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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2011)
february22 2011 V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community Mater Introduces Phase II of Forest Health-Human Health Initiative In Vernonia The Pinchot Institute for Conservation, BlueCross BlueShield, and the Corvallis-based in cooperation with Portland-based Regence engineering firm Mater Ltd., the Forest Health- BlueCross BlueShield, has announced the launch Human Health Initiative will help family forest owners pay for health care with carbon credits instead of dollars. This creative twist on carbon markets provides forest landowners with greater financial security, helping to keep forest land in the family, even if a catastrophic health event should occur. “We are a three-generation forestland owner family here in Vernonia” said Sharon Bernal, a longtime Vernonia resident and forestland owner. “The Pinchot Institute’s Forest Health-Human Health Initiative gives us forestland owners the first concrete innovative option for ensuring our family forests can stay in family hands and support the community we’ve been born and raised in.” Mater noted during her presentation in Vernonia that this project will be exploring new Catherine Mater explains details of the Forest terrain. “With this Phase II project that we are Health-Human Health Initiative during a visit to presenting to you, this is brand new territory. No Vernonia on February 16, 2011. one in the nation has undertaken the work that of a $200,000 innovative Forest Health-Human we are going to be doing and there is no other Health Initiative that links forest carbon projects community in the United States that is doing what with affordable health care opportunities for you are doing,” said Mater. She repeatedly used forest landowners in Vernonia. the phrase “first in the nation,” as she explained Senior fellow at the Pinchot Institute, the many components of the project throughout Catherine Mater, was on hand in Vernonia the evening. on February 16th to introduce Phase II of the Phase I of the Pinchot Institute study ambitious project to the community. Mater found that one of the greatest sources of financial also introduced several partners from Regance pressure on the region’s family forest owners is BlueCross BlueShield, Western University of an unexpected major medical bill, and that this Health Sciences and Oregon State University can result in families needing to sell or develop who will be working on the project land that they otherwise would have maintained With major support from Oregon’s as family forest. Regence BlueCross BlueShield Kelley Family Foundation, the U.S. Department took an interest in developing new health care of Agriculture, the Pinchot Institute, Regence options for family forest owners to help address this situation. A growing focus on sustainability at inside 10 skein slayers 11 joy for jaden 12 coach whiteman retires continued on page 9 free volume5 issue4 It’s Time for Empty Bowls Again The fifth annual EMPTY BOWLS event is scheduled for Friday, March 11, 2011, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at McBride Elementary School, 2774 Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens. Empty Bowls is sponsored by the Columbia County Commission on Children and Families and designed and made by local high school pottery classes. Guests donating $10 receive a ticket allowing them to choose the bowl of their choice and to have it filled with soup. Restaurant owners of the Dockside, Klondike, Nawitka Catering, and Sunshine Pizza have generously agreed to provide the soup while is a major fundraiser for the Columbia Pacific Food Bank. Guests enjoy a communal dinner of soup and bread while at the same time supporting community members who are experiencing food insecurity. This is truly a community effort. Everything involved in the event-- the bowls, the soup, the bread and butter, entertainment and auction items-- are donated by schools, individuals and artists of the community who are dedicated to making the lives of those in need of food a bit easier. A donation of $10 is requested. The bowls are Houlton Bakery and Starbucks will provide the bread and butter, coffee and tea. Advance purchase of tickets for the event is appreciated for planning purposes. The donation includes the bowl, soup and bread. Tickets are available at the Columbia County Commission on Children and Families in the courthouse, in St. Helens at Houlton Bakery and Word for Word Books, and in Scappoose at Dianna’s Formal Affair . A silent auction of donated goods will be ongoing during the event. Loggers Opponents TWO Much Wrestlers Finish Second at District; Boys and Girls Basketball Eliminated From Playoffs Two was definitely not a lucky number for the District Championship in two years; Jacob Alf at Vernonia Loggers winter sports programs last week. 215, and Alex Barber at 285. Second place finishers were Joe Benes at 140, Michael “Mississippi” Kinnan Loggers Lose by Two, Six Wrestlers Headed to at 145, and Jake Barnes at 152. Also finishing strong for the Loggers were third place finishers Quin State Tournament Johanson at 135, Cody Cowles at 160, Jake The Vernonia Loggers finished Stevens at 171, and Brett Benes at 189. second at the District Wrestling The State Tournament takes place February Tournament, losing to Central Linn 25-26 at the Memorial Colosseum in Portland. by the narrowest of margins, just two points. After winning the District Boys and Girls Basketball Exit Playoffs Title in class 3A last year, the Loggers After defeating Gaston 58-51 in the first moved down a level to 2A and returned from the 2A/1A Special District 1 tournament with a great round of the league playoffs on February 17, and with the League Title on the line, the Loggers lost to showing and a number of individual champions. Six Loggers qualified for the State Tournament Knappa on Saturday February 19, by two points, 54- by finishing either in first or second place. Overall, 52. The Lady Loggers were defeated in the first fifteen of the seventeen Logger wrestlers at the meet won medals, placing in the top six. Tournament round of the playoffs, losing to Neah-Kah-Nie, by, winners included Shylo Dooley at 130--his second you guessed it, two points, 32-30.
