Salem-News.com Holiday articles Page 23

Donations Needed For Jefferson Firefighters Holiday Food Baskets

The food baskets will be assembled and delivered to needy families on the morning of Saturday, December 16th.

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

Canned food donations as well as financial contributions are needed.

Last year approximately 80 baskets were prepared for delivery which included canned food, ham or turkey, and fresh vegetables.

It`s a Wonderful Cul-de-Sac to be Presented at Salem Alliance Church`s an Evening in December

Performed and professionally presented by a cast and crew of more than 200 volunteers, Evening in December is perhaps the largest Christmas music event in Oregon outside of Portland.

(SALEM) - Shouldn’t life take a vacation at Christmas? Why can’t the complexities go away or be less painful during the holidays?

The production of “It’s a Wonderful Cul-de-Sac”will bring this story to life during an Evening in December--Salem Alliance Church’s annual holiday recipe for Christmas inspiration, Nov. 30th, and Dec. 1st-3rd.

“It’s a Wonderful Cul-de-Sac” is a heart-warming story set in a beautiful cul-de-sac--Christmas Court--where five families are all struggling with finding the holiday spirit in the midst of their messy holiday lives.

Police in Linn And Benton Counties to Participate in Two Shop With Events

Each child has a $25.00 shopping limit and works their way around the store with a police officer to find gifts for family and friends.

(ALBANY ) - For the 12th 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".

Last year, 153 children shopped with state, county, and city police officers in the two very successful events while purchasing videos, clothing, toys and other special gifts.

The event is sponsored mainly through donations from police officer associations, private individuals, and K-Mart, Target, and Wal-Mart.

Christmas Tree Cutting Permits Now Available

When traveling out to find and cut your own Christmas tree in Oregon, remember safety first.

(SALEM) - For many families, it is an annual tradition to brew up some hot chocolate, wrap the scarves up tight and travel deep into the woods in search of that perfect Christmas tree.

However, this year, you may have to drive a bit further.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is not offering Christmas Tree Cutting permits on the Santiam State Forest this year.

Santa Claus Arrives at the Salem Riverfront Carousel (VIDEO)

The holiday season was put in motion Friday at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel.

(SALEM) - This is the third year that Santa and Mrs. Claus have arrived in Salem by train. Between rainstorms, at least 250 people gathered to watch for the Portland Western Railroad pull in, Santa and his entourage waving from the caboose.

Oregon Christmas Trees Heading For Troops Just Back From Iraq

Operation Thank You began four years ago as a way to say thanks and to support troops and their families.

(MOLALLA) - A semi-truck-load of Christmas trees bound for soldiers and their families based at Fort Hood, Texas, will be loaded Sunday morning at a Yule Tree Farms in Molalla.

Operation Thank You 2006 marks the fourth year that the Christmas Tree Chapter of the Oregon Association of Nurseries has coordinated the donation of trees and stands and their delivery to Fort Hood, which is a hub for soldiers fighting the war in Iraq.

The load of 1,100 Douglas fir trees will depart Molalla on Sunday, and arrive at Fort Hood on Saturday, Dec. 2nd.

Donations Sought For Salem Police and Fire`s CODE 3 TOY DRIVE

Donations of NEW, unwrapped toys are needed for children from infants to 14 years old.

(SALEM) - The Salem Fire Department and the Salem Police Department have combined our "emergency forces" to bring Christmas cheer to more kids than ever in the City of Salem.

This year's combined Code 3 Toy Drive is expected to provide toys to over 1,300 families that would be otherwise unable to have the Merry Christmas that most of us take for granted.

Both agencies have provided toys to hundreds of families in the past, but by combining our efforts, our hope is to reach more children than we ever have before.

Portland International Airport Offers Tips For a Smooth Holiday Journey

The busiest holiday period, Dec. 15th-Jan. 3rd, should see nearly 800,000 passengers traveling through PDX.

(PORTLAND ) - The Port of Portland expects more holiday travelers than ever this year at Portland International Airport (PDX), and has a few tips to make travel easy.

In the week surrounding Thanksgiving, an estimated 320,000 passengers will travel through PDX -- a 2 percent increase over 2005.

During the busiest forecasted holiday days -- Nov. 22nd, 26th and 27th, and Dec. 22nd and 26th-28th -- PDX will serve approximately 48,000 travelers each day, compared to the normal daily average of 38,000 this time of year.

No Plans for Thanksgiving Dinner?

To be included in this listing, email your group’s information to: newsroom@salem-news.com.

(SALEM) - Free Thanksgiving meals for the community are provided by several area businesses and organizations. Regardless of the late date, most of these groups would be very grateful for donations of food or of your time. Helping serve, wash dishes, bus tables or greeting people may be the perfect place for you to volunteer over this holiday. Call them for information.

Represented here are the cities of Salem, Keizer, Dallas, Silverton, and Stayton.

Price of Gas Won`t Stop Oregon From Hitting the Road

Gas prices average $2.49 across Oregon—about three cents higher than this time last year.

(SALEM) - Higher travel related costs will not keep families home this Thanksgiving. AAA estimates that 38.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 2.7 percent increase from last year’s 37.3 million travelers.

“Airports and highways will be busier than ever,” said AAA Oregon Senior Vice President Beth Van Horn. “Prices for hotel rooms, rental cars and airfare have increased, but that will not keep people from traveling.”