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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2000)
The INDEPENDENT, May 3, 2000 Letters to the Editor Betwean the Bookends By Cecelia Sadtler, Volunteer Banks Public Library The month of May casts her magic spell as spring’s promise is fulfilled at last. Budding trees create a lacy pattern against the sky. Ordinary bushes burst into brilliant floral tones. Newborn animals on wobbly legs follow their mothers around bright green pastures. Birds are out very early collecting worms to drop into the throats of hungry chicks chirping loudly in the newly built nest. There’s something fresh and new in every corner of the garden. Symbols of awakening and renewal are everywhere. There’s something new in every corner of the Banks Library too. Freshness, awakening and renewal are just some of the themes you’ll dis cover when you browse through the new book section. “Original Self: Living With Paradox and Au thenticity” will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered why humans chronically try to be someone other than themselves. Here is a re newed approach. Fifty meditations in this collec tion by Thomas Moore offer fresh interpretations about originality, conformity, creativity and au thenticity. In addition to the inspirational text, Joan Hanley has provided beautiful woodcut il lustrations to accompany each meditation. Deepak Chopra, a nationally known physi cian, distinguished for his ability to combine an cient wisdom with modern science in a straight forward style, treats us to an example of his re markable philosophy in his latest book “How to Know God.” Chopra guides us through a score of insights that he claims are shared by all reli gions. At the root of his prophetic work is a belief that the human brain is hardwired to know God, and Chopra cleverly shows us how. A now novel by E.L. Doctorow also features God in the title. “City of God” is an exciting tale that is filled with the sights and sounds of New York and is daringly poised at the juncture of the sacred and the profane. The plot involves an ec centric novelist whose personal workbook is a repository of prominent ideas and historical dis asters of the age. When he stumbles across a story about a large brass cross that is stolen from a run-down Episcopal church in lower Man hattan and reappears on the roof of the Syna gogue for Evolutionary Judaism, the novelist fol lows the developments with fervor. Joining the clerics who are trying to learn who committed this strange double desecration, he records each turning of the emerging mystery in his workbook, dazzling the reader with what proves to be a quest for authentic spirituality. Mysteries and thrillers are another theme popular in the Library right now and there are several good choices. One of these is “Prime Cut” by Diane Mott Davidson. Here is a who dunit with a new twist. Davidson writes murder mysteries with the same precision she’d give to executing a complex gourmet recipe, literally giving readers something to sink their teeth into. “Prime Cut” is a tale that involves a dead con tractor’s unwholesome past, a food saboteur, the theft of some historical cookbooks and an From page 2 ourselves why we would want to pass even more unenforced laws. Only law abiding citizens will obey and, unfortunately, more and more of us would be come unlaw abiding citizens in defense of our freedoms. In all of these issues we must remember one thing, that law abiding gun owners are not Democracy can't work without the participation o f the people. Have you voted? Page 3 overzealous D.A. who suspects that the cater er’s husband is connected to the strange mur ders. The author’s ease in the kitchen comes through as her main character moves through food prep routines while matching wits with slick criminals and eccentric characters. Davidson has indeed found the recipe for a bestseller. John LeCarre’s latest book can also be found on the shelves at Banks. “Single and Single" is a story of corrupt liaisons between criminal syndi cates in the new Russian states and the legiti mate world of Western finance. This compelling story also intimately portrays two families, con trasting their East-West values and destinies in this enthralling multi-layered tale. LeCarre is a great story teller at the height of his creative powers with this, his finest novel in years. Non-fiction works are popular too. “Grrr!" is a delightfully titled resource for training your dog in a method based on love, praise and affection. For those who want to turn spring cleaning into a creative process, there are books on dec orating and gardening. "The New Wallpaper Book,” by Liz Manning is a beautifully illustrated guide showing hundreds of ways to enhance and enrich your interior environment. “Water Features for Small Gardens,” by Ethne Clarke is a perfect companion for all of your new plants. And finally, in the non-fiction section, you’ll find a wonderfully informal narrative written by Cokie Roberts and her political analyst husband, Steve. “From This Day Forward," is the story of their journey together as they deal with all the is sues of modern marriage. They use personal stories and memories as a springboard for dis cussing larger issues of love and marriage, work and family, parents and children. They deal with topics such as balancing demanding careers and confronting an empty nest. Their different backgrounds...she’s Catholic, he’s Jewish... make their tale even more interesting, and they offer distinct perspectives and opinion. They also tell stories of other American marriages and of broken, contemporary and step-parenting re lationships. Their account is full of insight, humor and time-honored values. Cokie Roberts’ first book, “We are Our Mother’s Daughters,” was on the bestseller list for twenty-six weeks. “From This Day Forward" is certain to be another smashing hit. Remember that new books arrive almost dai ly in Banks, so be sure to come in for a great se lection. You’ll also find a rack with local and com munity information, including copies of The IN DEPENDENT. Recycle Saturday, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and staffed by loyal volunteers will be held this month on May 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the SWATCO Service Yard on Sellers Road. “Prettiest yard” may be result of thievery To the Editor: Someone in our area is cer tainly going to win the “Prettiest Yard Award" with eight stolen flower baskets and two beauti ful, pink flowering cherry trees. They should also get the “Gut- tiest Award,” as the trees were stolen from behind the new po lice station. One woman dis gusted by the thefts, was quot ed as saying, “I’m not a violent person, but if I had a gun and caught those thieves, I’d make them dance all the way to Hills boro.” I hope for your sake, you don’t encounter a violent one. Fortunately, for every one of your kind, there are ten (or more) good people in this town who keep on giving and giving of their time and money to sup port the many projects that go on in our city. Every year, I see the same names that donate to Toy & Joy, the 4th of July Fireworks, and the Scout Cabin; these are just the ones I know about. Last Christmas, a woman drove up to the Fire Hall and handed one of the firemen an envelope for Toy and Joy with $500 inside and never gave her name. Hats off to Gwin and Sons who have donated their equipment and volunteers for two years to work on Spencer Park. Also to Bill Sword who is clearing around Vernonia Lake to make im proved camp sites. Bill also worked on cleaning brush at the south entrance to town last year. So don’t get discouraged; the “Good Guys” far outweigh the “Bad Guys.” Deloris Webb Vernonia Good Sams will help improve county park formed of our park upgrades and to obtain some much needed publicity acknowledg ing the efforts of the Good Sams’ Club. While I am sure the Club would appreciate your stopping by any time during the above-mentioned dates, prob ably the best time would be Saturday, as that is when most of the construction will take place. I hope you will be able to come to Hudson-Parcher Park and see the work in progress. If you have any questions, com ments or concerns, please feel free to contact me or my secre tary at (503) 397-2353. Sincerely, David A. Hill, Director Columbia County Public Works and Parks City appreciates the volunteers who care To the Editor: The City of Vernonia wants to express its appreciation to all of the citizens who made the annual SOLV clean up day a SUCCESS! It was reported that approximately 200 residents volunteered their time to make Vernonia a better place to live. Vernonia Pride and SOLV have proved to be wonderful assets to our City. On behalf of the City Coun cil, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your efforts. Mayor Art Parrow City of Vernonia Protect our right to jury trial, vote no on 81 Dear Editor: Anne and Annette Kirkwood of Madras are courageous. These two women used the civil justice system to hold General Motors accountable for the exploding side-saddle gas tanks installed on GM pick up trucks. If you do not recall this accident, Anne Kirkwood was seriously burned in the ac cident and shows her courage every day, just fighting to stay alive. Unfortunately, the [Oregon] Legislature put Constitutional Amendment 81 on the May 16 Ballot to make it more difficult to hold big corporations re sponsible for dangerous prod ucts. When you get your voter pamphlet, please read the ex planation of Amendment 81. If it passes, Oregonians lose a basic right, the right to a trial by jury. Let’s protect our constitu tional rights and vote “No” on Measure 81. Very truly yours, Geraldine Holmgren Astoria To the Editor: The Good Sams’ Club, a recreational vehicle club, has Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street. adopted Hudson-Parcher Park Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; this season to make some Frl. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. much needed improvements to Preschool Story Time, Weds., 10:15 a.m. the park. Approximately 20-25 Phone: (503 ) 324-1382 members of the Good Sams’ Internet: www.WILInet.wccls.lib.or.us, Club have volunteered their time to re-roof the lower re strooms, as well as general clean-up, gardening, minor re pairs and painting of posts and the problem. In all the firearm guns per year? After many of these school guardrails. They are scheduled fatalities in the U.S, over 96 to be in the park late Friday af percent were caused by inten shootings, I often debate in my ternoon, May 5, through Sun tional misuse. Fatalities from head what it is going to take to day, making these repairs. We firearm accidents are at the solve this problem. I have even sincerely appreciate the assis lowest level since the National entertained the thought that if tance they are providing to Co Safety Council began keeping the government could guaran lumbia County Forests, Parks records in 1903—dropping 40 tee that there would be no and Recreation, in particular, percent in just the last decade. more crime if we gave up our Hudson-Parcher Park. In fact, my son is far safer par guns, this would not be too We are sending this notice ticipating in a shooting sport much of a price to pay for a as a way to keep the public in than playing football or riding a crime-free world, yet this is a bicycle, let alone being a pas dream, because as long as senger in a car. Is anyone in fa there are people walking this vor of banning cars since they earth, there will be crime, so The INDEPENDENT welcomes readers’ letters and will kill more children by far than don’t ask me to be a victim! publish as many as possible. All letters must be signed and include a verifiable address and telephone number, Izaak W alton League Nehalem Valley Chapter meetings are although the address and phone number will not be print on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The public ed except at the writer’s request. The INDEPENDENT re serves the right to edit submissions for brevity or clarity. is woIoorno For meeting location, call (503) 429-7193. POLICY ON LETTERS
