WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 DRAMA Continued from Page 1A skipping to the next lines seamlessly and with such conviction that it would not have been apparent to an audience that anything had been left out. The moment illustrated why Farrell is passionate about directing. She enjoys preparing students to deal with unexpected rough spots without the audience noticing. The opportunity to do this is what inspires her as she leads the resurgence of Cove High School’s drama program. CHS’s drama program was revived about a year ago and is now prepar- ing its second production, “Psych,” a comedy written by Lisa Rowe, which will be performed Nov. 15, 16 and 17. It is about a successful D’ANTONIO Continued from Page 1A from one to the next, but in her troop she allows the girls to take the lead and fi nd their passions and interests, while also working to help their community. D’Antonio’s troop is made up of eight middle school aged girls, but she helps all of the other troops in the area. D’Antonio was honored for how she supports and helps all the troops in her area participate in these opportuni- ties. “Angela does everything,” her co-leader, Krisandra Kellogg, said. “She turned around Girl Scouts in the community.” According to D’Antonio, when her daughters joined the local Girl Scouts, there wasn’t much parent partici- pation and the troops were fi zzling out. Thanks to her dedication to keeping Girl Scouts alive, there are now more than 100 girls from kindergarten to 12th grade participating in the organi- zation in the three-county service unit area. THE OBSERVER — 5A LOCAL If you go The performances of “Psych” will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 17. Tickets are available at Cove High School and will also be sold at the door. They are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. psychiatrist who is beloved by many of his patients until he is framed for a murder. Farrell selected “Psych” because she believes students and parents alike will enjoy it. “Parents want a play to be peaceful and students want it to be fun,” Farrell said. She said fi nding a play that will make both happy is a “very diffi cult” process. Putting on plays is still a new experience for CHS students, since their school, “She got more girls in here, and she got it organized,” Kellogg said. According to D’Antonio, they could have more girls if the get more adult volun- teers. There are currently fi ve leadership roles fi lled in the service unit, and around 20 parents who are actively involved with the troops. In May, D’Antonio was giv- en the Guiding Star award, recognizing her service to the local community. Kellogg also nominated D’Antonio for the national Appreciation Pin award, which according to GSUSA means that she is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer who has shown “exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experi- ence. This service, which has had a measurable impact on one geographic area of ser- vice, helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.” D’Antonio was presented the award by La Grande Mayor Steve Clements at the service unit’s November meeting. until last spring, had not produced one since at least 2011. Drama classes had been taught until a few years ago, said Farrell, who is in her second year as a teacher at CHS. She came to Cove from Eastern Oregon University where she was an education professor for six years. Prior to that she directed student plays while teaching high school for 10 years in Klamath Falls. Farrell, who has a degree in theater from Montana State University, said teaching drama is rewarding because it helps students who are not sure of themselves to blossom. “It takes students who feel awkward and gives them self-confi dence. (Theater) is a great safe vehicle. It provides them with a safe place to be someone other than them- selves,” Farrell said. Cove High School sophomore Hayden Taggart, a member of the cast of “Psych,” said what he likes about theater is that it pro- vides people an opportunity to escape from themselves. “Most people have two or three things they do not like about themselves, and this gives them a chance to be- come someone else,” he said. Taggart said he enjoys taking on the mindset of another character and jokes that sometimes he and his castmates do not totally let go of them. “We will call each other by our character names,” he said. Taggart is part of a seven- person cast along with CHS students Isaac Lee, Terran Matthews, Elise Farrell, Amein Gallegos, Hannah Alldredge and Cove eighth- grade teacher Ross Hubbard, who has a cameo role as a pizza delivery man. This cast will perform “Psych” at the Coe Kerr Community Center on the Ascension School campus on Church Street in Cove. This is the same site where CHS students rehearse and where last spring they put on a production of “The Murder Room,” a crime thriller spoof. Farrell likes the site for production and rehearsals in part because her production team is able to leave materials there at the end of a performance or practice. FAMILY OWNED 215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440 northwestfurnitureandmattress.com NEW + IMPROVED UNLIMITED PLANS NOTICEABLY FASTER SPEEDS + INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE starting at $ 30 /MO. with 4 lines School upgrades Projects the $8 million will cover include: • Safety improvements at all schools, including secure entries and key card systems for better access control. • Energy effi ciency improvements at all schools, including upgrading the heating and ventilation systems. • Improvements to accommodate grades seven to 12 at Union High School. • Improvements to the gymnasium and athletic complex. • Improvements to the S.E. Miller and J.F. Hutchinson grade school buildings to accommodate students in kindergarten through sixth grade. BOND Continued from Page 1A The average tax rate will be $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the levy. This means that the owner of a $100,000 house in the school district will pay $110 more a year in prop- erty taxes. The bond will be paid for over a period not to exceed 21 years. The upgrades the bond will cover are needed primar- ily because of the age of the Union School District’s buildings. The high school was built in 1912 and the J.F. Hutchinson building in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The S.E. Miller building and the high school gym were constructed in the 1950s. The double majority rule was not in effect for the elec- tion, but it would not have mattered if it was since about 52.6% of the voters in the Union School District par- ticipated, said Union County Clerk Robin Church. 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