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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2004)
The INDEPENDENT, April 15, 2004 Page 3 Changes in grad requirements and sixth grade coming next year From page 2 boiler room roof needs to be re- placed, as well. Lewis and Fun- derburg told the board that the boiler room roof is not a high priority since it is a non-student area and moisture can do little damage there. According to Ingram, the cost of the seismic improve- ments would be approximately $35,000, plus $150,000 - Between the Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library April showers are said to bring May flowers, but they also have brought “April flowers.” The daf- fodils and tulips at the li- brary have been bloom- ing, as have the forsythia and the ornamental plum trees. Next to come will be the rhododendrons, dog- wood and mountain laurel. The mountain laurels (kalmia) are those three shrubs that resemble azalea plants, but maintain their leaves all year. When they first begin to bloom, the blossoms are bright red and as they open, they become pink- ish and last for quite a long time. Many people have asked about these pretty little shrubs which were recently featured in an issue of Buds and Blooms (just one of the gardening magazines that may be found at the library). The beauty of the flowers and plants is especially noticeable this Spring, due to the weeding and general clean-up done by Carol and Andy Senn and the entire Huntington family. This was a wonderful contribution by these families to aid the library in a manner not covered in its budget. In another much appreciated effort to bring beauty to the li- brary, Jo Ricker continued her tradition of giving the library a lovely Easter lily. Contributions were also recently made in the form of donations to memorials for both Penny Michener and Chris Collins. The memory of these long-time residents and lovers of learning will be kept alive as appropriate books are added to the library’s collection in their names. Newest additions to the library’s collection in- clude Glorious Appearing by Tim Lahaye, The Body of David Hayes by Ridley Pearson, Firestorm by Iris Johansen, It Had to Be You by Jill Churchill, Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicholas Sparks, Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark, Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Mar- golin, My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult and The Cloud Atlas by Liam Callanan. I’ve just finished reading My Sister’s Keeper and feel that it is Jodi Picoult’s best novel yet. It introduces the concept of the right of a teenager to make decisions concerning her own body. Anna Fitzgerald was conceived as a bone mar- row match for her sister, Kate, who has acute promyelocytic leukemia. It, of course does not end with Anna’s giving blood and bone marrow one time, but many, many times to the point where Kate is now needing a kidney trans- plant—of course from the perfect match, Anna. This story has a completely (at least to me) un- expected ending, and is about so much more that just Anna’s wishes. The effect that Kate’s ill- ness has on the sisters, their brother and their parents is really what this book is about. It’s about what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person and whether it’s worth dis- covering who you really are if that quest makes you like yourself less. The Cloud Atlas, a debut novel by Liam Callanan, is the other book I’ve recently read. This is the story of a young soldier, Louis Belk, who was sent to Alaska during the final days of World War II. Louis’ top-secret mission was to find and defuse the ingenious, deadly Japanese balloon bombs. As his superiors usher him into a world of dark secrets and an Eskimo woman in- troduces him to a disorienting world of spirits, Louis makes a discovery and a choice that changes the course of his life. The topic of these rice paper balloon bombs has become fascinat- ing to me since Rick Francona’s Chautauqua presentation last spring, and I couldn’t resist pur- chasing and reading this novel. The library’s quota of Chautauqua programs for this period ended with Ed Edmo’s presenta- tion April 13th. The Friends of the Library and Li- brary Board members would like to thank the public for their attendance and favorable com- ments regarding these programs and hope to continue to bring these educational, entertaining presentations to the community. The next entertaining event to come will be Thursday, April 29 at 8 p.m. when Paul Linnman will be at the library. One of the most recogniza- ble broadcasters in the Northwest, Paul began his career as a film editor with KATU. It was dur- ing this time, in 1970, when he was sent to Flo- rence to cover the infamous “exploding whale” episode. Paul will be discussing this and other events he has covered as a newscaster and probably mentioning some of the remarkable stories he related in his “Spirit of the Northwest” segments. Copies of his book, The Exploding Whale: And other Remarkable Stories from the Evening News, will be available for purchase and signing by Paul. We’re hoping for a large at- tendance at this presentation to show support for Paul and his book and because it should be very enjoyable. Among the activities for National Library Week, April 18-24, we will have a coloring con- test, guessing contest and library scavenger hunt. Check in the library for information about these events. That week will also be a week of amnesty for overdue library materials. Return overdue materials that week along with a dona- tion of non-perishable food for Vernonia Cares and accrued fines on those materials will be for- given. This is a week to benefit the library (mate- rials returned), patrons (fines forgiven) and Ver- nonia Cares (donations). Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave. 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. Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m., when school is in session. Phone: (503 ) 429-1818 $165,000 to replace the roof. Change in graduation requirements The board approved a change in the courses required for graduation, but not in the number of credits required (25.5). The major change is re- moving the senior project from senior English and adding a ca- reer-learning project. Students will receive one credit for ca- reer education and the project, for work accomplished through- out their high school career, pri- marily during advisory time. Family Living will be re- moved from the curriculum be- cause the course content is re- dundant, being covered in per- sonal finance and health class- es. The change will allow greater flexibility in student scheduling. The remainder of graduation requirements are unchanged. Middle School Changes Sixth grade classes will be restructured next year, WGS Principal Nate Underwood re- ported. Currently, teachers share some duties, but the sixth grade is somewhat isolat- ed from the rest of the school. Best practices for this grade level, he explained, conclude that increasing electives, plus contact with a broader age range of students and several teachers, allows children to make the transition from the self-contained elementary classroom to junior high and high school more easily. Under- wood also told the board that a 6-7-8 grade mix is easier to manage and allows students and teachers better opportuni- ties to resolve the inevitable personality conflicts. Next year, sixth grade stu- dents will have a homeroom, where core classes will be taught, including physical edu- cation. The students will also be included in some of the elec- tive classes taught at the junior high level. This limited integra- tion of sixth grade will allow more electives for students and greater flexibility for teachers. Transportation Funderburg reported that Vernonia Rural Fire District Chief Paul Epler has been in- strumental in establishing radio contact between the schools and buses. When complete, the district will have a repeater on the Corey Hill emergency communications tower. The district and Curl Transportation are sharing costs related to the school district. Negotiations on a new trans- portation contract will soon be- gin, Funderburg added. Letters Senior Spelling Bee Thanks to all during was a great success Spring Charity Bazaar To the Editor: Vernonia’s fourth annual senior spelling bee was a huge success, with contestants from Vernonia, Clatskanie and Mist taking part in a very competi- tive contest. Thank you to the Senior Center for their help and sup- port, and to Sentry Market for providing refreshments for the event. Thank you to Carolyn Keasey, who presided over the refreshment table. Thanks to Tobie Finzel, who pronounced the words, and to Bob Wagner and Carol Sawyer for serving as judges. (Tobie and Carol are both previous lo- cal and state winners, and both brought home trophies from the national competition last year.) Audeen Wagner Coordinator To the Editor: We wish to thank all who came out and supported the first annual Spring Charity Bazaar. With your help we were able to raise both money and canned food for Vernonia Cares. We want to thank all the vendors, as well as the follow- ing for their help and donations: Pastor Grant Williams, The In- dependent, Mike Pihl Logging, Paul and Julie Ramsey, Derek Ramsey, the Portland Trail Bla- zers, Vernonia Sentry, Shannon Dotter, Denal Wardell, Mike Ferguson, Pastor D. J. Dickey, Clayton Smith, and Chantel Trass. Sincerely, Corrie Smith Kristin Ramsey Sharon Ferguson