March
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2014 The
News for the Mid-Willamette Valley
March Lo Events C cal alendar Page 2
Award Winning Author Sets Next Book in Brownsville by Jennifer Rouse, Willamette Valley Visitors Association The city of Brownsville, already well-known as the filming location of the movie “Stand By Me”, may soon have another group of fans heading its way. Jane Kirkpatrick, an Oregon author popular for her historical fiction, has announced that her next book will be based on the life of Eliza Spalding Warren, a pioneer-era Brownsville resident. “The book should be out in 2015, and we are very excited Award winning author that Jane has chosen Jane Kirkpatrick Eliza for her next book.” said Linda McCormick, who manages social media for the Chamber of Commerce. McCormick has been corresponding with Kirkpatrick, who plans to visit Brownsville for her research on the town and the life of Eliza Spalding Warren. Kirkpatrick, of Bend, specializes in historical fiction inspired by the lives of real women. Her novels have twice been finalists for the Oregon Book Awards. The main character in her new novel, Eliza Spalding Warren, was the daughter of Henry H. Spalding, a missionary who was one of the earliest white settlers of the Northwest. As a child, Eliza lived on her parents’ mission settlement among the Nez Perce Native American tribe, and often spent time at the Whitman mission in what is now Walla Walla, Washington. Eliza, then aged 10, was at the Whitman mission in 1847 when strife between the Northwest tribes and the white settlers reached a boiling point and the Whitman family was killed. Eliza survived, becoming the first white female born in the Northwest Territory to survive to adulthood. Her family then left mission work and moved to Brownsville, where Eliza lived during her adult life. McCormick said the new book by Kirkpatrick, to be called “Two Elizas”, could bring additional visitors to Brownsville, which is already known as a stopping point for fans of the movie “Stand By Me”, filmed in Brownsville in 1985. A series of science fiction/fantasy novels by author S.M Stirling, the “Emberverse” series, also features Brownsville. “This book may be one more way to put Brownsville on the map for tourists.” McCormick said. “People love to visit the locations of Jane’s characters.” Kirkpatrick maintains a Facebook presence and Pinterest board where fans of her books often post photos of their pilgrimages to visit her books’ locations.
Photo by Matteson Photograhy
Kenny Harvout and Evone Miller receive the $5,000 Teen Challenge award from Points for Profit MC Rick Rogers.
Local Non-Profits Presented Awards
Points
by Rick Rogers
Local business leaders, non-profit representatives, and supporters gathered at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center on the night of January 28th for the annual Points for Profit awards banquet. Points for Profit is an Albany based organization which partners local businesses with non-profits for their mutual benefit by encouraging non-profit supporters to shop local business participants and turn in their shopping receipts to earn cash awards handed out at the January banquet each year. The non-profits get points based on the total of their receipts and other points earned by attending Points for Profit events during the year. Those points translate into the size of the cash award. Taking first place $5,000 award for 2013 was Teen Challenge, a local organization that works with people to turn their lives around. The second place $ 3,000 award went to the Lebanon High School Drama kids to finance future productions and state competitions. Coming in a close third place with a $2.000 award, was Saint Edwards Youth from
High
Photo by Matteson Photograhy
Shelly Matteson and Melinda Butler receive the Medium Business oif the Year award for Elmer’s Restaurants in Albany and Corvallis.
Lebanon. Fourth place went to Linn-Benton Women for Agriculture with a $1,500 award, and SafeHaven Humane Society came in fifth earning them $1,000. An additional 19 other mid-valley participating non-profits also received cash awards for their participation. In addition, awards were handed out in four categories for local businesses of the year as voted on by Points for Profit supporters. The large Business of the Year award went to Bi-Mart, a founding partner of the Points for Profit program. The medium sized Business of the Year award was presented to Elmer’s Restaurants in Albany and Corvallis. Small Business of the Year was given to Premiere Floor Covering in Lebanon. Finally, home-based Business of the Year went to Kathy Goss, representing Pampered Chef. Five individuals were also recognized as Points for Profit Volunteers of the Year in recognition for their hard work and involvement (see page three for additional details). For more information on the Points for Profit program call 541-791-2901 or visit www.pointsforprofit.org.
Photo by Matteson Photograhy
Spencer Costello receives the Small Businjess of the Year Award for Premier Floor Covering in Lebanon.