HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-12-21, Page 44
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
=CNA
TIMES ADVOCATE
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511
We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications
Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts.
Jim Beckett – Publisher
Deb Lord – Production Manager
Scott Nixon – Editor
tirt
Published by roland Printing,
Publishing Distributing& Ltd.
424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850
Metroland Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331
EDITORIAL
Have a nutty Christmas
By Jerry Gladman
e all know that Christmas is a time for
celebration, sharing and love. But it's
also a period in our history in which
crazy, funny, sad, nutty, oddball and true things
have occurred. With that in mind, allow us to
offer you a potpourri of items from many walks
of life around the world. Enjoy.
• In every Christmas poll taken since folks began cele-
brating, the one holiday gift roundly ridiculed and rarely
cherished has to be the fruitcake.
In one recent survey, fully three quarters of those
asked said that the small, hard, rectangular package is
the one present they least like to receive. Another poll
had one third of its participants insisting it is worse than
no gift at all.
Johnny Carson used to say there really was only one
fruitcake in the world and it's passed from person to
person to person.
• Talk about your strange laws. One year, in Mulberry,
Fla., six out-of-state motorists were hauled before the
local judge on charges of violating a Christmas ordi-
nance, which makes it illegal for non -Florida drivers to
pass through the little town on Christmas Day without
accepting a gift from the cop shop.
Their sentence? Each driver had to accept a basket of
assorted fruit.
• Bet nobody recalls a fella named Einar Holboell.
In 1903, Danish postal clerk Holboell was so moved by
the suffering of tuberculosis children on Copenhagen
streets he came up with a wonderful idea. Why not add
one more penny stamp to the thousands of Christmas
letters — a levy on healthy senders — to help alleviate
TB suffering?
It was called the Christmas Seal.
• There is a man in Peoria, Ill., who is absolutely nuts
over Christmas. For years, some anonymous person has
been sending him a coconut every Christmas Among
the odd ways it has arrived — on the back of a burro, by
helicopter, in the mouth of a police dog, by a parachutist
and in the hands of an FBI agent.
One year it was delivered by the state university bas-
ketball coach and all five of his star players.
• The Devil made him do it.
In Longwood, Fla., one year, Santa was seen swinging
from a noose at the home of a devout church -goer who
believed Christmas was little more than a heathen ritual.
His neighbours were so ticked off they threw flower
pots at his house, made threats and even called the cops
on him.
"Sorry," said the man in reply. "We believe Santa
Claus is really Satan."
• Did you know that at 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 1888,
famed artist Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear with one
desperate, masochistic swipe?
A psychiatrist, who said Christmas can push the emo-
tions to the breaking point, was convinced van Gogh did
it in the hope of obtaining the Christmas gifts of love and
forgiveness.
A Merry Christmas to all our readers.
Editorial Opinion
dr
MIEM
Rebecca Glavin, Gr. 4
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School
Sarah leyten, Grade 3
Exeter Public School
.71•0111 rt
Tommy Humphreys, Grade 3
Exeter Public School
i
(0 i
It's never too late to donate
More than ever this year I've noticed how many
people need help not just during the holiday sea-
son but all year round.
Maybe because I'm getting older and I pay more
attention, possibly because I worked at the
Salvation Army this past summer and absolutely
because since working at the Times -Advocate
I've covered many donations from many
groups and organizations in our commu-
nity.
And honestly what a
we have.
Before working at the Times -Advocate I
never realized how many people actually
cared and how many people come togeth-
er, helping others and making dreams
come true.
It never really occurred to me how many
people really are in need year round.
We really should be proud with funds for
new school equipment raised on a regular
basis to the annual Junior 'D' Teddy Bear
Toss held for the Huron County Christmas
Bureau to even a can of soup donated to the
Exeter Food Drive.
Another thing I learned this holiday season was
every little bit really does count.
This thought came to me one day when I
brought one of those brown bags to Tim Hortons
only half full.
All the other bags were stuffed and I immediate-
ly felt bad, thinking I should have filled my bag
too.
But really after leaving Timmie's I realized if
great community
everyone thought that way no one would ever get
anything.
I also realized I did what I could.
Donations come in many different ways, big
small -it doesn't matter.
I still helped feed a couple people that otherwise
would have been hungry and that made me
happy.
It's really too bad I've heard people say
many times, including myself I just can't
afford to donate anything or anytime this
year but really take half a second and
donate a smile or a compliment, it all
makes a difference. It doesn't have to be
money.
And I know it feels
ing for donations.
I probably get at least three phone calls
a day from different charities, who I'm
pretty sure have bought my name from a
previous charity I once contributed to -I
hate that but I try not to let it annoy or
discourage me.
Although some are pushy, I realize a lot of peo-
ple aren't and hopefully everyone else realizes
the same.
So this year, I've decided instead of worrying
about what I'm getting for Christmas or what I'm
going to wear for our annual family holiday din-
ner, I'm going be thankful and lucky that I could
donate some food to Timmie's.
This year I realized, big or small, every little bit
counts and really it's never to late to donate.
NINA
VAN
LIESHOUT
KICK THIS
AROUND
like everyone is ask -
About the Times -Advocate
Address & Office Hours
Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850,
Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to
Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays.
Contact Us By Phone or Fax
Classified ad & subscription sales (519) 235-1331
24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336
Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766
Subscription Rates
One year rate for addresses in Canada: $38+GST
Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $70+GST
One year rate for addresses outside Canada:
$130 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription.
Classified Rates
Word ads: $11 for 20 words, 20c for each additional
word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements,
coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 +
GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The
classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m.
Display Advertising
To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30
to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes-
sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4
p m.
E-mail Us
Web site: www.southhuron.com
TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial
and last name followed by @southhuron.com.
For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck-
ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is
ads@southhuron.com.
The Times -Advocate Team
Publisher Jim Beckett ext. 109
ADVERTISING
Deborah Schillemore ext. 112
EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105
REPORTERS
Pat Bolen ext. 113
Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sue Rollings ext. 101
Kim Hern ext. 102
COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT
Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114
Heather Bilcke ext. 103
Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103
ACCOUNTING STAFF
Anita McDonald ext. 104
Ruth Slaght ext. 106
Christina Scott ext. 108
MargPertschy ext. 111
Heather Clarke