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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 2009)
The INDEPENDENT, September 3, 2009 Kiwanis putting together club in Vernonia A new Kiwanis club is organ- izing in Vernonia and is seek- ing men and women to be- come part of the global organi- zation of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. The club will further the Kiwa- nis International mission of re- sponding to global issues while also serving the needs of the Vernonia community by per- forming valuable service proj- ects. Founded in 1915, the orga- nization’s 600,000 members comprise 8,600 clubs in more than 90 countries and geo- graphic areas. Kiwanis mem- bers make their mark by re- sponding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address world- wide issues. Globally, Kiwanis International has focused hu- manitarian efforts on eliminat- ing iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), through the Worldwide Service Project, a US$75 mil- lion campaign in partnership with UNICEF, which began in 1994. Kiwanis International and its sponsored service or- ganizations for young people, including Circle K, Key Club, Key Leader, Builders Club, K- Kids, Kiwanis Junior and Ak- tion Club dedicate more than six million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children annually. For more information about Kiwa- nis International, visit www.ki wanis.org. Dr. Kenneth Cox, Superin- tendent of Vernonia Schools said they had a large Key Club where he came from, and he saw the positive influence it had on all the high school stu- dents. Vernonia High School Principal Nate Underwood not- ed that “not only will it make a difference in our students lives but everyone in our community will benefit”. Community members are in- vited to the pre-organizational meeting to be held at Marioli- nos Pizza, 721 Madison Ave at 6:30 p.m. on September 21, to learn what Kiwanis can do for your community. For more in- formation call Emil Nyberg, 503-338-7400 or Alice Robert- son, 360-425-4886. Page 11 Chalk Talk Chalk Talk is a column of information about Vernonia schools. This col- umn was provided by “Vote Yes For Schools Measure” Vernonia School Bond Committee. PASS THE BOND, NOT THE BUCK The Vernonia School District 47J Board of Directors has passed a resolution to place a bond measure on the November 3 election ballot. The bond will be for $13 million dollars and will used to purchase property and build new schools in a safe and in- surable area of the community. From June to November the Ver- nonia School Bond Committee is bringing you information month- ly to help you in your decision to support a YES vote in November – a Yes vote for our children and grandchildren and for the future and prosperity of our entire community. This month our interview is with Dr. Phyllis Gilmore, who runs our local Providence Medical Clinic, and has years of experience working in small rural communities. Question: Do you think schools are an important part of rural communities, and what role do you think our schools play in our community? Answer: Schools and churches are the cornerstones of small communities. The strength of those cornerstones very often deter- mines what type of community will be built over, under, and around them. We are blessed to have several churches and many strong church leaders in Vernonia. Our American freedom of religion gives us the opportunity to worship and grow in our spiritual lives in ways that follow our individual beliefs. Our Vernonia church cor- nerstone in some ways is even stronger than before the floods in that they helped shelter our hurting hearts and souls and we were reminded of the strength that comes in pooling our prayers and faith. The school is the cornerstone where children and their families of all belief systems, all economic and educational levels come to- gether to grow in the realm of education where we train our chil- dren to find their way in the world of employment, the arts and physical fitness. THAT part of the cornerstone, however, was weakened and re- mains vulnerable. Question: Why do you think it’s important that we move our schools campus to a safe location? Answer: When waters and winds come, people gather to safe haven. We need our school, our clinic, and our city government buildings available for the tax payers who built them to be able to use them when their own homes are threatened. Stewardship of ate! L o o ot T N Vernonia It’s Christian Academy is accepting applications for the fall. Save time and money. Enroll your student locally. VCA has high academic standards and is very affordable, about half the cost of most private schools in our area! 2009/2010 school year starts September 14 th For more information call 503-860-3860 our money means our schools are open to us when we need them. Question: What would you say to someone who says we can’t afford new schools in this community and in this cur- rent economy? Answer: I probably have as good an opportunity as anyone in this town to see what the flood, the current economy, and future concerns are doing to people and families. Lost jobs and homes become depression, lost marriages, substance abuse. BUT re- building, even though it costs that pound of flesh, is the only way to have a chance to go UP and OUT of where we are. Question: How do you think a new school campus would im- pact student learning and the school districts ability to recruit fac- ulty? Answer: My mother was a school teacher for forty-one years. I remember how excited she got if our school got a new teacher, a new piece of equipment, a new set of books. GOOD teachers keep learning, and if we offer a teaching environment of growth and challenge, the good teachers will come. And, you show me a good, interested, excited teacher, and I will show you a child who learns. Question: What do you think will happen to our schools and our community if we don’t pass this bond? Answer: If we don’t pass the bond, then we have passed what opportunity we have in front of us to once again rebound, sustain, and grow. We all know we need money from the outside to help complete this mission. But, if the grant-givers and the bill-passers don’t see our money on the table, they won’t put down any of theirs. PLEASE VOTE YES FOR VERNONIA SCHOOLS! Back to School Safety Tips IF YOUR CHILDREN WALK TO SCHOOL • Dress children in light-colored clothing to improve visibility to motorists. • Stress the importance of how to safely cross streets. IF YOUR CHILDREN RIDE A BIKE TO SCHOOL • Make sure they wear a helmet, light-colored clothing and have proper reflective or lighting devices on their bike. • Review with them the rules of the road and the proper use of hand signals. WHEN RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS • Ensure that children know not to play in the street while waiting for the bus. • Make sure that children know to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching it. • Be sure that your children can visually see the bus driver at all times before moving to board the bus. • Reinforce the rule that the school bus driver is in charge when they are on the school bus. A school bus driver’s responsibility is to safely deliver children to and from school. Unruly, noisy children on the bus create a distraction for the bus driver making it harder to safely focus on driving. This information sponsored by State Senator Betsy Johnson.