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Local celebs step up
‘DANCING WITH THE CLATSOP COUNTY STARS’ RAISES FUNDS FOR THE HARBOR ON OCT. 18
By KATHERINE LACAZE
FOR COAST WEEKEND
W
hat do a police chief, a commu-
nity college president and a high
school athletic director have in
common?
On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 18,
these three local celebrities, plus five
others, will dance with professionals
from the Utah Ballroom Dance Company
at Astoria’s Liberty Theatre in hopes of
claiming the Mirror Ball Trophy.
The event opens with a Latin dance
number to be performed by a group of
local children. The first half of the show
features the local celebs performing with
their professional partners. The audience
can then cast votes, and while those are
counted, the professionals will put on a
showcase.
Though they’re competing in the inau-
gural Dancing with the Clatsop County
Stars fundraiser, none of the participants
are passionate about competitive danc-
ing per se. They are, however, strong
supporters of the event host, The Har-
bor, a community agency that provides
intervention, recovery and advocacy to
survivors of domestic violence, sexual
assault and stalking.
“I love The Harbor, and I’d do any-
thing to support them,” said Cannon
Beach Police Chief Jason Schermerhorn,
who served on the nonprofit’s board for
three years.
His initial response when asked to
dance was fear, but “I couldn’t say ‘no,’”
he added.
Schermerhorn will compete against
Norma Hernandez, the Clatsop County
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
Coordinator; Charlene Larsen, the 2017
Lady Liberty Award recipient; Astoria
High School Athletic Director Howard
Rub; The Harbor’s Executive Director
Molly Pringle; Oregon State Trooper
Andy Morgan; the 2018 Astoria Regat-
ta President Julie Flues; and Clatsop
Community College President Chris
Breitmeyer.
In picking participants, The Harbor
wanted representation from various
groups and different sectors of the com-
COLIN MURPHEY PHOTO
IF YOU GO
Dancing with the Clatsop County Stars
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18; doors 6:30 p.m.
Where: Liberty Theatre, 1203 Commercial St., Astoria
Tickets: $15 to $35, with tiered seating, available at Liberty Box Office or on
theater’s website
For more information: call 503-325-3426
munity, Community Outreach Coordina-
tor Ariel Young said.
“It represents what we stand for at The
Harbor: trying to connect people with lots
of different resources,” she said.
Silly for a cause
Much like on the ABC TV series
“Dancing with the Stars,” each local
celebrity will learn a routine with a pro-
fessional dancer, practicing from Oct. 14
Jason Schermerhorn and Norma Hernandez
practice salsa dancing.
until the night of the event.
Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear, along
with Astoria Pride Co-Chair Dida
DeAngelis and Astoria Ford owner Dane
Gouge, will be guest judges, providing
commentary throughout the performance.
The winner will be chosen through an
audience voting process.
The Utah Ballroom Dance Company
frequently partners with nonprofits to
put on this kind of fundraiser. When they
reached out to Clatsop County organiza-