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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
Travel Oregon, OMSI share tips, resources to prepare for total solar eclipse PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, in partnership with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), is helping residents and visitors prepare for this summer’s total solar eclipse – the first in the continental U.S. since 1979 – that will make its way across Oregon on Aug. 21, 2017. During a total solar eclipse (aka total- ity), the sun, the moon and the Earth align in such a way that the moon completely blocks out the sun, briefly turning daytime into twilight for nearly two minutes. This eclipse will cross the entire length of the country on a 90-mile-wide path, known as the “Path of Totality,” beginning on the Oregon Coast and ending on the East Coast near Charleston, S.C. Touching down just north of Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast at 10:15 a.m., the moon’s shadow will race east, passing through cities in the Willamette Valley (Salem, Corvallis, Albany) and Central Oregon (Madras, Prineville, Redmond), ending its path in Eastern Oregon (John Day, Baker City, Ontario). Due to the rapid movement of the moon around the Earth, the eclipse will tra- verse the entire state in just nine minutes. “The entire state of Oregon is for- tunate to have such a rare opportunity to watch the total solar eclipse,” said Jim Todd, OMSI director of space science edu- cation. “Oregon will be the first U.S. state to view the totality of the Great American Eclipse. Cities closest to the center of the Path of Totality will have the best viewing opportunities, particularly those east of the Cascade Range, where clear skies are most likely.” Travel Oregon and OMSI are working with other state agencies to inform visitors and prepare communities and businesses across the state for the thousands of visi- tors anticipated to participate. Travel Oregon is producing an eclipse guide book with helpful tips and resources that will also include a pair of eclipse viewing glasses. The guide is set to release in early April and will be available at Oregon Visitor Centers, State Welcome Centers and online at TravelOregon.com/ Getting-Around/OnlineGuides/. “This is such an extraordinary event that people will travel the world to see it. We’re thrilled that Oregonians and our visitors will have the opportunity for a front row seat,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “With the eclipse tak- ing place on a Monday, we’re encouraging visitors to make a trip out of it and come a few days early or stay a few days late. We want everyone to enjoy this amazing celestial occurrence while also ensuring they take time to prepare and stay safe.” Many hotels and campsites along the path of totality are already booked on the dates surrounding Aug. 21. Several first-come, first-served campgrounds are set to be temporarily converted to reser- vation-only for the eclipse, so additional campsites will be made available in the coming months. Regional tourism agencies are encouraging visitors to look for hotels in larger metro areas just outside the path of totality, such as Portland, Eugene and Bend. In addition to the OMSI Solar Eclipse Viewing Party in Salem, other communities are also planning events to celebrate the eclipse, including the Oregon Solarfest in Madras, the Oregon Star Party in the Ochoco National Forest and Oregon Eclipse Festival near Mitchell, Oregon. Visitors and residents can find out more at TravelOregon.com/Eclipse and GreatAmericanEclipse.com/oregon. Editor’s note: The Chairman’s Report will resume in a future issue of Siletz News. Changes in how we mail Siletz News From the editor: Starting with the April issue, the Siletz Tribe will begin mailing one copy of Siletz News to each physical address instead of one copy to each Tribal member age 18 and older. If you find that you need more than one copy in your household, please email your name and address to pias@ctsi.nsn.us and you will start receiving a second copy. Thank you! STRCP amends policy on number of loans, sets new interest rates for 2017 The Siletz Tribe Revolving Credit Program (STRCP) is pleased to announce that the Tribal Council has amended its Program Declaration of Policies with the goal to further enhance Tribal member access to consumer, home improvement and small business loans. STRCP, in addition to reporting loans to TransUnion Credit Bureau on a monthly basis with the goal of improving the loan recipient’s credit score, will now allow applicants to get additional loans who meet all the conditions of their previous loans per policy Additionally, the STRCP Board of Directors set new base interest rates for 2017 as follows: Consumer loans are 8.75 percent, home improvement loans are 6.75 percent and business loans are 7.75 percent. If you are interested in applying for a loan or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the STRCP credit administrator, Shani Gilila, at 541-994-2142 or 877-564-7298, or visit the STBC website at stbcorp.net. Elders Council Meeting Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. Name: _______________________________________________________ March 4 • 1-4 p.m. • Chinook Winds Golf Resort Siletz Elder potlucks are held monthly at 6 p.m. on the Monday before the regularly scheduled Elders meeting. Please bring a potluck dish you would like to share. For more information, contact the Elders Program at 800-922-1399, ext. 1261, or 541-444-8261. Address: _____________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ Change of address: Tribal members – contact the Enrollment Depart- ment at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or enrollment@ctsi.nsn.us. All others – call the newspaper office. Deadline for the April issue is March 10. Send information to: Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Siletz News Please see the Passages Policy on page 20 when sub- mitting items for Passages. P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 541-444-8291 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 Email: pias@ctsi.nsn.us 2 • Siletz News • Member of the Native American Journalists Association March 2017 Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words) Introduction to the Athabaskan language Open to Tribal members of all ages Siletz Siletz Tribal Community Center March 6 – 6-8 p.m. April 3 – 6-8 p.m. Portland Portland Area Office March 13 – 6-8 p.m. April 10 – 6-8 p.m. Eugene Eugene Area Office March 7 – 6-8 p.m. April 4 – 6-8 p.m. Salem Salem Area Office March 14 – 6-8 p.m. April 11 – 6-8 p.m. Classes begin with basic instruction and progress over the year. They also are a refresher course for more-advanced students. Come and join other members of your community and Tribe in learning to speak one of our ancient languages. We also have equipment in the Cultural Department available for use in grinding and drilling shell or pine nuts or other applications. If you need to use the equipment, call the number below to set up an appointment. For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department at 541-444-8320 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
