Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
In its 27th year, Breakfast with Santa continues to offer a wonderful family tradition. Community members support the annual affair, and this year’s fundraiser netted over $2,000 for the Sandy/Boring Meals-on-Wheels program. A special shout-out goes to local merchants who so generously donated prizes for the raffle–some donated cash that directly enhances the bottom line. Several members of the Senior Center, and the community in general, made cash donations as well.
Parks
One component of Bornstedt Park yet to be completed is the community garden. If successful, a HEAL grant, submitted to Clackamas County, will fund the purchase of soil for the raised beds, gravel for walkways, a storage shed, and some garden tools. Grants will be awarded in mid-January.
Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Mountain Storm is in full swing with 24 teams, including ten 3rd and 4th grade boys’ teams. We are very fortunate to have the use of school district facilities, and we are bursting at the seams. Cedar Ridge, Firwood, Kelso, Sandy Grade, Welches and Boring gyms are in use for games and practices almost every night of the week. The Pioneer Building will also be used on occasion and the new High School is the place for the end of season Jamborees.
The Wednesday Playgroup is back in full force with great leadership and lots of happy kids and their parents getting together to play and learn.
The database continues to grow, and residents seem to be accustomed to the newer electronic guide. We have been able to assist the library in promoting its programs now that there are no restrictions to the number of pages we can publish. The new city website has been very successful in helping to grow the database used to deliver the guide to resident in-boxes.
The Recreation Department will be working to evolve the guide even further to become a more comprehensive recreation and leisure resource. In addition to offering classes, the guide can help steer residents toward opportunities provided throughout the community and surrounding areas.
Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 10,915. Compared with last year, the ridership reduction averages were fairly low this month with an overall decrease of only 4%. The SAM-Gresham decreased 4.8%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had a drop in use of 3.7%; STAR had an increase of 3.3% this month; and ED ridership decreased by 32%.
The expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership was 5687 in December, an 81% increase over the same month last year. The buses were full on many runs during the holidays with new snow on the mountain.
The additional Sunday service that began in December was met favorably with increased Sunday riders. The new $5 interline “Day Pass” for SAM and Mt Hood Express (MHX) introduced in December, has also been quite popular. It allows unlimited boardings on SAM and/or MHX for the day of purchase. Passengers can go round-trip between Gresham and Mt Hood, and between ski areas, all day for only $5.
The Sandy Post featured the transit system, including coverage of the new Sunday service, the day pass, the partnership with Clackamas County (Mt Hood Express) and the 15th year anniversary celebration scheduled for January 2nd.