november9  2010 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community volume4    issue21 Banks-Vernonia Trail Celebrates Opening of New Trailhead Election 2010-- Vernonians Vote For Change After over twenty years, the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail finally reaches from Vernonia all the way to Banks. On October 29, 2010, members of numerous State of Banks Mayor John Kinsky opened the celebration and welcomed the visitors to Banks. “This trailhead actually represents a connection between what I think are Washington County and Columbia County’s two finest communities-- and that would be Banks and Vernonia!” said Kinsky. The trail officially opened nineteen years ago. The new trailhead, located at the corner of Sellers and Banks Roads near Highway 47 brings to completion almost thirty years of work by local trail advocates and completes the final half-mile leg of trail into the city of Banks. The trail is part of the Oregon State Parks System and stretches for twenty-one miles, running through L.L. Stub Stewart State Park and is open to all non-motorized The first official bike riders head out on users including horse, October 29th from the newly opened bicycle, and walkers/hikers. trailhead at the start of the Banks— Vernonia State Trail. Vernonia Mayor Sally Oregon departments and agencies, Harrison, along with Mayor Kinsky, dignitaries from Washington and helped host the ceremony. “I must Columbia Counties and the cities of tell you, we’ve had the Linear Trail Vernonia and Banks, trail advocates, Park for a little longer than you and regular citizens all gathered at have,” joked Harrison, “and on our a newly-constructed trailhead to cut side of the hill we call it the Vernonia the ribbon signifying the completion to Banks Linear Trail!” of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail “I am here to tell you, and celebrate the grand opening of though,” continued Harrison, “that the new facility. the Linear Trail has been a real boon to the City of Vernonia inside 9 fire explorers 12 toppers football 19 vernonia halloween and I can guarantee that having this trail come all the way through to this beautiful trails-end here is going to be a boon to the City of Banks and to Washington County.” Columbia County Commissioner, and former Vernonia Mayor, Tony Hyde was also on hand for the grand opening. Hyde has been working on the Banks-Vernonia Trail from the very beginning and is currently working to connect the trail to the Crown- Zellerbach Trail which will run from Vernonia to Scappoose. Hyde passed on greetings from State Senator Betsy Johnson and then talked about the history of the development of the Linear Trail and the future of trail development. “We’re not done,” said Hyde. Hyde noted that discussions have taken place about creating a connection from Scappoose continued on page 11 VRFPD Announces “Sharing and Caring” Program The Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District (VRFPD) has announced the process for families to apply to participate in this the “Sharing and Caring” program. “Sharing and Caring “ has replaced Toy and Joy--the annual holiday program organized by VRFPD to help make sure all families and children in the Vernonia community have a great Christmas. Each year VRFPD receives donations and helps Santa distribute gifts to children in the community. This year there will be an application process that families must complete in order to be eligible to participate. Children must be under the age of 13 on December 25 of this year to be eligible to receive gifts. Applications will be available beginning November 14th free Vernonia citizens spoke loudly and clearly on November 2, 2010, when they voted to replace three of the five sitting members of their City Council. In what was one of the most interesting and active local elections in recent years, Josette Mitchell defeated incumbent and three-term Mayor Sally Harrison, while Willow Burch and Marilyn Nicks were elected as City Councilors to replace Cindy Ball and Catherine Helmer. Both Ball and Helmer had previously been appointed to fill positions vacated by resignations on the Council. Mitchell will serve a two-year term and both Burch and Nicks were elected to four-year terms. In other local election news, Henry Heimuller, a Democrat, was elected as Columbia County Commissioner for Position 2, defeating Republican Terry Luttrell and Independent Wayne Mayo. County voters also approved local ballot measure 5-206, making County Commissioner positions nonpartisan in the future. Voters rejected Measure 5-208 which would have provided funds for Veterans Services on a County level. Local voters in St. Helens voted to repeal a tax levy that supports the Columbia Health District. District 16 State Senator Betsy Johnson was re-elected, as were local State Representatives Brad Witt from District 31 and Debbie Boone from District 32. The final results of the local Vernonia elections were as follows: Mayor CITY OF VERNONIA Josette Mitchell 342 48.37 Sally Harrison 150 21.22 Victoria J Peters. 148 20.93 Emil Edward Rode 44 6.22 WRITE-IN 23 3.25 Total 707 Councilor CITY OF VERNONIA Willow Burch 423 30.52 Marilyn Ann Nicks 305 22.01 Ernest (Ernie) W Smith 216 15.58 Catherine M Helmer 109 7.86 Edward Johnson 106 7.65 Steven Eric Johnson 99 7.14 Cynthia (Cindy) Ball 68 4.91 Burton Tschache 48 3.46 WRITE-IN 12 .87 Total 1,386 at the following locations: Black Bear Coffee Shop, Vernonia Sentry, Vernonia Hardware, The Clever Cricket and at the Vernonia Rural Fire Station. applications can also be printed from the VRFPD website--go to www.vernoniafire.us, and click on our community, then click on the application link. Barrels will also be a those locations to accept donations of toys. Applicants must fill out the application form completely --incomplete forms will be discarded. The following documents must be supplied: photocopy of a birth certificate or equivalent documentation for each child and a photocopy of a utility bill. If applicants do not wish to leave a photocopies, they must work with “Sharing and Caring” to set up an interview, which will be held between November 14th and December 10th. The above documents must be brought to the interview. Interviews can be scheduled on Friday;’s through Monday’s. A day of gift wrapping has been scheduled on December 18th, which includes potluck.