December 19, 2007SanDpoint HigH ScHoolVolume 85, iSSue 4

Winter Edition

Inside...

Religion and christmas........................................................Page 5

Winter Sports..............................................................................Page 7

How to sneak an Early Peek At your gifts................Page 9

Holiday entertainment.......................................................Page 12

Holiday dangers and Toys for Tots............................Page 8

Ski racing teams.......................................................................Page 11

Holiday movie downers.....................................................Page 14

Sandpoint High School | 410 South Division | Sandpoint, ID 83864 | (208) 263-3034 ext 244 | shscedarpost@hotmail.com | Printed by the Bonner County Daily Bee

F i r s t a n n u a l w i n t e r e d i t i o n

Morgan WillsEditor in Chief

Chelsea KardoKusAssistant Editor

MiChael Tiberi News Editor

laura loCKWoodArts & Culture Editor

isaaC dunneAssistant Arts & Culture Editor

niCole VandyKe Co-Sports Editor

Will hughs Co-Sports Editor

leigh liVingsTonPhotography Editor

CaMeron hayCopy Editor

grahaM PayTonGraphic Editor

KaTie MeeKAdvertising Manager

anna Thorell Business Manager

KaT Vardell ryan WilliaMs

Casey dunn

Keegan dunn

liz sTone

Karnia olson

raChel Kennedy

Ads CrisTina Wilson

Carly riCKard

Graphicsdillon CoWer

iVan redding Photographers

hillary nusbauM

heaTher allen

Carly riCKard

saManTha May riCK rhodes

Adviser

Paulina graloWAssistantSports Editor

Helping the needy..................................................................Page 15

Letetr from Dr.Kiebert...........................................................Page 3

Letters to the editor..............................................................Page 4

Staff reportersalex gedrose

Page 2Dec. 19, 2007

Page 3Dec. 19, 2007

To the Wonderful Students of SHS, I wanted to wish each of you a relaxing and fun-filled Holiday Break.

Take time to enjoy your family and friends – appreciate the time to talk without pressing homework and schedule obligations. Play out in the snow (hopefully) – sled, ski, board, hike, and throw as many snowballs as possible, since it is not allowed at school. Sleep in as much as possible – you will not be assigned lunch detention and your teenage body surely needs to get caught up on sleep. Play games – enjoy other activities that you don’t normally get to during school time. Exercise outside as much as possible – the fresh air and sun does your mind and body good. Most of all, take care of yourself and enjoy your time off. I look forward to seeing you again in 2008.

Much peace and joy on your break, Dr. Kiebert

Letter from the Principal

Order your photos and photo gifts ONLINE - TODAY!

Come by and see Dana, Michelle, Chelsea, and

Justin for your after school treats!

Deirde HillLiz Evans

710 Pine Street Sandpoint 208-263-9012

The Travel Connection, Ltd.Suzanne Wakefield

219 Church St., Suite ASandpoint, ID 83864suzanne@sandpoint.net8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri

(208) 263-2927 (800) 338-2927Fax (208) 263-6967

H a p p y H o l i d a y s !

Page 4Dec. 19, 2007

“

”

These are phrases Cedar Post staff members have heard from students of SHS. The views expressed in Word for Word are not necessarily shared by the Cedar Post.

• In the afternoon, the bus smells like kin-

dergarteners.

• If she weren’t a girl, I would have punched

her.

• I’m so prepared, I have a curling iron in

my purse!

• I’m so happy to see everyone walking

around shaved.

• If you think about swallowing too much

then it doesn’t come natural.

• Not you senoritas, them senoritas.

• I walked through the hall and there was

like everyone crying.

• That two minte bell is so stupid.

Letters to the EditorThis is where your thoughts go. Feel pasinately about something? We are your public forum. Drop a letter with your thoughts and name in room E8 or e-mail shscedarpost@hotmail.com

Tiffany BeasleyJunior

Home-schooled student clarifies between GED, Diploma

The Cedar Post is governed by the same legal rights as the professional press. Under the First Amendment, we reserve the right to free ex-pression and freedom of the press. The student newspaper of Sandpoint High School is an open public forum for the students of Sandpoint High School and the community of Sandpoint, Ida-ho, with its editorial board making all decisions concerning its contents; it is not subject to prior review by administration, faculty, or community members.

Unsigned editorials express the views of the

majority of the editorial board.Letters to the editor must be signed, although

the staff may withhold the name upon request. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to law governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disrup-tion of the school process, as are all contents for the paper.

Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should an opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.

Editorial Policy

The CP strongly encourages you to voice your opinion through the student paper. E-mail your letter or bring it by E8.

Dear Editor, In your last edition of The Cedar Post, ou published an article about alternative educa-

tional paths. I thought that it was a good article, and it seemed to help take some pressure off of the kids who get the negative label of a “drop-out.” However, although some kids choose to get a GED as their alternative, I think it is important for students to realize the difference between a GED and a diploma. (This is to inform, not to step on the toes of those who do get a GED.) Many people think that a GED is the same as getting your high school diploma, but in all reality, it’s not. We live in a highly competetive world, where generally, the people who put in more effort are the people who are more successful. If you are applying for col-lege, your chances of being accepted are higher if you have a diploma. If you are looking for a good job, employers are more apt to look at the applications of those who have a diploma. I have peronally talked to a few business owners who have told me that they’d rather hire people who have diplomas, than those who just have their GED. These things are important to consider. I am not trying to say that people who have a GED won’t be successful, or that a GED is a bad thing. I also understand that there are scertain situations where getting a GED was the best option. I just don’t want kids to think that they can drop out of school and go take some tests because they heard that it was the easy thing to do.

~ ~

“I think it’s better because it’s more tolerant but, if you mean Christmas you should say Christmas ”Tala Wood

Freshman

“I think it’s ridiculous, to be honest, but I don’t celebrate Christmas really so to me it’s not a big deal”

Jordan Gilcrest Junior

“I kind of think it’s ridiculous. I guess I could see it offending some people”

Vanessa Henley Junior

What do you think of the increasing political correctness of the holi-

days?

Page 5 Dec. 19, 2007

Judaism is another religion that forgoes the celebration of Christmas.

Sophomore Aubrey Sutton has only one Jewish parent. Her mother is Jewish, but her father is Christian.

“We do the eight days of Hanukkah - then we get Christmas presents,” she said.

According to a Hebrew religious text, Hanukkah is a rememberance of a miracle that occured in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Sutton’s family has been celebrating both holidays very traditionally since she was young.

“We’ve done it since I was little, so it has never been a big deal,” Suton said. “[For Hanukkah] we light one candle each night and for eight days we say prayers while we’re lighting the candles, and we get one present each night”.

Christmas is the combination of various pagan customs

and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many Americans, even those who are not Christian, celebrate this traditional holiday.

Some Christians who do recognize Christmas have distinctive ways of celebrating it.

Junior John Brusaw and his family don’t approve of the way Christmas is commonly celebrated.

“It’s gotten too far away from the significance of Christmas. It’s supposed to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but now it’s about getting presents from a big fat guy in a red suit,” Brusaw said. “We just do it traditionally. It’s more a family get together than anything [else] for my family.”

For Ben Chitlungsei, holiday vacation doesn’t mean Christmas.

“It’s not really traditional to [celebrate Christmas],” Chitlungsei said.

Celebrations are not an important part of the Buddhist religion.

“We don’t really have any celebrations,” Chitlungsei said. “There are some days where we worship Buddha and we make a prayer to him”.

Usually Chitlungsei’s family takes the time of the holidays to meditate and focus on studying some of Buddha’s concepts. This year they are preparing for a pilgrimage.

“My family and I, we’re planning to go visit the temples and meet the monks and consult with them on their principles. My sister and I, we’re not really into the religion, but we’re starting to be,” Chitlungsei said.

While most Christian denominations celebrate

Christmas as a commemoration of the birth of Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses are expressly prohibited from participating in holidays as a tenet of their religion.

“[We] believe that it said in the Bible that Jesus said not to celebrate his birthday or your own,” junior and Jehovah’s Witness Joe d’Attilio said.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that such celebrations are a form of idol worship, which the bible forbids.

They do, however, have a recognition for Jesus.

“In April we have Jesus’ memorial,” d’Attilio said. “We give a little talk . . . selected people eat and drink [bread and wine].”

Buddhism JudaismJehovah’s Witness

Christianity

Religion and ChristmasMembers of different faiths explain their relationship with the holidays

Kat Vardell

Staff reporter

Page 6Dec. 19, 2007

The Alpine Shop

Das

h C

amp,

Pho

to b

y: N

ate

Wag

ner

Buying Christmas presents can be tough, but come in and get the best skiing stuff!

Located in downtown Sandpoint e 213 Church Street 263-5157

Page 7Dec. 19, 2007

During the American Civil War, a monumental leap was

made in the advancement of alterna-tive winter sports activities.

Soldiers from Texas ambushed friendly soldiers from Arkansas with snowballs. This ambushed escalated into a colossal conflict involving more than 9,000 Confederate soldiers.

Today, snowball fights are engaged in every day during the winter season throughout our great nation.

Making snowmen and snow angels is fun and all, but that doesn’t get the blood flowing.

The coolest thing you can do is put a carrot by the naught bits of old Frosty. Also, you can be a loner and make a super cool snow angel.

You have to actually interact with others to have a gnarly battle royal of partially solidified water molecules. Someone would look completely in-sane having a snowball fight by them-selves.

“I tried to make all the Yoke’s em-ployees have a snowball fight because I work there,” junior David Dishong said.

Another great pastime involving snow is sledding! From ages five to fifty, sledding is for everyone. You don’t have to be the Evil Knievel of

d o w n h i l l action to have fun.

“I just basically go down the hill,” senior Montana Jackson said.

If you remember movies like “A Christmas Story” or “Snow Day”, you might see old-school sleds made of wood and two metal runners be-low. But now, it’s all about the plastic baby.

“The technique to getting a good sled is buying a crappy one at Wal-Mart and freezing water on the sides and the bottom. Then it makes ice, and ice on ice is really slick,” Jackson said.

With the beautiful scenery that surrounds Sandpoint, one hobby is making a comeback. The use of snow-shoes was a requirement for fur trad-ers and trappers during the winter. Now snowshoes are used by people to get a pleasant view of nature while floating over fresh powder.

Whether it be hectic snowball fighting, extreme sledding, or mun-dane snowshoeing, anyone can find themselves staying busy with alterna-tive winter sports.

Will HugHes

Co-sports editor

Students find a few activities which provide enjoyable and interactive ex-periences

n Sledding: Seniors Ethan Davis, Daniel Maus, Nathan Maus, Todd Stoner, and Brian Wolcott go sledding at the old ski hill on Pine Street.

leigH livingstone

leigH livingstone

n enjoying the Snow: Senior Daniel Maus laughs after sledding down the hill.

The holiday season is about time with family, good food and celebration However, visions of sugar plums are quickly wiped from people’s minds when danger arises, and many students are all too aware of these holiday dampeners.

“[There are] drunk drivers [and] robbers who want the new presents,” senior Justin Knowles said.

Christmas trees and food are also sources of fear during the holiday season.“[I’m afraid of] gaining too much weight,” senior Emily Ogle said.“Christmas trees lighting on fire and fake reindeer falling off of neighbor’s

houses,” senior John Roberts said.Yet, the most feared danger during the holidays is probably an eggnog-induced

accident or injury.“Once I had it go out my nose. It’s way worse than milk; it’s thicker and more

painful,” Knowles said.Drinking large quantities of eggnog increases the likelihood of problems.“I tried to chug a half gallon of eggnog,” junior Mike Hewitt said. “I got almost

all the way through it, and I threw up everywhere. Don’t do it.”Many people think that eggnog is worth the risk involved.

“Eggnog is delicious, but if you drink a bunch of it, it makes you sick,” Roberts said. “It’s tricky. You have to measure it out.”

The dangers of eggnog do not end with drinking it.“I make eggnog lattés at Starbucks; they’re scary. When you steam eggnog, it

spits in your face and they taste bad,” Ogle said. “I don’t drink eggnog; it’s thick and fattening and gross.”

Fire stations and tree farms were unavailable for comment.

It’s that time of year again; the Sandpoint Toys for Tots drive is under way with a goal at raising $48,000.

“We have [made the goal] for the last 20 or 30 years,” Lion’s Club member John Hunt said.

The National Honors Society has organized Sandpoint High School’s Toys for Tots drive.

“We haven’t done too well in the past, so the idea is just to do a better job this year,” SHS Toys for Tots Chairman and junior Jeremiah Prummer said.

Whichever second period class brings the most toys for the drive will win a pizza party from the Sandpoint Lion’s Club, and candy will be given to the second place class. A fundraiser carnival was

also held for kids to get a chance to donate money or toys for the drive.

Even though the Toys for Tots drive is over

at SHS, donations are still greatly appreciated in participating businesses around town.

“The Bee has a Toys for Tots area, they’re in the mall, Wal-Mart, Yokes, Sandpoint Drug, banks, they’re scattered all over town,” Hunt said. “Most of the individuals in the area support it.”

Thousands of toys are donated each year to participating families, and about 1,200 children are annually involved.

“The parent will fill out an application requesting help, and we help them,” Hunt said.

Students who still would like to help with Sandpoint Toys for Tots but missed the SHS drive can bring toys to one of the participating businesses in town or drop off toys at the Sandpoint Lion’s Club.

Toys for Tots

“I was snowboarding and I caught my back edge and it threw me down on my neck and I got a concussion, blacked out, it was bad.”

Henry Machado

“When I was little my brother Henry ran me over with a sled, it scraped up my face. It was really bad.”

Megan Chase

“My very first time skiing I went into a ravine area with very old wooden skis, fell onto a frozen rock and tore open my knee, exposed the knee cap and had to have seventeen stiches.”

Woody Aunan

What’s your worst holiday injury?

Page 8Dec. 19, 2007

Paulina GralowAssistant sports editor

Lions club raises money to buy presents for underprivileged children

ryan williamsStaff reporter

Unexpected accidents arise with Christmas trees and eggnog

Who: Lions Club

What: Raising money and toys for kids

Where: Lake Pend Oreille School District #84

When: Now until Christmas Eve

Their goal: $48,000

With holidays comes danger

Ivan Redding

1

Page 9Dec. 19, 2007

How to.... Secretly open your gifts

Six steps to taking a glance at your most intriguing presents (without anybody knowing).

We’ve all been there: the first sighting of the biggest wrapped present you’ve ever seen being placed under the tree. Better yet, this present even has your name written on it. The problem is you have to wait all the way to Christmas to find out what the surprise is. Is this gift keeping you awake at night, cold sweat dripping down your face while constantly repeating,

“What could it be?” What if there were a way to find out now? Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you can use this guide for other presents. If you never receive presents, you can tear out this page and fold it into a really dumb-looking hat.

It is vital that your parents have absolutely no idea what you are up to, or you may risk getting said present taken away for doing something like “going against their authoritative backs”, so for the love of [insert deity of choice], make SURE THEY ARE OUT OF THE ROOM before attempting this stunt. If for some reason this cannot be achieved, simply drug them into a sleep for an hour or two.

This would probably be a good time to

analyze the current situation. Isolate your presents from the rest of the group. Nothing would be more disappointing than going through the trouble of secretly opening a present only to find out that you’ve just unraveled your little sister’s My Little Pony Paradise collection.

Now you need to organize your pile of presents. In this case, boxes are your best friend. Remove any lumpy gifts that feel like socks simply wrapped up in paper. Odds are, those presents are probably just socks wrapped up in paper and totally not worth your time.

See how nicely the edges of the wrapping paper are sealed with Scotch* tape? Don’t you think it would be easy to just simply peel off that tape and open the present? DON’T! Peeling off tape usually tears at the wrapping paper, causing the gift to look as if it as just been attacked by a twenty-inch wolverine with nails the length of Barbara Streisand’s, or it will look like some idiot was trying to open his presents early. Don’t be an idiot. Actually, don’t be a twenty-inch wolverine either.

Boxes are no longer your best friend. However, box cutters are. Use one to cut two or three slits in the paper in order to gently remove the box from the wrapping. Wow. I wish there was something more to it than that. I guess you could make this step seem a little more interesting by replacing the box cutter with a machete.

After realizing that the gift wasn’t that exciting anyway, slide the box back into the wrapping. Cover the cuts you made with the good ol’ Scotch tape. If anybody notices a little more tape on a present he/she wrapped, then he/she is probably the type of person you don‘t want to hang out with anyway. Maybe you should just drug them for the rest of the holidays.

2 3

654

Alex Gedrose

Staff reporter

Page 10Dec. 19, 2007

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Page 11Dec. 19, 2007

It’s not uncommon on a summer day to drive across the long bridge and, just before turning to enter

town, see a group of kids of all ages holding signs and soapy water while they scrub down dusty cars. These same people are unrecognizable come winter, suited up in padded spandex, cruising down the slopes and weaving through gates. They are the racers of Independence, a non-profit team that trains local talent without requiring a fee.

These athletes are washing cars to

fund their season, which spans from December to April. They are funding trips across the country to various mountains for races, coaching, training materials and race fees. The team was created almost accidentally when local ski racing dad Shep Snow obtained his coaching license from the United States Ski Association (USSA) so that he could race his two children as ‘independents’, meaning they were not affiliated with any regular team. The team evolved from there, as Bonnie and Scott Snow had great success ski racing, the team their father had created for them sparked an interest

within the community.“Some of the others had never

skied -- some were plucked straight off the soccer field based upon their athleticism and attitude. None had ever raced. We skied together informally the entire season with our focus on trees, powder and occasional NASTAR runs,” a team press release said.

One of the most unique aspects of the team is that it is non-profit. Ski racing, with all of the gear, coaching hours, traveling fees and racing fees is a highly expensive sport.

“Most kids in Bonner County can

hardly afford a season pass, let alone membership on a USSA race club,” the team press release said. “We work equipment deals each year and are able to find enough pairs of close-out skis to outfit all of our racers on relatively new gear. We have a “pole party” each fall, and everyone swaps down to minimize the need for purchases.”

The team became official under the USSA in 2001 and trains two to three days a week, Saturday and Sunday with some members also training on Wednesdays. They all travel to races in the 15 passenger van Snow traded in the family car for.

Top of the line racing skis

Padded, spandex speed suit

Aerodynamic, body curved poles

Racing helmet with face guard

Tools of the Trade

Super-light racing bootsThe schedule of a young ski racer involves juggling training, traveling and racing with the other activities

the rest of the teenage population can fill their schedule with. Highly competitive ski racers ski at least 100 days a season, training four to five days a week. That isn’t including hours logged in the gym working particular muscle groups. Ski racers travel for hundreds of miles to compete and train in clinics with world class coaches. Often to balance skiing with school racers must enroll in online courses to stay on top of class work.

Mock training schedule:Monday: Train on mountainCore trainingTuesday: Legs in weightroomSkier’s edge (skiing dryland training program)Wednesday: Train on mountainLifting in Weight roomThursday: Study day, catch up on weekFriday: Travel to raceVisualization exercise to prepare for raceSaturday: RaceSunday: Race Drive Home

Karina OlsOn

Staff reporter

A week in the life of a ski racer

1850- First successful dowhill skiing binding developed in Norway

1872- First U.S. ski club was founded

1921- First modern slalom race

Oldest skis were used by Scandanavians for transportation over 4000 years ago

Quick Facts

1968- NASTAR was established

Graham PaytOn

“I really like Carol of the Bells and The Little Drummer Boy.”

Emily Ogle

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing cause it shows the most respect to Jesus.”

Graham Cole

“Jingle Bell Rock because it’s exciting, it has some rhythm to it.”

Leura Holt

What is your favorite Christmas carol?

The SHS performing choir and men’s quartet are working hard to raise funds for a trip to the Heritage Festival choir competition in Maui this spring.

“We’re singing on the U.S.S Missouri at Pearl Harbor,” quartet member Cameron Brownell said.

The funding for the trip has been the largest obstacle.

“We need to raise $44,000,” Performing Choir member and french exchange student Morgane Heyse said. “That’s a lot of money.”

The group has been raising money for the trip in a variety of ways, the most recent of which has been singing at various events and venues.

“We’ve been doing a lot of caroling,” quartet member Jacob Craner said. “Every weekend we go and sing somewhere. We basically go around and sing at...different places that are having events.”

“We go to a lot of restaurants,” performing choir member Katie Lundie said. “Some of the ones we go to frequently are Ivanos, the Landing, McDuffs, and Trinity.”

“We carry a donation basket, and we pass it around at the end,” Brownell said.

The choir has also performed at the Edgewater Resort, the Bonner

Mall, Schweitzer, Connie’s, Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, and Coldwater Creek.

Another major fundraiser for the Hawaii trip will be selling Christmas CD’s that include music from both the Performing Choir and the quartet.

“The CD’s are $10,” Heyse said. “There’s 12 songs on it, three from the quartet. It’s jazzy, you know; it’s really good.”

“[People] can actually buy them directly from us,” Craner said. “We have order sheets that we write down names on.”

The annual Christmas concert is also expected to bring in much-needed revenue.

“For our Christmas concert we’re going to be auctioning baskets,” said Brownell. Boquets of flowers and numerous food items will also be available.

There have been various smaller fundraisers as well.

“We sold donuts,” Craner said.“We went to Coldwater [Creek]

and giftwrapped some things,” said Brownell.

It’s a lot of work, but both groups feel all of the time and energy will be well worth it.

“I’m so excited,” Brownell said.“I came here to go on exchange

in the U.S.,” Heyse said. “I never thought I would get to go to Hawaii. It’s crazy to think that I’m actually going there. It’s going to be amazing.”

Page 12Dec. 19, 2007

During the holiday season, there are a variety of activies going on in Sandpoint which may provide suitable ways to occupy one’s time.

For instance, on Dec. 21, Schweitzer is putting on Shot in the Rail Jam #1, which will provide a chance for nighttime skiers and boarders to try out custom rails. Also, on Dec. 24, for those who never caught a peek of Santa Claus stuffing gifts in their stocking, the jolly man himself will be

making use of the slopes. “We have so much to do, you won’t

have time to ski,” Paulie Cohen, manager of Schweitzer’s activity center, said.

On Dec. 21 and 22, the Panida Theater will show the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street. The showing will be at 7 p.m., and tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

Still another activity to take into consideration is going on a group sleigh ride, put on by the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, located 16 miles northeast of Sandpoint. For details, visit thier website at www.westernpleasureranch.com.

Rachel Kennedy

Staff reporter

casey dunn

Staff reporter

Choirs serenade to fundraise for upcoming Heritage Festival in Pearl Harbor

n Singing around Town: Amanda MacDonald, Ashlee Anderson, and Erin Bradetich of the Performing Choir sing at a local event.

Leigh Livingstone

Sandpoint snow season packed with plenty of activities

Holiday Entertainment

The Spin:

Page 13Dec. 19, 2007

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Ivan Rimar/Dennis Lunsford

1Nester the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

Basic plot:Nester has ears so long he is incompetent at just about everything.

Nobody likes him until God sends the donkey to carry the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem.

Why it will make you cry:Everything that can go wrong for Nester does go wrong. You

already feel pretty bad for the guy when everybody constantly teases him (with even more jerkiness than they gave Rudolph), but at least he has his mother. She is the nicest donkey in the world. Well, she WAS the nicest donkey in the world, anyway. Yep, the writers of this movie had the nerve to go and kill poor Nester’s mother when she laid on top of him to protect Nester from an ice storm. We hadn’t been this traumatized since Bambi. At least Bambi wasn’t totally shunned by the entirety of the animal kingdom.

The tear-jerking quote:I started bawling as soon as I read the title.

2

3

4Alex Gedrose

Staff reporter

One of the biggest Christmas traditions tends to be watching classic animations on television

with the family. Watching these same classics now, however, made me think a little bit. Weren’t these movies supposed to be merry and fun for the kids? It’s actually a lot harder to come to that conclusion

based on a few circulating Christmas tales. No matter how happy these endings are, they just don’t seem to make up for the traumatizing events that take place beforehand.

Page 14Dec. 19, 2007

A Christmas Carol (adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens)

Basic plot:A man everybody hates is visited by three dead people who try to

show him the true meaning of Christmas.Why it will make you cry:Dying children don’t typically put you in the holiday mood.

Yeah, ol’ Ebby Scrooge turns around and gives everybody a lovely Christmas, but we had to watch as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come broke the news that Tiny Tim was a ticking time bomb about ready to kick the bucket any day now. Merry Christmas?

The tear-jerking quote:“If I could work my will, any idiot who goes around with a Merry

Christmas on his lips would be cooked with his own turkey and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.”

Ebenezer Scrooge (from The Muppet Christmas Carol)

Cricket on the Hearth (adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens)

Basic Plot:A toymaker’s daughter learns that her navy-faring husband is lost

at sea and she goes blind from the trauma. The toymaker spends all of his money trying to fix her but just ends up driving the two out of their home and working for an evil factory owner. Psychadelic song sequences ensue, animals are shot, and somewhere in the midst of it all an annoying cricket does pretty much nothing.

Why it will make you cry:It was written by Charles Dickens. [Also, see plot summary.] The tear-jerking quote:Anytime anyone speaks.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Basic plot: A furry red-nosed freak, an unnaturally blonde elf, and an axe-

wielding mountain man (don’t get confused with The Lord of the Rings) flee from a society that hates them.

Why it will make you cry:Yeah, I remember everybody being pretty nasty to Rudolph, but

I didn’t remember it being THIS bad. The minute the most famous reindeer is born, Donner, Rudolph’s (probably) alcoholic and abusive father, immediately begins whining about how terrible it is that he has a son with a tiny light bulb jammed into his upper jaw. Even Santa--Santa, the nurturing hero of children--openly declares how disgusting Rudolph is…numerous times throughout the movie.

The tear-jerking quote:[While everybody’s teasing Rudolph for being a freak, Santa scolds

Donner--not for ignoring the taunts…but for having such an ugly kid.]

“Donner, you should be ashamed of yourself!”-Santa Claus

The top four films that will ruin Christmas

The Bonner Community Food Bank is serving more county residents than ever before.

“We did the most food boxes we have ever done this last November,” Assistant Director Jennie Aus said. “We had a spike of about 30 boxes over what we normally do and it was the most for any, even Thanksgiving, time.”

Aus cites rising costs of living and a larger population as the reasons for the increased demand for food.

“I think that there are more people coming in to town, and I think that gas prices are having a big effect on everything,” Aus said.

On top of the influx of clients, funding for all services at the food bank has been reduced this year.

“We represent the Salvation Army, so we do gas vouchers, but they have also cut our funds by about two-thirds,” Aus said. “Say [someone wants] gas for work. Not anymore. We can only do it for things like doctors’ appointments out of town. We’re a little more strict now.”

The budget cuts include food bank services like gas vouchers, assistance paying for heating and rent and items like diapers and formula.

“We do Coats for Kids. We provide coats, sometimes boots, hats,” Aus said. “Alice does some rental and utility assistance through funds that are donated here. We do pretty much everything we can.”

The Salvation Army and the Food Bank

are funded by private donations and grants applied for by executive director Alice Wallace.

“I am a professional beggar, I think. I like going out trying to raise the money,” Wallace said.

Donated money is spent buying food from Second Harvest Northwest in Spokane.

“It’s like clearing house for food banks. We get a lot of stuff there. For instance, we can get a box of crackers for about ten cents, and all produce through them is free. Our money goes pretty far there,” Aus said.

Aus was drawn to the food bank by the wide variety of people that come for aid.

“All kinds of people (visit). That’s something that really was impressed on me. We have some homeless clients who come in for their walking bag every week, and we’ve got people who are still driving a pretty nice car, but their payments are more than they can sell the car for. Anybody

can find themselves in a situation where they would need the food bank,” Aus said. “There’s no way of stereotyping the kinds of people that come in.”

Anyone can help the food bank by donating money or food items at the bank or through organizations like the Salvation Army.

“I want the community to know they are so appreciated in all they do for the food bank. Whenever we need anything we only need to put it in the paper or make it known to people and they help us with it,” Wallace said.

Keegan Dunn

Staff reporter

Page 15Dec. 19, 2007

Food Bank breaks personal record

n lending a hand: Beau Lewis works with donated goods as a volunteer.

Carly riCKarD

n stocked up: Donations provide Bonner Community Food Bank with nourishment and other necessities that help needy families.

Carly riCKarD

I’m a professional beggar, I think. I like going out try-ing to raise the money.

-Alice WallaceDirector

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Bonner Community Food Center fills thirty more boxes than in the past

1,800 families, or 3,200 individuals, are served each month

1,400 of the 3,200 individuals served are children under 18

400,000 lbs of food is given each year

600 hours of service were given by volunteers in November

Food Center Fast Facts

Source: Director Alice Wallace

Page 16Dec. 19, 2007

Bulldogs have been saving money at GZ since 1994