Australia newspaper that shopping mall and street Santas were being instructed to say Ha Ha Ha instead of the traditional Ho Ho Ho. Right about now youre probably wondering why in the world Santa would be asked to change his jolly laugh. Well, in the politically cor- rect world, Ho Ho Ho could, it was reported, be mistaken for the slang expression for prostitute often found in rap songs. The inmates are taking over the asylum. But it gets better. The company that recruits the Sydney Santas denied ordering the jolly elf hopefuls not to use the universal Santa laugh. Instead, they claimed, that Ha Ha Ha used in a lower tone of voice may well be more comforting for children having their first Santa experience. Group hug, anyone? So thats why Toronto-based Mad Marketing & Design ended up buy- ing a week of billboard space on Bloor St. to expose this insanity. Granted, it was a brilliant PR move on their part, but at least they put their money where their hearts are. Obviously, Christmas people. The Santa story is an integral part of the Christmas season. Christmas is a time of peace and goodwill. But there are those amongst us who wont rest until every vague slight has been addressed. The sad fact is that almost every attempt at redress- ing imagined problems causes a visceral opposite reaction in most of the rest of us. I notice that most of the catalogues that come through our house still avoid using the word Christmas. They convey the message through colours and images of ornaments and mistletoe instead. At least the major stores have stopped ordering their sales staff not to wish people a Merry Christmas at the checkouts as happened a few years ago. I notice from their T.V. ads that my friends at Swiss Chalet are stick- ing with their Festive Special again this year. So again this year I will be keeping my wallet in my pocket. Its too bad cause I really like their chicken. I think its important to take a stand on preserving Christmas tradi- tions. We dont want a Santa that whispers tee-hee-hee in a misguided attempt to placate some squalling brat with social interaction issues. Besides, I think the fact Santa breaks into our houses on Christmas Eve is far more terrifying to children than his hearty laugh. At least the environazis havent entered the fray. Bad children, as you know, get a lump of coal in their stocking instead of candy. I can just imagine some of the greenies casti- gating poor old Santa for distributing a greenhouse gas producing fuel. And the mere idea of King Wenc- eslaus vandals foraging firewood from the forest obviously promotes deforestation. Not every fable has to be taken literally. Sometimes fun is just fun. So for those who search for hidden meanings in almost every celebration of life heres some ad- vice. Take a Valium and calm down. And no, Im not promoting drug use. For many of us Christmas comes as a solemn religious observance. The birth of Jesus Christ is supposed to promote goodness and light. So many pseudo-theologians are caught up in the debate over when exactly he was born. I say, who cares! Its not important to me exactly when was the date. Whats important to me is the fact that he was born. Perhaps you remember seeing many lawn signs around town last December. As you read this there is a large billboard at the railroad tracks on your left as you come east out of downtown. The simple mes- sage brought to you by the Acton Ministerial Association, is Keep Christ in Christmas. Last year, the signs sold out at the various churches around town. Several people had asked me where could they get one if they didnt attend any church. Im pleased to report that both funeral homes in town have those lawn signs avail- able at a modest cost as well as from our local churches. These signs are selling fast. It appears there are many, many Christmas people in our town. Christmas people dont want to denigrate or destroy other peoples celebrations or traditions. Neither are we prepared to have our celebra- tions and traditions sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. We are prepared to fight for Christmas. And fight we shall. You wont believe this New band members When Acton Citizens Band play their Christmas concert at Bethel Christian Reformed Church this Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m., the band will have 11 new members in their midst, nine young people, and two adults, who have completed a two year course of training in a begin- ners group and attained the skills needed to play in the Senior Band, Bandmaster, George Elliot, told The New Tanner. He says the new members will be welcomed to help with the bands community obliga- tions. Sometime in the new year (2008) a new beginners group will begin to provide members to re- place those who inevitably grow up and leave for further education and other opportunities, the bandmaster explained. * * * Sundays Christmas concert at Bethal Church has a New Begin- nings and Old Favourites theme for Acton Citizens Band. Theres a free will offering of money for food with all proceeds going to the Food Bank. Calendars available Copies of the Historic Acton cal- endar for 2008 distributed free to Acton and area in The New Tanner on Thursday, Dec. 6 are now avail- able at a cost. The calendar can be purchased for $5 each at Acton Home Hardware or Halton Hills Furniture & Appli- ances. Only a limited number are available so get them early. Some compensation Our MPP Ted Arnott may not have been elected as Speaker of the Legislature in the Liberal dominated House, but he has been appointed as assistant Speaker, which carries the ominous title of First Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, a position he has held before during his 17 years in the House. His new position makes him one of the Presiding Officers of the Legislative Assembly who enforce the rules when Speaker Steve Peters is not present. Three other MPPs were also appointed as assistant Speaker, Bruce Crozier, Jim Wilson and An- drea Howarth. Public skate Acton Fire Fighters Association is again sponsoring a public skate at the Acton arena on Sunday, Dec. 16 from 2-3:20 p.m. The firefighters are requesting skaters to either donate their admission fee, or bring a non- perishable food item. All monies and food collected will be given to Acton Food Share to help those in need during the holiday season. Candlelight Bethel Church is holding a candle- light service on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m. to which whole families are invited. A Christmas produc- tion about a handicapped boy at a childrens home who listens to a radio reading of the Christmas story is part of the program. It comes alive in his imagination and he sees the shepherds visit the Christ child and the Holy Family at the manger. But will his own hopes of a family ever come true? Christmas dinner Christmas is about sharing, and an enthusiastic group of volun- teers from Acton and area is again planning to host the 5th annual community dinner on Christmas Day at Bethel Christian Reformed Church at 1 p.m. Itll be turkey with all the trimmings, and the group is looking for volunteers to help set up, serve, assist with clean up and provide fellowship. Theyd also be interested in acquiring some musical accompaniment. In past years the group has pro- vided transportation for guests that couldnt get to the dinner on their own, as well as sending dinner to shut-ins. They are also interested in hearing from the public about people who might be on their own and need encouragement to join them Anyone who would like to vol- unteer or refer a guest is asked to phone Anne at 519-853-3687. Want to donate a dish? Phone Paulette at 519-853-1047. Arthritis record Septembers Arthritis Society residential campaign was the most successful to date in Acton and area, the campaign chair Jos Bosboom told The New Tanner this week, raising $3,200 to fight the debilitat- ing disease. The campaign is part of the St. Joseph Knights of Columbus activities annually. Jos notes that 8,000 new cases of arthritis are diagnosed in Canada every month thats 275 cases each and every day. Funds from the campaign are used to provide education, commu- nity support and research solutions to the 1.8 million people in Ontario with arthritis. Gasless Wednesday When the Beaver service station on Queen St ran out of gasoline last Wednesday night motorists had to drive out of Acton to fuel their vehicles. Resident Jack Carpenter says this town has five banks, con- venience stores galore, and most other facilities, yet theres still only two service stations, same as much smaller Rockwood. Tutors needed Literacy North Halton is in need of tutors for its Read*Spell*Write Program based in Acton. No experi- ence is necessary, all tutors trained. Registration goes from January 14 to February 22. Please call 905-873- 2200 for sign-up. Whats Your Beef? Put it in a letter to the Editor! Deadline is Tuesday at noon. TAKE ME HOME: The Acton Veterinarian Clinic has these little cuties up for adoption to good homes. Its the time of year when litters showing up all over the place with no mothers, and some workers in Actons industrial area brought these orphans in two weeks ago. There are four in this litter looking for a home and two younger kittens from another litter. Stop in and meet these rambunctious, friendly felines. You may find a new addition for your family. - Justina Pembleton photo.