July 2023 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 11

By SANDY BATTE

It would be hard for most of us to forget the 2020 Oregon wildfire season . It was one of the most destructive on record . Wildfires killed at least 11 people , burned more than 1,000,000 acres of land and destroyed thousands of homes . Charbonneau was under a Level 1 evacuation alert for days and residents had to deal with dangerous air quality levels . It is vital that we all stay aware of fire dangers .

The Oregon Department of Forestry ’ s stated mission is “ to protect , manage and promote stewardship of our forests ” and that begins with fire prevention . This is what they ask of each of us as Oregonians : “ Make fire prevention a priority in your life by following rules and regulations and being good stewards of the land .” Since 1941 , Keep Oregon Green ( https :// keeporegongreen . org /)

has been educating the public on how to prevent wildfires . Visit their excellent website to learn fire prevention tips .

Here is a review of Oregon wildfire Evacuation Levels :

� Level 1 : Means “ Be ready ” for potential evacuation . Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area and monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information .

� Level 2 : Means “ Be set ” to evacuate .

� Level 3 : Means “ Go ,” evacuate now .

Plan ahead : Have a go bag ready in your car at all times ( https :// www . ready . gov / kit ).

Think about what is irreplaceable , have your car fueled and stay alert .

Hot weather safety

From the National Institute on Aging : “ Too much heat is not safe for anyone . It is even riskier if you are older or have health problems . It is important to be cautious and get relief quickly when you are overheated . Otherwise , you might start to feel sick or risk a heat-related illness that could cause serious health issues .”

Things you can do to lower your risk of heat-related illness

� Drink plenty of liquids , such as water , fruit or vegetable juices , or drinks that contain electrolytes . Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages . If your doctor has told you to limit your liquids , ask what you should do when it is very hot .

� If you live in a home without air conditioning or fans , try to keep your space as cool as possible . Limit use of the oven ; keep shades , blinds , or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day , and open windows at night .

� If your living space is hot , try to spend time during midday in a place that has air conditioning . For example , go to the shopping mall , movies , library , senior center or a friend ’ s home . You may also contact your local health department or city to find out if they have air-conditioned shelters in your area .

� Dress for the weather . Wear lightweight , light-colored , loose-fitting clothing . Natural fabrics such as cotton may feel cooler than synthetic fibers .

� Avoid outdoor exercising and other physical activity when it is very hot . Instead , try to find someplace you can be active while staying cool indoors .

� If you must go outside , try to limit your time out and avoid crowded places . Plan trips during non-rush hour times .

� Ask your doctor if any of your medications make you more likely to become overheated or sunburned .

By JEAN BRAULT Charbonneau resident

In the first five months of the year Charbonneau residents have donated 2,140 pounds of canned , paper and hygiene items and $ 2,085 in cash and gift cards . Some 112 residents have participated in this effort , many becoming repeat donors . We thank you for your great generosity .

This is the time of year when food banks typically experience some empty shelves . So , our immediate effort and focus is to help fill those gaps . For this month , the items in most need are deodorant , heavy soups and canned fruit . As always , however , any contribution in-kind or funds is greatly appreciated . And “ one can or item ” times each and every one of us in Charbonneau makes for a big difference .

We are aware that members of our Charbonneau community may have limited mobility or access to wheels . Beginning this month , we are offering a pick-up service within our normal CCC drop-off hours on the fourth Wednesday of each month . Two of our volunteers will be available to come by your residence to pick up donations left outside your front door ( labeled for the Food Bank ). If you are interested in this service , please e-mail Dave Olson , daveolson613 @ gmail . com . We would appreciate your making your request no later than three days prior to the pickup date .

To improve our outreach efforts , we are reaching out to the different HOAs in the community in the hope they may assist us with our messaging and mission .

The drop-off and “ pickup ” dates will be July 26 from 8:30 a . m . to 1 p . m . at our usual place in the CCC Activity Center . We hope you will again come to the assistance of those in our Wilsonville community in need of a leg up .

Welcome to the New Smiles team , Dr . Aaron Wikle !

Now accepting new patients

SERVICES

• New Smile In-A-Day

• Implants

• Wisdom Teeth Removal

• Sleep Apnea Treatment

• 3D Imaging

• Night Guards

• IV Sedation , Oral Sedation & Nitrous Oxide

• Cosmetic Dentistry

• Same-Day Crowns and more

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL

Cleaning not included . Not valid with any other offer . Expires 9 / 30 / 23 .

Dr . Aaron Wikle and family