Please join us for the fifth annual "Down By the Riverside" project in Columbia City! We are looking for volunteers to assist us with this project in Pixie Park and Datis Park on Friday, May 20, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers will be removing blackberry bushes, morning glory, ivy and debris as well as planting, painting, and sprucing up the parks as needed. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact City Hall, or just show up at one of the parks!

ROSE FESTIVAL FLEET

The Rose Festival Fleet Week is June 8 - 12. Ships from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and the Royal Canadian Navy will be sailing up the River for Rose Festival. The ships usually sail by Columbia City the first two days of that week, but there are no specific times for their arrival.

THANK YOU

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

• Alice Barchus, Dolores Heinz, Sheila Jackson, Phyllis Rowley and Helen Sandstrom for helping with the April utility bills and newsletter.
• Marian Calnon for continuing to care for the flowerbeds at City Hall.
• Tricia Pooley, Claudia Yoes and Marian Calnon for their efforts and hard work in sprucing up Harvard and Jim Bundy Memorial Park.
• Norm Jones for his continued efforts in keeping Datis Park’s grass mowed.

Planning to hire a contractor to help you with a project around the house this spring or summer? If so, please be sure to make sure the contractor has a business license to do work within the City of Columbia City.

Also, whether you’re hiring a contractor or planning to do the work yourself, please remember that many types of projects require a permit. For building, plumbing and mechanical permit information, call City Hall at (503) 397-4010. For electrical permit information, contact Columbia County Land Development Services at (503) 397-1501.

We are currently accepting applications to serve on the Budget Committee. To qualify for service, a person must be registered to vote in Columbia City. Applications may be obtained by contacting City Hall. The Budget Committee will be meeting at 7:00 p.m. on May 31, 2005 to review the City's proposed budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

COMMUNITY LIBRARY NEWS

Hear Ye…Hear Ye… This summer we’re filling ye olde library with medieval merriment. Our summer reading program will focus on fantasy and fairytales, legend and lore in conjunction with the Oregon State Library’s theme "Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds". We are seeking volunteers to help bring the Middle Ages to life—storytellers, jugglers, minstrels, old-world arts and handcrafts, costumers, etc. Please call the library during community hours if you are interested, 503-366-7588.

YAttitue! We’re creating a Young Adult Advisory Team. This team will be involved in developing programs, services, and materials for young adults (grades 8-12). A YA library program can give teens a strong sense of community involvement, provide an opportunity for leadership and develop skills that will benefit them in the future, offer resources that meet their needs and interest, plus create a safe, fun meeting place. Young adults are a wonderful age group to work with. You’ll find they have exciting new ideas and are excited to share them with the library. They are happy to help and eager to participate in fun programs.

INTERESTED: Members of the YA advisory team must be in at least the 8^th grade. Plus, we are seeking adults to advise and work with this group. Additional information is available at City Hall and the Library or call during community hours.

Have you ever finished a book and longed for more, unwilling to leave the lives of the characters you’ve come to know? Has a book left you pondering? Have you ever had a strong reaction to a book—loved it, hated it, wanted to recommend it? Book groups are a great way to meet people who share the love of reading. If you are interested in a book club or joining an online discussion, try this website www.book-clubs-resource, which gives suggestions for starting and organizing a group, choosing material, and discussion guides, plus links to online book clubs.

Monday, May 2^nd at 7:00 p.m. Cuddle up and listen to a story.

Monday & Wednesday - 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Monday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

DRIVING MYTHS VS REALITY

Driving from Portland to Salem at 65 mph instead of 75 mph will take an additional 6 minutes; and it will decrease the fatal injury risk rate by 33%.

Today’s cars aren’t necessarily safer in high-speed crashes. Crumple zones, safety belts, and airbags may be compromised in high-speed crashes.

Excessive speed and aggressive driving endangers your passengers and others on the road.

By definition, an accident is a random act of nature. Deliberate behavior: speed, driving under the influence, and not wearing seatbelts, account for 90% of fatal crashes. Most car crashes are preventable.

PLEASE KEEP WEEDS CUT!

Please remember to keep those weeds cut this spring and summer. Weeds that exceed 10 inches in height are in violation of City Ordinance. To report violators, please contact City Hall by calling (503) 397-4010.

Metro’s 2005 compost bin sale will take place in May. There will be several opportunities to purchase an Earth Machine compost bin for $35. Some of the closest locations and dates of sale are:

-þ Portland Community College Cascade Campus, parking lot 4, 705 N. Killingsworth, Portland (enter lot from North Albina or North Mississippi)
-þ Cleveland High School, 3400 SE 26th Ave., Portland

-þ Home Depot, 4401 SW 110th Ave., Beaverton

-þ Davis Tool parking lot (formerly Epson Portland, Inc.), 3825 NW Aloclek Place, Hillsboro (located behind the post office on Evergreen Parkway)

-þ Metro Latex Paint Sales, 4825 N. Basin Ave., Portland (located on Swan Island)
-þ Sunset Presbyterian Church 14986 NW Cornell Rd., Portland (off Highway 26 at exit 65 – Cornell Road)

Metro has hosted a compost bin sale for the past 11 years, selling more than 89,000 Earth Machines throughout the region. Approximately 500 pounds of material is composted annually in each of these bins, which means that about 22,500 tons of material is diverted from the landfill. According to Metro’s 2004 report, about three-fourths of these bins (78 percent) are used to compost fruit and vegetable scraps as well as yard debris.

For more information, call Metro Recycling Information at (503) 234-3000.

Do you enjoy our community events, National holidays, food and fun? If the answer is yes, it’s time to help support "The St. Helens Fireworks Fund". Here are two ways to contribute:

For tickets call Dana at 503-543-7232 or send check made out to St. Helens Fireworks Fund, PO Box 548, Scappoose, OR 97056

If you are unable to attend the spaghetti feed and/or if you would like to give an additional donation, you may send it to the above address. Be sure to make checks to St. Helens Fireworks Fund. Your Fireworks Fund Committee members look forward to presenting, for your enjoyment, another spectacular 4^th of July fireworks display.

May 5^th 7:00 PM Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

May 9^th 7:30 PM Municipal Court at City Hall

May 16th 7:00 PM Friends of the Library Meeting at the Library

May 19th 7:30 PM Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

May 20th 9:00 AM Riverside Cleanup Project at Datis & Pixie Parks

May 26th 7:30 PM Municipal Court at City Hall

May 31st 7:00 PM Budget Committee Meeting at City Hall

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