Tillamook and Bay City volunteer firefighters collect toys for 300 local children
Chelsea Yarnell • January 1, 2026
Sometimes, Santa needs a little extra help and this year Tillamook and Bay City volunteer firefighters were ready to pitch in.
At their Santa’s Toy Bag event hosted at Fred Meyer on December 6, the group of volunteer firefighters were able to collect enough toys (or cash to purchase toys) for 300 local children within 155 families in Tillamook County.
“To collect all those gift cards and toys in four hours was a great success,” Bay City Fire Chief Alan Christensen said. “This program gives back to the community every single year with the toys being dispersed to families in our communities.”
Tillamook County Creamery Association was a major contributor to the collection event, purchasing toys and gift cards.
All toy donations and gift cards were transferred to CARE’s Christmas Basket Program for distribution.
Special thanks to Susie Johnson, Rebecca Dougherty, and Judy Gollon for their coordination of the event, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church for providing storage and space for toy sorting.
Ready to dig deeper into gardening and give back to your community? The Oregon State University Extension Service in Tillamook County welcomes everyone interested in participating in the 2026 Master Gardener Training, running January 8 th to April 2 nd , 2026. The Master Gardener Training will take place weekly on Thursdays from 9 am to 3 pm in-person at 4506 3 rd Street, Tillamook, Oregon 97141 in OSU Extension Service room 105 with a few classes on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm at North County Recreation District, Nehalem, OR. The Master Gardener training will feature weekly in person classes exploring different topics, engage in hands-on activities as conditions allow and connect with other continuing Master Gardeners. This thirteen-week in-person training will be available for $150. Registration is open now and will close on January 5 th , 2026. Becoming a certified OSU Master Gardener™ also includes a volunteer component. Participants are expected to complete 40 hours of approved volunteer service during 2026 , helping share research-based gardening knowledge throughout Tillamook County. The breakdown of approved volunteer hours is listed on the Extension Page: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/tillamook Ready to grow your skills and your community impact? Apply online at https://beav.es/4MJ or call 503-842-3433 for more information.
Law enforcement personnel from the City of Tillamook Police Department (TPD), Manzanita Police Department, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), United States Coast Guard, US Forrest Service & Oregon State Police participated in the 21st Annual “Shop with a Cop” event on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 7am-11 am. The Tillamook Fred Meyer generously provides breakfast snacks for the children, volunteers, and Officers. This year a $200 gift card will be given to each child to purchase gifts for themselves and their family. Many of the Officer’s dig into their own pockets to ensure the children are provided with something their heart is set on, that exceeds the amount donated to them. These children were selected by a committee through referrals. This committee is comprised of Tillamook School District staff, DHS representatives, TCSO, TPD and Tides of Change Staff. Shop with a Cop gives children an opportunity to see law enforcement Officers in a different light building those everlasting relationships, many times just the look of joy on the children's faces means the world to the officers helping them. This program is supported entirely by donations; financial contributions are collected year-round. TPD would like to thank the Tillamook County community & Friends of Tillamook Police for the money raised to make the event a success. If you are interested in supporting this event, please make a check out to; “The Friends of Tillamook Police” or go to the website at www.friendsoftillamookpolice.org and click on the donate button. You can send or drop off a donation to the Tillamook Police Department at, 207 Madrona Avenue, Tillamook, OR 97141 For questions, please contact Chief Nick Troxel with the Tillamook Police Department.
Eat local this Thanksgiving!
This celebration is bound to be crumb-licious! For the second year in a row, a fun-filled, family Christmas event with holiday themed activities, food, and music will be hosted at Twin Rocks Friends Camp on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Gingerbread House Party is an open invitation to the community to come partake in the merriment and visit the Twin Rocks campus. “Last year we had 400 guests, it was a really great event that brought the community together. So, we wanted to recreate and grow upon it,” Twin Rocks Development Director Liz Seume said. “This year we’ve expanded our stained glass painting activity, added ornament making, are hosting a modern day nativity play, and have a snow globe photo opportunity.” Entry to the event is free with happenings located inside many of the camp’s buildings. “This is a great time for the community to visit the campus and get to know our organization a bit better,” Seume said.
While many still have turkey dinners on the mind, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is gearing up for a tree-mendous time that you won’t want to miss. The 21st annual Festival of Trees fundraiser returns this December with an expanded schedule to allow for even more people to enjoy the magic of the season. Festival of Trees includes four events: three, free community celebrations and the traditional Festival Fundraiser Gala and Silent Auction. “We’re delighted to expand beyond our usual one-night event to create a month-long Christmas celebration to bring together our community and supporters,” Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Director Peyton Tracy said.
Orange you glad it’s Halloween time? This October, the Tillamook Revitalization Association (TRA) will host their annual downtown Tillamook Halloween decorating contest. Businesses are invited to dress up there windows, doorways, or front entrances for the spookiest time of the year.
The flagship steam locomotive for Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR), McCloud River Railroad #25, just turned 100 years old this September. To celebrate, OCSR hosted a weekend-long event (Sept. 20-21) with special excursions including a stopover in Wheeler. “This run’s been exciting because we’ve gone all the way from Garibaldi to Wheeler which is something we don’t normally do. Typically, we only run trips from Rockaway Beach to Wheeler or Rockaway Beach to Garibaldi, but not the entire length of the service railroad to Wheeler,” OCSR Operations Supervisor and General Manager Trevor Park said. “We brought people up here not only to celebrate the #25’s 100th birthday, but also to bring business to Wheeler as we’ll be running up here every single weekend [soon]” The specialty ride from Garibaldi to Wheeler, brought out 200 passengers.
First it was a fishing settlement. Then a farming and camping area. And now today, a vibrant community on the rural Oregon Coast. The evolution of Neskowin is captured through historic photos in The Neskowin Historical Foundation’s first ever book: “Neskowin: A Book of Found Photos 1880-1970.” The 300+ page, hardback coffee table book takes readers on a visual journey through time featuring photographs of the area’s iconic landscapes such as Proposal Rock and the mysterious Ghost Forest, as well as portraits of the town’s pioneering families.
A lot has changed since the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum’s (TCPM) founding in 1935. New history, exhibits, and staff. But something remains the same: TCPM’s commitment to preserving the history of Tillamook County. As TCPM looks to the future, they’re asking the community to be a part of the process. “The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Board is deeply committed to ensuring the museum grows alongside our community,” TCPM Board of Directors President Ryan Weber said. “We envision the museum as a vibrant gathering place where neighbors, families, and visitors can come together to connect with the history of our county in meaningful ways.” TCPM is currently developing a five-year strategic plan to help guide the future of the museum. “By embracing museum best practices and creating experiences that are both accessible and relevant to today, we aim to honor the past while inspiring the future,” Weber said. “These are the very reasons we are undertaking a five-year strategic planning process. We want to chart a thoughtful path forward that reflects our community’s voice and ensures the museum remains a place of pride for generations to come.” The public is invited to participate in a community survey about TCPM. The survey can be found at: surveymonkey.com/r/TCPM2025 About the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Founded in 1935 by Tillamook Oregon pioneers, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum offers 19 display areas that focus on the history of the North Oregon Coast. The museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the Cultural Heritage of the North Oregon Coast and to foster appreciation and respect of the North Oregon Coast's environment. The current collection includes 55,000 items and 20,000 photographs ranging from prehistoric specimens to modern-day. The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, and free for children under the age of 10. The research library can be accessed by appointment only.
