"Faces of Tattoos"

The past few years I have noticed that there really isn't a negative stereotype surrounding tattoos anymore. Everyone has them and everyone has there own reason, some just get them just because, some get them to remember a moment or place in time, and some get them to remember a person.  

Jaime Kirk an administrative assistant at Kaiser Permanente dental lab in Portland, Oregon
His "pirate crew tattoo" is for simply his love of pirates.  

Hani Jama, a student at PCC and her tattoo of her favorite childhood cartoon "My Neighbor Totoro",
 created by Studio Ghibli

Len Wilson a Dental Technician at Kaiser Permanente, this is his "guardian angel".
He actually covered up his old tattoo of an "angel of death". 

Caedra Spears a full-time nanny and her tattoo of a northwest forests. she simply enjoys the outdoors.

Joey Taylor a tattoo artist at Sacred Art, his favorite tattoo being the "ace of spades" on his left arm. He always has an ace up his sleeve. 

Dylan Davis and the Beavers take game one!

OSU Beavers baseball Wins game 1 in front of 3,200 in their 14th regional appearance by beating the UTSA Roadrunners tonight  5-4. The Beavers will now face the Gouchos from UC Santa Barbara tomorrow night at 5:00 pm on ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN3 at Goss Stadium.

OSU starter Matt Boyd had another good outing throwing 114 pitches, striking out 8 batters, allowing only 4 hits and only allowing 2 runs in 6.2 innnings pitched.

The Beavers Started off slow offensively, and fell behind early 1-0 in the first inning. Their first run came in the 4th inning on a fielders choice hit with the bases loaded by third baseman Kavin Keyes, which allowed Dylan Davis to score.

In the 5th inning Pat Casey was asked about what adjustments needed to be made offensively to get the bats going. "Our guys need to be more patient, and wait for the pitch you want, and we just need to start swinging at better pitches."

The Roadrunners took the lead again in the 6th with Mike Warren's RBI Single. Beavers immediately answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th to regain the lead. The first coming from a Sac fly from Kavin Keyes. The second came when UTSA pitcher Matt Sims walked Tyler Smith with the bases loaded and 2 outs scoring Ryan Barnes.

The Roadrunners answered by scoring a single run in each of the next 2 innings and they ended up taking the lead into the bottom of the 9th.

The Beavers now 3 outs away from becoming the 12 national seed in history to lose in a regional game one, and would be the second team to do so in the last 4 years.

Tyler Smith advanced to second on a sac bunt by second baseman Andy Peterson, putting the tying run on second and the PAC 12 player of the year in Michael Conforto at the plate with one out. Conforto is hit by a low and inside pitch just above the ankle by pitcher Matt Sims.

The winning run is now on first with Dylan Davis at the plate. Davis jumps on the first pitch he sees and connects sending the ball into the gap in right center field scoring both Smith and Conforto with a walk off double. This became the first hit for the beavers with runners in scoring position and the game winner as well, Davis ended the night 3-5 and the 2 RBI's in the bottom of the 9th that secured their spot tomorrow against #3 seed UCSB.

Pat Casey commented on Davis's at bat after the game saying, "We felt that we had the right people up, certainly Dylan (Davis) is locked in and I don't think there is anyone else that we would want up there in that kind of situation."

#3 seeded UCSB upset #2 seeded Texas A&M 6-4 at Goss Stadium early this afternoon.
Also University of Oregon Ducks won game one of there regional beating SDSU by a score of 3-2 they will face off against Rice University tomorrow at 6:00 pm.

Beavers practice before first 2013 regional against UTSA

Close up

Medium

Overall

Caroyln Brown Director of the documentary "From the Fields: An American Journey"

Paul Hibbard "Husband, father, teacher, military officer, role model"

Paul Hibbard has worn many hats: Husband, father, teacher, military officer, role model.

Hibbard is a favorite among students in the economics department here at LBCC.

Hibbard was born in Vermont, moved to Canada at the age of 3 and lived there for a year, until moving to Salem where he began he life as a student. He ended up graduating from South Salem High School in 1984.

Hibbard went on to Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. He finished his degree in economics and a minor in Psychology in 1989. His academic achievements had earned him a full ride to the University of Oregon to obtain a Ph.D.

After deciding against his path toward a Ph.D. for personal reasons. He ended up enlisting in the navy but he wanted to become an Officer right off the bat.

So The navy sent him to the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia. He compared it to the Movie featuring Richard Gere titled "The Officer and The Gentleman". If you are unfamiliar with the movie, this was simply a place where they would "break you down to build you up", as they say, into the soldier and officer they want you to be.

So in 1990 at age 23 Hibbard was shipped off to Baharain, Saudi Arabia where he would spend the next two years of his life on a ship, serving the military.

When he returned from the military he went back to Oregon but not for his Ph.D., but rather for his Masters in Economics. He graduated from the university of Oregon in 1995, and immediately was enrolled in Willamette University in order to achieve his masters and teaching license. He achieved his goal just two short years later.

In 1997 Hibbard began teaching high school math in Boardman, Oregon. Where he also coached soccer and basketball.

After two years he decided to move down to San Jose to spend some much needed time with his grandfather. His passing was tough on Hibbard. After his passing he didn't feel teaching or doing much of anything. He described it as his down moment in life.

After working for the next couple of years with a tech firm in the silicon valley, he finally found his place in teaching again, in the silicon valley.

In 2005 Paul met his soul mate, Angela. It didn't take but a year and they were married. Before the two had set a date for the wedding, Hibbard was called on once again to serve his country as an officer in the U.S. Navy, but before he went Angela promised him, "You aren't leaving without a ring." She was right.

Three days before he was due to get on a plane to Kuwait for a year; they tied the knot. The night before he left, his family that wasn't able to make it to the wedding, came to a reception for him and his wife from all over.

The next morning Hibbard was on a plane and headed for Camp Arifjan just south of Kuwait City.

After returning from Kuwait Paul and his wife vacationed to Bend, Oregon. He needed to go somewhere besides home. In those next two weeks two monumental things in Paul's life happened he found a house he still owns today and he also found out that he was going to become a Father.

Hibbard is now the father of two children Catherine and Liam. and as of 2011 Paul Hibbard has been a member of the teaching staff here at LBCC, and when asked what he enjoys most about being an instructor here at LBCC, he answered, "the relationships you build with students on a professional level."

At A Glance:
Paul Hibbard
Economics instructor at LBCC
Husband to Angela
Father of Catherine and Liam

Bob Martin (Sports Photographer)

On his website bobmartinphotgraphy.us in his about page he perfectly expresses why he enjoys photography so much and what it really allows him to do. I would like to share that quote with you. "Living in Alaska has taught me to love light and the way it places across the face of this ever-changing planet. My goal is to keep my heart open, my mind quiet and my eyes alert for images that hold singular moments of beauty. Photography is a way to live my passion and intention. I hope that my images reflect this journey."

This Photo was taken by Martin at those Paralympics in Athens Georgie. This Picture went on to win him the  Sports Picture of The Year in The World Press Photo Awards in 2005. 

When asked, in an interview for professionalphotographers.co.uk, what his proudest moment in photography was, he answered “I covered the Paralympics in Athens in depth and one of my pictures won the award,” explains Martin. “It was moving to see those guys, with all their physical conditions, out there competing. Emotionally, it was hard – normally I have a very thick skin with these types of things, but that was the first time something like that got to me. It puts life into perspective.”  

According to bobmartin.com, Bob Martin has been a photographer for more than 30 years covering almost every major sporting event. He has photographed the last 13 winter and summer Olympics, and in the 2012 games he was appointed the overall photo chief of the games.

Also according to bobmartin.com, Bob Martin is the only Sports Illustrated photographer that is based outside the USA.  He currently lives in England, where he has won the British Sports Photographer of the Year Award 3 times now.

Bob Martin has been the recipient of  57 National and International awards. According to his website 23 of those awards were won in 2005 alone and within in those 23 was the World Press Photo Sports Picture of the year. He has also had photos published in various publications such as Time, Newsweek,  The New York Times, Life Magazine and National Geographic. 

Portland "My Neighborhood"

Feature photo-A blocked off portion of SW Ankeny St. in portland.

Moreland Theatre, on Milwaukie ave. in the Westmoreland neighborhood of portland.

Brett Ninneman a 22 year old from the sellwood moreland area.
He had a chance to put on his new hood scoop on his lunch break.

Frisbee Golf at Willamette Park in Corvallis, OR

Close up

Korey Corallino a friend of mine for all my life, practices his putting after a solid 18 holes of "frolf"
This is at Willamette park in Corvallis.

The 13th hole tee box offers some much needed shade during a long day of frisbee golf. 

LBCC's Safety Fair 2013

Mark Wolfe a Team Oregon instructor backing in his 2007 Harley Davidson Road King
at the public safety fair in the LBCC courtyard on May 1st. 2013.

Film Screening of "From the Field: An American Journey" Story #3

Carolyn Brown, a journalism professor at American University in Washington D.C. and an award winning documentary filmmaker  answering questions after the screening of her film "From the Fields: An American Story" on May 2nd at  6:00pm-8:30pm at the Benton County Library in Corvallis

An American story of Damian Trujillo. Which began in the lettuce fields of Salinas Valley Calif., progressed to graduating from San Diego State University, and ended by reaching the pinnacle of his career as a reporter for NBC.

On May 2nd from 6:00pm-8:30pm at The Benton County Library in Corvallis There was a film screening of Carolyn E. Brown's documentary, "From the Fields: An American Journey".  This film about a latino NBC News reporter who came to this country from Mexico in 1972, when he was just two years old.

There were at least 20 people that showed up to view the second screening of the day. The Majority of people were very moved by not just the documentary but the true raw story of Trujillo's actual experiences growing up in Salinas Valley. One women in the audience raised her hand purely to say, "thank you for telling this story and helping the Latino community as a whole."

Trujillo started working in the lettuce fields at age 11 and decided he wanted much more out of life than most of the people he knew. So he went to San Diego State University to get a degree in journalism so he could fulfill his dream to be a T.V. journalist.

Brown chose Trujillo as her subject because she could initially relate to him in a lot of ways, and they worked together as well. More importantly she is the daughter too of a Venezuelan immigrant, and both her and Trujillo shared some of the same experiences and hardships being a Latino in America and not feeling accepted.

Brown described  the feelings she personally had. " It's hard not knowing where you fit as an American born Latino, you don't feel anymore accepted by the Latino community at times than you do by the American community.

Corvallis happened to be Brown's last stop on her film screening tour, that she has been on since February, while teaching full time as a Journalism professor at American University in Washington, DC I might add. When I asked, "as a professor of journalism, what is the one thing you would hope your students could learn from Trujillo?" she answered simply, "be yourself and work hard."

She hopes to be done with her hour long documentary called the "Salinas Project"  by the end of the year. which follows four current  Latino college students. And she hopes it shows a more contemporary view of Latinos from the Salinas Valley and there "American journey's".

Trujillo brings a whole new meaning to the Spanish saying "Si Se Puede", which translates to "Yes I Can" but truly means I can do anything I want to do.

At a Glance:
What: "From the Fields: An American Journey", a documentary on Damian Trujillo a NBC News journalist
Where: Benton County Library
When: May 2nd from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Who: Award winning documentary filmmaker, Carolyn Brown. Professor of Journalism at American University in Washington DC.
Want to get involved or donate to the Salinas project: go to http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-salinas-project and contribute what you can.

Nick Fowler instructs future arborists at LBCC

Lia Clark a student at LBCC and Nick Fowler the instructor teaching the proper climbing technique during the tree climbing practicum in the White Oak grove on the west side of the tennis courts at LBCC on April 11, 2013. 

            Dont you miss being a kid and playing outside? Do you remember running around in the park, getting dirty and climbing trees? Remember being completely fearless and invincible? Asking yourself why can’t I just climb trees for the rest of my life.

            Well Nick Fowler an Agriculture and Arboriculture instructor is making it possible for you to do just that. Arboriculture, simply put is the study of trees. Fowler instructs a tree climbing practicum for Future arborists like Maia Kazaks an Arboriculture major who  But also he instructs students like Lia Clark who simply enjoy the outdoors and chose to take this class because it looked interesting.

             Fowler's Arboriculture: Principles and Practices class teaches you about all aspects of arboriculture as well. The class will teach you how to plant, train, protect, fertilize and provide ongoing care for trees in urban and wild landscapes.

            The majority of these tasks require you to be in the tree while performing them. So the act of tree climbing is very necessary for being and arborist. Kazaks admits “I want to climb trees for a living, what better way to make a living?” But according to instructor Nick Fowler, “you don’t only have to know how to climb trees effectively, but safely as well.” That is why this class provides complete preparation for the ISA (International Society of Arborists) Certified Arborists and Tree Worker Certification exams.

            This class also provides the introduction to a recreational sport that is on the rise especially here in the northwest. Competitive tree climbing, Similar to rock climbing, tree climbing is a fun and adventurous way to enjoy the outdoors.

            The big difference between rock and tree climbing is the fact that rock climbers use the dynamic Method of climbing. It’s called this because of the type of rope they use, dynamic. Dynamic ropes have more give and allow you to move around a little more when climbing a rock face.
            Tree climbers on the other hand use the static Method of climbing which is also named because of the type of rope used. Static ropes are the opposite of dynamic ropes essentially, they do not give and they are much thicker. More importantly they do not slip when pulled tight against each other, and this is very important, because unlike rock climbing your weight is primarily in the harness, or “saddle”.
            The ropes must be able to support your weight without slipping. It seemed to be easier for the girls in the class. When holding your own weight suspended in the air, less is better. The girls zoomed up the trees leaving all the guys behind.
To see more pictures check out my blog.

At A Glance
Class: Arboriculture: Principles and Practices(offered only in spring term)
Instructor: Nick Fowler  fowlern@linnbenton.edu. by phone 541-917-4770
When: Thursdays 2:00pm-4:30pm.
Where: LBCC's White Oak grove on the west side of the tennis courts.

Tree Climbing practicum (photos)

Maia Kazaks/Arboriculture student and Lia Clark/LBCC student.

Nick fowler/instructor and Lia Clark/LBCC student.

The sling shot to get the first rope over the branch. 

Nick Fowler and his tree climbing practicum

Gavin Seaders/Horticulture student/part time Arborist for Staker Forests

ready to climb a tree 

 Maia Kazaks/arboriculture student 

 Lia Clark/LBCC student Firing her rope over the branch with what arborists call the "Big-Shot"

 Nick Fowler/Arboriculture Instructor and Lia Clark/ LBCC student

 Lia Clark/LBCC student and Nick fowler/Arboriculture Instructor

 Maia Kazaks/Arboriculture student and Lia Clark/LBCC student

 Nick Fowler/Arboriculture Instructor and students at the tree climbing practicum

 Maia Kazaks/ Arboriculture student switching ropes

 "Saddles" and helmets

the sling shot or "Little Shot"

LBCC Career Fair 2013

Anthony Hammer a Mechatronics major is displaying his final project from winter term of 2013

If you were an LBCC student or just a member of the local community looking for part-time or full-time work, then the 35th annual LBCC Career Fair was the place for you.

There were 60 employers registered for the LBCC Career Fair last Thursday April 11, 2013. 50 of which were hiring. There were 22 new employers in attendance, but there were also 10 employers who have returned for at least 10 years and 10 others who have now returned for at least 5 years.

That tells the future employees only one thing. Although there were only 800 potential employees in attendance. This is down from 1400 from last year but, there were just about the same amount of employers hiring. It's obvious that less people need jobs and employers still need more employees.

One employer in particular Larry Rogers, the market Manager of BiCostal Media said "When we go to hire we usually end up contacting and hiring someone we met here, at the fair."

Quite the range of jobs available as well. There were job openings ranging from part time work as a parking lot attendant for the Beavers football games, all the way to a refrigeration mechanic for Mountain House Freeze Dry Foods, "the largest dry foods company on the planet", the representative immediately pointed out.

Even the Oregon Lottery had a booth a various job opportunities in their marketing and distribution departments.

Also in distributing there were job openings at Lowes and Home Depot. As well there were representatives from Work Source Oregon which is a job placement agency, that matches employees to employers. Work Source Oregon has returned for more than 10 years now.

Nine LBCC programs also attended this year. Four of them were there to demonstrate finished products and discuss career opportunities and program requirements.

The other five attended to provide information on admission, financial aid, student employment, apprenticeships, and support services for student success.

All in all the employers were very pleased with the turn out. Comments from the employers after the fair included these."There were less people but candidates were better qualified; solid potential." And "great event; enjoyed being here." 

More LBCC Career Fair 2013 (photos)

 Anthony Hammer/Mechatronics student 

Lookout RoadRunner coming through!

 Paula Jones/Oregon Department of Forestry

 Welding projects completed by LBCC students

 Diesel engine on display at LBCC's Heavy equipment booth

 New larger shop facility in lebanon for LBCC students coming soon 

  Janeen Philips/Career & Employment Specialist conversing with local radio talk show host

Larry Rogers/Market Manager Bicoastal Media

 Mountain House Representative/ Largest freeze dry food company on the planet

 Our own Charles Madriaga/ LBCC counselor at student info booth