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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2001)
V * Tree lighting, bazaar, start holiday season Living history... The Christmas season be gins this weekend in Vernonia with the annual “Christmas in Vernonia” bazaar and the Com munity Christmas Tree lighting on Saturday, December 1. The tree lighting will be at 6:00 p.m. next to Vernonia Re alty & Insurance, with caroling by the Vernonia High School choir beginning at approxi mately 5:40 p.m. In case of bad weather, the choir will sing at the Vernonia Public Library. Many businesses will stay open to accommodate shop pers after the tree lighting, and Grey Dawn Gallery will be open with a new show of Christopher Burkett’s awe-inspiring Oregon images. Two day bazaar Descendents of Nehalem Valley pioneers celebrated the restoration of the Mist Church, last Sunday, enjoying reminders of the past that included the original church bell and the roster of Nehalem Valley Pioneers charter members, with many names that are still very much a part of life in the area. See article and more photos on page 12. Vernonia school bond defeated at poll A bid by the Vernonia School District for a $14.9 million bond measure to replace Washing ton and Lincoln Grade Schools and Vernonia High School, was defeated, with 720 ballots cast in opposition and 508 in sup port of the measure. Nearly 60 percent of the district’s voters participated in the election. There was little difference between voters in rural Vernon ia precincts and City of Vernon ia voters. Mist voters, however, opposed the bond measure by 68 percent to 32 percent. Mist also had a lower voter turn out, with only 50 percent returning their ballots. To be valid, the election required a majority of Interested in parks? Get involved The City of Vernonia is seeking an interested person to fill a vacancy on the Parks Committee. The Parks Committee acts as an advisory board to the City Council, making recommendations for long-range plans for the development and use of City parks. The committee meets monthly at City Hall. Committee members are appointed by the mayor with the consent of the council. Letters of interest may be submitted to Director of Public Works Robyn Bassett at Vernonia City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR by December 30, 2001. » * registered voters to cast ballots because it was a money mea sure in a general election of a non-presidential election year- that may be confusing, but that is the system previously ap proved by voters. “Christmas in Vernonia,” the twenty-third annual Vernonia Booster Club bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 2 from noon to 5:00 p.m., in the Wash ington Grade School gym, 199 Pictures with Santa Bridge Street. Organizers are predicting Santa Claus will be very that this year’s Bazaar will be busy around town, too, as he one of the best ever! There will makes himself available for pic be approximately 50 tables with tures at both the bazaar and at handcrafted items such as Buds and Blooms, 859 Bridge wooden toys, wreaths, dolls, Street. ornaments, handmade cards, At the invitation of the Ver ceramics and quilts, plus many nonia High School Cross Coun different raffles and much, try Team, Santa Claus will be at the Bazaar so everyone, in cluding the family pets, can of Columbia County has long have pictures taken with him been recognized. In addition to (Pets may be at the Bazaar “dead” radio reception areas only long enough to have pho caused by the terrain, the tos taken with Santa.). floods of 1996 made the prob On behalf of the Toy and Joy lems inherent in a telephone program operated by volunteer line-based system even more firefighters of the Vernonia Fire obvious, when landslides top District, Santa will be at Buds & pled poles and lines, obliterat Blooms (Vernonia Photo) for ing communication between 9- photos from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. 1-1 and many areas of the The price is either a new, un county. wrapped toy, or a comparable Please see page 3 cash donation. Feds provide $1.4 million for 9-1-1 An announcement last week by Congressman David Wu that Congress has approved $1.4 million for improvements to the Columbia County Emer gency Communications District (9-1-1) was met with delight and near-euphoria by CCECD Director Sally Jones and the district's directors. The need for a microwave system that would be effective throughout the hills and valleys much more. The gym will be transformed into a delightful holiday shop ping mall and the cafeteria will be filled with enticing aromas from the hot cinnamon roils, homemade chicken noodle soup with hot rolls, corndogs, nachos, pizza and lots of homemade desserts, featuring pies from our local Booster elves. There will also be hot coffee, hot chocolate and cold pop. There may be a few tables available for late participants. For information, call Rietta Behnke at 503-429-‘6975, or Nona Skinner at 503-429-8401. The kitchen staff of Wash ington Grade School has volun teered their weekend to help prepare and serve the food. Students and coaches will help set up and clean the gym for the Bazaar, and the youth of Vernonia, through the Booster Club, will benefit from all profits from table and space rents and food sales.
