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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2017)
September21 2017 VERNONIA’S volume11 issue18 www.vernoniasvoice.com reflecting the spirit of our community We Bakes Opens in Vernonia New bakery offers a variety of delicious, fresh baked treats on the weekends free in some gluten free items, and promise their selection will continue to change and evolve with the seasons and what their customers tell them they enjoy. “We’re small enough that we can take requests and try to work certain items into our menu,” says Emily. The jalapeno cheddar biscuit, (called the Waylen) was a request from a customer. One of the most anticipated new business openings in Vernonia occured during this year’s Jamboree weekend, and the community welcomed them with open arms... and mouths. Emily and JD Vorheis held the grand opening of their new bakery, called We Bakes, on August 5 and 6 and quickly sold out. Located at 805 Bridge Street, in the heart of Vernonia’s business district, they closed the doors for several hours, did some more baking, restocked the cases and reopened, only to quickly sell out Emily and JD Vorheis opened We Bakes bakery on August 5. again. It was obvious JD and Emily moved to Oregon seven Vernonians, and Jamboree visitors, were years ago from northern California, and excited to see the business open and try picked Vernonia about a year and a half their tasty treats. ago as a community where they wanted After that overwhelming re- to raise their family and settle in. The sponse on opening weekend, and a couple has four children, two girls aged 7 few weeks into their new endeavor, the and 5, and two boys 3 and 1. “Vernonia Vorheis are starting to settle into a rou- was perfect for us,” says Emily, about tine, get to know their customer base and their three acre property off Keasey what they are looking for from their local Road. “We have woods and some land bakery. for gardening and raising some animals.” “We already have some regulars “There’s just something about and everyone has been so supportive,” this town,” adds JD. “Everyone is so says Emily. friendly and it has that small town feel. “We’re really trying to make When we moved here we noticed there things that people want and that they wasn’t a bakery and when we started ask- like,” adds JD. ing around to see whether people would Currently We Bakes is featuring like to see one open, everyone said ‘Yes!’ a variety of cookies, donuts and cupcakes, So we jumped in and fully committed to several flavors of ice box pies, and their doing it.” signature ice cream sandwiches made JD is a graphic designer and from their own cookies and brownies. software developer who works in Tigard Other items that have appeared in the during the week and now minds the display case include carmel topped continued on page 9 brownies, jalapeno cheddar biscuits and cinnamon rolls. They have been mixing Greenman Field Bleacher Roof Repairs Up in the Air The news that the bleachers at Greenman Field, home of the Verno- nia Loggers football team, had been deemed unsafe by the City of Vernonia, put a damper on the Loggers 2017 sea- son opener against Colton on Septem- ber 1. Now it looks like Logger fans will not have use of the bleachers for the entire football season. A f t e r questions were raised by some community mem- bers about the safety of the cov- ered area, an en- gineer hired by the City of Vernonia inspected the facil- ity and found the roof support on one side of the bleacher structure sag- ging, and ruled it unsafe for use. Greenman Field and the bleacher structure are now owned by the City of Vernonia, formalized by an agreement between the School District and the City, and signed in 2010, fol- lowing the exchange of properties that allowed the School District to construct the new school campus on land previ- ously owned by the City. The School District currently leases Greenman Field and the adjoining 11 acres from the City for use for sports activities. Following the decision that the roof was structurally unsafe, the School District brought in temporary bleachers which have been used at two home games so far this season. According to Vernonia City Administrator Josette Mitchell, estimates to repair the facility range from a temporary fix for approximately $12,000 - $14,000, to a more long term fix that would cost more, depending on the design. According to the lease agree- ment for use of the sports fields and stadium, the “Tenant will be respon- sible for maintaining the Property in good order, condition, repair, operating condition, working order and appear- ance...” With the passage of the School Bond this past spring the School Dis- trict’s future plans most likely include the construction of a new football field and track at the new campus, eliminat- ing use of Greenman Field sometime in the next few years. Whether the Dis- trict would want to invest funds to re- pair the bleachers at Greenman Field is in doubt. Also in question is the City’s long term plan for the stadium facility and whether the City wants to invest in the facility and ensure its availabil- ity for future use. The Vernonia City Council will begin discussing that is- sue at a workshop in the near future. With future plans still uncer- tain for both the City and the School District, what does look likely is that Vernonia Logger football fans will not have covered bleachers for the rest of this season. Council Tables Vote on Smoking Ordinance inside 3 port westward expansion delayed 10 vegan & delicious 12 vhs fall sports 19 oregon equestrian trails honored The Vernonia City Council tabled a scheduled vote on Ordinance 914 at their September 18 regular City Council meeting until the November 6, 2017 meeting. The ordinance would have placed restrictions on smoking in Vernonia City Parks. Council instructed staff to pre- pare a survey that would ask for citizen input on the issue. The survey will be distributed with the next city utility bill and will also be available at City Hall. Council will discuss the results of the survey before the November 6 meeting. The Council had approved the language in the ordinance at their Sep- tember 5, 2017 meeting, and had sched- uled it for adoption, based on a recom- mendation from the City Parks Com- mittee, along with suggested changes from staff and the Council itself. The issue had gained notoriety on social media in recent weeks, with citizens indicating they were both in favor of and against the City limiting smoking on City Parks properties. Ordinance 914 would have banned smoking in Ora Bolmeier and Shay Parks, created designated smoking areas in Hawkins and Spencer Parks, and created smoke free areas within 50 feet of any play structures, sports fields, restrooms, and food prep areas at Vernonia Lake, Anderson, and Airport Parks; smoking would still be permitted in designated campsites. During the Topics from the Floor portion of the meeting, City Recorder Stephanie Borst read a letter from Vernonia City Councilor Susan Wagner, who was unable to attend the meeting, initiating the idea of a public survey. During the Topics from the Floor portion of the meeting citizen Casey Mitchell spoke in favor of the smoking restrictions. Susan Armstrong read a letter from Del Allen who was against the smoking restrictions and Armstrong herself also said she was against them. Tom Miller also spoke against the smoking restrictions. City Recorder Borst read four other letters into the record concerning the smoking restrictions, three against and one in favor. During the Council’s discus- sion Councilors Mike Seager, Jill Hult, and Bruce McNair all initially said they were ready to vote to adopt the Ordi- nance, as did Mayor Mario Leonetti, but upon further discussion agreed that it would be a good idea to get more in- put from the citizens, and voted unani- mously to table the ordinance and send out a survey. The members of the Council did not make it clear whether they will consider the results of the survey binding in anyway, or how those results might impact their final decision on the proposed Ordinance.
