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Show ommunity lews A2 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2007 Covering what matters most Have a merry little Valentine's Christmas changes Spanish Fork -N E \V S - 280 North Main St. Spanish Fork, UT 84660 Lane Henderson Publisher Namon Bills Editor Dana Robinson . . Assoc. Editor The Spanish Fork News is published each Wednesday for $37.50 per year in area and $41.50 out of area by J-Mart, 280 North Main St., Spanish Fork Utah 84660. Email stories to editor@spforknews.com Email ads to ads@spforkncws.com Call us at 794-4964 POSTMASTER Send address changes to Spanish Fork News 280 North Main St. Spanish Fork, Utah 84660 The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright© 2007 Spanish Fork News. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the editor or publisher. DEADLINES Weddings, anniversaries, missionaries, 1st birthdays, articles, photos, Icrters to the editor Friday, 12 p.m. Display advertising and classified advertising Friday, 12 p.m. There and Back Again Shirlene R. Ottesen I have heard many people say they love Christmas and they dislike Christmas. They love the day, but dislike all the commercialism. What do we do about it? I don't know; I wish I did. There is so much of everything — so much to buy, so many fun things to have. Items are bright and attractive and advertising keeps telling us that "you deserve to have this." Sure, we may deserve to have it, but who's going to pay for it? Not the advertising people. The stores are packed with merchandise. Sometimes you can hardly walk between the racks and shelves that are loaded to the hilt. Like many of you, we had a tradition at our house that the kids could open one gift on Christmas Eve. Because it was a tradition they already knew what it was, but it was fun to open a pair of new pajamas to wear to bed that night. I always made the pajamas because they are easy to make. One or two times, I didn't quite get everything done on time, so while they were occupied with T.V. or something else, I would be putting the elastic in the pants or sewing on the buttons before I could wrap them. The thread would still be warm when they opened them. If I could peek in your homes, you are probably busy addressing Christmas cards, finishing some cute craft or wrapping gifts. Maybe you have young children in your home and you have to wait until the kids have gone to bed before you can do any "secret" sewing or work on special gifts. You may have a box of secrets stashed under your bed, in a closet, out in the camper, over at Grandma's house, or in the garage of the next door neighbor. In the cover of darkness, you pull it out and begin to sew, knit, crochet, glue, embroider and create something that will be sure to delight a loved one on Christmas morning. If your are handy with wood, you're probably busy cutting, sanding, staining or painting. See CHANGES • A3 Prepare with alternative heat alternative heat source, he smiled and said, "Yes, my furnace." After he quit laughing, I Ready or Not asked him again, "Seriously, do you have an Dawn Van Nosclol alternative heat source?" Still laughing, he said, "Yes, my mom's house." Have you got a backup heat source? That That is all fine and good, and I am sure that is a really good question to ask yourself. mom would fill them full of hot chocolate Last week, one of the guys that I work with and yummy things to distract them from had his furnace go out on a Saturday evening their problems for a night or two, but what and his young family started getting really of the consequences? cold. Last weekend it snowed and it was What if it wasn't the furnace, but instead very cold. Fortunately for him, his neighbor a transformer station that catches on fire, or, came over and was able to get the furnace like several years ago, when an eagle flew to work until Monday, when they could get into a transformer in Nevada and stopped new parts to fix it permanently. Take note electrical service to three states for a couple that the friend that worked on the furnace of days? Or when the electricity went out knew exactly what he was doing and the in half of the states back east? Mom's house furnace repair was safe, but the majority of was just as cold as yours. us only think we know what we are doing Even if you aren't very concerned about and we can get ourselves into a serious mess you or your family's comfort, what about if we make a mistake. My parents owned an apartment where the renters messed with the your house's warmth and comfort? You furnace and it actually blew up, burned half have to look at your house like a living of the house and caused smoke damage to organism. Well, not really an organism, but the rest of the house. Nobody got hurt, but it is susceptible to changes in temperature. what a mess! When I asked my co-worker if he had an See HEATER • A3 Ramblin' Roads Charla Zeeman Well, it's jolly ho, ho time again! The big day is just around the comer — just about two weeks off, depending on when you read this. I went shopping for the first time this season just after Thanksgiving. Well, actually, I wandered into one of the stores just before Halloween. They were busily pushing costumes, black hats, jacko-Ianterns and such into a couple of shelves and replacing them. Yup! They were replacing them, with — you guessed it — Christmas decor. Trees were taking shape, ornaments were filling the shelves and general Christmas hoopla was taking place. Now just so you understand, I love every holiday. I feel bad when one is not quite over or sometimes even here, when another takes its place. But I especially take it to heart when one holiday is scooted right out of our minds to put another there. It seems that Thanksgiving is that time of the year when our thoughts should be on our blessings, or at least on what we have in this life. Instead of that, I was seeing jolly ho, ho coming along. But back to just after Thanksgiving. I was shocked ,to see just before Christmas sales in the stores: ornaments at half-price. The shelves, which had been stuffed with Christmas ornaments just after Halloween, were almost empty! I found what I had wanted, or what was available and went into another section of the store. I expressed my displeasure to a clerk in that section. She smiled at me and stated the store's side of the story. It is their goal to have all the Christmas stuff — ornaments, cards, gifts, etc. gone before Dec. 15! I'm still trying to get my shopping started by the 15th! Now I understand the store's dilemma, I think. Every store orders Christmas in the middle of summer, at least. They wait until October to get their share of the loot. Then by December they are ordering, or have ordered swim wear for summer. They look ahead each season to what they think they will earn through sales in whatever season they are ordering for. They also project costs of operation, etc., and decide what they need to sell in order to make a profit, then order accordingly. Now, if I had to think ahead that far, my poor brain would go on permanent vacation! That's just the way my brain works — it can't be preparing for one event and think way ahead and plan for another one. Maybe that's why I never even gave running a store a second thought as I planned my future oh so many years ago. But back to the matter at hand. I found some Christmas cards on sale at 50 percent off. I also bought ornaments at 50 percent off. I bought some other things for regular . price. But I haven't even the slightest clue as to what half , of my family even wants for , Christmas. The problem is even worse than this. When I head off for the stores to ' seriously do some shopping, I will be among all the other frantic shoppers trying to find just the right gift for Christmas. Will there even be a sweater, a pair of gloves, some water proof apparel, a long sleeved top, or a winter coat available amid the newer season's projected ( sales items? And this will be before the post office says we should have our packages and cards in the mail for this jolly event! Meantime, back at the ranch, my tree isn't up, my candy isn't made, my nativities are still packed, and everyone is trying to decide what they want for Christmas. What do I want? Who knows? How about some happy time, with Christmas music, snow, and everything done before midnight Dec. 24! Next week, at the rate things are going, when I try to buy Christmas presents, I will be running into things with hearts all over them in preparation for Valentines Day! "So have yourself a merry little Valentine's..." no! "...a merry little Christmas Day!" A WWII Benjamin Christmas story dren early in the evening, followed by supper personally served by the Young Men and Young Women. The program focusing on the "redneck" Benjamin 2nd Ward held its theme featured Jill Cloward, Christmas party on Tuesday, Rick Jensen, Ken and Beth Dec. 4, 2007, with the theme Bartholmew, and Gary and of "Redneck Christmas." This Stephanie Gait. The evening concluded event was under the direction with Christmas songs by the of the ward's Activity Committee headed by Alan Darren and Sarah Brown and Pat Swenson with the family accompanied by Lisa committee consisting of Coombs. ••• Richard and Janet Erickson, Remember! Benjamin 1st Roger and Diane Jones, and Ward's Christmas party is Greg and Nancy Balzly. Santa Claus greeted chil- tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 'Round and About Benjamin Kathleen Olsen 12), beginning at 6:30 p.m. Supper will be served, followed by a program and a special guest. All ward members are invited. ••• A public meeting about the Benjamin Cemetery will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Church. A report of recent improvements will be given and other business will be discussed. Community members are invited to attend. See BENJAMIN* A3 Letters to the Editor Choir not "too much of a good thing A recent letter to the editor has me saddened and disappointed. What is wrong with people today? It is certainly our right to voice our opinions and share our concerns, but to literally attack and defame the name of such a good man and a great teacher is wrong. As a parent, I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am to Rick Lunt for his dedicated service and effort on our children's behalf. He has created an opportunity for learning and for growth as well as the chance for our children to be involved in giving back to their community. Contrary to the view that was expressed, the opportunities that our children have with this music program teach them to share their talents, to help one another, to work hard and to enjoy giving back. To insinuate that our students/ children are being led away from their families and from safety is ludicrous. Participation in these programs helps our children to be surrounded by other youth who share the same values. It creates a safety net for them with good friends and uplifting experiences. This they share with their families and in turn we all become one big family. Don't think for one minute that the director of this program does this for any glory. His sacrifice of time, talent and energy comes from his heart. To my knowledge, most of the students in this program do very well on testing and most have a high GPA. If anything, this program teaches these students to be responsible — something they use in the real world. This experience gives them the opportunity to learn how to balance their responsibilities. We do not expect our children to be stars on Broadway or to become rich and famous, although some may be — they've got the talent and have a teacher who supports and encourages them to share it. What is popular anyway? And who determines popularity? These programs help some to come out of their shells and gain self-confidence and self-esteem because others help and encourage them. Life is exhausting and demanding. I love every minute that I spend in supporting and helping with this program and I am so grateful for the experiences it has given me with my daughter and her classmates. I don't know anyone who is scared to voice their opinion. In fact, quite the contrary — and to be quite honest, I haven't heard any negative comments, at least from the students in the program and their parents — just full support and appreciation. This is not the only thing that these kids do. These are kids who are dedicated to their families. They are kids who attend their church and Scout activities, who contribute to the community and who are learning other disciplines. These are well-rounded individuals who care about others and are trying to make a contribution in every aspect of their lives. Being involved in these programs gives these children/young adults an opportunity to be involved in something worthwhile and uplifting. Having my daughter involved in the program does not give me less input or involvement in her life — it gives me more time and involvement in what she is doing, and provides some wonderful moments between us as parents and children. Parents have the responsibility to set limits for their own children and their own family. My experience with other parents and students in this program is that the family is the priority and that there are limits set as far as time for family and academics. I, along with many others, send my full support and appreciation to this highly valued and respected teacher as well as to a school board who stands behind and sees the potential of each teacher, and the effect they have on their students and the community. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Kim Head Spanish Fork Thank you everyone We would like to thank everyone for their kindness and support in the way of donations, thoughts, and prayers during the recent kidney surgery ofRobyn, and the transplant of Curtis. They are both home and doing well. Thank you, everyone! Keith and Valene Barney Curtis and Tekoa Barney and family Mark and Robyn Fillmore and family Jill Barney and family Spanish Fork |