The INDEPENDENT, June 16, 2011
Where to Find Them
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
(Dem)
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585
Portland OR 97232
Phone: 503-326-7525
223 Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510-0001
Phone: 202-224-5244
E-Mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/
contact
Website: http://wyden.senate.
gov
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
(Dem.)
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-326-3386
313 Hart Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3753
E-Mail: http://merkley.senate.
gov/contact
WebSite: http://merkley.senate.
gov
U.S. Representative David Wu
(Dem) OR District 1
620 SW Main, Suite 606
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: 503-326-2901
2338 Rayburn House Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-0855
Website: http://house.gov/wu
Senator Betsy Johnson
(Dem) Senate District 16
PO Box R,
Scappoose, OR 97056
Phone: 503-543-4046
900 Court St. NE, S-314
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1716
E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@
state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/johnson
Representative Brad Witt
(Dem) House District. 31
21740 Lindberg Road,
Clatskanie, OR 97016
Phone: 503-728-4664
900 Court St. NE, H-373
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1431
E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/witt
Representative Deborah
Boone
(Dem) House District 32
PO Box 926
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Phone: 503-717-9182
900 Court St. NE, H-375
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1432
E-mail: rep.deborahboone@
state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/boone
Page 3
Letters
Update on work to
move Health Center
To the Editor:
We would like to take this
opportunity to address recent
questions that have surfaced in
the community. We hope a re-
view of the history and where
we are to date will answer
these questions.
As you all know, we were
flooded in 2007 and in previous
articles we informed you that
the Vernonia Health Center
building is mandated to move
out of the flood plane by De-
cember 2012.
In the pursuit of that mission,
we have found that, unfortu-
nately, there are no funding op-
portunities available for a new
facility given our current operat-
ing partnership.
In order to maintain the high
level of services this communi-
ty needs, we have had to pur-
sue other sources of funding
available to us, including the
basic primary business partner-
ship.
In looking at the opportuni-
ties available, we requested the
aid of the Governor’s Office,
Oregon Solutions, O.P.C.A
(Oregon Primary Care Associ-
ates), Oregon Office of Rural
Health, Senators Betsy John-
son, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley,
Representatives David Wu,
Brad Witt, and Columbia Coun-
ty Commissioner Tony Hyde.
Senator Johnson graciously
made the introductions to the
Coastal Family Health Center
which has been a successful
medical clinic practicing the
past 8 years under the guid-
ance of CEO Jim Coffee, MPA.
After meeting with Mr. Coffee
and looking at all available op-
portunities, the Vernonia Health
Center Board of Directors
weighed pros and cons and it
was obvious that it would be in
the community’s best interest to
apply for approval of our new
partnership with Coastal Family
Health Center.
The partnership with Coastal
Family Health Center brings
with it, the following:
• New funding opportunities
to move the clinic out of the
flood plain.
• Expansion of clinic hours to
meet the needs of the work-
force, to include the potential of
evenings, weekends.
• Continuation to provide
quality services to the insured
and underinsured, and non-in-
sured.
• Expanded dental and men-
tal health services.
• Acceptance of all major in-
surance carriers.
• Transportation to and from
appointments.
• Expanded opportunity of
physician recruitment and long
term retainment.
We will be notified of the ap-
proval or denial of this applica-
tion by the end of this year,
2011.
Coastal Family Health Cen-
ter and Providence Health and
Services are working diligently
together to ensure a smooth
transition, including joint hiring
of clinic staff. You will probably
notice some new faces at the
medical center as the transition
unfolds. The employees hired
through this process are antici-
pated to make the transition to
the new partnership with
Coastal Family Health Center.
The health board is currently
working in partnership with the
City on development of the
Rose Avenue project as the
new medical center location.
We look forward to keeping
you informed as new informa-
tion materializes.
Vernonia Health Center
Board of Directors
Goals met, Vernonia
Pride will disband
To the Editor:
Vernonia Pride was formed
in 1994 by Genny Fisher, a
long-time resident of Vernonia
who moved to Longview after
she married her present hus-
band. When her husband re-
tired they moved back to Ver-
nonia and Genny was very dis-
mayed by the appearance of
our downtown. It didn’t take her
long to enlist the help of others;
such as Shirlee Daughtry, Enid
Parrow, and Dorothy Hass, and
Vernonia Pride was formed.
It was the group’s purpose to
instill pride in the community,
and to make our downtown
more attractive.
We have decided that with
the help of downtown business-
es, who have painted, planted
flowers, etc., we have accom-
plished this goal.
After reviewing these proj-
ects, and since our group is so
small, our present group mem-
bers have decided to disband
Vernonia Pride.
To our credit, these are
some of the many projects our
group has contributed to or pro-
vided: Replaced ceiling tiles,
painted, new carpeting and
window blinds for the old li-
brary; purchased kitchen appli-
ances for the new City Hall; re-
placed the water fountain in
front of the old Penney’s build-
ing; provided the wood bench-
es; garbage can receptacles;
the coyotes and bears on the
light poles; welcome sign and
landscaping at the entrance to
Vernonia; bricks and trees in
front of Shay Park; walking tour
plaques of downtown buildings
and the tour book; Pocket in the
Woods historical book; flags for
downtown and Shay Park; sign
for Pioneer Cemetery; flowers
for the garbage receptacles
and parks; Yard of the Month;
and (with help from the Cham-
ber of Commerce) the new
street banners; donated $500
each to the logger memorial
which will be placed at the mu-
seum and to the new sign that
will replace the Elk as you enter
town.
We have sponsored the an-
nual “Make Vernonia Shine
day”, the 4th of July Parade
and fireworks, the Christmas
tree lighting and the parade.
With our remaining money
we will be purchasing bricks
and a tree for the addition to
Shay Park, doggie bag holders
and bags for each block down-
town, a banner for the Farmer’s
Market, garbage cans, and re-
furbishing of garbage recepta-
cles and benches.
It is our hope that some oth-
er group or individuals will step
up to continue some of the proj-
ects this group has done.
DeDe Webb
Vernonia Pride
Stamp Out Hunger
effort is really a help
To the Editor:
Dear Letter Carriers:
Thank you for running the
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
on May 14, 2011. Thanks to
your efforts and the generosity
of the Vernonia people, 1,066
lbs. of food was delivered to
this food bank. Thank you so
very much for your organiza-
tion, work, and generosity to
make this event happen. Spe-
cial thanks to Peter O’Leary for
taking the lead for this project.
In 2011, Vernonia Cares
Food Bank assisted an average
of 394 people per month with
three days worth of emergency
groceries. We can only do this
through generous donations
like the food the Stamp Out
Hunger Food Drive brought in.
Sandy Welch
Executive Director
Vernonia Cares Food
Bank
Thanks to many for a
successful plant sale
To the Editor:
We would like to say a big
“Thank You” to everyone who
donated, volunteered their
time, and all the wonderful peo-
ple who came and purchased
plants and things at the Senior
Center Plant sale. We were
able to raise well over $1,000
much needed dollars for the
Senior Center. Good Job Ver-
nonia!
Jack Harvey
Vernonia Senior Center
June First Friday was
another great event
To the Editor:
The second First Friday of
the Season, June 3rd, brought
crafters, musicians and visitors
to the Scout Cabin for an
evening of shopping, cookie
decorating, visiting neighbors
and enjoying music.
Please see page
Policy on Letters
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zens. Preference will be giv-
en to brief letters, 300 words
or less.
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and include a verifiable ad-
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— NOTICE —
The INDEPENDENT pub-
lishes on the first and third
Thursday of each month. Be-
cause June has five Thurs-
days, there will be three
weeks before the next issue,
on July 7, 2011.
The deadline for the July 7
issue is Friday, July 1.