Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2001)
________ The INDEPENDENT, Septem ber 19, 2001 LattBrs to tho Editor____________ Between tbe Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library \J\le watch movies and read books where (for the most part) the good guy triumphs. Harrison Ford portraying Jack Ryan, in Tom Clancy’s thrilling novels of espionage, always out-thinks and out-maneuvers the enemy to save his fami ly and his country. James Bond, in Ian Fleming’s novels and movies always (through the use of all kinds of ingenious devices and maneuvers) wins the struggle and the girl. Lucas Davenport and Lincoln Rhyme, protagonists created by John Sandford and Jeffery Deaver, respectively, solve crimes and save lives time after time. In books and in movies people walk across narrow logs spanning wide and deep chasms, are rescued from burning buildings by grabbing lines at tached to helicopters, and escape man-eating sharks. The events of this past week have shown that we live in a real world and that even the most extraordinary individuals cannot always find ways to prevent tragedy. At times like this, though, fantasy may help by interjecting some diversion from thoughts and news coverage of this horrible event and its pos sible consequences. If this is the case, the li brary has some recent acquisitions that might fulfill this need. These include Envy by Sandra Brown, The Associate by Phillip Margolin, The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans, Tell No One by Harlan Coben, Love Among the Ruins by Robert Clark, and Comfort Me With Apples by Dean Harding McGarity. Remember that, in ad dition to the fiction and non-fiction materials, the library has a nice collection of audio and video tapes that may be checked out, as well as cur rent issues of 35 magazines. The latest issue of Northwest Travel features drives that may be taken to enjoy the beautiful fall leaves, Family Fun has some great ideas for Halloween cos tumes, Better Homes and Gardens highlights ideas for fall decorating, and Crafting Traditions contains ideas for autumn craft projects for both inside and outside your home. The next scheduled meeting for the Friends of the Library will be October 9th, at 1:00 p.m. in the library. Suggestions are still being accepted for the project or projects to best benefit the li brary with the funds raised during the Jamboree book sale/raffle. Vernonia Library 701 Weed Avenue Hours: 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. Phone: (503)429-1818 Letters to the Editor Compliments for job on Anderson Park To the Editor: We stayed at Anderson Park for “Old Timers Day” and then stayed on for another ten days in our fifth-wheel trailer. We were parked in new spot #5. I would like to compliment the City of Vernonia on a mod ern facility. A great improve ment from years past. The landscaping around the re strooms is very professional and beautiful. Message from Denmark From page 2 In the prayer Tuesday, I said something about dismay that the world created by God with such great possibilities, should experience such a terribly deep wound, and I prayed for strength to meet the evil with wisdom so that primitive vio lence does not just foster more violence and revenge and new hatred. Love, Johannes Additional Editor's note: Denmark has, for many years, observed the U.S. Independence Day on July 4th in Rebild Park, with speakers from America and Denmark. Page 3 Anderson Park being both a city park for residents and local children and also a RV Park for visitors and tourists presents some unique challenges to the city administration and the op erator. Where the local children have the great play area and the new play facility to have fun in, they, of course, make a joy ous noise in their pleasure. On the other hand, the visitors want to visit with their friends rest, relax and socialize. There are 19 parking pads, well done with 50 Amp service, available water with deep un derground valves to prevent freezing and a sewer outlet available for every pad. The pads are all paved and level, the electrical service at 50 Amps is very good, and the wa ter is good. The covered group area was greatly appreciated during the “Old Timers Picnic” [with] wet sinks, drinking fountains and lights and electricity for the P.A. system. [Plus] the bathhouse and showers in a nice new beautiful building and parking for handicapped provided. I thought the fire rings were very nice and of a unique de sign, well built and functional. Jack & Joyce Gates Cool, Calif Banks Chamber, not city, seeking RARE intern assistance To the Editor: This is in response to the ar ticle titled “Banks Council ap proves engineering fees, sets Scout Cabin fees." A part of this article was inaccurate, by no fault of The INDEPENDENT. The subject was in regard to Banks having the opportunity to participate in a program to build community capacity. This is not a city project nor does it have to do with community capacity. The project was started by the Banks Chamber of Com merce as a business/economic development project, and con tinues as such by the Chamber. It will be a joint project with Gaston, as far as sharing a RARE staff person goes. To date, however, only one person from the RARE program has been interviewed jointly by rep resentatives of the Banks Chamber and Gaston. The City of Banks has not received funds for this project, nor are they supposed to, and the RARE staff person (provid ed we get one) will not work un der the direction of city planner K.J. Won. If the position is filled, the staffer will be under the direct supervision of Jeff Don’t let fear control our decision-making To the Editor: Fear Today, in the aftermath of a horror unimaginable in our life time, I am reminded of the im pact fear has on us and how we react. Daily, we are barraged with information through the media, be it television, radio or the In ternet, that instills fear: “Gun man attacks at local high school”, “AIDS at an all time high”, “New virus kills many", or “Ten dead in multi-car pile up on highway.” It is endless, and a constant reminder to us all how fragile life is, and we are afraid. Because of our fears, we have allowed laws to pass that govern our individual choices: Helmet laws, seatbelt laws, gun laws, drug laws, parenting laws and the list goes on. Instead of holding the irresponsible ac countable for their actions, we have decided to punish the ma jority. The “Powers That Be" use fear to get us to succumb to their ideals, and we allow it because we are afraid of the actions of others and the losses we may incur. Fear is a power ful way to control people and has been used throughout his tory to take control of the mass es under the pretext of being “for our own good.” On September 11, 2001, when the unthinkable hap pened here in the United States, it added new fears to our list of many. New laws will be passed, more freedoms re moved, and our lives here in the United States, if not world wide, will be altered forever. It saddens me to think that in stead of dying for the cause of freedom, as thousands upon thousands have in the past, the victims of this atrocity will be lost at the expense of it. I bring this up now, only be cause Americans are at their finest in a time of crisis. We are true to ourselves, true to each other and braver than ever. To day, we are strong, involved and active in our country and community. We are united in a cause far more powerful than our own personal needs. We can see outside of our individ ual boxes and feel the pain of those around us. Today, we have a voice! Today, we care about more than ourselves. Please don’t let this tragedy change the foundation on which America is based. Don’t let the lives of so many be lost in vain. We are united in this great nation...use this time of sadness and unity to make our country more powerful than ever by giving back the power to the people as individuals. Trust in yourselves to make the right choices, trust in your neighbors to do the right things. Goodness surrounds us. You can sqe it in the heroic ef forts of so many men and women today. You can feel it in others as you pass them on the street, despite the horror of such evil. We do not need to save our selves from each other. We need to embrace our differ ences and grow from them. What will keep us safe is zero tolerance to the wrongdoings of the few. Hold individuals ac countable and keep the rest of us free! King, of the Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac), with the help of’one person from Banks and one from Gaston. In Banks, RARE intern would work on business- related issues such as low in terest loans, business grants, business retention/expansion, etc. The City of Banks was asked if they would like to par ticipate with the Banks Cham ber on this project, and re sponded that they would sup port the Chamber’s efforts as long as the City did not have to spend any time working on it or put any money towards it. (There are parts of this project that require the blessings of the City of Banks.) I have talked with Mayor Or- lowski about this article. He in dicated to me that the City of Banks is working on so many projects that he was mixed up about which project he was dis cussing. He also apologized to me and the Chamber for the misunderstanding and suggest ed that I contact you with a cor rection. Thank you, Marie Botchie Vernonia Steve Harr Banks Chamber of Commerce Business Development Please see page 18
