SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016
School
ways to expand programs and
from 1A opportunities for students
Grzeskowiak was hired in
August 1996 to teach physical
science, biology and field
studies at Siuslaw High
School (SHS). He taught mul-
tiple science classes, coached
football and assisted with
technology. He was also SHS
athletic director for five years.
School board president
Tammy Butler said, “Mr. G.
has been a district leader for
the past 20 years. While he is
a first time superintendent, his
district experience will allow
him to hit the ground running.
The school board is thankful
to have such talent right here
within our Siuslaw School
District.”
The $105,000 contract will
start July 1 and run through
June 30, 2017.
“I feel honored that the
Board has given me this
opportunity to lead the
District and to try to fill the
shoes of Ethel Angal,”
Grzeskowiak said.
According to Grzeskowiak,
the greatest challenge to the
district and his role as super-
intendent will be discovering
given the limited budget
resources from the state.
Another top priority for
Grzeskowiak will be to
improve the high school grad-
uation rate.
“I will be looking at the
overall graduation rate and
how to support struggling stu-
dents along the way to high
school in both the elementary
and middle schools, in addi-
tion to the immediate supports
available at the high school,”
he said.
The school board has not
yet determined who will
replace Grzeskowiak as mid-
dle school principal for the
coming school year.
“I am going to miss the
daily interactions with the stu-
dents and staff at the middle
school,” Grzeskowiak said,
“just like I missed the high
school when I transferred
over, but I feel the job as
superintendent will be an
exciting challenge.”
__________
This is especially important
in a normally male-dominated
field.
The very first female to lead
a U.S. military academy, now
Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz,
was in the Coast Guard. The
first female to command a U.S.
military vessel, now Captain
Beverly Kelley, also occurred
in the Coast Guard. Two
women, Vice Admiral Vivian
Crea and Vice Admiral Sally
Brice-O’Hara, have served as
second-in-command officers of
the entire service. No other
military branch has seen
women promoted to that level.
Guards women have seen
other high positions in the
chain of command and there
are myriad opportunities in all
the ranks.
Women Coast Guard mem-
bers often have a female men-
tor to directly guide them and
undeniably have many female
role models, shown throughout
the history of the Coast Guard,
to which they aspire.
Boatswain Mate (BM2)
Sierra Schlager, from
Jamestown, N.D., has been
with the Coast Guard since
2008. She is a heavy weather
coxswain for the rugged 47’
motor lifeboat.
Schlager is training to be a
“Surfman,” the highest qualifi-
cation a coxswain can achieve
in the Coast Guard. The rough
bar and surf conditions in this
area allow her to continuously
practice her skills to achieve
her goal and satisfy her deeply
imbued sense of mission. She
enjoys the “dynamic deci-
sions” her boat handling expe-
riences create.
Of the nearly 200 boat sta-
tions in the Coast Guard, only
20 stations are located in areas
Follow Jack on Twitter
@SNews_Jack. Email him at
jack@thesiuslawnews.com.
DENTURE SERVICES INC.
Here to serve
your denture needs:
Dentures
Immediate Dentures
Implant Dentures
Relines and Repairs
William Foster LD
Sherry, Offi ce Manager
FREE CONSULTATIONS
Monday-Thursday
10am - 2 pm
Relines and Repairs
Same Day
Or by special appointment
Financing: Citi Health Card
12 Month no Interest
524 Laurel St.
541-997-6054
with surf conditions that
require Surfmen. Of the
approximately 500 Surfmen
in the Coast Guard, there are
only 6 women who hold that
prestigious title.
Schlager is well on her way
to such a distinction with
amazing boat driving skills,
Surfman mentors at the station,
and a strong belief in the long-
standing Coast Guard adage,
“service before self.” She is
also a role model for other
women at the station due to
her qualifications and leader-
ship skills.
Schlager enjoys hiking, ice
hockey, dogs and other outdoor
activities in her off-duty time.
She is married to Coast Guard
ombudsman Chantal Guzman-
Schlager with an 11-year-old
daughter.
BM3 Brooke Crosley, orig-
inally from Fort Lauderdale
Fla., is an integral part of the
boat crew and a station watch
stander, where she monitors
the radio, dispatches and keeps
an eye on the river. As part of
the boat crew, she trains for
towing, search and rescue,
basic first aid and fire fighting.
With two years in the Guard
so far, she wants to be an offi-
cer-in-charge of the station
some day.
She feels it is an “honor and
privilege to serve in the Coast
Guard” and plans to stay in for
a full 20-year career.
Crosley also said she likes
“the adrenaline rush from
going on missions and gets
gratification helping people” as
reasons for such a career.
Crosley previously earned a
bachelor’s degree in Criminal
Justice with a minor in
Psychology.
She enjoys outdoor activi-
ties, weight lifting and movie
going. She generously volun-
teers for the community with
Helping Hands, career days at
the middle school, beach
clean-up and other activities.
She is scheduled to attend
Boarding Officer school in
South Carolina and will then
return to Florence to continue
her tour here for the next few
years.
Samantha Hughes, born
and raised in Colorado
Springs, joined the Coast
Guard last year and is a
Seaman (SN) for boat deck
and also performs watch
stander duties.
Her family has a long tradi-
tion in the military, including
Coast Guard from 1A
Liing Life to the Fullest & Feeling Younger Longer
(541) 997-6111
375 9th St
Florence, OR 97439
www.spruce-point.com
Learn how to embrace life changes while managing your health
Maintaining a Positive Mental Outlook on Life
Thursday, January 21st, 2pm
Learn how to maintain a positive outlook on life while you age.
Learn How to Keep Your Memory Sharp
Thursday, February 18th, 2pm
As we age, we start to notice some changes in our ability to remember
things. Discover ways to keep your memory sharp and fresh at any age.
Japan
The certificate of commenda-
tion thanked the city for its rela-
tionship with Yamagata City.
Florence Public Information
Officer Megan Messmer pre-
sented the award, dated Dec. 11,
to the Florence City Council at
its Feb. 1 meeting.
Diabetes and Diet—Making Food Choices That Work for You
Thursday, March 17th, 2pm
Learn about diabetes prevention, management, and care. Understand
diabetes in a simpler and clearer way than ever before.
WORD
from 1A
Siuslaw School District held its
annual PTA Talent Show Thursday
and Friday night at the Florence
Events Center.
ON THE
STREET
What do you think of the PTA Talent Show?
“I think it is a great opportunity for
the community to come together for the
kids.”
“I think it is great. I’m looking for-
ward to watching with my troupe leader
and other Girl Scouts.”
“It’s an opportunity for the parents to
come together and be a part of some-
thing that’s going on in the school.”
– N ICHOLE B ALDWIN , F LORENCE
—S OPHIA , FLORENCE
—N AOMI N YBURG , F LORENCE
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed above are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Siuslaw News or its advertisers.
S HELTER C OVE V IEW H OME
Coast Real Estate
100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR 97439
Owner
will
carry
contract.
Cell:
CB#10862 MLS#15266131
$590,000
541-999-7317
diana@cbcoast.com
7 A
PHOTO BY DEBORAH HELDT CORDONE
Samantha Hughes and Brooke Crosley
her father, who made the Army
his career.
She states the Coast Guard
is the “right fit” for her person-
ality and goals, and likes using
“physical and mental capabili-
ties equally” in her profession.
She has yet to choose a spe-
cific assignment, but is inter-
ested in health services, electri-
cian’s mate or possibly avia-
tion technician training.
She loves being in the Coast
Guard and “giving the commu-
nity a peace of mind” with
their presence and knowing
“other mariners appreciate the
service.”
Hughes is certified in basic
EMT training and spends
many hours as a volunteer
firefighter for Siuslaw Valley
Fire and Rescue.
She also enjoys swimming,
community volunteering, hik-
ing and outdoor adventures.
She plans on starting an online
degree in Business
Administration in the near
future.
Storekeeper (SK2) Angela
Martin is a career Coast
Guard member, serving for
over 12 years. Her duties, inte-
gral to the operation of any
unit, include accounting, pur-
chasing and most other logisti-
cal functions.
She is nearing completion
of a bachelor’s degree in
Environmental Sciences.
Martin feels the Coast
Guard has given her experien-
tial lessons, education, training
and the tools needed to be a
productive citizen.
She enjoys camping, fish-
ing, hiking and spending time
with her canine companion.
She plans on transferring to a
unit in the Seattle area in the
near future, where she is from.
BM3 Sydnee Sansone,
from Apple Valley, Calif., has
been in the Coast Guard for
the past 5 1/2 years. She
serves on the boat crew and
helps around the station as
needed.
She plans to leave the Coast
Guard later this year and pur-
sue a business degree.
Sansone states she has
learned many life skills and
“matured as a person” during
her service.
In her off-time, she likes
snowboarding, shopping and
boating.
Women serving in the local
Coast Guard Auxiliary include
Kristy Cates, a volunteer fire
fighter/EMT for Lane Fire
Authority and currently a boat
crew leader (coxswain) in the
local Flotilla; Deborah Heldt
Cordone, retired law enforce-
ment officer, who performs
public affairs duties working
with both the active-duty sta-
tion and auxiliary; and
Danielle Jackson (PhD candi-
date at OSU) assigned as
Flotilla Staff Officer in charge
of supply procurement.
For more information about
a career in the U.S. Coast
Guard, visit www.uscg.mil.
“Last week I came back to
my office and there was a pack-
age on my desk. We received
this from the office of the
Japanese
Consulate
in
Portland,” Messmer said.
She showed the certificate
with its Japanese lettering to the
council.
“I have a translation,” she
added. “The Consular Office of
Japan extends its deepest
regards to the City of Florence
for the Florence-Yamagata
Friendship City relationship in
recognition of its distinguished
service in contributing to the
deepening of the mutual under-
standing between Japan and the
United States of America.”
The Consular Office of Japan
also honored the State of
Oregon and 25 sister cities in
Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
“It was a nice surprise to
receive, and it will be on display
at City Hall,” Messmer said.
Former
mayor
Roger
McCorkle started the friendship
exchange with Japan more than
20 years.
“We’ve had a friendship with
Yamagata City for 20 years,”
said Julia Tousley-Ritt, former
Friendship City program coor-
dinator in Florence. “If you’ve
ever been to Florence City Hall
and seen the big display case of
Japanese stuff, that’s where it’s
from.”
Up until five years ago,
Florence sent high school stu-
dents to Japan for one week in
an exchange with Yamagata stu-
dents. However, with the reces-
sion and the decline in funding,
the city has discontinued send-
ing students there.
Yamagata City still sends stu-
dents to Oregon each August. A
group consisting of chaperones,
high school-aged students and
two university students came to
Florence last summer.
While here, they explored the
Sea Lion Caves, visited the
Oregon Coast Aquarium in
Newport, rode in a dune buggy
in the Oregon Dunes National
Recreation Area, spent time in
Old Town and toured Siuslaw
High School.
For the Japanese students the
exchange is part of life-long
learning connected with the
school systems.
“The people who did the
exchange are so friendly.
There’s still many people who
have been to Florence, some of
them two or three times. They
get out their photo albums, look
at their pictures and invite you
to remember somebody who
lived here (in Florence). There’s
still a huge connection,”
Tousley-Ritt said.
Messmer said that the friend-
ship will continue.
“It’s a fun thing to do, and we
love to share our community
with them,” she said.
According to Messmer,
Florence Police Reserve Officer
John Brejska and Takako “TK”
Klampe are going to be the next
Friendship City program coor-
dinator.
In the next couple months,
the Friendship City coordina-
tors will start looking for host
families for the Yamagata City
visitors. Contact them for more
information at john.brejska
@ci.florence.or and pinevil-
lage2000@hotmail.com.
__________
Follow Chantelle on Twitter
@SNews_Chantelle. Email her
a
t
cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com.