Page 6
The INDEPENDENT, May 3, 2000
M
Community
____
Women’s Resource Center now
has regular schedule in Vernonia
A representative of the Co
lumbia County Women’s Re
source Center is now available
in Vernonia every Wednesday
from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Ollie Gibson-Lovell will be in
Vernonia to provide information
or referrals, and assistance
with restraining orders. She will
also arrange for other services
provided by WRC.
The local office of the
Women’s Resource Center
shares space with Columbia
Community Health in the credit
union building. The Vernonia
phone number for WRC is 429-
1053; the 24-hour crisis line is
503-397-6161 and collect calls
are accepted.
Additional services available
through the Women’s Re
source Center include emer
gency shelter for battered
women and their children,
peer/support counseling, legal
advocacy/court support, emer
gency transportation, youth
and teen outreach programs,
low-income housing informa
tion, rape advocacy, and much
more.
To learn more about how the
Women’s Resource Center
may assist members of the
community, call Gibson-Lovell
at 429-1053.
Senior News
By Patricia Olson
There is an old saying in
Oregon; “If you don’t like the
weather, wait 20 minutes.” That
has seemed to be the case
lately. We really can’t complain
too much as we’ve had some
very nice days...and then,
some of the other kind. Every
day is nice when you’re in good
company and enjoying your
self. That’s what we do a lot at
the Senior Center. The only
sad thing is when we can’t
Anna Naspini wins
Easter Story contest
Eleven-year-old
Anna
Naspini was the winner of an
Easter Story contest spon
sored by Specialized Engrav
ing for children ages 7 through
11.
Naspini, who wrote her story
as a poem, won an Easter bas
day, June 24. It is open to any
ket full of fun things and a
one interested in attending.
beanie baby. Second place
Prices have not yet been set,
went to Michael Calhoun, who
but there will be lots of prizes!
won a book, a jell pen and can
The first riders will leave at
dy sticks. Brittney Lindauer
9:00 a.m., with the last rider out
won a calendar and candy
at 11 a.m. Liz Brainerd, (503)
sticks for her third place entry.
647-5172 is the contact for the
All who participated did a great
poker ride.
job.
The winning entry:
The annual Jamboree Play
Easter comes in the
Day will be Sunday, August 6. It
midst of Spring
is also open to anyone interest
All
the flowers and
ed in participating. Call Beverly
splendor of a king.
Grant at (503) 429-8470.
With life and beauty
that the birds all sing,
The next meeting of the
In so comes our Lord,
Ridge Riders will be Thursday,
Christ our King!
May 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ver
— Anna Naspini
nonia Public Library.
Ridge Riders schedule work day
The May trail ride of the Ver
nonia Ridge Riders will be held
Saturday, May 20. The ride is
open to club members and
their guests. The time and lo
cation has not yet been con
firmed. Call George Bellingham
at (503) 429-9523 for more in
formation.
A workday has been sched
uled for for the Anderson Park
horse arena. Please show up
at the arena on Sunday, May 7
at 10:00 a.m., if you are able to
help. Call Bellingham for futher
information.
The Ridge Riders Poker
Ride has been set for Satur-
M
I l H I 1 4 lii* i
share it with you.
COLCO announces the fol
lowing: Door to door trans
portation for all residents of Co
lumbia County. Our new Ver
nonia office phone number is
429-4304. Call us for your
transportation needs.
Jacqueline wishes to an
nounce that she has moved
her knitting and crochet class
es to her home at 1105 River
side Drive, Sp.4. The time is
from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Wed
nesdays and Fridays.
The last announcement I
have is for a paid position for
janitorial service one day a
week at the Center. We need
someone to vacuum, sweep
and generally tidy up. It will pay
minimum wage.
Last week, April 24th, nine
people from our Center visited
Rainier for five-area lunch. We
had a good time fellowshipping
with old friends and there was
a good turnout from all the
Mother's Day
Breakfast
May 14th 8 ant - Noon
At theScout Cabin in
Hawkins Park
AU you can eat Pancakes
Choice o f Sausage o r Bacon
Fresh Fruit Cup
Coffee, Juice, Tea
w m ì
$4/Person - 3 & Under Free
By Robb Wilson
Stand up and be counted!
Or at least take the time to fill out your census
form if you haven’t already.
Where were you on April 1st? The 22nd Unit
ed States Federal Census was under way. April
1 was “CENSUS 2000 DAY,” when the hope of
the U.S. Census Bureau was to have a count of
all residents and all people living in the United
States. Close to 60% of all households had re
turned their forms by the April 19 deadline. The
other 40% are still being gathered by census
workers. At the beginning of April, every house
hold should have received by mail or hand de
livery, a census form to fill out.
The first census for the United States of
America was taken in 1790 by order of the Unit
ed States Constitution and, thereafter, every ten
years. The census was (and still is) a way to de
termine the number of representatives each
state will have in Congress. The population
count for that first census 210 years ago was
3,929,214 people. It was conducted by 217 per
sons in nine months. Today there are about
265,000 persons working for the bureau, which
hopes that the count will be completed by July.
This is the largest peacetime call up of work
ers for the government, ever. Very few of these
employees are full time, some have been work
ing for almost two years preparing, but most of
those hired will work only a few months and
some may have an assignment that lasts just
one day or an evening! Columbia County has
about 70 people working for the bureau.
Beside the number of congressional repre
sentatives, the census lets officials know about
economics and needs so they can determine
where monies for federal and government proj
ects can be allocated. Schools, hospitals, roads,
institutions, water and sewer projects, etc., are
built as needed due to population increase.
You may have seen some of the television
advertising the bureau put out this past month to
encourage viewers to fill out their census forms
and get their “Slice of American Pie.” The cen
sus helps determine where a new fire station,
senior citizens center or daycare facilities are
needed.
Other government departments and institu
tions are dependent on allocated monies for
funding their needs. These are determined sole
ly on population. You don’t need to have a job,
be a voter or a taxpayer to be listed on the cen
sus. The only qualification was to be living on
April 1st or before.
Census taking is not a new idea; it goes way
back to Ancient Rome. In 1066, England started
a census, and cities in Germany started a count
in the 1400s. In 1666 the people of New France
(Canada) were counted. Sweden started the first
national census in 1749. Today, Canada has a
census every five years.
Basic questions asked for the census are
age, gender, race, marital status, place of birth
and relationship to head of household. In the
2000 census, only seven questions were asked
on the short form, the fewest in the past 180
years. The long form goes into more detail, with
34 questions that deal with a broad spectrum of
American people. These responses will help de
termine long range planning for future genera
tions.
The long forms went to about one of every six
households, so feel privileged if you were cho
sen to be part of “A Snapshot of America!”
In years past, questions might have included
whether you had a telephone or a kitchen, or a
bathroom in the house with running water. They
wanted to know how people lived, to help deter
mine economic needs and assistance. At differ-
See page 15
Centers.
Last,’ but far from least, our
chairman is back! Fred Oviatt
returned to Oregon just in time
for our last board meeting. He
is very busy so we haven’t
seen him very much, however.
Lots of new things are com
ing in to the Thrift Shop and Pat
Lloyd is doing a great job pre
senting them in our store area.
Several pieces of small furni
ture items have been brought
in. We can’t take large items,
due to small floor space.
We are still seeing paper
and items on the door stoops.
Please, how can I encourage
you to use the drop box? It will
save many items from meeting
an early death in the dumpster.
Watch out for those sneaky
frosts. Several people got sur
prised last week. It’s fun to gar
den but heart-breaking to lose
plants to frost bite. Spring is
here but the weather is not reli
able yet. Enjoy the splendor of
this season. It’s a beauty!
Free Corsage w!advance tickets!
Tickets available from Boy Scouts
or call 429-4035 or 429-6008
Susan Easley
County Commissioner
Proven Leader
•
•
•
•
•
Elected Twice to St. Helens School Board
Appointed Twice to Commission on Children & Families
5+ Years Budget Management & Policy Development
5+ Years Experience in Collective Bargaining
Strategic Planning & Partnering with Private, County
and State Agencies
• Successful Small Business Owner
Experienced
Effective
Involved
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Susan Easley, 292 S. 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051