The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2004
Page 7
Community
No clear stop sign based on driver stats
Senior News
By Karen Miller
Every
Wednes-
day and
Saturday
begin-
ning at
9 : 0 0
a.m. the
Senior
Center
doors open to the public to pick
up bread, pastries, vegetables,
etc. that are supplied to us by a
local food bank. We thank
those who donate what they
can afford, as this helps us
continue this service. We also
thank those who give their time
to stock our table with these
items: Nellie Gregg, Bernice
and Donnie Frey, Elsie Frey,
Bill Yeo, Gene Winningham,
Kelli Martinez, Bill James and
all others. Thank you!
We had a fun time March 17,
St. Patrick’s Day, with prizes
and a wearin’ of the green con-
test. St. Patrick would be proud
– we had so much fun we cele-
brated again on March 24 with
more prizes, music and wearin’
of the green!
We also had an added
bonus: Ladies from The Grove
Assisted Living in Forest Grove
literally topped off our great
lunch by bringing all the mak-
ings for Sundaes, toppings and
all. Great News! They’ll be
back in April! Read this column
for dates. It was a hard act to
follow Romanna Manusos’ deli-
cious cabbage rolls along with
our cook, Jamie Peura’s
corned beef cabbage. All this
we enjoyed under Rosie Mc-
Coy’s St. Patty’s decorations
Thanks for all the great team-
work!
Spelling Bee contestants:
See you here at the Center on
Friday, April 2, at 1:00 p.m. for
our fourth annual senior
spelling bee; lots of fun, tro-
phies
and
refreshments.
PLEASE NOTE: Previous first
place champions cannot partic-
ipate as contestants but can be
judges; well earned, at that!
Congratulations to our past
winners: Noni Andersen, Carol
Sawyer, and Tobie Finzel.
Ladies and Gents: Wednes-
day, April 7; Easter bonnet and
hat contest along with Easter
noon lunch.
Next foot care day will be
April 30. Call our office to sign
up, slots fill fast.
For a list of free pharmaceu-
tical drugs, call the Senior Ad-
vocate.
We would appreciate more
volunteers who could help us
out by working in our thrift
shop. Please come in and see
President Bill James.
A NEW SERVICE: If you
have a donation the Center
can’t normally accept (ex.,
washer, dryer, building materi-
als, plants), we will put your
name on a continually updated
donation list with your phone
number. People can come in
and search for items of interest.
Please don’t bring these dona-
tions to the Center. Call us or
come in to be a part of this new
service.
Remember, blood pressure
checks here at our Center on
the first and third Fridays of the
month in the mornings.
REMEMBER:
• Pastries and bread
Wednesday and Saturday a.m.
• Bingo, Monday at lunch.
• Music with the Golden
Oldies on Wednesdays.
• Games on Thursdays.
• Willoughby Hearing every
second Friday at 11 a.m.
• Sign language class Mon-
day, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
If you know of a senior who
would like a visit from the Se-
nior Advocate or has any senior
needs and concerns, call our
office.
INFORMATION NUMBERS
Senior Advocate... 429-9112
Senior Center....... 429-3912
Transportation...... 429-4304
Lulu's Antique
Refinishing
Repair & Caning
If your furniture isn't
becoming to you, you
should be coming to me.
Antiques Bought & Sold
429-7633 Eves.
As car crashes demon-
strate, some elderly drivers
pose a serious threat on the
road. The skills most needed
for safe driving…hearing, vi-
sion, flexibility and reflexes…
decline dramatically after age
75.
To raise awareness of the
“warning signs” that a family
member’s driving may be dan-
gerous – and to encourage
adult children to talk with elder-
ly parents about knowing their
limitations and making changes
in their driving, the Oregon
DMV and Oregon Department
of Transportation have provid-
ed some statistics:
• In 2002, drivers aged 65
and older constituted 14.05
percent of all Oregon drivers,
yet experienced 11.01 percent
of total injury and fatal acci-
dents. In contrast, drivers 16 to
19 constituted 5.79 percent of
all drivers, yet experienced
12.45 percent of all injury and
fatal accidents.
• Nationally, drivers aged 65
and older are increasingly mo-
bile, driving an average of 15.3
miles per day in 2001, up from
12.7 miles per day in 1995.
• The time older Americans
spent driving in 2001 increased
28 percent since 1995.
• In 2002, 96 older Oregon
drivers were killed in crashes,
compared to 91 in 1992. During
the same period, overall traffic
fatalities decreased from 471 in
1992 to 436 in 2002.
Some information:
• Most mature drivers are
able to assess and regulate
their driving, continuing to drive
safely throughout their lives.
However, age-related changes
in vision and reaction times
may affect older adults.
• Older drivers are more sus-
ceptible to medical complica-
tions following motor vehicle
crash injuries. In an accident,
older people are more likely to
die from their injuries.
• Individuals, such as family,
friends, physicians and health
care providers are in the best
position to observe seniors’
cognitive and functional skills
that are required for safe mobil-
ity. Under a new “Medically-At-
Risk” law it is their responsibili-
ty to refer potentially impaired
drivers to appropriate licensing
agencies for selective review.
GRAND RE-OPENING!!
A PRIL 3 RD
Surprizes & Prizes Galore!
Morning Mis t Gif t s & More
919 Bridge St. • Vernonia • 503-429-7003
OUT ON A LIMB IS RE-OPENING
IN DOWNTOWN
VERNONIA
April 3rd
919 Bridge St.
Vernonia
Grand Opening
will have lots of
Prizes & Suprises!!!
Come see all the new inventory!!!