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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2002)
____________________________ The INDEPENDENT, November 21, 2002 Page 3 Letters to the Editor Toy & Joy preparing to help Santa Claus To the Editor: The Vernonia Toy and Joy is up and running. We are off to a good start this year. We would like to thank everyone who has donated already this year and look forward to more contribu tions. The volunteers would like to invite everyone to join us for our 1st Annual Toy Drive. We will be at the Fire Station on December 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. to accept your donations. We will also be doing pic tures with Santa and a fire truck cake walk. Please come join in the fun of our Christmas spirit. Thanks for all the community support. Katie Poetter Vernonia Toy and Joy Schools contribute over a ton of food To the Editor: Here’s another letter of thanks regarding the 2002 fall Canned Food Drive. Your gen erous response has been so greatly appreciated. Thank you, Washington and Lincoln Grade Schools, for your donation of 2,043 pounds of food for this food bank. That’s over one ton of food! Super work, students! You doubled what you gave last year. Amaz ing! Thanks to the sixth grade classes (Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Pederson) for running the class competitions. Thanks to the students who brought the food and to the parents who sup plied the food. On behalf of the households who will receive this food dur ing this coming year, again I Batwaan the Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Problems are still prevent ing the radio connection for Internet in the library from taking place. A virus that had infected one of the computers has spread to all of the computers on the network. This virus has proved so difficult to re move that wiping out the in formation on the computers and reprogramming seems to be the best solution. This will be taking place the weekend of November 16 and 17, af ter which the new configuration of the computers will take place, and soon the public will be able to access Internet on any one of three comput ers at the same time. Many, many ballots were dropped off in the new metal box that was provided by Columbia County Elections. Most voters were pleased that this more secure box was being used instead of the former cardboard box. Because we hate to not take advantage of anything that the library has and that might be useful to the public, it has been decided to use this box as a suggestion box when it is not being used for election. If there are suggestions for library services or materials that you would like to make, feel free to drop them in the (suggestion) box. Once again this holiday season, residents will be offered the opportunity to give a gift to the li brary by purchasing books for addition to the li brary’s collection. Through the St. Helens’ Book Shop, a selection of books will be obtained and on display in the library shortly after Thanksgiv ing. These books will be discounted 20% from the original price and may be purchased by any one who might wish to see one or more of these books added to the library’s collection. Several of the new acquisitions reflect the up coming holiday theme. Visions of Sugar Plums is Janet Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum novel. With only four days till Christmas, Stephanie has no decorated tree, has bought no presents and is chasing a bail-jumper named Sandy Claws. Add a hunky guy named Diesel who keeps pop ping in and out of her apartment, a mob of mani ac elves, a series of mysterious power blackouts all over Trenton, and a new stud muffin boyfriend for Grandma Mazur and this novel takes the reader on a wacky romp through the Christmas holiday. The Christmas Train, by David Baldacci, is a novel that offers a glimpse of how we do get second chances to fulfill our deepest hopes and dreams, especially during this season of mira cles. When Tom Langdon, a weary, disillusioned journalist, is forced to take the train from Wash ington D.C. to Los Angeles, he decides to write about riding the rails over the Christmas holi days. His unusual fellow travelers include the love he has never forgotten, his present but ca sual girlfriend, a famous movie director, a pair of elopers, a fortune-teller, a stealthy thief, an at tendant who sings like a professional, and the LA Boys’ Center Choir. This is a “feel good” book, a good read for the holiday season. Other new novels for the holiday season in clude Christmas in Harmony, The Christmas Let ters, The Pause: A Christmas Gift, Auntie Claus, and The Last Promise. These join books already in the collection featuring holiday crafts, cooking, traditions, mysteries, humor, and other stories to celebrate the spirit of the season. The library’s video collection also contains a nice selection of holiday material including Prancer, The Santa Clause, Annabelle’s Wish, Miracle of 34th Street, and White Christmas. Remember that the library is open on Satur days from 10 until 2. It’s nice to report that these Saturday hours have become ones that patrons are consistently using more and more. The next meeting of The Friends of the Li brary will be Tuesday, December 3rd at 7 p.m. The Friends have just renewed the Family Pass to The Children’s Museum which is available for families to check out from the library. The book discussion group will next meet on Tuesday, January 21 at 7 p.m. The books cho sen for discussion at that time are Jane Kirk patrick’s A Name of Her Own and Dana Stabenow’s Better to Pest. Anyone interested in reading these and discussing them informally is encouraged to do so. Remember the preschool story time on Mon day mornings at 10:30 a.m. and the after-school reading enrichment program at 3:30 p.m. It’s your library! Use the suggestion box. Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave.m 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. Phone: (503 ) 324-1382 say a heartfelt “thanks.” Be proud of yourselves, students, for a job well done. Your giving shows that the Vernonia Grade Schools’ students demonstrate that Vernonia Cares. Gratefully, Sandy Welch Vernonia Cares Food Bank Thanks for your vote and your confidence To my Neighbors: It has been my pleasure to serve the community of Ver nonia for the last several years as a member of our City Coun cil. During that time, I’ve had an opportunity to learn a great deal about city operations. I would stongly urge every one to find the time to attend an occasional council meeting or talk with one of your city coun cilors. Without your input, we don’t have a clear idea of what is important to you. I would also like to invite you to participate in one of the many advisory committees working to build Vernonia’s future. I appreciate your confidence in supporting my election as mayor. My goal is to always make decisions with the best interests of Vernonia in mind. Sincerely, Cindy Ball Mayor-elect Vernonia It’s time to mail your letter to Santa To the Editor: Since Christmas is just around the corner, I know you must be wondering what old Santa is going to bring you. Well, you should see all the toys my Elves have made for all my good little boys and girls. My, oh my, but we have all been busy as bees preparing for Christmas Eve. Even Mrs. Santa Claus has been busy baking cakes, mak ing candies and all sorts of goodies for all her good little boys and girls. I know that your name is on my list of good boys and girls, but I would love to hear from you, as I do so enjoy reading all your wonderful letters. I have placed my Santa Mail Box at the Columbia County Fair grounds so that you may save postage mailing your letters. If you cannot make it to the Fair grounds, mail your letter to Santa Claus, P. O. Box 74, St. Helens,, OR 97051. I promise to not only read each letter, but I will answer each of your let ters. (Please save me some time by putting your return ad dress on your letter.) It won’t be long ‘til we pack my sleigh and my reindeer will be ready to go. Then straight to your house, so keep on being good and mind your parents, as all children should. Love from your jolly old friend, Santa Claus North Pole Commissioner says thanks for your vote To the Editor: Many thanks to everyone for the wonderful support shown me, the nice words of encour agement, the complimentary letters and the flowers I re ceived during this past election. A special thank you to those of you who allowed me to place signs on your property. We have tried to remove them quickly, but, if we have missed any, please let us know and we will retrieve them. While traveling throughout the County during these last several months, I have had the opportunity to meet many new friends and to renew old friend ships. It was a gentle reminder that Columbia County truly is a great place to live and work. There is a real sense of com munity here where folks gen uinely care about each other. It has been an honor and a pleas ure serving as your County Commissioner for the past four years and I appreciate the op portunity to continue working with all of you. Sincerely, Rita Bernhard Columbia County Commissioner The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with anoth er, no special talent for the business of gov ernment; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. —H. L. Mencken
