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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, November 2, 2011 Page 9 Bits & Bites By Jacqueline Ramsay A spontaneous combustion fire started in a mulch pile is hosed down by Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District Interim Fire Chief Dean Smith and volunteer Kara Kemper. See story on page 1. P.E.O. plans Christmas wreath sales \The Vernonia Chapter of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educa- tional Organization) has been busy this year. Living up to their mission, several scholarships have been granted to local women, including a grant to a VHS graduating senior, Rachel Brown, who is now attending Corban College in Salem, studying History; Shawna Naeve, studying to be a Veteri- nary Technician; and Kelly Mar- tinez, studying Education, and doing her practice teaching in Vernonia. Kelly and Shawna are both doing most, if not all, of their course work online. The Chapter is gearing up for the Christmas Bazaar, and will be selling wreaths, an on- going project for more than 15 years. They are being sold on a pre-order basis, and orders are being taken now – contact Mary Tolonen (503-429-4814 or 503-429-7214) or Katie Po- etter (503-429-0700). Wreaths will also be avail- able at the Bazaar. The price this year remains the same as previous years – $18.00 for a 20-inch fresh and fragrant wreath. All proceeds go to help women attain their education goals. At a recent meeting it was decided to honor the chapter’s longest-standing member, Claudine East. Claudine has remained committed and active in the local chapter for fifty years. It was her wish that, in lieu of the traditional pin award- ed fifty-year members, the money be used for scholar- ships; a donation will be made to the Marguerite Scholarship fund in her name. The Mar- guerite Fund awards scholar- ships to Oregon women who will be attending Oregon Schools. Congratulations, Claudine! Fact, I was in Vernonia last Wednesday (Oct. 19). I had a voice until 2:00 p.m. As I left town my throat locked up. Squeaked and squawked for four days, now I’m growling. So, I guess your air isn’t as pure as I thought it was. While walking with Shadow I checked the forsythia and it is seeing on it’s little buds. I am now waiting with bated breath – Will it bloom again this winter? Gee whiz, my front door is all the same color. Makes me be- lieve, “If you wait, thy will be done.” Still waiting on the fence, though. I told the handyman, Bill, “If you get me a brush and a bucket of paint, I’ll do it myself.” Do you recall the Flood of ‘96 when a group of us scrubbed, scooped, painted, lay carpet and whatever at the Senior Center? Oh, for the Good Old Days. (Just the stamina part, not all the work.) Ah! While chatting last week, I heard there is to be a Spelling Bee in Vernonia in the Spring. Start practicing. I also heard some areas of Vernonia were being overrun with cats and kittens. Who does a person talk to to be rid of all the work cleaning up and feeding someone else’s pets reproduction?? Maybe the City should have a round-up? Now, just a note – I’m having hand surgery (rather severe) and won’t be able to even chicken scratch for quite awhile so, unless I hunt and peck left handed, I may not be in print for quite a spell. The next saga will be how to dress, eat, cook, clean and walk the dog while steering my Rolls with one hand (Shadow on a leash). I had a lovely trip down Memory Lane this past Wednesday (Oct. 26). Bob, Everell and Larry were visiting The Golden Oldies at the Senior Center in Vernonia. I never was a farmer’s daugh- ter, nor did I live near or work on a cattle ranch so where did I de- velop the love of the twang of the Fiddle – only God knows. But that kind of music satisfies and calms my soul. Thanks to all of you who won’t let true music fade into… Bye Bye for how long? 50 Years Ago This Month The November 9, 1961, is- sue of the Vernonia Eagle in- cluded the following news story on the front page: Monday evening, at the public hearing held prior to the regular meeting of the city council, no one appeared to voice any protest to the proposed vacation of the alley for block 13 in Second addition, so an ordinance will be introduced to complete the necessary steps mak- ing the vacation a matter of record. B. J. Horn, local civil defense head, appeared before the council with regard to the transfer of the emergency hospital equipment to the former International Paper company office building on No- vember 1. The city has now re- ceived a deed to the office build- ing from the International Paper company transferring the building to the city as a gift to be used for community benefit. Horn pointed out the fact that the transfer to the office building was temporary until other suitable space could be made available. There is a room in the Washington school that is under consideration, but it has need of concrete flooring and other preparation before being suitable for use. Horn introduced Sheriff Spencer Younce who stated that the hospital unit had been obtained form the government at the re- quest of the chamber of com- merce, but the government re- quired the city to assume the re- sponsibility for storing it. The city’s liability is limited to “rea- sonable care and protection from fire and vandalism.” Some of the supplies require refrigeration, some require protection from tem- perature extremes and all need protection against moisture. L. Towne, power-use consult- ant for the West Oregon Electric corporation, stated that he had sur- veyed the office building and esti- mated that it could be heated on a reduced program sufficient to con- trol moisture for approximately $200 per year. He also suggested that this should be done to prevent deterioration of the building even if the hospital were not stored there. The council decided to ap- proach the school board about the possibility of doing the necessary work to prepare the room at the school for storing the hospital unit with the city sharing the expense. Gene Franklin, certified public accountant from St. Helens who had been in charge of auditing the city books, discussed the inade- quacy of city accounts in the light of increasing stringency in state requirements for minimum stan- dards of accountancy. He was giv- en permission to work out a suit- able system with the recorder and treasurer. A resolution was adopted for sale of lot 3, block 4, Oregon American Subdivision to Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Baltz of Forest Grove. An offer of G. R. Robertson of $1200 for house 84 was not con- sidered adequate in the suggested terms of payment so was rejected. The recorder was instructed to write a letter of appreciation to C. J. Nance for his services in making tables for use in the fire hall. Since considerable parking space will be lost at the swimming pool due to the establishment of the clinic in the former West Ore- gon building, the park commission will consider the relocation of the city park fence to create more parking area. Chief of police A. D. Lolley and other interested in radio com- munications system for the city cars will investigate the possibility of obtaining equipment in the light of cost and adaptability of various technical units. Patterson Ceramics Holiday Pottery Sale Hosted by Grey Dawn Gallery 879 Bridge Street Vernonia Nov 25 th & 26 th 10am - 5pm ~ Nov 27 th Noon - 5pm Dec 3 rd 10am - 5pm ~ Dec 4 th Noon - 5pm