‘ABC and D’s of Medicare” workshop

If the vexing questions about Medicare insurance leave you scratching your head, you have a chance to learn more about the complex world of Medicare and its insurance supplements. The Benton and Linn County Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is offering free public workshop to help answer your questions.

The two hour classes are being offered at no cost. The topics will include a discussion of the costs and covered benefits of Parts A, B and D; how and when to enroll; Medicare supplements, prescription plans and what is new for 2010. SHIBA volunteers will be available to answer your questions.

In Benton County: The workshop is held on October 20 and 27 at the Corvallis Senior Center from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The Corvallis Chintimini Senior Center is located at 2601NW Tyler Avenue.
In Linn County: The two hour classes are being offered at no cost on November 3 and 10 at the Albany Main Library from 4:00 to 6:00pm. The Albany Main Library is located at 2450 14th Avenue SE.

The first and second workshops will cover uniquely different information on each date. Seat reservations are required for handout materials. To reserve your seat, please call the RSVP office at 812-0849.Space is first-come, first-served.

Linn-Benton RSVP, a program of Community Services Consortium, is the sponsor of the local SHIBA program, the Corvallis Chintimini Senior Center and the Albany Main Library are co-sponsors of these events.

Free classes show the ropes to maximizing financial health

Time commitment, willingness are the only prerequisites

ALLYSON LONGUEIRA
The News Guard

Six hours in a classroom might not top the list of fun things to do on a Saturday, especially not two Saturdays in a row. But if those 12 total hours are spent with Karen Ramsden in her Financial Fitness class, they could be some of the most productive.Just ask Robin Rhyner, 39, of Lincoln City. She attended the class in April and said it was a real eye-opener.

(Follow the link to read the rest of the story)

http://thenewsguard.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=9152

Local Businesses Respond to Hard Times

Linn Benton Food Share thanks the following local businesses for holding food drives, fundraising activities or donating money during September, October and November. The food and money to buy food will be used locally for people who need it during this critical time of economic instability.

Thank you to: Corvallis Clinic; Selco Credit Union; Albany, London’s Auto, Corvallis; Heritage Mall Craft Fair in Albany on October 8th – 11th; Block 15, Corvallis event this past September; The Magic Barrel, an annual celebration of live literature that raises funds to help fight hunger in our local area on October 24th at Corvallis High School; Blackledge Furniture, Corvallis, will donate a percentage of their profits during November; Wallgreens Drugstore, Albany.

Linn Benton Food Share is part of Community Services Consortium. Linn Benton Food Share procures and distributes almost 5 million pounds of food annually through their 74 non-profit agencies, which include emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, gleaning groups, and homeless and transitional shelters. They serve low and very low-income people such as seniors on fixed incomes and working families who lack the resources to purchase food. Forty seven percent of the households served had at least one member working.

Report offers look at Head Start services

http://www.newportnewstimes.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=21546&page=72

Newspaper And Media About CSC

Please check out the following link to catch up on News about CSC's programs and staff:

CSC News

CSC YouthBuild help in Gulfport - Northwest Labor Press, 9/4/09
Stimulus pays for weatherization work - Democrat Herald, 8/29/09
Career Tech 'met' AYP - The News Guard, 9/2/09
Grant to help hungry and students - Gazette Times, 8/27/09
Stimulus gave 345 young people work - Gazette Times, 8/24/09
Get your hands dirty - The News Guard, 8/19/09
Youth garden ready for harvest - Gazette Times, 8/18/09
Crew spruces up walking trail off 53rd - Democrat Herald, 8/7/09
Happy over new trail - Democrat Herald, 8/6/09
Senior aid group gets $2,550 grant - Democrat Herald, 7/31/09
Monument marks lake’s progress - Lebanon Express, 7/14/09
Senior Housing Meetings Planned - Gazette Times, 7/6/09
Gleaners take to fields amid recession - Statesman Journal, 7/6/09
Editorial: County leads on homeless issue - Gazette Times, 7/8/09
Stimulus puts young people to work - Democrat Herald, 7/6/09
Programs to help renters keep housing - Gazette Times, 7/3/09
Jobs-fair matches youth and business - Democrat Herald, 6/30/09
Garden of Eaton: Earth's Gifts - The Missoulian, 6/30/09
Corvallis help agency gets $600K-plus - Gazette Times, 6/15/09
CSC program eases chill of job market - Gazette Times, 6/19/09

Two New Directors at CSC

Community Services Consortium (CSC) welcomes two new directors: Suzanne Miller joins CSC as the new Head Start Director, and Clay Martin is the new Director of the Workforce and Education program.

Miller worked in program management and with children and families in areas of advocacy, counseling, and outreach. As Executive Director of a domestic violence coalition, she was responsible for shelter for women and children, court advocacy, counseling, and coordination with other social service agencies. She was the Director of the Children’s Program of the Hospice of Marin in California where she implemented clinical and educational programs and services for children. Miller comes from a large family with lots of nephews and nieces. She lives in Gleneden Beach.

Martin came from CSC’s Community Housing Resources program where he worked on a variety of projects including two housing projects in Newport which will provide 18 units of housing for homeless families and individuals. In addition, he helped organize the Lincoln Community Land Trust. Before his move to Oregon, Martin held the position of Director of Administrative Services for the city of Huntington Beach in California. Martin and his wife, Roxie, have three children and live in Corvallis.

“We welcome Suzanne and Clay and their wealth of relevant experience to CSC,” said Martha Lyon, CSC’s Executive Director. “Both our new directors have the talent to help their departments grow to new heights.”

New Hires ...

With apologies to new employees who joined us prior to July 2009, only those hired on or after July 1 are included in this post. Subsequent blog entries will begin with October hires and continue on.

July

• Allison Wright, Project Instructor 1, W&E
• Karen Sky, Accounting Tech, Admin
• Dennis Feeny, Project Instructor 1, W&E
• John Deeds, Weatherization Tech, Housing
• David Condell, Project Instructor I, W&E
• Jon Polansky, Housing Resource Coordinator, Housing
• Jerrid Maxon, Weatherization Tech, Housing
• Terron Scott Andrews, Weatherization Tech, Housing
• Colleen Dyrud, OS II (Food Share Clerk), LBFS
• Richard Flacco, Weatherization Tech, Housing

August

• Heather Bedtelyon, Project Instructor I, W&E
• Randall McKay, Network Specialist I, IT
• Lauren Myers, Teacher II/ Advocate, Head Start
• Diana Warren, Health & Family Services Asst, Head Start
• Amy-Rose Simpson, Office Specialist I, Admin
• Melissa Branch, Teacher II/ Advocate, Head Start

September

• Elisabeth Landers, Project Instructor I, W&E
• Stephanie Green, Energy Education Coordinator, ES
• Clay Martin, W&E Director, W&E
• Suzanne Miller, Head Start Director, Head Start
• Dwayne Dryden, Project Instructor I, W&E
• Ryan Lacy, Project Instructor I, W&E

We're excited to have you with us; should you ever have non-program-related questions or concerns for which you are not able to find answers, please don't hesitate to contact us in the Administration office (located in Corvallis) -- 541-752-1010.

Welcome aboard!

Eight Honored With Presidential Service Awards

Nearly 100 volunteers came out to celebrate Stars Over Broadway at the 36th annual Benton County RSVP Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Corvallis Country Club on September 29, 2009.

The Presidential Service Awards were given out to eight Benton County RSVP volunteers. Receiving the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for 4,000 hours of service was John Locker, a dedicated volunteer with the Corvallis Senior Center and Benton County Meals on Wheels programs. Seven volunteers were awarded the Presidential Gold Service Award for 500 hours of volunteer service in 2008. They include Lynda Anderson, Phyllis Derr, Paul Franklin, Laurie Martin, Paul Swanson, Walter Tomschin and John Wiltz.

Benton County Volunteers of the Year were Charles and Gail Woosley for their enormous volunteer contributions to Benton County, largely working with Oregon Fish and Wildlife. The Corvallis Senior Center received the Volunteer Station of the Year award for its strong partnership with RSVP, providing a venue for important RSVP programs such as Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) and AARP Tax-Aide to operate.

In the past year 343 volunteers have given 40,830 hours of service to Benton County at a value of $826,808. RSVP wishes to thank the business sponsors of the celebration for their support of the incredible accomplishments of the RSVP volunteers in Benton County.

You are Cordially Invited ...

to attend both the official release of the Benton County Ten-Year Plan to Address Issues Surrounding Housing and Homelessness AND the first joint Benton County/CSC Project Homeless Connect (resource fair)!!

Document Rollout
When: Friday October 23, 2009
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Where: Corvallis Benton County Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis

Homeless Connect
When: Friday, October 23, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: First Christian Church, 660 SW Madison Av

• Information on Housing • Free Haircuts • Dental Van • Information on Jobs • Reading Glasses • Getting Identification • Bicycle Safety Checks • Information on Food Stamps • Veterans Representative • And much more!

Lunch will be available!

For more information please contact Amy-Rose Simpson (541) 758-2604 or Joann Zimmer (541) 758-2647.

We hope to see you there!

CSC's ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Launches its Fourth Year

The CSC ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA program launched its fourth year in mid August 2009. We welcomed eleven new VISTA members to Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. They joined 3 remaining members who will finish in December. The VISTA team is focused on capacity building efforts that will help alleviate poverty in our area. They are fundraising; grant writing, working with volunteers, developing new programs, writing new policies and procedures and much more!

Since the start of the CSC ‘Building Bridges’ program in 2005, the VISTA members have recruited 870 new community volunteers who have served for almost 25,000 hours. The members have also generated $1.4 million in cash and non-cash resources for their agencies. In addition, numerous collaborations and partnerships have been developed and new programs have been created.

2009-2010 CSC ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA Host Sites
Albany InReach Services
Albany Partnership for Housing and Community Development
CSC-Santiam Wilderness Academy
CSC-Youth Garden Project
CDDC – Project Action
Jackson Street Youth Shelter
Lincoln Commission on Children and Families
Linn-Benton Housing Authority
Linn County Sheriff’s Department
Parent Enhancement Program
Strengthening Rural Families
Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis
Head Start of Lincoln County
Oregon Cascade West Council of Governments

If you have an interest in hosting an AmeriCorps*VISTA member or want to learn more about CSC’s ‘Building Bridges’ program, please contact Tifani Erpelding at 541-758-2641 or Tom Cope at 541-758-2646.

Community Housing Services and local Mortgage and Real Estate Professionals offer Free Homebuyer Class in Newport

On Saturday, October 10th, Community Housing Services, a program of Community Services Consortium, in conjunction with AmeriFirst Mortgage Solutions and other area real estate and housing experts, will host a free, in-depth one-day Homebuyer Class in Newport. The seminar is aimed at teaching prospective home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, how to negotiate the labyrinth of rules, regulations and potential pit falls facing anyone considering a home purchase.

The class will cover such basic questions as when should I buy? What is the process? How do I avoid scams, and how do I prepare? According to Heather Brunner, Mortgage Banker and owner of AmeriFirst Mortgage Solutions, “There are different volunteer professionals teaching each section. We discuss the pros and cons of owning a home, how various things affect your credit score, how to shop for a loan, the different loan options, and a section on title and escrow. We even have a section on how to manage your finances to make sure you will keep your home after you’ve purchased it.”

In the past there was a charge of $35.00 to cover the cost of the syllabus, materials and hand outs. But thanks to a HUD grant, the class is now completely subsidized by Community Services Consortium.

The seminar is being held Saturday, October 10th at the Newport High School Annex C, 322 NE Eads St. in Newport, from 9 am until 5:30 pm. Pre-registration is required.

For more information and a registration form, contact Karen Ramsden of Community Housing Services, phone: 541-758-2786, or toll free, 866-245-1789, fax: 541-752-2348 or AmeriFirst Mortgage Solutions: 541-994-3465. Applications may be returned by fax, mail or email, and must be received by October 5th, 2009, at the Community Housing Services office.

Community Housing Services serving Linn Benton and Lincoln counties is located at 545 SW 2nd St., Ste A, Corvallis, OR 97333

AmeriFirst Mortgage Solutions is located at 2135 NW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, Oregon 97467.

Linn Benton Food Share Receives Comcast Foundation Grant

Susan James, Food Share Gleaning and Volunteer Coordinator,(left) and Mike Gibson, Food Share Director(3rd from left) receive a grant for $1160 from Comcast Corvallis Technical Operations Manager, Mike Johnson, (2nd from left) and Bobbie Peebler, Comcast Administative Assistant for Corvallis/Salem (far right).

Linn Benton Food Share, a program of Community Services Consortium (CSC) received a grant of $1,160 from the Comcast Foundation. The grant came in addition to the help Comcast employees, their families and friends gave to Linn Benton Food Share as part of Comcast’s annual company-wide day of service last spring.

More than 80 volunteers assisted with projects at Linn Benton Food Share’s Tangent warehouse on Comcast Cares Day, April 25th. They repacked large bags of beans and rice into family sized servings, sorted thousands of pounds of canned goods from food drives, built a raised bed garden, donated a certificate for plant material, rebuilt a shed door, and replaced the old lock with a sturdier one.

“We really appreciate all the help the Comcast folks gave us and the grant will help us purchase staple goods,” said Mike Gibson, director of Linn Benton Food Share. “This is the second time we have been a recipient of Comcast Cares Day. They are all volunteers and it’s great to see them with their families and friends at the warehouse having a lot of fun while they are helping us out.”

“Linn Benton Food Share is really popular with our employees, said said Bobbie Peebler
They like to help in an area where they know they make a difference, giving back to the community is important to Comcast.”

Ryan McCambridge, Food Share Coordinator, said “We just don’t have to staff to complete all the projects and with the extra help from Comcast, it makes food distribution easier.”

Local businesses contributing to the Comcast Cares Day project, were XL Overhead Construction, Green & White Rock Products, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and U&D Nursery.

Linn Benton Food Share helps low-income people feed themselves and their families by soliciting, storing and distributing food through the warehouse to their 74 member agencies such as emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters for homeless persons, day care centers, senior centers and gleaning groups.