The INDEPENDENT, November 7, 2012
Where to Find Them
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
(Dem)
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585
Portland OR 97232
Phone: 503-326-7525
223 Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510-0001
Phone: 202-224-5244
E-Mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/
contact
Website: http://wyden.senate.
gov
Letters
Thanks are due for
helping PTA carnival
620 SW Main, Suite 606
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: 503-326-2901
2338 Rayburn House Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-0855
Website: http://bonamici.house.
gov
To the Editor:
To the community: Please
accept my heartfelt apprecia-
tion to everyone involved with
the Vernonia Community PTA
Carnival and Haunted House
event that was held on Satur-
day, October 20th. From the
people who dedicated them-
selves to be on a committee
many months ago to the le-
gions of cake walk bakers.
From the staff at the school
who supported our efforts to
the many students who took
time away from the fun to run a
booth. From those willing to
work with months of notice to
those willing to work at a mo-
ment’s notice. From all of the
parents who shopped and do-
nated for the class baskets to
those in the community who
made a donation, regardless of
having a student but who still
care about the success of the
school. To everyone who gave
the most valuable commodity
of all, their time. I thank all of
you.
Sincerely,
Susan Ely
Vernonia Community PTA
Senator Betsy Johnson
A grateful family
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
(Dem.)
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-326-3386
313 Hart Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3753
E-Mail: http://merkley.senate.
gov/contact
WebSite: http://merkley.senate.
gov
U.S. Representative Suzanne
Bonamici, (Dem) OR District 1
(Dem) Senate District 16
PO Box R,
Scappoose, OR 97056
Phone: 503-543-4046
900 Court St. NE, S-314
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1716
E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@
state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.
us/johnson
Representative Brad Witt
(Dem) House District. 31
21740 Lindberg Road,
Clatskanie, OR 97016
Phone: 503-728-4664
900 Court St. NE, H-373
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1431
E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.
us/witt
Representative Deborah
Boone
(Dem) House District 32
PO Box 926
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Phone: 503-717-9182
900 Court St. NE, H-375
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1432
E-mail: rep.deborahboone@
state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.
us/boone
Page 3
To the Editor:
The Levenseller family
would like to express our pro-
found gratitude for the outpour-
ing of love and support we re-
ceived from our Vernonia fami-
ly at the time of our Jacob’s
passing. Thank you, thank you,
thank you.
Cari Levenseller
and family
Vernonia
Assumption missed
by a very long way
To the Editor:
Matt: I and my wife and chil-
dren moved to Vernonia over
40 years ago.
All five of my children and
several grandchildren graduat-
ed from VHS.
Since 1971, I have owned
and/or held equity in one or
more properties in Vernonia,
paying taxes and utilities.
At this time, I own a two bed-
room home on a half-acre in
the fair city of Vernonia.
So you see, Matt, your snide
innuendo, that I own nothing,
shows your total ignorance of
the facts.
As to the use of the term
“rape”, I can’t believe any nor-
mal teenager could confuse its
use with the “carnal knowl-
edge” application.
When I consider that in no
way did your little missive come
close to the facts, I feel that
henceforth I must view your
opinions with an indifference
that borders on the supernatu-
ral.
Dee Stevens
Vernonia
(Editor’s Note: this letter is in
response to one printed in our
October 3 issue)
P.A. available again
To the Editor:
I just wanted to let the com-
munity know that Albert Ro-
driguez, P.A., who was here in
Vernonia at Verdura Family
Wellness, is now practicing at
Beaverton Family Medicine.
His phone number is 503-213-
3800.
Terry Buckner
Vernonia
Policy on Letters
The INDEPENDENT will
not publish letters with per-
sonal attacks on private citi-
zens. Preference will be giv-
en to brief letters, 300 words
or less.
All letters must be signed
and include a verifiable ad-
dress or phone number.
Happy
Thanksgiving
Ike Says…
From page 2
shows why stream flows are a very important
part of the equation when it comes to stream
temperatures and the harmful effects to
salmonids.
For the rifle elk seasons in the Saddle Mt. unit
this year, I expect a slight decrease in bull har-
vest. Frankly, we were a little too successful last
year, just shy of 600 bulls between archers and
rifle hunters, which will most likely be a factor
this year. I believe archers were fairly successful
again this year, but were cut off from the last
week of their season due to fire danger. How sig-
nificantly that reduced harvest remains to be
seen. As always, weather during the rifle sea-
sons will be a significant factor.
Have fun out there and always be safe.
Izaak Walton League,
Nehalem Valley Chapter
meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday
at 7:00 p.m.
Call 503-429-7193 for location.
Out of My Mind…
by Noni Andersen
The election is over… I hope. Since I
wrote this last week, I couldn’t be sure that
everyone in the Sandy hurricane/flood/
blizzard and windstorm area would be able
to vote. Voting machines don’t work without
electricity and, considering our aged power
distribution system, we shouldn’t be sur-
prised at more frequent, longer outages in
much of the U.S.
I’m also hoping that there will be no han-
ky-panky with the ballots, like the truly in-
competent Florida in the 2000 election, or the truly undemocratic
decision by five justices that it wasn’t necessary to count all the
ballots. I also don’t know what effect there may have been this
year because of the confusion caused by those states that tried
to suppress the vote.
It’s obvious that the “democracy” we promote to other countries
can’t be very enticing when so many Americans are trying to sab-
otage our own system.
In the meantime, I can only feel great sorrow for the people
caught by Sandy. The loss of life is tragic, and the pain and an-
guish felt by those who lost their homes and belongings is, unfor-
tunately, something we are familiar with.
My home is now raised above the flood level and, for the first
winter in many years, I won’t be anxious when the rain and snow
threaten our little valley. Except, of course, I’ll worry about those
who are still in harm’s way.
Incidentally, although our last flood was in 2007, it is still most-
ly FEMA funds that are paying for houses raised this year. FEMA
has also been a huge help in relocating our electric co-op and the
main substation, as well as our schools. Yes, we still have heavy
costs associated with what has been done, and all that remains
to be upgraded or moved, but we should have the good sense to
be grateful for the help we’ve received.
Thanksgiving will soon be here, so it‘s a good time to consider
our blessings. We have been helped not only by FEMA, but by
our state and county governments, by foundations, corporations,
other school districts, private citizens, volunteers from all walks of
life, and those extraordinary volunteers from Christian Public Ser-
vice.
Sandy’s victims have no way of knowing how long it will be be-
fore they can feel safe, or how much longer it will be before they
feel like their lives have been put back together. The crisis may be
over, but recovery sometimes feels like it takes forever.