PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Vol. 20, No. 23 Tree lighting, lighted truck parade, bazaar start holiday schedule It’s that time… Santa Claus made his first stop in Vernonia, this year, at the old city hall shops of Morn- ing Mist, Out On a Limb and Buckleberry Cottage. Columbia County action on Measure 37 In light of recent legal deci- sions concerning the legality of Measure 37, Columbia County would like to provide updated information to the public con- cerning their understanding as to how these decisions affect the processing of Measure 37 claims in Columbia County. On October 14, 2005, the Marion County Circuit Court declared that Measure 37 is un- constitutional. The decision has been appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court, which is ex- pected to hear the case in Jan- uary. The Circuit Court decision was not stayed pending a deci- sion from the Supreme Court. Therefore, the parties to the Circuit Court case are currently bound by the Circuit Court deci- sion. Columbia County was not a party to the Circuit Court case. However, the State of Oregon is a party to the case. There- fore, waivers that the State has issued are invalid. The State has indicated that they will not be processing any new claims nor will they be issuing any new waivers pending a deci- sion of the Oregon Supreme Court on the appeal of the Mar- ion County Circuit Court deci- sion declaring the measure un- constitutional. Columbia County will contin- ue to process Measure 37 claims for people seeking waivers of the County’s code. However, if a state law or rule December 1, 2005 also applies, the County cannot issue development permits even if the County waives the County code. For example, Claimant A receives a County waiver of the County’s forest land minimum lot size to parti- tion property. However, the Claimant cannot get a valid waiver for the correlating State law. Therefore, the County can- not grant preliminary partition plat approval for Claimant A un- less the Supreme Court de- clares Measure 37 to be consti- tutional. The County is currently of- fering stay agreements to exist- ing County Measure 37 claimants. The agreements will stop the clock for processing Please see page 5 Mark your calendars for Sat- urday, December 3, at 6:00 p.m. Vernonia Pride, Hands on Art and the Vernonia Chamber of Commerce are partnering to present a downtown Christmas tree lighting with Santa Claus, plus music by Hands on Art, the Vernonia High School choir and band and more. Tree light- ing will be at City Hall to kick off the festivities. Following the tree lighting, there will be a parade of trucks, brightly decorated with Christ- mas lights. Many downtown businesses will stay open late for the festiv- ities and there will be hot dogs for sale in the downtown pock- et park next to Black Bear Cof- fee. The 27th annual “Christmas in the Country” Booster Club Bazaar will be held December 3 and 4, at a new location in the Vernonia Middle School Cafe- teria. Shopping hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Scouts will hold food drive Dec. 3 Cub Scout Pack 201 and Boy Scout Troop 201 will be going door to door around Ver- nonia on Saturday, December 3, collecting food for Vernonia Cares. The Scouts and their helpers will be collecting from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Donors are asked to have non-perishable, non-expired food items ready for pickup. If you leave a donation on your doorstep, it should be put in a plastic bag to protect it from the ever-changing weather. All donations will be taken to Vernonia Cares Food Bank. Saturday, and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a wide selec- tion of handmade items for hol- iday shopping, including hand- made purses, jewelry, wood crafts, soap, fresh holiday wreaths and much more! Bring the kids to meet Santa Claus and have their picture taken with him. Lunch will be available, too, with chili, soup, pizza, homemade pies, cinna- mon rolls and much more. Vernonia Cares will have food barrels on site for canned food donations to help those in need in our community this hol- iday season. Proceeds from the bazaar go toward the Booster Club scholarships given annually to two members of the Senior Class at Vernonia High School. Additional Holiday information may be found on Pages 13, 14 & 15 Bassett will be honored at City Hall open house Vernonia City Administrator Robyn Bassett will be honored at an open house in City Hall, Friday, December 2, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at City Hall. All cit- izens and friends are invited to join in congratulations to Bas- sett, who will graduate from Willamette University’s Atkin- son Graduate School of Man- agement on December 1. Please see page 4