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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2009)
The INDEPENDENT, November 19, 2009 Art by Michener donated to Museum The Vernonia Pioneer Muse- um recently received a hand- painted crosscut saw donated by Gladys Sharar Gans. The saw was given to Gladys by the artist, Delmer Michener, shortly before his death in the mid- 1980s. The son of Otto and Tressie Hickox Michener, Delmer was a Vernonia resident most of his life. He became deaf at the age of two and attended the Oregon Deaf School in Salem begin- ning at age eight. There he met his future wife, Violet, who was from Montana and also a stu- dent at the school. After their marriage in 1948, they lived in Libby, Montana, where Delmer truly developed his love of the outdoors and na- ture. Trained as a cabinet mak- er, Delmer soon changed his career to work in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. He be- came a skilled heavy equip- ment operator until his retire- ment from Crown Zellerbach. His love of art took many day afternoon by George Laws in the Brickel building. In his an- nouncement of the opening, Laws pointed out that the firm would of- fer both new and used appliances for sale and would also do servic- ing and electronic repair work. Charles Fugate will be associ- ated with him and will be in the store from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay Gladys Sharar Gans and Carol Davis, left to right, stand in front of the Shay locomotive with the saw Gans recently do- nated to the Vernonia Pioneer Museum. forms including woodcarving, Gans’ long-treasured saw. It painting and lapidary. Like will be on display in the window Gans, many of his Vernonia of The Independent until mid- friends are fortunate to have January when it will be placed been given examples of his on permanent display at the work. The Vernonia Pioneer museum. Museum is honored to receive Make Medicare plan choice by Dec. 31 If you have Medicare insur- ance, it’s time to re-examine your plan to see if it still is the best fit for you. Anyone current- ly on Medicare has until De- cember 31 to modify his or her medical and drug insurance. Even if you’re satisfied with your current plan, it is important to check that your prescriptions are still covered, because in- surance companies routinely change their drug lists. You can go to www. Medicare.gov, click on “Com- pare Drug Plans” then “View Your Current Plan” to check out your plan’s coverage for next year. The website also offers many tools for finding alterna- tives and comparing medical and drug plans. For an overview of all plans offered in Columbia County pick up a copy of the SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Ben- efits Assistance) guide to Medicare. County senior cen- ters should be getting these guides soon, if they don’t al- ready have them. You can also order one on the SHIBA web- site www.oregonshiba.org or by calling 800-722-4134. The single most important thing to do if you are consider- ing changing plans is to check with your medical provider’s school. New proprietors are Mr. and Mrs. Gene Larson who recently moved to Vernonia from Birken- feld. They have invited everyone to come in and get acquainted Sat- urday when ice cream, doughnuts and coffee will be served. Laws Electronic Service, a new business here, was opened Satur- Page 9 business office first. Make sure they accept the new insurance before you switch. If this all seems too much – and Medicare is incredibly con- fusing – you can schedule an appointment with a SHIBA vol- unteer by calling the Scap- poose Senior Center at 503- 543-2047. SHIBA volunteers are trained by the state to help people understand the Medi- care program. They provide un- biased, free help with Medicare plan choices and do not recom- mend or sell any specific plan. 50 Years Ago This Month5 The November 5, 1959, is- sue of the Vernonia Eagle in- cluded the following news story on the front page: Scheduled for re-opening under new management this week end is the Pine Cone fountain and lunch located at the intersection of Bridge and Washington streets just across the street from the high I have looked up the word, “Moxie” (small letter, not capital) but it deserves the “M” as far as Shadow’s housemate goes – n. slang; 1) vigor, verve, pep, 2) courage, boldness, nerve. I would add “she-devil” to the list. She has all of the above traits, plus she is learning to fly from floor to chair top to chair top – is quicker than a mouse at es- caping from human hands. She steals dog food so Shadow is now stealing cat food – huhh… Now a personal note (ho, ho) to all of the folks that were at the Vernonia Senior Center on November 4 when I made a surprise visit to see them – some turned to look at me – I had a fantastic birthday with all of you. Loved, loved, loved hearing the Golden Oldies in person again. I may make another visit before Christmas and, yes, I did see the “street of balloons” that day. My concern now is – did the city get final possession of that little bit of ground at the back of the prop- erty? (I could have missed it in reading the paper.) You have rain, we have rain, Portland has rain – but here is something to ponder: Portland has rain, Milwaukie has sunshine. Portland has wind, “M” has a breeze, “P” has thunder and lighten- ing off and on all day, “M” has it once. The east hills got hail like snow, we got a downpour. I think I picked the right side of Port- land to move to, but funny thing – Milwaukie is also Portland, they share the same Zip Code by a thin line. Do you recall the story (true) of the house that has a “state” line going through the center of it – half in one state and the other in an adjoining state? Well, that’s Milwaukie’s dilemma. My new church is having Thanksgiving dinner this coming Sun- day and already the “Giving Tree” is up and plans for Christmas dinner are in the works – are you ready for it? Or, did it sneak up on you also? I’m cooking, knitting and sitting and walking the dog. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.