Video – Vida Community Center Time Capsule Recovered
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Video – Vida Community Center Time Capsule Recovered

ByTom Atkinson

As the remaining Community Center building was being demolished last Friday, Debris Management Task Force crews helped to uncover a time capsule from 1949, something long rumored to be under the building’s cornerstone. Vida McKenzie Community Center Board President Walter Wilson reached out to Kevin Finch, the ODOT On-Scene Incident Commander for the Holiday Farm…

Time Capsule From 1949 Found in Destruction of the Holiday Farm Fire
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Time Capsule From 1949 Found in Destruction of the Holiday Farm Fire

ByTom Atkinson

Source: KPIC.com LANE COUNTY, Ore. — A piece of history has been discovered in the destruction from the Holiday Farm Fire. The Vida-Mckenzie Community Center was burned in the Holiday Farm Fire, with only the concrete portions still standing. It was demolished on Friday, and residents found something long-rumored to be in the cornerstone of…

Drive-Thru Bingo Nets Over $4,000!
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Drive-Thru Bingo Nets Over $4,000!

ByTom Atkinson

Source: VidaCommunityCenter.com On July 10th Vida McKenzie Community Center held a first ever Drive-Thru Bingo event. Of the 92 participants, there were many local residents but also folks from as far away as San Francisco (this couple actually won the grand prize!) and Grants Pass. Over $4000 was raised to help rebuild the Community Center!…

Update from Vida McKenzie Community Center
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Update from Vida McKenzie Community Center

ByTom Atkinson

Source: VidaCommunityCenter.com JULY 2021 December 2020, a Preliminary Title Report on the VMCC property was prepared by Cascade Title Company. January 2021, a topographical survey of the VMCC property was completed by WJ Eimstad Co. The survey revealed that Lane County had constructed the masonry restrooms at Helfrich Landing that 100% encroached on the VMCC…

BINGO To Return on August 14th
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BINGO To Return on August 14th

ByTom Atkinson

“Bingo at the Center” will return August 14th 7:00pm, but will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Walterville. Bingo at the Vida McKenzie Community Center began in August 2003 and has continued as a family fun night for everyone since.  We are looking forward to bringing the bingo night back to our community after…

Vida McKenzie Community Center Call to Action
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Vida McKenzie Community Center Call to Action

ByTom Atkinson

Dear Valley Business Owner, As you know, among the many structures lost in the Holiday Farm Fire, Vida McKenzie Community Center burned to the ground.  The Board of Directors of VMCC intends to rebuild the Center as  a more accessible and flexible venue, transforming it into a true community hub, utilized every day for group…

One Dime at a Time – The Bottle Boys are Community Heros!
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One Dime at a Time – The Bottle Boys are Community Heros!

ByTom Atkinson

Our very own Blue River Bottle Boys have so far raised well over $10k for community organizations recovering from the Holiday Farm Fire and are still out there collecting and sorting cans and bottles. Hats off to Monty Wilson and Pete Petty for showing us how it’s done! The indomitable team was recently recognized, for…

Rebuilding the Vida McKenzie Community Center
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Rebuilding the Vida McKenzie Community Center

ByTom Atkinson

The Vida McKenzie Community Center (VMCC) was entirely destroyed by the Holiday Farm Fire that swept through the McKenzie River valley in September 2020. The total loss of the VMCC has been yet another heavy blow for the river communities, as it was a hub for many activities such as the cheerful Saturday BINGO nights,…