Applegater Winter 2018
applegater.org
Photo by Linda Kappen
WINTER 2018
Applegate Valley Community Newsmagazine
Volume 11, No. 4
Serving Jackson and Josephine Counties — Circulation: 12,000
The arts put steam in
Applegate Valley schools
BY LISA BALDWIN
It’s full steam ahead for arts education
in our schools. The efforts of parents,
volunteers, guest artists, committed
administrators, and resourceful teachers
are keeping arts programs alive in an
increasingly tight curriculum.
“Having arts in school helps kids with
other academics,” says Jennifer Parsons,
art teacher for Lincoln Savage Middle
School, and for many students “it’s the
reason they come to school.”
Re s e a r c h s u p p o r t s Je n n i f e r’s
assessment. According to Americans for
the Arts, a student involved in the arts
is four times more likely to have high
academic achievement, five times more
likely to stay in school and graduate,
and twice as likely to complete a college
degree, compared to peers without arts
education (americansforthearts.org/by-
topic/arts-education).
At Lincoln Savage, art is included as
one nine-week course on the year-long
“elective wheel” for sixth graders. Seventh
and eighth graders are offered art as a
year-long elective. Jennifer teaches all
the basics as she helps students explore
different genres and mediums. Her
classroom is full of students’ artwork,
from Zentangles and fan-fiction art to
pointillism and abstract design.
To further build the school’s art
culture, Jennifer started an after-school
Holiday traditions light
up Applegate homes
with love and laughter
BY DIANA COOGLE
Lincoln Savage students worked with
muralist Valarie Sloan to create
this new mascot mural.
Grace DeVore (right), with brother Arthur,
favors mashed potatoes and gravy
at her family’s holiday party.
art club in November. The club meets
twice a month on Thursdays. To support
the successful launch of this new club,
donations to cover supplies can be made
through the school office at Lincoln
Savage, earmarked for the “Art Club.”
Linda Kappen teaches daily art classes
for the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders
at Applegate School. Students learn the
Lights, music, gift-giving—so
traditional! But individual Applegaters,
as elsewhere, give holiday traditions their
own spins.
Susie Beckham, an associate librarian
at Applegate Library, sings carols at Ruch
Community Church and attends church
on Christmas day. She also displays her
collection of more than 50 nativity scenes
and participates in giving trees. “I love
See ARTS IN SCHOOLS, page 3.
A present with paws
is a gift of health
BY LAURA AHEARN
Friends of the Animal Shelter
(FOTAS) has an idea for your holiday
shopping: Would a dog or cat be a good
gift for a friend or family member? Your
recipient can enjoy better health on top
of the other many benefits of being a
good pet owner. Better yet, if you give
a gift certificate to adopt a dog or cat or
bunny from the Jackson County shelter,
you can help improve the circumstances
of animals throughout our community.
Researchers are finding more and
more evidence that owning and caring
for an animal can lead to a healthier life.
1
A long-term study of 3.4 million people
found that dog ownership is linked to a
longer life.
Pet ownership—particularly dog
ownership—appears to reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease. People with pets
have lower blood pressure and heart rates,
whether at rest or under stress. Simply
petting a dog can reduce blood pressure
and heart rate (while having a positive
effect on the dog as well). The source of
this news? Harvard Medical School!
Pet owners have lower triglycerides
and cholesterol. Dog owners who walk
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doing gifts for kids during the holiday
season,” she says.
Five-year-old Grace DeVore from
Williams says, “Sometimes there’s a
big party with my family,” mentioning
particularly the mashed potatoes and
gravy. She and her brother (Arthur, 10)
decorate a tree cut from the forest. Grace
leaves cookies and milk for Santa Claus.
She and Arthur have an Advent Calendar.
She likes playing with the dogs.
Sylva Koppitz, a Murphy resident,
is originally from the Czech Republic,
but Czech traditions don’t influence
her Applegate holidays. “Our Murphy
Christmas is 100 percent American,”
she says. “Even the dog has a stocking”
(though I’m not sure a dog stocking is
traditionally American).
Dennis Franklin, who works in
the Applegate, enjoys a family holiday
gathering of ten to forty people, from a
two-year-old to a 67-year-old. “We like
to spend time together,” he says. “We eat,
laugh, joke, play board games.” The meal
is potluck, and the atmosphere, Dennis
says, is “happy, nice, safe.”
Juliet Dunn of Williams celebrates
with up to 25 people at her grandmother’s
house in the Applegate. “We hang out
See HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, page 12.
their dogs get more physical activity
and in turn are less prone to obesity
and health problems. And people who
do have heart or circulatory problems
survive longer if they own a pet. Studies
of people who have suffered heart attacks
find that pet owners are significantly
more likely to survive through the
following year (94 versus 72 percent).
Pet ownership holds special benefits
for children. Kids raised with furry
friends are less likely to suffer from
allergies. An infant is less likely to be
afflicted with eczema if there is a dog
in the home. A cat or dog (or bunny or
hamster) is a trusted friend, a source of
comfort that teaches a child to care for
others.
Kids who have pets are more active,
secure, and responsible. Caring for a pet
See PRESENT WITH PAWS, page 21.
Lucky Ebony with her new Mom.
ISSUE
HOLIDAY - ARTS