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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2011)
Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, October 19, 2011 Between the Bookends by Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Fans of Bellehaven, Washington’s, beloved librarian Wilhelmina Zukas, can bid her good-bye in the latest and con- cluding Miss Zukas mystery, Farewell, Miss Zukas. Author and former librarian, Jo Dereske, has allowed readers to partic- ipate in the sleuthing, friendships, and family of this spunky Lithuanian protago- nist since 1994, with the publication of The Library Murders and culminating in this, the twelfth and final episode in the series. Fans of books about librarians need not despair, as Jen- nifer McKinlay has recently published the first in a library mystery series entitled Books Can be Deceiving, introducing single librar- ian Lindsey Norris of Briar Creek, Connecticut. It’s been a revelation to find that nearly any interest, hobby, oc- cupation, etc. one might have has also piqued the imagination of others and has become the theme in a novel. Readers may read novels about vampires (Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight novels, etc.), ministers (Jan Karon’s Mitford series and Katherine Page Hall’s Faith Fairchild mysteries), caterers (Diana Mott Davidson’s and Josi Kilpack’s culinary mysteries), dogs (Susan Conant’s, David Rosenfelt’s and Neil Plakey’s dog lover mysteries), knitting (mys- teries by Maggie Sefton and Mary Krueger), and quilting (myster- ies by Arlene Sachitano and Terri Thayer and Jennifer Chiaveri- ni’s popular Elm Creek Quilts novels). This list just touches on a few of the topics which have been successfully incorporated into novels. Try entering a subject near and dear to your heart in the library’s search on your next visit to the library and you might be very pleasantly surprised at what you have been missing. If you are a fan of the Jack Reacher series, you have probably been eagerly awaiting his newest adventure as he stumbles into corruption and danger in one small-town after another. However, this is not what author, Lee Child, has in mind in his newly re- leased novel, The Affair, which flashes back to Reacher’s army career where the reader finds the reason he decided to drop out of the military and become a toothbrush-packing drifter. Set in Carter Crossing, Mississippi in 1997, elite military cop Reacher has been ordered undercover—to investigate the death of a young woman whose death may have been caused by an influ- ential soldier from the nearby military base. When the investiga- tion spins out of control, Reacher refuses to bury the truth, shat- tering his faith in the mission and turning him into a man to be feared. I have followed Jack Reacher beginning with his introduc- tion in Die Trying, and highly recommend all of them for the read- er looking for a complex, innovative, exciting protaganist. Other new acquisitions include Laughed ‘Til He Died by Car- olyn Hart, Shock Wave by John Sandford, and Cold Vengeance by Preston & Child. Book Discussion will take place Monday, October 24 at 5:30, with Daniel Pinkwater’s Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories as the topic. Movie for the month will be an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. This will be shown at 6:30 on Thursday, Octo- ber 27 in the library. Mariolino’s Now Serving Clam Chowder & Daily Soup Specials 721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018 Recent efforts to remove the “N” word in literature—from the new edition of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn, in which the word is changed to “slave”, to an attempt to halt a high school production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone because of its “offensive” language—raise questions about censorship. Is cen- sorship ever a good thing? Should accommodations be made considering the difference between a character’s and author’s point of view? We have the opportunity to discuss censorship in literature during the next Conversation Project, one of Oregon Humanities’ free programs that encourage community discussions of chal- lenging ideas. Led by Professor Pancho Savery, a professor of English, humanities, and American studies at Reed College, the topic will be “To Cut or Not to Cut: Censorship in Literature.” It will be held on Saturday, November 5, at 4:00 p.m. at the Vernon- ia Public Library. Savery also teaches in Reed’s freshman humanities program on the Ancient Mediterranean World (focusing on Greece, Egypt, Persia and Rome). For the last eleven years, he has worked with Oregon Humanities on the Humanity in Perspective program. This program is hosted by the Friends of the Library and the Vernonia Library Board, and sponsored by Oregon Humanities. Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, chal- lenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state’s future. For more information about this free communi- ty discussion, please contact Vernonia Public Library at 503-429- 1818 or library@vernonia-or.gov. Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Avenue Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tues., Thu. 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m. when school is in session. Phone: 503-429-1818 Internet: library@vernonia-or.gov Candidates answer questions From page 5 overseas. Americans need to take care of Americans and vote out those who will not pro- tect your jobs. Witt – We’ve lost over 60,000 jobs in Oregon alone since NAFTA was negotiated. We’ve dealt with free trade, not fair trade. Unless and until we negotiate a trade tax that pro- tects us, I will go to D.C. to ad- vocate against every single trade deal. 8. How will you look at FEMA and solve the problem of yearly financial crises? Avakian – FEMA is part of the critical safety net. I’ll fight for their help here when need- ed. Bonamici – FEMA should absolutely be funded. I was so disappointed to see FEMA at risk because of a dysfunctional congress. I’ll work for disaster relief. Delgado-Morgan – Big gov- ernment is not working. We need to keep our money in Oregon and have a rainy day account here to help. Witt – I’ll spent as much time as needed to be sure FEMA will be there. I sponsored legis- lation that made immediate un- employment benefits available [for jobs lost due to a natural disaster] and stopped insurers from canceling policies after disasters. 9. a. Do you support Occupy Wall Street protesters? b. Will you vote for more banking regulations? c. How will you get Republi- cans to compromise? Avakian – a. This country was born in protest – Go pro- testers. b. Yes and take cap off. c. I was named “consensus builder” my last year in legisla- ture. Bonamici – a. Yes, I support them. b. Yes. c. I have a reputation of being able to work across party lines without sacrificing my val- ues. Delgado-Morgan – a. I sup- port freedom of speech. I do not support property damage or even trash left behind. b. Don’t put your money there. c. Lots of people want to help me so that will help. Witt – a. Absolutely, I sup- port them. b. Yes. c. My 30 plus years experi- ence as a negotiator will help me find agreements. ODFW will tell status of bays in Tillamook area Shellfish biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will present the re- sults of monitoring recreational and commercial bay clam fish- eries in Tillamook and Netarts bays. Everyone is invited hear about the findings and the sta- tus of the fisheries from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, October 26, in the Oregon Department of Forestry building, 5005 3rd Street, Tillamook. Tillamook and Netarts bays see a high level of effort by both recreational and commer- cial clam diggers who target cockle, gaper, butter and little- neck clams. ODFW shellfish bi- ologists have been surveying shellfish populations and moni- toring the fisheries in these bays. The goal of the research is to ensure the fisheries are sustainable. “Our work in Tillamook and Netarts yields valuable data about our bay clam resources,” said Justin Ainsworth, acting shellfish program leader. “.At our last public meeting there were concerns about manage- ment of the fishery. We hope to get more input at this meeting so we can ultimately address those concerns.” After brief presentations on the recent work by ODFW, there will be an a discussion on bay clam issues, including the management of the recreation- al and commercial clamming, regulations (including how to change them in the rule-mak- ing process), enforcement is- sues, clam population levels and harvest rates.
