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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, January 6, 2011 Page 13 Hough tells Banks Council of Wash. Co. Visitors Assoc. meeting Teresa Lyda was recognized with a certificate of appreciation at the December 14 Banks City Council meeting. Lyda was rec- ognized for her strong support of the City of Banks by serving on the Banks Planning Com- mission. She is a “very wonder- ful Planning Commissioner,” said Mayor John Kinsky. Lyda has served two terms (six years) as a Planning Commis- sioner. Her second term ex- pired on December 31st. Planning Commission Liai- son Janet Towne told council that “nothing much happened” at the planning commission. The commission received packets with no comments. City Manager Jim Hough’s report included the following: • Washington County and Metro continue to respond to the Land Conservation and De- velopment Commission (LCDC) decision on the Metro Urban Reserves. It appears that undesignated and rural re- serves in the Banks area will not be changed. • The Washington County Visitors Association Scenic Bikeway Subcommittee, which Hough chairs, held its first offi- cial meeting to start work to- ward a scenic bikeway in Washington County. The com- mittee has adopted a letter of support for the concept and Hough anticipates that the committee will be soliciting let- ters of support in January. • The employees of the City of Banks expressed thanks to Council for funding holiday gift certificates to Jim’s Thriftway. • The Greenville City Park Management Committee will hold a goal-setting retreat in late January as it works on the City Council’s request to make recommendations regarding park usage. The committee also suggested that the City hold a community meeting in mid-February regarding neigh- borhood watch, park mainte- nance and usage. • At the request of Councilor Mark Gregg to develop a more efficient emergency notification program, the city is meeting with Larry Hatch at Washington County Consolidated Commu- nications Agency (WCCCA) to discuss the new system the agency is purchasing. The City will continue to pursue this proj- ect and make a report/recom- mendation in the next few months. • Two applicants are being considered for the position of Water Utility Operator/Public Works Supervisor to replace Fred Evers when he retires. References are currently being checked. The City hoped to hire a new person in December to work with Evers for a few weeks. • The first evidentiary hear- ing for the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Expansion was held at a special Planning Commission meeting on De- cember 15, at 7:00 p.m. Coun- cil anticipates that they will hold the second hearing on Febru- ary 8, at 7:30 p.m. Council received the Can- Main Street Pizza 680 S. Main Oak Village Shopping Center Banks, Oregon 503-324-5858 Receive $2 off any large Pizza. $ 2 Off 00 Expires 1-31-11. Coupons cannot be sold or duplicated. vass of the November 2, 2010, Regular election. Council reappointed a num- ber of Board and Committee members whose terms would otherwise expire on December 31, 2010. Council adopt their 2011- 2012 Goals, with priority num- bering for each goal, on a mo- tion by Councilor Craig Stew- art. Council drafted the goals at the September 21-22 City Council Retreat. After the first reading, by title only, of an ordinance adding food waste to the Solid Waste Collection Franchise with SWATCO. Council approved the first reading with a 3-1 vote. The next meeting of Banks City Council will be on January 11, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in Banks City Hall. Learn how to feed birds in winter by Chris Thomas, Oregon News Service When the weather turns cold, wild bird populations in the Northwest have to work hard to find enough food to sur- vive. Oregonians can help by putting out feeders and keeping them full this winter, and there are probably some good post- Christmas sale prices on feed- ers. An estimated 50 million peo- ple around the U.S. put out bird feeders this time of year to at- tract feathered friends to their back yards. They may not real- ize that a bird’s diet must fuel a metabolism that can require up to a whopping 10,000 calories a day, so the food has to not only appeal to the birds, but be nutritious for them as well. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) naturalist David Mize- jewski recommends a combi- nation of seed and suet. But he says the best way to help wild birds survive the winter lies in what you plant around your property, “What you want to think about doing, first and fore- most, is adding plants to your landscape that have berries, seeds, nuts, and that kind of thing. Those are the foods that the birds are going to be feed- ing on in the winter.” Mizejewski says there are some myths to wild bird feed- ing, like the one that says once you start feeding the birds, you can’t stop, “It is something of a myth that birds will become de- pendent upon your feeder and that, if you stop feeding once you start, the birds are going to suffer and maybe even die. The research shows that birds real- ly only use feeders as a supple- ment to the natural foods they find in the landscape.” The National Wildlife Feder- ation has a Certified Wildlife Habitat program to educate people about how to safely at- tract birds and other wildlife, even in urban settings. There’s an online application to fill out (at www.nwf.org) and the NWF can certify your yard as wildlife habitat. Businesses, churches and schools can also apply for certification. It’s a new year, are you ready for a new Stihl? Chain Saws Starting at 179.95 MS 250 Chain Saw High power to weight ratio for maximum performance. Designed for cutting firewood and around the home tasks. MS 290 STIHL FARMBOSS ® Our #1 selling chain saw model. IntelliCarb ™ compensating carburetor. NEW! MS 362 Chain Saw Professional use Main Street Pizza 680 S. Main Oak Village Shopping Center Banks, Oregon 503-324-5858 Receive $1 off any medium Pizza. $1 Off 00 Expires 1-31-11. Coupons cannot be sold or duplicated. The MS 362 is an optimum combination of fuel efficiency, torque, power and weight. PRECISION OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT Banks Hardware 503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main Street, Banks • Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm • Saturday 8am to 5pm • Sunday 10am to 4pm