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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2020)
4 letters to the editor/community bulletin board february20 2020 Readers Lend Their Voices... To the Editor, Thanks to all of my family and friends who helped me celebrate my 103 rd birthday. I never expected that so many would come to my party — I was overwhelmed. I loved reading all of the cards and the flowers were beautiful. Words can’t express how much I appre- ciate everyone taking the time to stop by and wish me a happy birthday. Thanks to all for making my day so special!! Eleanor Thompson Vernonia To the Editor As Oregon and all of Ameri- ca approaches the 2020 elections, the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) Black Caucus invites you to reflect upon the 2020 National Black History Month theme, “African Americans and the Vernonia Weather January 2020 DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 HIGH 51 47 52 44 45 49 49 42 40 44 43 41 35 35 39 40 40 46 55 47 45 50 53 51 52 53 49 51 47 50 57 Ave/Tot 46.5 LOW 39 39 31 40 38 42 38 31 31 38 35 32 31 26 29 29 31 39 38 38 37 41 42 42 45 35 35 43 42 43 50 37.1 PRECIP .32 .08 .45 .13 .03 .37 .37 .17 .09 1.42 .91 .73 .41 .03 .32 T .36 .04 0 .14 .41 .15 .72 .25 .27 .12 1.50 .21 .32 .20 .15 10.67 Weather data is collected at the U.S. Weather station at the Vernonia Water Plant Vote.” This highly relevant theme calls for the commemoration of two anniver- saries — the 150 th anniversary of the rati- fication of the Fifteenth Amendment, by which black men gained the right to vote after the Civil War, and the 100 th anniver- sary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, by which women won the vote. Yet, as we celebrate these consti- tutional milestones, history is a constant reminder of their limitations — the rec- ognition of both the progress and the setbacks for African American men and women. In reflecting upon the hard- fought battles for the right to vote, a right so fundamental to democracy, we remember many Black American he- roes: Senator Hiram Revels of Missis- sippi, Congressman Robert Brown El- liott of South Carolina, Governor P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana, and all the other Black elected officials who coura- geously stood up for the rights of their people during the Reconstruction Era of the 1870s and beyond. We likewise cel- ebrate the “uncelebrated” in freedom’s first generation who lost their lives for simply attempting to register to vote, or to exercise their right at the ballot box, as was the case in the Colfax Massacre in Louisiana in 1873. Of equally great significance, in reflecting upon the theme, “African Americans and the Vote,” we champion the work of Black suffragists — Mary Church Terrell, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Nannie Helen Burroughs, who or- ganized the votes of Black women un- der the banner of being “in politics to stay” during the 1920s. In spite of these TREE SALE Saturday RAIN OR SHINE 22 species (1,000s of seedlings available) including Douglas fir, western red cedar, 8:30 AM- coast redwood, giant dogwood, purple 1:30 PM lilac, katsura, Pacific Pride and 16 others. (Lawrence Oil) Some bag Hwy 30, St. Helens quantities. Prices COLUMBIA COUNTY 50 - $6 from $1. SMALL Cash/check only. WOODLANDS Arrive early. ASSOCIATION March 14 Questions: (503) 708-9066 Purr-fect Pals Rosa Colquitt, Ph.D. Chair Democratic Party of Oregon Black Caucus Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Board Meeting Thursday, February 27 5:30 pm 1201 Texas Avenue For more info call (503) 396-2046 or email maggie@nehalem.org Community Calendar Columbia County Beekeepers – Thursday, March 5, 6:00 pm at the Columbia River PUD, 64001 Hwy 30, Deer Island. Free, open to all. Pet Vaccination Clinic – Sunday, April 5, 12:00-4:00 pm at the Vernonia Fire Station. Vaccines offered at reduced cost, proceeds help support Columbia Humane Society. To pre-register call (503) 369-7643 or email animalwelfare@ columbiahumane.org. P.E.O. Annual Spring Tea – Saturday, April 25, 1:00 pm at the Cabin in Vernonia Yoga at the Grange – Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:00 am, Saturdays 8:30 am, 425 North Street. All levels welcome. Yoga at the Vernonia Grange Facebook page Yoga at the YogaFarm – Wednesdays 3:00 - 4:15 pm, 11669 Keasey Rd. All levels welcome. https://www. facebook.com/simmeryoga/ TOPS Group (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meet Fridays at the Mist- Birkenfeld Fire Dept. 8:30 am weigh in, 9:00 am meeting. Men and women invited to join. (503) 429- 7503 HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted. We will print letters space permitting. Deadline is the 1 st and 3 rd Monday of each month. Email: scott@ vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064. AA Meetings Open Meetings Mondays & Thursdays 6:30-7:30 pm Vernonia Christian Church 410 North Street Women’s Meeting Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 pm Vernonia Christian Church 410 North Street Columbia Humane Society Featured Dog At 19 weeks old Xaverya is looking for a home with her sister. She is very playful, with both her sister and the other cats in the cattery. She loves to get attention from people when they visit. As a kitten she will be playful for years and will bring tons of enjoyment to your home. Her adoption fee is $125, which includes her spay, she will be current on vaccines, and treated for fleas and worms. 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 Proceeds support best manage- ment forestry practices in Columbia County. heroines, however, the celebration of Black History Month again reminds us that the great majority of Black women, just as Black men, in the South could not wield the ballot until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Even then, the vote came at a dangerous cost, including beatings, loss of economic livelihood, and even death to many warriors of the civil rights movement. As Oregon and all of America approaches the 2020 elections, and as we reflect upon “African Americans and the Vote,” our Black History Month celebra- tion would be incomplete without rec- ognizing the current work of Ms. Stacy Abrams. Abrams, who is leading the na- tional battle against voter suppression, became the first Black woman to receive a major Party nomination for governor in any state, in her home state of Georgia. In her own passionate words, she says, “I have the right to do the things I think I should do. My gender and race should not be limitations.” Accordingly, Abrams has founded Fair Fight 2020, which aims to educate Black voters and urge them to go to the polls and vote. Abrams coun- sels all Black Americans to “overwhelm the system to thwart voter suppression nationally.” In our celebration of Black His- tory Month 2020, the DPO Black Cau- cus looks forward to the screening of the award-winning documentary, “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders.” We can think of no better way to reflect on “African Americans and the Vote” than to honor the commitment, bravery, and leadership of many courageous Mississippi civil rights heroines. After seeing this docu- mentary, hopefully, we will never forget Fannie Lou Hamer, Annie Devine, Unita Blackwell, Mae Bertha Carter, or Victo- ria Gray Adams. Boaz isn’t exactly a new addition to the CHS family, having been adopted out for the first time in 2017 and recently returned to us. We are now looking for a new forever home for him. Boaz is kind of a complicated kid and he lacks trust in new people. He is going to be a very loyal companion and an exceptionally good protector. We would not be willing to put him in a home with cats or with kids that are under age 16. This guy is going to need a home where he can get the daily exercise he needs. He is very big and goofy, and sometimes has no idea of his size. Being a Canaan mixed breed we ask that prior to meeting him you please do your research on the breed so that you can fully understand what you are getting into. These guys are known to be protectors of their people, and they will be very vocal; for that reason they are not great at living in the city where they can become overly protective of their property. Boaz is going to do best as an only dog, as he has a tendency to guard objects from other dogs. He deserves a life of being the most important animal in the home. If you are interested in meeting Boaz, please email animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org and we will send you an adoption application. His adoption fee is $250 which includes his neuter, microchip, and vaccinations. Phone: 503-397-4353 E-mail: info@columbiahumane.org Web: www.columbiahumane.org