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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 2016)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ JANUARY 13, 2016 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 RYAN CRONK , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE Cindy Wobbe C ATHERINE J. R OURKE For the Siuslaw News _____________ A s a busy entrepreneur, moth- er and mentor with multi- faceted demands, Cindy Wobbe could certainly use a helping hand. Instead, she’s always extend- ing one of her own. This virtual “Little Engine That Could” has raised an astonishing 88,000 pounds of food and matching funds as host of the annual Pounding for Florence Food Share holiday food drive for the past 15 years — the equivalent of 44 tons. How does she do it? “I’m always looking for ways to use my resources to help people,” Cindy said. “What matters most in life is using our gifts in service. If we all give a little of whatever tal- ents, skills or connections we have, then we can truly make a differ- ence.” That’s precisely why Cindy received the 2014 Florence First Citizen Award, which recognizes an outstanding individual “who has given selflessly to the community.” But there’s more to the story of this unassuming woman who grew up feeding the chickens on a farm outside of Eugene before feeding those in need in Florence. According to Cindy, it all began with the influ- ence of a kind-hearted father serving as a role model for anonymous gen- erosity and instilling in her the spirit of serving others. “My dad always stopped to help someone, lend a hand or give food,” she said. “Throughout my childhood, I was keenly aware of the haves and the have-nots. I have vivid memories of preparing food boxes for delivery to low-income families.” This mentorship would inspire her lifelong dedication to help the less fortunate. While her list of philan- thropic endeavors remains long and vast, Cindy prefers not to broadcast them. Instead, she just works quietly behind the scenes, much like her dad. Whether networking on behalf of those with catastrophic medical needs or collaborating with local organizations to provide triage med- ical services, sleeping bags, tarps and supplies for homeless people, she operates as an anonymous cata- lyst making miracles happen. “The homeless population lacks many critical services,” she said. “We should treat them like every other human being, even if they haven’t had a shower in weeks. I don’t need to know how they got where they are; I just want to pro- vide resources for them. My dad always taught me to be willing to step out of the comfort zone.” Cindy has been no stranger to that as a single mom, business maverick and self-described “tenacious, make- it-happen woman.” She also inherit- ed her father’s entrepreneurial streak, starting a secretarial service in Eugene at age 19. Cindy then expanded her enterprises with an answering service, a home décor business and an organizational con- sulting practice. “I wanted to provide income for single working mothers,” she said. “That’s how I chose to serve human- ity.” Cindy stepped out of that comfort zone again when the need arose to serve as a guardian and parent for her niece. “Initially, I didn’t plan on being a mother,” she said. “However, some- times an unplanned life makes for the best life of all.” That would eventually include a marriage and businesses in Florence. A job working as an administrator for Serenity Lane, a private, not-for- profit, substance-abuse treatment center in Eugene, brought her to Florence in 1996, serving as media- tor for 275 patients at a local outpa- tient program. “I look at my time there as instru- mental in helping people navigate the system to access treatment,” she said. “Understanding addictions still represents uncharted waters.” Cindy decided to make Florence her home after meeting her husband, Gene, a local professional land sur- veyor. But the avid cook, reader and gardener still dreamed of blending her entrepreneurial skills with a pas- sion for serving others. “I always wanted to open a cute little shop and restaurant,” Cindy said. She would fulfill that vision in 1998 with the Mon Ami Cafe and Mercantile, the Mon Ami Annex and then Cindy Wobbe Estates Sales, helping people liquidate their estates during difficult transitions such as the loss of a spouse or downsizing in a move to an assisted living center. While she has sold the café to Diane Marti, a single mom with four kids who is “continuing the Mon Ami service legacy,” Cindy contin- ues to run the estate sales and show- rooms. CATHERINE ROURKE Cindy Wobbe is well known for her dedication to helping others. Now, 20 years later, she and Gene share a “blended family” of four kids, seven grandkids and “a couple of ‘bonus’ kids we’ve picked up along the way who needed a safe place to land and a haven to call home.” That also includes a rescue dog named “Bella.” In addition to her current role of mother, wife, stepmother, godmother and grandmother, Cindy describes herself as an entrepreneur, designer, writer, mentor and “idea girl.” And let’s not forget philanthropist. Yet she still has more dreams to fulfill. “It’s been a beautiful experience to live in this community and find meaning by helping others,” Cindy said. “I really want to find ways to employ young girls from local tribes. My other passion is to help local people access medical care where the doors are closed. I want everyone to have hope. The lack of that is the root of most of this world’s ills. If I can inspire hope, then we’re accomplishing some- thing.” ______________________ Catherine J. Rourke is an award- winning writer, journalist and book editor who teaches creative writing at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance. She may be contacted at CJReditor@gmail.com. LETTERS Researchers say this slowing down process is not the same as cognitive decline. The human brain works slower in Seenagers, say researchers, but only because we have stored more information over time. The brains of Seenagers do not get weak. On the contrary, we simply know more. Also, Seenagers often go to another room to get something and when we get there, we stand there wondering what we came for. It is not a memory problem, it is nature’s way of making Seenagers do more exercise. I would say more, but I don’t recall what I wanted to say. So there! Duane “Boomer” Wright Florence Farewell, Bob A couple of great tributes to Bob Jackson in Saturday’s paper (“A Man Named Bob,” Jan. 9, A1). However, his other unique talent was not mentioned: his ability to draw sketches of any- thing and anybody on whatever was available, most often a paper napkin. He even had a book- let printed with some of his drawings. Definitely one of those rare human beings that we were privileged to get to know and love. Farewell, Bob, you will be missed by many. Jim and Lillian Swant Florence Times have changed “Just the Facts” (Dec. 16) is un-factual. The letter in question never mentioned Syrians. It stated that when the boats became overloaded the Muslims threw the Christians overboard and let them drown. Where they came from is irrel- evant. Also, there is no possible way to know who has been arrested or not. This has been going on for years. It is just as impossible to determine what an immigrant has been involved in or what they have in mind when they come from these turbulent countries. The letter writer states, “This country has been built on the back of immigrants,” but this is ancient history. Times have changed. We must become like Australia or New Zealand. Immigrants don’t get in unless they have funds or skills the country needs. Martin Cable Dunes City L ETTERS P OLICY Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affecting the Florence area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All let- Life as a ‘Seenager’ I am a Seenager (senior teenager). I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 50 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car. I don’t have acne. I have real ID that gets me into bars and the liquor store. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant. In fact, they aren’t scared of much of anything; they have been blessed to live this long. Why be scared? Brains of Seenagers work slower because we know so much. Seenagers do not decline men- tally with age, it just takes us longer to recall facts because we have more information in our brains. Scientists believe this also makes us hard of hearing as it puts pressure on our inner ear. Much like a computer struggles as the hard drive gets full, so too, do Seenagers take longer to access information when our brains are full. ters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are subject to edit- ing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of let- ters received. Libelous and anonymous letters as well as poetry will not be published. All submis- sions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2016 © Siuslaw News John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ryan Cronk Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Advertising Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com WHERE TO WRITE Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Pres. Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov Gov. Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. Salem, OR 97301-4047 Governor’s Citizens’ Rep. Message Line 503-378-4582 www.oregon.gov/gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 State Rep. Caddy McKeown (Dist. 9) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603 541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 West Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 FAX: 541-682-4616 Email: Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us