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do so in a small fishing boat, and on Good Friday they were picked up at sea by a West German ship and taken to Singapore. Sne sent word to the Hamiltons, now living in McHenry, and asked for $200 to get to the United States. Mrs. Hamilton checked out the usual channels but found that she was unable to help. The U.S. banks she approached would not allow money exchange; international banks would not transfer less than $1,000; and she found that she could cable the money but there was no assurance that an attempt would be made to find the Phams. One avenue for help remained open. Mrs. Hamilton approached the Baxter Travenol firm in Deerfield, for whom she worked. She learned that two architects would soon be leaving for Singapore and the money was sent with them. For two months after their arrival the Pham family resided in McHenry with the Hamiltons. Now they have their own apartment in Deerfield and both are employed at Baxter Travenol Last Sunday, at the Hamilton home, a young couple and their two children, Nhien, 10, and Nhu, 4, had more reason than most for being merry. It was Christmas, but the Phams were also observing Thanksgiving. The Great Outdoors... For a short time during December of each year, the William Howenstines open their farm north of McHenry to families and grade school classes that wish to cut their own Christmas trees. But in doing so, the people who come to cut trees also learn a little about the outdoors from Alice Howenstine, an environmental educator. This past week, a class from the Nazarene Nursery school, in Mundelein, stopped to get a Christmas tree for the classroom. A number of tothers have also taken advantage of the programs offered at the Howenstine farm. including elementary classes from McHenry, Johns burg Head Start and the Pioneer center. The children begin their day by climbing aboard a hay rack for the ride to "the pines." "The kids sing Christmas carols all the way out to the pines," she said. "And it's usually a big decision - which tree to cut." After the tree has been selected and the cry of "Timberrr," is heard, the children haul the tree back to the hay rack for the trip back to the house. While the children are at the pines, Mrs. Howenstine teaches them about the trees...and whatever else comes up. "If we come across a bird's nest or the nest of a ground squirrel, we'll talk about the animal that lived there," she said. The children also learn to tell the age of a conifer while it is standing and after it has been cut. A tree's age, while standing, she said, can be determined by the number of whorls (branches stemming from the same point on the trunk) because a new whorl is added with every year of life. When the tree is cut, the age is found by counting the number of growth rings. On the way back, the class stops to feed and pet the chickens and horses - giving the children a further exposure to farm life. "It's really a neat experience for the kids," she said. "It gives the kids a basic kind of ex­ perience, an exposure to farm animals and opens their eyes to the outdoors." "The advantage of a field trip - any kind of field trip -- is that it gives the teacher a chance to build up to the trip and to follow up," Mrs. Howenstine com­ mented. An old farrowing building on the farm was remodelled into a classroom facility. The class ended up in this building, next to a warm fire and with cups of hot chocolate in waiting. As they warm from the day's activities, Mrs. Howenstine shows and explains the tools that are used in planting, pruning and trimming the Christmas trees Pruning usually begins in the fourth year of growth and she pointed out that between 1,000 and 8,000 trees are planted an­ nually. Last year, she pointed out, 4,000 saplings were planted. Mrs. Howenstine hesitated to say the programs offered were non-profit, but after the hidden costs of insurance, the hot chocolate, etc. are paid, there is little left over. The yuletide, however, is not the only time of year that the k (Continued on page 20) THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-iAKES REGION SINCE 1875 fltoarb Binning HctMpaptr 1980-- Illinois Press Association Nawepapar Contaat Reflections on the Christmas season have no place in the pre-holiday scheme of things. Too much is happening to concentrate on one particular thing. However, now that the gifts are either put under the tree or delivered to friends, reflections seem in order. It's a happy season to be sure, exept when you work with someone who is anti-Santa Claus. For a week before the big day, our newspaper windows reached out to all who passed with their bright trappings that kept repeating, "Merry Christmas". Inside the office was a different story. A young, non-believer in festivities worked beneath a half-dozen black balloons and against a black wreath, all part of the image of a non-conformist. But even this is not as depressing as floundering amidst the wrappings, cards, ribbon, tape, scissors, etc., necessary to make1 our gifts look presentable for giving. there has to be a better approach to gift giving, but we haven't found it. For some reason everyone gets caught up in the buying sprees that are inevitable in December. Then we forget what we have bought, or have mislaid it. Three times we bought gift enclosure canto and three times they became lost is we melee. We finally settled for old greeting cards for which there were no envelopes. Invariably the tape is somewhere underneath something when you need it most. After looking deseperately but successfully for the scissors, you settle back with a sigh of relief to cut just the right size wrapping paper. Neatly you tuck in the ends and then find there's no tape. Ye gads! It was there seconds before. It couldn't just walk away. But it did. "Patience, patience", you mutter to yourself but the weariness of Christmas preparations iet the words fall on deaf airs. Under the couch it finally comes to light, kicked there when you got up to search for the scissors that managed to sneak between the folds of the wrapping paper. Even boxes, especially the small variety, have a way of eluding your night. They were there minutes before. But they are not there now, when it's V (Continued on page 20) Crash Injures Couple Enroute To Florida Forme/- County board chairman Walter Dean and his wife, Florence, were involved in a traffic mishap on Interstate 65, near Lebanon, Ind., on Saturday, Dec. 13. Mrs. Dean is reported to be "recovering well" from injuries sustained in the accident and is expected to be transferred to McHenry hospital Wednesday. Mr. Dean was reportedly not hospitalized. The Deans were traveling to Florida when the mishap occurred. The car and a trailer with their possessions were destroyed. On Dec. 20, a car driven by Sulev Ahven, of 2616 Fair Oaks, McHenry, failed to negotiate a curve on Biver road and struck a telephone pole. The McHenry Rescue squad transported Ahven to the hospital. Witnin moments, a second car, driven by Mariano R. Vilches, of 2502 Driftwood, Holiday Hills, rounded the same curve and struck the guide wire of the telephone pole. A passenger in the car, Ronald M. Allen, of 2502 Driftwood, Holiday Hills, McHenry, was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. The two collisions occurred at 6:45 p.m. Dec. 20. Theodore F. Felczak, of 1035 Braeburn, Mundelein, was ticketed for failure to yield the right-of-way? following a two-car collision on Route 14. The driver of the other car. .fame* I, Hearity, of 4203 E. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake, told police he was heading west on Route 14 when the Felczak vehicle made a turn in front of his car. The accident occurred at 2:55 p.m. Dec. 19. James F. Monahan, 222 Elm court, Libertyville, was driving west on Beaver, in Wonder Lake, when another auto reportedly came close to his lane of traffic. Monahan applied the brakes and slid into the other auto. The other auto was driven by Nancy L. Barkdoll, of 7413 Parkwood, Wonder Lake. Todd L. Boutin, of 1406 Brorson, McHenry, was stopped eastbound on Route 120 to make a left turn, when his car was struck in the rear by another auto. The driver of the other car, Roger D. Hahn, of 3415 Skyway, McHenry, told police he was blinded by the lights of an approaching vehicle and could not see the brake lights of the Boutin vehicle. The accident occurred at 8:59 p.m. Dec. 19. Randall W. Vauk, of 5218 Memory trail, McHenry, was heading east on Ringwood road when an approaching car reportedly swerved into his lane of traffic. Vauk told police he lost control of the car in an attempt to avoid the collision. The car went off the roadway and struck a tree. It's the spirit of sharing and reaching out to those in the community less blessed at Christmas time. This is the spirit of the Montini Primary center students this Christmas. They hope to fill Santa's bag with food and other HP V jO I rVl I • items to be given to the needy to make their Christmas a little brighter and f t l P M A P f l . l I fllll O f happier. Through the spirit of sharing and caring these youngsters are learning that it Is more blessed to give than to receive. Shown In the picture with Santa Claus, and presenting Santa with a check for the needy, is Mark Erkenswick, Montini first grade student. Mark Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Erkenswiek. Love Comes At Christmas TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1980 1 SECTION 22 PAGES 25* When Santa brought American toys to 4- year-old Nhu Pham of Vietnam last Sunday, she did what any happy youngster would do, give him a biff hug! At right, Mr. and Mrs. Santa and Nhu look a pair of new skates given to her brother, Nhien, 10, as a result of the Toys for Tots program held in the Pearl street park. At left, standing in back, are the children's parents, Doanh Pham and Chinh Nguyen Pham. Their story is one of the most heartwarming of the season in the McHenry community. STAFF PHOTO- WAYNE GAYLORD When two young Vietnamese children opened typically American gifts last Sunday, there was hidden behind their smiling faces a story that would do credit to any fiction writer. It all started back in 1961 when their mother, Chinh Nguyen Pham was a college student in the United States. Her father was prominent in Diem ' state government in Vietnam. When he came to this country on official business and visited his daughter, they became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Hamilton of Niles, 111. In fact, they became such close friends that young Chinh made her home with the Hamiltons when she was not attending school. Although she had asked for political asylum, it was not granted and she was forced to return to her home country after graduation. There, in her role as a teacher, she met Doanh Pham, who followed the same career, and they were married. Five years ago, after the fall of Saigon, Mrs. Hamilton received a letter from Chinh, begging her for help in getting out of the country. But her American friend found it was impossible. In the meantime, Chinh and Doanh planned for an escape. Finally, last March, they managed to VOLUME 105 NUMBER 42