Philomath’s Holiday Cheer program is reaching more families than ever this year, Philomath Community Services reports.
Sharon Thornberry, executive director, said 78 families and more than 220 children are benefitting from the program. That compares to last year’s numbers of 68 families and 168 children.
“The community has been extremely generous in its support of the program both through sponsoring kids and financial contributions,” Thornberry said.
The program helps families and individuals who need assistance during the holiday season with gifts for children under age 18, food vouchers and hygiene baskets. Decorations and wrapping paper are even provided.
Distribution of the baskets, gifts and vouchers occurred on Friday.
From what I could find, Holiday Cheer appears to date back to the late 1990s as an official program under Philomath Community Services, which was established as a nonprofit in December 1991. It should be noted, however, that there were predecessors in place that also helped families in need during the holiday season.
In the early 1980s, for example, the Philomath Food Bank was distributing holiday food boxes. Those were back in the days when Nancy Flegal — a woman who was in her early 80s at the time — was heading up the operation.
A longstanding tradition appears to be the involvement of local high school students. On Dec. 8, several Philomath High students were contributing to the effort by wrapping presents.
2. Last time to see Pastega lights
A holiday tradition that dates back to 1981 is in its final couple of weeks — as in, this will be the last year that you can view it. The Pastega Christmas Light Display at the Benton County Fairgrounds will remain in place until Dec. 31 with open hours each evening from 5-10 p.m.
Mario Pastega established the event with lights and Christmas scenes in 1981 outside of the PepsiCola Bottling plant in Corvallis. Over the years, more characters and scenes were added and community members began to contribute their displays. It moved to the fairgrounds in 2013 after the Pastega family sold the bottling plant.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 vehicles drive through the display each year. Our own family has gone through several times — including up to three times in one visit since it delights the kids so much.
Mario’s son, Ken Pastega, alongside Mike Stobridge and Dana Strobridge, has been at the helm of the light display for a decade.
Tomi Douglas, Benton County Natural Areas and Parks director, took a moment recently to express gratitude for Ken Pastega and the volunteers who worked to keep the tradition intact.
“The work that Ken and the team have done to keep this tradition alive throughout the years is amazing and we know this won’t be the end of holiday traditions in Benton County,” Douglas said.
Douglas presented Pastega, 77, with an honorary key to the fairgrounds.
Said Pastega, “The enjoyment is seeing the kids go through and the adults saying I’ve gone through it every year.”
There has never been an admission charge to drive through the display but the event does encourage visitors to donate canned food. Over the years, 70,000-plus pounds of canned goods have been donated to local food pantries.
3. Philomath’s latest population estimate
Portland State University’s Population Research Center released its latest estimates last month with population gains slowing a bit in the Mid-Willamette Valley. The trend of slow growth in this part of the state could specifically be seen in Philomath, based on July 1 estimates.
The latest preliminary population estimate for Philomath came in at 5,801 — that number is only 12 people more than the 2022 estimate of 5,789. The federal census in 2020 counted 5,350 people in Philomath.
The population numbers are used by the state to share proceeds from liquor sales, tobacco taxes and other sources with cities and counties. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis uses the numbers as part of its preparation of the state’s quarterly economic and revenue forecasts. The estimates were expected to be certified Dec. 15.
For all of Oregon, the population was estimated at 4,290,225 — up from the 2022 estimate of 4,267,598. Across the state, 26 of Oregon’s 36 counties gained people in 2023. In Benton County, the population estimate was up 2,600.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
