Every once in a while, I drag out the Christmas wish list notion, and apply it to local politicians and other folks of note who have graced the pages of The News over the last year.
Now, these Christmas wishes aren’t so much what the subjects themselves have on their lists — these wishes are what I think they might be looking for in relation to their positions in our community. Some are funny things, some are not so funny. Others are more serious. I leave it up to you, good reader, to figure that out. And, as usual, I’ll accept your feedback with good grace and aplomb at the contact numbers below.
• For Qualicum Beach mayor Tenuis Westbroek: a punching bag in his office — or at least a squeezie stress ball — to work out the tensions of town council meetings for the next three years.
• For Qualicum Beach council: the sombreros from the set of the movie “Three Amigos.”
• For Parksville mayor Chris Burger: nothing. His present was delivered on Nov. 19.
• For Parksville city council: more hair (thanks for that one, Marc!)
• For the school board: more people in the audience during board meeting to keep them honest.
• For teachers and parents in District 69: an end to strike action and the return of filled-out report cards.
• For teenagers: the right to vote at age 16.
• For Renate Sutherland and the S.O.S.: a week without toys. Or, perhaps, toys of their own to play with.
• For the Salvation Army: continual, consistent food donations for the local food bank.
• For the people of Parksville, Qualicum Beach and the rest of District 69: good health and happiness and fewer worries for the future.
As for The News itself, well, we just wish that our readers keep giving our pages that long, hard read, before using us to light up the Christmas hearths. — editorial by Steven Heywood