Community
Former Vernonia man is ordained
By Jacqueline Ramsay
N ever
fear, win
ter is still
here. The
sun may
be bright,
but it isn’t
v e r y
warm.
W hat’s
new?
Seniors of Vernonia, even if
you aren’t a paid up member of
our Senior Center, you can
become one very easily. Admit
you’re 50 or older, then come
up with $10 a year until the age
of 70. Once you join, you are a
lifetime member. It isn’t very
painful to admit you have
reached the top of the hill.
In the past three or four
weeks, I’ve had many calls or
in-the-face questions as to
what’s going on at the center.
How’s the new center coming
along? Do you have a new
cook yet? How are the Tues-
day/Thursday meals? Are you
getting all of your little jobs
done? Who’s doing what? Why
don’t you bla bla bla? Most all
businesses or clubs I know of
call this kind of interest in them
“digging for gossip”. My answer
to most of these questions has
to be, “...by the By-Laws of the
Center.” If you really want to
know, come in, spend some
time at the center, come to the
business meetings. They are
open to the public. Become
involved with us. But, here are
a few answers.
The new center committee
submitted legal papers to the
owner of the land we are inter
ested in and when he gets
through all the “legal-ese” and
gets them back to us, we will be
calling a public meeting for all
persons in Vernonia to come
and hear what’s happening and
to give us their input.
The Columbia County Coun
cil of Seniors has held inter
views for a Senior Advocate
and for a permanent cook.
Should be hearing on both this
month. Beyond this, come in,
join in and you won’t have to
put me or other officers on the
spot. You’ll know the answers
first hand.
What’s New -
55 guests enjoyed a Roast
Beef dinner for Valentine’s Day
on February 13. The Golden
Oldies were in top form, musi
cally and anticly. It was men
tioned that all there were lucky
to be able to have them in Ver
nonia. We do appreciate them.
Ruth Bell, our director, has
been notified that she is Ver
nonia’s Princess at the county
fair. Congratulations, Ruth.
We also wish to thank the
merchants and private parties
who have donated products
and cash toward our Tues-
day/Thursday lunches. Also, to
the ladies who prepared and
served during the month of
January.
The Five Area Luncheon will
be in Vernonia on February 25.
Also, please note, Monday
through Friday, the thrift area is
closed between 12:00 and
12:30 p.m. so all help can enjoy
a hot lunch.
Start thinking of an Easter
Bonnet.
March 29 - Easter Parade
Lunch.
INFORMATION NUMBERS
COLCO Transportation
........................ 429-4304
Senior Advocate.. 429-9112
Senior Center..... 429-3912
Habitat seeks family for next home partnership
After completing its first
house in 2001, Columbia
County Habitat for Humanity
Inc. has set the ambitious goal
of building a second home in
St. Helens before the end of
2002. For that reason, a search
has started for a “partner fami
ly" wanting an opportunity to
buy a safe, affordable home.
Criteria for home ownership
with Habitat for Humanity
include need, ability to pay and
willingness to participate as a
partner with Habitat. Additional
ly, applicants must have lived
or worked in Columbia County
for a minimum of one year.
Once selected, a partner
family may assist in the actual
Happy
B irthday
Tara Michelle
• t»
construction of the home or in
other activities, building “sweat
equity” and preparing for even
tual home ownership. Families
contribute 300 to 500 hours of
sweat equity, up to 35 percent
of which may be contributed by
friends and relatives.
Applicants will be consid
ered for a Habitat home if cur
rent housing is not adequate
and they are unable to obtain
adequate housing through oth
er conventional means. Lack of
adequate housing may also
include problems with the pres
f y i& jn ii v Q d / n f i j u l A s
¿ A p A & A A D £ j OA &
(D o ll
HOT, ICED & BLENDED DRINKS &TEA
been serving a church in
Sams Valley for over two
years. The tiny church was
closed for 10 years for lack of
a pastor and now is steadily
growing.
Under
Pastor
McDonald’s ministry, many
families have ceased driving
to Medford or White City to
attend church.
While in Vernonia, McDon
ald worked at Vernonia Cares.
Bake sale will raise funds for cantata
The Vernonia Community
Choir will hold a bake sale at
Sentry Market on Saturday,
March 2, beginning at 9:00
a.m., to raise funds to help cov
er production costs for their
upcoming Easter musical, “The
Borrowed Tomb”.
The cantata (a combination
of drama and music) will be
held March 22, 23 and 24 in the
Washington Grade School
“55 Alive” driving
course is scheduled
A 55 Alive Mature Driving
class is scheduled for March 18
and 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. at the Natal Grange Hall,
67425 Nehalem Hwy N.
This is a refresher course for
older drivers and will cover
such things as vision changes,
physical changes and prob
lems in reaction time.
Oregon law states that a dis
count on insurance is available
for attending this class.
The cost for the class is
$10.00. To register, call Ruth
Bell at 503-429-4949.
Gym under the direction of Lyn
da Cahill.
For more information on
donating baked goods or mon
ey to the choir, contact Sandy
Welch at 503-429-9602 or
Susie Armstrong at 503-429-
6132.
Run/Walk activity to
aid county food bank
Columbia
Pacific
Food
Bank’s “Open Your Heart To
Hunger” 3.8 mile Run/Walk will
begin Saturday, March 2, at
10:00 a.m. at the Red Apple
market in St. Helens, and end
at Grace Baptist Church on
North 17th. Registration will be
9:00-10:00 a.m. at Red Apple.
Free soup, bagels and bever
ages will be provided for all
runners and walkers.
Proceeds will support the
Columbia Pacific Food Bank
for Columbia County. Dona
tions of food, personal care,
household or infant care prod
ucts will be gratefully accepted.
For more information, call
Tracie Smith at 503-397-9708.
casa
A POWERFUL VOICE
IN A CHILD’S LIFE
been broken by tragic
stories of abused and neglected children, it
may be time to take a positive step toward
making a real difference in a child’s life.
PASTRIES • MUFFINS • COOKIES • BAGELS
YOU CAN HELP
SANDWICHES • SALADS • SOUPS • CHILI • CHILI DOGS
Volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate
6 ' SUBS • DELI TRAYS AVAILABLE BY SPECIAL ORDER
<
We love you,
Grandma C a ro i .
& Grandpa B ill
ent structure (water, electrical,
sewer or heating) or failure of
the owner to meet property
maintenance standards. Con
sideration is also given to the
number, ages and gender of
children compared to the num
ber of bedrooms in a home.
Anyone interested in becom
ing a partner family, must call
for an application by March 1.
Applications, income require
ment tables, and information
are available by calling: 503-
366-4595 or 503- 366-6423
Ernie McDonald, formerly
of Vernonia, was bestowed
the honor of ordination as a
minister of the Gospel at a
service conducted February 9
in the church he has pastored
for the last two years. He
obtained his doctorate last
year.
The Rev. and Mrs. McDon
ald moved to the Grants Pass
area five years ago and have
Tanning byAppt. or Walk-in
Nails by Appointment
and help a child in need find a safe permanent home.
Casa of Columbia County starts
New Volunteer Training on March 9th
Call: 503-366-7644
y
Mon 5a-1p *Tu-F 5a-3p • Sa 7a-4p • Su 8a-12p • Deli opens 11a
854 BRIDGE ST., VERNONIA • 503-429-9011
k
Help change the world, one life at a time.