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