community
2013
Donation Opportunity
Vernonia Cares Food Bank
(VCFB) is offering Christmas holiday
grocery boxes to low income households
within the Vernonia community.
Registration will be open from Nov
12-Dec 12, 2013. The boxes will be
available for pick up December 20 to
pre-registered households. They are
projected to contain the basic groceries
for a Christmas meal.
“Our target recipients are
households which fall within the USDA
eligibility guidelines, said Vernonia
Cares Director Sandy Welch. “That
is $1,771 gross income per month for
single person households, plus $620 per
month for each additional person in the
households. However, anyone who is
a Vernonia resident and does not have
the groceries for a Christmas meal is
eligible to apply for this special food
box,” Welch concludes.
Applications may be obtained
from Vernonia Cares Food Bank,
november7
which is open Tuesday and Thursday
from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. VCFB is
located within the American Legion
Hall at 627 Adams Avenue. To obtain
a form, please call the food bank at
503-429-1414 and leave clear mailing
information. All applications must
be received by December 12. Again,
only pre-registered households will be
eligible.
“At this point, we are planning
to provide this service to about 200
local households and are praying the
funds arrive to support it,” Welch
emphasized. “This project has been
strongly supported by this community
in the past and I’m looking forward
to that same support this year. I’m so
glad we are able to brighten people’s
Christmas through these groceries.
What’s Christmas without, at the least, a
Christmas meal together?” asks Welch.
“Between
now
and
Thanksgiving is a great time to buy
a turkey and donate it towards the
Christmas Grocery Box Project. That’s
when the sale prices are available,”
states Vernonia Cares President Rosie
McCoy. “All turkeys given now will be
stored frozen and then distributed near
Christmas.”
Vernonia Sentry, a strong
supporter of VCFB, makes it simple
to donate within their store. Through
check-stand giving, patrons can
designate $30 which will be used to buy
the groceries. Individuals, businesses
and civic organizations interested in
supporting this worthwhile cause,
whether through food or funds, may
contribute directly at the food bank site
on Tuesday or Thursday, from 10:00
A.M to 2:00 PM. Checks may be mailed
to Vernonia Cares Food Bank, PO Box
126, Vernonia, OR 97064. Receipts for
these tax deductible donations will be
sent upon request.
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
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Jim Buxton
Dr. Ken Cox
Stacey Lynn
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Photography
Scott Laird
Merkley Introduces Legislation continued from front page
mapping approach that utilizes sound
scientific and engineering methodologies
to determine varying levels of flood risk
in all areas participating in the National
Flood Insurance Program:
All homes and businesses that are
currently “grandfathered.” These
are properties that were built to code
and later remapped into a higher risk
area. Prior to Biggert-Waters, these
policyholders were not penalized for
relying on inaccurate FEMA flood maps.
All properties that purchased a new
policy after July 6, 2012, before they
were legally required to purchase
insurance.
All properties sold after July 6, 2012.
New homeowners and business owners
will continue to receive the same
treatment as the previous owner unless
they trigger another provision in Biggert-
Waters such as Severe Repetitive Loss,
non-primary residence, substantial
damage, etc.
The measure requires FEMA to
propose a draft regulatory framework
to address any affordability issues
identified by the study within 18 months
after the completion of the study and
establishes a six month period thereafter
to provide for Congressional review.
The House and Senate would then hold
up or down votes through a privileged
motion on giving FEMA the authority
to promulgate affordability regulations.
If Congress approves this authority,
the targeted freeze set forth by this bill
would continue until regulations are
finalized. If not, the freezes would be
lifted absent other Congressional action.
SECTION 2. AFFORDABILITY
STUDY FUNDING
Section 100236 of Biggert-Waters
required FEMA to produce a study that
considered the effects the Bill will have
on affordability. Strikes the arbitrary
dollar amount on the affordability
study to ensure FEMA has the funding
required to complete it within two years
of the date of enactment.
SECTION 3. FUNDS TO REIMBURSE
HOMEOWNERS FOR SUCCESSFUL
MAP APPEALS
Allows FEMA to utilize the National
Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF) to
reimburse
policyholders
who
successfully appeal a map determination.
FEMA currently has the authority to
reimburse homeowners for successful
appeals of map findings, but Congress
has never appropriated funding for this
purpose. Making appeal reimbursement
an eligible expense of the NFIF would
give FEMA the incentive to “get it right
the first time” and repay homeowners
for contributing to the flood risk body
of knowledge. Unsuccessful appeals
would not be reimbursed in any way.
SECTION 4. ELIMINATE PENALTY
ON
COMMUNITIES
SELF-
FINANCING FLOOD PROTECTION
FEMA’s AR and A99 flood zone
categories provide more affordable flood
insurance to qualifying communities that
are in the process of levee construction,
reconstruction, and improvements.
Current regulations require a certain
level of federal participation to qualify
for either an A99 or an AR designation,
and therefore prevent FEMA from
giving communities fair credit for
improvements made to existing flood
control systems. Proactive communities
that invest in mitigation should not
be penalized for self-financing flood
protection projects.
SECTION 5. TREATMENT OF
BASEMENT
AREAS
WHEN
CALCULATING BASE FLOOD
ELEVATIONS
Preserves the pre-Biggert-Waters
basement exception allowing the lowest
flood-proofed opening in a home to be
used for determining flood insurance
rates. This affects 54 communities
nation-wide where basements are
necessary to protect homeowners and
businesses from extreme weather.
Basements that have not been flood-
proofed would remain subject to the
effects of Biggert-Waters
SECTION 6. DESIGNATION OF
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP
ADVOCATE
Establishes a Flood Insurance Rate
Map Advocate within FEMA to answer
current and prospective policyholder
questions about the flood mapping
process. The Rate Map Advocate will be
responsible for educating policyholders
about their individual flood risks, their
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503-367-0098
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options in choosing a policy, assisting
property owners through the map
appeals process, and improve outreach
and coordination with local officials,
community leaders, and Congress.
The bill is co-sponsored by
Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ),
Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Thad Cochran
(R-MS), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), David
Vitter (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-
NY), Bill Nelson (R-FL), Mark Begich
(D-AK), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY),
John Hoeven (R-ND), Al Franken (D-
MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Heidi
Heitkamp (D-ND) and Ed Markey (D-
MA). Congresswoman
Maxine
Waters, along with Congressmen
Michael Grimm, Cedric Richmond and
34 others are introducing a companion
bill in the House of Representatives.
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7
Lady’s Night Wed 5-12
Cedar Side Inn
“STILL BIKER FRIENDLY”
Taco Tuesday
from opening until 9 PM
3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25
EVENTS
Prime Rib
Nov. 8 & 9
Play It Again Karaoke
every second Saturday
5-9 PM
Karaoke
every Friday
9 PM-close
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756 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-5841
3
• Specialty hamburgers
• Draft beer & mixed drinks
• Pool tables & satelite TV
• Special live music events
• Free Wi-fi
Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight •
733 Bridge St, Vernonia
Nov. 23
Dixie Wrecked
Beer & Kegs to go
Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM
• 503-429-9999
