Vernonia's voice., June 20, 2013, Page 4, Image 4

community bulletin board/letters to the editor
june20
4 2013
Joy Creek Nursery
Offers Free Classes

Joy Creek believes their classes
are a good way for gardeners of all levels
to improve their knowledge of plants and
their gardening skills. The classes also of-
fer an opportunity for gardeners to meet oth-
ers who share a similar passion. Joy Creek
hopes they give confidence to the beginner
and inspiration to the long-time gardener.
1:00 Sunday, June 23
Hostas - with Thomas Johnson
Hostas are among the most popular of orna-
mental perennials because of the wide variety
of leaf shape, size, texture, and variegation
they offer to the gardener. Thomas Johnson
discusses the cultural needs of hostas, how
and when to make divisions, and their many
uses in the garden. One of Thomas’ interests
is using hostas in decorative containers. He
will feature some of his own artistry. And
he will bring a selection of hostas from his
nursery Sebright Gardens for sale.
1:00 Sunday, June 30
Basic Pruning: Pruning Spring Flower-
ing Shrubs - Part 2 - with Mike Smith
Many spring flowering shrubs are best
pruned just after they complete their flower-
ing. Mike will include upsizing and down-
sizing Rhododendrons, lifting drooping
canopies and some mid-season corrective
pruning on plants such as Daphne odora
‘Aureo-marginata’.
20300 NW Watson Road
Scappoose, OR 97056
503-543-7474
www.joycreek.com
Changes at Mist-
Birkenfeld RFPD

Fire Chief Dave Crawford and Assistant
Chief Mary Lou Busch have both retired as
full time employees at Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD.
The Board of Directors has accepted their
retirements and has contracted both of them to
return to work at less than half time as is allowed
by PERS regulations.

Cutting back to less than half time has
called for some changes in personnel assignment
and a need for some more part-time personnel
to help bear the load left behind. Those part
time people have not yet been hired. Volunteer
Captain Joe Kaczenski has accepted the role
of Operations Chief and the administrative
assistant hours have been increased to help
during the transition period. The volunteers are
also doing a great deal to lighten the load.
Upper
Nehalem
Watershed
Council
There will be a meeting of the
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
Thursday, June 27th 6:30 to 8:30pm
Vernonia Grange Hall (375 North St.)
There will be a presentation by Dan Avery,
(Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
“Coast Coho Conservation – Implementation Plan”
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To the Editor,

10 years of plant sale fundraisers have passed and
our community continues to show their compassion for our
seniors. Your generosities through your donations to our
senior community are so very heartfelt, thank you!

It was a success, there are now more funds for
meals, etc. A special thank you to our senior volunteers
who volunteered their time, you know who you are.

A big thanks to our merchant donors, Bi - Mart, Jim
Dandy Farm Market, Woodstock, Means and Portland and
Glen Walters Nurseries. Those participating as vendors for
the first year, “The Flower Lady” out of St. Helens, and
locals Yvonne & Tim, thank you for supporting the seniors!
Jack Harvey
Vernonia Senior Center
Vernonia Weather
May 2013
HIGH
1
69
2
77
3
76
4
81
5
85
6
84
7
70
8
71
9
80
10
83
11
83
12
70
13
67
14
66
15
57
16
64
17
59
18
57
19
60
20
71
21
54
22
50
23
50
24
58
25
62
26
63
27
64
28
62
29
60
30
58
31
64
Ave/Tot 66.9
LOW PRECIP
28
0
31
0
35
0
38
0
34
0
39
0
38
0
47
0
42
0
42
0
51
0
51
-
38
-
43
0
43
0.03
45
0.28
42
0.25
45
0.08
38
-
45
0.07
40
0.06
41
0.75
44
0.65
41
0.19
44
0.2
47
0.5
49
0.03
48
0.33
42
-
45
0.12
42
0
41.9
3.29
Weather data is collected at the
U.S. Weather station at the
Vernonia Water Plant
To the Editor,

“Rate Design” is the title of Marc Farmer’s article
in the June 6 th issue of Vernonia’s Voice. He states a change
will take place on October 1 st . Marc also examines a classic
dilemma: should members pay a low, fixed monthly service
fee (Facility Charge) with a high KWH of use charge; or,
alternatively, a high fixed monthly service fee with a low
KWH charge?

What is more interesting are the first two sentences
of Marc’s column which state (1) the co-op needs income
to cover its costs and (2) the co-op is “a not for profit
cooperative.”

That relates to the 2013 audit. I found the co-op
(a non-profit corporation) owns a company called West
Oregon Services, Inc. (WOSI) which in turn owns a “for
profit” telecommunications company called Columbia
Broadband, Inc. CBI supplies internet connection to
rural communities (not yet including Vernonia). This was
done by WOSI issuing $15,000 in stock. WOSI then took
$10,000 of that money and created CBI. To make it all
work, WOEC loaned $1.2+million dollars to CBI which is
still outstanding. CBI, nevertheless, has invested in LSN,
Inc., a Portland based telecommunications company. These
are for-profit companies. Isn’t there a contradiction here?
The opening sentence in the “Articles of Association”
(Chapter VIII of Title XXV of the Oregon Code, 1930) states
“the purpose is(sic) of forming a non-profit cooperative
association.” Article VII, Section 1 of the Bylaws states
…”The Cooperative shall at all times be operated on a
cooperative non-profit basis for the mutual benefit of its
patrons.” How is it our non-profit co-op owns for-profit
companies? What has this done to our rates?

$1.2 million dollars is a lot of money. Members of
the co-op are responsible for it. What would have happened
if, instead, the investment had been put into alternative,
renewable energy, specifically solar, wind, micro-hydro and
geo-thermal? Short term costs would have modified over
the medium term to clean, renewable energy, extremely
low carbon emissions and lower long term prices in
contrast to fossil fuel prices, and pollution, which are now
skyrocketing through the roof. BPA is limited, simply by
plant size. It will not be able to keep up with total demand.
Green energy can.

If you, the reader, think WOEC can make some
needed changes and stabilize long term rates, become active.
Join Pwr/1. Or run for the WOEC Board of Directors in
Districts 2 (Mist, Birkenfeld) and 5 (Timber, Buxton). (see
Nick Galaday’s article in today’s paper for details). Give us
a call: 503 429-8089
Jack Phillips
Vernonia
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