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Home My WebLink AboutThe 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