European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 30, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Upscale stores to do sunday december 30, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a a a a a a a a a a a Page 5 Christmas sales Princeton . Up a purveyors of antique lace tablecloths hand knit sweaters Rolls royces and other Lux tiry items reported a Good Christmas season bucking the trend of deep discounts and Early sales among mass Market retailers. A we be been  said Henry Landau whose Landau a store in Princeton Sells woolens from Iceland Ireland Norway and elsewhere a a it a different in the sense that traffic is up although the average ticket is  Landau and other upscale retailers believe shoppers were lured into their stores by personal service items not available in department stores and prices Only slightly higher for Quality goods. Most stores also offer goods with a wide Range of prices and owners say Many shoppers scaled Down their purchases. But they also say that the Rich or Many of them have not yet Felt the economic downturn. A a the ones Stu had it still have it a said Faithanne Scobbo manager of a Westminster lace store in Man Basset n.y., \ Scobbo said pre Christmas sales were better than expected and Post Christmas returns have been Low at the store which opened in october. Westminster lace a 25-store Chain based in Seattle Sells new and antique lace and in ens antique jewelry and furniture. Prices Range in Manhasset from 95 cents for a doily to $6,Coo for a Linen Tablecloth hand made for a 19th-Century european Trade fair. The average Dollar sae was High Scobbo said fuelled by a the occasional customer who will come in and buy a $3,000  in Houston where the Economy is turning up after the Oil bust of the 1980s, luxury retailers reported a Boom fuelled by a Rush to buy big ticket items before the new Federal luxury tax t Akes effect Jan. 1. A John Gooch general manage rat British Royal motor cars ltd., said he sold six Rolls royces in the past 30 Days the highest monthly Sale since 1984. Lady Walker Houston a flashy socialite and Oil and Gas investor bought two. She purchased a corniche convertible the most expensive Rolls at British Royal after she had taken her 1988 Model in for routine maintenance work. The car Cost Walker $215,000, but would have Cost $233,500 had she waited until after Jan. 1. On thursday she returned to the Dealership and bought a Silver Spur at $174,000 to save herself $14,400. She also bought a $20,000 White evening fur recently to go with her off White corniche. A i think ill probably coast along on what i have for a while Quot Walker said. Audrey Prytulak bookkeeper at Taylor Hogan a gift shop in the trendy West end neighbourhood of Richmond va., said sales were a Good much better than last  v. A a a a a a a a a a in a not quite sure Why last year was slower at this time a she said. Quot i know the weather was warmer this  a a a. In Salt Lake City Joel Shapiro said sales at the five Shapiro a Luggage gifts amp leather stores were Strong. But the Best sales were for items under $50, a cute gadgets and gimmicks Quot he said. Salt Lake City is conservative Shapiro said and buying habits do hot change much. The big chill members of the Coney Island Polar Bear club walk ashore after a dip in the Atlantic. Ocean near the new York City aquarium. Outside temperatures fell into the 20s inst week in the metropolitan area but that failed to deter the group of men and women from testing the 44-Degrce outdoor Waters. Cola hike for disabled vets Washington apr disabled veterans Start the new year without a Cost of living increase in benefits but key members of Congress Promise to change that. A a in be talked to the speaker and he feels very strongly and told me to be sure the cola increase gets into the March checks of the veterans Quot said rep. . A a Sonny Montgomery the chairman of the House veterans affairs committee. An omnibus veterans Bill that included the Cost of living increase died in the last Congress because of a dispute Over benefits for Vietnam veterans exposed to agent Orange. The Bill would have required an outside panel to examine evidence to determine if there Are links Between the dioxin contaminated herbicide and health problems experienced by Vietnam veterans. The legislation provided for a 5.4 percent increase in benefits for the 2.2 million veterans and 300,000 widows or children that receive the disability payments. That a the same Cost of living increase that social Security recipients will  speaker Thomas s. Foley d-wash., has told Montgomeryd miss to move quickly to get disabled veterans a Cost of living increase. Even if a Bill passes quickly veterans wont get their increase until March but the increase would be made retroactive to Jan. 1. The question is what role the agent Orange dispute will have. A the people who Are polarized on this agent Imsande of time Orange Issue there s a handful of them Quot said John Heilman National legislative director of the disabled american veterans. A they were willing to put our entitlements at risk. That Tail should  wagging the entire  other veterans groups and lawmakers who have fought for official recognition of a connection Between agent Orange exposure and a variety of diseases say they will resist efforts to enact a Cost of living Bill free of agent Orange provisions. Paul Segan legislative director for the Vietnam veterans of America said a the Only game in town is the linkage Between the cola and the agent Orange a but he added that his group was less than optimistic of persuading Congress to pass a Bill containing a cola hike and a provision to Aid agent Orange victims Egan is worried about t he. Make up of the House veterans affairs commit tee which in october overruled Montgomery a opposition and voted for agent Orange provisions. A von the Senate Side. Veterans affairs committee chairman Alan Cruh Ston d-calif., supports the agent Orange provisions. Several key supporters led by sen Thomas a. Daschle d-s.d., Promise they will try to Force a vote on the agent Orange Issue. But the pressure by older veterans to remove the agent Orange provision remains Strong sen. Bob Graham d-fla., has told veterans in his Home state he will introduce a cola Bill free of agent Orange provisions. Los Angeles a officials beefed up police patrols and threatened jail time to revellers who carry on the City a tradition of firing guns into the air to ring in the new year. A a we will not tolerate illegal use of weapons to celebrate the coming of new years a mayor Tom Bradley  officials distributed a half million posters and handbills warning that random shooting is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. Eight people in the los Angeles area were injured during such shootings last new years eve police said. Assistant chief Robert Vernon said a we Klong ban on ammunition sales also should help. The City ordinance authority ing the ban first was used the week before july fourth and drastically reduced celebratory shooting he said. Violating the ban is a Misdemeanour that can bring six months in jail and a $500 Fine upon conviction. However one weapons retailer called a the City ordinance a a fallacy because people could easily buy bullets elsewhere. Barry Kahn co owner of a amp a sales said customers at his North Hollywood store a within the los Angeles City limits a a were sent 40 Miles away to his store in Westminster where the ban does not apply or went to other suburban stores not covered by the  the stars and stripes40 years ago today. T dec. 30,1950 a All of Western Germany was under a cold wave that drove thermometers toward Zero and showed no signs of easing its icy grip on roads and highways 30 years ago today. Dec. 30, i960 a King Liau donuts returned Home to a crisis torn Belgium marked by rioting and violence and nearly paralysed by a 9-Day old nationwide strike against the government.�?�20 years ago today. Dec. 30, 1970 a Generalissimo Francisco Franco bracing for possible trouble because of death sentences handed Down against six Basque nationalists called an extraordinary Cabinet meeting and alerted his armed forces,10 years ago today. Dec. 30, 1980 a anti soviet rioting broke out in the afghan capital of Kabul and russian tanks were sent into the streets while helicopter gunships hovered overhead a Western Diplomat said. A crowd of afghan men stood on the sidewalks of the downtown area of the City and threw rocks at passing vehicles