4 community bulletin board november16 2017 Survivor Day: November 18 Survivor Day is the one day a year when people affected by suicide loss gather around the world at events in their local communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope. In 2016, there were over 350 Survivor Day events in 18 countries. In Vernonia survivors will gather on November 18 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Grace Family Fellowship Church, 957 State Av- enue. This year, all gatherings will include a screening of The Jour- ney: A Story of Healing and Hope, a compelling AFSP-produced docu- mentary about the suicide loss ex- perience, as well the new follow-up featurette, The Journey Revisited, in which six of the original Jour- ney participants gather three years later to reflect on how their grief and healing journey is evolving. Great American Smokeout - November 16, 2017 Quit tobacco, enjoy life and save money - Columbia Pacific CCO offers free ways to quit Just in time for the Great Ameri- can Smokeout Thursday, November 16, Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO) is offering free services to help you stop using tobacco products. “Tobacco use accounts for more than 7,000 deaths annually in Oregon,” says Safina Koreishi, MD, medical di- rector for Columbia Pacific CCO. “It is the leading preventable cause of death in America and throughout the world. Tobacco use in this area is significantly higher than the state average with more than one out of every three people in this region using tobacco products, com- pared to almost one out of five statewide. “Quitting tobacco is one of the best things you can do for you and your family’s overall health,” Dr. Koreishi adds. “Our aim is to make it easier for you quit using tobacco, enjoy a long and healthy life, and save money.” Columbia Pacific CCO mem- bers (Oregon Health Plan/Medicaid recipients in Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties) qualify for a wide variety of free services, including coun- seling, support and medications to help members stop using tobacco. Covered medications require a prescription, so members are encouraged to talk with their primary care providers to find out what will work best for each person. Members are also eligible to participate in a “text to Quit” service. The service is free but standard text messaging rates will apply. Text QUIT to (503) 831-9124 to enroll in this program. To help its members quit, Co- lumbia Pacific CCO is providing benefit information and free quit kits to primary care providers, community partners and pharmacies in the region. The CCO also provides a variety of other services to help members stay healthy, including free transportation to and from medical appointments. To learn more, visit www. colpachealth.org or call the CCO’s cus- tomer services representatives at (855)- 722-8206. Upcoming Events Christmas in the Country Bazaar - Saturday, December 2, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday, December 3, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Vernonia Schools Commons Photos with Santa at WOEC - Saturday, December 2, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at West Oregon Elec- tric Co-op. Fundraiser for “Care to Share” energy assistance pro- gram. (503) 429-3021 The Spirit of Christmas in Vernonia - Saturday, December 9, all day. Ugly Sweater Run, storytimes, chili cook-off, gingerbread house and cookie contests, lighted parade, and more TOPS Group (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meet Fridays at the Mist- Birkenfeld Fire Dept. 8:30 am weigh in, 9:00 am meeting. Men and women invited to join. (503) 429-7505 Entire Oregon Coast Reopened for Mussel Harvesting The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the reopening of recreational and commercial mussel harvesting from the south jetty of the Columbia River to the north jetty of Yaquina Bay at Newport. Shellfish samples taken from the area indicate levels of the paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) have dropped below the alert level. The area was originally closed to mussel harvesting October 13. As a result, all mussel harvesting is now open along the entire Oregon coast. Meanwhile, razor clamming remains open only from Columbia River to Cascade Head, north of Lincoln City. The harvesting of razor clams remains closed from Cascade Head south to the California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid. The recreational harvest of bay clams remains open along the entire Oregon coast. For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at http://www. oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/ Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx . Vernonia Weather The 16th Annual Zack Attack Alumni Volleyball game will be played Friday, November 17 at 7:00 pm October 2017 DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ave/Tot HIGH 62 62 68 71 74 71 57 61 66 54 56 53 55 59 68 65 54 61 54 49 57 57 66 71 60 64 73 73 56 63 64 62.1 LOW 39 31 31 28 32 45 39 35 36 39 33 35 31 29 35 42 42 47 42 40 44 44 36 40 46 34 32 32 40 27 41 37.0 PRECIP T 0 0 0 0 .06 .06 .03 T .36 .27 .35 .01 0 T .03 .04 .70 .50 .50 2.44 .07 .03 T T T 0 T T 0 0 5.45 Weather data is collected at the U.S. Weather station at the Vernonia Water Plant in the VHS Gym. This is a fundraiser for the Zack Rumbolz Memorial Scholarship. Admission is by donation and all proceeds will benefit this scholarship. Thank you! HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted. We will print letters space permitting. Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064. Columbia Humane Society Featured Pet Hi! My name is Marley and I am a spayed female pitbull mix. I weigh about 30 lbs. and I am brown and white. I need to be the ONLY DOG! I am working through my impulse control with some fun games. I am extremely sweet and would love a family that will continue my training. If you are interested in learning more about me please don't hesitate to call or email. The Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm at the Main Station, 12525 HWY 202, Mist, OR. Agenda items include, but are not limited to, usual order of business, citizen input, Fire Chief’s report, financial reports, and any other business needing to be discussed. AA Meetings Open Meetings Mondays & Thursdays 6:30-7:30 pm Vernonia Christian Church 410 North Street Women’s Meeting Phone: 503-397-4353 E-mail: info@columbiahumane.org 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 Web: www.columbiahumane.org Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 pm Vernonia Christian Church 410 North Street