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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.
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