The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 49, Milford, Kosciusko County, 24 December 1980 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., December M, 1980

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Editorials

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year ■ The major religious feats of the year and principal holiday of the western world, commemorating the birth of Jesus, is celebrated on December 25. It’s not really certain this is the date on which Jesus was born. Various scholars have fixed the date in April, May, January, and in other months. Christmas was first observed in the second and third centuries and our name for the day dates from the eleventh century in England and “Cristes Maesse.” The giving of presents, which is a solidly entrenched custom in the United States, was taken from the Roman custom of exchanging gifts on January 1. German Christmas carols are traced back to the eleventh century and British and French songs to the thirteenth. The custom of decorating the house in green stems from an early English belief that certain flowers blossomed at Christmas. The use of mistletoe stems fronbthe Druids, who long revered the plant. x s The Christmas tree was first used in Germany. Some scholars believe the first occasion was in Strasbourg in 1605, though legend has it that Martin Luther decorated a green branch in his home in England until 1840, and appeared in the United States at about the same time. The belief in Santa Claus, as a jolly man who brought gifts, also comes to us from the Germans, derived from the legend of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus is a corruption of the Dutch San Nicholass). Fireworks are sometimes used in the'South at Christmas, and this stems from Italy, Spain and France, which enjoy the custom. It’s thought the practice was introduced by French settlers in the Louisiana area. Christmas was, interestingly, observed earlier in the South than in the North. The greatest challenge of Christmas, ihrour churches and among all Americans, is to spread love of one’s fellow man and peace on earth, in our country and abroad. Christmas, 1980 This age-old greeting retains its youthful zest, and continues to express the h** We S mak”^ n .p>>ogy »» •■“** friends and loved ones surprise you with the evidence of their affection and as wUI have shared the r Tofe S bolh nwten®) and experience One must be well in body, satisfied m mmd and aßl °The roadfc clear: Accept with genuine gratitude,enjoy with moderation and give with generosity, Remember: “It is more blessed ® lV ® and that: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, y brethren, ye have done it unto me. ” * • Santa Claus While some in this country choose not to observe the Santa Claus tradition at Christmas, which is their privilege and not to be criticized, for most American children Christmas Eve is a magic night unmatched for the rest of the year. How many have tried to stay awake Christmas Eve mght, to hear Santa land on the roof? How many have left food by the fireplace? How many have thrilled to the marrow at a glimpse of him, in red and white? How ma py millions of letters have gone out to him, of childish hope for wonderful toys and fun? If it can’t last, and it can’t; if it isn’t real life, and it isn t, it is nevertheless a magic time of joy and excitement and wonderful anticipation for youngsters. On firewood It’s timeio burn firewood again in stoves, heaters and furnaces. Wood is traditionally bought by the cord. A cord of properly dried hardwood equals in heating capacity (when properly burned) 130 gallons of no. 2 fuel oil. (One can price oil in his community to determine relative cost.) Wood should be cut six to ten months before burning —for best results. Thus, late winter and early spring are the times to cut wood for fall. Wood burning also has its disadvantages. It requires more storage space, is often a hauling problem. Wood fires must be regularly stoked and controlled. They can often be inefficient, or dangerous. They usually present ash removal problems. But — and this is more important in remote, rugged areas than in cities — the home using wood for heat isn’t at the mercy of a power company, the weather, or a delivery truck.

What others say — You can save energy Interested in saving energy? Try making sure more use of portable appliances — and less of light bulbs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 16 percent of household energy goes into the lighting of the home. Frequently bulbs are of a greater-than-needed wattage and are left on unnecessarily. Conversely, you can save 15 to 20 per cent of energy use by employing portable cooking appliances instead of putting a pan on top of a stove because only a specific space in a portable appliance is heated, while heat escapes around the pan on a range. Lowering light levels is an easy and effective conservation method. Consider the following: — Turning off lights in rooms not being used. — Clean fixtures and lamps deliver more light per watt. — Concentrate light in reading and work areas and where it is needed for safety, reducing lighting in all other areas. — Remove one lightbulb out of three in multiple-bulb fixtures, replacing it with a burned out bulb for safety. — Dark walls and drapes result in a tremendous increase in the amount of light required. — Use one large bulb instead of several small bulbs in areas requiring bright light. — One light switch controlling several fixtures is more costly than individual switches. ' — Fluorescent lighting is far more efficient than incandescent and can result in a 75 per cent savings on lighting power consumption. — Three-way lamp switches make it easy to keep lighting levels low when intense light is not necessary. Use the high switch only for reading or related activities. In the purchase and use of portable appliances: — Select wisely, buying those appliances which use the least energy for the job. For example, toasting bread in an oven requires three times the energy that toasting in a toaster does. — When buying appliances, read the labels carefully. Compare energy-use information and operating costs of similar models. A frost-free refrigerator, for example, uses more energy than one which is defrosted manually. — A drastic reduction in the amount of energy consumed by appliances can be realized if they are properly maintained. — CARROLL COUNTY COMET

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. . . And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth tp her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for themjn the inn.

Voice of the people A column on the opinions of the people of the Lakeland area...

QUESTION: "How do you put Christ into Christmas?"

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(Pastor of the Church of the Nazarene) “I don’t seem to be doing anything else but that. .1 don’t like the commercial part of it. I preach Chpst in church and that this is his birthday, nothing less than that. That’s the only other way 1 see it. 1 like the idea that it’s time for giving. Christ gave his life for us. Christmas is a good time of the year and people are in a cheerful mood and giving.’’

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MRS. RONALD D. STRIEBY rSbox 211 Syracuse

“We look at Christmas as a celebration of Christ. It’s a day set aside to honor the Lord, we don’t put up Christmas trees. Gifts are not necessary, but if a gift is given to each other, it’s a gift of love. We have dinner as a' family and maybe sing Christmas carols.”

Court news

COUNTY COURT Violations The following residents of Kosciusko County have had fines assessed and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge: Speeding — John Liberti, 36, Syracuse, S4O; Steven Stucko, 16, Highway opens bids The Indiana State Highway Commission recently opened sealed bids on three roads, 11 bridge, six maintenance and 11 traffic contracts, according to Commission Chairman Donald C. Pratt. One of those contracts, T-12880, involves installation of guardrails at bridge handrails culverts and shoulders along US 6, US 20, US 27 and SR 14 in Kosciusko, Elkhart, Whitley, Allen, Adams, Dekalb, Steuben and LaGrange counties. The low bidder was Fen-Guard, Inc. of Fort Wayne for $457,746.25. The engineer s estimate was $639,880. Another contract, T-12881, involves installation of a traffic signal at US 20 and CR 13 in Elkhart County. The low bidder was Delp Electric, Inc. of Plymouth at $54,155.29. The engineer’s estimate was $101,833. Pratt says that of the 31 advertised contracts, six received no bids below the Highway Commission’s own engineer’s estimate of the cost to do the work. Among, those which did receive an apparent or unofficial low bid was a contract for reconstruction of three bridge decks in Grant and Huntington Counties. The total of all eligible bids received was $8,411,350.92. 'Hus compares to a total of $9,803,795.27 for the commission’s engineer’s estimates.

HAROLD BARTON Syracuse

“I know Jesus was born on Christmas. Sometimes we put up a manger scene at home and we go to church on Christmas Sunday.”

PAUL I RUSH ' J Syracuse (math teacher)!

“I would say through church activities.” ‘ \ . MIM SPEICHER Milford (My Store) “Christ is God’s gift to the world. You put Christ in Christmas by celebrating Christ’s birthday and remembering what Christmas really stands for.” GUS LISKE Syracuse “Go to church and be a believer.”

Leesburg, S4O; Terry Mcßride, 23, Syracuse, $35; Kristine George, 26, North Webster, $35 Disregarding stop sign — David Arnold, 30, Syracuse, $57; Mike Miller, 17, Leesburg, $35 No operator’s license — Maureen Hall, 39, Leesburg, $35 Santa Visits Wawasee Kiwanis Santa Claus was guest of honor at the recent Wawasee Kiwanis meeting. Rev. John McFarland presented a program of yule songs. A quartet composed of McFarland, his son Chris, O. A. Lambert and Dick Brandon sang the melodies with Frank Graco accompaning on the portable organ. Personal past Christmases were then shared by a few members and everyone sang. Santa Claus appeared and gave \ gifts to everyone. Santa was assisted by an elf.

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S P S. 325 NO) Published by The Mail Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the- Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 44547. Second class postage paid at M 3 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana MM2 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: sll per year in Kosciusko County; sl3outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box IM Milford. Indiana MM2.

tfiUZIN AROUND cu#

A VERY EXCELLENT Christmas program, called “A Christmas Cantata,” was presented at 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the Saint Andrew’s United Methodist Church, in keeping with the traditional Christmas and holiday theme. The choir director for the program was Chris Koher. The unusual part of all this is the fact that the same program was given at the same church in its uptown location just 30 years ago — Sunday, Dec. 15,1950. The director (you guessed it) — Chris Koher. Everything will be the same but the case, according to Ann Brice, secretary at the church, who provided this column with the following list of names of those in the choir: Organist Suzanne Lisor. Alice Clark-, Chris Clodfelter. Jan Keim. Connie Smith, Jean Koher, Mary Bushong, Carolyn Parmerlee, Trudy Bouterse. Amber Johnson, Sherrie Keim. Charmaine Egolf, Gloria Frew, JoAnn Robinson, Celia Beckman. Marti Hahn. Jean Knisely. Kate Connel. Phyllis Cockram. Jennifer Contos, Sibyl Bales. Jim Hughes, Don Impey. J. R. Koher. Don Frew. Dave Robinson. Robert Johnson, Phil Frew, Joe Longenecker, Darrel Bales and' Kent Lawson. — o — DR. RICHARD Brungardt plans to move his veterinary clinic to his new Syracuse location about February 1,1981, it was learned this week. He has been practicing at his. home on CR 133. north of Road 6, in Elkhart County. He has purchased the Bill Stutzman home on SR 13 south of town, near Baker's Market, the better to serve his local clientele. — o — SUBSCRIBER RICHARD L. Smith of 3911 Galacia Dr., Austin, Texas, kindly submits his renewal to the M-J along with that of his brother Robert, of 1915 Devonshire Rd., Bloomfield, Hills, Mich., and makes the worthy request that we print a weather report column “for the benefit of our out-of-state readers.” (Note: Dick should be advised/that this suggestion is being taken under advisement.) We can’t resist passing along this plug from Smith: to say, both our families anxiously await the arrival of the, weekly edition. It’s read from cover to cover at this house. The variety of news reporting is truly useful and informative to all. Thanks for the super good news.. . keep up the great work.” — o — GUS LISKA, head of the entertainment committee at the Syracuse-Wawasee American Legion Post, No. 223, calls himself the “head slave,” in his job of coordinating Legion and VFW activities. Aside from organizing the Legion’s New Year’s Eve Party, he served as Santa Claus at a VFW Christmas Party from 2 to 4 Saturday for members and their families. Gus is one of those all around veterans who will volunteer to do whatever has to be done to keep these two organizations running smoothly. — o — KELLIE ENGLAND, owner of Wawasee Body Shop on SR 13 south of town, is anxious to get the story straight about Joe Hughes finding a stash of silver in the back yard of his (England’s) home at 300 East Boston Street. It seems England had heard

BARBARA BOWLYN North Webster (sixth grade student)

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M z \ A May His blessings i \ surround you at I jßllj Christmas and always. ' w We proclaim I His glory and ’/ /ni \ extend greetings i > i and profound v thanks to all. /v 'x \ W/ f .If \ \ z r -X jC ■ ■ .A \

stories of a prior owner of the Boston Street property having buried some silver coins in the back yard. England engaged Hughes to use his backhoe to unearth the yard in pursuit of the hidden money. What Hughes found was a small jar — “about a pint-sized jar" — with some quarters and half dollars in. England would not estimate the value of the coins, but did calfit minimal. “They’ll have the internal revenue people after me if this story continues to grow any larger,” so says England. He said when the story began it was supposed to be a five-gallon pale of silver, and this grew to a wash tub fuH. “For goodness sakes, help me out and get the real story told,” England urged a Mail-Journal reporter —of — ANKERSEN’S LADIES’ Apparel store, located at 212 South Calvin Street. Ligonier, will close its doors sometime after the first of the year and relocate at 109 South Buffalo Street in Warsaw, the location of the former Helfrich’s Ladies’ Apparel. Prior to Helfrich’s, it was known as Snell’s Ladies’ Apparel. Ankersen’s is an Elkhart-based store, but also has a retail outlet in South Bend. *— o — AND NOW this: During 1981, American unions will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of a truly national labor organization — the AFL-CIO. We have reason to believe that some unscrupulous and unethical promoters will exploit this event for their own personal gain through the sale of advertising or merchandise. 4 The national AFL-CIO does not accept or solicit advertising for its own publications, and no one is authorized to solicit advertising, sell merchandise, tickets . or donations of any type in the name of the AFL-CIO. Your help in making busings aware that the AFL-ClO’s plans do not include any type of “anniversary” advertising, and

A MOST UNUSUAL AND APPROPRIATE CHRISTMAS DECORATION

that solicitations for advertising connected with labor’s centennial should be carefully checked , -oTHEY TELL a story about the lady who was so glad all her family could gather together at her home for Christmas that she put a $lO bill in the church collection plate. The following Sunday she put a S2O bill in the collection plate, telling her friend this was because she was so glad to see them all leave. — o — A MOST unusual and appropriate Christmas * decoration is on the chancel of the Calvary United Methodist Church , south of town, and is shown here in the photo at the bottom of this column. * A description of the decoration is provided by • Pastor Paul Steele, as follows: "On the left side of the altar is the Tree of Sin and Death- On the right side of the altar is the Tree of Grace and Life. Churches as far back as the thirteenth century have placed two Christmas trees, one with 33 apples, the other with 33 white roses, to represent sin and grace. “When Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge in their attempt to become like God, they began the chain of sin wjiich every human being chooses to do at some time in his or her life. (Genesis 2:16. Romans 5:12). “The red streamer on the tree of death is a .reminder of Isaiah’s words Though your sins be as scarlet . . . The 33 apples tell of the original moment of choice of sin and of the promise of a Savior. Jesus lived 33 years on this earth, kept the commandments, lived as we do, in the form of a man, and finally died as an atonement for sin. “The tree of life has 33 roses to represent the divine side of Christ in his 33 earth. He is the Rose of Sharon as the Song of Solomon and Isaiah had prophesied him to be “Grace and life come to us in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:17). So the white streamer on the tree of life suggests the rest of Isaiah's (Continued on page 5)