STEP: Tribal members may qualify for free training in renewable energy
Are you interested in learning more
about renewable energy and perhaps a
career in installing solar panels, solar hot
water or wind turbines? Have we got a
deal for you!
The Siletz Tribal Energy Program
(STEP) has received a First Steps grant
from the Department of Energy. This
grant pays the salary of a new data coor-
dinator in our program. More importantly
for
for you.
you, this
this grant
grant will
will nav
pay to
to educate
educate on
up
to four Tribal members to learn to install
and maintain solar panels, solar hot water
heaters, wind turbines or micro-hydro.
Training will be held this spring
and summer outside of Oregon by Solar
Energy International (solarenergy.org),
a leading provider of renewable energy
education
________
education, or a similar company.
You must provide the time; we can
pay for the travel and training costs for
you to attend the class. If you are inter
ested, you may have to compete for a spot.
Please contact Claire Wood at
clairew@ctsi.nsn.us or call (toll-free)
800-922-1399 ext 1276 or 541-444
T
’
8276 to express your interest and get on
our mailing list.
You do not need to be a Tribal
employee and you do not need to live in
Oregon. You just have to be a Siletz Tribal
member and let us know you are inter
ested. We hope to hear from you soon.
Wyden: Japanese tsunami debris is a potential threat to Oregon Coast
Oregon senator urges
officials to ‘plan for the
worst while hoping for
the best’
PORTLAND, Ore. — Concerned
about the impact of debris from the
Japanese tsunami on Oregon's fishing,
crabbing, shipping and tourism industries,
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said it is time
for federal, state and local agencies to
develop a response plan and start com
municating with the public.
“I take any threat to the Oregon Coast
seriously and millions of tons of debris
headed our way sounds serious to me,”
said Wyden on Jan. 12. “The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
is tracking the debris generated by the
Japanese earthquake. 1 hope the agency's
future plans include efforts to involve
other agencies and organizations and let
Oregon residents know what is going on
and how they can help."
Millions of tons of debris generated
by the March 2011 earthquake in Japan
currently are adrift in the Pacific Ocean.
Based on computer models, that debris
may begin showing up on West Coast
beaches sometime in 2013.
On Jan. 8 at the Hatfield Marine Sci
ence Center in Newport, Ore., Wyden was
briefed on the situation by representatives
of NOAA, Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department. Oregon State University and
local emergency management officials.
In a letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco,
NOAA administrator, Wyden said that
because of the potential for damage to
Oregon's fishing, crabbing, shipping and
tourism industries, it’s vital that federal,
state and local agencies work together
on a response plan that “prepares for the
worst while hoping for the best.”
“It is reassuring to know that the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration has assumed a lead role
in working with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and other partners to coordinate
data collection as well as a response plan
to address the wide range of potential sce
narios and threats generated by the debris
field," Wyden wrote. “As you move for
ward. I hope that NOAA will prioritize the
development of a response plan for West
Coast states and help communities and
agencies along the coast plan and prepare
for any eventualities related to the arrival
of this debris. This might, for example,
include establishing toll-free numbers and
websites to assist the public."
Chinook Winds helps Operation Christmas Spirit provide more than enough
By Teresa Simmons, Public Relations
Assistant Manager
On Dec. 25, Chinook Winds Casino
Resort sponsored the Community Christ
mas Dinner in cooperation with the Lin
coln City Community Center and Oregon
Coast Today.
And what's so special about that you
may ask? Just everything!
Chinook Winds organized the event,
provided all of the food with the exception
of the desserts and members of the staff
set the room and worked the event.
The City of Lincoln City provided the
use of the community center for the event
and Jim Kusz from North Lincoln Fire &
Rescue managed to talk Santa into mak
ing a special appearance on Christmas
Day after a long night of delivering gifts.
George McGraw coordinated the
Meals on Wheels deliveries. North Lincoln
Sanitary provided free garbage service.
Aces Bar & Grill, the Chinook Winds
Marketing Department, KBCH, North
Lincoln Sanitary and Kenny’s IGA stores
were established as collection sites for
donations of hats, scarves and blankets
that were given away at the event.
Planning began several months prior
and word was sent out through local
newspapers, radio and handbills. The call
tor volunteers to help at the dinner gener
ated more than were needed. That’s right
- more than were needed. That’s quite a
statement for any community.
In addition to those dedicated indi
viduals who volunteer each and every
year, three people visiting here from
Dallas, Texas (Richard and Mary Jane
Cox and their daughter, Jill), read about
the dinner and they wanted to help. Jill
worked in the kitchen serving and her
parents manned the table filled with hats,
blankets and scarves.
The donations of warm items of
clothing and blankets surpassed the need
and the remaining items were taken to
the Episcopal Church to be given out at
its Thursday community meal. Each and
every person was invited to take what they
needed and there was more than enough.
More than enough desserts to cover
two eight-foot tables were donated by
members of the community. And finally,
more than enough food was provided by
Chinook Winds.
In this day and age, what better thing
can be said of the partnership between Chi
nook Winds and the community than more
than enough was provided for a special din
ner open to everyone on Christmas Day?
Fifty volunteers assisted 12 staff
members from Chinook Winds with set
ting up, tearing down, waiting and busing
tables, and greeting at the door. They
also delivered meals and provided free
taxi service. Other uncounted individuals
donated desserts, hats, scarves, afghans,
sleeping bags and blankets.
Four hundred twenty-five meals were
served to members of the community. A
special bit of excitement was added by
the children, who made everyone’s smile
a little brighter.
£
Thank You!
Chinook Winds Casino Resort would like to thank the Lincoln City Com
munity Center and Oregon Coast Today for co-sponsoring Operation Christmas
Spirit, the annual community Christmas dinner open to everyone.
Chinook Winds provided support staff and food with the exception of des
serts provided by the community. There was an overwhelming response from
the community to assist in this year’s event, which fed 425 people. The dinner
was staffed by approximately 50 community volunteers and 12 staff members
from Chinook Winds.
Thanks to North Lincoln Sanitary for providing free garbage service; KBCH,
North Lincoln Sanitary, Kenny’s IGA stores, Little Antique Mall and Aces Bar
& Grill for providing collection sites for donations of hats, scarves and blankets;
Jim Kusz from North Lincoln Fire & Rescue for bringing Santa on Christmas
Day - and to Santa; George McGraw for coordinating the Meals on Wheels
and his help in the kitchen; Rick Brissette and Dan Beck for keeping track of
the donated funds; and Jim Rodriquez for providing music and entertainment.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped set up and tear down; delivered
meals; those who made desserts, hats, scarves and afghans; gave sleeping bags
and blankets; waited and bussed tables; served; greeted at the door; and spent
time visiting with the guests.
Thank you to the Lincoln City community for donating more than enough
blankets, hats and scarves for those in need.
Courtesy photo by Chinook Winds Casino Resort staff
Tribal members Lisa Logan, security officer; Kent Kaiser, transportation manager;
and Will Robertson, player development manager, ham it up with Chinook Winds'
resident advertising mannequin affectionately known as “Vanna.”
February 2012
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Siletz News
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