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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2003)
Donkey basketball was a huge success To the Editor: The donkey basketball game was a huge success, far be yond anything Vernonia Pride anticipated. We would like to give a big THANK YOU to EVERYONE who helped - 28 donkey riders/basketball play ers, pooper scoopers who were ready with mops and shovels, emcee Randy Parrow, Vernon ia Mercantile for donating a raf fle prize, the school district for the use of the gym, the VHS tech crew, the junior class for running the concessions, and Brett Eagleson for all his help in setting up and cleaning up. The enthusiasm and support were fantastic. Vernonia Pride has many projects planned for this year: new garbage receptacles down town built by Alan Hein, hang ing baskets with real flowers, flowers in the garbage recepta cles, a donation to Shay Park, flowers and plants in parks, walking tour, 4th of July fire works, planting around down town ornamental trees, and a framed picture of downtown Vernonia in the 1920s to be hung at city hall. The most ambitious project, headed by Enid Parrow, is to create a Historic Walking Tour of downtown businesses. Sev eral people have been meeting to research when the buildings were built, etc. Plaques will be that they will return to Vernonia made and placed on each next February, as they have building. There will also be a truly enjoyed your hospitality booklet with the walking tour and friendship. This is a first for that will have additional infor our troop and although we have mation and other interesting tried to give receipts to all who facts about Vernonia. donated, we may not have Thanks again to all who been successful. If you need a made our fundraiser such a receipt for your donation, success. As you can see we please call Jill at 3900, or Jua have a lot of projects planned na at 7024. for the money we make. Sincerely, Another thing coming up is Rebecca Brookins Make Vernonia Shine Day. This Committee Chair, Troop 201 year it will be on Saturday, April Vernonia 26. Mark your calendars and come on down. Immigrants must act We will also have a bake sale March 15 at Sentry Market like Americans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come on To the Editor: down and get some goodies. After reading an editorial Donna Webb for published by a Tampa, Florida Vernonia Pride newspaper, stating that the state of Florida had now Flamingo flock gone, changed its opinion and was al lowing Muslim women to have but they will return their picture on their driver’s li Dear Flamingo Recipient, and cense while wearing a mask, I the Editor: have to ask myself this one Thank you so much for play thing, “When is enough, ing with us last month. You enough?” were all such good sports and Immigrants, not Americans, very generous. We had a great must change and adapt to our time sending greetings to all of ways. I am growing sick and you from many of you. I hope tired of a nation worrying you were very surprised when whether or not we are offending you awoke in the morning to someone’s culture. The dust the lovely flock of pink flamin and smoke of the terrorist at goes that graced your front tack of Sept. 11 had hardly set lawn. You are all very special! tled before the “Political Correct The flamingoes have had to fly Crowd” was worrying that our south to warmer climes; how- patriotism might be offending ever, they have assured me others. I Botweoo tha Bookend By Ann Krutsinger, Library Assistant Banks Public Library Bosnian War, he finds that many challenges await him. Though his village was spared heavy combat, it was completely destroyed. Food is scarce and Christians and Muslims, once friends, are now enemies. Over three days Halid searches his village for his past. What he finds is total upheaval. Homecoming is much more than a book about one man; it is also about a tight-knit community torn apart by the politics of ven geance, brutality and ethnic bias. The Friends of the Banks Public Library Plant & Book Sale is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For information or to volunteer, please call the library. There will be a selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees, and possibly some vegetable starts. Be prepared to peruse the large collection of both used and new books available. Help us celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by attending a free concert on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.! Inn- isfree will be making a re turn appearance to play their unique style of tradi tional Irish music. This pro gram was a big hit last year and is bound to be fun. Come early because we’ll be packed! Preschool Story time at the Banks Library is a very fun way to introduce the library to your tod dler or preschooler. The group of children is usu ally smallish enough so that even shy children can be engaged. Miss Cathy is loads of fun! Themes for March are: March 5th, “Love Bugs” March 12th, “Little, Big, Bigger” March 19th, “Friendship” Remember that story time is cancelled March 26, during Spring Break. One of the new books that the library has re cently acquired is Homecoming, by Natasha Radojcic-Kane. When <° the character, Halid, hls main village following the L B anks Public Library: 111 Market S treet Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Frh and Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. P re s c h o o l S to ry T im e : W ednesdays, 10:15 a.m., when school is in session. P h o n e : (503)324-1382 Internet: www.WILInetwccls.lib.or.us. to browse library resources or to . - reS6,Ve m9.le,rtal,? „ I am not against immigration if it is done for the right reason. Our nation’s population mainly is made up of immigrants who came to America to better their selves. However, there are some things an immigrant, as well as the Political correct bunch must understand. This idea that American being a mul ti-cultural com m unity whose sole purpose is of serving the cultural whims of immigrants has only weakened our sover eignty and our nation’s original aim and purpose. We have our own culture, our own society, our own language and lifestyle. A culture that has developed over centuries of troubles and trials and what millions of men and women have fought and died for has left it to us as a sa cred trust. We speak english in Ameri ca, not Spanish, arabic, Chinese or any other language under the sun. Therefore, if an Immi grant wishes to become a part of America, let him or her learn to speak our language. “In God We Trust" is our na tional motto. Not because of some right winged political slo gan declares it so, but rather it was adopted by Christian men and women based upon bible principles who founded this great nation of ours. This is clearly documented in our con stitution as well as the writings of our forefathers. No school in America should be ashamed to hang it proudly from its walls. If the word “God" offends you, I suggest you find another part of the world in which to hang your hat. God is part of America’s culture, like it or leave it. If you have a desire to burn the stars and stripes or you hate Uncle Sam, you should seriously consider a move to another location on the planet. We Americans are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don’t care how you did things where you come from. This is our country, our land and its our lifestyle. The first amendment gives you the right to express your opinion, but once you have done your griping, whin ing and complaining, about our flag, our pledge of allegiance, our national Motto, our lifestyle, I encourage you to take advan tage of another great American freedom, just pack your bags and leave. As far as I am con cerned, Am erica don’t need you. Juneious F. Harty Scappoose Rep. Johnson will hold Town Hall meeting In Vernonia on Saturday State Representative Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) has scheduled a series of town hall meetings to discuss the contin uing budget issues and poten tial responses. She will meet with Vernonia area residents on Saturday, March 8 from 1.00 to 2:00 p.m., at the Scout Cabin. With respect to the budget, Johnson indicated that the State’s financial future contin ues to look bleak. “The total projected revenue shortfall for the remainder of this biennium is $300 million and, when you factor in other issues, such as long-term care reim bursement and hospital reim bursement in the Department of Human Services, we find ourselves $344 million in the hole.” Johnson said. Johnson continued, “When you consider that the total of the sources of revenue avail able to us is $308 million, which includes the entire Education Stability Fund; securitization of the tobacco settlement; lottery funds and all other sources, we are still fiscally out of balance. In other words, if we root out every last penny of money available to us, we’ll still come up $35.7 million short for the current budget cycle." “The current budget issue before us should be a wake-up call to all Oregonians. It is our sum m ons to begin serious work on a new system of State budgeting. Unless we do so, we run the risk of finding our selves in the same untenable position — year after year, bi ennium after biennium, — ei ther cut services and ruin the lives of countless people, or take some inadequate stop gap measure.” Johnson said. “There will not be any easy answers” Johnson stated, “ I am looking forward to discussing the issues and listening to what my constituents are thinking. To die for an idea; it is unquestionably noble. But how much no bler it would be if men died for ideas that were true! " * — H. L. M
