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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2015)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 9, 2015 5A Scavenger hunt for light displays The Grove Community to host event to see who can find the most items By Emily Mentzer How many can you find? The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — In- dependence and Monmouth residents have been busy putting up impressive light displays for the Christmas holiday. As you admire their hard work, do you notice Olaf the Snowman here, or a peacock there? What about five lighted angels in one yard? Join others on Saturday night at 6 at the Grove Com- munity Church in down- town Independence for a fun way to explore the Christmas lights. “People come out and drive around the communi- ty and find things in differ- ent Christmas light dis- plays,” said Andy Johnson, pastor at the Grove. “Last year, you had to find Olaf from Frozen somewhere. You take a picture of it and tag it on Instagram.” After cruising the streets searching for specific things, everyone meets back at the church to view a slideshow of what people found, have hot chocolate and cookies, and find out who found the most items. “We had someone last year who found everything,” What: Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt. When: 6 p.m. on Saturday. Where: Starts at the Grove Community Church, 116 S. Main St., Independence. Admission: Free. Of note: The event uses Instagram to keep track of what people ind in light displays throughout Monmouth and In- dependence. Also at the Grove on Saturday, a professional photogra- pher will be taking free Christmas portraits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in partnership with Focal Point. The sessions are in- tended to help those who cannot aford a professional sit- ting otherwise. For more information: Find The Grove Community on Facebook and RSVP to the event. Johnson said. The event was started by church member Randi Hol- brook, who saw the idea on Pinterest. “The first year we did it, we did it at my house in Salem,” Holbrook said. “We came up with a list and sent people out.” She and her cousin make up the list of things to find each year. This is the third year the Grove has hosted the event. “The first year, I kind of used a template,” Holbrook said. “Last year we drove around, looked at what was there and made the list off of that.” According to the rules of the event, participants don’t have to find the exact dis- play that inspired Holbrook’s clue. “One of the things (last year) was five decorated an- gels in one yard, or three in- flatable decorations in one yard,” she said. “A lot of dif- ferent people may have that, as long as you find it, it counts. It doesn’t have to be the specific house we found.” Last year, one house in In- dependence was selling mistletoe for 50 cents. It was included on the scavenger hunt. “People really enjoyed that,” Holbrook said. “We told them they had to go find mistletoe, and they found it.” The contest is run by using Instagram, so be sure to have the app downloaded on your smartphone before arriving at the church for the contest. Holbrook said peo- ple should play with the pro- gram a little bit first, because there won’t be time to go over how to use it before the scavenger hunt begins. “Be familiar with it before you get there,” she said. Once an item is found, post it to Instagram with the hashtag #GroveHunt2015, Holbrook said. There usually is about 25 items to find, from common to tricky. The best way to prepare for the evening and increase your odds of win- ning? “If you’re like me, you’re out and about in the com- munity, so just pay atten- tion,” Johnson said. “If you go to the really big displays, you’re probably not going to get as many things as you think you’re going to. Be sure to drive around a bit.” People will have an hour and a half to drive around and collect pictures from displays. Gilbert: Makes Falls City a better place Continued from 1A “This is our third year doing it. Wal-Mart has been awesome about it. It’s so fun that people just give and give and give,” he said. Gilbert is one of those people. He would be the first to say the Christmas pro- grams are a team effort, but he is essential to mak- ing them happen. His sense of service extends beyond the month of De- cember. Gilbert’s official title with Falls City School District is “facilities manager,” but Su p e r i n t e n d e n t Ja c k Thompson said he does much more than maintain school buildings and fields. “What doesn’t he do?” Thompson said. “John’s in- volved in anything that has to do with making the school better, making it a fantastic place to learn.” That includes big things, like setting up for gradua- tion, and small things, such as making the hallways fes- tive with green and red lights. He’s also a mentor for students, helping them with assignments, senior projects, and even more serious situations. DALLAS 121 Main St. • 503-623-8155 INDEPENDENCE 1710 Monmouth St. • 503-838-6340 Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm Sat 8 am - 5 pm All prices good through 12/21/16 Local Fresh Cut Select trees at special prices! Doug Fir ......$2 50 /ft. Grand Fir .....$3 00 /ft. Nordsman ....$4 00 /ft. Noble .........$4 00 /ft. Frink’s General Store 319 N Main St, Falls City 503-787-3535 • Hardware • Automotive • Groceries • Hot Deli • Stove Pellets Winter Store Hours: 6am-9pm Fri & Sat 6am-10pm 90 Days for Only $99 ALL Memberships includes fitness classes Insurance Memberships Available Expires 12/31/2015 165 E Main St, Monmouth www.monmouthfit.com “He opens his house to kids who are struggling,” Thompson said. “He will help them out with things. John is the go-to guy. Any- thing that is needed, they call him and he’s always positive about it.” Gilbert explains that as just being part of a small community. “It’s such a small school. I’m able to do a lot of things that you normally wouldn’t do in my capaci- ty,” he said. Thompson has a differ- ent explanation: “That’s just who he is.” Perhaps he’s inspired others. Gilbert said in the years he’s helped on the holiday projects, he’s been contin- uously amazed at the gen- erosity people show, espe- cially when last-minute gift requests from parents come in. “We can go back and get them one nice present and a couple things. Two or three little things make a difference,” he said. “We aren’t there when they get it, but the parent still gets to be the hero. “You are like a vessel. You are able to help make it happen.”
