The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2010
Get ready to Make Vernonia Shine
Make Vernonia Shine Day
will be April 17. Each year, Ver-
nonia Pride organizes this op-
portunity for the community to
come out and help spruce up
Vernonia.
Registration this year will be
at the Vernonia Middle School
starting at 9:00 a.m. A free
Lunch will be served to volun-
teers in the school’s cafeteria
from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.
This year the focus will be
on cleaning the moss from the
bricks downtown, digging out
from around the trees and re-
barking, removing ivy from
some of the trees by the river,
and some general litter picking
up.
A new feature this year will
be informational tables, which
will be set up in the school’s
covered play area. Look for a
line-up of participants in the
April 15 issue of The Indepen-
dent.
Many volunteers are needed
to Make Vernonia Shine.
Whether you are part of a
group of volunteers, or a family,
or just one person, you will be
welcomed. Put April 17th on
your calendar and plan to come
out and help Make Vernonia
Shine.
Homebuying class offered by CAT
The ABC’s of Homebuying
will be presented at a seminar
on April 10, from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. at Community Action
Team, 125 N. 17th St., St. He-
lens.
Learn how to:
• decide if you should buy a
home,
• prepare financially for
homeownership,
• understand mortgages and
the closing process,
• shop for a home,
• protect your investment,
• use the Self Help Building
Program.
The cost of the program is
$25.00 and registration is re-
quested by calling 503-325-
9215, ext. 2303 or via email at
cindkp@cat-team.org.
The following events will
take place in April at Stub
Stewart State Park:
• The Discovery Depot will
be open Thursday - Sunday
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• A SOLV IT event will be
happening for Earth Day on
Sunday, April 17, starting at
9:00 a.m. Volunteers must
register at www.solv.org
• A Friends of Stub Stewart
State Park and Banks-Vernon-
ia Rails-to-Trails meeting will
be held at Stub Stewart State
Park Dairy Creek Meeting Hall
at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April
22. Everyone is invited to at-
tend.
• Saturday, April 24, at 7:30
p.m. an OMSI Star Party will
take place at the Hilltop Day-
use Area. There will be a $5
parking fee for non-registered
campers, the event is free.
Telescopes and expertise pro-
vided by the Rose City As-
tronomers and OMSI Planetar-
ium Director, Jim Todd.
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
Ahh, Easter is upon us
once more. A few things to
remember – after the dy-
ing, hiding, finding of all
those eggs, comes the
eating of deviled eggs, po-
tato or macaroni salad,
pickled eggs and lunch
box eggs. Yum, yum. Just
remember to keep them in
the fridge until the last shell is cracked and
tossed.
At this point, 5:10 p.m. on March 29th, it is
pouring. Is your swimming pool full enough to
float a boat? I’ve a wading pool of mud at the
edge of my patio. Moxie (the cat) has spent most
of the day bobbing her head as she watches the
rain drops hit the puddle. Shadow does not care
for the rain at all.
Sunshine or rain on Easter, I hope your day is
filled with Joy.
Perusing the last issue of The Independent, I
noticed a few hmmmms spots. I have to com-
ment on of them. (I am not the only person alive
that feels this way.) I might raise your blood pres-
sure so maybe you should stop reading about
now. “The Cartoon.” How can anyone that has
listened to the news on TV or radio for the last
year think it was a “slap in the face” (Or not the
truth) (or read books and newspapers)?? Maybe
I’m so old I don’t understand freedom of expres-
sion. But – Yes, means yes and no means no.
We (the people) voted people into office to speak
for us. Right? So, how come they didn’t listen to
the masses? Now that the Bill, with its pork trail-
ers, has passed, here’s a thought or two for you
to think about. First, let me make it clear – yes,
we all have a right to have the assurance of
health care, but as it is if you don’t have (or get)
some insurance “They” will fine you. You’ve no
job, not your fault, and no hidden assets, so, you
are out all the way around. Right?
What does it mean if you are a senior, maybe
in good shape for the shape you’re in? Take me
for instance. At present late 80s – high blood
pressure, heart murmur, bad feet, legs and hips
and back problems. One kidney, the one I have
left is deceased and I’m on dialysis 3 days a
week. I’ve had many elective surgeries to keep
my health. But, in the future something goes
awry or I acquire diabetes or cancer or on and
on. Someone other than myself or my doctor will
step in and decide my age, my chance of not
making a total recovery (or needing expensive
extended care) and a myriad of other unknowns
– I don’t count, nor will the wishes of my family.
Someone younger and more able will take my
place. You doubt me – then you have not lis-
tened or read the same TV and radio or newspa-
pers I and many others have. This won’t happen
overnight but this is where it is headed.If you’re
living with Social Security – see you later.
The Bill was bought and/or sold at our ex-
pense by people that changed their minds to do
whose bidding??
Scouts help out at Vernonia Cares
Four members of Boy Scout
Troop 860, plus two of their
leaders, spent one of their
Spring Break days performing
badge-related community serv-
ice and good citizenship serv-
ice at Vernonia Cares Food
Bank. On Tuesday, March 23,
they helped stock shelves, as-
sisted clients as they loaded
the groceries into their cars,
and cleaned up the area
April events at
Stub Stewart
Page 9
Left, Boy Scout Jacob Lev-
enseller helps sweep up
around Vernonia Cares. Oth-
ers who worked that day in-
cluded Leader Todd Mar-
tinez, Daniel Rice, Drew Ch-
eney, Jacob Perry and his fa-
ther Craig Perry.
around the building. “These
Scouts really helped us. They
worked very hard and were ex-
amples of what earnest Scouts
do,” said Vernonia Cares Direc-
tor Sandy Welch.
The Scouts who participated
in this community service proj-
ect were Jacob Perry, Drew
Cheney, Daniel Rice and Jacob
Levenseller. Troop leaders
Todd Martinez and Craig Perry
were also present. “We’re glad
they came,” said Cares Presi-
dent Rosie McCoy.
Vote
Shawna Sykes
Columbia County
Commissioner
Shawna will work toward:
State Farm ®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710
• More local family wage jobs
• More recreational opportunities
Bunny Girt, Agent
• Improved access to governmen t
1229 N. Adair
PO Box 543
Cornelius, OR 97113-0543
Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667
bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com
Vote for Shawna, she'll work for you!
www.ShawnaSykes.com
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Shawna Sykes, P. O. Box 1256, Scappoose, OR 97056
