Polk County Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 11, 2017 9A
WEDDINGS
MI TOWN
We’re deep into midwin-
ter in MI Town and it seems
like springtime is a distant
faraway dream. It’s hard to
think about sunshine and
flowers when there’s frost on
everything in sight. Most of
us don’t want to venture far
from the fireplace or a chair
by a sunny window. Cats are
welcome companions, once
they settle in our laps for a
long nap.
—
Once again, during the
Christmas holidays we both
looked for a bayberry can-
dle to burn on New Year’s
Day (or eve, depending on
whatever tradition you’ve
been told), searching just
about everywhere to no
avail.
I stopped in at Petals and
Vines and of course, Maggie
pointed me right to one of
her beautiful displays, and
there was the perfect bay-
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
berry candle. Just another
reminder that we don’t need
to go far from home to find
those special good things to
make our lives more com-
plete.
—
The Monmouth Senior
Center’s open house is
scheduled for Thursday, Jan.
19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sue Teal, center volunteers
and the MI Chamber of
Commerce invite everyone
to attend this community
event, to see all the new
construction and other
changes that have been
made. The ribbon-cutting
will be at noon, so that peo-
ple who are working in the
community can attend.
—
Students are busy with
school activities and winter
sports. It’s always a lot of fun
to attend the various games
and events, and to cheer for
our children and those of
our friends and neighbors.
It’s easy to catch enthusiasm
and energy from just being
around younger people.
As always, our local
schools are eager for volun-
teers in all their programs,
and it’s another great way to
chase away those midwinter
blues.
—
Winter term has begun
for Western Oregon Univer-
sity students, and the calen-
dar is full of ongoing events
and classes for everyone. MI
Town residents have an ex-
cellent opportunity to meet
Hernandez-Connor
students from all over the
world, and to help them feel
welcome in our community.
Language barriers all but
disappear when people take
the time to listen and try to
understand one another.
Many of our Asian students
have never been far away
from the small towns they
call home. A friendly smile
and a warm handshake can
make all the difference.
—
Those of us who have col-
lege students for neighbors
can welcome them to their
houses or apartments with a
plate of cookies, and we can
take that opportunity to get
to know them a little better.
And the students can take a
few moments to learn about
our community and their
neighbors, too. We can all be
good neighbors with a little
time and effort on every-
body’s part.
PEDEE NEWS
It was a heartbreaking
Christmas Eve for Jerry and
Jo Dhoogie, whose store,
Bridgeport Gardens right off
K i n g s Va l l e y Hi g h w a y,
burned to the ground that
night. The loss was total.
With the massive clean-up
that looms ahead, obviously,
that means they are not
open for business, although
Jo will continue to keep the
Azure co-op business going
with a few minor adjust-
ments. If she doesn’t get re-
minders out, contact her for
dates and times when or-
ders are due. They greatly
appreciated all who volun-
teered to help with the
cleanup and will be getting a
cleanup party together
soon, weather permitting.
They’ll let everyone know
when.
—
Meanwhile, Bob and
Lynda Schnekenburger
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
spent two weeks in San Jose
del Cabo enjoying the warm
sun and watching it rise in
the east, something they are
unable to do at home be-
cause of the hill in that di-
rection.
They explored the coast
line and went snorkeling,
and on one trip saw a group
of at least one hundred
mantas jumping from the
water and splashing back
down as they traveled across
the bay.
They loved the Mexican
food and the friendly hospi-
tality of the people, and said
they could easily live there
because of the wonderful
weather. It was hard to come
back to ice, snow and freez-
ing weather.
—
Over 120 people attended
the children’s Christmas
program at the Pedee
Church candlelight service
on Christmas Eve. The play,
directed by Heather Traglia
and Heidi Russell, was
“Room At The Inn” and the
cast included Nic Heller (not
a kid) as the inn keeper, Al-
lana Russell as the innkeep-
er’s wife, Liam Castle as
Joseph, and Abigail Russell
as Mary. Alex Russell, Leo
Mellein, and Parker Crowe
were shepherds and Kailey
and Lilah Traglia, Aliyah
Russell, and Kalina Brother-
ton were angels, and Wynnie
Russell and Joy Castle were
sheep.
The scene even included
a dog, Kindan Brotherton.
After the play the congrega-
tion sang Christmas carols,
which sounded wonderful
with that crowd. As is the
tradition, the group then lit
candles and sang Silent
Night in the darkened sanc-
tuary, which always seems
magical on Christmas Eve —
a beautiful way to welcome
in the birth of Christ.
—
Last week Suzanne Bur-
bank attended Wilco’s lead-
ership conference in Sun
River, which concluded with
an awards banquet. Much to
her surprise, she was given
the President’s Award for her
outstanding work as cloth-
ing buyer in developing and
improving the clothing de-
partments for Wilco’s 18
stores. She very much ap-
preciated the recognition for
her work. She was also rec-
ognized for her 25 years as a
Wilco employee.
Alex Hernandez, of
Albany, and Leahgrace
Connor, of Dallas, were
married on Dec. 16,
2016, by the bride’s fa-
ther, Jerry Connor, at
Calvary Chapel in Cor-
vallis.
Leahgrace is the
daughter of Jerry and
Lucinda Connor, of
Dallas. Alex is the son of
Augie and Amy Her-
nandez, of Albany.
The bride and groom both attended Santiam Christian,
and after graduating, both now attend Linn Benton Com-
munity College. The groom aspires to be an Air Force pilot
and the bride a teacher.
The maid of honor was Cy Schaefer. Bridesmaids were
Sabrina Schaefer and Madison Hernandez.
The best man was Thien Nguyen. Groomsmen were
Ben Winnett and Jerome Connor.
The couple honeymooned in Canada for a week and
will be making their home in Philomath.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 8A
—
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18
• 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.
• 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.
• Day-2-Day Diabetes Support Group — 3 to 4 p.m., West
Valley Hospital (main conference room inside main entrance),
525 SE Washington St., Dallas. 503-623-7323.
• 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.
24 hour
Service
WE’RE SPREADING THE NEWS!
Polk County is in the direct path of the eclipse
which will take place in August 2017.
Making it the best place to view the eclipse from. People are anticipating
50,000 visitors to our area next August. Will you be ready?
Stories in our planning guide
will include:
• Pre-planning. What you need to know
before you rent your room or property.
• Traffic issues.
• Security issues.
• Events already planned.
• Volunteer opportunities
...and much more!
Call Heidi 503-623-2373, ext. 115,
Rachel ext. 110, or Karen ext. 118.
Advertise in our planning guide!
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Deadline is Feb. 2 ~ Publishes Feb. 15
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