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PAGE e - PLAINDEALER-FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24. 1»7« by JOSEPH COOKS staffpsycliohwisl -- nam from the Family Stmcc »nd Mental Haalth Clinic of McHtnry County -- • Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series of specially written articles for McHenry county readers Joseph Cools is a psychologist on the Family Service and Mental Health Clinic staff This article is "Coping - Holiday Depres­ sion"). The holiday season, sup posedly the happiest of all tirrfes during the year, is ironically the most miserable for many people. As children we can remember the excitement and expectation that all of our dreams would be magically fulfilled Of course, as the child prows up the dreams become increasingly more complicated and less easily satisfied by the W transient joy of the holidays. Yet the importance given to Christmas in our society seems to perpetuate the expectation that the same feeling of childhood should be recaptured in mid-December. If a person is mildly depressed during most of the year, the joyfulness evident in others around him may prove a painful reminder to the depressed person that his own life has not been particularly happy. Often, as the holiday season approaches, a person builds up an expectation that finally things will improve, if only for a couple of weeks. When this expectation is not fulfilled as the holidays get closer, one may be left with a sense of hopelessness. disillusionment. and a deepening feeling of depression Psychiatrists have long noted the increase in suicide attempts during the holiday season. People susceptible to holiday depression may need a great deal of support before and during the holidays, with an assurance that the depression should be significantly alleviated shortly after the holidays Those who have experienced depression during the holidays in previous years may profit from seeking professional help before the holiday season approaches Many times, simply the insight that the supposed joyfulness of the holidays is not the same after childhood for anybody can explain the feeling of letdown. Taking the mystery out of the reason for depression can be of significant value in alleviating the actual symptoms. If the depression recurs with regularity every year, professional help should be sought before the onset of depression Next: The hyperactive child. Christmas Festivities Among Lutheran Plans Two classes of students at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church, 404 N. Green street, McHenry, who will present a skit to the student body. BREETTHf Long Wire A ton of steel can be drawn into more than 10 miles of wire. ENTERTAINMENT WITH ••MILLIE O'BRIEN" SPECIAL NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER Includes glass of Champagne CALL FOR RESERVATION A BUFFET WILL BE SERVED AT 12:30 AM OUR USUAL SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST 8 AM to 1 PM - FRESH BLUEBERRY PANCAKES "SEE YOU AT THE CORK" CORK 'N CLEAVER 653-9081 7518 HANCOCK DR„ WONDER LAKE _ A-l HEARING JIID SERVICE^ | Free Loaners - Complete Service on all Makes Custom Earmolds - 30 Day Trial on New Aids Try Before You Buy! Maico-Oticon-Radio Ear Qualitone Custom Made All in the Ear Models R0BT. STENSLAND & ASSOCIATES 3937 W. Main St., 385-7661 Behind-the-ear AID •. ftft Reg. $239 1"" Special services have been planned at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church, 404 N. Green street, McHenry, for the Christmas season by the Worship committee headed by Ben Chelini. Communion candlelight services will be held by the worshippers as they sing the familiar carol "Silent Night, Holy Night". A Christmas Day Festival Communion service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Special music will be provided by the senior choir and by small groups and soloists including James Boyd, Greg Boyd and Mark Schneider. On Sunday, Dec. 26, the church school, led by Supt. Erv Staveteig, will sponsor a film entitled "Birth of the Savior and the Childhood of Jesus" for the entire student body and the parents. The two church school periods on Sunday morning begin at 9:20 and 11:20 a.m. In addition to the 16mm film, a skit for the entire student body will be provided by classes taught by Mrs. Beryl Grimes and Mrs. Beth Johnson. Human Costs Of the two million Americans who sailed to France during World War I, 53,000 died in com­ bat and another 204,000 were wounded. NOT COVERED BY A PENSION PLAN ? protect your future with a 100% tax deductable IRA or Keogh retirement account. It Is now possible to build a secure future for you and your family. Congress approved a plan to allow employees and self-employed individuals who are not covered by a pension plan to supplement their Social Security benefits by opening either an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or Keogh Account. Even a working spouse can open a separate account. You are able to contribute 15% of your annual income up to $1,500 per year into an IRA account or up to $7,500 per year in a Keogh Account. Both accounts give you the benefits of a 100% tax deduction on your income tax return and your contributions and earned interest are 100% tax sheltered until you start receiving payment from the account. Of course, your tax bracket wil be substantially lower when you retire so you'll save a lot on taxes. First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Crystal Lake is offering IRA and Keogh Accounts paying the highest legal interest rates with insured safety. We urge you to open a retirement account by December 31,1975, so you can benefit this year from a tax deduction. We'll be happy to answer any questions about IRA and Keogh Accounts at any of our convenient offices or call our main office and ask for retirement information. / callus... \ Jf IRA & KEOGH RETIREMENT INFORMATION 4 Open Your Account By Dec. 31,1975 To Receive A Tax Deduction On Your 1975 Tax Return (815)459-1400 FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION First F«d«ral Savings & Loan Association of Crystal Laka Crystal Lake 1 East Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake, III. 60014 (815) 459-1400 Algonquin 1309 Dundee Road (Rt. 31), Algonquin, III. 60102 (312) 658-8622 Wauconda 475 West Liberty (Rt. 176), Wauconda, III. 60084 (312) 526-8622 PUBLIC PULSE (The Plaindealer invites the public to use this co­ lumn as an expression of their views on subjects of general interest in our co­ mmunity. Our only request is that the writers give - signature/full address and phone number. We ask too, that one individual not write on the same subject more than once each month. We reserve the right to delete any material which we con­ sider libelous or in objec- tional taste.) Dear Editor. "The youth of McHenry are dying. The once sociable, gaiety of the City of McHenry is slowly being washed down the drain. The youth of McHenry are quite bored. I speak not for myself, but as a representative of a majority of our own McHenry high school students who agree that, there is not, but should be a public youth center for the teenagers of McHenry.' This statement is the belief of over 90 percent of the students enrolled in McHenry high school. And, I say this rather tritely, 'Kids need a place to go to have a fun time.' "A youth center' or a place of recreation would greatly benefit our town. "How? Creating a recreation hall would indirectly solve the answer to a problem of keeping 'kids' off the streets. Also, the drug rate would decrease for a highly ethical reason, that, a major portion of teenagers today get involved with drugs because they are bored or have nothing to do in their spare time. "Thus, by creating a place for kids to go would keep kids off of such stuff as marijuana, drugs, and alcohol. "Now, after all this you may ask, 'Well what about all of the co-curricular activities and sports that the school Jurnishes for them. Aren't they enough?" These are not enough! Kids need an informal, medium restriction, social hall, which school activities are not. to do what they want and not be bossed around. Certainly this is not to be a wild hang-put. It will be well-supervised with some small, necessary, orderly rules. "Another question may have popped in your head like, 'Where's all the money going to come from9' "I'm sure that all of you parents wouldn't mind help support a fund for such a worthy cause as this, if it was keeping your child out of trouble, would you? "It now comes down to the question. Will public officials of McHenry let the abiding people have the right to hold or even build such a recreation hall?' "So, then, as a speaker for the teenagers of McHenry high school, 1 ask, not first of the officials who run this town, but of the people, who with some support, can make our dream come true, by setting up a place for us to go, to stay out of trouble, so that later on, we, as people, will have something to look up to and be proud that we did something for the benefit of our town. "And, this goes to advice for anyone, 'stand up and get in­ volved.' You may see you've done something nice." "Rick Szumlas "Brad Smith" Golden Gleams The night cometh, when no man can work. -John 9:4. Night is the mother of thoughts. -John Florio. 4 WINNING CARD DESIGN - Chuck Hahn, right. Woodstock has won the McHenry County college's annual contest for designing the official MCC Christmas card. Ossie Rometo, art instructor at MCC, and Shirley Davis, wife of MCC president, James Davis, discuss the design with Hahn. The card has been reproduced by a professional printer and sent to 1,200 homes across the state of Illinois. Chuck is a part-time art student at MCC and will be a Spring graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago. Governor-Elect Holds State Poetry Contest Governor-elect James H. Thompson has announced that he is . sponsoring a poetry contest for Illinois school children The contest is being held in conjunction with Jan. 10 inauguration day activities. The Governor-elect said the theme of the inaugural. "People Make the Difference," should be the subject of the poems. Illinois' Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks, is the Chairperson of the contest. Ms. Brooks will select five finalists who will personally present their poems to Governor-elect Thompson Jan 7. Ms. Brooks and the Governor-elect will then choose two winners. They will read their poems during the inauguration ceremony. Deadline for entries is Dec 27. Poems should be mailed to Illinois Inaugural '77, 110 S. Dearborn, Room 1206, Chicago, II.. 60603. POETS CORNER THE RESCUE UNIT The fear one feels when firsj they hear A cry of one they love, in pain Makes them realize it could be worse If they knew his cry was in vain. It somehow makes it easier When one hears a loved one cry To know that in this town of ours So much help is so close by. We learn in one brief moment How comforting it is to say: "Don't worry, Hon, it's alright now, The Rescue unit's on the way". Their answer to our call for help Is almost fast beyond belief. In moments they are at our side Offering competent relief. The hospital is notified And we're quickly on the way. Even then we can't find the words To say the things we*want to say; "Thank you for the easing of pain But also the easing of fear" How comforting it is to know The Rescue Unit's always near. We're grateful for the confidence We feel when you are there, And for the private time you give To gain knowledge in how to care. How many loved ones have been saved By men and women such as these? In our haste when we call for help I'm sure we don't think to say "Thank You" Do they know what we really mean? How truly grateful we are to have The Rescue Unit on the scene.... Mary Watson GET YOUR COPY OF THE NEW CONSUMER TRAVEL MAGAZINE • Dates, prices & details of more than 2000 flights & tours. • Available to the public - NO clubs or groups to join. • Travel alone or with friends & relatives. • All charter flights are CAB approved & fully bonded for your protection. PLUS... Information on how to get the most out of your vacation travel budget. NEW EDITION AVAILABLE NOW STOP IN TODAY: To get your copy of GOOD DEALS! CHAIN-0-LAKES TRAVEL SERVICE 3405 W. ELM ST., McHENRY 385-7500 4