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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2007)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 22, No. 24 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” December 20, 2007 Special events help brighten community May your holidays be bright… Christmas Concert Vernonia Christian Church invites the community to come to a special Christmas concert, by Willowbrook Free Methodist Church in Sherwood. The con- cert will be tonight, December 20, at 410 North Street, at 7:30 p.m. Candlelight Service Tess Aldrich’s house was lit up for the holidays in this picture taken Saturday, December 1. Even after the Flood of 2007 on December 3 dimmed many holiday displays, Aldrich’s house is still a bright spot on State Avenue in Vernonia. Disaster relief funds start reaching area The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) continue to help Orego- nians recover from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Disaster assis- tance totaling more than $1.9 million has been approved and more than $560,000 has al- ready been distributed to resi- dents in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Yamhill and Polk counties for storm-related dam- ages and living expenses. As of close of business Sun- day, December 16, more that 1,100 individuals had applied H ap py N e w Y ea r for assistance. “People are anxious to get on with their lives after the storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides,” said State Co- ordinating Officer Abby Ker- shaw. Individuals who have not yet applied for disaster assistance can begin the disaster applica- tion process by registering on- line at www.fema.gov or by call- ing the toll-free registration number: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are avail- able from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. “We encourage everyone who needs assistance to take advantage of all programs available by first calling FEMA to register. Although programs are not intended to bring indi- viduals back to their pre-disas- ter conditions, they can help with the financial impact of the severe weather,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Glen R. Sachtleben. Vernonia Community Church will hold their annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m. All are in- vited. The church is located at 957 State Avenue. Christmas Dinner The Vernonia Senior Center Christmas Dinner will be held on December 25, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., at the Scout Cabin. The dinner is free for all Ver- nonians. Goodwill delivers Christmas to town Tuesday, December 18, a Goodwill truck loaded with hundreds of pounds of Christ- mas donations left Milwaukie for Vernonia. The truck is now parked at the former 76 station at the corner of Bridge and Jef- ferson Streets. Goodwill has a list of flood survivor names and will give one $25.00 Goodwill gift card per family, to the first 500 peo- ple coming to this location. Each family will also be given a large Goodwill bag to fill from the all-things-Christmas area. Donated Christmas trees are also available. The site will be open through Saturday, December 22, during the following hours: Thursday and Friday, noon to 7:00 p.m; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Vernonia Cares Food Bank tells hours through New Year’s Day Reception honors Jim Walters on his retirement Jim Walters, the veteran Vernonia police officer, is retir- ing. The public is invited to say farewell to Jim, December 29th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the Vernonia Fire Hall. Help thank Jim for his tireless efforts to make our community safer, and for doing it with the big smile that he is known for. Vernonia Cares Food Bank, currently serving all Nehalem Valley residents needing food assistance, has announced op- erating hours through the rest of 2007. They will be open Thursday and Friday, December 20 and 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Holiday food boxes will be distributed Friday, December 21. Cares will be closed Satur- day, December 22, through Wednesday, December 26. They will reopen Thursday, December 27 through Satur- day, December 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., then will be closed Sunday, December 30. and Monday, December 31. Vernonia Cares will resume their regular schedule, open Tuesday and Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. starting New Year’s Day, January 1, 2008.
