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
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Membership Dues:
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Minimum:
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Individual:
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$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
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