The INDEPENDENT, October 1, 2009
Smith is now full-time Vernonia Fire Deputy Chief
Dean Smith is now working full-time as Deputy Chief of the
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District.
Dance to benefit garden project
A Country Dance will be held
at the Vernonia Grange Hall, on
North St., on Saturday, October
3, at 7:00 p.m. (following
Salmon Festival).
Rebecca Arlint, a former
Western Swing Instructor, will
teach the Cotton Eyed Joe and
4-Count Swing with a half hour
of instruction before the dance.
Tickets are $20 per couple and
can be purchased at Double C
Tack, Cornerstone Naturals or
at the door.
Proceeds benefit the Ver-
nonia Community Garden Pro-
ject.
Last First Friday of the year Oct. 2
Vernonia’s First Friday sea-
son will close at the Scout Cabin
in Hawkins Park on October 2.
Are you curious about Solar
Power? Several professional
vendors will be there to answer
questions and hand out materi-
als about their businesses and
solar power in general.
Chip Bubl and the Columbia
County Master Gardeners will
again be there to answer your
gardening, horticultural, and
agricultural questions. Are you
wondering, “What is that crazy
plant that I can't get rid of?”
Ask Chip and your local Ver-
nonia Master Gardeners.
The Vernonia Hands-On Art
Floating Arts and Hand-Made
Gifts Gallery will be in the
Learning Center.
Ike David from Portland will
be performing live. Check out
his folk/rock/blues riffs at:
www.myspace.com/ikedavid
This will also be the last Out-
door Market of the season, so
please come and encourage
the vendors to return next year!
Hours are from 5:00 to 7:30
p.m. For more information con-
tact: Erika Paleck at epaleck
@gmail.com, 503-429-0898.
Country Dance
At the Vernonia Grange Hall
Saturday, October 3, 2009
following Salmon Festival Activities
7:00 p.m. - $20 per couple
Tickets at : Double C Tack, Cornerstone Naturals
or contact Allison McLeod at 503-429-0734
Proceeds benefit Vernonia Community Garden Project.
Vernonia Rural Fire Protec-
tion District (VRFPD) now has
a full-time Deputy Chief on
duty. Dean Smith has been
working for the district full-time
since September 1. The board
of directors officially introduced
Smith in his new capacity to the
volunteers and staff at a meet-
ing on September 14.
Smith is not, however, a
newcomer to either VRFPD or
Vernonia. After coming to Ver-
nonia in 1987, he started as a
volunteer firefighter in January
2003 and found his niche. After
moving up through the volun-
teer ranks to lieutenant, he was
named deputy chief after the
resignation of Fire Chief Paul
Epler last November. At the
same time, Ben Davis, another
long-time volunteer who is em-
ployed full time at Columbia
River Fire & Rescue, was also
promoted to deputy chief.
Smith and Davis have been
keeping the department going
since then. Davis is still a
Deputy Chief and the Training
Officer for VRFPD.
Now that the department
has a full-time deputy chief, the
board is looking to bring in a
part-time fire chief, perhaps a
retiree, to act in an administra-
tive capacity.
About his new status, Smith
said, “I’m just happy to offer, or
try to offer, some stability to our
volunteers, new recruits and
the community.” Smith can
most often be seen driving the
red command SUV.
Wondering how you can
help VRFPD? There is always
a need for more volunteers.
Currently, Smith is working to
put together a Logistics Group
for those who want to help but
don’t necessarily want to fight
fire directly. Call 503-429-8252
to volunteer or for more infor-
mation on volunteering, or visit
the VRFPD booth at Salmon
Festival, October 3, in Hawkins
Park.
Page 7
Senior News
Will be back October 15.
Free lecture by
local Dr. tonight
Dr. Carol McIntyre, of Ver-
nonia, will hold a free lecture at
the Vernonia Community
Learning Center on October 1,
from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Learn how acupuncture and
naturopathic medicine can im-
prove your health and see an
acupuncture demonstration.
‘74 Class reunion
Members and friends of Ver-
nonia High School Class of
1974, are invited to join the
class reunion on October 17, at
Coyote’s Bar and Grill, 5301 W
Baseline Rd., Hillsboro.
If you plan to attend, please
RSVP before October 15 to
rlennen@hotmail.com.
For more information, see w
ww.Vernoniaclassmates.com.
Music night to raise money for Mushatt
Listen to good music and
help Vernonian Darrold Mush-
att raise money for a kidney
transplant at the same time.
The concert will be held at
Vernonia Community Church
on October 17, starting at 6:00
p.m. Donations of money and
non-perishable food items will
be accepted at the door. All
proceeds go to help Mushatt’s
kidney transplant fund.
Strand, Dennis Chadek,
Shawn Baker, Mark Brown, Elin
Hayes, Clark McGaugh, Brian
Maynard, Grant Williams, Burt
Tschache, and Disaster Relief
are just some of the entertain-
ers who will perform.
WANTED
Volunteer Firefighters for the
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Free Training, Evenings & Weekends
REWARD
Personal Satisfaction, Gain Valuable Skills, Help People,
And Enjoy Making A Difference In Your Community
For Information call 503-429-8252 Must be 16 years of age or older