6 *: Opinion
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Hubert’s Christmas wish list

Victoria — Dear Santa: I know you’re pretty
busy this time of year, but I wonder if you could
give some consideration to my wish list.

Don’t be put off by the large number of
requests; none of them are really for myself. I’ve
got everything I want, but it’s come to my
attention that a lot of people aren’t that lucky. So,
take a look at the list and see what you can do.

The other day, a man stopped me on the street
and asked if I could spare some change. He
looked like he didn’t have much to look forward
to this Christmas. Said he was from Nova Scotia,
didn’t have a job and was hungry.

I gave him a few dollars, but he needs more than
that. Sorry, I don’t know his name, but I’m sure
you do, Perhaps you can do something for him. I
know you’ve got influential friends in high places.

I’d also like to talk to you about soup kitchens. I
really don’t understand, Santa, why anyone in this
rather affluent society should have to rely on soup
kitchens to get a warm meal. Maybe you could
think of a better way.

And speaking of a better way, how about taking
a shot at confining the term food bank to the
dictionary? When folks have to rely on the
generosity of their fellow citizens to feed their
kids or themselves, there’s something wrong, isn’t
there, Santa?

I also would like you to make a special effort
for a little Victoria boy who’s been missing for
too long. Michael Dunahee’s parents keep hoping
that their boy will come back to them, but
dammit, they need help. How about it, Santa? I
know you can do-it.

The other day, a good friend of mine told me
about a young woman who could no longer put up
with the physical abuse she suffered at the hands
of her husband. She took her child and left him,
and a good thing, too.

She’s got a place to stay, but not one piece of _

furniture. I'll see what I can do, but again, that

= woman, and a lot of others like her, needs the kind

of help that one person alone cannot give her.

I also understand that there are a lot of kids who
come to school hungry and often have no lunch.
Now, I don’t know whether that is because their
parents haven’t got the money to feed them
properly or spend it on other things.

The fact remains that there are a lot of hungry
kids out there. I know that’s hard to believe, but
it’s true. Surely, you can find it in your heart to
help these kids or at least twig the conscience of

those who can help them. C’mon Santa, your
reputation is at stake here.

Now, here’s a really important one, Santa. You
know that folks like to celebrate this time of year.
There are the office parties, the Christmas visits to
friends and relatives, the New Year’s bashes, and
quite often, folks have a few drinks.

Nothing wrong with that, at least not if it’s
done in moderation, but the problem is that some
folks insist on driving after they've had a few
drinks. And that’s bad. I know, I used to do it
occasionally, but fortunately, I was caught before I
did something I would have had to regret for the
rest of my life.

You remember, Santa, how embarrassing it was
for me to have my name splashed all over the
local newspaper, don’t you? I sure do. “Victoria
Journalist Convicted of Drunk Driving.”

Well, you also know that was the last time I ever
did such a stupid and dangerous thing, and I wish
you would somehow impress on folks to take a
cab, or the bus, or have some designated non-
drinking person drive them around. We could save
lives doing that, Santa.

I’ve saved the biggest wish for last, though. I’m
really worried about a mean streak folks have
been developing over the past few years. You only
have to scan the newspaper headlines or listen to
the news to see what I mean.

It seems to me, Santa, that discrimination and
bigotry are on the rise. Folks blame new immi-
grants for the unemployment rate, more and more
Anglophones talk disparagingly about Franco-
phones, and lack of understanding of what our
Native brothers and sisters want is poisoning a lot
of minds.

Now, I know you can’t solve that problem in
time for Christmas, but couldn’t you at least try to
get started on it?

It wouldn’t really take all that much, would it?
Folks are basically good, and if someone of your
Stature were to talk to them and explain that
discrimination, bigotry and hatred aren’t reconcil-
able with the spirit of Christmas, why, you might
just work a miracle.

I said at the beginning that I am not asking
anything for myself. Well, there’s one little thing I
would like you to do for me, Santa. If you feel it’s
necessary to get references on how I behaved this
past year, would you consider not calling any
politicians? I’d really appreciate that. Thanks,
Santa, for everything.

Free rides on New Year's Eve

og :

DESIGNATED DRIVERS in large vehicles are
being offered free for New Year’s Eve, thanks to
B.C. Transit. Throughout the holiday season, join
the Counter Attack team, leave the keys at home
and ride the bus. The transit service will provide
free rides on regular routes from 6 p.m. until 1
a.m. Dec. 31. A special timetable is available from
your bus driver or by calling B.C. Transit
information at 382-6161. It’s also a handy way
to get to Victoria’s First Night Festivities. The
Sunday service schedule will be in effect Jan. 1.

* * x

THE CENTENNIAL Time Capsule will be
buried as part of the New Year’s Levee at the
Sidney Waterfront, near the Marine Mammal and
Historical Museum and the Centennial Band-
stand. The fun starts at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 1 and
should wind up by about 3:30 p.m. Sidney Ald.
Brenda Harfield said: ‘““We’d like to be able to
wish all Sidney residents a happy New Year.”
Light refreshments will be served and the contents
of the time capsule will be disclosed.

kK OK

THE MYSTERY IS solved. Readers reacted
quickly to a request for information about a collie
pup left on the Peninsula after the filming of Son
of Lassie in 1944. The pup was actually the
offspring of a dog named Laddie, a female.
Regardless, Don Robb of the Sidney/North
Saanich Historical Society said the pup was
named Buffy by the Carmichael family, pioneers
on West Saanich Road near Pat Bay. When he was
16 human years old, Buffy fell into a backyard
swimming pool during an evening patrol and

~ spent the night there, unable to get out, Robb said.

AURA Gi

YTS oe a

The dog was discovered the next morming but

later succumbed to the effects of his ordeal,

making the year 1960 the end of the Lassie legacy.
kK *

ASPIRING BOATERS who wish to take advan-
tage of courses offered by the Saanich Peninsula
Power and Sail Squadron should send $50
deposits to P.O. Box 2122, Sidney, B.C. V8L 3S6,
not to the home address listed in a Review story
last week (Boating safety starts soon, Dec. 18),
training officer Ted Meadley said. Classes assume
a person knows nothing about boating, then
teaches aids to navigation, course plotting, read-
ing charts, vessel identification, seamanship and
assorted other topics. The 200-member group can
accommodate about 15 students in each class and
the Jan. 7 session is already almost half full,
Meadley said. For info, call Meadley at 656-1082,
Bob Parkinson at 655-1918 or George McLure at
655-3721.

TheReview

Tuesday, December 24,1991 — A7

GURTON’S STAFF
WISHES YOU A

Merry Christmas

“Serving the Peninsula
for 28 Years”

GURTON’S GARAGE LTD. TIRE LAND SIDNEY

VISA 3 SHELL = MASTERCARD
Corner of McTavish & E. Saanich Rd.

656-3939

WISHING YOU THE

BEST OF THE SEASON
From All of Us at Rust’s

Extra Special Boxing Week Values
December 26th - January 2nd

(ie )

ERS

Ne

Quality Gifts for Family Budgets.

2443 BEACON AVENUE SIDNEY 656-2532

CELEBRATE THE

EW

NEW YEAR’S EVE
Cocktails 7 - 8 p.m.
Dinner 8 - 9 p.m.

¢ Best dance floor in town

¢ Party Favours

¢ Toast at Midnight

¢ Door Prizes

¢ Theo’s Designated
Driver Program within
Sindey area
Leave your Keys with Us!

= 9 cn
3 oe py < She
y

The Good Time Starts Here
Phone Early for Your Tickets

656-7666
THEO’S PLACE

Tickets $25.00 per person
Music by Dennys

=N FOR L
ri from 11:00.

Management & Staff of
THEO’S PLACE
Wish to Thank You for Your
Patronage in 1991
MERRY CHRISTMAS

CLOSED —
Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Day

DRINKING AND DRIVING
B.C.s MOST SERIOUS CRIME