I am from the city and I want to see your water

On January 25, 2008 Canby Police responded to Canby Utility on the report of a subject impersonating one of their workers. Canby Utility reported they had received a call from a concerned customer regarding a subject that stated he was a Canby Utility worker.The subject asked the customer to enter the residence to check the water for high levels of chlorine. The residents asked the subject for identification and he presented an ID card that showed an emblem that would possibly match the Canby Utility logo, but it was older looking.The subject then asked the residents if they had bottled water in the house. At this point the residents found this to be very suspicious and told the subject that they were going to call the Canby Utility office to confirm that he worked for them.The subject became nervous and told the residents that he had numerous places to contact, and then he showed them a list with many persons names and addresses. The residents reported that the subject left the area. The residents did not see any Canby Utility vehicles in the area, but did see a dark colored older Honda car in the area. They were unable to get a license plate.The subject is described as a Hispanic male in his 20's. Canby Utility reports that generally their workers drive clearly marked vehicles with the Canby Utility logo and they would not conduct business in this type of manner.

A President Like My Father by Caroline Kennedy

OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.
Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.
We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.
Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.
Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.
I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.
Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
Caroline Kennedy is the author of “A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love.”

A day in the life

Preface: Kelsey is a caseworker for our agency. This is her sixth year on the job. I knew her and her mom, Donna, years ago. Kim used to work with Donna. At one time, Kelsey even babysat our kids. We reconnected when I started this job and she agreed to take me out with her to see firsthand the life of a caseworker..

Friday, Jan. 25, 2008 — back in the office after one of the most eye opening experience I've had in a while.

Started out with juvenile court hearings: first kid, male - 15, had violated terms of his probation. Got involved with some gang activity and tattoos while on probation. Judge told him that he was digging a deeper hole that someday he would have to dig out of.
Must spend weekend in juvenile facility. If he violates parole again, it will be revoked.

Second kid, also 15 — has anger issues. Violated terms of his parole and got into fight at school. Must serve time.

Third hearing, remote with TV link from Salem Hospital, 30 year old about to deliver her 3rd child, failed drug tests during pregnancy. Child will come into state protection upon delivery. Mom must stay clean to get any of 3 kids back. Father of the first two kids is in prison for drugs until 2012.

Went to Kelsey's office. Then out to an unannounced home visit. Seeking to visit a mom who had three kids removed from her care due to her drug use and neglect of kids.
The mom herself had been a foster child in that her own mom had drug and neglect issues years before. Now she lived with her mom in a one bedroom apartment. We visited, she was not there. Apartment was not in a condition suitable for kids.

Spent another hour back at the office - getting a tour of the visiting rooms. Some had one way mirrors so that caseworkers could observe biological parents during visits with their kids. Kelsey said one mom can't be left alone with her kids even in this supervised setting. The mom can't tell when her asthmatic child is in need of medication. Lets kids climb on bookshelf that is a safety hazard. Does not have adequate parental skills to allow her to even continue seeing kids in supervised visit — much less return home. Kelsey will recommend that supervised visits be discontinued out of safety for the children.

Our policy is to seek to keep more kids with their families rather than placing in foster care. Kelsey says this will be very hard to do in this case.

We celebrate Bryn's bday @ Top O'Hill

Canby Chamber auction

Greg and Kim have a date night

Thanks to cousin Adam

Ricky and Greg got a skybox seat at the Rose Garden to view their first LaCrosse game. Ricky is going to play LaCrosse this year.

A soft focus on my gentle soul

photo magic

First effort at blending photos

Psycho cat

Mess with me at your own peril

Low Tide at Nye Beach

Rainbow at Cascade Head

"Our news report on starving kids in Africa will be shown next week so we can talk about a mayor's photos"

Posted by The Associated Press January 19, 2008 17:32PM
-- Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, whose MySpace photos of her posing in black lingerie on a fire engine put this Columbia River town of 600 into something of a pother, told ABC's 20/20 Friday night that she's not stepping down.
"They're going to have to drag me out of here," she said.
Some residents are howling for her job. Others say they see no problem. But school board member Grant Wilkins said what she was wearing and where the pictures were taken was "questionable."
"The first lesson that I learned (as mayor) is that you'll never make everybody happy. That's the toughest," said Kontur-Gronquist, 42, the first woman to hold the unpaid position.
At a council meeting this month some people asked for her to resign. She said she had no comment.
"I took this office. Those photos have nothing to do with me and my ability of being mayor," she said.
She said they had permission from the fire chief to use the engine. The woman who took the photos was a volunteer firefighter.
Kontur-Gronquist said she envisioned the pictures in a contest about fitness in women. "I said, 'Oh, what the hell,' so the pictures were taken." She said she didn't send them in because she didn't think they were good enough.
She said a relative decided to set her up with a MySpace page, hoping it would jump-start the single mom's social life. --- end of Associated Press news report.

Comment by Greg:
After 20 years of reporting on and being employed by politicians -- I can say, we expect too much from elected officials.
First of all, we need elected leaders just like we need people to take out the garbage or cook us fast food.
So, what do I expect from my garbage man?
I want him/her to do the job, be dependable and that's about it.
If he poses in his skivies somewhere -- I don't care.
If the garbage is gone when I come home from work -- then we have a good relationship.
Same with politicians.
As long as they show up and do the job, I don't care about their hobbies.
We expect far too much of our electeds.
Personal morality?Well Carter was one of the most moral presidents we had.Terribly ineffectual as commander in chief -- and in fact, contributed more to world peace and humanity after he left office.
Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy -- all had 'immoral relationships' but faced down Nazis and Commies.
Clinton was probably our most bumbling immoral -- but my 401K soared when he was in office. So -- to me, it's why do you hire the person?
Take out the garbage or be a role model?
I want an elected to go to all the boring meetings, keep track of finances, and get the pot holes filled.If they can do that, I am happy.

Trip to the coast for MLK weekend with guests

at the cabin

Playing on Nye Beach at sunset

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As opposed to planning for the past

My heart could understand when I could not understand the words.

Coming back to work today, I heard a reflected sound coming down the Capitol Mall. It was a public address system. Someone was holding a rally on the steps of the Capitol.
It took me back to my reporting days. Many times I would go outside the Capitol to report on a rally. My favorite was the day that Jesse Jackson spoke. His words resonated down the mall and reflected off the granite buildings.
As I strained to hear, I made out a word of Spanish – then another. And then I was off. What was going on?
As my late friend Clem would have said, “Let’s go check it out.”
As I walked the three blocks to the Capitol, I saw what appeared to be 300 people gathered on the steps and across the street. Walking along side of me were a dozen or two others folks. I did not look like any of them.
Many had toddlers. I would look deep into their huge brown eyes and smile wide. Some would easily smile back.
It reminded me of my fondest moments in Mexico – a place where a middle-aged man could walk up to a child and begin a conversation or play, and no one would think ill of him.
As I got closer, I worked hard to translate the words.
“Soy…” something.
I am …a worker?
“Soy Oregonian.”
The crowd roared.
I got chills.
They were saying it with more conviction in Spanish than I had ever heard in English.
Immigration certainly has its emotional discussions. Today the issue was whether undocumented folks could get drivers’ licenses.
I will leave that to the politicians.
My emotion is with people. People who want to be here. People who want to work.
I was wandering right into the center of the crowd and wondering if I was the only non-Spanish speaking person at this entire rally.
At that moment, the speaker asked a question to the crowd.
I could not translate.
Everyone raised their hand at that point in response to the question.
Hmmm.
I guess that would be a yes.
I moved around to a side that appeared to have a little space for standing.
A couple of folks looked at me in a concerned manner.
I worried that I was out of place.
Well, I was.
A gentleman pointed to the walkway and said everyone had been asked to keep a path open – and I was standing right in the middle of it.
I thanked him and stood aside to listen for a few more minutes.
As I paused to go, I bent over to the same person and said, “My heart is with you here.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder and thanked me.
I walked back to work and from my estimation, remained the only mono-lingual English speaker anywhere around.
I felt fine about it – though I could imagine others thinking how it must feel like an invasion of foreigners.
I chuckled as I mumbled, “Must be how Native Americans felt when the English arrived.”

Still life - Boy with Potato Soup

A moment at Bill and Lisa's for some homemage potato soup.

9th Street Gang Rings in the New Year - 2008

The 9th Street Gang hit the road – this time to the central Oregon Coast to celebrate the start of 2008.
We headed over on Friday. Kim ran with the dog. Catie played in the hail.
Sunday – the whole gang showed up.
We plugged in Guitar Hero and rocked out.
Kim and Greg competed. Amazingly, Greg’s hand-eye coordination won out.
Brian and Bill cooked up the steaks (with Brian getting a little of his pyro-ya yas out.

New Year 2008

New Year 2008

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