P4 THE SPOKESMAN • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021
COVID-19: Redmond mass vaccination center a well-oiled machine
Calendar
Continued from P1
Noon-4 p.m.; Downtown Redmond, Redmond;
go.evvnt.com/765801-0 or 541-923-5191.
Virtual Event — Writing Wild with Kathryn
Aalto: In a visually rich and entertaining
presentation, New York Times bestselling author
and acclaimed speaker Kathryn Aalto discusses
her book, “Writing Wild”; 12-1 p.m.; registration
required; online; go.evvnt.com/739182-1
Financial Statements for Non-Numbers
Business Owners by Central Oregon SCORE:
This event will teach you how to navigate the
financial aspects of a business even if you don’t
consider yourself a “numbers savvy” individual.;
3:30-5 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.com/765864-0
Redmond Historic Landmarks Commission
Meeting: The committee will discuss
preservation month activities, the adaptive
preservation LLC and more; 4:30-6 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/769705-0 or 541-923-7758.
Author Event — Emmeline Duncan: A
conversation with the author about their book
“Fresh Brewed Murder,” a murder mystery set in
Portland and food truck pod; 6-7 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/763774-0
The (Mostly) Normal COWs Kickoff: Join
us for a webinar to learn about the Central
Oregon Wheelers recreational bike club;
6-7 p.m.; registration required; online; go.evvnt.
com/761776-1 or 541-633-0422.
RiverFeast: The annual fundraiser for the
Deschutes River Conservancy will be held
virtually and feature a poem reading from
Ellen Waterston, MOsleyWOtta, Hunter Noack
and more; 7-8 p.m.; $35; online; go.evvnt.
com/769828-1 or 541-382-4077.
Hearing in Color: Join us on a journey into
the experiences of a synesthete and learn
what it is like to hear in color (synesthesia). For
Chris Thomas (a composer), the experience
of hearing activates color; 7-8 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/757236-0 or 541-312-1063.
Volunteers are crucial to running
the mass vaccination program.
From the parking lot to the respite
area, the entire process is organized
each morning and volunteers are
assigned different areas. Some vol-
unteers come back repeatedly, like
Galyon.
It’s the volunteers who make the
process of administering thou-
sands of doses of COVID-19 vac-
cines to people in a 10-hour day
run smoothly, said John Allen, a
Deschutes County Health Services
contact tracer assigned to organize
the volunteers.
For most, it takes 45 minutes
from parking their car to sitting in
the respite area for 15 minutes after
getting their vaccines.
On a recent day, Allen addressed
a large group of orange-vested vol-
unteers whose job it was to main-
tain flow through lines and oper-
ations.
“Most of you have been here be-
fore,” Allen said. “We have a full
complement of volunteers for the
morning shift. Volunteers need
to wear a mask and wear it in the
proper fashion around the patients.
“It’s an example we’re setting for
the patients.”
Inside the cavernous expo build-
ing, 30 vaccination tables were
equally spaced apart and manned
by green-vested volunteers where
the vaccines were delivered. First,
everyone goes to a registration ta-
ble where blue-vested volunteers
like Galyon and McCarthy work.
Galyon, a retired chemical en-
gineer, is among many volunteers
who come repeatedly. She’s been
there before the 10 a.m. opening
16 times. Volunteers arrive early,
grab a bottle of water or a cup of
coffee and wait inside a tent to get
an assignment. Each volunteers for
a job and some offer to stay the en-
tire day.
Each day the vaccination clinic
finds something new to tweak: Post
a volunteer at a bottleneck here,
have another keep the line moving
and maintain 6-foot spacing in the
queue inside, or designate a volun-
teer to greet people, said Allen. In a
separate room at the Expo Center,
people who’ve had their shots sit in
rows of green chairs that are evenly
spaced apart where they are moni-
tored by blue-vested volunteers.
Wednesday was Shannon Berg-
stedt’s first time volunteering at the
clinic. A retired registered nurse,
Bergstedt was manning a post that
directed people to the area where
they could sit for the required 15
minutes while they are observed
for any reactions to the vaccination.
“I volunteer a lot,” Bergstedt said.
“I try to give back, and I have skills
they can use.”
Samantha Freson, a 26-year-old
Bend resident was in the respite
area after getting her first vaccina-
tion. She, like many others, was on
her phone waiting for the time to
pass before she could leave.
She knew what to expect of the
vaccination clinic, but was still im-
pressed by how smoothly every-
thing went.
“It went pretty swiftly,” Freson
said. “It feels good to get the vac-
cine. There are lots of people here
offering to help or answer ques-
tions.
“I had been anxious about get-
ting my vaccine. I had put my
name on every list. I wanted to
get the vaccine. To me, it’s like any
other vaccination. It’s an extra safe-
guard.”
e e
ABOVE: People line up to get a COVID-19 vaccination April 8 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond.
Volunteers
needed
Applications are being
accepted for volunteers
at the mass vaccine
clinic at the Deschutes
County Fair & Expo
Center. Nonmedical and
medical volunteers are
encouraged to apply
online at: https://bit.
ly/2O3MnmC
LEFT: Volunteers work to
get out around 3,000 shots
per day during a vaccina-
tion clinic at the Deschutes
County fairgrounds.
Continued from P1
FRIDAY 4/23
Women’s Virtual Coffee & Meetup: Please
join us at this Women Business Owners event to
learn about SCORE Portland & SW Washington
and meet some of our successful women
in business.; 8-9 a.m.; $10; online; go.evvnt.
com/765866-1
Americana Song Academy for Youth: The
online class about music, inspiration and
creativity for youths 14-18 years old will be held;
6 p.m. through 3 p.m. April 25; Free to $200;
online; eventbrite.com
SATURDAY 4/24
Photos by DEAN GUERNSEY • The Bulletin
Spring Gardening Seminar — Lawn Care
in Central Oregon: The seminar hosted by
OSU Extension Service and presented by the
Central Oregon Master Gardener Association
will include tips and tricks on lawn care; 10-
11 a.m.; $5; online; go.evvnt.com/758728-1 or
541-548-6088.
Candidate Forum — Deschutes Public
Library Board: Candidates for the library board
will be featured in a virtual forum; 5:30-7 p.m.;
online; go.evvnt.com/769715-0 or 541-312-
1032.
Magical Mystery Four: The Beatles tribute
band will perform at the winery, tickets must be
purchased in advance, no door sales; 6-9 p.m.;
$20; Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards, 70450
NW Lower Valley Drive, Terrebonne; go.evvnt.
com/763771-1
The HWY 97 Band: The classic rock band
performs on the outdoor stage; 6:30-9 p.m.;
General Duffy’s Waterhole, 404 SW Forest Ave.,
Redmond; go.evvnt.com/755282-0
MONDAY 4/26
Art Inspired by Art: Explore the art inspired by
The Other Americans created by COCC students;
6-7 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.com/769717-0 or
541-312-1032.
ABOVE: Sydni Williams administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Colin Brynn during a
vaccination clinic at the fairgrounds earlier this month. RIGHT: Mike Marentic and
Andy Laursen prepare syringes during the vaccination clinic. BELOW: Volunteer
Helena Conway wheels Karen Harrington, left, and volunteer Madeline Taussig
wheels Dotty Parker out of the waiting area at the fairgrounds.
TUESDAY 4/27
Reaching for the Sky — Lessons on Forest
Canopies from Science: During this virtual
lecture, Dr. David Anderson, ornithologist and
founder of Canopy Watch International, will
share recent efforts to grow the art and science
of canopy access methods; 3-4 p.m.; registration
required; online; go.evvnt.com/766837-0
Caldera Artist in Residence Virtual AiR Share
Events: Hear from Caldera artists in residence
including DCM Collective, Kimberly Acebo
Artech and Garima Thakur; 5:30-6:30 p.m.;
registration required; online; go.evvnt.
com/769812-1 or 503-937-3061.
The Opioid Epidemic in America: Examine
the history and influence of opioids and learn
how their use for pain relief transformed into a
national epidemic. David Tauben, M.D., FACP is
Emeritus Clinical Professor at the University of
Washington; 5:30-6:30 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/757304-0 or 541-312-1063.
Virtual City Council Meeting: A regular
meeting will be held; 6-8 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/769707-0 or 541-923-7710.
Tuesday Night Trivia: A weekly trivia night will
be held. Masks and social distancing required,
free to play, winners can receive gift cards; 6:30-
8:30 p.m.; Initiative Brewing, 424 NW. Fifth St.,
Redmond; go.evvnt.com/769769-0 or 541-
527-4380.
Reporter: 541-633-2117,
sroig@bendbulletin.com
Attention Parents of 2021 Grads!
Help make some
memories!
The Bulletin is publishing a special
Class of 2021 Graduation section
on May 30 to celebrate graduating
Central Oregon high school students.
Enter a congratulatory message or a short biography
along with a photo for just $25. Your messages will be
grouped together by school and published in full color.
City Club of Central Oregon and the League of Women Voters of Deschutes
County have partnered to bring you candidate forums. Video production by
Connect Central Oregon.
These virtual forums are FREE to the public. Forums are pre-recorded.
SUBMIT QUESTONS!
We encourage you to send questions for the candidates to info@lwvdeschutes.org
NEW!
Redmond and Bend-Lapine School Districts Forums
will have English to Spanish translation!
WATCH!
LWV of Deschutes home page: LWVDeschutes.org/
Call The Bulletin Advertising Dept. for more information.
541-385-5809
City Club C.O. YouTube: youtube.com/c/CityClubofCentralOregon
Advertising deadline: Monday, May 17
Find more information here: LWVDC calendar: https://lwvdeschutes.org/events/
Create your own voter pamphlet at Vote411.org