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A book Premier Davis will treasure A leather-bound copy of the Trillium Publishing Company book The People's Pope was presented last week to Premier William Davis by Trillium's John Roach, left, and Bishop Leonard Wall, right. Ceremonies took place at Queen's Park. -Mark Harrison, photo ean oe Christmas spirit by PETER SPOHN Several years ago, a Canadian army veteran who saw action in World War II tried to tell me that the typical soldier did not care about defen- ding freedom so much as he cared about defending his regiment's honour and integrity. He went so far as to say that, to him, it didn't really matter which side he fought on. His was only one person's opinion and he was probably trying to be provocative but I found it disturbing nonetheless. Didn't the torch of freedom burn in every soldier's heart? Hearing an expressed opinion - on any subject - that flies in the face of the conventional can be maddening, but it can also be refreshing in that it gets you thinking a little harder. So it was for me the other day when I was talking to someone who was telling me how much he couldn't stand Christmas. He didn't like anything about it. Not the Christmas carols playing on the radio. He couldn't stand having to buy Christmas presents, and didn't care much about getting them, either. Being infected by the Christmas Spirit to him meant being depressed until Dec. 25 was over. The guy made me mad with all his dreary thoughts on Christmas. Don't you think you could maybe just try a little bit to see the good in it, I thought. "I'm just glad when it's over,' he said. I ended up telling him that I actually enjoyed hearing carols on the radio. Not the dumb ones or the ones that are sung by some idiot that sounds like a sick cow but the ones sung by some of the world's more reknowned adult and children's choirs, like the King's College choir. I also like Christmas shopping even though I'm one of those people who shops at the last minute. I like the festival atmosphere even if the excessive materialism turns me off. I like going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. It's one of the few times of the year I go to my family's beautiful old Anglican church, and I go Obituary Robert Morgan Penetanguishene from Morgan of Church 1969 until his retirement Street, Penetanguis- in 1974. hene, died Dec. 15, 1984 Mr. Morgan was a in Penetanguishene veteran and served General Hospital, Overseas during the following a lengthy Second World War. He illness, at the age of 67 was also a member and years. a past president of Mr. Morgan was born Royal Canadian Legion in Buckingham, Quebec Branch No. 68, The late Robert (Bob) and grew up in the Penetanguishene. Ottawa area. As a bank He was very active in employee, Mr. Morgan community affiars lived in several Ontario w hile ion Penetanguishene, being a past president of the Lions Club and the centres. He was a manager of the Toronto- Dominion Bank of more because I enjoy the service than out of a feeling I should go. Pre-Christmas get-togethers are fun, too. I know someone who works it so that the party starts early at someone's place for the first round of food and refreshments, then moves on to the other people's places for subsequent rounds. (All stops are within walking distance of each other so no one has to drive.) I get a kick out of giving presents to members of my family. We buy each other inappropriate junk for stockings for Christmas Eve, which is at least as much fun as opening presents the following morning. So big deal, my friend would say. You get in the Christmas Spirit every year, and I don't. Another friend I went all through public and high school with used to be completely cynical on the subject of Christmas. His was a studied cynicism. It was almost as though he thought it cool to be anti-Christmas. He's not cynical about it anymore, though. Two years ago, his and his wife's Christmas "card" arrived in the mail. They told their friends that instead of sending Christmas cards they were trying to get their friends to join the nuclear freeze movement. Their Christmas greeting was a multi-page package of printed material condemning the arms race. A bit unusual and a little surprising but it was their way of putting meaning behind "Peace on earth."' Christmas time provided them their entree to spread a message of peace. Remember during the height of the Viet Nam War when the Americans and the Viet Cong stopped fighting for a few days during their Christmas truce? The Viet Cong weren't even Christians. To my friend who hates Dec. 25, I'd say some good results from it. It's unfortunate that the "truce"couldn't last all year. Christmas sons kh. sDtAney, of London and Hugh R. of Thorold, his daughter Marcia E. (Mrs. John former chairman of the Penetanguishene chap- ter of the Canadian Cancer Society. His funeral service Almas) of Guelph. his was held in grandchildren Melinda Beausoleil Funeral Morgan, Rebecca & Home, Penetanguis- Benjamin Almas, and hene, on Dec. 18 with Rev. Harvey Markle as the officiating clergy. Spring interment will be his brother George E. B. Morgan of Ottawa and sister Doris (Mrs. B. Springer) of Ottawa, in St. James-on-the survive him. Lines Cemetery, He was predeceased Penetanguishene. by his aunt Alice R. His wife Mrs. Dorothy Morgan, and by his (Renwick) Morgan of sister Florence Penetanguishene, his (Queenie) Nesbitt. These crime prevention tactics can work in your own home town! Workers in crime prevention programs across Canada have come up with some interesting possibilities to help communities decide what is most needed in their own neighborhood. The Ministry of the Solicitor General of Canada _ suggests that each idea will need to be adapted to a com- munity's own analyzed needs, but offers these as prevention tactics which various groups have found to be ef- fective in achieving their own goals. Police-Community Boards: Police and community leaders jointly plan crime prevention, leaders by presenting their con- cerns and police by sharing information on departmental resources and services. Street Observation: While walking or driving through a neigh- borhood, police or residents systematic- ally note opportunities for crime to occur (open garage doors, keys left in cars), then inform residents of these potential problems. Environmental Design: Lighting levels, traffic flow problems, and the design of public spaces can all influence crime occurence and, in some communities, are ob- vious"steps to take in preventing crime. Working with municipal politicians, police, planners, and ar chitects, community leaders ensure that new community facilities are designed to reduce opportunity for crime to occur. Crime' Hotlines: Community-minded radio stations and newspapers offer anonymity and. or cash awards to telephone callers for reporting drimes or suspicious behavior. This in- formation is im- mediately forwarded to the police. Block Clubs: Neigh- bors on a block are organized, usually by an elected captain, to receive crime prevention education, help improve relations with the police, and participate in crime prevention activities, such as escort services and 'home = security surveys. Tenant Organizati- ons: Tenants initiate and support many of the same crime prevention activities as Block Club members, but issues will often focus on safety of common areas, building main- tenance, and other problems of interest. Neighbourhood Watch: Block captains and participating residents work with Inside St. James Architect Spencer Higgins (left) and St. James warden Walter Spearn are "photographed beside a piece of woodwork in the church's interior that has carefully been stripped, cleaned and finished like it was originally. the church acting at the eyes and they police, "alternative ears'? whenever spot trouble. Apartment Watch: This is similar to Neigh- bour-Watch, but em phasizes the special problems associated with an apartment building's structure and management. Other Opportunities for Watch Programs: Any area can be defined and protected by con- cerned citizens: por- ches, subways, alleys, parks, or marimas are just a few of the possibilities. Vehicle Radio Patrols: Using two-way radios, neighborhood patrol members and cab drivers contact police as a need arises. Automatic Timers: These will turn lamps and radios on and off to give unoccupied residences the ap- pearance of being oc- cupied. uddy Buzzers: These alarm systems sound off in a_neigh- boring store or apart- ment when one partner is in trouble. Neighborhood Dir- ectories: These directories or maps, used by many block watches, give names, addresses, and phone numbers for every house on a block in order to speed news of a neighborhood problem. Photo by Peter Spohn Structural repairs to the church are complete and interior restorations are mostly complete. Painters will wait until the spring before applying lin- seed oil-based paint on the outside of Monday, December 24, 1984, Page 3