Editorial
A job well done to the
many Santas who gave
for the holidays
Thanks to the efforts of a lot of hard-working and committed community
members, 891 children in the Canby area received a gift or toy for Christmas.
We tip our hat to each of you who gave generously, or who helped deliver the gifts.
"We wanted everybody who had nothing to receive something," said Nancy Wilmes,
the co-ordinator of the Canby Kiwanis Daybreakers Club drive. "We had a lot of needs
taken care of in our community, but the need is a lot more overwhelming than any of us
realize."
Wilmes said the number of toys donated to children was lower this festive season than in
years past. Her club bought $1,500 worth of toys to supplement a shortfall in donations,
thanks in part to a $450 cash donation from Kevin Bany Fence Co. and Morgan Distributing
Inc.
"I think what is happening is people think it's easier to buy food than to buy a nice
toy," she said. She said other groups in Oregon, including two Portland TV stations,
found toy donations were down in 1999.
"It's not just Canby," she said. "Everybody in the state said gifts were
down. I don't know what the solution is. The Giving Tree didn't do real well, but it was
the first year."
Gifts don't always have to brand new. One lady brought in 11 dolls, and she had made three
outfits for each one. Used toys in good condition can still be enjoyed by children, and
old ones can sometimes be fixed.
At least seven organizations - Canby Kiwanis Club, St. Vincent de Paul, American Legion,
Canby High School leadership classes, Oregon City Elks Club, Ninety-One Elementary School
and El Centro de Canby - gave food baskets to more than 400 families.
Wilmes said many of the groups will meet later in January to discuss plans for providing
toys and food for Christmas 2000.
"If people have ideas, if there's any way the toy drive can be done more
successfully, we're open to any ideas and would like people to participate," she
said. |
Letters to the editor
Thieves made an
already depressing
holiday that much worse
To the editor:
Holiday thieves take note: During the week of Dec. 13, we were visited by some late night
shoppers looking for a five-finger discount, and with their good luck they stumbled onto
our motor home, out in the country, nice and dark and seemingly no one home.
Living in Canby almost all my adult life, my trust of people and sense of security, I'll
have to admit, have been a bit jaded. We no longer live in a small town where we can
blindly trust our fellow man to do the right thing.
This might never reach the person or persons responsible for the theft, but someone might
know who, or have occasion to relate this story to persons with the potential to cause
such disappointment during the holidays, or any other time for that matter.
You see, we were not home - you were right. We were in the hospice house visiting my dying
father and grieving over the loss of my wife's grandmother who passed away that week. So,
it wasn't until my father's death on Dec. 18, that I ventured into the motor home to find
we had been robbed at our most vulnerable time.
What had been taken was not just things of monetary value; you took precious time from our
grieving and loss, and disgraced the memories of our loved ones.
I'm quite sure you don't care nor have any remorse over what you did. I do hope, however,
that anyone who has the idea that stealing or dishonest behavior like this has little or
no effect, other than financial, on the families they touch can realize how far from the
truth that is.
In the future, remember life is a great circle. We all have the ability to make a
difference. Be it positive or negative, it will find its way back.
These thieves also visited some of our neighbors that night, according to police, and for
them our condolences on any losses. We will all keep a closer eye on each other, I'm sure.
I know I'll be watching.
Scott Brawner
Canby
Aurora Fire thanks
a generous community
To the editor:
The Aurora and Donald Volunteer Firefighter Associations wish to extend a sincere thank
you to the Aurora and Donald community, Aurora Veterans of
Foreign Wars chapter, Aurora American Legion, Columbia Aviation Association and Aurora
Chamber of Commerce for their generous contributions of food and
toys for this year's food and toy drive.
More than 2,000 pounds of food was collected in the Aurora and Donald communities and
redistributed to those less fortunate in our community.
Your unselfish giving has helped bring joy and happiness to others during this holiday
season.
Greg Dyke, operations chief
Aurora Fire District
Jazz club thanks
Canby Fire Department
To the editor:
On behalf of the Whiskey Hill Jazz Club, I would like to take this opportunity to thank
the Canby Fire Department for their willingness to lead us through the streets of Canby on
Dec. 21, for our musical Christmas card on wheels.
It was a wonderful evening, enjoyed by all. The band members were happy to give back to
the community that has supported the club the past 10 years.
I also would like to give a special thank you to jazz club parent Alex Vashchenko, who
built the beautiful trailer that transported the band.
Because of his efforts, we can look forward to more "performances on wheels" in
the future.
Beth Dieker
Whiskey Hill Jazz Club
DA says candidate
ad is 'deceptive'
To the editor:
Several Clackamas County newspapers ran an ad for a potential candidate for district
attorney.
The ad contained the claim that it was sponsored by "Citizens for Better
Government." A check with state, county and city elections officials revealed there
was no registered political group using this name at the time the ad ran in the papers.
Therefore, the ad was deceptive.
The actual purchaser of the ad was Joe Kaiser, a political candidate for the Hillsboro
City Council. Mr. Kaiser has registered his own political organization as "Friends
for Joe Kaiser for City Council." Mr. Kaiser both lives and works in Washington
County. If he is a candidate for public office, he must comply with the election laws of
this state.
Mr. Kaiser is a Washington County resident who supports a Multnomah County prosecutor for
the position of Clackamas County District Attorney. Clackamas County citizens should know
the true identity of Mr. Kaiser and his financial connection to other candidates for
public office. Oregon election
laws require it.
Elections law violations are investigated by the Secretary of State, Elections Division,
141 State Capitol, Salem 97310-0722, phone (503) 986-1518.
Terry Gustafson
Clackamas County
District Attorney
And elected officials
wonder why there's
voter apathy?
To the editor:
David Howell's article titled, "County moves ahead with radio system plan," from
the Dec. 29 Molalla Pioneer says it all. "Clackamas County is moving ahead with its
plans to purchase a new $4.9 million public safety radio system . . . County commissioners
approved the purchase of a 800 megahertz radio system . . .
A bond measure that would have paid for an 800 MHz system for the whole county was floated
in September 1996, but voters defeated it . . . The project's total costs will reach
almost $8 million . . . The county intends to obtain short-term financing to pay for the
project . . .
In order to repay the debt, $1.5 million will be paid from the county's general fund . . .
$2.5 million from
Fire District ', $2.5 million from Lake Oswego, and $1 million from a federal grant . . .
The county is expecting the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue District and the Canby Rural
Fire District will contribute some of
the remaining $500,000 shortfall in funding . . ."
It sure makes me want to run to the polls to express my opinion.
Steve Daiker
Clarkes 4 Corners
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