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I Mosquito League Champs Presented withTrophies / as Christmas Day Comes Closer These are the Mothersill Printing Mosquito League champions who were presented presented with their trophies recently donated by the sponsor. Team members are: front row, 1-r: Kevin Seiffert, Colin MacDonald, Jeremy Oliver, Brad Humber, Steven Cooke, Jeff Guerts; Middle row, Matthew Oliver, Garret MacDonald, MacDonald, Shawn Whalen, Brian Beitle, Philip Seiffert; Back row, Coaches Bob Beitle and Rick Geurts. Missing: Jeremy Forsey, Russel Teskey, Jeff Mothersill and Coach Paul Forsey. He Celebrated His First Birthday Santa Clauses come in a wide variety of costumes, although the idea behind this popular figure is the same in many traditions. Sinter Klaas is shown above during his visit to the bazaar at the Knox Christian School on Saturday afternoon. With Santa and his helper are Daniel Koliard (left) and Stephen Bot. Santa Claus dropped into the Bowmanville 5th Wheel Restaurant on Saturday morning for breakfast and a visit with his many friends. Four- year-old Michael Smith was among the first to climb on Santa's knee and talk about the things he wanted for Christmas. JOHN M. JAMES Editor--Publisher GEO. P. MORRIS Business Mgr. R Assistant BRIAN PURDY Advertising Mgr. Editor DONALD BISHOP Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of The Canadian Statesman, The Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers. $17.00 a year--6 months $9.00 strictly in advance foreign--$55.00 a year Allhouqh every precaution will be taken lo avoid error. The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in its columns on the understanding that it will not be liable lor any error irv the adurticement pubtshod hereunder unless a proof ol such advertisement is requested in writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by the advertiser and with-such error or corrections Plainly noted in writing Ihereon, and in that case il any error so noted is not corrected by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion of the entire cost ol such advertisement as the space occupied by the noted error bears lo the whole space occupied by such advertisement. Public Should Have a Say An election on the free trade issue seems to be a heck of a good idea. There are many people for and there are many people against the concept. And there's a fairly wide spectrum of folks who are honest enough to say that the whole idea is so complex that they don't feel they can make a decision. But one thing seems to be agreed upon by everyone: Free trade is a major issue which could radically alter Canada's future. It's just that opinions vary as to whether it will create a paradise or a wasteland north of the 49th parallel. Given the fact that this is such a crucial issue, it seems only logical that the general public should have an opportunity to vote on it. That is not to say that we should revert to a policy of government by referendum. But on an issue this crucial it's important important to be able to say that the final decision had the blessing of a democratic democratic majority. This is exactly what was done in the Quebec referendum on "Sovereignty Association" a few years ago. As is frequently pointed out by free trade opponents, this topic was never discussed during the federal elections elections and therefore the government has no mandate to impose a free trade agreement. Moreover, the debates that would result from an election campaign would ensure that the Canadian public public was better informed aboutthe free trade issues. The Prime Minister has hinted that he'd be willing to call an election on this issue and has indicated in interviews interviews that the next election (whenever it is held) will be an opportunity opportunity for the public to express its verdict on free trade. Unfortunately, the time to hold an election on this subject is not at some point after the treaty has been signed and the whole subject is cast in stone. Furthermore, any election held long after the trade agreement will undoubtedly undoubtedly arouse other controversies controversies and other issues which will overshadow overshadow free trade. The issue is important enough that it should be decided by all Canadians -- not just the few who happen to occupy occupy seats in the House of Commons. Canadian Christmas Customs No one knows exactly how many cons evergreens have been growing in Canada. But the very first evergreen evergreen tree to be decorated for Christmas Christmas is believed to have been pressed into service in 1781. Baron Friederick von Riedescl, father of three young daughters, and a resident of the village of Sorel, north of Montreal, takes credit for decorating decorating the.fi rst Canadian Christmas tree. He and his wife trimmed the branches of a fir tree with white candles candles over 200 years ago. The above account of Canada's first Christmas tree comes to us by way of the folks from Carlton Cards. They also have conducted some research research into the history of Christmas in Canada and discovered the following following interesting facts. Christmas Day has apparently been celebrated on these shores for more than three centuries. The journals of the early fur traders and explorers record Christmas celebrations. For example, on Christmas Day, 1(170, the crews of the ships Prince Rupert and Wivenhoe were wintering on James Bay where they shared a meal of partridges partridges and venison with brandy and si rung beer: Records of Christmas decorating customs in li)lli century Canada are We haven't had a chance to review the government's proposals on day care in detail. But it seems to us that in one respect, the government is taking taking a turn down a rather dangerous road. It's not the day care concept we're opposed to. Reality dictates that in today's communities we have families in which both parents must work -- either out of choice or necessity. necessity. Some initiatives such as providing, day care in rural communities are especially overdue. But it appears to us as thoughi government's government's philosophy will letjjji to- New Brownies Enrolle Thoughts on Day Care Proposal wards providing day care as a public service, with centres being operated by the government or agencies of government. government. Naturally, existing private day care facilities wouldn't be ruled out. In fact, some reports suggest that provinces provinces would have a choice and could opt for either commercial or noncommercial noncommercial day care. But certainly it would appear as though the focus will be on government agencies carrying the load in the future. It seems to us that it would have been better to keep day care in the hands of the private sector, with adequate supervision and regulation provided by government. d in Two Local Packs These members of the Third Bowmanville Brownies were formally enrolled in their pack on November 16 at the Memorial Park Clubhouse. From left, (front row) arc: Amanda Vandcrveer, Kaitlin Wilson, Krista McCreary, Michelle Hayes, Jodie Nimigon, Meagan Cleary. In the back row, from left, are: Michelle Von flatten, Lori Giles, Stacey Arends, Lori-Ann Beach, Laura Holmes, Melissa Judson. rare, but Catharine Parr Traill states in The Canadian Settler's Guide (1855) that she collected red-berried wintergreen to hang over the man- tlepiece and picture frames in her host's home in 1832. The Carlton Cards research department department also makes mention of the origin origin of Santa Claus in Canada. This particular Christmas tradition is supposedly supposedly rooted in the legends surrounding surrounding St. Nicholas in Asia Minor in the 4th century. He became the patron patron saint of boys and girls and the bringer of gifts on December 6, St. Nicholas Day. He has appeared in Canada under many names including St. Nicholas, Father Christmas and Santa Claus. The earliest reference to the gentleman in the red suit is found in the Canadian children's periodical, Snow Drop, in 1851. The tradition of lighted Christmas trees dates back to the Mennonitc settlers who brought their custom of candles on Christmas trees to Ontario after the American War of Independence. Independence. Mennonitc settlers came lo the Kitchener area around the time immediately following the Civil War, The above items from the pages of history indicate that the Canadian Christmas does, indeed, have an identity all its own. It's odd when you stop and think that the same government which is trying to sell off public corporations and encourage public sector opportunities opportunities has taken the unusual step of creating what appears to be destined destined to become a day care bureaucracy. bureaucracy. Government, by its own admission, is suggesting that the private sector is more efficient. So why does it look to increased public sector participation participation in the realm of day care?; Once again, the government is reverting back to its old habitual way of problem problem solving. Government is so lacking in creativity that, when faced with a problem, it has no answer except that of forking money at the issucj until it goes away. It seems to us that the solution lies in the general direction of smaller- scale, community-based day care. No doubt there are churches, service clubs, community associations, and all manner of like-minded organizations organizations which could provide day care facilities if they were given the government government funding. In this case, government government centres would only be required in places where community-based facilities facilities didn't exist. Keeping day care in the hands of the community is not only less expensive expensive than other options. It also forces the parents to continue the very important important responsiblily of child-rearing. child-rearing. Give people the choice of raising kids themselves or letting the government government do it for them and many will opt for the government taking charge. And, of course, we haven't mentioned mentioned the fact that ambitious programs programs such as the $5 billion federal government day care scheme have the habit of eventually relying on funding from the provincial or local levels. If patterns of the past are followed, the federal government will slowly shift the expenses to the provinces, with the advice that provincial governments governments don't have to maintain the programs. They do have a choice, after all: They can keep the programs running or they can lose the next election. Fortunately, the day care schemes announced last week represent, a long-range blueprint for future action. action. And there's time to work out alternatives alternatives which may be more realistic. realistic. The above members of the Second.Bowmanville Brownies were recently enrolled enrolled in a meeting held at St. Paul's United Church Hall. The front row, from left, consists of: Sarah Morrison, Kimberly McCormick, Brandy VVagg, Julie Ken ter, Sarah Campbell. In the back row, from left, arc: Christine Gustcrson, Al.vssa Norrish, Melissa Boyce, Sarah Boyce, Sarah-Lynn Anonichuk, Heather Windsor and Lce-Ann Youngman. "There's trouble ... right here in River City, that's T, capital T, and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool." Since watching Bowmanville Bowmanville High School's version of "The Music Man" I haven't been able to stop singing that tune. I have received a few strange looks from fellow fellow workers as I banged away on the computer sort of in time with the tunc. Or from the produce produce man at the supermarket supermarket as I checked out the green peppers while dreaming of being Marian Marian the Librarian and ending up with a catch like Harold Hill. Still, high school musical musical productions always make me nervous. I end up sitting on the edge of my scat, holding my breath(and,because of the column waiting to be written, chewing on my pen) hoping that all goes well. It ■ must be even worse for parents, families and friends of the actors on stage. What if someone sings off key? Worse yet, what if someone someone can't sing at all? Last Tuesday evening started out much the same way. Grctchcn and I had slipped backstage prior to the start, to snap a few candid photos of the performers as they pumped themselves up for the show. All was well in the music room where the cast was tuning tuning up. 1 began to feel a little less uneasy. As I waited for the lights to go down and the music to start, those familiar queasy feelings started again. I couldn't believe it. What was I so nervous about? I was there to enjoy the show and not get so worked up about it.; Well, the lights soon dimmed and I quickly found out what a fool I had been. From the opening train scene to the grand finale I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed the production. There arc far too many cast members to mention but I find myself still remembering remembering t several scenes and lines vividly. Annie Schaffclcr (in the part of Eulalie Mac-. Kcnz.ic Shinn) was a stand-out. I couldn't stop laughing as she led four women in the routine of becoming "Egyptian Urns", or her simple reply to her overbearing overbearing husband "I think he meant peep." Every moment Eulalie was in action was a highlight highlight of the production and went far to prove that people still want lo laugh. Erika Schaffclcr (as Marian Faroe) and Jonathan Goad (as Harold Hill), playing (lie reluctant love interests, took on difficult parts and executed them so very well. Who couldn't relate to the feelings of rejection first given off by Marian? And the smooth-talking Harold won every con man's heart. To see love conquer all is an old theme but one that still makes for wonderful wonderful viewing. The four young town children were also outstanding. I suppose at a younger age it isn't so much acting as it is having a good time. My hat is also tipped lo Gillian Maxwell (as Mrs. Paroo) and the wonderfully wonderfully lispy Steve Kay (who stole everyone's heart in the part of Winthrop Paroo). The list goes on and on and I wish I had space to mention mention everyone involved with the musical. I'm from a high school with a very strong theatre department and I suppose I'm prejudiced to my former place of schooling, but 1 really didn't think I'd ever see anything to rival Clarkson's productions. Last Tuesday I was proven wrong. From the sets, to the make up and costumes, to the terrific musical accompaniment, accompaniment, the whole show was dynamite. Obviously the cast and crew thoughi so too, as their loud shouts back- stage after opening night proved. Congratulations are in order to Bowmanville High School's Drama Club for one more in a long history of splendid productions. My one regret is that 1 only saw the show once.