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Hood River News, Wednesday, May 13, 2015
CASCADE
Observations
By PEGGY DILLS KELTER
Dennis, dedicated driver
A
T MID VALLEY Elementary School, it’s
the same occurrence every May, as de-
pendable as the annual arrival of one’s
birthday. Fifth graders flock upstairs
to the dark and cluttered storage clos-
ets and unearth ancient pieces of cardboard and
plywood. Back downstairs, volunteers take this
motley collection of materials and transform it
into the booths that make up the annual Mid
Valley Carnival. There’s Putt Putt Golf, nothing
more than a putter, a golf
ball and a sloped piece of
wood covered with artifi-
cial grass and drilled with
a single hole. There’s “Go
Fish,” consisting of a lone
fishing pole, a painted
sheet depicting the ocean,
and a bucket of prizes kids
can hook. There’s the Bean
Bag Toss, and the most
popular of all, Face Paint-
ing. Yet on a warm evening
in May, children raised with iPads and Xboxes
find these dozen or so booths just as entertain-
ing as the high tech toys they’re used to.
For a few hours, the county allows the school
to close off the road in front of our building,
and the parking lot is cleared of cars. The
empty pavement is soon filled with taco trucks,
popsicle vendors, and old cafeteria tables. Over
the course of the evening, hundreds of tacos
will be consumed, along with snow cones and
ears of corn. Music fills the air as The Cake
Walk, a circuitous path made by drawing on the
pavement with chalk, is populated with folks
hoping to win a donated dessert.
What the Carnival lacks in sophistication is
more than made up for by the incredible sense
of community everyone feels. Grandparents
visit with new babies and teachers share tacos
with their students. Kids dress up in traditional
Mexican outfits and perform dances for the
crowd. High school students, many of them
alumni of Mid Valley, volunteer to run the
booths. When the Carnival is over, lots of folks
form a clean-up crew that makes quick work of
the mess.
■
The Mid Valley Carnival is over for another
year. The booths are back in storage, and the
popcorn machine has been cleaned and put
away. While much remains the same, much will
also change in the coming year. Fifth graders
are moving on to middle school, and with them
go their parents who have been vital to the
school’s PTO. Several teachers, myself included,
are leaving the school’s staff. And the fearless,
creative leader of Mid Valley Elementary, Den-
nis McCauley, is retiring.
Dennis came to Mid Valley 11 years ago after
a long career as a teacher and administrator
working for the Reynolds School District in east
Multnomah County. During the principal selec-
tion process, our staff reviewed Dennis’s re-
sume and letters of recommendation, and inter-
viewed folks from Reynolds about him. No one
had anything but praise for Dennis. When he ac-
cepted the job at Mid Valley, the Reynolds com-
munity wept as we cheered.
Principals have a difficult, often thankless
job. Among other tasks, they must balance bud-
gets, attend to disciplinary issues, evaluate
teachers and maintain their buildings. They ar-
rive early, and often leave late, attending
evening meetings on a regular basis. But aside
from all the “have to” tasks Dennis has taken
care of while principal, he has added his own
long lists of “musts.” He personally built a ramp
on a family’s home so their handicapped child
could negotiate the home from her wheel chair.
He helped an older boy, an alumnus of Mid Val-
ley in danger of flunking out of high school,
complete his senior project. He sat with children
while they took their state assessment tests, his
supportive, quiet presence essential to their suc-
cess. When the kids finished the test, he played
air hockey and one-on-one basketball with them
to celebrate. He goes to the homes of consistent-
ly absent children and personally drives them to
school. He walks the halls every day, greeting
each and every student and staff member as
though they are his best friends. He found the
funding to provide enrichments activities for
our students, and has trusted his staff, giving
them the autonomy to teach their students as
they know best. He has turned the school into a
true community center, adding a pre-school and
a satellite county health department clinic. And
always, always, he has found opportunities to
make kids smile, dressing up as everything from
a leprechaun to Captain Kindness, from a cow-
boy to a super hero complete with phone booth.
His costumes are a metaphor — they remind us
all that, with effort and creativity, we can trans-
form ourselves if we want.
■
Several years after Dennis became principal
at Mid Valley, I was chatting with him about
those unofficial interviews we had done with
the Reynolds community. At the time, Dennis
drove a red Miata, a flashy car that often turned
heads. Several people in Reynolds had described
Dennis as “that guy who drives the red sports
car.” Soon after our chat, he traded his sports
car in for a practical Prius. When I asked him
about the vehicle change, he responded that he
hoped to be remembered for the good work he
did, not the car he drove.
He need not worry as he retires from Mid Val-
ley. His legacy as an innovative leader, caring
boss, and advocate for children is secure.
Photo by Patrick Mulvihill
Y OUNG G ARDENERS AT W ORK
Ann Hansen,Alternate Roots Preschool co-director, guides students spreading bark Friday morning at a new garden area on State
Street shared by Riverside Community Church and Hood River News. Kids at the preschool have helped to improve and main-
tain the garden for the last several months. The bark was provided by Hood River News.
Jibson marries Ryan
Sarah Marie Jibson and
Timothy Paul Ryan, both of
Hood River, were married
April 18, 2015, in Milwau-
kee, Wisc.
The bride is the daughter
of Dan and Sherri Jibson of
Milwaukee. She graduated
from high school in 2010
and from Maranatha Bap-
tist University in 2014.
The groom is the son of
Steve and Tiffany Ryan of
Hood River. He attended
high school in Hood River,
g raduating from Nampa
Christian School in Nampa,
Idaho, in 2009. He graduat-
ed from Maranatha Baptist
University in 2015. He is
employed at Orchard View
Farms in The Dalles as a
human resource assistant.
Officiating was Pastor
Tom Loggans. Bridesmaids
A d a u g h t e r, Pe n e l o p e
Elaine White, was bor n
April 26, 2015, at Providence
Hood River Memorial Hos-
pital to Tyler and Lindsey
W h i t e. S h e we i g h e d 7
pounds, 9 ounces and mea-
sured 21 inches.
S h e j o i n s a s i s t e r,
Jo s e p h i n e, 3 4 m o n t h s.
Grandparents are Per ry
Smith, Tony White, and
Lorie Repp, all of Hood
River. Great grandparents
are Don and Mary Smith of
Hood River, Leonora Repp
of Hood River, Chuck and
Barb White of Kennewick,
Wash., and Mary Lynn Tot-
ten of Tulsa, Okla.
Submitted photo
Sarah Jibson and Timothy Ryan
‘Finding Peace Art Tour’ at the library
Visit the Hood River Li-
brary through May 22 to
view the “Finding Peace:
Art Tour.” The art display is
part of a larger project cre-
ated by Columbia Gorge
Community College (CGCC).
CGCC invited artists of
the Gorge to submit original
artwork to “Finding Peace:
Art Show and Conversa-
tion.” The event consists of
three parts: a community
art show, a community con-
versation project, and a
community tour of prize
winning pieces from the
show. The Hood River Li-
brary is one stop on the art
tour.
CGCC asked that artists
and the community in gen-
eral reflect on the concept of
“Finding Peace” and what
that may mean to them as an
individual, as a member of a
community, or as a global
citizen. “Finding Peace”
may speak to world peace
and the elimination of war
and violence based on na-
tionalism. It may represent
an end to local disputes and
community bickering. Or it
may speak to a more person-
al and private concept, the
inner peace that each person
strives for when they are
troubled or facing crises.
CGCC invited the gorge
community to share its vi-
sion.
Visit cgcc.edu/news/cgcc-
art-show-finding-peace to
learn about all the events for
the “Finding Peace: Art
Show and Conversation.”
This art show is supported
by a grant from the Wasco
County Cultural Trust Coali-
tion with funds from the Ore-
gon Cultural Trust to sup-
port Oregon’s arts, heritage,
and the humanities.
This display is free and
open to the public for view-
ing during regular library
hours. For more informa-
tion, please contact the
Hood River County Library
District at 541-386-2535,
info@hoodriverlibrary.org,
or visit their website at
hoodriverlibrary.org.
Host families sought for international students
EF High School Exchange
Year, the leader in high
school cultural exchange, is
seeking host families in the
Hood River area. Host fami-
lies open their homes to a 15-
18 year old from countries
around the world who come
to the U.S. to attend one or
t wo s e m e s t e r s o f h i g h
school. Through the ex-
change experience, both stu-
dent and family get the
chance to learn about a new
culture and potentially es-
tablish a lifelong bond.
Hosting an exchange stu-
dent is a volunteer program
supported by the U.S. De-
partment of State and is a
great step towards prepar-
ing your own children for
the 21st century. Former
Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton stated that “the
goodwill, generosity, and
mutual understanding fos-
tered through exchange pro-
grams are critical to meet-
ing the challenges of today’s
world. Such citizen diploma-
cy may start with one visit-
ing student and his or her
host family but it ripples
throughout communities in
t h e U n i t e d S t at e s a n d
B irth
Penelope White
were Rachel Ryan, sister of
the groom, Moriah Norris,
friend of the bride, and
Tirzah Jibson, sister of the
bride. The Best man was
Jacob Dillman, colle ge
friend of the groom, and
groomsmen were Nick Hin-
richsen, high school friend
of the groom, Josiah Jib-
son, brother of the bride,
and Nolan Ryan, brother of
the groom.
F lower
g i rl s
were
A l e i g h a a n d J ay l e i g h
Standerwick, friends of the
bride, and Malachi Wochin-
ski, friend of the bride.
Sarah and Timothy met
in college. Both minored in
Spanish and have traveled
abroad, Sarah to Peru (were
her dress was made) and
Timothy to Spain and the
Dominican Republic.
abroad.”
There are few experiences
that can spark interest in
new cultures like welcoming
an inter national student
into your home. “Serving as
a host family allows Ameri-
cans to share their culture
and customs, and also learn
about another country for a
true cultural exchange and
becoming lifelong friends
and family,” said Leslie
Melby, the EF High School
Exchange Year local coordi-
nator responsible for plac-
ing and supervising EF stu-
dents in the Hood River
area. She has two great
yo u n g l a d i e s wh o n e e d
homes: one from Germany
one is from Japan.
EF Foundation host fami-
lies represent the diversity of
American culture. Some host
families have teens, while
others have young children
or no children, or adult chil-
dren who no longer live at
home. Host families express
many reasons for participat-
ing in the program. Some are
looking for new ways to con-
nect to their communities,
while gaining fresh perspec-
tives on the world; others
Your
Mortgage
Lender
Call Bernie today
541-490-0167
Bernie Dittenhofer
Licensed Mortgage Banker
NMLS #2550 NMLS #114231 ML 832-21
A division of Mann Mortgage, LLC
509 Cascade Ave., Suite F, Hood River
Apply at berniedittenhofer.westcorpmortgage.com
seek exposure to other cul-
tures for themselves and
their children.
EF Foundation is support-
ing the United States foreign
policy goal of expanding
communications between
U.S. citizens and people from
other countries. Along with
EF High School Exchange
Year fulltime professional
staff, local coordinators in
the community match stu-
dents with host families, en-
roll the students in high
school, and provide students,
schools, and host families
with ongoing guidance and
support throughout the ex-
change experience.
Headquartered in Cam-
b r i d g e, Ma ss., E F H i gh
School Exchange Year has
been committed to promot-
ing inter national under-
standing and global aware-
ness for over 30 years. Since
1979, the organization has
matched more than 100,000
enthusiastic students from
around the world with car-
ing host families across the
United States. EF High
School Exchange Year is
designated by the United
States Department of State
as an Exchange Program
Sponsor.
For more infor mation
about hosting an internation-
al exchange student, contact
Leslie Melby at leslieefex-
change@gorge.net or 541-490-
5617, or visit the EF High
School Exchange Year website
at www.efexchangeyear.org.
WKO-High Cascade Mills
- Are NOT recyclable locally.
- Also known as ‘gable
tops’, milk cartons and
shelf-stable “aseptic
containers (juice cartons)
take too long to pulp up at
Northwest paper mills,
which are designed for
newsprint. If you put milk
cartons in recycling, they
end up at the landfill and
add cost to garbage/re-
cycling service.
- Purchase milk and
juices in recyclable plastic
containers if possible.
Buying Logs
& Timber
Douglas Fir
White Fir
Pine
Jeremy Beddingfield 541-399-3933
Norm Byars 541-490-2940
Mill: 509-427-8413
2022 Wind River Hwy • P.O. Box 8
Carson, WA 98610
Recycle Tips
MILK CARTONS
www.tricountyrecycle.com
541-506-2636