PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 25, 2016
Chainsaw artist talks to KPAC
New senior facility opens in Keizer
KEIZERTIMES/Lyndon A. Zaitz
Surrounded by staff and mayor Cathy Clark, Sue Mack-Miller cut the ribbon at The Village at
Keizer Ridge’s grand opening on March 19. See more photos on our Facebook page.
Palm Sunday at Willamette Lutheran
B
A
C
KEIZERTIMES/Lyndon A. Zaitz
Palm Sunday brunch was
served March 20 at Willamette
Lutheran Retirement
Community.
A: Doloris Johnson served as
greeter.
B: Susan McFadden, Frank Hill,
Sally Templeman, Betty Cedes
and Lorraine Ellis.
C: Rotary Club of East Salem
served brunch to more than
400 attendees.
Corrected info for watershed contest
Last week in the Keizer-
times, there was a story about
the Claggett Creek Watershed
Council’s Discover Your Wa-
tershed photo contest.
Photos must be taken with-
Joe Guerra
Ins Agcy Inc
Joe Guerra, Agent
3791 River Road N
Keizer, OR 97303
Bus: 503 - 463 -1388
in the watershed and have to
be submitted by April 13.
The e-mail address for pho-
tos to be submitted to was not
correct, due to erroneous in-
formation being given to the
newspaper.
Entries should be submitted
to contest@claggettcwc.org.
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Is David Hillesland the Tree
Whisperer?
Last month the chainsaw art-
ist from Lyons was driving past
the Keizer Civic Center when
he saw the two bare trees, which
are scheduled to be decorated
as story poles next year as en-
visioned by members of the
Keizer Public Arts Commission.
“Those two stumps were
yelling at me,” Hillesland told
KPAC members at their meet-
ing on Tuesday.
As she did last month, KPAC
member Lore Christopher took
credit for the trees still being up.
“You have me to thank, Da-
vid,” Christopher said. “I had to
fi ght my limbs for that.”
Hillesland said he gave up
a banking job seven years ago
during the throes of the re-
cession and started whittling
on wood. Then he ran into a
chainsaw artist, who showed
him how to do art with wood.
Thus began a new business, All
Natural Edge Designs.
“I do work based on scale
and budget,” Hillesland said.
As one example, Hillesland
recently carved a piece for an
agency in Eugene with 1.5 chil-
dren in a tree, with that num-
ber selected because that fi t the
agency’s budget.
Hillesland said he can pro-
vide detailed blueprints for his
work and knows how to both
prepare wood for work and
how to make it last, which can
include annual touch-up work.
“I have a track record for
providing work on time and
on budget,” he said. “Before I
started this, I couldn’t even do a
stick fi gure drawing. I’ve got the
business training as well. When I
drove by and saw the trees, they
were screaming at me.”
Upon hearing that, Christo-
pher started dancing around for
the second month in a row and
then explained the background
of the story poles project.
“Both trees are old growth
timber, which have been on the
property for hundreds of years,”
Christopher said. “We hoped
to save them when we built
this building, but the roots got
disheveled. Bill Lawyer (Public
Works director) had the idea
Lore Christopher
(left) celebrates
as David
Hillesland
speaks at
the Keizer
Public Arts
Commission
meeting
March 22.
KEIZERTIMES/
Craig Murphy
of letting the trees have a place,
have them carved and make
them part of the civic center
complex. One is about 20 feet
tall, one is 25 feet. Others want-
ed them to be cut down, but I
fought to keep them up.”
The plan is for one tree to
be done by a Native American
group, with the other a public
art design. Christopher asked
Hillesland if the Grand Ronde
tribe could provide a design and
he could carve the design.
“Absolutely,” he responded.
“If they want to collaborate, I’m
totally willing to do that. They
would get to put their thumb-
print on the design.”
Hillesland also said working
with community members on
the second tree is fi ne with him.
“That is very comfortable to
me,” he said. “I’m really com-
fortable with the whole diplo-
matic process. I’m comfortable
being in front of cameras. I can
be the person to get the whole
community involved.”
Hillesland estimated the big-
ger trees is 32 to 34 inches in
diameter, while the smaller one
has a diameter of about 28 inch-
es. He typically charges about
$500 a foot for his work but can
be fl exible. If work isn’t being
done until sometime next year,
he suggested spraying the tree
with bug spray and putting tar
on the top.
“I’ve done all aspects of all of
this,” he said.
Christopher loved it all.
“You are our MVP for the
day,” she told Hillesland.
Christopher also suggested
Hillesland could have some of
his work be public art along
River Road.
“If you’re interested, submit
it to us,” she said. “If you’re ac-
cepted, we’ll pick a spot for you.
It might give you additional
business.”
Looks can be deceiving, You may have a…
The moisture in your basement
or crawlspace can cause more
than just a nightmare. These
issues can create real problems
like mold, mildew, rot,structural
damage, & a variety of health
problems. If you’ve noticed any
of the symptoms below, you
may have a moisture issue:
Musty odors, condensation,
pooling or standing water,
leaking or damp walls,
warping fl oors, wet or damp
fl oors in basement or
crawlspace.
I Quit!
I’m calling
John’s!
Authorized
Dealer
WE CAN HELP! Call 503.873.5650
John's Waterproofing
Company
201 Airport Way, Silverton
www.johnswaterproofi ng.com
When life gives
you lemonade,
it’s a great day!
.
Create a recipe | Design a stand
Attract investors
Do it alone or with friends
Register today at
salemkeizer.lemonadeday.org
Lemonade Day is the national
Their profi ts are split between
event that teaches kids how a
their education, a charity of their
business works by operating
choice and mad money!
a lemonade stand. With help
from parents and sponsors,
kids create their own recipe,
build a stand and sell lem-
onade.
Along the way kids learn
how to spend, save and
share.
Sunday, May 1
a Project of Salem-Keizer Education Foundation
salemkeizer.lemonadeday.org