Ministerial Alliance doing good
We can be thankful all year long, but at this time of year we traditionally pause to give thanks for a host of good things in the lives of our families and communities.
At the November meeting of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Alliance reported what they are doing on behalf of those who are less fortunate.
I was impressed by the programs they have in place to give a hand up-not a handout-to those in need. They are not just interested in supplying a bandage, but offer counseling to help with long-term solutions to people's problems.
Sunday is Hillsboro's annual community Thanksgiving program at the high school gymnasium. The event is hosted by the ministerial alliance. We have a chance to help them with their important mission by donating cash and food. A portion of the proceeds from the recent and successful Marion County Toy Run also goes toward the work the ministerial alliance.
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I took a copy of "Hillsboro's Heritage," the new pictorial book, to my mom recently. Seeing the photos taken from the top of the original Salem Hospital about the time it was built triggered the following memory.
She was working as a nurse in that building around 1955, the year we moved to Hillsboro. She said shortly after we got here, the new hospital was finished and the work was moved the present Hillsboro Community Medical Center at 710 S. Main.
At the time, one patient was so ill that he could not be moved. So my mom stayed behind and took care of him in the building that is now home to Main Street Ministries.
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If you like to watch just plain whacky television, I recommend "The Red Green Show" on PBS.
Red was building an energy-efficient vehicle the other night using a golf cart for the chassis. He had an electric motor going to one wheel and a gas engine powering the other. He always uses large quantities of duct tape to keep things together.
The headlights were solar powered, which would only make sense if you needed headlights when the sun was shining. It took me a little while to catch his drift on that one. It's kind of like vacuum cleaners that have lights on them so you can see what you are doing if the power goes off.
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I thought it would make sense to give a Web site tip of the week because there is so much handy information available. Since it is getting colder and the furnace actually comes on these days, here is one for energy saving ideas: www.dulley.com
You might consider a "Smart Thermostat," which gives heat when you need it and turns the thermostat down during the night when you don't.
