Page 6
The INDEPENDENT, June 20, 2012
Can You Dig It?
Obituary
By Schann Nelson
Columbia County Master Gardener
Finally! A days of
SUN. The display of
perennials, bulbs and
shrubs has been stupen-
dous so far, especially
rhododendrons in yards.
Really, I think I should
get an “I brake for yards
in bloom!” bumper stick-
er. I expect the sun to
bring into full simultaneous bloom a ton of
shrubs that are currently covered in buds. The
sea of green continues to explode in the steady
drizzle and occasional shower, a big part of why
everything grows so well – especially trees.
Even the branches, trunks and the very ground
have an emerald cover of moss. Occasional
patches of lupine or wild columbine still can be
spotted along the road though the use of herbi-
cides has made them fewer and farther be-
tween.
If and when it does get dry, be careful enjoy-
ing an evening fire (It does sooo help keep the
‘skeeters away.). Use only established fire cir-
cles, have water on hand, teach the kids and
watch the babies. Having a fire pit is like explor-
ing the river, learning its dangers and moods.
Everyone has to learn to do it by themselves, but
responsibility remains the other side of the coin
of privilege. And make no mistake, camping in
our forests is a rare joy, one that I hope you get
to enjoy. Never forget, though, that once it gets
really dry, fires are prohibited. Notice is posted at
the fire hall.
Even when the cloud cover is as thick as it
has been, it’s obvious that plants, particularly
lawns and natives, have been growing like
crazy! Every sunny minute accompanied by the
growl of mowers and blowers and whackers.
Lawn mowing is at least a weekly affair this time
of year, if you have a lawn and a mower. We are
currently lacking the latter so we are surrounded
by a an ocean of grass. I’m looking forward to
long summer evenings when the neighborhood
reaps the benefit of all the early energy invested
in keeping the forest at bay.
For the first time since I planted them many
years ago, all but one of the rhodies I planted
have bloomed in a spectacular display – which I
missed capturing on my camera. My beautiful Dr
Rumple clematis died this year. Sigh. It started
to grow vigorously in response to the early warm
spell in February. The following freezing weather
caused the bark to split and break. We also had
an infestation of ants and I strongly suspect a
large nest under the concrete square I built cat-
ty-corner to the house. I hope and pray I have
that huge pink column of bloom on film or some-
where in my computer. This is the second
clematis, and of a different type (Clematis come
in three types, I, II and III) that I have lost in this
location. The first, a clematis Montana, grew to
shade the second story window but was sudden-
ly just dead, leaving a huge dry mess to cut
away from the house.
The mixed greens I planted have come up,
though they are too small to begin thinning. I
don’t see a sign of the beans I planted last week.
I hope they don’t rot. I don’t like to replant, but if
they don’t come up in the next couple of days I’ll
be forced to if I want any fresh beans. The sec-
ond set of cucumber plants is still establishing it-
self while the tomatoes (only four this year) are
getting blossoms.
It’s time to get out and get your summer gar-
den if you are lucky enough to have the space.
Try to get short season varieties. Our summer
may well turn out to not give us many sun hours.
Remember to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen,
stretch before and after a long session, and en-
joy the weather.
Church Directory
V ERNONIA F OURSQUARE C HURCH
C OVENANT C HURCH V ERNONIA
P IONEER B APTIST F ELLOWSHIP
Carl Pense, Pastor
850 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-1103
Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Sunday School
Pastor John D. Murray
359 “A” Street, Vernonia
503 860-3860
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 p.m.
John Cahill, Pastor
939 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-1161
www.pbfalive.com
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Thursday Prayer 7:00 p.m.
S EVENTH D AY A DVENTIST
Larry Gibson, Pastor
2nd Ave. and Nehalem St., Vernonia
503 429-8301
Morning Worship, 11:00 a.m.
Sabbath School 9:30 a.m.
A SSEMBLY OF G OD
Wayne and Maureene Marr
662 Jefferson Ave., Vernonia,
503 429-0373
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m
S T . M ARY ' S C ATHOLIC C HURCH
Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator
960 Missouri Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-8841
Mass Sunday 12:00 Noon
Religious Educ. Sunday 10:30 a.m.
V ERNONIA C OMMUNITY C HURCH
Ralph Young, Pastor
957 State Avenue, Vernonia
503 429-6790
Sunday Bible Classes 9:00 a.m.
Family Praise & Worship 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday Prayer 6:30 p.m.
Thursday Ladies Study 7:00 p.m.
Nursery 10:15 a.m.
Vernonia Community Preschool
N EHALEM V ALLEY B IBLE C HURCH
Gary Taylor, Pastor
Grant & North Streets, Vernonia
503 429-5378
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.
Nursery available
Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m.
V ERNONIA C HRISTIAN C HURCH
C HURCH OF J ESUS C HRIST
OF L ATTER D AY S AINTS
Sam Hough, Minister
410 North Street, Vernonia
503 429-6522
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
(meets in Youth & Family Center)
Various Home Group Meetings
Marc Farmer, Branch President
1350 E. Knott Street, Vernonia
503 429-7151
Sacrament Meeting, Sunday 10 a.m.
Sunday School & Primary 11:20 a.m.
Relief Society, Priesthood and
Young Women, Sunday 12:10 p.m.
TESSIE MAENEIL ALDRICH
Sonia Aldrich-McDonald of
Maple Valley, Washington; two
sisters, Eddie V. Graham of
Sumrall, Miss., and Janice
Brown of Purvis, Miss.; seven
grandchildren; six great-grand-
children; nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to the American Cancer
Society.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home of Vernonia was in
charge of arrangements.
CONNIE G. ANDERSON
Tessie Maeneil Aldrich, 85,
Vernonia, died June 6, 2012. A
celebration of life service was
held June 11 at the Vernonia
Community Church with Pastor
Grant Williams officiating. Inter-
ment followed at Vernonia
Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Aldrich was born July 3,
1926, in Sumrall, Mississippi,
to Earnest and Nettie (Dren-
nan) Jones. She was raised
and educated in Sumrall.
In 1943, she married Con-
way Aultman. They made their
home in Sumrall before moving
to Vernonia in 1950. Mr. Ault-
man died in 1955. In 1958, she
married Edison G. “Ed” Aldrich.
They made their home in Ver-
nonia.
She was active at the Ver-
nonia Senior Center, the holi-
day cantatas and in her church.
She enjoyed gardening, sing-
ing, garage sales, cooking and
entertaining. Her family be-
lieves this Bible verse de-
scribes her, “Do not forget to
show hospitality to strangers,
for by doing so some have en-
tertained angels without know-
ing it” (Hebrews 13:2).
She was preceded in death
by her husband, in 2006; and a
brother, Elzie Jones.
Survivors include her son,
Randy Aultman of Vernonia;
three daughters, Jeanette
McLaughlin of Gresham, Va-
lerie DeWitt of Vernonia, and
Mariolino’s
721 Madison Ave., Vernonia
503-429-5018
Connie Genevieve Ander-
son, 55, Vernonia, died June
10, 2012. Private cremation
rites have been held at Hoyt
Crematory in Forest Grove.
Mrs. Anderson was born De-
cember 14, 1956, in Alameda
County, California, to Carl and
Dorothy (Mitchell) Richards.
She was raised and educated
in Livermore, Calif. She worked
as a cook in restaurants and
nursing homes.
She lived in Carson, Neva-
da, before moving to New Kirk,
Oklahoma in 1995. She moved
to Vernonia in April of this year
to live with her daughter.
She enjoyed camping, fish-
ing, visiting the mountains of
Nevada and Vernonia Lake.
She was preceded in death
by her parents and two broth-
ers, Franklin D. Richards, and
David E. Nebel.
Survivors include one son,
Joshua Marriott of Carson,
Please see page 8
Breakfast
Special
Lunch
Special
Pork Chop
BBQ Ribs
& Trimmings
Hash Browns
Eggs & Toast
$7.45
$6.25
W I F I &
A IR C ONDITIONED C OMFORT