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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, April 21, 2011 April is Alcohol Awareness Month In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, in April, the Oregon Liquor Control Com- mission (OLCC) is encouraging families and community lead- ers to focus on the serious im- pacts of underage drinking in their neighborhoods. Alcohol Awareness Month is intended to educate people and commu- nities about the consequences of alcohol-related problems. According to ECONorthwest and Oregon Health Authority, each year alcohol consumption in Oregon leads to: • 1,400 alcohol-related deaths • 243,000 persons with alco- hol abuse or dependence dis- orders • 5,100 violent crimes due to alcohol use by the perpetrator or victim, and • 41,000 offenses related to driving under the influence. “April is the perfect time for Alcohol Awareness Month be- cause it is right before Prom and Graduation season. During Alcohol Awareness Month we want to connect with our youth so we can provide resources that can prevent an alcohol-re- lated tragedy,” said Rudy Williams, Deputy Director of the Public Safety Services Pro- gram. “It’s important for par- ents, friends, teachers and community leaders to have conversations with teens about the very real dangers related to alcohol abuse and underage drinking. The OLCC video, “Wasted” can help initiate those conversations.” According to the Pacific In- stitute for Research and Evalu- ation, underage drinking cost Oregonians $841.3 Million in 2007: • Youth Violence $464.7 • Youth Alcohol Treatment $127.3 • Youth Traffic Crashes $84.9 • High-Risk Sex $57.9 • Youth Injury $44.0 • Youth Property Crime $43.6 • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome $13.3 • Poisonings and Psychoses $5.6 For more information about underage drinking, visit our website http://www.oregon.gov/ OLCC/alcohol_and_minors.sht ml or visit The Century Council Web site at www.centurycoun- cil.org. Tips for safe Easter egg preparation If you’re planning on dyeing and hunting Easter eggs this year, it’s important to follow food safety rules to prevent ill- ness. Keep fresh eggs refrigerated in the original carton until it’s time to cook them. Eggs are a high protein food and are prone to rapid growth of the disease- causing bacteria, salmonella. Hard-cooked eggs can spoil faster than fresh ones – eggs are porous and bacteria can penetrate the shell. A protective coating that is added when eggs are washed at the plant washes away during boiling, which makes it easier for bacte- ria to enter the shell. Therefore, it is important to refrigerate hard-cooked eggs within two hours of cooking. Do not handle eggs exces- sively. Wash your hands thor- oughly when you do handle them. Don’t hide the same eggs you plan to eat. Plan to hide plastic eggs and decorate hard- boiled eggs for eating only. Don’t eat cracked eggs or eggs that have been out of the refrigerator longer than two hours. A green ring around an egg yolk may look unappetizing, but don’t worry – the egg is still safe and will taste fine. The green ring is a result of sulfur and iron compounds reacting on the surface of the yolk. This can occur when eggs are over- cooked or when there is a high amount of iron in the cooking Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay Well, I saw a sign in a church yard that said, “Spring has sprung.” Now my ques- tion is – Which way did it spring? Backward or forward? We have had more rain, more wind, more hail, more snow flurries and less sun since mid-March than we had all winter. Agree or disagree? To top it all off, I’ve been more tired than when I had pneumonia. So, should I go into hibernation or continue to think of swimming in the hot tub all sum- mer? Such weighty problems to solve. I sit inside and look at the green goo growing on my patio and wonder when am I going to be able to rescue it so I can sun my bare feet, if Summer comes. In going back to Vernonia lately, I have been made aware of the changes along the streets into town – vacant lots are disap- pearing for a new main business district but vacant lots are ap- pearing in strange places. The Country Kitchen is now a ghost. Anyhow I can still see it there in my mind’s eye. Little squatty houses are now becoming too tall to reach. I’m almost happy I don’t live there anymore – I can’t climb stairs anymore, not even for exercise. So, If I had friends in high houses we’d both have to meet in the middle somewhere. They do look strange. My main question is – Are there going to be any children left in the Vernonia area to use all of the new schools?? I pray so. If you are trying to learn a new word once in a while – here is one for you. Jejune. water. The American Egg Board has a recommendation for cooking tender eggs with no green ring: • In a saucepan, place the eggs in a single layer. Add enough water to cover the eggs by 1 inch. Cover and quickly bring to a boil. 24 Years Ago This Month The April 30, 1987, issue of The Independent included the following news story on page 5: The Vernonia City Council agreed unanimously to hold in- formal “Town Hall” meetings each month following their sec- ond monthly meeting, in order to provide more opportunity for citizen input in city government. “We really do want to know what the citizens of Vernonia think,” said Mayor Wally Vaughn, “and it’s not always possible for them to speak dur- ing the formal meetings.” The council meets in the city library at 7:00 p.m on the first and third Mondays of each month. A workshop will be held after the council meeting on May 18 to discuss the city’s parking regulations. The public is invit- ed to participate in the discus- sion. The council adopted, unani- mously, a regulation requiring that all city purchase orders be signed by both the city recorder and one council member. Dur- ing discussion of the regulation, Mayor Vaughn told Coun- cilmember Tom Buffington, who presented the motion, that he appeared to distrust city de- partment heads. Buffington in- sisted that his only purpose is to put the city on a more busi- nesslike basis, and he remind- ed Vaughn that “We are ac- countable for spending the city’s money.” A resolution adopted last year that bans council mem- bers from being volunteers on either the fire or police depart- ments was rescinded. Re- sponding to a question from Councilmember Jan Miyasaki, Fire Chief Lanny McDonald said there are only three or four volunteer firefighters available on weekdays, and they couldn’t afford to lose Councilmember Mario Leonetti, who had to drop off the volunteer work. In other business, the coun- cil approved a letter of support to Rep. Tom Hanlon regarding the Banks-Vernonia Linear Park proposal; approved a bin- $1 00 Page 9 • Remove from heat and leave the pan covered. Let sit for 15 minutes for large eggs, 13 minutes for medium eggs and 10 minutes for small eggs. Immediately run cold water over eggs until they are com- pletely cooled. Boiled eggs should be refrigerated and eat- en within a week. If you don’t want to worry about the safety of the egg, empty eggshells can be dyed See Practice on page 22 go game operation at the Cedar Side Inn that will benefit the Chamber of Commerce and the Jamboree Committee, pending all legal approvals; hired two life guards for the 1987 swimming pool season. A work session will be held concerning the Sword ease- ment through Anderson Park, following the May 4 meeting. OFF Lunch (non-members only) Vernonia Senior Center 446 Bridge Street 503-429-3912 Coupon expires May 4, 2011 G OOD F OOD G OOD F RIENDS G OOD T IMES 831 Bridge St. Vernonia, OR 503-429-0214