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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2002)
The INDEPENDENT, March 6, 2002 Letters to Vernonia marketing plan is exciting To the Editor: Having seen the announce ment in the Independent for an “open to the public” meeting at City Hall on February 19 at 7:30 to discuss the Vernonia Market ing and Business Analysis, I went, listening, enjoying, and was able to read the presenta tion researched by Mary Bosch, of Marketek. My sur prise was first, not many Ver- nonians in attendance and sec ond, I got to read the entire pre sentation. It is full of creative ideas for our tow n’s growth and an excellent critique of some of V ernonia’s problem s. Ms. Bosch did a spectacular job pointing the way for Vernonia to assist existing business while promoting “tourism ” in Vernon Page 3 » ia. She encouraged capturing the essence of our community and capitalizing on what we al ready have to offer visitors. Our town is on the way to Highway 30; we have Jamboree, Larry S teele’s, Christm as Bazaar, etc. and all come in from High way 26 on our Highway 47. Vernonians, volunteers, all did it for Shay Park, Anderson, Spencer Park and our Scout Cabin, etc. The creative minds of this community could come together again volunteering to implement these and their own ideas into an actuality that would really bring business to Vernonia. The short term visi tors would be back again and again for more. Are you new in town? Do you have senior extra hours? Get a copy of this report! Is it down your alley to head up this kind of a committee? I’m By Cindy Stanley, Library Assistant Banks Public Library The next special program at the Banks Public Library will feature well-known Portland perform ers, “ Innisfree,” on Saturday, March 9th at 7:00 p.m. Innisfree will bring us traditional Irish music with songs, jigs and reels by Brenda Searcy and Jim Loewenherz. This talented duo performs and teaches Irish music, using voices, accor dion, pennywhistles, guitar, concertina, mandolin and bodhran (Irish drum). “We offer a blend of excellent musicianship and neighborliness, knowing the importance of each of us in making our neighborhood vibrant and rich,” Innisfree explains. .The program is free to the public and is brought to you by the W ash ington County Cooperative Library Service, the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Nation al Endowment for the Arts. March 9th is recycling day sponsored by the Friends of the Banks Library at the Swatco Ser vice Yard on Sellers Road near Hwy. 26, be- From page 2 year. The bill for this outbreak of TB may be as much as $100,000 to $200,000. Thanks, elk ranchers! The question must be asked: Is it viable to have wildlife ranching in Oregon? The risks are inherently high and the costs for such ventures are not being borne by the people reaping the profits. It is basically a no-risk operation. To ask sportspeople to bear the costs of such risks is not justifiable. If an infectious disease spread from captive animals into the wild animal com munity, the economic losses to our state could be horrendous. Hunting is a big industry in Ore gon and the spin-off of related purchases (guns, ammo, clothes, food, shelters, pickups, animals, etc.) is huge. Is the ranching community willing to shoulder the economic costs if an outbreak has a devastating effect on wildlife in Oregon? Are they liable? This is a question that their in a volunteer. Join the rest of us, please. Isabelle McDaniel Vernonia Regional Strategies program vital to area To the Editor: I read your page one article on C om m issioner Joe Cor- siglia’s proposed changes to the Regional Strategies and your editorial as well. Both were very well written. Having served on a number of local and countywide com m unity organizations, it as tounds me that one of our com missioners could not only have such little information about the benefits of this program to all communities, but would be re miss in not consulting his fellow commissioners before submit tween 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you miss this date, look for the mixed paper recycling bins that were near to Main Street in the parking lot of Dayspring Christian Fellowship. They have been moved away from the street onto the City of Banks’ gravel parking lot, next to the paved li brary parking lot. Proceeds from the bins now benefit the library. The hauler accepts mixed pa per (including old paperback books, magazines and newspapers) but not cardboard. Remember, Banks Library patrons with Inter net access can browse the library resources or reserve materials electronically by going to the website listed in the information box here. Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street. Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Fri. and S a t 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m., when school is in session. Phone: (503 ) 324-1382 Internet: www.WILInet.wccis.lib.or.us. surance agents should be asking themselves. Then there is the question of compensation to sportspeople who are affected by a loss of hunt ing opportunity. If a prized captive bull elk is worth $10,000 dollars, what is fair compensation to a sportsperson who is denied the opportunity to hunt for many years into the future? These are all questions without answers and I personally do not feel it is fair to have these types of opera tions in Oregon until they are answered. It is time to follow in the footsteps of Montana and Wyoming and remove this threat from our state. We have too much to lose for so little gain. Izaak Walton League Nehalem Valley Chapter meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome. For meeting location, call (503) 429-7193. ting testimony on official county letterhead. To destroy a program that is so vital to this county is not in the best interests of this voter. Peter Alotta St. Helens Don’t cut music to balance the budget To the Editor: I don’t know exactly how to say this because it doesn’t (yet, I think) concern Vernonia schools, but the 5:00 p.m. news on Channel 2, Monday, Febru ary 25, had a spot on an Ore gon school having to cut some thing from the budget. They are considering the school music program s, starting with the “lower” grades. But, they will raise school sports fees to keep sports. O.K., so the older kids need their outlets. But, young children (Grade 5 and lower) don’t have the mus cle nor drive for such sports. They can, however, sing, dance and have the desire to make music. My two kids, one of each, didn’t play sports, they were not so inclined. In Grade 5, my son took to the slide trombone. He could hardly extend the slide halfway, but he stuck with it un til his Senior year. The school sports band, the jazz band went far in competition, not win ning first place all the time, but because of his music, he didn’t become an alcoholic, does not smoke (he needed his lung power), nor did he join the red neck pack in town. My daughter sang through school. Please, if you are faced with dropping something, don’t let it be music. Jacqueline Ramsay Vernonia P.S. Thanks for giving me a place to vent my concern for the kids. Senior lunches get help from community To the Editor: C ongratulations, Vernonia! Once again, you’ve “stepped up to the plate and made it hap pen!” When the Senior Center announced their funding for lunches two days a week had been cut, the people of Vernon ia said “That can’t happen!" The “wise ones” who lunch and socialize at the center are the same ones who made Vernon ia what it is today. They’re the people who baked casseroles, cookies, etc. for those in need. Now, they need our help and it’s pay back time. W ithout the generous PEO sisters’ encouragement and do nations, we would be in real dire straits. Also, Rietta Behnke spent many hours cooking and looking for help. She made it happen when the funding was first cut. Noni Andersen and the Independent brought the story to our attention. Help is still needed. Dona tions of canned fruit or vegeta bles, desserts and cash will be greatly appreciated. They can be taken to the Senior Center and are tax deductible. Please designate the Tuesday/Thurs- day Club on any donation. With your help, we can continue to support those who have given so much to this community. If you have any questions, please call me at 503-429-9671. I urge anyone who would like to get to know these won derful, interesting people, to spend some time with them at the center. They have some in teresting stories to tell and are always willing to share their time with friends. Looking for ward to seeing you soon. Carol Davis Vernonia Wrong to discredit regional program To the Editor: Many thanks for your article reporting Commissioner [Joe] Corsiglia's attempt to discredit the Regional Strategies pro gram, and for your editorial. I support the program and ap preciate the assistance to rural counties whose budgets are al ready stretched to the limit. Despite his continual claims to representing “the people," I am one of the people and he rarely represents my position or my beliefs. The use of official letterhead is an issue that I hope will be addressed, as it does give the appearance that the other two commissioners concur, which I am certain is not true. Thanks again for addressing these issues rationally and with an understanding of the bene fits to rural communities. Susan Easley St. Helens More Letters on Page 16
