The official kick-off for the Community Campaign for The Mid-Columbia Senior Center Expansion will be at noon on Wednesday, November 19th during the Meals-on-Wheels lunch. And you are invited. With the generous help of many community partners including The Columbia Gorge Community College, The City of The Dalles, the Mid-Columbia Medical Center, and Design Structures, the Senior Center now has a business plan, a conceptual design with cost estimates and planning commission approval for the Senior Center Expansion. But that is only the first act. Now we need to raise the estimated $1.8 to begin the construction. But don’t panic. Most of it will come from large foundation grants. But for them to invest in this project, they want to see strong community support and although the city, college, and hospital are important they aren’t enough. The success of this project will depend upon you.
In a few years, the Center will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Senior Center building. With the “silver tsunami” coming and all of us living longer, this community deserves a facility that will meet the needs of the future while fulfilling the dreams of the past; provide financial security for the Center’s activities while being a resource for the whole community. We are grateful to those faithful and determined elders of the community, many of whom are no longer with us, that left us with such a wonderful legacy. They made it happen and now it is our turn.
The Wasco County Library is looking for storytellers for National Tellabration Day on Saturday, November 22nd, a day when you can gather together with friends, family, neighbors, even total strangers, and share your stories no matter your age or skill. How did you get in trouble when you were young? What did you really do with the school’s outhouse on Halloween? Do you have a favorite joke? Only limitation is that the story must be suitable for all ages and each story must be no more than 15 minutes. The Tellebration will run from 10:00 – 4:00 pm. Contact Rita at 296-2815 for more information.
Veterans. Attention! There is going to be a WW II Europe Tour Auction for History to help a group of high school students raise money to fund their trip to Europe so they can learn more about WW II: up close and personal. And for all veterans the Spaghetti Dinner with Salad, Bread, and Dessert is FREE! For the rest of us tickets are $20 per family and $5 single. The dinner and auction will be held on November 15th at 6:00 PM at The Dalles Middle School Commons. You can buy tickets at the door or contact June 980-4409 or Jeisse 340-0842.
Winter is slowly approaching which means it’s time for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). The program is managed by the Mid-Columbia Community Action Program (CAP) and is designed to supplement winter heating costs for all low-income households. The eligibility requirements are a maximum annual income of $20,228 for one in the household or $26,451 for two in the household.
Many of you may have already received your application in the mail from CAP which you need to fill out and return by November 30th. If you need help, contact The Dalles office. If you know of someone who has not received an application and may meet the guidelines, have them stop by the CAP office at 312 E 4th Street or call 298-5131.
There is good news. Jim Slusher, the CAP Executive Director, thinks there will be enough energy assistance available to help all of those in need. But the bad news is with the cost of heating increasing it won’t buy as much energy as last year.
CAP also manages three discount programs for Seniors: the PUD Senior Discount program and the City of The Dalles Water and Sewer Discount Program which both provide a 10% or 35% discount; The Dalles Disposal Discount Program which offers a $3 a month discount and provides for anyone over 85 free garbage service. You do have to meet income guidelines to qualify which are the same as the energy assistance program.
The third and last Holiday Card Making class will be held at the Center on Thursday Nov. 20th from 2:30 – 4:00 in time to create your original and creative hand-made cards for the holidays. Joyce Browne will again be the guide for this card making adventure and the only cost is for the materials. You can sign up at the Center’s front desk or call the Center at 296-4788.
And the music never ends! Next Tuesday the 18th, the ever popular Truman Boler will be playing his gold standards for your listening and dancing pleasure. Tonight you will be able to enjoy the sounds of The Notecrackers. Funs starts at 7:00 and admission is free although donations are gladly accepted.
Well it has been an exciting and historic week. We shall see what the future holds. Until we meet again, as my father always said “tomorrow is another day”.
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
