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