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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, February 7, 2001 Page 3 Letters to the Editor Lions seek help with gazebo construction To the Editor: Several years ago, the Vernonia Lions constructed a multi-purpose covered picnic facility at Hawkins Park. Unfor tunately, because of deteriora tion and vandalism over the years, it had to be demolished. At the request of several cit izens, the Lions Club is plan ning to replace the structure By Denise Holmes, Librarian Banks Public Library Looking for a good read for a dark winter’s night? How about A Star Called Henry? Billed as an epic, a love story and a portrait of modern Irish history, this novel by Roddy Doyle was named Editor’s Choice by The New York Times and a Notable Book by the American Library As sociation. If you’re thinking of a weekend get away, check out Quick Escapes Pacific North west. It contains 32 weekend mini-vacations which are easily reached from Portland, Seattle, or Vancouver, British Columbia. Whether you prefer hot springs, high desert or city delights, this guidebook provides suggested activities, restaurants and lodging, travel directions and maps, shopping tips and listings of special events for each destination. Or if you want to stay home, try out some of the 1,200 collected recipes in the new Martha Stewart Living Cook book. Compiled from the first 10 years of Martha Stewart Living Magazine, this collection contains something for every occasion and taste. If you live in the Banks area and are interest ed in supporting the Library, mark your calen dars for Tuesday, March 6th at 7:00 p.m. That is the date for the next meeting of the Friends of the Banks Public Library. The Friends always welcome new members. Membership dona tions, along with other projects, are part of their ongoing fundraising efforts. The Friends’ contri butions make possible many of the Library’s vi tal functions such as Pre-School Story Time, monthly recycling and tons of best-selling books. SalomBépoft By Pep. Elaine M. Hopson Second District Three weeks into the session, things are moving ahead. Although not everyone agrees about everything, the feeling of cooperation and respect is continuing as we plow through some very difficult issues. My committee assignments this year are Agri culture and Forestry, Vice-chair of Student Achievement and School Accountability (former ly known as Education) and the Education sub committee of Ways and Means. Since these were what I had requested, I felt very fortunate. These are areas of importance to our District and about which I know enough to make a con tribution to the deliberative process. Of course, the budget looms over everything and is of major concern. The Governor’s pro posed budget (By statute, the Governor has to publish a balanced budget by December.) pro vides a basis upon which we all focus as a start ing point. Initial work on the Education Budget is in progress. As the item that uses the largest portion of the state budget, this “elephant” will receive close scrutiny. In addition, there are sev eral areas of particular concern in District 2, in cluding funding for county Fairs, reductions in senior services and transportation, hatchery clo sures, reductions in OSU Extension Services and other extremely important services. The big news is that the Ways and Means Co- chairs (that’s the money folks - Rep. Ben West- lund, R-Redmond/Sisters area and Senator Lenn Hannon, R-Medford/Ashland area) have released what is called the “Co-chairs Budget." This budget comes out after the session starts and, with the Governor’s budget, establishes the platform and format from which a final budget will be developed. The fact that the Co-chairs’ Budget is out so early provides great optimism for the process. Although the two budgets do not agree, there are many similarities and areas of agreement. Everyone is concerned about allocating the State’s resources in a way that best meets the with a gazebo to be located near the Scout Cabin. Plans for the building are complete, but the cost of materials far ex ceeds the resources available. To successfully complete this project, community assis The Friends also purchase items for the Library such as book-ends and step stools. You can be come more familiar with the Friends’ mission and activities by stopping in the Library lobby to read the minutes and notes from their most re cent meeting which are posted there. You may also pick up a membership application from the Library Circulation desk. One of the Friends’ major activities of the year is the annual Book and Plant Sale, held at the end of April. It’s not too early to begin thinking about items you may want to contribute to the sale. If your spring-cleaning includes books that you’d like to donate, or if you have plants that you will be able to provide from your yard, please call the Library. It’s getting closer to tax time, and new federal and state forms are in. The Library is a conve nient place to get your tax forms or to make copies while you are here. You may also access the IRS website for any forms not available lo cally. Don’t forget to take all your recyclable items to the SWATCO Service Yard on Sellers Rd. on Saturday, Feb 10th. Volunteers and Friends of the Library will be glad to assist you between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. tance is essential. The club is hopeful that individuals, busi nesses and organizations will be willing to assist. The cost of materials will exceed $7,400. The club will use available funds and provide labor but, without broad assistance, the project will not get done. Please call Lion President Larry Doppke, 503-429-6705 or project manager Jim Prpich, 503-429-3315, if you can assist with materials and/or labor. The club is also looking for people interested in joining the largest service organization in the world. Contact any Lion or come to a meeting on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Lew’s. Art Parrow Publicity Chairman Vernonia Lions A challenge to help educate our children many benefits. You might find yourself becoming a hero to a child, be the recipient of a work of art, or you might find yourself with the arms of a grateful child around your neck. Now those are benefits. There are many ways you can make a difference. You could sponsor a party for a class, share a skill or donate materials. Did you know that monetary gifts to our schools are tax-deductible? If you have construction expertise, Lincoln school is trying to organize a project to build stairs from the upper parking area. Many com panies, such as Intel, offer “matching-funds” programs that will double or even triple your financial gift to the schools. Some companies will even donate money if the em ployee spends time volunteer ing at the school. Check with your employer. Last, but by no means least, one of the best ways to support our schools is to know what your kids are learning at school. Help them to remem ber their homework and spend time reading with them. Take time around the dinner table to discuss what is going on with them. Those few minutes are an investment in the future and the returns are awesome. Jill Wiseman Vernonia To the Editor: How many times have you been in a group of people chat ting when the subject of our schools comes up? Invariably there follows a series of com plaints from large class sizes, inadequate curriculum to poor teaching. Since coming to Ver nonia last year, I have had the Banks Public Library: 111 M arket Street. privilege of observing first H o u rs: Tues., Wed., Tburs., 11a.m . - 7 p.m.; hand how our schools function. Fri. and S a t 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. I have witnessed the chal Preschool Story Time, W eds., 10:15 a.m. lenges that face our teachers and have noted many deficien Let’s put activities cies, none of which are due to on local access TV any lack of effort on the part of ...................... " " " To the Editor: our faculty and staff. Many of you are aware that I was pleased to find that our needs of the people. There are many good pro teachers in this district are Vernonia has a television cable grams that need to be funded and not enough among the most frugal people I company. As part of our cable money to fund everything, so difficult decisions have met. They covet their re service, we receive Channel 7 sources and are careful not to for public access. Currently, will need to be made. HB 2047, providing funding for County fairs, waste anything, an effort I ap Channel 9 in St. Helens sends moved out of the Agriculture and Forestry sub plaud, given our disposable so us a tape with their news and [Columbia] County Commis committee, but will still need some careful ciety. Our teachers and staff in sioner meetings, etc. I asked watching to see that it continues to receive sup port and makes it through the process. It was a Vernonia are the most in them how we could get Ver great help to have fair directors and students at volved. If you attend one of the nonia programs on Channel 7 sporting events in town, you and their response was, “Film it tend the hearing and participate in the process. In Education Ways and Means, we have been will find that the people who are and send it to us; we will send working with a number of licensing agencies to encouraging our children to ex it to your cable service for air support them as they license their members. In cel at school are the same ing. I have begun filming City cluded were Naturopathic Examiners; Licensed ones sitting in the bleachers Council meetings, sporting Professional Counselors and Therapists; Clini cheering them on to victory. events and other areas of inter cal Social Workers; Occupational Therapists; They often spend entire days est to Vernonians. It has be Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; devoted to the children in their come apparent, though, that I and Radiologic Technology. Other licensing classes, our children. From bus need help if we are going to drivers to janitorial staff to cover all of these events. If you agencies will be reviewed next week. are interested, please contact Bills regarding private school student partici teachers, they are all there. Many of our teachers and me at 503-429-5201. pation in public school activities, location of one I am still working out details school district within another, implementation of staff commute an hour or more the Quality Education Model and other issues each day to teach in Vernonia. for transport of tapes and tim are being heard in Education - now known as Nayan Fleenor, a second ing of viewing schedules on Student Achievement and School Accountability. grade teacher at Lincoln, even Channel 7. Currently, the There have already been a number of visitors keeps a sleeping bag in her car schedule for viewing County and I encourage you to come to Salem. Al in case she is working late and and local news is as follows: though I have an open door policy and an ap the weather prohibits her from Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., pointment isn’t mandatory, it does help me going home. Now that is what I Monday, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., schedule my availability to meet with you. Of call “devotion.” Even our bus Tuesday, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., course, always feel free to call, write and/or e- drivers will work into the wee Wednesday, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., mail me with your thoughts, ideas and concerns. hours transporting our kids to Thursday, 5:00 to 9:00 a.m., Representing you is what I want to do, please school functions and sporting Friday, 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 to 1:00 a.m. keep in touch and let me know your concerns. events. Please tune in and check So, here is the challenge for us, as citizens of Vernonia: out what is going on in your Rep. E laine H opson When the subject of our community. Remember, most galem f l f f t e H-376 State Capitol schools comes up, ask those of the filming is done on a vol Salem, OR 97310 who would complain what they unteer basis. If you cannot do P hone:503-986-1402 nate time, how about donating are doing to make it better. email: hopson.rep@state.or.us some money so we can ex There are many opportuni Tillamook Office: P.O. Box 656 ties to improve our schools. pand this service in Vernonia. Tillamook, OR 97141 Donna Gehrke One of the ways is to volunteer Phone:1-503-842-5656 Vernonia in the classrooms. There is no em ail: ehopson@oregoncoast.com training required and there are
