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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1997)
M B rfttM fe i a*- z / i By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library The last presentations of the library’s sum mer reading program included a display and description of Ruth Brown’s collection of un usual insects. Heidi Brown made the arrange ments and gave a presentation that was really interesting. Have you ever seen a peanut bug or a rhinoceros bug? Then Lauri Longoria and Holly Vaughn took us camping with a variety of campfire songs accompanied by the guitar. This sum m er’s program ended with two more special happenings - the trip to OMNI MAX and the Jamboree Parade. Fifty of us rode the bus and met an additional nine who drove to OMSI, July 25th, to view the presenta tion of “The Living Sea.” Consensus of the group was that it was a great afternoon adven ture. JoAnn Beamish skillfully drove the bus through Portland traffic right to the entrance door. Very few of those attending had visited the OMNIMAX theater and it was quite an ex perience to sit back and feel as though the ocean was coming right at us; to feel as though we were actually on a boat or a surfboard go ing up and down with the waves, or circling to make a landing on an airplane. The feeling of being “right there” is so realistic. After we had a snack, all fifty of us again boarded the bus for the return to Vernonia. (If you haven’t been re sponsible for a group of children, you can’t ap preciate what a relief it is to return them all safely to their parents.) The banners and other decorations for the Jamboree float were done under the capable supervision of Lauri Longoria and Lisa Hard wick with the help of Julie Johnson, Heidi Burch and their children. School District 47J once again gave us butcher paper, paints, etc., with which to decorate; Dick Titus loaned his trailer for use as the float, Vernonia Sentry do nated candy for the youngsters to throw, and the City Public Works Department let us use their service truck to pull the float and provided a place to work on it. These summer activities would not take place without the support, planning and partici pation of the parents, children, faculty of the school, and local businesses. They are truly a community effort. This summer we also received $500 from the Human Service Coalition which manages Columbia County’s Integrated Service Project Dollars. This money was used for the library’s summer reading program. The bus to OMSI, admission fees for youngsters who would not have been able to attend without this help, and the purchase of some new books for Young Adults were made possible by these Dollars. Now available in the library are copies of Dr. Ann Fulton’s new book on the history of Ver nonia, entitled Vernonia - A Pocket in the Woods. This comprehensive and interesting history of the com m unity sells fo r $15.95. Dr. Fulton will be present for a book-signing in the library on Wednesday, August 27, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served during this time and we hope there will be a nice show of support for Dr. Fulton and her new book. Other new acquisitions in the library include Missing Piece by Joy Fielding, The Maze by C atherine C oulter, F a ta l Terrain by D ale Brown, Serpent’s Tooth by Faye Kellerman, and Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell. Remember, starting in September, those li brary patrons living outside the city limits of Vernonia will be asked to pay $15.00 a year for a family library card. This amount is compara ble to what Vernonia residents pay for library service through their property taxes. We hope this does not deter anyone from using the li brary. Vernonia Library is located at 919 Bridge Street. Library Hours: Monday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 1-5 p.m . S aturday 10 a .m .-2 p.m . Preschool Story Time: W ednesdays, 10:30-11 a.m. Call 429-1818 for informa tion. Letters to the Editor Thanks for help in D.C. ‘98 trip funding To the Editor: The D.C. ‘98 students and parents would like to thank ev eryone who has supported us in our efforts to raise money for our trip to Washington D.C. next spring. Thanks to you we are well on our way. Special thanks to all who sponsored our raffle by donat ing prizes; Ray and Shelley Cota, Mary Cota, Dennis Elec tric, Jennifer Soderback, Ralph and Marlene Shaw, Western Auto, Lee’s U-Catch, Jamie Peura, Bergerson Brothers, Fred Bergerson Logging, and the ge ne rou s s tra n g e r at Crazy Charlie’s. The raffle was held on Mon day, August 4th, and the lucky winners have been contacted. Lynn Shaw for D.C. '98 Fundraising Committee Glad to see benches being used by many To the Editor: We are very pleased to see so many people using the benches we placed downtown. A special thank you to Randy Holce and Sentry for their do nations to help pay fo r the benches. Enid Parrow Vernonia Pride Who should vote in primary elections? To the Editor: California’s new primary law is under attack. This law was voted into law in last year’s election which allows a voter to vote for the candidate of his choice, regardless of party registration, in a primary elec tion. This law was to go into effect in June 1998. But now voters of the state are being sued by the Demo cratic party. Also the Demo cratic party has been joined in its suit by both the Republican and and Freedom parties. These three political parties all claim that their first amend ment rig hts under the U.S. constitution are being violated by allowing members of said po litical parties the right to vote their choice of candidates in the primary election. I have always been taught that I had certain rights but that my rights ended at the tip of the other m an’s nose. In other words when my “Rights” injures another I am going be yond my constitutional rights. The question the court must decide is just whose rights are being violated, the voters of the State of California or that of a political party. Should the dog wag its own tail or should the tail be allowed to wag the dog? Is o u r c o n s titu tio n to read, “Of the people, for the people and by the people”, or that of a political party? Thank you, Juneious F. Harty Scappoose Jamboree was good for Vernonia Cares To the Editor: Vernonia Cares Food Bank had a successful Jamboree, with the help of many. Our first Jamboree fundrais ing booth made $210 and re ceived 75 pounds of donated food. Vernonia Cares parade entry took first place in the marching category. Iris Bon- figlio, treasurer for Vernonia Cares, was instrum ental in creating the “Milk Carton" and decorated wagon. Thanks to all volun te ers who helped with the parade and fundraising booth, and to those who donated. Anyone interested in help ing with fundraising or volun tee ring at Cares, ca ll 429- 1414, Tuesdays or Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Becky Elder Director Lions efforts help many in community To the Editor: The Vernonia Lions Club would like to thank all those who made 19f«5 and ‘97 a memorable time for our club. Special thanks go to Sentry Market, Country Kitchen, Log gers Cafe, Hair Parlour, Ver nonia Federal Credit Union and Vernonia Mini Mart for their contributions. The Lions would also like to thank all those who purchased our BBQ sandwiches at the Vernonia Jamboree, and those who pur chased our roses. If it had not been for all of you, the Lions could not have been so suc cessful. September 2nd, our presi dent Lion Fred S kid m ore’s term w ill expire. Before he leaves office wt , the Lions, would like to thank Lion Fred for all his faithful service. With the help of his officers and his directors, the follow ing has been accomplished. A new microscope for the Vernonia Health Center, 40 Christmas baskets to our citi zens, contributions to the Sight and Hearing Foundation, Dia betes Awareness, Doernbech- er Hospital, and two scholar ships of $500 each to Vernon ia High School graduates. We also gave $900 in local donations. Our Vernonia Lion’s Club raised over $6,000, and made a total of $6,115 in do nations. U nder the le ad ersh ip of Lion Fred Skidmore and his of ficers, we had a very good year. Our new president will be Lion Randy Aultman. We are sure his term of office will be just as successful. Respectfully Submitted, Lion Larry Doppke, P.R. Vernonia i i i i Court Watch seeks volunteers J To the Editor: Do we have a problem in Oregon with our judicial sys tem? Do attorneys and judges investigate complaints against themselves adequately? The Oregon Judicial Fitness Com mission sends a form letter in resp on se to a co m p la in t against a judge saying investi gations are confidential and 99 percent cleared. What profession is 99 per cent right? If you’ve experienced prob lems with justice in Oregon, perhaps you’d like to join us. We think the Oregon Bar is the source of the problems in our judicial system. The Bar has a monopoly including control of the Professional Liability Fund from which damages can be paid. In short, they not only m ake the rules, but pass judgement on their mistakes. To correct this situation we believe a Judicial Council of elected lay people, two from each Legislative District, re place the present system and investigate complaints against judges and attorneys and de cide who is right or wrong and what damages should be paid. A ll findings would be made public. Testifying before the Leg islative Judicial Committee ac complishes absolutely nothing, sad to say. Giving Oregonians the opportunity to decide for themselves how to make jus tic e m ore ju s t in O regon seem s the on ly way to go, which, of course, means a Bal lot Measure. If you’d like a copy of our N e w sle tte r, p le a se let me know. Sincerely, Helen Solem Reform Party-Oregon . Court Watch P.O. Box 58 Vernonia, OR 97064 I ] : I I j I * '
