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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2012)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, April 4, 2012 Vernonia Senior Center used as dump site again Members of the Vernonia Senior Center came to work on Monday, April 2, to find two dirty, damaged chairs and piles of other non-sellable items left beside the building. The leav- ings included a box full of bot- tles and cans of paint and oth- er unknown substances that will need to be treated as haz- ardous waste for disposal. The non-profit Senior Center will have to spend money to have the garbage hauled away. Unfortunately, this is not an iso- lated incident. Most Mondays, staff arrives to find boxes or bags left during the weekend. It’s not uncommon for the leav- ings to include such obvious garbage as dirty diapers. Vernonia Police Chief Michael Conner says leaving these types of items at the Se- nior Center constitutes Offen- sive Littering, a Class C Misde- meanor with a base fine of $1250.00. In addition, anyone caught leaving such items could be also be charged with Criminal Mischief in the third degree if the person tampers or interferes with property of an- other,with intent to cause sub- stantial inconvenience to the owner or to another person, and having no right to do so or reasonable ground to believe that the person has such right. Criminal Mischief is also a Class C Misdemeanor. The Vernonia Senior Center accepts donations of clean and usable items appropriate for re- sale, during their regular hours Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Oregon Zoo wants everyone to celebrate Packy’s 50th birthday PORTLAND, Ore. — Put on your elephant ears and get ready to party! Packy the ele- phant is turning 50 years old April 14, and the zoo is cele- brating Oregon’s most beloved elephant with a birthday bash featuring music, games and cake. The party is free with zoo admission and runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 14. In 1962, Packy became the first elephant to be born in North America in 44 years, and he’s held a special spot in his fans’ hearts ever since. Packy’s birth also helped scientists bet- ter understand elephants — his Above and right; just some ot the items dumped this week- end at the Vernonia Senior Center. Almost none of the leav- ings, which included two stained chairs will be sellable. Dumping of this sort is a crime. Open Daily 11 a.m. Biker Friendly Apr. 6 th -7 th Karaoke Apr. 14 th Step Child Apr. 21 st Country Backroads All Bands & Karaoke start at 9 P.M. Happy Hour: Mon - Fri 4 pm - 7 pm Ladies Night: Wed. 5 pm - Midnight Open until midnight Sun-Thu & until 2:30 a.m. Fri, Sat. 733 Bridge St., Vernonia 503-429-9999 mother’s pregnancy estab- lished the length of elephant gestation, for example — and opened the door to a new era in elephant welfare. “The Oregon Zoo is world- renowned for its Asian elephant program,” said Kim Smith, zoo director, “and Packy’s birth was the cornerstone on which this program was built. Packy has been inspiring people to care about elephants for half a cen- tury. It’s only fitting to celebrate the elephant who started it all.” Packy won’t be the only one to get a birthday treat at his party. Visitors born on the same date as the elephant — April 14, 1962 — will receive free zoo admission for them- selves and a guest on the day of Packy’s party. People turn- ing 50 this year will receive 50 percent off admission for them- selves and a guest, as will peo- ple born on April 14 of any year. Proof of birth date (govern- ment-issued ID) required. At 2 p.m. on his big day, Packy will be knighted by the Royal Rosarians — joining the ranks of previously knighted lu- minaries such as Ed Sullivan, George Washington and Mick- ey Mouse — and then chow down on his enormous birthday cake. While the cake’s design changes from year to year, the way Packy eats his baked good remains the same: quickly. Humans can enjoy cake at Packy’s party, too, courtesy of Lamb’s Wilsonville Market. Guests should be sure to grab a piece at noon when the cake is served — whether it’s for hu- mans or elephants, cake tends to go fast on Packy’s birthday. A full party schedule is avail- able on the zoo website at http://www.oregonzoo.org/even ts/packys-50th-birthday, along with Packy-themed activities taking place across the city. Packy put Portland on the map in 1962, making interna- tional news as the first elephant born in the Western Hemi- sphere in 44 years. The big event happened shortly before 6 a.m. on April 14, and news about the 225- pound baby spread rapidly. Newspapers and radio stations around the world announced the birth, and Life magazine covered the event with an 11- page spread describing “The Nativity of Packy.” To see some vintage color footage from the time of Packy’s birth, visit www.bit.ly/Packy1962.