Marie Mills Spring 2006 News...  

A Very Social Time of the Year...

It was a very busy fall and winter season at Marie Mills Center. In late October the Annual Marie Mills Center and Tillamook Association for Retarded Citizens (TARC) Halloween Party and Dance was held at the Swiss Hall and as always was open to the community.

The admission price was canned food which was donated to the Tillamook Food Bank. Marie Mills Center has raised an estimated 3,000 pounds of canned food through this event over the past 20 years. This year's party proved to be very enjoyable for everyone with excellent food and live music provided by Sable McMahon “One Track Mind”.

Also in October, the Marie Mills Center and Marie Mills Foundation held their annual Open House. This year’s event was again done in combination with a Tillamook Chamber of Commerce Business “After Hours” event.

At the Open House, the efforts and longevity of employees meeting mile stones were recognized with certificates and plaques. Staff recognized were Bill Baker (Transportation and Maintenance for 10 years); Richard Biggs (Employment Specialist also reaching the 10 year mark); and Judy Lewis (Semi Independent Living Program Coordinator who reached the 20 year milestone). Programs such as Marie Mills Center could not exist without individuals like these and again we thank all of them for their dedication and hard work over the years. We also thank all of the other dedicated staff at Marie Mills Center.

Also at the Open House, special recognition was given to Kareen Armstrong (1919 to 2004), who was a dedicated individual who volunteered for many years at the Kit and Caboodle Thrift Store, and who was a staunch advocate of programs for the disabled. At the Open House a plaque was presented to Ed Armstrong, husband of this wonderful individual in recognition of her past efforts towards those with disabilities. Also a memorial donation of $2,000 was made to the Marie Mills Foundation by TARC in memory of Kareen.

A wonderful opportunity arose this fall that was almost too good to be true. Stan and Cindi Strange of Softlight Photography offered their services to the Center, donating professional portrait services and portraits. Stan set up a portable studio at our Front Street Building on two different occasions so that many who had never had this kind of opportunity before could have a portrait that they and their families can cherish for many years to come.

After these fall activities came to a close the Christmas Season quickly was upon us and everyone was busy engaging in activities in preparation for a busy Christmas Season. Our Annual Christmas Party was held at the Swiss Hall which included a ham dinner, gift exchanges, with Santa Clause (Jared Armitage) passing out gifts to all. The Christmas Party was enjoyed by approximately 100 people.

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Marie Mills Center & Foundation Website

A goal of Marie Mills Center and the Marie Mills Foundation was the creation of a joint website to highlight Marie Mills Center programs and the Foundation. It was felt that this would provide an excellent opportunity for outreach to our supports through information about our services and programs for the developmentally disabled. The website has a page devoted to current and past Marie Mills Center Newsletters (which you are viewing now).

To find out more, go to our website at www.mariemillscenter.com/news.htm.

Grants & Contributions for Projects

Recently Marie Mills Center was a recipient of capital grants through the Oregon Public Transit Division. The first grant will enable us to purchase tokens from the Tillamook County Transportation District for use by developmentally disabled persons. Another grant will aid in meeting vehicle maintenance costs. And the final grant will help us purchase a new van for use in our residential program. These Grants totaling $62,000 will be most welcomed and will be put to good use.

A grant from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund ($1,750), along with donations by the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Women ($200), and Tillamook Association for Retarded Citizens ($730) will help with the purchase of a heavy duty industrial style document shredder which will cost $3,200. Confidential document destruction is an in-house service provided by disabled workers at Marie Mills Center available to the public, call for more information. 

The Marie Mills Foundation News

The Marie Mills Foundation conducted its annual appeal to supporters raising $10,000 in contributions. The goal of the Foundation is to generate interest and financial support for the Marie Mills Center Programs.

We wish to thank the following individuals for their support in this year's appeal: Tom & Betty Waud, Steve & Linda Darling, Tillamook Association for Retarded Citizens (in memory of Kareen Armstrong), Dave Gobel—K&R Business Park, John & Shirley Powers, Nancy & Richard Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Edward Haye, Allen Mushen, Paul & Susan Adcock, Tillamook Kiwanis Club, Dave & Claudia Efurd, Anne Seeger (appeal & in memory of Francis Smouse), David & Mary DeCook, Mr. & Mrs. Kiser, Harry & Linda Backeberg, Brian & Billie Hines, Sheldon Oil, Roy & Claire Peterson (appeal and also in memory of Francis Smouse), Martin Ripley, Thomas Lindseth, Richard Rivers (in memory of Marion Rivers), the Nehalem Bay Methodist Church Men's Club, TLC Credit Union, Wayne & Kathy Jacobsen, Carolyn Keen (in memory of Paul Keen), Burden's Muffler and Towing, Stimson Lumber Company, Linda & Larry Beyer, Henry & Margaret Beard, Albright and Kittel, TCCA, Ed & Wilma Meyers, Dr. Robert & Susan Stewart, Karen & Fred Jones (in memory of Bob Berkey), James & Helga Garling (in memory of Bob Berkey), Walt & Marilyn Rigterink, Alice & Frants Poulsen, Elise Bigelow (in memory of Bob Berkey), Brad & Bea Barclay (in memory of Bob Berkey), Lyle & Sybil Specht (in memory of Bob Berkey), Grace Forster (in memory of Bob Berkey), Ken and Susan Tannler (in memory of Bob Berkey), Christian and Vera Heil (in memory of Bob Berkey), Patsy Rinehart, Ed Armstrong, Pacific Campground and RV Park, Gloria Slusser, Vince & Louise Bogard, Walt & Jean Pendergrass, John & Carol Steele, Evelyn Milner (in memory of Bob Berkey), Patricia & John Holt (in memory of Bob Berkey), Dennis & Karol Wagner (in memory of Bob Berkey), Darryl & Jill Carter, Dick & LeAnn Spence, Bob & Elva Weeks, Steve & Mary Batey (in memory of Bob Berkey), Jennifer & Bryan Guarcello (in memory of Bob Berkey), Johnny & Susan Dietrich (in memory of Bob Berkey), Colleen Spence (in memory of Bob Berkey), Dorothy Bateman, Bill & Geri Berg, Shalley & Trevor Burkholder, Orella Chadwick (in memory of Bob Berkey), Maud Eastwood (in memory of Francis Smouse), Sharon & Jim Buck (in memory of Francis Smouse), Orella Chadwick (in memory of Francis Smouse), Hampton Affiliates, Lorance & Jeanna Stephens (in memory of Francis Smouse), Laurel & Tracy Smouse (in memory of Francis Smouse), Stanley & Marie Hasbrouck (in memory of Francis Smouse), Don & Pat Kehr (in memory of Francis Smouse), Denise & Richard Steel (in memory of Francis Smouse).

Thank you one and all for your kindness and contributions to the Foundation.If you would like to find out more about the Marie Mills Foundation, please contract Ron Rush at the Marie Mills Center (503)842-2539 ext 12. 

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!

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Front Street Facility Heat and Air Revamp

In the fall of 2005, just in time for a very cold winter season, we had the east end of our Front Street Facility's Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System upgraded to make the system more efficient. The old system was not adequate for the current needs of the facility. Everyone is now working in an atmosphere that is much more comfortable than before. In the next year we hope to complete the remaining portion of this project by having the system on the west end of the building upgraded. A number of years ago Marie Mills Center established a facility maintenance reserve fund to meet the costs of larger maintenance projects such as this.

MMCI Logo / Sign Project

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Upcoming Events

Important People at Marie Mills

Employees of the Month for 2005/2006

Loretta L. - July	Dawn B. - August	Frank F. - Sept.
Michael O. - Oct.	Candy T. - Nov.	Ray S. - Dec.
Barry M. - Jan.	Sherry A. - Feb.	Deanna W. - March

Jared Armitage was named as MMCI's Transportation Coordinator / Maintenance Man in late December 2005. Jared formerly served as Lead Job Coach in the MMCI Janitorial Program.

Congratulations to Jaime and Hondo Hahn on the birth of their daughter Aubrey.  Jaime works in our Residential Program.

Congratulations to Flora & Manuel-Rico on the birth of their son Diego. Flora works in our Residential Program.

Congratulations to Misty and Chuck Gregory on the birth of their daughter Kira. Misty is the Lead Supervisor for MMCI's crew at the Tillamook Country Smoker.

We invite you to tour Marie Mills Center. You will meet our clients at work and see our programs in action. Call Ron Rush at (503) 842-2539 ext. 12 for more information!

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