Holocaust Survivor Speaks Out

Photo: Ater Wiener and Lillian Love
Photo credit: Becca Martino

One of the few remaining Holocaust survivors spoke last week in Albany.

On April 28 Holocaust survivor and author of "From a Name to a Number" Alter Wiener shared his story on the Linn-Benton Community College campus.

Wiener came to tell his story initially because he wanted his children and grandchildren to understand a different perspective and gain an appreciation for their life. As he has shared his story with more than 300 audiences universities, colleges, middle and high schools, churches, synagogues, prisons etc…
Wiener stressed the importance of education and the importance of tolerance.
He shared his truth and set the record straight that this 83 years old man survived the Holocaust; He lived to tell the story because there are people today that deny the holocaust ever happened.

As a child, Wiener lived in the same town as Pope John. About half of the town was Catholic the other half Jews. They were able to live together peaceably.

On the Sabbath His family always had one or two sometimes three homeless persons at their home to share their meal. Education was very important to his family and he went to school six days a week.
He lost his mother at the age of four and his father remarried and she cared for an older brother, him and his younger brother until Poland was invaded by German soldiers.

It stated 0n Sept. 11 1939 when his father was murdered at the age of 13.
Months later a town member took him and his stepmother for the exhuming of many towns people who had been thrown into a mass hole like they were rocks. most people had decomposed so they were unrecognizable but, there was some jewelry that identified his father that his stepmother identified.This traumatized Wiener at such a young age.

Than His older brother was taken away a year later. Next it was his turn at age 15 and he was deported to Blechammer a concentration camp for Jews. He was surprised to meet his brother there and found him unrecognizable for he had been reduced to skin and bones and eventually died of starvation; like so many Jews did existing on bread made from sawdust and soup that was mostly water.

Wiener survived a total of five concentration camps. "I'm not normal I have physical and mental scars." Wiener said

There was one German woman at a factory where Wiener was sent to work that taught Wiener a very important lesson. " There were signs on the factory walls that said to the German workers Don't give anything.
Don't have eye contact.
Don't talk to the prisoners, and if you do you are doomed." Wiener said.
One German woman had eye contact with Wiener and pointed her finger at something. Wiener very carefully when no one was looking, went to see what she was pointing at and he found a sandwich with cheese and meet . "There was a sandwich there for me everyday that I was there." said Wiener and he asked himself ,Why would anyone risk their life for me not just once but 30 times? "She is my hero for the rest of my life. She is a righteous German." said Wiener.
The lesson is this"You will find good men and woman in every culture." Wiener said.

He shared an experience he had after sharing his story and a young student came up to him and said to him, "I promise I will try to be like that woman for the rest of my life. " This brought me to tears"said Wiener.

In spite of having everything taken away from him.
His name to become a number.
His family killed.
No pockets (nothing to put in them)
No towel
No toothbrush
No tooth paste
No pencil or paper
No woman or children
Not even a mirror to see himself.
Being freed eventually and unable to recognize himself.
Then their is the 21 people that were on trial for war crimes in Nuremberg and The leader of Iran and the present Pope that denies the Holocaust ever happened.
In spite of all this Alter Wiener inspires audiences and gives us hope. Encouraging our young to attend school and to appreciate life. To see peoples characters and not judge anyone because of the clothes they wear, the color of their skin, their eyes or their religion.
He stressed an attitude of tolerance and showed us the ability to forgive.
We never know what will happen to us their is always hope and the audience at L.B.C.C. showed their appreciation at the end of his speech. The line stretched around the stage while people waited patiently to thank him with hugs ,words and received his autograph. The forum was filled to capacity with around 300 people.

The question and answer period lasted an additional hour after his talk.
Here are a couple of quotes taken from this time.

Question:"What did you dream when you were in the concentration camp" asked Kaedence Eaton
Response: "I didn't dream I had nightmares it is very hard to sleep when your starving." said Wiener
Question: "How could a supposedly civilized society go along with Adolf Hitler's madness without anyone saying he was wrong?" Ruy Lopez asked.
Response: "There is a saying by Voltaire" Wiener replied, "Those who can make you believe atrocities can make you commit atrocities"
"German people had been raised to live in fear, if anyone spoke against Hitler they were reported and sent to die." said Wiener.
"The ability to speak out is very precious" said Wiener
What away to end the event, remember the holocaust don't be afraid to speak truth and go to school to learn how to find it. Ignorance (which is not understanding) and not knowing how to love are our enemies.
Several times Wiener repeated the statement that, "Hitler did not know how to love".

Brave-hearted Lion Serves the Community.

From street corner cart to The Java

Connection home on Highway 20 in Philomath. Dave Campbell is roasting coffee beans and preparing his special coffees and serving them with love seven days a week.

Dave Campbell refers to himself as a male lion as he protects the woman and girls from disrespectful patrons at the Java Connection and to brave heart when referring to his family's name Campbell a Scottish name.

His family history of patriotic involvement is traced through the civil war. Known for fighting for our freedoms, of speech and the right to bear arms. He considers himself an American patriot that is willing to fight for his country.

Dave's grandfather Cornelius was one of the first pioneers to settle in Oregon. Which the town was named after and Dave grew up next door in the town of Tualitin.

Dave's sincere love of people is experienced through the care that he gives every individual that walks through his doors.

"What I would want the world to know about Dave is he is interested in who you are and what you want to be. He can find your strengths and then encourages you to be your best. He makes people feel comfortable and has interesting insights into people." said Cara Bath, an employee at the Java Connection getting ready to leave and attend graduate school.

Dave spoke of Bath leaving to finish her degree as a school teacher with tears in his eyes and at the same time he was proud of her accomplishments but, was going to miss her.

"I have a diverse group of friends. I truly love all kinds of people. My best friends in life are from this business. It's been the best thing that has ever happened to me" Dave said

"Jeff Hankey, ( a local police officer)Dennis and Fred Farris basically put this place together." Dave said, "He bought and designed it and his wife and daughter did the colors. They do the colors for everything. My son is the web designer. This is a family corporation and we make decisions together."

"I've never had a closer friend. I've never seen anyone move so quickly from a tent in a parking lot to a building." said Dennis Farris

"It's always fun to see if Dave set the roaster on fire. One day I drove in. I could smell the coffee beans burning and see the smoke all over town. The fire department was here and took care of it it was due to the flue needing to be cleaned." Fred Farris said as Dave,and his brother Dennis laughed. "This happen two times" Farris said.

Dave has always loved to play music and he and his friends try to get together on the first Monday of every month to play at the Java Connection. There is always a big turn out. They have decided to start something new and see what happens.We want to open the place up for local vendors.

How long have you been in the coffee business?
I've been in the coffee business for 17 and a half years.

Why coffee?
I met this guy on the street corner in Corvallis with a little coffee cart he asked me if I would like to go into business with him.
I was scared to learn how to make coffee, I did not know anything about making coffee let alone lattes' and special coffee drinks. Back then we used Allan Brothers coffee.

Three months later I took over the business and moved to the front of Walmart on Lancaster in Salem. I was there for six months.

Next I built a Kiosk in the parking lot in front of Thriftway in Philomath on highway 20. I was there for seven and one half years.

Than I bought the building we are in now. I designed it and my wife and daughter picked the colors they pick the colors for everything.

My son helps with the web design and other corporate decisions. This is a family business Even though my grown children live out of the area they still participate in all the corporate decisions.

What do you like about your job?
"Now I roast all the coffee beans and I love it. I've been roasting beans for ten years."
"My best friends in life are from this business.I truly love all kinds of people and have a diverse group of friends."

What musicians have played here?

We don't really have a consistent group that comes in. I'm open to musicians playing here.

Java Connection

www.javaconnectionsite.com

1640 Main St
Philomath, OR 97370
(541) 929-6632


Lunch is served daily. The Menu is ever changing.

PRODUCT OF THE ASHES

Photo credit: "Holocaust Memorial on the Danube River" by alexap, courtesy of Flickr.com

Out of the fire of the holocaust to the land of the free, this is where my mother brought me. I am the product of the ashes of the Holocaust. My mother left me to grow rootless in a land where I had the freedom to search for my purpose in a place of unlimited possibilities.

My mother, sister and I arrived in New York City on a ship. It was 1957, I was 6 months old; I crossed the ocean in a little basket. We were sponsored to the United States by The Protestant Minister in Hood River Oregon, (this is how the letter was addressed) the mail carrier selected the minister that would receive my mother’s letter and request for assistance. Of all the ministers in Hood River, This one was a peace activist and an active participant in the civil rights movement.

My mother was a fearless survivor, intelligent, young and beautiful, She met a commercial fisherman in Portland, married and moved to her dream house on 35 forested acres, 5 acres of pasture, our own personal spring, a creek that ran beside our property and into the river where we spent every summer. I am grateful for the choices my mother made; her dream house became my escape from the insanity she left me in; with my motherless 2-year-old brother and abusive resentful stepfather when I was five years Old.

I grew up with multiple housekeepers, and we (my brother and I) just came with the house. What I learned from them is priceless. I learned about different classes, diversity, religions, and other cultures. I tasted a plethora of different kinds of foods. I learned that my stepfather was an asshole and the people that lived with us affirmed this because, not one stayed for more than 9 month. They all left and I decided I did not have to live there either.

I started running away from home when I was five. The first time, I took the school bus to the end of the line and went home with a girl from school. I told my story repeatedly, no one believed in getting involved. I always ended right back where I came from. The older I got the better I became at running, I even flew to Anchorage, Alaska with fake I.D.

I learned a lot about how to survive, and that being young was a commodity. There are good and bad people in every race, and class. Your religion, political status, education, or financial position does not define your character. I believe my mother survived much the same way as I did on the streets hiding and in fear for her life.

I was fortunate to have survived and to have had people in my life that really cared about me. Who taught me about Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and to always question authority; no one person has the whole truth, it lies in all of creation; it is through educating ourselves, overcoming our prejudices, and honoring life that we can find it. The United States allows me the freedom live my life with integrity.

I am a daughter of a Holocaust survivor, a granddaughter of Anti-Semitic grandfather, a mother of three bi-racial children, two who are Muslim, one who is Christian, I have another child with a father who was Italian and his father had his own seat on the New York stock exchange. I have five grandchildren one lovingly being raised by his two same sex fathers. This would have never happened without the freedom to follow their own hearts. I love them all. I love you. You are all my family.

ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT OF A LANDSCAPE ENGINEER

Who? Scott Mikowski
Title: Landscape engineer
How long have you been in landscaping?
I have been with the company for 16 yrs.
Who is your employer?
Ham Mock and Associates
Where is there office?
Corvallis, Oregon
Who are your clients?
The majority of our clients are in Linn and Benton Counties although we are State licensed.
About 95% are Residential and 5% are Commercial accounts.
What services do you provide? Landscape construction and maintenance.

Have you noticed any changes in your clients needs?
It use to be that we built walls with pressure treated 6” by 6’ wood,
This is full of toxins; now we mostly create stone walls.
We specialize in sprinklers more now.
It is more expensive initially to install but would save them money in the end.

What do you like most about your job?
I like the clients because; there interesting people and you never know what you are going to find out until you start talking to them. Enjoy the diversity. The only people that can afford your services are making more than 100 thousand a year.

What services do you provide to conserve water?
We provide a variety of plants and understand the needs of the landscape. Computerized controllers connected to the sprinklers are programmed according to each client’s needs. There are specialized controllers connected to a weather station that is call every day. This can be accessed for a $50 dollars a year or free through the internet.

Are there classes available to teach employees about water conservation?
There are classes offered by the companies that sell the sprinkler systems, and pipes. Others classes are offered by the community college for like the back flow testing.

Do you think your clients know that you are saving them money and conserving water?
I do not know how many people realize that we are saving them money. Most of these people make $100 thousand up to millions of dollars a year.

What do you like most about your job?
I like the clients because; there interesting people and you never know what you are going to find out until you start talking to them. I enjoy the diversity. My focus is working with sprinklers and I like installing them and teaching our clients how they work.

Hermaphrodite Slaves (red worms)Revealed in Philomath, Oregon

Thousands of hermaphrodite slaves revealed in Philomath Oregon living in small dark spaces and fed kitchen scrapes. On Thursday April 16, Beverly Whitmore shared the lives of these creatures, red worms, also called red wigglers that reproduce by themselves (hermaphrodite) and with each other. That is incredible! One can create more. These clean little worms do not need dirt to live in. Happily hidden away in the dark, they are slaves to the consumption of food scraps.

“My interest in worms is mostly science. I like to share the castings with friends and help people start their own vermiculture composting environments when my population increases.”Whitmore said

There is no pet hair or jumping on guests. You can leave town for several days (go fishing with worms) and no need for a sitter. They provide free hidden, noiseless, energy, by recycling your food waste and newspapers they producing castings to fertilize plants and contribute to a healthy sustainable lifestyle.

Here are five quick and easy steps to starting a home composting bin, according to Dort Worm Farm.

1. Purchase or build a bin. A simple 1' high x 2' wide x 3' long wooden structure is really all you need. Many people also use plastic boxes with a drain hole.

2. Add bedding. Shredded newspaper works great, fill the bin loosely with the paper and a small amount of soil.

3. Wet the bedding enough that if you take a handful and squeeze, a small amount of water drips out between your knuckles.

4. Add red worms.

5. Maintain your bin at temperatures between 55 and 79 degrees F, with damp soil and a pH around 7.

For more information go to dortworms.com; Dort Worm Farm, P.O. Box 1108, Philomath, OR 97370.

A good book on the topic is: "Worms Eat My Garbage" by Mary Appelhof

Event: Master Gardeners Seventh Annual Plant Sale
May 2: There will be a clinic table where master gardeners trained by the Oregon State University Extension Service will be answering gardening questions. OSU entomology experts will address garden and vermiculture composting demonstrations from. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. It all happens at the Benton County Fairgrounds, Floral Courtyard,110 53rd St.,Corvallis,541-766-6750.

Critique at santiam restraunt is coming this week.

Culinary student Tim Maine serves Dean of Instruction Gary Ruppert at Linn- Benton Community College's Santiam Restaurant on April 2. The restaurant is supported by LBCC's Culinary Arts Program.


Main course: A Club salmon sandwich with portabella mushrooms and spinach served with an assortment of grilled onions, fresh pears, and lotus root.
This was simply amazing. the combination incredible. I had never tried lotus root before and it just melted in my mouth, perfectly fried.

This soup was so so tasty! Fresh carrots cooked and puree' with a hint of ginger, topped with long shavings of sweet baked carrot.


The Appetizer: The presentation is lovely. The taste mmm mmm mmm. Tender mouth watering morsels with a nice balance of lemon and oregano


There is nothing liked being treated like a queen. That was my expectation when I arrived at the Santiam Restaurant on April 2Nd 2009. Laurie Chang the hostess and instructor, greeted me at the entrance, and I was seated at a window table with a lovely spring view of the campus. Tim Maine was my waiter dressed in black slacks with a nicely pressed white shirt and black bow tie. He introduced him self and gave me a verbal account of the specials for the day. I was impressed by the selection of Entrees that are all served with your choice of soup or salad and included a balanced protein,vegetable and carbohydrate meal for only eight dollars and fifty cents. There were appetizers for only two dollars and fifty cents and deserts for two seventy five.The Culinary Program is based on classical French and European cuisine also featuring Asian, vegetarian and a artistic blending of ethnic cuisines are available on a menu that changes daily.

I was surprised at how many people filled up this little place. Especially since there is no advertising. I could not find it any where listed on the L.B.C.C. website. You really have to call in to find out what is on the menu for the day and get a reservation. The food was excellent as you can see in the pictures and read in the captions. The service was slow and the Dean of L.B.C.C. and his guests did get preferential treatment. This is probably why My meal did not show up until they were served ,even though I did arrive there before them, and Tim had my order, but ,he happened to be there server as well. So much for equality, hey, we each do the best that we can. I had to ask my self if I were Tim what would I have done? maybe he had thoughts similar to these; I'm young, I've never done this before, I don't want to make a mistake, the Dean is a very important man, I don't really no who that woman is that just placed an order, big question who can make a difference in my success? Bottom line I took advantage of the moment being a student in journalism and I shot some great pictures while I waited for my lunch, one of them is of Tim serving the Dean and that one landed me my first photo in the school newspaper. All good things do come to those who wait. I partook of it all, gourmet food, photo's and sharing the experience with you. by The Lady Knightress of the Pen

Living vicariously through my grandson

This is my 13 year old grandson on spring break in the Grand Caymans. His father (Dustin Hawk) took this picture.
I love this picture because it shows an amazing intimacy between a beautiful wild dolphin and a young teen.
The cropping on this is perfect there is no wasted space. The focus is on their meeting.

Oregon Coast Aquarium April 09

I had an amazing time at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The ever changing exhibit at this weekends focus was entitled Odd Water. This is represented from the beach to the Continental shelf. I took some incredible shots of marine life. I'm learning how to manage the 3hrs. worth of photos that I took so that I can share them with you, a picture is worth a thousand words and I have 300 pics to share. Please be patient pictures Coming Soon.

A Little Piece of Heaven

You have heard of Hell’s kitchen. We have a bit of HEAVEN HIDDEN and served here at LBCC in the Santiam Restaurant, a fine dining gourmet experience that will enrich your taste buds. The cost would be two to three times the amount at any other gourmet restaurant.

Many people do not know about the Santiam Restaurant. Janet Jones, who is a cashier in the L.B.C.C. cafeteria, told of the gourmet restaurant hidden behind the kitchen of the cafeteria.

“I had talked to many students who had been there for as many as two years who did not know of the restaurant. The cost was half of what you would pay in most gourmet restaurants and when students call and make a reservation they get a discount,”Jones said.

Instructor Laurie Chang introduced her staff , all first- year students in the culinary program: Ryan C’Debaca, Ilene Pierce’ Freeman, Tim Maine, and Ian Kirby.

Chang was happy to talk about their new espresso machine, and share that they were serving coffee and pastry at 9:30 a.m. during the week. Lunch is served between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Chang emphasized how they treated all of their customers equally.

”The president of the college brought state legislative representatives to enjoy their fine dining, and dining alongside of them were the students of LBCC.," Chang said.

Kirby brought up another story from the past week of an attorney who came in her slippers, to have lunch with her husband, Chang said. “She was looking into changing her career and attending LBCC to be a chef.”

The students placed each piece of every place setting as if it were laid out by a robot. One of them said I know someone comes out here and measures the place settings individually. Preparation for a fine dining experience is serious business.

What: Santiam Restaurant at L.B.C.C.

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday -Thursday

Menu: Changes daily

Reservations: Preferred though not required

Information: 541-917-4392

Top Left: Janet Jones, cashier at L.B.C.C. cafeteria, reveals location of the college Santiam Restaurant on April 2 2009.

Top Right: Culinary students Ryan C’Debaca, Tim Maine, and Ian Kirby prepare to serve their customers.

Bottom Right: Santiam Restaurant ready to recieve patrons.