Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 33

LIVING FridayNovember 20, 1998 Press Sun-Bulletin 9C It's beginning to cost a lot like Christmas all 12 days' worth PRICE LIST BY CASEY COMBS Associated Press PITTSBURGH You could order for your true love all the gifts in the Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. But wouldn't you rather just buy a fully loaded Porsche? It'll cost you about the same, according to PNC Bank Corp. Each year, the bank tallies the bill for 12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping and so on and converts the total tab into today's prices. "I've never heard of anyone try ing to go out and do this," said Rebekah McCahan, investment strategist for PNC. She has compiled the list since 1986 by consulting with the Philadelphia Zoo, the Musicians Society union and others.

This year, the cost of buying each item just once is $14,214.90. That's 6.5 percent more than last year. The bill for all the gifts if they were purchased repeatedly on each day, as the song suggests reached the luxury car status of $58,405.09. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan "lowered interest rates yesterday, so he obviously wasn't $150 Seven swans-a-swimming, Philadelphia Zoo, $3,500 Eight maids-a-milking (per hour), minimum wage, $41.20 Nine ladies dancing (per performance), Philadelphia Dance $3,932.72 10 lords-a-leaping (per performance), Pennsylvania Ballet, $3,433.99 11 pipers piping (per performance), Musicians Society union, $1 ,1 79.36 12 drummers drumming (per performance) Musicians Society union, $1,277.64 The source and price of items in the Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, according to PNC Bank Corp. in Pittsburgh: Partridge, Philadelphia Zoo, $15 Pear tree, Waterloo Gardens, $89.99 Two turtle doves, Philadelphia Zoo, $50 Three French hens (U.S.

version), Philadelphia Zoo, $15 Four calling birds (canaries), Philadelphia Zoo, $280 Five gold rings, Bailey, Banks and Biddle, $250 Six geese-a-laying, Philadelphia Zoo, Happenings Travel agents find themselves under iSonsof Italy CASINO NIGHT Satu I Nov. 21st 5pm til 1 am Mack Jack Stud 4 Showdown 4 Big 6 food Beverage $2.00 Admission! 62 Carroll Binghamton hy We've Moved To rday Ornaments from Around the World rP Christmas Books Beanie Babies fhrkfmfK yi tuiar Decorations Cl-' t. Children's "jOpen 120 Washington Si. Downtown Binghomton 724-6894 a New Location hi i 1 a win 9 looking at this report and acting on it," McCahan joked Wednesday. The Twelve Days increase vastly outpaced the government's Consumer Price Index inflation rate of 1.5 percent.

The prices for the birds swans, geese, canaries, hens, doves and partridges haven't changed, but salaries for dancers and musicians are higher, and a pear tree that was on sale last year at the Waterloo Gardens nursery for $30 is $89.99 this fall. Five gold rings cost less this year, mainly because they are losing popularity as a wedding-band style. Women prefer rings mounted with says agencies are going to be driven out of business." The airlines, Kreppel said, want to diminish the role of travel agencies to handling only complicated booking situations. To travelers who have never paid a service charge for ticketing, switching to dealing directly with the airlines may seem appealing but, he said, they '11 be losing the impartial advice of an travel agency. Travel agents often know about less expensive alternatives PRINTS Spayneuter programs The Broome County Animal Care Council offers a reduced-cost spayneuter program for households with qualifying income.

Call 786-SPAY (7729). Project PAW also offers a low-cost spayneuter program available to qualifying pet owners. Call 724-2241. Special formonth of June: $25 for a 2-year or older cat with all shots and spayedneutered. Rabbit information The New York State Chapter of the House Rabbit Society provides free information on care and behavior of rabbits and can help locate the right rabbit for you.

For information, call 762-1186. Items needed The Front Street Dog Shelter is in need of newspapers for their puppies. You can drop them off between 10 a.m. and weekdays at 901 Upper Front Binghamton. Fund-raising events Project PAW is currently selling 1999 Dine-A-Mate Books.

Anyone interested can stop by the shel if m) FLOWERS Hz METROCENTER 49 COURT ST. DOWNTOWN BINGHAMTON 722-5117 Hours: 10 am-6 pm 800-836-51 1 7 Saturday 1 0 am-5 pm COME SEE US AT OUR HOLIDAY mm diamonds or other jewels, according to jewelry retailer Bailey, Banks and Biddle. The bank's former chief economist started putting the list together as comic relief in a newsletter for clients inl982. When McCahan took over pricing the song, she made a few changes. "Prior to 1986, the partridge and the hens actually came from the butcher shop," she said.

"We decided that a live bird certainly presented more of a message and the spirit of the holiday season than having a dead bird dangling from a pear tree." pressure using smaller carriers or purchasing package travel deals. Loucks said ASTA is considering whether to try and make an antitrust case, claiming the airlines are trying to monopolize all ticketing. The Department of Transportation is looking into whether airlines discriminate against online travel services and travel agents who use the Internet to obtain tickets. Assistant Features Editor Barb Van Atta contributed to this story. ter at 127 Bevief Binghamton.

Proceeds to benefit the animals. The Animal Care Council is holding an ongoing bottle and can drive fund-raisingevent. Clean cans and bottles can be dropped off at Pet Town USA, 2000 North Endicott. Pets, lost and found If your dog is missing, check with the Front Street Dog Shelter, 901 LJpper Front Binghamton. Call 778-2493.

For lost cats and dogs, check with the BC Humane Society, 2 Jackson Binghamton. Call 724-3709. Also try Project PAW, 127 Bevier Binghamton, call 724-2241; Stray Haven Humane Society in Waverly at 565-2859; Town of Oweeo Ani mal Control at 687-4039; or Vestal Dog Control at 748-1514. (Vestal keeps animals at the Vestal Veterinary Hospital, 2316 Vestal Parkway Vestal. Call the hospital at 754-3933.) Project PAW has cats and some dogs available for adoption.

Call 724-2241. The Animal Care Council has pets for adoption and also needs foster homes for cats and dogs. Call 786-7729. To adopt a dog or puppy call 657-8668, or to adopt a kitten or cat call 798-0610. Also try the Tri-County Rescue Adoption League at 717-663-2954 or 607-775-1756.

BOCES has pets available for adoption. Call 763-3359. The Chenango County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has pets available for adoption. Call 334-9724. Craft sale A craft sale to benefit the BC Humane Society will be held from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Saturdays at the BC Humane Society, 2 Jackson Binghamton. If you have an item of interest to pet owners, send it to PAW PRINTS, do the Press Sun-Bulletin, Box 1270, Binghamton, N. Y. 13902.

us i UlfE3ITE POTATOES 10 LB. BAG mmm 12 LBS. TO 14 LBS. WITH $1 Q0.00 PURCHASE PURCHASE EXCLUDING BEER AND CIGARETTES; HOURS; Mon Tm Sal 6 em cm FOOD 4 am 5 pm thru 112198 in June, 64 percent of member agencies are charging some type of fee for doing services such as issuing refunds, canceling trips and sending faxes to customers. The average fee for a service is about $10.

Right now, said Jet Away's Krep-pel, the travel business is booming, so lots of ticket sales are being made even though they're not profitable for the travel agencies. But, he added, "any kind of recession and sales will drop. My gut feeling PAW PHOTOS COURTESY SHELTERS These animals are available for a fee from Broome County animal shelters. At left: labshepherd mix, male, rustblack, 3 years at the Front Street Dog Shelter. At right: hound mix, male, tri-colored, 1 year at the BC Humane Society.

shar-pei and Chinese cresteds are available for adoption through Breeder Rescue headquartered at BOCES. References and fee required. Call 763-3359. Adopt a Pekingese through the Potomac Valley Pekingese Club. Call 687-2609.

German Shepherd Rescue is looking for loving homes for dogs in need. Call 785-8951. Southern Tier Rottweiler Rescue is looking for responsible and loving homes for dogs in need. Send name, address and telephone number to receive an application: Southern Tier Rottweiler Rescue, P.O. Box 445, Chenango Bridge, NY 13745.

The Animal Care Council's Dog Rescue Unit is in need of adoptive and foster homes for dogs and puppies. Call 687-5074 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) for details. Adopt a Sato (mixed-breed dogs from Puerto Rico). These dogs have already been spayedneutered and vaccinated. Puerto Rico has thousands of homeless, starving Satos for adoption.

If you would like to help in this international adoption process, call 775-4791. Volunteers needed The Animal Care Council, call 748-8530. The BC Humane Society, call 724-3709. Project PAW, call 724-2241. FINE DESIGN JEWELRY Y' I THE BEST IK ADULT EFiT CONTINUED FROM 1C "The airlines know perfectly well that since they're reducing the level of compensation below what it costs agents to process tickets that the agents will have to turn to the consumers with service fees," said Steve Loucks, a spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents in Arlington, Va.

And that's what is happening. According to an ASTA survey taken Silent auction The Stray Haven Humane Society and S.P.C.A. Inc. are seeking donations for its second annual silent auction. The items will be on display Nov.

22-30. Call 565-2859 or stop by the shelter at 194 Shepard Road, Wa verly, to donate. Proceeds will benefit the new spayneuter clinic. Ferret funrace day The Southern Tier United Ferret Friends will hold a Ferret Fun and Race Day event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Pet Town USA, Endicott.

All ferrets are' welcome, but must have updated shots. Call 862-9420 or 775-5858 for more information. 1 Vaccine clinic i The Animal Care Council and Dr. FitzPatrick will host a low-cost rabies and distemper vaccine clinic from 1 1 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28, at Agway, 145 Broad Bing-hamton. No checks please. Call 770-9999 for more information. Christmas dance and auction The Animal Care Council Christmas dance and auction to benefit the spay neuter program will be held on Saturday, Dec.

5, at the Executive Inn, Delaware Endicott. Cocktail hour: 6 to 7 p.m.; dance: 7 to 10 p.m.; auction: 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $5 at the door; $4 in advance. Tickets can be obtained at Pet Town USA, 2000 North Endicott; or leave a message at 754-2066. Pet Christmas photos Pet photos with Santa to benefit the Animal Care Council spayneuter program will be held from 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

The photos will be taken at Pet Town USA, 2000 North Endicott. All animals must have current rabies vaccinations. Cost: $4 to $7, photo can be put on coffee mug, keychain or frame. Kennel Club meeting Chenango Valley Kennel Club meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in the conference room upstairs at the Greene Veterinary Clinic, Greene.

New members welcome. For more information, call 656-4306. Pets available Look for these pets at the BC Humane Society: Females: mixed breed, tri-colored, 4 years; terrier mix, blondewhite, 2 years; lab mix, red, 11 months. Males: shepherd, red, 2 years; collierottweiler mix, blacktan, 4 years; Staffordshire mix, black, 2 years. Look for these pets at the Front Street Dog Shelter: Females: lab mix, blackwhite, 8 months; shepherdcollie mix, blacktan, 1 year; lab mix, blackwhite, 1 years.

Males: labshepherd mix, rustblack, 3 years. Adopt these breeds The Golden Retriever Rescue of Central New York is seeking foster homes for abandoned goldens. Dogs also available for placement into approved permanent homes. Call 748-4053. Australian shepherds, Chinese Hew Cheers reopens New Cheers Pub, 81 Clinton Binghamton, which was closed for a week, has reopened.

Appearing tonight are Jamie Notarthomas and Cousin Fungus. Saturday's entertainment is Dowdy Smack and Conehead Buddha. VTP DANCERS LIGHT SHOWS BACHELOR PARTY SPECIALS POOL TABLE MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER HOURS: Tues -Thurs. 7pm-lom, 7pm-7iro GFNTLEMEN'S i MONTGOMERY BINGHAMTON. NOW RENTING! CRANDAL HALL OPEN HOUSE SAT.

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