ed ace Mate Seas PS ce i 4 THAT DISPLAY of Christmas lights west on Hwy16 won't be up this year as illness is forcing Nelson McGinlay to stop what has become a Terrace tradition. Families got used to visiting the Mc- WM nk ent Ginlay house and visiting with Santa. Donations collected went to a variety of charitable causes, including the child development centre. McGinlay is planning a sale to dispose of his displays. Lights to dim at Santa HQ ILLNESS IS forcing the man who played Santa Claus for years here to put away his suit and sell off his Christmas lights display. Nelson McGinlay not only has diabetes but he’s caught bronchial pneumonia the last two years as a resuit of wearing his heavy suit in- side. “ft kind of broke my heart,” said McGinlay of his decision. “But my health is a littke more important.” McGinlay is best known for his massive Christmas lights display which has lit up the outside of his house and yard beside the Wild Duck Inn on Hwy16 each Christmas season. Night after night, dressed as Santa, McGin- iay would sit outside and speak to children who came to visit. Donations collected went to a variety of charities including the child development centre here, the cancer society and the fire- fighters’ burn victim fund. McGinlay estimates he collected between $10,000 and $20,000 over the years. . McGinlay got his start visiting homes each Christmas Eve. — “It kind of snowballed,” McGinlay recalls. “I gol more and more requests each year. I'd start at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and not finish elsewhere, a factor in _ tioned venues. has diabetes contributed of Cosmetic Dentistry General Practitioner Providing services in: Mercury-free white fillings Teeth Whitening Microabrasion Dentistry (No drilling, no freezing) ae Be Smile and Whitening By Dr. Zucchiatti ADENT DENTAL CLINIC For your comfort, we have Nelson McGinlay cach year. We'd cook hotdogs after.” He continued to make indoor appearances from ‘wearing the hot Santa suit in air condi- That and the physical demands of putling up and maintaining the display considering he Dr. Joe Zucchiatti 20 years of mercury-free dentistry Founding member and treasurer of the Western Canadian Academy Porcelain Veneers and Crowns Hygiene and Preventive Care Intra-oral camera assisted Diagnosis overhead televisions and headsets. We Welcome All New Patients his volunteer effort. “L can’t climb a ladder anymore and it’s un- fair to ask my family to do it.” “I offered my lights to an organization, but they just couldn’t do it. It would take too many manhours. And where would they put it?” said McGinlay. At the very beginning, McGinlay used just his household electrical circuits for his display. “Tt got to the point al times we couldn’t cook dinner. We'd trip a breaker. We had candles on,” he said. An electrician friend from Vancouver who came north every year to hunt rewired the house to betler accommedate the display. “He's since passed on,” McGinlay adds. McGinlay expanded the display each year and included large, custom-made toy soldiers. One was stolen one year and was returned in pieces — it had been placed on the railroad tracks and was run over by a train. McGinlay’s family members are keeping some of their favourite parts of the display as until 10 p.m.” At the same time, people began of- fering him money which McGinlay decided must go to charity. The heavy de- mand resulted in McGinlay setting up at his house and his display prew over the past decade. “It became a fa- mily affair. Be- tween 12-15 people would come out to help put up the display catching pneumonia miliar scenes around town. " ' The rest will become part of a large garage sale to be held soon. McGinlay’s anticipating to his decision to end a good turnout, keepsakes so don’t be surprised if you see-fa- or The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - A3 News In Brief Psych ward re-opens REFRESHMENTS AND a ribbon cutting will mark this Saturday a re-opening of the renovated regio- nal psychiatric unit at Mills Memorial Hospital. More than $600,000 has been spent in the last months refurbishing the 10-bed ward, including putting in a new common and kitchen area and constructing “safe” rooms for patients. Patients were moved out to several Atco trailers en the hospital grounds during the renovations. The re-done ward is one part of a turnaround in regional psychiatric services over the past year. The ward was closed down the beginning of 2001 because a director couldn’t be found. But a recruiting program on the part of the Ter- race and Area Health Council has now resulted in the hiting of two psychiatrists, with one more due to arrive in January. The re-done ward will also have a camera and monitor installed allowing psychiatrists to inter- view patients in Prince Rupert and-in Kitimat where cameras and monitors will also be installed. The ribbon cutting at the new ward takes place at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday. Reckless driver TERRACE police are trying to find out more about a hit and run at the Summit Square Apartments earlicr this month. Sometime overnight Oct, 13-14, a vehicle was driven over parking iot dividers, onto the lawn and into the apartment building at 2709 Pear St, police said. The building suffered damage to a window and frame, brickwork and patio furniture. If you have information regarding this crime please contact the Terrace RCMP at 638-7400. Vehicles vandalized MORE vehicles in Terrace have been the target of break-ins and vandalism. During the early morning hours of Oct. 15 eight vehicles were vandalized or broken into in the Horseshoe area of Terrace, police said. Police are reminding the public to remove all items from vehicles when left unattended. Grow op seized RCMP arrested one couple and seized what offi- cers describe as a “significant marijuana cultiva- lion operation” on Oscar Crescent in North Terrace Oct. 16. Eleven officers armed with a search warrant took part in the arrest at the couple’s home. RCMP say they seized roughly 240 marijuana plants, hydroponic equipment and several baggies filled with marijuana. Two children under the age of six were present in the home when police executed the search war- rant, said RCMP Constable Tom Kalis. He said the husband and wife, who cannot be ’ named until charges are sworn, were arrested and released that same day. They are scheduled to appear in court Dec. 14. Dreams can come true. Neid’s Phone: 635-2552 4623 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace Mon-Fri * 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Want A Photo? Did you see a photo in the paper that you want a copy off The Terrace Standard along with , - gN iw. Ay? vibrant Hagiory Northern Photo Ltd. now provictes this service. Come into our office located at 3210 Clinton Street and indicate the photo of your choice and size. Alyx6" 5"x7” Other sizes available. Phone for pricing. Price includes printing fee from Northern Phato ond purchasing fee from the Terrace Standard. All photographs are copyrighted ta the Tarrace Standard, [Note: 90% of photos token are digital photos olhigh quality jpeg. Black ond white prints alto available from block ond white negatives.) northern photo - "Your Headquarters For Digital Cameras And Digital imaging Services S Ph: 638-7283 C7 TANDARD Fax: 638-8432 RECEIVE ‘400 SAT