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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2016)
REGION Tuesday, June 14, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3A HERMISTON Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini A waterfall and pond provide a soothing oasis in the yard of Dan and Polly Briscoe. Their garden and ive others are featured in Saturday’s P.E.O. Hermiston Gar- den Tour. Tickets are available at The Cottage. Spring blooms with annual garden tour By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Staff photo by Kathy Aney Rodeo wash-up Hannah Hayden, of Pilot Rock, gives her horse a bath Monday at the Buckaroo Rodeo Bible Camp at the Round-Up Pavilion. The Bible camp, sponsored by the Pendleton Free Methodist Church, teaches kids ages 12 and up the basics of the various rodeo events and includes a rodeo at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the pavilion, which is free to the public. MILTON-FREEWATER A Milton by any other name Arts Portal previews non-traditional play By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian If Shakespeare is correct and all the world’s a stage, then the Miltons of the world are getting their soliloquy. As a part of a ive-city tour in towns named Milton, the MILTON project gave a preview of their non-tradi- tional play at the Arts Portal gallery in Milton-Freewater Saturday. In a cascade of English and Spanish, Seattle actors Todd Jefferson Moore, Moises Castro and Rose Cano began sharing infor- mation about Miltons both familiar and foreign, inter- spersing facts about Saager’s Shoe Shop and McLoughlin High School with dialogue about mainstays in other Miltons, like the Varsity Lanes bowling alley in Milton, Wisconsin. Sometimes the Spanish would be interpreted but other times it wouldn’t, as the actors handed out pictures and memorabilia from the various Miltons. MILTON is the brainchild of Lisa D’Amour of New Orleans and Katie Pearl of New York, the eponymous founders of PearlDamour, an interdisciplinary theater company. Having done much of their work in large cities, D’Amour and Pearl were looking for a project focused on small towns and what it meant to be American in an increasingly multicultural country. They did a Google search for the most common American town names and settled on Milton, which was Courtesy Photo by Charles Frates Todd Jefferson Moore, left, and Moises Castro perform MILTON at the Arts Portal gallery in Milton-Freewater Saturday. evocative of John Milton, the author of “Paradise Lost.” “It was almost like throwing a dart,” D’Amour said after the preview ended. Although Milton added Freewater to its name in 1950 when the two cities merged, Pearl and D’Amour were intrigued by Milton-Freewa- ter’s ethnic diversity. The pair started visiting Milton-Freewater in 2013 and while all the perfor- mances of the play feature bilingual elements, Pearl and D’Amour speciically rewrote the play to relect the more than 3,000 Latinos that live in the town. D’Amour is planning an even more ambitious produc- tion when they perform the full play at Mac-Hi next week. That string of perfor- mances will feature a light installation, a full soundtrack and greater audience partici- pation, including a poll about whether Milton-Freewater should keep the frog statues. The three-person cast is excited to perform the play in full. “There’s a poetry to it,” Jefferson Moore said. They’ve been rehearsing the play in Seattle for the irst few weeks, and although this is their irst time in Milton-Freewater, the town felt instantly familiar when they started seeing landmarks featured in the play like the Wee Bit O’Heather restau- rant. While Castro is a Mexi- can-American from Los Angeles, Cano is Peruvian. Although it was Castro’s irst time performing in Spanish, he gave input on the script to better it the termi- nology used in Los Angeles. Pearl and D’Amour said the themes of the play relect the characteristics of Milton-Freewater, from the language gap between its Hispanic and Anglo citizens to the city’s pea farm past versus its viticultural future. From the rise of the Milton-Freewater Down- town Association to the recent passage of the Milton-Free- water Uniied School District bond, Pearl and D’Amour have experienced a great deal about the town since arriving there three years ago. Now they get to share it with their inspirations. MILTON will be performed at Mac Hi June 16-19 at 7 p.m. Matinees will be held June 18-19 at 2 p.m. Area residents are invited to attend a community barbecue in celebration of MILTON Saturday at 5 p.m. at McLoughlin High School. To ensure there’s enough food, RSVP by calling 888-854-5698. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. With windswept hair, Polly Briscoe was taking a survey of her yard and garden spots Monday afternoon. “The wind has taken a toll,” the Hermiston woman said. Dan and Polly Briscoe bought their West Division Avenue home in 1991. Over the years, the couple has done a lot of work to make it their own private oasis. The Briscoes enjoy being outside and have hosted a variety of parties in their back yard. In addition to beautiful lowers and large shade trees, the gardens feature every- thing from a corner arch and whimsical signs to a pond and bottle tree. Their home — along with ive others — is featured in the annual P.E.O. Hermiston Garden Tour. The event is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tour booklet includes descriptions of the gardens, directions and a map. The gardens may be visited in any order. Members of the P.E.O. Chapter will greet participants at each of the locations. Others featured on the tour are Chris and Amy Moon, Bill and Thelma Reynolds, Barry and Sandy Trapp, Gene and LuAnn Garner and Ken and Kathy Dopps. The Moons include their four children, ranging in age from 2-11, in the process. They choose and help create lower combinations around the yard. The Reynolds’ display includes hand-picked rocks that were deposited along area rivers from the Missoula Floods. The Trapp’s garden features a three-tiered yard and a lovely river view. A large koi pond is the high- light of the Garner’s park-like setting. Harvest is coming on at K & K Blueberries, but the Dopps’ property also features colorful plants and shrubs, as well as antique farm tools and supplies. Tickets for the P.E.O. Garden Tour are $10 and can be purchased at The Cottage, 1725 N. First St. Hermiston. They also will be available at each of the gardens on the day of the event. In its 12th year, the garden tour supports local scholar- ships as well as the organiza- tion’s state and international projects. P.E.O. was founded in 1869 as a way to support women and encourage them in realizing their potential through education. Organizers are always looking for gardens to showcase during their annual event. People are encour- aged to let members know about potential gardens for upcoming tours. For more information, contact Judi Mason at judi- masn@eoni.com, 541-314- 5407 or 541-564-9789. ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4539 MILTON-FREEWATER Man can’t remember why he was in road when car hit him East Oregonian A Walla Walla man trying to cross a ive-lane highway Thursday night in Milton-Freewater ended up in the hospital after a car struck him. Oregon State Police reported Rebecca Albert, 43, of Milton-Freewater, was northbound on Highway 11 near milepost 32 at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday when she saw a person in her lane. She tried to swerve her white Cadillac Escalade, but struck Gary Lee Jones, 52, with the left front bumper. Police closed the north- bound lanes for about two hours. Jones was conscious and alert when medics arrived and took him to Providence St. Mary Medical Center, Walla Walla, according to state police, and a trooper talked to Jones there. Jones told the trooper he could not remember why we was in the roadway or anything related to the collision that broke his ribs and inlicted other non-life threatening injuries. Oregon State Police also reported Milton-Freewater police contacted Jones earlier that evening and noted he appeared intoxicated. BRIEFLY Food program includes fun activities HERMISTON — The Summer Food Program though Umatilla Morrow Head Start is underway. The lunch program is free for all children from infants to age 18. It’s held Monday through Fridays through Aug. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lawn area on the east side of the Head Start administrative ofice, 110 E. Fourth St., Hermiston. Along with the food, each day will feature fun activities or educational offerings. On Wednesday, kids can eat and meet with Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann. Parents can get information about nutrition and receive a free dental screening on Wednesday, June 22, and a free car seat check on Thursday, June 23. Kids can learn about public safety when police oficers come for lunch on Thursday, June 30. For more information, call Amy Hendrix, health and nutrition director, at 541-564-6878. Parks & Rec offers dog obedience class PENDLETON — Pet owners are invited to learn to teach their dogs basic command during an upcoming class offered through Pendleton Parks & Recreation. Good Dog Obedience meets Tuesdays from June 28 through Aug. 2 at the Pendleton Recreation Center, 502 S.W. Dorion Ave. Beginners are from 6:30- 7:30 p.m. and the follow-up intermediate class is from 7:45-8:45 p.m. It’s open to owners ages 14 and up and their canine companions. The $48 fee is due by Wednesday, June 22. To register, go to www. pendletonparksandrec.com or stop by the parks ofice, 865 Tutuilla Road. For more information, call 541-276- 8100. Baldo retirement celebration features lying pig rafle HERMISTON — A retirement gathering is planned for Marie Baldo. After leading the Hermiston Public Library since 2004, Baldo is shelving her last book at the end of the month. A retirement celebration is planned Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at the library, 235 E. Gladys Ave. A rafle featuring some of Baldo’s lying pig collection will beneit the library. In addition, refreshments will be served. For more information, call 541-567-2882. Award-winning cowboy storyteller visits Weston WESTON — A cowboy storyteller will enthrall audiences during an upcoming presentation in Weston. Christopher Leebrick has won national storytelling awards with his three albums, “Good Stories From All Over,” “Critters, Need Shade or Outdoor Living Space? W e’ve Got YOU covered! FREE estimates! 541-720-0772 Visit our showroom: 102 E Columbia Dr. Kennewick, WA 99336 www.mybackyardbydesign.com Pa�o Covers Pergolas · Sunrooms R t t bl A i Retractable Awnings Screen Rooms Handrail · Sun/Solar Shades & More! License #188965 Kids and Cowboys” and “Spooky!” The public is invited to hear Leebrick Friday at 1 p.m. at the Weston Public Library, 108 E. Main St. The free show is appropriate for all ages. For more information, call 541-566- 2378. Friends celebrate nonagenarian’s birthday PENDLETON — Friends and family of Mary Ann Ryder invite the community to help celebrate her 90th birthday. Over the years, Ryder has been active in the community. She has volunteered with many programs, including the Oregon East Symphony, Pendleton Public Library and ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone). The birthday gathering is Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at the Pendleton First Presbyterian Church, 201 S.W. Dorion Ave. No gifts. For more information, contact Amy Johnson at 541-379-7857 or akrydson@ gmail.com. Don’t Forget Fathers Day! Put a smile on the heart with the power of flowers. HWY 395, HERMISTON RMISTON 541-567-4305 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 12pm-5am www.cottagefl owersonline.com