editorial comment All | want for Christmas .. . Sun to find out what some ie wishing for this holiday season. Not only was it fun, it makes for good reading! Take a look! “I would like a camera where all I would have to do is point and shoot.” Castlegar Fire Chief “I wish for a fire-free holiday for the remainder of this season—and beyond.” Corporal Al Hudema Castlegar RCMP detachment “To like to wish for three things: that we have an accident-free season; that I can get a skunk-preof Chicken coop; and finally, that Corporal Brown be transferred!” Director of Care, Mountainview Lodge “Happiness and rest . . - and a new pair of ski boots wouldn't hurt either.” Neil Kalawsky Owner, Kalawsky Pontiac Buick “Tm a man who has everything, so I have no idea what I'd like for Christmas.” Susan Lebedow to my together thi Christmas.” Jason Davis Pete's T.V. “I don’t want anything, Christmas is for giving.” Gary Williams City of Castiegar Administrator “Tm wishing for an end to all this snow—our snowplowing budget is almost gone!” Doug Rutherford The Editor’s husband “Td like for my wife to come home once and a while.” Merry Christmas Everyone! ITS HARD TO BELIEVE, AT ONE TIME HE WAS UNBEATABLE .... NOW Ss NS SN “y Christmas is the season for giving year, most fellow residents of these beautiful valleys are rising to the occasion with their customary cheer and generosity. This is also when we pause to Consider our gift lists and what we should give to whom. Many of us try to give what those on our lists would like to receive. To give oth- ers what you would like yourself is not always satisfactory and, can be downright dangerous. It is pos- sible to make some terrible mis- takes. For example, there is, in the history of my family the infamous Christmas in which a large rectan- gular box, very Professionally wrapped, appeared under the Christmas tree. All who saw it Pots and pans! The recipient fled upstairs in tears and we had to spend some considerable time appraising the offender that she was understandably upset and that some atonement was in order! Nor do I think she has ever quite for- given him! While someone may be delighted with a new set of pots and pans for Christmas. to others it may be construed as banishment back to the kitchen! As I was compiling my list this year, I thought about what I could give some worthy recipients in our Community, had I the mystic pow- Seasons ELMA MAUND ers and financial assets. I would like to give our mayor and coun- cillors “The Outstanding Patience Award” for their many efforts and fine contributions to this commu- nity in the past year, which is in no way compensated for by their financial rewards. Indications are that they will need even more for- bearance in the year ahead. For Colin Pryce, our own resi- @ent visionary, I would like to pre- sent twelve good people, strong and true, for with far less he has accomplished wonderful things in trails and parks for the enjoyment of many. With a hundred such souls he would literally move mountains! I would like to give Ole Gunderson, the producer of, by his own admission, the best tomatoes and tomato plants in the Kootenays, the new greenhouse he has. beem eyeing alll year! To the many seniors among us who are living in housing condi- tions that are not of their choosing and not where they wish to be, I would like to give them all the housing of their choice that they can afford. And, of course, I would give them their own Seniors Centre, and sooner rather than later. To two of my neighbours, new hearts please. Both of them have more heart than most, but neither heart is fuhctioning all that well right now. I have a book for other neighbours entitled “Raising a Happy Puppy”. With two new Puppies in the area our usually Peaceful neighbourhood has become a constant reminder that lonely puppies howl! The sleep Patterns of the rest of my neigh- bourhood may then be restored. I would ask Santa to please deliver extra portions of stamina, wisdom and patience for our many counsellors in all fields, whether legal, physical, financial or psy- chological, who are dealing with ever evolving technologies at a time when guidelines change weekly and funds diminish fright- eningly. Keeping apace in our fast changing modern world takes incredible effort and dedication. Many go on, unacknowledged, year after year, at tremendous per- sonal cost. This is particularly trac of the many wonderful volunteer workers in our community, the efforts by whom we all benefit and must appreciate istmas is a time to also think of others less fortunate than your- self. There are many worthy local projects that are designed to help us give and share this Christmas. You might remember food items or cash donations for the Food Bank are being collected at “Side Pockets” tonight, between 7-9 p.m. Christmas is not an event Christmas is a feeling, the Spirit that attends giving. T do not have the magical pow- ers to transform our world. I do have the opportunity to thank all those who have given me encour- agement during the past year, and especially those who offer con- structive ideas, such as my Editor, Sharlene Imhoff, and others too numerous to mention. May the spirit of Christmas capture you and all you hold dear. To everyone, a Happy Christ- mas, and a safe and healthy festive season NDP can no longer blame previous administration for financial blunders GORDON WILSON Everyone agrees that we all pay ‘00 much in taxes to various levels of government — governments who have recklessly spent our money without consideration for the future. The realignment. British Columbia is facing the overall debt, and im many cases are Rot savings, but rather adjustments and deferrals. For example, a $30 million saving im education comes predicting for some time that the 's Z on econom- ic growth were optimist: ic, and even thougL British Columbia has the taxpayers’ ability to pay”. But since the Harcourt government took office, taxpayers have been saddled with record tax increases, a Corpo- Tate capital tax, and a long list of “hidden” taxes in the form of licence and fee increases. The assault on our wallets is not over yet, because im the face of a large debt, the government will cer- tainly raise taxes even further. Pos- sible areas the Minister of Finance will look at include raising the sales tax and/or harmo- nizing the PST with the GST. I believe the people of British stromgest ecomomy in Camada. the Columbia reached their taxation limit long ago. The only alternative together, they constitute millions of dollars in discretionary Spending. The gov-ernment must learn to rely on the work and advice of its civil Service, instead of highly paid friends and party insiders. Lucrative settlements reached with the B.C. Go - ees Union and the Hospigl Employees Union have also driven up the provincial debt, and this will likely get worse as other public sée- tor unions line up at the tro expecting and demanding simi raises. I believe labor settlements jn the public sector must be kept 'in line with private industry — these are tough times and we must all 6c NDP has failed to keep its ding im line with its revenue. The direction in which the gov- ermment has chosen to steer the P is ling. During last year’s election campaign, the NDP Promised they would be fiscally isto gs im some areas, and drastically reduce it in others. The NDP must slap a freeze om the countless con- sultants they have hived, and on the studies, committees and commis- sions they have appointed. By . the cost of these P ig to voters that — “we won't spend beyond the The NDP has been in govern- ment for ome year, and can no tration for its financial problems. This is no longer a case of imheri- ing a mess — this time the mess the NDP are creating is their own. British Cotumbians deserve beter Wednesday, December 23, 1992 The Castlegar Sun Letters to the Editor “Nobody can be right and nobody can be wrong” Mr. Volovsek (December 9) has offered an interesting inter- pretation of the history and cur- rent events in Yugoslavia. tainly, each ethnic has a bitter story to tell and a similar letter from, say, a Serb or a Croat, would be just as authentic-sound. ing, although each would have a different interpretation. WY san would claim that far from dominating Tito’s regime they were, in fact, much discrimi- nated against by the Communist dictator, a Croat with a Slovene mother, and would point to his eviction of thousands of Serbian families from their beloved Koso- Why does Canada wait fo Dear Editor: The following is a letter which I recently sent (by FAX) to the Honourable Ms. Barbara Mac- Dougall, Minister of External Affairs, regarding the genocide ‘and other war crimes going on in former Yugoslavia. I began by explaining that I am a 4th genera- tion Canadian with initial origins in the British Isles and therefore have no ethnic “axe to grind” in this case. The letter went as fol- lows: “I urge you to demand that all necessary action be taken (mili- tary or otherwise) by the UN, vo. Macedonia, they would assert, is having many more prob- lems with neighbouring Greece and their own Albanians, than with Serbs; they would also point Out that once the problem of Fed- eral military installations was resolved with the Slovenes, they withdrew from that Province. There was no Holocaust i them during WWII in Slovenia, which was at that time incorpo- rated into Germany. As for the savagery we are witnessing on our television screens today, the Serb carries within his heart and mind thi Holocaust that took place within the areas of Croatia and Bosnia, a NATO, or some form of “coali- tion” to ensure that: 1.) Food sup- Plies and relief get through to the victims of aggression. 2.) The genocide and other atrocities are stopped. How long is Canada and the free world going to sit around waiting for “permission” to help these hapless victims? What a joke! Surely this weak- ness in Westem resolve is sending a signal to all evilly-motivated Peoples in the world that they can do whatever they want to their ethnic minorities without signifi- cant opposition. Several years ago the “coali- Holocaust that French historian Edmond Paris has called “The greatest Genocide in World War TI in proporation to a nation's Population” and that the Italians have referred to as “... of a sav- agery that would revolt the human spirit.” The Italians are very proud of the fact that when called upon to help their Croat allies quell resisting Serbs, the i Italian soldier took one look at what had been done to Serbian women and children and more often than not stood beside the Serbs and turned their fire against the Croats. Despite end- less reparations and apologies and the gift of their beloved Israel, the Jewish people have never really forgiven the world for their Holocaust. The Serbs received neither acknowledg- ment, apologies nor reparations. That is the root cause of their behavior today. The real tragedy of Yugoslavia has perhaps best been captured by the English ‘késtogian who fifty years a wrote about its ethnic groups with great prescience: “... nobody can be right and nobody can be wrong, and the future can- not be fortunate.” Marjorie Radulovic r permission to step in? tion” acted so swiftly to end Hus- sein’s occupation of Kuwait - yet in Yugoslavia (where the atroci- Finally, I urge you to press for changes in the U.N. charter so that it can function in part as a ties are far more ) the western response is weak and inconsequential. Why? The free world is fed up with hearing of the farcical cease-fires and mean- ingless sanctions which have had little or no effect at all. Our government's commitment of peace-keeping troops to this Cause is commendable but unless they are given the necessary back-up by the UN or NATO they are wasting their time and the Canadian taxpayers’ money. preh ive international Police force to stop crimes of this Sort in the future.” Big help is on its way to Soma- lia at last. But why have we tumed our backs on those unfor- tunate Moslem people being vic- timized in Yugoslavia? Is it because they are not “Christian”? If so, I have a big problem with Our intolerant, self-serving brand of Christianity. H. F. Killough Castlegar Letters to Santa Editor's Note: Although Christmas Greetings S. the following Letters to Santa were t, Santa Is an avid reader of wish-lists will still grab his attention! Dear Santa Claus and Ms. Claus: I'm writing to tell you about the things I would like for Christmas. I would like a big foot with traks and you can take *:the traks off and underneath the traks there would be tires. “And, I would like a game boy—with 100 games. And I would like 11,000 hockey cards and 11,000 baseball cards. Love Frank Dear Santa: My name is Jennifer Popoff but people call me Jenny. I .want to be in the Lisa Franklin club possible. If not, I would like a color-blaster. I was a good kid this year. Talk to you next Christmas year!Merry Jennifer Popoff Dear Santa: not receivied In time to be published in our The Castlegar Sun, and we are certain these Dear Santa and Dear Mrs. Claus: For Christmas I would like a baby-alive and nintendo. Love Tianna Dear Santa Claus: I have been a only want a w 00d boy this year. I don't want too much. I buming set. Please have a good trip. I will leave you a root beer and some treats and two carrots and ten more carrots for the rein- deer. Try not to leave any dirt on the carpet. Please let my rela- tive and cousins have a good trip to my house. Love Tyler B. My name is Kyle and I would like these things for Christmas: a remote control Super Turbo Wave Talking Computron and a G.T. Brett Hull Sniper. Love Kyle Moore Dear Santa: My name is Jordan. This year I Daddy. I would like a Mickey Mor a new Cummins Diesel truck. We would like our Auntie Connie ani nice for them. We will leave you some hot chocolat We love you Santa. Jordon (2) and Jarred (18 months) Croteau have a new baby brother. His name is Jarred. use call back-phone and Jarred would like a D We have both been good boys for Mommy and isney Melody lights go-around. Our daddy wants id Uncle Paul to come home for Christmas. They live in Toronto. Please bring something fe but our Mommy didn't bake so we can't leave you any cookies. Maybe next year! Obituary Dr. Melville Roy Bayes On Friday, December 11, 1992, Dr. Melville Roy Bayes of Castlegar passed away at the Kootenay Lake District Hospital at the age of 59 years. Wake Service and Mass of career working on the DEW Line for 1 year. He then moved to Nel- son where he worked for several years coming to Castlegar in 1961. He retired in 1986 due to ill health. He married Helen on De 28, 1964. Christian burial were at St. Rita’s Catholic Church on Tuesday and Wednesday with Rev. Fr. Herman Engberink offi- ciating. Burial was at Park Cemetery. Mel was born January 20, “4933 at Trail, BC. He moved with his parents to Cranbrook in While attending University Mel worked as an instrument man for the department of Trans- port through Northern Canada. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trap- ping and prospecting. He is survived by his wife Helen of Castlegar, one son, Paul, one daughi Mich both of 1941. He d his schooling there and went on to attend the University of Alberta in Edmon- ton. He d from the facul- ty of Dentistry and began his Castlegar, one sister, Morley Leask of Cranbrook, two nephews and their families, Michael and Sandy Leask and Gordon and Terry Leask of Van- couver and one Neice, Verna Leask and Warren Bauch of Cal- gary. He was predeceased by his Parents, Amelia and Happy Bayes, In lieu of flowers, contribu- tions may be made to the Castle- gar Right to Life c/o Barbara Jankola, 303 8th Avenue, Castle- gar, BC. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Castle- gar Funeral Chapel. SUN CLASSIFIEDS SELL ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION Castlegar - Robson Branch 170 Members are reminded to renew their membership before December 31, 1992 to remain in 800d standing JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR GOLDEN JUBILEE IN 1993 PUT SOME JINGLE IN YOUR POCKETS ° 4 With Sun Classified Ads! “a & 365-7848 & $3 1 0 Borsent Winter Hours 10 am - 8 pm u's only drive thru’ K FTF pw Sun., Tues Thurs., Fri. 365-3752 Efforts in education highly appreciated The following is an open letter for all of Castlegar. Dear Castlegarians: I would like to express my appreciation to the staff and leadership of Woodland Park Schdol. R ly a volley was won by the W.P.S, Championship Girl's “A” Team, and a very respectable third place was earned by the W.PS. girls “B” Team. All this is due to the dedication of the team and the hard working coach Mrs. Sparks. In the years our daughter has attended W.P.S. I have noticed that, friendli » Spor ip, ‘k and discipline have been incorporated with our children’s education. We are very appreciative for the quality of education our chil have d. Despite the confines of the Ministry of Education and school board. We would like to pass along our thanks, and a very happy Christ. - mas to all the staff, and especially to the leader of W.PS. Mr Richard Dodds. Gung Hee Fah Choy! Family of Ray & Helen Tereposky Cooperation and generosity brings glowing results Dear Editor: The Castlegar Volunteer Firefighters would like to thank the citi- zens, busi and ies for their ge: support and dona- tions towards our latest toy drive. We would also like to thank the Royal Canadian Legion, Tarry's Fire Department and the Celgar Camp firefighters for their help and Together, we've ensured a lot of happiness for the children in the community this year—everyone will have something under their tree. C.R. Mark Castlegar Firefighters Silver Rattle Antiques 301-11 Ave. Castlegar, (in Tulips Building) Why lose sleep when you don't have to? 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