4
community bulletin board/letters to the editor
august9
2011
2011 Summer
Schedule
Canning
Class attacking, and all around play. Mon.-Wed.
Have you thought about learning to
can fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies or fish or
game this summer? Are you an experienced
canner who would like an update on the latest
USDA recommendations? Then plan to attend
one or more of the canning classes offered
by the Columbia County Extension Service.
Classes will be held at the First Lutheran
Church, 360 Wyeth St., St. Helens (on the
corner of N. 4th St. and Wyeth St.). Each class
will cost $20.00 or $70.00 for all four. A small
number of scholarships are available. Payment
must be made in advance to hold your spot.
Class size is limited. All classes are held on
Tuesday’s form 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
August 9th, Canning Fruits and Pie Fillings
August 16th, Pressure Canning Vegetables
& Meats
August 23rd, Canning Tomatoes and Salsa
For more information and to register
for classes, please call or visit the OSU
Extension Service office at: 505 N. Columbia
River Highway, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-
397-3462
Volleyball Skills Clinic
For girls entering sixth through ninth
grades in the fall, the VHS coaching staff,
along with selected returning players, will
help athletes develop and improve overall
performance, self-esteem, confidence, and
knowledge of the game. Improve serving,
passing, serve reception, setting, blocking,
August 15-17, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the
VHS Gym. $30.00 per player. Pre-Registration
required by Aug 1st to receive a Free Camp
T-Shirt. For more information please call
Head Coach Teresa Williams at 503-799-3424
or email fitnessbytw@netzero,com.
Vernonia Open Air Market
Vernonia Open Air Market is a
combination of local farm products, crafts,
food and more held every Saturday June
through October 1st from 10 AM - 2 PM,
downtown Vernonia.
“Old Grads” Picnic
The annual picnic of the Vernonia
Society, VHS “Old Grads” and Oregon
American alumni will be held Sunday, August
21st, at Anderson Park in Vernonia. Bring
your own picnic lunch or buy a hot dog and
soft drink on site. Coffee will be provided.
Registration begins at 10 am. All former and
current Vernonians are welcome.
Summer Recreational Sports
Program
The Vault Climbing Gym & Fitness
Center in St. Helens wants to help keep kids
safe and active this summer. Enroll today
in their summer recreational camps for kids
ages 8-13. Camp is July 26-Aug 25. Tues &
Thrs from 1-4 PM. Outside activities, rock
climbing, healthy snacks, sports drills. For
more info 503-396-5605.
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To the Editor
God bless you all and thank you
from the bottom of our hearts. Once
again this wonderful community banded
together to help a family in need. As
most of you know, our home burned
to the ground on Saturday July 30 at
10:00 AM. We praise the lord no one
was home at the time. The outpouring
of love, kindness and generosity is
overwhelming and humbling. We will
be forever grateful to all the members
of this community and Vernonia
Christian Church. Within a few hours
of the fire we were given an awesome
three bedroom home fully furnished,
with clothes and shoes and a kitchen
full of food. So many of you dropped
everything to come to our aid. What a
wonderful thing God did when he put
Vernonia on the map.
Thank you again.
Steve, Lois and Kane Losli
Vernonia
To The Editor and To All My Fellow
Americans
According to an article dated
Sunday, July 3 2011 --”First Responders/
Health Effects - 9/11 Zadroga Health
Care Law Goes Into Effect, ” by Alex
Katz of the NYDailyNews.com:
“It took years of lobbying
and partisan bickering, but the 9/11
Zadroga Act to help ailing Ground Zero
responders finally took effect today.
The law provides $4.3 billion
in guaranteed federal funding to cover
health costs and financial compensation
for emergency responders, recovery
workers, volunteers, and residents who
were affected by the attacks almost 10
years ago.”
In his article Katz quotes
Carolyn Maloney.”This is a historic
milestone, not only for the more than
36,000 Americans who lost their health
as a result of 9/11 and are in the program,
but also for our moral obligation to care
for those who rise to the defense of our
nation in a time of war.”
Katz also go on to explain that
“the original bill’s price tag was scaled
back from $7.4 billion as part of a
compromise with conservatives in both
parties, which allowed the legislation to
pass through Congress and get President
Obama’s signature in early January.”
Katz then quotes NY Mayor
Bloomberg in the following statement:
“There’s no way to think that we can
ever fully repay the thousands of first
responders who fearlessly charged
into the towers as others rushed out,”
he added. “But we can give them the
care they need and the care that they
deserve.”
Katz informs us that the law
was named for NYPD detective James
Zadroga, who died of 9/11-related
illness and that the funding is set to
expire in five years.
Now this bill being passed
made headline news all over the United
States. I chose this one simple article
HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas.
Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to
300 words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or
ask for a response to letters submitted. We will print letters, space permitting.
Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email to: scott@vernoni-
asvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064.
Upcoming Events
Camp Wilkerson Day Camp, August 8-11—All Vernonia school age
children are welcome. Register now—forms available at Sentry Market.
Volunteer parents and student councilors needed. For more info contact
Katie Poetter at 503-429-0700 or Robin Dennis at 503-429-0370.
Birkfest, August 12-13—at Riverbend 202, Highway 202, past
Birkenfeld. Live Music with 13+ bands including Jimmie VanZant, and
Peace Frog. Camping, Vendors, Rat & Rod Revival, Bike Show and
more. Tickets available at the Birkenfeld Country Store and online at
thebirk.com.
VRFD Golf Benefit, August 13—at the Vernonia Golf Club. 4 Player
teams, 9 holes, BBQ lunch, lots of prizes and competitions. For more
info call Randy Carlton at 503-791-8309.
Bear Creek 10K/5K Walk/Run, August 13, 8:00 AM—at Anderson
Park Pavilion in Vernonia. Registration at 8:00, race starts at 9:00 AM.
Sign up at www.signmeup.com/75917. For more info contact Race
Director Kellie Murray at 503-429-3021. This is a benefit for Vernonia
Cares Food Bank.
Vernonia Night Out, August 24, 4:30 PM—at Anderson Park. Come
join friends and neighbors in support of local public safety agencies.
St. Mary’s Annual Quilt and Craft Fair, September 15-18—
Admission still only $1!, Lunch served daily at 11AM. At St. Mary’s
Church, 960 Missouri Ave. Follow the signs.
Vernonia’s Community Garage Sale, September 17, 9 AM-5 PM—
Approximately 40 locations to shop! All residents and businesses who
wish to be included on maps—contact Helen Bateman at 503-429- 6203.
Maps available Thursday before the sale.
Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each
month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday.
Look for our next issue August 23rd
because I felt it summarized the events
well, and used it to provide a brief
history of what is currently being done
for our Hero’s of 9/11.
I feel that the fact that it took
years to implement this legislation,
and that there is an expiration date
to this bill and to the health care now
being provided for the Hero’s of 9/11
is wrong, but what is horribly wrong is
what Katz did not mention that was part
of the $7.4 Billion Dollar compromise
cutback. Cancer is not covered under
the 9/11 Zadroga Health Care Law!
The First Responder’s of this
Country, our United States Military (All
Branches), Firefighters, Paramedics,
Law Enforcement Officers, to mention
only the obvious, are the only reason
this country we live in is as safe and
strong as it is. Without them, we would
not have the protection, security, nor the
Freedom we take for grated everyday.
Can you imagine a life in this country
without our First Responders? I cannot!
While I realize that our
Government has spent years doing
it’s best to divide us with fear and
propaganda, the one thing our
Government cannot ever do is take
away our Heros!
Our First Responders, no matter
what our Government does or does
not do, will continue to do their job,
regardless of pay or benefits because...
many, if not most, are volunteers who
put their lives out there for us daily
simply because for them, it’s the right
thing to do. It’s what makes them our
Heros!
Seemingly... and so sadly,
despite our politicians statements
to the contrary, our Government
Officials seem to view our HERO’s as
expendable. I know I do not feel that
way, and I am confident that the rest of
American does not feel that way either,
so please support our Hero’s by taking
action now on their behalf. We do have
the power to make a difference, just like
the men and women who save our lives
and protect our freedoms do every day,
by simply getting involved.
How? There are many examples
throughout history to help you decide
which is best for you to do in order to
get involved, but at a minimum, please
let your voices be heard! The Brave
Men & Women of this Great Country
deserve nothing less for making this
country in fact GREAT!
Please write your Congressman
and State Representatives today... the
Men & Women who risked their lives
on 9/11 to save ours can’t wait any
longer for the health care they deserve.
It’s time we Americans as a whole rush
to the aide of our HERO’s!
Marie Botchie
Rainier, OR
To the Editor,
On Saturday morning, July
30th (the Saturday before Jamboree
Weekend) my husband and I were
enjoying ourselves, going to Saturday
Market and a few yard sales around
town. Just taking the day off to relax
from the work and stress of the up
coming week...getting ready for
Jamboree. When I saw something that
made me truly humble. As we were
driving home, we were passing between
the new West Oregon construction site
and the library and what did I see?--
our Mayor, her husband and daughter
sweeping the street. No one was there
to see this act of service. At the time
all I could think of was to yell as we
drove past was “Good Job Josette!”,
to which she replied with a smile and
“Thank You”. Just thought I’d put that
out there. Just an observation.
Randal Harvey
Vernonia
