04
april
vernonia’s
voice what’s happening
2009
Are you an Artist, Crafter, Hobbyist or
Musician?
Events Calendar
We are looking for you, your talents, your skills to come and display or demonstrate during First
Fridays in Vernonia every month May through October. We feature all kinds of arts and crafts from
basket weaving to oil painting and ceramics and leather working. If you would like to sell and/or dis-
play your work, or offer demonstrations of your skill, we WANT YOU!!
Contact Erika Paleck for more info or to participate. epaleck@gmail.com or 503-429-0898.
Chamber of Commerce Workshop - April 8, 12PM-2PM
Shop local program and gift certificate program will be discussed. At City Hall Council
chambers. Anyone interested may attend---you do not have to be a chamber member to
attend. Bring a brown bag lunch.
Hospice Volunteer Training
Annual PTA Easter Egg Hunt - April 11, 10AM
At Hawkins Park. Bring your baskets and join in the fun. Lots of goodies for children ages
1-10, lots of fun for everyone. Expect to see the Easter Bunny and snap a photo with him.
Hope to see you there!
Do you want to give back to your neighbors and community?
Hospice of Washington County will present a five-session, 15-hour hospice training course on
April 14, 16, 21, and 23 from 6:00-9:00 PM and 9 AM-1 PM on Saturday, April 25.
The classes are taught by healthcare professionals for anyone interested in volunteering their time
to care for and support patients and their families during the final stages of a life-limiting illness. Vol-
unteers can help with direct care of patients, bereavement work with grieving families, clerical work in
the office, public relations in the community, and planning and guidance work as members of the board
of directors. There is no fee, but pre-registration is requested.
For more information or to pre-register, call the hospice office at 503-648-9565 or email Robin@
hospicewc.org.
First Friday in Vernonia Kicks Off Another
Season
First Friday starts this season off on May 1 with the second annual revival of the Maypole Dance
to be held in Hawkins Park. Coordinated by Penny Costley, this revival of an old Northwest/Scandi-
navian tradition is guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face. ,With live music by Strings On Fire
who were a big hit at last year’s event, there will also be a cakewalk held in the gazebo and an Art
Show/Hand-Made gifts exhibit in the Scout Cabin. Kathy Larsen of Mosquito Lodge will be leading
the creation of May Day baskets as well. ,The OSU Master Gardeners will have an information table
in place. The Blue House Café will be serving pastries for $2.00, an antipasto for $7.00; Brett’s Brew
(locally brewed beer) and pouring wine at a no-host bar.
Still seeking crafters, potters, artists, artisans, and especially musicians to be part of this season’s
events. Contact Erika Paleck for more info or to participate. epaleck@gmail.com or 503-429-0898.
Let’s Talk About Vernonia Parks
Do you have ideas that would improve Vernonia’s parks?
Like most of Vernonia’s residents, the city has a tight budget and must reduce it further in the coming
budget year (July, 2009 – June, 2010). The public works department is down to four employees, from six
a few years ago, so much of the routine parks maintenance is near the bottom of its priority work list.
Vernonia has seven public parks: Hawkins Park, with a gazebo, ball field and swimming pool; An-
derson Park, with full-hookup RV or tent camping, covered picnic area, shower rooms and a horse arena;
Shay Park, with the old logging train engine; Ora Bolmeier Park, a neighborhood park on Louisiana, with
Spencer Field’s ball fields; Vernonia Lake Park, with fishing, handicapped accessible piers and tent camp-
ing; and Airport Park, with self-contained RV or tent camping along the Nehalem River on Airport Road.
All of the parks have picnic tables, most have restrooms, and some have playground equipment.
There is a lot to consider, so local residents are invited to bring their ideas to an informal discus-
sion with members of the Vernonia Parks Committee on Tuesday, April 7, at 7:00 PM, at the Vernonia
Community Learning Center. At that time, there may be information on possible new playground
equipment and, if so, volunteers will be sought to help with installation.
Bring your ideas and join in coffee, refreshments and conversation about our parks.
Salmon Festival 2009: Artists Needed!
SOLV It for Earth Day - April 18, 9AM-1PM
Register at www.solv.org and join us in the fight against invasive plants! Parking will be an issue
so please carpool. Parking will be located at event location in Hilltop Day-use Area parking lot.
Planet Parade - April 18
Join us at Hilltop Day-use Area at Stub Stewart State Park along side OMSI and the Rose City
Astronomers for a star party! Telescopes are provided, event is free with $3 day-use parking.
Museum Talks - April 19, 2PM
At the Vernonia Pioneer Museum. Come hear Jerry Bush talk about his days in Vernonia.
He went from 1st grade at Lincoln Grade School to graduating at Vernonia High School.
His family owned Nehalem Dairy. He delivered milk. His family also delivered beer and
ran the funeral parlor and Bush’s Furniture. He will have movies that his mother took of
Vernonia starting in the late 40s.
Healing Yoga Workshop - April 19th, 10AM-6PM
At Cedar Ridge. Come experience the healing effects of these simple yoga teachings. All
levels welcome, absolutely no prior experience necessary. If you are not able to make it
for the entire session, just drop by when by you are able. Program fee $15.00(as you are
able) please bring a brown bag lunch. More info: www.visitcedarridge.com 503-429-2801.
This group will also be hosting a weekend retreat here at Cedar Ridge Sept 18th-20th,
2009. Cedar Ridge 18062 Keasey Rd, Vernonia
Ayurvedic Medicine and Cooking Presented by Britt Bensen Steele
Beginning in May, you will also see offerings based in Ayurvedic Medicine and Cooking,
Yoga workshops, and one on one sessions. Classes and sessions will be announced as
they are confirmed. You are welcome to make requests for upcoming offerings as well.
I am planning a retreat in June (the weekend of the 10th). The focus will be on Yoga as
means of weathering the storms of life and will be for men and women. The price will be
fixed for room and board, to cover basic expenses, and all curriculum will be donation-
based. . Yoga is inclusive. My hope is that no one is left out due to price. More info: www.
visitcedarridge.com 503-429-2801
Vernonia Pioneer Museum Meeting - April 22, 7PM
Friends of Stub Stewart and Banks-Vernonia State Trail meeting - April 23, 7PM
At Stub Stewart State Park Welcome Center.
Ten salmon blanks created by Carvin’ Marvin Howard of North Plains will be available for pur-
chase this year for $50.00 each. The fourth annual Knee Deep In Salmon Auction is a fundraiser to
help support the Salmon Fest here in Vernonia. Each salmon can be decorated by the artist in his or her
own unique style.
The proposal deadline for the salmon is June 15th with the completed salmon to be turned in July
15th for exhibition around town in various venues. They will be on display the evening of October 2nd
during First Friday, where the artists are encouraged to come discuss their work. They then will go
to the Salmon Auction held during the Vernonia Salmon Fest in Hawkins Park on October 3rd, 2009.
The completed salmon must be returned to the committee for the fund raising auction. The artist is, of
course, encouraged to bid on his or her own creation.
Contact Erika Paleck for more info or to participate: epaleck@gmail.com or 503-429-0898.
First Friday Celebration - May 1, 5-8PM
May Pole Dance, Art Show, May Baskets at Kids Craft Table, Strings on Fire Orchestra,
Cake Walk, OSU Master Gardeners Table, Blue House Cafe food and beer and wine
available for purchase, and maybe more! contact Erika for more information 429-0898.
Bicycle Skills Park Work Parties Scheduled
Library Events
• Tuesday, April 7, 6:30 PM—Friends of the Library
• April 13—18, National Library Week with BJ the Clown Tues. April 14, 7 PM
• Tuesday, April 21, 7 PM—Chautauqua Program “Justice in Frontier Oregon”
• Thursday, April 23, 7 PM—Mature Movie Night, Marley and Me
• Saturday, April 25, 6:00 PM—Family Movie Night, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
It’s trail building season, and time to get back to work on the Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park.
Are you a kid who thinks there’s nothing to do in Vernonia? Are you a parent who is concerned your kids aren’t
getting enough physical activity? Are you looking for a way to spend time and bond with your family? Are you look-
ing for a way to help improve Vernonia and make it a more interesting and exciting community? Then the Vernonia
Bicycle Skills Park is for you!
Work parties at the Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park have been scheduled for April 25, May 16, and June 14, starting
at 9:00 AM. Wear work clothes, boots and gloves. Bring shovels and battery-operated hand tools. Bring water and a
lunch. And bring your Mountain or BMX bike to ride and try out what we’ve built so far. Just follow the signs from the
Vernonia Lake Parking area to the Skills Park. Volunteers with heavy equipment for moving dirt are also needed.
This season, we will be working on the Dirt Jump Park area, finishing the Beginners line of Technical Trail
Features (TTF’s) and starting an Intermediate line in the skills area, and beginning to install TTF’s out on the trails.
The Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park is located on the Old Mill Site next to Vernonia Lake. It is being developed
through volunteer efforts to provide healthy and fun activities for residents of and visitors to Vernonia, both old and
young, and funded through grant programs that have already been secured.
The Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park is also looking for clean fill dirt from inside the city limits.
For questions or to volunteer with the Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park, contact Scott Laird at 503-367-0098.
Home-school Students Present Two Dramas
Vernonia home-school students are having a good time practicing for some upcoming drama perfor-
mances. The younger group will enact Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, one of Grimm’s famous fairy
tales. The beloved story tells how a sweet and beautiful
princess wins the love of all around her, except her evil
stepmother. Happily, love triumphs over hate for a most
satisfying ending. The older students are working on a
challenging play entitled, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” which
is set during the bloody reign of terror of the French Revo-
lution. The brave and mysterious hero attempts to rescue
innocent aristocrats from the guillotine, while a beautiful
French actress struggles to find where her loyalty lies.
The community is invited to see the plays on April
23 and 24 at 7:00 PM at the Grange. Both short plays
will be performed both nights, so come either night for a
most entertaining evening. There is no charge to attend, Vernonia Home school students will present
two short drama productions on April 17 and
though donations will be gratefully accepted.
18 at the Grange Hall
Vernonia School Events:
• April 3 - No school - end of 3rd quarter
• April 9 - School Board Meeting
• April 18 - VHS Prom
Visit www.vernoniasvoice.com/events for more info and pictures.
Scout Work Projects Class of 2004 Plans
Five Year Reunion
Available
Local scout groups-- interested in service projects
near L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park? Please contact
them to find out about the many fun projects a group
or individual can help with. there are trail building
projects, planting days, invasive species removal,
interpretive programming, etc. Plenty of fun things
to do and staff available to instruct and support you
along the way. Plan it for a weekend trip and camp
out at the Brooke Creek Hike-in Camp! for more
information contact Ranger Steve Kruger at steve.
kruger@state.or.us, or call 503) 324-0606
The Vernonia High School Class of 2004 is
working to put together a class Reunion in Au-
gust. Details are still being worked out, but
organizers are interested in contacting as many
classmates as possible. There is also plans on
doing a charity for the high school during the
reunion. Tentative time and date are to hold the
event at the Vernonia Golf Course August 15th.
Interested in helping, or know how to reach some
long lost class member? Contact Megan Baker
at VHS2004@gmail.com or at 907-602-0415.
Help Make Vernonia Shine on May 16
Vernonia Pride’s annual clean-up day is
scheduled for May 16th. This year is Oregon’s
150th birthday and the state has designated May
as “Take Care of Oregon Day.” They are hoping
for a record number of people to turn out and
volunteer their time on community projects dur-
ing the month of May.
Vernonia Pride is also hoping that many of
you will turn out on May 16 to help clean up and
make Vernonia Shine
If you are not inspired to come out and help
with the community clean-up, you might take a
look around your own home and see if there is
something you could do to make your own prop-
erty more attractive.
Please mark May 16th on your calendar and
plan to come out and make this the largest volun-
teer day we have had.