REGION
Thursday, August 3, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
HERMISTON
Student homebuilding program gets national attention
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
East Oregonian
For three years, Hermiston
School District has been offering
students a hands-on opportunity
to learn how to build a home. This
week, they caught the attention of
the National Association of Home-
builders.
The association sent a representa-
tive from Washington, D.C., to look
at the district’s newest student-built
home and talk with contractors and
district members about the program.
The home, at Southwest Angus
Court, is the third in the Fieldstone
Crossing neighborhood, where all
the homes so far have been built in
part by high school students from
Hermiston, Umatilla and Stanfield.
“Nationally, we did a survey, and
labor and workforce are the biggest
issues for employers,” said Alicia
George, the NAHB representative
who came to visit the home on
Tuesday, and spoke to a group of
district employees, school board
members and builders. “It’s great to
see you guys finding a solution.”
George said there were several
programs around the United States
that allow students to work in
construction and learn skills that
could translate into a job.
But she said she was impressed
Staff photo by Jayati Ramakrishnan
Alicia George from the National Association of Homebuilders looks on as Curt Berger, director of
the Columbia Basin Student Homebuilders program, describes the work students did on one of the
homes in the Fieldstone Crossing neighborhood.
with the community involvement
from Hermiston.
“The fact that the school board
is here, the homebuyers — there’s
a lot more investment from the
community,” she said.
George also said the home was
unusually high-end for a project that
students worked on.
The new owners of the home,
Brittany and Taylor Smith, were
also at the home as George walked
through, and were excited to move
in come September.
They said they were drawn to the
home by the size and the quality, as
well as the location.
Brittany, a teacher at Sunset
Elementary, said the student-built
aspect also appealed to her.
“In a way it’s giving back to the
community,” she said. “We like to
see students doing something that
has the opportunity to benefit them
PENDLETON
BRIEFLY
Teen music camp gets ready to rock
Space still available
for Aug. 14-18 camp
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
From humble beginnings,
expanding on a Garage
Bands 101 class at Pendleton
Center for the Arts, the Rock
& Roll Camp is tuning up for
its 12th year.
In addition to focusing
on playing musical instru-
ments, the camp highlights
everything from writing
music and promoting bands
to rock journalism and
creating merch, said Bonnie
Day, outreach and education
coordinator at the arts center.
There is no charge for partic-
ipants.
The camp runs Monday,
Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug.
18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. In addition to the arts
center, space is utilized at the
First Christian Church and a
rehearsal/recording studio at
the Jazz Club building, Day
said. The camp crescendos
with an outdoor concert
Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. in
the 400 block of Main Street,
Pendleton.
Nearly two dozen musi-
cians from throughout the
Pacific Northwest serve as
EO file photo
Kylee Peck of Pendleton plays violin with the band
Roanoke on their song “Without You” during the final
concert of the 2016 Rock & Roll Camp in Pendleton.
This year’s camp starts August 14 and still has open-
ings for participants.
counselors for the program.
In addition, arts center staff
and a handful of other volun-
teers are key in making the
camp a success, said Peter
Walters, founding director.
Walters, who says the
title is somewhat fancy, sees
himself as a sort of head
cheerleader for the event.
However, after 12 years
of coordinating the annual
camp, Walters is passing the
baton to Addison Schulberg
next year.
Schulberg, who performs
with the local band Misty
Mouth, has come up through
the ranks with the camp. As
a teen, Schulberg attended
each year, and then later was
invited back to serve as an
intern, a counselor and now
as a co-coordinator this year
with Walters.
Day and Walters said
the camp offers a place
for young musicians to try
things out and to receive
encouragement. The team of
counselors, arts center staff
and volunteers jell in making
it a positive experience for
the youths, Walters said.
“They make everyone
feel welcome and feel like
they can express themselves
and have fun without being
judged,” he said. “We’ve
managed to connect with
something that kids care
about.”
In addition to having fun,
Walters said the musician
counselors also gain profes-
sionally from the experience.
“They also learn from
the campers,” he said. “It’s
a place where you can
experiment with style and
experiment with tools and
resources.”
The counselors, Walters
said, look forward to partici-
pating in the camp each year.
They let their bandmates
know in advance that they
won’t be available for touring
during the week of the camp.
While there are many
highlights during the week-
long event, Walters said it’s
easy to point to the camp’s
concert finale as a key part of
the program.
For more information or
a registration form, contact
541-278-9201,
info@
pendletonarts.org, stop by
the arts center or visit www.
pendletonarts.org.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
COMING EVENTS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6 a.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Half-
court basketball. Adults only.
PRESCHOOL STORY AND
CRAFT TIME, 10:30 a.m., MIl-
ton-Freewater Public Library, 8
S.W. Eighth Ave., Milton-Freewa-
ter. (Lili Schmidt 541-938-8247)
BOARDMAN SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Boardman
Senior Center, 100 Tatone St.,
Boardman. Cost is $4 for seniors
55 and over or $5 for adults. (541-
481-3257)
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Pendleton
Senior Center, 510 S.W. 10th
St., Pendleton. Costs $3.50 or
$6 for those under 60. Pool, puz-
zles, crafts, snacks, Second Time
Around thrift store 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For Meals On Wheels, call 541-
276-1926. (541-276-7101)
HERMISTON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Our Lady
of Angels Catholic Church par-
ish hall, 565 W. Hermiston Ave.,
Hermiston. Cost is $4 for adults,
free for children 10 and under,
$4 for Meals on Wheels. Extra
50 cents for utensils/dishes. Bus
service to parish hall by donation.
(541-567-3582)
SENSORY STORY TIME,
12:30 p.m., Boardman Public Li-
brary, 200 S. Main St., Boardman.
For children from birth to age 4.
(541-481-2665)
SKILLS FOR LIFE, 3-5 p.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center,
510 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
Gym activities and life skills for
middle and high school students.
Registration requested. (Danny
Bane 541-379-4250)
KARATE OPEN GYM, 5-6
p.m., Pendleton Recreation Cen-
ter gym, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave.,
Pendleton. Lars Hansen will lead
this all-ages class. Wear comfort-
able clothes. No experience nec-
essary. (Casey Brown 541-276-
8100)
THURSDAYS ROCK: FARM
TO TABLE, 5-8 p.m., Arts Por-
tal Gallery, 508 N. Main St., Mil-
ton-Freewater. (Laura Rose 541-
938-5516)
YARN CLUB, 5:30 p.m.,
Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. (541-
567-2882)
ARTISTS’
RECEPTION:
SMALL WORKS 2017, 5:30-7
p.m., Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
The work of 17 local artists, each
measuring no more than 14 inch-
es in any direction, will be on dis-
play though Aug. 26. Some piec-
es will be available for purchase.
Jessica Lavadour’s new epoxy
resin works also will be on dis-
play in the Lorenzen Board Room
Gallery. Free; beer and wine will
be available for purchase by do-
nation. (Roberta Lavadour 541-
278-9201)
UMATILLA COUNTY CHIL-
DREN AND FAMILY GRIEF RE-
COVERY CENTER ORGANIZA-
TIONAL MEETING, 6 p.m., New
Hope Community Church, 1350
S. Highway 395, Hermiston. Meet-
and-greet at 5:45 p.m. followed
by meeting at 6 p.m. All those
interested in volunteering are en-
couraged to attend. (Matt Terjeson
503-720-1620)
THE ARC UMATILLA COUN-
TY BINGO, 6-10 p.m., The Arc
Building, 215 W. Orchard Ave.,
Hermiston. Doors open at 6 p.m.,
seats may be held until 6:30 p.m.,
then all seats first come, first
served; games begin at 7 p.m.
Proceeds benefit Umatilla County
citizens with developmental dis-
abilities. 18 years or older, must
have proof of age and photo I.D.
Basic pot $20, prizes range from
$20-$750. (541-567-7615)
in the long run.”
The money from the purchase
of each home goes toward the
construction of the next. The district
has enough land to build a total of
22 homes in the neighborhood.
Taylor said they had to wait for
the students to come back to school
so they could add some final touches
before the couple moves in.
Bob Barton, the president of the
Northeast Oregon Homebuilders
Association, said the program
caught the attention of the national
organization because of the success
of the students.
“These kids are going right into
the trade,” he said.
The program has led several
students to pursue careers in
construction. George said it’s
important to get students interested
in those careers.
“Our association is still recov-
ering from the economic downturn.
It’s on the upswing, but building
is coming to a halt from a lack of
workforce,” she said. “You could
need a painter and they’re just not
there.”
But she said the goal of her orga-
nization is to assess what’s working
at the national and local level, and
share strategies between the two.
“(The) main push is to revive the
industry,” she said.
FIDDLERS NIGHT, 6:30-8:30
p.m., Brookdale Assisted Living,
980 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston.
Enjoy light refreshments, listen to
some favorite oldies or join in the
jam session. All ages welcome.
(541-567-3141)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6 a.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Half-
court basketball. Adults only.
HEPPNER FARMERS MAR-
KET, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Heppner City
Park, 444 N. Main St., Heppner.
Local produce, crafts, baked
goods and more. (Don or Jo Ann
Shannon 541-676-8957)
FREE FIRST FRIDAY, 10
a.m.-5 p.m., Tamastslikt Cultural
Institute, 47106 Wildhorse Blvd.,
Pendleton. Free admission all day.
(541-966-9748)
STORY TIME, 10:15 a.m.,
Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. (541-
567-2882)
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Pendleton
Senior Center, 510 SW 10th St.,
Pendleton. Costs $3.50 or $6 for
those under 60. Pool, puzzles,
crafts, snacks, Second Time
Around thrift store 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For Meals On Wheels, call 541-
276-1926. (541-276-7101)
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 p.m., Pendleton
Senior Center, 510 S.W. 10th
St., Pendleton. Costs $3.50 or
$6 for those under 60. Pool, puz-
zles, crafts, snacks, Second Time
Around thrift store 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For Meals On Wheels, call 541-
276-1926. (541-276-7101)
SUMMER STRINGS MU-
SIC CAMP CONCERTS, 3:15
p.m. and 5 p.m., Peace Lutheran
Church, 210 N.W. Ninth St., Pend-
leton. Camp participants will per-
form. 3:15 p.m. performance fea-
tures intermediate ensembles; 5
p.m. performance includes Suzuki
class, advanced level ensembles
and advanced, intermediate and
beginner level orchestras. Free.
(JD Kindle 541-276-0320)
County backs
tax break boost
business
PENDLETON — The
Umatilla County Board of
Commissioners gave their
support to a business seeking
a state incentive to expand.
Columbia River
Logistics Service
Corporation, 30900 Launch
Lane, Umatilla, qualified
for the Oregon Investment
Advantage program,
which could eliminate the
company’s income tax
liability for several years.
To qualify, Columbia
River Logistics must create
at least five full-time, year-
round jobs and its facility
operations must be the first
of their kind in Oregon for
the company.
Business Oregon,
the state’s economic
development agency,
operates the incentive
program and requests local
government indicate their
support or opposition to
the application. Business
Oregon asked the county,
the city and the Port of
Umatilla to weigh in.
Larry Givens,
chairman of the county
commissioners, responded
with a letter to Business
Oregon stating the county
supports the business
expansion. Commissioners
on Wednesday morning in
Pendleton formalized the
support with a 3-0 vote
in favor.
Commissioners also
approved a $10,000
grant to the Pendleton
Downtown Association
for that organization’s
fencing project. This is the
second and final donation of
$10,000 from the county to
help the association with the
project.
Two new officers
join local
departments
SALEM — Two local
police departments are
about to get officers fresh
from the Oregon Public
Safety Academy.
Deputy Lance Bose
of the Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office and
officer Brent Holden
of the Umatilla Police
Department are graduating
Friday, Aug. 11, from
the basic police class.
They join 35 others new
officers for the graduation
ceremony at the academy
in Salem that caps 16
weeks of education and
training.
Members of the
academy’s 369th
graduating class covered
dozens of subjects,
from survival skills
to emergency vehicle
operations to ethics
and drug recognition,
according to a written
statement from the
Oregon Department of
Public Safety Standards
and Training.
You Never Know What You’ll Find At
A Collectors West Gun & Knife Show!
August 5 th & 6 th
Pendleton
Convention Center
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