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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2016)
in other words Like Deer, We Run january7 2016 continued from front page What candle, I would wonder, can a one- steam-powered fantasies of Jules Verne, the gothic stoplight town hold to the great cities? I felt that I horrors of Poe and Lovecraft, the autobiographies belonged elsewhere, that water from a different stream of Franklin, Grant, Roosevelt; they all carried me would quench my thirst. I daydreamed about the away. I rode through Spain with gangly Don Quixote, smoked stale Mississippi tobacco pyramids, the glitter of New York, the cobbled streets of Europe. I did not Sometimes we get thirsty with Huckleberry Finn, stalked grimy London with Holmes and Watson, know where my trail led, only that it for things we cannot led away. The few chances I got to see even quite name. Like traveled with John Steinbeck and his dog. a bit of the world—British Columbia, deer, we pant, then When I slept, in a bunk bed behind Los Angeles, the white pillars of Hearst follow some inner instinct a musty pocket door, King Arthur’s Castle, only sharpened the longing. and start running. knights haunted my dreams, always the I had few friends to distract me, same. They rode in single file, rusted and endless time. I lived in the woods, in a bike saddle, my backpack a burden of books. I read armor creaking down Bridge Street. They whispered hundreds every year, emptying libraries. Facebook did to the attendant of the Mini-Mart gas pumps that they not exist, I had never heard of Wikipedia or Google, but sought the Holy Grail, guarded by the dark Fisher- paper pages gave me a window beyond my holy woods. King, who endlessly bled, angling for steelhead in the Richard Halliburton’s Complete Book of Marvels, the dead Nehalem. They went down to the river, one by 13 one. In my dream, they never found their Grail, only stood quietly sinking into the muddy bank, watching the water rush away. *** There were many moments of happiness, too—but the overwhelming drive was to run. Not to escape, but to discover. I’m told that in Welsh there is a word—hiraeth—for a sense of home that you have not experienced yet. Like a memory of the future. It is the right word. Sometimes we get thirsty for things we cannot even quite name. Like deer, we pant, then follow some inner instinct and start running. We may look for what we thirst for in a thousand good and bad things. We can look for it in money, in work, in family. We can look for it at the bottom of a bottle or pipe or syringe. continued on page 15 Bridge Street Bits SENIOR CENTER BOARD ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS. At its December 10 th meeting, the Senior Board elected its 2016 officers: President, Jack Harvey; Vice President, Sykes Mitchell; Secretary, Sandy Welch; Treasurer, Pat Ray; and in a newly- approved position, Assistant Treasurer, Tobie Finzel. Four board members (Wayne Marr, Sykes Mitchell, Pat Ray and Ilene Grady) were re-elected and Karen Miller was elected to the position vacated by Tom Sherman. Thanks for your faithful service, Tom, and welcome Karen. There are twelve board positions, a third of whose three-year terms expire each year. NEW SENIOR CENTER AND FOOD BANK BUILDING GRANT APPROVED. As detailed in a press release in the last issue of Vernonia’s Voice, we were notified of our successful community development block grant application for a combined use building that will be located next to the Vernonia Health Center. Planning will commence this month. We’re looking forward to having our services – excluding the thrift store which will remain on Bridge Street – consolidated in one high ground location. OUR NEW SENIOR AND HOME- DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM CONTINUES. In cooperation with three Vernonia restaurants - Black Iron Grill, Mariolino’s and Vernonia Subway - the Senior Center is providing daily home-delivered meals and issues donation-based certificates for in-house dining from specially designed senior menus for residents 60 and older. You may obtain the certificates Mondays from 10 am to 3 pm from Wendy at 939 Bridge Street. Questions? Call Wendy on the special telephone number for this program, 503-405-0187. See below for home delivered meal information. Vernonia on that day. BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET at 939 Bridge accepts donations during its regular business hours: Monday – Friday 9-3 and Saturday 10-3. Please bring donations inside. The thrift store welcomes you as a shopper, too. All donations and purchases support senior services in Vernonia. Watch for special SALE signs in front of the store. VOLUNTEERS are always needed to keep this vital program going; please let Pam, Thrift Store Manager, know if you are willing to help out occasionally – or regularly! THE VERNONIA SENIOR CENTER OPERATES IN TWO LOCATIONS. FOOT CARE appointments may be The Senior Center Office and the made with the Vernonia Health Thrift Store, “Bargains on Bridge Center receptionist during clinic Street,” reside in the former VCLC hours, 8 am through 4:30 pm, at building at 939 Bridge Street. 503-429-0622, Monday through Certificates for senior meals at Friday. The next foot care date participating restaurants are is Wednesday, January 27, 2016; available there on Mondays appointments can be made from 10 am to 3 pm. Daily now. She may add a second day home-delivered meals are still per month. Watch for details. available to qualifying persons; Our provider, Joyce Jossi, RN, is contact Community Action Team certified in diabetic and elder foot office on Mondays at 503-366- care. In case of unexpected snowy 6584 for more information or to or icy road conditions, please register. Board meetings and verify with the Health Center social activities such as the Friday whether Joyce is able to drive to afternoon card games are held in the American Legion Hall at 627 Adams. WALKING WEDNESDAY is an opportunity for gentle exercise for seniors and anyone in the community who’d like to join us. Walking Wednesdays continue at Vernonia Lake at 9:00 am each Wednesday, rain or shine. Walk at your own pace with a friend or solo. No fee and no pre- registration – just come and walk one or more circuits around the lake. RUSS CLARK, COLUMBIA COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER, IS AVAILABLE to meet with clients in Vernonia. Russ will be at the Senior Center (former VCLC) in the office at the end of the hallway on the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. NEXT SENIOR CENTER BOARD MEETING is Friday, January 8, 10:00 am at the American Legion Hall/Cares. All members are invited to attend. VERNONIA SENIOR CITIZENS, INC. 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia OR 97064 Phone: 503-429-3912 Non-Profit Tax ID #23-7422295 Vernonia Senior Center • 939 Bridge Street • 503-429-3912 Church Directory (in alphabetical order) Assembly of God Sunday School: 9:45 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Evening Prayer: 6:00 PM Wayne Marr, Pastor 662 Jefferson Avenue 503-429-0373 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sunday Schedule: Sacrament Meeting: 10:00 AM Sunday School & Primary: 11:20 AM Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women: 12:10 PM Roger Cook, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street 503-429-7151 The Crossing Southern Baptist Church of Vernonia Wednesday, 7:00 PM Troy Pound, Pastor Cabin in Vernonia 901 Park Drive 503-819-8921 Grace Family Fellowship Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Thursday Prayer: 6:00 PM Greg “Mac” McCallum, Pastor 957 State Avenue 503-429-6790 www.GraceFamilyFellowship.org Nehalem Valley Bible Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 10:45 AM Tues. Ladies Bible Study: 9:30 AM Wednesday Service: 7:00 PM Sat. Men’s Prayer Meeting: 6:30 AM Gary Taylor, Pastor Grant & North Streets 503-429-5378 Open Door Gathering Place Service: Sunday 6:00 PM Grant Williams, Pastor 375 North Street St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wednesday Religious Education: 3:15-4:30 PM Sunday Mass: 12:00 PM Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator 960 Missouri Avenue 503-429-8841 Vernonia Christian Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service in Youth & Family Center: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaChristianChurch.org Sam Hough, Pastor 410 North Street 503-429-6522 Vernonia Foursquare Church Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 AM Children’s Sunday School Carl Pense, Pastor 850 Madison Avenue 503-429-1103 Vernonia Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath (Saturday) Services Sabbath School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaSDAC.org Larry Gibson, Pastor 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. 503-429-8301
