Siletz news /, May 01, 2012, Page 17, Image 17

Pinwheels for Prevention
Annually, Chinook Winds Casino
Resort takes part in Community Days,
a week-long event in Lincoln City, Ore.
Community Days is geared to raise funds
for local nonprofits and provide entertain­
ment to local residents and their families,
thus the name Community Days.
A Chinook Winds representative joins
with a group of community volunteers
who begin the planning process several
months in advance, creating a variety of
events across town. For the past three years,
Chinook Winds has been proud to sponsor
the Pinwheels for the Prevention of Child
Abuse pinwheel garden, a program offered
by the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon to
raise awareness about child abuse.
On April 7, in cooperation with the
Lincoln City Cultural Center, 1,500 blue
and silver pinwheels were placed on the
center’s lawn (the old Delake School)
located in the center of Lincoln City on
Highway 101. One of the opening events of
Community Days, the pinwheels remained
spinning in the breeze until April 15.
Approximately 35 community volun­
teers representing several service organi­
zations, dedicated individuals and casino
staff turned out to create the pinwheel
garden shaped as a circle to represent the
circle of life. Whole families stopped by
to help. It was gratifying and rewarding to
see so many community youth turn out to
assist in what has become an annual event
sponsored by Chinook Winds.
This was just one of several pinwheel
gardens on display across the state in
April. Coordinator Susan Lindauer com­
mented to Teresa Simmons, coordinator
for the casino, that she anticipated this
would be the most impressive of all the
pinwheel gardens displayed.
Chinook Winds staff helps out with
week of Community Days activities
Not only did Chinook Winds staff help set up the Pinwheel Garden (top), they
also worked at the food drive gathering food and money for the Lincoln City Food
Pantry (above). Chinook Winds Interim General Manager Mike Fisher (right) and
Director of Marketing Eric Smileuske presented Tilly Miller from the Lincoln City
Food Pantry with a check for $1,000 to help out the cause.
Staff members also put on their boots to participate in the Mudflat Golf Tourney on
Siletz Bay in Taft (top right). Sponsored by the Lincoln City Rotary Club, this event
is a benefit for the Taft High boys and girls golf teams. Participants included Brad
Dye, Jack Strong, Warren Mock and CC Howard.
Courtesy photos by Chinook Winds Casino Resort staff
The grand finale was the presentation of the Spirit Award at the Community Days
Banquet (above) by Interim General Manager Mike Fisher and Director of
Marketing Eric Smileuske (both at right) to Pat Neal (center) for her exceptional
record of volunteerism to 11 organizations in Lincoln City. Emcees for the evening
were Dave Price of Oregon Coast Today and Chinook Winds Public Relations
Manager Heather Hatton (both at left).
Courtesy photo by Chinook Winds
Casino Resort staff
On March 31, approximately 3,758
volunteers helped clean Oregon’s
beaches. Chinook Winds Casino staff
was right out there, contributing as
they always do, at the annual spring
beach cleanup.
May 2012
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Siletz News
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17