6 FEBRUARY 1 5, 2009
Smoke Signals
YirolbaD membeir
rescues teddy bears
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal member Veronica Gaston drosses a teddy bear that she is planning on
giving away in the living room of Black Bear Lodge on Wednesday, Feb. 1 1 .
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Tribal member Veronica Gaston,
39, remembers the names of every
teddy bear she has refurbished and
given away in thanks to local ambu
lance teams, police and firefighters.
The first one, early last year, was
Ted E. Bear, and given to
Metro West Ambulance
in Hillsboro. Employees
had been taking her to
Oregon Health Sciences
University two to four
times a week for almost
two years from her home
in McMinnville. She has "numerous
medical problems," she says.
"I started making them as a
thank you," says Gaston from the
living room at Black Bear Lodge
where she now lives.
Since then, she has refurbished
bears named Joe Patch; Al S. for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(Lou Gehrig's Disease); Buzz; J.D.,
after the name of Metro West
Ambulance's owner, J.D. Fuiten;
Larry, Mac and Sparky.
"A Polk County deputy was doing
a report for me," says Gaston, "and
saw the bear pictures on my wall,
and asked how he could get one.
'1 told him that it requires only one
thing the patch. So, now Fm wait
ing for the Polk County patch because
I already have their bear ready.
"I rescue the bears from Good
will and garage sales.
I bring them home and
clean them up. I find
clothing and booties for
them at Goodwill."
For McMinnville fire
fighters, she found sus
penders, boots, coats
and hats appropriate for firefight
ers "turned out" and ready for a
fire.
"People don't seem to realize what
a great service they provide, and
that they put their lives on the line
24-7," Gaston says. "And in a way,
for me, it's therapeutic as well.
"Giving them away is the hard
est part."
"She is so good-hearted," says
Linda Gardner, executive assistant
to the chief of the McMinnville Po
lice Department. D
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lDarenis
Grandfeliildren
Please join us for a new grandparent support group at a
different time and place. We will meet the third Thursday
of each month. The February topic of discussion will be
"Interventions: Parenting young children."
Hope to sec you there.
Support Group
Date: Thursday, Feb. 19,2009 v.
Time: 10:30 A.M.-tfoon
Place: Elder Activity Center (
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Speakert Jeffery K. Lukeart, Ph.D. from the Center for
Successful Living Horthwest Senior as Disability Services
Present to answer questions! Dawn CottrsU from Yamhill
County Health At Human Services Family a Tooth Programs
Contact Persons! Carmen Mercler 503-S79-1644J
Recognize these names?
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This Is the collectors inventory of objects donated to the University of
Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. The entries are from
1 895 when the donor was visiting Grand Ronde and contain information
about the baskets that were bought and the names of the people who sold
them. If anyone knows the people listed or has any information about
them (basket making history, DOBD, history), please contact Stephanie
Wood at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 541-346-2853.
Transportation to Grand Ronde
The Portland Satellite office has a transportation day to Grand Ronde
once a month for medical or dental appointments or enrollment cards. A
minimum of three people must sign up. Call Lisa at 503-235-4230.
We will leave the Portland office at 8 a.m.
Please call in advance for the scheduled monthly date. D
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Ad created by George Valdet
Ad treated by George Valdef