Water will be shut off in lower Columbia City (east of Highway 30) in order to replace a valve. Because West Oregon Wood operates 24-hours a day, Monday through Friday, a weekend repair has been scheduled. Residents are encouraged to prepare for the shut off by filling containers with water ahead of time. We apologize for the inconvenience to our residents during the shut off period. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

"L" STREET BRIDGE CLOSURE

The "L" Street bridge will be closed to traffic on July 30, August 1, and August 2nd from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. in order to drill soil borings in preparation of the bridge replacement project. We apologize for the inconvenience of the closure and appreciate your patience and understanding. Preliminary design engineering is currently underway, and bridge design work should be completed in July 2005. Removal of the existing bridge and construction of the new bridge is anticipated in late 2005 or early 2006.

CELEBRATION 2004

Mark your calendar and join us for the Columbia City Celebration on Saturday, September 11, 2004! A detailed event schedule is enclosed with this newsletter.

We'll start the day with a new and improved Strawberry Pancake Breakfast, served in the Knapp Social Center, 1925 First Street. The breakfast will include pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, ham, scrambled eggs, juice, tea and coffee. Tickets may be purchased at City Hall ahead of time, or at the door. Ticket prices are $5.00 for an adult $3.50 for children 10 and under.

The silent and oral auctions will be held in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street. The highest silent bidders will be announced following the oral auction.

The City was able to put together four great raffle prizes with the help of a $1,000 cash donation from Comcast Cable. The first prize is a Hood River getaway for two, valued at $551. It includes a 2-night stay at the Inn at the Gorge Bed and Breakfast, a gift certificate for the Mt. Hood Railroad, and a gift certificate for the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. The second prize is a Sony Digital Camera (DSC-P73) valued at $298, third prize is a portable DVD player (Apex PD-450) valued at $109, and fourth prize is a $50 gift certificate from the Chamber of Commerce redeemable at participating businesses. Raffle tickets are $1 each, or six tickets for $5, and the drawing will be in the Community Hall at 1:00 p.m.

The Friends of the Library will hold a book sale in front of City Hall, The Caples House Museum and store will be open, and the historical book, "Columbia City Days," and 2004 Columbia City T-shirts will be on sale. The Friends of the Library will hold their annual meeting, and they'll host a "We Read 2004" discussion group.

All of the proceeds from the Celebration are used to operate the Columbia City Community Library. We hope to make this the biggest and best Celebration ever!

We will need volunteer help with the breakfast and the oral auction, and the Friends of the Library will need help with their book sale. Please, call City Hall to sign up for the job you want. This is a fun time to volunteer and help the Community Library.

Pick up a travel reading log, currently available at the Library.  Collect safari animal stickers each time you visit the library.  Receive a certificate for reading all summer long.  Ice cream social at the end of the Safa-READ trail, August 23rd at 1:00 p.m.

Bring a sack lunch and join a group of kids that enjoy reading as we talk about popular and award-winning books for children.  Come to give a book review, share your thoughts, or just to learn about some great reads.  It is not necessary to have read the book ahead.  We'll be discussing books appropriate for children ages 9-13.  Parents are welcome to participate.  Every other Monday beginning July 5th at noon.

We're taking a closer look at the art techniques used by illustrators to make stories more exciting.  We'll read a story, discuss how the illustrations enhance the story, and do a related art activity.

How are you Peeling?  :Foods with Moods by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers

Dog Food by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers.

From faces to pets you'll have fun looking at the food sculptures pictured in these books.

Activity:  Photo creations:  Use fruits and veggies arranged on plates to create silly faces.  We'll take a photograph of your creation for your own book.

The Quilt Makers Gift by Jeff Brumbeau, illustrations by Gail de Marcken

A generous quilt maker sews the most beautiful quilts, then gives them away.  See how the illustrator uses colors and quilt patterns in the telling of the story.

Activity:  Arrange and glue fabric pieces to create your own beautiful quilt picture.

Monster Mama by Liz Rosenberg, illustrations by Stephen Gammell

Paint splatters and spills make an eerie setting for such a lovable story about a mother who helps her son deal with some bullies.

Activity:  Blow paint:  Create a spooky scene or crazy hair by blowing paint through a straw.

Thank you to the many volunteers and Friends of the Library who contribute their time and talents to our library.  Their support makes our summer programs possible.  We hope you will enjoy this year's activities.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to the following:

• Bernadette Albertine, Alice Barchus, Marian Calnon, Gloria Chinell, Nell Harrison, Barbara Jones, Phyllis Moss, Phyllis Rowley, Helen Sandstrom and Amy West helped with newsletters and utility billings in May and June.

• Marian Calnon, Bernard and Bonnye Carlton, Kathie Fellows, Nell Harrison and company, Barbara Jones, and Stan Hopkins worked in Bundy Memorial Park.

• Marian Calnon spruced up the flowerbeds around City Hall.

Breakfast includes pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, ham, scrambled eggs, coffee, tea and juice. Tickets may be purchased at City Hall or at the door. Adults are $5.00 and children 10 and under are $3.50. Breakfast will be served in the Knapp Social Center, 1925 First Street.

The Book Sale will be held in front of City Hall, 1840 Second Street.

The Silent Auction will be held in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street.

The public auction will be held in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street. Auction items will include a wide variety of gift certificates, admission and lift tickets, and other items.

Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.

(Inn at the Gorge B&B 2-night stay, Mount Hood Railroad gift certificate, Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler gift certificate) value $551

2nd place: SONY DIGITAL CAMERA (DSC-P73) value $298

3rd place: PORTABLE DVD PLAYER (APEX PD-450) value $109

The Friends invite you to attend their annual meeting in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street.

The Friends of the Columbia City Community Library invite We Read participants to meet with friends, neighbors, and other community members to discuss Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451. The discussion group will meet in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street.

CAPLES HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Charles Green Caples built his home in 1870, overlooking the broad Columbia River with a view of Mt. St. Helens. The family lived here until 1959. Located at 1915 First Street.

The Friends of the Columbia City Community Library invite you to participate in our first Community Read now through September. What is a Community Read? It's simple, everyone in the community reads the same book, so that we share a common experience to talk about with friends, neighbors, and even strangers. The purpose is to stimulate reading, promote the use of the library, encourage town-wide discussions, and to bring the community together.

The book selected is Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451. "Guy Montag is a fireman of the future whose job it is to burn books; this ensures that the citizenry think of nothing that is not generated by their four-wall televisions. He becomes dissatisfied with his role when he meets a young woman whose natural exuberance for love and life moves him to read books and to rebel." First published in 1953, the ideas of censorship and forced conformity still remain highly relevant as society tries to balance technology, access to information and the meaning of freedom.

Some free copies of the book are available at the Columbia City Community Library and the City Hall. If you would rather purchase a book, the St. Helens Book Shop will be selling them at a discount. The first discussion group is scheduled for September 11th at 4:00 p.m. in the Community Hall, in conjunction with the Columbia City Celebration. Complete information on all upcoming discussion groups and where to pick up a discussion guide will be announced. For current information, a summary of Fahrenheit 451, and author information, check the City of Columbia City website at www.columbia-center.org/colcity.

"Listening to, and sharing, different perspectives of literary works stimulates minds and opens new avenues of imagination and awareness. It is a great opportunity," says Cheryl A. Young, the Mayor of Columbia City.

This Community Read project acknowledges the support and funding by:

• Friends of the Columbia City Community Library

• St. Helens Book Shop

AUTOMATIC BILL PAYMENT IS HERE AT LAST!

Automatic bill payment pays your water and sewer utility bill through an automatic deduction from your bank account. You'll still receive your monthly utility bill showing your water usage and other charges, and the amount due will be deducted from your checking or savings account on the bill's due date (on or after the 10th of the month). Automatic bill payment is easy to set up, and even if you're on vacation or ill, you'll never have to worry about paying your bill again. To sign up for automatic bill payment, please complete an authorization form and return it, along with a voided check, to City Hall no later than August 25^th to begin the service in September. When the system is operating, you will still receive a bill, but there will be a message: "Autopay. Do Not Pay."

The new school zone traffic laws are somewhat confusing. This article will hopefully clear up any misunderstanding:

The speed limit for streets with posted speeds of 30 mph or less and adjacent to school grounds is 20 mph at all times.

The speed limit for streets with posted speeds of 35 mph or greater and adjacent to school grounds is 20 mph when the school zone sign states the times for the lower speed or when there is a flashing light on the sign.

Crosswalks not adjacent to school grounds require a speed of 20 mph when the light on the sign is flashing, or during posted times or when children are present

"Children present" means occupying or walking within a crosswalk, waiting on the curb or shoulder of a crosswalk, or whenever a traffic patrol member is present at the crosswalk (even when children are not present).

The fines are doubled in a school zone, and the fine can range between $94 and $672. Please read the signs and be aware.

The filing deadline for City Council nominating petitions is 5:00 p.m. on August 19, 2004. Qualified electors who have resided within the City since November 2, 2003, may run for office. The City Council positions are for a term of four years.

· Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden.

· Verify that your home is leak free. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you waste 2,700 gallons per year.

· Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors to slow the flow of water. Saves 500 to 800 gallons per month.

· Check for toilet tank leaks and replace worn out, corroded or bent parts including a sticking handle.

· Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low flow version. Saves up to 700 gallons per month.

· Place a bucket in the shower or at the tap to catch water while you wait for it to warm up and use for watering plants. Saves 200 to 300 gallons per month.

· Operate dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded. Set the water level for the size of the load you are using. Saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.

· Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run. Saves 200 to 300 gallons per month.

· Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternative. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.

· Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up.

· Insulate your water pipes.

· Don’t let the water run while shaving or washing your face or brushing your teeth. Saves 3 gallons each day.

· When washing the car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse.

· Use a broom when cleaning your driveway, not the hose. Saves 150 gallons or more each time; that’s more than 600 gallons per month.

· Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street. Do not water on windy days. Saves 500 gallons per month.

· Always water during the cool time of the day to minimize evaporation. Early morning is best. Avoid peak water consumption hours of 4 – 9 p.m. Saves 300 gallons.

· Minimize grass areas in your yard and replace with drought resistant landscaping.

· Adjust your irrigation schedule to accommodate changes in seasonal water demand. Install an automatic timer.

· Buy a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation your yard has received.

· When mowing, raise the blade on your lawn mower to at least three inches high, or to its highest level. Closely-cut grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water.

· Using a layer of mulch around plants reduces evaporation and promotes plant growth. Saves 750 to 1,500 gallons per month.

· Drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass.

· Tell your children not to play with the garden hose. Saves 10 gallons a minute.

August 5th - 7:30 p.m. - Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

August 9th - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

August 10th - 7:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall

August 12th - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

August 16th - 7:00 p.m. - Friends of the Library Meeting at the Library

August 19th - 7:30 p.m. - Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

August 26th - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

CELEBRATION T-SHIRTS

Teresa Knight has produced another great T-shirt graphic for this year’s Celebration. It shows an elk in black and white in the foreground with a white mountain and the blue river and sky in the background. T-shirts are $15.00 each, and a few dollars extra for 2X and 3X sizes.  To purchase T-shirts, fill out an order form and send to City Hall with payment. You will be called when your order arrives. Sweatshirts are also available - please stop by City Hall for sweatshirt prices and ordering information.

T-shirts are available in the following colors: White, black, burnt orange, gold, light gray, dark gray, red, maroon, dark purple, kelly green, forest green, jade, turquoise, true royal, navy, light blue.

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