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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-12-23, Page 88 Exeter Tim.s-Advocate Wednesday, December 23. 1998 Opinion&Forum 10YEARS AGO December 21, 1988 - 11 is - more blessed to give than receive. That's the sentiment shown by the executive of the Fleck Manufacturing Social Club. This group who lost their jobs at the end of September when the Huron Park plant closed down, donated more than $6,000 from their fund to the area needy and handi- capped. 20YEARS AGO December 20, 1978 - According to old and new members of the South Huron Recreation Cente board, the complex had a very successful first year. of operation In terms of both programs offered and its financial condition. Mayor Derry Boyle announced this weekthat he plans to be in the town offices on regular daily basis to handle calls and visits from ratepayers and members of council. 35YEARS AGO December 21, 1963 - About $2,500 worth of slacks, sweaters and other apparel was stolen from T.C. Joynt and Son Men's Wear store in .. Hensall late one night this week. Entry was gained • by breaking the glass in the front door. Loss of around $25,000 was estimated in a barn fire near Clandeboye early Monday morning which destroyed vehicles, livestock and produce. The barn belonged to Joe Vanneste, R.R. 1, Clandeboye. • The value of a young girl's letter to Santa Claus has now reached the $2,500 mark since its Christmas sentiments were first published in the T -A eight years ago. Elizabeth Knox, daughter of Rev: and Mrs. Norman Knox wrote the letter which read "There are. children who need presents more than I do and 1 hope you have plenty of toys for them." Her wish was read by another Elizabeth in London who made -an anonymous donation to the girt through the London Free Press. Since then, .E.lizabeth has received a total of $2,500 all of which is in a trust fund for her education. 40 YEARS AGO - December 20, 1958 - The CGIT of Caven Presbyterian Church presented the Christmas Vesper service in the church, Sunday evening. Carole Hogarth was the leader for the service. In competition with United Church Sunday Schools from London and surrounding district, four pupils from James Street United Church in Exeter upheld their knowledge of the Bible without a defeat. The mkmbers of the team were Ann Fairbairn, Elsie Gosar, Larry Idle, and George Godbolt with Linda Hunter-Duvar and Douglas Huntley as spares. A threat of rabies in the area has prompted Hay Township to pass a bylaw stating that all dogs must be tied up, effective immediately until further notice. A new feature for students' of Lumley public school in Usborne Township this year was an old- fashioned sleigh ride around the . district. It was organized by teacher Mrs. William Mair. 50 YEARS AGO • December 20, 1948 - New' 1949 licence plates will go on sale on Monday, January 3. It is the stork that brought Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Wein their best Christmas present this year. Sherry was born on Christmas morning. Mr. Charles Waghorn was the winner of a radio in a Christmas draw at Robertson's drug store. The. best bushel of turnips submitted by the members of the Huron turnip club at Fridiay's Achievement Night was that of Harry Dougall. This year there are 35 on the roll for classes in the High School for displaced persons. The course of study is basic English. 75 YEARS AGO December 21, 1923 - Mr. W.E. Sanders on Monday shot one of the big California jack rabbits and experienced a lively time doing so. He was on the road in his buggy waiting for the dogs to bring the rabbit around when it came down the road towards him, closely followed bythe dogs. He pulled the horse to one side and yelled to scare the rabbit into the field and shot it from the buggy. The noise of the gun frightened the horse and they went down the road pell mell for one mile before he could stop the beast. He says he will not try it again. The rabbit weighed 11 pounds. ROSS SACK IN TIME Christmas in the country is special Everyone has their own special memories of Christmas. Maybe Fm biased, but 1 think the memories of Christmas in the country are the best. There were a few factors that made my Christmases special. I grew up on a farm, my brothers and sisters came home for Christmas and most importantly, we; trolleyed in Christ's birth. My best Christmas memories are from the years I was at university and came home after exams. I'd been away enough to appreciate my rural roots and my family. In our house, preparations didn't start until the .first Sunday in Advent but once .that first candle was tit, Mom kicked into high gear with the baking. Sugar cookies in the shapes of rein- deer, sleighs, trees, Santa and stars, short- bread, light and dark Christmas cake, gumdrop cook- ies, ginger snaps and fudge. The list seemed to go on forever. That doesn't mean all the goodies made it to Christmas. When my dad and brother would come in from the barn for their coffee breaks, cookies van- ished. And 1 confess, I snuck the fudge out of the. Tupperware too. A few days before Christmas, while things were smelling great inside the house, my father and I would make the trek to the swamp to find the perfect Christmas tree. Snow was abundant as we wandered about, looking heavenward to find the perfect spruce or fir. They'd all look great, 30 feet above our heads. And of course, once it was felled, we couldn't leave it there. I remember dad saying it's got a good side." And so, we- would drag our prized tree out of. the swamp and up the hill to the house. The next step was to pull it through the door only to find it was three feet too tall. No, the ceilings didn't get lower each year. We just cut the tree too tall every time. So, some would be trimmed off the top. some off the bottom until there was just enough room for the angel. The next task was to turn the tree around and around until the "good side" was facing out. Next, string was used to tie the tree so it wouldn't fall and it was given just the right lean. We'd attend candle light Christmas Eve ser- vice with the church packed and then spend some quiet time around the tree, maybe open- ing one present but saving the rest for Christmas Day. Of course, Christmas Day was not a time to stay in bed. Mom would be up in the early hours to put the fowl In the oven. Dad and I would head to the barn to give the cattle enough feed to get them through well into the evening. They received extra good hay as our Christmas gift to them and even the barn- cats would get some milk.. And then the brothers, sisters and their families would arrive from • hither and yon. Laughter would fill .the house along with the smell of the turkey and Christmas pudding. Finally, we gathered around the extended table and kid's table for Christmas dinner and enjoyed what Mom had worked so hard to prepare. The house fell silent as we focused on the food. Presents were unwrapped and within 10 minutes, the children were playing with the boxes instead of the presents. - A short time later, the men would be napping on the couches, the women would relax around the table, nib- bling the baked goods and the kids would continue playing with the boxes: Today there are new memories. Now it is our turn to return to Ilanover for Christmas with my siblings car- rying on the traditions our parents started. The country is still the bestplace to celebrate Christmas, surrounded by our families and our com- munity. To you and your families, a very merry Christmas! KATE MOUNT AKES Memories of Christmas and backyard ice rinks Now that winter has finally arrived (what took so long?) I've finally been able to start thinking about. Christmas. Let's face it, warm weather is no way for Canadians to spend Christmas. Christmas simply isn't as much fun when there's no snow. What would you rather look at — puffy -white snow drifts on your front lawn or brown grass? - All of which brings me back to childhood (1 can almost remember it) and the joys of the cold weather and Christmas. My favourite memories of winter involve the backyard ice rink, an annual Nixon family tra- dition. Living in Windsor at the time, the ice rink was the most popular spot in our neigh- bourhood. Kids we didn't even know would spend weekends and afternoons in our back- yard to play hockey. Some didn'teven have skates or know how to play, they just wanted to be there because we all had so much fun. Our hockey games had certain rules, of course. Since my brother and I were basically the only ones among our friends who played organized hockey and had our own equipment. there was no body contact. Slapshots were outlawed because the only goalie equipment we had was a pair of old pads that were so old I'm almost convinced they were the first pair of , goalie pads ever made. And since most -of the padding consisted of old copies of the Windsor Star, the pads offered limited protection. Of course, somebody always got hurt and it was usu- ally the kid whose parents didn't want him playing hockey in the first place. He'd usually get a puck or a stick in the face and go home crying with a bloody lip and then his older sister would come over and threaten to beat us all up. - Those days flew by, though, minutes would turn into hours and parents all over the street would scream out their front doors for their kids to come home. By the end of the evening there'd just be a few of us playing under one light. - Christmas time back then was the best, of course. There would always be a new hockey stick under the tree and usually a Montreal Canadians souvenir (perhaps a jersey with Guy Lafleur's number 10 on the back). Christmas is still special, although it's been years since we've had a backyard rink. And the kinds of presents I get have changed. I've noticed myself over the past several years actually asking for sensible gifts like clothes. 1 even considered asking my parents for some pots and pans this Christmas! I thought better of it, though. and stuck with clothes, CDs and books. Perhaps the greatest change in Christmas at'our house is when we ger out of bed to open our presents. As kids. we were up at the crack of dawn waiting impatiently for our parents to get out of bed, particu- larly my dad, who has always worked strange shifts and therefore has bizarre sleeping habits. Now, though, we often don't get around to the gifts until about noon and not before my mother has repeatedly tried to wake up my father, my brother and myself. The three of us, you see, are infamous for our ability to sleep well into the middle of the afternoon. But finally we crawl out of bed and stumble down- stairs to see what Santa has left us. We've never been disappointed and even now, in my 20s, 1 can feel myself getting excited for the big day. And Christmas will be even more exciting if we get about three feet of snow on the ground. After that it can all melt and we can look forward to spring and summer. SCOTT NIXO AND AN THING N OTHER REM VERNON DEAN POINT TO PONDER The following, written by an unknown author, sums up the essence of the reason for this season and even life itself: He was born in an obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. He then became an itiner- ant preacher. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the public turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth. He was laid in a borrowed grave. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary life. He's the Point!