Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2022)
September 1, 2022 Free VERNONIA’S Volume 16 Issue 17 www.VernoniasVoice.com Reflecting the spirit of our community Fishhawk eCyclery Lands at the Lake Geoff Gruender has opened an electric bicycle rental business at Vernonia Lake and is spreading his enthusiasm for this new and growing sector of outdoor recreation By Scott Laird The first two times Geoff Gruen- der and his wife drove through Ver- nonia, he knew he had found his new home town. “The first time we drove through there were about 50 Harley Davidsons parked in a line in down- town and we liked what we saw. The next weekend we drove back through and this time there were about 50 bicycles parked at Black Iron Grill. That’s a juxtaposition you don’t nor- mally encounter and I thought it was quite unique.” Gruender is an interesting and welcome addition to the Vernonia community. He has an engineer’s inquisitive mind and enjoys taking things apart and rebuilding them. As a kid he was into skate culture and al- ternative music, so he loves the new skate park the community recently built. He’s lived in cities, but he’s chosen to relocate to the country and live a simpler life that is closer to na- ture, where he can gather his own fuel from the forest to heat his home. He has a broad range of interests, knowl- edge, and skills, and is a fascinating conversationalist. He describes him- self as a communicator – someone who sometimes gives “longwinded answers” but who is interested in get- ting to know people and learn what makes them tick. And he’s picked Vernonia for the next phase of his life. “When you’re looking for a home, you’re looking for your neigh- bors as well,” he says. “You’re buy- ing into a community. And it seemed that Vernonia had been doing things to clean itself up – putting up the murals, building a skate park for the kids, the access to two bike trails, and those kinds of things. And of course, the level of cycling activity which was necessary for running a small bike shop. And I thought, this is a town I could live in!” Gruender is originally from a inside small rural town in Maine, “… a dead end dirt road, off a dirt road,” he says. As a young man he says he was a typi- cal motorhead fooling around with V8 engines and motorcycles and worked as a motorcycle mechanic on Honda dirt bikes for a number of years. He later developed an interest in “mini- malistic transportation – ultralight aircraft, sailboats, that sort of thing.” ering an ebike purchase and they want to test drive one first. So somewhat skeptically they’ll come in and I’ll get them all set up and off they go, and they are like little kids, every time! It doesn’t matter – 50, 75 years old, they’re jumping up and down. It’s so rewarding and such a positive experi- ence.” He also enjoys having a busi- City Council and Mayor Candidates Announced Vernonia City Recorder Stephanie Borst has an- nounced the candidates who have submitted paperwork to run for positions on the City Council in the November 8 election, after four candidates met the August 23, 2022 deadline. Incumbent Mayor Rick Hobart will run unopposed in his campaign for re-election for the next two-years. Incumbent Dale Webb, along with Susan Wagner and Charles Kibben will run for two, four-year City Coun- cilor seats. The two candidates who receive the most votes will fill the seats. Current City Councilor J.R. Allen will not run for re-election. Vernonia Boosters Club Football is Back! Fishhawk eCyclery is open at Vernonia Lake Thursday - Sunday through the end of October. It was during that phase that he found ness in the “recreation” sector. “Usu- electric bicycles and began dabbling ally, everybody is pretty happy. And in them. that’s really rewarding.” His wife went to college in Port- So, what can you expect when land and they moved there six years you visit Fishhawk eCyclery and rent ago, where he worked as an electric one of Gruender’s bikes? First of all, bicycle mechanic for a number of Gruender doesn’t sell ebikes from years. Four years ago they purchased his location at Vernonia Lake, he just a small cabin at Fishhawk Lake and rents them. Rentals cost between $10- now he’s started a business in Verno- $20 per hour. He likes to provide a nia. “Honestly, moving to Vernonia very thorough tutorial about every felt like moving home.” aspect of riding an ebike. “That way Gruender seems to have found there are no surprises. If they know the perfect business for himself. In what to expect, they’ll have a lot the past, as a bike and motorcycle me- more pleasure with it and a better chanic, he says he was the guy who experience,” he says. Renters need to had to tell people, “I’m sorry, but your provide a security deposit and must toy is broken. Now I’m going to have be over 18 years old; children are not to fix it and that’s going to cost you allowed to ride on rentals, even as money.” Renting ebikes is an entirely passengers. Helmets are not required different experience from his point of in Oregon for bicycle riders over 18, view. “Most of the time, the person but Gruender prefers his customers I’m working with has never ridden an wear one, and recommends it, so he ebike before. They might be consid- continued on page 5 After a seven year break, the Vernonia Boosters Club is bringing back a youth football program. Natalie Swart is the President of Vernonia Booster Club Football (VBCF) and, as the program administrator, is excited to see Vernonia kids back on the field this season, starting after September 10. VBCF will have co-ed, seven-sided teams for both flag football and tackle football. This season there are flag teams for ages K-1 st grade and 1 st -2 nd grades, and a rookie tackle team for 3 rd -4 th grades. “We can provide programs for kids in K through eighth grade, but there wasn’t a lot of interest in the older age groups for flag, but hopefully that will grow with time,” says Swart. “Or maybe just getting our younger youth in- volved will help grow the program going into middle school and then into high school. That’s the goal.” Swart says coaches and the Athletic Director from the Vernonia School District are involved in the program, which will provide some continuity as athletes progress through the system, as well as helping coordinate game offi- cials and fundraising. She also hopes to create opportunities for older middle school and high school players to help with the program. “We’re just getting started and learning how to develop a healthy program,” says Swart. She says a strong fundraising program can help reduce the costs for families to participate. Swart says this season is all about getting the word out that youth football is back for Vernonia. She says it’s not too late for kids to sign up for flag football, but the tackle team is already closed. She says the important thing is for parents and kids to get to know the football program, and about the opportunities that Vernonia Boosters provide for the community, and then to hopefully get involved and help grow the programs. “I want feedback from this first sea- son from our families so we can improve the program. We continued on page 4 Where is the Vernonia Police Department? Vernonia City Administrator Josette Mitchell answers questions about the current state of law enforcement in the City of Vernonia By Scott Laird 5 Hiroshima Peace Tree Dedication 7 Legion Briefing 9 Schools Update Recently, we’ve heard some concerns about the Vernonia Police Department (VSD) – mainly an increase in crime and van- dalism and a lack of a visible police presence. Vernonia Police Chief Michael Conner has not appeared at a Vernonia City Council meeting in several months; a member of the VPD usually attends each meeting of the Council and in the past that member was generally the Chief. The other officers currently employed by the City are Ser- geant Sean Carnahan, a long-time member of the department, and patrol officer Dave Brown, who joined the department in May of 2020. Another position, formerly held by School Resource Officer/ Patrol Officer Abbie Hanson, has been tied up for the past 18 months in arbitration. The Department has been struggling to hire an addi- tional officer for the past year, and finally found a suitable candidate, William Kendle, who recently began his training process. Vernonia’s Voice asked Vernonia City Administrator Jo- sette Mitchell a series of questions about the current state of the VPD. Mitchell told us she was limited in how much she was able New Vernonia police officer William Kendle takes the Oath of Office administered by City Recorder Stephanie Borst. to discuss about the VPD, particularly when it involved person- nel issues, but she did provide the following press release in an attempt to address community concerns; Mitchell’s answers were continued on page 3
