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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1996)
By Charlene Bechen Banks Library Volunteer Calling all quilters! Join the other volunteers at work on the Friends of the Library’s quilt project. This year’s quilt is a “Come-along” pattern utilizing the strip method of quilting in shades of blues and greens. Quilting bees are taking place Thursday evenings, as well as some Monday evenings and Tuesday after noons. The completed quilt will be raffled off at the Banks Barbecue in August. Raffle tickets are available at the library for $1.00 each. Please call Denise at 324-1382 for more infor mation. Volunteers are also needed to help staff the Friends’ Saturday Recycling at the SWATCO service yard. Occurring the second Saturday of each month, this project helps keep our community beautiful and provides extra funds for the Banks Library. Many faithful patrons work there every month, but with summer ap proaching, more help is needed. If you can • spare an hour or two once a month for this worthy endeavor, please call Donna at 324- 3404. Your help would be greatly appreciated. A hearty thank-you is extended to all those who donated and purchased items at the Spring Plant and Book sale. The sale netted nearly $700. As with all the Friends’ activities, the money raised at this event will help defray the costs of running the Banks Library. As you tend your garden over the summer, keep in mind the plants you can thin for the next plant and book sale this fall. By Nancy Burch Vernonia City Librarian The Vernonia Public Library will again be having a Summer Reading Program. This summer the focus will be two-fold, a combina tion of the local theme of water and the state theme based on sports, to honor the Olympic Games held in Atlanta this year. We will then be having activities com bining water and sports. Doesn’t a watermelon-seed spitting contest sound like fun? How about creating pictures made with colored soap bubbles? A puppet play depicting February’s flood and a magician with some special water tricks are planned. The schedule of programs and main themes will be as follows: Thursday, June 27, Beach Fun; Thursday, July 11, Vernonia’s Flood-Puppet Show; Tuesday, July 16, Magic Water- Magician; Thursday, July 25, Bubbles; School is out soon, and with summer vaca tion comes the library’s annual summer read ing program. This year’s theme, honoring the Summer Olympics, is “Win With Reading” . Sign up for the summer reading program be gins the week of June 17. Preschoolers and their reading buddies may enroll in the “Read to Me” program. This year participants in both programs will receive a book award at the end of the summer for achieving the individual goals they set. The first presentation is sched uled for Thursday, June 20 at 2 p.m. at the li brary. Rhys Thomas will entertain with his ‘Tour de Farce” of 2000 years of juggling his tory. His fast-paced act combines comedy, ac robatics, juggling and Wild West tricks guaran teed to delight all ages. Don’t miss this one! The plans for the new Banks Library have been completed and submitted to the county for approval. The bidding period closed May 29. Stop by the library to see the site plan. Thanks to the passage of the Washington County Library levy this spring, the Banks Li brary will soon be able to extend the hours of operation. Currently we are open 22 hours per week, but that will increase to 30 hours per week in July. Please call or stop by and let Denise know your suggestions and ideas for the best use of this time. Library Hours: Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday 1 - 7 p.m., Friday, 1 - 5 p.m. Banks Library is located in Oak Village Shopping Center, 669 S. Main Street. Phone: 324-1382. Thursday, August 1, Floating. All sessions will begin at 1 p.m. and last about an hour. All ages are welcome, but pro grams will be geared for ages 4 and older. Certificates will be awarded for youngsters reading 10 or more books. Each session will begin at the library with a story and a check out time. Come share this summer’s “water” fun at the Public Library. On Saturday, June 8, the library will be hav ing a book sale to benefit the Summer Read ing Program. The sale will be from 1 0 - 2 p.m. and will include paperbacks, a set of Encyclo pedias and a set of Thomas Registers. Library Hours: Monday and Friday 1-5 p.m., Wednesday 9 a m -5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Preschool Story Time: every Wednesday from 10:30-11 a m. To the Editor: In a recent letter to the edi tor, J. Gomes of Vernonia mis represented both the intent and the detail of our tele phone conversations. First, I have not been hired by Western Oregon Electric Co op (WOEC). There have not been nor will there be discus sions to that end, if for no other reason than my back ground and field of expertise is in business recruitment and economic development, not in rate issues. Second, as a pol icy, PGE looks to develop positive working relationships with Public Utility Districts and Electric Utility Cooperatives throughout the Pacific Northwest. For that reason among others, PGE does not want to be in a position of stepping between WOEC and its members. PGE, like any other business entity, is always looking to conduct business, but it will not occur at the expense of broader- based relationships and part nerships. John Huffaker Portland General Electric Portland M isrepresentation did not occur To the Editor: When I mailed Mr. Huffaker, Portland, a copy of my letter to you regarding the meeting of the West Oregon Ratepayers Association and his return call to me April 18, 1996,1 expected the reply that he has given. I stand firm on my first let ter to you. J.l. Gomes Vernonia Members should question WOEC on Father’s Day, June 16th for our 9th Annual Strawberry Sunday A benefit for Oregon’special Olympics Live Music • Good Food • Games • More! Strawberries, Fresh Cut Flowers Annuals, Perennials and more U-PICK HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED SIMANTELS FARM & NURSERY 31665 NW SCOTCH CHURCH RD., HILLSBORO • 648-0925 Seniors: Bring along this ad and receive 10% off on all purchases Writer claims intent was misrepresented OPEN Mon-Fri 9 am-6 pm Sat 9 am-6 pm Sun Noon-5 pm To the Editor: I would like to encourage each and every member of W.O.E.C. to attend all the monthly meetings that are possible for them. If we stand up and be counted, we will also stand up and be heard. Being informed comes with participation. Are you sure what you hear from manage ment is in fact true? Do we question motives and reason ings? A lot of people say that changing WOEC is impossi ble. I believe it is impossible only if we (meaning each and every member) do not strive to change it. Are you aware you own WOEC? When you own a business you question everything and are involved in every decision. Maybe you feel you are not going to be listened to if you do ask ques tions. Is a rate hike needed? If so what happened to cause this need? Was it Mother Nature or over-spending? When a corporation gets in financial trouble the first step is down sizing. Has WOEC downsized anything? If you are interest ed in the answers to these questions, please join WORA in its fight to bring our Coop back in line and more efficient. Deborah Sturdefant WOEC Member and Co-Owner (with you) Vernonia WOEC members can express ideas u To the Editor: I am a core member of the newly formed West Oregon Ratepayers Association (WORA). WORA was formed when a 9.22% rate raise was approved by the WOEC Board of Directors. A meeting was held May 5, 1996, at Washington Grade School. Another meeting will be held June 9 and is open to any member of the co-op. We would like to hear from all members who are concerned about their electric rates and/or the operation of the co op. Your ideas and opinions are important for any possible solution to the $9,032,000 debt of WOEC. WORA and WOEC have sub-committees that meet once a month with each other to work on a possi ble solution to the state of the company. As a member you are an owner and can be heard, even at the board meetings held the third Tuesday of each month (except June). The June meeting will be held Monday, June 17. The WOEC UPDATE, SPECIAL EDITION recieved recently says “As a member-owned company, your input and com ments are welcomed” and “Board meetings are open to all members” . Regardless of Director Bernard Bird’s reprimand to members asking questions at the May 21st meeting, I invite those people back to get answers to those questions. If you have any, come ask them. If you would like WORA’s sub committee to ask your ques tions, you can call Debbie at 429-2705 or myself at 429- 3945. We would like to hear from all WOEC service dis tricts. We can also tell you who your director is for your district. We are making progress. Not An Electric Consumer Joyce Vaughn WOEC Owner/Member Vernonia “No” should be part of WOEC answer To the Editor: Regarding WOEC, I would like to see people on the board of directors that are on a fixed or limited income so we have directors who know how to cut corners and pull in Please see page 12
