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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 2009)
The INDEPENDENT, September 17, 2009 Can you help out our food bank? As school begins, so does a return to a more normal sched- ule for many families. Among the activities is a return for households to eat supper to- gether. That can mean not enough food to meet the hunger need. Please consider helping others through dona- tions of food or funds to your lo- cal food bank. According to the Summer 2009 Oregon Food Bank Net- work newsletter, Vernonia’s need for help is consistent with those in other parts of Oregon. Comparing July 2008 through June 2009, over 897,000 emer- gency food boxes were distrib- uted through the Oregon Food Bank Network. This was an in- crease of 13.2% over the previ- ous year, a difference of over 100,000 food boxes. This is an all-time high for our state. So far, as a whole, Oregon Food Bank has been able to meet the increase in need. A record 66.2 million pounds of food from private, food industry and government sources, was received for distribution during this time period. This is possi- ble only through hard work and dedication, and generous do- nors who provide the groceries. Vernonia Cares Food Bank assists people of our communi- ty with emergency groceries. In August 2009, the food bank helped 145 households con- taining 443 people. Consistent- ly, one third of those receiving groceries are children, with an additional 12% being senior cit- izens. “If you are able to take ad- vantage of canned food sales, donate fresh garden produce from your garden, or send a fi- nancial donation to Vernonia Cares Food Bank, the timing is wonderful,” said Director Sandy Welch. Donations, both of food or funds, can be verified by a tax-deductible receipt if re- quested. “Please lend a hand, if you can,” concluded Welch. Vernonia Cares Food Bank, open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is located within the American Le- gion Building at 627 Adams Av- enue (near West Oregon Elec- tric). Donations may be mailed to Vernonia Cares, PO Box 126, Vernonia, OR 97064- 0126. Questions can be direct- ed to 503-429-1414. To make off-hours donations, contact Sandy at 503-429-9602. Astoria art Faire seeks vendors Vendors Wanted: The 14th Annual Starving Artist Faire is being held December 4, 5, and 6, at the Astoria Yacht Club. The event showcases one of a kind arts and crafts from re- gional artisans. This holiday event has had such hand-craft- ed items as holiday wreaths and centerpieces, jewelry, pot- tery, wood items, fabric art, canned seafood, prints, cards and paintings, facial and body products, clothing, recycled-re- purposed-reinvented items, and much, much more. Cost is $50.00 for the entire weekend. This event is a fundraiser for the Astor Street Opry Company and the local Food Bank. This year’s sponsor for the event is Northwest Lending Group. If you are interested in attending, e-mail Cindy at dogwater@ pacifier.com or call her at 503- 458-6250 in the evening. Domestic violence support group Columbia County Women’s Resource Center facilitates a free support group for victims of domestic violence. The group meets every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m in St. He- lens. If you are in a relationship now, or have been in the past, that includes emotional, verbal or physical violence and you would like help to sort out what happened to you, please call our counselor, Sandra, at 503- 397-7110 to find out if this group is for you. For more information or to talk to Sandra, please call our office Monday through Thurs- day, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay If any of my friends or acquaintances come this way to visit, you may not recognize me. I weigh in at 130 lbs. now. Funny think is I feel great about it, and am getting used to seeing it on the scale. For a while I thought the bat- tery was failing in the scan, but NO. The scales at my dialysis say the same thing. If you’re wondering what does a person do for 3-1/2 hours hooked to a tube?? A quick overview. First though, Bernice F. – you should know, you go with me Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – the lap robe you made me keeps my legs warm plus I take a pillow for my back. The room is cool, first you weigh in, then get hooked up. At present, since I’m still using the neck catheter, I am knitting or working in a cross- word puzzle book, or find-a-word book. There is (or isn’t) much to look at except each chair has it’s own T.V. – there are 20 stations. One day last week all the chairs were occupied. There are many stories to tell in that room. You can visit with those on your left or right or across the way a little. Most folk, all ages – male or female – walk, wheelchair, cane, walker, or gurney in. Healthy or ill or in between. All nationalities. There is one little Oriental lady I watch, she is so alone across the room. Each one of us come and go – hour after hour. But when the time is up, there is a “How you doing? See you later” and a smile or wave as they weigh out, pick up pillow and blanket and head out the door. For dog lovers: Shadow has met her match – all squirrels get up the tree before she gets to sniff them out. Also she has a blackberry patch to dive into trying to run them to ground. Ho, ho. The berries were delicious and there is even a Scotch Broom bush or two in among them, just like home. We are having Autumn mornings and Sum- mer afternoons and Fall nights, which is good for sleeping. Now to the news – no comment since I’m not there, can’t take sides, but I have heard the cougar is back in town raising up all the dogs in town at night. That I don’t hear anymore. My irri- tation now is firetruck, police car and airplane noise. For now I’m off to dialysis. Okay, I’m back. To- day was an even. They decided to use both sites (left arm, right neck) in one side and out the oth- er, so I couldn’t knit and it was a chore to work the pencil – Ho, Ho. All went well but today (Fri- day a.m.) I’m beat. It’s going to be “hot” today, too. The end for today – tomorrow hope. 50 Years Ago This Month The September 17, 1959, is- sue of the Vernonia Eagle in- cluded the following news story on the front page, under the heading, “Letters Explain Clo- sure”: building with whom the city had been dealing. She enclosed what she said was a copy of a letter sent to her from the Safeway office in Portland, dated June 29, 1959 and signed by O. B. Blair, property manager. Essence of the letter was that the agreement made between Safe- way and the building owners in April 1957 was that the building Please see page 22 In an effort to clear up some of the misunderstanding felt to be ev- ident concerning the closing of the Safeway store here, Mayor George W. Johnson, accompanied by members of the council, brought two letters to the Vernonia Eagle office last week. The desire of the council and mayor was to establish that the intention of the Safeway company had already been made to close the store here before the council announced plans for build- ing the fire hall. One of the letters was ad- dressed to Mayor Johnson and was from one of the owners of the Mariolino’s Hungery ? ne s alzo r C e ks g Bur Stea es y h l c es l i Phi oagi ndw H a S i n s ke Del iche Chic w d n Fish Sa s d d a a e l l z Sa Piz Gril 721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018 Meyers ‘ Auto Body,Inc 503-429-0248 493 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR