The INDEPENDENT, July 16, 2009
Now is home improvement time
As the days start to stretch
out longer and the sun shows
up more and more, homeown-
ers often begin thinking about
making improvements to their
home.
Maybe it’s a deck, a fence,
reroofing or painting the house.
Even in a tough economy,
many homeowners still want to
make improvements to their
best investment: their home.
But a tough economy can
mean more scams or better
bargains.
On one hand, when money
is tight, lots of people tend to
look for bargains. On the other
hand, prices for home improve-
ments may be the best we’ve
seen as contractors look for
those spring customers. This
can be a good thing, but the
CCB realizes that it could also
be a perfect storm for the un-
scrupulous “so-called” contrac-
tor.
“This is a good time to re-
mind homeowners about the
importance of taking a few min-
utes to check the contractor’s
license with the Construction
Contractors Board (CCB),”
says CCB Administrator Craig
Smith. “The contractor’s infor-
mation is available on the CCB
website or by calling the
agency.”
An active license ensures
that the contractor is bonded.
Contractors are also required
to maintain liability insurance.
The programs of the CCB
serve to hold contractors ac-
countable for their business
practices.
The agency warns home-
owners to be careful about us-
ing online services, like Craig’s
List, where many consumers
report finding unlicensed con-
tractors offering to perform low
cost home improvements.
Door-to-door solicitation is an-
other red-flag area.
These “deals” may look
good, but can lead to poor
quality work, or worse. The
CCB stresses to homeowners
that the lowest price may not
always be the best option. You
may be getting lower quality
materials, less skill and experi-
ence, “corners cut”, or a scam-
mer. And if an offer seems too
good to be true (like left-over
materials at a really low price),
it usually is.
“It is important to do some
homework,” says Smith. “Com-
pare pricing. Understand what
you are getting and who you
are getting for your hard-
earned money. Don’t be pres-
sured into a quick deal. And
check the contractor’s license.
After all, your home may be the
biggest investment you have.”
Though most projects are
successful and homeowners
are happy with the work, when
problems occur with an unli-
censed contractor, it usually
means a homeowner is left with
an incomplete job or a job poor-
ly done. The few minutes it
takes to look up a contractor
beforehand can save a lot of
grief later.
The CCB is a state agency
licensing more than 44,000
contractors. Anyone who is
paid to arrange, repair, improve
or build a home must be li-
censed by the CCB. Con-
sumers can verify a contrac-
tor’s license and find informa-
tion for successful projects by
clicking on the Consumer Help
Page at www.ore gon.gov/CCB
or by calling 503-378-4621.
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
Page 1, Chapter 1 of
my Goodbye to Vernonia.
A lot has changed since
my husband and I moved
into Vernonia July 3rd,
1986. In setting our house
upon spot 4 on Riverside
Drive, one of our plate
glass windows popped.
But, on July 4th (I can’t re-
ally recall who but I think it was) Dettmers Hard-
ware worked and replaced the window. Wow –
Thank you. I found every time I needed some
small thing for the house or my crafts – I had to
go out of town. That is some better now (I do
have strange tastes). I always will want some-
thing no one has had for years. Old folks, old
habits die hard.
I’ve met lots of folks. Some, even though they
have moved on (one way or the other), I’ll always
remember. One phase of my time here I know I’ll
always remember starts with the 1996 Flood –
all the happy (or not so happy) hours spent at the
Senior Center – working in almost all corners,
crooks and crannies of the goings-on. Nellie Tip-
ton, Bob Wiley (in and out of the Golden Oldies).
How many of you recall “The Rutabaga Band,”
Bill Yoe and his spoons? How far the center’s
come from being known as the Newspaper Fold-
ing Station and Flea Market? Do you recall all
the folks that came and went (they “didn’t feel
just up to par today”), found out it was absorbing
all that ink by smell and through their hands. A
group of us fought mighty hard to chuck the pa-
per business after the flood. Recall the smelly
old library in the dining room? Fighting for carpet
on the floor of the thrift area – patching the roof
– painting the roof of the dining area with water
solvent.
Watch out for the next big snow. Shovel soon-
er than later. OK, so I sound like an old mother
hen. I am. I was there and very active, along with
a lot of other folks that some of you never really
met, but we have the center in the center of our
concern for what’s going to happen in the
months to come.
I was Treasurer/Bookkeeper before the com-
puter moved in, but after the ‘96 flood, also I was
Fair Princess. No, I didn’t make it, but Etta Rus-
sell and Ruth Bell did. Tessie and I were just fill-
ins but we had our day in the sun.
I left the Rat Race, moved over to Vernonia
Cares for a couple of years. I enjoyed meeting
new folks and hope they too will finally one day
get the building they need to carry on a very im-
portant job in this community.
One day my doc’s said, “Cut back, time to
consider yourself.” So, that is where I am and
why I’m moving on to phase five of my life; 1) sin-
gle, 2) married, 3) raising kids, 4) becoming a
widow, 5) only God knows, so I’m going with the
flow – wherever it leads.
I started Bits & Bites to pass away the time. I
know some of you think I’m “off the Wall” or “out-
side the Box” but if I make you think, laugh, smile
or guffaw, I’ve accomplished something. I’ll see
you, maybe one more time and then, I’m gone –
Small town Gal gone City.
20 Years Ago This Month
The July 9, 1959, issue of
the Vernonia Eagle included
the following news story on the
front page, under the headline,
“‘Chipmunks’ Draw Crowd At
Frontier Village Show”:
Vernonia was represented at the
Oregon Centennial Exposition
with entertainment presented Sun-
day afternoon at the Frontier Vil-
lage by the Chipmuks (sic) ensem-
ble which has attracted a lot of at-
tention during the past month. The
act is a pantomine of the popular
“Alvin and His Harmonica” song
with Ralph Anderegg acting as di-
rector and Lotus McMullen, Nan-
cy Hamnett and Kathy Minger in
chipmunk costumes carrying out
the pantomine. They went over so
good Sunday that they have been
invited to return next Sunday.
Time for their performance is 3:00
p.m.
Also at the Centennial Sunday
were Mrs. Guy Thomas and
Janelle and Mrs. Glen Hawkins
who were manning the Columbia
county booth. Others, including
Mrs. Frank Serafin, Mrs. Sam
Hearing Sr., Mrs. Claude Shaw,
Page 9
Mrs. Alvah Swanson, Mrs. Lloyd
Garlock and Carolyn had been
there previously and others from
here will man the booth this week
end.
The July 23, 1959, issue of
the Vernonia Eagle included
the following news story on the
front page:
The family day planned for
Sunday at the city park which was
to have been climaxed by the mu-
sical presented by the Little The-
ater group from Portland has had
to be cancelled due to circum-
stances that have arisen. An tempt
(sic) will be made to reschedule it
later.
Clarke Anderson, park director,
was called to Eugene Tuesday be-
cause of the serious illness of one
of his children who are with their
grandparents while their mother is
in Texas. After he left, word came
from Portland the Little Theater
group was having trouble arrang-
ing for transportation.
Anderson announced before
leaving that beginning swimming
classes for high school age and
adults will be given at 5:00 p.m.
starting next week. About 80 were
in the classes held Tuesday morn-
ing.
Five-man football games
scheduled for Sunday are the Car-
dinals versus the Bears, 10:30 a.m.
and the Eagles versus the Bums,
D IFERENT I TALIAN
D INNER S PECIAL
E VERY F RIDAY N IGHT
Mariolino’s
P RIME R IB S ATURDAY N IGHTS
721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018
1:30 p.m.
