By Starla Pointer • Staff Writer • 

Thankful, even in 2020

Marcus Larson/News-Register  ## Lucas Partin and his mom, Michelle, are thankful to be able to spend time at the Yamhill Carlton Soccer Club’s arena in downtown Carlton. In addition to playing there, Lucas, a seventh-grader, helps coach younger kids.
Marcus Larson/News-Register ## Lucas Partin and his mom, Michelle, are thankful to be able to spend time at the Yamhill Carlton Soccer Club’s arena in downtown Carlton. In addition to playing there, Lucas, a seventh-grader, helps coach younger kids.
## Douglass
## Douglass
##Ferry
##Ferry
## Barske
## Barske
## Haller
## Haller
## Paull
## Paull
## Kirsch
## Kirsch
## Freeman
## Freeman
## Longaker
## Longaker
## Wilcox
## Wilcox
## Davis
## Davis
## Kuhlmann
## Kuhlmann
## Harris
## Harris
## Lutz
## Lutz
## Stephenson
## Stephenson
## Kunze
## Kunze
## Price
## Price
News-Register file photo ## George and Carolyn Stastny also are thankful to have a nice backyard in which to relax during warm weather.
News-Register file photo ## George and Carolyn Stastny also are thankful to have a nice backyard in which to relax during warm weather.
News-Register file photo ##  In 1958, Circuit Judge Arlie G. Walker presents an award to Ruben Contreras Sr., right, and his wife, Alberta Contreras. Their son, Ruben Jr., is thankful for the impact his late parents had in McMinnville, especially for his dad’s positive influence on the migrant community.
News-Register file photo ## In 1958, Circuit Judge Arlie G. Walker presents an award to Ruben Contreras Sr., right, and his wife, Alberta Contreras. Their son, Ruben Jr., is thankful for the impact his late parents had in McMinnville, especially for his dad’s positive influence on the migrant community.

In 2020, we’ve fought over toilet paper and mask wearing, taken sides over local and national elections, worried about racism and fights about racism, suffered from isolation and smoke, shape-shifted as we gave in to gravity while sitting too long at our computers, grieved and grieved and grieved again.

But we can see silver linings among the clouds, as well: Health in a time of coronavirus, technology that allows us to keep working and remain in touch, family members it turns out we can stand to be around for long periods at a time.

We still have many things for which to be thankful. Here are a few of the people we’ve interviewed this year — in person, by phone or via the internet — and what they’re giving thanks for this week.

Lucas Partin, a seventh-grader at Yamhill Carlton Intermediate School, is one of thousands of Yamhill County students learning online, rather than being in the same room as their teachers.

“This year more than any other year I am very thankful to be able to play soccer,” the Carlton student said. “While many sports have been canceled, the Yamhill Carlton Soccer Club has provided a safe place to allow my friends and I to continue to play and have fun.

“I am also thankful for my mom for all the time she has spent at the arena even when it is really hot or really cold outside, to be sure I get to play as much as possible,” Lucas said.

His mother, Michelle Partin, said she also is grateful for the club and the Wright family for all they’ve done for her son and the entire community. “It has been so wonderful to have such a positive outlet in these trying times,” she said.

Partin also is “thankful for the internet and the ability to adapt. I am thankful for science and the progress being made to fight this virus. But most of all, I am incredibly thankful for hope, because without that we have nothing.”

Tommy Douglass is a 2019 McMinnville High School graduate who served as student body president his senior year.

Douglass, now a University of Oregon student, said he is thankful “for good health and a loving family.”

McMinnville native Debbie Harmon Ferry, special assistant to the president at Linfield University,  said this strange year has led her to recognize some unanticipated gifts, she said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to slow down and to hone some of the skills that I needed to improve,” she said. “Flexibility, patience, creativity and the ability to be truly grateful for small things that I formerly took for granted, such as nature, hugs, card games, good food.”

Dianne Barske and her husband, Elliott, became involved in the McMinnville community after moving here three years ago. They helped with the Presbyterian Church’s annual rummage sale in March, which was the last large local event before everything shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I’m thankful to our new hometown of McMinnville for being so welcoming,” she said. “And, ironically, I am thankful that the pandemic has pushed so many things to communicating through Zoom.

“That has allowed me to still be a part of many groups in our former hometown, Anchorage — groups that are now meeting exclusively on Zoom, such as the Anchorage Senior Chorus. I sing along with them across thousands of miles on Tuesday afternoons.”

Matt Haller of Sheridan, new owner of Willamina’s Wildwood Hotel with his wife, April, is thankful for his family and “the friends we’ve made in this community. We hope to continue that.”

George and Carolyn Stastny have no problem compiling a list of reasons for which they are grateful in 2020. The problem is narrowing it to just a few items.

George Stastny, who came to the U.S. from Communist Czechoslovakia four decades ago, is an artist whose huge concrete planters can be seen downtown and in other spots around McMinnville. He’s currently remodeling their vacation condo. Carolyn Stastny is a retired elementary school teacher now helping a 5-year-old with distance learning.

The McMinnville couple’s list includes: “Our health; our work; the freedoms we enjoy; our children and grandchildren; the beauty of where we live; the love we have for each other; and good friends.”

Mike Paull of Whiteson is a poet, prose writer and member of the American Legion Riders with his wife, Jeri. His children’s book, “The Fastest Porker in the West,” was released early this year.

“2020 has really shown me how fortunate I am to have a soulmate,” Paull said. “Day after day of sad news about the pandemic and everyone having to hunker down could be very depressing. But if you look forward to seeing that certain someone each day, then usually, no burden is too heavy.”

He’s also thankful for good health. “Of course, one must put in the effort for both of these things,” he said. “Pretty simple, really.”

Pam Kirsch of Yamhill, a longtime resident active in her city, said the shutdowns of 2020 provided her the gift of time.

“I’m thankful for the new opportunity to work from home,” she said. “I can use that daily two-hour commute time to volunteer in my Yamhill community.”

In addition, she said, “I’m thankful for time to connect with old and new friends, to watch incredible sunrises and sunsets, and to experience large doses of stillness.”

Mike Freeman, president of McMinnville’s Friends of the Library organization, is glad to be able to travel and learn without leaving his home — by reading.

“I am thankful for having my books around me and a comfortable retirement in which to enjoy them,” the former academic librarian said.

Diane Longaker founded the wildly popular — and successful — Melt Down fundraiser during her years directing the YCAP food bank. She recently started a new job with another local helping agency, Juliette’s House child abuse assessment center.

“The collective trauma we have experienced this year has made for a time in our lives we soon will not forget,” she said. “The saving grace has been the silver linings; there is comfort in knowing that the truest form of joy appears when we open our hearts to the possibility of such.

“I am beyond thankful for each and every silver lining this year.”

Emily Wilcox, drama teacher at Patton Middle School, misses being in the same building as her students, whom she sees online these days. But she appreciates something the pandemic closure has provided.

“In 2020, I’ve been incredibly grateful for my extra time with my family,” Wilcox said. “I have a 2-year-old, and spending so much time with her this year has been such a blessing.”

Linfield University President Miles Davis has overseen the McMinnville school through the sudden closure of campuses across the nation due to coronavirus, and Linfield’s reopening to students under pandemic restrictions this fall.

“I’m thankful for the behavior of our students that enabled us to have an in-person experience this semester,” he said. “I pray they will be able to do so again in the spring.”

Linda Kuhlmann, a McMinnville resident and author, finished her “Triple Crown” novel series with the publication of “Koenig’s Promise” in February — not knowing the Kentucky Derby and other races would be postponed a few months later because of the pandemic.

In addition to being thankful for her own family and friends, Kuhlmann enjoys “seeing entire families walking together in my neighborhood again.”

In the recent past, that was rare. “It reminds me of my travels in Europe, where life has a slower pace and family gatherings are important,” she said. 

Retired judge Wayne Harris, Kuhlmann’s husband, said he is thankful for hisand his wife’s families and their love and good health.

In addition, “I’m thankful for a community that provides us with friends and neighbors, leadership and education, support and kindness through our churches and service organizations,”   the McMinnville man said. “I’m thankful to be here.”

Peggy Lutz served in the Navy WAVES in World War II, stationed in Klamath Falls and Astoria as an air traffic controller. Now retired, the McMinnville resident was a teacher before and after the war.

“My greatest THANKS is for my mind that is still functioning satisfactorily even though my body is gradually falling behind. And for my family who stays close by to catch whichever might go first,” she said. “I am blessed!”

McMinnville native Erin Stephenson has been honored as woman of the year and junior citizen. Former director of Habitat for Humanity, she is a member of the Atticus Hotel ownership team.

She finds it easy to be thankful, especially when times are tough.

“I’m thankful for so much in 2020, but at the top of the list is living in a community embodied by an independent can-do spirit — one that in the face of a global pandemic has looked within to find ways to support one another (the DineOut(side) program is one amazing example),” she said.

McMinnville residents have “gotten creative when it comes to protecting both community health AND the local businesses we love so much,” Stephenson said. 

Neil Kunze, a retired history professor and former president of Friends of the Library, has lived in McMinnville since 2006.

“I’m thankful for the technology which allows us to see and communicate with friends and family when we cannot get together physically because of the virus,” he said.

Raylinda Price volunteers with the Yamhill County Historical Society and Heritage Center, both of which canceled all events this year once pandemic hit.

“I am thankful for the additional family time that our current situation has afforded us,” Price said. “Even though there have been trials in almost every aspect of life, it has been a blessing to remember and focus on how we are all coming together to meet these challenges at hand.

Ruben Contreras Jr., who posts about McMinnville history on his “I dragged the Gut in Downtown McMinnville” Facebook page, is grateful for the memories of his father.

The late Ruben Sr., who died in 2010, worked for rights for migrant workers and Spanish speakers.

He was a founding board member of CASA of Oregon; an area director for the Valley Migrant League; part of YCAP’s Hispanic outreach program; and a citizen adviser who helped set national agricultural safety standards for OSHA. 

“He really helped break the poverty cycle for migrant workers,” his son said.

He helped create a Spanish-speaking deputy position in the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, which was filled by future sheriff Lee Vasquez. A special deputy himself, Ruben Sr. helped with translations during arrests and court proceeding.

“I’m so thankful to meet people whose lives were so positively changed through my father’s work,” Ruben Jr. said. “I keep meeting people here who have found the American Dream because of him.”

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