4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ OCTOBER 15, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE
Jo Beaudreau
C ATHERINE J. R OURKE
For the Siuslaw News
_____________
I
f a life can be described as “a
work of art,” then Jo
Beaudreau’s fits the bill. As a
professional photographer and fine-
arts supplies entrepreneur, she has
focused her viewfinder on the arts
for most of her life. In fact, she sees
the world much like a camera: in
frames.
This unique vision now inspires
her to serve an active role in the
future of Florence — for the arts as
well as its quality of life.
“Art is so important in our every-
day lives,” Jo said. “It is hugely
important in culture and allows peo-
ple to thrive, connecting people from
all backgrounds and walks of life.”
For Jo, a California native raised
in Nevada City, art showed up at an
early age in the form of a point-and-
shoot camera in the first grade. Jo
became enamored with photography
and by fifth grade she had “kid-
napped” her dad’s SLR 35 mm cam-
era. Focusing her lens on nature and
abandoned buildings, she developed
“a fascination with the beauty and
value in deteriorating things left
behind by society.”
Jo immersed herself in black-and-
white photography, mastering
advanced darkroom techniques prior
to the emergence of
PhotoShop.
“I really enjoyed taking an
image outside and working it
into an art form inside the
darkroom,” she said.
That passion inspired her to
pursue a BFA degree in pho-
tography at San Jose State
University. Shortly after grad-
uation, she accompanied her
beau, Dan, to his native
Chicago, where she took a job
as an administrator for the
University of Chicago Pritzker
School of Medicine. While
managing academic publica-
tions and event planning, she
shot weddings and other pho-
tos in her spare time.
Despite a great job at a
CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
prestigious institution, Jo’s
Jo Beaudreau enjoys serving on the
artistic soul and viewfinder
city’s Public Art Committee and “help-
yearned for nature. Then, in
ing people discover their creativity.”
2014, an opportunity to leave
the Windy City and manage a
and the possibilities is so reward-
fine-art supplies enterprise with her
ing.”
mother in Florence fulfilled her cre-
Jo explains how some art supplies
ative impulse plus a desire to help
she
helped a customer select for a
other people discover theirs.
gift
made a significant impact on the
“I moved here when the tides
recipient’s
life. The customer report-
were turning and every day I see
ed
to
Jo
how
working with the art
new things happening with art and
tools
inspired
the recipient to finish
people,” she said. “I frequently hear
school
and
go
on to pursue a higher
how something I did with the arts or
education.
art supplies made a huge difference
“I believe that every day some-
in someone’s life. Having conversa-
thing
extraordinary happens,” she
tions with people about their ideas
said. “Art initiates conversations,
through which ideas and actions are
inspired and help get people’s cre-
ative juices flowing. The adult color-
ing book craze is one good example.
Digital technology and PhotoShop
have revolutionized the arts and
made creative photography an art
form accessible to everyone.”
For Jo, supporting the arts tran-
scends the day-to-day operation of
BeauxArts Fine Art Materials. She
also serves on the city’s Public Art
Committee (PAC), working with
other members to establish an arts
policy and develop several “high-
impact” arts projects.
“Florence is such a wonderful
community where you can really
make a difference,” Jo said. “The
arts are so strong here and their
future will only continue to grow. I
love being on PAC because we are
setting a foundation for the arts to
flourish, which is a reflection on
how our city is evolving. We have
several projects that will give our
community and region a boost.”
October’s designation as Art
Appreciation Month is just one
example. Jo also serves as co-chair
of the Siuslaw Vision Keepers, a
community outreach group currently
working on a 10-year plan for the
future of Florence.
“I see how vibrant this community
has become in just two years,” she
said. “We have a great influx of new
faces and ideas. But we still have a
lot of work to do to keep things
moving forward. We need more doc-
tors, housing, jobs, IT and educa-
tional resources for a growing com-
munity.”
Jo still loves “hunting for images”
with her collection of DSLR cam-
eras and nature still remains her
favorite subject. Dan, now her
fiancé, works for the postal service
and the couple often spend their
leisure time agate hunting — and
chasing the light for photos, of
course.
Jo may not be shooting images
every day as she would like, but her
focus on the big picture remains in
sharp focus.
“I feel so lucky to live in Florence
and the Pacific Northwest,” she said.
“Everywhere you look is so gor-
geous. I could not live without cre-
ativity and freedom of expression.
My family, friends and community
inspire me to keep being creative
and supporting it in others. Fostering
and cultivating the arts and provid-
ing the community with the tools
and inspiration for creativity will
always be my top priority.”
Catherine J. Rourke is an
award-winning journalist, author and
book editor who teaches
creative writing at the Florence
Regional Arts Alliance.
Email CJReditor@gmail.com.
LETTERS
Small price to pay
I support Measure 20-266, which, if passed,
will renew and extend the 2012 levy for the
Western Lane Ambulance District for another
five years.
A mailer was sent out recently to everyone in
the district describing what the levy has been
used for these last four years and why it is
imperative that voters allow it to continue.
Having personally seen our emergency med-
ical service teams in action, I can say with con-
viction how important it is to keep these servic-
es going at their best possible level. That will
not be possible without this levy renewal.
The cost is .45 cents per $1,000 of assessed
property value per year, or an average of about
$7 a month. This is not a new tax, only a renew-
al of the current local option levy.
It is a small price to pay for peace of mind,
knowing that you will be skillfully and appro-
priately cared for in an emergency.
Vote “yes” on Measure 20-266.
Crystal Farnsworth
Florence
We deserve better
I recently saw a video posted by Dick
Anderson, the former Mayor of Lincoln City.
Mr. Anderson is currently running against Sen.
Arnie Roblan to represent District 5 in the
Oregon Senate. As someone who’s worked hard
to improve our coastal communities, I was dis-
mayed at Mr. Anderson’s attempts to take sole
credit for the hard work of many community
members.
People on the Oregon coast deserve better.
We deserve an elected official who will stand up
for the coast and work with Oregonians across
the state to help make our communities
stronger; that person is our Sen. Arnie Roblan.
For the last 10 years, I have worked with for-
mer representative, co-speaker and now Sen.
Roblan and his Legislative Coastal Caucus col-
USPS# 497-660
leagues on critical priorities for Lincoln County.
Sen. Roblan gets things done for us by bringing
people together.
Working with our communities and with his
colleagues in the Legislature, Sen. Roblan
secured funding to build the new OSU Marine
Sciences building and continuing the work he
began with former State Rep. Jean Cowan on
Project Independence and other senior pro-
grams.
And each year, Sen. Roblan leads the annual
Oregon Coastal Caucus Economic Summit,
which brings together legislators, interested cit-
izens, business leaders and representatives of
government agencies to hash out ideas about
how to make things better on the coast.
Terry Thompson
Newport
$25 million isn’t
‘small business’
The only true words in the deceptive ads against
Proposition 97 are, “it taxes sales, not profits.”
If a corporation, in Oregon or out of state, does
business in Oregon and its sales are more than $25
million, then they must pay more tax to do business
in our state.
It does not affect small businesses unless their
annual sales exceed $25 million a year. The money
collected will go to education, healthcare and senior
services.
I don’t know too many “small businesses” in
Oregon that sell more than 25 Million in “inventory.”
Do you?
Patricia Smith Olmstead
Florence
Strength of character
In response to the letter by Dianna Allison
(Oct. 5), I have to write in defense of Barrack
Obama and Hillary Clinton.
When President Obama was first elected,
Mitch McConnell — a powerful Republican —
stated in an interview on national television that
It’s a lose/lose
for taxpayers
The article “Ruling Clears Way for Timber
Lawsuit” (Register-Guard 10-8-16) speaks of a class
action lawsuit by counties against the state for $1.4
billion for trees not harvested for decaeds on state
lands.
The counties have attorneys (paid for by taxpayer
money) to sue the state. The state has attorneys (also
paid for by taxpayers) to defend against the suit.
Should the counties win, the state will transfer
$1.4 billion of taxpayer money (less attorney’s fees)
from the general fund to the counties’ respective gen-
eral funds. The state will have to raise taxes to pay for
this and the various law firms will get paid big bucks.
The taxpayer pays in several ways with no benefit
— unless the counties refund the money back to tax-
payers, which is unlikely.
We elect officials at the county and state level to
manage these kinds of issues at minimal cost to the
taxpayer.
A lawsuit between these two entities is a lose/lose
proposition for the taxpayer.
Jim Rash
Florence
Copyright 2016 © Siuslaw News
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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
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John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
the president would be “DOA (Dead On
Arrival) at the White House.”
Since then, President Obama has had to fight
for everything he’s tried to do for our contry
while listening to liesand twisetd words from
his opponents.
He and Mrs. Clinton are now being blamed
for the things our Congress failed to pass.
I do admire them both and thank both
Barrack and Michelle Obama for the strength of
character they have shown these last eight
years.
Jeanette Hanson
Florence
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