free
february14 2012
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
volume6 issue 3
Verdura Family Wellness Made in Vernonia Opens Storefront
Ready to Open Clinic in on Bridge Street
Vernonia
Verdura Family Wellness
will open the doors at their new
location in Vernonia on February
20, 2012.
The medial clinic, under
the direction of Dr. Bryan Miller,
will be open to see patients
Mondays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00
PM.
The Vernonia community
is invited to an Open House on
Saturday February 18 from 9:30
AM to 12:00 PM where they
can meet the staff and providers
of Verdura Family Wellness, as
well as fill out patient registration
forms. Registration forms will
also be available at the Vernonia
Pharmacy and at West Oregon
Electric Co-op office.
Prospective patients can
also read more about the Verdura
providers and practice philosophy,
print patient registration forms
through their Patient Portal,
and view accepted insurance
carriers at their website—www.
verdurafamilywellness,com
According to Clinic
Manager Sara Miller, Verdura
Family Wellness has expanded
their staff to include Physician
Assistant Albert Rodriguez, who
will work at the Vernonia Clinic.
“He graduated from Pacific
University in 2008,” says Sara
Miller. “The majority of his
work has been in Orthopedics,
so he brings that background
into our family practice office.”
Rodriguez lives in Forest Grove.
Miller also confirmed
that Verdura has hired several
Vernonia area residents for their
staff, including Medical Assistant
Jessica
McLaughlin,
who
previously worked at Tuality, and
receptionist Tonia Clark.
Sara Miller says Dr.
Miller will be in the Vernonia
clinic a few days per month.
She also confirmed that
Verdura is exploring options
to provide several ancillary
services, including a mental
health counselor, and a physical
therapist.
Verdura Family Wellness
currently operates a Family
Practice clinic in Hillsboro.
Dr. Bryan Miller received his
medical degree from Western
University of Health Sciences
College of Osteopathic Medicine
and is board certified in Family
Practice by the American College
of Osteopathic Family Practice.
Verdura Family Wellness is
located at 510 Bridge Street in
Vernonia. Their phone number is
503-429-0300.
inside
10
local
artist
11
mat
pack
12
vhs
sports
“Made In Vernonia,” a new business
that opened last fall right in time for the holi-
day shopping season has moved to a new and
more visible location at 805 Bridge Street.
The store, an outlet for all kinds of
handmade gifts, art and other items, is being
managed by Kathy Larsen. On February 4 th ,
Kathy Larsen has expanded the Made in
Vernonia store and moved to 805 Bridge St.
Larsen held a grand opening party to celebrate
Made in Vernonia’s move to their new loca-
tion.
“The turnout for the grand opening
was incredible,” says Larsen. “It was non-
stop and all positive. People are so excited to
have the store here. They are amazed at all the
things they can find here and at all the talent
we have here in Vernonia.”
The shop feature items on sale by
consignment and will be open Tuesday,
Thursday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00
PM and Sunday 12:00 to 4:00 PM.
Larsen managed the Vernonia Open
Air Market last summer and saw an opportuni-
ty to give local crafters, artists and other entre-
preneurs a place to display and sell their wares
through the holidays. The original space on
Madison Avenue was very successful during
the two months it was open, so Larsen decided
to take the leap and try a larger space right on
Bridge Street.
“The first location was just a test to
see what could happen,” says Larsen. “And
the response was really just overwhelming
and I could tell there was a need for the store.”
Larsen feels somewhat fortunate she
was able to secure such a prime location at
the corner of Bridge and Jefferson Streets.
continued on page 9
Vernonia Resident Fights Kidney Disease
By Scott Laird
The Citizens of Vernonia
have been known for taking care of
themselves. And when a family in
this community is unable to deal with
personal or medical problems on
their own, Vernonians are known for
stepping up and helping each other.
A family in Vernonia has
quietly been dealing a very serious
health issue on their own for almost
two years, and now they are asking
for help.
Ryan and Laura Roberts are
members of the Vernonia community.
Laura has lived in Vernonia for almost
10 years; Ryan has lived here for the
last 3 years. Ryan grew up in the
Rainier area, actually closer to Goble,
“...out in the country,” he says. Laura
lived in Banks at one time before
moving to Vernonia.
Ryan and Laura were
married in April of 2010. “We had a
wonderful ceremony and honeymoon
Laura and Ryan Roberts (center) with their children Brianna and Tyler.
Ryan is in desperate need of a kidney transplant.
in Hawaii and we had just bought a
house on Texas Avenue in Vernonia
a few months before and life was
really good,” says Laura. Ryan and
Laura currently live in that home on
Texas Avenue with Laura’s children
Brianna and Tyler.
Then in June of 2010 Ryan
was diagnosed with Polycystic
Kidney Disease (PKD). He was
hospitalized for a couple of weeks
and told that he needed to have a
kidney transplant.
“When they first told us about
this it was like being punched in the
gut,” remembers Laura.
Since his diagnosis Ryan has
been on dialysis 3 times a week for
5 hours a day, all while attempting to
continued on page 8
