A View from the Hill
By Doris Brosnan
Already halfway
through the December cal-
endar with many visitors
and activities, the residents
and staff of Willow Creek
Terrace are viewing this
as the busiest month of
2019. This is enjoyable,
but with some sadness they
realize that they are wel-
coming the festivities with-
out their neighbor Joann
Weister, who passed away
last month. Joann joined
the community on the hill
last year just in time to
participate in the holiday
events, so her absence is
strongly felt.
Another missing face at
the holiday happenings is
that of Beverly Wright. Bev,
such an outgoing personal-
ity, moved into the Terrace
in February but has now
moved to Sun Terrace in
Hermiston. This loss was,
however, softened some-
what by the welcoming on
Monday of another familiar
face. Bernice Lott, long-
time resident of Heppner
and more recently of Herm-
iston has moved in just in
time for more December
activities.
Dani Smith and her
children, Gracie and Sam,
have been coming to the
Terrace to visit for several
months as part of their
home-schooling program,
and now they have intro-
duced a new activity to
share with interested resi-
dents, the card game Uno.
They hope more and more
residents will join them on
Tuesdays this month at 9
a.m. to play this entertain-
ing game.
The halls were decked
out for December on the
5 th , when everyone was
encouraged to join the fun
of decorating the Terrace,
singing some carols, and
enjoying some homemade
soups and breads. Ginger-
bread is an obvious theme
on the tree just inside the
front door, loaded with gin-
gerbread ornaments, and in
the sun room, where a small
village sits on the counter.
The village houses were
created on the 12 th by five
residents and two student
staff members, who, after
one and a half hours and
actually wearing some of
the icing, were pleased with
their gingerbread creations
that included what several
observers have noted looks
like an outhouse.
The Book Club had a
change of pace on the 10 th ,
when instead of sharing
literature, they made two
festive-looking swags to be
hung near the dining tables.
And last Friday, before
going down to Main Street
to watch the light parade,
residents were invited to
decorate Christmas cookies
with Serina Garrett, who is
a staff member and also a
professional cookie-maker.
On Monday of this
week, Cynthia Wenberg
accompanied her group of
young Pathfinders to the
Terrace to sing carols and
share some time with the
residents. On Friday of this
week, Alaina Lemmon’s
students will perform what
has become an annual pia-
no recital for the Terrace.
The cookies made with
Serina will be included as
refreshments following the
looked-forward-to recital.
A new observance will
welcome the residents this
coming Sunday, the 22 nd ,
when they can participate
in the first lighting of a me-
norah and hear a traditional
Hebrew prayer on the first
day of Hanukkah, which
lasts for eight days. This
meaningful activity is being
introduced in recognition
of two staff members with
Jewish roots.
On Christmas Eve, ev-
eryone will be invited to
enjoy the traditional casual
evening of finger foods,
games, music in the back-
ground and family atmo-
sphere around the fireplace
while listening to the sec-
ond annual reading of The
Night Before Christmas.
Then, everyone must
“settle down for a long
winter ’s nap” because
Santa will bring some-
thing for all the stockings
hanging outside the apart-
ment doors. On Christmas
morning, each resident will
find something under the
tree, left by Santa and the
“Angels” of Willow Creek
Terrace.
Christmas dinner will
20% off Montana Silver
All Christmas Decor 50%
Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed
Heppner - 242 W Linden Way - 541-676-9422
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 18, 2019 -- SEVEN
again feature the prime
rib that Charlie and Mar-
sha Anderson give to the
The Neighborhood additional $5 discount. All
Terrace each year. And the
Center
will hold a bag sale household merchandise will
residents who usually go to
Saturday,
December 21 be 50 percent off.
the senior meal site at the
from
9:30
a.m. to 5:30
Proceeds from the bag
St. Patrick Apartments on
p.m.
at
441
N
Main
St,
sale
help to purchase food
Wednesdays will be able to
Heppner.
Brown
bags
filled
for
the
pantry. Credit and
enjoy a second holiday meal
th
with
clothing,
shoes,
books,
debit
cards
are now being
on Friday the 27 instead, a
CDs
and
DVDs
will
be
just
accepted.
For
additional
delay because Christmas
$15
during
the
sale.
Addi-
information
call
541-676-
falls on Wednesday.
tional
bags
will
receive
an
5024.
All of these December
activities will be memories
to savor on New Year’s
Eve, when some residents
will watch the ringing in
of the new year on TV,
from New York City, but
The 9 th annual Hep- depending on the number
merriment at the Terrace pner High School Alumni and ages of participants.
will not end with the festive Basketball games will be The cost to play is $25 and
meal they will have on New held Sunday, December includes a tee shirt.
Year’s Day. For instance, 22 at the high school. The
Admission to attend
two birthdays in January women’s game will begin at this fundraiser for the men’s
will carry the celebrating 1 p.m. with the men’s game basketball program will be
into 2020. LaVonne Mor- to follow.
$2 per person. For addi-
ford will have another cel-
The games are open to tional information, contact
ebration to share with her all HHS alumni and their the high school at 541-
neighbors when she turns spouses/significant others. 676-9138 or go to their
90 on the 10 th . And on the Typically the games will Facebook page, 9 th annual
20 th , Myrtle McMillan will consist of two halves, each HHS alumni basketball
share her birthday event 20 minutes long with a run- games. Everyone is invited
with the community on the ning clock. Teams are split to attend.
hill, also.
And all of these mem-
ory-building celebrations
will join the many others ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
that residents of Willow
Creek Terrace view as good
reasons to live in a good
home.
Bag sale scheduled
HHS to host alumni
basketball games
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Retirement Celebration
for
ANN SPICER
Join us in celebrating Ann’s
career and retirement!
December 30th
2 - 4 pm
Bartholomew Building in Heppner
Finger Food & Cake
Everyone is Invited!
Wishing you and yours a
happy and healthy holiday
season from all of us at
NextEra Energy Resources.