STATE/REGIONAL THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 5A Donor buys books for children of hotel employees Frequent guest at Geiser Grand Hotel can’t visit this year because of pandemic  By Jayson Jacoby EO Media Group BAKER CITY — Reanna Clark seems more interested in tasting her brand new book than reading it. Which is pretty typical behavior for a 6-month-old. But Reanna’s older brother, Colton, 12, is eager to start turning the pages of his volumes, which include Gary Paulsen’s “Tucket’s Travels,” a series chronicling the adventures of a 14-year-old boy who is kid- napped while traveling on the Oregon Trail in 1847. “I like to read whatever looks good,” Colton said. His brother Gage, 7, is exam- ining a stack of books, including one of Tedd Arnold’s “Fly Guy” stories. The Clarks are inspecting their new books in the lobby of the Geiser Grand Hotel on Baker City’s Main Street. This is not a coincidence. Their mother, Mandy Clark, is the front desk manager at the restored 131-year-old hotel that is a Baker City landmark. The Clarks’ books — and about two dozen more — were donated to the children and grandchildren of Geiser Grand employees by a longtime guest who wasn’t able to make her annual visit this year due to the coronavirus. Geiser Grand owner Bar- bara Sidway said the donor, who asked that she remain anon- ymous, called recently to say that she wouldn’t be traveling to Baker City. But the guest had a request. She asked Sidway to com- pile a list of Geiser Grand employees’ children and grand- children, including their ages and interests. Then the donor called Carolyn Kulog, owner of Betty’s Books in Baker City, and ordered books for each child. Most received two or three. “She’s so thoughtful,” Sidway said of the donor. Sidway said the woman always browses Betty’s Books during her stays in Baker City. The books arrived last week and the Clarks picked up their books on Friday. The eldest, 16-year-old Lane, wasn’t there, but he also received books. Mandy, who lives in Keating Valley, said her kids have “been getting tired of reading the same books.” The children are accustomed to deliveries from the Baker County Bookmobile, which hasn’t been operating this spring due to the pandemic. Clark said she was surprised, and gratifi ed, by the donor’s generosity. “It is so cool,” she said. Clark said she has met the woman during some of her pre- vious visits. Sidway said she has talked with the woman since the books arrived, and the benefactor wants to order more books for Geiser Grand employees’ children and grandchildren. “It makes my heart swell and puts a smile on my face in a time when little else can,” Sidway wrote in an email. Layoff s, few seasonal workers at Oregon state parks Associated Press PORTLAND — Ore- gon’s state parks have started to reopen, but the agency that manages them is is facing an estimated $22 million budget shortfall between now and next June amid the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said Tuesday it will lay off 47 full-time employees by June 30. That’s in addition to the 338 seasonal staff that will not be rehired this year, The Oregonian/Oregon- Live reported. Only 77 of 415 seasonal positions have been fi lled for 2020. The parks department does not receive funding from tax dollars but from the Oregon Lottery, camping and parking fees, and RV registration fees. Oregon state parks closed to the public in late March, just before Gov. Kate Brown announced a stay-home order that closed most businesses across the state. Lottery funds subse- quently shrunk, while park fees were zero. “It’s a gut punch, we’ve never been through any- thing like this before,” parks spokesman Chris Havel said. The layoffs will trans- late to reduced services at day-use sites and camp- grounds across the state, including trash collec- tion, restroom cleaning and maintenance. Day-use park sites began to reopen in May with lim- ited services. On June 9, several popular camp- grounds will reopen, with online reservations starting Wednesday at noon. That will provide some revenue, but it’s not expected to be enough. Havel said visitors can help by packing out trash and bringing their own water, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Oregon’s parks hav- en’t been in such trouble since the early 1990s, when the parks department was cut off from the Oregon Department of Trans- portation and left to fend for itself. Offi cials faced the closure of some 60 state parks before voters approved parks funding through the Oregon Lottery. “This is a heartbreaking time for our agency family, both for those who face a heavy workload as we roll into summer and for the dedicated professionals we have to release from ser- vice,” said Lisa Sumption, state parks director. Photo by Jayson Jacoby/EO Media Group Reanna Clark, 6 months old, has a fi rm grasp on her new book, “Pat the Bunny,” as she sits on the lap of her older brother, Colton, 12. Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Sale Tiny Hearing Aids 2 Hearing Aids Offers as low as On sale for a limited time! $ Tiny Digital technology delivers the clearest, most accurate sound quality available in hearing aids! ** 28! per month † Sale ends ends June May 15th Sale 12th 2020. 2020. FREE hearing tests * Reveals if and where you need hearing assistance and is recommended for everyone over 50 years old. FREE SERVICES! 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