B6 Hood River News, Wednesday, July 15, 2015 C OMMUNITY Hood River County Fair arrives July 22-25 It’s just one week away. The Hood River County Fair returns Wednesday through Saturday, July 22-25. An old-fashioned family-oriented county fair that’s been named the “best in the state,” it’s known for outstanding entertainment, activ- ities for kids and adults, displays and ex- hibits, carnival and midway fun, horses, live- stock, flowers, and food to please every taste. Country music star trio Gloriana performs Saturday evening, July 25. The scenic fair- grounds are at 3020 Wy’east Road, south of Hood River, near the community of Odell. Regular general admission prices to the fair are $7 per adult Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and $10 on Saturday. Admission for children aged 6-12 is $2. Children under 6 admitted free. Season tickets are available ($24 adults, $5 ages 6-12 inclusive). The fair opens each day at noon; carnival rides begin at 1 p.m. Check the schedule, as FFA and 4-H events begin earlier. Many favorite displays have moved to the blue gym this year from the gold. Musical performances are free with paid admission. Musical entertainment begins Wednesday evening on the park stage at 8 p.m., with a Patsy Cline impersonator. On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the 204th Army Band performs on the main stage. On Friday, it’s a full evening of Hispanic music on the main stage, with Oregon bands playing from 7-9 p.m., and Cal- ifornia’s Banda La Movida beginning at 9 p.m. Hood River Supply, Juanita’s Fine Foods, and Hood River Taqueria are sponsors. Fair headliner Gloriana takes to the main stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 25, presented by Griffith Toyota Northwest. The group de- buted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Al- bums chart, becoming the best-selling debut country act of 2009. They performed as Tay- lor Swift’s opening act during her Fearless Tour, and have also opened for Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and the Zac Brown Band. Awards have continued to be come to the group, and in June 2015 they re- leased their latest album — Gloriana THREE —which bolsters their signature harmonies with new musical styles. Brothers Tom and Mike Gossen and Rachel Reinert make up the trio. Also free with fair admission are many other great attractions — many found in the park area, or around the fairgrounds. Kidz Dental is sponsoring many of the park activ- ities. In the park, the “Walk on the Wild Side” ex- otic animal show displays a wide range of ex- otic animals and reptiles in a jungle atmos- phere, and Godfrey the Magician serves up award-winning comedy and levitation tricks. Professor Bamboozle’s Road Show brings laughs and fun — and balloons — to the park and fairgrounds. And look for Dr. Solar’s Good Time, Traveling Medicine Show’s unique magical and educational family- friendly entertainment. “Wool Busting!” is back. Kids up to 55 pounds and younger than 12 can try their hand at riding sheep. It’s a start for the next generation of rodeo stars. Shows daily! There’s fun for bigger kids, too, including the Buck-A-Ewe mechanical sheep, and “Just for Fun” Roping Clinics. Kids can also enjoy more sedate pony rides in the park. The Frank Herman Arena will be a busy during the fair. Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. is the Hispanic Horse Show. Thursday through Sat- urday featues popular Team Penning and Ranch Sorting clinics and competition, Youth Gaming Events, and more. Check the schedule for all of the arena activities. Fri- day morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m., a special competition — with prizes — is set for kids. Two classes, one for ages 8 and younger, the other for ages 9-13 will be held. Preregistra- tion is required. Every day is “Bracelet Day” on Cascade Amusements carnival rides. Save money on rides by purchasing a $22 ride bracelet ticket for just $17 in advance of the fair’s opening. They’re available in Odell at the fair office, Mid Valley Market, Hood River Supply, and G.G’s; at McIsaac’s in Parkdale; at Juanita’s Market in The Dalles; and at Juanita’s Mar- ket, Hood River Supply, and Columbia State Bank in Hood River, and must be purchased by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22. Each bracelet ticket purchased may be used on any one day of the fair, and is good for rides all day long. Carnival rides begin at 1 p.m. each day and continue until closing. Friday evening, beginning at 4:30 p.m., is the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction in the live- stock arena — the all-important culmination of a year’s work for the 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors. Check the schedule for all the 4-H and FFA competitions and activities. To reach the 2015 Hood River County Fair, travel I-84 to Hood River exit 64, then south on State Highway 35 to the Odell junction. Fol- low the signs to the fairgrounds at 3020 Wy’east Road, at the corner of Wy’east and Summit roads. Or drive Highway 26 to its in- tersection with Highway 35, then north on Highway 35 to the Odell junction. For addi- tional information about the Hood River County Fair, call the fair office at 541/354- 2865, or check the website at hoodriver- fair.org. Follow us on Facebook, too! HAPPY TOGETHER: Parenting photo contest winners announced Eight photos have been se- lected as winners of the Co- lumbia Gorge Parenting Edu- cation Awareness photo con- test. The winning photogra- phers are Paloma Ayala, Lorri Epstein, Tiffany Hardin, Eliza Hernandez, Nate Parson, Gary Reed, Kirsten Taylor, and Tori Vaughn. You can see all the winning photos at face- book.com/thenextdoorinc or view them on display at The Dalles Library in August and Hood River Library in Sep- tember. Photographers submitted 58 photos, and judges Lisa Far- quarson, Mike Glover and Terri Vann selected the win- ning photos based on the en- gaging interaction of an adult and child, and catching a fun, endearing moment. Vann commented, “I was amazed by the number of quality examples of interac- tion between children and families, which made the se- lection difficult, but also rep- Photo by Tori Vaughn TORI VAUGHN snapped this photo of a popsicle party with grandpa. resented the positive and child-centered communities we live in. The photos were beautiful! ” The photo contest and dis- play bring attention to the im- portance of parenting in a child’s life. According to Nancy Johan- son Paul, Parenting Educa- tion Coordinator at The Next Door, “When I saw the photos submitted I was thrilled by the amazing moments of adven- ture, fun and joy for the par- ents, grandparents and chil- dren. Children learn from what their parents do with them and the caring they show. Good parenting is so much determined by the rela- tionship of unconditional love and thoughtful guidance one gives a child.” At The Next Door’s parent- ing education series starting in late September, parents will learn ways to parent so your child is secure, confident, and ready to be successful in school. The more parents and caregivers know, the happier and healthier their child will be. Warm, sensitive and re- sponsive care provides the best foundation for healthy brain development. The Next Door is a Colum- bia Gorge nonprofit whose mission is opening doors to new possibilities by strength- ening children and families and improving communities. Staff members in over two dozen programs work with thousands of people in the Co- lumbia Gorge who are strug- gling; to grow up strong, to stay out of trouble, to learn parenting skills, and even to learn a sustainable way to have enough food. ‘Lady Washington’ comes to Gorge The brig Lady Washing- ton and the topsail ketch Hawaiian will visit Steven- son, Hood River and The Dalles on the following dates: ■ July 16-20: Stevenson ■ July 22-23: Hood River ■ July 25-27: The Dalles ■ August 17-19: Hood River Walk-on tours are self- guided and hosted by crew in period costumes. A $3 do- nation per person is appre- ciate. Tickets for Adventure Sales, Evenings Sales and Battle Sails can be pur- chased at www.historic- alseaport.org or by calling 1-800-200-5239. Early reser- vations are recommended. For a complete schedule, visit historicalsea- port.org/2015. Healthy, happy children: guide to Parenting Resources in the Gorge Here is a listing of parent- ing resources in Hood River County. If your organization would like to add anything to the list, send brief details to twalker@hoodriver-news.com Free Welcome Baby packet: The Next Door offers all Ore- gon first-time parents a free “Welcome Baby” packet of in- formation about parenting, bonding with your baby, healthy infant growth and de- velopment, child care and other resources. Call 541-436- 0320 or visit www.nextdoor- inc.org. Join a playgroup: For par- ents and their children ages newborn to 5; for more info contact Nancy Johanson Paul at 541-436-0319 or nan- cyp@nextdoorinc.org. The schedule is as follows: Tues- days, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cascade Locks City Hall gym; Tuesdays, 9-10:30 a.m. at Hood River Alliance Church, 2650 Montello Ave. (Contact the church at 541-386-2812 for de- tails); Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m. at HR Early Childhood Center (former Pine Grove School), bilingual, with developmental specialists available (follows school calendar). For more info call 541-386-4919. Library story hour: Hood River Library, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. (on vacation until June 18). Additionally, baby, toddler and preschooler par- enting educational bags can be checked out. The bags include “Make Parenting a Pleasure” DVDs, parent booklet and “Happiest Baby on the Block.” Hood River Family Life Skills classes: Run 30 weeks and educate individuals on how to build healthy, sustain- able personal, family and com- munity relationships. For men, women and teens. To reg- ister call 541-386-1170 or www.hoodriverfamilylife- skills.com. New Parent Services and Families First: Healthy Fami- lies Home Visiting Services to parents who are either preg- nant with or newly parenting their first baby. Must enroll prenatally or before baby is 3 months old. To see if you qual- ify, call 541-436-0320. Mid-Columbia Children’s Council: Early Head Start provides year-round home visits for parents prenatally to children up to age 3. Head Start preschool programs are for children 3-5. Child de- velopment, school readiness and family support services. To see if you qualify, call 541- 386-2010 or www.mccchead- start.ort. Hood River County Public Health Department: Supports pregnant women and parents with infants and children up to age 5. Programs include ma- ternity classes, Babies First and CaCoon. Visits for Span- ish and English speakers with a focus on providing education and support by encouraging regular visits to health care. For more information call 541-386-1115 or www.co.hood- river.or.us. Hood River Valley High School Teen Parent Program: Helps teen parents complete high school while their chil- dren are cared for in a certi- fied center on campus. More information at 541-386-4500. Breastfeeding support: Breastfeeding Support Group meets twice monthly at River- side Community Church, 317 State Street in Hood River. For more information call 541-386- 6344. Early intervention and early childhood special educa- tion: Call if you have concerns about any baby, toddler or preschool child regarding their ability to walk, talk, see, hear, respond to others, play, learn, or cope with new situa- tions; 541-386-4919. Mid-Columbia Center for Living: Provides a wide range of services to adults, children and families with mental health issues, addictions, or developmental disabilities. Services include help with ma- ternal depression, children with emotional/behavior is- sues, and parent training. Call 541-386-2620. Helping Hands Against Vio- lence: Hope, safety and sup- port to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Crisis line is 541-386- 6603. in your home or on your prop- erty ■ Be at home when your teenager has a party ■ Make sure your teenag- er’s friends do not bring alco- hol into your home ■ Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at youth events ■ Report underage drinking ■ Call the parent in charge to verify the occasion and loca- tion of the party ‘Parents Who Host’ campaign comes to Odell July 18 Luz Oropeza, Hood River County Prevention Depart- ment’s Odell Hispanic Drug Prevention Health Promotion Coalition staff, is getting the word out about parents who host teenage drinking parties. The new campaign, called “Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don’t Be A Party to Teenage Drinking,” is a social media crusade developed by the Drug Free Action Alliance aimed at educating parents about the health and safety risks associated with serving alcohol to teenagers and to in- crease compliance of Oregon’s underage drinking laws. Oropeza will be distributing lawn signs and window clings — in English and Spanish — with the message at El Merca- do Del Valle on July 18 from 3- 6 p.m. (see example at right). She’s coordinating her ef- forts with help from the Hood River County Sheriff ’s Department, the Odell Lions Club, and the Hood River County School District, and notes that the Sheriff ’s De- partment and the school dis- trict have information up on their websites about the “Parents Who Host” cam- paign. According to the 2014 Ore- gon Student Wellness Study, 17.4 percent of high school stu- dents in Hood River County get their alcohol from parties, and 16.5 percent from people over 21. “As a parent, you cannot give alcohol to your teen’s friends under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even in your own home,” states a press release that Oropeza has been distributing along with the signs. “You also cannot allow a person under 21, other than your own child, to re- main in your home or on your property while consuming or possessing alcohol. There are legal consequences if you do. According to Oregon law, you can be prosecuted and charged with a Class A Misdemeanor and a fine.” Oropeza suggests the follow- ing tips: ■ Host safe, alcohol-free ac- tivities and events for youth ■ Refuse to supply alcohol to children or allow drinking FRESH LOCAL a new publication by the Hood River News highlighting the growing array of producers and the FOOD Celebrating flourishing “local food first” movement in the Gorge. DYDLODEOH DW VHOHFW EXVLQHVVHV DQG WKHVH QHZVSDSHUV +RRG 5LYHU 1HZV 6WDWH 6W +RRG 5LYHU 7KH 'DOOHV &KURQLFOH )HGHUDO 6W 7KH 'DOOHV