Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 17, 1992, edition 1 / Page 5
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PHOTO BY BILL F AVE ft Without light energy from the sun , life on earth would not be possible . The Importance Of Light BY BILL FAVER The winter solstice happens several days before Christmas cach year. This event, when the sun "stands still" as it reaches its southernmost limit away from the equator, also signals the shortest day of the year. Perhaps the shorter days of winter help emphasize the real importance jq? light itj our lives. One of the basic elements of our system of energy is that light from the sun is transferred through photosynthesis into chemical energy to build organic foodstuffs. Without that light energy, life on earth would not be possible in the form we know it. Not only is light essential for life, but light is also symbolic for the best life can offer. From the early "caveperson" days when fire was first discovered, it is believed fire was used to give light, to lengthen the daylight, as well as to provide warmth and, later, to prepare food. Light and darkness have been synonymous with good and evil, with enlightenment and ignorance, and with joy and despair. Our everyday expressions "see the light" and "shed some light on this" point to light as our understanding. Christmas lights arc a part of the decorations both inside and outside our homes. But light has a much deeper meaning at Christmastime. Biblical references abound to light as truth and to the coming of Christ at Christmas as the breakthrough of God's "light" to the world. This light promises new understandings, new insights, and new directions out of the darknesses of all times. So, during this Christmas season, acknowledge the importance of light in our lives - the light of the sun's energy that warms us, feeds us, gives us oxygen to breathe; the light of knowledge and understanding that enriches our lives; and the "Light of the World" that comes at Christmas to give our lives meaning and purpose. It's A Smaller World, All Right My colorful holiday hot chocolate mug has "Merry Christmas" written on it in about 10 different languages. My IRA (I'm Retiring, Ain't'a) is invested in an international growth fund, which means I skim the finan cial pages daily, tracking the doings of multicontinental giants of com merce. They not only keep the world in business, they keep my dreams alive. I drive a car that's a hybrid of the Japanese and American car manu facturing industries, a Geo Prism/ Toyota Corolla. This very afternoon I listened to Supply Elementary School's chorus rehearsing for a Christmas program that will be sung in English and French. Everywhere I turn are reminders of how the world is shrinking with or without our participation. How many of us, for example, are multi lingual? (And I'm not talking about the ability to speak both Southern and Joiscy.) Most foreigners I meet, and ad mittedly that's not too many, have a much better grasp of the English language than I have of their lan guage. This seems to suit most Americans just fine, but I think we will suffer eventually if that attitude Susan Usher continues. And it worries me that most Americans don't even speak or write our own language very well. Meanwhile, it was a relief to learn that while English may be a univer sally spoken language, not all of our friends in foreign places have mas tered its finer points. The Associated Press recently re ported on a collection of "fractured" English which the European Com munity organization issued to its members under the cautionary title, "Mind Your Language." Here are just a few examples. Have fun with them and, if you've traveled abroad and encountered any similar fractures, send them on. "A sign at a German campsite warned: It is strictly forbidden on our camp site that people of differ ent sex, for instance men and women, live together in one tent, un less they arc married with each other for that purpose." Having similar worries about guest behavior, a Zurich hotel of fered this solution: "Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose." But there was the Paris hotel that told guests, "Please leave your val ues at the desk," and the Paris bou tique that advertised "dresses for street walking." There was the Norwegian cocktail lounge that advised, "Ladies are re quested not to have children in the bar." There there is a doctor in Rome who specialized in "women and oth er diseases," and a Swedish furrier who offered coats "made for ladies from their own skin." And finally, there is the hotel in Tokyo that advised guests "it is for bidden to steal hotel towels please," but added, "If you are not a person to do such a thing please do not read notice." Happy traveling, and do try the horscdriven city tours in Prague, where a tourist agency advertised, "We guarantee no miscarriages." A CENTRAL AUTO PARTS AUTO PARTS ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ONW OPEN SATliRDMSSMi^ *21.95 Universal Mufflers Good thru 12-31-92 1 34.95 w/exchan (type 5124/25) The Force 50-Month Battery ? b as low as *2.09 t\ AutoPro Oil Filters i ?Q The First Letter in Auto Parts ^ 115 Holden Beach Road ? Shallotte ? 754-8 135 MORE LETTERS Compromise Suggested On OIB Golf Corf Rules To the editor: Ocean Isle Beach is apparently in the process of mandating that all golf carts be properly licensed and insured. On the surface this looks like a logical solution to either elim inate golf carts and their underage drivers or to have them properly equipped, licensed and insured. If the latter happens we may be creating a bigger problem for the fu ture. I have spoken to many people inquiring as to the number of golf cans OH the island , and use replies were five to 50. With properly li censed golf carts, they can now legally drive across the bridge to shop or whatever on the mainland. The thoughts of this is scary for traf fic-related situations and safety of drivers of all types of vehicles. The reason we purchased a golf cart was to haul "brach stuff" to the beach, and have quicker access back to the house for any variety of rea sons. Obviously people are taking advantage of the golf cart uses. Other Carolina communities that have both golf cart and automobile uaTiii iiavc fuuiiu iugicai i_uui(>iu mises. Here are some solutions to this situation: ?Have all golf carts register with the town and, for a fee, receive a sticker that is most visible. ?Golf carts would require lights, front and back, or no evening use al lowed. ?Insurance policy would be veri fied for their registration with the town. ?The registration form could ad dress the issue of the town not being liable. ?Restrict areas of travel to elimi nate the two state roads on the is land, First Street and the causeway, which happen to be the most con gested areas of commercialism. ?Carts could cross over First Street to get to the beach access. (Hundreds of golf carts cross over state roads currently on a daily basis and more to possibly come when the Ocean Isle Beach golf course opens the additional nine holes across the road.) ?List the fines or consequences of violating the agreed-upon regis tration on the registration forms. This way people have a choice of two alternatives ? of getting a fully licensed vehicle or a local town reg istration with definite restrictions. As a homeowner, a golf cart own er and a believer that Ocean Isle Beach is really someplace special, I believe that there are some solutions to a situation that was created by some adults letting underage chil dren drive golf carts ? or perhaps it was without their knowledge. I like the thought that the "Un crowded Alternative" really looked at the alternatives. Joe Wyzkoski Ocean Isle Beach Hearing Undemocratic To the editor: Democracy: Webster's meaning is "government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; majority rule." On Dec. 7 the Sunset Beach Town Council held a public hearing on liic funning of a scwci authority. 1 thought a public hearing is sup posed to mean the freedom of the public to be informed and to have the time to express their feelings. This was not done! There were numerous requests to the mayor and town manager by lo cal residents to have the meeting changed to a larger facility because we were aware that there would be a large turnout. Even after being ad vised of this, our electcd mayor ig nored our pleas. As a result, many people were left out in the cold. One of those people estimated that at least 50 people came and went without being admit ted. Our mayor opened the meeting stating the meeting was not moved because it would be cold in the fire hall, and at the first sewer meeting there was not much of a turnout Additionally, when one of the women waiting outside was permit ted in briefly to speak, she peti tioned the council to continue the hearing on another day in a larger placc. Why was her request ig nored? Is this what our forefathers had in mind when they wrote the Constitution? For months prior to this meeting, Powell Associates stated that when they had their environmental data ready, they would make it available to us in plenty of time to review and understand. TTiis was not done. At 4 4:30 the afternoon of the meeting the first, and still incomplete, envi ronmental data were delivered to the town hall. How do you think I fell when I walked in at 6:20 and had this mate rial handed to me, and also handed to our town council members as they walked in the door? How can I or the council members be properly prepared and informed in this time frame? It must be quite an act to be able to read nine pages of important data, understand it, listen to what the pub lic had to say, and be able to vote with a clear conscience on a matter of such great importance to our community. One iasi ining ? I am a firm Be liever in, as one of the council mem bers said, that there are three things we all must do in life ? die, pay tax es and make changes. However, we need to control these changes. I am afraid our town council gave up that control. 1 am grateful that Calabash's town council listened to their con stituents and added the protection of the referendum vote. Judy Van Winkle Sunset Beach The Beacon welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include the writer's address and telephone number. Under no circumstances will unsigned letters be printed. Letters should be legible. Wc reserve the right to edit libelous comments. Address letters to The Brunswick Beacon, P. O. Box 2558, Shalloue, N. C. 28459. M^vWss. Work BREAK THE BUSY SIGNAL BARRIER. Call Waiting will let you know when someone is trying to call. The caller gets through to you instead of just getting a busy signal. BE TWO PLACES AT ONCE. Call Forwarding lets you send calls to another number. So you can visit a friend yet receive your home calls. HAVE A THREE-WAY CONVERSATION. You used to call Dan and then Diane. Now you can talk to both at the same time. Save time on business and increase your fun with friends. NOW MORE LONG NUMBERS. With Speed Calling, an important number is automatically dialed. It makes calling easy for you. And it can be essential for anyone who has trouble dialing. SEND AND ANSWER MESSAGES. With Voice Memo your pushbutton telephone can access a computerized answering service 24 hours every day. Voice Memo is completely private and totally within the control of the user. FREE Installation on all the above FEATURES In December ... SAVE $7.75 FREE Installation on Touchtone SAVE $10.00. 15% DISCOUNT Telephones and Accessories Good through December 23, 1992 ATLANTIC TELEPHONE MEMBERSHIP CORP. P.O. BOX 3198 ? SHALLOTTE, N.C. 28459 ? (919)754-4311 6t99? THf BRUNSWCK BFACQN
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1992, edition 1
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