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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2017)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, September 27, 2017 SKATE ... Continued from A-1 “It can be really hard to grow up here,” Williams said, “but these kids are truly amazing and I believe in them. And each one of them has a special talent, even if they don’t know what it is yet. So we’ll help them keep the faith and keep searching. And we’ll keep trying to bridge the gap between the generations to help make the world a better place.” Party donations came from It’s a Burl; Perfect Pizza; Wheels-A-Turnin`; Pam List, a skate park supporter from Florida; and Havoc, a Grants Pass skate shop. “We are so grateful to Havoc, they have always supported the skate park and donated boards and other equipment,” she said. The project’s second phase was part of the initial skate park plan and Williams said the new developments will include more “street features and hopefully we’ll add some features for BMX bicyclers. Our theme is to ‘make the existing skate park a great place for kids of all ages.’ We’re also planning to incorporate a new basketball court into the design. “Those discussions will be with the city,” she added. “We’ve really appreciated the city’s involvement. Our officials have been awesome to work with and the city employees have done such a great job of maintaining the skate park. The entire skate park operation has been such an exemplary community effort.” And now, additional organization support for phase two is coming from the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO). “This is part of our Park and Recreation Plan for Cave Junction,” said IVCDO Chairman Roger Brandt. “After a few public meetings the people made clear what they wanted to see done. And that was to expand the skate park and add the basketball court.” Brandt is providing Court Christianson, who has recently opened a woodworking shop in town called ‘Part Craft,’ with the dimensions to make a model of the skate park. “Christianson will use a laser cutter to a create a three-dimensional model that will enable the kids to show us, hands-on, precisely the kinds of features they’d like see incorporated in the expansion,” Brandt said. “The kids will be able to utilize clay to shape and then add the desired features to the model. “This feedback from the local youth can help with funding - we can become even more competitive for grants,” explained Brandt, “so when Stacey or Maureen put out a call for people to come, we need that involvement. When we apply for grants, the first thing they ask is, how much is the community involved?” And indeed, for years, Williams and fellow organizer Maureen Connolly networked with countless local volunteers and city officials to raise money and organize services to bring the shared vision of the first phase of the skate park to its grand opening in August 2014. “A labor of love all the way around,” said Williams, “that’s what it’s all about, making this a better place for the kids.” Now, boosting the renewed effort, several dignitaries from the skateboarding world that adopted the dream of a world class skate park in Cave Junction early on, have remained involved. Sage Bolyard, an acclaimed skateboarder who helped build the famous Burnside Skate park in Portland, has built skate parks all over the world and designed the first phase of Cave Junction’s skate park. Bolyard will likely submit a bid to the city for constructing phase two when the time comes. “My stunt double was present to show support for this project,” said Bolyard, of his daughter, Talisa Bolyard, who represented him at Friday’s event.”I have mystical visions of hobbit trails through the woods and a pump track around the trees that will be the bee’s knees.” Both Bolyard, and Tony Hawk, another famous skateboarder involved in phase one of the project, have family in Grants Pass. “They both have a strong affinity with the kids here and our area,” Williams said. “Tony Hawk works to promote the sport and has a foundation that gives grants to fledgling skate park projects,” Connolly said. “It was the first $5,000 grant from Hawk that really got our project off the ground. After that, more money really started coming in. The city even found a state grant that brought in well over $50,000. And that was huge!” Connolly and Williams remain grateful to the “amazing generosity of the businesses and people who made phase one of the skate park a reality, like Tony’s Appliances, Wild River Brewing & Pizza Company, Dutch Bros. and several builders to excavators. “So now, if these new businesses in town want to help make a difference in our local kids’ lives, they could follow suit and help us make phase two a reality,” Williams added. “Wheel’s A Turnin` is already helping and we’re so thankful for that.” Williams said several jars in Good Earth Organics, Taylor’s Sausage, Wild Bills and Bear Images have helped collect about $5,000 so far. She also said the next fundraiser and benefit will feature a competition and she wants people to know “we can always use more help organizing!” You can reach her at 541-531-0915. Page A-9 Josephine County Foundation readies for annual Dan Fiske Day of Service This year is the 4th annual Day of Service in memory of Dan Fiske, a local Cave Junction veterinarian and community member. Fiske unexpectedly passed away during the 2013 school year, and seniors at Illinois Valley High School organized the day of service in memory of such an important community member. The Dan Fiske Day of Service is when Cave Junction students are released from school early and participate in community service on and off campus. This year, students will be able to choose from a variety of locations and tasks within the community. Students will be able to clean up at Lorna Byrne Elementary School, Evergreen Elementary School, the Oregon Caves, the Illinois Valley Visitors Center, the Cave Creek Campground, the True Value Hardware parking lot, the Wild River Brewing parking lot, the Chevron parking lot, the Shop Smart parking lot, the Post Office parking lot, and Illinois Valley High School. The Dan Fiske Day of Service will be held Friday, Oct. 7. The students will be released from school around noon and will spend the rest of the school day participating in community service. Kaya Dooleage (541-415- 4331) is the student leader on this project. She is working with adult leaders to coordinate the students and find businesses to participate in the event. The event is planned in partnership with the Josephine County Foundation (JCF), a student-led nonprofit. JCF has a vision of transforming the county into a healthy, educated and prosperous community. This is JCF’s third year being involved in the Dan Fiske Day of Service. Help the JoCo Foodbank The 11th Empty Bowls event in Grants Pass will again be held at Parkway Christian Center located at 229 NE Beacon Drive in Grants Pass Monday, Oct. 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests choose a handcrafted bowl and then select a bowl of soup and bread. The handmade bowl is theirs to take home as a reminder of hunger in our community. “The Empty Bowls event continues to grow every year,” said Ellen Johnson, development director for Options. “I would like to encourage people to get their tickets early. There may only be a limited number of tickets available at the door. The generous support we receive from our community is heartwarming and knowing that each of us can make a difference is powerful.” Options has partnered with the Josephine County Food Bank for many years to serve people with poverty and hunger issues in our community. Josephine County is one of the most food insecure counties in all of Oregon. In fact, more than 17 percent of Josephine County residents don’t have adequate access to food. Music artist Bono said, “If you want to eliminate hunger, everybody has to be involved.” Some of the 2017 soup sponsors are Casa Amiga, The Laughing Clam, Rosso’s Trattoria, The Bohemian, Twisted Cork, Wild River Pizza, Ma Mosa’s, The Vine, TapRock Northwest Grill, Climate City Brewing Company, Powderhorn Café, and The Haul. Clayfolk, the GPHS Ceramics Club, and other local artists have been making bowls for this year’s event. Earlier in the year Clayfolk and Rogue Community College donated their time and talent to participate in a Throw- A-Thon. The potters threw more than 80 bowls in just a few hours. More than 20 percent of Josephine County residents live in poverty. “Proceeds from Empty Bowls allow us to help lift people up in their time of need,” said Johnson. “Food and housing are both issues we need to address on a local level.” H&R Block 210 W. Lister St. Cave Junction 592-3667 Ted Crocker, LTC Bob Litak, LTC Licensed Tax Consultants B14914
