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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 2016)
Polk County Living Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 30, 2016 9A ENGAGEMENTS MI TOWN Hoekstre-Villa Tomorrow is the first day of December, and as we say goodbye to the month of November and all the good — and not so wonderful — things that happened over the past 30 days, let’s try to put the angst and craziness of the recent election sea- son in the garbage can along with the turkey car- cass from Thanksgiving. It’s time to focus on the up- coming holiday season and take a moment to think about brightening our dark winter days and evenings with Christmas caroling and tree lightings and con- certs. — Mother Nature is perhaps a bit confused about the season, with camellia buds bursting forth and gazanias still blooming in our flower beds. There’s been a lot of snow in the mountains and P ATTY T AYLOR D UTCHER Columnist the passes, which made for some more than interesting travel experiences for all who traveled over the river and through the woods for family gatherings this past weekend. — Thank you to Western Oregon University students, faculty and staff members who collected and donated food that filled 74 large gro- cery bags for the Ella Cur- ran Food Bank. Because of these efforts, 200 local fam- ilies were provided with food boxes for Thanksgiving dinners. MI Town’s very own university is truly ap- preciated by all of us who are fortunate enough to be friends and neighbors. — We can all relate to hav- ing experienced close calls while driving, especially this time of year, when day- light hours are few and there are many of us hurry- ing to work or school or on various errands. Whether driving, biking or walking here and there, the odds of safely arriving at our desti- nations are increased when we can see — and be seen by o t h e r s. Bi k e r s a n d pedestrians can affix reflec- tive tape to jackets or back- packs and use flashlights or blinkers to be seen. Please put your phone out of reach when driving so the temp- tation to text or talk is di- minished. Nothing is as im- portant as your life, or the lives of others that your de- cision can impact. Let’s all do what we can to watch out for each other. — Before we bid adieu to our Thanksgiving season, I’d like to thank the staff and students of MI Town’s Central High School for the wonderful luncheon last Wednesday for seniors in the community. The weath- er outside was rainy and dreary, but darkness was banished when we were welcomed to the school by smiling students who served us a tasty meal, and we were entertained by a Central’s chorus of enthusi- astic and talented young students. MI Town’s mer- chants donated a variety of great gifts for the drawing that followed our meal, and we all enjoyed ever y minute. PEDEE NEWS Christmas lights are com- ing up in Pedee. Mick and Debbie Cochrane’s were first, and really beautify the neighborhood. They are adding more, too. Daughter Paige spent Thanksgiving with her grandparents, Joe and Terri Cochrane, in Lin- coln City, and son Cole came this way. Debbie’s parents, Ted and Ethelene Osgood had the family for turkey at their house with Cole and their son Stephen and his three kids, Bailee, Bridget, and Nolan, all from Dallas, and Debbie and Mick had their own turkey later. Nolan, 2, spent his time playing with his grandfather Osgood and grandfather’s trains. — On Thanksgiving Judy Guida reported seeing 25 A RLENE K OVASH Columnist turkeys in the pasture across the road from her place. Guess they figured they were safe at this point. One cougar barely escaped with his life that day, though. Dave and Suzanne Burbank were enjoying Thanksgiving at their house with most of the family, when several deer appeared in the pasture outside their window. A few hours later Dave looked out and no- ticed a huge cougar sitting at the edge of the field, choosing which one he wanted for dinner. Dave grabbed a gun, unfortu- nately not his own, and ran out to get him, but just missed and the cougar took off. — Another cougar story. A friend of my husband Paul’s was hunting with friends in central Oregon a few weeks ago. He was stationed on a rocky outcrop when he heard what sounded like a cone falling. He turned to look and nothing there. A few minutes later he heard another sound and turned again, but nothing. He then turned to the other side again and a cougar was in mid-flight, coming straight at him. He rolled off the rock as the cougar landed right where he was. He shot his gun in the roll, and the cougar took off. That was a close call! — Elk hunting is over and several guys came home with one. On the last hunt I heard about, Morgan Mc- Beth shot a 6-by-6 bull elk, he said on “Secret Ridge,” and Steve Burbank got a forked horn, I think in “Somewhere Valley.” They were reluctant to tell me just where those “famous landmarks” are, though. — Jennifer Vandenberg, who now lives in Chehalis, Wash., was recently fea- tured in an article in their local newspaper about one of the writing events of Na- tional Novel Writing Month. Note her name as she will be a famous writer some- day. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES These Polk County groups would welcome individuals who have time or expertise to volunteer. Organizations that would like to be added to this list should call 503-623-2373 or email IOnews@polkio.com. • AARP Foundation Tax-Aide – 503-930-7636 • After DARC — 503-623-9501 • Arc of Polk County — 541-223-3261 • Central School District — 503-838-0030 • City of Dallas — 503-831-3502 • City of Independence — 503-838-1212 • City of Monmouth — 503-751-0145 • Crime Victims Assistance Program — 503-623-9268 • Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce — 503-623-2564 • Dallas Fire Department — 503-831-3532 • Dallas Food Bank — 503-623-3578 • Dallas kids, Inc. — 503-623-6419 • Dallas Police Department — 503-831-3582 • Dallas Public Library — 503-623-2633 • Dallas Retirement Village — 503-623-5581 • Dallas School District — 503-623-5594 • Delbert Hunter Arboretum — 503-623-7359 • Girl Scouts of Southwest Washington and Oregon — 503-581-2451 • Ella Curran Food Bank — 503-838-1276 • Falls City Arts Center — 503-559-6291 • Falls City School District — 503-787-3531 • Family Building Blocks – 503-566-2132, ext. 308. • H-2-O — 503-831-4736 HART (Horses Adaptive Riding and Therapy) — 971-301-4278 • HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley — 503-363-1651 • Heron Pointe Assisted Living — 503-838-6850 • Independence Health and Rehabilitation — 503-838-0001 • Independence Public Library — 503-838-1811 • kings Valley Charter School — 541-929-2134 • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 503-837-0237 • Luckiamute Valley Charter School – 503-623-4837 • Meals on Wheels — 503-838-2084 • Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce — 503-838-4268 • Monmouth-Independence YMCA — 503-838-4042 • Monmouth Public Library — 503-838-1932 • Northwest Human Services — 503-588-5828 • Oregon Child Development Coalition — 503-838-2745 • OSU Extension Service - Polk County — 503-623-8395 • Perrydale School District — 503-623-2040 • Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Polk County Inc. — 503-623-8473 • Polk Community Development Corporation — 503-831-3173 • Polk County Community Emergency Response Team — 503-623-9396 • Polk County Museum — 503-623-6251 • Polk County Public Health — 503-623-8175 • Polk County Resource Center — 503-623-8429 • Polk Soil and Water Conservation District — 503-623-9680 • Relief Nursery Classroom — 503-566-2132 • Rickreall Watershed Council — 503-623-9680 • SABLE House — 503-623-6703 • SALT (Senior and law enforcement together) — 503-851-9366 • Salvation Army — 503-798-4783 • SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) — 503-391-8423 • Salem Health West Valley Hospital — 503-623-8301 • Victim Assistance Program-Polk Co. District Attorney’s Office 503-623-9268 x1444 • Willamette Valley Hospice — 503-588-3600 Martin Hoekstre, of Dallas, and Jen- nifer Villa, of Hebo, became engaged Nov. 18, on Jennifer’s birthday. They currently re- side in Grande Ronde, and plan to have a long engage- ment, giving the bride plenty of time to plan her dream wedding. They enjoy each other’s company and visits to Hebo together to visit her mom. BIRTHS Caswell Aidan Edward Caswell was born at 8:14 a.m. on Nov. 11 to Thomas and Kimberly Caswell, of Beaverton, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. He weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 22.25 inches long. He joins Jackson. Grandparents are Toni Christensen, of Dallas; Tom Caswell, of Nelson, Calif.; Ed and Jane Gagznos, of Texico, Ill. Great-grandparents are Robert Ross, of Paradise, Calif.; Harry and Shirley Torrey of Chico, Calif.; and Thomas Caswell of Durham, Calif. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Continued from page 8A — TUESDAY, DEC. 6 • Overeaters Anonymous — Noon to 1 p.m., Salem Health West Valley, 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. Support group meets in the quiet room/chapel immediately inside the emer- gency entrance on Clay Street. Dee Ann White, 971-718-6444. — WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7 • Monmouth Business Association — 7:30 a.m., Polk Coun- ty Fire District No. 1, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. A meeting of business people, the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce director, and city officials. 503-751- 0147. • Indoor Play Park — 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, First Presbyterian Church, 879 SW Levens St., Dallas. Drop-ins welcome. For ages infant through pre-k with parent. Free, but donations accepted. 503-623-3397. • Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon, Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For eligible community members; available every Wednesday. 541-404-6517. • Senior meals, Dallas — 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, LaCreole Manor, 204 SW Walnut St., Dallas. Free, but $3 dona- tion suggested. Reservations required. 503-623-6232. • Senior meals, Monmouth — 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, Monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth. Free, but $3 donation suggested. Reservations required. 503- 838-2084. • Scrabble with Betty — 1 p.m., Independence Public Li- brary, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. Scrabble games first Wednesday of every month. Free; refreshments and prizes available. 503-551-7687 or 503-838-1811. • Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank — 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff Road, Building E, Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members. 503-831-5634. • Yarning for Others — 3 to 5 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. knitters and crocheters gather to make clothing and accessories for those in need on the first Wednesday of every month. 503-689-7222. • Brew and BS: The New Testament — 7 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. A lecture series on New Testament figures. Bring brew of choice — coffee, tea, chai, beer, wine, cider. 435-503-4304. • Central High School Presents “White Christmas” — 7:00 p.m., CHS Auditorium, 1530 Monmouth St., Independence. Stu- dent night. $8 general; $3 students. Centralperformingarts.org. IMAGINE Our Communities without our LOCAL NEWSPAPER! Thank the businesses who advertise in the Itemizer-Observer, without them... AAAAAH! Interested in advertising? Call 503-623-2373 Visit our website, www.polkio.com ...for local news, sports and community events. Follow us on