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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2002)
e egeS SOGS .er ladmetoe? ,TH3aW9°?C7MI Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, September 19, 2002 Creative employment benefits employers, people with disabilities Mike Poling and Travis Har mon are exceptional Columbia County residents. While differ ent in many ways, it is not their disability that sets them apart from their co-workers, but their unwavering dedication and loy alty to Wal-Mart where they are both currently employed. What makes this situation so excep tional is that nearly 75 percent of all people with disabilities in Columbia County are unem ployed. A newly formed group, the Creative Employment Opportu nities Network (CEON) plans on helping Columbia County turn the unemployment rate around. “We know that many people are unaware that indi viduals with disabilities are an untapped resource,” said Pat Meredith, Riverside Training Center Community Support Co ordinator. “When unemployment is high,” Meredith continued, “hir ing a person with a disability may seem to be a risk they can not afford to take. We hope to educate the community as to why the opposite is true.” Like Wal-Mart, other local businesses, including the Dockside Restaurant, Burg- erville, Avamere, Taylormade and McDonald’s can attest to the belief that, given the oppor- Employees at Wal-Mart’s St. Helens store include, l-r, Per sonnel Manager Pearl Bays, Assistant Manager Tina Tourville, and exceptional employees Travis Harmon and Mike Poling. Chorale will start season with Handel and Mozart Handel’s “Messiah," Mozart’s “Requiem” and a selection of great sacred choral music will be among the works offered when the Columbia Chorale of Oregon (CCO) begins its sec ond season this fall. Ryan Heller will return as Conductor and Artistic Director for Colum bia County’s only classically oriented vocal music group. The Chorale will present its first performance of the 2002- 03 season in December. Han del’s “Messiah,” with its well- known Hallelujah Chorus, will comprise the majority of that program. The “Messiah” has been a favorite of performers and audiences alike for over 250 years. April will bring the perform ance of Mozart’s “Requiem.” His Requiem soars; it is music to celebrate a full and rich life and to ponder the afterlife, in voking the ecstasies of Par adise and the agonies of hell. Efforts are being made to pres ent the work in collaboration with a professional chamber or chestra. The Chorale will conclude its second season in early June with a selection of great sacred choral works spanning several hundred years in their composi tion. The Columbia Chorale of Oregon will also celebrate the return of its Chamber Choir, a group of 16-20 mixed voices that will focus on historic and modern ensemble pieces, sec tions of the larger Chorale works, and independent per formances. The CCO Chamber Choir will perform at the Janu ary fundraiser for Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity, and at other venues throughout the season. Cham ber Choir members are select ed based on Chorale members’ auditions; those auditions are scheduled for late September. The Columbia Chorale of Oregon welcomes new mem bers at the beginning of each season. No auditions are re quired, however basic knowl edge of music and music theo ry are helpful. Regular rehearsals are held each Monday night, 7:00-9:30 p.m. in the St. Helens High School choir room, 2375 Gable Road, St. Helens. For more in formation, contact CCO Board Chairperson Nancy Federici, in St. Helens at (503) 397-2098. tunity, individuals with disabili ties can be successfully em ployed and compete with tradi tional job seekers. Pat Meredith of Riverside Training Center and Barbara Schifano, formerly of Columbia Community Mental Health, teamed up to write a proposal to form CEON, competing with communities from four states to work with Western Washington University for a full year to make their vision a reality. The CEON Project was one of two selected for Support in 2002. Western Washington University works with rehabilita tion professionals and commu nities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. “We chose the CEON proj ect because the team it assem bled was first rate and the goal of helping the community re think employment for disabled people seemed very achiev able,” said Western Washing ton’s John Dineen, who will as sist the CEON team in their ef forts. The group brings together a plethora of experience includ ing high school vocational staff Wendy Herrington from Scap poose, Bonnie Parypa, with the State of Oregon Vocational Re- habilitation Services, plus ad vocates and individuals with disabilities. Their partnership of public employees and private individuals has a common goal of promoting employment for disabled individuals in Colum bia County. The team includes representatives from five area high schools, four state agen cies, and private rehabilitation agencies. By sharing information and coordinating services,- the CEON team has already reached out to the parents of disabled high school students at a job fair and has created a brochure that outlines their mis sion and goals in hopes that by educating the community about people with disabilities, they can bridge the gap between traditional and non-traditional job seekers. “We will be increasingly visi ble in Columbia County,” Meredith said, “and we will share success stories and help business people overcome their concerns of the unknown.” NEW LOCATION - NOW OPEN Critter Clippers Pet Grooming New Low Prices!! Same Great Friendly Service!! BV APPOINTMENT ONLY 503-703-7334 » 1059 1st Avenue Brandy Lindsey. Groomer Vernonia Country Kitchen & Pizza VERNONIA INN BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. 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