Cascade Pacific R.C. and D. recruits ideas from Linn County

Left to Right: Cascade Pacific RC and D Dan Lara, Karen Strohmeyer, Paul Harcombe, Mayor of Tangent Seaton McLennan, and Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker

Who: Commissioner Will Tucker, Mayor of Tangent Seaton McLennan and Cascade Pacific members Karen Strohmeyer, Paul Harcombe, and Dan Lara.
What: Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development (RC and D) (www.cascadepacific.com)
Where: Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany, Oregon
When: April 29th 6:30-8:00
Why: Meeting to create a five year vision based on regional communities' ideas and needs to create rural development and healthy eco-systems.

Linn County Commissioner, Will Tucker, hosted a meeting for Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development on April 29 at the Linn County Fairgrounds. The meeting was held in effort to bring citizens together to share ideas based on the needs of the rural communities to create a five-year project focusing on rural development. Speakers in the meeting included Commissioner Will Tucker, Mayor of Tangent Seaton McLennan, Pacific Cascade Resource Conservation and Development Coordinator Karen Strohmeyer and members on the Board of Directors Paul Harcombe and Dan Lara. Pacific Cascade Resource Conservation and Development areas of concentration are energy efficiency, local food programs, creating jobs, land use, and water treatment. And their areas of work include Polk, Marion, Lincoln, Benton, Linn, and Lane counties. If you would like to share an idea you can contact them at http://www.cascadepacific.com/

This meeting, and others that will follow, are important for they draw citizens of the regional communities together to blend ideas and seek what is needed, such as the need for energy conservation or the need to create jobs. Cascade Pacific RC and D link people and their ideas to the fundings and needs neccesary to carry out and maintain projects for rural development. Cascade Pacific is seeking a five year vision so it's company can expand rural development and needs the citizens of these counties help creating it.

The Mayor of Tangent, who is also a board member of Cascade Pacific R.C.and D. Seaton McLennan,explained what the focus of tonight's meeting was;

"It is an effort for Cascade Pacific to grow more. When a company like this is not enlisting any projects and get stagnent they start to lose their funding. This meeting is an effort to collect ideas and create projects with the communities to expand rural development." said McLennan.

Commisioner, Will Tucker, begins the meeting;

"Cascade Pacific R.C. and D. are here tonight because they want your input and ideas for rural development for the surrounding areas."

"I want a world where I don't have to use fossil fuels but it may be diffucult when you invest way more money than there is energy being produced," said Tucker, "It would cost me $70,000 to put solar and wind panels on my house alone."

Tucker explained that there is still hope for ideas to come together and make projects happen because 70% of the budget is already there from available grants.

McLennan asked the members attending the meeting, "What improvements are needed in the communities? What do you envision of your community in the next five years?"

"What Resource Conservation and Development programs do in general is try to bring the interesting ideas and people together and link them with those who can make the ideas happen." said Dan Lara.

Dan Lara further explains that Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development promote economical and resource development ideas. When start up companies seek funding the funders will put certain companies under certain grades as to where they would put their money. For example, LBCC's new science buildings were on the "A" grade for recieving funding for all the green resources being used and the thought of the students being able to interact and learn from the building such as the power producing windows and bioswale in the garden.

Paul Harcombe, a member on the Board of Directors, mentions some goals created by Cascade Pacific R.C. and D. such as the Local Food Connection and the Oregon County Trails that is to increase tourism by creating guides for all the trails in Benton, Deshutes, Lane and Lincoln counties.

Harcombe said they have a goal to provide water conservation in rural and farm areas.

"In 2009 we had 9 plans in the works for assisting farmers and were hoping for at least 15 more by 2010." said Paul Harcombe.

Paul also mentions that there are only two irrigation systems in the county and a grant out there for $2 million waiting to be used.

Cascade Pacific RC and D is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of USDA Natural Resources and Conservation services, according to RC and D Coordinator, Karen Strohmeyer.

"Our goal is to create a five year vision based on the input from the communities." Karen explained.

Strohmeyer explained Cascade Pacific R.C. and D. are only permitted to help in the rural areas. "Land use laws are a big factor that stop these ideas from happening."

Ideas from the citizens attending the meeting include:

1) Zero energy use community center (off the grid)

2) Transportation/alternative energy (solar) recharging stations.

3) Inventory of ALX generator options in the valley.

4)Wind generation

5) Energy conservation (green box attached to homes that uses hot air)

6)Plan in the making created by Adair Master Plans called "Corvallis to the Sea". Promotes tourism and jobs through city connections of "City Trails" for bike riders. No more riding on the streets.

There were only five couples who showed up for the meeting. The meeting was left with no definate plans, but rather some ideas on the board to think about.

Cascade Pacific will be holding other meetings within the eight regional areas and are hoping that fresh, creative ideas will be presented according to the communities needs.

If you are wanting to share any ideas, or see if Cascade Pacific can help make your ideas grow, you can contact Cascade Pacific at http://www.cascadepacific.com/

Three Golden Guidlines for a Journalist.

There are three golden guidlines I believe a journalist should carry with them everywhere they go. These guidlines came from "Poynter" and I couldn't agree more with them. The three golden rules are Poynter's #5 ; "Get out of your house, or office. Don't hide behind your job, or computer. Rediscover the "local" in "hyperlocal". "# 9; "Journalist should be comfortable with silence during interviews. You'll hear and learn more if you are not talking." And my personal favorite is # 18, in which I hope all humans may go by. # 18; "Impress people with your openness. Learn from everyone. Knlowledge is collaborative. Questions and answers are communal."

I like Poynters #5 because it states that in order for someone to be a true journalist and get a big scoop of the real, or silent stories that lie out in the world one must get out into the world and "join the circus" of finding and chasing stories. I like to bring up a novel about Edna Buchanan who is a news reporter in Miami, Florida that gets involved in a lot of dangerous situations by following murder cases. She claims she has seen, and even solved, more murders than any average police officer. A journalist doesn't get that personal with thier job by sitting at their desk all day. The novel I am reffering to is called "The Corpse Had a Familiar Face" written by Edna Buchanan.

The reason I like #9, which states a journalist should feel comfortable with silence during interviews and one will learn more, is because I find myself needing this reminder from time to time. I will be in the middle of an interview and get so caught up in the "conversation" of the story rather than asking questions, keeping my mouth shut, and writing down the quotes I really need!!!!!

# 18 should be a world wide goal for everyone. "Impress people with your openness. Learn from everyone. Knowledge is collaborative. Questions and answers are communal." Knowledge should be available for everyone about every subject in the world. For example; A 12 year old boy in Africa whos' school had recieved computers sometime recently found out through the internet that people on this planet have set foot on the moon. Why should that knowledge not be able to reach them until 40 years after the event?

Everyone has many questions, and sorry to say, but people won't get to find the real answers they seek if they block themselves from being open minded and listening to others. Knowlege lives and grows if it is allowed to collaborate. Everything started from theories and philosophies, then those theories get tested and we are still all at the same questions that need to be answered such as "What is our purpose?" How did we humans get here?" " Does life exist beyond Earth?"

Want to start digging into the possibility of actually finding the real answers that top physicists, engineers, biologist, and mystics in many fields have come together and collaborated their expertise onto? The movie I would like to share covers a world of quantum mechanics, and odd science. Check out the movie "What the Bleep? Down the Rabbit Hole". The movie was also filmed in Portland, Oregon.

Pendulum in White Oak Hall out of motion.

The pendulum in White Oak Hall remains off limits and not in motion.

Who: Don Johnson and Cary Ponthione
What: The $35,000 Pendulum in White Oak Hall
Where: LBCC's College Campus in Albany, OR
When: April 2010

Why: Motion is delayed due to concern of the need for a railing.

Walk into White Oak Hall and you will notice a pendulum on a crate with no explanation of purpose. There is no marker posted yet to tell what the pendulum represents, or why it is not in motion.

The pendulum, in an atrium of LBCC's new math and science center, was made possible through the donation of $35,000 from LBCC's anonymous donor. The Mark 2 Foucault Pendulum, designed by Cary Ponthione, owner of Academy Pendulum Sales, is designed to blend art and science while representing the Earth's rotation.

The pendulum is not in motion because there is a fear of people getting smashed between the 235-pound brass, mirror polished ball and stairwell. The pendulum will not be put in motion until a railing is placed provided by Don Johnson, who is the architect of White Oak Hall.

The design that will go around the cement base will be put up soon. The base will explain the significance as the pendulum is in motion. And construction on White Oak Hall is expected to be completed in May 2011.

"I believe it was the math and science departments who had requested the pendulum. It is suppose to represent a swinging time circle of the Earth's rotation." explained Fred Haynes, Dean of Instructional Facilities Planning.

A magnetic current pulses through the ceiling, from where the pendulum hangs, giving the pendulum its' back and forth motion. The pendulum is in sync with the Earth's rotation which gives it the circular movement.

Cary Ponthione is one of the last people who designs these pendulums, according to LBCC's vice president, Jim Huckestein.

"The original concept of the pendulum is to give an artistic view of math and science." said Dan Lara, Dean of the Math Department.

According to Lara, there has been a concern with people touching the pendulum and a safety issue of someone being injured if walking on the platform between the pendulum and stairwell.

Jim Huckestein said "Don Johnson is looking at ways to design a safety rail that will have a stylish look for the pendulum."

As Lara mentioned, "LBCC's pendulum and new science buildings are designed to create student diverse gatherings and moments to blend ideas."

Lara explained that LBCC's administration wanted to create a place within the school to give the student body a "home away from home."

White Oak Hall will have couches and stylish sitting areas where all the diversities on LBCC's campus, such as math, science, art, and philosophy groups, can blend together in one building.

Madrone Hall and White Oak Hall; More than extra space for classrooms

Madrone Hall and its' power generating windows.

At A Glance
Who: Lead architect, Don Johnson, and LBCC staff.
What: LBCC's new science buildings; Madrone Hall and White Oak Hall
Where: Linn-Benton Community College
When: Construction expected to be completed by May, 2011
Why: Why these buildings are so special.

LBCC's new science buildings, Madrone Hall and White Oak Hall, are a combination of updated science facilities, expanded classrooms and staff space. The two buildings are special to LBCC for they allow opportunities for students to interact and learn from the new and innovative engineering while bringing a place for the art and literature groups blend ideas with the math and science groups of the student body.

Madrone Hall generates energy using windows that collect solar cells. Along with White Oak Hall, there is a curtain wall system that prolongs the integrity of the buildings. Between the two buildings, under the garden, is a bioswale producing it's own water treatment system.

Madrone Hall is now open while the construction on White Oak Hall is expected to be done by May 2011.

LBCC's new 28,000 sqare foot science building, Madrone Hall, has more than extra staff offices and classrooms. The south facing windows allow light to travel through as the translucent solar cells within the windows collect energy. The excess energy not being used by the building will go onto the city's energy grid providing power to the rest of the city. There will be a generator in which students and faculty may see how much energy is being produced and used.

The new science buildings are 100% made up of recycled materials. Madrone Hall alone cost $8.9 million for construction. The project's superintendent, Dennis Miller, led around three hundred sub-contractors in building Madrone Hall.

On the first floor of Madrone Hall there are classrooms for science, engineering, and technology divisions. The second floor contains physical science, biological science, and biology classrooms.

LBCC's former school president, Rita Caven, was an advocate in using green recources and money saving techniques for the school when laying out the first blueprints of constructing both Madrone Hall and White Oak Hall, according to Don Johnson who is the lead architect of the buildings and garden. Don Johnson's office is D.J. Architecture in Albany, Oregon.

The brick and metal siding on the building has a rain screen system that allows hot and cool air to move around in the walls to lessen the chance of mold and increase the integrity of the building.

Don Johnson said, "It is an innovated curtain wall system and this is the first time it has been introduced to the United States."

LBCC's new garden between Madrone Hall and White Oak Hall houses an indigenious habitat made up of native plants.

"Under the garden is a bioswale that collects rainwater in storage tanks and sterilizes the water," said Don Johnson, "All of the rain water that is collected will be reused and there will be no impact on the city's water system."

The bioswale not only saves the school money, but serves the student body with interactive learning oppurtunities.

"There will be a gazebo in the garden with a transparent roof, when phase two of construction is done, that will generate power using its' roof in the same way that the south facing windows on Madrone Hall do." Don Johnson said.

On the roof of LBCC's prior science building will be a 5,000 square foot green house that will provide a natural habitat for birds and plant life. The natural habitat will also serve as a cooling system for the entire building.

Dan Lara, who is Dean of Science, said "The new science buildings are designed to create a place for all the diversities of LBCC's student body to come together and blend their ideas."

Dan Lara, Bridgid Backus, Warren Coffeen, Stefan Seiter, and Roger Maurer were key representatives of the physical sciences, biology, agriculture, and mathematics staff. They communicated all ideas from their departments to the lead architect.

"Administration were 100% supportive of the ideas coming from the faculty to provide more space for students to come together." said Dan Lara. He calls the project "A labor of love."