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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2005)
The INDEPENDENT, July 21, 2005 Page 3 Letters_______ Important meeting on air strip expansion To the Editor: Anyone interested in pre serving the peaceful country environment in western Wash ington County from the noise and hazards of a commercial airport, needs to attend the up coming community meetings. Some information has been written lately in the local papers about the planned expansion of the Apple Valley Airport in Bux ton, but not much has been said about how it will effect more than just the residents of the Buxton community. As the county legislature, a few years ago, legally, but under the radar (a little airport lingo there) of most people, adopted a bill (609), that would grandfa ther in most existing airstrips, to be able to expand them into larger airports with few restric tions. Not only the people that live next to an already estab lished airstrip will be effected however. So anyone that wants to protect the investment of their home and the livability of their community needs to get involved and stop this expan sion of the Apple Valley Airport. We did not move next to an airport and then complain about all the dangers and noise, but instead, a commer cial airport is about to disrupt _______________________ are hoping the public will spend an evening en the quiet community of Buxton, joying these at the air-conditioned library. We will and beyond. If this expansion is not stopped, one will likely be even provide the popcorn. When purchasing items this year, an effort is coming to a community near being made to add as many books on CD as the you in the future. So for anyone that is inter budget will allow. New acquisitions in this format currently include "Broken Prey” by John Sand ested, on Thursday, July 28, at ford, “One Shot” by Lee Child, “The Secret Life 6:00 p.m., at the Banks Christ of Bees” by Sue Kidd, and “Looking for Peyton ian Academy, Fisher Rd., Bux Place” by Barbara Delinsky. New books include ton (the old Buxton School), is “Fire Sale” by Sara Paretsky, “Cross Bones” by the required Washington Coun Kathy Reichs, “Case of Lies” by Perri O’Shaugh ty community meeting, so any nessy, “High Plains Tango” by Robert James one that wants to express their Waller, “Always Time to Die” by Elizabeth Lowell, opinion needs to attend. Also there is a web site “No Man’s Land” by G.M. Ford, “Origin in Death” by J.D. Robb and “Lifeguard” by James Patter (naave.org) for the local action group if anyone is interested in son. Two very different books were chosen by the getting updated information. Barry Vandehey discussion group for the next two months. They Banks are “The Phantom Toll Booth” by Norton Juster and “It’s Not About the Bike” by Lance Arm firew orks strong. Next meeting will be Monday, August 1st Prettiest at 5:30 in the library. New members are always display writer’s seen welcome to join this informal book discussion To the Editor: group. To the*Fireworks Team: First, For the young baseball enthusiast, we just re ceived a series of instructional DVDs. These are let me say that I am new to for youngsters ages 6-16 and focus on proper Vernonia and this was my first execution of key fundamentals, presented in a Independence Day celebration clear concise fashion with graphics and video here. When I lived in Portland, close-ups to illustrate important points. Remember, donations are always gratefully quite a number of years ago, accepted and are added to the collection when my husband and I were active possible. If not, they are sold by the Friends of in the Coast Guard Auxiliary the Library with all proceeds to benefit the library. and we spend many Fourth of July weekends on river patrol and subsequently had “front Answers to riddles: 1. A place where people parked their camels! row seats” to the fireworks dis plays from Fort Vancouver. 2. King Author! These displays were usually 3. When they had lots of sleepless knights! touted as being “largest fire works displays west of the Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave. Rockies.” Hours: Mon., Wed., Fit 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; In regards to Vernonia’s dis Tues., Thur. 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. play this Fourth, Fort Vancou Sat. 10 a.rri. - 4 p.m. ver’s may have been larger, but Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 this was one of the prettiest a.m., when school is in session. fireworks displays I have ever Phone: (503 ) 429-1818 seen. A huge bouquet of roses With the planned helicopter flight training and sightseeing flights, anyone in the flight path of Hagg Lake, the Flying M, Mt. St. Helens, or anywhere for that matter, will have to put up with the noise of helicopters and the danger of student pilots. Any one that has heard or been around helicopters knows that they are a great deal noisier than airplanes. The only limita tion to the number of aircraft or helicopters that Apple Valley Airport can have is how many that can be put there, and with over 40 acres, you pick a num ber. But noise is not the only is sue, as the new owner wants to By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Can you answer the fol lowing riddles from the Summer Reading theme of “Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds”? (Answers at end of article) 1. What was Camelot? 2. What king of me dieval England was fa mous because he spent so many nights at his Round Table writing books? 3. When was King Arthur’s army too tired to fight? Youngsters may still join the fun on Wednes day mornings at 10:30. Registrations and read ing logs are available at the library. Though the last session will be Wednesday, August 3rd, res idents will be able to see the participating young sters on their float in the Jamboree parade, and reading goals may be met with prizes awarded until the end of August. The Friends of the Library-sponsored book sale will also be on Saturday of Jamboree week end from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The only dif ferences this year, from past sales, are that this sale will be at the library and a few selected items will be $1.00 each. Most items will still be .25 each and items to be raffled will be books— Stella Satern Bellingham’s “The Nehalem River Valley,” J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” and Jack Kent’s “There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon.” One last book drop for those wishing to donate books for the sale will be at the library on Saturday, July 23 from 10 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Keep in mind that the library is now open un til 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. This year we will be trying something new—a Saturday afternoon movie for youngsters and a family movie night. We are in the process of applying for the license to show movies in the library and are excited about this new activity. The library has a great selection of old movies, including The Parent Trap, The Long, Long Trailer, Cheaper by the Dozen, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and we put on-site fueling tanks to at tract more air traffic to this qui et country community. And all this on a piece of property that is zoned EFC (exclusive forest conservation),and AF 20, and is also completely, 100 percent in a flood plane, that also bor ders Dairy Creek. Now anyone that lives in Washington County knows with zoning like that, one would be hard pressed to get a permit to build a dog house, yet this guy wants to have a commercial airport, with a jet fuel storage depot there. If Apple Valley is successful however, it will not stop there. and a giant basket of thank you’s to the team that chose the fireworks and put on the display. You did a fantastic job!!! Your hard work is appreci ated!!! Judith Stefan Vernonia newcomer Logging should not put people at risk To the Editor: I am a long-time resident, homeowner, and taxpayer in Vernonia. As such, I am well aware that this is a logging community. After all, the raising and harvesting of timber is what Vernonia and Oregon is all about. I understand this, and I don’t have a problem with it. What I do have a problem with is the flagrant disregard for the safety and well-being of the women, children, and in my case, senior citizens living on B and C streets below OA Hill. The stripping of all the timber on the back side of OA Hill has put all of us in harm’s way. The events of 1996 should give us all some insight as to what can happen should Ver nonia have another wet winter. Floods and mudslides are very real possibilities. The damage has been done. Our only hope now is that the people involved will have the moral conviction to place some fast-growing ground cover on this hillside before the winter rains come. Sincerely, Don Sandrich Vernonia Thanks for support of Booster barbecue To the Editor: The Vernonia Booster Club would like to extend a big THANK YOU to the people from our community, as well as those just visiting over the 4th of July holiday. We had such great patronage at our barbe cue that we sold out of food. We also appreciate the pa tience of those who waited in line for their burger or hot dog. Thank you again to all for your support of the Booster Club and Vernonia youth. Marla Rethwill Booster Club Secretary Vernonia More Letters on page 14
