The INDEPENDENT, August 2, 2007
Page 7
Community
Senior News
By Karen Miller
Any-
one re-
member
t h a t
t u n e ,
“sum-
mertime,
summer-
t i m e ,
sum sum
summertime…”? Now I’ll go
nuts until I remember who sang
that. At any rate, summer is half
over already but there are still
events ahead: Jamboree this
weekend, have a safe and fun
time; see you at our senior pic-
nic August 17 at Anderson
Park, begins at 10, lunch at
noon; Old Timer’s picnic Au-
gust 19, also at Anderson Park;
and don’t forget September 22,
the Vernonia Senior Center
Hunting and Fishing Raffle
and Dinner. You just might be
the lucky winner of a Ruger 300
Magnum rifle or a Husqvarna
chainsaw, and lots more hunt-
ing and fishing paraphernalia;
read The Independent for more
information on this upcoming
fun event!! Raffle tickets are
being sold at Napa Auto Parts,
Vernonia Hardware, Vernonia
Senior Center, Sporty’s in
Clatskanie, and catch Larry
down at, where else, Vernonia
Lake at his Old Sawmill Eatery.
Sweet Adelines will be serv-
ing their usual pancake break-
fast here at our center’s dining
hall and selling pies, Saturday
only, August 4. More informa-
tion in The Independent’s Jam-
boree Guide .
Another thank you goes to
our cook, Connie King, who
made the spaghetti sauce for
our successful Cycle Oregon
dinner. Thanks, Connie, for all
your extra help.
Welcome back former senior
center cook Jamie Peura, who
is cooking on Mondays and as-
sists on Fridays. It’s great to
have your smiling face around
again, and your added touch!
For seniors out there in need
of some legal assistance – Le-
gal Aid does have a pro bono
program, call my office to see if
you qualify, 429-9112.
Call my office for sign ups for
AARP Safe Driving Class for
August in Scappoose.
The Foster Grand-parent/
Senior Companion Program
wants you to help your commu-
Seniors need only sellable items
nity.
Volunteer and get rich by
helping others! Foster Grand-
parent volunteers help kids with
reading, and become their
friends. Senior Companion vol-
unteers bring joy and comfort to
lonely and isolated seniors
through companionship, res-
pite, and personal care.
Benefits: Earn a stipend of
$2.65/hour completely non-
taxable. Receive up to $425
monthly.
Mileage reimbursement of
$.35 per mile if you use your
own vehicle for visits. Also re-
imbursement for other forms of
transport (taxi,bus).
Training.
Fun times and good friends.
You can work up to 40 hours
per week.
Eligibility – Volunteers
must:
Be at least 60 years of age.
Be in good health/no crimi-
nal background.
Meet income guidelines:
$1064 or less per month for
household of one; $1426 or
less per month for household of
two; $1789 or less per month
for household of three
Income amounts can be re-
duced for high medical, dental,
drug or health insurance costs.
If these programs are of
interest to you, please call
my office at 429-9112.
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.
REMEMBER:
• Pastries and bread
Wednesday and Saturday a.m.
• Bingo, Mondays at lunch.
• Music with the Golden
Oldies on Wednesdays.
• Games on Thursdays.
• Sign language class at
9:00 a.m. on Mondays.
• Breakfast every Friday,
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., $3.00.
INFORMATION NUMBERS
Senior Advocate...429-9112
Senior Center.......429-3912
Transportation......429-4304
“Old Grads” get Picnic planned
ready for picnic for “Montana”
The annual picnic of the
Vernonia Society and “Old
Grads” will be held August 19
at Anderson Park in Vernonia.
Registration starts at 10:00
a.m.
Hot dogs and soft drinks will
be on sale by Vernonia Pride,
or bring a picnic lunch. Coffee
and cups will be provided.
All former Vernonia resi-
dents and their families are in-
vited to visit with old friends or
meet some new ones.
Are you from Montana or
just love Montana? If so, go to
the 17th annual Montana Pic-
nic on Saturday, August 25,
starting at 11:00 a.m. at Horse-
shoe Lake Park in Woodland,
Washington.
Free coffee, pop and prizes.
Bring a potluck dish and your
own utensils. Any musicians
are welcome.
This is a great opportunity to
make new Montana friends or
visit with old ones. For more in-
formation, call 503-543-3800.
Mid-Summer Back-to-School Sale!
Sunday’s Best
Women’s, Misses
& Men’s Clothing
20%, 30%,
40%, 50% off
select items
Buy your towels here!
884 Bridge St., Vernonia • 503-429-2530
across the street from the coffee shop
The Vernonia Senior Center
continues to have trouble with
people dumping junk, perhaps
in the guise of donations, in
their parking lot during
evenings and weekends. The
seniors and their volunteers
must then find someone, and
sometimes pay, to have this
garbage removed.
The senior center will pursue
prosecution against anyone
caught ‘dumping’ items on their
property. If you have legitimate
items to donate for re-sale,
contact the senior center dur-
ing regular operating hours.
If you see someone dump-
ing items when the center is
closed, please report it by call-
Above, right: example of an
item dumped at the senior
center after hours recently.
Buy a brick and
help the Grange
During “Open Mike Night” at
the Vernonia Grange on Friday,
August 3, 8-10:00 p.m., you
can buy a commemorative
brick from the chimney of the
100 year-old Grange hall.
Funds will be used to install the
first, ever, gutters on the hall.
ing Columbia County 9-1-1 Dis-
patch at their non-emergency
number, 1-800-696-7795.
Sign-up now for
big Garage Sale
The 9th annual Vernonia
Community Garage Sale will
take place from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sep-
tember 15.
Over 40 households, plus
some multi-households, usual-
ly participate in the Community
Garage Sale. Some partici-
pants donate their proceeds to
area charities.
To sign-up or for more infor-
mation, call Helen or Ken at
503-429-6203.