The INDEPENDENT, January 18, 2012
Transit changes include CCRider users
Public transportation leaders
in Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln,
Columbia, and Benton counties
have teamed up to improve
transit connections between
their counties. Beginning in
January, the group will imple-
ment service changes to help
make travel by transit more
convenient.
The ‘Coast to Valley Ex-
press’, which is jointly operated
by Lincoln County Transit and
Benton County Rural Transit,
will now add weekend service
and provide a stop at the Am-
trak station in Albany. Passen-
gers riding the Coast to Valley
Express route were previously
asked to change buses at Ell-
maker State Park near the
Benton/Lincoln county line, in
order to transfer from one tran-
sit service to another. However,
these two transit agencies are
now collaborating to provide di-
rect service all the way from
the Amtrak station in Albany to
Newport on the coast, without
the need for a transfer. “This
has been our goal for a long
time,” notes Cynda Bruce, ex-
ecutive director for Lincoln
County Transit. “Direct service
should help make it easier for
people to get between the
coast and inland communities
without having to rely on a car.”
In the northern part of the
five-county project area, Co-
lumbia County Rider (CC Rid-
er) and Sunset Empire Trans-
portation District (SETD) are
also improving their connecting
service. Both transit providers
are adding weekend service
along US 30 that will allow co-
ordinated transfers at West-
port.
CC Rider will begin offering
Sunday service from Westport
to Portland in addition to the
current Saturday service from
St. Helens to Portland along
US Highway 30. The Westport
connection will allow riders to
transfer from SETD to the
CCRider system, which will
take riders along US Hwy 30 to
downtown Portland.
Sunset Empire Transporta-
tion District is also working with
Tillamook County Transporta-
tion District to add weekend
service along US 101 from As-
toria, with coordinated connec-
tions in Cannon Beach and
Manzanita. The new weekend
US 101 service will coordinate
with the new weekend US 30
service to provide full connec-
tivity between Columbia, Clat-
sop and Tillamook Counties 7-
days-a-week.
Other adjustments to con-
nections between Benton, Lin-
coln, Tillamook, Clatsop and
Columbia counties are also in
progress, with more to follow
as transit agencies continue to
collaborate. All buses have
bike racks for the convenience
of those who want to “bike and
ride”.
The initial service changes
are part of a larger project
funded by a $3.5 million US
Department of Energy grant,
which is aimed at increasing
transit use by commuters and
visitors in rural northwestern
Oregon. Successful strategies
piloted by the five-county tran-
sit alliance will serve as a na-
tional model for other transit
providers across the country.
Columbia County Fair theme contest
The Columbia County Fair
Board has announced a public
contest to determine the theme
for the 2012 Columbia County
Fair and Rodeo (July 18 -22).
This will be the 97th annual Co-
lumbia County Fair. The con-
test is open to all residents of
the county.
Even though the Columbia
County Fair has suffered some
significant financial setbacks,
this past year, due to the poor
economy, it is an extremely
popular annual event and one
that the Fair Board would like
to continue. The Board was
forced to lay off the fair admin-
istrator, September 1st of last
year, causing widespread spe-
culation about the fair’s future.
Columbia County Fair Board
Chair Deloris Bellingham said
that, “regardless of these tough
economic times, this important
part of our rural heritage and
culture will live on. The Colum-
bia County Fair and Rodeo is
crucial to the development of
the youth in our county, and the
fairgrounds are an important lo-
cal institution for year around
use, we will do everything in our
power, within our limited budg-
et, to keep it alive and well”.
“[We are] reaching out to the
community in choosing this
year’s fair theme, to spread the
message that the fair and rodeo
needs everyone’s help in mak-
Woodland Management course
being offered by OSU Extension
The OSU Extension Service
will be offering “Woodland
Management 101”, a six-ses-
sion shortcourse for individuals
who own forested property. The
course will be held Wednesday
evenings, February 1 – 29 in
St. Helens. The class provides
a basic introduction to plan-
ning, growing, and caring for a
small woodland. Tree and
shrub identification, planting
and maintenance, fish and
wildlife, tax and business ba-
sics, harvesting and marketing
and other topics will be cov-
ered.
Registration deadline is Jan-
uary 25 and space is limited.
For more information, contact
the OSU Extension Service,
503-397-3462.
ing the Columbia County Fair
and Rodeo a continued suc-
cess”, Bellingham concluded.
The Grand Prize for the win-
ner of the theme contest is a
VIP prize package including
one unlimited family season
pass to the Columbia County
Fair & Rodeo, a free season
parking pass, and other prizes.
To contact the Fair Board,
call 503-397-4231 and leave a
message. Theme entries may
be mailed to Columbia County
Fair & Rodeo, P.O. Box 74, St.
Helens, OR 97051. For Event
Complex reservations call 503-
397-2353.
Page 7
Senior Center News
The Vernonia Senior Center is rarely closed because of winter
weather, but it can sometimes happen. If you are not certain
whether we’re open, you can check by calling 503-429-3912.
Planning is underway for Valentine’s Day fun. Check the next
Senior Center News column for more information.
It’s also time to renew your annual membership or to join for
the first time. Vernonia area residents, age 50 and over, are eligi-
ble, and the $15.00 membership fee provides many important
services for our community.
The Five Area Lunch is back on schedule, the last Monday of
each month. January’s get-together will be on the 30th, in Scap-
poose.
Now that the holidays are over, the center’s activities have re-
sumed their regular schedule:
• Lunch is served Monday through Friday at noon. A $4.00 do-
nation is suggested for those 60 and older, and $5.00 for those
under 60. Lunch to go is $5.00; call ahead and place your order.
• Breakfast for all ages on Fridays from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., at
$3.50 per person. Maple bars are also 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.
• Free blood pressure checks, courtesy of Columbia County
Public Health, on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m.
to noon.
• Foot care is available on the second and fourth Fridays of
each month. Call Marilyn Albro, R.N., at 503-429-0406 for an ap-
pointment. Foot care is $15.00.
• Quilters and other needle workers gather on Tuesdays, any
time from 10:30 to closing.
• The Golden Oldies entertain on Wednesdays (weather per-
mitting) from before lunch until closing.
One final note: All coats are on sale for half price at the cen-
ter’s Thrift Shop! While you’re there, don’t forget to check out oth-
er great bargains on a wide variety of additional merchandise.
Vernonia Senior Citizens Center: 446 Bridge Street
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thrift Shop Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: 503-429-3912
Free presentation on Rock Creek
A free presentation entitled
“Rock Creek – Limiting Factors
Analysis” will be held Thursday,
January 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the
Vernonia Grange Hall, 375
North St.
Steve Trask of Biosurveys
LLC will present information
that identifies habitat condi-
tions and dominant processes
that limit the production of
Coho salmon smolts in Rock
Creek. There will also be sug-
gestions on how to enhance
habitats, improve salmonid
production and restore system
functions.
V ALLEY V ETERINARY C LINIC
R ABIES
S PECIAL
$
50
10
Per vaccine, per animal
Through February 2011
Thursdays
9 am - 5 pm
G OOD F OOD
G OOD F RIENDS
G OOD T IMES
1-503-556-3084
831 Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR
58376 Nehalem Hwy. S. Vernonia
503-429-0214