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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2019)
REGION Wednesday, August 21, 2019 East Oregonian A3 Workshop brings new recipes for a new year By JESSICA POLLARD East Oregonian UMATILLA — Ital- ian style paninis and gar- lic kale dip might not be the first items someone imag- ines chowing down on in a school cafeteria. But a culi- nary workshop hosted by Umatilla High School last Friday is looking to change that. The workshop was hosted by the the Oregon Depart- ment of Education Child Nutrition Programs and Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council with involvement from the Oregon State Uni- versity Extension office’s Food Hero campaign. It had cafeteria workers from across Eastern Oregon pre- paring an extensive menu of items with unique flavors that still align with national nutrition standards. Jessica Visinsky, a child nutrition specialist with the ODE, who spearheaded the workshop, knows this is no easy feat. “(Workers) are basically putting on Thanksgiving dinner every weekday by 11 a.m.,” she said. This is the third year that the workshop, which travels across the state, has stopped in Umatilla. Those who participated also honed their knife skills as they worked in differ- ent teams to prepare a large lunch for people wishing to sample the menu items, which ranged from veggie quesadillas to a sweet cin- Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Participants sample their creations following a school lunch culinary workshop on Friday put on by the Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Program and the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council. namon apple bake. Visinsky said there are some misconceptions when it comes to school lunches. “We may be serving pizza in school, but it’s got whole grain crust and low- fat cheese,” she said. Rikkilynn Starliper, child nutrition director for the Umatilla School Dis- trict, said many parents don’t know that ready-to- serve items like chocolate milk and heat-and-serve items like quesadillas come from companies that spe- cifically formulate them to meet national guidelines. Countywide, almost 70% of students were eligible for free and reduced lunch during the 2018-19 school year, according to the ODE. That number increases to 80% of students through- out the district in Umatilla. Schools in the Umatilla dis- trict are unique in the sense that they take part in the USDA Community Eligibil- ity Provision, which allows them to provide meals to students at no cost. With so many students taking part in school lunch, fitting in scratch cooking like the kind taught during the workshop can prove difficult. Starliper said that when the district first hosted a culinary workshop, they walked away with a popu- lar Bánh mì recipe, but that they only offer it a couple times a month because it’s so labor intensive and in such high demand. “It’s difficult to transition to scratch cooking when you have staff that have been doing the same thing for years,” she added. Mary Smith, who works in the Clara Brownell Mid- dle School cafeteria, noted that not much from the workshop gets to come to life in the kitchen. “We do some scratch cooking, but not everything. There’s just too many kids,” she said. Starliper said the dis- trict is hoping to include more scratch cooking in the future. The district has other culinary projects in store for the upcoming school year as well. They just purchased four “healthy celebration” carts, which come loaded with the equipment needed to make smoothies during classroom celebrations. “It’s easier for teachers and families to take that cart to the classroom. Instead of having cookies and cup- cakes, the kids can bring in fruit, yogurt and granola and make a smoothie,” Star- liper said. She’s also looking for- ward to the addition of a FoodCorps member, who will focus on educating stu- dents about nutrition, to McNary Heights Cafeteria this year. “She’s already decorat- ing the cafeteria. My staff does’t have a lot of time to do that fun stuff,” Starliper said. Umatilla schools weren’t the only ones prepping for the start of the school year. Kayla Flores and Minnie Shoemaker traveled nearly two hours from North Pow- der to attend the workshop, and were looking forward to bringing the hummus recipe they learned back to their school to have teach- ers sample it. “It’s nice being where everybody is doing the same things,” Flores said. “Everyone in our field is here. Down there, it’s just us — just me and Min- nie. It’s nice to know more recipes.” Wrong turn Staff photo by Ben Lonergan The Bealls store located in the Hermiston Plaza shopping center has posted signs advertising a store closing sale ahead of its slated rebranding. Stage, the Bealls parent company, con- firmed the company will be converting the location into a Gordmans in spring 2020. Hermiston Bealls to be replaced with Gordmans By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by Ben Lonergan A driver attempts to navigate paving equipment at the site of the Eighth Street Bridge proj- ect on Tuesday afternoon in Pendleton. Pendleton Public Works Director Bob Patterson said that he expects the road to open to traffic early next week with the remainder of the project being completed later this fall. BRIEFLY Hermiston Family Aquatic Center closed due to flood HERMISTON — The Hermiston Fam- ily Aquatic Center is closed until further notice due to a “major mechanical failure.” Parks and recreation director Larry Fetter said the most optimistic projection would be reopening on Saturday. Fetter said the aquatic center’s base- ment mechanical room was found flooded on Tuesday morning. Staff pumped out the room and were still assessing the dam- age Tuesday afternoon, but Fetter said it was likely caused by a stuck float valve in the lower surge tank. Five electrical motors from the room, which were not built to be submerged in water, have been pulled out and are being sent to a local shop to be dried out and repaired. Having to close the aquatic center for several days is not ideal, Fetter said, but it is the first time something of that nature has happened in the 17 years the pool has been open. He said he is look- ing at a flood alarm system to prevent the problem from happening again, and the city will keep the public updated as soon as they know for sure when the pool will reopen.Recreation department seeks pro- gram instructors Rec department seeks instructors HERMISTON — Do you have special skills or talents? If so, Hermiston Parks & Recre- ation might be interested in providing an opportunity to teach a class or program to share your expertise with others. Your skills might provide an opportunity to earn some extra income while teaching others. For more information, contact Bran- don Artz at bartz@hermiston.or.us or 541-667-5018. Power Gala plugs in for 30th year HERMISTON — A ban- ner advertising a “Store Clos- ing” sale at Bealls had Herm- iston residents worried they were losing one of their few clothing stores, but the change is more of a re-brand than a closure. Stage, the Bealls parent company, confirmed the com- pany will be converting the location into a Gordmans in spring 2020. Gordmans is an “off-price” retailer, similar to Marshall’s or Ross, which offers lower than usual prices on brand name clothing, footwear, Pendleton home goods, fragrances and more. Such stores often do so by purchasing goods that are available for lower prices due to being overstocked, at the end of their season or for other reasons. According to an email from Stage, the company has been converting Bealls stores to Gordmans in sev- eral locations “because con- sumers are responding posi- tively to Gordmans’ off-price offerings.” “Gordmans is an off-price retailer, which means that it has a wide array of merchan- dise for the entire family at the lowest possible prices com- pared to department stores,” the email stated. According to the com- pany, the store will be closed for less than two weeks in the spring before reopening as Gordmans. All current Bealls employees will be offered jobs at Gordmans, and more will be hired early next year. OREGON REPUBLICAN P EPUBLICAN DINNER GON PARTY REPUBLICAN PARTY DINN Convention Saturday, Pendleton August 24 7pm Pendleton Convention Center Convention Center Cent 1601 Westgate, Pendleton, OR 97801 Featuring: Featuring: The Umatilla County Republican Party is hosting the Oregon Republican Party Platform Convention in Pendleton on Aug. 23-24 , Featuring: we hope Republicans in Umatilla County can join us for the ORP Fundraising dinner with Steve Yates. Pendleton Convention Follow us on Facebook; Umatilla County Center Republican Party CEO of DC International Advisory, former Chairman of Pendleton Convention Center Pendleton Pendleton Convention Convention Center Center Pendleton Convention Center Convention CEO of DC Pendleton International Advisory, Center former Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant to PORTLAND — People are encour- the the Vice Idaho President for National Security Republican Party, Affairs, former Deputy Assistant to aged to save the date for the Oregon CEO of DC International Advisory, former Chairman of Featuring: Featuring: Featuring: Pendleton Convention Center frequent commentator on Fox News, Fox Business, Featuring: the Vice President for National Security Affairs, Energy Fund Power Gala. HNL, and Taiwan’s Yates FTV. Featuring: Stephen the Idaho Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant to Featuring: 8/21 In its 30th year, the event celebrates frequent commentator on Fox News, Fox Business, CEO of DC International Advisory, former Chairman of CEO of DC CEO International of DC Republican International Advisory, former Chairman former Chairman of to of the Cineplex Vice President for Times National CEO Security the Affairs, Idaho Party, Advisory, former Deputy Assistant Show of DC International Advisory, former Chairman of FTV. three decades of helping Oregonians in HNL, and Taiwan’s the Idaho the Republican Republican Party, former Party, Deputy former Assistant Deputy to of to the Vice President for National Security Affairs, Assistant Featuring: CEO Fox of DC Idaho International Advisory, former Chairman commentator on Fox News, Business, the Idaho Party, former Deputy Assistant CEO Vice of Republican DC the International Advisory, former Chairman of to Dinner - Vice $50/person VIP—$250/person need pay their energy bills. The Power frequent $5 Classic Movie frequent commentator on Security Fox News, Fox Business, the President for National for National Affairs, Security Affairs, the Idaho President Republican Party, former Deputy Assistant to the Republican Party, Deputy Assistant to the Idaho Vice commentator President for National Affairs, HNL, and former Taiwan’s FTV. HNL, Today and Taiwan’s FTV. frequent frequent commentator on News, on Security Fox Fox News, Business, Fox includes Business, Showing VIP reception begins at 5:30 and pre-dinner Gala is Saturday, Oct. 12 with the doors the Vice President for Fox National Security Affairs, CEO of DC HNL, International former Chairman of the Vice President for National Security Affairs, frequent commentator on Advisory, Fox News, Fox Business, and HNL, Taiwan’s and FTV. Taiwan’s FTV. frequent commentator on Fox News, Fox Business, reception, pictures with Steve Yates, and dinner. How to Train Your Dragon 2 at 10a opening at 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Ball- the Idaho commentator Republican Party, Deputy Assistant to frequent on former Fox News, Fox Business, HNL, and Taiwan’s FTV. HNL, - and Taiwan’s FTV. Affairs, Dinner $50/person VIP—$250/person VIP—$2 Dinner $50/person the Vice President for - National Security and The Man Who Would Be King at 12p room at The Sentinel Hotel, 614 S.W. HNL, and Taiwan’s FTV. frequent commentator on at Fox News, at Fox Business, VIP tickets reception begins 5:30 and includes pre-dinner www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 Get your Scary Stories to 11th Ave., Portland. reception begins at dinner. 5:30 and includes p Dinner Dinner - $50/person - VIP $50/person VIP—$250/person HNL, and Taiwan’s FTV. with Steve reception, pictures Yates, VIP—$250/person and Dinner - $50/person VIP—$250/person Tell in the Dark (PG13) The 1920s-themed event will fea- VIP reception VIP reception begins at begins 5:30 and at 5:30 includes and includes pre-dinner pre-dinner Dinner - $50/person VIP—$250/person Dinner - $50/person VIP—$250/person 4:40p 7:20p 10:00p pictures with Steve Yates, and Dinner - $50/person VIP—$250/person Get your reception, tickets at www.oregon.gop/steve-yates-2019 VIP reception begins at 5:30 and includes pre-dinner ture Northwest cuisine, live and silent reception, reception, pictures pictures with Steve with Yates, Steve and Yates, dinner. and dinner. 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Contact Honl tracy.honl@oregon.gop 3:40p* 6:40p 9:40p sion of assisting Oregonians in finan- Contact Tracy Honl at tracy.honl@oregon.gop The Lion Questions? King (PG) cial crisis with their energy bills. For 4:20p 7:00p 9:50p more information or to purchase tick- The Kitchen (R) ets, visit www.oregonenergyfund.org/ 9:30p powergala. * Matinee Pricing —East Oregonian staff wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216
