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"Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 7 Question of the Week... Do you support MADD Canada's efforts to reduce the legal blood- alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05? because Tracy Hood Yes, | do agree ing and driving could kill some- body. Harold Gilbertt If my wife had it her way it would be 0.05. any drink- agree. Cameron Jones Yes, | definitely do Robin Rogers Yes, | think people should not be drinking and driv- ing. Richard Appleton Yes, it's good because it gets drunk drivers off the road but better public transporta- tion will be needed. Choral Society show a delightful journey To the Editor: What a delightful journey by the Scugog Choral Society. From Irwin Smith's opening tribute to Grace Hastings, who was the director of this society in those early for- mative years to the final song, we were treated to so many of the great songs from the musicals that we have enjoyed through the years. Great voices, a fine orchestra, a fast paced production and all those wonderful show tunes, an evening that will be remem- bered for a long time. Thank you. " N.R. Caswell, Port Perry Hospital could lose support From Page 6 persons who request same. Perhaps then we can find the reasons for seeking additional financial support without resorting to an arbitrary method being implemented in a cavalier manner. Keith A. Charles, Port Perry 'W i a os ® A fl es Less is More: > The ky: was darkening and I should have known better, but the kids and I went 8 walking anyway. Somehow the brain just can' t compute rain in December. We got caught but good -- 15 minutes from home with no place to shelter. As an adult you learn to just put your head down, keep going and focus solely on the relief. waiting at the finish line. But the lesson had just begun for the children. For once they couldn't duck out of the rain. It was cold and dark. Their soggy pants plastered heavily against their shins and quadriceps, resisting movement. They walked like stiff tin men under the weight of their waterlogged clothes, reluctant ; to bend their knees, whimpering, sniffing back tears. There supposed to do this. 'Maintaining morale fell to their fearless leader, who twittered on gaily. about how lovely the Christmas lights 'looked and how the corner near home was getting closer, and well, how can you really enjoy your warm, cozy house unless you:go out and get cold and wet sometimes? Home was truly sweet when it appeared, waiting to smother us in a fog of warmth. Peeling, tugging, yanking off leaden "denim. A hot tub drawn for legs red with chill. The celebratory giggle-run in the buff, flannel pajamas waiting. And of course bragging rights - look Daddy, we got so wet -- but it really means look what we got through. You cannot deeply understand and cherish comfort unless . you first experience misery, And so it is for many things. That - is the value of a negative experience. To be deprived of a things to divine its true value. Someone, for example, who spends a great deal of time in by Kay Langmuir hospital quickly learns to that to live simply and modestly in good health is to be rich and free beyond words. As Christmas draws near, nostalgia hangs heavy in the air. It "is in the old-fashioned scenes on Christmas cards piling up in our mail boxes and in the heritage-style capes of the carollers strolling Port Perry's main street on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It's in the distinctive clack of Thor's shoes as the big black gelding pulls a vis-a-vis carriage with Donna Eckhardt at the reins up and down Queen Street. We want the aura of purity to settle over Christmas and it's easier to find by looking back. But the reason for the apparent simplicity and goodness of those bygone days is deprivation. Back when life was stingy, difficult and dangerous, having a leisure evening to gather with fiddles and far-flung neighbours was cause for profound rejoicing. Having children who lived to adulthood was a blessing. Oranges and a new pair of mittens in one's stocking were the best possible gifts. We rightly sense that some elemental need is going unful- filled among the complications, clutter and coddling of modern life. So we cling to the trappings of an old-fashioned Christmas. Unfortunately, those among us who are experiencing most fully the meaning of Christmas, are those facing the saddest of Yules - people who have lost a dear loved one, here in Scugog, in New York, in every town. Within the crushing pain of their loss and deprivation is the full flower of love. There would not be one without the other. It is for these people in particular and indeed all of us who lived through Sept. 11 that Port Perry United Church is holding a Blue Christmas service this Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. Anyone who wants to feel the true joyous spirit of Christmas will find it there among quiet tears. says Mrs. Wanninkhof. 'And, perhaps most telling of how much the annual The Council Table By Chris Hall Reaching out to help In one way or another, for the past 30 years Anne Wanninkhof has been involved in efforts to make sure that the less fortunate of the area have a reason to smile on Christmas morning. With Christmas Day quickly closing in, Mrs. Wanninkhof and her fellow volunteers with Operation Scugog -- the township's local food bank -- are busy preparing hampers for those in need this Holiday Season. Once again, our caring community has opened its wallet and cupboards with an eye towards helping out those who could use a little assistance this time of year through the food bank's Christmas Hamper program. More than 140 families applied for help last year, and that number is expected to rise even higher in 2001, Nonetheless, she and her band of loyal volunteers have spent the past few weeks finding "adoptive fami- lies" for those in need, those who will compile gifts of clothing and toys for all in the family as well as Christmas meal with all the trimmings. The food bank supplies a $20 voucher for a turkey or ham. And so far, as usual, the response has been good. Local families, businesses, churches, schools and others have all stepped forward offering help. Thankfully, it seems, almost everyone wants to help out. "I've found that people are reaching out more this year... people really want to help," said Mrs. Wanninkhof. "The support we've gotten from the people of Scugog Township and the businesses and other groups has been fabulous. We couldn't do this without them." The program itself is unique, explains Mrs. Wanninkhof. Each family in need of help is assigned a code number and the only information the adoptive family is provided with is the ages and sizes of all family members. From there, those helping out purchase clothes and toys using the given information, keeping all personal details confidential. "It is a unique way of doing things. The people who ask for help are sometimes embarrassed of the situation they are in and do not want to be identified. With these code numbers, nobody knows who's who," she says. effortameans to Mrs. Wanninkhof, she gasps and seems surprised when asked what happens if someone is late applying or if it appears if not enough help is offered by the community. "I never turn anyone away. Never," she says sternly. "I don't care if they come at the last minute, no one goes home with no food for Christmas." However, with that said, she stresses that there is still a need for, help this year. There's still a number of families that need to be adopted out and, if anyone wishes to help out but doesn't have the time to compile a basket, she says the food bank will gladly accept a financial donation which will be used to purchase gifts and food for the family. "We want people to come forward early, both those looking for some help and those who want to help. The sooner we can get them matched up the better," says Mrs. Wanninkhof. "But no, we'll never turn anyone down. This community is so helpful; it always comes to help when we need assistance, here with the Christmas Hamper or when we do food drives. "The community is what makes this happen." Anyone looking to help out with Operation Scugog's Christmas Hamper program this year is asked to contact Kathy Foster at 905-985-4304.