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The INDEPENDENT, January 19, 2000
Batwaen the Bookends
By Nancy Burch, Librarian
Vernonia City Library
The last week in December brought with it the
arrival of the Ready to Read Grant from the Ore
gon State Library. Formerly called the State Per
Capita Grant, because it is based on the number
of youngsters in a community under the age of
14, the Ready to Read Grant may be used to
purchase Children’s library materials, to hire
staff to provide library programs, to bring library
services and materials to at-risk children or to
provide computer equipment in libraries for chil
dren. To be eligible for the grant, libraries must
show that their funding from local property taxes
has not decreased in the past two years and
must state a purpose for the grant and an asso
ciated measurable activity. This year’s purpose
is the establishment of a listening center of au
dio tapes and accompanying books within the li
brary. A cassette player with headphones is now
in place and some audio tapes with books are
nearby. We now have a “listening center.” These
audio/books may also be checked out.
The book drive that was held during the end
of the year realized some wonderful new materi
als for the library and I would like to thank all of
you who participated by purchasing materials
that allowed the library to add to its collection in
this manner. These materials, published by Dor-
ling Kindersley, include titles such as Great
Events That Changed the World, Myths & Leg
ends, The Earth and How It Works, Sharks and
Other Monsters of the Deep, World Reference
Atlas, and Spanish in Three Months. Be sure
and look for these great new books, CDs, videos
and audio tapes. If, after seeing these materials
in the library, you wish to purchase some for
your family, Lisa Spencer and Audrey Gabhart
sell these great DK materials on an ongoing ba
sis.
From the last library board meeting came the
suggestion to mention an approximate total of
the donations that were given to the library in
December, in both money and materials. A con
servative estimate would be about $2,000. Do
nations in addition to money included books,
video tapes, a microwave, an electric pencil
sharpener, a bicycle rack, video covers, and a
rhododendron plant. During the latter part of the
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Letters to the Editor
From Page 2
ficials; this time is different.
We want to thank our supervi
sors for understanding the im
portance of keeping our elderly
in their homes for as long as
possible, for their emotional
health and dignity and also for
helping us to make the best
use of taxpayers’ dollars. We
are very grateful for having
commissioners who so strong
ly value our elderly.
Sincerely,
Sandy Cooper, Director
Area Agency on Aging
(AAA)
Josephine Claflin, President
Columbia County Council
of Seniors
Eldon Jones, President
AAA Advisory Council
Many thanks for the
big boom 2000
To the Editor:
We hope most people
stayed up to watch our fire
works on New Year’s Eve. A
special thank-you to the people
who came down to the grounds
to watch in person, regardless
of the weather. As usual, Kathy
Brekken and her group of vol
unteers did a great job, putting
on a wonderful display. The
group included Tim Bamburg,
Kevin Roberts, Jason Roberts,
Page 3
| | Letters to the Editor
year a donation was made in honor of Velma
Hodgson and Norman Hansen. The 20th Centu
ry Year by Year has been added in memory of
Mrs. Hodgson and a book on logging is being
sought to honor Mr. Hansen.
The library’s new copier has also arrived.
Cost per copy will be 10-cents to help defray
cost of supplies and maintenance.
James McFarland, who administers The Mar
garet Thiele Petti Foundation, visited the library
in early January with his wife and daughter.
They brought a great picture of Mrs. Petti and
her father, David MacDonald, and Henry Thiele.
The picture was taken circa1931 with the Mac
Donald Hotel in the background. Be sure to take
a look at this picture to glimpse a little of Ver
nonia’s past and to see and read about the peo
ple and Foundation that are responsible for the
furnishings in the new library (the copier includ
ed).
New acquisitions for adults include Hunting
Badger by Tony Hillerman, Soft Focus by Jayne
Ann Krentz, Kiss of the Bees by J.A. Jance, The
Lamorna Wink by Martha Grimes, and False
Memory by Dean Koontz. Another new book is
Gale Ontko’s And the Juniper Trees Bore Fruit,
the latest and last in the Thunder Over the
Ochoco series. Those who have read this tell
me that it is the best. This was another donation.
As you can tell, the library has been the re
cipient of numerous new materials lately. Giving
to the library benefits the community as a whole.
Thank you very much to all of you for your gen
erosity.
A reminder is in order for those of you resid
ing outside the city limits of Vernonia— please
check to see if it is time to pay your yearly fee.
It’s only $15.00 per household for a year and
takes the place of the support that those living
within the City limits pay through their property
taxes for the library.
Vernonia Library 701 Weed Avenue
Hours: Mon., Wed., F it 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tues., Thur. 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
P reschool Story lim e, Weds, 10:30 a.m.
Phone: (503)429-1818
cently contributed a generous
financial gift to the corporation.
The Mist-Birkenfeld Helping
Circle and many local residents
are contributing time, money,
and their expertise to assure
good community relations and
success.
“Community will” is surely
alive and well in the Mist-
Birkenfeld area. Thank you for
acknowledging our efforts.
Sincerely,
Louise Green
Mist
Update on activity at
Vernonia Cares
Letter to the Editor:
The holidays are here and
gone sometimes so fast we
hardly have time to enjoy the
season. Vernonia Cares has
been so very busy in the last
months trying to prepare for
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Y2k
or other emergency plans,
groping for funds to provide
food for the needy in Vernonia,
dealing with the building issues
and all done with a volunteer
board with huge hearts and
myself. We have come to the
conclusion that we all need a
rest and hopefully this new
year will bring some peace to
all that we have accomplished.
I can’t say thank you enough to
those volunteers who have
worked so hard during these
months to make our fund rais
ers and food drive all a huge
success. Not only are we
grateful for those volunteers
but also the volunteers who
spend their Tuesdays, Thurs
days and board meeting days
at Vernonia Cares, to the board
whom I am very grateful for all
the extra effort and time they
put into making sure Cares
runs smoothly. Our president
this year is Joel Stith, vice-
president Bill Yeo, secretary
Kelley Murphy-Shaw, treasurer
Linda Naeve, bookkeeper
Sandy DeWeber, pantry super
visor Nellie Gregg and Jacque
line Ramsey, donation clerk. If
not for the help of these and
the many other volunteers Ver
nonia Cares would not exist.
Also to the donors who came
through during a very dire time
of need, we all thank you. Un
fortunately with the added re
sponsibilities of our building sit
uation, the many families we
are trying to help, and the other
financial responsibilities we
have, we were faced with not
having enough to provide the
Thanksgiving and Christmas
baskets, thanks to the many fi
nancial donors who came
through for us and the needy.
We were able to fill all the
needed baskets and catch up
on our past bills. Thank you to
all who took the time to care
and think about those many
Wayne Vaughn, Luke Hecka- torical Society was formed over
thorn, Mindy Cavinee, Nichole a year ago, and we now have a
Luke, Josephine Hoteling and monthly newsletter, The Mist-
Lane Brekken. A very special Birkenfeld Update.
The Historical Society mem
thank-you to all of you for a job
well done. We appreciate it. I bers, other caring residents
would also like to thank Fire and businesses are restoring
Chief Paul Epler for all the help the Mist Church. Eventual
he gave me in securing a place goals are that the church will
to store our fireworks. It’s great be used for small community
having a group of people like events, church services and
we have at the Fire Station, weddings.
willing to give a helping hand in
Coon Lane Park was made
our community. Art and I en possible by the generous gifts
joyed the potluck at the fire sta of land, community labor, as
tion; giving us a chance to visit sistance from the Vernonia
with some of the volunteers. Youth Corps, and others. There
Thank you and keep up the are plans for a play area, picnic
areas, and educational oppor
good work.
Enid Parrow tunities relating to ecology and
Vernonia Pride environment.
Progress toward the building
Mist and Birkenfeld of a multi-use community cen
ter is on track. The Nehalem
have will to succeed Valley Community Corp, was
formed several months ago.
To the Editor:
Development of goals and
Your editorial in the Jan. 5 plans are underway, along with
issue of The INDEPENDENT fund-raising activities and site
was a joy to read. Many times considerations. NW Natural re
we become so involved in oth
er matters or in the doing that
we forget “We will succeed!"
We are succeeding.
Your mention of the new
The INDEPENDENT welcomes readers’ letters and will pub
Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Station is
lish as many as possible. All letters must be signed and in
most appreciated. It may be of
clude a verifiable address and telephone number, although
interest to know the community
the address and phone number will not be printed except at
has a new park in progress
the writer’s request. The INDEPENDENT reserves the right
across the road from the Mist
to edit submissions for brevity or clarity.
Store, The Mist-Birkenfeld His
POLICY ON LETTERS
families in Vernonia who would
not have a Holiday dinner with
out your help. I will speak for
them in saying thank you.
Many of these families need to
be thanked also, they at times
get a bad rap for “needing”, not
all of their circumstances can
be avoided. I personally would
iike to thank those families who
utilize Vernonia Cares and try
to pay back all they can. We
have some who run errands,
are willing to pick up and drop
off items, help with the fund
raisers, cook for other needy
families, whatever it is, I know if
I pick up the phone and ask for
help they are always willing to
put the effort forth. They might
not have money but they still
have hearts.
Vernonia Cares does not in
any way condone gossip and
we feel it is necessary to clear
up anything being said to harm
our reputation. We have been
told that there are rumors re
garding individuals who have
not wanted to help due to the
Y2K hoarding and the $15,000
dollar trailer we purchased.
Well, part of this is true, we
have been saving some food
for emergencies whether it be
flood, earthquake, Y2K or any
other type we would like to be
more prepared than we were in
1996. We took a Certificate of
Deposit that had been saved
for some time and used the
money for extra food purchas
es. We are in no way hoarding
as we have had to use the food
for everyday giving and will
continue to use the food as we
have to. We are prepared for
an emergency to the best of
our ability. We have tried to ed
ucate the community as to be
ing personally prepared as we
just cannot be responsible for
all Vernonians. We also were
forced to purchase the trailer
for our food storage after we
were told by the Preschool
board last spring that they
would be opening the Vernonia
Co-op Preschool and we would
have to remove all of our
stored items from the large por
tion of the building. After end
less days of phone calling and
searching for a storage area,
we asked United Way for an
emergency grant and three
other community members
came forward to help us specif
ically purchase the trailer for
$2,500. None of the money
came from our normal funds.
We thank these people again
for their considerate donations.
Without them who knows what
we would have done. As it
turns out the preschool is not
opening after all, but we feel
that the trailer purchase is a
positive in case there ever was
another flood we would be able
to hitch up our food and move it
out of the flood plain. We are
hoping to work out a lease in
the future with the American
Legion and take over the re
sponsibility of the entire build
ing. We are very excited to
have the space for fund-raisers
and maybe sublease the large
portion to help with our finan
cial responsibilities, we are not
sure what this new year will
Please see page 6