A2
Hood River News, Saturday, May 23, 2015
Soroptimist honors trio
Women of Distinction:
Ann Frodel, Allyson Pate
and Tami Swanson
Photo by Patrick Mulvihill
KNIGHTS BATTLE with bamboo-like rattan swords at the Society for Creative Anachronism’s medieval
tournament, hosted last weekend at the Hood River County Fairgrounds.
ARMED AND CHIVALROUS
Medieval tournament graces fairgrounds
By PATRICK MULVIHILL
News staff writer
Before a backdrop of mod-
ern houses and irrigated or-
chards, an ancient battle
raged at the Hood River Coun-
ty fairgrounds last weekend.
Knights and maidens from
the Society of Creative
Anachronism took over the
site to host a grand scale tour-
nament — nearly 800 people
attended over the weekend,
said local coordinator Jeremy
Tate.
This year marked the first
time the Columbia Gorge
shire, Hauksgardr, hosted an
SCA tournament. Members of
the Northwest kingdom, An
Tir, traveled from as far as
British Columbia and South-
ern Oregon.
Tate, known as Marco
Valentino by his medieval col-
leagues, leads the local shire
of 15 people. The group meets
at the Hood River County Li-
brary every first Thursday of
the month, and practices com-
bat at May Street Elementary
— though they hope to relo-
cate to the waterfront park in
the near future.
Tate described the Society
for Creative Anachronism as
a combined social event and
creative outlet. “You get to do
anything you want, that you
can think of in the middle
ages, and you get to share
your artistry with as many
people as you would like to.”
The international medieval
society boasts 100,000 mem-
bers in the U.S., Canada, Aus-
tralia and several countries in
Asia.
Urhdal explained that the
SCA requires “an attempt” at
pre-1700s garb and etiquette,
which could span from an-
cient Roman times to the Re-
naissance. However, it’s less
about strictly adhering to his-
tory and more about joining
in social camaraderie. “There
aren’t any stocks or gal-
lows…we’re in it for the fun,”
said Uhrdal.
Allyson Pate, Ann Frodel and Tami Swanson
are winners of Soroptimist International of
Hood River’s 2015 Women of Distinction
Award.
The three women will be introduced at an
awards luncheon in their honor on May 27,
from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Best Western
Plus Hood River Inn Gorge Room. Due to hotel
parking lot construction, guests are encour-
aged to car pool. Tickets are $24 and available at
Waucoma Bookstore until noon on May 26.
“Ann has participated in the community for
over 25 years and in 2006 became one of the
founders of the Waterfront Community Park
Association (WCPA), with the goal to fund and
build a new park on the Columbia River. To this
day, Ann still serves as WCPA chair,” wrote
Jacquie Brown Barone in her nomination.
Allyson Pate’s nominator, Karon Peterson,
said, “Allyson served seven years as chair of
the Commission on Children & Families, on
the Citizens’ Review Board for Foster Children
and assisted in the formation of our area’s
warming shelter. What really makes her de-
serving of this award, however, is her develop-
Allyson Pate
Ann Frodel
Tami Swanson
ment eight years ago of the Give Them WINGS
program. Through her other work, she realized
that young men who were formerly in foster
care, homeless and unemployed and with little
hope of success needed a place to live, learn life
skills, job skills and make the life-altering
changes needed to become self-confident,
healthy, responsible members of society.”
Tami Swanson’s nominator, Nancy Johan-
son Paul, said, “In 1990, young mother Tami
(Russell) Swanson volunteered to organize a
New Parent Services play group in Cascade
Locks. Twenty-three years later, it is still meet-
ing every Tuesday, and Tami is still coordinat-
ing it. Tami has facilitated parenting classes in
Cascade Locks, Hood River and The Dalles. In
2000, Tami was hired by New Parent Services
as a Healthy Start Home Visitor, meeting with
young parents having their first baby, many
who are at risk for child abuse or neglect. She
has mentored over 150 families, many who
were raised in abusive and neglectful homes.”
living with alzheimer’s
an education program by the alzheimer’s association
Living with Alzheimer’s:
For Caregivers – Late Stage
June 5 | 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Hood River Valley Adult Center
Multipurpose Room
2010 Sterling Place, Hood River, OR 97031
In the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving typically involves
new ways of connecting and interacting with the person with the
disease. Join the Alzheimer’s Association Oregon Chapter for this
class to hear from caregivers and professionals about resources,
monitoring care and providing meaningful connection for individuals
with late-stage Alzheimer’s and their families.
This class is free, but registration is required.
To register, call 800-272-3900.
Offered in collaboration with:
24/7 helpline: 800-272-3900
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541-288-8264