April 2016

Inside this issue:

Spring Time Allergies 1

How to Eat on a Budget 2

On the Menu 3

Spring Grounds Maintenance 4

Moss Moss, Go Away! 4

Upcoming Capital Projects 5

New Telephone System 5

UPCS 6

“TAG” Tenant Activity Group 7

Spring Clean-up 7

Fair Housing—What it Really

Means 7

2016 Holidays 8

A Public Housing Newsletter –Spring/Summer 2016

Dedicated to April “National Child Abuse Awareness”

Do you get swollen and itchy eyes? Does

your nose run and throat feels sore? This

could be spring allergies.

In many parts of the U.S. “Springtime al-

lergies” start as early as February and

last until summer. Most people with al-

lergies have year-round symptoms.

Here are something’s you can do right

now to get some relief.

Limit your time outdoors. Staying inside

can help especially on windy days and

during the early morning hours, when pol-

len counts are highest. When you head

outdoors, wear glasses or sunglasses to

keep pollen out of your eyes. You can

wear a filter mask to help when you are

outdoors, different types are available.

Once you head back inside, “Always take

a shower, wash your hair and change

your clothing.”

Take allergy medicine. It can help adults

and children with sniffles and runny

noses. Antihistamines usually work in

less than an hour; they help your body

block your response to allergies. But read

the package carefully. For more severe

allergies it is suggested a nasal spray. It

may take a few days to work. Since they

can have side effects like burning, dry-

ness or nosebleeds, use the lowest dose

that controls your symptoms. Your doctor

may recommend allergy shots if other

medicines can’t relieve your symptoms.

Protect yourself early on. Start taking

medicine long before your allergy symp-

toms start. You can start some one week

before the season begins, that way, the

medicine will be in your system by the

time you need it. Follow your doctor’s ad-

vice.

Get natural relief. Some herbal reme-

dies may help stave off allergy symptoms,

more research is needed. Speak with

your doctor.

Allergy-proof your home. A few changes

around the house can help you breathe

easier. For starters, shut all windows to

keep out pollen. If you have an air condi-

tioner, use that instead of a fan, which

draws in air from the outside.

Take off your shoes at the door and ask

guest to do the same. That keeps aller-

gens outside. Clean floors with a vacuum

cleaner that has a HEPA filter.

Finally, don’t smoke. It can make allergy

systems worse. If you or someone you

live with smokes, now may be a good

time to quit.

SPRING TIME ALLERGIES

Reminder

The Maintenance staff will always lock a tenants unit upon leaving regardless of whether they found it unlocked or not. Remember to take your unit keys whenever you leave so you do not get locked out. Our policy is in place to protect your belongings.

Page 2 Public Housing Newsletter Spring/Summer 2016

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Making healthy food choices can be difficult. And because people with type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke, there is often the added pressure of juggling diet needs for two separate conditions. Making matters worse, these healthy choices become increasingly difficult to make when money is tight. To help you stick to your eating plan without breaking the bank, frugal living expert Jonni McCoy has provided the fol-lowing tips for eating healthy on a budget. Limit red meat in favor of healthier and less expensive sources of protein. Eat fish at least twice a week, especially fish high in omega 3 fatty acids that are good for the heart, such as salmon, trout, and herring. Unsalted nuts and beans have a lot of protein also, but make sure you review the salt content and eat appropriate portions since nuts tend to be high in calories.

Enjoy frozen vegetables and fruit. They are just as satisfying, and typically just as healthy, as fresh produce. Just make sure to check the nutrition facts to confirm that no extra sugar or salt was added.

Avoid eating out, as most restaurants come with extra large portions and extra large price tags. And options at fast food restaurants are typi-cally loaded with excess saturated fat, salt and sugar.

Eat before you go shopping. Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach will leave you more likely to buy on impulse.

Grow a garden! Not only will you save on vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, but you’ll stay active with this new hobby. And regular exercise is another important part of managing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Scout your local newspaper for coupons before you go shopping. It may cost $1-2 to purchase the Sunday paper, but your savings will likely exceed this amount.

Shop for seasonal produce – fruits and veggies are less expensive during their peak growing times, and they’re also tastier!

Look for the generic brands. The ingredients are usually similar to the brand name versions, but they’re much more affordable. Compare the ingredients list and nutrition panel to see for yourself.

Make your own pre-packaged snacks by buying a large container of raisins, unsalted nuts or or popcorn (no salt or saturated fat) and separating them into individual portions yourself. By checking the nutrition facts on the food label, you can gauge how much to eat at one time based on the saturated fat, salt, and sugar content. Remember to look for "hydrogenated oils" on the ingredients list to avoid trans fats (even if the package says "0g of trans fat").

Plan your meals each week. By planning ahead, you can check the nutrition facts of a meal be-fore you decide to make it and create a detailed grocery list for easy shopping. Planning also

GOOD EATS

Page 3 ON THE MENU

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. + chilling

MAKES: 6 Servings

Ingredients 1 pound fresh green beans

3 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

1 small onion, chopped

2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley

2 tsp capers, drained

1 hard-cooked egg, chopped

Directions 1. Place beans in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immedi-ately place beans in ice water. Drain and pat dry. Place in a large bowl. 2. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over beans and toss to coat. Add the tomato, onion, parsley and capers; gently toss. Cover and refrig-erate for at least 2 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle with egg. Yield: 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (14 ounce) package turkey kielbasa, cut into 1/4 inch rounds

1 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 yellow, red or orange bell pepper, diced

1 onion, diced

3 small or 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced

olive oil

salt and pepper

Instructions

1. In a heavy bottomed skillet (I like to use my cast iron), heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, around 8-10 minutes, stir-ring a few times to ensure even browning.

2. In a separate skillet, brown the sliced kielbasa for around 5 minutes in 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium high heat. Remove the kielbasa from the pan and set aside.

3. Add the peppers and onions to the skillet and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the cooked potatoes and kielbasa to the skillet with the onions and peppers and mix everything together. Serve nice and hot!

Notes

I use two skillets to make this recipe. I used to make it in one, but something

always came out wrong. I've learned that when I cook my potatoes in a separate skillet they cook more evenly and stay nice any crispy when they're added to the other ingredients right before serving.

Sometimes I'll add some minced garlic to the peppers and onions, but it tastes

just as good without it.

Colorful Green Bean

Salad Recipe

Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash

Page 4 Public Housing Newsletter Spring/Summer 2016

Spring is in the air, the birds are

out singing their songs and all of

the plants are coming out of their

winters nap. This spells lots of

work for the West Valley Hous-

ing Authority’s Maintenance

Team. It is the goal of all West

Valley Employees to keep our

properties in great shape, yet

safe for our tenants. This is a

monumental effort and requires

many hours of labor.

Spring is the time of new growth

and the West Valley Mainte-

nance Team must keep this

growth in check. This requires

the spraying of commercially

available and widely used

chemical treatments to all of the

public areas. These include all

planting beds (outside of tenant

managed back yards), side-

walks, common areas or any

other place we feel is a hazard

to the buildings or our tenants.

Some may disapprove of the

methods we use to control

weeds, moss and shrubs on our

properties. The methods em-

ployed have the most cost effec-

tive results and are industry ap-

proved. Our main concern is the

safety of all the residence and

we need to be able to provide

this safety in a cost effective and

efficient manner. As weather

permits you will see our staff

performing their duties as as-

signed and the bulk of the spray-

ing and sidewalk treatments will

diminish as summer ap-

proaches.

Fall and winter will bring on an-

other major project for the main-

tenance staff; keeping up with

the falling leaves. These must

be managed to keep our side-

walks free of slippery material.

During these months we will also

be spreading ice melt as neces-

sary to keep dry, safe walking

areas and before the spring

growing season starts all of the

bushes and trees get pruned.

This keeps the plants healthy

and happy which keeps pest and

rotting at bay.

West Valley wants to thank you

for your understanding of our

needs and goal of keeping you

all safe. Our maintenance team

is well trained in the work they

do and it shows in the beautiful

grounds at our properties.

Should any health concerns be

reported to our business office,

we will do what we can to try

and work with you. Keep in

mind that we have limited oppor-

tunities to inform tenants of

when work around our sites will

happen due to the ever change

weather conditions of where we

live. Please feel free to let our

maintenance guys know you ap-

preciate what they do for our

properties while you are out en-

joying the

rebirth

after the

long win-

ter.

SPRING GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

How to remove moss from

concrete patios.

We have been asked on several occasions

“What is the best way to get rid of that moss

on my patio?”

There are many commercially available prod-

ucts out on the market such as:

2-in-1 Algae and Moss Killer (Bayer)

Moss B Ware (Corry’s)

Moss Out (Lilly Miller)

The above products active ingredient is Zinc

Sulfate. We just purchase large quantity bags

of zinc sulfate to use around our sites on hard

surfaces and roofs. We have heard tenants

using bleach and pouring it on the moss on

the patio, we ask that you do not do this, as

bleach is a caustic solution and is hard on

clothing and may also be harmful to plants

and animals. Bleach may not kill the moss

just change its color.

Exposure to Zinc Sulfate poses a low health

risk, some of the signs and symptoms from a

brief exposure to zinc sulfate could include:

Nausea, metallic taste, stomach ache,

vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, de-

pression, respiratory tract irritation, skin

ulcers and blisters.

Some of the same symptoms can appear

with your pets as well. You can find

more information on zinc sulfate from

OSU Extension office or call the Na-

tional Pesticide Information Center,

Monday-Friday between 8 am to noon

at 800-858-7378 or visit their web-

site http://npic.orst.edu

WVHA Maintenance staff will at no charge

come and treat your patio upon request, usu-

ally starting in March. We are on the lookout

for moss build up on hard surfaces and will

ask you if we can treat your patio. We will

apply the zinc but will not pressure wash or

scrape the patio; this should be completed by

the tenant once the moss is dead. If we need

to do additional cleaning then the tenant

would be charged the regular maintenance

rate. If we have missed you and you would

like your patio treated, please call the office

and we will assist you as soon as we can.

MOSS, MOSS

GO AWAY!

Maintenance Corner

Page 5

Every year West Valley Housing Au-

thority plans our capital repair needs

for the public owned properties we

manage. These include 160 units

at Pioneer Village, 100 units at

Kingwood West, 60 units in the

Dallas La Creole Manor (High-rise),

20 units in the Dallas townhouse

family units, 9 units at Ash Creek

Apartments, 20 units at Arbor Court

and several scattered site single

family homes.

We present the upcoming work

plan to the tenants at all of these

sites every year in the spring. As

with the birth of the new plants,

budding trees and new growth we

submit how we intend to rebuild

and protect our housing units.

Things wear out with time and need

replaced or updated. Many of you

are aware of how much pride we

take in our properties and our dili-

gence in keeping them in good

working order and a comfortable

place to live.

West Valley Housing Authority will

be scheduling tenant meetings so

we can present all of our residence

with our latest plan to keep our

properties in tip-top shape. Please

come and learn what is going to be

happening at the place you live.

Upcoming Capital Projects

West Valley Housing Authority

has upgraded the offices tele-

phone system. Some of you

might have noticed that the

staff’s extensions are now

three digits. We now have just

the one telephone number to

contact any of our offices:

(503) 623-8387. The old office

telephone number for Pioneer

Village and Kingwood West will

still be available for awhile, but

they will ring into the new sys-

tem. Now you can call the main

telephone number and you can

reach any of our three offices.

NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM

Here are a few highlights of projects that will be taking place within the next few years.

Pioneer Village Projects

West Calico Storm Drain and Road Improvements

Sidewalk Replacements

Sewer Line Replacement

Water Saving Plumbing Fixtures

New Heating System

Kingwood West

Ramps and Sidewalk Replacements

Patio Door Replacement

Building Common Hallway Ventilation

Dallas/Independence Sites

High-rise Kitchen Cabinet Replacement

High-rise Roof

High-rise Exterior Painting

Ash Creek Apts. Playground Surface and Exterior Lighting

Sidewalk Replacements

Page 6 Public Housing Newsletter Spring/Summer 2016

It is never too late to talk about how

you can prepare for your annual unit

UPCS inspec-

tion. They are

already well

underway for

this year. As

you probably

know, annual inspections are re-

quired by H.U.D. The inspections

provide important information for the

Housing Authority to determine what

areas need to be focused on regard-

ing maintenance issues and tenant

housekeeping. What some may not

realize is that H.U.D. also comes

and inspects a random number of

our properties and looks for the

same things we do during our an-

nual inspections. The difference is

that the Housing Authority is graded

or scored by what H.U.D. finds. If

H.U.D. finds maintenance or ongo-

ing housekeeping issues, we get

points taken off and if enough points

are taken away, funding to this

Housing Authority can be reduced.

A reduction in funds would directly

affect how the Housing Authority is

able to administer the Public Hous-

ing program and effectively serve

our residents. Sounds like a bit of a

catch 22 doesn’t it? Well it is, but

that is just how the program is set

up.

That being said, let’s go over some

areas that we will be looking for

when we do our inspections, which

as mentioned, is the exact same

things that H.U.D. looks for when

they come out to inspect. Of course,

this is not all inclusive, but should

give you an idea.

The biggest areas of concern are

safety issue items like :

non-working smoke detectors

blocked heaters

blocked exits or windows

exposed electrical wiring

electrical cover plates missing

or cracked light switches and

plug-in receptacles.

If you know that any of these conditions

exist in your home, you need to immedi-

ately call the Housing Au-

thority to have a mainte-

nance person repair or re-

place the item. One thing

that is deemed as an ex-

treme hazard is having

items too close to heat

sources. Please make sure

that furniture is not placed

right in front of cadet heat-

ers and/or baseboard heaters. The rule

is 6 to 8 inches away. Many people

argue that they do not use their heater

or that the breaker has been turned off,

therefore there is no hazard. This does

not make any difference as far as

H.U.D. is concerned and it would still be

a failed item.

Other areas include :

broken windows

leaking plumbing

water leaking from around the base

of the toilet

leaking faucet

one or more burners not working on

the stove or in the oven,

food or grease build up on stove, in

the drip pans or in the oven,

and believe it or not, foil on your

stove drip pans or in your oven.

I know it sounds crazy, but if we find foil

on or underneath the drip pans or in the

oven, your home will fail inspection and

we will have to re-inspect after the foil

has been removed.

One area that we

were hit pretty hard

during the last HUD

inspection was vege-

tation touching build-

ings and fences.

This Spring and

Summer this issue will be looked at and

addressed very seriously.

Unreported maintenance things that

have been common lately are ripped

and/or damaged window screens, stor-

age of appliances or TV’s outside or on

the balcony, garbage left around the

home or balcony, other items that

should not be stored outside like bags

of cans or bottles, furniture not designed

for outdoor use, and other items that are

normally considered indoor items.

General housekeeping will be looked at

too. This is usually not a problem for

most of our residents, but may be a

touchy subject for some. It is under-

stood that the definition of good house-

keeping is interpreted differently by dif-

ferent people. Therefore, minor issues

will probably not be addressed, but if

during the inspection it is obvious that

there are some problems because of air

quality, sanitary issues, etc. these

things will need to be corrected very

quickly.

Please take the time to evaluate your

home and see if there are any areas

that need to be looked at or corrected.

Every year when inspections are done,

the maintenance department is normally

flooded with work orders that must be

completed in a timely manner. Many of

these work orders are problems that

had existed for weeks or months before-

hand, but were not reported to the

Housing Authority until discovered by

the inspection team.

If there are any questions regarding

what may be considered a failing item

or condition in or around your home, or

you have any other questions regarding

inspections, contact Jeff Berry , West

Salem Area Manager at 503-623-8387

Ext.. 301 or Rick Batie the Dallas-

Independence Property Manager at ,

Ext. 318.

Annual UPCS Inspections

Page 7 ON THE MENU

Spring is here and when

winter is over everything

looks dirty. Please help by

cleaning up your back patio

areas and picking up any

trash that you see. Let’s all

help make a good impression.

Remember, it’s your space,

so keep it clean! We are a

community.

La Creole High-rise tenants

are forming a “Tenant Activ-

ity Group” (TAG). This group

is looking for creative ideas

for activities such as, bingo,

crafts, cooking lessons or

other types of activities.

TAG activities are open to all

the LaCreole High-rise ten-

ants. If you have a skill that

you are willing to teach/share

with the group you can con-

tact Linda Smith #115 or

Irma Hernandez #213, they

are the Co-Coordinator of the

group. So of the ideas for ac-

tivities are: ice cream social,

potlucks, karaoke, knitting,

arts & crafts. You can help

with the planning as well.

Complaints, comments or

suggestion MUST be sub-

mitted in writing to the of-

fice. We will

not be able

to act on

any that are

not turned

in that way.

To most, the words Fair Housing are common place in today’s soci-ety. To many, Fair Housing means equal opportunity and to others it may not seem fair at all. Either way here’s the scoop what Fair Housing really means.

The roots of Fair Housing originate with the civil rights act of 1964. Among other things the Civil Rights Act established protected classes. Protected means that folks that fall within a particular class listed cannot be discriminated against. The current Federal pro-tected classes are Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex (or gen-der), Age, Familial Status, and Disability (Mental and Physical). In the State of Oregon there are addition classes which include Source of Income (Includes Section 8), Marital Status, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Depending on County or City there may be even more.

In a nutshell, Fair Housing means that it is against the law for any landlord, including the Housing Authority to discriminate based on any of the protected classes listed above. It is also against the law for residents to discriminate against other residents of a protected class. This can come in the form of name calling, bullying, harass-ment, and excluding them from community functions. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and belief systems regarding people, but they do not have the right to discriminate. For those who have internet access and desire to know more go to Oregon Fair Housing Council at http://www.fhco.org/ . This information is not legal advice and should not be treated as such.

Fair Housing – What it Really Means

West Valley Housing Authority

204 SW Walnut Ave.

PO Box 467

Dallas, OR 97338

2016 HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year’s Day

January 18 ML King Day

February 15 President’s Day

May 30 Memorial Day

July 4 Independence Day

September 5 Labor Day

November 11 Veterans Day

November24 –25 Thanksgiving & Day after

December 25 Christmas

(observed on Monday December 26th.)