Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2011 Where to Find Them U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (Dem) 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585 Portland OR 97232 Phone: 503-326-7525 223 Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510-0001 Phone: 202-224-5244 E-Mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/ contact Website: http://wyden.senate. gov U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (Dem.) One World Trade Center 121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: 503-326-3386 313 Hart Senate Ofc. Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-3753 E-Mail: http://merkley.senate. gov/contact WebSite: http://merkley.senate. gov U.S. Representative David - Wu (Dem) OR District 1 ace pl 620 SW Main, Suite e 606 r Portland, OR 97205 o on Phone: 503-326-2901 – n lecti d e Ofc. Bldg. 2338 Rayburn l ne ti House g i Washington, s un DC 20515 e t Phone: R en 202-225-0855 Website: m http://house.gov/wu Senator Betsy Johnson (Dem) Senate District 16 PO Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056 Phone: 503-543-4046 900 Court St. NE, S-314 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1716 E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@ state.or.us Website: http//www.leg.state.or. us/johnson Representative Brad Witt (Dem) House District. 31 21740 Lindberg Road, Clatskanie, OR 97016 Phone: 503-728-4664 900 Court St. NE, H-373 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1431 E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us Website: http//www.leg.state.or. us/witt Representative Deborah Boone (Dem) House District 32 PO Box 926 Cannon Beach, OR 97110 Phone: 503-717-9182 900 Court St. NE, H-375 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1432 E-mail: rep.deborahboone@ state.or.us Website: http//www.leg.state.or. us/boone Page 3 Letters Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (This timeless classic is from the Editorial Page of The New York Sun, written by Francis P. Church, September 21, 1897) To the Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O’Hanlon New York Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensi- ble by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere in- sect, an ant, in his intellect, as com- pared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the in- telligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Vir- ginias. There would be no child- like faith then, no poetry, no ro- mance to make tolerable this exis- tence. We should have no enjoy- ment except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which child- hood fills the world would be ex- tinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chim- neys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the won- ders there are unseen and unsee- able in the world. You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise in- side, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Vir- ginia, in all the world there is noth- ing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Vir- ginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of child- hood. Girl Scouts again to sell spring bloomers To the Editor: I would like to thank the community for their continued support of the girls who are in- volved in Scouting in Vernonia. Your past purchases have made it possible for us to rent the camp lodge at Mountain- dale, as well as all of the “cook- ie” trips the girls have planned and taken. The Vernonia Girl Scouts will once again be pre-selling flowering, potted tulips and hy- acinths from VanderZanden Farms as a fund raiser for our spring camping trip. All Girl Scouts are selling them from December 1 through January 3, and they will be available for pick-up from WGS on Monday, February 13th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This is a great way to sup- port Scouts while getting fresh flowers for a loved one, teacher or friend near Valentine’s Day. Remember, the bulbs can be planted in your yard and en- joyed for many years to come. These are the same beautiful varieties planted by our Scouts at the “Welcome to Vernonia” sign. The cost will be $6 for a brightly wrapped, blooming pot of 5 tulips or 3 hyacinths. Or- ders can be placed with any Girl Scout and are greatly ap- preciated. Girl Scouts is a program that instills leadership skills and a sense of responsibility to the girls’ community as well as a place to have a whole lot of fun. For further information on Girl Scouts please call 503- 429-5709. Thank you again! Susan Ely Vernonia Policy on Letters The INDEPENDENT will not publish letters with per- sonal attacks on private citi- zens. Preference will be giv- en to brief letters, 300 words or less. All letters must be signed and include a verifiable ad- dress or phone number. Mackenzie Carr is the new Miss Rodeo America From page 1 stain resistant, waterproof coating. Carr has two white hats for this year, but admits to having many more, some in dif- ferent colors, at home in her closet. When she’s not on the rodeo circuit, Carr loves to bake pies, play volleyball, and has been giving riding lessons to seven girls and one boy (all ages 7 to 10), plus a couple of older chil- dren. “I’m so thankful for the sup- port I’ve received from the whole town,” Carr said at a special Welcome Home event, held at the high school on De- cember 17. Delores Belling- ham of the Vernonia Ridge Rid- ers presented Carr with an honorary lifetime membership in the riding club. There was cake, punch, competition videos, autographs and lots of pictures with the new Miss Rodeo America. Young girls, in particular, were very excited to have their pic- tures taken with Carr. When asked what she would say to her young fans, Carr an- swered, “Dream big and keep going, even if people say it can’t be done, stick with it and it can happen. If this can hap- pen to a regular small town girl like me, anything is possible.” Renters will get help from Merkley bill From page 1 hands, they may lose their abil- ity to have that long-term stabil- ity. This reform simply provides those individuals and families with more certainty that even if their rental unit is sold, they will still have a home,” said Merkley. Under current law, if an apartment building is being sold, rental assistance for that property can be extended for only one year under three af- fected federal programs. Banks are, therefore, unwilling to make loans to new owners to buy or improve the property, as there is little guarantee the building will continue to benefit from federal housing programs. And tenants suffer from a lack of stability. Merkley’s language would allow for multi-year rent-assis- tance contracts, which provide more certainty for lenders, owners and tenants alike, with- out any additional cost to tax- payers. The language was included in the legislation funding the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, State, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development for fis- cal year 2012. The bill was passed by the House and the Senate the week of November 18 and was signed by Presi- dent Obama on November 18.