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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-12-02, Page 1ESTABLISHED IN 1873 "THE SEPOY TOWN" ON THE HURON -BRUCE BOUNDARY PUBLISHED IN LUCKNOW, ONTARIO 20 PAGES 404 PER COPY lye 2198 Post office delivers letters to Santa r Once again, postal employees in Ontario are devoting much of their spare time in an annual labor of love - helping a certain old fellow from the North Pole with his Christmas correspondence. Since 1982, post offices large and small have helped Santa Claus answer the flood of mail from children across the country. The sheer volume of letters addressed to Santa (about 250 each year from Lucknow alone and over 65,000 all across southwestern Ontario) translates into a formidable 9amount of work for the volunteer army. To help them, Canada Post provides special letters and envelopes f.r volunteers and promises that all reljlies will be personally answered by Santa and returned to the children. Here in Lucknow, the answering of let- ters to Santa is something the post office employees do each year, often on their own time. "Our staff takes the time to see that every letter we receive is answered," says Win. Allen, assistant Post Master at the Lucknow branch. "The staff really looks forward to it each year.", Such a thing is best done at a local level, according to Mr. Allen.. That way, Santa often ttiotrWS'th�e�` dldr'ehli ` (or' way,, writing to. As Win. explains, it's the little things that mean a lot, especially at this time of year.. While the bulk of the letters addressed to Santa get to the post office a week or two before Christmas, Win. says the Lucknow office got their first letter to the North Pole more than a month ago. "We often get a whole classroom of kids coming from the school to deliver their let- ters," adds Mr. Allen. "We let them help bag the mail and I think they really enjoy it. It's a good chance for them to visit the post office and see how it works." If you, or your child, would like to write to Santa, you are asked to address your let- ter to Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada and include the postal code - HOH OHO. Letters can be mailed at any post box or can be brought into the Lucknow Post Office and dropped in the special red box set up just for the purpose. Thanks to the volunteer work of the postal elves, every letter will get a prompt reply. Deadlines looming Canada Post would also like to remind its local customers that time is quickly running out if they want to make sure their cards, parcels and letters : get to their .,. destination before December 25 0111 IIi the parade The Annual Lucknow Santa Claus Parade will take to the streets of ' the Village this weekend and, weather permit- ting, children of all ages will line . the streets for a glimpse of the jolly man himself. The Lucknow and District Lions are handling the organizational duties for the parade this year with the Kinsmen in charge of contacting Santa. Lion Bob Bergman is the contact person for the parade and he says the Lions are hoping for at least 20 floats to take part in the annual event. Bob would ask that any group wishing to enter a float in the Santa Claus Parade be at the school this Saturday by 12:30 p.m. so that there is ample time to line up. "We would also like to encourage any in- dividuals that would like to participate to dress up as their favorite Christmas character and join in," said Mr. Bergman. "Prizes will be awarded in this category as well as many others." While the Lions admit that organizing the parade is "a lot of work", they unders- tand how important the event is, not only to the children, but to the local businesses who ' should do a booming business this weekend. Don't forget - the parade starts at 1 p.m. this Saturday. with Santa on hand to listen to the children's Christmas wishes at the school immediately following the comple- tion of the route. Saint Nicholas will have special treats for the kids, so parents are well advised to bring out the family and get a little shopping done at thesame time. Loc1 merchants do best to encourage your, business The Lucknow Business Association is "out for business" these days as the busy Christmas season approaches and most shops in the village are reporting general- ly good sales. In an effort to encourage shopping in Lucknow,, the local association recently organized 'a special promotion in which four $10Ogift certificates were awarded to area. shoppers. "The promotion worked very well," says Joanne Webber, president of the Lucknow Business Association. "We had more peo- ple involved than we expected and business was generally good during that time." Part of the promotion was the offer of free skating, hot chocolate and cookies for Saturday shoppers. The association reports that they ran out of hot chocolate during the event and if that is any indica- tion as to the number of people getting an early start on their Christmas shopping . during the day, the event must certainly be deemed a success. The four gift certificates, redeemable at. any of the 16 participating stores in Lucknow, were won by Annie Stanley, Con. nie McBride, Isabel Tiffin and Rhea Whitby. Keep in mind that the annual Lucknow Santa Claus Parade goes this Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and that Santa himse will be receiving children at the school im- mediately following the parade. This would be an excellent opportunity for parents to get away and take care of some of the shopping. Cards and letters being sentby air to the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Ger- many, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, Hong Kong and all Canadian Forces Post Offices, must be mailed by December 5. Fourth class items, packages and parcels, sent to all out-of-town destinations in Canada and the United States should be m iled by December 7 while first class i ms going to the rural addresses in Canada and the U.S. must be post marked by December 11. In -town mail in Canada and the U.S. sent fourth class can be mailed as late as December 15 while first class items to in - town addresses should be in the mail box no later than December 16. You should note that a special 31 cent rate is available for all cards 'going to destinations in Canada. Cards are available at stationary stores in specially marked boxes bearing the "Greet More" symbol. Precoded stamps for these envelops can be purchased in booklets of ten from the local post office outlet. As always, the old rule of mailing early to avoid the rush is in order. The Township of Ashfield is sorry to see the retirement of three valued employees this year,. but at the same time wish the gentlemen .the very best in their retirement. A special appreciation dinner was held over the weekend for Don Simpson, Asbfield's Clerk -Treasurer for the past 36. years; Jim Hunter, who spent 26 years with the Township as Road Superintendent; and Gordon Saunders, a road grader operator for the past 19 years. That's Ashfield Reeve,Allan Gibson making the presentation of a special gift from the Township to the three recently retired employees. With. over 80 years of combined experience, Don, Jim and Gordon will certainly be missed by the Township. About 30 freinds and relatives gatheredin Lucknow for the retirement din- ner held in their honour over the weekends .(Rob Bundy photo) Find the spirit The Christmas Fund Committee is busy making arrangements to assure that everyone. hi the Lucknow area has a very merry Christmas, and your help is needed. • Small, gifts and item of canned goods are now ;:being accepted from area residents. These items will then be sorted and delivered to families less fortunate than ourselves. If you can find it in your heart to help with this very worthwhile cause, donations of gifts may be dropped off at the bins set up in etchers Market, Home Hardware and the th Centre in Lucknow. Cash dOiiatlons 8houdd be'sent directly to Mrs. Marfan McFarlane, Boz 70, LucknoW, NOG 2110 or left at the Health Centre. Christmas is a time of sharing and the Lucknow 'Christmas Fund is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to delight in the gift of giving while spreading much needed love to needy iindivlduais in and around our community. e