Page 6
The INDEPENDENT, June 21, 2000
Community
Elem ents of child care im portant
V e r n o n ia Senior Center
By Patricia Olson
I’ve lost track ot when I start
ed writing this column. I guess
I’m a good representative of
Seniors, because I often find
myself saying, “I forgot.”
In light of the above state
ment, I find myself leaving this
with mixed emotions. We have
lived in this town for 26 years
and are looking forward to our
new life in Grants Pass, but will
miss the many friends we’ve
made here. I am most appre
ciative of the opportunity The
INDEPENDENT has given me
to try my wings at journalism. It
has been fun and you, the
readers, have been most kind
in your remarks.
I want to introduce you to
Karen Miller, who will be taking
over this task. I hope you will
be encouraging to her as you
have been to me. I know she
will give it her very best.
I have not been informed of
any new, upcoming events
from the departments. Our
cook is on vacation and
JoAnne is filling in for her. We
had a special time honoring the
Free ride to fair
for seniors
Thanks to Columbia River
PUD, seniors will have a free
ride on COLCO Transportation
to the Columbia County Fair on
Wednesday, July 19, for Senior
Day.
Round trip transportation will
be provided from the senior
centers in Vernonia, Clatska
nie, St. Helens and Rainier. In
terested seniors should sign up
at their senior center by July
10. The number of buses will
depend on the number of par
ticipating seniors. Details on
arrival and departure times will
be available at each senior
center by July 17.
The My Fair Lady Pageant
is held during the county fair
each year to recognize senior
women for their outstanding
service to our communities.
The PUD organizes the pag
eant each year in conjunction
with the Retired and Senior
Volunteers Program and the
St. Helens Fire District.
“We want seniors from all
our communities to be able to
come to the fair Wednesday,
for Senior Day, and support
their princess in the My Fair
Lady Pageant,” said PUD
spokesperson Sherry Welter.
Deon Owen will
wed in Illinois
The upcoming wedding of
her daughter, Deon Rae Mang
ham (Owen) to Jason Wayne
Marianna, has been announced
by Sue Owen of Vernonia.
Deon is a graduate of Ver
nonia High School. She and
Jason are both currently at
tending Shimer College in
Waukegan, Illinois.
The wedding ceremony will
take place July 1 in Waukegan.
Dads in our midst.
We have hired a janitor and
it is nice to have new cobwebs.
The old ones were very dusty.
This time of the year, we don’t
feel we need to apologize to all
those homeless spiders.
Birthdays for July are as fol
lows:
Trahan; 22, Ruth Tandy; 23,
Bob Wiley; 26, Aretha Ritz; 30,
Scottie Weimer.
Happy Birthday. Go wave a
flag and have another piece of
cake.
I plan to be reading The IN
DEPENDENT in my new
home, so all of you had better
be behaving. ‘Til I see you
July 1, Margaret Berndt; 3, again, Goodbye and God
Tessie Aldrich; 4, Our Nation; 6, bless.
Isabel Culbertson; 12, Marge
Pat
Renewed “Silver Tea” a success
“An outstanding success,”
was the common refrain heard
to describe the Silver Tea
sponsored by Vernonia Study
Club. Members of the organi
zation greeted guests in the
Thiele Petti meeting room of
the Vernonia Public Library.
The tea was a renewal of an
old custom which saw a “cof
fee” or “tea” offered annually.
The room, decorated with
spring yellow table covers and
set off with fresh flowers, ap
peared most inviting. Coffee
and punch were served, with
cookies made by the Study
club members. A considerable
number of old and new friends
were greeted during the after
noon.
Gifts of money were accept
ed by the Study Club, with pro
ceeds being used to benefit the
library. The total for the event
came to $142.50; later dona
tions from individuals and an
additional gift from Vernonia
Study Club raised the sum con
siderably.
Among items being consid
ered for purchase for the library
is a laminating machine and
materials. This would enable
the library to laminate cards,
photos, and reports for use in
the building as well as provide
a service to the public for a
nominal fee.
Wu leads F a th e r’s Day m easure
Congressman David Wu led
an effort Monday to pass a res
olution recognizing the impor
tance of fathers in raising and
the development of their chil
dren. The resolution also en
courages fathers to be actively
involved in child rearing by
spending time in schools and
other activities.
“Each child deserves re
sponsible parents who are in
volved in their schools and oth
er aspects of their lives," said
Congressman Wu. “As the fa
ther of two children, I know
firsthand that spending time
with children at their school
and at home is not only impor
tant for children, but important
for parents as well.”
Congressman Wu said,
“This resolution sends a strong
signal that parental involve
ment is important for families
and for our nation.”
Congressman Wu managed
time on the floor of the U.S.
House for Democratic speak
ers on H. Res. 522, also known
as the Fathers Day Resolution.
The measure passed on a
voice vote.
Most parents want the best
child care they can afford for
their children. But parents of
children ages six weeks to 24
months are faced with fewer
possibilities than parents of
older children and may have a
difficult search when looking for
infant or toddler child care in
Columbia County.
Registered family child care
providers may care for only two
children ages six weeks to 24
months (including the provi
ders’ own children).
Not all registered family
child care providers are willing
to care for children under 24
months of age.
Certified child care centers
must have one caregiver for
every four children between
the ages of six weeks and 30
months, with a maximum of
eight infant/toddlers per group.
dlers because of the lack of
availability.
There are some things that
parents can look for to help in
sure that their child is receiving
quality child care:
• Be sure that the provider is
warm, loving and responsive.
• The child care provider
should respond to the child’s
cues and clues.
• The person caring for your
child should talk, read and sing
to your child (no matter how
young your child is).
• There should be estab
lished routines and rituals.
• TV watching should be se
lective.
• The caregiver should en
courage safe exploration and
play.
• Discipline should be used
as an opportunity to teach.
If you are interested in pro
viding child care or want more
Research shows the impor information about quality child
tance of quality child care es care, contact Caring Options,
pecially during the first years of at (503) 397-3511 or toll free at
life. But many parents in Co 1-800-404-3511.
lumbia County find that they
must use informal or exempt
Remember, one good turn
care for their infants and tod
gets the blanket!
gAtLCtiive 9mf2JulAD
CAAO d&aA & (D id i
HOT, ICED & BLENDED DRINKS & TEA
PASTRIES, MUFFINS, COOKIES, BAGELS, SANDWICHES
1/l/e will be closed July 4th
JhsAaplulit: WjdiAcufii: f a l l 429-9011 ftoh dsiculi
< NAIL & TANNING APPOINTMENTS
< AVAILABLE • WALK-INS WELCOME
A
J
854 BRIDGE ST.. VERNONIA • 429-9011
REG HOURS: Mon 6a-12:30p • Tu-F 6a-5p • Sa 7a-5p • Su 8a-2p
Western Family
People who do not read
lose as much
as people who can not.
■ Ice Cream C one C ups ■
12 Ct
VERNONIA INN
Leave the city behind and
enjoy a quiet weekend with us.
FULL SIZE, IN ROOM
$55*
HOT TUBS
W ITH C O U P O N - LIM IT 4
$85“
REG. ROOM $45“
Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance
Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL
1-800-354-9494 /1-503-429-4000
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
000 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 07064
Just one block off Oregon Hwy. 47
E x t r a S a v in g s O n L in e
w w w .sentrym arkets.com
Click on ValuPage
Look for Randy’s Special Buys!
WESTERN UNION • MONEY ORDERS • FAX SERVICE
LAMINATING • BOOKS • GREETING CARDS • LOTTERY GAMES
O pen 8 am - 9 pm S even Days a W eek - V ISA & M asterC ard
Vernonia Sentry
735 Jefferson Ave. - Vernonia * 429-3811