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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 2003)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, September 10, 2003 Page 8 Siemer says good-bye (Continued from page 1) Rebecca Pearson Co-owner of BeBe’s Art for Everyone with her husband Bob Bert Age: 51 Lived in Illinois Valley: 6 years Manager of the Gift Gallery at the Oregon Caves, coordina- tor of Second Friday Art Walk, president of the Illinois Val- ley Arts Council. When did you and your husband open BeBe’s Art for Everyone? We opened in May of 2000. I saw a need for local artists to be recognized. I was also on the road doing art shows for 15 years and I wanted to stop doing them. Since opening, how has the store been received? Very well. When we first started we had 22 artists here and now we represent about 100 (artists selling on consign- ment.) We represent local artists but we also have a few from the coast, Grants Pass and Eugene. What did you think of the area art being sold in the Gift Gallery which you manage at the Oregon Caves? It has been great. We have done really well. The tourists that come up there really like seeing the local art especially if they’re doing the national park tour. They find it very refreshing. We do good sales, and it’s a great cross- promotional tool for the artists or businesses in general. It sends them back down into the valley to see what else we have to offer. What are some of your hobbies? When I do have free time, I like to garden and try to do my own artwork which is creative expression. Even though it’s work, it is still a pleasure. I also like to read. Are you making any changes to BeBe’s in the future? Right now I’m working on the back area so we can carry art supplies. We’ll be doing costumes for sale and rent for Hal- loween, which we’ve done for the last three years. We have a big mask show that will happen in October for the next Art Walk. What do you like about living in Illinois Valley? I like the country side of course. I like the clean air and clean water. There are a lot of really creative people here. There is a strong arts community that is growing. I enjoy that the valley is in a process of change and I really like being a part of that. I think we’re trying to tap into tourism more, the arts in particular. Would you like to see more business owners change the outside of their building like the building you’re in. That was the work of Audrey Moore the owner of the build- ing and Rising Suns. I would definitely like to see more of that. In general, Cave Junction is getting a face-lift and you see that a lot of businesses are being painted, and the rock work is wonderful to try and tie the look of the town to- gether. It is essential as a community that it has a new face- lift to make it more attractive to tourists and to give the lo- cals pride in their town. Anything else you would like to add? As part of the Arts Council we would really like to see peo- ple get more involved. We have a lot of different projects going on. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Anything with chocolate. — Interview by Steve Fairchild Come taste the Beer flavors of Germany Kolsch Hefeweizen Schwarz, Mai Bock & German Pilsner Complimentary beer & appetizers Accordian music by Stan Rogge of ‘The Polka Dots’ Not that many of the clients aren’t challenges, Siemer said, noting that fuels her desire to help even more. “I don’t care if you are the president or homeless, I’m going to treat you with the same respect,” she said. In her job, Siemer said it is important to get to know each client on a per- sonal level first and estab- lish trust. This process helps her pinpoint exactly what services, skills, and resources the individual needs. “Some just need (help with) a resume,” Siemer said. Others can’t read or write and need further in- struction in understanding and filling out job applica- tions and other paperwork. Some simply need some- one to listen and be there when things fall apart. Depending on their situations, Siemer assists clients in several job- training and work experi- ence programs for several weeks to a number of months, and even years. William Conn, 48, has worked with Siemer since around the end of 2000, when he broke up with his girlfriend, lost his job and went on welfare. “‘I was really down in the dumps,” he said, de- scribing himself as a “grump who hated women and had no desire to get a job.” Siemer not only helped him attain a job as a janitor for Three Rivers School District (a position he no longer has due to physical problems), but motivated him to change his attitude on life, he said. “She’s turned my life around 100 percent. She took the time to sit and listen to me,” he said. “I Fires ... (Continued from page 1) District, a fire at Bob’s Bog is in mop up. Fire pre- vention crews will con- tinue to patrol both forests for new starts and ensuring that old fires are out. Eighteen fires total were confirmed across the Siskiyou National Forest as a result of lightning storms occurring over the last week. The largest of these was the 5-acre Tay- lor Creek fire, which was declared contained at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, Sept. 6. The fire was less than two miles southwest of the town of Galice, within the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. The 17 additional small fires were scattered throughout the Illinois Val- ley Ranger District. All were smaller than 1 acre. Several forest service firefighters and one 20- person Grayback contract crew managed the fires. Other assigned re- sources included two heli- copters, five engines, and a water tender. On Saturday, firefight- ers were looking for fires, patrolling the new starts, and conducting mop-up of controlled fires. hate to see her leave.” Siemer also helped him become more patient and willing to listen to oth- ers, as well as such spe- cific skills as how to make a resume, he said. Conn has goals now, he noted, including making sure his teen-age son gets his high school diploma, finding a job he likes do- ing, getting his health back on track, and maybe even- tually even having a girl- friend. These are qualities he’s trying to pass along to his son, he added. Stories such as Conn’s are what make the job worthwhile for Siemer, despite ever-decreasing program funding from the state and limited resources in some cases. And, the people she has helped, she said, are so appreciative. “They (my clients) share the positives and successes with me and that’s awesome,” she said. Siemer is concerned about what will happen when she leaves. Her posi- tion won’t be filled with someone else, she said, although a new person will assume some of her re- sponsibilities. She noted though that there is some satisfaction in what she has already instilled in her cli- ents. “All of us (here at the center) have worked really hard,” she said. Sad to have to give up involvement in several projects and programs in the valley, Siemer said the I.V. Christmas Basket Pro- gram is one she can’t just walk away from. So she’s not going to. “I don’t want to give that up,” she said. “That’s my Christmas.” Even though Siemer lives in Grants Pass and will be working in Med- ford she said, “My heart has always been here.” Partition .. (Continued from page 1) sale that the county asses- sor listed it as one parcel. Under the conditional OK, the parcels will con- sist of 8.18 acres and 10.9 acres. Conditions include drainage aspects, survey- ing and recording, taxes, fees and assessments. In another matter, the council, based on com- ments by the mayor, held off granting him authoriza- tion to sign a new mutual aid agreement with Jose- phine County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Man- agement Unit. It appears that the last agreement was dated 1977, said Mark Sorensen of the sheriff’s office Emergency Services Unit. Faircloth said he wants Gary Biggs, head of the city’s emergency services unit, to review the docu- ment before he signs it. Celia Siemer Umpqua Bank opening seven stores in Oregon Umpqua bank, a sub- sidiary of Umpqua Hold- ings Corp., plans to open seven bank stores in 2004 that will include additional locations in Portland, Sa- lem and Medford, as well as launch into the Bend market. The recent announce- ment follows the success of Umpqua’s Pearl Store, the bank’s next generation flagship store located in Portland’s Pearl District. “Umpqua’s new stores will allow us to enhance our reach in several of our current markets as well as introduce a higher level of competition to the Bend area,” said Ray Davis, Umpqua Bank president and CEO. The new locations will provide services for busi- ness and individual cus- tomers. This book presented by Senior Library Specialist Jennifer Berubee and is available at the I.V. Library. Phone 592-3581 for more information. (Public service announcement) ‘Daisy’s Favorite Things’ Author & Illustrator: Jane Simmons Ages: 2 to 5 What Daisy likes to do in the pond, and what lives in the pond. 1313 Rockydale Road, Cave Junction Oregon 97523 592 5386