There was a small article in The Daily Astorian on Thursday, Dec. 13th, stating that the Astoria High School’s senior class was doing a “Winter Week’ project. They would assist any resident needing help cleaning and/or removing woody debris left by the big storm. I contacted the school Friday morning, and was told that some one would return my call to set up an appointment. Within one hour my phone rang and a delightful young lady, Sarah Cullen, questioned me about what needed to be done and that she and her team would arrive Saturday the 15th at 12:00.

Sarah called again on Saturday, this time to apologize for the fact that she and her team were running late and it might be an hour or so before they would arrive to do the clean up for the neighbors and me. However, within 45 minutes two truck and five or six seniors arrived. Sarah came to the door to introduce herself while the others started working. They were a great group of hard working, polite, happy kids who were having fun doing something to help others. What a joy to hear their laughter as the raked, gathered, and hauled limbs, branches, leaves, etc., and filled up the back of their pick-up trucks. Using their own gas, time and effort they took many loads of debris to the transfer station.

After some two and a half hours, some of it in the rain, Sarah came to the door to report that they had finished and hoped their work was satisfactory. They would take no compensation for their work. Sarah said, “We just wanted to do this.’ All that the kids wanted was a thank you and to know that they had been of help to others.

We all can be extremely proud of these seniors. They showed us what they young people of Astoria are made of. They are to be recognized and complemented for a job well done.

Hurrah to the seniors of 2008!! The “Winter Week” project was a success, and a big, big, thank you to Sarah Cullen and her team who certainly know how to step forward when needed.