Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2011)
community news march22 2011 7 On the Shelves: What ‘s Happening at the Vernonia Library Vernonia Library Hosts the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project On Thursday March 31, 2011 the Vernonia Library will host “The Voters Have Spoken: Oregon’s Controversial Ballot Initiatives,” as part of the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project. The presentation will be led by Dr. Jackson Miller and starts at 6:30 PM. Over the past century, Oregon has had more statewide, citizen-generated ballot measures than any other state. As a result, “Direct Democracy” has dramatically transformed the states political and social landscape. The discussion will focus on taxes, marijuana control and physician-assisted suicide. Dr. Jackson B. Miller is an Associate Professor of Communication Arts and the Director of Forensics (Speech and Debate) at Linfield College. Dr. Miller’s research interests include Political Rhetoric, Performance Theory, Persuasive Communication and Intercultural Communication and he has conducted extensive research on Oregon Ballot Measures. He holds BS and MA degrees from Ohio University and a PhD in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Dr. Miller’s program is made possible by funding from Oregon Humanities, a statewide, nonprofit organization that connects Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities. Oregon Humanities will fund Conversation Project Programs throughout the state this year thanks to the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Oregon Cultural Trust and Contributions from individuals. More Great Things Happening With PCC In Columbia County On Tuesday, February 22 the South Columbia County Chamber teamed up with the Small Business De- velopment Center (SBDC) at PCC’s CLIMB Center for Advancement and the Columbia County Economic Team to present “R U Bankable?” an introduc- tory symposium for small and startup companies looking for loans. Over 25 people attended the fo- rum at the Best Western Oak Meadows Inn in St. Helens. The event included an expert panel, facilitated discussion and vendor fair. Rick Stone, Capital Access Team Leader for SBDC/CLIMB, moder- ated the panel, which consisted of David Weiss of Business Oregon (formerly Or- egon Economic and Community Devel- opment Department), Mary McArthur of ColPac, Randy Mattson of St. Helens Community Credit Union, Robert Blum- berg of WAUNA, and Shelley Campbell of USBank. Topics included types of loans and lending organizations, writing a business plan, and criteria lending in- stitutions use when reading loan appli- cations. Mattson talked about “the five C’s,” character (including credit his- tory), capacity to repay the loan, capital (equity in the business), collateral, and conditions that may impact the ability to repay. ‘skin in the game,’” said Stone. and I tell people, when they do fundrais- ing, to expect’ no’ but go for ‘yes.’ (Now I can see) this is applicable to the busi- ness world too.” She says she would like to see PCC and the South County Cham- ber collaborate on a future seminar about marketing and advertising. “Marketing and PR are huge,” she said. “In a small community that means a lot of face time and I do all that myself.” Additionally, businesses would do well to choose the right lending or- ganization for their needs. Mercy Corps, for example, will often make loans to credit-challenged and startups that would not qualify for other loans. “A commercial bank is not always the best option,” said Stone. “Each lender has No bank wants its clients to different underwriting criteria, different fail. Said Campbell, “We don’t want criteria for evaluating risk.” The R U Bankable forum is part your building or your warehouse full of of an ongoing effort by PCC to enhance After the Q&A, participants programming and services to Columbia product. We want a relationship that will had the opportunity to talk and make County residents, including the business stand the test of time. appointments with several banks and community. PCC consistently holds four Blumberg agreed. “The last credit unions. Trisha Stockwell, owner academic classes in Scappoose and St. thing we want is your accounts receiv- of Columbia River Auto Glass, opened Helens and GED testing services through able. We want you to repay the loan.” the two-person mobile company with MTC Works. In Spring term, PCC will her husband in 2009. “We were told we start a New Directions class geared to- Despite a difficult economy, the would not qualify for a loan,” she said. ward women returning to college, and panelists agreed that the money is out “So we didn’t even apply.” the Rock Creek Campus continues to be there. But they warned that banks are involved with Vernonia’s school designs not risk takers. Potential borrowers will Stockwell, who sits on the board and sustainability endeavors. need to have an organized business plan, of the South County Chamber, called the sound financials, and be willing to put up symposium, “very informative.” As a personal guarantees. “You have to have metaphor, she said, “I have a relay team Intruder Alert: Japan On The Mind Valdivia, Chile – 22 May, 1960 (magnitude 9.5) Prince William Sound, Alaska – 28 March, 1964 (magnitude 9.2) Sumatra, Indonesia – 26 December, 2004 (magnitude 9.1) Sendai, Japan – 11 March, 2011 (magnitude 9.0) Kamchatka, Russia – 4 November, 1952 (magnitude 9.0) These earthquakes have one major aspect in common besides the utter cataclysmic nature of them. They all took place along a portion of the major subduction faults where the Pacific Plate dives under the specific continental landmass. This area is known as the Ring of Fire and we live on it. Subduction faults make for the largest and most destructive quakes. The Cascadia Zone, of which we are a part, had a very large earthquake in 1700 estimated at 8.7 – 9.2. Mr Richter had not been around to invent his scale, so no one knows for sure. Japan was highly prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis. They have numerous drills keeping everyone alert and their buildings are constructed to exacting standards. I do not believe that they were prepared for a 9.0 earthquake and a 30+ foot wall of computers, that measure the continual movement of water descending on them at 500 MPH. Even with the these plates. They also measure the rise and fall of warning systems they have in place, few were able to volcanic craters and inland fault zones. get out safely. Sometimes these plates will not move smoothly, Which brings me to the computer-related but get hung up. That is when trouble starts building portion of this missive. Their tsunami warning buoys until the plate or fault breaks loose or slips and causes are networked to their warning system and their an earthquake. It might be a good idea to find out seismometers are wired in, also. In fact, their entire how well prepared Cascadia is for a major earthquake. infrastructure, as is ours to a point, is wired together so Seattle has a major forested area underwater from the effects can be recorded and reported. quake of 1700, our last big one. The Boy Scout in me But, what happens when the power goes out? says, “Be Prepared.” And worse yet, what happens when the backup systems do not work? And what happens when the nuclear Be Safe Out There . . . plants used for power have no power and a blazing hot load of fuel rods is getting hotter by the second? Can Burt Tschache is the owner of B&B Computing in you say Chernobyl? Vernonia. He can be reached at bnb998@msn.com or I do not fault anyone for what has happened in (503) 429-0817. Japan. Geology has its own time frame and nobody can say when an event like this will happen, only that it will. The Pacific and VISUALIZE Atlantic Oceans both have WORLD PEACE large Rift Zones that lava moves from and spreads on the bottom of the ocean. Iceland is the only oceanic Rift Zone that is out of the water. These spreading sea floors must go somewhere. They subduct under the continental plates "You cant depend on your eyes when or sometimes jam up and your imagination is out of focus!" raise mountains, like the MARK TWAIN 1835-1910 Himalayas. We have sensors in place, linked to PeakDyslexicBird@aol.com By Burt Tschache Several different topics relative to Computer Security come to mind while following the incredible devastation of the 9.0 earthquake and the resulting tsunami in Japan. But first, I propose many moments of prayer and compassion for all the beings caught in this geologic cataclysm. The aftershocks will be continuing for a long time. It is unknown if any more tsunamis will be spawned. The top 5 earthquakes on the Richter Scale, since 1900, have been:
