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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2004)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, January 15, 2004 Bits & Bites Health Notes By Audeen Wagner Welcome, Amy Amy Leatherwood, Nurse Practitioner, has joined the staff at Vernonia Clinic. Amy grew up in Banks, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Portland, and attended the University of San Francis- co for her undergraduate studies, earning a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. She returned to Oregon to work in the Physical Therapy Department at Providence. Af- ter three years, she returned to San Francisco, where she entered a master’s nursing program and graduated in Advanced Practice Nursing; she is certified as a Nurse Practitioner. In addi- tion to working for Providence in Portland, she has Public Health experience in a rural, family practice clinic in Tillamook. Her career interests include family practice, women’s health and rural medicine. Amy and her husband, Aaron, live in Hillsboro, and enjoy hiking and swimming in their free time. “I’m excited to be part of the medical community in Vernonia,” Amy said. “I believe strongly that every person deserves good health care, and that is my goal.” Winter Storm Clinic Manager Cathy Rozinek wants to say thanks to all the clinic patients who suffered through the icy weather with us. “Our faithful courier service just wasn’t able to get to Vernon- ia for days, creating a frustrating time for patients needing prescriptions,” she said, “and most pa- tients realized that there’s not a lot we could do when Mother Nature goes on the rampage! We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the storm.” On two occasions, Marla Rethwill made the trip to Scappoose to pick up medications. The staff at the clinic will no doubt be glad to see the end of winter! I couldn’t help but notice that while many clin- ics in and around Portland were closed during the weather crisis, Vernonia Family Medicine managed to stay up and running. The caregivers who have to commute to Vernonia managed to get to the clinic, so they were available for pa- tient care on a regular schedule. It’s the Cold Season Fortunately, we have gotten off easy with the annual influenza bug this year, but many families are down with severe colds. The advice from the clinic is to make sure you eat right, drink lots of fluids, get extra vitamin C, and make sure you get enough rest. And, if symptoms persist, you should be seen for diagnosis and treatment. Mammovan Schedule Family Nurse Practitioner Amy Leatherwood is now seeing patients at Providence Family Medicine in Vernonia. The next visit of the Mammovan to the Ver- nonia Clinic will be February 25. Appointment for a mammogram can be made at the local clinic (503-429-9191). T ERRY ’ S G YM A COMPLETE CO-ED GYM FACILITY VERNONIA, OR • 429-0501 Whether it’s a thinner waistline or a healthier lifestyle… We Can Help! sugarfree – low carb – diabetic friendly Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6 51606 Columbia River Hwy. Scappoose (503) 543-2227 By Jacqueline Ramsay Happy N e w Year. Ho! Ho! It came in crisp, clear, white and s i l e n t l y. Well, al- most. That one fellow has to shoot off his cannon once a year. Don’t know who he is but he makes himself heard. I know I was sort of griping about what was missing during the holiday season in Vernonia but driving into town early one morning there was a feeling of “Our Town” about the main street. The blinking light, the court house. Not a car on the street for four blocks; until my eyes caught the warm welcome glow of a lighted spiral barber pole, casting the welcome sign, “come in, it’s warm inside.” Someone to talk to and catch up on what’s going on in town. The smell of shaving cream and lotion and a smiling face (that’s the memories it brought back to me). It’s time to take down the twinkling lights, bells, balls, swags, wreaths, garlands and dried out trees. Wash the win- dows, sweep the floors, clean out the fridge and eat the final bowl of turkey soup. I’m tired, guess I’ll curl up with another good book til spring. Read two books by Jane Kirkpatrick, A Name of Her Own and Homestead. Strange what life presents to you when you read. I did not know the author until I read her book Homestead. Our lives crossed in March of ‘86 when they crashed their airplane in downtown Wasco, Oregon, not far from our house. I knew nothing more of her until her book brought back that day. We came here in July of ‘86. On books yet – last May I was touting OLD books, well, I was in the Senior Center just before Christmas and a lady was purchasing two of them for Christmas gifts. Whoopee. Guess what? Winter has fi- nally arrived. This will be one we can talk about for years – it’s been about seven years since we had one close to this. What does hi ber nate really mean? Hi = Hello, ber = slang for I’m cold, nate = (since nates is plural, natis is half a but- tocks). So much for breaking a word down to today’s English. You see the word hibernate means going stir crazy for a house-bound human. I’ve read Clan of the Cave Bear in two days and watched 12 hours of old Sherlock Holmes videos. I had forgotten some of them but the 7% Solu- tion is still good watching. Good Grief. The robins are back, get out your bread crumbs and bird seed. Can the hummingbirds be far behind? Kiwi’s are the only birds with a sense of smell. A Big P.S. All I can say is thank you to Vernonia Sr. Center bread and vegetables. I was smart enough (for once) to pick up onions, spuds, cantaloupe and fresh salad mix just before the storm hit. Also, thanks to my friend who braved the thaw to go out and get me the meds I ran out of. My drug store does not mail out prescriptions. I wonder how many others got caught this way. Bless you. Submit art for Youth Art Show This year’s annual Youth Art Show at The Gallery at Colum- bia Center will be held a month earlier than usual, though it will start a week later than the date published in the 2004 Gallery brochure because of weather- caused school closures. Artists through grade 12 are invited to submit artwork on Monday, February 9, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Columbia Center, 375 S 18th Street, St Helens. Art will be on display from February 10 through February 27. The artists, their friends and families, and the public are in- vited to an opening night recep- tion on Friday, February 13, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. to ad- mire the art, enjoy great snacks, and congratulate the prize winners. Prizes will be awarded by age group and all those attending the reception will have the opportunity to vote for a candidate for the People’s Choice award. Although many local class- rooms submit art as a group, home schooled students and children not yet enrolled in school are also welcome to participate. For more informa- tion on art submissions contact Jan Rentenaar, show coordina- tor, at 503-397-7873.