New Health Center to Open this Fall

Vernonians are excited to see progress on the beautiful new Vernonia Health Center on the south side of town.   Construction has been moving along swiftly through the summer with the new facility scheduled to open this fall.

Carolyn Keasey Memorial Health Center
Carolyn Keasey Memorial Health Center

Owned and operated by the non-profit Vernonia Health Board, the new health center will provide a “medical home” where several services can be offered under the same roof.   Primary care, provided in partnership with the Public Health Foundation of Columbia County and Pacific University, will continue. The Health Board is planning to add mental and behavioral health and physical therapy in the near future and is exploring other support services that will benefit their patients and the community.

Health care services are currently being provided at the old clinic building which was damaged in the 2007 flood. The building was repaired following the flood, but the Health Board has made the effort to raise the funds and move to a safe location

The new construction was fully funded with generous support from Meyer Memorial Trust, the Ford Family Foundation, Collins Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, funds from Providence, their FEMA buyout, and many donations from community members to the Carolyn Keasey Memorial Fund.

The Health Board is happy to be able to provide service five days a week for their patients under primary care provider Albert Rodriguez. Additionally, the partnership with the Public Health Foundation allows a seamless transition so students seen at the student based health center,  Spencer Health and Wellness, may also be seen at the Vernonia Health Center.

The clinic accepts the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), Medicare, and a majority of private insurance. For those without insurance, the clinic has staff on site to walk you through the healthcare application process and they have a sliding fee scale for eligible patients waiting for approval.

A grand opening celebration is just around the corner and is another indication that Vernonia is continuing to move forward and grow as a community.

Linear Trail Brings Visitors to Vernonia

VMPFall2014-LinearTrail
One of the many trestles on the trail

Oregon is well known internationally as a bicycling destination. Located in its scenic northwest corner, Vernonia continues to attract its share of those cyclists who are finding the local Banks-Vernonia State Linear Trail to be the perfect excursion.

This past summer Vernonia enjoyed an influx of visitors, many who traveled up the tree lined and paved trail from Washington County and L.L. Stub Stewart State Park to visit this little town. Others started right here in Vernonia and contributed to its growing reputation as a cycling hub for both local and visiting riders alike. Any season of the year will find riders of all ages scattered along the trail, enjoying the scenery, fresh air, and solitude.

The trail is not just for cyclists. Hikers, runners, and horseback riders also congregate on this multi-use pathway. Managed and maintained by Oregon State Parks, the trail was the first Rails-to-Trails project in the state of Oregon. It has an easy grade with thirteen bridges, including the scenic Buxton trestle. The trail can be accessed at any of 6 points along its progression – including trailheads at Manning, Buxton, Tophill, and Beaver Creek, as well as in Banks and Vernonia. Many cyclists have discovered the joy of riding to Vernonia in the morning, stopping off for a bite to eat at one of several eclectic downtown restaurants, before heading back down the trail towards home.

The trail was extended last year by the addition of the newly established Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway. In 2013 the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission formally approved the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway as the tenth designated bikeway in the state, cementing the region as one of the top spots to cycle in Oregon. The bikeway features the best of the northern Willamette Valley, from friendly downtowns to fertile farmlands and lush natural areas. Set in the heart of Washington County and traveling into Columbia County, the Bikeway runs for 30 miles one way, and connects in Banks with the Banks-Vernonia State Trail.

VMPFall2014LinearTrailBB
Taking a break at The Black Iron Grill in Vernonia

From the trailhead in Hillsboro, the Tualatin Valley Bikeway travels on mostly rural roads. The middle portion of the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail travels through lush forests including a portion of Stub Stewart State Park and features a gentle climb of about 600 feet. Overall the Scenic Bikeway is rated as a moderately challenging ride and can be enjoyed by a wide range of cyclists.

With the route’s layout, cyclists have many overnight options for multi-day rides, while day trips covering sub-sections of the route are easy, too. Stub Stewart State Park offers full hook up RV camping, as well as primitive campsites. Vernonia’s Anderson Park, which serves as the trail head in Vernonia, is a full RV park with showers and flush toilets, but also offers primitive tent camping along the Nehalem River. Vernonia Lake and Airport Park in Vernonia offer primitive camping.

Paved trails in and around Vernonia give families a chance to ride together as well. The connection from the Banks-Vernonia Trail to Webb Way at Anderson Park is a flat and easy ride for even the youngest cyclists and takes riders to scenic Vernonia Lake.

For mountain bikes enthusiasts, Stub Stewart State Park, just 10 miles south of Vernonia, has a new Free Ride Skills Area that is open to the public. A session/training area includes options for beginner to advanced Free Ride mountain bikers. Initial construction has focused on beginner and intermediate level trails but construction in the area is ongoing. For others looking to explore more of the outdoors, the Vernonia region is literally covered with logging roads, many of which are open to the public for limited recreational use.

As you can see, it’s no wonder Vernonia is becoming a destination for bicycle riders as well as other trail users who want to enjoy the great outdoors.

Reinvesting In Vernonia

            As the economy slowly continues to improve, there are many positive signs that the recovery may finally be reaching Vernonia. Numerous signs indicate things are looking up around Vernonia, with local business owners reinvesting in their businesses by expanding or refurbishing.

Sharon Bernal is a local resident and real estate agent for John L. Scott. Bernal recently purchased the building where her office is currently located on Bridge Street In the space next door, she re-opened ‘Out on a Limb,’ a gift shop which carries cards, decorations, crafts and gifts with a country theme. Bernal is re-roofing and painting her building, along with remodeling its three apartments.

“I thought it would improve Vernonia, and it was time after the economic downturn,” explains Bernal. “Vernonia was ready for ‘Out on a Limb’ to come back. I thought I could take this old building, and some make improvements. When I looked at it, it was a win-win.”

Bernal says the real estate market continues to rebound and is particularly strong in Vernonia. “We have a lot of people from Intel who are looking to live in a small community that is half an hour from where they work,” says Bernal.   “And many of them are younger families with kids. And I have to tell you, every person who comes into Vernonia just thinks it’s great. They absolutely love it!

Vernonia has something to look forward to this fall as word has spread that the former Vernonia Inn is being renovated. New owner, Jerry Cordell, along with his business associates, brothers Elmer and Santos Rivas, have begun work on the fifteen room lodge renamed the Ride Inn. Cordell says plans call for a complete rehabilitation to the building with a grand opening tentatively scheduled for October 1, 2014.

 

Bridge Street
Bridge Street

Cordell and his partners had previously purchased the old Masonic Lodge in Vernonia and are currently renovating it. That building will likely be a six room up-scale bed and breakfast.

Cordell says the name Ride Inn is specifically to help tap into the potential customer base of bicycle, motorcycle and other tourists who visit or pass through Vernonia.

Cordell, who currently lives in Portland, has a history of remodeling homes and has completed nine projects over the years. Cordell says he sees a lot of potential for Vernonia and has undertaken a significant investment. “It’s not the idea of making money,” explains Cordell. “It’s the idea of doing something with yourself and your money to improve the community. That’s what I’m about.”

Dana Roach is the owner of The Black Iron Grille, formerly known as Black Bear Coffee and the Bear Creek Pub. Roach recently did a major kitchen renovation, adding a grill and hood which has allowed him to expand his menu as well as his staff.

“After the flood in 2007 and the drop in the economy a large number of area restaurants closed down,” says Roach. “We saw a void and are trying to fill it.”

A favorite spot for visitors, especially tourists on bicycles, Roach expanded his outdoor seating area last year and added additional bicycle parking. Roach says he is betting on Vernonia becoming more of a destination. “I’m very excited about the future of this community,” says Roach.

Photo Solutions is a small manufacturing firm servicing global high tech industries and is one of the only light industry businesses in Vernonia.   Owner Brad Curtis recently took advantage of Vernonia’s inclusion in the South Columbia County Enterprise Zone and expanded his business by purchasing $200,000 of new equipment.

“I see a lot of possibilities for firms to do business out here, especially for businesses where location doesn’t matter.” says Curtis. “The enterprise zone expansion helps level the playing field.” Curtis’s manufacturing plant was damaged in the 2007 flood and incentives available through the Enterprise Zone may allow him to move his business to higher ground at the California Avenue industrial site currently under development in Vernonia.

Local businesses and owners see great things happening in Vernonia and are choosing to re-invest in the community.   “If you just come to Vernonia you’re going to love it,” says Bernal. “If you just get to know some of the people in this community, you’re going to love it. I do. That’s why I’m here.”

Worth the Trip – Five Day Trips From Vernonia Your Family Won’t Want to Miss

Planning a trip to Vernonia? Why not stay for a few days and take in one or more local attractions Here are several family friendly trips that are just about an hour from Vernonia. You’ll have a fun adventure-and be back in time for dinner!


Jewell Meadows Wildlife AreaSee majestic Roosevelt Elk in their natural habitat in the 2305_bull_elk_swart_odfwOregon coast Range. This 2,940 acre preserve is home to well over 200 elk that spend the winter and spring in the lower meadows along the highway feeding and resting. There are two parking areas, four viewing areas and interpretive signs. The elk are the main attraction but the area is also a great spot for birding and other wildlife viewing.

Travel time from Vernonia: 52 minutes. Distance 39 miles.

 Trees3

Tree to Tree Aerial Adventure ParkVoted on of the Top 10 Zip Parks in the country, Tree to Tree offers an Ariel Adventure Park with six colored levels graduating in height and difficulty and over sixty extreme obstacles. There’s a level for just about every member of the family including a tween and children’s course. In addition take a separate zip line tour which includes a 1200′ single line as part of the adventure. Reservations are required for all adventures.

Travel time from Vernonia: 52 minutes. Distance 39 miles.

 

Tillamook Forestry CenterLocated in the remote heart of the Tillamook Forest in the Oregon Coast Range, this education and recreation center is a special

Tillamook Forestry Center
Tillamook Forestry Center

place to explore. Learn about forest history, wildfires or sustainable forestry practices inside the center. Hike through the forest and see it for yourself—make sure to dress appropriately for Oregon weather. Highlights include the climbable 40 foot high lookout tower replica, a 250 foot suspension bridge crossing the Wilson River, connections to a host of trails, hands on exhibits and the award winning film Legacy of Fire. Hours change seasonally—the Center is closed December through February; open Wednesday through Sunday in fall and spring; open seven days a week in summer. Admission is free.

Travel time from Vernonia 57 minutes. Distance 38 miles.

IMGP9570
Steam Donkey

Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging MuseumFor anyone interested in the logging and railroad history of this region, or just history in general, Camp 18 is a must go! Wander the grounds and be fascinated by the outdoor displays of huge, heavy equipment. See a Steam Donkey, a Spar Tree, a real wood-sided caboose on tracks, a large band saw and much more. Visit the Logger’s Memorial and see the displays family members have created for their lost loggers. When you’ve finished your outdoor tour, step inside the restaurant and be amazed by the size of the log beams used to construct the massive building. The Oregon coast is just another 18 miles on Hwy 26.

Travel time from Vernonia 42 minutes. Distance 32 miles

Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens, Oregon

Fort Clatsop and Fort StevensThese two historic forts are located on the Oregon Coast near Astoria. Fort Clatsop is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park and was the winter encampment of the Corps of Discovery from December of 1805 to March of 1806.   You can explore the replica of Fort Clatsop where Lewis and Clark spent a cold and wet winter with their men.   Visit the interpretive center and view two different films to learn more about the explorers of the west. Fort Stevens, part of the Oregon State park system, was the primary defense installation at the mouth of the Columbia River from the Civil War through World War II. Explore history, nature and enjoy recreational opportunities in this 4,200 acre park. Bring your bikes—there’s six miles of paved trails providing easy riding for everyone.

Travel time from Vernonia to Fort Clatsop: 1 hour 25 minutes. Distance 67 miles

From Fort Clatsop to Fort Stevens: 15 minutes. Distance 7.7 miles

 

Diamond in the Rough

A visitor to Vernonia might be surprised by the quality of the small but enthusiastic art scene this community has carved out. Not only was Vernonia the one time home to Christopher Burkett, considered by many to be the greatest color landscape photographer alive, it also has a non-profit community group, the Vernonia Hands On Art Center, dedicated to promoting the arts and heritage of Vernonia. Additionally, young artists are discovering their artistic talent through Artist-in-Residence Kerri Boutwell and the Grace Fine Arts academy she has established. The annual Salmon Festival, held the first Saturday in October, is a great opportunity to see the work of local artists; this year the Salmon festival will include the work of Boutwell and others.

In other words, the arts are alive and well in Vernonia.

VMP-Art-Burkett-EarlyWinterSnowfallColorado
Early Winter Snowfall, Colorado by Christopher Burkett

Any visit to Vernonia certainly must include a visit to Grey Dawn Gallery, which features some of the finest in northwest art.   The gallery is owned by Dan and Heidi Brown and includes, in addition to Burkett’s work, Dan Brown’s own Hardwood Originals custom wood furniture. The gallery also features artistic pottery by Jeff Patterson, also a former Vernonia resident, as well as the bronze sculpture work of Jacques and Mary Regat.

VMP-Art-HarwoodOriginals
Hardwood Originals furniture by Dan Brown

The Browns established their business in 1991 and moved it to their hometown of Vernonia in 2000 to a custom designed building at 879 Bridge Street they designed themselves. The front is home to the gallery while the back contains the workshop where Dan designs and builds his locally famous “Dan Brown Kitchens” and other fine furniture. The Browns also do custom framing for the art work they sell.

VMP-Art-Rugat-Bear
Bronze sculptures by Jacques and Mary Ragat

Brown says he and Heidi were hoping to help revitalize downtown Vernonia following the 1996 flood by locating the gallery and workshop there. “We wanted to convey the image of what we saw as the potential for Vernonia,” says Brown during a recent visit to the gallery. “I had gotten to know several local artists and thought we could showcase our work, have space for the wood shop, and hopefully do something for the local artist community at the same time. There was kind of budding artist community at that time and it seemed like the logical thing to do.”

Burkett is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in Cibachrome printing, the process he uses to uniquely capture the color and light of his work. He has painstakingly developed his

Graceful Aspen, Colorado by Christopher Burkett
Graceful Aspen, Colorado by Christopher Burkett

system of sophisticated masking techniques over thirty years, hand making each individual print without the use of digital or computer enhancement, creating a unique and individual piece of art work. Burkett signs and numbers each of the three sizes of prints he produces and therefore controls the number of prints released to the public, usually in the low hundreds. His work has been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., and has been compared to the work of the great Ansel Adams.

“Christopher’s work has, beyond a shadow of a doubt been the main reason we have remained in business over the years,” says Brown. “He has a world-wide reputation and we ship his work all over the U.S. and abroad.” Brown notes that their custom framing work has made them a sought-out source of Burkett’s limited edition work.

VMP-Art-Patterson-Pinecone
Pottery by Jeff Patterson

In addition to Burkett’s work, Grey Dawn Gallery continues to show a small collection of Jeff Patterson’s work. He is no longer producing his fine art pottery. “We were sorry to see Jeff stop working,” says Brown. The bronze work of Anchorage, Alaska based Jacques and Mary Regat is focused on wildlife. The inclusion of the Regat’s work allows Grey Dawn Gallery to display and sell some of the finest regional art, and makes the gallery a must visit for anyone interested in seeing some beautiful creations.

Kerri Boutwell and the other instructors at Grace Fine Arts offer after-school classes in acrylic painting, sculpture, drawing, and watercolor. Boutwell also conducts workshops for adults. She has held two art shows locally, displaying the surprisingly impressive work of her youth students. Her instructional classes have been fun and popular and have uncovered some artists who have found talents they were unaware they possessed. Grace Fine Arts is encouraging a new generation to appreciate and participate in the arts in Vernonia.

Alongside Boutwell at Salmon Festival will be local realist Randal Harvey, potter Wanda Aszman, and Nicole Gray, who specializes in photographic portraiture and local landscapes. Coined “Art in the Woods”, this event showcases local artists but also hosts a salmon-themed art auction which funds art scholarships for local youth. In 2014 the inaugural scholarship was awarded. It is the first local scholarship offered to students interested in exploring the arts.

The Vernonia Hands On Art Center has been encouraging the Vernonia art scene through its volunteer and financial support of various artistic endeavors within the community. Hands On Art has supported community theater, the Vernonia Ballet, First Friday gatherings and the Vernonia Salmon Festival. Hands On Art has been encouraging learning environments with financial grants, advertising assistance and volunteer manpower since 1997, continually helping to raise awareness of the arts in Vernonia.

Vernonia Schools Creates a Positive Learning Environment

SustainabilityDay2013KidsLooking            Schools in rural towns can offer a number of benefits to students, such as modest enrollment numbers and tight-knit, supportive communities. The Vernonia School District, a small district of around 600 students, has been creative in developing unique opportunities for students to learn, grow and succeed.

Situated on the edge of the Oregon Coast Range and surrounded by trees, Vernonia is instituting a new approach to learning by creating a sustainability curriculum. The new learning model takes advantage of the community’s surroundings, the cutting edge design of the new K-12 school facilities and campus which opened in 2012, proximity to natural resources, logging heritage, local resources and partnerships to create a multitude of living laboratories and natural classrooms.

Following the example of its community over the years, Vernonia Schools has made the most of its locality, history and resources. The new curriculum uses human relationships to the natural world as its foundation, and features three levels of forestry education by which students are taught plant identification, proper forest management techniques, trail building proficiency, and watershed enhancement procedures. In addition a logging skills team competes against other regional schools working closely with several local logging companies and governmental agencies.

As part of the sustainability curriculum, the school oversees the management of the ‘Old Mill Marsh’ wetland area. This 8.2 acre wetland mitigation project was developed on city land in exchange for wetlands that were impacted through construction of the new school campus. Each year students remove invasive species, plant native plants and map and build trails. A greenhouse supported by a grant through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was constructed on campus and is shared with the local Upper Nehalem Watershed Council (UNWC), providing a space for students to raise native plants.

“The sustainability curriculum encourages all our teachers to find ways to include the natural world and our region’s surroundings into daily instruction,” says Vernonia School Board Chair Bill Langmaid.

Each year all K-12 students participate in several ‘Sustainability Days’ when learning is focused on concepts that include the life cycle of native salmon populations, the impact of invasive species, and sustainable forestry practices. Students spend at least part of the day doing field work, including riparian restoration projects, tree planting, and wetlands maintenance.

As part of the sustainability curriculum, Vernonia is developing a Career and Technical Education program. A new shop facility is being constructed in 2014 and the District has developed partnerships with several local entities including the UNWC, BLM, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the OSU Extension Service and Stub Stewart State Park. As part of an internship program, high school students worked on maintenance projects, utilizing Geographic Information System mapping techniques, trail building, using customer service skills and enhancing local watersheds and riparian zones.   Students received valuable, real-life work experiences all while receiving a summer pay check.

Vernonia’s small size is actually be a benefit when it comes to education. Katie Cook and her family moved to Vernonia a year ago. Her school age children had previously been enrolled in the Hillsboro and the Beaverton School Districts.

“We moved from extremely overcrowded schools where students became numbers,” said Cook. “All my family described it as ‘suffocating.”

“Initially, the small school in Vernonia caused concern but, within a few weeks I knew the staff and they knew my kids,” explains Cook. “My daughter, who was failing some classes in her previous schools, became a straight A student again. In her own words, ‘My teachers know me and it helps me want to do better.’ Unlike in larger schools the teachers here are connected to their students and there is time to teach each one of them and, if encouraged and with the support of parents, there is time for these great teachers to make up the difference where the education system lacks.”

Another attribute that makes an education at Vernonia Schools extremely unique is their robust Foreign Exchange Student program. In each of the last half-dozen years, approximately 20 students arrived at the end of each summer from all over the world to spend the school year in Vernonia. The students live with, and become part of, local families giving students, families and the entire community firsthand experiences with other cultures, lifestyles, languages and perspectives. Students from countries as diverse as Germany, Kenya, Romania, Taiwan, Italy, Kurdistan, and Norway spend the year in Vernonia becoming teammates, family members, and lifelong friends. Past students regularly return to visit their ‘American families’ and Vernonia students often go to visit their friends in faraway countries. The Foreign Exchange Student program gives Vernonia’s schools and the community a truly international feel.

The Vernonia schools have also experienced success in other endeavors. The school band program earned a State Championship in 2011 and finished 3rd in 2012. Mentored by local volunteers, the robotics program has competed in Oregon FIRST Robotics programs for the last three years, and has seen great success for such a small and newly created program while competing against all sizes of schools from throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2012 the Loggerbots finished third in the qualifying rounds and reached the semifinals in just their second year.

Vernonia’s sports teams, the Loggers and Lady Loggers, compete in the state’s 2A division. Recent successes include four individual state champions in track and field in 2012, a fourth place finish at the state tournament in boys’ basketball in 2010, back-to-back league championships in girls’ basketball in 2013-14, three straight years of qualifying for the state tournament in volleyball in 2012-14 and a league championship in softball in 2014.

For a small, rural school district, Vernonia is working hard to create unique and exciting learning experiences for its students, helping propel them to success in careers, university studies, and life.