ALMAGUIN NEWS, Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - Page 13

May your Christmas be fi lled with all you

hold dear. Thank you for helping to

make our year!

From Joanne Perrin & staff

Tidings ofTidings of Comfort & JoyComfort & Joy

GIFT SHOPPETheGIFT SHOPPEThe

CALLANDER BAYLAUNDROMAT

109 Main St. North, Callander752-1534

The staff of

would like to say Thank Youfor your support, and to wish

you and your loved onesa Merry Christmas

495-4250Semour Plaza(Seymour at the By-Pass)

North Bay

Our Student Community

A l m a g u i nH i g h l a n d sS e c o n d a r y S c h o o l

Our Land of Lakes community can look back on an exciting fall with many

accomplishments in cross country, soccer and volleyball. As well, for Remembrance Day, we all visited the Canadian Forces base in North Bay for a live interview with two soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. Lakers are looking ahead to the holiday season with great anticipation. The entire school will participate in cooking a full Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. And the singers and dancers among our students will be presenting a Christmas musical called North Pole Star –

think Canadian Idol with reindeer.

M.A. Wittick Junior Public School in Burk’s Falls is a place where many good things

happen for the students. In addition to their regular studies, all classes are presently rehearsing for the annual Christmas concert to be held on the afternoon of Dec. 19 this year. All students will participate.

The school is pleased to host an Early Years Drop-In program on Monday and Wednesday mornings. This provides a great opportunity for preschoolers to learn social and classroom skills in preparation for Junior Kindergarten.

As an extension of their study of Canada and World Connections, Mr. Nickerson’s grade 4 class has exchanged letters and pictures with the Standard Four class at Matshwane School in Maun, Botswana. This has been great motivation for the students to learn letter-writing skills as well as to learn about the lives of children in a very different part of the world and deepen their understanding of their own lives and community.

Land of Lakes

M.A. Wittick

N E A R N O R T H S C H O O L S

Danika is another amazing Almaguin student! She is a grade 11 honour student whose list of involvements and accomplishments is truly impressive. Danika has been involved in numerous clubs and activities. These include: the Student Administrative Council, the school jazz band, Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving, drama, sports, and writing for the Highlander Page in the Almaguin News. Although Danika has a very busy schedule, she cheerfully volunteers to help whenever she is asked. This fall, she organized a very successful OSAID conference which was held at Almaguin and involved students from several area high schools. She is also serving as the manager of the senior girls’ volleyball team. Next semester, Danika is going on an exchange to Italy. After she graduates, Danika is planning to attend university and pursue studies in veterinary medicine .

D A N I K A H A W T H O R N E

Our mission is to educate learners to their fullest potential in preparation for life-long learning.

Alan BottomleyChairperson

Heli VailDirector of Education

www.nearnorthschools.ca

WishingYou

Thank you to all our customers over the past year.

Beautiful flooring begins with usdePeuter’sDecorating Centre

SUNDRIDGE 384-5828

dePeuter’sDecorating Centre

May the blessings of Christmasbe with you today and always.

May the blessings of Christmasbe with you today and always.

from theCouncil & Staff of

The Village of SundridgeSundridge, Ontario

from theCouncil & Staff of

The Village of SundridgeSundridge, Ontario

Opatovsky Funeral Home

Sundridge 384-5802

Opatovsky Funeral Home

Burk’s Falls 382-3222

MerryChristmas

MerryChristmasMay this be a holiday toremember, filled with the

charm of cherished traditions... new found hope

and happiness

~ David Opatovsky, Michael Hiebert,Lisa Armstrong and staff

Moore ChapelMoore Chapel

Dempster ChapelDempster Chapel

Beth Gorham-Matthews, B.Sc., DD

Denture Clinic

Wishing You A DAZZLING Season!

Hope it’s filled with smiles all the way around.Many thanks for brightening our year!

A member of the DenturistAssociation of Ontario

94 Main St., Sundridge384-1765

School house will resoundwith Christmas celebrationsContinued from page 12songs of the day.

“But we sing the same Christmas carols,” said Yost, “and Silent Night is always a favourite.”

While the local Amish school house will resound with singing during the Christmas celebrations, there will be no instrumental accompaniment.

“The Amish don’t have musical instruments,” said Yost, “although both Rosanna and Ella Mae play the harmonica. I know in some Amish homes that wouldn’t be allowed either.”

Katie says the community “relies on someone to lead the singing and we all just help out.”

In talking about the Amish school, Yost surprised his daughters by admitting he himself went to a regular public school until Grade 8, and their eyes widen when he mentioned fashion fads of his school days including mini-skirts and go-go boots. Even Katie was intrigued, requiring an explanation of the 1960s white boot fashion accessories.

“We lived in a small community in St. Mary’s and at that time the Amish parents didn’t see a reason to keep their children from going to the small one-room school house,” Yost said. “As I remember, there were Amish children going to about four different one-room schools at the time and because the number of students was so small, and the community rural, there really wasn’t much difference between the Amish children and the others. Back then, our families came to the school Christmas concerts just like all everyone else’s did.”

Life wasn’t so easy for the Amish students in the mid 1960s when the Ministry of Education decided to abandon the province’s small rural schools in favour of larger, amalgamated district schools built under the assumption of providing a better and more equitable education for Ontario children.

“I was bussed to school from Grade 4 to Grade 7,” said Yost. “In the one room school, all of the children played together, but when we went to the larger school, the Amish stood out. Our clothes were different, we weren’t accepted as well, we stayed apart from the others, and there’s no doubt there were a lot more outside influences for us,” he said. Though the Yost of today has a twinkle in his eye, likes a little verbal banter, and enjoys conversations with his English neighbours and business associates, “I became very quiet and shy once I went to the larger school, and pretty much kept to myself.” he said. “After four years being bussed, the Amish community decided it was time to start their own school and that’s where I finished my education in Grade 8.”

While Yost said the Amish want to see their children receive a good educational grounding, Grade 8 is as far as their education system goes. When asked, neither Rosanna nor Ella Mae expressed any desire to attend more classes, even as their father encouraged them to speak openly about any career interests they may be harbouring.

“Our children are not forced to stay in the Amish community,” Yost said, “but we would like to provide them with a place and a way of life that they want to embrace.”

And while the option might be open for Amish young people to pursue trade or

career training, and bring their skills back to the community as adults, “it just doesn’t happen,” Yost said.

With Chisholm’s Amish community now numbering 80 and another family expected in the spring of 2008, “we have a strong community base,” said Yost. “We’ve been very happy with our move to Chisholm and our young people keep active with youth group activities, skating parties and sleigh rides in the winter, picnics and volleyball in the summer, and with the chores they do in their homes. They also help other families in the community, both Amish and non-Amish, when someone is sick or has an accident and can’t do work around the farm or home. They’re all getting together next week to go carolling on a horse-drawn sleigh, and they are going to visit shut-ins and the elderly in the township. They do a lot of socializing, and often invite members from other Amish communities to come for the weekend and then our young people will go and spend a weekend with them. They keep very, very active.”

While it is rare, outsiders have been known to come in and embrace the Amish way of life.

“I personally know of two men who came into the community in St. Mary’s and became active members, but it doesn’t happen often,” said Yost.

When asked how he would feel if someone from outside the Amish community fell in love with his daughter and wanted to become part of the family’s way of life, he fell silent before saying, “I would prefer they wanted to embrace the community first, and having done that, fell in love with my daughter.”

Yost says people on occasion cast an eye at the Amish community “when they are dissatisfied with life and I never hesitate to talk to anyone about our Christian faith, but joining the Amish is not like joining a church denomination, it’s about a whole way of life, and few are ready to accept that reality. Most who talk to me about coming into Christianity I encourage to find a local church that meets their faith needs,” he said.

Christmas Day will see the Yost Yoder family gathered with the families of his brothers Alvin and Enos, also living in Chisholm.

“That’s what we really look forward to,” said Ella Mae. “We have a big family dinner, with everyone there, and that’s the best part of Christmas.”

Like couples everywhere, there was one moment of disagreement when the conversation turned to the Christmas dinner menu.

“We usually have a big turkey with all the trimmings,” said Katie.

But Yost wanted it known “I prefer goose,” he said. Katie just smiled and one assumes that turkey will grace this year’s festive table.

Like children everywhere, Rosanna and Ella Mae admit they will be excited on Christmas Eve, perhaps more so than other young people because with no expectations, every single gift will be a surprise.

“Christmas is a very special family time for the Amish,” said Yost. “It’s all about the birth of Jesus and about families being together. My wish is that everyone have a happy and peaceful Christmas and the best for all families through the New Year.”

Christmas Morning Wife Saver new family traditionBy Tracy Nita Pender

I must admit, I thought my cousin Lee-Ann was a bit crazy when she started naming off the ingredients we’d need. Special K, dry mustard, 16 slices of bread, bacon ... What the?

“It all goes into one pan and then you just bake it the next morning,” she said. “It sits in the egg mixture all night and it’s awe-sooome.”

Maybe my cousin had gone off the deep end.

“Trust me, it’s fan-TAS-tic. I had it at Patrick’s mom’s house last year for Christmas.”

Lee-Ann shoved the list at me as she rifled through her purse and clicked her cell on. She dialled her hubby.

“Trenton’s okay? He’s eaten? Good. We’ll be about an hour. Can you do up the steaks? Thanks hon, bye.”

It should be noted that my beautiful cousin is the best multi-tasker I’ve ever met. I’ve seen her juggle the traumas of her galpals’ dating lives with a highly successful career in sales all the while traipsing around the province to visit our spread-out family.

Recently her world shifted a bit: enter a new relationship in the form of Patrick, and soon after they welcomed their

gorgeous son, Trenton.These days Lee-Ann’s world

revolves around caring for Trenton, for Patrick and their home, while keeping in touch with her gaggle of girlfriends, her favourite cousin (yes, me), and getting ready for the holidays. In there she finds some time to take care of herself, too.

So the fact that I was introduced to the infamous recipe known as Christmas Morning Wife Saver by my cousin – who has less and less time on her hands these days – makes perfect sense.

Lee-Ann got the recipe from her husband’s mom, and a new tradition was born for them. I’m thinking of packing the instructions and bringing them to Arizona with me. Maybe my mom, my sister-in-law and I can make it together

on Christmas Eve, and enjoy some gal time while the boys watch whatever sports are on the idiot-box.

Christmas Morning Wife Saver

16 slices white bread, crusts removed 16 slices back bacon or ham 16 slices sharp cheddar cheese 6 eggs 1/2 tsp. pepper 2 mL1/2-1 tsp. dry mustard 2-5 mL1/4 cup minced onion 60 mL1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper 60mL1-2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 5-10 mL 3 cups milk 750 mLdash Tabasco1/2 cup butter 125 mLSpecial K or crushed Corn

FlakesSet 8 pieces of bread into a

9” x 13” (23 x 33 cm) buttered, glass baking dish. Cover bread with slices of back bacon. Lay slices of cheddar cheese on top of bacon and then cover with remaining slices of bread to make it like a sandwich. In a bowl, beat eggs and pepper. To the egg mixture add dry mustard, onion, green pepper, Worcestershire sauce, milk and Tabasco. Pour over the sandwiches, cover and let stand in fridge overnight. In morning, melt butter, pour over top. Cover with Special K or crushed Corn Flakes. Bake, uncovered, 1 hour at 350 deg.F (180 deg.C). Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

THE LOFTO FAMILY: It’s all about traditions, both new and old.