CENTRO CULTURAL'S EL GRITO CELEBRATION
Mark your calendars for Centro Cultural's annual El Grito Community Festival, Sep 16, 2023, at Shute Park, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with this family-friendly event that will feature mariachi, and ballet folklorico performances, Latin American gastronomy, artisanal vendors, a car show, community resources, and much more.
To learn more about Centro Cultural, visit their website. You can also read more about Hispanic Heritage Month here.
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CORN ROAST AND CHALK ART FESTIVAL
Fall festivities are upon Washington County, with two annual Forest Grove celebrations kicking off the season: the Corn Roast & Harvest Festival and the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival.
Traditionally held on the same weekend, the city staple events will bring the community together on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Hosted by the Forest Grove Chamber, the Corn Roast started in 1964 as an initiative to introduce incoming educators to the community and celebrate the start of the fall harvest.
The event continues to recognize local educators, and partners with both Pacific University — which traditionally hosts the Corn Roast on its wooded downtown campus — and the Forest Grove School District to highlight the work being done in the community.
After residents grab some delectable corn, they can check out the vibrant art adorning the sidewalks during the 33rd annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival.
Cemented as the longest-running chalk art festival in Oregon, the event brings artists of all experiences together, giving people the chance to express themselves and show off their work on city sidewalks.
The festival is organized each year by the Valley Art Association, a local group supporting the arts in Washington County, which has a gallery on Forest Grove’s Main Street.
The Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival will start at 8 a.m. Sept. 16 and take place along Main Street; the Corn Roast will begin at 11 a.m. off College Way. Both events go until 4 p.m.
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BRILLA BIENESTAR GALA
Bienestar is a great organization that provides hope in our area by building housing and community for the wellbeing of Latinxs, immigrants, and all families in need. The organization builds the hard to find two-, three-, and four-bedroom affordable apartments that are crucial for a family with children. With the help of their trained community leaders, Promotores, their properties have become more than just a place for families to live. They've become thriving communities where families feel safe, seen, supported and heard – allowing residents to focus on building their future and achieving their dreams.
Bienestar is hosting their first annual Brilla Bienestar: a fundraising gala benefiting the hundreds of families who call Bienestar housing “Home” on September 28, 2023 at Hawk’s Run Estate.
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Doors open at 5:30pm – Program ends at 8:30pm
Location: Hawk’s Run Estate – 4200 NW Leisy Rd, Hillsboro
GET TICKETS HERE
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VIRGINIA GARCIA'S ¡PROSPERA!
The Mission of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center is to provide high quality, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others with barriers to receiving health care.
Virginia Garcia operates 6 primary care clinics, 6 dental clinics, 1 reproductive care clinic, and 5 school-based health centers serving over 52,000 patients across Washington and Yamhill counties. In addition to these locations, Virginia Garcia operates a mobile clinic that is critical to providing care to those who need it, right where they live, work, and gather. 98% percent of patients are from low-income households, 42.7% are 21 years of age or younger, and 18% are farm or agricultural workers.
¡Prospera! is a joyous night benefiting Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. In addition to raising needed funds, it is a celebration of their accomplishments from the past year and look to the future with optimism and hope.
¡Prospera! 2023 is on Friday, September 29 at 5:30pm at the Sentinel Hotel.
Purchase tickets here!
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COVID-19 BOOSTER COULD BE AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK
People in Oregon could start receiving the nation’s newest COVID-19 vaccines as soon as next week after a federal advisory body today endorsed the updated shots for everyone 6 months or older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s decision to recommend the updated mRNA vaccines comes a day after they were authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Studies show the vaccines, formulated to target currently circulating variants, induce antibodies against a wide variety of COVID-19 viral variants and are expected to improve protection against serious consequences of COVID-19 infection, including hospitalization and death.
According to the CDC, the vaccines have been updated to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant XBB.1.5 and related subvariants. They are approved for individuals 12 and older and authorized under emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years old.
The new vaccines’ availability on the commercial market means health care and vaccine providers must order and receive them directly from the manufacturers. During the pandemic, the federal government arranged for manufacturers to ship vaccines to state health agencies, which then managed orders and shipments for providers.
The new COVID-19 vaccines also are being made available at the start of the 2023–2024 respiratory season, when federal and state health agencies begin promoting influenza vaccinations as people send children back to school, head indoors to escape colder weather and gather for holiday celebrations. OHA tracks influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity each year between October and April when infection and hospitalization rates are highest.
A new RSV monoclonal antibody immunization for babies and toddlers is expected to be available commercially and to health care providers enrolled in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program later this fall. A new RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older has been available on the commercial market for several weeks, and people should check with their insurance plan to make sure RSV vaccination is covered. The CDC has not announced a timeline for when the new vaccines will arrive in state-sponsored vaccine programs, such as Oregon’s Vaccine Access Program (VAP) which provides free vaccines for eligible children and adults.
Insurance plans will cover the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine when they become available. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover most ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost sharing (such as co-pays or deductibles).
People can get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider, county public health clinic or federally qualified health center (FQHC). They can also search for a clinic by ZIP code by visiting vaccinefinder.org, or by calling 211 or visiting 211info.org.
In addition to getting vaccinated, health officials recommend people follow OHA and CDC guidance that empowers individuals at risk for severe illness to prepare for COVID-19 exposure and possible infection. The guidance includes:
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Knowing your risk. Talk to your health care provider about whether your age, vaccination status or medical condition makes you more susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness.
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Making a plan. Think about how you’ll protect yourself and those around you if you become ill with COVID-19, or if your community’s transmission level changes.
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Taking action when needed. Get tested if you have symptoms. If you test positive, contact your health care provider for treatment – such as with the antiviral medication Paxlovid for those at increased risk and those with severe illness – or consider telehealth options; let those around you know they may have been exposed; stay home until fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving; wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10 days after you become sick or test positive; and avoid contact with high-risk individuals for 10 days.
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My office has compiled a list of resources for our community. You can click on the images below to open a document with the relevant links. If you know of a resource that should be included here, or you need a resource and are having trouble finding the information you need, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of Education-related resources. This includes links to the Forest Grove and Hillsboro School Districts, the Oregon and US Departments of Education, information on how to pay for college, student lunch programs, and much more!
WILDFIRE-RELATED RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for important resources related to wildfire prevention and recovery. This list includes links to current fire restrictions and recreation site status maps, the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire prevention tip page, and important resources for wildfire victims.
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RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of important resources for Veterans, including links and phone numbers to the various divisions of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, local Washington County assistance, supportive and community-based groups like the American Legion, and mental health resources.
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STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Click here, or on the image to the right for links to important local and state government pages, including the Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius city government pages. You can also access the Oregon Legislature's page, and other important state agency sites, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Unemployment Department, and the Oregon Health Authority.
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Yours truly,
Representative Susan McLain House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429 address: 900 Court St NE, H-493, Salem, OR 97301 website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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