The INDEPENDENT, July 16, 2009 You can design VNO logo and win Register now to Each year, while we are en- Drop off your submission learn to paint joying our Vernonia Friendship Jamboree, the rest of the coun- try is celebrating National Night Out. But those in Vernonia get their kicks later in August dur- ing Vernonia’s Night Out (VNO). Because Vernonia has a unique, local celebration, a unique, locally-designed logo seems appropriate. Everyone in town is eligible to enter*, re- gardless of age. Rules for Submitted Artwork: • Must be an original piece • Must not include ANY ex- isting logos • Must be two-dimensional (photography, collage, digital prints, etc, as long as it’s flat) • No larger than 12" by 17" • Tax value of submission must be under $100 • One submission per per- son, please! and signed Contributor License Agreement by August 14 at the Vernonia Police Department of- fice during regular business hours. If no one is available at the VPD office, please leave your submission with the City Hall staff. The winner will be decided by a vote of staff members and volunteers in City Hall and VPD. (City Hall and VPD staff and volunteers may submit art- work, but will not be able to vote for the winner.) The win- ning entry will be posted on the Vernonia Police Dept. website and made into a banner for the VNO celebration. In addition, the artist will receive a certifi- cate of thanks from VPD and a tax deduction receipt. Questions? Email us at con- tactvpd@vernonia-or.gov. Learn about Medicare on Aug. 8 What you don’t know about Medicare health insurance could hurt you financially. For example, if you miss important enrollment deadlines, your Medicare can cost more for life. If you don’t understand what your health insurance covers you might pay bills you don’t owe, or miss out on benefits you may have been eligible to receive. Learn about Medicare and how to get free, personalized help with Medicare on Tuesday, August 4, at the Vernonia Se- nior Center. A free, two-hour class, “Medicare ABC and Ds”, will start at 9:30 a.m. Register by calling 503-429-3912. In addition to learning about Medicare benefits, you can learn about the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program (SHIBA). SHIBA is sponsored by Medicare and the State of Oregon and offers free Medicare counseling. It also produces “user friendly” materials that explain your choices for health plans and drug coverage. These materi- als will be provided at the class. This class is for anyone who is interested in learning more about Medicare. That includes people who are already en- rolled but need to be aware of changes. For example: Did you know that in October you may re- ceive a letter from your health insurance plan announcing that your premiums will go up and you will receive fewer benefits? Also, some private Medicare Advantage health plans may discontinue coverage in your area. Your drug plan will probably change its rates and increase co-pays and drop drugs from coverage, too. If you don’t re- view your benefits each No- vember/December, you may find out at the pharmacy in Jan- uary that your plan no longer covers one of your very impor- tant medications. By then, it will be too late to change plans. If you can’t attend the class, but would like help with Medicare, call SHIBA at 1-800- 722-4134. Action Ads How about painting as a good Fall project? Oil and/or Acrylic. Plans are in process for a class, sponsored by Ver- nonia Arts & Crafts, to be held by instructor Walter Neuman. You may have seen his work during the First Friday exhibits. Pre-registration is advised as some supplies will be re- quired. Look for the time and date the class will start in the next issue. For more information, call Walter at 503-799-4527 or Louise at 503-49-7401. Sign up now for community sale The Vernonia Community Wide Garage Sale will be September 19. Anyone inter- ested in signing up or getting more information can contact Helen Bateman at 503-429- 6203. This will be the 11th year for the sale. E-waste recycle event in Astoria Clatsop County and neigh- boring Oregon residents can drop off for free their unwanted televisions, computers and monitors for recycling at a spe- cial collection event scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, July 18, at the Clat- sop County Fairgrounds, 92937 Walluski Loop in Asto- ria. Page 7 Senior News By Karen Miller, Senior Services Community Action Team A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly, her hus- band burst into the kitchen. “Careful,” he said, “CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh no, You’re cooking too many at once. Turn Them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter.Oh no, they’re going to STICK! Careful! I said CAREFUL! You NEVER lis- ten to me when you’re cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! You know you always for- get to salt them, use the salt!” The wife stared at him, “What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don’t know how to fry a couple of eggs?” The husband calmly replied, “I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I’m driving!” Sign up for our next AARP driving class, here at the Vernonia Senior Center. Call 503-429-0273, Karen Miller. Medicare and you 2009. Come see me for any Medicare con- cerns you may have; also I can direct you to a volunteer SHIBA representative here in Columbia County for health questions and concerns. Watch this column for future Senior Law Days, hosting an at- torney who will help you with certain issues, free of charge for a limited office time. Call my office at 503-429-0273 to sign up. Information and Referral: Alcohol, Drug Abuse, Tobacco. Call my office for information. SENIOR CENTER NEWS: • Five Area Lunch: Will be held in Rainier on the 27th this month. Join seniors from throughout Columbia County for this monthly gathering hosted by a different senior center each month. Call the center to sign up for the bus. • Week Day Lunches: The Vernonia Senior Center offers week- day lunch to the general public for $3.00 for those under 60 and on a donation basis for those 60 and over. Meals at noon, or call 503-429-3912 to reserve. • Thrift Store: Watch this column for the Center’s half price spe- cials. Open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Saturdays. INFORMATION NUMBERS Senior Services...429-9112 Senior Center.......429-3912 Transportation......429-4304 Home of Northwest Microbrews,Wines, Sandwiches, Coffees, Smoothies & More INEXPENSIVE – EFFECTIVE 503-429-9410 $4.50 for the first 10 words, then just 10¢ for each additional word ™ LLC 831 Bridge Street Vernonia, Oregon Open Daily 503-429-0214