Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2011)
4 community bulletin board/letters to the editor may10 2011 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Columbia County grandparents are invited to join grandparents from Washington County to share a day of fun and learning. This is a free event, lunch is included. Friday May 20, 2011, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the former Hillsboro PCC Center, 102 SW Washington St., Hillsboro. Pre-registration required—503-846-3089. New Full Sunday School Program! Vernonia Community Church announces a long awaited answered prayer! Starting April 3rd at 9AM Family Bible Class, nursery thru adult. Learning God’s Word! Family Bible Class from 9-10AM~ Family Fellowship 10-10:20~Family Praise & Worship 10:30-11:45~ Youth Group 4-5:45 PM~Biblical Eldership 6-8PM. 957 State Ave. 503-429-6790. e-mail: saltn_light@hotmail.com UNWC Annual Meeting The Upper Nehalem Watershed Council’s (UNWC) Annual Meeting has been changed from March 12th to Saturday May 21, 10 AM- 2 PM The meeting is open to the public. UNWC will show the community what they have accomplished and what is planned for the future, explaining their goals, asking for community input, electing new Board Members and amending their Bylaws Sande School of Horsemanship 2011 Summer Day Camps are right around the corner! Camps have filled for the past two years; registering by 5/22 will guarantee your child a spot. Additionally, anyone who registers and pays their deposit by 5/22 receives the pre- registration discount ($55 per camp or $525 for ten). Sande School pf Horsemanship is located in Warren, OR. Camps this year will be every Wednesday from 10:00 - 3:00, beginning 6/15 and running through 8/31. As always, the focus of camp will be on Riding, Horse Care, Horse Control and Horse FUN! For more information and registration documents, check the Summer Camps page at www. sandeschoolofhorsemanship.org. Readers Lend Their Voices... city representatives! I am ashamed to have them represent our community. A community that is in horrific need of the services of our present Interim City Administrator. Bill Haack has stepped up to the plate to help Vernonia recover its equilibrium after the previous City Administrator lacked the ability to manage our city. How the three culpable council members can turn city meetings into a three-ring circus by manipulating and postponing important issues to slow up city proceedings for their own benefit and personal issues is unconscionable. I applaud Sharon Bernal for being “The Voice of Reason” by stating personal issues should not enter city business. She was patient, adult, and reasonable in her presentation. As it turned out, the three city council people in question chose not to listen to Sharon or the audience for that matter. One of our newest council people stated she did not have time to read the 300 page packet nor could she walk across the street to read the packet at City Hall. Why is she continuing on as a city council person if she does not have the time???? These three council people should not serve on council if they let personal issues cloud the greater picture. VERNONIA E C I V R E S PAIR E R & LUBE, OIL & FILTER WHILE YOU WAIT STARTING AT $29.95 UP TO 5 QT. 58605 NEHALEM HWY. S. 503/706/9409 Upcoming Events “Alice In Wonderland,” May 21, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM— Presented by the Vernonia Ballet at Washington Grade School. Pancake Breakfast, May 22, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM in the school cafeteria. Fire truck rides plus pancakes, ham, eggs, biscuits and gravy and more! First Friday, June 3, 5-8:00 PM at the Vernonia Scout Cabin. Celebrating arts, entertainment and culture in our community. Banks Brave Run, June 4, 9:00 AM —Starts at Banks High School track and continues out and back on the Linear Trail. 5K/10K Walk/Run. Fundraiser for Banks Elementary School technology program. For more info contact Jodi Privatsky 503-747-0188. Register on-line at: www.signmeup.com/site/ online-event-registration/74523. Recall Petition Filed continued from front page not exceed 200 words, explaining the public officer’s record in office. If the public officer decides to resign, the resignation is accepted and takes effect on the day it is offered. If the public officer does not resign, a recall election must be held thirty-five days after the resignation period has expired. The City of Vernonia would be required to pay expenses involved in a special election. A public officer can not be recalled until after they have held office for six months. In Vernonia, officials who took office on January 2, 2011 would be eligible to be recalled beginning July 2, 2011. Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Look for our next issue May 24th. continued from page 2 That picture being the greater welfare of Vernonia and its citizens. After all, these council members are supposed to be working for us! Our entire community is going to suffer as a result of their attitudes and decisions. We voted them into office to represent the populace of our community - not themselves! If anyone should be fired from their jobs for non- performance, it should be them and not Bill Haack! I suggest we begin the “Recall” process to rid City Council of these three members. Janelle Thomas Cedergreen Vernonia To the Editor I have 4 questions for Kevin Hudson, Marilyn Nicks, and Willow Burch: #1 Did you swear an oath to do the best of your ability to serve the city of Vernonia and it’s citizens? #2 Did you listen on April th 18 , 2011 when in a crowded counsel meeting the leaders of Vernonia and citizens testified to what they want and what is in the best interest for Vernonia? #3 Can you see the serious mistakes you made that caused a chain reaction of damage to Vernonia and to yourselves? #4 Are you now willing to stop dragging our town and yourselves through the mud and repair the damage you have caused by resigning immediately so our town can begin to rebuild for a better future? Sonia Spackman Vernonia To the Editor I urge the voters’ support for Deanna Palm as she seeks re-election for Zone 7 - Portland Community College Board of Directors. Deanna was appointed to fulfill my term of office upon my resignation in 2009, and she has done an excellent job in representing our area, specifically Western Washington County and Columbia County. Deanna brings a unique set of skills to the position. She graduated from PCC with an A.A.S. degree in Business and Information Systems that prepared her for her role as President of the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. Her extensive background working with the business community make her solidly qualified to assist PCC in job creation and workforce development for residents of our area. She is committed to fiscal responsibility to ensure that limited resources are wisely spent to keep student tuition as low as possible. On a personal note, I have known Deanna Palm since her childhood in the Banks community, and can attest to her work ethic and integrity. She is a positive example of an individual who sees her role as that of service to her community and not as a political stepping stone. Thank you in advance for your valued vote for Deanna Palm. Marilyn McGlasson Hillsboro, OR To the Editor A stable and civil society depends on laws and regulations. These guidelines govern how we as people function in our daily lives. If everybody followed the rules and lived like angels, life would be simple. Since we all know this is not the case, then there is the need for deterrents and enforcement. A Nation can have all the laws it wants, but they are symbolic and useless without the concept of a possible police presence. It has been a generation since the Columbia County Sheriff has had adequate funding and it shows. Join me in voting for a more orderly and predictable future. Jeff VanNatta Ranier, OR To the Editor, I admit I’m not all that smart even on my best day, but the following sentence on page 15 of the April 26 edition regarding raves got my head spinning: “ Unfortunately, while in itself not harmful, the culture surrounding it is devastating.” Look, it’s either not harmful or it’s devastating, but it’s not both. In the 1920’s, the jitterbug was demonized by the media as a scandalous dance craze that would destroy the nation. It didn’t. In the 1950’s, Elvis Presley had gyrating hips! America was doomed! It wasn’t. In the early 1960’s, young people listened to Chubby Checker and danced “The Twist”. OMG!!! More hip shaking!!! America was destined to fall off the edge of the planet! So far, it hasn’t. And please don’t even mention the Rolling Stones because that would surely end the universe as we know it. Then, sadly, disco and John Travolta. Then, sadly, the Bee Gees. Then, for whatever reason, break dancing and rap. Etc., etc., etc, gag, gag, gag..... Get it? The planet continues to spin on its axis, musical tastes change and popular culture changes. But the one thing that seems to remain intact is the ability for people to predict doom and destruction even when no empirical data exists to support the hypothesis. Here’s the kicker regarding raves: “ ...youth having access to alcohol, drugs such as ecstasy, marijuana, GHB, and heroin.” Look, take a real deep breath and try using your intellect just for one very brief moment. If raves didn’t exist, would access to alcohol, drugs such as ecstasy, marijuana, GHB, and heroin disappear? Hmmm, don’t interrupt me, let me think for a second.... Is “No” the right answer? Yeah, I think it is. I’m in my 60’s, have never been to a rave, probably wouldn’t have much fun if I showed up, and totally get the concept of property liability. But selling fear as a commodity is a profitable venture only for special interest groups. Miles Wickstrom Vernonia
