Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1981)
On campus Young and old “fiddlin’” around for fun people up here and make them 'feel comfortable. And it’s a Of the Print ’.good place for the fiddlers, because it’s large enough to The Community Center handle a lot of people.” reverberated with the strains of There are forty members bluegrass last Sunday, as the of the local fiddlers organiza Oregon Old Time Fiddlers held tion, District 7, which encom their monthly jam. This is the passes most of the Portland fourth jam to be held at the metropolitan area. State-wide, College, and the turnout was there are several hundred commendable. members. Approximately 40 I would be difficult to fiddlers showed up to show describe the average partici their stuff Sunday, along with pant at the jam. They ranged banjos, basses, ukeleles and a from age 5 to 82, and came piano. dressed in cowboy hats and Most of the players were skimmers, denim duds and familiar to each other, and suitcoats. There was even a often old friends. One member guest appearance by one of the group showed up in a full white beard, red clothes, and a . Claus, Santa. This was. not the first fid red hat. Herman Classen was dlers ball to be held on campus. every bit the perfect Saint Nick, There have been four jams except for his cowboy boots. here, including last year’s Unlike most of the fid Christmas jam and the last two dlers, Classen makes and plays annual state contests. Next his own violins. “Wheri I year’s contest is slated to be retired, I wanted to do held here as well. something that wasn’t too easy The reason so many of the but that I didn’t have to sweat get-togethers are held at the to do,” he said, “I/don’t make college is due to one member fiddles at any specific pace; I’m in particular: Helen Hakanson, just killing time.” the wife of the College Presi So far, Classen has made dent. 23 violins. He has been .with “I’ve been a member for the Old Time Fiddlers for four three years now,” Mrs. Hakan years. Last Sunday, he played son said, “These jams are good two numbers on a fiddle he’d for the campus. They bring made with his own hands. By J. Dana Haynes í Another member there was John Melnichuk, who is the current state champion fid dler. He has been playing with this group for a decade, and before that played in Montana. “It’s always the same, no matter what state you’re in,” Melnichuk explained, “Everyone’s just here to enjoy the music. It’s, always a lot of fun.” Melnichuk has been fiddl ing for some time. “I used to play in dance bands when I was going to school. That was how I payed' my tuition. Now, I’m trying to make a living with Pacific Power and Light. I just do this for a hobby.” Unlike many people, Melnichuk has passed his hob^ by onto his child. His daughter Katy was the youngest member at the jam, at the age of five. “She’s been playing for about six months,” Melnichuk said, “As a matter of fact, she and I just got through a discus sion about which number she’ll play. She already knows several.” . Many fiddlers seem to agree that the younger/the stu dent, the quicker they pick it up. One participant in the low- key festivities was Dale Carothers, who travelled all the way from Oklahoma to visit his daughter in Troutdale, when he heard about this jam and decided to join in. “I’ve taught quite a few of the younger ones,” Carothers said, “They definitely learn quicker than older kids do. I took lessons in 1925, myself.” Unlike a majority of those playing Sunday, Carothers has been to the nationals competi tion several times. “Y’see, I’m from Oklahoma,” he explain ed, “All the good fiddlers come from our chapter. I’ve won about four prizes, but not the first prize,” \ The Oklahoma chapter'is. different than the Oregon ones. “We play about four times a week, at senior citizens’ centers,” he said. Carothers has travelled across the United States and joined jams in as many stafes as he could. “It’s hard io go from state to state to find the fiddling association. There should be some sort of directory, but there isn’t,” Carothers lamented. “Usually, I just check in with local music stores and try to find one fiddler who can show me where to go.” The entire jam lasted ap proximately three hours,, with anyone who wanted to get up oh the risers with whatever ac companiment they required. Mrs. Hakanson played “I don’t Love Nobody” and “Under the Double Eagle.” “I really love; fiddle music,” Mrs. Hakanson said, “it’s passed down in families, and some of it isn’t even written down; it’s just passed on and played by ear.”-, < When asked what the dif ference is between fiddle play ing arid playing a . violin, ,Hakanson said, “There’s a sub tle difference between a violin player and a fiddler. It’s not just the pieces you play, it’s.the way you play them.” Suddenly, Mrs. Hakanson stopped and cocked her head to oneside, “You hear him slide off that note?” she asked, looking at the elderly man on stage, who was playing “Rose of San Antone.”'“A violinist won’t do that, just slide off the note and on to thè next. But that’s what gives you your fid dling sound. He makes it cry.” Hakanson explained that there are several variations of bluegrass fiddling music, in cluding Irish, Appalachian, Canadian and.Texan, and they are all experiencing a re^ergence of popularity. “Even Senator Byrd, Minority Leader, is a fiddler. I have one of his albums,” she said. EMT-1 students learn basics of first aid By Darla Weinberger Of the Print \ I Emergency Medical Technician or EMT-1, is a class designed for those interested in becoming a fire fighter, am bulance technician, or rescue aid. “It involves training people to perform in what we call the ‘basic life support level.’ The participants learn to maintain and do mandatory operations before the ambulance arrives when the victim is transported to the hospital emergency room,” explained Carol Peterson, EMT instruc tor. “They do such things as clear obstructed air ways, ad minister oxygen or CPR, apply anti-shock techniques, and stabilize injuries. According to Peterson, EMT-1 students will “primarily work for a fire department or rescue squad. Most ambulance companies in this area will now hire on the promise of further training.”' The class is a 90-hour course, with 10 hours in the field. Five hours are spent in an emergency room situation and going on emergency calls with an ambulance or fire squad. •- “In the class, we practice putting on splints, bandages and CPR,” Peterson related. “I feel it’s more important for a person to get a “hands on” type of experience. More can be learned by applying CPR on a mannequin than sitting and listening to me talk.” EMT-1 class originated at the- college because “the need was demonstrated in the com munity. There áre fire fighters and other personnel that need the class. We (the college) had the best position to offer the¿ For Those Special Christmas Gifts Wh A Retirement-Graduation for older people going into small business as an alternative to retirement, will be held tomorrow in the Fireside lounge. “This is a pilot program in conjunction with the Agency On Aging (AOA), and the American Association of Corn sets, calligraphy supplie THE HOLIDAY BREAK Prese W CCC BOOKS *3 Dec. 9,10,11 E HOURS p.m. Dec. 14, Ie-* a.m.-8 p.m. c. 1643 8 a.m. • 5 p.m. PSED DEC. 24-25 c. 28-31 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ercent discount on Cross and Shea pen gift sets. This offer expire 657-8400, ext. 248, 421. D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer munity and* Junior College^ (AACJC)j’ instructor - Dollie Mercedes said. “Basically the concept is to have the students plan their business in advance, and plan where their investments will be,” Mercedes said. “Its aim is to reduce small business failures.” Classifieds his ad to Bookstore cashier tor students a chance to become familiar with local doctors and the people patient situations.” Students are certified through a state exam, she said. “We educate and train them, then the state certifies them when they successfully com plete our program. What they do is find a suitable- location and set up the facilities' throughout the state.” “At the time we started the program there were very few women, now we have 8 or 9 out of 22 students. Wè have a number of women getting in volved fn rescue work either paid or as volunteers.” The EMT course will be repeated in the spring terrn. Graduation slated ot Try Your College Bookstore THE BOOKSTORE WILLsfoPEN DURI class,” Peterson said. “One term is little time to get in what they need. We real ly have to work at it, and con-, centrate. It’s really intense, people have to put forth an ef fort to do this course,” she add ed. “Many local physicians and other experts come in and teach the technical aspects of the class,” she' explained. “For example, an anesthesiologist gave a lecture on breathing obstructions and foundations of the respiratory system. “I think we have some of the best information,” she said. “Doctors who receive patients, to tell the students things they like to see done. It gives the Density IBM SELECTRIC I,' 13-inch carriage, 2 type elements, good condition, $475. ph. 659-4864.
