The INDEPENDENT, July 1, 2010
McCoy is Vernonia’s 2010 My Fair Lady
Rosie McCoy has been
named the 2010 Columbia
County My Fair Lady Princess
from Vernonia. McCoy was
born on Shady Lane in Vernon-
ia in 1938. While growing up,
she was was teased as, “The
naughty lady from Shady
Lane.” She went to Vernonia
High School, married at age 17,
then lived in Louisiana, Texas,
Washington and Montana, be-
fore coming back home to Ver-
nonia. She has two sons and
one daughter and didn’t work
outside the home until after the
kids were grown. She also has
eight grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren.
She has been a volunteer at
the Vernonia Senior Center
since 2001 and at Vernonia
Cares Food Bank since 2005.
She is currently the president of
Vernonia Cares. In addition to
her volunteer work, McCoy
paints, sews, does crafts, en-
joys flowers and gardening,
card games and cribbage. She
recently taught an etched glass
class at the senior center and
plans to offer other craft class-
es there.
McCoy was nominated by
the Vernonia Senior Center and
has been in the St. Helens Ki-
wanis Parade, and will appear
at the Columbia County Fair on
July 14 for the My Fair Lady
Pageant. Columbia River Peo-
ple’s Utility District (PUD), in
conjunction with the Retired
Senior Volunteer Program
(RSVP), organizes the pageant
each year to recognize senior
women for their outstanding
service in the community. The
other princesses are Marvel
Brown of St. Helens, Margie
Clark of Rainier, Marcia Powers
of Clatskanie and Helen Sim-
mons of Scappoose.
July 14 is Senior Day at the
See McCoy on page 22
Enjoy Vernonia First Friday on July 2
Vernonia’s July 2nd First Fri-
day will happily feature the
Open Air Market with local pro-
duce. Activities will include a
float building project for kids to
be included in Sunday’s Fourth
of July parade, a guest appear-
ance by Betsy Ross, OSU Ex-
tension Agent Chip Bubl again
answering questions about
those pesky tomato plants
or…?, the famous scapegoat
burning, and a chance to air-
brush your own t-shirt – so
bring one with you!
Don’t miss live music per-
formed by local legends Hobe
Kytr and Dave Berg. Their CD
“Dog Salmon & Rutabagas”
Mariolino’s
features music about Vernonia
and Columbia County.
Many of popular artists and
crafters will again be tempting
you with high quality, hand-
made gifts and cards. A new
twist, starting this month, will be
one artist having a month-long
show that premiers during First
Friday. Our featured artist for
July will be local Randal Har-
vey, whose acrylics will be
hanging in the Blue House all
month. Her “Vernonia Series”
will feature inspiration found
around town, everything from
produce at Sentry to dogwoods
on Texas Avenue, to flowers
purchased from local treasure
I NJOY
Prime
Rib A with
S AFE Potato,
AND S ANE
Baked
Green
F OURTH
OF J Bread
ULY
Salad
& Garlic

P RIME
R IB 4th S – ATURDAY
Have
a Happy
Don’t Drink N & IGHTS
Drive
721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018
Julie Prohaska at the Open Air
Market.
A flag retirement ceremony
will be performed by local
Scouts to give old and tired
flags the respectful farewell
Page 7
Senior Center News
Government offices and many businesses will be closed on
Monday, July 5th, but the Vernonia Senior Center and Thrift Shop
will be open with regular hours. For those whose work schedules
keep them away from the thrift shop, Monday will be a perfect day
to check out the great bargains.
The card sharks have been sharpening their skills for lively
games of pinochle on Fridays. The games start at 1:00 p.m. and
go to 3:00 p.m., or until the last game is over. Join us on Fridays
at the senior center for friendly rivalries and lots of fun.
Free hearing checks will be performed by a representative of
Columbia Hearing Aids on the second Monday of each month; call
the Center for an appointment.
Are you currently working on a quilt, crocheting an afghan, knit-
ting a sweater, or other needlework project? If so, bring your proj-
ect to the Senior Center on Tuesdays, any time from 10:30 a.m. to
closing, and enjoy the company of others as you work.
Lunch is served Monday through Friday at noon. A $3.00 dona-
tion is suggested for those 60 and older, and $4.00 for those un-
der 60. If you prefer lunch to go, for only $4.00 you can call ahead
and place your order.
Breakfasts are available on Fridays at the Senior Center, from
7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Breakfast for all ages is $3.50 per person. Maple
bars, made fresh daily, are just $1.00 each! If you want maple bars
for a gathering of any kind, call 503-429-3912 a day or two ahead
and place your order.
Meals on Wheels are available for those who are home-bound.
Call Senior Information Assistance Representative Rosie McCoy.
She will explain how to put this great service to work.
You can learn more about your senior center by listening in dur-
ing the Board of Directors meeting on the second Friday of each
month at 10 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for June 11.
Don’t miss the festivities on Independence Day…parade, fire-
works and more. We wish all of you a happy and safe 4th of July.
Vernonia Senior Citizens Center: 446 Bridge Street
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thrift Shop Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 503-429-3912
they deserve as symbols of our
country. If you have any Stars
and Bars at home that have
their best days behind them,
please bring them with you.
For more information, watch
our Facebook page: Vernonia
First Friday, check out our web-
site:
vernoniafirstfriday.org,
email Erika Paleck at epaleck
@gmail.com or call her at 503-
704-5970.
VERNONIA’S
BIGGEST
CLASS REUNION
Sunday, August 15th - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Prizes ~ entertainment ~ Tours ~ Food ~ Fun
$5.00 Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. at the School cafeteria
Food & Drinks will be available for purchase
Please RSVP by July 15th to: VernoniasReunion@yahoo.com
Or mail to; Vernonia’s Biggest Reunion c/o Vernonia School District Office
475 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064
For more information visit www.VernoniaClassmates.com or
our Facebook Group, Alumni & Friends of Vernonia Schools ~ Vernonia’s Biggest Reunion
Tax Deductible Donations may be made at www.vernonia.k12.or.us or at
Wauna Federal Credit Union – Vernonia Education Foundation/Alumni Funds
This is a fund raiser for our new schools.