16
vernonia’s
voice volunteerism
june
2009
First Yard-of-the-Month Winners Announced
Vernonia Grange
News: In Jest
By Janelle Thomas-Cedergreen
By Andy Nebergall
Actually, this column should be headed “ingest.” Do you
like to eat? Yes? Then thank a farmer. Particularly one
who belongs to the Grange. The “Grange,” officially known
as the Patrons of Husbandry, is one of America’s volunteer
grassroots organizations. The Vernonia Grange is the lon-
gest lasting community group in town. We are composed
of families and individuals who share a common interest in
community, agriculture, and doing good for our neighbors.
The Vernonia Grange meets on the second Monday of
the month at 3:00 PM.
Upcoming events include the Beard Contest at Jam-
boree. Prizes will be awarded for: Longest, Most Well
Groomed, Lincolnesque, and Weakest Attempt (that’s my
category!) Watch for more details about this new event.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the
Grange, see me (Andy, the current Grange Master), Robb
Wilson, Tobie Finzel, or Penny Costley. I can be reached at
503-4295147.
Vernonia Postal Carriers show off the 1061 pounds of food that Ver-
nonians donated and they collected as part of the “Stamp Out Hunger
Food Drive” for the Vernonia Cares Food Bank (below).
Home or commercial landscapes can be a “thing of beauty,”
“eye candy,” and a work of art for those of us who enjoy
what nature’s seasonal changes can produce. This month,
the “Country Garden” feel of these two properties absolutely
melted my butter! I have added the category of “Commer-
cial” Yard-of-the-Month after touring around Vernonia and
seeing the great efforts some of our businesses put into the
care and presentation of their properties.
Vernonia Pride is happy to announce our winners for Yard-
of-the-Month for May 2009:
• Residential – Steve and Susan Whiteman at 864 State
Avenue
Their gardening efforts have produced a lawn and flow-
er beds that are manicured to the curb with purple hya-
cinth peeking out of the picket fence, fruit trees that are
beginning to bloom, and lots of spring flowers to enjoy.
Beautiful!
• Commercial – Patti and Gary Davis’ Rock Creek Bed &
Breakfast at 1162 State Street
With a romantic entrance gate with tulips, forget-me-
nots, and daffodils peeking through the picket fence,
their whole property evokes a “Country Garden Hide-
away” feeling. Around every corner, little surprises of
an old wicker love seat in between some trees and a bird
house pop up to delight the eye. I understand the back-
yard is equally as enchanting!
• Honorable Mention to Yard-of-the-Month: Howard and
Barbara Ward at 2048 Bridge Street
This yard is small, neat, well cared for, with good bal-
ance of yard art, color, and design. Just lovely!
Please remember to nominate a residential yard or business.
Ballot boxes are in place at City Hall and Sentry Market.
Each month through September, look for new winners to be
announced.
Janelle Thomas-Cedergreen presents Steve and Sue Whiteman
with the Yard of the Month Award for June.
Patti Davis of Rock Creek Bed and Breakfast won the Yard of
the Month for a Commercial Property, a new category in this
years judging.
Vernonia Graduates Third Leadership Class
The Vernonia community graduated its third cohort of
the Ford Institute Leadership Program in May, 2009.
Twenty-four local residents completed the four
weekends of community leadership training, provided
through funding from the Ford Family Foundation, and
delivered by Rural Development Initiatives. The train-
ing is designed to provide a variety of members of a local
community, including high school students, with leader-
ship skills which they can use to enhance their work in
their communities. The training includes cirrocumuli
concepts that include: Community Capacity and Social
Capital , Personality Types and Leadership Styles, Com-
munity Development Models, the
Catalytic Leadership Model, As-
set Mapping, Group Development,
Models for Group Decision-mak-
ing, Communication Strategies, and
Volunteerism.
After completing their training,
each class is required to complete a
community project as a way to prac-
tice the skills they have learned in a
real-life setting. The third class has
chosen a Community Garden as their project. Class
One designed and built the decorative metal archways
y
t
G
t
ifts
e
r
P
&Things
Stop by & check out
our selection of jewelry, gifts,
and other new merchandise!
local!
p
o
Sh
phone
503-429-4696
7 8 6 B r i d g e S t r e e t , Ve r n o n i a O R
in downtown Ver-
nonia, and Class Two
built the walkway
next to the Vernonia
Community Learning
Center (VCLC) and is
completing the Court-
yard at the VCLC.
The Ford In-
stitute
Leadership
Program is currently
being delivered in
over fifty communities in Oregon and northern Califor-
nia, and boasts over 2,000 graduates.
SATURDAY
Saturday
TH
JUNE 12th
13 TH
April
Texas Hold 'Em
Tournament
AT the Buckhorn Restaurant
Registration
Tournamant play
play starts
starts at at 6pm
6pm
Registration at
at 5:30pm,
5:30pm, Tournamant
50%
go to
to Local
Local Charities.
Charities.
50% of
of fees
fees go
$40 buy-in with $20
re-buy.
35 Player
Limit - Sign-up Now!
Cash
Card Prize
Payouts!
To
information contact:
contact:
To register
register or
or for more information
George
or Aaron
Aaron Miller
Miller 429-6049.
429-6049.
George Tice
Tice 429-3751
429-3751 or
Presented by
the Vernonia Lions Club