Editorial
Beware of the ghost
of Christmas presents
With these ideas and a little bit of creativity, the holiday season need
not create unnecessary waste The pre-change-of-heart villains of holiday lore, like
Ebeneezer Scrooge and the Grinch, consider the Christmas season to be a waste.
In a way, they may have a point. Metro reports that folks living in the Portland area
generate 25 percent more garbage during the holiday season. That is, indeed, a waste.
Fortunately, the same people also recycle 33 percent more during the holidays.
That's good - but it could be better.
With a few weeks left in the holiday shopping season, Metro has provided some tips so that
people can stay in the holiday spirit without sending more junk to the landfills.
It's easy to minimize wasteful packaging. Here's how:
- Purchase gifts with little or no packaging, or packaging that is recyclable. q Be
creative with wrapping and containers. Use containers that can be used again. Wrap in
fabric. Use bows, boxes and even paper from last year.
- Try cards and gift wrap made from recycled paper, or make your own wrap from grocery
bags or newsprint. Paint, draw, stamp or print your own designs on the paper.
- Avoid foil wraps or plastic-coated paper and tissue.
When it comes to selecting the gift itself, there are ways to give without giving
garbage. Homemade gifts are more personal and often less expensive, and they don't come
with wasteful packaging.
Consider giving a basket of homemade goodies, a wreath made of dried flowers from your
garden or a handmade birdhouse. Or try handmade items sold at craft fairs or in specialty
stores.
Better yet, give a gift that benefits the environment. Call Metro Recycling Information at
503-234-3000 for a free holiday guide to buying recycled gifts and gift wrap.
Or give your time and talent. Take someone to a play, concert or the zoo. Make gift
certificates for a special dinner, pet sitting or house cleaning.
Teach a skill you possess - knitting, furniture building or playing the piano, for
example. You can even offer your talents at gardening, photography or financial planning,
or sign someone up for lessons in music, foreign language or a sport.
When Christmas is done, recycle what you can. First of all, recycle your tree, wreath or
swag on your curbside collection day or use the pick up service offered by the Boy Scouts
or other community groups.
Before recycling the tree, remember to remove all tinsel, wire, lights, ornaments, hooks,
stands or other materials that are not part of the tree. Do the same with your wreath.
Trees and wreaths are ground up during the recycling process. Foreign materials can damage
chippers and non-organic matter isn't good for compost.
Save bows, containers, packing peanuts and wrapping paper for reuse next year. Make this
year's holiday cards into gift tags for next year. Recycle paper, boxes and cards that you
can't reuse, along with holiday catalogues and magazines.
And pass it along. You know that new television you received? It's probably replacing an
older model you already had. Why not donate it - and other items you will no longer use -
to charity?
Goodwill, Kiwanis and other organizations are happy to receive and resell used items that
are still in good working order. From electronics and toys to household furnishings,
clothing and accessories, it's easy to find ways to continue the chain of giving and pass
along what you can't use.
If you follow these tips, you'll keep the Ghost of Christmas Presents from taking up space
at the dump. Even the Grinch - after his heart grew three sizes - would be proud.
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Letters
to the editor
Heppner student
asks for readers' input
My fifth- and sixth-grade class is doing a project for the newspapers all around
Oregon. We are asking you to tell us what your favorite books are. My favorite book is
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
We want to get as many answers as possible. Do you like to read? I do, and I read at least
a half an hour a day. Reading is a great thing. Most people don't realize that though.
Have you read Harry Potter? Well, if you have not, I recommend it.
Kate Kendrick
Heppner Elementary School
P.O. Box 367
Heppner, OR 97836
Thanks for supporting
a worthwhile cause
Mackin's Canby Auto Body would like to thank the citizens of Canby and Aurora for their
overwhelming generosity during our recent fund-raiser for the Juvenile Diabetes
Foundation.
We raised nearly $2,000. Your caring attitude and enthusiasm truly warms the heart.
We would also like to extend a special thanks to Diane Anderson for her tireless efforts
and contributions to this very worthy cause. It is a pleasure being a part of your
community.
Mackin's Canby Auto Body staff
Canby
Canby High students
put on quite a show
Wow! What a busy place the Canby High School Fine Arts Center was on Saturday,
Dec. 2, 2000.
The Canby High School Jazz Band came to the school just before noon to load equipment for
a two-hour performance at the Woodburn Company Stores, the Canby High School Concert Choir
was loading a bus for a rehearsal in preparation for their upcoming performance at the
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and Ackerman Middle School students were rehearsing their
upcoming musical, Scrooge.
I am taking this opportunity to invite the people of Canby out to see the finished result
of these hard working students who give up their Saturdays and evenings for extra
rehearsals and community service performances.
The CHS band concert is Thursday, Dec. 14. The performance is at the Canby Fine Arts
Center, and the concert is free.
Please come and support these students if you are able to.
Mona Dahl
Director of bands
Canby High School
Community has joined
the fight against MD
As an adult person with Charcot-Maria-Tooth type muscular dystrophy and foremost
a mother of a child with MD, I wanted to take a moment and thank those who have said yes
to being jailbirds for MDA and ask graciously to anyone who hasn't been asked or might
have been "on the fence" to say yes.
Many people may think if they donate or solicit for MDA they are only helping a small
number of people. This could not be further from the truth.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an umbrella for more than 41 types of neuro-muscular
diseases. With the MDA acting as this umbrella, researchers are able to communicate more
effectively, thus creating an optimum atmosphere for finding a cure. Every donation has
the potential of helping thousands of people.
Another point that I hope sways those of you still "on the fence" is that MDA
has consistently appeared on Money Magazine's top 10 list of responsibly accountable
nonprofit organizations. You can rest assured your donation is being wisely spent.
I also want to thank the Canby Herald for being so proactive with this cause. Your help
and exposure serve this wonderful community well.
I believe with this loving community's help and support, we can make a difference. See you
at Jarboe's on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Sheri Renhard-Hall
Canby
Washington Mutual
supports our schools
The staff and students at Trost Elementary are deeply appreciative of the
generosity of Washington Mutual Bank for its recent donation to our school.
We appreciate the partnership that Washington Mutual affords to the schools of Canby in
the variety of programs they offer.
Their Dollar for Education and Putt for Education program were the source of their
generous gift to Trost. The money that Washington Mutual allocates to schools greatly
benefits students.
We value the partnership we have with Washington Mutual, and thank them for their support
of education in Canby and our school in general.
Mike Zagyva, principal
Cecile Trost Elementary
Heartwarming rescue
exemplified holiday spirit
I have a human interest story that I thought might be nice to tell around this
time of year. On Dec. 3, I noticed my cat had not been around all day, and it was growing
toward evening and he was missing.
Upon looking for him, I heard some crying coming from the roof of another apartment next
to me.
When I looked up, there was "Larry," stuck on the second floor.
I went to my neighbor and asked for help (being afraid of heights myself). He went and got
the ladder, and as it turned out, it was broken and of no use. I reluctantly left Larry on
the roof because I had to go to work that night.
The next morning I tried without success to free Larry, and he had to spend his second
night in the cold on the roof.
Tuesday, getting very worried about him, I decided to call the police and see if they had
any ideas.
The police called the fire department, and the fire marshal came right over. It was
already dark when he arrived.
He informed me there was nothing he could do that night, but to call him the next morning
if Larry was not down.
I called the marshal the next day and let him know Larry was still stuck on the roof. He
said the fire department no longer rescues stranded animals, because there have been
injuries related to rescues.
They were unable to suggest anyone who could get him off the roof, but told me a cat could
survive 30 days on a roof, or he will eventually jump down on his own!
While talking to my cable service about another matter, and running out of ideas, I
explained a little bit of Larry's circumstances to her and she said, "Hold a
minute."
She then called her husband from another line to see if he had any ideas, and he
immediately wanted to know where we were. He came right out and, being a contractor, had a
ladder that would reach Larry. The cat came to him immediately and was finally back on the
ground.
It makes you feel good to know there are people who will help you just out of the kindness
of their hearts and the love of animals.
I wish to again thank Al and Angie Harley, and to wish them happiness in the coming year.
My kids and I had our prayers answered, and now we have Larry back.
Tammy Caldwell
Canby |
