march
vernonia’s
voice what’s happening
04
Calling All Crafters, Artisans, Musicians
and Artists for First Friday
2009
Blow up your TV and come party with your friends and neighbors in downtown Vernonia!
First Friday will begin its third season of hosting events and shows of local artisans in combi-
nation with local merchants and venues starting May 1st, with the second revival of the traditional
Maypole Dance. First Friday is held the first Friday of every month into the early Fall.
The Floating Gallery, a project of Hands-On Art, is held along with First Friday and is
designed to bring in and exhibit the deep well of local talent here in the Vernonia, Mist, and
Birkenfeld area.
First Friday itself is a joining of the Chamber of Commerce and various local non-prof-
its to put on events of local interest, including the Outdoor Market to build community and
just have fun together. The Dog Parade and Scapegoat Burning were part of First Friday.
If you are interested in participating, or just want more information, contact Erika at:
epaleck@gmail.com or 503-429-0898.
Vernonia Girl Scouts Hold Food Drive
The Vernonia Girl Scouts, in coordination with the school district, are having a canned
food drive starting on March 2nd and ending on March 12th. The Girl Scouts will be
collecting at the schools, as well as having a barrel at Sentry Market. They will be hand-
ing out collection bags at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and will be picking them up from
doorsteps on Saturday, March 21, in the AM.
Community Awards Banquet Scheduled
Vernonia Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Community Awards and
Business of the Year Banquet. When: March 18 Where: Vernonia Middle School cafeteria
Time: 6 PM to 8:30 PM.
The public, organizations and businesses are invited. If you would like to present an
award to a volunteer or employee or have a table display for your organisation or business,
contact the Chamber at 503-429-6081 or info@vernoniachamber.org. The Business of the
Year for 2008 will be announced.
Also, check out the updated Chamber website for upcoming events in the community
and more at www.vernoniachamber.org.
It’s Time For the Vernonia St. Patrick’s
Day Parade!
It’s time once again to put on your Green and act Irish! The annual Vernonia St. Patrick’s Day Pa-
rade will take place on...well, St. Patricks Day of course! Tuesday, March 17 in case you weren’t
sure. Organizer Pat Knight invites anyone and everyone to come out and participate---either join
in the parade, or watch from the sidewalk. There is no fee to march, just assemble at the corner
of State and Bridge Streets---Parade starts at 5:15 PM.
Submit Your Theme for Jamboree
Vernonia Jamboree Committee is seeking nominations for a theme for Jamboree. Sub-
mit your ideas to info@vernoniachamber.org or leave a message at 503-429-6081.
The Jamboree Committee is also looking for a group to handle the garbage collection
during Jamboree. This is handled as a fundraiser and the group will be paid for this service.
Call 503-429-6081 for details or email info@vernoniachamber.org.
As a result of last year’s Jamboree, the committee donated to the following non-profits
in our community: Vernonia Cares, Vernonia Scouts Troop 201, Vernonia Girl Scouts, Ver-
nonia Ridge Riders, and Ossom Club at VHS.
The next Jamboree meeting will be March 19 at 5:30 PM at City Hall.
2009 Jamboree Officers:
DONNA WEBB-- PRESIDENT
MIKE KAY-- VICE PRESIDENT
KIMBERLY MYERS-- SECRETARY
RANDY PARROW-- TREASURER
Vernonia Library Hosts Chautauqua
Program
Sponsored by The Oregon Council for Humanities, Friends of the Library and Library Board,
a Chautauqua program entitled, The Chinese Diaspora in the Americas: The First “Illegal
Aliens,” will take place at the Vernonia Public Library on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 7:00
PM. Presented by Elliott Young, from the History Department of Lewis & Clark College, this
program will explore the immigration bureaucracy that was created to track, find, and capture
“illegal” Chinese immigrants, and the strategies these immigrants, in turn, used to stay one step
ahead of government inspectors. Refreshments will be served following the program.
River City Ramblers to Perform in
Clatskanie
The River City Ramblers will perform at Donavon Wooley Performing Arts Center-- Clats-
kanie Middle School-- 471 SW BelAir Drive, on Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 PM.
Long associated with folk music, the River City Ramblers began their long-running folk
careers during the folk craze that dominated the 60’s music scene. With their combined years
of folk, classical, madrigal, jazz, pop and symphonic choral backgrounds, the Ramblers will
be featured at many folk festivals throughout America this year. They have enhanced their
act by adding blue-grass fiddle, a few more guitars, harmonica and precision percussion to
present the brightest, fullest, folk-country-rock music ever heard. “It’s a Hootenanny!”
Ticket prices: $10/Adult, $8/Senior Citizen & Student and $5 for Children 12 and under.
This program is made possible through the sponsorship of the CAC in their ongoing effort
to make family fare available and affordable in the Greater Lower Columbia Region that
encompasses their serving area.
For more information about this and other CAC offerings throughout the year, please
call (503) 728-3403 or visit them on the web at www.clatskaniearts.org.
Events Calendar
VHS senior class fundraiser - March 7, 10AM-2PM
Can drive at Vernonia Middle School.
VHS senior class fundraiser - March 14, 9AM-3PM
Rummage Sale, bake sale, and car wash (weather providing for the car wash) on at VMS.
Donated rummage sale items may be dropped off after school on Friday at VMS or as
early at 7 pm on Saturday morning.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade - March 17, 5:15PM
Starts at the corner of Bridge and State Streets. Everyone is invited to participate!
Community Awards Banquet - March 18, 6-8:30PM
At the Vernonia Middle School. Sponsored by the Vernonia Chamber of Commerce. The
public, organizations and businesses are invited. The Business of the Year for 2008 will
be announced.
Upcoming School Events
• March 11 - VHS Winter Sports Dessert
• March 12 - School Board Meeting
• March 23-27 - Spring Break
• April 9 - School Board Meeting
• April 11 - PTA Egg Hunt @ Hawkins Park
• April 18 - VHS Prom
Library Events
• March 7, 10AM-4PM: Friends of the Library Book Sale
• March 12, 7PM: Chautauqua presentation by Elliott Young--The Chinese Diaspora in
the Americas: The First “Illegal Aliens”
• March 21, 2PM Authors of “Child of Steens Mountain”--Barbara Scot & Eileen
O’Keeffe McVicker--Discussion & book signing
• March 23, 5:30PM: Book Discussion
Movies for Spring Break:
• March 25, 2PM: “High School Musical III”
• March 26, 2PM: “Horton Hatches a Who!”
• March 27, 7PM: “Twilight”
• March 28, 7PM: “Sweet Home Alabama”
• April 12-18--National Library Week with special activities including B.J. The Clown on
Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m.
• Thurs. April 21, 7 p.m. Chautauqua presentation by Diane l. Goeres-Gardner, Justice
in Frontier Oregon, 1851-1905
Spring Break Events at Stub Stewart State Park
March 21--- What is the Vernal Equinox? 10AM, OMSI Star Party/Vernal Equinox Cel-
ebration 7:30PM
March 22---The Forest is Alive, 10AM---Meet some of the animals that live in the Park
March 23---Newts are Neat!, 10AM---Learn about these crazy critters
March 24---Slugs, Bugs, and other Ughs!, 10AM---Creepie- crawlies that live at Stub Stewart
March 25---Incredible Insects, 10 AM---Find out how incredible they are.
March 26---Where does JR Beaver Live?, 10 AM---Take a short hike to find out
March 27---Hike to Unfit Settlement View, 10AM---A guided tour through the history of
Stub Stewart
FREE Yoga Workshop - April 19, 10AM-5PM
Come experience the healing benefits of Kriya Yoga at Cedar Ridge, 18062 Keasey Rd in
Vernonia OR. www.visitcedarridge.com for more information or call 503.429.2801. Bring
a brown bag lunch. Offerings accepted.
SOLV IT for Earth Day--- April 18, 9AM-1PM
Volunteers are invited to participate in an invasive species removal project within Stub
Stewart State Park and some trail maintenance and clean up. This project will be co-
ordinated by Park Ranger Steve Kruger, who can be contacted at 503-324-0606 x302.
Anyone interested in participating should sign up on the SOLV website under SOLV Pro-
grams, SOLV IT at www.solv.org.
Visit www.vernoniasvoice.com/events for more info and pictures.
