REGION Saturday, December 5, 2020       ­€‚   Ž“• ž‚­…‚ › ‚ƒ ›——† š†— †‡ˆ†‰‡ œˆˆ ‰ Š‹• ŽŠ• –• ŠŠ•  <  ­  <  ­€  <  ­   <  ­€ Š•  ˆ‡ † ‡ ˆ— ‰ — ˆ ˆ˜ˆ†Œˆ—†— ˆ †™  ˆ—š—† š ˆ˜ˆ†Œˆ—†— ˆ † : ŠŠ• ‚ ƒ „… Festival of Trees goes virtual A3 ƒ „‚…‚­ Š‘•   ­€ ‚…‚ East Oregonian ‚„ ­‚•†≤‹’ ‚­‚„‚­€„ „ Ž‹Ÿ ‡„ˆ­… … „ˆ­ ‰ ¡ŸŸ ¡‹Ÿ “ŸŸ ŽŸŸ †‡„ˆ†‰‡ † Š‹ŒŽ‘ ŠŽ ‹ ‘ŒŽŠ ŠŽ Ž’ ŠŒŠ“ ŠŠ ”’ ˆ “‹Ÿ Š‹Ÿ ŠŸŸ ‹Ÿ ‹ŸŸ ‹‹Ÿ „“”„ ˆ   „ Š‹  „ŒŽ ­… ‹‘… ’ –ŸŸ Hermiston lights up the night Pandemic chases the gala online By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian PENDLETON — Most years, the Festival of Trees is a gala affair. Typically, an auction of art- fully adorned trees accompa- nies dinner, drinks, music and dancing. This time around, COVID-19 had other ideas. On Saturday, Dec. 5, one can bid on an assortment of trees, wreaths, gift baskets and other items during a vir- tual auction from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. using a portal from the St. Anthony Hospital website. After signing up, bidders get access to the virtual auction hall where they can inspect this year’s lineup. Proceeds go to the St. Anthony Hospital Foundation. Foundation director Emily Smith said the hospital hopes to raise $30,000 at the virtual auction, enough to purchase two new glidescopes, which help health care providers see a patient’s airway during endotracheal intubation via a special video camera. Different organizations began decorating their trees on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Pendleton Convention Center. On the west side of the main room, Carol Farrow, Therese Farrow and Laura Gauthier decorated a tree with orna- ments crafted by artists from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Standing on a ladder, Carol placed the tree topper, a young Kathy Aney/East Oregonian Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian Carol Farrow (in black) and Laura Gauthier work to place a topper on a Christmas tree on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, at the Pendleton Convention Center. The CTUIR tree will sold virtually during the Festival of the Trees to benefi t the St. Anthony Hospital Foundation on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. A few small groups of people look as the lights go on on the Hermiston Christmas tree amid the fog on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The tree lighting event was livestreamed by the city of Hermiston due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings and events. boy doing a traditional native dance. After climbing down the ladder, she urged people to take part in the auction, say- ing the hospital plays a huge role in the community, includ- ing the reservation. “Everybody uses the hospi- tal,” she said. “Our tribal peo- ple use the hospital. Everyone needs to donate in some way, shape or form.” She said the tree contains around $2,000 in ornaments and other items. On the north side of the room, Janeen Reding put fi n- ishing touches on an owl- themed wreath she created; Reding is the hospital’s vice Air stagnation advisory extended president of human resources. Two fl uffy owls perched in the wreath seemed to peer at Red- ing as she worked. Around the room, other people fussed over addi- tional trees, wreaths and gift baskets. Most of the trees included assortments of items arranged artfully around their bases. Smith said the auction lineup includes six large trees, 10 small trees, 10 wreaths and about 20 gift baskets. She said large trees will be delivered the day after the event within a 30-mile radius of Pendle- ton. All other items can be picked up on Sunday, Dec. 6, between 8 a.m. and noon. LOCAL BRIEFING ODOT lowers speed limit near Athena ATHENA — The Ore- gon Department of Trans- portation lowered a posted speed limit along the Ore- gon-Washington Highway (Oregon Highway 11) near Athena due to recent crash history and safety concerns, according to a press release on Friday, Dec. 4. The posting, which sits between mileposts 16.18 near Pambrun Road and 17.80 near Banister Road, was low- ered from its previous speed of 55 miles per hour to 50. The previous posted speed limit was raised in 2017 to match the speed of the rest of the route. Since that change, eight acci- dents have been reported and “numerous near misses observed.” Dense traffi c on the high- way lead to crashes as driv- ers swerve on and off the highway, according to the press release. “We performed another speed study of the area,” ODOT Traffi c Investigator Rick Stanton said. “Based on that information and safety concerns we’ve adjusted the speed limit back to what it used to be. Our goal is to improve safety on the state’s transportation system, and we believe this will help do that along this stretch of (Highway) 11.” — EO Media Group Y our G enerositY C an H elp t ransform o ur C ommunitY Weak weather system could be moving through over weekend By BRYCE DOLE East Oregonian PENDLETON — The National Weather Ser- vice station in Pendleton announced on Thursday, Dec. 3, that it is extending its air stagnation advisory to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, due to a weak weather system moving through over the weekend. The advisory warns that poor air quality could cause issues for people with respiratory problems and recommends that those who have respiratory ill- ness follow their physi- cian’s advice. State agen- cies recommend people refrain from outdoor burn- ing and limit residential burning. The announcement came a day after the Oregon Department of Environ- mental Quality announced the fi rst air stagnation advi- sory that came due to a high pressure system prevent- ing low pressure air from escaping, which makes pollutants near the ground incapable of escaping. “Say if you were to burn wood in your fi replace — that smoke is not going anywhere,” Brandon Law- horn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Ser- vice in Pendleton said. The system, which may include precipitation in the mountains, will be com- ing in sometime late Sun- day, Dec. 6, through early Monday, Dec. 7, according to Lawhorn. The advisory applies to Baker, Umatilla, Grant, Gilliam, Harney, Jeffer- son, Klamath, Lake, Mal- heur, Morrow, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler coun- ties. It includes the follow- ing cities: Arlington, The Dalles, Boardman, Herm- iston, Ione, Long Creek, North Powder, Ukiah, Day- ville, John Day, Mitchell, Monument, Spray, Pendle- ton, Pilot Rock, Heppner, Condon, Fossil, Dufur, Maupin, Moro, and White Salmon, Washington. Offi cials advise resi- dents to check their local burn agencies for restric- tions in their area. Invitation Invitation to to Invitation to Participate Participate in in a a Participate in a Focus Group: Group: Focus Recruiting— Recruiting— Recruiting— Focus Group: Women and Men Women and Men Women and Men (over 18) 18) and (over 18) and (over and Elders Elders Elders Family Violence Services has a Family Violence Services has received a expand grant to expan Family Violence Services has received received a grant grant to to expand services to victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sex services to victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, services to victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and and sex and s trafficking in the CTUIR community. The project is recruiting trafficking the CTUIR community. The is project is recruiti trafficking in the in CTUIR community. The project recruiting participants from the community to help inform what a good participants the community help what inform what a g participants from from the community to help to inform a good systems response should look like. Snacks will be served and systems response should look like. Snacks will be served look like. Snacks will be served and a systems $50 gift response card will should be provided for participation. a $50 gift card will be provided for participation. a $50 gift card will be provided for participation. December 7th-11th, 2020 December 7th-11th, December 7th-11th, 2020 2020 Monday Tuesday Wednesday 10:00-1:00 Thursday 18-25 Tuesday 26-40 Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday 11:30-2:30 Elders Elders 10:00-1:00 10:00-1:00 18-25 18-25 26-40 CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19 G ive O utriGht , Or a P lanned G ift tO the G reater h ermistOn C Ommunity f OundatiOn ’ s e ndOwment f und ! 100% G oes to the F und • Y our d onation is n ever s pent C all 541-567-5215 Or GO O nline fOr m Ore i nfOrmatiOn www.GreaterHermiston.com Friday Thursday Friday 26-40 Friday Due to 5:00-8:00 Covid-19 event will 41-55 Restrictions 41-55 26-40 this 11:30-2:30 Elders 18-25 11:30-2:30 Elders Elders Elders be conducting phone interviews or for 5:00-8:00 26-40 Zoom, 18-25 5:00-8:00 41-55 41-55 41-55 41-55 26-40 18-25 Location - Longhouse at Mission those who can access Zoom a link will be If you are interested, please RSVP to Desireé Coyote @ 541- sent to you. Interviews will hour to the 1.5 Location - Longhouse at be Mission Location - Longhouse at 25, Mission 429-7415 by November 2020 or 1 show up at during specified time according to your hours. Longhouse Appointments are available 8am-8pm If you are interested, to Desireé If you are interested, please please RSVP to RSVP Desireé Coyote age @ Coyote 541- @ 5 group. Interview options available if you are not able to the 429-7415 by November 25, 2020 or show up at 429-7415 by November 25, 2020 or show up at the Monday-Friday December 7-11th, 2020. Please attend in person . during Longhouse specified time according to your age Longhouse during specified according to your age contact Desiree Coyote @ time 541-240-4170 to group. Interview options available if you are not group. Interview options available if you are not able to able to * Masks and social a distancing will be required ensure everyone’s safety. schedule time to slot. attend in person . and attend . day Masks will in be person available on-site. * Masks and social distancing will be required to ensure everyone’s safe * Masks and social distancing will be required to ensure everyone’s safety. Masks will be available Masks will be available on-site. on-site.