vernonia’s
voice letters to the editors
march
2008
Readers lend their voices…
Beervana- You Hit that Nerve, Bud!
Again, let me compliment you and everyone involved on
the great job producing Vernonia’s Voice. It is truly a refreshing
and classy local paper benefiting our tight-knit community which
I express to people every time I pick up a copy.
Your Beervana article, “In Search of the Perfect Porter (or
Stout),” roused a response for my appreciation of quality porters
and stouts. Great article, Scott! Are you ready for the responses
to start rolling in? Were it not for the persuasion twenty years ago
from my late and much respected father-in-law to try a Michelob
dark, I would have probably been satisfied with the more com-
mon mass-produced beers and not crossed over to the dark side.
Michelob dark doesn’t qualify to be anywhere near the same class
as those you mentioned, but it was my first taste of a dark that
encouraged others. I’m not a beer connoisseur by any means,
but when it comes to a quality porter or stout, I will have to admit
that I am a beer snob.
Of the noteworthy brewers you pointed out, there are a few
that I’ve not had the pleasure of drinking and will definitely seek
out. If there are any others you hear of, please pass them on. I’m
always game for trying a good new dark brew. Another of our
local brewers’ stouts that was overlooked is the hailed McMe-
namins’ Terminator Stout – on nitro or not. Some of their earlier
year batches had that beautiful dark and light marbled cascad-
ing/churning effect in the pint glass. Their Black Rabbit Porter
has been another good beverage in the porter category. Rogue
Brewery puts out a few tasty ones, but I don’t recall them to quite
measure up to those of McMenamins. Unfortunately, the McMe-
namins brews are not available in stores. A relatively close place
to try out their varieties is at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove,
and it’s still on Highway 47, so it can’t be all that bad.
The thick and flavorful darks that brought us the word Beer-
vana are what I’d constitute as almost a dessert beer. There is that
ONE that I’ve been fortunate enough to find and put in that “Beer-
vana” category. It is an import from Australia called Sheaf Stout.
I’ve only seen it sold in one size (1 pint 11 oz.), which makes for
a perfect two-pint unwind from a long day. It has the combination
of chocolate and coffee flavor, allows no light to shine through,
has a nice light-brown head, and goes down ever so smoooooth!
If you ever get the chance to try one, I know you’ll not be disap-
pointed.
Again, great paper and count me in on any taste tests!
-- Alan Carr, Vernonia
The following are letters we received from
students at Cedar Tree Christian Classical
School in Vancouver, Washington:
To the editor:
On December 3rd when the flood hit Vernonia, I wanted to reach
out and help. I got to! My friends, some adults, and I from Ce-
dar Tree Christian Classical School (in Vancouver) went to help a
foster home that was going to have adults with special needs. We
were able to help there the first week of January. Why did I do it?
Because the man we met who maintained the home (Gene) prob-
ably couldn’t have done it alone. With our help, Gene was amazed
how much we got done encouragingly, caringly, and quickly as a
team. Understandably, what I learned from my experience was
that we should build folks up by helping them through what’s
extremely hard for them at that moment. I was softly sobered by
the mess, but what a great opportunity it was to go out and serve
in Vernonia! Another thing which I learned was that a little love
can go a long way. From my experience I want to thank Gene
for letting us come into his foster home and help hack out rotten
sheetrock. Now I will be more grateful for everything I have. It
was a pleasure to work in your town.
-- Sincerely, Ana Christina Bruechert, 6th grader
To the editor:
I was able to come and help Kathleen and John (who live on
the main highway across from Vernonia schools) on December
28th. When we got there, my friends and I thought to ourselves,
“It doesn’t look that bad.” It was. I went because I knew that if
I lost everything that mattered, everything I cared about, every-
thing I treasured, I would appreciate it if someone helped.
What I learned, I will never forget, nor the people whom I
met. I learned that when you really pour your heart into improv-
ing the life of someone else, someone you’ve never me, joy fills
your own life. I also learned to be careful handling something
long and heavy when there’s class around. This was an experi-
ence I will never forget!
-- Sincerely, Jake Ike, 6th grader
Cedar Tree Christian Classical School, Vancouver
To the editor:
I went to Vernonia with a couple of my teachers and two
girls from my class at Cedar Tree Christian Classical School. Al-
though the drive was long, it was extremely worth it. Why did
I go? Well, I went because I felt sorry for the people in Vernon-
ia. My having a great Christmas, while others were fixing their
homes, made me feel badly.
05
Dallas Brass – “Phenomenal!”
I have kissed Bruce Springsteen on stage and
been backstage at the Rolling Stones concert, and
I have got to tell you, Dallas Brass is one of the
best concerts I have ever attended. These guys
were so talented, funny, and they played songs to
die for, “What a Wonderful World, Somewhere
Over the Rainbow, Pink Panther, and everything in
between.” They did a journey of American music
from the days of George Washington and included
history lessons as well. The hall was fabulous and
A LOT more comfortable than the bleachers at
WGS. The kids played a few songs with the band,
and they did great, too! Our son Chris thoroughly
enjoyed the day program with the musicians --
giving the kids advice on breathing techniques,
tempo, and other tricks of the trade. They were just
phenomenal!
At the door, a lady said she saw it in the paper
and had to come for Vernonia.
We are so very lucky to have Mr. Izzett as our Band Director. He wants to do things for the kids that we would never dream about
-- he is already planning a concert for next year to have in Vernonia.
-- Rose Curtis, Vernonia
When I went to Vernonia, it truly made me feel how for-
tunate I am. Seeing all the debris and personal items piled up
outside the homes and businesses was devastating to see. It all
happened because of one flood. It was laborious even to find
a place to eat our sack lunches, for many of the cafes and res-
taurants were closed. Actually, it was pretty exciting ripping out
nails and drywall. Even the sweeping was fun! Although it proba-
bly wasn’t fun for the people whose homes were ruined. Going to
Vernoniareally did ha ve positive impact on me. I started to think
about the lives of the people in VErnonia. Why do we need to
help people in need? Don’t just help to make others think you’re
good, but because it lifts others up. I just wanted to let everyone
know that my class is praying for the citizens of Vernonia and the
volunteers. And, hopefully, everyone will have a good year and
will learn something from this experience.
-- Sincerely, Whitné Danielle Moussan
To the editor:
When I first heard of this disaster, I wanted to help. Our
sixth grade class at Cedar Tree Classical Christian School went
to Vernonia twice, although I was only able to go once. On Jan.
3rd my dad, brother, fellow classmates, teachers, and I drove to
Vernonia. We walked to an adult foster home. This foster home
had been opened only a few days before the flood. They had but
one resident. Gene, who was taking care of the place, was amazed
to see us. We pulled nails, ripped out wet dry-wall, and swept the
floors.
As we were walking around town, we spotted a lawn chair
15ft. up in a tree! I marveled at the intensity of the flood. While
Vernonia was flooding, and others were suffering, I was home
having a good time. I would love to help again. “What can I do to
help?” That is the question that should be asked by many others.
It was fun and it felt good to help others and see their faces – tears
of joy – for the help that we brought.
-- Sincerely, Cassandra Terese Gossman
Dear Editor:
On December 28, 2007 some friends and I got into a car and
took a 75 minute drive to Vernonia to help some of the flood vic-
tims. Finally, we arrived at John and Kathleen’s house. John and
Kathleen live across from the Vernonia schools. When I looked
at their house, I could tell that we had some work to do. The
front yard was flooded, and when I went inside, almost all of the
drywall had been stripped off the wall, exposing the insulation.
For the next four hours I picked up old drywall, took out about 60
screws (from the studs), ate lunch, and pulled out insulation. As I
was doing these things, I was thinking about the great privilege I
had to help people who were in need. I think this trip helped me
with my flexibility because I had to be very flexible with what
jobs I did. This trip to Vernonia was an over-all great experience
and I know I will remember it for years to come.
-- Sincerely, Joshua Carlson
To the Editor:
These letters are from the 6th graders of my class at the pri-
vate school where I teach in Vancouver. These are thoughtful
reflections of kids moved with compassion at the plight of your
town. Below are my reflections.
Gratefulness: In facilitating teams from my church in NE
Portland as well as my school to Vernonia, I saw: an elderly lady
slowing down in a pick-up to wave at us as we loaded up dry-
wall into a dumpster. I heard the profuse thanks from an elder
woman in the volunteer office who recounted to me how her self-
sufficient husband had just that week been able to get back on his
feet after injuring his leg trying to remove equipment from their
barn during the flood. “Your coming to help means far greater
than you can know.” I listened to Bobbi, a wife out of town who
fell between the cracks of funding and was so grateful for our kids
coming out to spread gravel. I received beautiful cobalt blue bot-
tles—slightly covered in mud—from Kathleen (on Bridge Street)
who had lost everything and heard that my kitchen was the same
colors as hers had been.
Resiliency: My students and I were hugely impacted by
the resiliency of the people of Vernonia. As I walked around, I
snapped photos on my cell phone and in my mind of the follow-
ing: a church reader board (Vernonia Christian Church) that was
half-filled with mold and whose black felt board inside buckled
from water damage. The message inside from early December?
“It’s a Wonderful Life.” As I stopped by John and Kathleen’s to
check up on them on my second visit, I found out they were gone
(they were still staying at her mother’s). I peeked inside their liv-
ing room window to note any progress. I hadn’t noticed before
a familiar poster up on the wall, undamaged and inches above
piles of ruined furniture: “God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference.” Wow! Was that up there
before the flooding, or did they just put it up to draw strength from
following this devastation?
Ordinary people: One woman was visiting my church (New
Song Community Church on NE MLK Blvd) for the 2nd or 3rd
time. An employee at a uniform company in SE Portland, Vickie
Christianson, had no wheels but a HUGE desire to get out to
Vernonia and help. The morning she visited our church—only
at that service—we announced that we were leaving right after-
wards in carloads for Vernonia. She jumped at the chance! She
only had her church clothes on, but she was able to borrow boots
and wear one of the coats we were bringing for the men there.
Sitting next to me on the drive out, she rejoiced over and over
at that providential timing that enabled her to come help. A few
weeks later as I checked in to the volunteer office with the dozen
or so volunteers from my school, I was amazed at the hugeness of
this clean-up organization. One man was taking phone calls, ex-
pediting equipment for volunteers, having people sign in, giving
a nurse from Multnomah County instructions of where to go, and
encouraging an older woman. I asked him what he did for work
prior to the flood. “Oh, this and that!” Are you kidding?? Give
this guy a high-level job in administration! Then I got to the fos-
ter home where a ~65 year old Gene, was waiting for us. He was
the maintenance man for this two building business which got its
license two days before the flood and its first client one day before
the flooding. He shook my hand and had tears in his eyes more
than once watching (and helping) our crew work. I asked him
what line of work he’d been in earlier in his life, and he said, “Oh,
odds and ends.” This man was a rock! He said when the flood
hit this newly-fixed-up place, he decided he had two choices: he
could grow angry and bitter or realize Someone up there had a
different plan. He decided on the latter, he told me, and said,
“It’s been a joy ever since!” Our hardest worker was a dad who
teaches two hours of PE a week at the school. I was astonished
at his endurance, refusing to take a lunch break. As I carried a
load alongside this man to the home-made dumpster Gene had
made to hold the drywall, I was shocked to see Mr. Sheets just
take the whole wheelbarrow and fling it upside down over the
five foot side-board. When I asked Mr. Sheets what he does when
he’s not teaching P.E., he shyly said, “Well, that’s a long story. I
have helped my dad with contracting work…” Then there was
5th grade Max, a skinny, enthusiastic kid working alongside his
dad. As he pulled out screws from the studs and helped kick in
old drywall, he kept yelling, “This is awesome! I want to do this
some more. Mrs. R., can we come back here for a field trip??”
Thank you, Vernonia, for allowing our lives to be broadened
and letting strangers come into your homes and personal space,
only to leave as friends!
-- Kris Richards, 6th grade teacher
Cedar Tree Christian Classical School, Vancouver, Washington
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