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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2017)
6 in other words january5 2017 Salem Report By Representative Brad Witt Best Wishes to you this holiday season and all year- round. I’m looking forward to working for you in the 2017 Legislature and am honored to represent House District 31 in Salem. This month, I spent three days in Salem for our quarterly “Legislative Days,” when the members of the Legis- lature gather to prepare for the full ses- sion in February. During the last ses- sion, various taskforces were formed with specifi c mandates to do research and come back to us with recommen- dations for possible legislation. These taskforces refl ect the work of profes- sionals profi cient in their various fi elds and we depend upon their expertise to bring us information that is fact based and dependable. It is invaluable in our efforts to make sure that the legislation we propose refl ects reality. My own Agriculture and Natu- ral Resources Committee heard reports from the Oregon Shellfi sh Taskforce, What’s Happening at the Vernonia Library Upcoming Events Movie Nights Tuesday, January 17, 6 pm (Adults) Thursday, January 26, 6 pm (Family Movie) Relax and enjoy a movie and popcorn at the library. Call or visit the library for movie ti tles. K-5 Library Time Thursday, January 19, 4 – 5 pm For children grades K-5 and parents. Story and craft with a snack. Ongoing Programs Writer’s Group Thursday, January 19, 6-7:30 pm 3 rd Thursday of every month. For writers with all levels of experience. Book Discussion Group Monday, January 30, 5:30 pm Last Monday of every month, 5:30 pm. Book selecti on for January: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Storytimes Songs, rhymes, books, toys, and bubbles! For ages 0 – 3. Older siblings welcome. Preschool Storytime Fridays, 10:30 – 11:15 am Stories and a craft /acti vity for children up through age 6. Library Craft Box and Activities Looking for an acti vity to do with children in the library? Craft s, Magna-Tiles, and Legos anyti me during library open hours! Just ask staff at the check-out desk. Also, the library has a board game collecti on. Board games can be checked out to play in the library or to take home. Upcoming Library Closures Monday, January 16 for Marti n Luther King Jr. Holiday Library Hours & Contact Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 – 5 Tuesday, Thursday: 1 – 7 Saturday: 10 – 4 Closed Sundays Phone: (503) 429-1818 E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov Baby and Toddler Time Mondays, 10:30 – 11:15 am which is working to reduce the effects of ocean acidifi cation on Oregon’s valu- able shellfi sh population. This is a criti- cal aspect of the coastal economy, not to mention the entire state. We also heard from the U.S. Forest Service and our own state forester regarding the Federal Forest Restoration Project. As an agent of the Forest Service, we have “Good Neighbor Authority” to help in the res- toration of woodlands after the devasta- tion of fi re and disease. We learned that 3 million board feet has been salvaged from the Canyon Creek fi re, and we have acted to restore both rangeland and watershed capacities. Finally, we heard about our state’s wine industry and the work of the Oregon Hatchery Research Center. If you would like more specifi c information about any of these topics, I will send it along. In other parts of the Capitol, equally interesting topics are being in- vestigated. The Department of Educa- tion presented information to the Senate Education Committee regarding dys- lexia, and two taskforces reported on a study of class sizes and on the results of a campus safety work group. The Sen- ate Human Services Committee listened to a report from the Director of Human Services regarding vulnerable popula- tions. We have read a lot about the vul- nerability of foster children, but the di- rector also reported on safety issues with seniors and people with disabilities who may also fall prey to abuse and neglect. The House Health Care Com- mittee listened to a report on Mass Care/ Mass Displacement as the result of a cat- astrophic event such as an earthquake or tsunami, and another report on the role of animal agriculture in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In response to the housing cri- sis throughout Oregon, the Human Ser- vices and Housing Committee listened to studies on emergency housing, home- less assistance and rent stabilization. I am confi dent that legislation refl ecting the urgency of these issues will be front and center in the next session. Finally, on the local scene, Sen- ator Betsy Johnson and I met with the Columbia County Board of Realtors a couple of weeks ago to listen to their de- scription of a crisis in the housing indus- try involving the timely performance of appraisals when houses are being sold. At the root of this upheaval is a change in educational requirements for apprais- ers on the federal level and it is causing delays sometimes lasting months. Un- fortunately, we cannot make any chang- es on the state level to these regulations, so Senator Johnson and I have written to our federal delegation to ask them to address this issue immediately. Senator Johnson and I are also chief sponsors of a Memorial to Congress urging them to take action. This is not just a problem in Oregon, it is a national emergency and they need to fi x it now. To contact State Representative Brad Witt call: (503) 986-1431 Write: 900 Court St. NE, H-374, Salem, Oregon 97301. Email: Rep.BradWitt@state.or.us BE PREPARED FOR WINTER • chains • antifreeze • winter tires mounted & balanced • wipers • generators • kerosene • flashlights • boots • batteries • lamp oil • gas cans • candles • propane Family owned & operated for over 45 years 834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364 Friends of the Vernonia Public Library Membership Dues: Family: Minimum: $10.00 Individual: $5.00 $1.00 plus 2 hours minimum of work in the library Make checks payable to: Friends of the Vernonia Public Library Mailing Address: 701 Weed Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064 Name Address City Phone Date State Zip Amount Enclosed $ I am interested in helping with the following committees (optional): Please Circle •Membership •Endowments •Book Sales •Publicity & Public Relations •Fund Raising •Library Services •Finance-Budget-Legal Matters TOO BUSY? 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