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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2001)
By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library As summer approaches each year, the dilem ma arises concerning the importance to the community of a library-sponsored summer read ing program and whether it is worth the extra ef fort it takes for the volunteers and staff. Just look at the faces of the audience watching the mari onette show held in June and pictured in the last issue of The Independent and judge for yourself whether this is a worthwhile project. This picture represents not only the number and age range of participants, but reflects the wonder, joy and excitement that is being experienced. The mari onette show was the publicized event sponsored by the Oregon Library Association and a large audience was anticipated, so it has been a huge (in more ways than one) and pleasant surprise that attendance at the weekly craft/activity/story sessions conducted by volunteers has also been very successful. To date, some of the volunteers have included Torie Clement demonstrating horse care and riding; Eleanor Thompson, Duke Gortler and Bob Wiley playing some old-time music; Doreen Buchan with helpers Adam Buchan, Bud Normand and Travis Baker direct ing a leather stamping activity; Orissa Burghard overseeing crafts; and Heidi and Dylan Burch leading outside games. Because the number of youngsters attending has been large, groups have been created and alternated among the three activities presented each Thursday after noon. Remaining activities include the following: Thursday, July 19 1 p.m., library - crafts/story/activity 7 p.m., Anderson Park - songs & cookout (Pre-sign up is required.) Thursday, July 26 1 p.m., library - story/bike rodeo (Bring own bike) 7 p.m., library - Native American presentation by Bill White Eagle Wilson Thursday, August 2 1 p.m., library - story/crafts (in preparation for Jamboree) The reptile presentation by Mary Esther Hart this past week was enjoyed by more than 100 adults and children; it was especially wonderful that so many parents attended with their chil dren. Don’t forget the Native American presen tation on July 26, and plan on attending this with your children also. Bill White Eagle Wilson was here about four years ago and he is very inter esting and entertaining. Keep in mind that these activities would not have been possible if the new library had not been built and if the City did not continue to fund the summer reading program. It wouldn’t hurt to express your thoughts about the library and its activities to City Council members and City em ployees. While the focus has been on youngsters this summer, adults have not been forgotten. LV Schoonover has installed an instructional com puter program on library computers. Anyone wishing to acquaint themselves with Microsoft Word, Excel or other aspects of computer use may now do so. Whoopee! With the beginning of a new fiscal year, new books are once again being added to the collection. These include Dark Hollow by John Connolly, Leap of Faith by Danielle Steel, Dead North by Sue Henry, and Writ of Execution by Perri O’Shaughnessy. Two new novels that should be of special interest in the Pacific North west are K Falls by Skye Kathleen Moody and A River Out of Eden by John Hockenberry. These are both mysteries involving ecological conflicts of the Columbia River and surrounding areas. Oprah’s latest recommendation, and another new acquisition is entitled Cane River. Lalita Tademy is the author of this riveting family saga that chronicles four generations of women bom into slavery along the Cane River in Louisiana. Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail and The Johnstown Flood are the latest non-fiction acquisitions. Last, but not least, be sure to notice the bark dust around the library. This was made possible by a SOLV (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) grant and by a donation, specified for this pur pose, to the Friends of the Library. Don’t forget to support the Friends of the Library and their book sale to be held Saturday, August 4th, at the old library site, 919 Bridge Street. V ern onia L ib ra ry 701 W eed Avenue H o u rs: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues., Thur. 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Preschool Story Time, Mondays, 10:30 a.m. P hone: (503) 429-1818 Latta» to tlw Editor ...... ' .......................... July 4th festivities are community effort To the Editor: What a wonderful 4th of July—a little cool, as usual. Our parade started off at 7:30, led by our fire trucks clearing the way. Cub Scout Pack 201, carried the flags, followed by Uncle Sam (April Buckner) and all the children dressed in red, white and blue. We thought it was a wonderful parade with all the entries. We would like to thank sev eral groups for their help. First of all, to Pat and Darlene Knight, of Lew’s Place, for the spaghetti dinner with aN pro ceeds going to the fireworks fund. Thank you to the Vernon ia Fire Department for entering their trucks in the parade and to Metro West Ambulance for joining in. Thank you to both departments for being at the school grounds for the fire- works. Thanks to Kathy Brekken and her crew of Tim Bamburg, Donald Gutman, Matt Poetter, Luke Heckathorn, Jessie Bor ders, Ben Davis, Tim Davis, Jessica Weller, Pheeni Moore, Darrel Wolfe, Tracie Wolfe and i n ............................ h u m * ................ Greg Schaumburg for setting up and firing the fireworks, special thank you to Paul Epler for all the help he gives me, making sure I’ve done it right and everything is ready to go. They all did a wonderful job. Thank you to those who fur nished us with a storage place for our fireworks ahead of time. Thank you to the Police De partment for their help and sup port, the city crew for putting out the traffic barriers, the school for the use of the grounds, The Independent for the nice ads about the 4th of July activities and last, but not least, the Cub Scouts for clean ing up the grounds and down town the next day. Thank you to all the organi zations, businesses and indi- viduals for their support with money donations (see ad for list of donors). We fell a little short this year, but without your help, we wouldn’t be able to have the fireworks. There have been some questions raised about who we let have stands for selling goodies on the school grounds We would like to tell you why we let these two groups be there. The Booster Club spon sored the fireworks before Ver nonia Pride took them over and now the money they raise from their sales goes back into the community. The Cub Scouts are an organization that also puts their time and energy back into our community. Both orga nizations also donate to the fireworks fund. Thanks to both of these groups for their sup port. We would like to thank the people who did not bring their own fireworks to the school grounds, where so many peo ple had gathered. There are al ways a few people who think we don’t mean them. Vernonia Pride feels we all had a great 4th of July. Thank you to the community for your support. This is a great com munity of volunteers. Thanks Enid Parrow Vernonia Pride Don’t save water by banning car washes To the Editor: If the City wishes to prohib it washing cars with city water, that would cause a whole lot of dirty cars, and save a little wa ter. But to eliminate carwash fundraisers, and ask the volun teer firefighters to limit their use would only transfer the spigot from which the water comes, since most of those cars will be washed anyway. Why pick on firefighters? The group which donates so much of their time and energy to making Vernonia a safer place to be. Frazier Rohm Vernonia El Niño caused fish dGclinG, not humans To the Editor: The fish are back! Best re turn of Columbia River salmon and steelhead in recorded his tory. Both the Cowlitz and Sandy Rivers had millions of smelt this spring. All coast streams have heavy runs of salmon, steelhead and sea run trout. For years, environmentalists have blamed the farmer, the logger, the fisherman, the rancher, for the decline in fish population. We now know for certain the blame belongs elsewhere. Without question, the warming of ocean waters by El Niño was the problem. The water has now cooled and is allowing the fish to return in a normal cycle. Given this information, soci ety should apologize to these folks “Big Time” for the harass ment they have endured. They should be commended for pro viding food, clothing and hous ing to this nation in spite of the environmental agenda. Perhaps, on behalf of soci ety, your newspaper would like to join with the other editors to print an apology, front page please! Deri Roberts Vernonia do so. That was you and your heart surrounding everyone, protecting everyone, helping those in need, always. I saw you grow from a little boy to a man. As your Sunday school teacher, I knew you had a personal relationship with the Lord. I also knew you could be an imp. No one ever said God didn’t have a sense of humor. We had so many discussions in those days on the back step of the old Baptist Church. We talked of what was beyond and you were convinced there was more to look forward to. We talked of you as a mighty war rior fighting the Lord’s battles and you puffed up your chest and would march around! As your helper teacher in school, I knew you were blessed with a wonderful ca pacity for knowledge and you applied yourself. Even then, you were willing to help others so they might understand the lesson as you did. As your friend, I always looked forward to your great hugs! I saw your smile warm and melt many a heart, young and old. I saw the look of de termination while playing bas ketball and football, the look of joy while winning and the dis appointment of losing. Still, you ministered to others, whatever the circumstance. I am privi leged to have known you and loved you as one of my own kids. So, Robbie, this isn’t good bye, merely I will see you later. You have enriched all of our lives with your presence. Keep your wonderful light shining bright to lead the way home for others. I Love You, Kiddo. God Bless. Barb Ervin Vernonia Early support for Stein for governor To the Editor: I am writing in support of Beverly Stein for Governor. Stein is the positive, effective woman who served as CEO for Multnomah County for eight Robbie was a light successful years. She is expe rienced and tested running the shining the way state’s third largest govern ment, and she has a proven To the Editor: record of results. I wanted to say goodbye to While other candidates are Robert Grant (Robbie) Baska still testing the water to see publically. Robbie, you were what they want to do, Beverly the light, the beacon that has jumped in wholeheartedly brightened people lives. You with an intention to win. There touched people’s hearts with are over 1,500 volunteers who your wonderful smile. You were believe in Beverly Stein’s hon such a great kid. Your belief in esty, enthusiasm, energy and God shone through in all you ability to work successfully with did. all people working now in al Friends always meant a lot most every county in the state to you. I have seen you go the to let people know about Bev extra mile for them, even when erly and her proven capabili it was a little unwise for you to ties. These are the reasons why I support Beverly Stein and be POLICY ON LETTERS lieve she is the best choice to The INDEPENDENT welcomes readers’ letters and will pub be our next Governor. lish as many as possible. All letters must be signed, including Anne Splane Phillips those sent by fax, and include a verifiable address and tele Astoria phone number, which will not be printed except at the writer's request. Unsigned letters will not be published. More Letters on page 13
