FR IDAY , JANUARY 2 , 2015 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5 Local YMCA can he lp w i th New Swearing-in Y ear ’ s f i tness eso lu t ions By G ina K . Swa r tz G ina@TheBa ke rCoun t yP re s s . com Ev e ry N ew Y e a r ’ s Ev e , r e so lu t ion s a r e m ad e by m any Am e r i c an s to b e h e a l th i e r and to ex e r c i s e mo r e . Th e B ak e r Coun ty YMCA i s a g r e a t w ay to h e lp en su r e tho s e r e so lu - t ion s a r e k ep t . Th e YMCA o f f e r s a v a r i e ty o f c l a s s e s and o th e r s e rv i c e s and in c en t iv e s . Som e o f th e c l a s s e s b e ing o f f e r ed th i s w in t e r in c lud e yog a , Zumb a , s t r eng th t r a in ing and body s cu lp t ing . W a lk F i t i s a fou r -w e ek p rog r am g e a r ed a t h e lp - ing to l e a rn t e chn iqu e s o f e f f e c t iv e ex e r c i s e w a lk ing , in co rpo r a t ing l igh t s t r eng th ex e r c i s e s fo r ov e r a l l f i - n e s s . On F r id ay n igh t s a C a rd io P a r ty w i l l b e h e ld f rom 5 :30 p .m . to 6 :30 p .m . f e a tu r ing b l a ck l igh t s , th i s i s a h igh en e r gy c a rd io wo rkou t w i th ton ing ex e r - c i s e s in a fun g roup s e t t ing . Th e YMCA no t on ly op e r a t e s th e F i tn e s s C en t e r a t 3715 Po c ahon t a s Ro ad bu t a l so S am O Sw im C en t e r lo c a t ed a t 580 B ak e r S t r e e t and m a in t a in s th e Gym lo c a t ed a t 2020 Chu r ch S t . Th e YMCA i s known by m any fo r th e you th p ro - g r am s su ch a s b a sk e tb a l l and summ e r d ay c amp s bu t in r e c en t y e a r s th e YMCA h a s b e en exp and ing s e r - v i c e s to ev e ryon e in ou r commun i ty . Th e f i tn e s s c en t e r mov ed f rom M a in S t r e e t to th e n ew ly a cqu i r ed and r enov a t ed bu i ld ing on Po c ahon t a s . Th e bu i ld ing hou s e s ov e r 3 ,000 squ a r e f e e t o f s tud io sp a c e , a r e cy c l ed rubb e r compo s i t e indoo r t r a ck and o f f e r s ch i ld c a r e . M any a bu sy mom m ay b r e ak h e r N ew Y e a r ’ s R e so lu t ion a im ed a t f i tn e s s and h e a l thy l iv ing b e c au s e T odd A r r io la / Th e Ba k e r Coun t y P r e s s A sma l l g roup ga the red to wa tch the swea r ing - in . Con t inu ed f rom Pag e 1 G r e en in fo rm ed th e c rowd o f th e r e f r e shm en t s , wh i ch in c lud ed mu f f in s , donu t s , cook i e s , co f e e and o r ang e ju i c e , and ev e ryon e in th e c rowd v i s i t ed w i th on e ano th e r , and w i th th e e l e c t ed o f f i c i a l s Wh en a sk ed abou t h i s imm ed i a t e fo cu s in 2015 , H a r - v ey , th e l i c en s ed con t r a c to r and fo rm e r Coun ty P l ann ing Comm i s s ion m emb e r who w i l l b e r ep l a c ing F r ed W a r - n e r , J r . a s Coun ty Comm i s s ion Ch a i r , s a id , “Th e f i r s t s ix G ina K . Swa r t z / Th e Ba k e r Coun t y P r e s s m on th s i s go ing to b e c a t ch ing up , to in t rodu c e my s e l f to ev e rybody , to l e a rn ev e ry a sp e c t o f wh a t th ey ’ r e do ing , Am i H ines he lps beh ind the f ron t coun te r a t the YMCA . and to look fo r a r e a s wh e r e w e c an h e lp and imp rov e . ” Wh en a sk ed th e s am e qu e s t ion , B enn e t t , a Un i ty - a r e a r an ch e r who w a s e l e c t ed a s Coun ty Comm i s s ion e r , o f no t h av ing o r b e ing ab l e th e F i tn e s s C en t e r h av e op t ion s fo r s ing l e adu l t s , s a id , “W e h av e th e Bo a rdm an to H em ingw ay T r an sm i s - to a f fo rd ch i ld c a r e in o rd e r ch i ld c a r e av a i l ab i l i ty . S am s en io r s , m i l i t a ry m emb e r s s ion L in e P ro j e c t (B2H ) , th a t ’ s ju s t un ro l l ed , and th e to g e t to th a t wo rk ou t . O Sw im C en t e r do e s no t and f am i l i e s to n am e a s ag e -g rou s e i s su e . And , w e h av e ou r m a in job , wh i ch Tho s e bu sy mom s h av e sp a c e to a c commo - f ew , su r e ly th e s t a f f a t i s gov e rnm en t . W e ’v e e s t ab l i sh ed a t r ad i t ion in Coun ty w an t ing to k e ep N ew Y e a r d a t e th a t am en i ty . th e YMCA c an h e lp you gov e rnm en t o f s e rv ing th e p eop l e , and to b e so l id ly , f i - R e so lu t ion s c an c e r t a in ly “W e r e a l ly exp lo r ed f ind th e so lu t ion th a t b e s t c a l ly sound , and th a t n e ed s to con t inu e . W e c e r t a in ly h av e t ak e adv an t ag e o f th e th a t op t ion . W e o f f e r th e f i t s you r n e ed s in c lud ing ou t s id e i s su e s to d e a l w i th , bu t th e t axp ay e r s d e s e rv e ch i ld w a t ch am en i ty a t th e aqu a t i c Zumb a and th a t p aym en t op t ion s r ang ing good gov e rnm en t . ” YMCA f i tn e s s c en t e r wh i l e app e a l s to tho s e th i r ty - f rom mon th ly to annu a l B enn e t t w a s appo in t ed a s Coun ty Comm i s s ion e r in s imp ly do ing a p e r son a l som e th ing mom s . Ch i ld p aym en t s . M ay o f 2013 a f t e r D r . C a r l S t i f f r e s ign ed h i s po s i t ion , and wo rkou t o r a t t end ing on e c a r e wou ld b e a g r e a t th ing Tho s e choo s ing to m ak e e l e c t ed a s th e s am e th i s y e a r . o f th e c l a s s e s o f f e r ed a t th e fo r th a t . Un fo r tun a t e ly an annu a l p aym en t w i l l C a rp en t e r , who wo rk ed a s Coun ty E l e c t ion s D epu ty fo r f i tn e s s c en t e . w e s imp ly don ’ t h av e th e h av e th e i r jo in f e e w a iv ed . n in e y e a r s , w i l l b e r ep l a c ed by S t e f an i e K i rby , who w a s Cu r r en t ch i ld w a t ch sp a c e , ” s a id P au l a Mo e , M i l i t a ry a c coun t s r e - r e c en t ly h i r ed to f i l l th a t po s i t ion . K i rby b eg an wo rk th i s hou r s a r e Mond ay th rough Aqu a t i c s D i r e c to r . c e iv e a 25% d i s coun t and w e ek . F r id ay f rom 8 :00 a .m . to I t i s no t an op t ion to th e jo in f e e i s w a iv ed and Du r f l ing e r w a s r e - e l e c t ed to s e rv e a s Coun ty T r e a su r e r . 10 :30 a .m . and 5 :00 p .m . d rop ch i ld r en a t th e F i tn e s s tho s e jo in ing und e r a co r - Sh e s e rv ed in th a t po s i t ion fo r th e l a s t 16 y e a r s . to 7 :00 p .m . , and S a tu rd ay C en t e r ch i ld w a t ch and po r a t e a c coun t w i l l r e c e iv e H a rv ey , B enn e t t , C a rp en t e r , and Du r f l ing e r w i l l a l l mo rn ing s f rom 8 :00 a .m . - d r iv e a c ro s s town to th e a 20% d i s coun t and a l so s e rv e fou r -y e a r t e rm s , to exp i r e a t th e end o f 2018 . 10 :30 a .m . and i s f r e e o f aqu a t i c s c en t e r b e c au s e in h av e th e jo in f e e w a iv ed . ch a r g e a t th i s t im e . o rd e r to u s e ch i ld w a t ch , Con t a c t th e YMCA A c co rd ing to YMCA on e mu s t r em a in on th e f i - a t 541 .523 .9622 o r v i s i t f i tn e s s c en t e r emp loy e e n e s s c en t e r p r em i s e s . th e w eb s i t e b ak e rym c a . Am i H in e s , in r eg a rd to Th e YMCA a l so o f f e r s o r g fo r mo r e in fo rm a t ion th e ch i ld w a t ch hou r s : p r e s choo l w i th c l a s s e s on YMCA m emb e r sh ip , “Th a t m ay ch ang e wh en a fo r ch i ld r en r ang ing f rom c l a s s e s o r o th e r p rog r am s . Con t inu ed f rom Pag e 1 n ew ch i ld w a t ch p e r son i s th r e e to f iv e y e a r s o f ag e . Th e f i tn e s s c en t e r i s h i r ed and a ch a r g e fo r ch i ld A mom c an d rop h e r ch i ld op en Mond ay th rough A s m any a i r and w a t e r qu a l i ty s t and a rd s h av e go t t en w a t ch i s b e ing con s id e r ed . a t p r e s choo l and th en h e ad - Thu r sd ay 4 :45 a .m . – 9 t igh t e r and t igh t e r , and exp e c t to b e com e ev en mo r e so , I h av en ’ t b e en to ld y e t . ” ing down th e h a l l to g e t a p .m . , F r id ay 4 :45 a .m . – 8 Hun t ing ton ’ s s ew e r sy s t em , wh i l e ad equ a t e now , i s no t H in e s h a s wo rk ed fo r wo rkou t in . p .m . , S a tu rd ay 8 a .m . – 5 exp e c t ed to b e ab l e to m e e t tho s e s t and a rd s in th e n e a r th e YMCA s in c e Ju ly . A s Wh e th e r s imp ly a d ay p .m . and Sund ay 12 p .m . fu tu r e . o f now on ly tho s e u s ing p a s s o r w i th m emb e r sh ip – 4 p .m . A l so th e a r e a th a t hou s e s th e cu r r en t s ew e r pond s h a s b e en r e zon ed a s a hund r ed -y e a r f loodp l a in a r e a by FEM and th e A rmy Co rp o f Eng in e e r s . Th e C i ty Coun c i l and M ayo r T r av i s Y oung h av e b e en wo rk ing w i th Ho l id ay Eng in e e r ing , th e C i ty ’ s Eng i - n e e r o f R e co rd , on a p l an th a t wou ld b e a s a f fo rd ab l e a s po s s ib l e bu t a l so b e ab l e to ad ap t and k e ep up w i th n ew adv an c e s in t e chno logy . Th e n ew s ew e r sy s t em , wh i ch h a s gon e th rough s ev e r a l in c a rn a t ion s ov e r th e l a s t f ew y e a r s , h a s f in a l ly b e en a - p rov ed by bo th th e C i ty and th e DEQ . Th e d e s ign o f th e n ew s ew e r sy s t em in c lud e s th e ab i l i ty to ad ap t to a non -d i s ch a r g ing sy s t em w i th th e r e c l a im ed w a t e r b e ing u s ed fo r i r r ig a t ion , w i th a f ew ad - d i t ion s in th e fu tu r e . Th e n ex t s t ep fo r Hun t ing ton w i l l b e look ing fo r a G r an t Adm in i s t r a to r to ov e r s e e th e g r an t fund s and to b eg in con s t ru c t ion o f th e n ew s ew e r sy s t em . Th e en t i r e p ro j e c t i s exp e c t ed to b e f in i sh ed by th e b eg inn ing o f 2017 . $3 m i l l ion grant Commun ity Connect ion serves up pr ime r ib ce lebrat ion lunch By G ina K . Swa r tz G ina@TheBa ke rCoun t yP re s s . com 144 t i ck e t s w e r e p r e - so ld fo r a p r im e r ib m e a l s e rv ed a t lun ch t im e by Commun i ty Conn e c t ion o f B ak e r Coun ty in c e l eb r a - t ion o f th e N ew Y e a r . Th i s wond e r fu l m e a l w a s spon so r ed by D a r l en e M a lh eu r . Th i s i s th e s e cond y e a r th a t a m e a l su ch a s th i s h a s b e en p r ep a r ed and s e rv ed by Commun i ty Conn e c - t ion . Tho s e cu s tom e r s who s ign ed up fo r th e M e a l s on Wh e e l s p rog r am a l so r e - c e iv ed th e p r im e r ib m e a l . S en io r s cou ld pu r ch a s e th e m e a l fo r $7 and non - s en io r a t t end e e s w e r e w e l com ed a s w e l l w i th a m e a l t i ck e t co s t ing on ly $8 , a b a r g a in fo r p r im e r ib no m a t - t e r who you a r e . Lun ch p r i c e s u su a l ly run $3 .50 fo r s en io r s and $5 .75 fo r non - s en io r s . “Th e 144 i s mo r e th an show ed up fo r ou r Th ank sg iv ing m e a l and ou r Ch r i s tm a s m e a l , ” s a id S t ev e Sw a r t z , Adm in i s t r a- t iv e A s s i s t an t fo r Commu - n i ty Conn e c t ion . Th e m e a l con s i s t ed o f a G ina K . Swa r t z / Th e Ba k e r Coun t y P r e s s Commun i ty Connec t ion ce leb ra ted New Y ea r ’ s Eve w i th p r ime r ib th is yea r . (Pho to taken ea r l ie r . ) p e a s a l ad , g r e en b e an s and s t ew ed tom a to e s , a b ak ed po t a to , a ro l l and a g en e r - ou s s l i c e o f d e l i c iou s p r im e r ib w i th a s l i c e o f c ak e fo r d e s e r t . Th e r e w a s enough food m any p a ck ed up l e f t -ov e r s to t ak e hom e to e a t fo r d in - n e r o r e a t th e n ex t d ay . Th e r e w e r e lo t s o f vo l - un t e e r s f rom th e M a son i c Lodg e runn ing abou t f i l l ing co f f e e and t e a and p a s s ing ou t s a l ad and c ak e , bu t i t s t i l l took n e a r ly an hou r to g e t ev e ryon e in a t t end an c e s e rv ed . Wh i l e w a i t ing o ld f r i end s th a t h adn ’ t s e en on e ano th e r fo r a wh i l e r e conn e c t ed and w e r e ab l e to v i s i t and c a t ch up and n ew f r i end s w e r e m ad e . Goodby e s w e r e s a id to tho s e t r av e l ing sou th fo r th e w in t e r w i th lo t s o f l augh t e r and hug s . A l l in a l l i t w a s a su c - c e s s fu l ev en t c ap tu r ing a w a rm sp i r i t and th roughou t th e d in ing room i t cou ld b e h e a rd ov e r and ov e r , “H appy N ew Y e a r ! ” a s w e l l -w i sh e r s emb r a c ed th e sp i r i t o f a n ew b eg inn ing , mo s t ag r e e ing th a t th e n ew y e a r fo r th em wou ld b e u sh e r ed in a t hom e and fo r m any tu ck ed snugg ly in th e i r b ed s a s l e ep . “ I t ’ s a f a r c ry d i f f e r en t f rom how w e c e l eb r a t ed s ay 20 y e a r s ago , ” s a id M a ry Jo C a rp en t e r , Coun ty M an ag e r fo r Commun i ty Conn e c t ion . C a rp en t e r a l so s a id , “A f t e r a wond e r fu l m e a l l ik e th a t , I w i sh I cou ld t ak e a n ap . ” Ano th e r su c c e s s fu l y e a r b rough t to a c lo s e a s m any w a lk ing ou t th e doo r s a id to on e ano th e r w i th sm i l e s on th e i r f a c e s s ay ing , “S e e you n ex t y e a r . ” Oregon m in imum wage ra ises O r egon ’ s m and a t ed m in imum w ag e in c r e a s ed f rom $9 .10 p e r hou r to $9 .25 p e r hou r y e s t e rd ay a t th e f i r s t o f th e y e a r . S t a t e l abo r o f f i c i a l s announ c ed th e in c r e a s e l a s t W edn e sd ay . Th e ch ang e m e an s an ex t r a $26 p e r mon th e a rn ed by any fu l l - t im e emp loy e e e a rn ing th e m in imum w ag e . Th e in c r e a s e t r an s l a t e s to abou t $234 mo r e p e r y e a r on av e r - ag e fo r wo rk e r s who pu t in 30 o r mo r e hou r s p e r w e ek . Th e f ed e r a l m in imum w ag e i s cu r r en t ly $7 .10 p e r hou r . A c co rd ing to th e s t a t e ’ s Bu r e au o f L abo r and Indu s t r i e s a l i t t l e mo r e th an 140 ,000 O r egon wo rk e r s w e r e a f f e c t ed d i r e c t ly by th e p ay in c r e a s e— o r abou t 8% o f O r egon ’ s to t a l wo rk fo r c e . O r egon h a s th e s e cond h igh e s t m in imum w ag e in th e Un i t ed S t a t e s , f a l l ing on ly b eh ind W a sh ing ton S t a t e . W a sh ing ton ’ s m in imum w ag e a l so in c r e a s ed a t th e b eg in - n ing o f th e y e a r . Emp loy e r s a r e r equ i r ed to in fo rm emp loy e e s o f th e ch ang e in w ag e s , and h ang s ign s s t a t ing th e n ew m in i - mum a t th e wo rkp l a c e .