The INDEPENDENT, May 6, 2004
Page 11
Help available for parental stress Financial IQ
Head Start now enrolling three
When stress in the family is ior can make parenting less e s s a y s s o u g h t and four year olds for classes
causing negative effects on re- stressful.
lationships, that is the time to
Discipline is a major chal- f r o m t e e n s
Head Start, a federally fund-
Head Start incorporates a
reach out for support. Every-
one needs help from time to
time. Ways to reach out in-
clude:
Building a support network
of family and friends. Talk with
them often. Share your con-
cerns, and ask for help when it
is needed. Offer to support
them in return.
Look into community re-
sources. Take advantage of
services that can help your
family. For example, the com-
munity may offer emergency
and sick-child care, home
health visits, after-school pro-
grams and more.
Another key to rewarding
family relationships is to learn
more about parenting. Remem-
ber, children are not small
adults; they have their own
ways of thinking and growing
and usually don’t misbehave
on purpose. Learning to under-
stand children and their behav-
Locals named to
SOU Dean’s list
Jamie Easlon and Tegan
Jones, both of Vernonia, were
named to the 2004 winter
Dean’s List at Southern Ore-
gon University.
Undergraduates taking at
least 12 graded credits are eli-
gible for the list if they achieve
a grade point average of 3.50
through 3.99.
Easlon is enrolled in general
studies, Jones is in the Theatre
program.
lenge for many parents. Be
aware that, without planning,
discipline may be ineffective or
even harmful. There is a differ-
ence between discipline and
punishment. Positive discipline
helps children learn.
Parenting workshops are a
good way to learn more about
effective parenting. Programs
are often available through
schools, hospitals and commu-
nity centers.
Help can also be found
through Columbia Community
Mental Health. For more infor-
mation, call 503-429-1053.
GED/ABE classes
continue at VHS
Although college level class-
es are no longer available in
Vernonia, Basic Education
(ABE) and GED classes are still
being offered in Vernonia by
Portland Community College.
Classes are held Tuesdays
and Thursdays through June 3
from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 4
at Vernonia High School. Partici-
pants may work at their own
pace, with some group work. No
appointment is needed.
Enter Vernonia High School
using the parking lot ramp en-
trance. A class fee waiver is
available for low income, OHP,
WIC, or Food Stamp clients.
Bring copies of proof to class.
For more information, con-
tact Diane Thompson at 503-
244-6111, ext. 3162 or (cell)
503-709-7793.
Lawn care tips make life easier
for concerned (or lazy) gardener
Whether you’re a wicked
weed whacker or a casual
composter, it’s easy to have a
healthy landscape without ex-
pensive and time-consuming
maintenance.
Reduce your lawn and land-
scape with Pacific Northwest
native vegetation. Native plants
are naturally adapted to our en-
vironment, don’t need chemi-
cals to survive, and require less
water. They also filter pollutants
that wash off your lawn and
garden and go into local
streams. Here’s how you can
find and choose the right na-
tives:
• Go to <www.CleanWaterS
ervices.org/GoNative>
and
check the boxes next to your
specific landscape traits. The
Native Plant Finder will give
you a selection of Northwest
natives suitable for your yard.
• Call to get your free Gar-
dening with Native Plants
poster at 503-681-3643. Post
this colorful fold-out poster con-
taining 50 northwest natives
with their growing conditions.
You’ll also get a list of native
plant nurseries, educational
workshops, annual native plant
sales and a reference guide.
Remember: What goes into
storm drains and ditches goes
into the river!
In the spirit of Governor Ku-
longoski’s proclamation of April
as financial literacy month, the
Oregon Department of Con-
sumer & Business Services is
holding a financial IQ essay
contest for high-school-aged
students. The purpose of the
contest is to raise awareness
among young Oregonians
about the risks and rewards of
saving and investing for their
future and the importance of
defining financial goals at an
early age.
The essay contest is open
to all Oregonians ages 14-18.
Students need to answer the
question: “It’s your future. So
how are you going to pay for
it?” They may consider the fol-
lowing in their response:
• What are your overall
goals and what is the best way
to achieve them?
• What kind of financial in-
struments would you use?
• What are the risks?
• Where would you go to get
financial advice and informa-
tion?
• How would you determine
if financial advice is legitimate?
The deadline for the two-
page essays is May 17, 2004. A
complete list of rules and relat-
ed details is available on the
DCBS Division of Finance &
Corporate Securities’ Web site,
<dfcs.oregon.gov>. Click on
“Investor Information Program.”
“With $1,500 in prizes, I
hope this contest encourages
young students in the state to
think about their personal fi-
nancial objectives and how
best to achieve them,” said
Floyd Lanter, DFCS adminis-
trator. “Although it is never too
late to begin an investment
plan, starting early increases
your chances for success,” he
added. “In addition, a properly
educated investor is a scam-
mer’s worst enemy.”
ed pre-school program, is
seeking students for the 2004-
2005 school year. Applications
are being taken for all three
and four year-olds in Columbia
and Clatsop Counties. Recruit-
ment for fall enrollment is now
in progress and will be com-
pleted in June. If parents are in-
terested in enrollment informa-
tion they are urged to phone
immediately.
Prospective students must
be three or four years old by
September 1, 2004. Children
must be from limited income
households or have a disability
and/or special needs to qualify.
VRFPD seeks
funds for kids
safety classes
The Vernonia Rural Fire
Protection District (VRFPD) is
seeking financial support to
provide effective fire safety ma-
terials to all children ages five
through twelve about the dis-
trict’s fire and burn prevention
program.
Each donation of $96.00 will
allow VRFPD to reach 35 chil-
dren. In appreciation for the
donations, the donor’s name or
business name will be placed
on a page in the fire safety ac-
tivity workbooks.
The firefighters at VRFPD
are confident that many fires
and fire losses can be prevent-
ed by making children aware of
fire safety issues.
This is the only program of
this type the department is con-
ducting. Tax-deductible checks
may be made payable to the
National Fire Safety Council,
Inc., and mailed to Paul Epler’s
attention at the Vernonia Fire
Department, 555 E. Bridge St.,
Vernonia, OR 97064. Contribu-
tions will be used exclusively
for the children.
Genesis Sports Deli
Roast Beef & Cheese Sandwich Only $3.00
Includes Small Drink If You Call Ahead.
GOOD LUCK EATING ALL OF IT!
We Have Truck Parking
503-556-1777
27627 Old Rainer Rd., Rainer OR
total family program that in-
cludes nutrition, education,
medical and dental services for
the enrolled child and home
visitations. USDA approved
meals are served. Training on
various subjects and on-the-
job-training is offered to all en-
rolled families.
The Vernonia Center is lo-
cated on California Avenue ad-
jacent to Blue Heron apart-
ments. Families who live in the
Mist, Birkenfeld and Vernonia
areas may call Gina Dixon at
503-429-9243 for more infor-
mation.
The program is also avail-
able in the Clatskanie area by
calling Celeste Pilgrim at 503-
728-2940. Families in the
Knappa and Svensen areas
may call Collette Johnson at
503-861-9681. Rainier area
Head Start information is avail-
able by calling Ruth Donaldson
at 503-556-2807.
Head Start is an agency of
Community Action Team, Inc.
serving Clatsop, Columbia and
Tillamook counties.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
(USDA) and the State of Ore-
gon prohibit discrimination in all
USDA programs and activities
on the basis of race, color, na-
tional origin, sex, religion, age
or disability.
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