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The Chronicle presents the 2023

HALLOWEEN GUIDE Featuring event guides and more for Halloween in St. Helens

2023 ween o l l a H GuidIDeE

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INS

205 Brayden St. | St. Helens, OR 97051 (503) 410-5533 | Open 8am - 9pm Every Day! @StHelensGroceryOutlet

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Wednesday, October 4, 2023

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Columbia County veterans receive helping hand WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

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or the second time in as many years, the St. Helens branch of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) has gathered donations to help local veterans in need. The donations were then converted into Fred Meyers gift cards, which were gifted to veterans groups. Rebecca Pickering is the assistant manager of the St. Helens USBC chapter and is one of the fundraiser’s key organizers. Finding ways to give back to those who have served our country has always been something the USBC has prioritized. Giving back “I have been association manager since 2009. In the past, we would pass on our donations to the state USBC, most years, we would not get recognized for our donations. Then I heard about sending the donations directly to our national Bowling to Veterans Link (BVL), which I did for a couple of years. BVL has been in place since 1942,” Pickering said. “A couple of years ago, I heard from one of the other associations how they were able to bring the funds back locally, which is what we started last season. By giving the veterans a Fred Meyer gift card, they can use it for gas, food, clothing, or miscellaneous items which they may need.” Members of the St. Helens and Scappoose Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion accepted the donation at the Fred Meyer in Scappoose on Sept. 29. The donations are gathered from USBC bowlers in the local community, and the use of funds for gift

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Members of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars accept a donation from USBC’s Rebecca Pickering outside the Fred Meyer in Scappoose on Sept. 29.

cards ensures the money is spent locally. Pickering said that the highlight of the process has been to present the money back to the veterans, who ensure that the funds go to other veterans who have applied for support. “The highlight in giving back is exactly what you saw today. The local veterans truly appreciate our gesture, and they vet each person prior to giving them a gift card,” Pickering said. “Those receiving the gift cards have put them to good use. Keeping it local is a great feeling vs. sending funds to a national organization, knowing the funds are helping but don’t know the outcome

of how they helped.” Voices of the veterans Ashley Taylor is the District Commander of the VFW for District 2 in Oregon. In District 2 the VFW posts are in St. Helens and Scappoose. Taylor is also a member of the American Legion in St. Helens. Taylor helps facilitate the reception and disbursement of the funds. The fundraiser with the bowling association is to help support veterans ahead of the holidays. Veterans who need assistance apply for support with their service record and what they would use the funds for.

“I love getting involved with veteran organizations because I work in the veteran service field, so advocacy for helping veterans is my passion professionally, but also personally,” Taylor said. “It’s touching when we find veterans who are in need, and that’s what we’re here for. I always hear veterans say, ‘No, I don’t want that; it’s not for me. Give it to another veteran.’ If every veteran said that, then we would have no purpose. This is what we’re here for.” Taylor said that the donations go directly back to veterans in need, and gave an example of one of the people who was helped last year.

Taylor said that one of the recipients of aid last year was a young veteran who moved to the area and just needed a helping hand ahead of the holiday season. “Because they had relocated, they need a little hand up. And so, how awesome is that, that we’re able to help that veteran family, just with a couple extra bucks to purchase Christmas presents for their kiddos,” Taylor said. The goal of the veteran organizations is to support veterans in need, and this fundraiser is especially

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New dates for Bonamici Town Hall Meetings STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released new November dates for the Town Hall meetings previously announced in Portland, St. Helens, and Hillsboro. The new dates are necessary because changes to the schedule of the U.S. House of Representatives now require the Congresswoman to be in Washington, D.C. during the previous Town Hall dates and times. The date and times for the weekend Town Hall meetings in Seaside and Tillamook are unchanged and will go forward as scheduled on Saturday, October 7. Seaside Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 11 a.m. Bob Chisholm Community Center 1225 Avenue A, Seaside, OR 97138 Tillamook Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 3 p.m. Tillamook Bay Community College 4301 Third Street, Tillamook, OR 97141 Members of Bonamici’s staff will be at the Town Hall meetings

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Classified Ads ......... A5 Legals ..................... A6-7 Crossword ............... A7 Games and Puzzles A8 Obituaries ................. A9 Sports ..................... A10 Phone: 503-397-0116 Fax: 503-397-4093 Email: chroniclenews@ countrymedia.net 1805 Columbia Blvd., St. Helens, OR 97051

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to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with federal agencies such as the VA, Social Security Administration, or IRS. Updated: Portland Town Hall Meeting Monday, November 6, 2023 – 6 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 Updated: St. Helens Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, November 7, 2023 – 6 p.m. St. Helens Senior Center 375 S 15th St., St. Helens, OR 97051 Updated: Hillsboro Town Hall Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2023 – 6 p.m. Evergreen Middle School 456 NE Evergreen Rd., Hillsboro, OR 97124 Note: There are no changes to the October 7, 2023 Town Hall Meetings

Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici answers questions from the audience at a 2017 Town Hall meeting.

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Fill the Boot fundraiser returns WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Scappoose Fire District will be holding its annual “Fill the Boot” fundraiser for the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) at the intersection of Highway 30 and Havlik Drive, in front of Fred Meyer, on Oct. 8 from approximately 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fundraiser is part of a partnership between MDA and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), dating back to 1954 when the IAFF signed a proclamation designating MDA its charity of choice and vowing to continue raising awareness and funds until cures are found, according to Scappoose Fire District Firefighter/Paramedic Zach Ahlers. Ahlers has been helping coordinate the Fill the Boot fundraiser for more than a decade now and was inspired to get involved after seeing the impact the initiative had on local families. “I have personally been helping coordinate our Fill the Boot

fundraiser since 2008, but I know that the Fire District was involved off and on prior to me being here,” Ahlers said. “I became interested after attending one of the MDA Summer Camp programs for kids on ‘Firefighter Day’ in 2007. I got to see in person what these funds can help do for kids and families in need. I also heard that a high percentage of the funds are used to help families locally.” About MDA

MDA is the number one voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases, according to the MDA website. MDA’s mission is to lead the way in accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating for the support of our families. MDA’s mission is to empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives. Since the partnership between MDA and IAFF began in 1954, the nearly seven-decade partnership has

Courtesy photo from Zach Ahlers

Members of Scappoose Fire District during the 2022 Fill the Boot fundraiser.

raised more than $679 million with involvement from over 300,000 firefighters nationwide. These funds have led in part to over a dozen FDA-approved drugs in as many years for those with neuromuscular disease. MDA’s spirited Fill the Boot campaign is an honored tradition in which thousands of dedicated firefighters in hometowns across America hit the streets asking pedestrians, motorists, and other passersby to

make a donation to MDA. “We greatly appreciate any monetary donations during this time frame, if you can, to help support this great cause and long-standing tradition,” Ahlers said. To donate, find Scappoose Fire District representatives at the intersection of Highway 30 and Havlik Drive, in front of Fred Meyer, on Oct. 8 from approximately 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.


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