The INDEPENDENT, December 20, 2000
Letters to the Editor
Between the Bookends
By Nancy Burch, Librarian
Vernonia Public Library
This m onth’s article is a difficult one to write.
W hile hoping that the peacefulness and happi
ness of the holiday season is being felt by all in
the community, this sam e com m unity needs to
be aware of some som ber facts regarding over
due library materials. At present, (December 16)
there are 77 patrons with a total of 145 overdue
materials. The alarming news is that this repre
sents a loss of $1,749 for the library if these ma
terials are not returned. Most of these patrons
have been notified, at least by phone, while
some have been sent two notices regarding the
situation. This represents use of staff time and
expense, both of which could be put to much
better use. Although many of these materials will
be returned eventually, others will not. The pre
viously quoted figures represent only com puter
generated information for this year and do not
include materials checked out manually this past
year and over previous years. One can assume
those non-returned library materials over the
years represent a very substantial loss.
Failing to return library materials amounts to,
in plain language, stealing, and in this case,
stealing from the public— your friends and neigh
bors. It is probable that those parties most guilty
of this offense will not read this article. However,
those of you who have overdue materials and
are reading it are urged to return them. No
penalties or fines will be in effect if they are re
turned during the month of December, but with
the initiation of the fine system beginning in Jan
uary, fines will accrue from the original due date
and may am ount to a large am ount by January.
The fines for overdue materials will be $.50 a
day for videos and $.10 a day for all other m ate
rials. Patrons with overdue materials will not be
allowed to check out further materials until fines
are paid. It is best to be aware of this new policy
and either return or renew borrowed library ma
terials to avoid fines and the loss of library privi
leges.
Our computerized cataloging is progressing,
with 6,395 materials having been entered to
date. Very dedicated volunteers can be credited
with having done most of this work.
Organization of “The Friends of the Library” is
also progressing. Rough drafts of by-laws and a
mission statement are being revised and the
tax-exem pt status of the organization has been
verified. Members are being accepted and do
nations may be made before the end of the year
by those looking for a worthy organization for tax
exempt purposes.
Orissa Burghard’s Monday afternoon story/
craft sessions continue to be well attended. Re
member that they will not be held on days when
there is no school.
New books include James Patterson’s Roses
are Red, David B aldacci’s Wish You Well,
Danielle Steel’s Journey, and Padgett Powell’s
Mrs. H ollingsworth’s Men. If you’re looking for
the holiday theme in your reading material, don’t
overlook T is the Season to be M urdered by Va
lerie W olzien, D eck the Halls by Mary Higgins
and Carol Clark, A unt D im ity’s Christmas by
Nancy Atherton, and Mistletoe M urder by Leslie
Meier.
Keep reading, return those library materials
on time and enjoy the holiday season.
Vernonia L ib ra ry 701 Weed Avenue
Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tues., Thur. 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
S a t 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Preschool Story Time, Mondays, 10:30 a.m.
Phone: (5 03)429-1818
Vernonia schools revise, coordinate
K-12 counseling an I guidance program
A year-long effort by teach
ers, counselors and adm inis
trators has resulted in a com
prehensive cou nselin g and
guidance program for Vernonia
students that is designed to
meet the needs of children
from
kindergarten
through
twelfth grade.
Program details are con
tained in an 80 page manual
that was presented to each of
the V ernonia S chool Board
m em bers at th e ir Dec. 14
meeting.
Tammy McDonald present
ed the elem entary school com
ponent which, she explained,
em phasizes school and family,
because that is the most im por
tant area for younger children,
and provides more attention to
children who are struggling. In
addition to taking counseling
and guidance efforts into class
rooms and homes, McDonald
will be training the staff in vio
lence prevention. A dditional
programs designed to provide
students with a foundation for
the future include the “Lunch
Buddies,” which will start in
January, and an em phasis
throughout the school on vol
unteering.
Lunch B uddies team s an
adult in an informal mentoring
relationship with a student who
can benefit from a weekly one-
on-one lunch meeting. More
adults will be needed for the
program in January. For more
information, call McDonald at
W ashington G rade School,
503-429-7941.
Student needs start chang
Page 3
ing in the 10-14 year-old age
group, explained Robin Stein,
who is handling the middle
school/junior high elements of
the program. At this stage stu
dents are becoming peer ori
ented and start on a “hormone-
driven roller coaster ride," Stein
said, so counseling em pha
sizes life management skills.
Three priorities are involved
in the junior high level:
1. Classroom emphasis on
conflict resolution and empathy
training.
2. Small group counseling
with emphasis on general sup
port and social skills.
3. Individual counseling in
problem solving.
Students with severe prob
lems will be referred to special
ists, Stein explained, for the
help they need. Additionally,
the district is now using an in
tensive drug and alcohol pro-
gram in the sixth grade with fol
low-up components in seventh
and eight grades.
Like McDonald, Stein will
also help in training other staff
members.
Taking over at the high school
level, Jill Griffin discussed fur
ther changes in student counsel
ing and guidance needs. “What
do I want to do? What do I want
to be?” become major concerns
in high school, she said, so
counseling becomes goal-ori
ented, generally involving acad
emics, work goals and social
skill. Griffin’s responsibility also
includes classroom guidance,
small groups and work with indi
viduals.
In addition to the staff coun
selors, two counselors from
Columbia Comm unity Mental
Health keep regular schedules
in Vernonia schools.
New councilor asks
for involved citizens
Bridge Street Mall, along with a
wonderful family environment.
Barney, you’re the Cream of
the Crop. Thank you.
To the Editor:
Very recently I made the de
I would like to thank the citi cision to close my shop on
zens of Vernonia, who exer Dec. 29th, so I could have the
cised their constitutional right opportunity to help the most
to vote this past November 7th,
important person in my life, my
and, in addition, my thanks to
husband, who faithfully sup
those who cast a vote for me.
ported our fam ily for 22 years;
As I stated at candidate
so I could stay at home and
night, I look forward to the chal raise our children. This I have
lenge of continuing and en
done without hesitation.
hancing the progress that has
However, I am once again
been made in the City of Ver blessed by another of Vernon
nonia by the past and present ia’s special citizens. One of our
council members, mayor and com m unity’s businessmen has
city officials.
offered me a job as well as
My personal observations
space in his building to keep
over the past year from my Serenity Gardens alive in our
seat in “the gallery” , and the re town. Small businesses are the
sults you can see all over town,
heart of Vernonia. As well as
reflect the fact that Vernonia trying to provide services local
has a top notch city staff that ly, we support our students, our
works extremely hard for the
Fire Departm ent, and many
city. They deserve a huge
other fund-raisers as much as
thank you.
we can.
As there are a lot of projects
V ernonia is fortunate to
tha t are in the w orks and
have people who care enough
planned for the next few years,
about their town to help it grow.
and many of those projects will
Thank you to Councilman-
require com m unity in vo lve elect Glen Purvee and your
ment, I ask you, as the citizens
wonderful wife, Christine, for
I work for, to attend council
helping to “ keep this small
meetings as much as possible.
business alive” in our com m u
Based on the voter turnout this
nity. But more im portantly,
past election, it seem s that thank you for caring to make a
there are a lot of citizens who difference in Our Vernonia.
want to be involved. Any assis
So until we M erry Meet
tance is gratefully appreciated.
A gain at my new location,
Also, it is quite enlightening
Keep the Spirit Alive.
to hear what is REALLY going
Peace,
on in this wonderful city of ours.
Linda Grace Spry
I look forw ard to seeing
Serenity Gardens Herbals
those I know and the many I
Vernonia
have yet to meet.
Happy holidays to all.
Glen Purvee
Vernonia
Business will close,
then soon re-open
To the Editor:
For all my custom ers who
blessed me with their friend
ship, THANK YOU! For all that
I have given to you through
Serenity Gardens, you have
given back threefold through
your loyal support, but most of
all with your hearts. Vernonia is
filled with special people! Two
years ago I was fortunate to
meet one very special gentle
man whom I’ve com e to love
deeply. Mr. Barney Phillips en
abled me to see my dream be
com e a reality. He provided
me, as well as many others,
with an affordable space in his
School board, Fire board elections will be in March
Five Vernonia school board
positions will be on the March
13 ballot, plus two Vernonia
Fire District positions and three
in the Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Dis
trict.
School district directors
whose terms will be up include
chairman Jeff Blum, Kim Tier
ney and three recently-appoint
ed members - Leslie O'Leary,
Schann Nelson and Cari Lev-
enseller.
The appointees filled vacan
cies created when Susann
Ragsdale and April W hitworth
moved out ot the district, and
by the death of Debbie John
ston.
Open positions on the Ver
nonia Fire District Board of Di
rectors are currently held by
Don Webb and Lyle Barker.
The Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Dis
trict openings will be for three
positions presently filled by
Randy Hansen, Ray Kyser and
Paul Ramsay. Ramsay has an
nounced that he will not run for
re-election because of a con
flict with his job.
Candidates for these offices
must file a declaration of candi
dacy accompanied by either a
filing fee of $10.00, or a petition
for nomination signed by at
least 25 registered voters who
live in the district where the
candidate is running. Nomina
tion forms may be picked up in
the Columbia County Elections
Division at the Courthouse in
St. Helens.
Greetings from former
Vernonia residents
To the Editor:
Greetings and best wishes
during this Blessed season and
beyond. W e are enjoying our
new home and friends and very
grateful for all the new bless
ings we have received. But we
will not forget the 26 happy
years we had in Vernonia and
all the good friends we had and
still have there.
W e w ant to send special
good wishes to the gang at the
S enior Center, the H abitat
Com m ittee members, the A s
sem bly of God Church and our
neighbors on East Bridge
Street.
Hope som e of you have
made a special effort to meet
Tanya, who now lives at the ad
dress we once had. She is a
very nice person and new to
your town. Make her feel as
welcom e and special as you
once did for us.
All the best God has for all of
you. We love you anad think of
you all with kind thoughts. Mer
ry C hristm as and a special
New Year.
Eric & Pat Olson
Merlin, Oregon
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