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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2005)
The INDEPENDENT, January 20, 2005 While “W” and company won Real “WMDs” could a seemingly convincing victory pay for worthy causes on November 2nd in certain parts of our country and I don’t begrudge them an opportunity To the Editor: It seems to me that “W” has to celebrate, for about 50K they an opportunity with the January could rent the Washington Con 20th inauguration to find some vention Center and charge gala real WMD. Recent news re attendees to pay the food, bev ports peg the projected cost of erage, and entertainment bill. the upcoming political gala at a Such a gesture of heart would whopping $50 million. I can’t save about 49.95 million for help think how that amount of worthy causes: suggesting to money might help our soldiers the nation and the world that with body armor, rehabilitation, “W’s” WORDS really do MEAN or even travel between extend DEEDS! Joel Haugen ed tours of duty. Or, what an Scappoose additional $50 million could do to help with the current disaster in South Asia and/or provide Dukes’ appointment food, education, and medicine for the billions of needy citizens called a conspiracy of planet earth. Not to mention debt service on our ballooning To the Editor: It seems that we have a situ deficit. By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Another new year brings new books to read, new audio books to hear, and new library projects to anticipate. New books in clude thrillers by John Gr isham (The Broker), Patri cia MacDonald (The Girl Next Door), Linda Fair- stein (Entombed), Tony Hillerman (Skeleton Man) and Lisa Gardner Alone). Unexpected Blessings by Barbara Tay- or Bradford and Aloft by Chang-Rae-Lee are lovels of troubled family relationships and reso- utions to these problems. Lilian Jackson Braun 3nce again delights her faithful readers with her new offering, The Cat Who Went Bananas. New audio books on cassette or CD include Twisted, by Jonathan Kellerman, Hour Game by David Baldacci, Deep South by Nevada Barr, and The Motive by John Lescroart. Some of these were adopted (purchased and given to the library) through the annual event during which patrons are offered the chance to give to the library at Christmas. Gratitude is expressed to all who adopted books this year. Upcoming events include a Chautauqua pro gram entitled, “Demystifying Intelligence" and a musical presentation by Mark and Helena Greathouse. The library board is working on re vising Internet policies and guidelines and is closely examining a study that has been done regarding the feasibility of a 2-county library dis trict involving Clatsop and Columbia Counties. For youngsters, a container filled with Valen tine’s Day items will be available for a “guess the number and win the items” contest. The next dis play table will also feature Valentine’s Day items. Not all activities are new, but, with the New Year, a reminder might encourage some more participants. The pre-school story time is always ation where our Governor, after talking about appointing our Senator Duke to a commission, waited until after the election to make the appointment. This leaves her position open. My understanding is that Betsy Johnson is to be just bumped up to take her place (which was known to these people before the election) as state senator. This of course eliminates the chance in both cases for the people to elect the person of their choice to represent them, as the county commissioners appoint the replacement. This being the case there was only one candidate in the election who was viable and honest about their campaign and that was “Ron Ross.” Folks this smells like a fish that has been dead for three days in 90 degree weather. on Monday mornings at 10:30 and the Reading Enrichment Program is on Monday afternoons at 3:30 on days when school is in session. Chess club meets on Friday afternoons right after school (also on days when school is in session). The pass to the Children’s Museum is available for families to use, courtesy of The Friends of the Library. The book discussion group continues to meet once a month with the next meeting to be held February 14th at 5:30. The book being read this month is Ricochet River by Robin Cody. The next Bedtime/Storytime will be Thursday, Janu ary 27th at 7:00 p.m. The date for this activity continues to be irregular as an attempt is being made to hold it on nights when there is no school the next day. All of these activities are free and all community members are invited to attend any or all in which they might have an interest. Also, of course, not all of the books are new, but there is such a wonderful selection now, with over 18,000 volumes, that I’m sure everyone will be able to find something of interest. Maybe you, like I, have picked up a book and looked at its ti tle or cover and decided it’s not something that catches your interest. I have been finding that with the book discussion group recommenda tions, I have read a number of books that once were passed over as not being of interest at the time and I’m sure there are many more on the shelves that I would enjoy. Be sure to look at the Patron Recommendation and Staff Recommen dation displays on your next visit. Many times, the best recommendation you can have is from someone in the community who has already dis covered a “hidden treasure” of a book. 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 ) 4 2 9 - 1 8 1 8 . Keith Carpenter Scappoose Ed. note: The Boards of Commis sioners in four counties — Colum bia, Clatsop, Tillamook & Washing ton _ wni select the replacement for Sen. Dukes. If they choose Rep. Johnson, her replacement will be selected by the Boards of Commis sioners in Clatsop and Columbia Counties. State law requires the appointee to be from the same po litical party as the office holder be ing replaced. Page 3 No more recycling of community’s junk To the Editor: To the People of Vernonia: I am tired physically and emo tionally. It is looking like we will no longer be able to recycle your junk; there are a few peo ple who have the idea that we are more of a problem than they want to live with. We quit for a few years as we had been served with papers by the City Thanks to many for of Vernonia as to our property helping local families being a nuisance and a danger ous liability. We have cleaned up our property more than once To the Editor: This year, with the generous and told people that if our trail donations from community er was there they could drop off businesses, community part appliances or metal into the ners and families, we were able trailer. I do not know how many to brighten the holidays for over times we have come home and 230 people. This means that 68 found appliances (washing ma families throughout the county chines, dryers, dishwashers, were adopted. These families beds, freezers, misc. metals) received gifts of food, clothing, garbage and loose metal in and winter coats, toys, and Christ on our property and on the shoulder of the road. We did mas trees for their families. Columbia County Womens one more clean up and had Resource Center and our been told 2 years ago that if it clients would like to thank Co was in the trailer and off the lumbia Tech Center, Burg- land we could store it until we erville, Scappoose McDonalds, had a load in the trailers. My Salon Halloo, St. Helens Wash husband Allen finally has 2 ington Mutual Bank, Liefeld large trailers and we were try Jewelry, Columbia County ing to do this, we have been in Commissioners, Armstrong, formed that it is a safety hazard Key Title, James Oliver, Rox and that if someone’s child got anne Straus, Jessica Lauder, hurt while playing in, under Laura Williams (Bunco Group), whatever we would be liable John L. Scott Realtors, Scap and so we cannot do it. I asked poose Four Square Church, Dr. about a tarp over the load and Dan Gordon’s Dental Office, will find out whether that is fea Irene and Bill Jauron, Robin sible. We do not live in Portland Simpson, The S.H.A.P.E. group or some big metropolis but we from Lewis & Clark and have people who feel that Ver McBride Schools, Windermere nonia should be aping the Realty Group, Clatskanie Bun swankier areas of Portland. co group, Kiwanis Daybreak- The Irony is if we lived in Port ers, Sunset Park Church, Linda land, Hillsboro, Forest Grove or Kielblock, Rainier 4-H Group any other place we could do (Top Dogz), Vernonia Medical what we have been doing. We Group, Avamere, St. Helens have been cleaning up Vernon Dental, Petersen School, ia and felt we were doing a Curves, Warren Grange group, needed work. We cannot get a and a very special thanks to business license as we are not Kate Murphy and Scappoose zoned for this and none is avail Girl Scout Troop #1071 for par able. Many people have ex ticipating in our annual holiday pressed thanks for what we have done. The City of Vernon project. Without your help many fam ia has tried to work with us but ilies would not have been able when the charge has been laid to provide a Christmas for their at their door that they are not upholding the law their hands children. Ollie Gibson-Lavell are tied and so are ours. There are houses in Vernon Adopt-A-Family Coordinator Columbia County ia and other places that are Women’s Resource Center known as drug houses, and Please see page 15
