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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Monday, December 23, 1996 f I)e Canabtan Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Ciimie and W. R. Climie 1854 -1878 M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 -1947 • Dr. George W. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W. z Bowmanvillc, Ontario L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 lnternet-statesman@ocna.org Fax 905-623-6161 JdOURS^Monda^oJ^rida^kOtNmn^mti^dH^m^ For 142 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozema, Suzanne Bennett, Sharon Cole, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Barb Patterson, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Supervisor - Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Sharilyn Carnegie Scrooge Vs. Santa A lthough it's been said, many times and many ways, we take this opportunity to wish our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In our experience, Christmas brings out both the Santa and the Scrooge in people. Inside each of us is the jovial Santa who wants to ensure that every living relative has received a Christmas card and every Christmas cookie has been perfectly baked. It's the same Santa inside us that wants to spend hours looking for the perfect gift and loves to trim trees, play Christmas music, and entertain lavishly. At the same time, there is the notorious Scrooge who lurks beneath the surface of the most cheerful Christinas reveler to ever deck a hall with boughs of holly. The Scrooge inside us wonders if there isn't too much humbug around the Christmas season. The voice of Scrooge whispers things about too much to do and too many gifts to buy and too many cookies to bake and just too much Christmas altogether. Scrooge and Santa. Two opposite views of the Christmas season. They can't both be right. Or can they? Perhaps, Santa and Scrooge merely represent the combination combination of altruism and self-interest which can be found in every healthy individual. Expectations are high in the Christinas season. season. There is pressure for everyone and everything to be perfect. perfect. And that is a tall order for the majority of us. So, we urge our readers to have the very best Christmas. But make certain that, in all the hustle and bustle of the season, you take time for yourself. Take time to enjoy the season to the fullest. It never hurts to stop and smell delicious aroma of roast turkey, you know. And, we remind everyone that although the season has become possibly the biggest festive event of the western world, the true meaning of this season lies in the spiritual rather than the material realm. Here's wishing you a merry Christmas. And may the peace, joy and abundance of the season follow you into the new year. Christmas Christmas Spirit?!! Twas the night before Christmas, Christmas, When all through our towns, Women were out shopping, And knocking clerks down. They sent them to hospital, With cuts, bruises, galore They're lucky, it could have been more. These women were out seeking seeking the ultimate toy. Something to satisfy, a girl or a boy. Now this toy, the rage of the land, Could be activated, by a touch of the hand. "Tickle Me Elmo", it goes by this name, And has risen to the top, of toy fame. In today's world, I guess we'll agree, Our children decided, what goes under the tree. In years gone by, when money money was lean, It seems we knew, what Christmas should mean. kids insist on 'spoiling their Christmas' by Finding out before before hand what will be there 'under the Christmas tree' for them. Our yearly tradition was: Dad would go downstairs first to get breakfast, usually beginning with half a grapefruit grapefruit for each one and commeal porridge. The seven of us would stay upstairs with Mom until everyone everyone was ready to go down. We would then go down to the tree and each get ONE present to open before breakfast. We had good solid food in our tummies to start the day, then we could cat freely of nuts, candy and tangerines until until about an hour before Christmas Christmas dinner which included all the trimmings. After breakfast we would go back to the tree to finish opening opening and enjoying our presents. Yours, Mildred C. Young « "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, Emmanuel, which being interpreted, interpreted, is God with us." (St. Matthew 1:23) On Wednesday, Thursday Thursday and Friday night, the Christmas Nativity was portrayed on the lawn at St. Paul's United Church in Bowmanvillc. Posing as Mary and Joseph were Jim and Tracey Vaughan- Evans. Even on the bitterly bitterly cold evenings, hundreds of area residents came out to watch the popular presentation presentation which is now in its 13th year. This photo was taken at an earlier rehearsal rehearsal for the Living Nativity. Nativity. Former Resident Praises Rotary Park Project Dear Friends: Since I don't know who is at the helm of The Canadian Statesman office these days, and was concerned that "Dear Sirs" might offend the fairer sex, and "Dear Mesdames" might seriously damage some male egos, I have chosen Dear Friends, which I hope will not be judged as too familiar. The warm memories I have of my brief employment at The Statesman I cherish. Those times were in the summer of 1943 between my junior and senior years at Bowmanvillc High School, and in 1946 be tween returning from Europe with the Canadian Women's Army Corps and going to the American Academy of Dramatic Dramatic Arts in New York. In November Aura Trewin sent me a copy of the special issue which you published about the Rotary Park and the Dedication of the Colville Memorial Memorial Clock Tower. I was very moved reading about the dedication to the memory of the three Colville brothers who gave their lives in defence of their country. What a wonderful wonderful way for the town to honour and remember these brothers, and also the other men in town who lost their lives during World War II. You also mentioned mentioned my brother, Bill, (W.J. Hutchinson) who was killed later. Thank you for including his name in your remembrance. remembrance. I would like to correct an error, however, in the information information about Bill's service activities. activities. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 - 1944, then in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during 1945 in Scotland. He returned to civilian civilian life, but joined the Canadian Canadian Navy Fleet Air Arm early in 1952 and was killed in maneuvers maneuvers over the North Atlantic in April 1952, not 1953 as reported reported in the paper. Again, may I commend you for revitalization of the Park and the remembrance of these young people. I also remember some delightful evenings skating skating on the ice rink in that park. At 71 I still love to skate, but am confined to indoor rinks in this climate. Sincerely yours, Ruth (Hutchinson) Weeks Charlottesville, Virginia. New Business Is an Asset To Newcastle Congratulations to Carl and Joyce Good on the dedication and opening of the Newcastle Funeral Home. I know your combined knowledge of funeral service and years of experience providing providing the utmost attention to detail detail and the very best in professional professional services would be an asset to any community. I am confident the support of the residents of Newcastle will be evident by the trust and confidence confidence they place in your services. services. I know that you will serve your community and its residents residents with the dignity and compassion that they are worthy worthy of. God Bless. Sincerely, John and Leanne llart J.W. llart Funeral Home Fusion Figures "Too Low Dear Editor: Scientists are now questioning questioning the viability of the International International Thermonuclear Experimental Experimental Reactor (ITER) (see: "Nuclear fusion project may fizzle", Globe and Mail, December December 6, 1996). We also now know that Ontario Hydro's estimate estimate of Canadian costs for building the fusion reactor in Ontario is very low. Ontario Hydro suggests that costs to taxpayers and ratepayers ratepayers would be in the vicinity of $1 billion. However, France and Germany withdrew their bids to host ITER because the host country will likely have to provide 50% to 70% of the total total $20 billion cost of ITER. Even the United States has decided decided not to host ITER. It should be emphasized that ITER is purely experimental and, for all its cost, will not produce one watt of electricity. The last thing Canada needs is another mega-project boondoggle boondoggle dependent on public subsidies. subsidies. The November 23rd headline of an Independent article article incorrectly reported that "Fusion lab cost $14 million critics say". The actual cost (as the text of the article noted) was up to $14 billion - ie. 14,000 million dollars. Contrary to the popular myths about fusion, it shares the worst characteristic of nuclear nuclear fission power - it is very expensive; it will release large amounts of radioactive pollution; pollution; it will create radioactive waste; and there is a risk of serious serious accidents. Given the economic, economic, environmental and safety safety concerns about the ITER fusion reactor, Clarington and Oshawa should re-examine their support for this dubious project. Sincerely, Dave Martin Nuclear Awareness Project " -A We'd gather at homes, friends, neighbours and all, Make a snowman, slide, or throw a snowball. Socks, sweaters, and candy, rested under our tree. And if we were lucky, an orange or three. We're richer today, so everyone everyone quotes, With our ATVs, Snowmobiles, Snowmobiles, two cars and boats. But when a toy you can tickle Can cause such a fuss Maybe it's time to go back To Just Being "Us". Don Brooks Bowmanvillc, Ont. Dear Sirs: We never tried to find our Christmas presents where they were hidden. We didn't want to take away from the magic of the surprises Christmas Day. I may never forget my most disappointing Christmas - the year 1 asked for 2 - 78 records, Yogi Yorgcscn's "Yinglc Bells' and 'C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A- S'. Before I got to sleep Christmas Christmas Eve, 1 heard them playing on the grnmaphonc. Next day, when I unwrapped the gift then opened the box that contained them, my spirits fell and my day was ruined, because because I hud known 1 was getting getting them. 1 will never understand why "The Column Before Christmas" (With all due respect to Clement Moore) 'Twas the night before Christmas, As I sat with my missus, Pondering what I should say. A new "Thoughts" was needed, having already exceeded, The number of times an old column could stay. V With our stockings hung by the chimney chimney with care, I went to my keyboard, stuck my butt in the chair. I need a new column, something perfect for Christmas, But, I need some assistance...a couple gin fizzes. V The children were nestled all snug in their beds, I stared at the screen, thoughts deep in my head. My fingers lashed out, they typed with such grace, But, only garbage appeared. It was time to erase. V When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter, I dropped my gin fizz. Oh, no matter. There's lots in the cupboard, and more in the cellar. My missus will bring refills, as soon as I beller. V But first, to the window, 1 flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters, hit my head on the sash. I grimaced in pain, peering out in the night, My missus was out there, involved in a I knew in a moment, it must be my bride. She fought like Mike Tyson, she fought with her pride. She pulled and she yanked, she appeared appeared to be strangled. This battle was tough, the lights were all tangled. V When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, A winner...my wife. The neighbours let out a cheer. The lights were untangled, ready to hang. "Get out here right now," my sweetheart sweetheart sang. V More rapid than eagles, I jumped out of sight, There's no way I'm goin' out in that cold, winter night. She whistled and shouted and called me by name. I hid in the bedroom and thought of the shame. V "Now, Richard! Now, Arthur! Get out here toute suite, Put on your big boots to cover your feet. Now Morgan! Now Miranda, and Maverick too, Track down your father, start your search in the loo." . V As I drew in my head and was turning around, Three faces appeared with hardly a sound, Two kids and a dog asked, "Daddy, what's the matter?" "Nothing," I said. I'll go get the ladder. V With she in her kerchief and I in my cap, I climbed up the spruce, my hands stuck to the sap, The stump of the tree, I held tight in my teeth, Where does she want this two tonne wreath? V The moon on the breast of the new-fallen new-fallen snow, Was shadowed by lights that did not glow. My missus was trying, but her glare left no doubt, When one light is broken, they all go out. V And then in a twinkling, I heard from the roof, An avalanche of snow that hit me...KA-POOF! It went down my back, sending icy cold chills, Not unlike my good friend, a man named Gord Mills. . V Laying a finger aside of my nose, It was time to go in, 1 could not feel my toes. But, I heard her exclaim, as I ran out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"