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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2007)
Page 22 The INDEPENDENT, August 2, 2007 CCB offers tips to avoid scams Zoo’s concerts – good music & good price From page 4 or pick up truck, often with out of state license plates–but not always. They will stop to talk to a “target” who is working in their yard. The scam artist will offer to coat the driveway, spray sealant on the roof, fix porches or chimneys, or any- thing else they think you might believe. Often, after the work is done, the scam artist asks for more than the quoted price and may threaten or use intimida- tion if the higher price is not paid. To make matters worse, the materials used are often in- ferior. The roof coating may be whitewash or the driveway coating motor oil. The CCB offers Oregon homeowners the following tips to prevent getting scammed: • Always check the contrac- tor’s license. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed by the CCB. Consumers can veri- fy a contractor’s license by call- ing 503-378-4621 or visiting www.hirealicensedcontractor. com or www.oregon.gov/CCB . • Don’t be pressured into making an on-the-spot deci- sion. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. • Never pay the full amount up front. • If you’re convinced you need the work, get estimates from more than one contractor. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of construc- tion fraud should contact the CCB’s Enforcement section at 503-378-4621. The CCB is a state agency licensing more than 44,000 contractors. For tips and other information on having success- ful home improvements or re- pairs, visit www.hirealicensed- contractor.com. Enjoy the 51st Vernonia Friendship Jamboree, August 3-5, 2007 From page 22 field, Furay and Springfield bandmate Jim Messina formed another influential country-rock group, Poco. Furay first worked with Chris Hillman in 1974 when the two formed the Souther-Hillman- Furay Band with J.D. Souther. The group produced two al- bums together before parting ways. Soon after, Furay’s life changed dramatically when he became a Christian and even- tually a pastor in Colorado. Hill- man headed to the studio to record two solo albums. Hillman is best known as a member of the Byrds. He was recruited to play electric bass for the band, even though he had no experience with the in- strument – Hillman had built his reputation on the guitar and the mandolin. He learned the bass by watching Paul McCartney play on television and by listen- ing to the Beatles. During his time with the Byrds, Hillman grew into a ma- jor force in the group, becoming an important singer-songwriter and eventually influencing the band’s musical direction. Hill- man’s influence on country- rock continued after he had left the Byrds and joined another important Southern California group, the Flying Burrito Broth- ers. Hillman and Herb Pedersen have known each other since the beginning of their careers in the 1960s and worked together in the late ‘80s as members of the Desert Rose Band. Today they have teamed up again to explore American folk music. Pedersen has spent the past 30 years recording and touring. In that time he has worked with Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Har- ris and Vince Gill, to name a few. He has also worked on soundtracks for a number of television shows and motion pictures, including “The Rock- ford Files,” “Smokey and the Bandit,” the “Maverick” movie with Mel Gibson, and “The Simpsons.” “These men have seen, heard and played it all,” said Swan. “The music they play proves it.” This year, the zoo is once again selling 1,000 tickets for each of its World Music Wednesday concerts in ad- vance. Advance tickets for the Richie Furay Band concert are available online (with service charge), at all TicketsWest tick- et outlets, and by calling Tick- etsWest at 503-224-8499. Once 1,000 tickets have been sold, concertgoers can only purchase tickets at the zoo af- ter 4 p.m. on the day of the per- formance. Tickets are $9.75 and include zoo admission. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday concerts (sub- ject to maximum capacity) and daily visits to the zoo. For more information on the concert schedule, or to pur- chase tickets, please visit www. oregonzoo.org. based on trying to fill students with information, forgetting that the root of the verb “educate” means “to lead out.” Teaching then, is showing students how to learn, awakening them to their own curiosity and capaci- ty. Students here, even some adults, seem to expect to be babied, spoon-fed, instead of taking responsibility for their learning, with the teacher as fa- cilitator. My beloved teachers, like any good guru, would prob- ably terrify many typical Ameri- can students. My style is certainly not tra- ditional. The question is: is it ef- fective? I am reminded of a Vernonia Mom who came to my first parent/teacher meeting when I was teaching at VHS complaining that her poor little Johnny was upset at having to write on the board. The same mother came later in the year, to apologize, telling me that she’d gotten me all wrong. As the teenagers who’ve been my helpers over the years soon learn, the first principle of learning (perhaps of life!) is simple: “Pay attention!” The second: “Never assume.” is a little trickier in that it implies some capacity for self-assess- ment. And the third is that your best teacher is always yourself. You must learn to take in what you perceive, sift it with dis- cernment and discard what is- n’t useful to you. I tease, chivvy and act the gadfly in class: whatever it may take to awaken the sleepy, or catch the attention of the bored (boredom being the dirtiest word in my lexicon). I am there to inspire, to help and to en- courage, not to molly-coddle. And most of my students know how proud I am of them. Carol Sawyer, teacher in spite of herself Vernonia Letters From page 3 learn them. The first of these were two American students at Benares Hindu University who wanted to learn Indian cooking (on the traditional foot-high charcoal “chula”) to surprise their professor with a classic In- dian meal (a success). In any case, I’ve learned over the 35 years I’ve been teaching on three continents, that I am a teacher, whether I like it or not. My own teachers, still in India (the word “guru”, like the word “rabbi” means simply “teacher.”) made clear to me that I was being trained to teach, to carry on two ancient traditions. A great deal of what I have seen of education in this coun- try, both as a graduate student and as a teacher, seems to be Attent ion: New B igger Locati to Bet on ter Se r v e Y 866 Br ou! idge S treet Products & Services • PC parts & Service Low Rates for PC repair We build new computers • Cingular Service with a Wide Variety of cell phones • Office Supplies • 24 hr. Ink& Toner Refill Tel: 503.429.8324 Open Mon. thru Sat.10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 866 Bridge Street, Vernonia Come on down & try our New M E AT B A L L S A N D W I C H O R O U R N E W I TA L I A N H O T L INK S AUSAGE D OG ! Mariolino’s 721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018 Riders take issue with columnist’s question To the Editor: In response to the July 19, 2007 article in “Bits and Bites” section regarding “What is the 4th of July celebrated for?” As the president of the Ver- nonia Ridge Riders and a vet- eran we take issue; at our June meeting the club unanimously voted to have a riderless horse, boots in stirrups backwards as a tribute to our fallen comrades. Our club member was in mili- tary uniform leading her horse behind the Ridge Riders large American flag, the state flag and the club flag, followed by approximately 20 members dressed in patriotic colors. Perhaps the author of Bits and Bites does not understand the significance of a riderless horse. George Bellingham Vernonia
