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The INDEPENDENT, January 2, 2003
even a quillo. Thank you to all
the eager bidders and hopeful
shoppers. It gave the day a joy
T h e
ous
lot of laughter.
rains still
The last business meeting of
come, but
we
did 2002 was held after the dinner.
Suggested changes in the By-
h a v e
Laws will be voted on at the
s n o w
January 2003 meeting, on the
Tuesday
17th at 1:00 p.m., when the
the 24th,
new
officers will be seated. Re
___________ on
my
way out of town at Top Hill. elected were President Ruth
There was still a roadside trace Bell, Secretary Bernice Frey,
of it when I came home mid-af and Treasurer George Gans,
ternoon, but it was snow.
and newly elected Vice-Presi
dent Dave McCoy.
Christmas
dinner
#1
Remember to renew or join
Salmon, was well attended.
The salmon was baked to a the Senior Center. $10.00 a
turn. Thank you, Sir, for the gift. year. Each member in good
It was the first taste of salmon standing (dues paid) has a vote
of the year 2002 for many of us. (voice) in the business of the
Just before dinner, while center. The center needs your
munching the vegetable trays, ideas, help and imput to keep
there was a Building Fund Auc us an active, acceptable entity
tion, pictures, mirrors, doilies, in the community.
We still have 2003 calendars
potholders, afghans, laprobes,
for sale. Monies go into the
Building fund. There are two
choices: Patriots or North
American Wildlife. $3.00 each.
Christmas Dinner #2, Turkey
and all the trimmings was noon
the 24th. I was out, but the
Tuesday/Thursday girls are
good cooks. Sorry I got the
date wrong in the paper. The
date was changed and I wasn’t
advised until after news dead
line.
If you have been in the cen
ter since Thanksgiving, you
may have noticed we have
been forced into the 21st centu
ry, by putting up observation
mirrors in the craft and thrift ar
eas.
It’s a sad day when a busi
ness of our ilk has to admit that
merchandise is just walking out
the door, but you don’t see it
go. We honestly prefer to trust
our patrons, but times are
Area women eligible for health screening to
aid early detection of breast, cervical cancers
Ten Columbia County resi
dents lost their lives to breast
or cervical cancer in 2001.
These new statistics were just
received by Columbia County
Public Health. This is an in
crease of five deaths from the
year 2000, but a closer look at
the statistics, show an increase
in the survivor rate for 2001.
“ It is true we had ten deaths,
but we had 110 invasive breast
or cervical cancers diagnosed,"
said Marcia Williamson, pro
gram coordinator for the Colum
bia County Breast and Cervical
Cancer Screening Program
(BCCP). “In 2000, we had 87
invasive cancers diagnosed
with five deaths. That is an in
crease in the survival rate by
over four percent. To me, that il
lustrates the annual screenings
do work," said Williamson.
Williamson urges people to
schedule annual screening ex
ams with their health care
provider. ‘The best defense is
early detection," she said. “De
tecting breast or cervical cancer
early offers the highest chance
for successful treatment.”
A woman’s health check, in
cluding self-breast exam in
struction, clinical breast exam,
pelvic exam, pap test and
mammogram is still the best
way to detect cancer at its ear
liest stages. Women who have
no health insurance may quali
ty for a free woman's health
check by calling Columbia
County Public Health at 503-
397-4651 or 1-800-244-4870,
for information.
The program has three lev
els of service to women who
are uninsured, low income or
have high insurance de
ductibles that keep them from
getting annual screening. The
first level prioritizes women 50
years of age and older, be
cause the incidence of breast
cancer increases with age. The
second level serves women 40
to 50 years. Women in this age
group are eligible to begin an
nual clinical breast exams and
get a mammogram baseline.
Women 40 years and younger
are served when family history
or individual symptoms indicate
a need for more screening.
Some people, unaware that
early detection saves lives, be
lieve that cancer is always fatal.
Others may understand the
benefits of early detection, but
lack access to screening due to
financial or geographic barri
ers. That is where the Colum
bia County Breast and Cervical
Cancer Screening Program
comes in. “We want all women
in Columbia County to know
about our program ,” said
Williamson. Since the program
has been available, no Vernon
ia women have used it.
Williamson has the help of
the Women's Health Aware
ness Coalition of Columbia
County to promote education
and remove barriers that pre
vent women from accessing
health screening services. Koni
Comfort and Cindy Pruett are
co-chairs of the coalition. “The
group was formed in March of
1997 to provide information so
women can make good choices
about their health screening
and tests," said Comfort.
The Coalition has done spe
cial one-time events in the past,
and is now working to obtain
non-profit status. “We hope this
will help us do more for the
women of Columbia County,"
Comfort adds.
Anyone interested in joining
the
Coalition
may
call
Williamson at Columbia County
Public Health at 503-397-4651.
V e r n o n ia
P h o to
changing.
Yes, the items we sell are
given (donated) to us by those
who no longer need or can use
them. We, in turn, sell them at a
minimal cost to pay expenses
to keep our doors open for you.
We’ve the same expenses as
any other business, lights,
phone, gas, heat, garbage and
insurance and license fees and
food expenses. Even helping
your neighbor isn’t a free ride.
Just a word to the wise.
Next year, I will be having
more yarns, materials and jew-
lery plus hit the spot gift items
for sale, but I, like everyone
else, got inundated with too
many irons in the fire and had
to choose what was important
to me, so the craft area had to
take a back seat. I am serious
ly looking for someone with a
knowledge of knitting, crochet
ing and sewing skills (who can
answer questions, show or
suggest alternative ideas to pa
trons in search for help) to work
in the craft area a couple of
days a week. Contact Ruth,
please. It is work, yes, but you
meet nice folks with your inter
ests in keeping hand made
crafts alive.
I drove around town the
evening of the 23rd to see the
Christmas spirit and was sad
dened to see that not many this
year had outdoor displays, but
those that did were well appre
ciated. Thank you for sharing
the Spirit of Christmas, some
were very ornate, some a sim
ple, heartfelt statement.
I’ll see you around the lake
or at City Council meeting Jan
uary 6, 6:30 p.m., Vernonia
Cares meeting, January 14,
4:30 p.m., Vernonia Pioneer
Museum, January 8, 7:00 p.m.
They all need your imput and
support in 2003.
Look for our Big Yardage
Sale at the end of January and
if you know anybody who sews,
be sure to tell them about it.
I won’t see you in the fun
nies.
Happy New Year.
From Senior Advocate,
Karen Miller:
As of the beginning of No
vember, pharmacy providers
across Oregon have been invit
ed to participate in Oregon’s
new Senior Prescription Drug
Assistance Program. Qualifying
seniors 65 and older can pur
chase prescription drugs from
participating pharmacies at the
state Medicaid rate. Stop by or
call our office for more informa
tion. 503-429-9112.
INFORMATION NUMBERS
COLCO Transportation
.......................... 429-4304
Senior Advocate.. 429-9112
Senior Center..... 429-3912
If you're a woman
over age 50 who
has no insurance...
M ake i t yo u r
N e w Year’s Resolution
to get a Women’s Health Check
Which can include:
Blood Pressure Check
** Breast Exam
** Breast SelS-Exam
** Pelvic Exam
Pap Test
* Mammogram
• Weddings
• Family Portraits
• Senior Portraits
• Special Events
• Passport Photos
Call Columbia County Public Health
503-429-9273
Breast & Cervical Screening Cancer Program
5 0 3 -3 9 7 -4 6 5 1 or 1 -8 0 0 -2 4 4 -4 8 7 0
859 Bridge St., Vernonia