FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 1, 2017
A View from The Hill
By Doris Brosnan
January began at Wil-
low Creek Terrace with
what has become an annual
New Year’s feast of crab
cakes, and another super
crab-centered meal will
soon follow. The Commu-
nity on the Hill is extremely
grateful to Colin and Erin
Anderson and John and
Ann Murray for their gifts
of delicious crabmeat.
Once a year, the Staff at
Willow Creek Terrace have
their holiday party, too, and
this year they gathered at 7
p.m. on Jan. 20, each bring-
ing a gift-wrapped package
that somehow incorporated
“crazy socks” into the gift
or into the wrap.
The evening featured
dinner for Staff, nurse Ro-
banai Disque, maintenance
overseer Dan Sharp, and
spouses, followed by a
“Jeopardy” type game that
Manager Nairns created.
The categories of ques-
tions were “the kitchen,”
“know your job,” “safety,”
and “residents’ care.” As a
person correctly answered
a question, he/she chose
a package, which might
be taken away by the next
person to answer a question
correctly, resulting in some
laughable moments.
The party-goers cer-
tainly appreciated board
members Shirley George
and Diana Ball’s handling
the kitchen clean-up while
the party went on.
February begins with
the Terrace’s annual luau
that features Hawaiian mu-
sic and teriyaki chicken,
frog-eye salad, shrimp
cocktails and coleslaw. To
complement the theme,
this column’s readers are
asked if they can loan
the Residents Hawaiian
clothing—muus-muus and
shirts—because that will
add so much to the festive
feeling, and Residents and
friends can look perfect in
their pictures taken in the
photo booth. Loans must
come today or tomorrow,
though, because the luau
will happen on Friday.
And yet another party:
Super Bowl this Sunday.
The quarter board is up and
Residents, friends, and Staff
are able to take 25-cent
chances of hitting the scores
that will win on the board.
The game will play
in the sun room, and the
snacks will help carry the
fans through what everyone
hopes is a good game.
Taking a breather from
the partying atmosphere,
the morning-discussion
group will use some time
for discussing some inter-
esting topics.
The 1910 birth of the
Boy Scouts on the eighth
will be of interest to the
several previous den moth-
ers, as well as previous Boy
Scouts.
(A local troop of Scouts
continues in Heppner,
Troop 691, and, in fact,
those young people offer
a flag service, for a fee,
through which they will
put up a flag at a person’s
residence for four holidays
and remove the flag after-
ward. The scouts also can
properly dispose of dam-
aged flags. A call to Deiter
Waite can get information.)
“Man Day,” on Feb.
12, might be new to sev-
eral readers, and what the
morning discussion might
delve into is yet to be heard.
Readers interested in poker
or cribbage might want to
come join the men at 2 p.m.
for some male bonding.
And yet another party!
The Hawaiian decor will
have remained and will
greet the Heppner Day
Care preschoolers when
they come for the annual
Valentine’s party with the
Residents on the 14 th . After
that great afternoon, Resi-
dents will put on their finery
for their annual Valentine’s
Day candlelight dinner.
World Radio Day will
arrive on the 13 th , and ev-
eryone will surely con-
tribute stories about those
bygone days of radio pro-
grams that captivated lis-
teners young and old.
Pen pals were once a
popular opportunity to be
in contact with people from
beyond our borders, so on
Tax Wise and Otherwise
International Friendship
Day on the 19 th , Residents
will be remembering pen
pals, travel friends, and
war contacts. They might
surprise themselves and one
another on Presidents’ Day,
the 20 th , when they take on
a trivia game that features
our 45 presidents.
On Aviation Day, the
23 rd , the Residents will
again be invited to par-
ticipate in the annual paper-
plane-flying contest. Mul-
tiple designs, many laughs,
and some successes and
some failures will rule the
afternoon of fun.
And another party will
draw February to a close.
Mardi Gras will be the
theme on the 28 th , so rev-
elers might be kicking up
their heels a little.
With all the other
celebrating that has oc-
curred and will continue
this month, the Residents
have not lost sight of one
of their favorite reasons
to celebrate: the month’s
birthdays. They will be
helping Gladys Van Winkle
celebrate her 92 nd birthday
on the 11 th , and on the 17 th ,
they will be congratulat-
ing Bud Wilson on his 87 th
birthday. As always, Resi-
dents welcome celebrations
that add some zest to life,
and they especially appre-
ciate the birthday celebra-
tions, occasions they view
as some of the happiest.
A periodic column by Daniel Van Schoiack, CPA
The first executive order signed last week by Presi-
dent Donald Trump left some uncertainty regarding how
the individual mandate under the Affordable Care Act
will be enforced for the 2016 tax season. The individual
mandate places a “penalty” on individuals without health-
care coverage, which is computed on their federal income
tax return.
As you might recall, the individual mandate provision
was at the heart of the argument to repeal the Affordable
Care Act before the Supreme Court in June of 2012. The
argument was made that congress did not have the author-
ity to impose the penalty. Chief Justice Roberts shot down
that argument as he construed the “penalty” was in fact a
“tax” imposed on those who do not have health insurance;
and, since Congress had the authority to impose a “tax,”
that made it okay.
For tax year 2016, the penalty (tax) will rise to 2.5
percent of total household adjusted gross income, or
$695 per adult and $347.50 per child, to a maximum of
$2,085. The question now is whether President Trump’s
executive order will bring immediate relief to taxpayers
filing without health care coverage. Will the executive
order actually kill the mandate and stop the IRS from
enforcing the penalty? Or, will it be seen as a warning
shot fired, which will prompt the IRS to lay low and wait
for further orders?
In the meantime, taxpayers who are facing a penalty
of up to $2,085 by the mandate might want to delay filing
and see if any actual relief develops before the filing date.
As an alternative, filers who owe the penalty can file, pay
the penalty, and then amend their tax return for a refund
if relief is retroactively granted. However, keep in mind
it can take the IRS months to process an amended tax
return due to their current backlog.
Last week’s article discussed the importance of keep-
ing good records for tax deductions, in particular those
that fall under section 274(d) of the tax code, which
requires strict substantiation for expenses such as meals,
travel and personal vehicles. There is often disagreement
with the IRS in determining whether records are adequate
or not. The next article will discuss how the tax court
makes that determination and include a case where the
taxpayer prevailed against the IRS.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any ques-
tion about this article.
Daniel Van Schoiack, Certified Public Accountant,
can be contacted at 541-676-9971 or danielrvan@yahoo.
meeting all kinds of people. Harris seems to take ev- com.
“And people loved her, erything.
“I never gave a damn,”
too,” adds Bob Harris.
“I’ve seen very few she said. “I just like life.”
Whether she cares
people I didn’t like,” says
Creth Harris. “There’s gotta about the century mark or
be good in all of us and not, family and friends will
there’s gotta be bad in all of gather to celebrate her 100
After a heavy snow- the sheer volume of books
fall, Heppner streets are that are set to sell in March.
suitable for walking again. Instead, the Friends group
Along with the welcoming will focus on the coffee
weather, the Friends of the table books during the sale
Heppner Library is inviting this weekend
local folks to walk over and
“Over the years, these
have a look at the FOHL books have served as start-
table at the Indoor Yard Sale ing points to travel, adven-
at St. Pat’s Senior Center, ture—or inspired readers
Friday and Saturday, Feb. to larger spring projects,”
3 and 4.
said Sally Walker, record-
“We want to use this ing secretary for the orga-
time as a prelude to our nization. “You supply the
big St. Patrick’s Day book coffee table, we’ll supply
sale,” explained Neva De- the book.”
Mayo, FOHL board mem-
Volunteers will host
ber.
the
FOHL table through
Darrel and Creth Harris on their 50 th anniversary. -Contrib-
Absent
from
this
sale
is
Saturday
afternoon, Feb. 4.
uted photo
CRETH HARRIS TURNS 100
-Continued from PAGE ONE love to eat,” she jokes.
to take care of their mother.
Creth never continued
formal education beyond
high school but, “I took a
cooking class once. That
was fun.” Whether that
cooking class was the start
of a legend or simply pol-
ished her existing skills,
it’s certain that Creth both
loved to cook and was good
at it.
“Mom would always
win a lot of stuff at the fair
with her cooking,” Bob
Harris remembers. “The
fair was always a big deal
A few of Creth Harris’s many
blue ribbons, won for her
cooking at the Morrow Coun-
ty Fair.
in our family.”
Creth is a more self-
effacing in speaking of it
herself.
“I love to cook and I
When asked what else
she liked to do, she replies,
“I like to do most anything
to keep me busy. I don’t like
sitting around like this,”
she says, referring to the
chair where she now spends
much of her time, “but my
old legs don’t like to take
me any place.”
Throughout her life,
she certainly found ways
to keep herself busy. One
thing for which she’ll be
remembered is daily walks
to Frieda Slocum’s house a
mile up the road. She would
walk the mile, talk to Frieda
and then return home. After
Frieda’s death, she kept
up the habit, visiting with
Frieda’s children. She only
gave up her daily walks 10
years ago, at the age of 90.
She started to work
outside the home when her
boys went to school, doing
housekeeping in the area.
She began her favorite job
when they left for college,
working at Wright’s Coun-
try Store at Ruggs. Always
a people person, she loved
working at the store and
Coffee table books
bound for sale
years of life on Sunday,
Feb. 19, at Hardman Com-
munity Center. Everyone is
invited to the birthday cel-
ebration, which will include
cake, punch, and the thing
The next lunch meeting of the Heppner Chamber of
that Creth Harris likes most
Commerce
will take place this Thursday, Feb. 2, at noon
of all—people.
in Heppner City Hall conference room.
Cost of lunch is $10. Chamber lunch attendees are
asked to RSVP at 541-676-5536 no later than the Tuesday
before to guarantee a lunch.
-Continued from PAGE ONE were three flights; Pioneer
average monthly year-to- Memorial Clinic had 363
date loss.
patient visits with one new
-received the following patient, 31 seen by a nurse
report: Pioneer Memorial and 19 no-shows; Irrigon
Hospital had four admis- Medical Clinic had 245
sions in December, two patient visits with 26 new
The February session of First Friday Friends of Jesus
swing bed admissions, two patients, 75 seen by a nurse
will
be held on Feb. 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at All
admissions for observation, and 29 no-shows; Ione
Saints
parish hall.
one swing bed admission, Community Clinic had 51
All
children in the community ages four to 12 are
442 outpatients, 62 emer- patient visits, nine new pa-
invited
to
spend the morning in this mini-vacation Bible
gency room encounters, tients, seven seen by a nurse
school,
complete
with stories, crafts, snacks, songs and
1,683 lab tests, 94 x-ray and four no-shows.
games.
A
free
lunch
is served and there is no cost to attend.
procedures, 19 CT scans, 28
-received the 2016
More
information
is available by calling the office
EKG tests, 32 respiratory year-end ambulance report
of
the
Shared
Ministry
of
Hope Lutheran Church and All
therapy procedures; Home as follows: Heppner-292
Saints
Episcopal
Church
at
541-676-9970.
Health had 55 patient visits; page-outs, 243 transports;
Hospice had two admis- Boardman-435 page-outs,
sions; Pharmacy had 1,512 214 transports; Irrigon-299
drug doses for $58,737 in page-outs, 199 transports;
revenue; Heppner Ambu- Ione-26 page-outs, seven
lance had 31 page-outs with transports; total—1,052
23 transports for $41,982 page-outs, 663 transports,
The First Friday meeting for the men of St. Patrick’s
in revenue; Boardman 38 flights.
Ambulance had 63 page-
-briefly discussed agen- and St. William’s Catholic churches has been cancelled
outs with 21 transports for da items for the Febru- for the month of February. The next meeting will be held
$33,779 in revenue; Irrigon ary meeting, including the on Friday, March 3.
Ambulance had 29 page- CEO’s evaluation and the
outs with 16 transports for master facilities plan to be
$21,757; Ione Ambulance presented by Clark/Kjos,
had six page-outs with two Architects.
All Saints Episcopal, Hope Lutheran and Valby Lu-
transports for $2,922; there
theran volunteers will serve lunch on Wednesday, Feb.
8, at St. Patrick’s Senior Center. Lunch will include pork
AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, zucchini and summer
squash, carrot salad, hot rolls, and sweetheart cakes.
Milk is served at each meal. Suggested donation is
$3.50 per meal. Menu is subject to change.
JOIN US FOR
VALENTINE'S DAY 2017
us—don’t you think that’s
the way it is?
“I think it’s best if you
can like ‘em all,” she adds.
When asked if she ever
thought she’d make it to a
century, she took the ques-
tion in stride the way Creth
HEALTH DISTRICT
February 14th
Prime Rib or
Baked Salmon
Valentine's
Dinner $14.95
Choice of Potato or Rice Pilaf,
Soup or Salad and vegetable
Reservations Welcomed
MUSTANG DINER
541-676-5737
ALL NEWS
Chamber lunch
meeting
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
First Friday Friends
of Jesus this week
Catholic men cancel
First Friday meeting
Community lunch menu