4
letters to the editor/community bulletin board
february6
2014
Readers Lend Their Voices...
To the Editor,
I would like to take a moment to thank all who
helped support this year’s senior project presentations.
Many of the judges were heard saying it was the best
year ever!
In particular, I would like to thank the following
(in no particular order) for going above and beyond to
help make this year’s event successful:
Dana Hyde, Mark Brown, Julie Ramsey, Carol Senn,
The Boosters, Sentry Market, Teri Willard, Kathleen
Jackson, Kathy Fetch, Nate Underwood, George
Spaulding, Melissa Mulvey, Beylee Bowen-Provost,
Nathan Davis, Kirsten Leaverton, Trevor Kent, Sue
Whitton, Cherise Harbour, Tonia Clark, Susan Wagner,
Stacy Pond, Trish Maldonado, Judi Gwin, Juliet Safier,
Linda Allen, Beth Kintz, Glenda DeLemos, Kodee
Kelso, Jaime Duyck, Zane Green, Scott Laird, High
School Staff (for use of your classrooms plus)
All who helped mentor students
All who allowed students time out of their classes to
work on senior projects
All who listen to and edited speeches,
All the judges!!
And the Class of 2014!! I am very proud of you!
If you do not see your name here, please know
it is simply an over-sight and you are AMAZING too.
If you would like information on judging next year’s
senior project presentations, please contact me at
rwilcoxen@vernonia.k12.or.us. They are held annually
in January.
Sincerely,
Rachel Wilcoxen
Vernonia High School
Fundraiser for
To the Editor,
As Relay for Life of Columbia County kicks
off their fundraising this year at the Moose Lodge in St.
Helens, I have found myself getting some lessons on
what all of this is really about. In years past my family
has participated, and as a stereotypical husband I have
helped with set up and tear down, but mostly looked at
this as a mini vacation from the wife and kids in August
during the big relay event. Sure I have had many
people in my family affected by cancer. Some have
survived, some have not, and some survived multiple
times. This year I decided to dive in and try to help and
by getting involved I am getting a bigger picture of not
only what goes on, but how others feel and relate to the
event throughout the year.
I used to think that Relay for Life was just
about breast cancer and supporting a cure for that, but
I learned that it supports all kinds of cancer. I really
didn’t know that. I actually thought that when men were
announced as survivors it meant that they had survived
breast cancer. Relay for Life is all about cancer. No
matter what kind of cancer it is. My wife wanted to
include my uncle as part of Luminaria, which honors
survivors and those that have passed. It is a beautiful
event, but I had to remind myself that he didn’t have to
pass of breast cancer to be part of it.
Also, I used to think that it was just about fund
raising for research, but over the years I have gotten an
education. I learned that in Columbia County the Relay
for Life organization helps with supporting those in the
community currently battling this disease. Whether
it is a visit, a phone call, or a ride to an appointment
Relay for Life of Columbia County spends time all year
long doing what they can to not only fight cancer, but to
make sure that people know they don’t have to fight it
alone. A lot still goes to research. Over
4 million dollars in grants were shared
in Oregon with places like Oregon
Health Sciences University, Oregon
State University, and University of
Oregon getting some of those grants for
major research programs.
David Spackman
Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament
Sun, February 9 at 2 PM
Get all your
Garden Essentials
at the 1st Annual
at the All In Pub
50/50 Raffle
First Come - Limited Seating
David is having liver transplant surgery in San Francisco.
Fundraising will go to help David and Sonia with living
and medical expenses during this difficult time.
Sponsored by the Vernonia Lions Club
Now you may think like I did, that all this relay
stuff is just about fundraising and getting dollars into
the hands of people who will do research. But this
year I am learning that for those that are participating,
especially at the big relay event, it is much more than
that. For those that have survived I am told that it is a
time to be thankful they have made it and appreciate the
ones that supported them, spend time with others who
have a deep understanding of what they went through
it, and to hold up the people who are going through it
now and show them that even in the darkest times that
there are others to turn to. For the caregivers it is a time
to celebrate and memorialize the family and/or friends
that have had to fight, to let others know that they are
there to help, and to spend some time with others who
have had to walk alongside those in need. For many
others it is a time to remember and support their loved
ones both here and gone, and to celebrate with friends
and family that they have made it past a very difficult
time in their lives.
So as this year’s celebration begins, I hope
you will join Relay for Life of Columbia County for a
carnival at the Moose Lodge in St. Helens on Saturday,
February 8th from 5-7. It is much more than just
fundraising for research. It is really about love and life.
Erik Linden
St. Helens
To the Editor,
On behalf of the Junior Class of 2015 we
would like to thank a few generous people. First of
all thank you Mike Phil Logging for donating wood
for our wood raffle! We appreciate your willingness
to help our class with fundraising ! Also a huge thank
you to Lanny and Judy Adams for the use of their time,
property and wood splitter. We are so appreciative
of your generosity! Thank you to all the community
members who have purchased Sees candy. We are
looking forward to a very memorable prom! Please
watch for our upcoming fundraisers. We appreciate
your continued support!
Melissa Zavales
VHS Junior Class Sdvisor
Vernonia Community Garden
Fair & Plant Sale
May 10th 9am-4pm
at the Vernonia School Commons
1,000 Tomato Plants,
vegie & flower starts plus
many gifts for Mother’s Day
Interested in being a vendor?
Contact Penny Costley
503-429-0196
Old,
worn out
and rusty?
Need body
work?
Call...
Meyer’s Auto Body
•493 Bridge St•
VERNONIA
503-429-0248
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