By Anne Scheck 

DOWNTOWN CHURCH + OFFICE  OK by PLANNING COMMISSION 
A downtown building planned for a combined use – as an office for a business aimed at helping disabled individuals during the week and as a space for a small Christian church on Sundays – was approved last night by the Independence Planning Commission. 
 
The property, at 155 C Street, received a unanimous yes-vote following a discussion that ranged from the possible parking “stresses” on the street to the need for retail options in the area – observations offered by Kate Schwarzler, the owner of Indy Commons, who also heads the Independence Downtown Association. Schwarzler disclosed those affiliations before raising concerns about the plan for the combined church-and-office, noting that there is declining retail availability downtown.
 
In addition, there already are “stresses on parking on Sunday morning,” she said, adding that The Grove Church on Main Street meets on Sunday, and that breakfast often is served on weekends at the nearby Arena Sports Bar & Grill. She also inquired about who will monitor utilization of the building, if the combined use goes forward. ‘We monitor conditions,” responded City Planner Fred Evander. The Grove Church, with a coffee shop, functions under similar “mixed-use” criteria, he said.  
 
The applicant, Bob Fraley, pointed out that it “doesn’t do any good to have buildings closed.” Improvements are planned at the site and “the first thing we did was to make the building look better,” he said. Attendance for church will be capped at less than 50 people, according to the application. 
 
The motion for the project passed following comments by Fraley. No commissioners have business interests in the downtown area, apart from Schwarzler, according to an inquiry of the commissioners at the conclusion of the meeting.

PROPOSED MAKEOVER FOR HENRY HILL PARK
Diagrams drawn up by a rental tenant of Indy Commons after Planning Commissioners toured the Henry Hill Park neighborhood suggest revamping 5th Street and possibly repurposing the basketball courts there, among other changes, according to City Planner Fred Evander. 
 
The concept doesn’t include refurbishment of the pool structures, such as the adjoining reception area and restroom facilities, he said. 
 
Identified only as “Alexis from Istanbul,” Evander explained that a municipal planner with international experience came up with some “sweet ideas” for making 5th Street far more bike-friendly while “we were hanging out at Kate’s,” an apparent reference to meet-ups held at the shared workspace downtown that is owned by Planning Commissioner Kate Schwarzler, Indy Commons. 
 
The drawings, which were displayed for the commission at last night’s meeting, drew some questions, particularly from Commissioner Rebecca Jay, who said a survey showing the level of use of the recreational facilities, and other parts of the property, was needed “before we start changing this around.” 
 
Evander explained that a city-staff intern had spent time there, recording usage. “Yes, but different seasons of the year can mean different uses,” Jay said, noting that it would be good to contact both the YMCA and Central School District 13J. Planning Commissioners had convened earlier this summer at Henry Hill Park, where they walked around the pool, community garden, basketball and tennis courts as well as homes in the area.  
 
The renderings shown to the commissioners are far from final – a group from Portland State University is supposed to delve into the issue soon for the city, Evander explained. 
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Trammart News deeply regrets that a surge in covid prevents publication and distribution of this month’s Independent. However, two features in it – the coverage of the Transportation System Plan (TSP) and an excellent essay by Laura Archer DVM can be seen below. The TSP is at the link below, with thanks to the Polk County Itemizer-Observer – and please note the information in the cutline under the photo is incorrect. Main Street was identified in the newspaper’s caption as east-west, but it is a north-south street, as indicated in the text of the article: https://www.polkio.com/news/independence-s-transportation-plan-kicks-into-high-gear/article_cac71da8-0b90-11ec-96f2-970114263272.html
 
AND TONIGHT at 6:30 pm for the Independence City Council Meeting, where plans for federal pandemic relief money will be unveiled. Link to the agenda, here: 
 
https://ciindependenceor.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=556
 
A Timely Editorial Laura Archer DVM
Laura Archer DVM has lived in Independence since 1987 with her husband and veterinary clinic partner, Bob Archer DVM (Ash Creek Animal Clinic on Main Street). She is a graduate of Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Willamette University. This editorial also appeared in an earlier e-newsletter, Public Health Points.
 
By now, probably everyone knows that the Covid Delta variant is surging all over the US, including here in Oregon.
 
Not too long ago, new Covid cases in Oregon were regularly below 200 per day, and we were looking forward to the end of this long nightmare. As I write this, daily cases have just reached 2300. Hospitalizations have  surpassed their pandemic peak, and hospitals across the state are warning about the real risk of running out of beds in a couple of weeks.
 
The Delta variant is much more transmissible than earlier variants, and is attacking more younger people and children. This is not because Delta prefers to attack the young, but because the more at-risk elderly have been protected by vaccination (around 90% of those over 65 are fully vaccinated, both in Oregon and the country as a whole). 
With so many new infections, the numbers of those who become severely ill are also increasing (and Delta may be more likely to cause more severe illness, as well). 
Delta is also affecting the vaccinated, as breakthrough infections are more common with this variant.
 
Even though breakthrough infections are increasing due to Delta, most vaccinated people (60-80%, according to current data) will still be protected from any infection. Those who do have a breakthrough case will almost certainly have an illness resembling a cold or mild flu, and be able to recover easily at home in just a few days.
 
The vaccine is working excellently, preventing severe infections and hospitalization/death in nearly all cases. 
 
The real risk with the Delta variant is to the unvaccinated in the community, including children under 12, for whom no vaccine is available. Because Delta is so contagious, it is practically impossible to avoid exposure during a surge like the one we are currently experiencing. It will continue to spread rapidly until everyone has been either infected or vaccinated.  This will continue to stress our healthcare system, resulting in poorer care for everyone, including those with non-Covid illness. With rampant spread of the virus, we also increase the risk that even more dangerous variants will develop.
 
It’s important to consider that vaccination is not only of benefit to the individual, but it is also part of the shared care we owe our community. My vaccination and mask-wearing are not only to protect me and my family, but also to protect the people I see at work, church, and community events, including all the children too young for a vaccine. 
Covid will always be with us. The small chance we had of eradicating this virus was missed long ago, if it ever even existed. Covid can hide out in multiple species and will continue to emerge to infect anyone susceptible.
 
But we can eventually come to live with it. Once everyone has been either vaccinated or infected, we will all have at least partial immunity and Covid will dwindle to something like seasonal influenza. We may need periodic booster vaccinations, but there will not be enough susceptible people left to sustain a pandemic, and most cases will be as mild as the current breakthrough infections. 
 
The decision that faces us now is whether we want to achieve this state of tolerance with vaccination, which is free and safe (serious side effects are extremely rare), or with illness (very costly if severe enough for hospitalization, about 10% risk of long-term disability, and a death rate of 1-2 per hundred.) It shouldn’t be a very difficult decision. 
 
 
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