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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2017)
welcome january5 2017 3 from the editor As we begin the New Year, a fairly popular sentiment is that many people are happy to see 2016 over and done with. I feel like maybe it was the year we deserved. This past year saw our country deeply divided during what has to be the most vitriolic and nasty Presidential election in memory, fi lled with name calling, fi nger pointing, and back stabbing, not just from the candidates, but from their supporters as well. While many of us hoped election day would bring an end to at least some of the rancor and ugliness, it looks like the election of Donald Trump and his upcoming inauguration is just the beginning (or a continuation, if you consider the way many people in our nation treated outgoing President Barack Obama and his family during his eight years in offi ce) of the uncivil national discourse that so many of us have already grown weary of. Hope as we may, it doesn’t look like much is going to change in 2017 with regards to the national political conversation, unless we choose to do something different. Another reason 2016 feels like it was so diffi cult is because we lost so many icons, celebrities, and trend setters during the calendar year. I usually don’t pay much attention to, or mourn the loss of, people I don’t know personally, but 2016 sure rocked the boat when it came to household names that were taken away. First you have people like actors Alan Rickman, Abe Vigoda, Florence Henderson, Debbie Renyolds and Zsa Zsa Gabor, along with musicians Glenn Fry and George Michael, and comedian Garry Shandling, just to name a few. All were well known in their fi elds and really household names that almost all of us would recognize. In addition you have some real cultural icons, people who shaped and impacted their fi elds and changed our culture; people like hockey player Gordie Howe who helped make his sport an American pastime with his rugged play and extreme talent; First Lady Nancy Reagan who coined the phrase “Just Say No to Drugs;” actor Gene Wilder, whose comedic style made him a one-of-a-kind in fi lms like Blazing Saddles and Willie Wonka; musician Merle Haggard whose outlaw image helped make him a star and helped popularize country music; and most recently actress Carrie Fisher, whose portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies made her a role model for girls and young women as not just a princess, but as an action hero and a leader. The top of the list of people we lost this year is fi lled with world changing talent, people whose work is recognized as extraordinary and legendary: boxing’s greatest, Mohammad Ali; musician David Bowie, whose chameleon and fl amboyant persona blurred the lines of sexuality and reality; astronaut John Glenn, the fi rst American to orbit the earth, who went on to become a U.S. Senator as well; To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee, who challenged racial and southern stereotypes at a dangerous time in 1960; Arnold Palmer, who helped turn golfers into sports heroes and helped make golf a popular spectator and participatory sport; musician Prince, who crossed over between funk, R&B, rock, and pop music like no one before him, while transcending gender lines and pouring out hits; and author and holocaust survivor Elie Wiessel, who championed human rights and Jewish causes. So yes, I too am happy to see the end of 2016 and the fresh start of a new year. Which brings me to New Years Resolutions. I have never been big on resolving to make personal changes at a specifi c point on the calendar, but this year feels a bit different. So much has happened this past year that has shaken my understanding of our country and the way we relate to the world and to each other that I feel compelled to explore how we all might interact in some different ways. So here are my thoughts, in no particular order of importance, about some changes we might consider as we head into 2017: Think Global, Act Local – I have a neighbor who several years ago con- fessed that he had become rather dis- enfranchised with national politics and was feeling pretty powerless to have any real personal impact in shaping what happens in Washington and the policies that control our country. I know he is not alone in this feeling. I feel like this last election maybe opened up our eyes even wider to the corruption and insider games going on in our nation’s capital. While we can vote for and write to our national representatives and express our thoughts and feelings on issues of the FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 day, we have to wonder whether we’re really just wasting our time. Wouldn’t our time and energy be better spent be- ing active in our local communities? There are many ways we can have a direct impact right here in Vernonia, whether it’s through our churches, schools, community service organiza- tions, city and county government, or just in our own neighborhoods. While we can pay attention to national politics and follow world happenings, we can actually be working within our commu- nity and creating real change each and every day. By the way, that neighbor I mentioned is current Vernonia City Councilor Bruce McNair, who is abso- lutely working to represent the citizens of this community and making a real difference. You can too. Spend Less Time on Social Media – While Facebook, Twitter and other social media formats have proven to be effective tools for communicating, they have also become a serious drain on our time and energy. Read the comments on any internet news feed and you will fi nd strangers arguing with each other and calling each other names... and to what end? Locally I have seen Facebook used in many positive ways: to inform drivers about road conditions or accidents on local highways, to correct misinformation about school, city or local utility issues, and as a place to discuss current important issues, like the school bond we voted on in November. It can also be a way to spread humor, good tidings, and have fun. But the prevalence of fake news sources, acrimony in discussions, and the time spent scrolling and trolling is really starting to take a toll. Not to mention the danger of late night tweets by politicians. This year instead of spending so many evenings on Facebook arguing, why not get up and go for a walk. Finish that project you never seem to have time for. Talk to your family. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Volunteer in the community. Help a neighbor or a friend. Find better ways to spend your time. If we are spending time on Facebook, let’s try to post more good news, fun photos, jokes, knowledge, and interesting information. Find New Sources of Information – I know I just said we should spend less time on the internet, but we all do need to stay accurately informed. One thought Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Representative Brad Witt Photography Scott Laird Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com is to clean up your news feed and get rid of sources that are unreliable or that tend to anger you. As much as we don’t want to believe it, many “news sources” are working very hard to infl uence our opinions. Another option is to add more genuine and unbiased news sources. I recently added the British Broadcast Company, (BBC) the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) and the Toronto Star as news sources I check, that are less sensationalistic and more unbiased when reporting on American politics. I think they give me a more accurate view on what is really happening here, and I feel less manipulated. Find news sources that are trustworthy. continued on page 5 Cedar Side Inn Karaoke EVENTS Sun, Jan. 15 Texas Hold ‘em • Specialty hamburgers • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Ladies’ Night Sat, Feb. 18 Triple Edge • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go Every 2nd & Last Friday “BIKER FRIENDLY” Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 every Thursday 6pm-close • Free Pool • Free WiFi • Specialty Pizzas iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841
