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.