Thank you teachers for the memories
My best holiday memories always had something to do with school. As little kids, we used to sing carols and holiday songs out in the hallway which, when you’re sevenyears-old, seems like such a huge place. In Grade 7, they took our class to a seniors’ residence to sing You Light Up My Life (which is a bad song, we would have preferred Night Fever by The Bee Gees) and then walked back to school in near blizzard conditions. The highlight of my graduating year from high school was not prom, or the graduating ceremony itself, but the school’s annual Christmas dinner for the Grade 13 class complete with a sing-along to Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney.
My point is to thank teachers and school principals. If my best memories are of school, chances are it’s the same with most other boomers. My teachers helped make the weeks leading up to Christmas a special time. I’m certain that it’s the same way today.
If you love fireworks, there will be more of them than usual when the Penticton Lakeside Resort lights up the skies, New Year’s Eve at midnight. General manager David Prystay said because of high-water levels this past summer, many of the summer shows were cancelled and his provider has agreed to a 25 per cent longer show for New Year’s. The best place to view the fireworks is on Lakeshore Drive.
Christmas song trivia: The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) by Dave Seville won three trophies at the first Grammy Awards in 1959 for best children’s recording, comedy recording and engineering. It was also one of five songs nominated for the top award, Record of the Year, but lost to Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare) by Domenico Modugno. Also nominated, Fever by Peggy Lee.
I stand corrected on a comment made in an editorial earlier this week about photo radar (Dec. 18). The City of Spruce Grove, near Edmonton, does not collect $1 million annually on photo radar fines — the total is $2.9 million from the $5.5 million collected in fines each year. It’s no wonder municipalities welcomeradar trucks in their communities. The Alberta government is now reconsidering the way it administers photo radar.
Christmas joke: How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizza?
Deep and crisp and even.
If you want an editorial to generate public feedback, write about the joy of sending Christmas cards (Dec. 15). Thanks to Harv Baessler from the Penticton Stamp Club and Judy Brant, who creates her own holiday cards, for sharing their thoughts with me.
Julie Planiden was elected vice-chair of the Okanagan Skaha School District 67. I hope Julie improves her communication skills. She’s been known to ignore my emails, that other trustees have answered, and is great for “no comment” on relevant issues.
Glenn Miller was gone far too soon.
Happy birthday to Ian Macdonald, who was born in Grace Hospital on Christmas Day, 1948. James Miller is valley editor for Okanagan Newspaper Group.