community
The Scuttlebutt - News From Around Our Town
february21
2013
19
hired many young people Voice. This unique toy store which featured
to help her with her home educational toys and games, clothing and
and yard work, and taught more has been a favorite of locals and visi-
adult classes including tors since 2004 and has always been one of
Women’s Spirituality, Poet- the reasons that downtown Vernonia has re-
ry, Spanish, Creative Writ- mained an interesting and vibrant place to
ing and Autobiography. She shop. Eyrrick says she may create an on-line
was a member of the Ver- outlet for the business, but her storefront in
nonia Hands-on Art Board town will most certainly be missed.
for several years and was a
member of the Columbia Adam Buchan Many people have been
County Cultural Coalition. asking about the condition of Adam Buchan,
She was the Oregon State the young Vernonia resident who was injured
Spelling Bee champion in on the site of the Vernonia School Demolition.
Aloha! A group of four
2003 and took the National Here is an update on Adam ‘s condition
Vernonia High School ex-
Senior Spelling Bee title in which was provided by his family. Adam was
change students traveled to
that same year. Carol rep- taken by life flight to OHSU on January 22 nd .
Hawaii as part of their year
resented Vernonia in the He sustained massive and nearly fatal crush
in the United States. Paula
2008 My Fair Lady pageant. injuries to his chest. He has been in the ICU
Sharon
and
Randy
Parrow
in
Oliveros from Spain, Maina
Fluent in Spanish, French, for an entire month. He has been making
New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
Martin from France, and
Hindi, and Portuguese, good progress. Family, friends and OHSU staff
Hanna Hofer, and Hanna Farsh from Germa- she’s lived an international life from her birth are all very impressed with his “fight.” He
ny all spent a week soaking up the sunshine in Venezuela, education in pre-Castro Cuba, is still not breathing completely on his own,
and hanging out on Waikiki Beach with oth- college at Reed in Portland, and lived and and his ventilator tube makes him unable to
er students through the ASSE program. The worked in Paris, France; Viranasi, India; Ibiza, talk at the moment. He is communicating by
girls had a chance to snorkel, learn to hula Spain; and San Francisco, California. If you’d mouthing words, and using his hand to sign.
dance, shop, eat fresh pineapple, meet some like to call or visit Carol in her new home, Adam received news on February 19 that he
parrots, work on their tans and attend a tradi- please call Tobie Finzel, 503.705.2173, for con- was about to be released from the ICU. Once
tional Hawaiian BBQ. Their favorite activity tact information. Carol welcomes calls, visits his lungs are healthy enough to withstand
was definitely taking surfing lessons. “I think or notes from her many friends here.
more surgery, they will be going back in and
it is paradise!” said Paula.
fixing the rest of the damage. He has a long
VRFPD Banquet The
road ahead. The family
Vernonia Rural Fire
want to stress that there is
Protection District held
only room for positive and
their annual banquet
helpful support, please
on Saturday February
leave any negativity at the
9 at the McMenemins
door. This is about Adam’s
Grand Lodge in Forest
life, and he is very lucky
Grove. The agency in-
to be alive. He is still very
vited and recognized
susceptible to infection,
several local businesses
he is actually fighting
who had representa-
pneumonia
for
the
Paula Oliveros, Maina Martin and Hanna
tives in attendance in-
second time, so the family
Hofer at Waikiki Beach.
cluding Vernonia True
is
asking for limited
Value, Bridge Street
visitation until he is more
Vernonia Hands-on Art held its annual Mini Mart and All In
stable. The family says
meeting February 13. The Board elected Pub. The highlight of
they appreciate all the
the following officers for the 2013 term: Jo- the evening was the
support and well wishes
Toni Barton and Amy Smith at
sette Mitchell, President; Erika Paleck, First announcement by the
for Adam; the OHSU staff
the VRFPD Banquet
Vice President; Kathy Larsen, Second Vice VRFPD Board that Dean
is incredible and giving
President; Diana Peach, Secretary; and Tobie Smith has been named Fire Chief. The group him the best possible care.
Finzel, Treasurer. Hands-on Art is an arts enjoyed a BBQ dinner and were served cake
and heritage non-profit organization that in- in celebration of fire recruit Kendrick Lea-
cludes the annual Junior Salmon Auction, verton’s 18 th birthday. A slide show prepared
Vernonia Pioneer Museum, Vernonia Com- by volunteer Amy Smith recapped the year in
munity Theater, and other local cultural ac- pictures. Awards were given in recognition
tivities in its programs.
of outstanding service; winners were Rookie
of the Year, Micheal Haley, Officer of the Year,
Carol Sawyer moved to the Vernonia com- Dan Hanson, Firefighter of the Year, Kara
munity in 2001 but recently relocated to Kemper, Volunteer of the Year, Amy Smith.
an assisted living home in Beaverton due
to multiple health challenges. Many of you Clever Cricket to Close The Clever Cricket
have known Carol or taken a class from her. is closing their doors as of May 15. Owner
She taught Spanish at the high school, sub- Camrin Eyrrick announced this sad news to
stituted in the district from time to time, the Vernonia community in a Letter to the
Editor published in
the February 21, 2013
Adam Buchan recovering at OHSU.
issue of Vernonia’s
Where Do You Read The
Voice? Randy and Sharon
Parrow were caught read-
ing Vernonia’s Voice in
New Orleans during Mardi
Gras in February. We hope
they also found some time
to sample the local cuisine
and maybe even a Hurri-
cane drink or two! The big
question is whether Sharon
will return with any Mardi
Gras beads?
scut·tle·butt noun \ˈskə-təl-ˌbət\
a : a cask on shipboard to contain freshwater for a day’s use
b : a drinking fountain on a ship or at a naval or marine installation
Scuttlebutt in slang usage means rumor or gossip deriving from the
nautical term for the cask used to serve water (or, later, a water fountain).
Water for immediate consumption on a sailing ship was conven-
tionally stored in a scuttled butt: a butt (cask) which had been scuttled
by making a hole in it so the water could be withdrawn. Since sailors ex-
changed gossip when they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water,
scuttlebutt became Navy slang for gossip or rumours. The term corre-
sponds to the colloquial concept of a water cooler in an office setting,
which at times becomes the focus of congregation and casual discussion.
Vernonia’s Voice intends to use this column, not to spread gossip
or rumors but to share tidbits of news about the people and goings on in
our community.