Veterans Affairs Opens New Health Care Clinic in Chehalis

The VA Puget Sound Health Care System has teamed up with Sterling Medical Associates to provide health care to veterans residing in Thurston and Lewis counties and the surrounding areas.
Services will include primary and mental health care, social work, lab and basic X-ray services. Pharmacy prescriptions will be filled in the local area with ongoing prescription medications filled by the VA.
"Veterans who currently receive their care through VA Puget Sound and live in the immediate area will have a choice of continuing their care with their current VA provider or transferring their care to the new South Sound Community Based Outpatient Clinic," said DeAnn Lestenkof, acting director for VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

The new clinic will be located in the Lewis County Mall at 151 N.E. Hampe Way, Suite B2-6 in Chehalis.

Letters will be going out soon to enrolled veterans asking if they would like to transfer their care to the new clinic. The clinic plans to see its first patients in mid-May.

Beginning Monday, veterans can contact VA Puget Sound Health Care System's centralized call center to transfer their care. Call 800-329-8387 and select option 2.

Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA health care but would like to receive care at the new clinic can call 800-329-8387, ext. 7-6542 to request an enrollment packet. Information also is available online at http://www.va.gov./

Article from The Daily News at http://www.tdn.com/

Mossyrock School Districts Vacation Schedule

We know that you will take some time with your son or daughter as he/she grieves the loss of a classmate, and in some instances, attends his/her first funeral. Although school personnel will be on hand to offer support to students, we are also asking parents to be there with their children to help them through this difficult time. Ben Lamotte is making good progress in his recovery from the accident. He and his family are grateful for the concern you have shown and your cards. In times such as this, the entire community comes together. There will be a benefit spaghetti feed and silent auction for Ben and his family at the school on Sunday, December 20. Saturday, December 19 o Girls’ Basketball vs. Orcas Island at Home—JV at 5:00 p.m. & Varsity to Follow Sunday, December 20 o Benefit Dinner for Ben Lamotte—2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.—Cafeteria Monday, December 21 o Board Meeting—6:00 p.m. Community Forum (M & O Levy Info)—regular board meeting to follow o Boys’ Basketball vs. Adna at Home—5:45 p.m. JV & Varsity to Follow Tuesday, December 22 o Girls’ Basketball at Adna—5:45 p.m. JV & Varsity to Follow o Boys’ Basketball at Raymond—5:45 p.m. JV & Varsity to Follow Wednesday, December 23 o 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm.—Holiday Dinner—“Free” Community Dinner (for Community Members Who Would Like a Helping Hand at Christmas Time) Sponsored by Student Athletes, Coaches, and AD—High School Cafeteria

BENEFITS TO HELP FAMILIES OF MOSSYROCK ACCIDENT VICTIMS

The East Lewis County Chamber sends its sincerest condolences to the family of Ryan Rashoff (parents Lori and Ron, brother Nick, sister Kendra, and extended family), who was killed in a tragic accident at the intersection of Hwy. 12 and Williams St., at the entrance to Mossyrock, on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all. We also pray for Ben Lamotte, who survived the accident, and his family. A memorial service for Ryan Rashoff will be held in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Mossyrock High School. The Mossyrock community is holding two benefits this week for the families: Rashoff Family Chili Feed, Silent Auction and 50/50 raffle: Thurs., Dec. 17, 4:00-9:00 p.m. at the Mossyrock Community Center. Contact Pioneer Bar & Grill with questions or donations: 983-3983. Ben Lamotte Family Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction: Sunday, Dec 20, 2:00-6:00 p.m., Mossyrock High School Multi-purpose Room. Contact Dani Rico, 880-1679. Funds for both families have been set up at Security State Bank -- you may make a donation at any branch; specify if it is for the Rashoff or Lamotte families. Mossyrock students are spearheading a drive to get a stoplight placed at this dangerous intersection. They have more than 1,800 members of a Facebook group they started as an online "petition" and there are also petitions available for community members to sign at the Mossyrock City Hall, Mossyrock High School office, Morton IGA, and Morton Town Country Flowers. To join the Facebook group, click here. Click here to watch a video of the candlelight vigil and town meeting held on Wed., Dec. 9, from the Chronicle newspaper. Article reprinted with permission of ELCCC

Community Support for Ben Lamotte

Benjamin Lamotte Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction

Sunday, Dec 20th- 2:00-6:00p.m.

Mossyrock High School Multi-purpose Room..

Come have dinner with us- bid on some great items and show your support. All proceeds will help the family with the expenses incurred while Ben is fighting for his life.

If anyone has any items for the auction please let me know. Contact Dani Rico ...880-1679

Donate to our School

Stop reading this, go to your closet, dig to the bottom and pull out that old musical instrument. Mrs. Sturgeon, the band instructor needs your band equipment. Please no procastinating, keep those wonderful band students blowing their horns. Donate now. You will see lots of activity Friday and Saturday this week due to Homecoming Weekend. Get out there and support your team. Go Vikings! Carlyn cjw4kids@yahoo.com

The Card Game from the New York Times

Buying a prepaid debit card these days is just about as easy as picking up a bottle of shampoo or a candy bar. Walk into a Wal-Mart or almost any major drugstore, and rows of plastic worth $25, $100 and even $500 beckon from kiosks alongside prepaid phone cards and gift cards for retailers. “No Credit Check. Safer Than Cash. No Bank Account Needed,” says the Green Dot Visa Prepaid Card: Just pay at the register and the card is ready for A.T.M. withdrawals, store purchases and online shopping. For many people who do not have bank accounts, or cannot get a credit card, the appeal is irresistible, making the reloadable cards among the consumer banking industry’s fastest-growing products. But their convenience comes with a catch: To Read More... Carlyn cjw4kids@yahoo.com

MAKE A CHILD'S DREAM COME TRUE

Please take a close look at these instruments. If any band instruments are hiding in your closet dust them and donate them to the Mossyrock School Band Department. Mrs. Sturgeon the Mossyrock band instructor from 5th thru 12th grade has an abundant group of 5th graders taking band this year. Twenty eight students need band equipment, most without the means to buy/rent their own. Mrs. Sturgeon does her best to repair and do upkeep on available instruments but has no resources to buy more equipment for the new students. With parents work schedules and after school activities, many students have little or no time to practice at home. To help alleviate the situation while encouraging students about the importance of being in the music program, Mrs. Sturgeon volunteers her time, opening her classroom before and after school so students can drop in to practice. She has reported as many as fifteen students practicing their instruments after school from 3-4 PM. She has a love for these children and the music they make. Lets do our part to help these wonderful students keep up the good work. THE MOST NEEDED ITEMS ARE CLARINETS, FLUTES, TRUMPETS, AND ALTO SAX. So take a minute to dig out that old instrument. Do not procrastinate they need them now. Box it up and send it to Mossyrock School District, or if you live in our area just stop on by and drop it off at the High School Office. You will truly be making a child's dream come true. Call 360-983-3183 to reach the school. Carlyn Jensen cjw4kids@yahoo.com

Jerry Uribe, Northwest Area Foundation, Visits Mossyrock and Listens to Horizons Leaders from Onalaska, Rochester, PeEll and Mossyrock

See the September 3rd post (below) for detailed information on this Meeting

HELP US BUILD A PARK

Stop in, grab a bowl of Chili to eat while you fill out your survey form, then go enjoy the Football Game. Your Opinion is important!

Mossyrock Area Action League Meeting

Mossyrock Area Action League will have its next Board Meeting on Wednesday, September 16 - 7pm at the Junior High School in the school board room. This will be the first regular meeting since the summer hiatus. These are open board meetings and they are your opportunity to bring any ideas and opinions to the fore front. Maal strives for transparency and welcomes all to observe and participate in Maal and WSU Horizon's endeavor to bring prosperity to a low income area. Carlyn Jensen cjw4kids@yahoo.com

New Web site for Northwest Area Foundation

The Northwest Area Foundation has unveiled their new website, which is in line with their new strategic plan. Jerry Uribe, our NWAF Horizons Grant officer was excited to share that WSU Extension has three Horizons community stories highlighted. I am extremely proud of the hard work that our community members have accomplished and the Community coaches, who guided their work. The following are links to the impacts in Pe Ell and Mossyrock (Lewis County) 1) - Under Asset and Wealth - http://www.nwaf.org/ProgramStory/Growing%20Jobs%20on%20Wind%20Farms2) 2)Under Capacity and Leadership - http://www.nwaf.org/ProgramStory/Building%20Unity%20Through%20Language%20Connections And 3) Also under Capacity and Leadership - http://www.nwaf.org/ProgramStory/Expanding%20Grassroots%20Leadership%20to%20Reduce%20Poverty%20and%20Grow%20Prosperity Doreen-- Doreen Hauser-LindstromWSU Extension - Spokane Campus

Mossyrock Area Action League

Mossyrock Area Action League will have its next Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 9th 7pm at the Junior High School in the school board room. This will be the last meeting for the summer months. Silvie McGee is scheduled to speak and Maal's building needs will be on the agenda. These are open board meetings and they are your opportunity to bring any ideas and opinions to the fore front. Maal strives for transparency and welcomes all to observe and participate in Maal and WSU Horizon's endeavor to bring prosperity to a low income area. Carlyn Jensen

Safety Week

Mossyrock Police Department is planning a safety training week. There will be short after school activities for elementary age students, an event for teenagers and personal safety tips for young adults. One evening will be devoted to Protecting Yourself from Fraud with a community dinner following. The last event for the week will be about community policing. There will be more details available soon.

More Computers

Just wanted to let you all know the good news...that WSU sent us another lap top for the Spanish program. It's used but in excellent condition. This will allow us to break our class down into smaller groups at different levels. Thursday we had one Lady studying English on one computer and the 5 of us studying Spanish on the other...which would work if we were all on the same level, but we're not. 3 of those are beginners, and the other 2 intermediate. We sort of worked on something in the middle. Next time we'll have the extra computer to challenge the 2 intermediate students on and let the beginners work at their own level. Jackie Morris We really need a storefront to give the Language Program a permanent home. There are more computers available to us but they are not laptops and need to be kept in one room. If anyone out there has an idea of what might work for this use please drop a line to Jackie at jjm@tds.net or me at cjw4kids@yahoo.com Carlyn

Mossyrock Fish Hatchery on Legislatures Chopping Block

Brandon Swanson, bswanson@chronline.com

Caretaker Larry Peterson feeds German brown trout at the state hatchery near Mossyrock Tuesday. Peterson, who has worked at various state hatcheries for 37 years, said he has often heard talks about hatcheries closing, but none as serious as what is being discussed now.

more.........

Community Forum Update

The Mossyrock Area Action League sponsored a community forum on Sunday, March 22. A summary of the groups work for the year was presented. MAAL's proposed new program,the Mossyrock Youth Leadership League, was also presented.Other topics discussed were: Possible use of the G Theatre by the community, possibility of a community park, a Springtime Community Clean-up, and the need for low income housing in our community.

MAAL's Report to the Community 2008

Centralia Community College East

Unemployed or facing a job layoff? The College Worker Retraining program is going gang busters to help put you back to work. Including financial assistance, and payment of all tuition costs for those who qualify. Check out page 3 in the Centralia College course booklet. Check out the link A Call to Leaders available at Centralia College East this April. LeadershipPlenty Course April 2nd - May 28th 2009 Every Thursday 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Centralia College East, Morton, WA Sign Up at Centralia College NLT March 26th Leadership Plenty Explained in Left hand column

The Lake Mayfield Quilters.

This organization has been around for years and meets at our Community Center beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday's of each month. The quilters' focus is to make quilts for cancer patients, especially those going through chemotherapy. They attach a small card to each quilt with a terrific saying. It is: "Believe in Miracles, They happen everyday. Stay Positive. We are thinking of you, The Lake Mayfield Quilters." The Lake Mayfield Quilters also provide quilts to others with catastrophic diseases. They have given many, many quilts to the Madigan Hospital and hundreds to cancer patients. Lots of people contact the quilters when they have a friend or relative being treated for cancer. They are a non-profit organization and love donations, either in money or materials. Jim and I make it a point to donate each and every month to help buy needed supplies. Donna Wilson

HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR & YOU HELP OUR COMMUNITY

One of our own could use some help. Robert Stevens, the high school student who has helped us with the Blueberry Festival, and attended WSU's Horizons last conference was evacuated by boat with his family from their home near Winston Creek. I talked to Robert on the phone, and he said the water didn't actually get into the house, so they are ok there, but both of their cars were lost. These are people of very modest means, and replacing the cars will be difficult. Robert says he can work on an old car to get it running, and he would be able to work in exchange for a usable vehicle. He's a great industrious kid and needs a break. If anyone knows of someone who has an unused car that he could work for and/or fix up, please let me know. Jackie Morris: jjm@tds.net