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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2013)
4 letters to the editor october3 2013 Readers Lend Their Voices... To the Editor, The idea that, because you dislike someone or something, any wrong that you may do them whether intentional or not, is somehow justified has always baffled me. For example, a youngster who accidentally breaks his neighbors window with a baseball might try to evade responsibility for it by pointing out that the neighbor is just a “mean old man” who dislikes kids. Meaning that he somehow deserved what he got. I had something similar happen to me recently while walking my dogs. A gentleman was working in his yard and his German Shepherd, who was loose in the yard, decided to run out and introduce himself to my two Schnauzers... it resulted in a lot of noise, but the shepherd wasn’t mean, and no real harm was done. But, for some reason, the dogs owner decided to defend his dogs actions by insulting me personally... I should be more careful where I walk my pets... no one wants my dogs droppings on their lawn (my family and I always clean up after our pets)... I’m “unsociable” and an “outsider” (apparently because I had never introduced myself to him). All of which was intended to prove his assertion that whatever his dog might have done, it was totally justifiable. None of which is what this letter is about. He loves his pet and I love mine... no surprises there! It’s the assertion he made that I am an outsider here that bothers me. so, I am writing this by way of introducing myself to those of you who do not know me or my family. We are the Hodgson’s. We have lived in Vernonia for 11 years now and we rightly consider it to be our home. I’ve walked past the scene of the altercation described above 1000 times or more. In the summer, my wife and I try to get out and walk 4 or 5 miles on the linear trail at least a few times a week. We attend the local Four Square church, regularly patronize local businesses, and contribute to local activities. Personally, I am a software engineer and, as such, somewhat of an introvert. I usually work from home, keeping to myself, and out of other peoples business. I was born in New Hampshire, and have lived in several different States. I served in the U.S. Air Force, and spent many years in the desert building and testing military aircraft. I am great with numbers, but lousy with names, and I do not make friends easily. I love baseball and golf, and often play rounds as a single at the Vernonia Golf Club. I hope this hasn’t bored you too badly. Thanks for reading and God Bless you all! Daniel Hodgson Vernonia community event. posts effectively. Another thank you is Working together we can make for Vernonia Hardware for helping us a difference. out with our material needs. Kathye Beck Executive Director United Way of Columbia County Bridger Steward Vernonia To the Editor, We would like to send our most heartfelt THANK YOU to the community To the volunteers and businesses in of Vernonia for your incredible support Columbia County who helped with on every level for the Jacob & Angela “Stuff the Bus,” Fields Family Fundraiser that took place on September 7, 2013. With Thank you to all of the everyone’s generous hearts we were all businesses and volunteers who helped to able to provide over $5000.00 to the make the 8 th annual “Stuff the Bus” event Fields family for medical expenses and a success. Your generosity with time and funeral costs for the loss of their beloved donated supplies has made a difference daughter Loralei. We unfortunately in the lives of many families in Columbia can’t thank everyone personally in fear County. We had several new businesses of leaving someone out, but do know we and volunteers participate this year. Your couldn’t have done this without you!! participation made a big difference. One The spaghetti dinner was a of our St. Helens volunteers reported huge success and a special thank you that some of the participating businesses to Vernonia Sentry (Randy & Sharon requested pick up for two to four boxes Parrow), Vernonia Subway (Steve of school supplies. That is just fantastic! Whiteman) & Emily from Great Harvest The donated school supplies Bread in Hillsboro. It was incredible help students return to school ready to to see so many step up to volunteer learn not worried about the lack of school helping in the kitchen (cooking, serving, supplies. . The school supplies collected cleaning up), donating goods to provide stay in the community where they are over 50 amazing raffle baskets, all the collected and are disbursed differently in bakers who made delicious treats for the each school district. bake sale – sponsored by the Vernonia The disbursement in St. Helens Community PTA and all those who just was held the last Wednesday of August. helped wherever the need was at the time. It was reported that 276 students received The Vernonia Freewheelers donated 10 supplies. A big thank you to Rosie cords of firewood to be raffled off & we Amos who has been the lead volunteer know for a fact that those winners will in disbursing school supplies for many be much warmer this winter. years at Grace Baptist Church in St. We have an amazing little town Helens. She announced her retirement and so many people were able to help a for this year. She will be greatly missed. family in a time of difficult tragedy. We We haven’t heard from the other thank you from the bottom of hearts & school districts at this time. However, know that the Fields Family appreciates in the past we have been able to report every one of you who helped on all helping 650 students throughout levels. Columbia County. Although this event is not able Jeff Ely Kinnell Steward to provide everything a student needs it LoggerBots Robotics team mentor Randy Carlton does help provide several of the required Camrin Eyrrick items and this makes a big difference to To the Editor, those families who have a difficult time My name is Bridger Steward Katie Poetter with all of the back to school necessities. and I recently worked on my Eagle Want to be a volunteer or have a Scout project. For my project I repainted drop box at your business next year call the goal posts at Greenman Field, as well HOW TO SEND LETTERS 503-556-3614 or email uwcc@hotmail. as put a FEMA required flow through TO THE EDITOR com and we will put you on our list for system underneath the grandstands. next year. We begin planning and getting I’d like to thank the Vernonia Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and set up in July and collection usually runs Fire Department for donating their time requests your thoughts, opinions the month of August. We can always use and equipment, to troop 201, as well as and ideas. Please include your more volunteers to help with this. Or you friends and family. I’d also like to thank name, address and phone num- can donate to the Stuff the Bus program the city and Jeff Birch for donating a ber, limit your letters to 300 words to help purchase school supplies for this cherry picker truck to paint the goal or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters sub- mitted. We will print letters space Call or come by today for free tire quote permitting. Deadline is the 1st Most major brands and custom aftermarket wheels and 3rd Monday of each month. Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One low price includes: or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Installation • Balancing Vernonia, OR 97064. Valve Stems • Lifetime Rotation Lifetime Repairs • Alignment Check Enhanced Warranty To the Editor, A new school-year means the start of another great LoggerBots robotics season. This high school team designs, builds and programs a 120 pound remote controlled robot in 6 weeks and then competes with teams across Oregon, Washington and Idaho as part of the FIRST Robotics Competition. Coming off a tremendous 3rd place finish in last year’s regional, we have high hopes and expectations for 2014. This team would not be possible without the support of our fantastic sponsors which include: Photo Solutions, Ajax Machine, Procraft, Dass Logging, Sharon Bernal, Gwin Logging, Shari’s Restaurants, KaptansKraft, and Intel. The fact that a community our size can compete with the largest schools in the Northwest is a testament to our sponsors as well as our mentoring team consisting of Jack Finzel, Jay Anderson, Mitch and Leslie Seibert, Mike Justice, Don and Susie Rainbolt, Tim Jennings, Jim Buxton, Tim and Michelle Berro, Dan Mullikin and Chris Dass. Our team will be out in the community this fall showcasing our previous year’s creations and explaining more about how the program helps build STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) knowledge by enabling practical application and competition. Come see us at this year’s Salmon Festival and find out what it’s like to play catch with a robot. VERNONIA E C I V SER PAIR & RE Walk-ins welcome Silkscreen printing Printing while you wait for small orders Vinyl lettering and heat transfers Teams, groups, special events Hoodies, dress shirts, aprons & more No order too large or too small No set-up fees 728 Madison Avenue, Vernonia (503) 822-0110 kavila@kaptanskraft.com Lube/oil/filter $29.95 • ASE Certified • Fully Insured • Warranty on all parts and labor up to 5 qts. conventional oil $75 Four-wheel computer alignment End $55 Front computer alignment Interstate batteries with free install on most vehicles 503/429/7972 58605 NEHALEM HWY. South, Next to Storage, Too Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday Our next issue will be October 17th.
