city/community news
april16
2015
P.E.O. Spring Tea
On Saturday, April 25 women and girls will gather at the First
Christian Church to enjoy some “girlie” time together. Sponsored by P.E.O. as
a fun way to raise some dollars to be used for college scholarships for women.
The event will feature entertainment, a light luncheon and refreshments, a
“photo-op,” a raffle, and more…
So, ladies, dress up in your Sunday best, bring friends and relatives,
and enjoy a couple of hours of fun and food. Here are the details:
What: Spring Tea Party
Who: Women and girls of ALL ages
Where: First Christian Church, 410 North St., Vernonia.
When: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 1:00 – 3:00
Why: To support P.E.O.’s ongoing program of “women helping women”
meet their educational goals. And to enjoy some time and fellowship.
How: Tickets are available at R&S Market in the Video Department. Cost
per person is $7.00.
Don’t Litter, Spay/Neuter!
On Earth Day feral cats living
in Columbia County qualify
for free spay/neuter services
In honor of Earth Day on April
22, the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
(FCCO) is offering FREE spay/neuter
services for stray, feral and barn cats
living in Columbia County. The non-
profit spay/neuter program is also of-
fering assistance to transport cats to its
clinic in North Portland.
Springtime’s warmer weather
means outdoor cats have started breed-
ing and soon there will be a kitten
population boom. Spay/neuter prevents
kittens, curbs unwanted mating behav-
iors like fighting and spraying, and im-
proves a cat’s overall health.
Residents of Columbia County
feeding outdoor feral or stray cats are
encouraged to call the Feral Cat Coali-
tion of Oregon to set up an appointment
for the special clinic on April 22. Ser-
vices for feral cats include spay/neuter
surgery, vaccines, treatment for fleas,
ear mites and tapeworms; antibiotics;
pain relief medication; and an ear-tip
for identification.
To contact FCCO, call 503-
797-2606 or fill out an online applica-
tion at www.feralcats.com.
Council Discusses Marijuana
Dispensaries continued from page 6
does allow time, place and manner re-
strictions on recreational retail--some
cities are considering not allowing them
near parks, libraries, and churches.
The City cannot outright ban
recreational retail sales, it would have
to be done by a Citizen Initiative and
voted on. The City can limit where
businesses can be placed through Land
Use/Development Code Restrictions.
Any change to zoning would have to go
through a public hearing process.
The Council decided to do
nothing on the medical moratorium they
have in place and Cleaveland told them
he believes they are protected from al-
lowing medical marijuana dispensaries
under Federal laws that classify mari-
juana as a controlled substance. The
City already has a rule which prohib-
its activities in violation of federal law
written into their business license ordi-
nance.
Citizen Mike Buffum was rec-
ognized by the mayor and told Council
that if they try to ban medical marijuana
it will be challenged in court. Accord-
ing to City staff there are already medi-
cal grow operations in the area provid-
ing product to customers
The Council asked staff to be-
gin creating maps that would show
where in the commercial zone a recre-
ational retail business could be located
if they were to put in place various types
of restrictions.
Vernonia’s Voice is published twice
each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Our next issue will be out May 7th.
The VHS Class of 1975
invites you to the
Pat Curl Memorial Sports Benefit
August 8, 2015
(Jamboree Weekend)
At the New Vernonia School
in the Commons Area
Featuring
Tickets
on Sale NOW!
“The Ultimate Performer”
www.patcurlbenefit.bpt.me
“The man with the voice who
just happens to be funny!”
1000 Missouri Avenue
VIP Event: 5:00 PM - $150
(limited to first 54 who purchase)
Tony Pace
www.tonypace.com
Includes VIP Pre-show performance, hearty appetizers on the
patio, gift bag, raffles & VIP Section Seating at the Main Event
Main Event: 6:30-8:00 PM
Preferred Seating - $50
General Admission - $25
Questions? PatCurlBenefit@gmail.com
7
New City Hall Hours
At the April 6, 2015 City Council meeting the Council
approved changing the hours of City Hall operations and approved
closing City Hall from 12:30-1:30 PM for lunch. Starting Monday,
May 4th, 2015 City Hall will be open 8:00 AM-12:30 PM / 1:30
PM-5:00 PM.
New Computer and Internet
Use Policy at the Library
On Monday, March 16, 2015,
City Council approved the Computer
and Internet Use Policy now in effect
at the library. The policy was drafted
by the Library Director, Shannon
Romtvedt, based on policies used at
other libraries and a great deal of input
and research from the Library Board.
One rule that is a significant
change from the previous policy is
stated here:
“Children under 10 years of
age must be directly supervised by a
parent/legal guardian or adult caregiver
when using the computer. Parents/legal
guardians who wish to restrict computer
access for a minor (age 17 or younger)
may do so at any time by requesting
a Minor Internet Access Restriction
form.”
The previous policy required
written parental permission for minors
to use the computer. Children under
the age of 13 needed direct parental
supervision to use the Internet.
Reasoning for the change is as follows:
1) Many libraries are revising
their Internet Policy and are no longer
requiring parental permission for
minors. Sandy Public Library made the
change in November 2014, stating that
“A lot of libraries made the decision (to
require formal parent permission) when
the Internet was very new.”
2) More efficient for staff to
check for minors specifically restricted
from using the computers (versus
checking a long list of minors permitted
to use the computers and maintaining
that list). Most parents sign the
permission form and as minors reach
the age of 18, the list needs regular
updating.
3) Removing the requirement
for permissions is less of a barrier for
students coming to the library to use the
computers for homework. In the past,
a child or teen would have to take the
form home and return it to the library
before using the computer if a parent/
guardian was not present to sign the
form.
While parental permission is
no longer required for minors to use
the computer at the library, parents/
legal guardians may at any time fill out
a Minor Internet Access Restriction
form if they do not want their child(ren)
using public computers. Forms are
available at the library. For questions
or concerns, please contact the Library
Director, Shannon Romtvedt, (503)
429-1818 or shannonr@vernonia-or.
gov.
The Vernonia Community
Theater (VCT) regrets that its planned
summer drama program for children
has to be canceled due to scheduling
conflicts and other factors. VCT
apologizes for having to do this but is
still committed to finding a way to
offer theater opportunities for younger
children at some point in the future.
VCT is also working towards
another adult and teen production this
fall or early spring. Kinnell Steward,
VCT Coordinator, will continue to add
names of interested participants to the
contact list. If you’d like to act, direct
or work behind the scenes, please email
her at mtskys@frontier.com or contact
her on Facebook.
Thanks for your interest in
community theater and hope to hear
from you soon.
Community Theater Cancels
Summer Drama Program
Columbia Humane Society
Featured Pet
Please meet Yum Yum. She
came to the shelter as an
owner surrender after her
Dad passed away. She
does not do well with
cats, and is probably
going to need a family
that doesn't have a lot of
young kids. She loves to
cuddle in your lap and be
your friend. Her adoption
fee is $90.00. If you
have any questions please
2084 Oregon Street
don't hesitate to call or
St. Helens, OR 97051
email.
Web: www.columbiahumane.org
Phone: 503-397-4353
Email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org
