The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 22, 1999 - BI INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 O M M U N I TY- 6387283 TERRACE STANDARD. SECTION B JUST A-THOUGHT _ KATHY FLORITTO A Christmas tale c hristmas is for children and makes children of us all. Our family traditions are enshrined not only in our memories but in countless boxes and bags full of decorations that have adorned our Christmas tree and table year after year. Every one-winged angel, every Rudolph with a permanently bent nose is as beautiful to ‘our adult eyes as when they were new and we were much, much younger. The music of Christmas continues to bring gladness to our hearts and we continue to be . enchanted by all the wonderful stories written about this special time. This year, if you find yourself needing an extra tale to tell, perhaps this one will do... Have you ever wondered why we put tinsel on our Christmas tree? Once upon a time, a long time ago, a mo- ther was busily cleaning her home for Christ- mas, just as mothers do today. She laundered the curtains, tablecloths and napkins. She polished the floors and the silver. She washed and dried all the china and she straightened all! the pictures, too. She worked and worked until she was satis- _ fied that her family's home was just as it should to celebrate this wondrous and holy day. Under this assault of rag, broom and dust- pan, the little spiders who lived in the small nooks amd crannies where, usually, they couldn't be seen, rushed as quickly as their tiny spider legs would carry them up to the atlic- to escape. alerrifyingly certain demise. They hid there for ever so long waiting for the - mother to put her tools of destruction away. When the house shone from her efforts and when she was sure that everything was just tight, the mother called to her husband who brought in the tree that he and the children had especially chosen to make their Christmas Day complete. ‘Together, they unwrapped their treasured decorations and hung them ever so carefully on the tree. When they were done, they gath- ered all the presents they'd hid under beds and in cupboards, fluffed up all the bows, checked all the tags, then placed the lovingly trimmed boxes under the tree. At last, it was time to sleep. As they climbed the stairs to bed, their hearts were glad just thinking how happy the children would be the next morning. When the house became quiet, the little spiders slowly. crept down from their hiding place to peek at what the mother and father had done. “Oh, what a beautiful tree!” Excitedly, the rushed up the trunk and scur- ried along each branch to examine the colour- ful ornaments hanging from every limb. Scam- pering among the beautiful, glittering decora- tions filled each little spider with great joy, But alas! By the time they were too tired to scamper one more scamp, the dazzling tree that had given them so much delight was com- pletely shrouded in dusty gray spider webs! The little spiders didn't know what to do. They were very, very sad. When Santa came with his gifts for the children, he saw the unhappy wee spiders hud- dling under the very, very gray tree and knew exactly what had happened before even one little spider could shed one more little spider tear. He smiled as he thought of their happiness when running from one shiny ornament to an- other, but he knew. how unhappy the family would be to see their glorious Christmas tree covered in a dingy gray mantle of webs, So he closed his twinkling blue eyes, waved his hand and wished a special Santa wish. Oh, how the little spiders cheered and cheered as they watched their dismal looking webs turn to silver and gold! The tree sparkled and shimmered! It was even more beautiful than before. And that is why we have tinsel on our trees — and that is why every tree should have a Christmas spider in its branches. Job weil done TO THE students, musicians, teachers and all who in any way helped with Caledonia’s produc- tion of “West Side Story”. Thanks for the wonder- ful show. Your enthusiasm, talents and dedication io ensure this show went off so effortlessly is very much appreciated. Each year we look forward ta supporting your school’s musical and again this was an oulslanding job well done. Good luck to each and every one of you, and may the future be bright for you. Hugh and Olga Power Local Christmas trees for sale YOU WON'T catch Don Coburn’s family with a plastic artificial tree this Christmas. He has his pick of 32,000 evergreen trees planted on his 30-acre - Christmas tree farm loca- ted on Beam Station Road. Coburn planted his first saplings eight years ago, thinking a Christmas tree farm would be a neat hobby. “I thought it would be a good thing to work on when [ retired,” he said. “It beats hanging around talking about fishing!” Coburn, a forest ser- vices official, has been busy fertilizing, pruning, nurtuting his tiny trees ever since. 7 Last year only about 100 trees were big enough to harvest. Coburn said he waits until his trees are anywhere from six to eight feet tall before chopping them down. This year about 300 trees (Douglas fir, Grand fir, Scotch pine, and Lod- gepole Pine} were big en- ough to sell to the boy scouts and to Canadian tire, Next year Coburn ex- pects anywhere from 600- 900 trees will be ready for sale. And by the 2002, he should have 1,200 trees ready. Coburn says he’s had ON Pern pn DON COBURN cuts down one of the Christmas trees from his 30-acre farm on Beam Station Raad. About 600 trees wera ready to harvest this year, compared to only about 100 last year. the most luck growing Douglas Fir trees, while the Scotch pine trees have been tricky. “Once they start grow- ‘ing crooked, they continue to to grow crooked,” he said. “If they start growing to the right, they’Il over- compensate by start grow- ing way over to the left.” Coburn admitted own- ing a tree farm isn’t a job for the lazy. You can’t just plant a. tree and come back in seven years, he said. Perfect Christmas trees need a lot of tender loving care. This summer, Coburn said he spent hours re- planting about 600 trees. He and four friends also spent about 10 days in June pruning. Another 10 days in August and Sep- tember were spent brush- ing and weeding. Then this fall he spent about two weeks pruning. “it’s getting to be more work every year,” he said. “Every year they grow there’s more work.” Coburn has to wait 10 years for his balsam to be ready. His pine trees take anywhere from cight to nine years to grow and Douglas firs take about five years, Local boy scouts will be selling Coburn’s Christ- mas trees at Canadian Tire Friday evenings from 6-9 p-m., Saturdays from 10 am. to 6 p.m., Sundays from 12-5 p.m. and Wed- nesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. Trees cost $25. TLT presents “A Christmas Carol” CONTRIBUTED THIS YEAR, a small but enthusiastic ‘group of Terrace Litile have decided to try their hand at a Christ- mas show. Riding on the proven success of read- ings in Prince George and Prince Rupert by CBC Radio, TLY chose the all-time favourite, “ A Christmas Carol”, by Charles Dickens. Organizer/director Nancy Stone-Archer calls this a pilot project for what she hopes becomes a TLT tradition, “Tt’s very last minute, very impromp-- * Stone Archer said. “We are treating this as a classic treading, with a narrator and actors read- ing the parts of Scrooge, Marley’s ghost, the three spirits, Tiny Tim and all the Theatre actars other beloved characters. Next year, we'll plan much earlier and perhaps have some of the major scenes acted out with the narrator moving the story along.” Audiences can look forward to the usual TLT standard with actors Patrick McIntyre, Diana Braathen, Adam Kirk- wood, Brent Nixon and Alan Weston. The actors have a pretty free reign with their multiple characters, which will add an extra element of htmour and improv to the experience. Narration is by Marianne Brorup Weston. The reading will take place at 7 p.m. on December 22 at the McColl Play- house. Come join the TLT and make a donation of non-perishable food or cash, all proceeds to go to the Terrace Chur- ches Food Bank. Wade Flaherty, come home TERRACE CITY coun- cillor David Hull is send- ing a message to New York Islander’s goalie Wade Flaherty to come home to Terrace for the millennium. BC2000’s Homecoming project is all about bring- ing British Columbians back to their local com- munities to celebrate the millennium. Hull filled out a BC2000 Homecoming postcard last week, asking Flaherty to come home for Riverboat Days in order to take part in some of Ter- race's year long millenni- um celebrations, “| think our homecom- ing project will be a tre- mendous success in Terrace,” Hull said. “We're encouraging everyone in Terrace to get down to their local Autop- lan agent and fill out a postcard inviting their. friends and family home.” Throughout the year, British Columbians who live in different cities around the world will be asked to return to their roots in communities across the province to par- ticipate in a special mille- nnium event. To send a BC2000 invi- tation to a friend or family member, locals _ simply have to complete the post- ape-paid card, which are available at Autoplan bro- kers and. ICBC claim centres, and drop. it in the nearest mailbox. PARAGON Insurance agent Faye Coburn helps city councillor David Hull #ill out a BC2000 posteard, in- viting NHL goalie Wade Flaherty home for millenni- um celebrations. British Columbians are encour- aged to fill out the postage-paid postcards inviting friends and family hame to visit during 2000. BC2000 will then mail personal each person listed on the invitations to posteatd. Around Town We remember NATIVE people in Canada have a long and proud history of serving the Canadian Armed forces in the war. In peacetime they have given unselfish service in the name of freedom. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs wishes to recognize thal con- tribution by supporting Native Aboriginal Veterans Association (NAVA) in the striking of a comme- morative medal and the hosting of the ceremony of aboriginal veterans drawn from across the country. This medal will honour those who risked their lives and sacrificed so much in the Fight for free- dom and democracy. NAVA’s first task is to identify and contact the aboriginal veterans who served in the Canadian military, cither in war, or with our peace-keeping missions abroad. If you are an aboriginal veteran or if you know of someone in your family or in your community who is an aboriginal veleran contact NAVA by phone at (306) 384-0565 or fax (306) 382-6587 or mail: National Aboriginal Veterans Association c/o Claude Petit 32 Moore Place, Saskatoon, Sask. S7L 322 B.C.O.A.P. update by HUGH POWER THE REGULAR monthly meeting at the Happy Gang Centre took place on Thursday, December 9, with Mary . Ann Dilley presiding. The meeting began with registered nurse Penny An- guish giving a presentation to the members regarding the “Advance Directives” policy that was recently adopted by the Terrace and Area Health Council. The new policy allows local residents and their fami- ly members to outline to health care professionals the kind of medical intervention they want to receive when they are dying, Anguish requested that members come forward to help formulate an information pamphlet on the new po- licy, which would be handed out early in the new year. Volunteers would have to altend about 3 meetings in January. The alm of this progressive action is to give people personal health choices in a respectful, ethical manner. It is hoped that everyone will receive the care they wish once they many not be able to communicate their wishes. We look forward to secing this pamphlet in the new yearn It was announced that the bazaar on November. 20 went yery well and the community support was excel- lent. Thank you to everyone who donaled articles and baked goods. The raffle proved very popular too — the financial: re- turn was great. The winners will be announced in the paper soon. There have been a few maintenance problems, but fu- ture plans to help alleviate these from reoccurring were taken. Members agreed to give donations to both the Terrace Churches Food Bank and the Salvation Army. Date: to Remember: January 13: Next meeting will take place al 2 p.m. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to allt -