The INDEPENDENT, November 16, 2011
Columbia County Cultural group
seeks candidates for their board
The Columbia County Cul-
tural Coalition, the county arm
of the Oregon Cultural Trust,
seeks candidates for its Board
of Directors due to a recent
resignation. The term for this
unexpired position is two years
and ends December 31, 2013.
Board members are usually
elected for three year terms,
and directors may serve addi-
tional consecutive terms. The
Coalition Board meets monthly,
excluding December, at vary-
ing locations throughout the
county. Currently, meetings are
held the last Monday of the
month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. or
4:00 to 6:00 p.m., depending
on meeting location.
The Columbia County Cul-
tural Coalition Board’s purpose
is to insure the implementation
of the Columbia County Cultur-
al Plan through the use of ap-
propriate benchmarks, and en-
sure that Arts, History, Heritage
and Humanities are all repre-
sented in a way that fairly en-
courages county-wide partici-
pation in cultural activities. The
Board administers an annual
grant from the Oregon Cultural
Trust, and solicits applications
and awards grants to cultural
organizations within the county.
Nearly $50,000 in grants has
been awarded since the Board
was established over five years
ago. The Cultural Plan and
grant information may be found
at www.columbiacultural.org
If you are interested in serv-
ing on the Cultural Coalition
Board, please send an email,
by November 21, to info@
columbiacultural.org or call
Board Treasurer Tobie Finzel at
503-705-2173.
Courthouse improves recycling
During the first week of Oc-
tober 2011, the Columbia
County Courthouse and Annex
implemented an expanded re-
cycling program intended to
capture recyclable items dis-
carded by employees at their
desk sides. During a waste sort
analysis last August, it was de-
termined the Courthouse and
Annex currently recycle about
40% (by weight) of waste gen-
erated by Courthouse employ-
ees.
Office paper is obviously the
most common recycled item
from the Courthouse and An-
nex, but office paper was also
the most common item found in
the trash to be sent to the land-
fill. Previously, employees were
supplied only garbage contain-
ers at their desk sides. Now,
employees have at their desk
side a small garbage can at-
tached to an 18 quart recycling
container. The Columbia Coun-
ty Solid Waste Department ex-
pects the implementation of
desk side recycling to increase
recycling (by weight), with a re-
duction in garbage bills as the
Courthouse and Annex gener-
ate less landfill destined waste.
According to the DEQ, in
2010 Columbia County busi-
nesses and residents recycled
nearly 38% of discarded mate-
rials, by weight. By implement-
ing desk side recycling at the
Courthouse and Annex, Co-
lumbia County hopes to lead
increased recycling practices
by local businesses and resi-
dents.
If your business would be in-
terested in improving your re-
cycling program to potentially
reduce your garbage bill, con-
tact Columbia County Solid
Waste Coordinator Roy Weed-
man at 503-397-7263 or
r o y . w e e d m a n
@co.columbia.or.us for more
information or to schedule a
site visit.
Attn: All CERT members
The City of Vernonia wants to hear from all
community members who have taken the
40 hour CERT training. Please call 503-429-5291.
If you are interested in becoming a CERT
member, please call Interim Police Chief Conner
at 503-429-7335, ext. 110.
Page 7
Senior Center News
Just a reminder: The Vernonia Senior Center
will be closed on Thanksgiving and the following
day, November 24-25. If you notice some activi-
ty at the center while it’s closed, that will be the
crew cleaning and sprucing up the floors, not the
usual activities.
The Senior Center will hold its Christmas
Bazaar on Saturday and Sunday, December 3-4.
Tables are $10 each; to reserve a table, call
Pauline during the center’s regular hours.
Except for the closures noted above, lunch is
served at the center Monday through Friday at
noon. A $4.00 donation is suggested for those
60 and older, and $5.00 for those under 60. If
you prefer lunch to go, for only $5.00 you can
call ahead and place your order.
If you enjoy bingo, you can have fun while you
eat lunch. Diners play free Bingo each Monday
starting at 11:45 a.m., and on the last Wednes-
day of each month, Wauna Federal Credit Union
makes a good lunch even better by providing
diners with free ice cream. November birthdays
will also be celebrated on the last Wednesday of
this month.
Meals on Wheels are available for those who
are home-bound. Call Senior Information Assis-
tance Representative Rosie McCoy for informa-
tion on how to put this great service to work for
you or a loved one.
Free blood pressure checks are available on
the 4th Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m.
to noon.
Aside from the day after Thanksgiving, Con-
nie’s great breakfasts are available Fridays at
the Senior Center, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Break-
fast for all ages is just $3.50 per person. Maple
bars are made fresh daily for $1.00 each! If you
want maple bars for a gathering of any kind, call
503-429-3912 a day or two ahead and place
your order.
The Senior Center Thrift Shop is open Mon-
day through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
and it’s loaded with all kinds of merchandise at
bargain prices. Need an extra kettle, tableware
or glasses, perhaps some games or toys to keep
the kids busy, or decorations for the holidays?
Come on in and see what treasures you can
find.
Many types of bread, rolls and pastries are
available daily at the center. The price is entirely
up to you, because they’re free unless you want
to make a small donation. This is a real budget
stretcher, and it’s available to everyone, you
don’t have to be a member.
We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Vernonia Senior Citizens Center:
446 Bridge Street
Hours: Monday through Friday,
10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Senior Information Assistance Rep:
Rosie McCoy
Thrift Shop Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 503-429-3912
SOLV plans cleanup at Stub Stewart
An Invasive Plant Removal
day has been scheduled by
SOLV for November 19, from
9:00 a.m. to Noon, at L.L. Stub
Stewart State Park, 30380 NW
Hwy. 47.
Anyone who would like to
help remove scotch broom, Hi-
malayan blackberry, perennial
pea vine and thistles, can reg-
ister at www.solv.org or call Bri-
ana Goodwin at 503-844-9571,
ext. 332.
Volunteers, over age 12, will
meet at the Welcome Center
and should dress in warm lay-
ers of clothing, bring work/gar-
dening gloves and bring water.
Tools will be provided.
Holiday Bucks
Coming Soon to a merchant near you!
November 25 th to December 16 th
G OOD F OOD
G OOD F RIENDS
G OOD T IMES
831 Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR
503-429-0214
Drawings to be held
Dec.3 rd , 10 th , & 17 th
Find more information
online at the Vernonia Area
Chamber of Commerce
web site at:
www.vernoniachamber.org
Support your Local Merchants Shop local!