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Why all’s right in Whitchurch-Stoufifi/ille to be jolly Fa la-la-la-la, la-laâ€"la-la. In the midst of say- ing farewell to one year and welcoming another, I couldn’t bring myself to script anything negative. This will come later. Today, all’s right with the world, at least Whitchurch- Stouffville’s world. Why, you ask? Reasons follow: FEEL FORTUNATE: I feel fortunate to live in a town that meets my every need. 1 ask for nothing more. I anticipate nothâ€" ing more. Because of this, I hope and expect the 2011 municipal council to pull back on spending reins and keep personal tax pay- ments at an even keel. In other words, for the next four years, let's live within ontario.ca/kidscredit - 1 866 668-8297 - TTY: 1 800 263-7776 Paid for by the Government of Ontario There’s a world of kids activities. From soccer to dance, cooking to piano, get a tax credit for whatever your kid's into. The Ontario Children’s Activity Tax Credit lets you claim up to $500 and get up to 350 back for each child. Keep wur receipts.xYou‘II need them to claim this credit when you fill out your income-tax return. For more information visii or call. eck the halls with bows of holly Fa la-la-la-la. la-la-la-la. Tis the season 0111' means. PRAISE IS DUE: While impossible to please all the people all the time, praise is due Mayor Wayne Emmer- son for his wholehearted support of three impor- tant extracurricular pro- grams â€" the Whitchurch- Stouffville Emergency Care Fund, the Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Thanksgiving Food Drive. Aâ€"PLUS PROJECTS: Completed visible proj- ects are what most people appreciate. One of these is the re-construction of Jim Thomas Roaming Around Rupert Avenue, between Westlawn Crescent and Ninth Line north. In addi- tion, the adjacent roller- coaster sidewalk has been leveled to everyone’s sat- isfaction. Another council plus is the installation of a push-button pedestrian walkway across Weldon Road near Parkview Home as well as a legal crosswalk at the intersection of Mil- lard Street and Glad Park Avenue. MlCKEY'S LEGACY: Extremely gratifying dur- ing the Christmas vacation period are the hundreds of children seen daily on the toboggan slope at the West- lawn/ Rupert Avenue park. All parents should say a silent thankyou to the late Mickey Hunt, initiator of this priceless playground paradise. ARTISTIC SKILLS: Patrons of Stouffville’s two Tim Hortons have enjoyed the artistic window-dress- ing skills of local high school students this Christ- mas. They are - Marsha For- tus, Justine Smith, Heather McLeod, Jenna Russ, Dayna Bartlett, Samantha Kay and Caleigh Stallybrass. Great job. REMEMBER WHEN? Remember when Stouffville residents were responsible for clearing sidewalk snow from in front of their prop- erties? I do. Thanks to a contract tendered to Todd Bros. of Stouffville, 52.5 km of walks are now plowed for us. Three tractors and plows are required. Opera- tors are â€" Mike McKenzie, Jeremy Degeer and LC. Cunningham. “At present, we don’t do every sidewalk in town,” said Denis Charâ€" trand, operations managâ€" er for the department of public works, “but this may come.” ONLY A RUMOUR: It’s only a rumour that Keith Acton, assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, attended a recent Stouffville Amateur Hockey League game for the express pur- pose of evaluating the goaltending skills of Gerry Ratcliff. SADANNOUNCEMENT: Sadness was evident among staff and students when, at the Christmas holi- day break, principal Drew McNaughton announced he’d be leaving Glad Park Public School. While undoubtedly a promotion for Mr. McNaughton, the move creates a void that will be difficult to fill. BARBERSHOP CHORUS: lim 7110mm is a Stouflilille m- Stouffville has its Men of idem who has written for area Note and Bach to Blues newspapers for more than60 chorus. We also have the years. c-tc a W"“ q All parents should say a silent thankyou t0 the late Mickey Hunt, initiator of this priceless playground paradise. Springvale Boys, the Hill- top Vocal Band, the Albert Street Four and the Rouge River Connection. But did you know our town could soon have its very own bar- bershop chorus? It’s true. Jim Rehill, formerly of Stouffville, is in the process of organizing a melodic group of male barbershop- pers with rehearsals already underway at Christ Angli- can Church. Mr. Rehill, a teaching and coaching leg- end at Stouffville District Secondary School, lives in Uxbridge. BRIDGING THE GAP: “Have a merry Christmas," I said to a mother and her children at the cross- walk on Glad Park Avenue, Stouffville, Dec. 17. “Oh,” the mother replied. “We’re Hindu, but we celebrate both." God bless! Ontario