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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 24, 2004 AMS kids get into giving This holiday season, Ashland Middle School has been given $1,000 by "Santa" to buy presents for the needy. When Abdiaziz, AMS leadership counselor, told the class about this new project, everyone was for it, not only was their buzz about helping people but the class was very enthusiastic. Abdiaziz likes to challenge his leadership class to help in the community and with school projects. He thinks that this project will help both the needy and the leadership students. The students are learning that giving is a lifelong way of help and give back to whatever community you live in. Abdiaziz also says this is a great test for the AMS leadership class - That the leadership class students buy, and deliver the gift. The buying of the presents took place Dec. 16. Students Madison Knox, Hannah Ewing, Michael Bates, Coco Vieville, Zoe Smolen, Kalli Walker, Carolyn Thomas, and Ryan Bellinson bought gifts. The students were put into groups of two and one group of three. Each was given a list of about 15 kids in need. Each child being bought for was given $30 worth of gift money. Gifts ranged from Discmans to art supplies to sweatpants. Coco Vieville videotaped for WHAMS. WHAMS is a student run television show. Students shopped at BiMart and Wal-Mart. The AMS leadership class bought more than 75 gifts. "It's about making people happy, that's what it's all about," said Carolyn Thomas, who was very proud of her good deeds on the bus ride to AMS. Kalli says she always has a great holiday but others can't and this is just a small gesture to help and make others happy. She also would do this again if given the opportunity, "It feels good to help people." Says Kalli. Abdiaziz says he feels he has nothing to do with all the great work. He feels the kids are everything and everyone helps. During the delivery of the gifts, everyone was deeply touched. The children were so happy and thankful. It's amazing how much children can help other children. These special leadership kids helped their community in their giving ways. Leadership agrees this way of giving helped everyone. The children in leadership learned giving can make a spirit happy and strong. The needy learned people, kids want all people in all walks of life to help all people become as wealthy in self-esteem as anyone else. Ryan Bellinson 6th Grade, Ashland Middle School Puppies make lousy gifts Please do not give puppies as Christmas gifts. As the holidays approach if your thoughts are to give someone a puppy for Christmas, think twice. It is wise to first give a book on the subject of companion animal care to those who have requested a puppy - the puppy can come later after the holiday rush. The animal should come from a shelter and there can be benefits of adopting an older, already housetrained, no longer teething, companion. Studies have found that many puppies at pet shops and big pet marts are puppies from puppy mills from the Midwest. Many of these dogs live in small cages, in horrid conditions, with less than adequate veterinary care and are most often very sick by the time they reach the pet marts. Puppy mills must be banned. Shelters have wonderful adoptable dogs, many more dogs than who are actually adopted causing situations where thousands of dogs must be put down each year. So think seriously when adopting a family companion. Nina Council Ashland An animal-free Christmas The year-end holidays are upon us: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice. They conjure visions of families gathered by a warm fireplace, opening presents, sharing their love, and feasting on ham and turkey. It's the happiest time of the year - for some. But, for the millions of factory-farmed pigs and turkeys our holiday season portends only agony, despair, and death after a lifetime of caging, crowding, deprivation, drugging, and mutilation. Each of us can refuse to subsidize such wanton violence and cruelty during this holiday season by choosing plant-based foods that abound in every supermarket. There are fresh fruits and greens and soy-based deli slices in the produce section, veggie burgers, soy nuggets, and ready-to-eat dinners in the frozen food section, and a variety of soy-based milks, cheeses, and ice creams. This year, let's have a Gentle Christmas. Let's send the message of "peace on earth" to all living beings. Allen Thiel Ashland An answer of true meaning In answer to the Guest Forum query of Dec. 20, "What is the true meaning of Christmas?" I quote Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called 'Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'" and John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 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