Current Listing

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

We Get What We Pay For

I bet everybody who lives in Tillamook County knows friends, family, or neighbors who have either traveled hours and miles into the valley for health care or have moved somewhere else to get the health care they need. Or maybe it’s your own sweet self, driving the 26 to Portland to see a doctor or get health care that’s unavailable to you here. That’s me, and a whole bunch of other people I know.

On Sunday I went to NCRD to listen to Marc Johnson and Gail Nelson speak about the health bond on the ballot, May 16.

Here’s where we are with health care in north Tillamook County right now and without significant investment the picture is pretty bleak.

The clinic in Wheeler has 1.5 exam rooms per provider. The general standard in patient clinics is 3 rooms per provider. This means longer waits to get an appointment or to see a provider once you do. There aren’t the specialists here that an aging population could use like rheumatologists, cardiologists, neurologists and oncologists. There’s not even a dentist.

Two local long-term homes closed recently but not for lack of patients. For folks requiring skilled nursing care, no beds available means leaving the place you’ve called home for years or maybe a lifetime, to move away from friends and community when you really need your people for support.

There isn’t affordable housing for our health care work force. Not for doctors, not for skilled nurses and definitely not for the folks who do the grunt work of health care like certified nursing assistants or medical assistants.

The pharmacy is only 450 square feet with not much room for storage so not every prescription can be filled the same day because it has to be ordered and there’s also no room for the other stuff we usually get at a pharmacy—stuff like over the counter meds, first aid supplies, hot water bottles, greeting cards and such. There’s no space for a private conversations between the pharmacist and the patient. That little space is crowded and busy. They do a great job but it’s a tight space.

The Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy works hard for the community. It provides so many necessary services and functions for all of Tillamook County and because it’s also a Federally Qualified Health Care district it receives money from the feds to provide care and services to the uninsured and underinsured including transportation for people who need to get to the doctor but can’t without a ride. They also offer folks without resources a sliding fee scale. No one is turned away because they can’t pay and for some folks it’s the only way they are able to access health care. Other state grants helped to establish the bilingual food program serving 157 low income families, and the Student Health and Wellness Center for the Neahkahnie School District.

The Local Health Care bond would help create the space to do more for our community and to do it better.

The plan is to build a nearly 17,000 square foot pharmacy that would include a three-chair dental suite. The proposed location is at the bottom of Hospital Road and 101. There’d also be room for disaster supplies and food storage. There’d be room for the kind of merchandise that a typical pharmacy carries like greeting cards and such. Located right on 101, it could make some cash money.

Up top of the hill the old hospital will be torn down and the site prepared for building some much needed work force housing for health care workers built in keeping with the character of the existing neighborhood. Some of those units could be studios for visiting specialists who commit to providing care a certain number of days per month.

The existing 50 bed skilled nursing and care center would get an update and modernization like some air conditioning for those hot summer days. There’s nothing worse than being sick and sweaty or doing a physically demanding job in the heat.

There are discussions to engage in collaborative partnerships with Providence, and OSHU to get specialists and interns. There are more plans, people, and they’re good ones. These plans invest in the health and well being of our entire community.

Does it cost money? Yep. It’s an investment in the community that we live in for all our people.

It will cost a total of 10.25 million dollars over the 25-year life of the loan, and if the bond is approved, property owners within the Health District boundaries would pay .37 cents per $1000 of assessed not market value. For a $300,000 home that’s $111 at first and will increase to $170 over time. That’s like $14 bucks a month. That’s less than Netflix, kids. And we get some stuff we need.

We are all connected. When one of us is in trouble, we’re all in trouble. In taking care of each other, we take care of ourselves. This bond is an investment in our shared future.

The last presentation is at NCRD May 3, at 5pm. You don’t need to register, just show up.

You can find out more (and honey, there’s plenty more) at NehalemHealthCare.com

Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: elaskey86@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Hello BBQ! just in case you missed it, here’s my candidate questionnaire posted by the Tillamook County Pioneer

1. Why are you running for this position?
I’m running because I think its important for board members to understand the history of the NCRD and the mission statement it stands for. I grew up swimming at the pool and my family has lived in the Nehalem Valley for four generations now. I have an understanding of this community’s goals and aspirations. I also think the board needs more “family minded” representation. I’d like to see more programs available to families who work and live here.

2. If elected, what will be your priorities?
My priorities will be to support transparency, stay budget minded and uphold the NCRD’s mission statement.

3. What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve?
Since I’m self employed I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and self motivation. I’ve also served on the New Discoveries Preschool board for nearly 6 years now. As a board member for NDP I experienced the importance of a pragmatic approach to obstacles, and value of dialogue. I’m familiar with board procedure and I enjoy being constructive and helpful. My occupation requires a lot of negotiating and problem solving, skills that I think are very beneficial to being a board member.

4. What issues do you believe the board needs to address? Please list 3 and your solutions/ideas

1. Once the new pool is built, the board will need to determine what to do with the old one. It would be a shame to leave the space unused. Maybe we should poll the community and see what they think.
2. Since NES reduced the school’s swim program by two thirds I think the NCRD’s mission statement is at risk. I think the board needs to take a look at this and make sure all the community’s children have access to swim lessons. This could be solved with scholarships and supplemental swim programs.
3. Another issue that the board will need to address is the issue of staffing. Like the entire coast, staffing is a real challenge and the board faces an even greater challenge of hiring a new Executive Director. I would really like to see the board look at individuals who are familiar with and are invested in our community. Someone who knows and loves this community would be ideal for all the obvious reasons!

5. If you could make one improvement to the work this board does, what would it be?
I think the board could improve on its communication with the community.

6. In your opinion, what attributes must a good board member have?
I think a good board member listens well and meets challenges directly while taking a sensible and realistic approach to solutions. A good board member should respect and uphold the over all goal of the organization and take great care to remain fiscally responsible.

7. What is your vision for our community?
My vision is in line with the community members who built the pool way back in 1930. It has since expanded into the NCRD that offers much more than just the pool now but the sentiment is still the same. I envision a community that continues to look out for one another.

Submitted By: dwieb1@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Has anyone had trouble watching channel 8 (KGW) lately? Channel 15 (KOIN) is out with the bouncing DirectTV logo which happens from time to time, and I’m used to channel 10 (OPB) having signal problems (it’s been mentioned here on BBQ). But channel 8 doesn’t usually have these problems, and this morning it’s mostly black, frozen, or heavily pixelated.

I’ve been talking to John at KGW and he’s not heard of others having signal problems out here currently. So I’m reaching out to see if anyone in Manzanita or Neahkahnie is seeing what I am. These areas so close to the translator on the mountain should have no problem getting a good signal if all is working.

Thanks,
Dave

Submitted By: dmccalltillamook@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Education is an interesting thing. The more we learn, the more we understand how little we know — but we learn how to approach topics, decipher problems, and come up with opinions, solutions, and advance ourselves and society in general. 
The love for education is also interesting. Once bitten, some are in for life. Some people never stop learning, whether they satisfy that need by reading, researching, writing, or sometimes continuing to go back to school and get multiple degrees. Others transition their love for education into educating, and become teachers or professors. Some of them spend their lives educating kids, tweens, or teens, while others prefer to educate adults. Week after week, year after year, they return to the classroom and share their passion with others. 
I especially admire those who augment their passion by volunteering to serve on school boards. As the rest of us rest up after a long day of work, they gather to pool their energy in their efforts to guide the educational institutions we value. 
I have known Betsy McMahon as an educator, a world traveler, a dedicated TBBC board member, and as a friend. I know we are all served well with her on the TBCC board.
During the five years Betsy has served on the TBCC Board, she has combined her experiences from teaching internationally with those gained in multiple states, and assisted the Board in better connecting with our community and the community’s needs. She is fully committed to ensuring that each of our students have access to quality education, and developing programs in fields where our local community has special needs. She is equally passionate about apprenticeship programs for construction trades and nursing programs, and enabling high school students to take full advantage of dual credit programs while quality courses are offered for adults as well.
In recognition of this dedication, she now serves on the Executive Board for the Oregon Community College Association, raising TBCC’s reputation higher, while bringing additional access and experience back to our community. 
Please join me in filling the oval next to Betsy McMahon’s name, to ensure this dedicated educator can continue to serve us wholeheartedly on our community college board. 
David McCall

Submitted By: pattyrinehart@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Erin Laskey-Wilson has my vote for Position #2 on the North County Recreation Board.
Like Erin, I have lived pretty much my whole life in North Tillamook County-Manzanita-to be exact. Before I knew Erin, I knew her Mother Linda. Linda worked for me in the grocery business as a baker. I found Linda to be honest, kind, and a hard worker-just like the other Woodwards in our community.
Erin came along and as a child in our community worked in the community as she was growing up. Washing dishes, dishing ice cream, pouring coffee, and all the jobs available in our area. Erin is also honest, kind, and a hard worker, just like her mother.
Erin moved away to go to college and then decided to come back “home”.
Erin has had her children in the pre-school at NCRD and voluntered several years with the pre-school. Self employed as a real estate broker, Erin has worked on a path to better herself and her family. Erin has excelled with her family and her career. She’s not afraid to offer her opinion and listen to other opinions. She shows positive ambition with whatever she takes on. I believe this positive ambition and her ability to listen to different views will make her a good fit with the North County Recreation District as it grows and continues to help the youth in our community. Thank you for listening and please vote for Erin. Thanks, Patty Rinehart

Submitted By: kimmarkc@yahoo.com – Click to email about this post

Tillamook County Retired Educators and Teachers (TREAT) PAC endorsements and candidate information can be found at www.tillamookretiredteachers.org