The INDEPENDENT, June 7, 2000
Betwean tho Bookends
By Cecelia Sadtler, Volunteer
Banks Public Library
A summer of reading fun is in store for all kids
who participate in the 2000 Summer Reading
Program at the Banks Public Library. “Ticket to
Tomorrow" will launch readers on a journey to
the unknown. Sign-ups have already begun and
children of all ages are invited to participate in
the activities and entertainment. Even pre-read
ers are eligible and will be partnered with older
children.
At the end of the summer, free books will be
awarded to all kids who keep their logs updated
and meet the goals they set for themselves. Be
side being lots of fun, the diverse activities in the
Summer Reading Program provide an excellent
opportunity for developing and maintaining good
reading skills over the summer vacation.
In addition to the reading portion of the pro
gram, free performances are scheduled in the
Library Community Room that are sure to de
light young audiences. The first of these special
events will take place on Saturday, June 24th at
10 a.m., when a family group known as The
Whitman Story Sampler share their rich and live
ly act of tandem storytelling. Plan to come and
experience the power of story in this wonderful
multi-age family show. The remaining free per
formances at Banks will occur on Thursday af
ternoons at 2:00 p.m. Clowns, reptiles, juggling,
storytelling, magic and music will light up the Li
brary and the faces of the eager spectators.
Think of your Library card as a Ticket to To
morrow. Stop by to pick up your summer sched
ule and sign up for all the summer activities as
you prepare to enjoy an exciting journey into the
unknown.
Parents of pre-schoolers should note that
Pre-School Story Time will end for this school
year on June 14. We’re certain, however, those
kids will be thrilled to participate in the Summer
Program. Parents can help build enthusiasm for
reading by setting a good example. Why not
plan for everyone in the family to get into read
ing this summer?
Adults will find the Library shelves brimming
with bestsellers, new books and favorite au
thors. One of these books is Before I Say Good
bye, written by the queen of suspense herself,
Mary-Higgins Clark. The story is about an ap
parent murder aboard a luxury cabin cruiser,
leaving a widow who has recently had a serious
quarrel with her husband. The widow, Nell, pos
sesses psychic gifts, and Clark delves into the
mystery of psychic powers and communication
with the dead while building a tale of blood cur
dling suspense.
Also new book is Galileo’s Daughter, inspired
by actual letters written by the eldest of Galileo’s
three illegitimate children, and transformed into
an unforgettable story by Dava Sobel. Galileo’s
Daughter dramatically redefines the personality
and accomplishments of this mythic figure
whose seventeenth-century clash with Catholic
doctrine created a schism between science and
religion that continues even now. The letters are
Letters to the Editor:
masterfully woven into the narrative, and grace
the life of this famous father now as certainly
they did then.
The Library also has some fascinating new
books that will appeal to sports fans, horse
lovers, baseball enthusiasts, and science fiction
buffs. In the sports category there is Have a Nice
Day, by Mick Foley, whose cover proclaims in
bold letters: “This book is not for the squea
mish.” Indeed, this book is a gory autobiography
and an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of
the hardcore legends of wrestling. Mick Foley,
the family man who loves ice cream and amuse
ment parks is contrasted to the same twisted ge
nius who staged the frightening Japanese Death
Matches.
A very different kind of sports book is Fair
Ball, by Bob Costas. NBC’s award winning
broadcaster shares his views on the forces that
are diminishing the appeal of Major League
Baseball and proposes changes that can be
made to protect and promote the game's best in
terests. Costas examines the financial dispari
ties that plague baseball as well as the inspiring
“moments of authenticity” and gives us a
provocative account.
Jane Smiley has written a funny, passionate
and brilliant new novel about the sport of
horseracing titled Horse Heaven. She weaves a
marvelous tapestry of joy, love, folly and greed
around her lively characters, proving that any
thing can happen at the racetrack. The universe
of horseracing that has fascinated generations
of royalty and robber barons is depicted with
tenderness, clarity and originality in this ener
getic story.
Young adult readers will want to look for the
first book in Tamora Pierce’s THE CIRCLE
OPENS quartet, called Magic Steps. The story
of Lady Sandrilene Fa Toren’s adventures and
unusual magic will appeal to all fantasy and sci
ence fiction fans.
There are lots of ways to enjoy the benefits
offered by the Banks Library. Books on tape,
large print books, current magazines and popu
lar videos are all available to be checked out.
Copies of The Independent are on display. The
whole family can catch the infectious spirit that is
generated by reading.
Another activity that’s just made for summer
is recycling. Now that the weather is nice, you
can clean out that shed or garage, get rid of old
newspapers, eliminate the accumulation of cans
and bottles, and help your library at the same
time. This Saturday, June 10th is Recycle Satur
day for Banks. Bring all those unwanted materi
als to the SWATCO Service Yard on Sellers
Road between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Friendly
library volunteers will be there to assist you.
Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street.
Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.;
Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Preschool Story Time, Weds., 10:15 a.m.
Phone: (503 ) 324-1382
Internet: www.WILInet.wccls.lib.or.us.
WOEC members asked for input on state mandate
West Oregon Electric Coop
erative members are invited to
provide input on a new “net
metering” policy. A meeting is
scheduled for June 20 at 7:00
p.m., prior to the regular board
of directors meeting, at WOEC
headquarters, 715 Maple St.,
in Vernonia.
The 1999 Oregon Legisla-
Ike Says. . .
From page 2
many great adventures in this
life.
I have been very lucky to
have had a father like mine. He
has introduced me to the great
outdoors in a manner that
many people can only dream
about. We have shared many
hunting, camping, and fishing
trips together, and I have mem
ories to last me a lifetime.
Kayaking though, is my own di
vergence. Hey Dad, want to
get wet?
So this father’s day, let your
Page 3
dad know how much you ap
preciate his efforts, and just
like in that beer commercial,
tell him how much you love
him. Just maybe, he will give
you a beer. Happy Father’s
Day, Dad!
Izaak W alton League
meetings are on the third
Thursday of each month.
7:00 p.m. The public is
welcome. For meeting loca
tion, call (503) 429-7193.
ture passed HB 3219, requiring
utilities to have this policy for
customers wanting to operate
a generating facility of less
than 25 kilowatts that can place
electric energy on co-op lines.
Copies of the proposed Pol
icy 311 are available at West
Oregon Electric, or by calling
429-3021 or 1-800-777-1276.
Members may also view the
policy on the West Oregon
website www.westoregon.org.
July 4th festivities
can use some help
that a girl who participates in
positive extracurricular activi
ties is 50 percent less likely to
become pregnant than a girl
who does not? That is an
amazing statistic, and we need
to continue to invest in our kids,
our community and our ex
tracurricular activities.
John F. Kennedy once said
that if you are not part of the
solution, you are part of the
problem. With your support of
these vital programs, we will
continue to take steps toward
empowering our young people
to have and make healthy
choices.
Thank you to all of you who
volunteer your time and energy
towards extracurricular activi
ties for our youth.
Sincerely,
Teen Pregnancy Preven
tion Team, Columbia County
To The Editor:
It’s going to be time again for
our 4th of July celebration. Let
ters have gone out to local or
ganizations and businesses for
donations to help pay for the
fireworks. We will also be plac
ing jars in downtown business
es for donations and we appre
ciate your support. Please be
generous, as your help is what
enables us to sponsor the fire
works every year. The fire
works display costs $3,000.
Plans are much like last
year’s 4th of July. There will be
a parade, open to all ages.
Gather at Weed Avenue at 7:00
p.m. and the parade will start at
7:30 p.m. The route will be from
Weed Avenue to the Washing
ton Grade School. Fireworks
at the High School football field
at dusk. We are waiting for a
class
couple of our permits to be ap Sophomore
proved and then we should be appreciates support
ready.
If there is anyone interested To the Editor:
in making some signs or help
On Saturday, May 13, the
ing with the parade, please call Vernonia High School sopho
me at 429-8134.
more class had a can and bot
The Booster Club will have
tle drive, and earned $323.20.
their concession stand as usu We would like to thank all who
al at the fireworks.
donated time, gas, bottles and
Lew’s Place will be holding cans. It is greatly appreciated.
their Spaghetti Dinner for the Special thanks go to Janice
benefit of the Fireworks Fund. Holmes, Patrick and Ryan
The dinner will be on June 20th Peets, Donald Normand and
- hours 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Randy (Bud) Normand, as well
Watch for signs downtown for as to the eight sophomores
more information.
who helped.
If there are any changes for
Thank you for all of your
the 4th of July, look for them in support.
The INDEPENDENT, which
Vernonia High School
comes out again on June 21st.
Class of 2002
Enid Parrow
Vernonia Prid
Keep healthy teen
activities available
To the Editor:
Over the past several years,
teen pregnancy has been a
growing concern among many
of Columbia County’s commu
nity leaders. Since 1994, the
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Team, under the auspices of
the Columbia County Commis
sion on Children and Families,
has worked to reduce teen
pregnancy through education
and programs.
May was Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Month, and we
would like to celebrate by
thanking you for your support
of those programs that posi
tively impact teen pregnancy
prevention in Columbia County.
Art, drama, music, sports
and other extracurricular activi
ties help teens make healthy
choices and provide them with
healthy lifestyles. Did you know
Donations restored
two stolen trees
To the Editor:
On April 26, two flowering
cherry trees were stolen from
the end of the driveway beside
the police station. They were
part of six trees to be planted at
city hall on clean-up day -
three on each side of Bear
Creek. The trees were paid for
with a grant from SOLV.
Thanks to Don and DeDe
Webb, and to Vernonia Pride
for funds to replace the two
stolen trees. With their support,
the thieves who tried to spoil
our beautification project didn’t
win. They’re the kind people
who m^ke Vernonia a great
place to live.
Shirlee Daughtry
Vernonia
Policy on Letters
All letters accepted for pub
lication by The INDEPEN
DENT must be signed and
have a verifiable address.
Opposition to proposed DEQ rules
From page 1
request that a contested case
hearing be held in secret, re
gardless of any impact the is
sues may have on the public.
For instance, a major polluter
could request a secret hearing
on pollution affecting an entire
neighborhood.
The Oregon Newspaper
Publishers Association, Mich
ael Sheehan, a Scappoose at
torney representing a number
of public interest groups, and
representatives of other citizen
groups appeared to oppose the
rules at a DEQ hearing on May
22d. No one testified in favor of
the rules.