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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2012)
The INDEPENDENT, May 16, 2012 Free climate change presentation A presentation on climate change will be held Friday, May 25, at 7:00 p.m., in the Vernon- ia Community Learning Center, 939 Bridge St. Bring your ques- tions. Paul Rippey, who moved to Oregon in 2007 after spending 20 years in Africa, will give the presentation. Rippey has pre- sented this climate information over 40 times – in the U.S., Uganda, Kenya, India, Sene- gal, Morocco, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Switzerland. The presentation will include a narrated slide presentation. Rippey was trained in 2007 to give the presentation based on former Vice President Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. He is among five thousand volun- teers trained by Mr. Gore to lead these talks. The latest scientific findings and events are included, and many ideas from diverse sources will be provided. He will also talk about how the cli- mate crisis is perceived in the developing world, and share his experiences in Portland, in- cluding what it’s like living with- out a car. Rippey was invited to speak in Vernonia through the efforts of local residents, with the help of The Climate Reality Project. Buckner dies in single car wreck A single car accident, May 10, on Hwy. 47 left Rhoda “Lau- ra” Buckner, 74, Vernonia, dead. Just after 2:30 p.m., Mrs. Buckner’s 1995 Honda Accord left the road and crashed into a tree while heading towards Vernonia. Oregon State Police (OSP) is investigating the acci- dent to determine the cause. Hwy. 47 was closed for about three hours from McDon- ald Rd. to Timber Rd. due to the accident. An obituary is on page 18. Dead teen found in backyard tree Brennen Etheridge, 15, Es- tacada, was found dead in a tall cedar tree on his family’s land, on April 22, after he ap- parently fell from higher branches and landed lower in the tree. He was found about 10:00 p.m. that night by his mother and brother, Phoenix. He was a sophomore honor student at Estacada High School. His mother, Mary Etheridge, was the daughter of Emma Etheridge, who lived in Vernon- ia and worked at Sam’s Gro- ceries after her husband died. Before that, she and her hus- band had owned and operated the Birkenfeld Store. Ms. Etheridge’s brother is Ray Etheridge, who, with his wife Migdalia, produced The Ver- nonia Incident, a 2003 movie. UNWC invites community to their annual meeting Saturday, May 19 The Upper Nehalem Water- shed Council (UNWC) will hold their annual meeting on Satur- day, May 19, starting at 10:00 a.m., at the Vernonia Grange Hall, 375 North St. UNWC is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization with a 16 year track record of achieve- ment in watershed restoration and salmon population recov- ery; community building and youth development; and sup- port of the local economy. Community members are in- vited to hear and see what the Watershed Council has ac- complished in the watershed over the last year, and to let them know what you would like to see done in the future. The Council will be electing steering committee members and are looking for people who would like to help with: • Fund development (work with executive director to de- velop new sources of funding, grant writing, getting other or- ganizations to contribute or “match” funds and maybe get involved in holding an annual fundraising event.) • Public relations and/or vol- unteer coordination (promoting our cause, doing the footwork on and involving people in events like the Salmon Festival etc.) • Partnerships (people who would represent organizations or groups that could provide vi- able partnership contributions such as City, County, Timber companies, State or Federal organizations, Business own- ers, etc.) If you have a little free time and would like to be involved in making your watershed a bet- ter place for all, please step for- ward. There are four open spaces on the committee for new community representa- tives. The meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., then there will be a potluck lunch at noon before the meeting resumes at 1:00 p.m. and continues until ad- Page 7 journing at 2:00 p.m. For additional information please contact: Executive Di- rector Maggie Peyton at info@nehalem.org or by phone at 503-429-0869. Senior Center News Don’t miss the center’s annual Plant & Gar- den Sale on Friday and Saturday, June 1-2, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days. You will find great prices on herbs, annuals, perennials, pot- ted plants, baskets, house plants and more. If you would like to donate some surplus plants, bulbs, yard art, etc., call Jack Harvey at 503- 429-4080 to arrange for the pick up or delivery of your donations. This fund raiser helps provide many services for senior citizens, and for the community, as well. Your blood pressure is important, so take ad- vantage of the chance to get a free blood pres- sure check on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The next date is May 23rd from 11 a.m. to noon. Hey, area musicians, if you are interested in playing with the Golden Oldies, come in for more information. We’re here every Wednesday. Remember, poker has been added to the center’s activities. It’s chips only, and the first deal is right after lunch on Thursdays. There are other games, including pinochle, on Fridays af- ter lunch. You can also bring along your sugges- tions for other activities. Needleworkers get together every Tuesday to enjoy conversation while they work on large and small projects. Bingo accompanies lunch every Monday starting at 11:45, and diners play free. Lunch is served 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. On the last Wednesday of each month, Wau- na Federal Credit Union makes a good lunch even better by providing diners with free ice cream. This month’s birthday lunch will be on Friday, May 25. The Five Area Lunch, which is usually held on the last Monday of each month, will be in Ver- nonia on Tuesday, May 29. This month’s lunch will have an extra treat in the form of entertain- ment. The senior center will be closed Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day. 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