“Redgrave to return to Ten Chimneys in 2010 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel” plus 4 more

Redgrave to return to Ten Chimneys in 2010 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Tosa house fire causes half-million in damage - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Gratitude blooms in Hadlock: Rhody Society plants to brighten up jail - Peninsula Daily News
Keizer's Lakepoint Church will spend day reaching out - Statesman Journal
Hispanic service group now at age 20 - News-Leader.com

Redgrave to return to Ten Chimneys in 2010 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Posted: 10 Oct 2009 08:40 AM PDT

Oct. 9, 2009 | A Milwaukee woman who helped her mother bilk Wisconsin's child care subsidy program out of more than $360,000 was sentenced Friday to a month in jail and a year's probation.

Shartavia Adams, 24, and her mother, Bernice Watson, were charged a year ago with three counts of felony fraud. In August, Adams pleaded guilty to an amended charge of computer crime, a misdemeanor.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Hansher imposed a stayed sentence of nine months in the House of Correction, and placed Adams on a year's probation. As a condition of the probation, she must serve 30 days at the House. She must also make a good-faith effort to sell her house, the proceeds of which would help pay $60,000 restitution. Her child care license has been revoked.

Adams ran Tender Moments Child Care Center on W. Capitol Drive. She and Watson were accused of recruiting women - especially those with large numbers of children - to enroll their kids at the center. As part of the scheme, Adams and Watson would claim the women worked at the center, making low enough wages to qualify them for publicly funded child care. The state pays child care providers roughly $200 a week per child, depending on the child's age. The women never actually had to work and the kids never had to attend, according to the charges. The state kept sending checks every two weeks, from September 2006 to September 2007, totaling about $1.7 million, when the investigation was launched.

Deputy District Attorney David Feiss said further investigation revealed Adams was mostly a figurehead in the scheme, and her only real role was allowing her mother to use a computer code that allowed for the fraudulent payments. »Read Full Article

Tosa house fire causes half-million in damage - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Posted: 10 Oct 2009 08:11 AM PDT

Oct. 9, 2009 | A Milwaukee woman who helped her mother bilk Wisconsin's child care subsidy program out of more than $360,000 was sentenced Friday to a month in jail and a year's probation.

Shartavia Adams, 24, and her mother, Bernice Watson, were charged a year ago with three counts of felony fraud. In August, Adams pleaded guilty to an amended charge of computer crime, a misdemeanor.

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Gratitude blooms in Hadlock: Rhody Society plants to brighten up jail - Peninsula Daily News

Posted: 10 Oct 2009 07:28 AM PDT

PORT HADLOCK -- When Jefferson County Sheriff's Office personnel assign a work crew from the Jefferson County jail to help a community group, they don't expect anything in return.

"It's a constructive way for inmates to serve their time," said Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez. "It uses them in a positive manner and is a good program.

"But today, we saw an example of the sheriff's office helping out the community, and the community coming back to help out the sheriff's office."

What Hernandez saw was three rhododendrons planted next to the Jefferson County jail.

In a stretch of dirt that was mostly covered with rocks and dead grass, four members of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society dug holes and planted a "thank you" message to the agency.

"In this case they helped to beautify the grounds," Hernandez said. "That is a real nice gift."

Show gratitude

Paul Anderson, president of the chapter of Rhododendron enthusiasts, said the plants were the easiest way to show how grateful they are for the help they receive from inmates in the heavy lifting and moving required to put on the rhododendron display at the annual Rhododendron Festival.

"Every year, we put on the big show in the chapel at Fort Worden," Anderson said.

"There is a lot to move up from the basement and into that location, and without the help of the inmates, we call them trustees, it really wouldn't get done.

"We are very thankful they help us every year."

Work all year

The work groups contribute all year, Hernandez said.

"They are out there all the time, working in the community. They work in county parks, cleaning up the roadways, working at local nonprofits like the food bank or at animal services.

"There are a number of community projects that they help with."

Hernandez said the work groups are voluntary, and inmates must fall into specific categories to be eligible.

"Obviously no violent offenders," Hernandez said. "These are people who have committed non-violent crimes and want to do something outside the jail while they serve their time."

Hernandez said he hopes to see more crews developed to maintain the county's parks.

Still, he said he realizes he probably won't get any rhododendrons from the county.

Gwinn Dunham, a chapter member who helped with the planting on Thursday morning, said the gift actually served two goals.

"It's a thank-you, of course, but it also helps spread rhododendrons around the community," he said. "It's a chance to plant these beautiful plants and spread the interest in our state flower."

The rhododendrons that are now in the ground are two hybrid species -- which will bloom in unknown colors -- and a variety called Christmas Cheer, which Anderson said will bloom just before Christmas.

For more information about the rhododendron society, phone Cindy Cook at 360-379-0603.

________

Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com,

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Keizer's Lakepoint Church will spend day reaching out - Statesman Journal

Posted: 10 Oct 2009 07:57 AM PDT

Don't plan on going to worship services at Keizer's Lakepoint Church Sunday because there won't be one.

There will be services in an entirely different nature than the normal singing and preaching activities.

The 150-member congregation will be offering vaccinations and haircuts, clothing and food, family photos and career counseling and more. This will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church's regular meeting location, McNary High School, 595 Chemawa Road N, Keizer.

It is subscribing to the national community service campaign, Faith in Action. Lakepoint spokeswoman Rachel Taylor said the congregation will "be the church" by mobilizing to serve their community.

The Rev. Tom Fox of Lakepoint said, "Faith in Action is helping us transform our congregation into a church that is motivated to help our community and strive to grow in Jesus' image. A church that puts its faith in action focuses not on itself, but in living out Christ's teaching and His divine example of compassion."

The national effort is sponsored by World Vision, Outreach and Zondervan. The day's activities is called Serve Fest. Part will take place outside the school under tents with other things happening in the school. It will end with an hour-long concert at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium.

The Keizer church normally meets at 11 a.m. Sundays at McNary. Additional information is at www.lakepoint.net or (503) 428-3141.

Global outreach

Global neighbors helping neighbors might be one way of describing the fourth annual Foods Resource Bank dinner and auction Oct. 17.

The event will begin with a silent auction at 5:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 303 N Church St., Silverton. The pulled pork dinner will follow at 6:30 with the oral auction an hour later.

During the past three editions of the dinner/auction, $46,000 has been raised for projects in Tanzania, India and Uganda. This year, clean water and AIDS orphans in Uganda will be helped.

The Rev. Leah Stolte-Doerfler of the host church said, "In this program (Foods Resource Bank), farmers in a land of plenty grow a crop and sell it. That money then goes to an implementing agency in a land of scarcity to train, assist, and equip farmers there to create reliable and sustainable farming practices."

Auction items include vacations to Hawaii, Eagle Crest and Mount Rainer, jewelry, sporting goods, Christmas decor and other things. Raffles will be for a handmade quilt, a wine basket and a gift-wrap basket.

For more information, call Stolte-Doerfler at (503) 302-7712.

Don't grieve alone

Some people bristle on hearing the term "lost" when describing someone who has died, as in "Susie just lost her husband."

It contains the thought that he is just around the corner, waiting to be "found."

"Just say they died," comes the forthright statement.

Whatever term is used, when one is grieving over a death, divorce, separation or other life-changing losses, outside help from those who have "walked that road" can give a big boost.

That is the essence of the message behind the Beginning Experience weekends. The next is scheduled Friday through Oct. 18 at the Griffin Center in Milwaukie.

One proponent, Kathryn Kyriss, said, "Beginning Experience is an ecumenical, peer-led nonprofit organization which has roots in the Marriage Encounter Program, but is designed to minister to the unique needs of those who have found themselves single again."

Kyriss became involved after her marriage of 18 years was dissolved in 1993 and she was left three adolescents confronting their own issues about the situation.

"I found others with stories similar and some very dissimilar to mine … the common thread was that we all were experiencing one or more the phases of grief and needed to find hope in order to pass through grief and begin again."

The weekend program costs $195, including two nights lodging, meals and resource materials. Partial scholarships may be available. Information and registration may be obtained by calling (503) 390-7971.

The weekend is one of three that the Oregon chapter of Beginning Experience hold each year.

Worship service

The interfaith Oneness Coalition is presenting a worship event on "Celebrating Chords of Peace" at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Temple Beth Sholom, 1274 Cunningham Lane S, Salem.

Speaking will be the host rabbi, James Greene. The program will also include sacred dances from the Baha'i and Hindu communities, sacred drumming and other musical presentations.

For information, contact the Rev. Curt McCormack at onenesscoalition@yahoo.com or (503) 390-6145.

Good followers

Leaders first need to be good followers.

That is the contention of Leonard Sweet, speaker at the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22 pastors and church leaders retreat at the Oregon Christian Convention Conference Center in Turner.

Sweet's focus will be "The Art of Followership: Great Leaders Learn First to Follow Great Leaders." He is the E. Stanley Jones professor of evangelism at Drew University, Madison, N.J., and a visiting distinguished professor at George Fox University, Portland.

He has written numerous books including "A Cup of Coffee at the Soul Cafe, Postmodern Pilgrims," and "So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and Church."

The cost is $35, including lunch, with registration available at www.oregonchristianconvention.org or by calling (503) 743-2101.

Hank Arends is a retired writer for the Statesman Journal. He may be reached at hankarends@msn.com or by calling (503) 930-9653.

Hispanic service group now at age 20 - News-Leader.com

Posted: 10 Oct 2009 07:28 AM PDT

On Sept. 18, Grupo Latinoamericano celebrated its 20th anniversary. A lot of people from the Springfield area celebrated with us on that evening.

Twenty years ago, the Hispanic community started growing in the area, especially the immigrant population, not only from Spanish-speaking countries, but from Puerto Rico (Puerto Ricans are American citizens), and from places in the U.S. where Hispanics live in great numbers.

A group of Latino friends and acquaintances started noticing that many of these newcomers didn't have much knowledge of not only the English language but of how this society functions. We decided to put our collective knowledge, skills and experience into helping that population. We got organized, and formed a grass roots, all-volunteer based organization.

Our main mission was to help newcomers to adapt to their new surroundings. To help them by giving them information and orientation about local culture, customs, and legal systems in order to facilitate their acculturation, transition and incorporation into the community. We also serve the greater community as a source by working as a link and bridge between both communities.

Providing human services and programs has been our most important achievement, given the fact that we have very limited economic and human resources.

The Hispanic population in Springfield and in the surrounding areas continues to grow, and we still inform and educate those who request our free services and assistance.

We still believe that from language flows everything else; if you don't speak English in this area, it's very hard to succeed in anything else. So our English classes continue to be our most important program.

We have offered many educational programs, workshops and seminars throughout the years, too many to mention in this space. We have participated in many others offered by different organizations in the community.

And of course, we participate in all the major cultural events in the region like ArtsFest. And we ourselves organize some of them.

On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank all businesses, agencies and individuals who have helped us carry our mission. Like: United Way, under the direction of John Rush, who gave us our starting funds; Community Foundation of the Ozarks, who helped us build our endowment fund, as well the Darr Foundation with the same purpose; Great Southern Bank, a great supporter throughout the years; and the YMCA.

We also appreciate the official congratulatory letters for our anniversary from Sen. Christopher S. Bond from the United States Senate, and Consul of Mexico Jacob Prado, from the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City; the resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives; and the proclamation from Mayor James O'Neal.

We begin our next 20 years with a renewed commitment to strengthen our mission of service and improvement for the quality of life of Latinos and the greater Springfield community.

Yolanda Lorge is with Grupo Latinoamericano and lives in Springfield.