The
4 Feature
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Clackamas
Cafeteria staffer rides into sunsei
Greener pastures, better pay
time,” said Lakin. “Some of
the students I wait on twice a
day, every day. They’re like
my own kids.”
In fact, it was the opportu
nity to work with kids and the
clean environment that brought
Adam J. Manley
Lakin to Clackamas.
The Clackamas Print
“For most of my career I’ve
worked in restaurants that had
The cafeteria is a bit dim bars,” Harla said, describing
mer this week, for it has lost a her 30-plus years in the food
part of its soul. On Friday, the industry. “Around alcohol,,
college hid a bittersweet fare after so many years it just
well to a resigning Chartwells gets really tiresome and wears
on you. It was
employee, the
——— time for a
Harley-loving
change.”
Harla Lakin.
It wouldn’t
For
near
ly four years,
be the only
“It can’t be
has
change
for
Lakin
all about
Lakin, who is
been a source
now
grand
of good cheer
working con
co-work
mother to a
for
tv,
stantly,
You
two-year-old
ers and patrons
have to take a
alike. Greeting
girl.
everyone with a
“My
two
minute, take a
warm smile and
favorite loves
breath to say
are my grand
friendly con
versation, her
hello.”
daughter, and
riding motor
genuine concern
cycles,” Lakin
for the pSople
Harla Lakin
explained.
she feeds has
cafeteria employee
Lakin has
made her more
been
riding
than just a cook
to the students
motorcycles
since the age
and faculty who
z
know her - it
of 18, but
has made her family.
gladly gave up her Harley for a
“I’ve been here a long minivan to spend time with her
The cafeteria bids a
fond farewell to its only
hog-riding grandma
grandchild.
It’s
p
cisely
t
kind of caring
that has made
Lakin special
to many dur
ing her time
here. Despite
being on her
feet and con
stantly busy
working at the
grill, being
the
chef’s
assistant and
heading cater
ing teams, she
still manages
to make con
versation and
connect with
the
myriad
of people she
LAKIN
encounters.
“You make
time,” stated
Lakin. “If it’s important to
you, you make time. And you
guys need that connection, as
much as I do. It can’t be all
about working constantly. You
have to take a minute, take a
breath to say hello.”
Lakin’s resignation comes
as a result of financial distress.
Unable to meet expenses with
her Chartwells wages, she
applied for a job at Willamette
Valley Country Club in
College opens doors for Skills Comp
Lara Hedbor Clackamas
Canby. She began work there
Tuesday.
“I’ll be the chefs’ assis
tant, under four chefs,” Lakin
explained. “At some point I’d
like to come back to the col
lege and work for the college
- not for a private company in
the cafeteria.”
Lakin’s departure came as
a shock to those who have
become accustomed to see
ing her smiling face around
mealtime. While they are
happy that she’s found a be
opportunity, no one can di
that the food will never
quite as good.
“I always tease you g
- ‘Well, [my food is] b(
because I put love in it,” s
Lakin. “It’s not just teas
I really do. I want you i
to eat good, I want it to 1
good, I want you to be ha
And when you’re happy
you smile, that just makes
day.”
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Clackamas Regional
Skills Competition held
on Feb. 23
High schools across Clackamas
County sent students to CCC to
participate in various skills con
tests on Feb. 23. (Above) Lakeridge
senior Megan Deane and Eli
Jiminez, Clackamas art student,
work together oh a project. (Left)
High school junior Mike Adamson
and Ray Rozell, senior, collaborate.
(Below) Clackamas auto student Ken
Parker (foreground) judges for the
brakes competition while Brennen
Mclain, a Putnam High School
senior, works hard.
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