community news
County Cultural Coalition
Seeks Board Member
The Columbia County Cultural
Coalition, the county arm of the
Oregon Cultural Trust, seeks candidates
for its Board of Directors due to a
recent resignation. The term for this
unexpired position is two years and ends
December 31, 2013. Board members
are usually elected for three year terms,
and directors may serve additional
consecutive terms. The Coalition Board
meets monthly excluding December at
varying locations throughout the county;
currently, meetings are held the last
Monday of the month from 3 – 5 pm or
4 – 6 pm depending on meeting location.
The Columbia County Cultural
Coalition Board’s purpose is to insure
the implementation of the Columbia
County Cultural Plan through the
2011
County Courthouse Improves
Recycling Program
use of appropriate benchmarks, and
ensure that Arts, History, Heritage and
Humanities are all represented in a
way that fairly encourages county-wide
participation in cultural activities. The
Board administers an annual grant from
the Oregon Cultural Trust and solicits
applications and awards grants to
cultural organizations within the county.
Nearly $50,000 in grants has been
awarded since the Board was established
over five years ago. The Cultural Plan
and grant information may be found at
www.columbiacultural.org
If you are interested in serving
on the Cultural Coalition Board, please
send an email by November 21 to info@
columbiacultural.org or call Board
Treasurer Tobie Finzel at 503.705.2173.
Flu Vaccinations Available
Columbia County Public Health has received
flu vaccine and is giving shots at walk-in clinics on
Fridays, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM, and 1:30-4:30 PM,
except for Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day at the Public Health
clinic, 2370 Gable Road in St. Helens. No appointment
is necessary for the walk-in clinics. Appointments for
flu shots on Wednesdays can be scheduled by calling
the Public Health Foundation main number, 503-397-
4651, ext. 2003 or 2010.
The Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire District and
Public Health will host a flu-shot walk-in clinic from
10 AM to 2:30 PM on Tuesday, November 22 at the
november8
During the first week of
October 2011, the Columbia County
Courthouse and Annex implemented an
expanded recycling program intended to
capture recyclable items discarded by
employees at their desk sides. During
a waste sort analysis last August, it was
determined the Courthouse and Annex
currently recycle about 40% (by weight)
of waste generated by Courthouse
Employees. Office paper is obviously
the most common recycled item from
the Courthouse and Annex but office
paper was also the most common
item found in the trash be land filled.
Previously, employees were supplied
only garbage containers at their desk
sides. Now, employees have at their
desk side a small garbage can attached
to an 18 quart recycling container.
The Columbia County Solid Waste
Department expects the implementation
Banzer Road Fire House, 69500 Banzer Road in Mist.
The fee for vaccinations is $15, but can be
reduced on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay. The
vaccine is intended for the uninsured and underinsured.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends that people six months of age and older
should get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is also important
for people who are at higher risk of severe influenza
and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel
and close contacts of children younger than six months.
Anyone can get the flu, but rates of infection are
highest among children.
of desk side recycling to increase
recycling (by weight) with a reduction
in garbage bills as the Courthouse and
Annex generate less land fill destined
waste.
According to the DEQ, in
2010 Columbia County businesses
and residents recycled nearly 38% of
discarded materials, by weight. By
implementing the desk side recycling at
the Courthouse and Annex, Columbia
County hopes to lead increased
recycling practices by local businesses
and residents.
If your business would be
interested in improving your recycling
program to potentially reduce your
garbage bill, contact the Columbia
County Solid Waste Coordinator, Roy
Weedman, at 503.397.7263 or roy.
weedman@co.columbia.or.us for more
information or to scheduled a site visit.
Young children, people age 65 and older, pregnant
women and people with certain health conditions or a
weakened immune system can get much sicker.
Those who are vaccinated are protected, and
also may avoid spreading influenza to others.
More information is available from the CDC
website, www.cdc.gov/flu. Anyone with questions
about whether or not they should be vaccinated should
contact their physicians.
News from P.E.O.
The Vernonia Chapter of P.E.O.
has been busy this year. Living up to
their mission, several scholarships have
been granted to local women including:
a grant to a VHS graduating Senior,
Rachel Brown, who is now attending
Corban College in Salem, studying
History; Shawna Naeve, studying to be
a Veterinarian Technician; and Kelly
Martinez, studying Education, and doing
her practice teaching in Vernonia. Kelly
and Shawna are both doing most, if not
all, of their course work online.
The Chapter is gearing up
for the Christmas Bazaar, and will be
selling wreaths, an ongoing project for
more than 15 years. They are being
sold on a pre-order basis, and orders
are being taken now—contact Mary
Tolonen (Ph: 503-429-4814 or 503-429-
7214) or Katie Poetter (503-429-0700).
Wreaths will also be available at the
Bazaar. The price this year remains the
same as previous years--$18.00 for a 20-
inch fresh and fragrant wreath. All of
the proceeds go toward helping women
attain their education goals.
At a recent meeting it was decided
to honor the chapter’s longest-standing
member, Claudine East. Claudine has
remained committed and active in the
local chapter for fifty years. It was her
wish that, in lieu of the traditional pin
awarded fifty-year members, the money
be used for scholarships; a donation will
be made to the Marguerite Scholarship
fund in her name. The Marguerite Fund
awards scholarships to Oregon women
who will be attending Oregon Schools.
Congratulations, Claudine!
Why not pay off your mortgage before
he heads off to college?
PEACE
Patterson Ceramics
Holiday Pottery Sale
Hosted by Grey Dawn Gallery
879 Bridge Street, Vernonia
All Community
Thanksgiving Dinner
at Vernonia Community
Church Gym
November 24th, 1-4 PM
We will provide Thanksgiving
dinner (turkey or ham) at no cost.
Everyone is welcome!
If you would like to be a part of these
festivities, donations and volunteers
will be gratefully accepted. Please
contact Cathy at 503-429-8033 or
Dennis at 503-429-0335.
U.S. BANK
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Smart Refinance is only one of many mortgage refinance options that U.S. Bank offers.
Make a smart move and contact your local branch, usbank.com, or call 888-444-BANK
to discuss all of your refinancing options.
Vernonia Branch
905 Bridge Street
503-429-6271
usbank.com | 888-444-BANK (2265)
*4.25% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available for 15-year first position home equity installment loans $40,000 to $250,000 with loan-to-value of 70% or less or 80% or less depending on market. U.S. Bank Package required. Higher
rates apply for higher LTV or other loan amount. Automatic payments required. Loan payment example: on a $40,000 loan for 180 months at 4.25% interest rate, monthly payments would be $300.91. No customer paid closing costs,
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loans and lines of credit are offered through U.S. Bank National Association ND. ©2011 U.S. Bancorp, U.S. Bank. Member FDIC
5
November 25th & 26th, 10am-5pm
November 27th, Noon to 5pm
December 3rd 10am-5pm
December 4th noon to 5pm