The INDEPENDENT, February 1, 2012
Land purchase will protect habitat
The Columbia Land Trust,
Bonneville Power Administra-
tion and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers announced, on Jan-
uary 24, the largest purchase
of riverside habitat in the Co-
lumbia River estuary in nearly
40 years, permanently protect-
ing essential refuge for salmon,
steelhead and other wildlife.
The acquisition, which will
benefit salmon from Oregon,
Idaho and Washington as they
migrate to the ocean, is the
largest step yet in the estuary
to mitigate the impacts of feder-
al dams on the Columbia and
Snake river systems.
The Columbia Land Trust on
Monday completed the pur-
chase of the 920-acre Colum-
bia Stock Ranch on the south
shore of the Columbia River
near Goble, with $5.3 million in
BPA funding from electric
ratepayers. The purchase sets
the stage for the Corps of Engi-
neers to restore hundreds of
acres of historic wetlands in the
next few years to provide food
and shelter for salmon migrat-
ing to and from the ocean.
The acquisition protects
more estuary habitat for con-
servation than any other single
purchase since the early
1970s.
“The size and ecological im-
portance of this habitat set a
new benchmark for habitat pro-
tection and is a key piece in an
extensive fish refuge system in
the lower Columbia River,” said
Glenn Lamb, executive director
of the Columbia Land Trust. “In
the last 10 years we have
worked with about 60 landown-
ers to conserve 9,100 acres of
estuarine and tributary spawn-
ing and rearing habitat. BPA
has been an important partner
in many of these projects. The
estuary is a particularly vital
nursery for young salmon, and
this project is the best demon-
stration yet of conserving and
restoring the lands that make
the estuary so valuable.”
An independent panel of bi-
ologists identified the parcel as
an especially valuable swath of
historic tidal wetlands that, if re-
stored, would boost survival of
young salmon as they transi-
tion to saltwater. Some two-
thirds of estuary wetlands have
been lost over the last century,
but recognition of their biologi-
cal significance has encour-
aged restoration.
Management and restora-
tion plans for the property will
be developed with public input.
Restoration work will also sup-
port the local economy and
jobs. The restored habitat will
benefit coho, chinook and
chum salmon; steelhead, and
cutthroat trout, as well as ter-
restrial wildlife such as black
bear, elk and river otter.
Library gets $1K reading grant VRFPD changes
Vernonia Public Library has
received a $1,000.00 grant to
improve public library services
to children. The Ready to Read
grant funds will be used for
supplies, incentives and paid
performances for Summer
Reading 2012.
The Ready to Read Grant
was established by the Oregon
Legislature in 1993 to assist lo-
cal libraries in helping to
achieve the Oregon Bench-
marks for childhood learning
and development. This annual
grant, funded by the General
Fund of the State of Oregon, is
administered by the State Li-
brary. Oregon libraries may use
these funds for the statewide
summer reading program for
children ages 0-14 and early lit-
eracy services for children
ages 0-5.
The impact of the Ready to
Read Grant program is meas-
ured annually by the percent-
age of libraries adopting “best
practices” in their services to
children. The State Library has
identified three best practices
in youth services at public li-
braries: summer reading pro-
grams, training for parents and
childcare providers in re-
search-based early literacy
curriculums, and outreach to
children and teens who face
barriers getting to the library.
Vernonia’s library provides an
entertaining, educational read-
ing program each summer for
youngsters of the community.
This grant helps make this pro-
gram possible.
meeting date
The Vernonia Rural Fire
Protection District regular
board meeting is rescheduled
for Monday, February 13, at
7:00 p.m. The board’s usual
meeting day is Tuesday.
Donkey Basket-
ball returns
It is official: Donkey Basket-
ball will be held at the Logger
Dome (Vernonia High School
gymnasium) on Saturday,
March 24, at 7:00 p.m. Teams
will be announced soon! Ad-
vance tickets are on sale now
at Vernonia Florist. Come enjoy
the laughs!
Senior Center News
It’s time to get out your best bib and tucker and join the fun at
our special Valentine’s Day lunch on Wednesday, February 15th.
There will be prizes for the Best Dressed Man, the Best Dressed
Woman, and the Best Valentine’s Day Socks. But that’s not all,
poetry is needed for Valentine’s Day, so bring your own romantic
poem for the Best Love Poem prize. Yes, the Golden Oldies will
be there to add to the festivities.
Everything in the Senior Center Thrift Shop is half price during
the first week of each month, so don’t miss this opportunity to find
good winter clothing at bargain prices, and much more. The thrift
shop is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
It’s time to renew your membership in the Vernonia Senior
Center. If you are 50 or older and live in the Vernonia area, come
check us out. The center has many activities and services, and all
for a membership fee of just $15.00 per year.
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.
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. If you prefer lunch to go, for only $5.00 you can call
ahead and place your order.
Breakfast is available every Friday at the Senior Center, from
7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Breakfast 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 center’s board of directors meets on the second Friday of
each month at 10:00 a.m. Public attendance is welcome.
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
Information on Vernonia events
will be available at next meeting
A meeting was held January
26 at Vernonia City Hall for ini-
tial planning for the 2012 com-
munity events. Jamboree and
Salmon Festival were dis-
cussed. Jamboree will be held
August 3-5 and Salmon Festi-
val will be October 6 this year.
Future meetings will be held
on the last Thursday of each
month at 6:00 p.m. in city hall.
The next meeting will be Febru-
ary 23. At the next meeting,
discussion will continue on
Jamboree and Salmon Festival
along with discussion of Make
Vernonia Shine day (April 21),
4th of July, and Christmas
events.
Anyone interested in help-
ing, adding activities, or just
finding out what’s planned, is
welcome to attend the Festival
Meetings.
Seniors: call for tax help appointment
appointments available, call
Mariolino’s
503-429-3912.
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721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018
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Qualified tax preparers will
be at the Vernonia Senior Cen-
ter on March 14, from 10:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 45 minute ap-
pointments will be scheduled.
The assistance is being pro-
vided by two AARP Tax-Aide
volunteers and will be free to
low and middle income citi-
zens. You do not have to be an
AARP member to take advan-
tage of this help. Information on
the program is available at
www.aarp.org/taxaide.
To schedule one of the 12
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