There are some serious Grinches lurking around Parksville Qualicum Beach.
On. Dec. 11, someone stole all of a family’s Christmas decorations out of their yard in French Creek.
About five days later, brazen thieves took off with a four-metre-tall Santa who was brightening Second Avenue in front of the offices of the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce.
A Santa abduction? What’s the world coming to?
Let’s put those naughty-list clowns aside for a moment and concentrate on the good events and people of the region.
After a one-year hiatus, the Bethlehem Walk has returned, much to the delight of thousands of people who have attended this year.
The Parksville Fellowship Baptist Church says this is its gift to the community, and quite the gift it is — we offer our thanks.
The actors (they stay in character all the time they are on the grounds), the sets, the animals — it’s impressive for both the first-time visitor and someone who has seen it many times.
At the risk of side-tracking this light, holiday-themed piece into the abyss of serious discussion, we have to express our pleasure over the lack of over-political-correctness we see in our region at this time of year.
While we should do more to respect and honour people of non-Christian faiths on their important holidays, we don’t believe we need to be scared to say Merry Christmas. We don’t feel the need to say Happy Holidays. Perhaps its safer to say Happy Holidays, but Hanukkak is over for this year, and for goodness sake, the words Merry Christmas can’t be seen as offensive, could they?
But we digress. Back to the good stuff, and a pledge we will make for next December.
We have been impressed with how some people — BC Hydro loves them too — have lit their yards and houses this year. It shows great spirit and pride, and it truly does lift our mood to see the lights.
Next year, we will develop and publish — in the paper, on our website, or both — a map of Parksville Qualicum Beach that points people to the streets with homes that have the best Christmas displays.
— Editorial by John Harding
