____________________________ 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