Salem-News.com Holiday articles Page 19

Special Activities in Portland During Kwanzaa

Matt Dishman Community Center and the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center offer special celebrations during Kwanzaa.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - On Wednesday, December 26th, the Matt Dishman Community Center will honor the first day of Kwanzaa, Umoja or 'Unity' with a presentation of the Feast of the Seven Tables, a performance by Liquid Moves Entertainment.

The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center honors Kujichagulia or 'self-determination', the second day of Kwanzaa week, with live performances by poets and drummers.

Law Enforcement Agencies Team Up for Kids

The children are given a gift card from Walmart and are accompanied by the law enforcement employee as they shop for whatever they wish in the store.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Marion County Sheriff's Office, Salem Police Department, Keizer Police Department, Oregon State Police and the non-profit Law Enforcement for Youth say they will be able to make the holidays a bit brighter for approximately 400 local children during this year's Shop With A Cop Event.

The event will be held at the Walmart store, 5250 Commercial St SE from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 15th.

Tangent Fire Sponsors 1st Annual `Shop with a Firefighter`

Funding for this project has been provided by generous donations to the volunteers, and fund raisers held by the volunteers.

(TANGENT, Ore.) - Firefighters of Tangent Fire and Rescue sponsored its 1st annual “Shop with a Firefighter” program. Firefighters within the Fire Department volunteered their time to go shopping with two families, which were not going to have much of a Christmas, due to unfortunate financial circumstances.

Erich Schoen with Tangent Fire and Rescue says the families were taken Christmas shopping at the local Target store in Albany. The participating families were pre-screened by a local agency to insure eligibility. Each family had approximately $400 dollars to spend on each other.

Deck the Halls with Bones and Catnip this Holiday Season

Pet expert suggests Six Tips for keeping Fido and Fluffy safe.

(CARSON CITY, Nevada) - There are approximately 74.8 million dogs and 90 million cats in US households according to the Humane Society of the USA. Americans spent approximately $3 billion on Christmas for their pets last year according to USA Today.

Since Fido and Fluffy are part of the family, pet expert and author Mary J. Getten suggests that it is important to make your home safe for your pets to ensure the holly jolly spirit is had by all.

Jefferson Firefighters Assemble and Deliver Christmas Baskets Saturday

Also on Saturday morning, Santa will ride through town on a fire engine, arriving at the Jefferson Community Center at 10:00 AM. He will be handing out candy to all the little visitors.

(JEFFERSON, Ore..) - The Jefferson Volunteer Firefighters will once again be preparing and delivering food baskets to those in need living within the Jefferson, Talbot, and Millersburg communities.

Fire District Spokesperson Elaine Parrott says beginning at 8:00 AM this Saturday morning at the Jefferson Fire Station, firefighters will be assembling food boxes, and loading them on fire engines to distribute to those in need within the community.

Conservatives Remain Silent as Salvation Army Bears English Language Lawsuit

If the Bush administration’s failure to protect our borders wasn’t enough, now we have a loving and effective humanitarian organization who has to defend itself in a lawsuit that stems from these very same failed policies.

(ASHEVILLE, N.C.) - After top Republican Presidential Candidates spent weeks attempting to convince voters that they are the most conservative of the group, all have remained mum on a winning issue for Conservatives: the right of businesses and faith-based organizations to require employees to speak English while on the job.

My position is clear. English should be made the official language of the United States. English language should be a requirement for citizenship and a requirement in any job where two spoken languages would be a safety or customer service problem.

Parade Means Canby Firefighters Will Brave the Weather Tonight

Canby Fire encourages residents to come out and get that foul weather photo.

(CANBY, Ore.) - This bad weather will not stop Canby Firefighters from their annual neighborhood parades supporting Canby area family's by collecting non perishible foods and toys, says Canby Fire Spokesman Troy Buzalsky.

He says tonight's parade starts at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds at 6:30 PM, and will run through various neighborhoods until it finishes at N Pine and 99E.

Wounded Vets Cut off From Old Fashioned Holiday Correspondence

Is the risk of "terror" mail so great that we have to cut out wounded soldiers?

(SALEM, Ore.) - Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind everyone that mail addressed to 'Any Wounded Soldier' or 'A Recovering American Soldier' will not be processed, anytime anywhere. Holiday correspondence has been eliminated over apparent fear of terrorist threat.

But I know of no stories of war vets receiving envelopes with white powder, only politicians most of the time. Could it be just another overreaction? The victims, the wounded soldiers and Marines and sailors and airmen probably won't complain much, they are out of sight and out of mind, more now than ever.

Independence Parade of Lights Set for Saturday

Refreshments, caroling and a visit from Santa will take place following the parade at the library, which is located at 175 Monmouth St.

(INDEPENDENCE, Ore. ) - The annual Independence Parade of Lights will take place on Saturday beginning at 5:00 PM.

The parade will begin on Monmouth Street across from Central High School, travel down Monmouth Street to Third Street, turn left and go to B Street, then turn right and go to Main Street.

Local Cops Hope to Make the Holidays Bright for Disadvantaged Youth

Oregon State Police employee Sabrina Owings believes this is a great opportunity to interact with children whom may only have had a negative experience with law enforcement.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - State troopers, county deputies, and city police officers are expecting to help over 500 kids shop for special gifts this holiday season in Linn, Benton and Marion counties as part of their area annual "Shop With a Cop" event at three locations in December.

For the 13th year, Corvallis and Albany-area police officers will shop together with local disadvantaged and foster children for Christmas gifts as part of a local program called "Shop With a Cop". Troopers, deputies and officers along with several professional staff from all involved agencies will shop with the children. There will also be a visit from Santa giving out candy canes and taking a minute for a photograph.