FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Crossroads honors 2017 artists
Submitted by
Crossroads
Crossroads Carnegie Art
Center Board of Directors
is proud to introduce its
three Honored Artists for
2017.
Each year Crossroads
awards the title of Hon-
ored Artists to artists who
through their contributions
to Crossroads and to the
arts communities of Baker
County and Eastern Or-
egon have made a lasting
impact on the arts and arts
ecology of our region and
state.
The awards will be
presented at the Crossroads
Gala Dinner and Auction
“An Evening on the Ori-
ent Express” at the Baker
Event Center on October
21, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
This year the Board choose
to honor two remarkable
visual artists and one
long-standing Crossroads
instructor with this special
honor.
G. Ann Eriksmoen of
Baker City
G. Ann Eriksmoen was
born in Boston and lived
all over the U.S. as a child
in a military family. Her
formative years were in
the San Francisco Bay
area. She began painting
after she moved to Canada
where she was inspired by
and studied with Manuel
Ruiz, an inspiring instruc-
tor of technique and color.
She has attended work-
shops by noted painters
Zoltan Szabo, Graham
Scholes, Anthony Law,
Jack Reid, Tom Lynch
and Ed Whitney. She at-
tended John Abbot College
and Sheridan College in
Canada. Eriksmoen spent
much of her painting ca-
reer in Montreal, where she
taught oil and watercolor
classes, until she retired
to Baker City. Locally her
watercolor workshops have
benefited many aspiring
artists.
Eriksmoen’s watercolor
paintings often feature
landscapes, old barns, still
life’s, and floral’s. Her
works are displayed in
England, France, Germany,
Holland, Norway, and Can-
ada. Her other interests
include fishing, reading,
and plein air painting. She
lives in Baker City with
her husband Eric.
“Ann was part of the
Crossroads Gallery Com-
mittee for so many years,
no one can remember how
long. She retired from
the Gallery Committee in
about 2010. Our gallery
committee is our most
steadfast group of volun-
teers as they jury work into
the sales gallery, help plan
all special shows and hang
or set the sales gallery each
month. Ann has been a
fantastic teacher of water-
color, pastel and drawing
techniques for Crossroads
and whose work has
inspired so many painters
and is highly collectible.
Ann continues to win
awards at our Open Shows
and is one of the biggest
cheerleaders of Crossroads
we have,” writes Ginger
Savage, Executive Director
of Crossroads.
Her Honored Artists
Watercolor Painting was
sponsored by Dr. Eric and
Photo courtesy of Crossroads.
This painting by G. Ann Eriksmoen is on display at Crossroads.
Kristi Sandefur which will
be auctioned off at Gala to
support Crossroads mis-
sion.
Nanci Sheppard, cur-
rently of Tuscon Arizona
Sheppard is a former
Baker City resident has
retired in Arizona but that
has not lessened her impact
on Crossroads and the arts.
Nan shared that her new
life in Arizona has changed
her art. They use more
vibrant colors or somber
desert tans.
She is trying gourd art
for a first time as well as
fabric painting. She has
ventured in the past two
years into ceramics with
tiles, magnets wall hang-
ings. Pastels are still her
favorite for two dimen-
sional art.
She is a self-taught artist.
Taking art in school and at-
tended Pasadena City Col-
lege experimenting in zinc
plate etching. For a period
of her life her art career
was put on hold with
marriage, divorce, being a
single parent and work.
Retirement allowed her
to get back to her represen-
tational art. Grass Growers
and Ace Nursery is proud
to sponsor Nanci Shep-
pard’s Honored Artists
pastel painting which will
be auctioned off for to sup-
port Crossroads mission.
“Nanci was actively
involved in Crossroads
having served years on the
Crossroads Board during
the time of the transition
into the Carnegie Library.
“Nan was also on the
gallery committee for
years, was a dedicated
shopkeeper and volunteer
at Crossroads. She also
taught extensively with her
time at Crossroads. Where
the story turns to remark-
able is the long-standing
friendship between Ann
Eriksmoen and Nanci
Sheppard—or Nan and
Ann around Crossroads.
Nan and Ann set on the
gallery committee together,
planned and organized the
events, taught together and
to this day go to what they
call “Art Camp” twice a
year in the mountains of
Eastern Oregon joined by
Kathy Vaughan, Sue Or-
laske, and others. Cross-
roads has open painting
studio at least once a week
and you would always find
Nan and Ann there paint-
ing.
“So deep the friendship
is that board would never
consider honoring one of
them without the other—
yet individually their
contributions to the arts
community are so great.
“A friendship forged by
a common love of art and
our community is bet-
ter because of it,” writes
Savage.
Debbie Friedman.
Crossroads Board was
also unanimous in award-
ing the first ever Honored
Artist to a teacher to Cross-
roads Ballet Instructor and
ArtSpeak founder Debbie
Friedman.
Debbie Friedman, cur-
rently is a certified Drug
& Alcohol Counselor and
Qualified Mental Health
Associate for New Direc-
tions Northwest, musician,
and is Crossroads Classical
Ballet Instructor.
Debbie graduated from
Emerson University with a
Bachelor’s Degree in The-
atre Education and got her
Master’s Degree in Dance
from Southern Methodist
University. She has taught
at Crossroads since ap-
proximately 1987.
In 1989, she founded
ArtSpeak, a program to
provide free art instruc-
tion to at-risk communities
focusing on youth and
adults going through drug
and alcohol rehabilita-
tion. It continues today
as Crossroads oldest and
most critical program.
ArtSpeak, which has
been funded via grants
and donations, has served
thousands of children and
adults. Debbie for years
was the only ArtSpeak
teacher—teaching dance
after school at the schools,
while continuing to teach
at Crossroads. Currently,
Paul Hoelscher, 2016
Crossroads Honored Artist,
is the primary teacher for
ArtSpeak—though the
program is constantly in
search of new instructors
who bring a special magic
to arts instruction. Debbie
sings and performs with
Valley Stream around the
region and is the mother of
two remarkable women-
Dr. Lily Wittich and Raven
Davis.
Debbie’s Honored Artist
Award is presented by
Sharon Bannister. A Gift
basket celebrating Deb-
bie’s achievement is being
created honoring the many
facets of Debbie’s life.
Ticket from Ballet Idaho
and Body Vox, a contem-
porary dance troupe in
Portland, art supplies and
other treasures will be
auctioned off in Debbie’s
name at Gala.
All three artists will
receive a glass award made
by Professor Emeritus of
Art from Eastern Oregon
University and glass artist
Tom Dimond of Cove,
Oregon.
Tickets for this year’s
gala are available at Cross-
roads, from Crossroads
Board Members or via
posts on Crossroads Carn-
egie Art Center Facebook
Page.
Each ticket is $40 and
includes a full dinner
inspired by an actual menu
from the Orient Express
prepared by The Little Pig.
Tickets must be purchased
by October 14th and no
tickets will be sold at the
door.
Crossroads will have
a silent auction and live
auction with auctioneer
Mib Dailey and this year is
adding a new raffle which
will continue on through
December 1st, with more
details coming later.
This year’s Gala is spon-
sored by:
John and Molly Wilson,
Lew Brothers/Les Schwab
Tires, Dennis and Terri Ax-
ness, Dr. Eric and Kristy
Sandefur, Grass Growers,
Sharon Bannister
Table Sponsors:
Linda Jones, Beth
Grimes, Lew Brothers/
Les Schwab, Dr. Eric and
Katie Lamb, Rob and
Dianne Ellingson, Vi-
sion Wealth Management,
An anonymous donor in
tribute to Terri Axness,
TDG & WDG, Baker City
Herald, Maureen Beverlin
and Lynn Johnston, Gregg
Hinrichsen/ State Farm
Insurance, Britt Sand and
Gravel, Ryder Brothers,
Baker Valley Physical
Therapy, Baker Dental
Group, McGuiness Group,
Baker County AAUW,
Step Forward Activities,
Baker County Chamber of
Commerce
The Drunken Pig Raffle
Sponsors:
Walt and Kitty Jury,
Kerry and Ginger Savage,
Brian and Susan Watt,
Baker County Custom
Meats, David Knaub, Joy
Cleaver, Ransom Spirits.
Fall Bazaar on for November 4th
The Seniors at Com-
munity Connection are
having their 21st annual
Fall Bazaar Saturday No-
vember 4th from 9 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. at Community
Connection, 2810 Cedar
ST, Baker City. There will
be 38 vendors displaying
their handcrafts, gifts, food
and collectible items. Table
spaces are $15.
There will be a taco salad
luncheon from noon to
1:30 p.m.
The proceeds from the
bazaar will go to the senior
nutrition program, and
is a part of the regular
fundraising activities of
the Baker Seniors, who
raise an average of $8,000
per year to support senior
programs.
GriefShare
program begins
Community members who have experienced the death
of a family member or friend are invited to register for the
GriefShare program held at Calvary Chapel Baker City.
This nondenominational program features Christ-
centered, biblical teaching that focuses on grief topics
associated with the death of a loved one.
The DVD seminar features nationally respected grief
experts and real-life stories of people, followed by a small
group discussion about what was seen on the DVD. Many
grieving people find they are only beginning the work
of healing when friends or family have returned to their
daily life routines.
Past participants have related how helpful the informa-
tion and follow-up discussions were to them. Your be-
reavement experience may be recent or not so recent. You
will find encouragement, comfort, and help in grieving
the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, other family
member, or friend.
Grief-related books/materials are made available for
participants to borrow.
GriefShare will be held Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
starting October 16 and going through January 8. The
group will meet at Calvary Chapel Baker City, 1668 Re-
sort Street Suite B. To register or for questions, call Kadie
at 541-519-1644.
There is a $15 one-time fee to cover the cost of the
workbook.
Podcast
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“Being a history podcast, we don’t necessarily need to
go to the place because often the place may be gone or,
like our very first podcast was about a big explosion in
Roseburg and there are no signs of that explosion left oth-
er than a plaque that commemorates it,” said Lindberg.
“So, we’re able to go just about anywhere and we’ve
done stories—I don’t think we’ve done something in
every county of the state but I think we’re getting close.”
“Sometimes we talk about some Oregon Territory stuff,
like we were in Walla Walla, at the Whitman Mission not
too long ago doing a podcast about that but generally,
pretty much within the borders of Oregon,” said Kenck-
Crispin.
“There’s enough that’s gone on while Oregon’s been a
state that will keep us busy,” Lindberg commented.
“We’re just looking for good stories and good stories
centered in Oregon and that’s pretty much it; that’s the
criterion,” explained Kenck-Crispin.
Kenck-Crispin said, “We don’t have too many other
selection processes than can we present this in a good
telling to somebody who might be listening to it or inter-
ested in it.”
Man dies at
Hewitt Park
La Ferrest “L.A.” Gay, 64, of Portland died last Wednes-
day afternoon while fishing at Hewitt Park. Gay was
deceased when medics arrived. Gay fell down a fifteen-
foot embankment, coming to rest on the dirt and rocks at
the bottom. The incident is pending investigation as it’s
not clear whether the victim simply slipped, or suffered
an unexpected medical incident prior to falling.
Medal of Valor
Chief Wyn Lohner said, “Officer Hawkins’ actions
exemplify his dedication, and the dedication of all of our
police officers, to the citizens of Baker City whom we
proudly serve.”
Chastain said, “I could not be more proud of Officer
Hawkins … His actions exemplify the meaning of serv-
ing our public. Putting his personal safety in danger to
climb into a burning, smoke-filled apartment to assist an
elderly member of our community to safety is the level
of service most law enforcement officers, I feel, strive to
achieve. We don’t do this job for recognition or awards.
We do it to serve our community, to keep them safe and
provide them with a good quality of life, and Officer
Hawkins is the epitome of what I have striven for in my
entire career. Again, I could not be more proud of him.
As we have seen in recent events like the tragedy in Las
Vegas, our great law enforcement officers like Officer
Hawkins, run to danger, not away from it.”
How did Chastain choose to make the nomination? He
explained that after speaking with Sells, Chastain then
took the idea to Lt. Dustin Newman. Based on Newman’s
suggestion, he identified the fire department members,
some community members present on the scene, and the
victim—and interviewed all of them.
Chastain said, “Fire personnel told me that the smoke
was so bad in the room Officer Hawkins had entered, that
they felt his personal safety and health was at risk … The
victim, when interviewed, tearfully told me, ‘If Officer
Hawkins had not been there, I wouldn’t be here today.’”
Chastain summarized, “This was all completed around
August 1, 2017, and about three weeks ago, the Chief
received notification from the OPOA of the pending
award. Last week, Lt. Newman and I received the offi-
cial notification by email of the award, and I was honored
to personally notify Officer Hawkins and his family.”