6A
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019
The Observer
UNION COUNTY
FFA joins efforts
to combat food
insecurity locally
Observer staff
CORVALLIS — Oregon
FFA, Les Schwab Tire Cen-
ters, Wilco, and Grange Co-op
stores across Oregon partici-
pated during October in the
Drive Away Hunger initiative.
Since 2015, Oregon FFA
members — including the
North Powder FFA — and
their advisers, volunteers
and partnering stores and
newspapers across Oregon
have worked together to
grow the impact of the initia-
tive.
“Members organize a wide
range of local events to col-
lect cash and nonperishable
food during the month-long
drive,” said Shawn Dooley,
CEO of the Oregon FFA,
in a press release. “In the
process they learn about food
insecurity in their own com-
munities and the importance
of volunteering and philan-
thropy.”
According to Feeding
America, 510,080 Oregonians
are food insecure. That’s
about one in every eight
individuals.
The North Powder FFA
chapter organized a food
drive with the elementary
school. Food donations were
collected daily by FFA
members, and the winning
elementary classes were
awarded a party put on by
FFA members with ac-
tivities such as face painting,
mummy wrap, apple cider
pressing, cake walk and
musical chairs. The food and
money raised was presented
to the local food bank in
North Powder during the
first week of November.
The efforts of North
Powder FFA contributed
to the #DriveAwayHunger
initiative, raising more food
and dollars to help those in
need than any year prior. In
total, 580,084 pounds of food
were collected. That equals
435,171 meals to help those
in need this holiday season.
In addition to local chapter
efforts, community members
were encouraged to drop food
off at a local Les Schwab,
Wilco or Grange Co-op stores,
and collection bags were dis-
tributed by the Capital Press
and EO Media.
The Oregon FFA is part of
the National FFA Organiza-
tion, formerly known as the
Future Farmers of America,
a national youth organiza-
tion of 700,170 student
members — all preparing
for leadership and careers
in the science, business and
technology of agriculture.
Library programs, services for all ages
N
ew services offered at Cook Memo-
rial Library include collaboration
with the OverDrive app. Patrons who
sign up for OverDrive Advantage mem-
bership earn shorter waiting times for
popular e-book and audiobook titles.
Families also may sign up for Library
Elf to corral multiple library cards
in one place. Choose Cook Memorial
Library from the list at www.libraryelf.
com to combine library cards and re-
ceive renewal and hold notifications.
The Food for Fines drive continues
until Dec. 27. Up to $10 in late fees
per card may be waived, one dollar for
each non-perishable item. Unexpired,
labeled items will be accepted. Ready-
to-eat items are preferred.
Wi-Fi Hotspots are back. Available
for a one-week checkout, Hotspots are
small devices that connect patrons to
the internet wherever Sprint 3G or 4G
LTE is available.
Children’s programming in Decem-
ber includes LEGO Play on Wednes-
days at 3:30 p.m. and Storytime on
Fridays at 1:30 p.m. Baby Tot Bop,
for those 3 years old and younger, is
Thursday mornings at 10:15 a.m.
Toddler Time is Mondays at 10:20 a.m.
for ages 14 months to 4 years. Check
out our GO-STEM kits, part of the
“Greater Oregon Science, Technology,
and Math” regional partnership with
EOU. “Blocks Rock!” STEM kits are
OFF THE SHELF
ROSE PEACOCK
also now available.
Children up to 5 years can be signed
up online or at the library for the
Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Participants receive a free book in the
mail each month through their fifth
birthday. Ready2Learn library cards
are also available for children age 5
and younger.
Teen Book Clubs, one for middle
schoolers and one for high schoolers,
will be held Dec. 5. The middle school
club meets at 3:30 p.m. and the high
school club at 4:30 p.m. Contact Celine
for details. Writing Circle for teens
begins at 4 p.m. Dec. 12. Decorate
snowman cookies at the 4 p.m. iCraft
on Dec. 20. All teen events are open to
those in middle and high school.
For adults, Ballet Basics continues
on Tuesdays from 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
This free drop-in class for beginners
explores the fundamentals of ballet to
build grace, strength and flexibility in
a low-key environment.
Guided meditation sessions are held
from 4:15-6 p.m. Wednesdays. Led by
Kitia Chambers, these sessions explore
a variety of meditation and relaxation
techniques. No experience or registra-
tion is necessary. The final session of
this round of classes is Dec. 18 and will
continue in the spring.
The Foreign Film Friday screening
begins at 4 p.m. Dec. 13. This month’s
movie will be a German comedy,
“Schultze Gets the Blues” in which a
German musician’s life is transformed
after he hears zydeco music on the
radio and braves a trip to Louisiana.
Foreign films may not be suitable for
all audiences.
The Page Turners book club for
adults will not meet in December. The
next club gathering will be held at 1
p.m. Jan. 14 to discuss Alice Hoffman’s
“The World That We Knew.” New mem-
bers are welcome.
Library hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, noon to 6
p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
on Saturdays. During the holidays,
the library will be closing at 3 p.m. on
Dec. 24 and will be closed Dec. 25 and
Jan. 1.
Visit us at 2006 Fourth St., La
Grande. Call us at 541-962-1339. Find
out more on our website at cookmemo-
riallibrary.org and our search “Cook
Memorial Library-La Grande” to find
us on Facebook.
Rose Peacock is a
library technician at
Cook Memorial Library.
David & Shirley Lester — 65th anniversary
David and Shirley
Lester, of La Grande,
will celebrate their
65th wedding anni-
versary Dec. 4. They
were married in 1954
at the First Christian
Church in La Grande.
They have two chil-
dren: Rebecca and
Mike. David retired
as a sergeant major
from the National
Guard, and Shirley
worked many years
at Wayne’s Market.
There will not be a
planned celebration,
but cards, visits and
phone calls are en-
couraged.
B irths
GRANDE RONDE HOSPI-
TAL
BARAJAS: To Autumn Daisy
Barajas and Baudelio Barajas
Romero, of North Powder, a
son, Carlos Barajas, 8 pounds
14 ounces, Oct. 31 at 8:07 a.m.
Grandmother is Juanita Hallett.
CLEMONS: To Cari Eckstein
and Billy Clemons, of La Grande,
a son, Abel Clemons, 6 pounds
14 ounces, Oct. 19 at 7:09 a.m.
HENRY: To Kara Johnson and
Earl Henry Jr., of La Grande,
a daughter, River Henry, 8
pounds, Nov. 6 at 8:07 a.m.
Grandparents are Jody and
Alyn Domschot, Erik and Nicole
Johnson, Butch and Wanda
Henry, and Becky Jones.
JOHNSON: To Khirenda Kai
Johnson and Stanley James
Johnson, of La Grande, a son,
Khyren Jonah-Sean Johnson, 9
pounds 2 ounces, Nov. 6 at 3:39
p.m. Grandparents are Corey
and Kenna Collins, Stan and
Lisa Johnson, Jesse and Bar-
bara Kennedy, Gordon Johnson,
Sherry Shownwald, and Tom
and Jeannie Collins.
LITTLE: To Renee Little and
Curtis Little, of Elgin a daughter,
Georgia Jo Marie Little, 8 pounds
1 ounce, Oct. 24 at 7:57 a.m.
Grandparents are Tracy and Chris
Christopher and Denise and
Martine Mills.
McBRIDE: To Monica Thomas
and Steven McBride, of La
Grande, a son, Kashten Mc-
Bride, 7 pounds 12 ounces, Nov.
6 at 9:11 p.m. Grandparents are
James and Jodi Thomas and
Don and Debbie McBride.
McILMOIL: To Tara McIlmoil and
Stephen McIlmoil, a daughter, Isla
Annabeth McIlmoil, 7 pounds 3
ounces, Oct. 23 at 2:09 p.m.
NICE: To Mary Kate Nice and
Zachary Lee Nice, of Island City,
a daughter, Blaire Emelia Nice,
6 pounds 5 ounces, Oct. 24 at
7:09 p.m.
ROGERS: To Ana Maria Cur-
tiss and Brian Eloy Rogers, of
La Grande, a son, Javier Henry
Rogers, 9 pounds 12 ounces,
Oct. 25 at 2:46 p.m. Grandpar-
ents are Irma Rogers, Richard
Rogers, Melvin Collier, Javier
Cruz and Annette Curtiss.
WARREN: To Stephanie
Marie Warren, of La Grande, a
son, Asher Matthew Warren, 5
pounds 13 ounces, Oct. 21 at
12:30 a.m. Grandparents are
Regena Warren and Chris Clark.
WILLIAMS: To Jenni Marie
Williams and Jordan Keith Wil-
liams, of La Grande, a daugh-
ter, Allie Elizabeth Williams, 6
pounds 11 ounces, Nov. 4 at
5:25 p.m. Grandparents are
Keith and Stephanie Williams
and David and Judy Browning.
WALLOWA MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
CLARK: To Emily Clark and
Abe Clark, of Lostine, a son,
Hudson Albion Clark, 9 pounds,
Nov. 1 at 8:11 a.m.
MILLS: To Ashley Renae
Dove and Kevin Aubrey Mills, of
Enterprise, a daughter, Daphne
Emerald Mills, 7 pounds 3
ounces, Oct. 28 at 1:23 a.m.
YATES: To Sara Yates and
Jeremy Yates, of Wallowa, a
daughter, Millie Rose Yates, 5
pounds 14.2 ounces, Oct. 30 at
7:37 p.m.
First snowfall
Sabrina Thompson/The Observer
La Grande’s first snowfall of November started Monday
morning. The National Weather Service calls for a chance
of snow most of the week.
Courtesy photo
‘Tis the season … to
prevent impaired driving
N
ovember usually kicks off what
most of us think of as the “Holiday
Season.” From holiday parties to feasts
with friends and family, now is the
time to be thankful for your loved ones
and good health, and to look toward a
new year.
However, this time of year can be
very difficult and bring up tragic
memories for many families in the
United States. Why? The season
between Thanksgiving and New
Year’s Day is what the National
Association of Drug Court Profes-
sionals describes as “one of the
deadliest and most dangerous times
on America’s roadways due to an
increase in impaired driving.” Many
of these crashes involve minors. This
year alone, hundreds of parents will
mourn the death of their kids due
to impairment. In fact, car crashes
are the No. 1 cause of death among
minors, 60% of which involve drink-
ing and driving.
Since 1981, every president of the
United States has demonstrated the
commitment to preventing impaired
driving by proclaiming December as
National Drunk and Drugged Driv-
ing Prevention Month (also known as
3D Month) or, more recently, Na-
tional Impaired Driving Prevention
Month.
While talking to your children
about the risks of underage drinking
and other drug use is important, one
of the best ways to send a positive
message to your kids (even if they
are too young to have a discussion
An Independent
Insurance Agency
Reed & Associates for
excellent service LOCALLY!
Nicole Cathey
10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City
about drinking and other substance
use) is to remember that actions
speak louder than words. Rarely
does a holiday party not include
adults drinking openly with their
children watching nearby. Being a
positive role model to your children
and other children around you is one
of the best gifts you can give.
Even if you consistently model
responsible use of alcohol, you might
consider having some family gather-
ings where alcohol isn’t present at all,
because even if they are not consider-
ing drinking themselves, or are too
young to really understand the risks
involved, children can start to associate
alcohol with family gatherings, parties
and good times. Enjoy each other’s
company by playing board games,
watching movies or cooking together.
Challenge yourself this season to leave
the alcohol for the adult-only parties
and avoid consuming alcohol in front of
children.
The following list includes a few
simple tips for celebrating and driving
safety this holiday season:
Designate a non-drinking driver
ahead of time.
If drinking alcohol at a party or
other celebration, allow at least one
hour between drinks. It takes one hour
to get rid of one drink from your body
(one drink is equal to a 12-ounce beer,
5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5-ounce shot
of liquor).
Set limits beforehand of the number
of drinks to have and stick with it.
Eat food, and alternate drinking
541-975-1364
Toll Free 1-866-282-1925
BILLIE JO DEAL
UNION COUNTY SAFE
COMMUNITIES COALITION
alcoholic beverages with soda, juice or
water.
Don’t mix alcohol with other drugs,
including over-the-counter and pre-
scription medications.
Don’t ride with someone who is im-
paired. Use other means of transporta-
tion such as a taxi, public transporta-
tion or a driver who is sober.
If you are hosting a party, here are
some steps to take to help your guests
drive safely:
Plan ahead and designate a sober
driver.
Collect each guest’s keys upon ar-
rival and store in a designated basket.
Serve foods along with alcohol-free
beverages such as soda, juice or water.
If making an alcoholic punch, use
fruit juice instead of a carbonated
drink. Alcohol absorbs faster into the
bloodstream when mixed with carbon-
ated drinks.
Stop serving alcohol one to two
hours before the party actually ends.
If you take a medication that makes
you drowsy, do not drive. Have some-
one drive you.
Join the national movement and
Union County Safe Communities
Coalition in supporting National
Impaired Driving Prevention Month:
Plan for a sober ride home if you have
been drinking, make sure your family
and friends get home safe, and talk to
your children about underage drinking
and your expectations for them and
their safety.
Billie Jo Deal is a member of the Union
County Safe Communities Coalition.
Medicare, Auto, Home
insurance and Annuities
www.reed-insurance.net
Kevin Reed