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The INDEPENDENT, September 19, 2012
Between the Bookends
by Nancy Burch, Librarian
Vernonia Public Library
Just over twenty-four years
ago, in August of 1988, I was
interviewed by library board
members DeDe Webb, Clau-
dine East, Bob Sargent and
Mercedes Proehl, as a possi-
ble replacement for librarian
Sandy Nimz. I then returned
home and anxiously awaited a
phone call telling me of the
board’s decision. This position had become vacant at
a rather crucial time in my life, as Errold had been liv-
ing and working in Vernonia for a year while I was still
living and working in Newport. This arrangement of
driving back and forth on weekends was not working,
and we were faced with making decisions that would
have been far from ideal. So, I was thrilled beyond be-
lief when a phone call from Claudine East gave me the
news that I would become Vernonia’s next librarian.
That twenty-four years has given me the opportunity
to serve the citizens of Vernonia while experiencing
the difficulties and pleasures of living in this unique
community. In short, these past years in Vernonia
have been exceedingly rewarding and I am grateful to
that original library board, all of the succeeding ones,
library patrons, and city staff for having been given this
opportunity to serve as librarian. As of September 1,
2012, my position will now be part time, as an assis-
tant to interim librarian Jennifer Moloney. At least for
the time being, I will continue to write these articles for
The Independent and include a little library nostalgia
as well as book reviews, and events taking place in
the library. Dirk and Noni Andersen as well as Clark
and Rebecca McGaugh have my eternal gratitude for
allowing me freedom to communicate with readers of
this paper. It has always felt like I was just talking to
people through these articles.
While on vacation this past week, I read four re-
markable, but different novels. Portland resident
Amanda Coplin has written a beautiful debut novel,
The Orchardist, set at the turn of the twentieth centu-
ry in the rural Pacific Northwest. William Talmadge
tends to apples and apricots as if they were loved
ones, until the lonely harmony of his life is disrupted
by two feral, scared, and very
pregnant teenage girls. Just as
the girls begin to trust him, men
arrive with guns, setting Tal-
madge on an irrevocable
course to save them and to
503-901-1705
reconcile the ghosts of his own troubled past.
topic. Movie night on Thursday, September 27 at 6:30
Set in rural North Carolina, Wiley Cash’s first novel will feature the corresponding film.
is told in 3 voices: Jess, who wanted to protect his
Friends of the Library will meet Tuesday, October 2
mute brother, Stump; Adelaide, the town midwife who at 6:30.
knew the evil that controlled the church and tried to
Special displays of challenged or banned books will
protect the children from it; and Clem, the town sheriff be in the library from September 30 to October 6,
with sad and unspeakable burdens of his own to bear. 2012. This is a week designated by the American Li-
When Stump snoops and sees something he should- brary Association that celebrates the First Amendment
n’t, events follow that have disastrous consequences. freedom to read. Each year the ALA receives hun-
A Land More Kind Than Home is a powerful novel dreds of reports on books and other materials that
filled with love, forgiveness, sadness, tragedy and were “challenged”. Titles range from the Bible to John
pure evil.
Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, with the most “chal-
The Prophet by Michael Koryta is a crime novel, a lenged” titles being those in the Harry Potter series of
suspense novel, and a novel about football and fami- fantasy books by J. K. Rowling. An informal discussion
ly relationships. (How many times will you find all of of challenged and banned books will take place Thurs-
those topics in one novel?) In the center of the story day, October 6 at 6:30 in the library. The public is en-
are the Austin brothers, one a down-and-out parole of- couraged to attend.
ficer and the other an upstanding high school football
Also, be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday,
coach. Their small Ohio town is torn apart by terror as October 20 at 4:00 p.m. for a discussion in the library
persons associated with the local high school football of “From Print to Pixels”. This is an Oregon Humani-
team turn up missing or dead. As details emerge that ties program which will ask the questions: “In what
connect the crime to the Austin brothers, the two must ways do e-books change the act of reading and, as
resolve their troubled issues of the past and unite to reading becomes a predominantly digital experience,
stop a killer
what effects might this have on writing and our inter-
My favorite—the one that moved me to tears is The actions with information overall?” This is a very perti-
Light Between Oceans, by Australian novelist M. L. nent topic today, as a recent report showed that Ama-
Stedman. Following four harrowing years spent serv- zon sold more e-books than print books.
ing on the Western Front during World War I, Tom
Sherbourne takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on
Vernonia Public Library: 701 Weed Avenue
isolated Janus Rock where the supply boat comes
Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
only once a season and shore leaves are granted
Tues., Thu. 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
every other year. To this secluded island, Tom brings
Sat. 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
a young wife, Isabel. After several years, during which
Preschool Story Time: Mondays, 10:30 a.m.
Isabel has been unable to have children, a boat wash-
Phone: 503-429-1818
es ashore carrying a dead man and a living baby.
Against Tom’s better judgment, they claim
the baby girl as their own and name her
Lucy. When they return to the mainland af-
ter two years, they find that their choice in
keeping Lucy has caused devastation to
another, thus creating a difficult moral
Columbian Toastmasters, a Contestants for table topics will
dilemma for the couple. This is a beautiful- chapter of Toastmasters Inter- be as follows: Frank Hupp of
ly descriptive novel with extraordinarily national, will be holding their Columbia City, Blanch Katz of
compelling characters.
club contest on Thursday, Sep- St. Helens and Leslie Seeberg-
Book discussion will be on Monday, tember 20, at 12:00 p.m., at er of Vernonia. The winner of
September 24 at 5:30 with Francine Americas Best Value Inn (for- each contest will speak at the
Rivers’ novel, The Last Sin Eater, as the mally the Village Inn) on Hwy. area contest on Wednesday,
30 in St Helens. This is an op- October 3, beginning at 6:45
portunity for you to see how a p.m. at the Canterbury Park
Toastmasters club can improve 2nd floor conference room,
your speaking, speech giving 1335 3rd Ave, in Longview,
skills, and confidence, as well Washington. Two winners from
as providing you with an hour each contest will then move on
or more worth of free entertain- to the Northern Division con-
ment.
test, on October 20, at the
Competing in the humorous Clark Public Utilities District
speech contest will be Miles Building.
Wickstrom of Vernonia, Ronda
The public is very much wel-
Holdridge of Columbia City, come and encouraged to at-
and Peggy Helgerson of Scap- tend these events. Please feel
poose. These talented speak- free to come by, meet the
ers should keep everyone in speakers, and enjoy the con-
stitches throughout their short test. For more information on
speeches. Following the formal the contest or the Columbia
speeches, three contestants Toastmasters call 503-429-
will compete in table topics, a 0532 or visit us
at http:
fast and often outrageous //6421.toastmastersclub.org .
story telling event. Each con-
Columbia
Toastmasters
testant will be given the same meets every Thursday at noon
topic, and challenged to give a at America’s Best Value Inn,
one- to two-minute response, 535 South Columbia River
always with hilarious results.
See Toastmaster, page 14
All are invited to Toastmasters
club contest of speeches
Columbia County
Mental Health
Domestic Abuse
800-294-5211
-----------------
503-397-6161
Suicide Hotline
1-800-
866-397-6161
784-2433
or
Military Helpline
1-800-273-
TALK(8255)
Hotline
or
-----------------
888-HLP-4-VET
(888-457-4838)