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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 2012)
september25 2012 free V E R N O N I A’ S reflecting the spirit of our community volume6 issue18 Salmon Festival Celebrates Ten Years Planning Commission “Can you believe it has already been ten years?” That is the question that visitors to the 10th Annual Vernonia Salmon Festival might be asking themselves this year. That’s right, this year marks the tenth year that Vernonians and other visitors will gather in Hawkins Park on the first Sat- urday in October to celebrate the return of the salmon to the upper Ne- halem River. They will also celebrate the fall harvest with other activities like pumpkin carving and scare- crow making. It’s a fun day for the whole family that has now, in its tenth year, be- come a Vernonia tradition. The Vernonia Salm- on Festival has included many different activities over the years. According to Salmon Festival Chair, Josette Mitchell, for many years the “Knee Deep In Salmon” art auction was a major highlight. Wine tasting, live music, and various chil- dren’s activities have also been popular. One year local thespians wrote and performed an original melodrama. A salmon bake was also a popular attraction. A scarecrow contest for businesses in town was also a fun event. The salmon art auction has “spawned” a junior salmon auction, a springtime event that fea- tures art created by local high school students which raises money for local and school arts programs. This year’s festival will feature pumpkin carving and scarecrow making, a kid’s trout pond for fishing, hayrides, food and other vendors, a local farmers market, and more. “There has been so much cool stuff throughout the years,” says Mitchell. Ten years ago is a long time and memories are a little fuzzy about how the inside 7 taking a hike 8 gift to schools 10 subway opens Salmon Festival was started. Mitchell says the idea for a “harvest festival” in Vernonia originated during a leadership training ses- sion that community members attended in Boardman, OR many years ago. Mitchell’s husband Casey was part of that group that included Councilman Randy Parrow and others who brought home the idea of creat- ing a fall festival in Vernonia. The idea of including the return of the salmon into the festival was added later. “The community was already looking for another festival,” says current Councilwoman Donna Webb. “When we started looking at our assets— what do we have that is unique and would be a good fit--we came up the idea for the Salmon Festival.” Mitchell noted that Shirlee Daugh- try and former City Recorder Kate Conley played a big role in the early years by help- ing start the festival. “Many community members have helped in so many ways over the years,” said Mitchell. The Salmon Festival has always in- cluded an educational piece. Maggie Peyton, who is the director of the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council (UNWC), has been a key member of the core group that has planned and staged the festival each year. Her or- continued on page 12 Approves Zoning Changes The Vernonia Planning Commission has approved a ma- jor rezoning project that will affect over 130 parcels of property in the Vernonia city limits. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the zoning changes on September 20, 2012. Following the hearing the Com- mission approved to the proposed changes. The changes will now be heard in a public hearing before the Vernonia City Council. The hear- ing has been scheduled for October 1. The rezoning project in- cludes changes to properties that have been purchased by the City of Vernonia through the FEMA flood buyouts. Also included are changes to the designation to many properties previously owned by the City. Most of the properties owned by the City would be changed to a new designation called Institution- al Public; some are being changed to Public Recreation. The project includes changes to several parcels in and around the old mill site. There is also proposed rezoning to a resi- dential area that changes the des- ignation of twenty-six parcels from General Residential to Downtown, making them eligible to be devel- oped commercially. The changes would impact twenty-two property owners on Rose and Weed Ave- nues. At the Planning Commis- sion hearing on September 20 four people testified against the rezon- ing changes. Two citizens spoke against changes in designation from Residential to Light Industri- al on a property near the mill site owned by Casey Mitchell. One citizen spoke against the changes on Rose and Weed Avenues. There was no written testimony received. The proposed changes to the Rose and Weed Avenue proper- ties have been the subject of some controversy. The City of Verno- nia had previously invited prop- erty owners of parcels that were being considered for rezoning to attend two informal meeting to discuss their concerns. Numerous citizens attended both meeting and expressed concerns about the pro- posed changes. Don Willard is one prop- erty owner who is not happy about the process that has led to the Plan- ning Commission recommendation for rezoning of his property. “I’m not expressly against rezoning,” said Willard following the Planning Commission’s decision on Septem- ber 20. “My issue with the City and the rezoning process is that the concerns of the affected residents, I feel, have not been listened to. When the citizens showed up for the first two meetings, almost all the members of the neighborhood that would be impacted by this were there, and ninety-nine percent of them were opposed to it. And I think that the majority of the peo- ple thought after the second meet- ing that the Planning Commission was starting to get the message that they didn’t want it. But now it sure feels like the Planning Commission was only taking public comments continued on page 11 Volkswalking: Fun and Exercise for All! By Scott Laird social aspect of walking with friends. Dar Parrow is the Club President of the Cedar During the last Vernonia Jamboree a new activ- Milers and is the Vice President of the Oregon Trail State ity was added to the weekend which brought many visi- Volkssport Association. She is also the State Public- tors to town. The event was “Volkswalking” and was ity Chair. According to Parrow the events in Vernonia hosted by the Cedar Milers, were well received. Parrow a Volkssporting club based says 152 people completed in Portland. Over 150 people 231 events during Jambo- participated in four separate ree weekend in Vernonia. walks; three of the walks “I think we could have had were on the Banks-Vernonia more participation but it was State Linear Trail, the fourth so hot that weekend,” says was a historic Vernonia town Parrow. walk. There are hundreds of So what exactly is Volkssporting clubs around Volkswalking (or Volks- the country and thousands marching as it is tradition- around the world. In Or- ally called), and why should egon there are eighteen clubs readers in Vernonia be inter- including the Cedar Milers ested? from Portland who hosted First of all, a Volk- the event in Vernonia dur- swalk is a non-competitive Members of the Cedar Milers Volkssport Club relax at the ing Jamboree. Local clubs Black Bear in Vernonia after a walk. walk, that is designed to be a select trails and courses for fun activity someone can do with a club, with their fam- volkswalking designed to include areas that feature sce- ily, with their pet, or all by themselves. Many people nic interest, historical significance or any other area that participate in these walks for exercise. Others enjoy the would be pleasant or interesting for someone to walk. Lo- continued on page 12
