The amplifier., March 01, 2011, Page 9, Image 9

2011
Features
9
bicycle^ MsSbrcycles
M ax B lumenthal
Grading papers isn't the only rea­
son our teacher's hands are blistered:
you might be surprised to learn which
teacher is a motorcycle collector and
who is a travelling artist
Along with teaching ecology and
Advanced Placement science, Geoff
Bingham restores old motor­
cycles in his spare time. He
started this hobby when
his uncle and cousin
opened up a shop called
Empire Classics that re­
pairs old bikes. Bingham
earned his motorcycle
endorsement at 17,
and during his
senior year at
WLHS bou ght
his first motor-
cylce for $400. He took a job at a
motorcycle shop in the spring of his
senior year and bought another bike.
He's always been interested in having
a collection.
Bingham now has four bikes, one
of which he built. He's currently
working on a 1970 Triumph and will
soon work on the 1946 Norton model
18 which is a whopping 500cc. His
favorite motorcycle is the 1958Norton
Dominator, model 99, which Bingham
hopes to own one day.
Monica Emerick is also quite the
xju ke rider, but instead of motorcycles,
she rides her bicycle to school a few
days of the week. She finds it a great
o r p ic ü ckn A
it
way frv to o v exercise
and f n to * - i cut
down
on fuel emissions. She tells all her
classes about her cycling but she
also skis cross country, back country
navigation and, starting this year,
skate skiing. Cross country, a more
classic style of skiing, can be done in
both groomed and ungroomed areas.
Backcountry requires using a map
and compass to navigate because
there are no trails. It's just you
and the outdoors. Never heard
of skate skiing? Well that's all
about speed.
D iane G au th ier is
also conscious about her
community. Recently she
painted a wedding ban­
ner for a young Russian
Old B eliever couple
who were married in
Woodburn, Ore., larg­
est concentration of the faith in the
entire country.
Making the wedding banner was
an honor for Gauthier who was given
complete creative control over the
project. Using her artistic skills and
some textile paint, Gauthier made
a floral border around the names of
the bride and groom along with the
words "conquered with love".
Gauthier has also expanded her
knowledge of other cultures by taking
students on trips to Italy in 2010 and
Paris in 2008. The goal of these trips
was to view art and to explore what
the different countries of the world
had to offer by going to art museums
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and historic sites,
eating local
food
and
learning phrases in the local language.
Gauthier is planning to bring another
group of students to Italy and Greece
in the summer of 2012.
Gauthier's artistic interests do not
end there. Clackamas Community
College, where she studied painting,
has purchased three of her paintings.
Two of these are in the bookstore and
the third is in the Niemeyer Center.
Her talents also extends into the­
ater. She has performed in the Canby
Community summer musicals since
1996 where she played in "Music
Man". Since then, she has played Mrs.
Hannigan in "Annie". Her favorite role
was playing Anna in "Meet Me in St.
Louis". Last year, Gauthier played
lady Montague in the WLHS rendition
of "Romeo and Juliet".
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Photo courtesy of Geoff Bingham
Geoff Bingham, works on a 1959 BSA A10 model
motorcycle in his garage. Bingham has been
interested in motorcycle restoration since he was 17.
Photo courtesy of Monica Emerick
Photo courtesy of Diane Gauthier
M onica E m erick , social stu d ies
teacher, enjoys a day of cross country
skiing. Emerick enjoys riding her
Diane Gauthier, art teacher, potrays the character
Miss Hannigan in the Canby Community Theater
production of "Annie. " In addition to theater,
b icycle, and oth er types o f skiing
Gauthier has been in volved with international
such as back country navigation and
skate skiing.
travel and artistic endeavors.
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