For Immediate Release

Monday, March 2, 2009

CONTACT: Becky Beyer

441-0620

Gospel Rescue Mission

P.O. Box 190

Grants Pass, OR 97528

MISSION CONSTRUCTION CREATING JOBS

Gospel Rescue Mission Men’s Residence Project Will Help Reduce Unemployment

Just when the community could use some good news, the resumption of the construction of Wagner Hall, the 78 bed men’s residence for the Gospel Rescue Mission, is putting people back to work.    Aaron Ausland, from Ausland Builders points out that over the entire life of the project, the construction of Wagner Hall will have employed some 260 people.    Over 60 Professional workers, such as Engineers, architects, surveyors, project managers & inspectors, will be utilized.  In addition, nearly 200 trade workers including concrete finishers, carpenters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, electricians and laborers will find employment during a time when jobs are scarce.

After a nearly two year delay, as additional funding was sought, carpenters have begun nailing plywood to framing that will become the first floor walls of the planned multistory, 78-bed men’s residence.   While a recent grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program has provided the impetus go ahead and begin the next phase of construction, those funds cannot yet be touched.  “We still need to raise another $80,000 very soon,” states Pastor Keith Heck, Executive Director of the Mission.  “The grant money can’t be tapped into until we have 75% of the total cost of the project $3.2 million, in place.  We are 73 percent funded now; we’re almost there.   Currently we are operating on reserves and believing God will touch the hearts of the generous people of Josephine County to provide the rest.  Also we continue to seek funding through various Foundations as well,” says Heck.

The current men’s facility at 8th & E Streets has only 11 bunk beds with 47 men on a nightly basis.  The rest are obliged to sleep lined-up on the floor on mattresses and sleeping bags.  While we are grateful to provide a warm, dry place to stay, we believe that these men, due to their being created in God’s image, have dignity and are deserving of a better place to live.  The new building will provide a safe, comfortable and sober home and give them a place to restore their broken lives.  The facility will also allow room for men who are not able or willing to reside at the Mission but who still have health and cleanliness needs as well as postal address needs.

“The way we view it is that Josephine County has a need,” states Heck.  “The Mission exists to meet that need, working together for the common community good.”   ”We are so grateful to the many folks in our caring community who understand this need and are stepping up to help.”

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BECKY BEYER
Public Relations/Development Director  
GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION
Email: becky@gospelrescuemissiongp.org
Cell:    541-441-0620

Press Release, Public Service announcement with attached photo.  Thank you!
Kathleen E Finnegan
541-488-2926

The Rogue Valley Symphonic Band and wind ensemble invites you to be a part of their exciting Spring Concert.
“RVSB,” under the direction of Bill Norfleet, will present it’s first concert of the year on Sunday, March 8th 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2000 Oakwood, Medford Oregon, 97504.

Here are a few comments from the audience at our last concert:
“This was upbeat and beautiful.”
“Thanks for making my Sunday!”
“There’s something about a full piece band that thrills me.”
“The best band in the Valley.”

While true band enthusiasts will not be disappointed with a sophisticated Souza March and Americana Hyms, this year’s Spring performance also includes works from the unforgetable and romantic, Lerner and Lowe, Leonard Bernstein, Hoagy Carmichael, and George Gershwyn!

Tickets at the door. $8 adults, $5 seniors and students, and $16 families.  for questions please call: (541) 488-2926.

Kathleen  Finnegan, (541) 488-2926

Click Here to download the entire newsletter! (PDF)

Kids Learn at All Boys & Girls Club Branches in 5 CORE PROGRAMS

• Character & Leadership – Programs in this core area empower youth to support and influence their Club and community, sustain meaningful relationships, develop a positive self-image and good character, participate in the democratic process, and respect their own and others’ cultural identities.
• Education and Career Development – Programs in this core area enable youth to become proficient in basic educational disciplines, set goals, explore careers, prepare for employment and embrace technology to achieve success in a career.
• Health and Life Skills – These programs develop young people’s capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own wellbeing, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults.
• The Arts – This core enables youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.
• Sports, Fitness and Recreation – A positive use of leisure time, develop fitness, skills for stress management, appreciation for the environment and social skills.

Gospel Rescue Mission-2008
Grants Pass – Evergreen Federal Savings & Loan Association was awarded $936,000 that Gospel Rescue Mission will use to construct a shelter for homeless men earning 50 percent or less of area median income. The shelter will provide 78 beds in a dorm-like setting. The project will also provide commercial space for a thrift store and community space for counseling, computer skills training, budgeting and job skills training, and more.
For further details contact Keith Heck, Executive Director at 660-6870

BECKY BEYER
Public Relations & Development Director
GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION
P.O. Box 190
Grants Pass, OR 97528
Email: becky@gospelrescuemissiongp.org
Cell:    541-441-0620
Fax:    541-479-9427

News Release

Open the door to knowledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

December 11, 2008                                                                            Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Josephine Community Libraries prepares for Children’s Opening Day

Grants Pass, December 11, 2008-Josephine Community Libraries volunteers were busy Wednesday preparing for the opening of the Children’s Room at the main branch of the library, located at 200 NW C St in Grants Pass. The opening is scheduled for 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday, December 20.

“We’ve been vacuuming, sweeping, and cleaning a year and a half’s worth of dust!” said an exhausted Barbara Ketley, Josephine Community Libraries volunteer and president of the Grants Pass Friends of the Library.

The reason for all the activity is the Children’s Opening Day, where children will be treated to a special ride on JCLI’s version of the train in The Polar Express, complete with hot chocolate and a reading of the book.  Circulation will also be available in the Children’s Room only, so kids can check out books over the holidays.  Adults will get a chance to preview the rest of the library, meet staff, talk to volunteers, and join Josephine Community Libraries.

“It’s just awesome to be in this building and finally work towards our fabulous grand opening,” continued Ketley.  “I’m so excited for the public to be able to walk through the front doors!”

Volunteers were also buoyed by the news that the Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a three-year lease and a grant agreement for a matching-fund grant of $300,000.

-more-

Josephine Community Libraries, page 2

Doug Walker, president of the Board of Directors for Josephine Community Libraries, pointed out that it’s not too late for people to join the group.

“In fact,” explained Walker, “if people join before December 31, they can still be Founding Members, which brings special recognition and, more importantly, the pride of knowing you helped support community libraries.”

The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007.  In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County.  People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org.   Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org.

# # # # #

Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684   Grants Pass, OR  97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org

Click Here to download the entire newslette! (PDF)
by Peg Prag

The Caterpillar’s fall program, “I Can, (Toucan,) We ALL Can,” has just begun. “Global warming” is a topic that involves every one and every thing and upon which everyone has an effect.

The decisions we (soon to include today’s students) make about how we use our resources, energy, etc., will be very important ones. Though a complex subject, students need to develop an understanding of some of the science behind it, as well as a positive feeling that they (we) can each make a difference.

The 2009 Caterpillar curriculum is introducing this subject in constructive and engaging ways. The program has four main stations. One is Alternative Energy with several hands-on experiments with wind mills, solar cars, solar houses and solar collectors. The second is Endangered Animals. The K-2 students will each “adopt” an endangered animal puppet and put on a show. The third, fourth and fifth grade groups will each pick an endangered animal file with information and photos about the animals and write facts about it. The third is Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, and the difference that eating local food can make. The students will each make a “We-Can Bird”: one of the fortune-teller/catchers that kids have been making for years with things WE CAN do. And, the fourth is Plants: the carbon cycle (with a bit about global warming and the importance of plants), the plant cycle, and plant parts. In addition, the kids will each make a seed stick to take home and plant.

The program is exciting, with a lot of good information. To set up a Caterpillar visit for your group please call Vanessa at (541) 621-6278.

The Caterpillar crew will be selling food at the Winter Fest. It’s a wonderful event so come on by December 6, enjoy yourself…and buy some soup! We will also have a variety of re-made, re-cycled things for sale (kids nature kits out of old jeans, trugs and mason bee homes out of old pallets, and lots more). We’ll have several activities for kids, too: making bird feeders, making caterpillar draft-stoppers, and planting gift plants in yogurt containers. And, the fourth is Plants: the carbon cycle, the plant cycle, and plant parts. In addition, the kids will each make a seed stick to take home and plant.

A Special Thank You to:
Larry Jones for his wonderful creations for the Caterpillar, Bill and Mary Ann Kennedy for the circuit boards and woodworking and Rodger Miller and his friends for the vinyl installation work.

News Release

Open the door to knowledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

December 2, 2008 Jennifer Roberts, 441-3295

Doug Walker, 660-6531

Josephine Community Libraries meets matching funds goal-and then some!

Grants Pass, December 2, 2008-Josephine Community Libraries supporters were awestruck today to learn that not only had the group achieved its goal of meeting a $300,000 matching-fund grant from the county, it had far exceeded it.

When the Board of County Commissioners agreed to reinstate the $300,000 matching funds grant on October 14, 2008, Josephine Community Libraries had raised a total of approximately $230,000.  With news of the county grant, the community rallied around the group and memberships poured in, and the group has now raised $357,270 in cash.

Doug Walker, president of the board of directors of Josephine Community Libraries, pointed out that the outpouring of support from the community “shows the people of this county believe in libraries enough to donate their hard-earned money” to the private, nonprofit, nongovernmental group.

While the community’s support raised the group’s fundraising number to the necessary $300,000 level, other grants helped to put them over the top and added immeasurably to the group’s morale.  Especially notable were generous grants from Zonta Club of Grants Pass for $10,000; Fourway Foundation for $20,000; and Oregon Community Foundation for $25,000.

“We’re so thrilled that the community has stepped up to show its love for libraries,” noted Jen Roberts, JCLI board member.  “As we raise additional funds, we’ll be able to open the branches, add hours of operation, and build up our collection, so it’s especially encouraging that we’ve gone above and beyond our goal at this early stage.”

The libraries in Josephine County closed on May 17, 2007.  In September 2007, committed community members formed Josephine Community Libraries, Inc., a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to reopening and operating the libraries in Josephine County.  People interested in getting involved with the library effort can send an e-mail to info@josephinelibrary.org.   Those interested in becoming member can send their check or money order payable to “Josephine Community Libraries” to P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528 or make a secure donation on the Web site, www.josephinelibrary.org.

# # # # #

Josephine Community Libraries, Inc.

P.O. Box 1684   Grants Pass, OR  97528

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org www.josephinelibrary.org

Homeless Youth Task Force

Minutes: October 28th, 2008 3:00 pm

In Attendance:

-Anna Bernstein, L.I.F.T.

-Brandi King, UCAN

-Alicia Hansen, UCAN

-Martina Sunshine, UCAN

-Mark Gatlin, Calvary Chapel

-Dawn Sells, Commission on Children and Families

1. One-Night Homeless Count-January 28th

-This year’s homeless count, which is organized by UCAN, will take place on Wednesday, January 28^th. We are in need of volunteers to help with the actual counting as well as the food service and other tasks. We are also in need of donations of winter gear, such as hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, tarps, sock, etc. Donations can be dropped off at UCAN. For more info, contact Dancer Davis @ UCAN at 492-3528.

-The next planning meeting will be this Wenesday, Dec. 3, at 9am at Bethany Presbyterian. Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to attend.

-We discussed some possible sources of donations, including the SVDP and Gospel Rescue Mission Thrift Stores, and the Army Surplus Store. Mark will bring up the project with the “Church of the Valley,” a group of 8-12 local churches that meet monthly.

2. Building Update

We are negotiating with Avista at this time.  The building has been appraised at $420000.  We have an approval on a bank loan from Evergeen Federal of $250,000+ but we don’t want to borrow more than that amount.  With a $250,000 loan our payments will be very close to our current lease. The gap we need to fill is $100000 and Avista is considering a bargain sale plus carrying a secondary note but have not committed to specific amounts to date.  If they agree to a reduction in the sale price of $50,000 and carry a short-term secondary note for $50,000 we will need to raise that $50,000 over the next 12 to 24 months.

2. AAUW Christmas Backpacks/Dinner

-For the 3^rd year, the AAUW will be putting together backpacks for the homeless teens, to be handed out at the Christmas Dinner at JJ North’s.

-This year, there are 21 backpacks. They will be filled with necessities, such as socks, deodorant, etc. We discussed also having some sort of special “gift” included.

-I have reserved the room at JJ North’s for 4pm, Thursday, December 18^th, one week before Christmas.

-JJ North’s raised the prices this year, so we need about $350 to cover the meals. So far, the Eastern Star has agreed to contribute $60, and a few other groups will discuss helping as well. At this point, though, we still need about $290. If anyone is able to help sponsor a few plates, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Anna.

3. Bethany Christmas/ Calvary Thanksgiving

-Calvary Chapel delivered a total of 55 Thanksgiving Baskets to families around the county. LIFT youth received 6 of those baskets. Thank you Calvary!

-Bethany Presbyterian’s congregation will “sponsor” 6 families; 3 InnSight students, and 3 teen mothers, for whom they have provided a baby shower, a 1^st Christmas Party, and a 1^st Birthday Party. Thanks Bethany!

-Extra thanks to Bethany for providing an amazing Thanksgiving meal to the InnSight students.

3. SNAP Youth Activity- 1^st Friday, November 7 (Shannon)

-The SNAP Youth Activity on Nov. 7^th was a success. About 50 youth attended, and all seemed to have a good time. The Boys and Girls Club proved to be an excellent venue.

-There will be another activity this Friday, Dec. 5^th, also at the Boys and Girls Club, from 7-10 pm.

-Admission is free and snacks will be sold for a low price.

-If anyone is interested in chaperoning, contact Anna and I will forward your info to the appropriate people.

4. ACSO Update (Lonnie)

-The ACSO has been meeting regularly since the conference on 9/13

-The ACSO includes 2 Lions Clubs, 2 Rotary, 2 Kiwanis, AAUW, Zonta, and Soroptimists, as well as a number of service providers (including several HYTF members)

-The group is planning a work ethics training program, based on a program in the Illinois Valley.

-The “pilot” program will serve Inn Sight students.

-The group is waiting to meet with individuals from both school districts, etc., to conduct further planning.

6. LIFT needs/Donations

We have received an amazing number of donations recently. Thank you to everyone for your support. The full list of our current needs is attached.

If anyone has an hour or two to volunteer, I could use some help sorting through all of the donations!

7. Next meeting

The next meeting should be Tuesday, December 23^rd, at 3pm at Inn Sight. However, this happens to be 2 days before Christmas. Does this date work for everyone, or would you prefer to hold the meeting on a different day? Let me know!

Update for November 22, 2008

Open the door to knowledge

With our library director Russell Long finishing his first week on the job, the temporary lease agreement with Josephine County signed, computer systems in the works, and keys in hand, a date has finally been set!

Opening Day of the Children’s Room of the JCLI Library in Grants Pass will take place on Saturday, December 20! Festivities are being planned, and details will be announced in the coming weeks, as will the Grand Opening of the entire main branch in Grants Pass! Checkout services available then will depend on the timely installation and successful testing of computers and our Polaris library catalog system.

Contracts for library buildings and catalog systems

The temporary lease agreement has been signed by JCLI and Josephine County, and as a result, this week JCLI has officially taken provisional possession of the Grants Pass library building. The permanent lease agreement is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, and will allow the Grants Pass branch to open to the public by December 20.

The business plan, including the three-year budget, is posted on the JCLI Web site: www.josephinelibrary.org/Details/board.htm. JCLI will operate as an independent contractor to manage day-to-day operations of the library, personnel, programs, and technology.

We have signed the contract with Polaris for the computerized library catalog system. FastServer, LLC, is setting up the network and phone system. Qwest has scheduled installation of high-speed Internet and telephone lines for early December. Hart Insurance has donated the phones and Cummings Communications is installing them nearly free of charge!

PLEASE HELP! To prepare and maintain the building, we need long-term loans or outright donations of a commercial floor buffer, two commercial vacuum cleaners, and a ten-foot folding ladder. Please contact Doug Walker at 660-6531 or Russell Long at 226-7695, or send email to info@josephinelibrary.org.

We still need $21,026 to make it!

As of November 14, our community has contributed $278,974 to reopen our libraries — up from the $260,536 we reported last week! This means we still need $21,026 in memberships and other cash contributions to reach $300,000 and get the maximum effect of the county’s matching grant.

Our bare-bones library operations budget says we need $395,000 to open the main branch of the library. Help us do just that — if you haven’t yet joined, here are three ways to become a member of Josephine Community Libraries:

• Make your check out to Josephine Community Libraries, and mail it to JCLI, P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528.
• Go to www.josephinelibrary.org and click the Donate button to make a secure contribution online using your debit card, credit card, or PayPal account.
• Go to www.josephinelibrary.org and click automatic monthly payment form. Complete the form to have your contribution automatically deducted each month from your checking account. Send the form and your first month’s check to JCLI, P.O. Box 1684, Grants Pass, OR 97528.

Annual membership levels are as follows:

• Sustaining Member $1 to $199
• Bronze Member $200 to $499
• Silver Member $500 to $999
• Gold Member $1000 to $4999
• Platinum Member at $5000 and up.

All membership contributions are tax-deductible. But remember, whether or not a person is a member, everyone in the county will be able to use the services of the library. Not only will contributions this month help us meet our November 30 deadline, but it’s a great way to take care of your holiday giving and year-end tax planning!

Library milestones

The first day for our new library director Russell Long was Monday November 17. That also happened to be the day we obtained the key and possession of the Grants Pass library building on a lease from Josephine County. We’ve been working toward these two milestones for many months, and now it’s a reality!

Our candidate for technical services librarian has accepted our offer for employment. We’ll have more information about this in the next issue of this newsletter. Interviews are under way for our part-time volunteer coordinator. These will be the three paid staff members that will help launch the JCLI library, with the help, of course, of hundreds of dedicated library volunteers. These volunteers will be trained to handle circulation, cataloging, and other essential library duties.

Fundraising results

The JCLI Book Sale, which took place last Saturday, November 15, cleared $2,967.85 in sales and brought in $424.00 in new memberships. That’s a total of $3,391.85 for this fundraiser! With the match, that takes it to $6,783.70.

Thanks to Barbara Ketley, who not only coordinated the JCLI Book Sale, but also led the effort in starting up, running, and closing down the JCLI Temporary Lending Library from August until now. It was a tremendous success, and a great service to our community during this interim period. Thanks also to the volunteers who worked in the temporary lending library and the 25 volunteers who worked to organize and sell the books at the JCLI Book Sale. Everybody, you’re AWESOME!

Race For Our Library. Century 21 agent Lori Patch and her 12-year-old daughter Anna Patch participated in a 10K run in Grants Pass on November 15, and collected about $1,000 in pledges to be donated to JCLI, before the November 30 deadline.

Century 21 challenge. Real estate agents in the Century 21 JC Jones American Dream office have pledged to donate a percentage of their sales commissions to Josephine Community Libraries, and broker JC Jones himself has pledged to match the agents’ contributions dollar for dollar up to $500. As a result, $1,190 has been raised by the brokerage. Participating agents include Christol Delany, Sharon Nash, Lori Patch, Cilicla Philemon, Randy Richardson, Sharon Wylie, and Sandi Ziegler.

The ShopRiverRock event that took place on November 6 brought in $1,000 for the libraries. Also, Southern Oregon Sanitation and Siskiyou Physical Therapy donated $1,000 each as corporate sponsors of Josephine Community Libraries.

JCLI sponsored a garage sale benefit from 9 am to 3 pm today, November 22 at the JCLI space at Parkway Village. All sales were donations to JCLI and are eligible for the county matching grant. Thanks to coordinator Nancy Smith and all the volunteers who helped with the sale and those who contributed items for sale!

We staff a lively table at Growers Market every Saturday, and we’ll be there providing information until the last day of Growers Market next Saturday on November 29. We have tee-shirts and bumper stickers, not to mention lots of information. Stop by and say hello!

Check the Web

Go to www.GrantsPassNow.com to see a wonderful new online video written by Patricia Snyder and produced by Ron Dowell. The video features JCLI board members and other community supporters in a public service announcement supporting our libraries. This video is also expected to be shown on RVTV public access television soon.

For more information about Josephine Community Libraries, check our own Web site at www.josephinelibrary.org.

This update is being sent to everyone on our Josephine Community libraries e-mail list. Feel free to forward to others. For questions or comments about anything in this update, please reply to this message (info@josephinelibrary.org) or call us at 660-6531.

Thank you for everything you’re doing to help reopen the libraries in Josephine County!

Teresa Stover, Project Manager

Josephine Community Libraries

541-660-6531

info@josephinelibrary.org

www.josephinelibrary.org

P.O. Box 1684

Grants Pass, Oregon 97528

Miracle on 34th Street
Rogue Building on the RCC Campus
November 28 – December 7

Tickets on sale at the Kitchen Company

Miracle on 34th Street, by Valentine Davies, is the classic holiday story of Kris Kringle having to prove that he is who he says he is and igniting a spark in the hearts of many people along the way. Directed by Bobbi Kidder, with Ed Gangner as Kris Kringle, our RCC/Impact Theatre production opens Thanksgiving Friday with our “Cuppa Jo and a Show” $5.00 show at 8 pm.

The rest of the performances are $15 General admission and $7 for students. November 29, December 4, 5, and 6 begin at 8 pm; November 30 and December 7 are matinees, beginning at 2 pm.

We look forward to seeing you at the show.

Produced through special arrangement with Samuel French. Big thanks to Josephine County Cultural Coalition for partial funding of this project. This message sent by permission of Cheryl Markwell.