community news
september21
2017
17
Bridge Street Bits
Seniors received an update at its September
board meeting from Josette Mitchell, City
Administrator, on the ROSE AVENUE PROJECT,
the new building that will house the Senior
Center and Vernonia Cares thanks to a federal
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The environmental study required by the
federal CDBG rules had just been completed
and was in the mandatory two-week public
review phase. Presuming no objections are
raised, requests for contractor bids should be
going out soon. We appreciated a visit from
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici who
asked for an update on the project and how
she could help. See the September 7 Voice
article on that meeting.
BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET store hours
continue on the new schedule, Tuesday –
Saturday, 10-3, closed Sundays and Mondays.
VOLUNTEERS are always needed to keep this
vital program going; please let Pam, our Thrift
Store Manager, know if you are willing to help
out occasionally – or regularly! DONATIONS
are also welcome; we have an informational
flyer on acceptable items or call if you have
questions, (503) 429-3912. Please bring
donations inside during regular business
hours. The thrift store welcomes you as a
shopper, too. All donations and purchases
support senior services in Vernonia. Be sure
to watch for special SALE signs in front of the
store.
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 first and second
Mondays from 10 am to noon from the
Senior Center office at 939 Bridge Street.
Daily home-delivered meals are available to
qualifying persons; contact Community Action
Team office on Mondays at (503) 366-6584 for
more information or to register.
A good time was had by all at the SENIOR
CENTER ANNUAL PICNIC on August 18 th .
Members of the former “Golden Oldies” band
entertained the crowd with lively music from
days gone by. Stars of the show were our
centenarian drummer, Eleanor Thompson, and
THE VERNONIA SENIOR CENTER OPERATES IN
yodeler, Necia DeWitt.
TWO LOCATIONS: The Senior Center Office
and the Thrift Store, “Bargains on Bridge
FOOT CARE: For the next few months,
Street,” reside in the former VCLC building at
please make your FOOT CARE appointments
939 Bridge Street. Board meetings and social
directly with our provider, Joyce Jossi,
activities such as the Friday afternoon card
RN. Her telephone number is (503) 753-
games are held in the American Legion Hall at
7745. Please leave a detailed message as
627 Adams Avenue.
she is often with other clients and unable
to answer immediately. The next foot care
dates continue on the last Wednesdays of the NEXT SENIOR CENTER BOARD MEETING: is
month, September 27 and October 25, unless Friday, October 13, 10 am at the American
Legion Hall/Cares. All members are invited to
otherwise notified by the provider.
attend.
SENIOR MEAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
VERNONIA SENIOR CITIZENS, INC.
CONTINUES: In cooperation with three
939 Bridge Street, Vernonia OR 97064
Vernonia restaurants - Black Iron Grill,
Phone: 503-429-3912
Mariolino’s and Vernonia Subway - the Senior
Non-Profit Tax ID #23-7422295
Center is providing daily home-delivered
Vernonia Senior Center • 939 Bridge Street • (503) 429-3912
Back to School is the
Time to Schedule a Flu
Vaccine for Your Child
Health officials advise
parents to get kids vac-
cinated, teach them flu
prevention, and recog-
nize danger signs
Health officials advise
parents in Columbia County to
get the flu vaccine for their kids.
“Getting your kids vaccinated
early in the school year will
help protect them throughout
the school year no matter when
the flu strikes your school,” said
Sherrie Ford, Public Health Di-
rector. Health officials recom-
mend the flu vaccine for anyone
over six months of age. Kids and
school staff should stay home if
they are sick.
Parents can also help
keep their kids healthy this flu
season by teaching kids to: wash
their hands often or use alcohol
rubs when soap isn’t available;
stay away from people who are
sick; cover their nose and mouth
with a tissue or their elbow
when they cough or sneeze; and
avoid touching their eyes, nose
and mouth. Parents and teach-
ers should disinfect surfaces that
may have flu germs.
Signs of the flu typically
include: fever or feeling fever-
ish, cough, sore throat, runny
or stuffy nose, muscle or body
aches, headaches, and feeling
very tired. Some people may also
throw up or have diarrhea. This
is more common for kids than for
adults. Most people can get over
the flu in about two weeks, but
for some it can be serious – even
deadly. It can also lead to other
infections, like pneumonia. Peo-
ple most at risk for serious com-
plications include children, preg-
nant women, and adults over 65,
and people with chronic medical
conditions or weak immune sys-
tems.
Even though most kids
get over the flu, parents should
be aware of when to seek medi-
cal care if their kid does get the
flu. Parents should seek medical
care right away if their child ex-
periences: fast or difficult breath-
ing, bluish colored skin, or fever
with rash. Parents should also
seek medical care if their child is
irritable and does not want to be
held, is not drinking fluids, will
not wake up or interact or seems
to get better but then has signs
of illness return with a fever and
worse cough.
Flu can spread anytime.
In Oregon, cases usually start
increasing in the fall and often
peak somewhere between Janu-
ary and March. Parents can find
out where to have their child
vaccinated by calling their health
care provider, calling 211 toll
free, or using the Flu Vaccine
Finder: http://flushot.healthmap.
org/ .
Grants Applications for Artistic
and Cultural Projects Now Available
The Columbia County
Cultural Coalition (CCCC) is
pleased to announce that grant
funding for 2018 is available
for projects that advance the
culture, art, and heritage of
Columbia County. Applica-
tion forms and guidelines are
on the CCCC website www.
columbiacultural.org/forms.
Applications should be sub-
mitted to Kannikar Petersen
at
kpetersen@akaandesign.
com by Saturday, November
18, 2017. Grant awards range
from $500 to $2,000. Eligible
applicants are either 501(c)(3)
non-profits, government agen-
cies, or individuals/groups
who act through a 501(c)
(3) fiscal agent. They are
accepting
applications
now.
The CCCC is
made up of volunteers
from Clatskanie, Rainier,
Scappoose, Vernonia and
St. Helens. Their mission
is to fund projects and ac-
tivities in the arts, local
heritage and the humani-
ties. The priorities of the
Cultural Plan include pro-
tecting existing cultural
assets, helping people ex-
perience a variety of ven-
ues, and increasing access
to and participation in cul-
tural events.
The coalition has
awarded approximately
$115,000 since 2005 with
funds allocated by the Or-
egon Cultural Trust (OCT).
Established in 2001, the OCT
is a public/private partnership
that makes annual grants to
county and tribal groups. The
OCT website, www.cultural-
trust.org, contains information
about its programs and the
matching gift tax credit avail-
able to donors.
The CCCC has sup-
ported public art and perfor-
mances, historical restoration,
community events, and other
projects across Columbia
County. 2017 grant projects
include the Vernonia Chamber
of Commerce’s “Great Ameri-
can Bash,” painting the exte-
rior of St. Helens Train Depot,
purchasing a computer and
display case for the Rainier
Historical Museum, teaching
“Get Rhythm” children’s mu-
sical workshops at the Ver-
nonia Public Library and at
Vernonia Schools, and pup-
peteering at the Columbia City
Community Library.
Help with finding a
non-profit fiscal agent and/or
completing the application is
available. For any questions,
please contact Darrel Whipple
at dwhipple@opusnet.com.