The INDEPENDENT, January 2, 2004
Page 9
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
What
is
the
greatest
sorrow
of
the
Christ-
m a s
season?
N o t
for just
me, but for all whose friends
have moved and you only have
contact with during the holi-
days. You probably have had
some of your mail returned as
undeliverable. You assume
possibly they have moved and
you’ll hear from them later, but I
got one marked “no longer at
this address” and on the back
of the envelope “Al-11-18-2000
Helen 10-15-03.” I was and am
still crushed; sent a letter to a
daughter hoping she hasn’t
moved in the last 15 years.
Then again, you get a card
from someone you haven’t
heard from for four years.
Gee, I’ve discovered “I’ve Ar-
rived in Vernonia.” I have a fol-
lowing of about 60 ducks (Ho
Ho) marching behind me on my
walk around the lake. They fol-
lowed for about a block, when I
turned back, they led me back
to the car and demanded their
ration of cracked corn.
Do you know what I’ve
missed this season in Vernon-
ia? No one painted Seasons
Greetings on their store fronts
as in the past. It made the town
look cold to the season.
This is the season when one
has to pick and choose what
event they will take part in. With
so much going on it’s hard to
decide but – one must do what
one must, so – here’s what I did
– I missed a lot of you.
#1 City Christmas Dinner
and White Elephant exchange.
Free EyeCare Program for 2004
and Glaucoma Awareness Month
Nearly three million people
have glaucoma, but half do not
realize it because there are of-
ten no warning symptoms. In
honor of Glaucoma Awareness
Month, January 2004, EyeCare
America, the public service
foundation of the American
Academy of Ophthalmology,
encourages people to take ad-
vantage of its year-round, na-
tional Glaucoma EyeCare Pro-
gram. This program offers glau-
coma eye exams and care for
those at increased risk of glau-
coma (see Glaucoma Facts).
Eligible callers will receive a re-
ferral to one of EyeCare Ameri-
ca’s 7,500 volunteer ophthal-
mologists by calling 1-800-391-
EYES (3937), 24 hours, seven
days a week, 365 days a year.
Those eligible for a referral
through the program receive a
glaucoma eye exam and the
initiation of treatment, if
deemed necessary. Patients
with insurance will be billed and
are responsible for any co-pay-
ments and/or the cost of the
eye examination. Uninsured
patients will receive the above
care at no charge.
The Glaucoma EyeCare
Program promotes early detec-
tion and treatment of glaucoma
by raising awareness of glau-
coma risk factors, providing ed-
ucational materials and facili-
tating access to glaucoma eye
examinations.
The program serves U.S. cit-
izens or legal residents, who
have not had an eye exam in
12 months or more, and are at
increased risk for glaucoma.
Call the toll-free help line at
1-800-391-EYES (3937) to re-
quest free eye care informa-
tion.
EyeCare America provides
access to eye care for the med-
ically underserved and those at
increased risk for eye disease,
through volunteer ophthalmolo-
gists who donate their services.
More than 90 percent of the
care is provided at no cost to
the patients. The organization
operates programs for seniors,
glaucoma, diabetes, and chil-
dren. Since 1985, EyeCare
America’s programs have pro-
vided services to 347,000 peo-
ple, and treated more than
180,000 cases of eye disease.
Glaucoma Facts
- Approximately 120,000
Americans are blind from
glaucoma, accounting for 9-
12 percent of all cases of
blindness in the U.S.
- Glaucoma is the second
leading cause of blindness in
the U.S. and the first cause
of preventable blindness.
- High-risk groups include:
African-Americans ages 45-
65, people over 60, family
members of those already di-
agnosed, diabetics, people
who are severely nearsighted.
I lucked out, a box of delicious
truffles.
#2 A Christmas Carol at the
Grange Hall on Monday night
instead of the Council meeting.
It was well acted and very well
read. You could see, hear and
smell the events unfold as the
story was read. Bravo to all of
you, all local talent.
#3 The Senior Center Christ-
mas Dinner was delicious. Mu-
sic, games, smoked salmon
auction and lots of visiting and
laughing. Kudos to Jamie the
Cook, also the pie bakers.
#4 December 20th, a cele-
bration of music. It was more
than wonderful, all local talent,
string orchestra (chamber mu-
sic), a band and a choir. I’ll lis-
ten anytime you perform. Very
professional.
#5 Something else you
missed, a play written by Pas-
tor Harvey, “One Starry Night.”
The Christmas theme with a
modern lesson for all folks to
ponder. Congratulations to all.
Also, thank you to Mrs. Kay-
la Valenzuela for her gift of a lo-
cal phone book I picked up at
the Senior Center. Others are
still available (each child made
one), a good service and they
are in larger print.
Gee – You can eat 7,000
calories a day without gaining
weight in the Antarctic. That’s
what it takes you to keep warm
without an outside source of
heat.