Result of latest poll... 6 people are interested in having a real social club where everyone shares the work... The rest are willing for them to do all the work on their behalf... A broad majority don't even think the poll is worth voting on... Apathy wins hands down.

Would you consider joining a new club that promoted activities, fun, trips, whale watching, birding, hiking,social hours at local restaurants, and all manner of fun stuff while knowing that your membership would absolutely require you to serve in some cap
Answers Votes Percent 1. YES 6 40% 2. NO 9 60%		Total Votes: 15

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Wernher von Braun 8/19/2007 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)] 'I have learned to use the word 'impossible' with the greatest caution.'"

Of Geology and of Ghosts: Scary Tales of the Oregon Coast: "Picture this: a massive river of lava erupts in Idaho, so big it covers miles at a time as it marches along at around 4 mph. It sears entire forests into ashes and fumes. It builds gigantic damns of molten rock that are perhaps miles long, sometime bulging up to 20 feet high. It marches its way through riverbeds and canyons, snaking its way around mountains, until it slithers its sinister, scorching heat into the ocean – having traveled some 300 miles, about seven days later. It’s hundreds of miles long, spewing out continuously and fiercely so that when it reaches the ocean it fills crevices and muddy areas thousands of feet deep."

Pore Me - New York Times

Pore Me - New York Times: "I sweat. I am a sweater. I sweat in T-shirts, I sweat in shorts, I sweat in the shower. It is not a certain dampness. It is not a masculine bit of moist. Sweat spurts out the top of my head like I’m a lawn sprinkler. I sit down on the curb at lunchtime and a little girl leaps over my head. When I was young, the first thing my teachers told me about hell was that it was hot; after that, the punishments seemed redundant. “Yes, yes, hung by my tongue, eyes gouged out, boiled alive. How hot is hot, exactly? How about fans, do they have any fans?”"

At this very moment, can you readily find a flashlight and a portable broadcast radio in your home?

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Everything is in a state of flux, including the status quo.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.'"

The War as We Saw It - New York Times

The War as We Saw It - New York Times: "Op-Ed Contributors The War as We Saw It By BUDDHIKA JAYAMAHA, WESLEY D. SMITH, JEREMY ROEBUCK, OMAR MORA, EDWARD SANDMEIER, YANCE T. GRAY and JEREMY A. MURPHY Published: August 19, 2007 Baghdad"

Nation & World | Troops to battle postquake looting in Peru | Seattle Times Newspaper

Editor: Here is what a real earthquake is like

Nation & World | Troops to battle postquake looting in Peru | Seattle Times Newspaper: "In a soccer stadium in the port city of Pisco, more than 500 people rushed a lone truck that ran out of packets of crackers, candy and toilet paper, screaming that they had not eaten and accusing rescue workers of keeping supplies for themselves. As many as 80 percent of the people in quake-hit urban areas may not have access to clean water and many rural communities still have not been reached to assess the damage, said Dominic Nutt, of the relief agency Save the Children. President Alan Garcia sent 1,000 troops to stop the looting. 'We're going to establish order, regardless of what it costs,' he said."

Do you know where to find potable water in your community if the normal water supply has been contaminated?

Building a safer community

It is not an easy thing to do on a shoe string. It makes for a heavy burden placed on volunteers. Our volunteers are exceptional. At a point in life when they are given the chance to do nothing but have fun with their time they choose instead to give something back. What their motivation is we can only wonder. But are terribly grateful for.

The CERT team meets and trains weekly to be ready for any disaster that might befall our community, minor or major. After two years their numbers stand at 10 to 14. They have a proven track record of accomplishments in our park. 10 to 14 is ok for small emergencies. A major one? It will be tough. In order to accomplish our goal of doing the most good for the most people in a disaster we are reaching out to you now. There are several ways you can help and we are going to list them now.

1. Take the CERT formal training and become a member of our team. Classes will start soon in September and run till January.
2. No time for training? Come to our weekly meetings at the clubhouse on Wednesdays at 11:00am. The team will train you in our emergency procedures so that you will be a valuable asset during a disaster at LVH. Meetings typically last only an hour. We plan to teach volunteers how to be a scribe, communications runners, communications assistants, equipment retrieval, Shelter helpers, nurse assistants, radio relay, patient retrieval and other valuable spots. We can use you regardless of your health .. We can find something you can do. Not only that your life experience will probably yield a solution to perplexing problems from time to time.
   
3. Let us put your lot number on your lamp post out front. It's free. Our rapid deployment system relys on lot numbers rather than street addresses which are confusing in this community.
4. Before the wind and ice storms this season get an FRS/GMRS radio and learn to use it on Ch6 16. More of you need to key your radio and ask for a radio check, often. Practice makes perfect. So much depends on you becoming familiar with your radio. It is your lifeline to help when power and telephones are gone. It's CERT's main instrument of rescue and help and it is Neighborhood Watch's best crime deterrent as well as the community's information source as events occur that affect the neighborhood..
   
5. Consider supporting our safety groups. Comments made by each of you at the clubhouse at the mailboxes and at coffee gatherings that are negative such as, "All they do is yak on the radio." or "They told me not to do that." are not only wrong but serve to downgrade efforts of people who are dedicated to helping everyone. You should know that when you fire your barbs they do eventually work their way back to their intended target.
   

Without power, gas stations cannot pump gas. Are you prepared for that eventuality?

This is so funny

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Thomas A. Edison 8/15/2007 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)] 'We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.'"

Peru quake disaster area hit by powerful aftershock�|�Reuters.ca

Peru quake disaster area hit by powerful aftershock�|�Reuters.ca: "Some 510 people have been confirmed dead and 1,000 wounded since the big quake, the United Nations said on Friday, quoting national and local authorities. Thousands of people were homeless and forced to sleep outside. They complained of a lack of medical attention and emergency supplies."

by ron thomas

Editorial: (an editorial is an opinion by one person.. Not an edict)

Why is there a Social Club here? It would seem to me that some folks wanted to have a neighborly relationship in a community where they can interact and have shared experiences, make new friends, celebrate life, and in short have a good time.

Others in our community don’t want to have that experience. To be up front about it most of these others will tell you they are not interested in participating in most activities. They want to be left alone to pursue their own interests perhaps with their own circle of friends.

Strange as it seems, when the Social club formed at LVH the folks that created it thought that everyone would want to be a member and therefore made it a club tenet that every resident was automatically a member whether they wanted to be or not.

The result of that action we have watched for 9 years now and feel justified in telling you in our opinion it does not work. We think the framers of club tenets made a mistake in their generosity extending membership to the entire community without telling them that there would be rules for participation and helping with functions of the club.

What we see now and over the past 9 years and I’ll bet back to the beginning of this club is a few stepping forward to do all the work for functions while a great many take the fruits of their labors in much the same way as Henny Penny’s bread. In fact many have come to the idea that they are owed this as a result of their membership. It is frankly, amazing that those few put up with this situation.

The Social Club is a lot of work. The activities that everyone likes have the same volunteers working in the background over and over until they become burnt out. The amazing thing is that there are always a few that step in and keep the club stumbling along from year to year. The takers continue to grow in direct proportion to how free an event is. In fact they may even bemoan the club making a profit to help support its treasury if you can believe that.

I was brought up to believe that there is no such thing as a free lunch but here at Longview Hills the Social Club provides it again and again to people who do absolutely nothing but show up. A pretty good deal if you can get it.

What would we do if we could change the way things are? Everyone that wants to be a member would be told that they must volunteer when called upon and serve the needs of the club (of course excuses would be allowed). Dues would be assessed. A club has no value if you do not invest in its welfare. All members would be up for nomination to leadership rolls and if nominated must serve a term at least once in their time of membership. The tenet that every resident is automatically a member of the club would be withdrawn and all would be given the opportunity to join under the new rules. Those that don’t join would not be excluded from activities but would be charged a fair fee to participate which would generate a profit for the Social Club treasury. We like the idea that our Fisherman’s club has about offering Associate Membership to non-residents wanting to have fun and think that would add diversity to our club.

I would move that these changes be made on the floor of the next Social Club meeting and that they be seconded and adopted.

What is your opinion...? Discuss it in the comments..

9 Million Toys Recalled - Threat to Nation's Children - Imported from China - Lead & Other Hazards - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network ..........

9 Million Toys Recalled - Threat to Nation's Children - Imported from China - Lead & Other Hazards - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. EmergencyEmail.ORG ........ NewsEmergency.com: "Consumers should immediately take these products away from children and contact Mattel to arrange return and to receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the consumer's choice, up to the value of the returned product. (888) 597-6597 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mattel are working in cooperation with other regulatory agencies worldwide. Mattel is also working with retailers worldwide to identify and remove affected products from retail shelves. Polly Pocket Barbie and Tanner Magnetic Doggie Day Care Sarge Die Cast Toy Cars Batman and One Piece Action Figure Sets"

Southern California Long Overdue for Quake, Experts Say

Southern California Long Overdue for Quake, Experts Say: "It's only a matter of time before a massive earthquake shakes Southern California to its core, scientists say."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'If the Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me'"

Mini-Seaside becomes Oregon test model for tsunami effects - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com

Mini-Seaside becomes Oregon test model for tsunami effects - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com: "CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — A tsunami is headed for a miniature version of the city of Seaside in an Oregon State University research lab. Scientists at the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory have built a small model of downtown Seaside to study the effects of a tsunami in a project that is likely to continue for years. It will encompass everything from numerical models to wave heights, to the amount of water that will remain after a significant event, to possible places of safety. 'It's an interesting project,' said Solomon Yim, a professor of civil engineering and the primary researcher."

Would you join a new club?

NEW POLL

The new poll question... deals with starting a new club dedicated to social activities for its members. It would require all its members to serve in some capacity.. and there would be dues to cover expenses.

Who Are You? - New York Times

Who Are You? - New York Times: "KNOW you. I know you well. It’s true I always have a little trouble with your name, but I do know your name. I just don’t know it at this moment. We’re at a big party. We’ve kissed hello. We’ve had a delightful conversation about how we are the two last people on the face of the earth who don’t kiss on both cheeks. Now we’re having a conversation about how phony all the people are who do kiss on both cheeks. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. You’re so charming. If only I could remember your name."

BBC NEWS | Europe | Ancient forest found in Hungary

BBC NEWS | Europe | Ancient forest found in Hungary: "An ancient forest of cypress trees, estimated to be eight million years old, has been discovered in Hungary. Archaeologists found the 16 preserved trunks in an open cast coal mine in the north-eastern city of Bukkabrany."

























*

A New Kind of Social Club....


Forming a club at LVH is not to hard a thing to do. You have a meeting and invite people interested in joining together for whatever purpose and if enough people are interested then the club is formed.

What if we wanted to have a club that people would enjoy each others company for games, potlucks, trips, travel caravans, whale watching, birding... dining and all manner of social functions?

Right up front, though, it would be laid out that all would be welcome to partake but all would also be expected to serve as a condition of membership. What if the group assessed itself a dues? What if they set goals and worked toward their fulfillment? What if they had fund raisers and either volunteers worked or contributed to the fund raiser?

Sounds like the club would have a small membership.. Maybe just the ten who do everything for the Social Club now. Uhmmm! Small group but full of everyone willing to do their fair share.. Sounds good to me.

News - StatesmanJournal.com

News - StatesmanJournal.com: "Mural's mystery is uncovered Renowned graphic artist Hugh Hayes earned $35 for ice cream parlor art MICHAEL ROSE Statesman Journal August 11, 2007 Workers found more than old murals during a remodeling job on the Pacific Building in downtown Salem. They also uncovered the legacy of a renowned graphic artist, who still hasn't put down his drawing pen. Hidden behind wallboard at the Pacific Building, at High and State streets, were seven intact murals from the 1940s."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Imagine if every Thursday your shoes exploded if you tied them the usual way. This happens to us all the time with computers, and nobody thinks of complaining.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.'"

Newport News-Times: Paint spill leaves big mess in Newport intersection

Newport News-Times: Paint spill leaves big mess in Newport intersection: "A county work crew cleans up a slippery, sloppy mess at the intersection of NE 8th Street and Highway 101 in Newport Wednesday morning. The spill occurred when a Lincoln County truck transporting cans of paint lost part of its load while rounding this corner. (Photo by Steve Card)"




#

.: Corvallis Gazette-Times: News - Top Story

.: Corvallis Gazette-Times: News - Top Story: "OSU a leader in the field; Beaver test buoy to be deployed in September Oregon is poor in fossil fuels, but powerful waves keep crashing at the coast, one after another. On Friday at Oregon State University, about 200 scientists, politicians, policy experts and energy-company representatives talked about how to harness the power of the ocean for electricity."

Help! My Computer Froze Up!
OK, you know to reboot after the computer freezes, but all your work is lost. What can you do? Find tips on getting help.

Watch Your Step

Watch Your Step: "Balance training can boost your overall fitness"

Most people won’t think they need balance training unless they’ve had a serious fall. Yet sprains and strains that result from losing one’s balance can put a damper on everything from walking to playing sports. Simple balance training exercises will keep you steady and active and enjoying stuff you really want to do.

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Mae West 8/9/2007 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)] 'Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.'"

Social Club at LVH

Here is the concept... Everyone who pays rent at LVH is a member of the Social Club whether they participate or not. Actually whether they want to be or not.. They are members.

Not everyone is interested to the level of volunteering time and energy. Those that are interested in partaking in what the Social Club does is quite a bit higher actually. But, even then Social Club event participation only reaches less than a third of our community.

Running the club... getting the ducks in a row. Seeing to scheduling, finding money, creating events buying supplies, and decorating, all fall to a few people that number less than the fingers on both your hands. When it comes time to elect new officers to run the club everyone runs from the job as if it were a case of bubonic plague unleashed on the park.

Many folks at the mail room and coffee clubs think that the Social Club needs advice and like to discuss what "THEY" should do. These critics at large are an interesting and diverse group. Over the years as their advice trickles back to those that serve (give of their own free retirement time) is usually hurtful. Mostly, it is insensitive and negative and those on the receiving end usually wear out after a year or so and quit. Then a new cycle is reborn and the quest to build a new Social Club begins again... The cycle runs about 3 or 4 years. Thus, the Social Club really never evolves into a really cool organization it just recycles itself.

Any organization needs buy in. Members must want to be members. They must value their membership. If you just give them a membership they have nothing invested and could care less about the organization. Simple as that. You all know this to be true as a lesson you have learned in life. You protect your car in a garage because of the money that you had to spend for it. You protect your home with insurance because of what you spent for it. And so on.

Free membership in the Social Club is probably at the root cause for why the Social Club does not have the participation it deserves and has not the abundant leaders it needs.

Do Diet Foods Lead to Weight Gain? - TIME

Do Diet Foods Lead to Weight Gain? - TIME: "Do Diet Foods Lead to Weight Gain?"

A Link Between Bones and Obesity - TIME

A Link Between Bones and Obesity - TIME: "It's not every day that scientists uncover an unexpected new role for an old, familiar body part. That's why a paper published in the current issue of Cell is generating so much buzz. A team led by Dr. Gerard Karsenty, chairman of the department of genetics and development at Columbia University Medical Center, found that the skeleton plays a powerful role in the regulation of blood sugar and fat deposits. The discovery, made through an elegant series of experiments in mice, could have important implications for treating and preventing type 2 diabetes and obesity — two conditions that are exploding around the globe."

Meteor shower to light up weekend skies

EDITOR: I spent last night out looking at the stars with binoculars. Looking at Newport also.. I had some fun by making quite a display with Venus and Mars and the lights of Newport. If you move the binocs left and right or up and down rapidly it makes the lights turn into circles and puts on a beautiful display of multi colored lights... Most cool.

Meteor shower to light up weekend skies: "Perseids can appear anywhere in a darkened sky, although it's suggested that enthusiasts look to the northeast, where Mars is twinkling like a bright red star."

ABC News: China Seafood Got to U.S. Without Testing

ABC News: China Seafood Got to U.S. Without Testing: "If the system cannot stop known risks, Nielsen said, how can it protect against hidden dangers, such as the ingredients from China that made toothpaste potentially poisonous and killed dozens of pets earlier this year?"

LONGVIEW HILLS SOCIAL CLUB

NEWS

THE AUGUST 20^TH SOCIAL CLUB MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS 2 OF THE 3 BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE OUT OF TOWN.

DON’T FORGET ----

• ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT 7:00 P.M. ON AUGUST 15TH (SPECIAL ADULT SHAKES – YUMMMMMY)!!

• SATURDAY BREAKFAST ON AUGUST 25^TH (HOSTED BY THE LVH CERT TEAM)!!

ALSO, LVH SOCIAL CLUB ACTIVITY CARDS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR $25.00. LET GINGER DALE KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE.

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!!!!

mydesert.com | New life-saving device helps Palm Springs battle Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sent in by Dick Garvey

mydesert.com | New life-saving device helps Palm Springs battle Sudden Cardiac Arrest: "About the AutoPulse
The AutoPulse is an automated chest compression system that delivers
consistent, uninterrupted chest compressions in compliance with the 2005 AHA Guidelines and not possible with manual CPR. Its easy-to-use, load-distributing LifeBand compresses the entire chest in a consistent, uninterrupted 'handsfree' manner, improving blood flow to the heard and brain during cardiac arrest."

What is this picture about Barb?

RESULTS OF THE DEFIBRILLATOR POLL

What would you be willing to do to get a defibrillator (AED) located in the clubhouse? They cost about $2000.00.
Answers Votes Percent 1. I would donate $2000 0 0% 2. I would donate $1000 0 0% 3. I would donate $500 0 0% 4. I would donate $200 0 0% 5. I would donate $100 3 8% 6. I would donate $ 10 14 39% 7. I would NOT donate a nickle. 7 19% 8. I would work on a committee to find resources for this project. 1 3% 9. I would sit back and watch all of you volunteers work and then give you a plaque or something. 2 6% 10. I would do whatever I could to help. 9 25%		Total Votes: 36

Interesting results. We have all kinds of feelers out now. If you have an adult child that may be able to get us a deal.. Let us know.. My email address is below. Adult Children that have a Mom or Dad here in this park this is a worthy cause for you to help with. If you know someone that could help or knows the ins and outs of AED's let us know. Meanwhile, we will continue to work toward getting an AED for Longview Hills. We will post from time to time. Those 9 that would do whatever they could to help... Start by asking family and friends who they know that will help. Next start giving us ideas on how to accomplish this goal. For instance should we have a meeting?

I'll look forward to everyone's comments and advice on this subject. The CERT team is working on a few ideas and we will see how those pan out.

EMAIL ME AT:

teckron@gmail.com

Left to right... Ben Davi, Jacky Thomas, Betty Hanus, Bill Hanus


Left to right.... Wayde Dudley, Wayne Hill

Neighborhood Night Out at LVH

Foreground .. Bill Furgason, Allan Paulsen, Ron Thomas

Interesting facts... 28 hamburgers served.... 2 declined by Newport Police Dept.

photos by Barb Dudley

EARTHWORKS - Home

EARTHWORKS - Home: "New Evidence Shows Gold Mine Releasing Massive Unreported Mercury Air Pollution"

Why Terrorists Aren’t Soldiers - New York Times

EDITOR: I think this is political in that it names players in today's environment but it is an interesting way to view the war from a different perspective written by a former high ranking US general.. It could be considered by any party, Dem or Rep as worth consideration.

Why Terrorists Aren’t Soldiers - New York Times: "Why Terrorists Aren’t Soldiers


By WESLEY K. CLARK and KAL RAUSTIALA
Published: August 8, 2007

THE line between soldier and civilian has long been central to the law of war. Today that line is being blurred in the struggle against transnational terrorists."

MORE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM FROM LARRY HENSON

via email....

Hi Ron,

Thank you for your work with Neighborhood Watch.

I had the opportunity to read your note on the community center door today and found it worthwhile.

In reference to comments on the memo, there is often a wide gap between what people hear and what is actually said.

Comments I have made about the incident speak more to the issue of how this event gives reason for continual training and attendance of residents to the Neighborhood Watch Program. Continual training of residents will eventually get things right by knowing how to respond, automatically. This incident shows there is still some way to go before, Neighborhood Watch has everything right, but is taking giant steps in the right direction.

To me the event describes how, given the right circumstances even the best of plans can fail.

I placed a call on 6.16 several times and did not receive a response. There were a group of folks in the community center at the time, so I asked them isn't the frequency now 6.16? After having it confirmed some in the group tried to get someone to answer on 6.16 for several minutes and never received a response. My radio was working so something happened, exactly what is unknown.

My firm belief is that whenever a resident sees anything out of the ordinary the first response they should perform is to dial 911. The 911 operator will ask the nature of the call and route it accordingly. If you have not done so, you may want to contact Rich Glasgow, director of LinCom to provide a training on how 911 works,

for some reason, universally, people are afraid to dial 911, (except for when the power is out) this mindset has to be changed for the system to work right.

Somewhere along the line at a training I picked up this bit of information, "If your fighting a fire and at some point you think, I better call 911, you have probably waited to long, however at that point, do not hesitate, dial 911 immediately".

Perhaps my training as a public school teacher could provide some benefit here. It seems we humans tend to learn best when we do a thing as we say a thing. Perhaps a training could be as simple as providing a key pad and having individuals push 911, then declare, "I believe I have an emergency, I need help", or some such similar exercise. I know it sounds simplistic but often times people just do not want to admit they need help, call it the independant American Spirit or whatever.

May you continue in faith, the Neighborhood Watch Group is doing a fantastic job and working toward a worthy goal, the group is steadily growing to perfection and improving every day, I appreciate everyones effort and yes you are making a difference, together we will take a bite out of crime.

larry henson, CM/LA-LVHMHC

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.'"

Health Alert: U. S. Issues NEW Botulism Warning. Canned green beans sold nationwide. - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. Emergenc

Health Alert: U. S. Issues NEW Botulism Warning. Canned green beans sold nationwide. - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. EmergencyEmail.ORG ........ NewsEmergency.com: "Health Alert: U. S. Issues NEW Botulism Warning. Canned green beans sold nationwide.

Warning is second nationwide in last 30 days

Product Marketed Under a Variety of Brand Names

The affected Lakeside cut green beans are sold nationwide under the following labels:
Albertson's, Happy Harvest, Best Choice, Food Club, Bogopa, Valu Time, Hill Country Fare, HEB, Laura Lynn, Kroger, No Name, North Pride, Shop N Save, Shoppers Valu, Schnucks, Cub Foods, Dierbergs, Flavorite, IGA, Best Choice and Thrifty Maid.

U. S. health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain brands of French Cut Green Beans in 14.5 ounce cans manufactured by Lakeside Foods Inc, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin because the product may not have been processed adequately to eliminate the potential for botulism toxin. This warning is not related to another recent warning for botulism."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read.'"

KOIN News 6 for Local News Weather and Sports, Portland, OR; KOIN.com - Body Found On Beach Identified

KOIN News 6 for Local News Weather and Sports, Portland, OR; KOIN.com - Body Found On Beach Identified: "Body Found On Beach Identified

PORTLAND - Oregon State Police say what they first thought was a suspicious death is now believed to be a suicide.

A jogger found the man's fully clothed body in the early morning hours of July 18 just north of Agate Beach Wayside. The man had an apparent gunshot wound to the right temple area, and his death was initially considered suspicious.

Police say there was no identification with the body. A photograph of the man's tattoo was released to the media. The man's roommate tipped off police after seeing the picture. They later identified the victim as 33-year-old William Switzer of Lake Oswego. It was confirmed that Switzer had arrived by bus in Newport July 16.

Investigators believe Switzer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT OUT

Tuesday all day we are asking Block Captains to have an open house, barbecue, ice cream social, gab fest..... a coming together of those folks you look after in your neighborhood.

The purpose is to get you together with your neighbors in an informal situation to get to know one another and just socialize. The idea is simple enough if you all get together and shoot the breeze for awhile you will begin think of each other by name and gain a better connection with one another.

Here in our area we usually have a potluck or barbecue and invite our neighborhood group to wander in and just enjoy a day out in the sun. Another group had one of those portable fire pit things and hand a campfire in their driveway with potluck snacks and wine and cheese. As neighbors walked by on an evening stroll they stopped and sat a spell around the campfire.

Momentum... is what it takes... You, the Block Captain, just have to decide to do it. Make up some invitations and stick them in folks mailboxes and everything will just happen. They will come. Need a partner? Consider buddying up with another Block Captain.

We've invited the Newport Police Department to stop by and say hi and hope they do. We hope you all have a good time and get to know your neighbors even better.

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Albert Einstein
8/4/2007 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]

'You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only..."

BBC NEWS | Americas | US House passes clean energy bill

BBC NEWS | Americas | US House passes clean energy bill: "And it would do away with tax concessions long enjoyed by the major oil companies such as Exxon-Mobil, Conoco and Chevron."

State chose least-skilled bidder for U.S. 20 job - OregonLive.com

State chose least-skilled bidder for U.S. 20 job - OregonLive.com: "State chose least-skilled bidder for U.S. 20 job
Roads - The company hired for what's become a geological nightmare had both the lowest bid and lowest expertise rating"

Community Emergency Response Team

GHUSD and CERT

AED UPDATE

Research on the internet shows units right around $1250... There are already folks that say they would give $400 on the poll ... So, with very little effort we are a third of the way to the goal. But we haven't even begun yet and you saw what Donna Talarski said? 9 people are willing to do what they can and 1 is willing to serve on a committee... Very impressive.

There are 24 positive responses. Assuming that we deduct the 3 willing to donate $100. That would leave $950 for 21 people to come up with.. That works out to about $45 per person. We will get more responses.. That would mean even less to come up with. I keep an eye out for the big donators ... 3 people willing to give $100.. awesome.

Just a reminder, you can see the results of the poll as it is tallied instantly... All you have to do is click on the words "View Stats" in the bottom of the poll box on the left of these articles.

I have a few lines out and am fishing for help in some good places.. Hope they pan out... Will keep everyone updated from time to time.

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.'"

In the Hayloft - New York Times

In the Hayloft - New York Times: "In the Hayloft


By VERLYN KLINKENBORG
Published: August 4, 2007

At the moment, I’m sitting in my office watching someone else mow the lawn. He’s just caught the mower blades on some weed-barrier cloth at the edge of the hostas. He’ll probably clip the nearly hidden rocks just down the hill from the paperbark maple. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he got stuck in one of the holes I dug for a tree that never got planted. I never think about these things when I mow the lawn. I miss them instinctively. They’ve somehow grown into my bones like everything else about this place — bedrock surfacing in the middle pasture, monarchs drifting over the milkweed, bumblebees drinking at the edge of the spot we keep wet for the pigs."

National Geographic News Photo Gallery: Photo Gallery: Ancient Rome Reborn in 3-D

National Geographic News Photo Gallery: Photo Gallery: Ancient Rome Reborn in 3-D: "August 3, 2007—In a view fit for the ancient gods, the buildings and monuments of Rome sprawl across the countryside circa A.D. 320, arguably the height of the city's glory as the capital of the Roman Empire.

The scene is part of a recently completed project called Rome Reborn, a detailed digital reconstruction said to be the world's largest computer simulation."

An email from Larry Henson concerning the two salesmen in the park yesterday...

Hi Ron.

On August 2, 2007 there were apparently 2 insurance salesman walking door to door trying to sell insurance around noon. One resident in the Park told them soliciting was not allowed in the park and to get out. The resident called me but I was unable to locate the pair.

Evidently several people saw the two or had contact with them. Also the pair offered at least one resident a business card but it was refused. Someone said they were driving a white car but did not get the make, type or license number. Thought you may be interested to know this.

Thank you.

larry henson, CM/LA-LVHMHC

AARP

AARP - Rootonym
Build your vocabulary skills as you race against the clock to complete the missing word!

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.'"

You can take the person out of LVH but you can't take LVH out of the person...


Most of us know Donna Talarski she lived here for years and has served as a president of the Social Club. Helped community members less fortunate than she and written articles for the newsletter and on the website. Her love for critters is well known among the community and she volunteers time at the animal shelter and for her human friends she has served on the board at our community hospital... She is also responsible for all the computers that she got GP to donate for our computer lab.

We hope she will write something here about her new life in Florence and retirement. She is not lost to us as with others she is still on our website staff as a reporter at large..

Thank you for everything Donna...

How the Neighborhood Watch Broke Down Yesterday.....

Folks,

Because the following has a lot of Key Stone Kops in it, I hope we can all benefit from it. First, this story is told third hand and so it cannot be accurate but it is not a work of fiction either. It is rather an inaccurate report with a lot of lessons for everyone. The lessons make it valuable.

Marlene Crites called and reported this story to me. The story was told to her by Barbara Parks who witnessed it as we are told. So you see, already it is third hand. Here goes as I recall it....

Yesterday, or probably I should say Once upon a time? Two African American males came into the park driving a white car and began knocking on doors in the vicinity of the Parks' home and were selling insurance. When asked, they produced a temporary license issued by the city that was unreadable. They told folks they were there because they had responded to email that they wanted a salesman to talk to them. This was reported as bogus. They were observed going to 4 homes.. There is more but let's stop here and analyze what has gone on here and what happened and what should have happened.

At the front (main gate) there is a sign that says "No Soliciting". Every resident should be aware of that. A call to the Park Manager should have had him taking the action of confronting the two.

Each of the 4 people that they spoke to knew that they had not made a request for a salesman about insurance. Neighborhood Watch did not receive a heads up until the next day. Why? Here comes another breakdown... The Parks' say they turned their radio on and called on CH 6 and nobody answered. Well, there is 24/7 monitoring most of the time by volunteers (thank you those folks for your selflessness). Why did she not get an answer???? Those who have read the clubhouse door and the clubhouse bulletin board saw posters that were up for more than a month explaining why... Those that read this website have had an explanation and at the top of the web page is the correct channel to tune to. If folks read the newsletter there was an article in there explaining that the correct channel to tune to is channel 6.16 not Ch 6... We won't go into the long litany of why this was done because it has been said over and over. Suffice it to say that those who have a radio with CH 6 only can only listen to Neighborhood Watch transmissions but cannot transmit to CH 6.16..... During an emergency the CERT team will monitor both CH 6 and Ch 6.16 and then you can transmit on ch6 and be heard. In this case a block captain should have been called, the park manager should have been called and maybe the police business phone to report a suspicious circumstance.

If the Block Captain had been called they would have radioed the neighborhood with an announcement and probably all of the above would have happened and in addition maybe a neighborhood watch patrol volunteer would have gone for a look see and got a description of the car and people and a license plate number... Later they would file a report on the Newport Police Website whereupon the police would have entered it into their patrol log. So the system broke due to a failure to communicate.

Later, not during, the Parks' told Larry Henson about the problem but my sense of the report is that the salesman were already gone. Larry took no action and remarked that the Neighborhood Watch system didn't work. He did not do anything according to the Parks'. He was right.. the system did not work.

The system is only as good as its weakest link. Until we all understand how to use the system it will break down. This is a wake up call for all of us. 5 residents had a chance to initiate the system... Nothing happened. We have volunteers that take the security, your security, of the community very seriously. We ask that you honor their diligence and commitment by learning the Neighborhood Watch Radio system. Don't be a weak link. Be strong! You can do it! We are here for you.

Every CERT team member is a FRS radio expert and will help anybody that asks a question... Use their expertise.

Getting certified to use an AED (Automatic Electric Defibrillator)


Our instructor said it was time to learn how to use the Defibrillator. She handed it to me and Bill Furgason and said go ahead. We opened the unit. A placard with pictures showed how to place the 2 large pad electrodes on the (dummy in this case) and then plug them into the machine (AED). There was only one way the plug would fit. Then the placard said to turn the on switch on. We did. From that point on the AED spoke to us telling us what it wanted us to do next. In this case it said to stand back away from the patient while it used a voltage to analyze the patient. After it analyzed the patient it advised to push the shock button and everyone stand clear of the patient. That done it said to remain clear while it analyzed the patient. It said heart rate has been restored. Maintain the patients airway and wait for help or transport the patient.

That's it! It is so simple that in my opinion I don't see how anyone could go wrong at any step.

Thank you Donna for your comment on how easy to use this thing really is... We are going to get one for the clubhouse I just don't know how yet...

Say Donna, remember how GP donated those computers to us? What do you suppose they do with their old AED's?

Health Alert: Childrens toys made in China. USPSC issues NATIONAL recall of Fisher Price toys made in China with excessive lead. - The Emergency Email

Health Alert: Childrens toys made in China. USPSC issues NATIONAL recall of Fisher Price toys made in China with excessive lead. - The Emergency Email & Wireless Network .......... www. EmergencyEmail.ORG ........ NewsEmergency.com: "Health Alert: Childrens toys made in China. USPSC issues NATIONAL recall of Fisher Price toys made in China with excessive lead. "

New Help... New Ideas!

A few weeks ago two volunteers came to me and asked to help in a lot of the facets of the computer work that goes on behind the scenes for the park. They both were adept at using the computer so the task of showing them how we have been doing this stuff for a long time was begun.

It has been a pleasant teaching experience for me and watching them grasp concepts that were hard won by me is completely gratifying. Not only do they learn easily but they have begun removing a lot of the work load that had built up.

They have been learning how to make the programs on their computers do extraordinary things and having a good time doing it. Our classes run about two hours and follows a loose format dictated by their, "How to?", questions. What I mean is things like how to make Posters. How to go behind the scenes and make our web pages do new things ... Yep, they have been learning the ins and outs of writing the code that makes our web pages work. You can't see what they have done but trust me a lot of the web work I was doing is now in their hands and is working fine.

Things like the birthdays and the calendar were becoming neglected but now they are upto date all the time. New articles appear from time to time with fresh points of view. The website is becoming more flavored with these new additions as is the clubhouse bulletin board and they know how to make tickets now... Trust me the community is benefiting from our behind the scenes gurus.. we are... I am lucky to have them on board.

Who?

Ginger Dale and Barb Dudley.

WHO GETS BILLED FOR A 911 AMBULANCE CALL? THE PERSON THAT CALLED?

This was a question posed by Jim Dunlop at yesterday's Neighborhood Watch Block Captain meeting. Frankly, that had never occurred to us but Jim may have a point... After all as a good Samaritan, you call and then get billed if the person you call refuses to pay the bill?

At first blush that just doesn't seem possible but this is an instance where it is best to know the facts and not spout what I think are the facts. So I posed the question to our CERT Advisor, Retired Newport Police Sergeant Dean Sawyer (27 years on the on the force and recently retired) He is now the Emergency Coordinator for the tribe in Siletz... He knows his stuff.

Here is his answer by email....

Ok here is how it goes.

The person calling does not get billed. The person that receives the service gets billed, his insurance first, then what is not paid gets billed to him. If he does not pay then they go to collection agencies.

If they show up and the person is not transported, they have a response bill. The bill goes to insurance first then to the person.

If the person is unconcioous, they transport him to the hospital and bill insurance.

If the person refuses services, they bill a response fee.

Hope that helps

Later, Dean called me and pointed out some other points.. Most everyone up here has Medicare and there is no problem when they get the bill.

In short this is a non-issue. If you need to call 911 for an ambulance DO IT.

NASA - Constellation Program: Orion Crew Vehicle

NASA - Constellation Program: Orion Crew Vehicle: "America will send a new generation of explorers to the moon aboard NASA’s Orion crew exploration vehicle. Making its first flights early in the next decade, Orion is part of the Constellation Program to send human explorers back to the moon, and then onward to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.

A component of the Vision for Space Exploration, Orion’s development is taking place in parallel with missions to complete the International Space Station using the space shuttle before the shuttle is retired in 2010. "

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'I know the answer! The answer lies within the heart of all mankind! The answer is twelve? I think I'm in the wrong building.'"

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCams - Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

VIEW MOUNT ST. HELENS..........

Neat way to view the Mountain and has many other informtion sites with this.






Mount St. Helens VolcanoCams - Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

From an email from Rod McCready.....


Hi Ron,

Did you see the evening news? An attorney remembered that there was a unit just down the hall when a co-worker clenched his fists and grabbed his chest. He ran and got it and set it up and saved the mans life.....Kudos.....

Upon interview of (Hass), he remarked how easy it was to set it up and use it. If there is no heart problem then the unit won't tell you to "clear" and push the button.

Perhaps if others, here in the park, hear this news item,

we will have more enthusiasm for purchasing the AED.

-----Coach----

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'I am not sincere, even when I say I am not.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "Thomas Jefferson
7/29/2007 6:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]

'The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'Students achieving Oneness will move on to Twoness.'"

Credit Card Buyer Beware - New York Times

Credit Card Buyer Beware - New York Times: "That experience has become all too common as the credit card industry has stealthily adopted methods designed to maximize burdensome penalties and fees, while ratcheting up interest rates as high as 30 percent. Companies bombard unwary consumers with teaser packages that promise very low interest rates to start, while reserving for themselves the right to raise rates whenever they choose. The details are buried in deliberately arcane contracts that run 30 pages long and that even lawyers have trouble understanding."

Hybrids better for the environment than for your wallet - International Herald Tribune

Hybrids better for the environment than for your wallet - International Herald Tribune: "'But,' the magazine concluded, 'for those who are considering buying a hybrid for purely financial reasons the figures just don't add up.'"

The garden Picture on the banner of our site...

Maybe Ginger will tell us about it?

click here

For Charles.....

extreme funny

In Holland, Housing Goes With The Flow, Flood-Prone Country Builds Homes Designed To Work With Rising Tides, Instead Of Against Them - CBS News

EDITOR: What about using this for New Orleans instead of flood control dikes that will inevitably do the same thing again at some future date?

In Holland, Housing Goes With The Flow, Flood-Prone Country Builds Homes Designed To Work With Rising Tides, Instead Of Against Them - CBS News: "The Dutch, half of whose country lies below sea level, have been fighting off the water for centuries, building their massive sea defenses higher and higher. But, with the prospect of sea levels rising even more, they're taking a new tack.

Instead of worrying that their homes will be swamped by the water, they're building homes designed to float on it — big homes, developers like Mark Van Ommen offer open-plan living areas, rooftop dens leading out onto decks, and bedrooms — like everything else — with water views. "

State Government - StatesmanJournal.com

EXPRESS your opinion in the current poll

Portable Defibulator We need one at LVH... At least 20 CERT and OSP people were re certified on how to use one last week here in a Red Cross class but we do not have one... What would you be willing to do to get one? Fill out the new poll on the left side of the page...

State Government - StatesmanJournal.com: "'Steve stopped breathing, and we couldn't get a pulse. He was gone,' Hass said. 'At that time, the defibrillator showed up. They are idiot-proof. But if you don't know it, it can be intimidating.'

Hass said he put Kullowatz, who weighs about 300 pounds, onto the floor, where he removed Kullowatz's shirt and put the pads on his bare chest. A mechanical voice said it was analyzing data 'for what seemed like a long time, although 30 seconds is a long time in that situation.'

Hass said he was ready to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the machine said an electrical charge should be administered. Lisa Ackerman, one of the state employees helping him, did so.

'His huge body exploded off the ground, he started coughing, he was breathing, and he came back to life,' Hass said. 'He could not have survived without the defibrillator.'"

State Government - StatesmanJournal.com

State Government - StatesmanJournal.com: "Among the Medicare changes: cancellation of a planned cut in payments to doctors, reductions in payments to private health plans that serve about 20 percent of the nation's 43 million Medicare recipients and expansion of preventive services such as screenings for disease.

Doctors in low-reimbursement states, such as Oregon, also would get a little more money.

That's good news to Dr. Klaus Martin, a family-practice physician in McMinnville and this year's president of the Oregon Medical Association.

Medicare reimbursement rates in Oregon are below the national average, largely because doctors avoid hospitalization and high-cost services. House Democratic leaders have promised to try to fix the formula for reimbursement within two years."

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "'No one really listens to anyone else, and if you try it for a while you'll see why.'"

NewsGator Online

NewsGator Online: "
'Humility is the embarrassment you feel when you tell people how wonderful you are.'"

Small Farm Report - New York Times

Small Farm Report - New York Times: "Here is how things stand at midsummer. One of the Tamworth pigs is tame enough to be scratched behind the ears. The other isn’t. Two of the white geese have clubbed together and banished the third white goose from their society. The lame Ancona duck has taken refuge under the old chicken house. We would put her out of her misery, except that her misery is her life. The old Dominique rooster seems to be in a vertiginous state, always leaning and nearly always dozing. During the listless heat of the day, the chickens all lie in the dust beneath the pickup. The horses stand in the hickory shade, incognito in fly-masks, tails flicking."

KTVZ.com Central Oregons News, Weather and Sports Leader - Oregon town prepares to put an officer on a Segway

KTVZ.com Central Oregons News, Weather and Sports Leader - Oregon town prepares to put an officer on a Segway: "ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) - The city of Ashland is ready to become 1 of the few cities in the nation to patrol its downtown with a battery operated two-wheeled personal vehicle called a Segway.

Ashland Police Chief Terry Holderness plans to ask the City Council in August to authorize spending $6,000 to purchase one Segway, geared up specifically for police use with lights and a siren."

Hattiesburg American - www.hattiesburgamerican.com - Hattiesburg, Miss.

Neighborhood Watch in other neighborhoods.....

Hattiesburg American - www.hattiesburgamerican.com - Hattiesburg, Miss.: "'The key word is communication,' Marjorie Cervantes said. 'It's very important to know your neighbors, how many people live in the house and what kind of cars they drive.'

It was that kind of knowledge that led block captain Buddy Klein to think something might be amiss at the home of a couple who was on vacation. Although the strange car that pulled into the drive turned out to be friends who were taking care of the home, the eyes were watching, Klein said.

'I almost decided to call the police, but I saw them taking in the trash and getting the mail,' he said. 'It's just about trying to stay alert to something unusual in the neighborhood.'"