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