The INDEPENDENT, April 7, 2005
Water shortage
potential exists
By Karen Miller
HBgOBgBSBgl
While the sunny, pleasant
weather throughout February
and most of March was enjoy
able, it resulted in a very dry
winter and spring. Recent rains
will not remedy the overall situ
ation. Dry weather during this
time of year is not common in
our little valley, so it is a good
opportunity to remind residents
that some important changes
may be needed.
First, dry weather means
high fire danger. The grass and
vegetation are green now, but
will become dry and haz
ardous. City of Vernonia ordi
nances require weeds and
grass to be kept no longer than
12 inches high (except for an
agricultural crop). This ordi
nance will be aggressively en
forced.
This provides an opportunity
to help one another. If an elder
ly or absent neighbor’s yard
needs a trim, or if your friend’s
lawnmower is in the shop, you
have a chance to do a random
act of kindness...providing you
have consent from the recipi
ent of your generosity.
Second, water is a limited
commodity. Citizens pay for
their water to be high quality,
safe and clean. Because the
primary source of water for
Vernonia is Rock Creek, the
city passed ordinances in 2003
that require water conservation
when the creek level drops to a
specified flow. That stage has
not yet been reached, but bul
letins will be issued when wa
ter conservation measures go
into effect.
*
The sunny, late winter
weather was a rare and mixed
blessing.
Though
normal
spring rains have begun, cau
tion is still needed regarding
fire hazards and water usage.
Amateur radio
exam scheduled
An Amateur Radio Examina
tion will be conducted Sunday,
May 15, at the Vernonia Fire
Hall, 555 E. Bridge St., for
those who are upgrading their
licenses. Exams will also be
available for those at the entry
level and for Morse Code. Li
cense manuals should be stud
ied prior to the exams.
For more information, con
tact Norm Roberts, at KB7CD,
503-429-2405 or < kb7cd.nor
m@iuno.com >.
I’ll tell
y o u
w h a t!
T h e
young
c ro w d
d o e s n ’t
have it
over the
s e n io rs
in Branson, Missouri’s amuse
ment park, Silver Dollar City!!
My husband and I just returned
from a week’s vacation there
with our daughter and family
from Oklahoma, and grandpar
ents were running around there
like nobody’s business. Well,
my son-in-law got me to ride
the Upside Down seven times,
Wildfire Ride... once.
At any rate, we’d like to let
everyone know that we would
like to encourage the younger
crowd to join us here; and get
the word out that lunch is for
everyone; we have a great time
on Wednesdays particularly,
with music every Wednesday
and free ice cream sundaes on
the last Wednesday of each
month. Ya’II come on in!!
What you don’t know won’t
hurt you? Not always!! Circle
your calendar for Thursday and
Friday, April 7 and 8, at 1:00
p.m. here at the Center and join
us for a Diabetic Workshop
taught by Gloria VanDeHey,
55 Alive classes
offered in April
55 Safe Driving Classes will
be offered in April in Washing
ton County at the following
times and locations:
April 11-12, from 8:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. at Tuality Hospital.
Call 503-681-1700 to sign up.
April 18-19, 1:00 to 5:00
p.m. at the Hillsboro Senior
Center. Call 503-648-3823 to
sign up.
The class is a refresher
course to sharpen driving
skills. The cost is $10. An in
surance discount applies to
qualified persons who com
plete the course.
R.N., C.D.E.
There will be healthy snacks
and door prizes. Questions?
Call 503-429-3912.
Even if you miss the one on
Thursday, you can still come
Friday.
Sentry Saver Shields: Con
nie, our cook, says she would
gladly welcome any loose
saver shields to fill the $10
books that she could use to
purchase roasts, etc., from
Sentry Market. Thank you for
thinking of us for your saver
shield donations!
We had a great lunch crowd
March 30. Over 50 people en
joyed the music and ice cream.
Last week’s lunch member
ship winner - Russ Taylor!
CAREGIVING respite relief
help is available provided
through Community Action
Team (CAT) funded by the Old
er Americans Act. If you are:
1) A senior 60 or over caring
for someone under the age of
18 or caring for someone 21 or
over with special needs, and/or
2) You are someone caring
for a person 60 or over.
Call my office to see if you
qualify for someone to come in
to relieve you up to 12 hours
per month.
Swimming classes in Forest
Grove are currently being
formed for those seniors 60
and over at no charge under
CAT’s Preventative Health
Grant. Call for information.
Footcare: April 15 and 29,
both Fridays. Also under this
CAT grant; donations gladly ac
cepted to the Senior Center.
Slots fill fast, call our office to
sign up. Judy, our footcare
nurse, does a great job.
Need a place to rent for your
function? Our dining hall is
available on Monday, Tuesday,
and Thursday evenings or Sat
urdays on a donation basis.
Call our President Bill James.
Come in to see our selection
of wedding/prom gowns for
sale from $35 to $75.
Some of you may remember
a former senior here in the Ver
nonia Community by the name
of Leola Ruff. We were hon
ored by her presence here last
Wednesday from North Plains
where she now resides. Leola
lovingly handmade a beautiful
double bed-sized quilt which
she and one of our members
here, Faith Reynolds, donated
to the Center. Faith wishes to
express her thanks to Leola
who, when Faith was a young
79, encouraged her to quilt.
Now Faith is one of our faithful
quilters here every Tuesday
helping to quilt some of our
Page 7
past spreads. These quilts
have brought in much needed
funds for the Center. This beau
tiful quilt will be auctioned off
this next Christmas season. It
will be on display here; come
on in. (Hmmmmm, sounds like
young folks don’t have much
over seniors around here ei
ther, Faith’s life story is quite
impressive, read this column
for a profile in the future!)
REMEMBER;
• Pastries
and
bread
Wednesday and Saturday a.m.
• Bingo, Mondays at lunch.
• Music with the Golden
Oldies on Wednesdays.
• Games on Thursdays.
• Willoughby Hearing every
second Friday at 11:00 a.m.
• Jazzercise class at 2:00
p.m. on Tuesdays.
• Free blood pressure
checks the first and third Tues
days, 10:45 to 11:45 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
ongratuiations
to the Employees of Camelot Care
Center on Their annual DEFICIENCY FREE
SURVEY!
It is such a privilege to work with a Team dedicated to providing excellent
care and services to our residents. THANK YOU for all you do to make
CAMELOT CARE CENTER an outstanding place to work.
Marquis Care
• Skilled Nursing Care • R ehabilitation
• Long Term Care • A d u lt Day Care
3300 19th Avenue, Forest Grove (503) 357-7119
Heather Miyake, Administrator
For information about Camelot Care Center,
call 503-359-0449
Vintage Suites
(Marquis Assisted Living Community)
Large Homey Apartments • Creative Meals
Laundry • Housekeeping • Transportation
3336 19th Avenue, Forest Grove (503) 359-1129