The INDEPENDENT, August 1, 2001
Page 3
Lattors to the E d ito r
By Cindy Stanley, Library Assistant
Banks Public Library
maiden to mother to wisewoman through both you, would you? While you’re
The property was fenced
joy and loss. Experience the unfolding of one at it, if you see any of the board and gated in 1911. This past
woman’s role in the making of history.
officers (Pastor Joel Stith, Mr. year, a new gate was installed
The “Cultural Pass to Adventure” program is
Banks Public Library also serves the commu Bill Yeo and Mrs. Sandy and funds are now being
back for a second great year, thanks to the gen nity’s many commuters with a variety of books DeWeber), it would be good to raised to replace the old fence.
erosity of the following sponsors: Banks Phar on tape. A new addition to our collection is the thank them, too. I will draw A small volunteer group is
macy, Banks Chamber of Commerce, Big Horn unabridged version of David Gutterson’s East of greatly from their knowledge working with the Cemetery
Logging, Brown Derby Restaurant, City of Banks the Mountains. Gutterson, the author of the and experience, I’m sure, and Beautification Committee.
Tree Board, Gookin Plumbing, the Linus Her- best-seller Snow Falling on Cedars, tells the sto look forward to working with
If you are interested in help
mens family, and the North Plains Chamber of ry of Ben Givens, a terminally ill retired doctor them.
ing, a donation may be taken
Commerce. The program allows library patrons who has chosen to end his own life in order to
I love Vernonia and I believe or sent to the Vernonia City
to reserve free admittance passes to cultural in spare himself and his family from suffering. you do, too. I have found Ver- Hall and designated for the Pi
stitutions. Passes are again available for the When Ben sets out from home with his two hunt nonians to be a caring and oneer Cemetery. Any help will
Children’s Museum, the Portland Art Museum, ing dogs he does not intend to return. He also generous people. Through be appreciated and put to use
the Japanese Garden, the World Forestry Cen does not intend to be caught up in a series of in your help and donations to Ver to maintain this historic ceme
ter, the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Cen terwoven events that take him through his boy nonia Cares, you demonstrate tery.
ter and the Washington County Museum. This hood home of western Washington state on a the truth that, “Friends who
Ellen Meyer
year we’ve added two new partners, the Port journey of personal discovery.
care, share.” I look forward to
Ethel Blackburn
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons is your continued support as I
land Chinese Garden and the Oregon Historical
Ralph & Carolyn Keasey
Society. Registration forms and program guide another notable addition. This heart wrenching help serve this community.
Vernonia
lines are available at the library. Sign up now for love story is set in the city of Leningrad, Russia,
Sandy Welch
a great summer family activity!
during the German invasion of World War II. Ta
Vernonia Visual screening a
New additions to the Banks Library collection tiana Metanova’s heart is drawn to Red Army
worth noting include Jacquelyn Mitchard’s new soldier Alexander Belov, but she learns that this Forum helps keep help for many kids
novel, A Theory of Relativity. This is a gripping is the same man her sister loves. Within the
To the Editor:
story of a family struggling to survive their sor pages of this book you will find the terror of war, focus on issues
When we received our fifth
row over the loss of two family members by de the unimaginable heartbreak of losing ail you
To
the
Editor:
grade daughter’s end-of-year
voting themselves heart and soul to the care of hold dear, and the nobility and sacrifice of two
I
would
like
to
thank
The
In
report card from Washington
the one-year-old child who was left behind by heroic lovers.
dependent for providing a fo Elementary School, the enve
the tragedy. Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep
rum
to focus public attention on lope was fat with 2001 Oregon
End of the Ocean, launched Oprah’s Book Club
Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street.
local conservation issues.
Statewide Assessment Re
and is also available at the Banks Library.
Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.;
The way we treat our envi ports, her Progress Report and
Priestess of Avalon is the long-awaited epic in
Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ronment, our home really, is an a Visual Screening Results Re
the Mists of Avalon saga by Marion Zimmer
Preschool Story Time, Weds., 10:15 a.m.
indication
that we are either a port. This letter is regarding the
Bradley. Combining myth, magic and romance,
Phone: (503 ) 324-1382
maturing civilization evolving Visual Screening.
this enchanting story follows British princess
Internet: www.WILInet.wccls.lib.or.us.
toward sustainability or a de
We have two daughters,
Eilan - known to the Romans as Helena - from
clining one based on the plun Elise, whose report we re
der of natural resources.
ceived, and Pearcia, a senior
Thanks also to improved at Western Oregon University
ocean
conditions, the endan next term. Pearcia graduated
From page 2
ing at an Idaho Power campground just down
oohed and awed at the awesome sight. The stream of the Bronlee Dam on the Snake River. gered species act, the gover from Vernonia High School as
girls were less impressed, except with the rock Dinner was abruptly interrupted by yellow jack nor’s Oregon plan for salmon a National Honor Society
wall next to the sheer drop into the volcanic ets, which seemed abundant in the east side of cooperating landowners, much member with great aspirations
money and thousands of vol toward a college education and
basin, which they wanted to keep walking. This Oregon this year.
death- defying act made me totally forget to
Day eight saw us traveling to the Snake Riv unteer hours, salmon returning a bright future. We knew from
wonder what it would be like to kayak around er Overlook, the town of Joseph, Wallowa Lake to their native streams to experience that her work at
Wizard Island, so the girls probably saved me and Lehman Hot Springs. Unfortunately, the spawn will find them healthier VHS did not come easily.
“ I JUST DON’T GET IT! ”
from being tossed over the edge myself. The Lehman Hot Springs were closed, as they are than when they left four short
years
ago.
was
the frustrating cry our fam
rest of our day was spent on the road, traveling every Monday and Tuesday and the girls decid
Dennis A. Nelson ily heard many times in our
to the Summer Lake hot springs. I thought the ed that a nice motel with a pool at Pendleton
Vernonia kitchen, late at night, as she
girls might curl up their noses at the rustic sur was more desirable than camping out on the
struggled with an assignment,
roundings on the edge of the desert but, to my middle fork of the John Day River.
surprise, they wanted to stay longer and swim in
Anxious to get home, the girls steered our Pioneer Cemetery in usually with her in tears. We
knew Pearcia had set a very
the indoor pool. We spent the night in one of the course back to Vernonia on day nine. While
high standard for herself. We
rental travel trailers available at the hot springs. there were moments during the trip, I am sure need of donations
believed
she was over-pres
After a hearty breakfast at Paisley, we head the girls will remember this trip for the rest of
suring herself and would tell
ed south to Valley Falls, then north along Lake their lives. They got glimpses of some of Ore To the Editor:
One hundred-one years her to just do her best work
Abert on Highway 395. The girls were getting gon’s most spectacular treasures. I, once again,
tired of driving each day, so we bypassed the got to fill the role of a Dad, a role that has been ago, William Mellinger, Sr. do and be satisfied with her effort.
planned trip to Glass Butte and headed straight lacking in my life, and yes, Donna and I are still nated a small piece of his prop She got an “A” for effort from
erty to establish the local Pio us!
to John Day and a good night’s sleep in a motel. engaged.
These late night sessions
Our attraction at John Day was the Karn Wah
Get out and explore your world. Memories are neer Cemetery. According to
Columbia County historian, were frequent and they con
Chung museum, which gives an amazing yours for the making.
Lesta Ganner, the balance of cerned us, but we simply could
glimpse into the lives of two Chinese immigrants
the cemetery property was do not find a way to help her. She
of the late 1800’s.
Izaak Walton League Nehalem Valley
nated in 1916, by Charles could read, we got her correc
We toured the museum on the morning of our
Chapter meetings are on the third Thurs
Bergerson. This cemetery is lo tive lenses after having her “vi
seventh day, then headed east to the Oregon
day of each month at 7:00 p.m. The public
cated about a mile from Ver sion" checked, but this did little
Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City. At first,
for her comprehension.
Is
welcome.
nonia on Keasey Road.
the girls were not thrilled at the thought of an
Pearcia went off to U of O
For meeting location, call (503) 429-7193.
The names of many of those
other museum, but they soon were engrossed in
who struggled in those early and promptly started failing
the displays. Our spot for the night ended up be
days to establish and keep the any class with a high reading
Vernonia area a thriving com content. Her first term was dis
Letters ta tba Editar
munity are displayed on the astrous. She requested help
Rummage sale funds Fund, as the co-sponsor of this to add, so don’t miss their sale! stones spread around the from the disabilities depart
ment, but she had no medical
I would like to take this op grounds.
will go to help others event. It couldn’t have hap
pened without you.
portunity, also, to personally
The care of the cemetery diagnosis to justify it. She was
There were many customers thank my predecessor, Lisa has always been voluntary and stuck, and our honor student
To the Editor:
who came to the sale and pur Edgar, for her capable and car the responsibility for this care did not want to continue at col
On behalf of Vernonia Cares
chased items. Thank you for ing leadership. I know it was a has passed through several or lege without being able to meet
Food Bank, I wish to thank
supporting us. Vernonia Cares hard decision to resign from ganizations and is now held by the standards she had set for
those who helped make the
profited $1,070.83, which will Vernonia Cares in order to the City of Vernonia. The herself.
Vernonia Cares Rummage
Her optometrist suggested a
help supply emergency food have more time for her family rough, hilly terrain is a chal
Sale, held July 20 - 22, a suc for many people in our commu
and also for their pet store. lenge to workers, but in the “vision screening." I was lost.
cess. Many volunteers helped
During Lisa’s four years as di past few years it has been Hadn’t he just given her an eye
nity.
prepare and run the sale. You
There still are many excel rector of Vernonia Cares Food mowed and trimmed, so on exam? Yes, but the test he was
worked hard and long, and you
lent rummage items left, and Bank, she provided an excel Memorial Day it shows that referring to had nothing to do
are appreciated. Thank you! I
we hope the Boy Scouts will do lent model for me to follow. I there are still those who care. with the health of her eyes or
also wish to thank Glen Purvee
well with their sale during Jam appreciate Lisa, and I hope you All of the burial plots have been her ability to see; it was strictly
for the use of his building, and
boree. I understand that they do, too. Drop by her pet store, sold, so there is no income about how her eyes worked
Synda Allen, representing the
together. I was introduced to
have even more merchandise Creatures, and tell her thank from the cemetery.
Vernonia Cemetery Monument
Please see page 10
Iko Ssys • * »