Keizertimes., March 26, 2021, Page 14, Image 14

PAGE A14, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 26, 2021
Chamber honors 3 community leaders
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
In addition to naming Kim Freeman
Keizer’s First Citizen, the Keizer Chamber
of Commerce lauded three other commu-
nity members for their service.
Jonathan Thompson, owner of
Northwest Dental Art & Sleep Therapy
with his wife Jennifer Frankel, was named
Merchant of the Year for the way he dug
in and helped the chamber, and other
chamber members, ride the upheaval of
the pandemic.
“He is a true champion for small busi-
nesses. My favorite story is watching
him taking it upon himself to mentor
the owner of a Keizer business and even
helping them secure funding,” said Dave
Walery, the outgoing Merchant of the
Year.
In accepting the award, Thompson
thanked members of his family and
employees who often take on extra work
to make space for Thompson’s chamber
duties.
“We’ve been through a lot this year: a
global pandemic, fi res and ice storms. I’m
pretty sure the locusts are just over the
hill. We’ve faced it all as a team and we’ve
come out stronger for it,” Thompson said.
McNary High School choir direc-
tor Joshua Rist received the Service to
Education Award.
Jonathan Thompson and Kyle Juran
When presenter Tammy Ready asked
McNary Principal Erik Jespersen what
makes Rist unique, she received a Top 10
list in return.
“[Josh’s] positivity is infections. He
is genuine in every day and every way
and he is generous with his time and also
his heart,” were just a few of the merits
Jespersen cited.
Rist called the award “deeply
encouraging.”
“Our students in Keizer are really spe-
cial. They are optimistic in the face of
adversity, kind in the face of diff erences
between each other, and delightfully
Joshua Rist and Craig Williams
musical and creative when given the
opportunity and proper encouragement,”
Rist said.
Thompson, who performed as acting
president of the chamber for much of the
past year alongside Walery, presented the
President’s Award to Jason Lewis, owner
of Lewis Media Group, an affi liation of
local media production and design pros
that off er an array of services.
“When the fi res hit last summer,
Jason immediately called me to ask what
could be done. I told him there were ani-
mals on the way to the fairgrounds and
we needed everything from horse bridles
Jason Lewis and Randy Moseley
to feed. Jason fi gured out a way for us to
do it online and we raised a signifi cant
amount of money for the cause when he
did,” Thompson said.
In accepting the award, Lewis thanked
his family and gave special attention to
his parents.
“My challenge has always been that
I’m kind of a nerdy introvert,” Lewis said.
“To help me come out of my shell, dad
had me learn to play banjo and perform
for family and friends.”
He quoted a line from a Dan Fogelberg
tune, Leader of the Band, “Papa I don’t
think I’ve said I love you near enough.”
Salem seeks help fi nding space for area's shelterless
The Salem City Council approved
the placement of 20 pallet homes at a
city-owned property on Portland Road
Northeast to be used as unsheltered
residents.
“This investment is an important step
in achieving one of our top council prior-
ities,” said Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett
in a press release. “As we work together
to solve Salem’s homelessness issues,
we must also be open to innovative solu-
tions like the pallet shelters that have
proved to be a successful and aff ordable
solution in other cities.”
The pallet shelters, which will cost
Salem $5,000 each, are designed to
accommodate single individuals and
couples with electricity, warmth, and
added security.
Current plans for the pallet shelter
program include Church at the Park
serving around the clock as the on-site
shelter manager. Additional vehicle
camping will also be permitted in combi-
nation with the pallet homes.
With COVID-19 precautions in place,
shelter capacity in the region is limited.
Navigation centers, designed for 90-day
transition for unsheltered people into
housing programs, are under consider-
ation at the Oregon Legislature. Salem
is on a shortlist of communities that may
receive operational support to open this
kind of low-barrier housing shelter.
“Solving homelessness in our region
is not something the City of Salem can
do alone,” said Bennett. “We need the
support of our community and state to
increase shelter spaces, provide easier
access to mental and health care ser-
vices for unsheltered populations and
work to reduce barriers that lead to local
homelessness.”
For more information about the cur-
rent projects, the City of Salem is working
on for unsheltered populations including
homeless rental assistance vouchers,
fi nancial support of area non-profi ts and
tax incentives for developers focused on
low-income housing developments, visit
www.cityofsalem.net/housing or email
info@cityofsalem.net.
Worship DIRECTORY
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: 503-390-1051
www.KeizerChristian.org