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Puppet Show Entertains Kindergarten Students Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. December 5, 1979 13 The Preacher and the Disco Dogs An audience of Bowmanville Kindergarten students were engrossed with the antics of the Frog Print Theatre puppets. Three other performances of the show were given to Nursery School and Grade one students. By Betty Marti This past summer our family spent several weeks at a trailer camp in central Florida, on the outskirts of the city of Lakeland. This is an area about the size of Oshawa, a pleasant place and the very heart of the Florida citrus industry. One Sunday, as was my custom, I attended service at a little Southern Baptist church, just a few minutes' drive from camp. Rev. Hawbuck, the preacher, was in fine fettle that day and from previous experience we could tell that another rousing sermon was about to be delivered. Mr. Hawbuck did not disappoint us. Lakeland boasts of no less than 124 churches. In fact, on my last visit I was told proudly that the 125th. was under construction and would soon be completed. One could therefore be excused for thinking that the citizenry, coming under the powerful influence of this abundance of spirituality, would be models of rectitude, but such was not the case in Mr. Hawbuck's opinion. To himthey were, for the most part, a worldly bunch, given over to a hedonistic way of life and falling far short of the standards to which he himself so staunchly hewed. Mr. Hawbuck had often preached on the dismal state of Lakeland's morals and this morning, as he warmed to his subject, he turned his attention to the burgeoning number of discos in the area. These, he declared, boded no good for the community and could only bring about its swift downfall if allowed to proliferate. To drive home his point, he decided to tell us a story. "Two daugs," he said, "decided to take a walk through downtown Lakeland one night. They wuz fixin' to take a quick turn through town before headin' back home, but they didn't git very far before they came to a disco an' stopped to see what wuz goin' awn. Ah tell yuh, those two dawgs had nevah in their born days seen anything like it! They jest stood there an' gawped! All those people jumpin' an' jitt'rin' an' gyratin' like they wuz crazy; an' the racket comin' outta the place wuz simply horrendous! 'Y'know sump'n'? said one dawg, turnin' to the other. 'If we wuz to carry on it that fashion, we'd be WORMED!" A titter spread through the church and gained momentum. I, who happened to be in sympathy with Mr. Hawbuck's concern, was hard put to keep a straight face. To be honest, only a hastily- summoned iron self- control prevented me from breàking down and howling with laughter. Those southerners, weaned on that idiom, could take it in their stride, but for me, a northerner, it was something else again. It is one thing to become acquainted through television with this down-south folksiness, liberally laced with hillbilly lingo, but quite another to be suddenly very much a part of it. However, regarding the seriousness of Mr. Hawbuck's face and reminding myself of the gravity of the situation, it was unthinkable that I should give vent to an outburst of mirth, so I remained silent, but with great difficulty. The preacher eventually concluded his sermon and I drove back to camp, hardly able to contain my eagerness to relate the morning's topic to my family. They were as overcome as I was, and believe me, it'll be a long time before the memory of that sermon fails to elicit a chuckle from me! Puppets from the Frog Print Puppet Theatre of Toronto drew peals of laughter from the junior audiences during two performances at the Lions Centre and two at the Library last Friday. The shows were arranged by Mrs. E. Konzelmann of the Bowmanville Nursery School. Letters to Santa 123 Scugog St. November 26 1979 Dear.Santa Claus, How are you? Could you please bring me some clothes and Blip, Twister, Pete the Beaver, Ralph Raccoon and a telephone set. I hope your reindeer are feeling fine, and your elves, and Mrs. Claus. Love Laurel MacDougal P.S. Why are you so mean to Comet? We heard that he had to stay home and clean the sink! Dear Santa Claus: My name is Jennifer Green and I am 3 years old. My address is 14 Nelson Street, Bowmanville. I have been a pretty good girl, and help my mom with our new baby sister Amanda. I would like a baby-this-and- that doll a tov vacuum, and some Loc-Blocs, if you have enough. I promise to be good, and do what I'm told, and can't wait to see you. Love Jennifer Green 14 Nelson St. Bowmanville, Ont. L1C 1C8 P.S. I am anxious to hear from you. Nov. 22, 1979 10 - First St. Bowmanville L1C 2A3 Dear Santa I have been a good boy all year. Could you bring me the Incredible Hulk and a Star Wars gun. I will leave you a glass of milk and some cookies, and I will leave a carrot for Rudolph. This year I have two new brothers and we all would like a horkev game and a toy box. I will come to the store to see you and get my picture taken with you. We went to the parade and saw you. We waved at you and you waved back at me. I am four years old. Love Michael Woolner R.R. 2, Orono, Ont. Nov. 22, 1979 Dear Santa, I have tried to be a good a boy all year. Will you please bring me Criss Cross Racing Set and an X Wing Fighter? My sister Tracey has tried to be good too. She wants a new doll and a sticker book. We will be listening for you and your reindeer on Christmas Eve. I will tell Ladybug not to bark and scare Rudolph. Love Michael Doty T-shirts make great Christmas Gifts! • printed while you wait • great selection of colors and sizes now available at ... NORMAN'SENTERTAINMENT CENTRE -TE4EOS "Your one stop record shop" Bowmanville Mall 623-4535