DECEMBER 27, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Refugees in spotlight as
result of national changes
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
In the past four years, Sa-
lem for Refugees has helped
resettle more than 300 indi-
viduals and families fl eeing
war, violence, confl ict or per-
secution.
However, an executive or-
der issued by President Don-
ald Trump could upend those
efforts if Marion County
Commissioners do not pro-
vide a letter of consent to
continue allowing refugees
into the area.
To get ahead of potential
backlash, Matthew Wester-
beck, refugee services pro-
gram manager at Catholic
Charities of Oregon, and
Anya Holcomb, co-founder
of Salem for Refugees, spoke
to members of the Keizer
City Council at its meeting
Monday, Dec. 16.
“There are almost 71
million displaced people
throughout the world and
roughly 26 million meet the
United Nations defi nition of
a refugee,” Westerbeck said.
“When refugees arrive in
Oregon, we help get them
on their feet.”
In September, the Trump
administration announced
it was placing a new limit
on the number of refugees
permitted to come to the
United States and gave state
and local authorities, like the
Marion County Board of
Commissioners, the option
to reject any resettlement
of refugees in their jurisdic-
tions. Under the new policy,
a governor could consent to
allowing refugees in the state
and a county commission
could prevent them from be-
ing resettled locally.
“Refugee visas are the
most diffi cult visas to obtain,”
Westerbeck said. Each per-
son who applies is vetted by
a legion of federal agencies
ranging from U.S. Citizen-
ship and Immigration Ser-
vices to the National Coun-
terterrorism Center.
Once refugees arrive,
Westerbeck said they typ-
ically become some of the
nation’s most productive cit-
izens.
“The most profound state-
ment of how hard these fami-
lies work is that within about
20 years, they have an aver-
Until recent action by the
age income $14,000 more
than the national average. Oregon Legislature requir-
The rate of entrepreneurship ing the Oregon Department
of Human
is 1.5 times
Services to
the general
award grants
rate of en-
to resettle-
trepreneur-
ment agen-
ship,
they
cies,
most
have higher
efforts
to
wo r k f o rc e
help
refu-
participation
gees resettle
than the na-
tional aver-
— Matthew Westerbeck in Oregon
age and they
Catholic Charities of were provid-
ed through
pay more in
Oregon
private do-
taxes
than
nations.
they receive
Support offered through
in benefi ts,” Westerbeck said.
The rising cost of hous- Salem for Refugees goes be-
ing Portland was one of the yond providing material ob-
major factors in expanding jects as well.
“We have mentor teams
resettlement efforts to Sa-
lem-Keizer in 2015, said who walk alongside them
Holcomb, a resident of Keiz- as friends and guides,” Hol-
comb said.
er.
Holcomb fi nished by
“At the time, there were
many who wanted to get in- sharing the tale of one family,
volved, but we didn’t have a a father and four daughters,
coordinated infrastructure,” who are already well on their
she said. Salem for Refugees way to establishing roots in
was established to create a the area.
Abbas, not the man’s real
network of support services
that includes housing, em- name, fl ed to Thailand from
ployment, education, health Pakistan after his family was
attacked for being religious
care and transportation.
minorities. Abbas was injured
and his pregnant wife was
sent into early labor. She died
in childbirth but the baby
girl survived.
Abbas arrived in Sa-
lem-Keizer about two years
ago and began working at
Sparrow Furniture in Sa-
lem. He’s now working for
Goodwill and his daughters
are either enrolled in school
or preparing for it.
“It was a dream of his wife
that his daughters would get
an education. He tells us he’s
fulfi lling that dream for her
now,” Holcomb said.
For more information
about Refugees for Salem,
visit salemforrefugees.org.
“Refugee visas
are the most
diffi cult visas to
obtain.”
K E I Z E R T I M E S SE NIOR HO USING G U I D E
puzzle answers
DIRECTIONS
FROM KEIZER:
On River Road,
one-half mile
north of McNary
Estates. Right
on McGee Ct,
take second
driveway on left.
UNIT TYPES:
• Assisted
Living
• Memory
Care
obituaries
Submit an obituary through our website at keizertimes.com
or send an email to: editor@keizertimes.com
Linda May Jordan
April 29, 1952 – Dec. 11, 2019
Linda May Jordan passed
away peacefully at her home in
Turner, Oregon. She was with
her husband, Bob, and sister,
Kendall, and had seen her three
children and grandchild. In a
soft voice that morning, she
whispered “I want to go home
to be with Jesus.”
Linda was born in Salem, Or-
egon to Jacob and Elva Weigum.
She lived in Keizer most of her
life, attending McNary High
School. She was raised on her
parents small farm. She was the
third of four children.
Linda was a secretary at the
Oregon Real Estate Division
from 1973 to 1983. She met
the love of her life, Bob Jordan,
at work in 1974 and they mar-
ried in May, 1979. They had
three children; Melissa Jordan
Davey, Nicholas Jordan and Jen-
nifer Jordan.
Linda was an avid gardener
and always transformed their
yards into bright, colorful oa-
ses of fl owers and shrubs. Linda
spent countless hours outside
tending her gardens. She loved
the outdoors.
Sewing and knitting were
other passions Linda enjoyed.
She made her own wedding
dress and later made all the
bridesmaids dresses for daughter
Melissa’s wedding. Linda also
knitted prayer shawls for her
church. The shawls were prayed
over and given to bereaved or
ailing individuals. Linda trea-
sured the notes of thanks she
received from shawl recipients.
The prayer shawl knitting was a
personal ministry for her.
Linda also enjoyed facili-
tating the fund-raising trea-
sure sales for several years for
the annual “Tea and Treasures”
event at church. Linda so en-
joyed searching the thrift stores
in town to fi nd items for the
event. She would even recruit
her sister Kendall to be on the
lookout for items, and they both
would obtain items all year long
just for this event. Linda and
Kendall also loved shopping the
thrift stores for furniture and
home decor items, and occas-
sional fashion fi nds. Linda dec-
orated her and Bob’s home with
many of her very tasteful fi nds.
Another unusual interest of
Linda’s was tap dancing. Linda
and sister Kendall tap danced
with the Franz School of Dance
Troupe at the state fair for a few
years. Linda enjoyed practicing
the dancing as a way to have
some fun exercising.
After Bob’s retirement, Lin-
da and Bob enjoyed traveling
on an Alaskan cruise, an Empire
Builder train ride to Chicago,
cross-country road trips to New
Orleans and Boston. They en-
joyed travelling to Europe to
visit Spain, Portugal, and tour
Greece and the Greek isles.
Linda was preceded in death
by her parents, Elva and Jacob
Weigum and older brother
Kenneth R. Weigum. She is
survived by her husband Bob
Jordan and children Melis-
sa Davey (Clayton), Nicholas
Jordan, Jennifer Jordan, grand-
daughter Madelyn Davey, sister
Kendall Jacobsen-Sheng (Li),
brother Lenny Weigum, and
several nieces.
A memorial service is
planned for Monday, Dec. 30
at 4 p.m. at Salem First Baptist
Church in Salem.
Contributions can be made-
to Salem First Baptist Church
or the charity of your choice.
SUBSCRIBE
KEIZER NEWS IN YOUR MAILBOX FOR ONLY $35 A YEAR
CALL 503-390-1051
MONTHLY RENT: starting at $2,855
ASSISTED LIVING AVAILABILITY: Yes
AMENITIES:
• Individualized Care Plans • State-of-the-art theater
• Raised garden beds • All day fresh gourmet dining
• Life enriching, meaningful, stimulating activities
• Resident created activity calendar • Courtyard walking path
• More staff on hand 24/7 than other local facilities
• Private & semi-private Memory Care apartments
1165 McGee Court NE, Keizer, OR 97303 • 503-390 -1300 • www.VillageAtKeizerRidge.com
DIRECTIONS
FROM KEIZER:
Take I-5 South,
Hwy 22 East,
Exit 13, turn
towards
Sublimity,
right (East) on
Division Street.
UNIT TYPES:
• Assisted
Living
• Independent
Living
• Full
Continuum
of Care
on Campus
MONTHLY RENT: Cost Varies
TYPE OF CARE: Full Continuum of Care
AMENITIES:
• 38-Acre Private, Family Owned Active
Retirement Community
• No Buy In • Apartments • Cottages
• Café • Gift Shop
• Beauty Shop • Pet Friendly
• Duck Pond with Walking Areas
590 SE Conifer Circle, Sublimity, OR 97385 • 503-769-8100 • www.MarianEstates.com
Emerald
Pointe
DIRECTIONS
FROM KEIZER:
On River Road,
one-half mile
north of McNary
Estates.
Senior Living Community
UNIT TYPES:
• Studio
• 1 BR
w/ deck or
walk-in closet
• 2 BR, 1 BA
• 2 BR, 2 BA
w/ deck or
walk-in closet
MONTHLY RENT: starting at $1 ,350
ACTIVE INDEPENDENT LIVING: yes
AMENITIES: • Full kitchens in every apartment
• Beauty Salon • Optional Meal Plans • Staffed 24/7
• Full Activities Calendar • Weekly Excursions
• Special Dietary Needs Met • Coffee Lounge
• Housekeeping • Community Room • Activity Rooms
• Transportation to doctors, shopping, and more
• Waist High Gardens • Walking Paths • Free WiFi
1125 McGee Ct NE, Keizer, OR 97303 • 503-390-7700 • www.EmeraldPointeKeizer.com
Keizer’s Best Kept Secret
DIRECTIONS
FROM KEIZER:
Drive north
on River Rd.
Turn left on
Wheatland Rd.
Go 1.5 miles. On
left side of road.
UNIT TYPES:
• independent
living includ.
studio and
1-bedroom
apartments,
2-bedroom
cottages
MONTHLY RENT: starting at $1,768
ASSISTED LIVING AVAILABILTY: yes
AMENITIES:
• Not-for-profi t, Christian community serving all faiths
• Pets allowed • No Extra Charge for a 2nd person
• 24-hour nurse on staff for emergency response
• 3-delicious homecooked meals daily
• Van service for shopping & medical appts
• Housekeeping • Great Social Activities • Church Services
7693 Wheatland Rd N, Keizer, OR 97303 • 503-393-1491 • www.willamettelutheran.com • e-mail: kay@willamettelutheran.com
DIRECTIONS
FROM KEIZER:
I-5 South, exit
left on Market St,
left on Lancaster,
right on
Sunnyview, right
on 45th Ave NE
UNIT TYPES:
• independent
living
apartments
• studio
• 1-bedroom
• 2-bedroom
• cottages
MONTHLY RENT: Cost Varies
ASSISTED LIVING AVAILABILTY: Call
AMENITIES:
• Staff on site 24/7 • Maintenance & Housekeeping
• All utilities (except phone) includes basic cable
• Transportation to appointments, shopping, events
• Washer/Dryer hook ups and coin-free laundry
• Salon on site • Daily activities
• Chef-inspired meals and fl exible dining
1950 45th Ave NE, Salem, OR 97305 • 503-589-1200 • www.thespringsliving.com • e-mail: lsmall@thespringsliving.com