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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2009)
Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, April 16, 2009 Between the Bookends By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library The current issue of Reminisce maga- zine has an article titled, “I know…. I was there”, which tells about “surviving” in the 1930s. Through the tough economic times we are currently experiencing, it might be helpful to call to mind the “really” tough times of the Depression, when surviving meant standing on a street corner trying to sell apples to people as hard up as you were. It meant begging for food at back doors and waiting in long lines at soup kitchens. It meant trying anything and everything to make money, including taking part in dance marathons, opening one’s home to take in boarders, and raising foxes for the fur market. Published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath is probably the novel most recognizable as depicting the reality of the Great Depres- sion. The idea for this Pulitzer Prize winning novel began when John Steinbeck was sent by a newspaper to report on the migrant situation. Driving up and down California’s Central Valley, he toured the camps with notebook in hand to describe the de- plorable situations of the workers. After publishing the articles, Steinbeck correctly guessed that his material was substantial enough to form the basis for a novel. Not only did the novel be- come an enormous best-seller, it most importantly focused nation- al attention on the migrant situation and with the support of Eleanor Roosevelt, large sums of federal money were directed to California to aid the migrants. The novel, thus, became the cata- lyst for a change in attitude of Californians, many of whom had not understood the extent of the plight of the migrants. The library has other materials relevant to that era of America’s history including a video of the Grapes of Wrath and one entitled The Journey of Natty Gann. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan tells the history of the group of people living at the center of our country who suffered not only through the economic depres- sion with the rest of the country, but through the biggest dust storm on record. Richard Peck’s A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago are fiction written about and for young people, but are designed to transport the reader to that era. The Bones of Plenty, by Lois Phillips Hudson, is a powerful novel about a proud and independent North Dakota wheat-farming family and its strug- gles during the depression years of 1933 and 1934. Yes, times were tough, but these materials and others in the li- brary show how people survived under the harshest conditions, and how they learned to treasure things such as family, friends, Midway Veterinary Clinic Senior Discounts Open in Vernonia Wednesdays and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for appointments 503-429-1612 805 Bridge Street Vernonia Small and Large Animals kindness, and generosity—things that money couldn’t buy. They tell how the difficulties of the times resulted in positive changes such as improved working conditions and nutrition and recreation programs in schools. They tell of the hope generated by President Roosevelt’s New Deal, and of making do and recycling (long be- fore the word “recycle” was used). Mostly, I think they reflect the optimism of the American people that obstacles will be overcome with a resultant better tomorrow—something we need to remem- ber today. New acquisitions include Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson, Borderline by Nevada Barr, Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark, Long Lost by Harlan Coben, Malice by Lisa Jackson, The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini, and The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly. Remember the Chautauqua presentation on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. entitled, Justice in Frontier Oregon. Movie nights for the month are April 23 at 7:00 p.m. and April 25 at 6:00 p.m. with featured movies being Marley and Me and Madagascar II Escape to Africa. Book Discussion time will be April 27 at 5:30 p.m. with Susan Vreeland’s, Girl in Hyacinth Blue, being the book chosen for the month. 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. Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m. when school is in session. Phone: 503-429-1818 Jarman gives winter sports report by Gordon Jarman Athletic Director The winter sports seasons have come to an end with some successes and some dis- appointments. The Girls bas- ketball team was very much im- proved over last year’s team, winning three more games than the victories posted last year. Once again, the girls just barely missed the league play- offs and finished the season with four victories. Next year’s team looks promising with the graduation of only two seniors and all other players are back. The girls should get some help from the JV team and they have been practicing very hard at open gyms, trying to hone their skills for next year. In Boys basketball, the team made the league playoffs again this year, but took an early exit losing in the first round. The team reached a milestone this year defeating Portland Adven- tist Academy for the first time in about twelve years. PAA has been a powerhouse in basket- ball in the league and at the 3A state level. Vernonia started the season very positively, de- feating a team from Canada early on and winning several nonleague games. They lost some close non-league games, but still managed to make the league playoffs with a 13 win, 11 loss season. There were several seniors on this year’s team and they will be hard to replace. In wrestling, the Loggers placed third in the league dual meet season, behind Rainier and Clatskanie. They placed second in the District 1-3A tour- nament, a special district for wrestling schools in the Lewis & Clark league as well as Colton, Gervais and Chemawa. They qualified seven wrestlers to the state tournament, with two district champions, one second and four thirds. At state, Trever Gwin and Tylor Owen earned all-state honors. Both of the previously men- tioned athletes placed third at the state level tournament. This was the Loggers third year of finishing in second place in the special district tournament, quite an accomplishment for one of the smallest schools in the conference. Awards All League: All league Girls Basketball; Tricia Levenseller, Honorable Men- tion. All League Boys Basket- ball; Byron Schorzman, First Team and Jason Weller, Honor- able Mention. In Wrestling, the following members qualified for See winter sports page 21 Head Start is now recruiting Head Start, a federally fund- ed pre-school program, is seeking students for the 2009- 2010 school year. Applications are being taken from all three- and four-year-olds in Clatsop and Columbia Counties. Re- cruitment for fall enrollment is now in progress and will be completed in August. If parents are interested in enrollment in- formation they are urged to phone immediately. Prospective students must be three or four years-old by September 1, 2009. Children must be from limited income households or have a disability and/or special needs to qualify. Head Start incorporates a total family program that in- cludes nutrition, education, medical and dental services for the enrolled child, and home visitations. USDA approved meals are served. Training on various subjects and on-the- job training is offered to all en- rolled families. Limited trans- portation may be available. The U. S. Dept. of Agricul- ture (USDA) and the State of Oregon prohibit discrimination in all USDA programs and ac- tivities on the basis of race, col- or, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability. The Vernonia Center is lo- cated in the Blue Heron Hous- ing Project. Families who live in the Mist, Birkenfeld and Ver- nonia areas may phone 503- 429-9243 for more information. Students in the St. Helens area attend class at the center on Columbia Blvd. next to Mc Bride School. Families may contact 503-397-4114 for more information. Head Start is an agency of Community Action Team, Inc., serving Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. Time to sign up for Kindergarten Vernonia’s Kindergarten Round-up 2009 is scheduled for Friday, May 8, at Washing- ton Grade School. Children must be five years-old on or before September 1, 2009. Bring immunization records and birth certificate to your ap- pointment. Call 503-429-7941 to make an appointment to sign up your kindergartener.