The INDEPENDENT, July 7, 2005
Page 3
Letters_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Volunteers can create
a vibrant Oregon
To the Editor:
I routinely dine with O re
gon’s governor. Sometimes it’s
just the two of us and some
tim es w e ’re with 300 or so
“close friends.” When we dine
alone, our conversations are
pretty much like anyone’s (how
was your day?; what did you
do?). But one recurring theme
in our conversations that might
not be part of yours is “Can
Oregon government solve this
or that problem? What may sur
prise you is that a recurring an
swer in our household is “No!
Oregonians can solve this or
that problem!”
Given the shaky state econ
omy of the last two-and-a-half
years, and the budget cuts and
salary freezes that w e’ve en
dured, it’s becoming clear to all
that government can’t “do it all.”
And, in truth, Oregon’s tradition
is to use the expertise, muscle,
and commitment of volunteers
- even to run the government.
That’s why Oregon government
boards and commissions com
prise able, public-spirited vol
unteers.
Working beside the volun
teers who serve on government
boards and commissions are
Oregonians who volunteer to im
prove their communities and
their lives in myriad ways. And
Oregon is the home of a unique
organization, SOLV, that creates
and supports thousands of vol
unteer opportunities throughout
Oregon. Take advantage of it!
SOLV - our “beach cleanup”
group - is a model for volunteer
opportunities, from identifying
community problems, to work
ing with local leaders to tackle
the problems, to coordinating
volunteers to resolve the prob
lems. And while government
budgets are shrinking, SOLV is
expanding. What could be bet
ter?
SOLV’s “Campaign for Vol
unteer Action” is aimed at you -
and me and every Oregonian
who cares about our special
state. And that’s each of us, is
n ’t it? SOLV’s campaign theme
is “When People Get Together,
Things Get Done.” W e’ve
proven it with the beach clean
ups (4,100 volunteers this year,
the “Down By The Riverside”
watershed restoration projects
(19,000 volunteers), and hun
dreds of smaller projects. (For
a taste of SOLV, see <www.
solv.org>.)
Oregonians do get things
done. And w e’re lucky to have
SOLV’s expertise to help identi
fy doable projects and coordi
nate our volunteer activities.
By Angie Spiering
Banks Public Library
“Dragons, Dreams and
Daring Deeds” is the
them e for W ashington
County Libraries Summer
Reading Program . Sign
ups for the Summer Read
ing Program at the Banks
Public Library will continue
through July 16th.
Every child in W ashing
ton County who signs up for the Summer Read
ing Program will receive a coupon good for two
free activities at the Family Fun Center and Bull-
winkle’s Restaurant (coupon is valid June 16-
September 6). In addition, children who meet
their goals and turn in their reading records after
August 1st will each receive a paperback book
and a coupon good for an all day Oaks Park
Amusement Park bracelet for only $2.00, for use
on August 17th at the “End of the Summer Read
ing Party.”
All programs are Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. The
schedule for Banks Public Library is:
July 14th:
Arthur Atsma
July 21st:
Pink Pig Puppet Theater
July 28th:
Henrik Bothe
Think about what needs atten
tion in your community (I know
there’s something) and then
call SOLV at 844-9571 or 1-
800-333-SOLV (7658). Take
advantage of SOLV’s re
sources, and make your com
munity better - for you, your
neighbors, your children, and
your neighbors’ children. For
Oregon.
Mary Oberst
Office of the First Lady
Salem
Interpretive dance
program cancelled
To the Editor:
It is with considerable regret
that we must inform those of
you eagerly awaiting our inter
pretive dance program that we
will be unable to inspire and en
lighten you with that particular
means of creative expression.
It seems that as Postal employ
ees we are forbidden by Feder
al statute to perform interpre
tive dances that may touch
upon hot-button political issues.
We are currently investigating
whether mime is covered under
those same regulations. We will
keep you posted and we thank
you for your support.
Peter O’Leary
Jimi Kolestar
Vernonia
Preschool Story time will continue through the
summer until August on Wednesdays at 10:15
a.m. It will resume the first week of school in
September. July’s programs will be:
July 6th:
The House of Mouse
July 13th:
Crazy Critters
July 20th:
Cat Tales
July 27th:
Kid Stuff
Our newest books include Soapsuds by Fino-
la Hughes, who brings her knowledge of soap
operas to the page in this scathingly funny novel
that catapults readers into the heat and hilarity of
daytime drama.
High Plains Tango, by best-selling author
Robert James Waller, is a haunting, evocative
story of a small town, a beautiful and mysterious
woman, and the man who is changed by both.
Banks Public Library: 111 Market Street.
Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs., 12 - 7:00 p.m.;
Fri. and Sat. 1 2 -5 :0 0 p.m.
Preschool Story Time: Wednesdays,
10:15 a.m., through July.
Phone: (503)324-1382
Internet: www.WlLlnet.wccls.lib.or.us. to
browse library resources or to reserve
materials electronically.
Former student says
analysis was wrong
Letter to the Editor:
Upon reading the student’s
letter in support of the 47J
school district in the June 16
publication of The Indepen
dent, I admit I was somewhat
confused by one of the closing
lines: “Please get your facts
straight.” This line seemed sin
gularly foreign and out of place,
given the intellectually dishon
est, factually devoid diatribe in
which I found it. This is forgiv
able, however, considering the
circumstantial biases undoubt
edly influencing the student’s
opinions; namely that he IS a
student in the 47J, and also re
lated to a current member of
the teaching staff. So I here
take it upon myself to make
privy to the author of the letter,
and to the readers, a few facts
and opinions. (Though I will try
to distinguish between the two
where I can: hence the paren
theses.)
Regarding the music pro
gram, I have a few points to
make. The fact that Mr. Isted
did not simply resign, but was
strong-armed out of his position
(fact) to make way for not “the
most qualified applicant,” but
the
cheapest
(educated
guess). Furthermore, you seem
to try to make the point that the
quality of the music program
did not decline under the com
mand of Mr. Shannon. You cite
as evidence the fact that hon
ors band took place under Mr.
Shannon, as it did under Mr.
Isted. But you neglect to men
tion all the things that have not
taken place since Mr. Isted left.
Honors choir, Tuba Christmas,
and various group and solo
com petitions, among many,
many other things. I would also
like to remark that Music in May
took place EVERY YEAR MR.
ISTED TAUGHT (fact)! So, if
there is no qualitative differ
ence between the two teach
ers, I find it hard to explain
these differences.
As to the lack of a drama
program at the high school, I
am here to inform you that it
would likely still exist today had
the District not CUT IT (fact)!
The Drama program survived
for some time after it was offi
cially cut, because of the dedi
cation to education exhibited by
George Ray, the former Drama
teacher. My point is that the
District has consistently shown
its low opinion of academic ex
tra curricular activities. This fact
says nothing about the teach
ing staff or the student body,
but rather, tells of a predisposi
tion of the citizens of Vernonia
to allow the priorities of its chil
dren to be misplaced (opinion
ated observation).
I could go on with many
more examples of academic
activities being abused, under
funded, and ignored, in and out
of class by this administration,
but in order to keep this letter
concise I will go no further.
In closing, kudos to you, Mr.
Schorzman for engaging in this
ongoing debate, and for com
posing a strong argument for
your point, in spite of factual er
rors and unsubstantiated opin
ions.
Myles Brock
Vernonia
County Parks thanks
volunteers for help
To the Editor:
Colum bia C ounty Forest
Parks and Recreation would
like to thank all the volunteers
who have helped spruce up our
parks this spring. Several
groups have taken on a variety
of projects including: Members
of the Mayger-Downing Com
munity Church, by keeping the
lawns mowed at the Beaver
Boat Ramp in Clatskanie. On
April 16, several volunteers
with Oregon Equestrian Tails
(C olum bia C ounty Chapter)
groomed horse trails, which are
currently under development at
Camp Wilkerson. On May 5, 47
area students and nine teach-
ersA/olunteers put in a hard
day’s work at Camp Wilkerson.
Projects accomplished that day
included splitting fire wood,
building bird houses, flow er
boxes, and a bat house. Stu
dents helped clear trails, tidy up
the lodge and kitchen, and
cleaned the restroom roof. On
May 14, Tim Ohling took
charge of grooming the play
ground and day use areas at
Scappoose RV Park, his volun
teer assistants were three cub
scouts with troop 294 and four
adults. On May 21, the Spruce
Runners participated in the
Good Sam RV Club’s “adopt-a-
park” program at Hudson Park.
Please see page 24