SSP helps 2 overcome barrier, get jobs Rikki Golsh –
Siletz Tribal members Ronald Messer
1963-2014
and Michael Jackman have been actively
participating in the 477 Self-Sufficiency
Program in Siletz.
Ronald recently was offered full-time
employment in his field of interest. He
hopes to gain experience to become a
dump/log truck driver.
Michael also has been offered
employment and is excited to be working.
The Self-Sufficiency Program would
like to congratulate both men on overcom-
ing a huge barrier by giving them a $25
Fred Meyer incentive gift card.
We wish you the best of luck in
your future and congratulations on your
accomplishments.
For information about Agent
Orange , possible health-related
problems and VA benefits:
•
Toll-free Helpline – 800-749-
8387, press 3
•
publichealth.va.gov/xposures/
agentorange/
Courtesy photo
Ronald Messer
Rikki Golsh was 50 years old when he
passed away Jan. 11, 2014. As he wished,
he was taken care of at home by his family
until he passed.
Rikki was born (Oct. 23, 1963) and
raised in Santa Cruz County. He was the
son of Victor and Beverly Golsh. He was a
loving father and a dedicated family man.
Rikki was married and spent 33 years
with his best friend, Jill. Together they
have three children.
Rikki was very proud of his chil-
dren. He affectionately referred to them
as “number one son,” “sweet pea” and
“buckaroo.” They meant the world to him.
Rikki was a kindhearted man who was
willing to help anyone in need if he could.
For most of his career, Rikki was
proud to call himself a truck driver. He
truly enjoyed driving.
He also had a passion for music. He
enjoyed listening to all kinds of music
and taking photographs at concerts he
attended. He loved to reminisce about the
many Day on the Green concerts he went
to and share his pictures of them.
Rikki is survived by his wife, Jill; his
three children, Mark, Katie and James;
his beautiful new granddaughter, Corde-
lia; his sister, Vikki; two brothers, Marc
and Steven; as well as the many cousins,
nieces and nephews that Rikki loved and
cared for as if they were his own children.
“One day, you’ll be just a memory for
some people. Do your best to be a good
one.” Rikki Golsh
A memorial service was held for
Rikki in Santa Cruz at De Laveaga Park
on March 2, 2014, that included a potluck
and barbecue.
Tooth Talk: Sealant Clinic serves community’s children with dental care
By Mary Ellen Volansky, EPDH, MS
We did it – Siletz Valley School
(SVS) and the Siletz Community Health
Clinic (SCHC) worked together to pro-
vide oral health care for 148 SVS students
on Feb. 25-27.
Many gracious and helpful people
made this possible – and it all began
last summer.
Well, not exactly last summer. The
2014 clinic dates were set right after last
year’s clinic. During the summer though,
while I was back east, Dr. Douglas
Chadwick updated the registration/health
history form.
This updated form for 2014 then
was given to Teri Nielsen to include with
all the other registration paperwork that
parents get to fill out when enrolling their
children at SVS.
A free clinic such as this takes lots of
volunteers; we are honored to have many
kind, generous people step forward from
SCHC and SVS.
First were Dr. Chadwick’s efforts
with the important form changes. In
October, Dr. Megan Saxton applied to
the American Dental Association for Give
Kids A Smile Day. Her efforts earned
SCHC donations of sealant, F2 varnish
and many other patient supplies. Misty
Reed calculated what additional supplies
were needed and made them available.
Kelley Ellis organized the volunteers
from SCHC. Most volunteers were new this
year, except for Kelley. You may remember
she was a volunteer last year, working with
the students in the Shell Room.
I am pleased to say everyone did a
great job – Nikki Jenkins, Michelle Strick-
ler, Jack McCord, Karrie Gilkes, Brittany
Russell, Tracy Lancaster and Kelley.
Volunteers drove students to SCHC
from SVS and back again. Two or three
volunteers monitored the students in the
Shell Room, providing activities and mov-
ies for them.
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Siletz News
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Other volunteers kept track of paper-
work and services provided and coordi-
nated which student was next to be seen
or next to ride the van back to school.
Teri, my contact at SVS, coordinated
the gathering of more great volunteers.
The SVS volunteers worked at signing
up students, coordinating teachers’ and
students’ schedules so there was a steady
group of students for us to see.
Other volunteers rode in the van and
monitored the schedule from a list of
students. SVS volunteers included Tony
Lyons, Patricia Mills, Monteen Nash,
Candy Smith, Kammy Stam and Teri.
This year the Sealant Clinic had
another SVS volunteer, student Robbie
Rilatos, who is considering college next
year to study dental hygiene. Lane Com-
munity College has two men graduating
from its dental hygiene program this June.
Besides being helpful and kind to
patients and staff, Robbie learned a skill
he can place on his résumé for college and
for work – fluoride varnish application.
He will receive a Certificate of Achieve-
ment for learning this skill. Based on his
work at this clinic, Robbie will make an
excellent dental hygienist.
Bobbi Foley ordered the food and
Wendi Schamp picked it up; we had plenty
of flavorful food for all volunteers. This
is especially helpful as many times vol-
unteers could only grab a bite on the run.
SCHC dental staff provided all the oral
health services: Dr. Chadwick, Dr. Jeremy
Vistica, Dr. Yuka Vistica (Dr. Vistica’s
wife is a dentist licensed in Japan), Sara
Bell-Tellez, Bonnie McAlpine, June
O’Connor, Bobbi and Misty.
All staff and a few volunteers helped
with pre- and post-clinic setup. In addition
to oral health services, each staff member
provided charts that were written into
computer or to hard copy and soon those
signed consent forms will be scanned into
individual charts. Our work doesn’t end
when the students return to class.
April 2014
Now for the statistics all these volun-
teers made possible: We saw 148 students
over three days (please remember that
the SVS learning day is shorter than the
SCHC work day).
These 148 students received 148
screenings, 147 fluoride varnishes and
467 sealants. If these services were pur-
chased in the community, they would cost
at least $35,636.
The sad news is that 42 students had
visible decay and of those, 12 had teeth
needing the placement of temporary fillings.
Finding decay with the naked eye
means a cavity has to grow into a hole
large enough to be seen. We would much
rather find cavities on an X-ray, seeing a
cavity when it is small and not painful.
This is why every student was given a
letter to his or her parent(s) requesting the
parent(s) to take the student to see a dentist.
The question is whether these stu-
dents will be able to see a dentist. Can the
family afford to pay for treatment or drive
to the dentist, say, in the valley? Can the
family afford to take the time from work
to have their child seen or will work allow
for their time away?
If your child needs dental care, give
someone a call. Call the school nurse. Call
the Oregon Health Plan office. Give me a
call. Please, call someone.
That’s it for the 2014 SVS/SCHC
Annual Sealant Clinic. I hope you enjoyed
reading of our efforts as much as we
enjoyed our work.
Photos by Diane Rodriquez
Robbie Rilatos (left) applies flouride
varnish to the teeth of an unidentified
student.
June O’Connor and Tracy Lancaster
(below) check Aurora Carmona’s teeth.