Free Shoot

Last minute trip to Lincoln City, Oregon on May 14, 2014. This seagull kept flying above searching for food. 

This tree is located in downtown Salem. It is located to the north of the Capital Building. Something about this tree jumped out at me, so I had to photograph it.  

This barn is located on Goltra Rd off of Oregon 34. It's beautiful and reminded me of a postcard.  

Summertime Madness

Linn-Benton Community College 

Students have been tossed the opportunity of summer term classes at Linn-Benton, but most do not grab the chance to further their education. One out of five students asked said, “No I will not be attending summer term.”  The question now is, why?

Damien Hutley said, “Financial Aid won’t cover it.”

Kody Kinsella said, “No Financial Aid, and it’s the only time I can work.”

It’s estimated that 2,500 students will attend summer term. Approximately 60 percent of students have registered for classes. That is about 1,529 students.

However, there are students who will be attending.

When asked why will you be attending summer term; Alyssa Mota said, “To be done faster.”

Linn-Benton Courtyard

Not only is there a need for financial assistance, there is a lack of classes offered. Several courses require instructor signatures. Also, there are less days and times available, and five week classes.

Lack of classes, times, days, signatures, and short term classes are not logical.

Sandy Fichtner said, “When we sign up for summer term, we need to work realistically with the course schedules.”

Summer term is just like the rest of the school year, and it should be treated no differently. 

When you work you do not get any summer vacations. You work all year around, with the occasional vacation, but it’s always at the loss of income at that time.

Education should not be over just because a new season begins. Education never ending, and those who intend on better themselves should not be subject to limitations. 

At a glance:
Who: Registration Help Desk
What: Summer term 
When: June 23, 2014
Where: Linn-Benton Community College
6500 Pacific Blvd. SW
Albany, Oregon 97321
Phone: 541-917-4999
Email: linnbenton.edu

Marion Skate Park

The Marion Square Park also has a playground for younger children to play on. Toward the Southwest side of the park there is a skateboard ramp set up as well. Below the Marion Street Bridge there is a basketball court and restrooms. The park is frequently flooded with people enjoying the outdoors.

On May 7, 2014, 19-year-old Steve "#Sketchy" Williams showing off his skills at the Marion Square Park. 

Marion Square Park is located in downtown Salem. To the south is the Marion Street bridge that connects downtown Salem to West Salem. This park is always full of people on bikes doing crazy stunts.  

"#Sketchy" showing off his red bike rims.

Passing by my Best friend

In the red is my mother Anne Jeffers,
and in the plaid flannel is my
Grandmother Virginia Jeffers. 

At the oval dining table a card game begins between my mother and grandmother. As a child I was curious. I wanted to know what they were playing, so I asked, “What are you playing?” My mother said, “Cribbage.” After she told me what she was playing I wanted to play with them. My grandmother said, “When your older I will teach you.” I could not wait to be older.  

Once I was old enough my grandmother taught me Cribbage. It was the best moment ever. Now I could participate in the card games. I was thrilled.

This moment in time will forever be in my memory.

Virginia L. Jeffers born Dec. 19, 1935 in Sabeth, Kansas to Otto and Margaret Huiett. Jeffers attended Salem High School and graduated in 1953. She then studied beauty at Phagan's. After dropping out of beauty school she her first husband and had two children with him. Once divorcing him she married my grandfather William Jeffers and had two more children, Alan my uncle and Anne my mother. She worked for the state of Oregon as a secretary until she retired after 30 years. Jeffers passed away on May 8, 2009.  She lived a full life and passed away 73 years young.

Courtesy of the hospital I am no longer able to create memories with my best friend, my grandmother. One minor error and misdiagnosis and she was gone.

This whole event happened within 11 hours. One minute she was talking to me and then next minute she was gone. It’s a memory that will always haunt me.

The day before I had been spending the afternoon with a friend. I mentioned a sleepover to my friend, so we went to my place which was with my grandmother. I came in a noticed that she was hunched over the counter crying. This was not like my grandmother.

I told my friend, “I don’t think I should go with you.”

That night changed my life forever.

I joined my grandmother out in the living room for a night of game shows.

She had a chair that she always sat in and watched her shows. I either sat in the other chair next to her or on the couch.

A few hours later my grandmother turned towards me and said, “If it will make you happy, I will go to the hospital.”

I said, “Yes it would.”

When her father passed away she was traumatized by the sound of the sirens, so she did not want the sirens on when the ambulance came to take her to the hospital.

I made the call to 911 and got everything together.

My grandmother told me not to tell my mother or my uncle. I did not dare question her reasoning. I just agreed not to tell anyone.

We spent the next four hours in the hospital waiting for the results from all the tests that she had to be subject to.

I can remember cracking jokes with my grandmother. There were other patients there and they were weird. We made little jokes about them to pass the time.

Everything was good to go. At 2 a.m. my grandmother was discharged from the hospital and was told to follow up with her cardiologist.

I called a cab to pick us up and take us home.

Later I found out that my grandmother was not okay to go home yet.

While waiting for the cab she was starting to have pains again, but she did not tell me.

Once we got home I decided to sleep on the couch. She said it was not necessary, but I felt better about being close to her.

Not too long after being home and sleeping on the couch my grandmother was awake. I woke up to her sitting at the desk. She could not sleep. She insisted that I go lay in my room. I was hesitant, but I did what she asked.

I did make one request. If you need me scream my name. I had her practice before I laid down.

A couple hours later I hear MELISSA!!!

I jumped out of bed and ran through the house to her aid. That was the moment I knew I could not do this myself anymore. I called my mother and she rushed to help.

I remember all the questions that the paramedics asked me. I had to answer all kinds of personal questions about my grandmother. It was no easy task.

I can still hear the fright in her voice. I can still feel the tension in the room. I can still smell the fresh morning as they wheel her into the back of the ambulance one last time.

We arrived at the hospital for one last visit. My mother goes to the lobby and I stay back to answer more questions. The nurses are asking me all sorts of questions, and all I wanted to do was be there for my grandmother.

As I stood there answering questions the nurses took my grandmother to her emergency room to check her in. The gurney zipped past me and I can still see her smile and the way she looked at me. She was wearing her pink plaid pajama top that I had got her for Christmas the previous year.

I smiled back and said, “Hey there sexy momma.”

Those were the last words I ever spoke to my grandmother.

I will never forget that day. The sun shined so bright, the trees were so green, and all around was peacefulness.

We all had a chance to say our goodbyes to her. I struggled back and forth whether to go back or not. I eventually did. I am glad that I did.

I walked into the room. There she was laying on the gurney. It did not seem real yet. I thought she was pulling a prank. She was always jokester. It was real.

I leaned over and kissed her forehead and whispered in her ears, “I will see you again someday, I love you.”

LaWanda Jeffers said, “You’re grandmother loved her family and would have done anything for them.”

This quote is very true about my grandmother. She would do whatever she could to help anyone out.

Later that day the family gathered at her house and we did not mourn, we celebrated her life. We had a barbecue in her honor.

Anne Jeffers said, “I remember everything about my mother.”

Everyone could not believe this had happened. Someone, somewhere made huge mistake that cost my grandmother her life.

My mother said, “I think if they would have done better testing on her she would still be alive.”

My aunt LaWanda Jeffers said, “

The cycle of life is never ending and is painful, but it is up to us to make the best out of the days we have together and never let go of our memories. We need to keep our loved ones close, so that it feels like they never left at all.

R.I.P. Virginia Lee Jeffers

Links to hobbies:
Cribbage
Scrabble
Liverpool
Knitting
Game Shows
Reading

At a glance:
Who: Melissa Jeffers
What: Virginia L. Jeffers passing
Where: Salem, Oregon
When: May 8, 2009
Phone: 541-405-6661
Email: mjeffer6@gmail.com

Sites to see in Salem, Oregon

Union Street Railroad bridge connects downtown Salem to West Salem. It crosses over the Willamette River. It was initially used by trains until being sold to the City of Salem for one dollar in 2003. 

Kevon Sterling is here from New York City, New York promoting the new free line skates. You can catch him skating around downtown on these neat free line skates.  

Here you have the State Capital and it's beautiful sculptural fountain. These fountains are on during the summer. Closer to the Capital there is fountains that shot straight up into the air and children and adults can play there all summer long.  

Word Mob

The "Word Mob" was part of National Poetry Month. It was a showcase of poetry from several different poets, including myself. The poetry was filled with deep thought and emotions. I didn't only hear the words, but I felt them too. 

On April 25, 2014 English instructor Jed Wyman reads some of his poetry at the Benton "Word Mob." 

Audience listens on while Conor McCoy plays his guitar at the beginning of the show at the Benton Center.  

Poet Laureate Kiera Lynn skims through her poetry book searching for poems to share at the Benton Center.

 

Linn-Benton Gender Sexuality Alliance Meeting

This GSA, Gender Sexuality Alliance meeting was called upon because a name change was underway. Members felt that Gay Straight Alliance wasn't as broad. Gay Straight Alliance didn't include everyone, it seemed two sided. A couple meetings later, and the club officially changed their name to Gender Sexuality Alliance.  

This club is place for students to come for support and a better understanding of the world we live in. Sexuality is everywhere and is unavoidable. 

From left to right: Club Adviser Tim Black, Gender Sexuality Alliance President Jordan Hagle, Jordan Hubbard, and Wyatt Zuber finish watching a clip online while waiting for members to show up. Meeting held in the D.A.C. (Diversity Achievement Center) Friday at 2 p.m.

Meeting is in gear and the topic is name change.
Members at meeting from left to right: Wyatt Zuber, Jordan Hagle, Jordan Hubbard, Kamran Ahmed Mirza, and Club Adviser Tim Black.  

President of the Linn-Benton Gender Sexuality Alliance,  Jordan Hagle writes a list of potential name changes on the white board. 

Profile: Hollis Duncan = Mathematics + Soccer Dad

Traveling along I-5, a Linn-Benton Community College sign came into view. Forty-two year old Hollis Duncan said to his wife, "Maybe I will work there someday."

Hollis Duncan 

Duncan isn't your typical mathematics instructor, he is a "soccer mom". He has three children and a wife. Every soccer game Duncan can be spotted on the side lines cheering his children to victory.

Eleven years and counting is how long Duncan has been an instructor at Linn-Benton Community College. He didn't always aspire to be a mathematics instructor. Aspirations of a being a zoologist early on with one slight dilemma...penguins or wolves?

Duncan couldn't decide which animal he liked more, so he went in a different direction with his education and career.

"Even when he's being serious he's funny" said, Bethany Pratt.

Wearing a tie dye shirt with mathematics printed on it, he walks in with teaching in mind. Casually approaching the front of the class with a wit leading us to believe he's a joker and not a thinker. Then out of nowhere comes this knowledge of sorts.

Sheri Rogers said, "He is quietly friendly and often times hilarious."

Reserved, Duncan begins his lesson. Filling out minds with algebra and doing it in a way only he could. Psst! And then the look...you've been caught having a side conversation. Psst! An eyebrow raise and a point, then you know you've been caught red handed in the cookie jar.

Strolling through the aisles of students, Duncan makes sure everyone understands. Strict lectures aren't like Duncan. He's a laid back kind of guy.

"Math can be fun" said, Duncan.

Zoologist or not, Duncan is a success in his own right. Mathematics instructors instruct, observe, and study students; looks like Hollis Duncan became a zoologist after-all. The only difference is the subject.

Links to hobbies:
Kayaking
Hiking
Mountain Climbing
Camping

At a glance:

Subject: Hollis Duncan

Age: Forty-two years young

Career: Mathematics Instructor

Location: Linn-Benton Community College

Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to noon; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday by appointment. 

Phone: (541) 917-4758

Email: hollis.duncan@linnbenton.edu

Hobbies: Camping, kayaking, and climbing

Organizations: ORMATYC (Oregon Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges) and AMATYC 

(American Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges)

Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chattanooga State, and Oregon State University just to name a few.