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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2010)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, June 3, 2010 State/Microsoft partnership for free online training City, Ridge Riders discuss lease Governor Ted Kulongoski announced May 27 that Ore- gon will partner with Microsoft to provide free online technolo- gy training to Oregonians who are out of work and looking for opportunities to improve their computer skills. Microsoft will provide the state with over 16,000 vouchers for eligible Oregonians. “This public-private partner- ship will provide Oregonians with the opportunity to learn the skills needed for twenty-first century jobs,” said Governor Kulongoski. “I would like to per- sonally thank Microsoft for their generosity during this difficult time.” Under Microsoft’s Elevate America initiative, Oregon will receive 16,875 vouchers for online training, online testing, and more advanced level train- ing: · Each training voucher is re- deemable for free, online train- Vernonia City Council held a work session, May 28, with the Vernonia Ridge Riders and the city’s Parks Committee, to dis- cuss a possible amendment of the Ridge Riders lease for the arena at Anderson Park. It soon became clear that there are issues that need to be worked out before June 30, when the current lease be- tween the City of Vernonia and the Ridge Riders runs out. If the lease is not rewritten at that point, it would continue for five consecutive 19 year terms un- less the Ridge Riders (but not the City) wished to make a ing on Microsoft Windows Vista or one of the programs in the Microsoft Office Suite. · Each testing voucher is re- deemable for a Microsoft Busi- ness Certification Exam. · Advanced level online train- ing vouchers are redeemable for training for individuals on technical professional career tracks in areas such as web de- velopment or database man- agement. WorkSource Oregon, the state’s workforce system, will administer the Elevate America program in Oregon. Eligible participants must be unem- ployed and registered with WorkSource Oregon. Vouchers will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis for those eligi- ble. Oregonians can find out how to access the program by going to www.WorkSourceOregon. org or by visiting their local WorkSource Oregon Center. Microsoft announced the “Elevate America” program at the National Governor’s Asso- ciation Winter Conference in February 2009. The initiative is expected to provide up to 1 mil- lion vouchers nationwide for Microsoft e-Learning courses and select Microsoft certifica- tion exams at no or low cost to recipients. The program, part of Microsoft’s overall Unlimited Potential efforts to improve so- cial and economic opportuni- ties for people, will provide technology training for up to two million people during the next three years. County jobless numbers go up again Columbia County’s season- ally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.6 percent in April, a significant increase from the previous month (11.9%) but lower than the year before (13.8%). The rate was above the statewide rate (10.8%) and the national rate (9.9%). Total employment climbed by 217 to 21,529 and the number of un- employed people fell by 157 to 3,087. Total employment this April was 112 fewer than last and there were 347 fewer peo- ple unemployed this year. change or chose not renew it. According to Mayor Sally Harrison, the lease needs to be redone, but there are no “big” issues, and the City wants the lease written in a way that al- lows the Ridge Riders to pur- sue grant opportunities for building a roof over the arena. Parks committee member Casey Mitchell and councilor Brett Costley, who is chairman of the committee, both noted that a change in the law no longer allows the city to grant a 99 year lease, and will require a change in the lease. A few other issues were raised, by Parks Committee members and Ridge Riders. Harrison asked for a work- shop on the issues and the lease language. The workshop is set for June 10 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The next regular meeting of the Vernonia City Council is will be at 7:00 p.m. on June 7. Community Calendar VERNONIA Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays 6:30 p.m., 410 North Street Alcoholics Anonymous Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street American Legion Post #119 2nd Thursday 7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue Booster Club 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., VHS Library Boy Scout Troop 201 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin Boy Scout Troop 860 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday 6:30 p.m., Library CERT 4th Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-3018 Chamber of Commerce 2nd Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-6081 Community Coalition 2nd Monday 12:30 p.m. School District Ofc. Cub Scout Pack 201 Scout Cabin For Info Call 503-429-4250 Friends of the Library 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2 For Info Call 503-819-0143 Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Kiwanis Club 2nd & 4th Wednesday 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Municipal Airport Committee 1t Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Pioneer Museum For Info Call 503-429-3713 Public Works Committee 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Cares Directors For Info call 503-429-1414 Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Community PTA 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Vernonia Garden Club 2nd Tuesday 1:30 p.m., Vernonia Library Vernonia Grange 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall Vernonia Health Center 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St. Vernonia Learning Center 1st Wednesday 6:00 p.m., VLC Vernonia Parks Committee 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Planning Comm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Pride 2nd Thursday 1:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Ridge Riders Last Thursday 7:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia RFPD Board 2nd Tuesday 6:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia School Board 2nd Thursday 6:00 p.m., District Office Vernonia Sr. Center Board 2nd Friday 10:00 a.m., Senior Center Vernonia Transfer Station 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Behind VHS Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st, 3rd & 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station WOEC Directors 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., WOEC MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg. 2nd Tuesday M-BRFPD Board Workshop 4th Tuesday M-B Ambulance Drill 1st & 2nd Thursdays M-B Fire Drill 1st & 2nd Wednesdays M-B Helping Circle 2nd Monday M-B SAR Drill 3rd Wednesday M-B Volunteer Assoc. 1st Tuesday Natal Grange 2nd Wednesday T.O.P.S. Mondays Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869 BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous American Legion Post #90 Banks City Council Banks Fire District #13 Banks Library Commission Banks Planning Commission Banks School Board Banks Youth Group Chamber of Commerce CPO 14 Everybody’s Hometown Band Friends of the Library Lions Club Sunset Park Assoc. T.O.P.S. Friday Wednesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Tuesday Last Tuesday 2nd Monday Sunday, Wednesday 1st Thursday 3rd Monday Tuesdays 2nd Tuesday 1st & 3rd Mondays 3rd Wednesday Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall 9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Main Street Post 7:30 p.m., City Hall 7:00 p.m., Station 13 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., City Hall 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby 8:00 p.m., Gun Club 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesday 10:00 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia Comm Mental Health 1st Tuesday 5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way Columbia Soil & Water District 3rd Wednesday 7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes County Fair Board 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. County Parks Commission 3rd Tuesday Times vary, 1054 Oregon St. Mental Health Advisory Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Comm. on Children & Families 3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
