Can you believe it? It's September and another school year is about to begin.

With school in session, there will be significantly more traffic in and around school areas. Pedestrians, bicyclists, buses and cars all contribute to school zone congestion. Schools in Oregon are faced with traffic issues such as double parking, speeding, unsafe U-turns, jaywalking and more.

In addition, children do not always follow the rules of the road. Often they enter the street from between two cars, attempt to "run" red lights with their bikes through intersections, and skateboard or walk into traffic without checking.

Motorists must exercise increased awareness in and around a school zone. Potential hazards are much easier to see and react to when driving at or below the school zone speed limit of 20 mph. Special attention must also be paid to buses displaying flashing red lights when on an undivided two-lane roadway. In these instances, motorists are required to stop and wait until the flashing red lights are turned off before passing a bus.

There are many alternatives to the overcrowded school zone each morning and afternoon. Walking and biking to school is an option or consider partnering with a shopping mall, community center or library within a mile of the school and arrange to use their parking lot to meet other kids and walk to school together. There is safety in numbers, kids get a chance to exercise and socialize with their peers, school drop-off and pick up zones are less congested and safer, and there will be a little less pollutants in the air.

Adults $5.00, children (10 and under) $3.50.

provided by the Friends of the Caples House

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 still 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.

1st place: Weber Gas Grill (Value $400)

Gift Certificate (Value $300) good at:

Schooner's Cove, Cannon Beach

Surfrider Resort, Depoe Bay

Pelican Shores Inn, Lincoln City

Looking Glass Inn, Lincoln City

Lakeshore Inn, Lake Oswego

3rd place: 17" Flat Panel Color LCD Computer Monitor (Value $250)

4th place: Gift Certificate (Value $75)

5th place: Gift Certificate (Value $25)

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities, accounting for 44% of teen deaths in the U.S. The National Safety Council sees the issue as a national crisis. They have segmented the problem into three distinct areas, and have adopted strategies to address each of them: Reduce teen drivers' exposure to risk; modify risky driving behavior; and develop driver skills and experience.

Reducing risk is the first step. The National Safety Council is on a mission to inform parents of teen drivers that they can beat the odds. In November 2002, the "Symposium on Graduated Driver Licensing: Documenting the Science of GDL: provided a comprehensive review of research that has been done on teenage driver safety issues. Since the symposium, the National Safety Council and its partners in teen driving safety have been distilling the scientific research to present the facts to driver safety professionals and to families. The new "Family Guide to Teen Driver Safety" is one way they are helping families understand the truth about risks, and the practical wisdom of graduated privileges. Research shows teens have a higher crash risk for many reasons. The same research has guided the development of proven ways to reduce that risk.

There are 12 key messages contained in the "Family Guide to Teen Driver Safety:"

(1) Teens' risk of being in a car crash is highest in their first 12 to 24 months of driving. The scientific evidence tells us two conditions are more dangerous for a teen driver just because he's a teen: driving with passengers, and driving at night.

Risky behavior - not wearing a seat belt, drinking and driving, speeding - is a choice a driver makes, which adds to the high risk teens face behind the wheel.

(2) It has been proven that the greatest safety benefit comes from parents and teens working together to manage the teen driving experience.

(3) Develop a Family Plan for the entire process of learning to drive.

(4) A good deal of the risk teens face depends upon what kind of vehicle they are in, including size and safety features. This is one area that parents have near total control of, yet think little about. For guidance on selecting a safer vehicle for a teen, search "vehicle selection and maintenance" on www.nsc.org or visit www.iihs.org.

(5) Parents must realize that they are critical role models, guides, and partners during the teen driving experience. They have the final say as to their teen's readiness for each stage of leaning to drive and becoming an independent driver. What parents do and what they say, does matter.

(6) The gradual introduction of greater driving challenges and exposure to risk over time is a key element of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system.

(7) Restrictions on driving with passengers and driving at night combined with extensive driving practice before the license and ongoing parental involvement, reduce exposure to crash risk and save lives, money, and property.

(8) State's driver licensing regulations may not deliver the greatest safety measures to teen drivers. Parents should decide if added restrictions are needed for their teen's driving guidelines.

(9) No single regulation or procedure, Driver Education program, state law, or extended supervised practice can, by itself, make teens safer drivers.

(10) Driver Education can teach a teen to operate a vehicle and the rules of the road, but science tells us that traditional Driver Ed doesn't reduce a teens exposure to crash risk.

(11) A written Parent/Teen Agreement is essential. It sets clear expectations for everyone by listing privileges, restrictions, and what teens must do to show parents they are ready for increased driving independence.

(12) We all want the same thing: a teen driver who has been crash-free and violation-free for months after getting a license, has had his restrictions lifted gradually over that time, and is now ready for full driving independence. With good planning, this can occur.

Donate a new book! The Columbia City Community Library is always looking for current best sellers to add to our collection. A few that we'd especially like include:

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, by David Sedaris

Trace by Patricia Cornwell

The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky

Long Time Gone by J.A. Jance

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Summer's Child by Luann Rice

Ya-Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells

We are also in need of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, which is Book 2 of the series. Hardcover please, these get a lot of use!

Donate a magazine subscription! We would also be interested in getting more magazines. If you subscribe to Fine Homebuilding or Consumer Reports and could bring your copies in promptly after you have read them, we would appreciate it. Please contact us at the library in advance to set this up - we don't want to be overwhelmed!

Call us at (503) 366-7588.

Donate used books! Please drop used books off at the Community Hall from 3-5 PM on Friday, September 9th, and from 8-10 AM on Saturday, September 10th.

Library hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 4-8 PM

Closed Labor Day: Monday, September 5, 2005

• Bernie Albertine, Marian Calnon, Gloria Chinell, and Phyllis Rowley for helping with the August newsletter and utility billing.

• Lois Lee for watering plants in Jim Bundy Memorial Park.

• Stephen Laird for donating wood chips to Jim Bundy Memorial Park.

• Stan Hopkins and Marian Calnon for mowing and pulling weeds in Jim Bundy Memorial Park.

06/13/05 Animal complaint near Sixth and "A" Streets.

06/13/05 Littering complaint received.

06/14/05 Assist Sheriff’s Office on domestic dispute.

06/15/05 Ordinance violation. Motor home parked illegally on City street.

06/15/05 Citizen assist at Mini Mart.

06/15/05 Vehicle fire; vehicle blocking Highway 30 near "E" Street. Vehicle towed.

06/16/05 Citizen complains about boat trailer on neighbor’s property; 1400 block of Second

06/16/05 Citizen complaint of garbage bags on rear deck of residence in 200 block of "F" Street.

06/16/05 Citizen complaint of boat and trailer in roadway and parked in front of fire hydrant.

06/16/05 Suicide attempt reported. No other information available.

06/17/05 Domestic dispute reported near Deer Island.

06/17/05 Citizen report of grass clippings being dumped on property in the area of Fifth and "J" Streets.

06/20/05 Citizen assist near Fifth and "K" Streets.

06/20/05 Citizen assist near Mini Mart.

06/20/05 Assist Oregon State Police on motor vehicle accident in the Chimes Crest area.

September 1st 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting at City Hall

September 5th CLOSED City Hall is closed on Labor Day

September 8th 7:30 p.m. Municipal Court at City Hall

September 10th 9:00 a.m. Strawberry Pancake Breakfast at the Knapp Social Center

September 10th 9:00 a.m. Silent Auction in the Community Hall

September 10th 9:00 a.m. Friends of the Library Book Sale in the Community Hall

September 10th 11:00 a.m. Public Auction in the Community Hall

September 10th 1:00 p.m. Raffle Drawing in the Community Hall

September 10th 3:00 p.m. Friends of the Library Annual Meeting in the Community Hall

September 13th 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall CANCELED

September 15th 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting at City Hall

September 22nd 7:30 p.m. Municipal Court at City Hall

McMenamins Hotel Oregon Aviation Museum Package - 1-night lodging for 2, dinner, breakfast and museum passes

Looking Glass Inn, Lincoln City - 2 nights lodging

Shilo Inn - 1 night lodging

2 night stay in Ocean Park beach house donated by Paulson Printing Co.

Hudson Garbage Service:

• 1-year weekly garbage service
• 1-year recycling service
• 1 year yard debris service

Garage door opener from KK Insulation

Garbage disposal from Stan's Refrigeration

10-yards of base rock, delivered by Morse Brothers

Gift box of Oregon products, Springbrook Software

Alterna Hair Products from Salon En Vogue

Iron dog garden stake, Weird Harold's Custom Iron

Circular saw, Dahlgren's Do It Best Building Supply

Photo organizer, ceramic items, Wicker Wonders

Coffee mugs and soup bowls, Semlings Pharmacy

Emergency roadside kit, Napa Auto Parts Store

Lime Tea gift set from Meg's Corner

Paul Mitchell shampoo from Shear Perfection

Paul Mitchell products from Absolutely You on 19th

Garden tool set, mini food chopper, and mini crock pot from Ace Hardware

Plaid stadium blanket, garden glove gift package

Miscellaneous glassware, Richardson's Furniture

Quilting and craft books from Fibers & Stitches

Dog statutes from Flowers 4 U & Antiques Too

Baby dress from henri and sarah children's clothier

Porcelain boudoir set from Columbia Village

Stepping stone from Crystal Garden Boutique

Pet shampoo, Columbia Electric Feed & Seed

Feline spay from Midway Veterinary Hospital

Tea pots and candles from Enchanted Bungalow

Books from St. Helens Book Shop

Gymnastic ball, hat, t-shirt, Therapeutic Associates

Cases of motor oil from Lawrence Oil Company

Rain gear from Sunset Equipment

Iron fish bell

Cases of motor oil from Wilcox & Flegel Oil Co.

Afghans from Betsy Gregory

Mugs, lamp, ice tea maker, etc. from Don Cass

Travel kit from Columbia River PUD

Front-end alignment from Les Schwab Tire Centers

Ceramic items, Time and Time Again Antiques

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Mariner Square

Ski Ashland

Portland Spirit River Cruise

Mount Hood Railroad Excursion Train

Oregon Zoo

Portland Winter Hawks Hockey

Portland Children's Museum

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

Columbia Theatre

Oregon Trail Lanes

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Columbia City Sports & Recreation Club

Japanese Garden Society of Oregon

Scappoose Bay Kayaking

Greater St. Helens Park & Recreation District

Bike Shop

Belleza Day Spa & Hair Salon

Mobile One Stop

Wild Currant Restaurant

Odyssey Day Spa

Fred Meyer

Hi-School Pharmacy

Jerry's Rogue Jets

Joy Creek Nursery

Red Apple Market

Jilly's

Sunshine Pizza

Village Inn

Kozy Korner

Liefeld's Jewelry Inc.

Vonnie's Dog House

Small Town Memories, Inc.

Salon 9

Dari Delish Drive-In

Domino's Pizza

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant

Kuy's Oriental Cuisine

St. Helens Cafe

Soot Buster's/St. Helens Sew & Vac Center

Taco Bell

Mark's on the Channel

Southwest Airlines

Columbia Learning Center

Ichabod's Restaurant

Subway

McDonald's Restaurants

Rivertown Cleaners

Dyno Nobel, Inc.

Murray, Smith and Associates, Inc.

Stimson Lumber Company

Wal-Mart

Boise Cascade LLC

Columbia City Mini Mart

Bill's KWIK Mart

West Oregon Wood Products

Island Inc. Deer Island Race Horses

• Don't speed

• Don't double park

• Don't block intersections or driveways if you park you vehicle

• Don't make U-turns

• Don't allow children to be unbuckled when transporting them

• Don't forget that children must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat until they are 6 years old and weight 60 pounds

• Always be alert and aware of and courteous towards all road users

• Obey all traffic control signs and signals

• Ride in a predictable manner, on the right side of the road, with the flow of traffic

• Walk facing traffic

• Wear bright colored clothing and/or retro-reflective material to increase visibility

• Look in all directions to ensure safety before entering or crossing a roadway

For door-to-door dial-a-ride services anywhere within Columbia County call 1-888-462-6526. Also, fixed route bus service six times daily from St. Helens to the Portland Transit Mall with stops at:

• Medical Mall, St. Helens

• Safeway, St. Helens

• Chinook Plaza, Scappoose

• Frey Meyer, Scappoose

• NE Fifth & Hoyt, Portland

For a schedule and fare information call 1-888-462-6526 or visit the County's website at www.co.columbia.or.us/links.

Teresa Knight has produced another great T-shirt graphic for this year’s Celebration! This year's design boasts a Chinook salmon. Stop by City Hall to purchase your T-shirts today, or purchase your shirt during the Celebration.

Available T-shirt colors:

khaki, green, orange, and blue

Sizes and prices:

Small - X-Large $10.00

XX-Large $12.50

XXX-Large $13.50

We'd like to remind pet owners that the City's Animal Control Ordinance prohibits animals from running at large. Pet owners are required to have control of their pet at all times when it is off of their private property. Pet owners are prohibited from allowing their pets to deposit waste upon property not under their ownership. If their pets do deposit waste on property other than their own, they are required to immediately remove it.

In March 2004, the Drinking Water Section of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) determined that the City of Columbia City's water system is out of compliance with a regulatory drinking water standard. Our water quality has not deteriorated or changed in recent years. Where we once met all standards, more stringent requirements have been adopted over the years by the regulatory agencies. As a result, it is now necessary to provide a higher level of treatment to our primary well source.

It is not necessary for you to take any immediate action. You would have been notified immediately if there had ever been any water quality emergency. You do not need to boil your water. You do need to understand the short-term implications of this water quality issue.

On March 11, 2004, ODHS issued an order requiring the City to filter its water in addition to our current disinfection process. This order came after water sampling led to our primary well source being placed in a category where there is an increased possibility of untreated surface water mixing with the groundwater in the vicinity of the well. The only feasible method of dealing with this possibility and meeting the ODHS drinking water standards is to filter the water.

Accordingly, the City of St. Helens is nearing completion of a state-of-the-art microfiber membrane filter facility that will insure removal of all potential contaminants. Since the last notification was issued, continuous activity has occurred on the project site. The bulk of the filtration and mechanical equipment has been installed inside the facility. Both of the holding tanks south of the building are now finished. Additional site work will continue through the fall. Until completion of the new facility, the cities of St. Helens and Columbia City continue to work closely with the ODHS regulators to monitor and manage this situation.

In the event that surface water were to mix with the groundwater source, the water supply could possibly carry disease-causing organisms. To date, testing has not detected any of these organisms in the water. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. A home filter system will not necessarily increase protection because not all home filter systems protect against parasites. Infants, some elderly and persons with severely compromised immune systems would be at some increased risk in the event any contamination were to take place, and these people may seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

The City will send out these re-notification notices every three months, including our progress towards ultimate regulatory compliance. We will also post notices on the City's website at www.columbia-center.org/colcity. For more information, you may contact Leahnette Rivers at (503) 397-4010 or write to PO Box 198, Columbia City, OR 97018.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (such as people in apartments, businesses and schools). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

State Water System ID #4100203 Distributed August 31, 2005

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