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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2016)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 RYAN CRONK , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion E XTRAORDINARY K IDS Nyah Vollmar C ATHERINE J. R OURKE For the Siuslaw News _____________ “Music makes it easier for me to remember the words. I had to prac- tice a lot but it was also fun and I got to wear some fun costumes.” Nyah bravely began entering audi- tions and won a spot singing the National Anthem publicly for the first time at age 11 before hundreds of people at an Oregon Ducks bas- ketball game. “I was really nervous,” she said. “I still get nervous when singing in front of anyone.” Her favorite song to perform at auditions is “Applause” by Lady Gaga. As proof of her talent, Nyah has won numerous talent competitions. She received First Place for three consecu- tive years in “Florence’s Got Talent,” where she sang “I’m Like a Bird” by Nelly Furtado. With so many singing engage- ments since then, including the Eugene Emeralds and NCAA athlet- ic events, does Nyah feel more con- fident now? Her reply is honest and straightforward, as would be expect- ed from any girl her age: “Nope!” Still, she gains a sense of accom- plishment from every event. “I feel totally relieved afterward,” she said with a laugh. “But I really love doing it and always feel great when I sing.” S “We always knew we wanted to live on the Oregon coast,” Scott said. “We love the dunes, ocean and lakes.” Scott began posting Nyah’s profile on talent sites with great response but keeps her education as the top priority. The stay-at-home dad serves as her manager and closely monitors Nyah’s schoolwork so her grades don’t suffer. Despite an agency booking auditions, print modeling and acting gigs, none of it has gone to her pretty little head. Instead, Nyah takes it all in stride and even shares her “worst moment” when she lost her voice during a perform- ance due to a cold. “My voice came out like a screech on high notes,” she said with a laugh. “It was so apparent and very embarrassing.” Asked if she plans to audition for TV talent shows, Nyah replied, “I want more experience behind me first.” And she’s getting plenty of it. Nyah just expanded her repertoire to include an online commercial launched last week for a new app- enabled BB-8 toy from the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” movie. The ad shows her using the wearable Star Wars Force Band to control the BB-8 droid’s movements. Despite such talent and a voice that sounds like someone way beyond her years, Nyah is still a just a kid with a great sense of humor who likes sand dune rides, eating crab puffs and telling jokes. While still too young to define her future career, she hopes it will combine singing, acting and dancing. Her dream is to perform musical theater for Broadway-style shows. “I don’t know exactly what I will do for my profession, but I will defi- nitely go to college for performing arts because it opens up more doors,” Nyah said. “I can see myself becoming a professional singer, though not quite like Lady Gaga. he’s only 12, but her voice has the power to move crowds to tears and rousing applause. With a voice as big as the arenas in which she performs, Nyah Vollmar’s rendition of the National Anthem evokes gasps and goosebumps wher- ever she goes. Listening to her deliv- er the high notes during a recent Oregon Ducks basketball game in Eugene, it’s hard to believe the voice comes from a kid instead of some sophisticated diva. Nyah looks like any ordinary schoolgirl with her shy smile and unassuming demeanor. But when she opens her mouth to sing a melody, this amazing voice rises from her depths to dazzle audiences with wonder and admiration. “I’ve always loved singing,” said Nyah, who started belting out tunes at age 7. “I like Disney movies and just started singing along to them.” Nyah discovered her natural singing voice at an early age. Since then, the Siuslaw Middle School seventh-grader has developed an impressive repertoire of “I’ve always loved singing. skills, includ- ing acting and I like Disney movies and just started modeling. singing along to them.” Nyah never —NYAH VOLLMAR, 12 YEARS OLD had any for- mal singing instruction until recently. Nyah was born in Tualatin, Ore., “I joined the school choir in and remembers living “in the shad- fourth grade, but that’s about it,” she ow of the Eiffel Tower” as a toddler said. “I never even thought about it; when her family moved to Paris. The singing has always been my hobby.” daughter of Scott, a former financial That hobby inspired her to join executive, and Marijo, a physical the Children’s Repertory of Oregon therapist at PeaceHealth, Nyah has Workshops (CROW) and develop two brothers ages 6 and 14, as well her skills further. as a 21-month-old sister. The “It’s harder to memorize lines for Vollmars moved to Florence in 2011 plays than for songs,” she said. for its natural beauty. PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT VOLLMAR Nyah will perform on Sept. 10 at the new CROW Center for the Performing Arts and on Sept. 14 at City Lights Cinemas. Acting in movies and learning how to do animation would also be pretty fun, but singing is the main thing.” Earlier this summer, Nyah sang a rendition of “Almost There” from the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog” for a CROW fundraiser that, in a prophetic way, echoes her bright future: “I know exactly where I’m goin’… gettin’ closer and closer every day… there ain’t nothin’ gonna stop me now ‘cause I’m almost there…” Don’t miss the chance to see this rising star perform in Florence. With a voice like that, she may soon take off for “America’s Got Talent” and the big stage. Nyah will appear Sept. 10 at the grand opening of the new CROW Center for the Performing Arts at 3120 Highway 101. She will also sing a duet with CROW musical director Maree Beers and the Miles to Go Quartet at the Siuslaw Outreach Services benefit on Sept. 14 at City Lights Cinemas. ______________________ 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 Anti-Trump vandalism Unacceptable act Monday morning, Labor Day, Duke and Trish Wells, owners of Old Cedar Tree Woodworking, came to work to find yet anoth- er act of vandalism against their support of Donald Trump. This time, instead of just throwing their Trump signs in the street and driving over them, it appears a slingshot was used to break the win- dow holding the large Trump sign. This large, 4 feet by 6 feet bay window in the front of the store has been in their shop with its matching windows for 30 years. The hole is in the upper left and the entire window will have to be replaced. There are reports of Republican signs being stolen from Glenada Road and other streets around Florence. I heard that an anti-Hillary person made a ruckus at the Democratic Office north of Fred Meyer — this is also bad. We need to get along and love each other no matter who wins the election; we will still be neighbors. Florence is better than this. Sherry Harvey Florence Today is a sad period of time in our nation when private property destruction is the accept- able form of political expression. Whether or not you think a candidate/political ideology is unacceptable does not give anyone the right to punish someone for their beliefs. Does destroying property persuade a voter to choose the culprit’s preference or does it help to elect the one they oppose? Let us all join hands as Americans to show our disdain for this act and others like it. Help Old Cedar Tree Woodworking repair its window, which was smashed by someone opposed to their political choice. Stop by and offer to help them replace the window. Show us what America is all about as in the old days when people joined forces to rebuild their neighbor’s barn. Ralph and Karen Nichols Florence Tax revenue, cuts Believe it or not, according to usdebtclock.org, using CBO data, in 2008, the total income tax rev- enue was $1,158,715,224,700 the year of Obama’s election. After he served his first four years, the total income tax, revenue totaled $1,128,357,496,540 in 2012. That is a difference of $30,357,728,160 less, after higher taxes and regu- L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR 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 letters 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 editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters as well as poetry will not be published. All sub- missions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com. lations — and, of course, there were a lot less peo- ple in the work force. In that same period, the total federal tax rev- enue totaled $2,527,909,189,049 in 2008, and in 2012, the federal tax revenue total was $2,436,940,962,376, a difference of $90,968,226,673 less than in 2008. Perhaps some of the difference has to do with a 33 percent drop in manufacturing jobs, which has produced the lowest work force participa- tion rate since the 1970s. Which party controlled the hill then? In 1980, probably before many were born, tax revenues were $956 billion (in 1996 dollars). This was before Reagan cut taxes. Those tax cuts in the following 10 years with the exception of two, rev- enues averaged $102 billion above their 1980 level in 1996 dollars, according to heritage.org/ research/reports/2002/10/issues-2002-tax-reform- for-economic-growth. There it is, only took me 10 minutes to find. The 33 percent loss in manufacturing jobs is largely due to the increased cost of doing busi- ness. Those costs to business are for the most part increased taxes and regulations. Jim Selby Florence 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
