HOLIDAY HAPPENING - Illinois Valley Merchants Association (IVMA) will present “Santa’s Village” Saturday, Dec. 15 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Josephine County Bldg. in Downtown Cave Junction. Old St. Nick will be present with gifts and games, said IVMA. It has tickets for two drawings, with a portion of proceeds to be donated to the Illinois Valley Christmas Basket/Toy Program at I.V. Family Resource Center. The tickets are for a raffle of a totally decorated Yule tree, and a basket containing a complete Christmas dinner.

GOT TOYS? - With a distribution date of Saturday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., there is “a desperate need for toys,” said Celia Siemer. “We are down 50 percent from last year, and the need is greater, as well as the price of toys. We’ll be grateful for donations,” said Siemer, who is Oregon Dept. of Human Services (ODHS) case manager with an office at Illinois Valley Family Resource Center on E. River Street. She can be contacted at 592-4149, Ext. 225. All donations of toys or cash stay in Illinois Valley, she noted. Last year, the program helped 720 I.V. families. They receive a food basket from the Josephine County Christmas Basket Program, and the ODHS program provides the toys. To prepare for and implement the valley program last year, there were 26 I.V. High School volunteers and more than 30 adults from throughout the community.

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In a related matter, the I.V. Bikers Toy Run was not held this year. However, the organization donated money to CJ Cares to purchase toys for its annual Christmas morning breakfast and visit by Santa at Jubilee Park. “We hope to see you next year,” stated the Bikers spokesman, “Stinky.”

HOLIDAY DEADLINES - Firm deadlines of 5 p.m. Thursdays, Dec. 20 and 27, will be observed for Illinois Valley News because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will fall on Tuesdays. Due to printing and delivery schedules, the Dec. 26 and Jan. 3 issues must be assembled earlier than usual. So, if you want an announcement or advertisement in either of those issues, they must be in the News office by the deadlines.

RAY’S WINNERS - A number of lucky Ray’s Food Place shoppers will get their holiday presents a bit early this year due to a new holiday game that rewards customers who shop in-store and play online. In Illinois Valley, Ray’s is located in Selma. A woman identified as Helen R., of Rogue River, has won the grand prize: $20,000 toward the purchase of a new car midway through the promotion that began Oct. 31 and will continue through Dec. 25. Many other prizes remain available.

MUCHO MEXICO - Club Internacional at Illinois Valley High School appreciates the I.V. community for enabling eight students and three chaperones to enjoy eight days on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula this year. The group was comprised of BreAnna, Shaneice, and Lalani Allen; Alyssa and Cathy Burdick, Hannah Gogulski, Melissa Harland, Robert Parsons, David and Carlie Paulsen. and IVHS teacher and club adviser, Jaime Szijjarto. “We climbed Mayan ruins, including Chichén Itzá, now one of the Seven Wonders of the World; swam in the turquoise Caribbean and ancient underground cenotes (springs); sunbathed on white sandy beaches; spoke Spanish; bartered with the locals; and tried traditional cuisine,” said Szijjarto. “From fire dancers to flamingos, to swimming with dolphins, we did it all,” she said. She added, “Once in Cancún, we hooked up with other U.S. tour groups, and became known as the ‘Oregon Nature Group.’ We were the ones who hiked into caves and saw bats; found octopi in the shells and let them crawl on our hands; spotted the baby birds in the nests above our heads; and explored everywhere we went. Everyone brought back great memories, and a better understanding of the Mayan and Mexican cultures. We are ever grateful to the generous, supportive I.V. community for giving us this spectacular opportunity. With its help, we raised close to $16,000 during 1½ years. We especially appreciate Shop Smart Food Warehouse in CJ for allowing us to use its facilities, as we recycled some 150,000 cans and bottles.”

NOTEPAD - Sports awards for Illinois Valley High school fall teams will be presented during a program Wednesday night, Dec. 12 beginning at 6 in the IVHS cafetorium ... A blood drive will be held Friday, Dec. 14 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Illinois Valley Senior Center. Phone (800) 448-3543 for donor information ... A grad night party for the I.V. High School Class of 2008 will be discussed during a meeting Monday, Dec. 17 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the IVHS cafetorium. Parents of senior students and other concerned adults can attend. For more information phone Sara Ball at Bi-Rite Auto Parts, 592-3691; or Mary Paul at IVHS, 592-2116 … A Winter Concert for the community will be presented by Lorna Byrne Middle School students Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria ... T-shirts: *Caution: You are in the ‘Whatever” Zone. *Life is a Circus, and I’m Stuck in the Freak Tent. *I Am the Dog Whisperer. *I cannot comment during an ongoing investigation.

LAST WORDS - *I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. (Charles Dickens) *Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white. (Bing Crosby)

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