Whitman Parker, Publisher, is honored to present the inaugural 2013 Jacksonville Review Citizens of the Year! Since choosing one winner was impossible… the Review is pleased to declare that the “winner” is everyone in Jacksonville whose lives have been touched by these six citizens who give their all for the betterment of our town!
Mary & Dirk Siedlecki
Dirk & Mary Siedlecki, nominated by Patricia Dahl
Dirk and Mary have spent an incalculable number of hours committed to the restoration and upkeep of the Jacksonville Cemetery for the past 10 years. The cemetery was a neglected place; full of weeds…a forgotten place. Today, it is well cared-for and a source of pride. Thanks to Dirk for revitalizing the Cemetery Commission and serving on the State Cemetery Board. Both Dirk and Mary deserve recognition for recruiting volunteers for clean-ups, organizing the inventory of all grave sites, raising funds to restore damaged headstones and monuments, educating volunteers on proper restoration methods, producing the History Saturday and Meet the Pioneers programs and so much more. Dirk says they could not have done this without the Boosters Club…that’s true. What he forgets is that he took a dream and ran with it…he and Mary inspired others by their dedication and hard work. They never take credit for themselves and are quick to acknowledge the contributions of others. Thanks to them, Jacksonville has a cemetery and award-winning programs to be very proud of.
Tim Balfour, nominated by Anne McAlpin
Tim Balfour
When he’s not running the world-class Touvelle House B&B with his partner Gary, Tim is very busy helping others. He’s currently serving on several boards and on the city’s bed tax committee, making a difference everywhere. Honestly, I don’t know how he does it all. On the JOBA board, Tim’s creativity and energy were instrumental in creating a fabulous website (jacksonvilleoregon.com) and upping the bar for all town-related promotional campaigns. He spends untold hours updating the site so visitors have the best information available before and during making trips here…something a professional travel expert like me really appreciates! Tim’s work helping organize and market the World of Wine Festival is something to toast, too. So is the tireless effort he put into managing the centralized booking site for all the B&B’s. He’s making a serious difference on the Chamber of Commerce Board, taking the reins and leading the effort to revitalize Victorian Christmas and other town-wide events. Working side-by-side with lots of community members and groups, he strives to make town events lovely celebrations for visitors and local families. Tim’s also helping to improve the day-to-day communications and outreach for the Chamber Visitor’s Center, volunteering his time to fill-in when needed and writing Chamber Chat every month. And if that’s not enough, Tim also serves on the Britt Festival Board, where he’s using his wonderful abilities to create a pleasant environment that’s helping clear the way for creative change. The town would be lost without Tim!
Linda Kestner
Linda Kestner, nominated by Gayle Lewis
Linda Kestner is an inspiration to me and many others. Instead of taking it easy in retirement, she seems to be everywhere, helping out and making a huge difference…she always has a pleasant word to say and a smile on her face! As a Booster Club member, she can be found helping during cemetery clean-ups, volunteering with all facets of Meet the Pioneers and History Saturday, assisting with putting up and taking down American flags on flag days, organizing, pricing and transporting loads of garage sale items all over town for the garage sale fundraiser…and so much more. Several times a year, she dresses in period costume and volunteers as a docent at the Beekman House, helping share Jacksonville’s rich pioneer history with our locals and visitors. During bi-annual Home Shows, she can be found hosting, hoisting, hauling and doing whatever it takes to help out… she’s a jack-of-all-trades volunteer! She’s also seriously eco-conscious—I call her my “personal recycler.” As a Master Recycler, she works for hours on-end gathering glass, plastic, batteries and spent electronics and then transports them to the recycling center for friends and neighbors. She’s also a dedicated member of CERT—our Community Emergency Response Team—taking a lead role in training and drills and responding to every urgent call. And, if she isn’t busy enough, she volunteered to help Engine Company #1 organize its yearly garland sale and will be helping beautify town for Victorian Christmas. Next time you look up the word “volunteer” in the dictionary, don’t be surprised to find a photo of Linda Kestner!
Gary Sprague and Tony Hess, nominated by Larry Smith, Executive Director, Jacksonville Woodlands Association
Gary Sprague & Tony Hess
Gary and Tony have worked tirelessly for the past 10 years to transform Jacksonville’s neglected Watershed into a usable and protected Forest Park. Working together, they consolidated park ownership, raised thousands of dollars in grants and contributions, pulled together community organizations to assist, designed and published trail maps, published articles, organized the Park Ranger program, repaired roads, built bridges, constructed over 10 miles of trails, named the new trails, corralled the destructive OHVs, built several bridges, organized events, and improved the forest health of the 1,000-acre park through massive forest restoration projects. None of this would have happened without their tireless work and efforts. Gary and Tony are helping Jacksonville reach its goal of becoming the hiking capital of Oregon and deserve to be recognized and thanked by all.
Posted November 26, 2013