|
Holiday Hoopla All Across Town At Boston Bar Hall The fundraising New Years Eve Dance was pronounced a success this year with all proceeds going to Family Place. Our town's newest DJ, Peter Lillos did a fabulous job and everyone had a great time. Many door prizes were awarded, and Johnny Grimm took home the 50/50 draw. At Canyon Lanes The New Years Eve Party at Canyon Lanes was well attended with over 50 people! Everyone had a great time. Even though a couple of guests were called out to a fire, they made it back in time for midnight. Many prizes were awarded, with the large door prize (a coffee Basket from Red Carpet) going to Jaynie Forman. Holiday Train An astounding 200+ people braved the below zero temperatures to attend the Holiday Train performances of Tom Jackson, Beverly Mahood, Tracy Browne and Randall Prescott. The show's highpoint was Santa making his musical debut on lead (toy) guitar, and displaying some pretty "hip" dance moves. The audience had an opportunity to serenade the performers with an a capella version of "Silent Night", and they rose to the occasion, warming the hearts of all who participated. Various donations of money were presented at the beginning of the show, and all in attendance brought food donations for the food bank. Hope Community Services sent up 25 Christmas food hampers this year and Boston Bar Lions were able to use donated food and money to supplement those hampers. People have commented that this year the Christmas hampers were really "awesome". Money raised from the Holiday Train was sent up to the Hope Community Services, but the food was kept here, allowing the organizers to add lots of extras. Funds were used to go shopping to purchase big boxes of oranges, chocolates, toys and lots of canned goods for the hampers. Boston Bar Lion's Club extends a huge thank you to Lion's Clubs all over the valley. Here's a poem from one of our readers, it came in too late for our Christmas issue, but it seems to arouse a post- holiday nostalgia. Santa's Private Life Submitted by: Lori Ferguson He' plump and round and jolly, like Santa's meant to be And he plays the part with all his heart, for it fits him perfectly, His beard is white and flowing, His suit is vivid red A fur trimmed hat with tasselled ends is perched upon his head. His eyes are bright and merry, His Ho, Ho, Ho's are loved And he always gets noticed aloud, from the Christmas shopping crowd. Eager children stand in line, to whisper in his ear, Things they hope he'll bring them, for being good all year. But when the season's over, Santa heaves a great big sigh. He loves this world of make believe, and hates to say good-bye For his private life is lonely, he has no family, No eager little boys and girls, to climb upon his knee. That's why each Christmas finds him in a big department store, He's hoping he'll be hired, to play Santa Claus once more. I've Learned submitted by unknown I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I. I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. I've learned.... That when you harbour bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. I've learned.... That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it. I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it. RCMP Report Boston Bar Police are happy to report that this year's Christmas Counter Attack program went very well. Motorists probably saw an increased presence of law enforcement officers on the road, and this resulted in a many cars being pulled over for speeding. Seatbelts were checked and one person received a 24 hour suspension. Police would like to remind motorists to buckle-up for safety. On Boxing Day, a shephard/rottweiler dog was tied up outside the local detachment with a piece of clothes line cable. Constable Jason Fiddler, remarked that the person who left the dog should have used a little more common sense and used something other than clothesline. The cable was tied in such a way that the dog was nearly strangled to death by the time he was found. This story does have a happy ending though, a local resident decided that this little pup would not be going to "Doggy heaven" this Christmas, and promptly adopted him. On New Year's Eve, Fire broke out in an apartment over the fruit and vegetable market, in the same building as our doctor's office. Nobody was hurt, but a resident suffered minor smoke inhalation. The investigation continues to determine the cause of the blaze. New Year's Around the World Not all countries celebrate New Year at the same time, nor in the same way. This is because people in different parts of the world use different calendars. Long ago, people divided time into days, months, and years. Some calendars are based on the movement of the moon, others are based on the position of the sun, while others are based on both the sun and the moon. All over the world, there are special beliefs about New Year. In ancient Egypt, New Year was celebrated at the time the River Nile flooded, which was near the end of September. The flooding of the Nile was very important because without it, the people would never have been able to grow crops in the dry desert. At New Year, statues of the god, Amon and his wife and son were taken up the Nile by boat. Singing, dancing, and feasting was done for a month, and then the statues were taken back to the temple. Babylonia lay in what is now the country of Iraq. Their New Year was in the Spring. During the festival, the king was stripped of his clothes and sent away, and for a few days everyone could do just what they liked. Then the king returned in a grand procession, dressed in fine robes. Once again, everyone had to return to work and behave properly. Thus, each New Year, the people made a new start to their lives. For a long time the Romans celebrated New Year on the first of March. Then, in 46 BC, the Emperor Julius Caesar began a new calendar. It was the calendar that we still use today, and thus the New Year date was changed to the first day of January. January is named after the Roman god Janus, who was always portrayed as having two heads. He looked back to the last year and forward to the new one. The Roman New Year festival was called the Calends, and people decorated their homes and gave each other gifts. Slaves and their masters ate and drank together and people could do what they wanted to for a few days. In Scotland, New Year is called Hogmanay, and in some villages barrels of tar are set alight and rolled through the streets. Thus, the old year is burned up and the new one allowed to enter. Scottish people believe that the first person to enter your house in the New Year will bring good or bad luck, and it is very good luck if the visitor is a dark-haired man bringing a gift. This custom is called first-footing. The song, Auld Lang Syne is sung at midnight on New Year's Eve, and this custom is now celebrated all over the world. |