6
community news
february14
2012
First Friday Says
Goodbye
For five years, First
Friday has been a hallmark
of Vernonia’s
summer
season. The events, held
the first Friday of every
month from May through
October, were designed to
be a celebration of arts and
community. Visitors were
able to enjoy educational
demonstrations; the talent
of local artists, crafters and
musicians; Scouting and
children’s’ activities; and
connecting with friends and
neighbors. It was a gathering
of community that was
enjoyed by all – visitors,
vendors and volunteers alike.
Declining attendance
at First Friday events has
peaked interest in finding
a new way to serve the
original mission of bringing
art and community together
in Vernonia. As a result,
First Friday is disbanding
and its committed volunteers
are joining forces with the
umbrella
organization—
Vernonia Hands-On Art
Center, a 501 (c) (3) non-
profit—to host three events
in the upcoming year. The
updated vision includes a
focus on local art and artists,
collaboration with other
community organizations,
creative activities for children,
as well as opportunities for
adults to visit. Plans for
2012 include an expanded
celebration as part of the Jr.
Salmon Auction in May, a
New Year’s Eve gala, and
another yet to be determined
event. Stay tuned for details.
For those who will
miss the beautiful products of
local crafters, be sure to stop
by the new Made in Vernonia
store where you can view
and purchase a variety of
unique items from a selection
that continues to grow and
change.
We are looking
forward to an exciting new
year. If you’re interested in
volunteering or would like
more info, please contact
Erika Paleck (503)704-5970,
or epaleck@gmail.com.
Why not pay off your mortgage before
he heads off to college?
CASA Hires New Volunteer
Coordinator Seeks more volunteer
advocates to help children in Columbia County
Debi Sakamoto of
Portland has joined the staff of
CASA for Kids as its new part-
time volunteer coordinator.
Sakamoto has volun-
teered as an advocate for two
years with the CASA program
serving Multnomah and Wash-
ington counties. She previously
was a regional vice president for
public affairs with Key Bank.
“We are so exciting to have
someone with Debi’s diverse ex-
perience as a CASA, a volunteer
coordinator and in the corporate
world,” said executive director
Kathryn Bourn.
Hiring a part-time vol-
unteer coordinator was made
possible by a grant from the Or-
egon Community Foundation.
Sakamoto will enable
the program to support more
Court Appointed Special Ad-
vocates (CASAs), Bourn said.
CASAs are trained volunteers
assigned to advocate for one
foster child or siblings. In order
to comply with National CASA
Association standards, local
programs have to provide the
equivalent of one full-time co-
ordinator for every 30 CASAs,
Bourn explained. The program
currently has 21 CASAs serving
57 children.
“While we have dou-
bled our number of CASAs in
the past year, we are still strug-
gling to keep up with the need to
provide advocates to foster chil-
dren,” Bourn said. The number
of Columbia County children
entering foster care skyrocketed
in the last half of 2011, Bourn
said. “We have so many children
coming into foster care that the
Department of Human Services
is having to place them in foster
homes outside the county. That’s
unusual. Columbia County used
to have enough non-relative fos-
ter homes to take care of all of its
children coming into foster care
and even take foster children
from surrounding counties.”
The increased number of foster
children also resulted in Colum-
bia County Circuit Court adding
additional hearing days for its
juvenile dependency cases, she
noted.
Columbia County DHS
currently has more than 150
open cases affecting 250 abused
and neglected children.
“Foster children who
have a CASA have the best
chance for a successful life,”
Bourn said. She cited studies
showing that children with a
CASA are more likely to experi-
ence stability if they return home
to their parents and more likely
to be adopted if they aren’t able
to safely return home.
CASA for Kids is cur-
rently recruiting new advocates
for its upcoming training. The
30-hour training begins Tues-
day, Feb. 28, in St. Helens and
Wednesday, Feb. 29, in Rainier.
The free training continues on
Monday and Wednesday eve-
nings and on Saturdays through
March 12 at the Riverside Com-
munity Church in Rainier.
Bourn emphasized that
CASAs come from all walks of
life and no special education or
career experience is required to
become an advocate. “We cur-
rently have CASAs who have
been mechanics, EMTs, educa-
tors, nurses, realtors, homemak-
ers, and business persons,” she
said.
For more information
or to apply to become a CASA,
visit the program’s website at
www.casaforkidsinc.org, email
info@casaforkidsinc.org or call
(503) 366-4133.
Rightline Expansion Approved For
Enterprise Zone Incentive
U.S. BANK
SMART REFINANCE
4.25
Pay off your home faster with a U.S. Bank Smart Refinance.
%
What’s the smart solution to being mortgage freeB A Smart Refinance from U.S. Bank.
Refinance into a 15-year mortgage and you’ll save big on interest, build equity faster
and be mortgage free before you know it. With a U.S. Bank Smart Refinance, you’ll enjoy:
APR *
Fixed Rate up to 15 years
• No closing costs
• Easy application process
• No points or fees
• Free setup of bi-weekly payments
Smart Refinance is only one of many mortgage refinance options that U.S. Bank offers.
Make a smart move and contact your local branch, usbank.com, or call 888-444-BANK
to discuss all of your refinancing options.
Vernonia Branch
905 Bridge Street
503-429-6271
usbank.com | 888-444-BANK (2265)
*4.25% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available for 15-year first position home equity installment loans $40,000 to $250,000 with loan-to-value of 70% or less or 80% or less depending on market. U.S. Bank Package required. Higher
rates apply for higher LTV or other loan amount. Automatic payments required. Loan payment example: on a $40,000 loan for 180 months at 4.25% interest rate, monthly payments would be $300.91. No customer paid closing costs,
APR is 4.25%. Payment example does not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums. The monthly payment obligation will be greater if taxes and insurance are included and an initial customer deposit may be required if an
escrow account for these items is established. Offer is subject to normal credit qualifications. Rates are subject to change. Property insurance is required. Consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of interest. Home Equity
loans and lines of credit are offered through U.S. Bank National Association ND. ©2011 U.S. Bancorp, U.S. Bank. Member FDIC
VERNONIA
E
C
I
V
SER PAIR
& RE
Warranty on all parts and labor
Now offering
2 and 4 wheel
alignments
58605 NEHALEM HWY. S.
Next to Storage, Too
503/706/9409
Rightline Equipment, Inc., has been
approved for a three-year property tax abatement
on new capital investments at their plant in
Rainier, Oregon. The company, a manufacturer of
world-class lift truck attachments, will undertake
a significant expansion of its plant and workforce
during 2012. This manufacturing outfit qualified
for a property tax incentive due to its location
within the Lower Columbia Maritime Enterprise
Zone and the firm’s pledge to expand its workforce
by at least 10 percent.
The Lower Columbia Maritime Enterprise
Zone was created to stimulate private investment
and job creation by offering 3-5 years of property tax
abatements on new investment in manufacturing,
processing, fabrication, and distribution projects.
This enterprise zone encompasses an array of
prime, developable industrial land in and around
Rainier and Clatskanie, Oregon.
Columbia County, the cities of Rainier
and Clatskanie, and the Port of St. Helens are
the public sponsors of the enterprise zone. The
Columbia County Economic Team serves as the
zone manager and liaison to companies interested
in expanding or locating within the area.
The mission of the Columbia County
Economic Team is to deliver business-driven
economic development services to retain, grow,
and attract businesses to Columbia County.
291
A
Street
call Kim
Lovable service at
a reasonable price
• Bathing
• Haircuts
• Nail Clipping
• Nail Polishing
• Specialty
Shampoos
