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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, December 20, 2007 Page 3 Thank You… Coastal Farm and Ranch, at 3865 Baseline Road in Cor- nelius, has been most gener- ous with their donations and also have two huge tubs col- lecting donations from the pub- lic. Rock Creek Kennels, at 9735 Old Cornelius Pass Road, is also collecting items and has donated the use of their cargo van for my many trips to pick up donations. A big thank you to them and all who have helped. Carol Davis ≥ ≥ ≥ We would like to thank all the volunteers who brought special needed items to our home, and to all the people who supplied them. Thank you to the churches, Red Cross, City, State and Government for providing all the necessities to us. We are grateful and blessed. Happy Holidays to all. Virginia Kepner ≥ ≥ ≥ Thank You: I would like to send a thank you out to everyone whose ef- forts helped to bring my dog home safely. It was amazing the help we received from the Vernonia community. People who had much more to worry about than my missing dog, were taking time out of their days to help find her. Neighbors and friends searched for days, people put food outside and kept their dogs put up in an ef- fort to coax her in. County in- mates searched for her, as they sorted through the wreckage of the devastating flood through- out the town. A group from the Rock Creek Kennel spent time helping us look. I admire the people who had so much empathy for us, when they themselves had lost so much so recently. Doobie, my dog, had been missing for six Between the Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library How does one even be- gin an article about the li- brary when it is intact from flooding but is within sight of one of the most de- pressing events possi- ble—truck after truck un- loading prized household possessions that are now rubbish to be hauled away? Extended hours for Internet use, children’s activities, and daycare have been and are yet being offered at the li- brary, and the hope is that this will be a place to come, be warm, read and have a respite from the turmoil surrounding most everyone in the community. The Polar Express will be shown on Saturday, December 22 at 6:30 p.m. Families are encouraged to enjoy this movie together and hopefully revive a little holiday spirit. Movies will also be shown on Friday December 28th and Fri- day, January 4th at 6:30 p.m. Current overdue materials have been listed with all materials being renewed and related fines being forgiven. Library materials should not be a concern at this time. When some sort of normalcy has resumed we will try to evaluate the extent of destroyed items and maybe receive some compensation for replacement, but please do return library materials that are not damaged as you come across them. The library will be keeping regular hours un- less some flood-related event interferes. For anyone desiring temporary escape from the cur- rent clean-up and rebuilding please come in and see what is offered in the library in the way of a good movie or book. The absolute best book I’ve read in quite some time is Lottery by Patricia Wood. Perry L. Crandall has an IQ of 76, but he would like you to know he is not retarded because his IQ would need to be 75 or less for that. Thirty-two-old Per- ry has worked at the same marine supply store for half his life and has lived with his wisecrack- ing grandmother, whose gems of wisdom have helped him along. When Gram dies, Perry’s self- ish, money-grabbing cousin/brothers and mother swindle him out of the proceeds of Gram’s house and then Perry wins the Washington State Lottery of $12 million. From that point on the reader is constantly waiting for something horri- ble to happen to Perry as he must learn to distin- guish friends from leeches. By remembering Gram’s words of wisdom, Perry holds his own and discovers abilities he didn’t know he had. This book is funny and poignant with a surpris- ingly satisfying ending. I would like to encourage anyone with books to donate to wait awhile. The meeting room is being used for childcare, which is eliminating storage in that room and the workroom is about full to capacity at this time. The Friends of the Li- brary will be having a March sale. Be sure and watch for times when donations will again be ac- cepted and for the date of the upcoming sale. The past few weeks have been so hard for most in our community, but we are blessed not to have had any lives lost and for the help that has arrived in so many appreciated ways. It certainly makes one look at things differently when some- thing like this takes place. I feel so grateful to be part of this community and hope with all my heart that something like normalcy returns for each and all. It seems frivolous even to wish Happy Holidays to people here, but the following quote by Peg Bracker might be an appropriate one at this time— Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of Christmas . If this is the case, we have been and will be celebrating Christmas for a long time. Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Ave. Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tues., Thur. 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m., when school is in session. Phone: 503-429-1818 days in the cold, and rainy weather. A group of inmates were working at a farm area just out of town, off Mist Drive, when we received the phone call saying Doobie was seen. Just minutes after getting the call, my mom’s boyfriend, Barney Hayes, called and told us to quit pray- ing because Doobie was safe in his arms. I would like to thank Judy who called and gave us our hope back, after five days of our dog being lost. There was a couple from St. Helens who did not know us, but in the moment we met said they had been praying and put an ad online, we thank you. Thank you to all our friends and neighbors for all of your help. Most of all I would like to thank the inmates, whose names I don’t know, for making my Christmas. I wish you all happy holidays. I hope you know how much you have truly made a difference not only for me and my family, but for all the families that you have selfless- ly helped in the past couple of weeks. We wish you a merry Christmas, a happy new year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With regards, Kelly Mickey and Family ≥ ≥ ≥ Thank you to Christina Mc- Cord for her caring and con- cern (you know when). Rebecca McGaugh Letters I’m not there, but my heart is with Vernonia To The Editor: To the wonderful People of Vernonia; I have been thinking about the many fine people of Vernonia, who I met and pro- vided healthcare to during my four years working at the Com- munity Clinic, over the last sev- eral months. Now I am thinking about you more than ever. I have continued to feel such a deep connection to the com- munity and each of you. I know that you have en- dured a tremendous blow with the recent flooding. It has brought with it loss, economic and emotional challenges for everyone along with the memo- ries of the flooding in ‘96. I have always felt that the beau- ty of Vernonia is not only its setting and physical surround- ings. The truly amazing part is the strength and spirit of the community and the ability of everyone to pull together to help an individual in need or the town in a crisis such as you are experiencing now. I may not have been able to be physically present but my heart, spirit and thoughts have been with you each and every day. I have been blessed with the incredible experience which includes many memories and friendships in the commu- nity which I hold dear to this day. All your cards, letters and invitations over the last year to visit, share a meal or just stay- ing in touch with me have been so appreciated. I will continue to be involved by writing for The Independent and staying in touch. I will be able to see more of everyone in 2008 as I begin work on my masters in Public Health. My goal is to do my commu- nity project in Vernonia. In the meantime, I will help out any- way I can as the Community re- covers from the flood. Thank you all for your strength, courage and for touching my life in such a way that I am a better person for the experi- ence. Take care. Judy Hargis, P.A. Cornelius Policy on Letters The INDEPENDENT will not publish letters that include per- sonal attacks on private citizens. Because of space limitations, preference will be given to brief letters, 300 words or less. All letters must be signed and include a verifiable address or phone number; all letters are subject to editing for clarity or length.
