The INDEPENDENT, September 2, 2010
Veteran’s Program levy to be on ballot
The Columbia County Board
of Commissioners has formally
approved a request from local
veterans to refer a 5-year oper-
ating levy to voters in the No-
vember 2, 2010 General Elec-
tion. The levy would provide
stable funding for the Columbia
County Veteran Service Pro-
gram.
In recent months, the Co-
lumbia County Veterans Ser-
vice Office has seen a record
number of veterans, from past
and current armed conflicts,
applying for assistance. Veter-
ans Program Officer Joe Pyle
annually provides that assis-
tance to 500 local veterans and
their families. The Veterans
Program assists veterans in
applying for disability claims
that cover physical injuries,
mental health services, widow
and family benefits, housing
assistance and medical trans-
portation needs, in addition to
other services specific to veter-
ans.
The rate for this operating
levy is proposed at 3.5 cents
per $1,000 of assessed value,
and would represent $3.50 to
the owner of a $100,000 home.
Estimates of how much money
would be generated during the
life of the levy are:
$150,381 in 2011/12,
$156,397 in 2012/13,
$162,653 in 2013/14
$169,159 in 2014/15
$175,925 in 2016/17
According to the County
Clerk’s office, September 7 is
the last day to file arguments
for or against any county-wide
measure for inclusion in the
County Voters’ pamphlet. The
appropriate forms can be ob-
tained from the Columbia
County Clerk’s office at the Co-
lumbia County Courthouse,
230 Strand Street, St. Helens.
For additional information on
voter requirements, call the
County Clerk’s office at 503-
397-7214.
Another measure that has
been submitted for the General
Election is Measure No. 5-206,
which would change Columbia
County Commissioner posi-
tions from partisan to nonparti-
san beginning in 2012.
Plan for Vernonia’s First Friday events
Vernonia’s September 3
First Friday event will feature a
Textile Arts theme as a tie-in
with the long-standing St.
Mary’s Quilt Fair, September
16-19. There will be several dif-
ferent demonstrations of textile
arts including projects for chil-
dren, various quilts from
around the area, and yarn spin-
ning demonstrations featuring
Deb Taylor from Golden Spire
farm in Clatskanie and Sarah
Carrion of Vernonia.
This event will be held in the
Vernonia Community Learning
Center and Courtyard at 939
Bridge Street, from 5:00 to 8:00
p.m.
Other activities include local
machinist Jack Finzel demon-
strating several of his scale
model compressed-air driven
engine models of antique gas
and steam-powered engines;
this is a teaser for the special
display of full-sized antique en-
gines that will be on display in
front of the Vernonia Pioneer
Museum on September 18.
This month’s kids’ project
will be painting the new First
Friday Goat Banner for use
next year. Last year’s has been
up every month!
OSU Extension agent Chip
Bubl will again be on hand to
answer your questions about
agriculture, livestock or garden-
ing and several local artisans
and crafters will have hand-
made gifts for sale.
Nicole Grey will have her
first art and photography exhib-
it opening at the Blue House
Café, 919 Bridge Street, adja-
cent to the courtyard, where the
Renegade Minstrels will per-
form folk music with blues influ-
ence that features Joe Sea-
mons on guitar. Their music re-
flects the range and richness of
the Northwest, and their influ-
ences include local legends
Hobe Kytr and Dave Berg.
For more info, call Erika at
503-704-5970 or epaleck@g
mail.com, or check out the
website: vernoniafirstfriday.org
Page 7
Senior Center News
Closed for maintenance: The center’s floors will be redone
over the Labor Day weekend, requiring a change from regular
hours. The center and the thrift shop closed at 1:00 p.m. today,
September 2, and will remain closed through September 6. Every-
thing will reopen on Tuesday, September 7, and regular hours will
resume.
Like everyone else, your senior center is struggling in this econ-
omy and recently had to increase the center’s lunch prices by one
dollar. The meals are still a bargain, at a suggested $4.00 dona-
tion for those 60 and older, and $5.00 for everyone under 60. You
can even get a full meal to go for only $5.00 by calling ahead and
placing your order.
Now they have come up with a win/win deal that will help every-
one who enjoys their meals at the senior center. If you would like
to buy a left-over entrée to take home, you can for only $2.00 per
serving. To qualify, you must first eat lunch at the center, but
there’s no better way to know you would like to have the entrée for
supper, too, and at $2.00 per serving, it’s the best bargain around.
Connie’s great breakfasts are also available on Fridays at the
Senior Center, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Breakfast for all ages is just
$3.50 per person. Maple bars are made fresh daily for $1.00 each!
If you want maple bars for a gathering of any kind, call a day or
two ahead and place your order.
Those who are home-bound should check out Meals on
Wheels. Call Senior Information Assistance Representative Rosie
McCoy to find out how to put this great service to work.
If you think it’s time to have your hearing checked, Columbia
Hearing Aids offers that service free on the second Monday of
each month. Call the center for an appointment.
Calling needleworkers of all kinds – quilters, knitters, cro-
cheters, etc.– come on in and join the Tuesday gatherings of nee-
dle-workers, any time from 10:30 a.m. to closing.
Join the fun on Friday afternoons, with games, especially
pinochle. It’s a great way to occupy your time from 1:00 p.m.
‘til…the game is finished!
The center’s board of directors’ meeting is held on the second
Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. If you have ideas or sugges-
tions, it’s a great time to bring them to the board’s attention.
The lucky winners of the garden art fountain are Cindy and
Andy Nebergall. Congratulations!
Vernonia Senior Citizens Center: 446 Bridge Street
Senior Information Assistance Rep: Rosie McCoy
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
Fisher birthday Early engines on display, Sept. 18 Sign up to be on Garage Sale map
of the Early Day “hit and miss” or flywheel en-
cause for party Gas Members
Engine and Tractor Asso- gines, provided power for both
Get on the map – The Ver- sign up by calling Helen Bate-
A celebration for Genny
Fisher’s 80th birthday will be
held September 12, from 2:00
to 5:00 p.m., in the Vernonia
Scout Cabin.
Fisher lived in Vernonia for
many years and always
worked to better the communi-
ty, including her involvement
with Vernonia Pride.
Her many friends are invited
to help Fisher celebrate her
birthday.
ciation (EDGETA) will host a
small display of antique gas en-
gines and drag saws on Satur-
day, September 18, from 10
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in front of the
Vernonia Pioneer Museum, 511
E. Bridge Street.
The old engines, known as
rural and industrial uses from
the late 1800s to the 1930s.
Contact Jack Finzel, 503-
429-0523, for more information
or to participate. The Vernonia
Pioneer Museum will be open
extended hours that day to co-
incide with the show.
W E H AVE GPS
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nonia
Community
Wide
Garage Sale map, that is. The
12th annual Community Wide
Garage Sale will be held Sep-
tember 18, from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.
To be included on the map,
Mariolino’s
man at 503-429-6203. Maps
will be available to the public on
Thursday, September 16, and
can be picked up from the box
located on the empty lot next to
Vernonia Realty, 953 Bridge St.
Friday and
Saturday Specials
S PAGHETTI & M EATBALLS
OR
P RIME R IB
721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018