A4
V IEWPOINT
Hood River News,
Saturday, April 4, 2015
O ur readers write
JOE PETSHOW
Publisher/President,
Eagle Newspapers, Inc.
TOM LANCTOT
Past President,
Eagle Newspapers, Inc.
CHELSEA MARR
General Manager
Summing
the parts
KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
Editor
JODY THOMPSON
Advertising Manager
TONY METHVIN
Columbia Gorge Press Manager
DICK NAFSINGER
Publisher, Emeritus (1933-2011)
DAVID MARVIN
Production Manager
Subscription $42 per year in Hood River trade area. $68 outside trade area.
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
OREGON NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
Printed on
recycled paper.
Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County
Published Every Wednesday & Saturday by Hood River News,
P.O. Box 390, Hood River, Oregon 97031 • (541) 386-1234 • FAX 386-6796
Member of the Associated Press
Proclamation
Governor Kate Brown names April
as Child Abuse Prevention Month
G
overnor Kate Brown encourages the citizens
of Oregon to join communities around the na-
tion in proclaiming April to be Child Abuse
Prevention Month. April is dedicated to rais-
ing awareness of child abuse and neglect and
the factors that create risk. In Oregon
alone, 10,630 children were victims
of child abuse and neglect in
2013; 55 percent of cases in-
volved children age six or
younger. For those children,
our state will pay upwards of
$2.1 billion in expensive inter-
ventions and lost educational
and economic success over the
course of their lifetimes.
Research shows that when par-
ents lack support for basic needs, so-
cial connections, and knowledge of
child development, their children
are at greater risk.
In response, community orga-
nizations, businesses, hospitals,
government offices and indi-
viduals across the state, in
partnership with Prevent Child
Abuse Oregon and the Children’s
Trust Fund of Oregon, are joining
forces to host pinwheel gardens to increase awareness of
child abuse and neglect as part of the national Pin-
wheels for Prevention campaign in honor of Child
Abuse Prevention Month.
According to Susan Lindauer, Executive Director of
the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon, “Pinwheels are a
positive symbol of the happy, healthy childhood that all
children deserve, and represent our vision that great
childhoods lead to great futures.
“At Prevent Child Abuse Oregon and the Children’s
Trust Fund, we know that we can make a positive im-
pact on the future by preventing child abuse and neglect
today,” said Lindauer. “The best way to increase that im-
pact is by involving citizens and communities in our
work.”
Prevent Child Abuse Oregon and the Children’s Trust
Fund of Oregon are dedicated to preventing child abuse
statewide by investing in evidence-based prevention pro-
grams that provide parents with the resources they need
to provide safe, stable homes for their children. In 2014,
the Children’s Trust Fund helped more than 46,000 chil-
dren and families through investments in 39 proven pre-
vention programs statewide. The Children’s Trust Fund
also supports public awareness, research and sound
public policy to create lasting change for Oregon’s chil-
dren.
During Child Abuse Prevention Month, Prevent
Child Abuse Oregon and the Children’s Trust Fund of
Oregon encourage citizens to visit www.ctfo.org to learn
more about how they can take an active role in helping
to ensure all Oregon children have a healthy beginning
and lifelong success.
“We need your involvement to ensure our communi-
ties are equipped to help children and families thrive,”
said Lindauer. “Join us and learn how we are strength-
ening Oregon families.”
■
The Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon is the only
statewide organization focused exclusively on the issue
of child abuse prevention and strengthening families.
Since 1985, the Children’s Trust Fund has provided
strategic investments in proven prevention programs
across Oregon, public awareness and education cam-
paigns and advocacy for best practice policies related to
child abuse prevention. Prevent Child Abuse Oregon is a
chapter of the national organization, Prevent Child
Abuse America, and acts as an advisory committee to
Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon. For more information
visit www.ctfo.org.
Chelsea Marr
General Manager
CMarr@hoodrivernews.com
Founded in 1905
419 State Street
Hood River, OR 97031
P.O. Box 390
Phone: (541) 386-1234
Operations:
Joe Petshow
Publisher
President, Eagle Newspapers
JPetshow@hoodrivernews.com
Chris Stenberg
Bookkeeper
CStenberg@hoodrivernews.com
Front Office/
Classified Advertising:
Kelly Gallagher
Eagle Classified Director
KGallagher@eaglenewspapers.com
Stacey Methvin
Classifieds/Receptionist
HRNClass@hoodrivernews.com
SMethvin@hoodrivernews.com
The “Tunnel Of Plum” picture,
A2 of the March 28 Hood River
News issue, is a twice-demanding
viewing image, one that puts the
v i e we r
in
the
a r t i s t ’s
shoes, inhaling the fragrance of
the blossoms while humming along
with the buzzing bees gathering
their nectar. (I hope to see it on the
“Panorama” cover.)
Then again, on A4, I found an ar-
ticle which I expected to be a play
on egotism, but I gave it a “thumbs-
up.” I found it to be quite amusing,
for if I had written it, its title
would had consisted of only six let-
ters (HAWADO), in lieu of the 11
words. (These editors generally
amaze/amuse me with titles; when
it may take me hours with my one-
fingered-hunt-n-peck typing skills
to compose a letter, then they sum
it up with just a few words.)
But the “Cream-of-the-Crop” of
the March 28 issue is a must
read! It awaits you at the right top
of A4, authored by Sen. Chuck
Thomsen, a 1975 alumni of
HRVHS, dealing with education
and the “funding games” that the
D e m o c r a t s l i ke t o p l ay. T h e
“losers” are speechless. (They
can’t vote.)
Alan Winans
Hood River
Thanks to
Walden
Thankfully we have Greg Walden
standing up for freedom.
Walden is the only congressman
from Oregon who is working to
keep the Internet free and open. As
a student at COCC, this could not
be more important to me. Greg
Walden has spoken out against the
FCC’s power grab, and is working
hard to write a plan that protects
Internet freedom without a heavy-
handed government takeover.
Over the past two decades, the
Internet has helped grow Ameri-
ca’s economy and increase freedom
around the world. If we let the FCC
take the reins, this growth will
stop and young people, like myself,
will pay the price. Thank you, Greg
Walden, for standing up for us and
shame on the FCC for its Internet
takeover.
Joshua Dawson
Bend
Reitz for
Position 1
How wonderful that there are
three candidates for the Position 1
School Board seat. I applaud a
community where folks are com-
mitted to getting involved and
making things happen. That is why
I will be voting for Chris Reitz.
Chris is a doer. She walks the
walk. I have seen her in action and
when this woman gets involved,
it’s full steam ahead! I have known
Chris for over 10 years. She is one
of the finest people I know.
I have had the opportunity to
work with her on the Waterfront
Park. I have been a board member
with the Waterfront Community
Park Association for seven years,
leading the Adopt A Plot Program
since its inception.
Whenever we needed help with
fundraising or Community Weed-
ing Days, Chris has never hesitated
to step in and get her hands dirty,
which she does in her own adopted
plot! She realizes the value and im-
portance of the Waterfront Com-
munity Park and has used the park
as the staging ground for the very
popular Gorge Kids Triathlon
since its beginning in 2011. Chris is
the co-founder of the triathlon and
has put countless hours and ener-
gy into creating an incredible ex-
perience for the kids of the gorge.
Its popularity continues to grow
each year.
Chris and husband Max are com-
mitted parents to their kids Joe
and Jill, who attend Westside
School. Still, Chris finds time to
continue to volunteer. She is a
board member with the Providence
Child Center Foundation. She was
a Westside Elementary School PTO
member for 2 years, served on the
Westside School Site Council and
is currently the PTO vice presi-
dent. She was an Advisory Board
Member with New Parent Services
of Hood River County for 2 years
and currently works as a Hood
River Warming Shelter Volunteer.
Chris cares about our communi-
ty and will be a wonderful addition
t o t h e s ch o o l b o a rd . S h e i s
thoughtful, hardworking, dedicat-
ed and determined. She embodies
the quote by Gandhi, “Be the
change you want to see in the
world.” Elect Chris Reitz and you
elect someone with the knowledge,
heart and energy to make a differ-
ence.
Marge Gale
Waterfront Park Community
Park Association Board Member
Adopt A Plot Organizer
Hood River
ANOTHER VOICE
School superintendent calls for public
engagement on Senate school fund vote
Supt. Dan Goldman of Hood
River County School District sent out
this letter to district patrons this
week:
T
■
he Oregon State Senate is
scheduled to hear a third
reading of HB 5017, the State
School Fund bill, on April 6.
I am urging all Oregon Sen-
ators to vote NO as the prosed fund-
ing level will equate to approxi-
mately $900,000 in cuts next year. I
am also urging Gov. Kate Brown to
send a clear message to the legisla-
ture that a State School Fund below
$7.5 billion is unacceptable.
After reviewing our school dis-
trict strategic plan, community and
staff feedback on our school pro-
grams, student outcome data, re-
search, and our current program
with principals and other adminis-
trators, it is clear that the level of
reduction required in our schools at
the current proposed State School
Fund level will negatively impact
every student and every profession-
al educator in our schools.
I am urging everyone to make
their voices heard. I am attaching a
letter (below) I have sent to each
Oregon Senator, a template that
you, your friends, your family, and
your co-workers might use to com-
Circulation:
Esther K. Smith
Circulation Manager
(541) 386-1234 Ext. 205
ESmith@hoodrivernews.com
News:
Kirby Neumann-Rea
Editor
HRNews@hoodrivernews.com
Ben Mitchell
News/Features
BenMitchell@hoodrivernews.com
municate your wishes to your elect-
ed officials, and a funding level
poster that provides an overview of
how various funding levels will af-
fect our schools.
Thank you for continuing to fight
for our students and our schools.
■
I am writing to ask you to keep
fighting for adequate and stable K-
12 Education funding. With a grow-
ing economy, we need to re-invest in
Oregon’s education system. The
proposed K-12 Education Budget of
$7.255 billion would mean reduc-
tions in teachers, programs, and
services across Oregon.
In order for Oregon to thrive we
need an educated, capable work-
force. We cannot get there without a
significant investment in K-12 edu-
cation funding. With an improving
economy, Oregon needs to reinvest
in our education system.
After more than a decade of dis-
investment, the state of Oregon’s K-
12 system is now defined by the fol-
lowing facts:
■ Our students go to school the
equivalent of one year less than the
national average during the
1st through 12th grades;
■ Oregon ranks 49th in student to
teacher ratio (class size);
■ Oregon is 46th in state expendi-
Trisha Walker
News/Features
TWalker@hoodrivernews.com
Liana Stegall
Advertising Sales
LStegall@hoodrivernews.com
LisaAnn Kawachi
News/Features
LKawachi@hoodrivernews.com
Kirsten Lane
Advertising Sales
KLane@hoodrivernews.com
Patrick Mulvihill
News/Features
PMulvihill@hoodrivernews.com
Ailene Hibbard
Archivist
Advertising:
Jim Drake
Entertainment
JDrake@hoodrivernews.com
tures for education as a percent of
taxable resources;
■ Oregon has one of the lowest
graduation rates in the nation.
Over this same period of time, K-
12 education has gone from 45 per-
cent of the state budget in 2003 to 39
percent (-6 percent), while public
safety and human services budgets
have increased by 5 percent each.
In the Hood River County
Schools, this level of funding would
mean a reduction of approximately
nearly $1 million in each of the
next two years. A K-12 Education
Budget of $7.5 billion would provide
fragile stability for our children,
but would allow us to sustain cur-
rent programs and services while
maintaining full-day kindergarten.
Bottom line, even this level of fund-
ing does not move the needle on re-
ducing class sizes or increasing in-
structional time.
Don’t settle on the status quo for
K-12 Education Funding. You can
help Oregon take some important
steps by re-investing in our chil-
dren’s education and Oregon’s eco-
nomic and democratic future. I pe-
tition you to keep all legislators
talking about K-12 Education until
you adequately fund K-12 Educa-
tion. Our children’s future de-
pends on it!
Jody Thompson
Advertising Manager
JThompson@hoodrivernews.com
Production:
419 State Street
Hood River, OR 97031
P.O. Box 390
Phone: (541) 386-1234
David Marvin
Production Manager
DMarvin@hoodrivernews.com
Tony Methvin
Plant Manager
(541) 386-1234
TMethvin@columbiagorgepress.com
Jim Drake
Production
JDrake@hoodrivernews.com
Sarah Methvin
Sales/Customer Service
SDMethvin@columbiagorgepress.com
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Commercial Printing
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