'Tis the season to be jolly - and that means holiday parties will be in full swing from now through the New Year.

Unfortunately, parties involving alcohol can be a bigger headache than a hangover if you are the host.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an alcohol-related fatality occurs every 33 minutes in the United States.

In Oregon, over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Oregon State Police responded to 528 crashes (up from 376 last year); cited 77 people for driving under the influence of intoxicants; issued more than 1,200 speed-related citations to drivers; and gave 124 citations related to seat belt use.

"With the holiday season just beginning, we are reminded of the need to drive safe and sober on our roadways," said Krista K. Fischer, executive director for the Insurance Information Service of Oregon & Idaho. "The festive nature of the season lends itself to social gatherings that do not occur at other times of the year.

"As a reminder, you as a host may be held responsible for a guest's behavior. Social hosts have been sued for the injuries of pedestrians, drivers, other party guests, family members and even inebriated guests who cause crashes."

According to Fischer, if you host a party with liquor, you are at risk of being sued. Parents have been sued because they did not lock up the liquor cabinet during a teen-age party, or because an intoxicated guest caused a crash after a wedding reception.

Homeowners are at risk of a lawsuit if they serve alcohol to a person they should have known could not handle its effects, or if they allow an inebriated person "just one more drink."

Think about the consequences if your drunk guest drives home and has a crash on the way. The average wrongful death suit involving liquor liability in the U.S. settles for more than $500,000. Most homeowner's policies cover this exposure, but only up to the limits of liability selected.

So if you are thinking of throwing a holiday party, remember the host liquor liability exposure and follow these guidelines:

• Don't let anyone drive home drunk.
• Call a cab.
• Insist guests spend the night.
• Take away the keys.
• Have non-drinkers drive other guests home.
• Don't rush to refill glasses, serve plenty of food, and switch to non-alcoholic beverages later in the evening.
• Keep the holiday spirit going with games, music and food.

Community eased the
pain of tragic accident

My beautiful sister, Lisa Onion, died recently in a tragic accident. My family would like to thank several people in Canby who helped us through this difficult time.

We would like to thank the American Legion Auxiliary for organizing an excellent memorial gathering for family and friends. Canby Fire Department Chaplain Darrell Murphy provided thoughtful and touching words to help us celebrate Lisa's life; and thank you to the people who donated money in Lisa's name to the Humane Society.

We also owe a huge thank you to Dan and Lynn Onion and their family. They have been helpful in a way that will never be forgotten. I can see why my sister loved living in Canby so much. You are an awesome community. Thank you for everything.
Jammie Axon.
Longview, Wash

Gore made the wrong
call in presidential race

Al Gore's decision to only challenge votes in areas in which he thought he had an advantage came home to haunt his campaign for the presidency.

Instead of offering a fair and impartial proposal that could have met a constitutional test, his campaign chose to look for the best way to win, instead of the fair way to win.

Grantland Rice wrote, "When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game."

How Al Gore played the game cost him his best chance of becoming president, and cost the country the chance to know the true results.
Joe Driggers
Canby

'Scrooge' cast, director
put on quite a show

To Don Feely, et al:

As a grandmother of one of the performers in "Scrooge," I consider it a privilege to have been invited to come and enjoy this creative performance.

From top to bottom, the gathering of hearts and minds and talent within each of you reflected much imagination and professionalism. You are all to be congratulated.

The script, the music, the dancing, the actors and actresses, sets, costuming all brought a captivating new look at this age old tale. Dickens would have been proud for the Spirit came straight at us!

Mr. Feely, you are rightly named for under your direction with all your helpers, this was a night of "feeling." God bless you one and all!
Elizabeth Heininge
Aurora