Page 14
The INDEPENDENT, December 20, 2000
STARS program efforts growing
Columbia County STARS
program recently received a
$2,735 grant from the STARS
Foundation. The grant was
funded by the PGE-Enron
Foundation, which is commit
ted to supporting the popular
abstinence education program
targeted to middle school chil
dren in Columbia County and
throughout Oregon.
STARS has grown since
1995 from a small demonstra
tion project in five schools in
Oregon to nearly 200 middle
schools across the state.
Promising evaluation results in
dicate that STARS is effective,
not only in encouraging teen
abstinence, but also in avoid
ing other high-risk activities, as
well.
In Columbia County, be
tween 40-50 teen leaders will
be trained to deliver the
STARS program to 500 sixth
graders in the Clatskanie,
Rainier, St. Helens and Ver
nonia school districts. The teen
leaders will present one lesson
per week for five consecutive
weeks, enforcing the message
of saying no to early sexual in
volvement and to other nega
tive peer and social pressures.
Since the onset of the STARS
program in 1995, the Columbia
County Teen pregnancy rate
has dropped by 4.8 percent,
bringing it down to nine percent
at the end of September, 2000.
Thanks to continued support
from the Foundation, local
businesses and communities,
these numbers are continuing
to drop each year.
For more information about
the STARS program or how to
get involved, call Pam Powell
at Columbia County Public
Health, 800-244-7860, or Ver
nonia STARS Coordinator,
Juanita Dennis at 503-429-
8092.
Vernonia High School Choir members made a cold evening seem warm with the beauty of
Christmas carols before the community Christmas Tree was lighted December 8.
New BOSE Corporation product aids United Way
United Way of Columbia
County has received notice of
a fundraiser available to via a
collaboration of BOSE Corpo
ration and accoustic technolo
gies.
As part of their research and
technology efforts, BOSE cre-
County meeting on
transportation need
The future of transportation
in Columbia County will be the
topic of a special meeting of
the Board of County Commis
sioners and the Columbia
County Transportation Sub
com m ittee on Wednesday,
January 3, 2001, at 1:00 p.m.
in the Board of Commissioners
Conference Room, Room 33I,
Columbia County Courthouse,
St. Helens, Oregon.
If any special accommoda
tions are required, contact the
Board of Commissioner’s office
at 503-397-4322 the day be
fore the meeting.
ates, arranges and records
music for use on their cutting
edge sound systems. Now,
they have recorded a compact
disc with 16 jazz, classical,
rock, folk and blues selections
specially sequenced for “joy
ous emotional impact to soothe
and bring a smile to the listen
er.” This compilation called
Free As the Wind features
such diverse performers as the
Seattle Symphony Orchestra,
the Dukes of Dixieland and Liv
ingston Taylor, and would make
a great holiday gift. The CD will
be made available for $12.99
from November through Janu
ary through BOSE stores, their
web site and their toll free num
ber, 1-800-919-2673. There is
no shipping charge. More than
$10.00 of each sale will go to
the United Way where the pur
chaser lives. Sales of the
BOSE CD will be tracked by
zip.
Keep the Holidays Happy
Don't Drink and Drive
W
S
'
The H ealth H abit
5O3-429-O5O1
Complete Co-Ed Gym Facility
- PERSONAL TRAINING AVAILABLE
Weight Loss/Gain
Body Building
General Conditioning
Toning & Shaping
Wolff Tanning
Nutritional Counseling
Olympic Weights
Full Line Apparatus
OPEN: 7a-9p M-F, 7a-5p Sat • 16720 Noakes Rd., Vernonia, OR 97064
Sunnyside Cafe
Daily BreSwatt Spedals
ORDERS TO GO: 503-429-4810
Open Daily 5 am-2 pm • 58360 Nehalem Hwy. S., Vernonia
W E WILL BE CLOSED DEC. 2 4 , 2 5 A N D JAN. 1
From all o f us to all o f you...
Happy Holidays!
Holce Logging Co., Inc.
Green’s
Variety
Store
We will be
open till
6 p.m*
through
Christmas Eve
*If you need to shop
later, call us, w e’ll
stay open for you.
831 Bridge Street
503-429-4333
60s
17633 Keasey Road, Vernonia » 429-6783
f
VERNONIA INN
Enjoy a quiet weekend with us.
FULL SIZE, IN ROOM
$55“
HOT TUBS
$80“
REG. ROOM $45“
Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance
Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL
1-800-354-9494 / 503-429-4006
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
900 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 97064
Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47)
(¡Buds & (Bhoms
Kemember to order your
Christmas
Centerpiece
We can also help you
with a gift for that
hard-to-buy-for
person on your list.
Open Saturday ‘
503-429-9273
859 Bridge St., Vernonia