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At the same time in 1993, United Way had collected $3,560,000, which was 89 per cent of that year‘s goal. The closure of the 1994 fundraising campaign will be offiâ€" cially marked by Friday‘s campaign achievement and volâ€" unteer recognition breakfast at the Waterloo Inn. Rob Way, the 1994 campaign chairman, said he is confiâ€" dent that the $4â€"million mark will be reached by then. "How close we get to $4.1 million is yet to be determined. In any case, while it‘s been tough sledding, we‘re really pleased with how the campaign has gone and still want to remind everyone it‘s not over yet." After hearing that 21 per cent of city roads are in need of $3.8 million worth of immediate help, the committee of the whole of Waterloo Council voted Monday to pay a pave ment management systems firm to provide an annual analysis of the city‘s road network. Representatives of the city‘s works services group told council that $800,000/year will be needed to keep up with the deterioration of Waterloo‘s roads. Director Bob McDonâ€" ald said if the budget provided for road rehabilitation is only $500,000, the percentage of roads considered to be of low quality will double. With the 1994 fundraising campaign coming to a close, United Way of Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo and Area is closing in on the $4â€"million mark. As of today, funds raised total $3,745,456 â€" 91.35 per cent of the 1994 goal of $4.1 million. _ _ _ â€" Submissions can be any length, and can be faxed to us (886â€"9383), dropped off at our office or mailed to "Christâ€" mas Memories", Waterloo Chronicle, Waterloo Town Square, 75 King St. S., Suite 201, Waterloo, Ont. NZJ 1P2 Deadline for submissions is Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. "Christmas Memories® stories will be published in our Dec. 21 issue. News Digest City roads deteriorating The words "Christmas" and "memories" go together so naturally that we at the Chronicle are once again asking readers to write and share with us your favorite Yuletide Still looking for your Christmas memories We Believe in It" 747â€"2040 The lights shine brightly at Waterloo Park as the locals are getting in the Christmas spirit. While many people continue to think of buying or selling a home before the festive season begins, one could hardly fault them for being distracted by this busy time of the year. Home sales in town on the M.L.S. system are dowr, frem the same time last year. In the first 13 days of December, 55 homes have traded in town versus 86 last year. in Waterloo there have been 18 sales versus 29 last year, a significant drop. Last year was our best December, so it appears we will be hard pressed to come close to those numbers. The sale of homes over 200,000 still remain a strong share of the market at 11 sold this month with 6 in Waterloo out of the 18 total sales. Projects designed to prevent violence against women and girls Developed under the direction of the Waterloo Region Community Education Committee to Prevent Violence Against Women, the projects have been funded by a $300,000 grant from the Ministry of Education and Training. A drama project operating out of St. Mary‘s secondary school, and a wellness project operating out of Mary‘s Place (YWCA residence), target violence in the relationships of high school students and of young women not in a school setâ€" ting deemned to be at risk of violence. Speaking Out Socially, the drama project, involves a troupe of 15 students chosen through an audition process. With input provided by 350 students at workshops, the troupe, along with project coâ€"ordinator Darlene Spencer and St. Mary‘s drama coâ€"ordinator Bruce Cameron, produced a play about violence in relationships as a means of promoting awareness. "We (troupe and coâ€"ordinators) went into about 10 different classes and did drama workshops that facilitated discussion around the topic of violence in relationships. And so we got peer input," Spencer said. A script was developed reflecting the high school students‘ attitudes and opinions, and the production was performed at Catholic high schools throughout Waterloo Region over the past two weeks. Spencer said the students, both those in the troupe and Young people, particularly young females, are the target of two communityâ€"based projects aimed at preventing violence against women and girls. Deborah Crandall Chronicle Stoff af Chrigtmas Rackh child samoiuu, 1 _ KW Sertoma members Jennette Taylor of Ch"“.‘m”vf‘;gh °“£ds3'§°°“’“ * (left), Chuck Atkins, Randy Rollo and gift, or gifts, \ uP * Brenda Nicholsonâ€"Wheeler wrap up a We don‘t just go out and buy what . storm at the club‘s Frederick Street headâ€" we think a certain age group would . quarters, The presents will go to needy like. We phone all the families and children throughout Kâ€"W. find out what the kids want and try + to get it for them," said Randy Rollo, president of Kâ€"W Serâ€" â€" money for gifts. After all these years, the unselfishness of some of the chilâ€" dren still impresses Rollo. "Children have asked for a Christmas tree, something for their mom or dad, new clothes ... one boy said, ‘Never mind me, get something for my sister;‘ so many kids have said ‘Get me anything, anything at all." On Dec. 18, Sertoma will host a Christmas Miracle party for the kids, complete with clowns, face painting, games, If not Santa, Sertoma. Santa Claus has a tough time makâ€" ing it to the homes of some local famiâ€" lies with only social assistance for income, so the Kâ€"W Sertoma Club has been giving him a hand for over 20 mas Miracle program helps 250 less fortunate children experience the joy Chronicle Staff Service club bring Christmas to strapped families Sertoma plays Santa Every Christmas, the club‘s Christâ€" fie said families are selected from the regional welfare WATERLOO REAL ESTATE UPDATE The small fluctuations in interest rates tied to the strengthening economic bode» well for the 1995 market. People need not fear being locked into high rates as open mortgages and new types of variable rate mortgages have hit the market You can even buy insurance against higher rates. i believe we will find many more people making the home buying decision in 1995. The Christmas lights in downtown Waterloo and the deep snow banks all over make you think of how this season is a time of happiness and of tradition. I think there is no greater happiness than when it is from giving I hope everyone is filled with the spirit of this season and give to help those who are needy. Please drive carefully and have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. WaTeALOGS Crnoricce. wetnmesbay. oécEMech 14. 0d« â€" PadE‘s *\ * The production deals with four issues â€" physical abuse, verbal abuse, peer abuse or "trash talking", and date rape "What the students really have done is focus on the whole cycle of abuse," Spencer said. "They‘re really interested in talking about how much of behavior, in their opinion, is learned behavior. And so there are scenes where the father is speaking really negatively to the mother, and she‘s expressâ€" ing her unhappiness about the way he talks to her and treats her." The committee is now in negotiation with the public board to initiate a similar program in public high schools. Wilfrid Laurier University psychology professor Richard Walshâ€"Bowers, who acts as an academic consultant for both initiatives, said the wellness project was created out of conâ€" cern for a "substantial minority" of young women, many of whom are living on the streets, who are not receiving serâ€" The wellness project operating at St. Mary‘s Place focuses on selfâ€"esteem and emotional health by dealing with issues such as body image and relationships. "It was fascinating for me to hear kids talk about their realities," Spencer said. "It was disheartening in some ways because some of them have been through some pretty awful things, or have observed some pretty awful things. And I think just having a forum in which to talk about it has been a really positive thing for them. And the whole forum of drama as the intervention tool is exciting because they can explore these issues outside of their own persons, and yet they‘re using their own words." money for gifts. More sponsors are badly needed, Rollo said, but at this late date, Sertoma would prefer cash donations to cover presents that Sertoma has had to purchase without a sponsor. "We still have a couple of dozen kids left on our list, but the club always makes sure these kids are taken care of." Anyone wishing to help can call the Christmas Miracle hotâ€" line, 742â€"1436. those that attended workshops, brought their own expen ences to the project. So many people in our community deserve recognition for making a difference. If you know of a person or group that makes Waterloo a better place, please call Tom Brockelbank at the Waterloo Chronicle, 886â€"2830. TRsimbacte hincstâ€" 56 ST. GEORGE‘S SQUARE, GUELPH 821â€"7982 8 KING STREET EAST, KITCHENER 745â€"5058 Without their Christmas Miraâ€" cle, he said, "Christmas just isn‘t going to happen." The gifts are provided by sponâ€" sors â€" individuals, employee associâ€" ations, companies or organizations Some sponsors buy the gifts and give them to Sertoma for distribuâ€" tion, while others simply donate unable to pick up their gifts at the party will have them delivered to their homes. He said in the past, a lot of the children have come to the party hungry food, prizes and a visit from Santa "Our very special party is the perfect climax." Rollo said families who are (Continued on page 9 )