The INDEPENDENT, April 1,1998
Between theBoohends
By Cecelia Sadtler
Volunteer, Banks Library
Exciting events mark the April calendar at the
Banks Public Library. The Banks History Lecture
Series continues with another interesting pro
gram that focuses on local history, the annual
plant and book sale is scheduled for late April,
regular recycling occurs on the second Satur
day, and a newly formed Writers' Group meets
monthly in the Library Community Room on the
second Monday.
The April presentation for the Banks Lecture
Series is titled Japanese Americans in Banks.
This lecture and slide show will be presented by
George Katagiri, Historian of Japanese Ameri
cans in Oregon, and Ann Fulton, Adjunct Profes
sor in History at Portland State University. The
presenters will discuss the history and contribu
tions made by the Japanese Americans to the
community of Banks and surrounding areas. A
general discussion will follow their presentation,
historical photographs will be displayed and
refreshments will be served. All history lecture
programs are free and open to the public.
Funding for this particular project comes from
the Oregon Council for the Humanities, the
Japanese American Citizen’s League, the
Japanese Ancestral Society and the Friends of
the Banks Public Library. The Japanese Ameri
can program will take place on April 9,1998 from
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Banks Public
Library, 111 Market Street.
The final program in the 1998 Banks Lecture
Series will be held on May 14 when Ann Fulton
will discuss the interesting story of growth in
Banks and surrounding communities with a slide
show titled, Banks, A Darn Good Little Town.
Participation has been enthusiastic for the
Banks Lecture Series, and those who were
unable to attend earlier lectures have the oppor
tunity to view them on public access channels
courtesy ot Tualatin Valley Community Access.
Hands All Around: Quilting Traditions is sched
uled for ten showings on Channels 11,9 and 23
during April and early May. This is a fun and
informative lecture using quilts to demonstrate
the unique role of quilting in American folk art.
Page 3
Lstters to the Editor
Check your local listings for specific times.
Once again, April marks the time for the
Banks Annual Plant and Used Book Sale spon
sored by the Friends of the Banks Public Library.
This event comes just in time for spring planting.
The sale will be held at the Library on Saturday,
April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Many vari
eties of annuals and perennials, vegetable starts
and hundreds of books will be on sale. Plan to
attend this popular affair and pick up some good
bargains for a good cause. The Friends are still
looking for more plant donations. If you can help,
please call Ann Krutsinger at 324-2743.
The Banks Writers’ Group is meeting monthly
at the Library on the second Monday from 4:00
p.m. to 6:00 p.m. April’s date is the 13th. This is
a small group whose purpose is to provide a low
key format for developing writing skills. Partici
pants are invited to share their writing and to
receive sensitive and honest feedback from
peers. If you would like more information or
would like to join this group please call Cecelia
Sadtler at 324-0225.
Some new books on the Banks Library
shelves are Sooner or Later by Elizabeth Adler
and Song of the River by Sue Harrison. Another
new book by Deepak Chopra is titled, The Path
to Love. Dr. Chopra is known for his unique abil
ity to blend ancient knowledge and scientific
research. This recent work is no exception and it
probes the reader’s innate strengths, desires
and spiritual insights while also offering exercis
es designed to overcome obstacles that often
block the pursuit of satisfying relationships.
If you haven’t seen the new Banks Public
Library and Community Room, stop by soon to
check out one of these books or to browse for
other recent additions or old favorites. Pick up
current flyers, fax forms and local news bul
letins. Copies of THE INDEPENDENT are also
available at the Banks Library.
Youth in Action, a
community resource
To the Editor:
“Youth in Action”—YA!
The simple mention of these
words brings visions of youth
doing. What are they doing?
Anything requiring action. Why
would they take action? Well,
for the past two months I have
been discussing this question
with them. Not all of them, but
not just specific groups, either.
Some might think it’s just honor
students or leadershp stu
dents. Some might think it’s not
the students who appear to be
simply hanging around, looking
bored. Why not both?
I do not know the exact
number of the student body at
the high school, but at last
count it was 235. I have 23
names on the roster of youth
who have already taken action.
So, it starts with 10 percent in
action. I know the discussions
have included at least 75 stu
dents and, after April 18th, the
roster may include the vast
majority of the student body at
VHS. That will be determined
by them, not me. So, what’s
going on?
In January I was asked by
community members to con
sider sitting on two boards: The
Friends of the Scout Cabin
(FSC) and the Vernonia Com-
munity Development Corpora tioned has been extremely
tion (VCDC). They seemed to encouraging. This club is cur
be two very different groups rently only at VHS, officially,
but, as I sat and listened, I but the mission I would like to
heard a resonating harmonic encourage is inclusion of all
between both of them: Com youth in our community.
munity. I also felt that an impor
As I see it, they are already
tant element of their desired improving the quality of life
success was missing.
here; cooperating respectfully
FSC, specifically, is working with others, including them
on a building “for youth”. As I selves in community groups
looked around the table at the and choosing to practice ran
board of directors meeting, I dom acts of kindness. Yes,
noticed that this huge effort they are the honor students
was being addressed by and leadership students and
adults. I pointed this out and students who appear to be
was told by a very proud father simply hanging around, looking
that his daughter had been bored. Of course... both I
involved since the beginning.
Michelle Blum
This started a discussion about
Vernonia
youth in the community. After
suggesting that the youth Slovakian family life
become intricately involved in
planning, in any bylaws revi not same as Oregon
sions, in all the work that still
needs to be done before its To the Editor:
In this second part of my
use by them and others, there
cultural
summary of Slovakia, I
was discussion about the
youths’ willingness to partici will describe the differences
pate. Could this be a “win/win” between Family Life as I knew
it in Oregon and as I find it here
scenario?
At the VCDC meeting, there in Slovakia. This will include
was discussion about some of differences in schedules and
the goals in the strategic plan attitudes, as well as differ
for economic development in ences in living conditions.
First of all, Slovakia has a
Vernonia, specifically regard
ing future actions of the Quality much higher population densi
of Life Committee. In this p u b ty than Oregon. Oregon con
lished plan, a picture is painted tains approximately five times
of what Vernonians want our the area of Slovakia, but Slova
community to be like in 10-15 kia’s population is twice that of
years. I agreed with the state Oregon. One effect of this is
ments but wanted to know how that in cities (including towns of
the community was going to 10,000 or more), the most
get there. I explained that I common type of home is an
believed the Quality of Life apartment. This is especially
Committee
could
start true in Bratislava, one section
addressing these goals, but of which, Petrzalka, is the
that we could not go forward largest housing estate devel
10-15 years without including opment in the world. In the
the youth and their community, larger cities, those who live in
the schools. It is they who are houses are, typically, better off
role modeling for the second financially than most others.
In some Slovak families,
graders today, the senior class,
three generations live under
ten years from now.
So it has begun: Youth in the same roof. Slovak families
Action. This group, an official are also much closer than
VHS club (who chose their own American families. When I say
title) as small as it may be now, “closer," however, I do not
or as large as it may become, mean that the caring is more
is choosing by their own intense; I mean that Slovak
actions to reach out beyond families often spend much
their school community. To more time with relatives who
date, they have introduced do not live in the same house.
themselves and given presen Families have gatherings at
tations to: Friends of the Scout grandparents’ houses approxi
Cabin, Vernonia Senior Center, mately every three or four
Vernonia Pride, and Vernonia months. During these gather
Community Development Cor ings, there can be twenty or
poration. They have also more people spending two or
addressed the Oregon Rural three days in one house.
Mealtime is also very differ
Development Council. A few
volunteer at the Hands On Art ent for a Slovak family. Often,
Center, and the Friends of the the family eats a small break
Scout Cabin have new atten fast of toast, jam, yoghurt, rolls,
dees at their weekly meetings. and so on; a small brunch is
However, they will not always usually packed for those family
be the same youth attending. members who go to school.
As a matter of fact they are Then, the family eats a rather
encouraged to play “Meeting large lunch meal including
Tag” and deliberately send as soup and a dessert. Another
many different students as option, for those at school, is to
possible to each presentation eat lunch at the school’s cafe
or meeting. The Senior Class teria. Dinner is usually a small
of ‘98 is working in partnership meal, fairly similar to breakfast,
with Vernonia Pride, SOLV-IT, but with more vegetables and
and Vernonia Senior Center meat. So, when compared to
via 'The Senior Class Chal the typical American system of
lenge" which is scheduled for eating, where breakfast is
April 18th, during the annual passed by as often as not,
lunch is not very large, and din
Vernonia Pride Clean-up Day.
ner
is usually the main meal.
The reception of “Youth in
Please see page 16
Action” by the groups men