Appeal Tribune Wednesday, March 22, 2017 3A
Much
Continued from Page 1A
taught first and second
grades in Kansas City,
Kan., from 1996 through
2000. She said during that
time she successfully
wrote a grant application
to help her school, John F.
Kennedy Elementary, get
wired with infrastructure
to serve a growing phe-
nomenon of the time
known as the internet.
She’s not in Kansas
anymore, but Shelly in-
sists that while you can
move the teacher, but you
can’t remove the teacher
within.
“I teach every day,”
she said. “Maybe not in a
classroom, but I teach ev-
ery day.”
A big part of that is
learning, and some things
she
learned
helped
prompted her to get in-
volved. She points to is-
sues that surfaced in Sil-
verton following the No-
vember election and car-
ried connotations of
racial tension and bully-
ing. She attended school
board meetings following
the election as an oppor-
tunity to learn.
“That (Silverton inci-
dent) made national
news; my sister saw it in
North Carolina saw it (on
the news) and asked me
about it,” Shelly said. “I
said I don’t know, but I’m
going to find out what’s
going on…As a lifelong
learner, I was sparked by
that.”
Shelly has also served
on Silverton boards and
committees
involved
with the pool, Junior
Baseball Organization,
youth soccer and, briefly,
transportation.
She underscores SFSD
priorities for her would
be: budgeting/fiscal re-
sponsibility; curriculum
evaluation and develop-
ment of education policy;
class and school sizes;
teacher/staff
input;
knowledge of local, state
and federal changes in
K-12 education.
Another student-ori-
ented endeavor to sur-
Church
Continued from Page 1A
being ripped from them
by
their
community
church, and a plea to rein-
state its Hispanic Minis-
try’s recently uprooted
religious director Sister
Rocio Moreno Soto.
“This letter is to beg
and ask you to open your
eyes and heart to the La-
tino community,” wrote a
church member and Can-
by High School student,
who makes the 21-mile
drive to the Silverton
church for confirmation
classes every Sunday.
“We the Hispanic commu-
nity has given more than
what you think to make
this a strong church. Just
remember we are strong-
er united.”
In addition, more than
300 church members
signed a separate letter
that was shared with the
Archdiocese of Portland
and St. Paul Catholic
Church pastoral staff.
The letter said canceling
Spanish programs is akin
to cultural oppression.
Two of the nine pastoral
council members are
Spanish-speaking.
“By forcing us to as-
similate to the Caucasian
community’s
language
and culture, you are not
crafting a single more
united community, but in-
stead are widening the
gap, which presently, be-
cause of the country’s tur-
bulent political climate,
separates us,” said the let-
ter. “This forced ‘unity’
we feel is an attack on our
culture and favoring one
community’s
customs
over another.”
Lawrence said no deci-
sion has been made on the
Spanish language classes.
“At present, we are in a
period of transition as we
work with the Archdio-
cese to transition that
(Hispanic Ministry) pro-
gram,” Lawrence said. “I
think it’s fair to say that
we’re going to look at the
programs in a long-term
and comprehensive man-
ner.”
Lawrence would not
confirm if this long-term
face at the coffee house is
Heather’s work, which
entails
finding
host
homes for students from
France and Spain visiting
for a few weeks this sum-
mer.
Heather
describes
American Discovery as
an international home-
stay organization that
partners with several
French and Spanish pro-
grams that have been
bringing families togeth-
er for the past 25 years.
She’s working on match-
ing this year’s visitors
with hosts.
“This summer we’ve
got 20 high school stu-
dents from France and
Spain coming to the Wil-
lamette Valley for just 2 1 ⁄ 2
to 3 1 ⁄ 2 weeks, and they’re
looking for some wonder-
ful families who are will-
ing to open up their hearts
and homes for the fun
privilege
of
hosting
them,” she said, stressing
that the experience has
traditionally been equally
rewarding for hosts and
guests alike.
“Hosting is a really
great opportunity to get
to know someone from
another country, find out
about their life and their
culture, and potentially
develop a friendship that
could last a lifetime,” she
added.
The exact dates to host
a student from Spain
would be from June 28 to
July 22; students from
France would be from
July 31 to Aug. 18.
Heather said no spe-
cial activities, trips or
services are necessary,
other than providing
transportation to and
from Salem on their ar-
rival and departure dates.
Hosts do provide meals
and a bed or cot for the
student.
“These students are
mostly interested in be-
coming a temporary part
of (a local) family dynam-
ic, developing their Eng-
lish skills, and learning
what it’s like to live life in
America,” she said.
Anyone interested in
hosting is encouraged to
visit www.americandis-
covery.net or contact
Heather at 503-999-2386,
discussion included the
possibility of canceling
Spanish programs.
A majority of the
roughly 100 letters writ-
ten by church goers refer-
enced Soto’s impact on the
Latino community during
her 14-year tenure. Mem-
bers believe Soto was
pressured to step down
from her role because she
did not support the pros-
pective cancellation of
Spanish programs.
“We understand that
(Sister) Rocio has re-
signed from her position
due to failure to negoti-
ate,” said one letter. “She
has been committed to
this church for years.”
More than one letter
referred to Soto as the
backbone of the Latino
community whio held the
community together with
her motivation, inspira-
tion and support.
Deacon Felix Garcia
confirmed the Archdio-
cese received the letter
and is reviewing it as a
formal complaint. He
said, however, that the
concerns are an “internal
matter” among St. Paul
staff, and would not com-
ment on the possibility of
the Spanish programs be-
ing discontinued.
“We are still in conver-
sation with (Father Law-
rence) about the pro-
grams and how they can
integrate children in
Spanish classes to Eng-
lish,” Garcia said. “I don’t
think there is a problem,
but there is always room
for improvement.”
Hispanic Ministry’s
legacy
The church’s Hispanic
Ministry program began
in 1992 when Father Ed
Coleman
decided
to
launch a Spanish Mass ev-
ery other weekend. The
Spanish mass quickly
started occurring weekly
due to growing member-
ship. Spanish educational
programs launched in
1999.
Currently, there are
Spanish programs that fo-
cus on baptism, first com-
munion,
confirmation,
classes for new parents
and for couples preparing
to marry in the church.
What: Creekside Chat
Spill
Where: Silver Creek Coffee House, 111 Water St., Silverton
Continued from Page 1A
Next chat
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 (First and third
Wednesdays)
Questions and information: Contact Justin Much,
jmuch@StatesmanJournal.com; 503-769-6338, cell
503-508-8157
JUSTIN MUCH | APPEAL TRIBUNE
Silverton Administrative Services Director Dianne Hunt and
Silverton Senior Center Executive Director Dodie Brockamp
examine a grant release that will enable the center to vote
for an expansion of age eligibility.
heather-
prince123@gmail.com.
Silverton Senior Cen-
ter updates
Dodie advised that the
center looks forward to
hosting “Sharing the Car-
ing," a community re-
source fair, taking place
from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday,
March 24, at the center,
115 Westfield St.
What is a resources
fair?
Dodie describes it as a
gather for providing re-
sources and information
on proactive aging. There
will be a variety of enti-
ties on hand, including
representatives from as-
sisted-living facilities, re-
tirement communities,
resource guides, care-
givers, support services,
nursing care, senior ser-
vices and possibly even
alternative medical care
options.
“We’re all sharing the
caring for all of us as we
age,” Dodie said.
There will also be door
prizes and freebies.
The Hawaiian Quilt
Show mentioned in a
February Creekside Chat
Some family church
members have taken ad-
vantage of the ministry’s
programs for two genera-
tions, including one par-
ent who wrote their chil-
dren feel unwelcome now
that the fate of the Span-
ish programs is unknown.
“I have been in this par-
ish for 15 years and as I
hear what is happening,
(it) breaks my heart,” said
one letter. “I have done
classes here and now my
children are in the proc-
ess of doing them as well.
They, my kids, feel they
are not wanted for being
Hispanic and speaking an-
other language.”
The Hispanic Minis-
try’s classes have been
largely run by Soto since
2003, as the program’s re-
ligious educator.
Soto left that job in
February. There are dis-
crepancies regarding the
circumstances of Soto’s
departure. The church
said she resigned from
her position after 14 years
of teaching religious edu-
cation, but the Spanish-
speaking members said
Soto was pressured to
leave after not agreeing to
the potential cancellation
of Spanish classes.
Lawrence said the So-
to’s departure creates
“difficulty in fluidity” in
maintaining
programs
with no leader at the helm.
“I don’t want anyone to
fall through the cracks or
have their program can-
celed because an employ-
ee has left,” Lawrence
said.
The Archdiocese said
Soto was not dismissed by
Lawrence or the parish
council.
Lawrence said he
hopes to maintain these
classes and the “status
quo” through May. Until
then, the church is work-
ing with the Archdiocese
to maintain the programs
with volunteers, but said
it will be a slow process to
determine the “future of
the Hispanic ministry.”
The Archdiocese of
Portland released a state-
ment stating it denied any
allegations of racism, say-
ing the Catholic church
has always been dedicat-
ed to “walking in faith
with our Hispanic broth-
is on schedule for April
17-20, and there are still
some spaces available.
Titled “The History,
Traditions and Supersti-
tions of Hawaiian Quilts”
and presented by the re-
nowned
Nancy
Lee
Chong, this four-day
workshop includes an in-
troductory lecture and a
swansong Hawaiian luau
dinner.
There are options
available to attend just a
piece of the entire pro-
gram; the lecture or the
luau.
Organizer
Connie
Barkley and Dodie both
feel the timing for this
type of event is just right
as they noted the Oregon
Garden's has previously
hosted a quilting event
that is no longer held.
Connie welcome's anyone
who would like to learn
more about it to contact
her at 503-989-1473 or
conbrk12@gmail.com.
Keep abreast with Sil-
verton Senior Center ac-
tivities at silvertonsenior
center.org or contact 503-
873-3093, dodiebreockam
p@gmail.com.
ers and sisters.”
The Archdiocese said
it is working with the
Portland Office of His-
panic Ministries, the Of-
fice of the Catechesis and
Faith Formation to work
with St. Paul Catholic
Church staff to “discover
new and better ways of
serving the Spanish-
speaking community in
Silverton.”
Although there are dis-
crepancies within the
church community re-
garding the future of the
Hispanic Ministry and its
Spanish programs, mem-
bers of the church re-
minded Lawrence of the
impact of the Latino com-
munity’s
decades-long
commitment
to
the
church.
Some letters inform
the church of the decades
spent worshipping in the
Silverton church, others
wrote about their chil-
dren’s experience learn-
ing in the Spanish pro-
grams, but many of the
pleas were wrapped up
with a parting thought:
“Que dios te vendiga
hoy y siempre.” May God
bless you now and always.
The truck driver suf-
fered minor injuries and
was treated on scene then
transported to Silverton
Hospital for further eval-
uation. Barnett said he
was later arrested for
reckless driving and
DUII.
Grambusch said any
leakage or spill situation
can potentially jeopar-
dize waterways. This one
did not. There was a di-
cey gear-oil spill in re-
cent years that proved a
closer call.
In February of 2014
heavy duty gear oil was
discovered in a catch ba-
sin, and crews found that
it spread through the
storm sewer and began
entering Silver Creek
through a discharge gate.
Fire crews used sever-
al absorbent booms and
pads to keep that oil from
spreading through the
water while Public works
crews then removed the
oil from the catch basin
and storm sewer.
“pigs.”
“We have round, haz-
ardous-material pigs –
pigs in a blanket – we use
to soak up oil,” Gram-
busch said. “We used
about 100 of those white
pads, about 180 to 200
pounds of absorbent
granules and 36 of those
pigs.”
Officials stressed that
the absorbent materials
kept the oil at bay until
the business represented
by the truck, BrucePac,
could engage in a clean-
up process. The Oregon
Emergency
Response
System also provided in-
put regarding fire crews,
noting that attention to
details ensured that addi-
tional oil leakage did not
occur nor did contamina-
tion or damage to the sur-
rounding environment.
SILVERTON FIRE DISTRICT
Silverton Fire District and other public safety crews attend to
an oil spill connected with a semi-truck accident.
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
LOCAL ADVISORS
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