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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2009)
12 community december 2009 Darrold Mushatt Gains Hope Darrold Mushatt is the Vernonia man that local friends and the community have been helping in his quest to raise enough money so he can receive a life-saving kid- ney transplant. M u s h a t t , who, at age thirty- two, is in the end stages of renal fail- ure, recently found out that a match has been located. “This means the transplant can happen as soon as I raise the rest of the funds needed,” said Mushatt, who is required to have $8,000 of his own money for costs not covered by insurance before he can receive the transplant. The donor that has been found is a local person. “She is an awesome and brave woman,” says Mushatt. Mushatt says he doesn’t know all the details of what a po- tential donor goes through. “I know they tested her to see if the blood type was the same and then to see if the cells around the kidney are the same or similar. And then they want to make sure she is healthy enough to give a kidney.” Mushatt grew up in Vernonia and spent five years serving in the US Army. He and his wife Teresa are the parents of two boys and two girls. As far as fundraising, Mushatt says it’s going well. “The cans around town are really help- ing,” he says. “You wouldn’t be- lieve how fast twenty cents can add up. There have been many people who have gone to Wauna Federal Credit Union and deposited funds into the account we have there. I also have had several raffles and have received a great response to them. And we will be set up at the Christmas Bazaar, selling raffle tickets for two afghans, a one-hour massage, and some home decor. I invite everyone to check it out.” Mushatt, who has been traveling three times a week to receive dialysis treatments, now sees the possibility of a permanent solution to his problem. “I would like to thank this community for helping me out,” he said. OSU Master Gardener™ Class in Vernonia After twenty-one years of having the Oregon State University Master Gardener™ classes in St. Helens, this year’s classes will be held in Vernonia. Some enthusiastic Vernonia area Master Gardener graduates and community volunteers collected a list of about thirty people who were interested in classes. Exact details (location, day and time, etc.) are still to be worked out, but there will be about 10 class days with at least four teaching hours on each day. Class- es will start later (most likely early March) to avoid the worst weather and will go through early May. Payback projects (an obligation for all Master Gar- deners™) will be focused in the Vernonia area and nearby communities. If you signed the list that cir- culated this summer in Vernonia, we will be in touch with you. If you didn’t sign that list (or aren’t sure) and are interested in the Vernonia program, please call the OSU Columbia County Extension Service office at 503 397-3462, or Heather Lewis in Vernonia at 503 429-4677 to get more information and to get on the mailing/email list. Opportunities to Share During This Season Vernonia Cares Food Bank (VCFB) is prepar- ing holiday food boxes for those who are unable to purchase the groceries needed to prepare a Christmas meal. Registration for these special food boxes ends December 8, 2009, to allow staff to buy the grocer- ies. A simple registration application can be filled out at Vernonia Cares during their regular business hours (Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM). VCFB is located within the American Legion Building at 627 Adams Avenue, near West Oregon Electric. Questions pertaining to registration can be directed to Barb or Sandy by calling 503-429-1414 during regular busi- ness hours. Registration is required to be eligible for the holiday food box. Donors who wish to contribute to this holi- day fund have a few easy ways to do so. Financial donations may be sent directly to Vernonia Cares Food Bank, P.O. Box 126, Vernonia, OR 97064. A “holiday” notation on the check memo line will direct the funds to the holiday box project; otherwise, it will go into the general budget to supply the emergency food boxes and support services given through the year. VCFB serves about 400 people per month, every month, with approximately three days’ worth of emergency grocer- ies. Statistics show that VCFB assists all ages. For- ty-five percent of the clients are children or senior citizens. A second way to donate funds to Vernonia Cares is to participate in the Caring Tree Project. Gifts, of any amount, may be given in honor of or in memory of someone. Then that person’s name is added to a list which will be placed beside the Christ- mas tree. The tree and list will be on display during the month of December at the Vernonia Learning Center. Each donation adds an ornament on the tree. “Let’s decorate this tree with numerous ornaments,” suggests project director Josette Mitchell. “The tree can go from bare to beautiful in just one month and it’s fun to see its progress,” Ms. Mitchell adds. If people would like to sponsor a holiday food box and pay for it through checkstand giving at Verno- nia Sentry Market, donors may ask a cashier to assist them in that process. Suggested donation amount for a box is $20. Food donations may be brought to Vernonia Cares Food Bank during its regular hours as listed above. Typical holiday foods, high protein foods, and paper products are especially appreciated at this time. “A Tradition of Noels” A Concert by Columbia Chorale of Oregon Seasonal Music From Around the World Artistic Director: Tuesday Rupp Saturday December 12th, 7:30 pm Milwaukie Presbyterian Church Sunday December 13th, 3:00 pm Olmsheid Auditorium, St.Helens H.S. Tickets: Adults $10.00, Students and Seniors $5.00 Available at: St. Helens Book Store, Houlton Bakery, Flowers ‘N’ Fluff Senior Center Activities For December 2009 Vernonia Cares Donations: A Christmas collection box is available. Drop off your canned goods during business hours. Connie’s Fabulous Breakfasts: Fabulous breakfasts are available to the public on Fridays for a cost of only $3. The event happens at the Senior Center (446 Bridge Street) from 7:00 to 9:00 AM each Friday. Meal price includes a beverage, too. Enter through the side, parking lot door. What a deal! Week Day Lunches: The Vernonia Senior Center of- fers nutritious and tasty lunches each weekday for only $3. These are available to the public, not just Senior Citizens. (Mealtime is noon; late arrivals may not be served.) You can reserve your lunch by calling by 11:15 AM, or further in advance if possible, to assist the cooks as they prepare the day’s meals. Maple Bars available locally! Connie King, the cook at the Senior Center, is making maple bars each day. The maple bars are available to the public, too, and only cost $1 each. Availability is subject to quantity on hand. You can assure yourself of a good supply by pre-ordering them directly from Connie by calling the Senior Center (503-429-3912) any week day, from 7:00 AM-3:00 PM. Please allow one day lead time for larger orders. The Center’s front door opens at 9:00, but the side parking lot door opens at 7:00. Ah, sweet treats! Thrift Store: Bargain prices can be found in Vernonia’s Senior Center in their Thrift Store. The retail store is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The Thrift Store provides funds for he Senior Cen- ter’s facility and its many activities. Donations can also be dropped off during those same hours, and donated clothes need to be clean and in good condition so they are “sales ready”. Buy locally and support your local Senior Center. Drop-offs only during store hours, please. Membership Dues: Another way to support Verno- nia’s Senior Center is to pay the $10 annual member- ship dues. Checks may be mailed or dropped off at the Senior Center. The pantry shelves are getting low and each food dona- tion helps tremendously. “We’re noticing greater need and even basic foods liked canned vegetables are be- coming depleted,” comments VCFB president Rosie McCoy. “Although it’s a very busy time of the year,” comments Sandy Welch, Director of Vernonia Cares Food Bank, “I think this is one of the most rewarding times, too. There’s a great deal of planning by many people to make this holiday project available and it can only happen as donors give. The holiday food box is a stand-alone project. No general funds are used to pur- chase the groceries, only designated holiday funds. But when you see the appreciation and joy (and sometimes even tears) on the recipients’ faces, you realize it’s been worth all the work! After all, what’s Christmas without at least a special meal together?” says Ms. Welch. SATURDAY Saturday December 12th April 12th Texas Hold 'Em Tournament AT the Buckhorn Restaurant Registration Tournamant play play starts starts at at 6pm 6pm Registration at at 5:30pm, 5:30pm, Tournamant 50% Local Charities. Charities. 50% of of fees go to Local $40 buy-in with $20 re-buy. 35 Player Limit - Sign-up Now! Cash Card Prize Payouts! To information contact: contact: To register register or or for more information George Tice Tice 429-3751 or George or Aaron Aaron Miller Miller 429-6049. 429-6049. Presented by the Vernonia Lions Club