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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2012)
4 community bulletin board/letters to the editor november13 2012 Upcoming Events Artisan, Psychic and Wellness Faire, November 17th. 3:00-9:00 PM at the Knights of Pythias Lodge, 31520 NW Commercial Street, North Plains, OR. Listen to guest speakers, have a reading, massage, or Reiki Treatment, buy some crystals, a Rune set, or airbrushed T shirt, have lunch or dinner while you are learning, experiencing, and having FUN…Admission of only $3.00 VHS Alumni Volleyball, November 16, 7 PM at the VHS gym. See past stars take on the 2012 VHS Varsity team. This is a fundraiser for the Zach Rumboltz Memorial Scholarship Fund. Rabies Clinic, November 18, 12 to 3 PM at Columbia Humane Society, 2084 Oregon Street, Saint Helens, OR. Registration required for more than 2 dogs (this is not an appt) 503-396-3239. Other cat/ dog vaccines available, and microchipping, too. There will be a booth for dog/cat supplies and a professional photographer for holiday photos. For more info, www. columbiahumane.org or call 503-397-4353 Made in Vernonia Holiday Event, November 24, 10 AM to 7 PM at 805 Bridge Street. Featuring Christine Marie Studio Trunk Show, Vernonia Coffee Roasters coffee tasting and holiday-inspired refreshments. Creatures Grand Re-Opening Celebration, November 24, 9 AM to 7 PM at 998 Bridge Street. Door prizes, special sales, goodies and more! The Spirit of Christmas in Vernonia, December 1, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Something for everyone! Lighted Parade, Live Nativity Scene, Victorian Carolers, Cookie Baking Contest, Chili Cook-off, Storytelling, Home Decorating Contest, Tree Lighting, Spaghetti Feed, Vernonia Ballet’s Carnival of the Animals, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Fruitcake Fling and more! Ryan and Laura Roberts Vernonia To the Community, Please accept my heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved with the Vernonia Community PTA Carnival & Haunted House event that was held on Saturday, October 20th. From the people who dedicated themselves to be on a committee many months ago to the legions of cake walk bakers. From the staff at the school who supported our efforts to the many students who took time away from the fun to run a booth. From those willing to work with months of notice to those willing to work at a moment’s notice. From all of the parents who shopped and donated for the class baskets to those in the community who made a donation, regardless of having a student but who still care about the success of the school. To everyone who gave the most valuable commodity of all, their time. I thank all of you. Susan Ely Vernonia Community PTA To the Editor, Columbia Humane Society (CHS) is looking for a few good people. Animal experience not necessary. Skills Required: good-nature, opinion, life Harlem Crowns Basketball, December 8, 7 PM at the VHS gym. Comedy in motion! Advanced tickets available at the Sentry Market. This is a fundraiser for the 2013 Prom. Weather Spotter Training, December 5, 7:00-8:30 PM at the Vernonia Community Learning Center, 939 Bridge St. The National Weather Service welcomes volunteers with an interest in severe weather spotting to take the Skywarn Weather Spotter training. The training is free and open to the general public. Please register for this class at VernoniaSpotter. DoAttend.com or 503-366-3934. Christmas in the Country Bazaar, December 8, 10-5; December 9, Readers Lend Their Voices... To the Editor, Ryan and I want to thank the members of this great community for all the prayers, encouragement and support for us and our family during Ryan’s illness. There are no words that can convey how much it meant to us and how thankful we are for all of you. Many of you would see me in the store and tell me you were praying for Ryan or just asking me how he was meant so much. To know that people cared helped us immensely. Ryan received a kidney transplant on September 8, 2012. He is feeling great and is already back to work and doing the things that he enjoys doing. We feel very blessed to have received this gift of life for Ryan and also to be a part of a community that truly cares about their neighbors. Thank you to all of you! 11-4 at the Vernonia Schools Commons. Handmade holiday items and much more. Contact Corrie Smith at vernoniabazaar@aol.com or 503-429-1052 or see their Facebook page. experience, and communication is key. Fill out a Volunteer Application and we’ll get you started. This is a good place to earn your stars. CHS is looking for Volunteers and Volunteer Board Members. Just a few options: Clerical, Data-Entry and/or Grant-Writing skills; the out-going personality for Marketing, Volunteer Coordinating or Fundraising; Care Giving is your nature and you want to learn how to foster. We Need You! www.columbiahumane.org/volunteer. php or 503-397-4353 To the Editor, October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Columbia County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) is here for all survivors and is working to reduce and prevent violence. This fall you can have an impact; share the message that Violence is Never OK, bullying and disrespect have no place in our schools or communities. This school year we are working to spread the message that everyone deserves love and respect. Domestic and sexual violence services do more than respond to crime—we also help prevent future violence. Domestic violence services reduce re-assault by up to 70%; reduce homelessness; save millions in medical costs; increase the effectiveness of substance abuse programs; reduce the need for self-sufficiency payments and child welfare intervention and foster care; help child victims succeed in school; and help adult victims stay in jobs. As you go to vote you can send the message that public safety spending must prioritize the needs of victims. Our state is spending more and more on prison and corrections costs, without investing more in victim services. Yet, there is hope. Policy makers are deeply concerned about what they can do to protect the most vulnerable Oregonians, and there is a growing understanding of the severity and prevalence of domestic and sexual violence in our communities. We have an opportunity to elect leaders that will do their best to think long-term, and invest as wisely as possible. Investments in prevention and safety services for those fleeing violence saves lives and money. It’s the right, and smart, thing to do. Our public safety spending must prioritize the needs of victims. You can help. This fall stand with CCWRC to share the message that Violence is Not OK in our Community! Rachael Barry-Dame, Executive Director Columbia County Women’s Resource Center To the Editor, POWER-OF-ONE (Pwr/1) was formed to address inquiry into the high cost of electrical energy by West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC). Original inquiry was made at the 2012 Annual Membership Meeting. Following are the questions Pwr/1 would like the Board to consider and provide answers* to: 1. AUDIT: Pwr/1 has asked for a performance audit outside of the required, annual audit obtained by WOEC. For many years, WOEC has had the highest electricity rate per KWH in Oregon. That is the reason for this request. Admittedly, major FEMA-type disasters have influenced these increased costs. However, the high costs prevailed before, during and after these disasters. The most direct, effective solution to the question of having the highest costs per KWH is to conduct an audit by a neutral, non-affiliated, professional third party to produce a clear, transparent picture of what has occurred for all members to see. An audit of this type would show needed efficiencies or lay to rest member concerns. The Question: What steps will WOEC take to provide an independent, outside performance audit as requested? 2. SOLAR: Bonneville Power Administration is the current, single electricity provider for WOEC. By providing access to or providing for green alternative energy, WOEC could mitigate the problem of having BPA as its only source of energy. With this in mind, preliminary steps already taken are: • Pwr/1 has asked WOEC to research green alternative energy and has referred Solar City, Inc. to WOEC to discuss installing Solar Energy for WOEC members • WOEC Manager, Marc Farmer, recently visited Consumers Power Inc., in Corvallis, specifically to discuss Consumers’ operational Solar Program, which has 108 participants. • Marc has stated plans to engage PNGC (Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative) members in a round-table discussion about alternative energy. • It is acknowledged WOEC has a 1% interest in a Corvallis methane generation plant, a proposed wave energy project and a Eugene-based solar project. The Question: What immediate steps will be taken by WOEC to provide detailed information on and access to energy generation from solar, wind and micro- hydro? 3. BILLINGS: WOEC presently provides a KWH Bar Graph showing total KWH’s used for the billing month and for each of the last 12 billing months. This generates an incorrect energy use picture because each month is not 30 days long. Many utilities, in order to produce a more useful Bar Graph, calculate Average Daily KWH use. They divide the exact number of days, in a given month, into the total KWH’s used. The Daily Average is then comparable to other months and allows members to effectively analyze and control energy costs. The Question: What steps will WOEC take to change to Bar Graphs utilizing continued on page 6 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: scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064.
