6
In Other Words/Community
June 3
2021
On the Shelves
By Shannon Romtvedt
Summer Reading and Children’s
Programs
We’ve missed having programs at the Library
and seeing all of our families and small library
friends! This summer we are going all out and
have a full lineup of performers and fun storytimes
and activities for kids. Our Library is open to the
public, but we are hosting all programs outdoors
this summer. Our featured performers will be at
Hawkins Park and our storytimes and our STEM
and craft programs will be held in the Library
courtyard, right outside the front door. So come
to a program and head in to the Library after to
check-out books and dvds.
We would love to have some teen
volunteers for our summer programming, either to
help at the program and/or help prep materials for
them. If interested in volunteering, please call the
Library (503) 429-1818 or email library@vernonia-
or.gov and we will get you a volunteer application.
The first day to sign-up for Summer
Reading is Monday, June 14. We do not have an
online sign-up form this year, but you are welcome
to visit the Library to sign-up your child or give us
a call. Children/teens, birth - age 14 are eligible for
the reading incentive program. Kids who finish the
program receive a free book/activity book, small
prizes, and a chance to win larger prizes: Lego set,
art supplies, local restaurant gift cards, science kits,
and more.
Upcoming Events for Children
Featured Performers (Hawkins Park)
including under-loved and misunderstood
creatures like snakes and spiders.  These events
allow kids and adults alike to hear the facts and
experience the animals directly.
Mad Science: Tuesday, July 6, 6 pm What Do
You Know About H20? Learn with a Mad Scientist
all the amazing attributes of water and the
importance of conserving.
Jugglemania!: Tuesday, July 20, 6 pm With “Pixar-
like” comedy, Rhys Thomas has performed in 30
different countries. Rhys has performed several
times for the Vernonia Library and is a favorite with
families.
Penny’s Puppets: Tuesday, August 10, 6 pm
Animals Got Talent! An original musical puppet
play. Penny’s animals will sing, dance, and show
off their talents, the audience gets to pick their
favorite acts!
Summer Outdoor Storytimes
(Wednesdays, 10:30, Library Courtyard)
Stories, movement activities, and crafts designed
for children up through age 6. Themes vary each
week, including: Pirates, Fairies, Circus, Bugs,
Ocean, Dinosaurs, and more!
Library Courtyard Activities
(Thursdays, 11 am, July 1 - August 12)
For families with young children, preschool and
elementary age.
Oobleck!: July 1
Chess and Board Games: July 8
Cake and Ice Cream Science: July 15
Popped Bubble Art: July 22
Creature Teachers: Tuesday, June 15, 6 pm
Fostering an appreciation for all wildlife,
Did You Know: Library Passport
Program and Downloadable Options
We regularly have questions about accessing
materials from other libraries as well as
downloadable books and audiobooks. You
certainly have those option with your Vernonia
Library membership! The Vernonia Library is part
of the Oregon Passport Program. If you are signed-
up with your home Library and have a card, you
can sign-up for free with other passport libraries.
This includes Washington County Libraries,
Multnomah County Libraries, St. Helens Public
Library, Scappoose Library, and more. Along with
access to print collections, you will have access
to digital collections. That means you can go to a
participating Passport Library, show your Vernonia
Library card, get a membership set up, and then
download books and audiobooks for the rest of
the year from home. If you are interested in the
passport program or want help accessing digital
collections, please call the Library (503) 429-1818
and ask to speak with Shannon.
Upcoming Library Closures
Monday, July 5 in observance of Independence
Day
Current Hours & Contact Info:
Mon, Wed, Fri: 10 am - 5 pm
Tues, Thur: 12 pm - 7 pm
Sat: 12 pm - 5 pm
Phone: (503) 429-1818
E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov
Website: www.vernonia-or.gov/departments/
library
Online Catalog: https://vernonia.biblionix.com/
catalog/
Oregon Board of Forestry Appoints Acting State Forester
During a special meeting on
May 27, the Oregon Board of Forestry
voted unanimously to designate Nancy
Hirsch as the acting State Forester while
the board conducts a nationwide open,
competitive recruitment for Oregon’s
next State Forester. Hirsch stepped into
the interim role, which also serves as the
Chief Executive Officer for the Depart-
ment of Forestry, on June 1.
Hirsch replaces embattled de-
partment leader Peter Daugherty, who
submitted his resignation on May 7, ef-
fective May 28. Daugherty had led the
agency since 2016, during which time
the department faced multiple financial
issues and was characterized as “dys-
functional.” Both the Board of Forestry
and the State Legislature have been crit-
ical of Daugherty’s leadership, includ-
ing State Senator Betsy Johnson. “The
problems at the agency are manifold –
weak management, inadequate comput-
er systems and internal controls, siloed
departments, and bad internal commu-
nication,” said Johnson in an interview
last year with Vernonia’s Voice.
Daugherty’s resignation ap-
pears to have been prompted by the
release of a critical report, prepared by
MGO, an outside accounting consul-
tant, which found a fundamental lack of
financial controls and oversight at the
Department. The report was reviewed
by legislators on the Natural Resources
subcommittee of Ways and Means, and,
Nancy Hirsch, interim State Forester
as reported by The Oregonian, was met
with surprise by the lawmakers, who
said they were “aware of the problems
in general but found details the firm un-
covered eye-opening and troubling.”
Hirsch served in a number of
executive leadership roles at the De-
partment of Forestry before retiring in
2019, including as chief of both the Pro-
tection and State Forests divisions and
as the Deputy State Forester. Since her
retirement, Hirsch has served as the ad-
ministrator of the Emergency Fire Cost
Committee, which supervises and con-
trols the distribution of funds from the
Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund.
“Nancy has a wealth of knowl-
edge and experience in forestry and fire
protection in Oregon, and I am grateful
for her willingness to return from retire-
ment to serve in this capacity while we
search for the next State Forester,” said
Board Chair Jim Kelly. “I am confident
in her ability to seamlessly integrate
back into the department’s operations
and lead the department during this crit-
ical period of transition.”
“I respect and care deeply about
the dedicated employees at ODF and the
services they deliver every day through-
out Oregon,” said Hirsch, who has spent
more than 33 years with the department.
“ODF is at a critical moment, and I am
confident that with the support of the
Board of Forestry, Governor’s Office,
and Legislature, ODF can begin re-
building trust and confidence in our fis-
cal responsibility and accountability.”
While there appears to be
plenty of blame to go around for the
troubles at the Department of Forestry,
and Daugherty deserves his share, fin-
gers are also being pointed elsewhere.
Governor Kate Brown was vocal in her
frustration last fall when the State Sen-
ate declined to confirm her new appoint-
ments to the Board of Forestry; Brown
was finally able to bring forward a slate
of three candidates that the Senate con-
firmed this spring. Several members of
the legislature have been disappointed
by the years of inaction by the Board
of Forestry, as the financial woes of the
department have accumulated. Some
legislators have called for limiting the
power of the Board of Forestry and have
introduced legislation to do so.
SB868, with Senator Betsy
Johnson as one of three democratic chief
sponsors, would take the sole responsi-
bility to appoint the Chief Forester away
from the Oregon Board of Forestry, and
instead directs the Governor to consult
with the Board of Forestry before ap-
pointing a State Forester, which would
then be subject to Senate confirmation.
The proposed bill does have initial bi-
partisan support from two Republicans,
Senators Tim Knopp of Bend and Lynn
Findley of Vale.
Aside from the transition in its
top leadership position, the department
will be navigating other significant chal-
lenges in the coming months, including
the very high likelihood of a difficult fire
season and the continued implementa-
tion of recommendations from both the
recent assessment of the department’s
fire finance function and the Governor’s
Council on Wildfire Response. But
those challenges did not deter Hirsch
from accepting the board’s appointment
of her as the acting State Forester.
Vernonia’s Voice
is published on the
1 st and 3 rd Thursday.
Look for our next issue
on June 17.