The INDEPENDENT, April 2, 2009 Community Eat a burger to help the cemetery A Hamburger dinner will be held at the Vernonia Senior Center on April 18, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The meal, at $5 per person, will include a cheese- burger or hamburger, salad, chips, dessert and beverage. The proceeds will be used to buy a cordless microphone for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Vernonia Cemetery, plus maintenance at the cemetery. Bring a canned food dona- tion for Vernonia Cares and get a raffle ticket for free prizes. Or- ders to go will be available to those who call the Vernonia Senior Center at 503-429- 3912, between 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. on April 18th. Come celebrate Nat’l Library Week The community is invited to celebrate National Library Week at the Vernonia Public Li- brary, April 13-18. Take part in activities including a coloring contest, guessing contests, a scavenger hunt and entertain- ment by BJ the Clown. Families are especially en- couraged to share the fun on Tuesday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. as BJ the Clown once again brings his suitcase of comedy and magic to Vernonia. Decorate a Salmon for Salmon Fest Have you ever thought about decorating a salmon? Well, if you would like to add your style to the fancy fish auc- tioned each year for the Ver- nonia Salmon Fest, here is an opportunity. Ten salmon blanks, created by Carvin’ Marvin Howard of North Plains, will be available for purchase this year for $50.00 each. The fourth annual Knee Deep In Salmon Auction is a fundraiser to help support the Vernonia Salmon Fest. Each salmon can be decorated by the artist in his or her own unique style. The proposal deadline for the salmon is June 15, with the completed salmon to be turned in July 15 for exhibition around town in various venues. The salmon will be on display the evening of October 2 during Vernonia’s First Friday, when the artists are also encouraged to come and discuss their work. The salmon will then go to the auction held during the Vernon- ia Salmon Fest, October 3 in Hawkins Park. The completed salmon must be returned to the committee for the fund raising auction. The artist is, of course, encouraged to bid on his or her own creation. Contact Erika Paleck for more info or to participate, at epaleck@gmail.com or by phone at 503-429-0898. 1st Fridays looking for your skills First Fridays wants you…to display or demonstrate your talents and your skills during First Fridays in Vernonia. First Fridays will be held every month, May through October. The event features all kinds of art and craft, from basket weaving to oil painting and ce- ramics to leather working. If you would like to sell and or display your work, or offer demonstrations of your skill, we WANT YOU!! Contact Erika Paleck for more info or to participate: epaleck@gmail.com or 503- 429-0898. Page 7 Senior News By Karen Miller, Senior Advocate Community Action Team Well, spring h a s sprung – but my s n o w shovel is still on t h e porch… Hoping that you are eluding all these bugs going around. Here are nine ways to help you stay healthy: 1. Give blood. Blood donors receive a mini-check up and a health interview when they donate, which would be beneficial to donors’ good health. 2. Wash up. Washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water are effective meas- ures in preventing the spread of infectious disease. 3. Drive Less. Driving less will put additional money in your wallet. 4. Sleep In. Sleep disorders can be linked with serious health problems such as high blood pressure and heart at- tacks. 5. Go Fishing. A simple way to reduce the risk of a heart at- tack or stroke is to eat more fish. 6. Be careful on the antibi- otics. Overuse and over-pre- scription of antibiotics may lead April 18th to drug resistance, which has become a serious health con- cern. 7. Have a Shot. Protect yourself by staying current on immunizations. 8. Check it Out. An ounce of prevention, they say, is the best medicine; don’t neglect your annual check-up. 9. Take Time to Smell the Roses. You know, relax, spend time with family and friends; like coming in here to the Cen- ter for visiting and fun. DID YOU KNOW: Food stamp benefits are GOING UP! The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in- creased Food Stamp benefits. You may get extra benefits starting in April 2009. You do not have to do anything. The extra benefits will be added au- tomatically to your EBT card. To find out how much you will receive, call the number listed on the back of your EBT card after April 1st. This information from DHS is supplied by Com- munity Action Team. HALF OFF at the thrift store during the month of April! The Center is NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEWSPAPERS at this time. Please recycle. Take Note: If you need sewing or mending, call the Center for the number of a sen- ior who is willing to help. Call my office for the number of Community Action Team’s Veteran’s Service Representa- tive, 503-429-9112. Can you relate to the guy who bought some group health insurance? All was well until he went to cash in a claim. He dis- covered the whole group need- ed to be sick. INFORMATION NUMBERS Senior Advocate...429-9112 Senior Center.......429-3912 Transportation......429-4304 Wells and septics topic of free talk Managing and maintaining wells and septic systems will be the topic of a free communi- ty education program on Satur- day, April 4, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Washington Coun- ty Extension Office, 18640 NW Walker Road, Beaverton. Basic information will be pro- vided by Mike Gamroth, Pro- fessor of OSU Extension Ser- vice Water Quality Program. Bring a sample of water for a free nitrate test. Though walk-ins are wel- come, pre-registration is sug- gested so there will be enough material on-hand. To pre-regis- ter, call OSU Extension Service at 503-821-1150. 10am to 6pm 11am - 3pm Mackenzie Carr, Miss 2009 NPRA, Bush to speak at Pioneer Museum The next Vernonia Pioneer Museum Talk features Jerry Bush, who went from first grade at Lincoln Grade School to graduation at Vernonia High School. His family owned the Nehalem Dairy and Jerry deliv- ered milk. The Bush family also delivered beer, ran the funeral parlor, and Bush’s Furniture. Jerry Bush will talk about his days in Vernonia, on April 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the museum. He will also have movies that his mother took of Vernonia start- ing in the late ‘40s. The Vernonia Pioneer Muse- um is located at 511 E. Bridge St., next to the Vernonia Fire Dept. Museum Talks are free. Schwan’s Block Party 11 am - 3 pm With Great Schwan’s Treats For All. Steve Vredenburg DVM Vaccine Clinic 12 pm- 3 pm For swine, goats, dogs, cats, horses and cattle. 1103 Bridge St, Vernonia On the corner of Rose Ave. & Bridge St. at the blinking light Camarda Gardens 10 am - 6 pm