outdoors/recreation
Critters “R” Us
Youth, ages 4th grade and
up, from the Vernonia community
have come together to form a new
multi-animal 4-H group this year. A
total of eight members including one
Cloverbud (a member that is younger
than a 4th grader) show a variety
of animals including goats, sheep,
chickens, rabbits, and pigs.
On July 4 th , members of the
Lions Club and other community leaders
made speeches, Mayor Sally Harrison cu
the ribbon, and Vernonia kids finally had
their Skate Park.
Bradley Ely shows off his chickens.
The variety of animals has allowed the
members to learn as well as teach the
rest of the group about their animals.
The 4-H members will be showing
their animals at the Columbia County
Fair this year during July 14-18.
Six of the youth will be
auctioning off market animals at the
4-H auction. The members will have
sheep, chickens, rabbits, and pigs
down at the auction on July 17, 2010,
at 3:30 PM if you or your friends
would like to attend.
This year is my first year in
4-H. Raising pigs is really fun! I like
to watch them blow bubbles in their
water. When I first got my pigs, they
only weighed 40 pounds. At the last
weigh-in, they weighed 110 pounds
and 135 pounds and by Fair they have
to weigh nearly 300 pounds!
All of the 4-H members are
looking forward to showing at Fair.
Hope to see you there!
Vernonia Bear Creek
Run/Walk Event Planned
Mark your calendars--
August 14, 2010, is the date for the
eighth annual Bear Creek Run/Walk.
Beginning and ending at Anderson
Park, this event boasts the diversity
of a 5K Run/Walk, including a scenic
lap around Vernonia Lake, and a 10K
Run that heads south along the Banks/
Vernonia Linear Trail. Both routes
are flat, fast and wind through tree-
lined sections of the trail, providing
welcome shade for runners and
walkers alike.
This event is a fundraiser for
the Vernonia Cares Food Bank-- an
organization that has supported local
families for the past 25 years. Many
local businesses have already received
letters reaching out for sponsorship
and support of this event. The
food bank appreciates the financial
sponsorship received during the past
six years from businesses, both local
and outside of Vernonia. This year
shows a sponsorship total of $900 so
far. Great start!
How can you help? Become a
sponsor, enter the race as an individual
or group, come and cheer on those who
run or walk or, better yet, volunteer on
race day! There are many volunteers
needed to make this event a success,
so please help out if you can! It is said
that charity begins at home-- this is a
chance to role model this through all
levels of support for this event.
Registration will begin
at 7:00 AM on August 14 th at the
Anderson Park pavilion, in Vernonia,
with the events starting at 8:00 AM.
Online registration is encouraged.
Watch for more local advertising and
race registration forms in the days
ahead. See the following website for
more details: http://www.signmeup.
com/66420, or contact Kellie Murray,
Race Director at (503) 429-3021.
It is the food bank’s hope that the 2010
Vernonia Bear Creek Run will be a
memorable event benefiting Vernonia
residents both young and old alike.
It has the potential to bring visitors
and consumers to our beautiful
town, generating local revenue plus
heightened awareness of our lovely
forested trails and parks. See you at
the starting line!
Thank you for supporting
Vernonia Cares Food Bank
Something to Think About
The World Cup Of Oil--Here is how the
United States stacks up in terms of motor
oil consu mption per capita/liters per person.
Compared to the tea ms they competed
against in the recent Soccer World Cup
Cha mpionship, along with the host nation,
and this year’s four semi finalists in the
tourna ment, the United States is clearly
the Cha mpion! Or not.
*source:
World Resources Institute
*
2010
9
Vernonia’s “Squeaky Wheels”
Park Officially Opens
By Crystal Ann Carreon
Kaitlyn Eyrrick and Megan Ely with
the rabbit hutch they built for
Kaitlyn's 4-H project.
july13
Ghana
Algeria
Uruguay
South Africa
Spain
Netherlands
Germany
United Kingdom
Slovenia
United States
31.2
70. 3
78.0
210.5
213. 3
319.9
353.9
396. 3
415.1
1,618.6
After a twelve year wait, The Squeaky
Wheels Park is now open for kids on
skateboards, bikes and scooters. The
project, started in 1998 by students,
has seen numerous delays due to siting
and planning issues. In 2002, the
Vernonia Lions Club decided to become
a community leader in building the park
and were instrumental in the park opening
this summer.
The park, situated on the old
tennis courts on the Vernonia school
grounds, is being considered “temporary,”
and is about one-third complete. The
Lions Club took a ramp design intended
to be made from metal and polymer and
have built ramps from wood. According Vernonia Mayor Sally Harrison cuts the
to Lions Club member, George Tice, the ribbon at the new Vernonia Squeaky Wheels
Park which opened July 4th.
It’s Time Again For Camp
Wilkerson
Camp Wilkerson Day
Camp will be held August 2-6th.
After a one year hiatus, Camp
will once again be held at Camp
Wilkerson County Park again this
year. Campers in Kindergarten
through 6th grade will be in
separate groups. 7-8th graders will
be aides-in-training with 9-12th
graders acting as camp councilors.
volunteers, councilors and aides will
Registration forms are available at
begin setting up at 6:00 PM. Camp for
Sentry Market.
everyone else will start Monday morning
Sunday night, August 1st,
at 9:30 AM.
Camp Wilkerson is looking for
volunteers. There is a great reduced
rate for helping and there is day-care
available at a baby unit, widgets fidgets
and midgets for preschool age campers.
They are especially looking for people
who would like to run some kind of craft
or hobby station.
Donations are always welcome-
-please send to: “Camp Wilkerson” 460
Mississippi Ave. Vernonia, Oregon.
Camp organizers are looking
forward to another great year of Camp!
Hope to see you there!
Vernonia Fall Soccer Registration
park is portable and changeable.
The Lions Club thanked a long
list of supporters including Willow Burch
from Vernonia Hardware and Supply who
was on hand for the opening. Her business
has donated or supplied at reduced costs
needed supplies, paint and construction
materials. The Lions also thanked the
Vernonia School District, The Vernonia
Fire Department, the City of Vernonia
and Mayor Sally Harrison, State Senator
Betsy Johnson, Sentry Market, the
Vernonia Prevention Coalition, Hands
On Art, the Vernonia Area Chamber
of Commerce, the Vernonia Police
Department, the faith-based community
and Mike Snow of Art Attack.
The Lions Club would like
to challenge other community groups
to build the best ramp. The Lions will
provide materials, your group just needs
to do the work. The Lions Club is also
seeking financial donations for the
continued upkeep of the park.
Two registration sessions are being offered at the Vernonia Library;
7/20 5-7pm
7/22 5-7pm
U6, U8, U10, U12 Teams
Registration costs are $75 or $50 per child
$10 off if you register by July 15th - just email Mark Lemay
mrlemay2@yahoo.com or call (503)-432-7742
Creating Tomorrow’s Memories
