july18 2013 VERNONIA’S volume7  issue14 www.vernoniasvoice.com reflecting the spirit of our community “Hands On Development” Provides Structure for Developmentally Disabled “Hands On Development” is a new program that is running during the month of July in Vernonia. The program is designed to assist developmentally disabled children during their summer break from school. “Our mission is to provide summer camp activities for kids who need structure and routine in the summer,” says Eric Urban, one of two teachers that are helping with Vernonia Baseball Plays at State Tournament On Development provides just the types of activities that are needed, including social skills, story time, arts and crafts, and play time. The program meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 to 3:00 PM after the Summer Meals Program at the Grace Family Fellowship Church. Children must attend with an adult to take part in the program. “We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to dovetail our program onto the Summer Meals Program,” says Urban. “That has been a fantastic resource for us, with lunch, and they are also providing an afternoon snack for us as well. And the church has just been great in letting us use their space and their yard for play Eric Urban teaches sign language during Hands On Development. time; they have the program this year. Urban is the Special really made it possible for this to happen.” Education teacher for the Vernonia School Jeana Gump, the mother of a District. The other teacher helping with the developmentally disabled child, was the Hands On Development program is Diane originator of the idea for a summer camp type Martin, an in-home autism consultant with program. “Every summer with Savannah was NW Autism & Ability Services in Clatskanie, getting harder and harder,” explains Gump, who has worked in the past as an elementary about her motivation for starting the program. Life Skills Instructor for the Clatskanie School “By the end of last summer I was thinking that District. we were going to have to move away from “A lot of kids with disabilities rely on Vernonia and find a place that had a year round routine and highly structured activities and school for her. As soon the school year ended when they don’t have that, certain behaviors she would lose her structure and just fall apart. can come out,” said Urban during a recent But we didn’t want to leave Vernonia; we love visit to the program. it here.” The day camp atmosphere at Hands continued on page 11 inside 7 8 12 17 23 eagle scout project the good ol’ days scuttlebutt diggin’ in the dirt great american bash free The Vernonia Senior National Boys baseball team competed in the Junior Base- ball Organization (J.B.O.) state tournament on July 11th- 14 th in Corvallis at Williams Field. The boys won their opening game of the tourna- ment, defeating McKay 13-5. The boys lost their next game, going down to Colton 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh in- ning, in what Vernonia head coach Joe Walters said was the team’s best game of the year. The Vernonia boys were knocked out from the double elimination tournament the following day after a 10-5 loss Bailey Morrison had a great season pitch- to Barlow. Vernonia finished ing for the Vernonia Senior National team. the tournament in tenth place; ers this year, eleven, from small the entire J.B.O. Program has a to- town Vernonia, to compete in the tal of eighty teams competing in organized league. (Walters actu- Oregon. ally had to get a waiver from the The Vernonia boys, led by league because he is supposed to head coach Walters and assistant have twelve players) It’s a mix of coach Eli Everett, qualified for the players who have several years of trip to state after previously win- experience playing baseball (Jake ning the Washington County tour- Butcher, Hayden Cieloha, Bailey nament. The boys finished their Morrison, Brett Elliot are team regular season with a 12-2 record leaders), to two players (Nick and then swept their three games at Bennett and Noah Ryland) who the county tournament to earn their had never played the game of base- spot at state. ball before this year. One player, Walters has built a team Tristen Bevill is Walters nephew of talented young players. Five of from Reedville and comes out to his players will be freshman at Ver- Vernonia to play. Orion Hopkins is nonia High School next year and a sixth grader who was brought up Walters hopes his players will help a level to fill out Walters’s roster. bring success to the high school J.B.O. provides an oppor- program in the coming years. tunity for Oregon youth from ages Walters says he was just 9-16 to participate in an organized able to piece together enough play- continued on page 11 Get Ready for Echoing Evergreen Day Camp! It’s time once again for Vernonia to get ready for Echoing Evergreen Day Camp. Camp will be held on August 5 th through the 9 th at Vernonia’s Airport Park. Camp starts at 9:30 AM and ends at 3:00 PM each day of the week. Volunteers and teens will set up camp on Sunday evening, August 4 th at 7:00 PM and will stay to enjoy smores and a campfire. Echoing Evergreen Day Camp is organized by the Vernonia Boosters and provides a day camp experience for all local children. It is run completely by volunteer adults and students. Middle school and high school students volunteer as camp councilors and help with activities throughout the week. Camp registration forms are available at Vernonia Sentry Market and Black Bear Coffee Shop. Anyone interested in being a volunteer at camp please contact Katie Poetter at 503-799-8946. Echoing Evergreens Camp is looking for donations of craft supplies to help with camp this year including: small Kleenex boxes, water bottles, small plastic or cardboard containers, egg cartons, and any other craft supples you would like to donate. Any contribution is greatly appreciated since this is an all volunteer camp.