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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016
COMMUNITY IN BRIEF
Drop of unused medication at
CMH Outpatient Pharmacy
Unused medications have become a public health and envi-
ronmental health issue in recent years. Prior to a regulation
change by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in late 2014,
police departments were the only drop-off locations for unused
medications.
Now there is a new option. To responsibly dispose of old
medications, the Clatsop Paciic Coordinated Care Orga-
nization (CCO) and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH)
partnered to place a MedSafe bin in the CMH Outpatient
Pharmacy at 2120 Exchange St., Suite 101 (Park Medi-
cal Building). This free service is available Monday to Fri-
day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 503-338-4560.
Astorian Samuelson joins
American Angus Association
Photos by Lyra Fontaine/The Daily Astorian
Jerry Rounds, Kathy Jean Hrywnak and Kive Dahlberg lead the way down Broadway to the beach in Seaside at the annnual
Buddy Walk in September. More photos at DailyAstorian.com
EMPOWERING
THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNIT Y
Buddy Walk
raises awareness
and funds for
Sammy’s Place
Henry Lynn Samuelson of Astoria is a new junior mem-
ber of the American Angus Association, reports Allen Moc-
zygemba, CEO of the national organization, headquartered in
Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Junior members are eligible to register cattle in the Ameri-
can Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by
the National Junior Angus Association and take part in associ-
ation-sponsored shows and other national and regional events.
The American Angus Association is one of the largest beef
breed associations in the world, with more than 25,000 active
adult and junior members.
Free family fun Saturday
at Marshmallow Festival
HAMMOND — Fort Clatsop Boy Scouts are hosting their
irst marshmallow festival from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the KOA
Campground, 1100 N.W. Ridge Road. This free family event
includes crafting marshmallow catapults, racing marshmallows
down a hot cocoa river, STEM challenges such as marshmal-
low towers and a compass marshmallow hunt, a fancy smores
bar and a chubby bunny contest. Information about local Boy
Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will be available, as well as
free chip IDs, provided by the Astoria Masons.
— The Daily Astorian
Church honors
irst responders
By LYRA FONTAINE
The Daily Astorian
S
EASIDE — After high
school graduation, peo-
ple with Down syn-
drome lose most of the special
education resources and other
services that previously sup-
ported them.
Sammy’s Place wants to
change that. Eventually, the
nonproit hopes to open a
nature-based community for
adults with special needs on
the North Coast. In Septem-
ber, Sammy’s Place sponsored
Buddy Walk at the Beach,
which promotes awareness of
people with special needs and
helps the nonproit get closer
to purchasing land to create
a living, working and respite
community.
Despite the rain, more than
100 participants illed Broad-
way on the walk from Quatat
Park to the beach.
Marty Ertler and his fam-
ily, from Vancouver, Wash-
ington, have attended the
event for the past eight years.
“It gives kids with disabili-
ties activities to get them mov-
ing and a chance to network,”
Ertler said. “That’s why it’s
important. They’ve got feel-
ings like everyone else.”
Last year, his son, Calvin,
enjoyed holding the Buddy
Walk sign and getting “face-
painted to look like the Hulk.”
Sherie Stockbridge, who
has a 2-year-old son with spe-
cial needs named Mason, also
came from Vancouver.
“I want a great place for
my son, and we love the
Buddy Walk participants have some fun with music and ribbons before the walk starts.
beach,” Stockbridge said.
The 12th annual walk is one
of 250 Buddy Walks nation-
wide. The National Down
Syndrome Society event rec-
ognizes Down Syndrome
Awareness Month in October.
Proceeds of the walk also
fund a new animal-assisted
learning program. Sammy’s
Place partnered with Nehalem
Bay Horse Excursions & Pony
Rides to offer free riding les-
sons and learning for four fam-
ilies with special needs. The
program will expand next year.
“All animals are a natu-
ral teacher,” Sammy’s Place
president Julie Chick said.
The program can it vari-
ous learning levels — some
participants help in the sta-
bles while others do trail runs,
Chick said.
Walk helps
fund a vision
Kathy Jean Hrywnak
founded Sammy’s Place in
2006 with friends. The orga-
nization, named after Hry-
wnak’s late son, Sammy,
began as respite care for peo-
ple with special needs until it
expanded to include a vision
of an inclusive community
with rural acreage, animals,
gardens and paths, indepen-
dent and assisted living, a
main lodge and working and
learning opportunities.
‘I get way
more out of
working with
people with
special needs
than I give.
It’s fulfilling.’
Kathy Jean Hrywnak
founder of Sammy’s Place
Hrywnak emphasized the
importance of special-needs
adults having a space where
they can live purposefully and
work toward goals. For exam-
ple, she knows a 23-year-
old man with severe autism
who hopes to be a head baker
someday.
“People need a reason to
get out of bed,” Hrywnak
said. “People need a life.”
Chick would like her son,
Blake, to have living and
working opportunities after
high school. She got involved
in Sammy’s Place when Blake
was nine.
“We are outdoors people
and we wanted to make sure
he got to thrive in the out-
doors,” Chick said.
Exceeded goal
This year, Sammy’s Place
exceeded a goal of raising
$15,000. Most proceeds will
be saved for acquiring land
and $5,000 will fund more
animal-assisted programs.
In the meantime, music
played at Quatat Park as indi-
viduals with special needs,
their families and supporters
danced the “Hokey Pokey”
and made conga lines.
“There is so much joy and
no artiice or social restraints.
We just have fun,” Hrywnak
said. “People always tell me
that I must be so patient, but
I’m not. I get way more out
of working with people with
special needs than I give. It’s
fulilling.”
Submitted Photo
The First Lutheran Church congregation, as part of
a program called “God’s Work Our Hands,” and in re-
membrance of the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11, deliv-
ered thank you posters and goodie bags to the Astoria
Fire Department in recognition of the work they do to
protect the public. From left, the committee members
who organized the tribute, Sherri Crawford, Tami Jones,
Kaye Weimer, Carol Gannaway and Cliff Weimer.
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
Clatsop Community Action
Regional Food Bank — Volun-
teers needed to help hand out
fruits and vegetables at the week-
ly produce pantries for two hours
on Thursdays, from April to Octo-
ber, in Seaside and Warrenton.
Warehouse attendants are need-
ed for food packing or processing,
picking orders for agencies, light
janitorial and housekeeping, or
lawn and grounds maintenance.
Three to four-hour shifts are avail-
able Monday through Friday. To
volunteer, call 503-861-3663.
Clatsop Community College
Outreach Literacy — Needs
volunteer literacy tutors to work
with adults, native and non-native
speakers. Training available. For
information, call 503-338-2557.
Clatsop County Public Works
— 1101 Olney Ave. Adopt-A-Road
volunteers needed to remove litter
two times (minimum) per year for
two years. Safety equipment and
supplies provided. Volunteers must
receive safety orientation. For infor-
mation, call 503-325-8631.
RELIGION BRIEFS
Crossroads Community
SVENSEN — Crossroads Com-
munity Church, a Friends Fellowship,
at 40618 Old Highway 30, is holding
a Free Family Film Friday at 6:45
p.m. Friday. Come enjoy a ilm and
fellowship. This event is held the sec-
ond Friday of the month. All are wel-
come. For information, call Shawn
Leonard, pastor, at 503-949-5033.
Grace Episcopal
All animals and their compan-
ions are invited to the annual Bless-
ing of the Animals at 2 p.m. Sunday at
Grace Episcopal Church, 1545 Frank-
lin Ave. Critters of all shapes, sizes
and character are welcome, including
assorted reptiles and ish in bowls,
and even stuffed animals. Blessings
are offered for both pets and their
friends, including cases where the
owner is present, but has determined
it best not to bring their pet due to
health or anxiety of the pet.
The monthly Second Sunday
Soup-Supper meal is being held at
4 p.m. Sunday in the Parish Hall,
free of charge. Those willing to help
should come at 3 p.m. to set up or 5
p.m. to help clean up.
A Taizé Prayer & Song service
is offered at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The
service consists of simple repeated
chants, periods of silence, prayers
individual and communal, and the
lighting of candles. Local musi-
cians Jennifer Goodenberger (piano),
Shelly Loring (lute) and Eric Utter-
back (cello) provide accompaniment
to the Grace Taizé singers. All are
welcome.
For information, call the church at
503-325-4691 or 503-325-6580, or
go to www.graceastoria.org
First Lutheran
Between the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
services Sunday, a Ministry Fair is
being held at First Lutheran Church,
725 33rd St., to ensure members and
friends of the congregation are aware
of the activities and interests associ-
ated with each opportunity to serve.
Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m.
The October Artist of the Month
is Trisha Dunn, whose art can be
enjoyed in the friendship room.
The Scandinavian Workshop
meets at 10 a.m. Monday, and Sea
Local, Family Owned Company
First Baptist
The First Baptist Church of Asto-
ria, 349 Seventh St., is holding its
semi-annual basement sale from noon
to 6 p.m. today, and from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. Saturday. Items for sale include
clothes, furniture, books, DVDs,
CDs, kitchenware and other items.
For information, call the ofice at
503-325-1761.
Paciic Unitarian Universalist
The Paciic Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship is holding a service at 11
a.m. Sunday at the Performing Arts
Center, 588 16th St. Rev. Kit Ket-
cham’s sermon topic is “Sharing Holy
Ground.”
Michael Rowe is the service
leader, and Bree and Sahalie Heaven-
rich are the greeters. After the service,
the monthly potluck is being held on
the second loor of the Astoria Elks
Lodge, 453 11th St.
For information, call 503-325-
5225 or go to www.pacuuf.org
Caring Professional Service
Serving Families for Generations
Hughes-Ransom
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Mortuary & Crematory
www.hughes-ransom.com
SEASIDE • 220 N Holladay • 503.738.6622
Scouts at 5:30 p.m.
Stewardship Sewing is at 9:30
a.m. Tuesday, TOPS is at 5:30 p.m.
and Pure Life Alliance at 5:45 p.m.
Devotional Bible Study meets at
10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday;
Senior Choir rehearsal is at 7 p.m.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday,
the Transition Pastors from the Ore-
gon Synod meet, and the VASA Astor
Lodge monthly meeting is at 7 p.m.
For information, call the church at
503-325-6252.
he Slack 5
Funerals, burials, and cremations
Onsite crematorium
Reliable 24-hour service
Preplanning available
Special attention to veterans
Special rooms for receptions
ASTORIA • 576 12th Street • 503.325.2535