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:
