A8
OFF PAGE ONE
East Oregonian
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Nutcracker: ‘Heritage Station is a community
space, and we want it to be seen that way’
Virus: Change allows indoor
gatherings of 10 people from
four different households
Continued from Page A1
Continued from Page A1
need for the dance group and
presented an opportunity to
utilize the facilities in a way
in which it was designed.
“Heritage Station is a
community space, and we
want it to be seen that way,”
she said. “My goal has been
to ensure that the commu-
nity knows that they are
welcome here and to encour-
age a broader use of our
facilities.”
Also, Gruenhagen has a
personal connection with
ballet, as her daughter has
danced under Sneden-Carl-
son for more than a dozen
years. As a dance mom,
Gruenhagen’s involvement
has included everything
from sewing and selling
tickets to moving props and
providing exposure through
social media.
Sneden-Carlson was plan-
ning on four performances.
However, to stay within
indoor restrictions, the audi-
ence would be whittled down
from the usual 1,200 at the
BMCC theatre to 50 per
show. Ticket prices, she said,
were set at the admission to
get into the museum.
“I already knew that I
would be taking a big finan-
cial loss with this show.
But I felt the benefits far
outweighed the negatives,”
Sneden-Carlson said. “The
kids needed this so much.”
Samantha Mahaffy, who
started in ballet at age 7, has
participated in PBT produc-
tions of “The Nutcracker” for
a decade. The 30-year-old
said there were many reasons
why it was important to
participate in the pandemic
performance.
“It’s not only my love but
it was a chance to be a part
of something incredible, to
show our community and
the youth in this program
resilience,” Mahaffy said. “I
think it was also important
to have a little bit of a win
in 2020.”
Madison Gruenhagen, 16,
said one of the biggest take-
aways was learning to adapt.
Dancers, she said, are used
to changes and setbacks, but
2020 was truly a new expe-
rience for everyone.
“I also feel that even
though we were social
distancing it brought many of
us closer together as a group
WHERE TO
GET A COPY
The 2020 production of
The Nutcracker — which
includes 45 dancers, ages
4 through adult, plus four
narrators and two tour
guides — features most of
the original ballet. The DVD
is $30 and can be requested
via the Pendleton Ballet
Theatre’s Facebook page.
For more information, call
970-261-5331.
Amanda Sauer/Contributed Photo
RyLee and Chris Demianew set up Drosselmeyer’s Toy Shop
in the front window of A Piece of Pendleton.
and ultimately as a family,”
Madison said.
Mahaffy agreed, saying,
“I think we all gained a
deeper understanding and
gratitude for why we dance
and without a question we
are all even closer because
of this experience.”
Recognizing that novel
coronavirus restrictions
could change at any time,
Sneden-Carlson and Gruen-
hagen discussed backup
plans. However, when Gov.
Kate Brown announced a
two-week freeze beginning
in mid-November 2020,
Sneden-Carlson was forced
to reinvent the show yet
again.
The former professional
ballerina-t ur ned ballet
teacher spends a lot of time
staying abreast on a number
of large professional compa-
nies. Based on what many
of them were doing with
livestreaming their shows,
Sneden-Carlson thought
maybe she could, too. That
idea, she said, morphed into
the creation of a DVD that
people could watch over and
over.
Lights, camera, action
While researching film-
ing companies, Sneden-Carl-
son was referred to J.J. Hill,
who co-owns La Grande-
based The Big Productions
with Alan Arnson and owns
Cabbage Hill Productions in
Pendleton. Sneden-Carlson
appreciated The Big Produc-
tions’ mission of “telling
stories with light and sound.”
She described working with
them as “a delight.”
COVID-19 restrictions
required most of the film-
ing to be done outdoors.
Everyone agreed that the
cold weather was a constant
challenge. Madison said she
and other participants had to
wear “as much warm cloth-
ing as possible.”
Sneden- Carlson was
thrilled with the work of
“expert seamstress Gloria-
jean McDonald,” who
created 45 sparkly face
masks, while production
assistant Karen Odman
helped in sewing additional
capes. Sneden-Carlson also
purchased gloves, leggings
and long-sleeved T-shirts,
and parents purchased jack-
Motel: ‘This is not a forever home’
Continued from Page A1
established as a part of its
Operation Turnkey program.
“It’s going to be quite the
undertaking,” she said.
In the short term, Hall said
CAPECO plans to run the
building mainly as a shelter
for the unhoused, a safe place
where lodgers could socially
distance themselves during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once Umatilla County is
able to get the pandemic under
control, Hall said the building
will retain some rooms as a
night-to-night shelter while
also dedicating other rooms to
transitional housing, a place
where the unhoused can live
for up to two years while they
search for permanent housing.
“This is not a forever
home,” she said.
Hall said CAPECO had
initially identified another
property for its project, but
when another nonprofit noti-
fied CAPECO about The
Whiskey Inn, officials saw
plenty to like. Although it was
slightly more expensive than
their original target, the build-
ing was in better condition
and its central location put it
within easy walking distance
of the Umatilla County Court-
house, Lifeways and other
services.
Hall said CAPECO also
likes that the motel is promi-
nently featured in a high-traf-
fic area, which it expects will
discourage congregation and
illicit activity.
Hall knows the motel’s
location in the heart of Pend-
leton will spark scrutiny from
neighbors and other residents
who fear the facility’s pres-
ence will cause blight and
illegal activity.
But Hall said CAPECO
intends to continue to run
the building like a motel, just
with a shifting focus away
from tourists and travelers
and toward the unhoused.
She added that the nonprofit
will work diligently to make
sure the building remains
unblighted and will form a
neighborhood committee to
address concerns from nearby
residents and businesses.
Hall said the new facility
will be a good “first bite” at
tackling the region’s home-
lessness issue, but lead-
ers in the community will
need to continue to address
one of the issue’s main
roots: a lack of affordable
housing.
Scooters: Users will need to send a picture of
their parked scooter before finishing their ride
Continued from Page A1
Addressing concerns that scooters
will litter sidewalks and impede pedestri-
ans, Covato said users will need to send a
picture of their parked scooter before finish-
ing their ride. If the scooter is improp-
erly parked, the app will ask the user to
reposition it and send another picture
as proof.
“It’s going to be new, but people will get
used to it,” City Attorney Nancy Kerns said.
Kerns said she and other staff worked with
Covato to iron out any safety concerns, includ-
ing talks with Police Chief Chuck Byram.
After exhausting their questions, none
of the councilors seemed to pose any objec-
tions to welcoming Bird scooters into Pend-
leton. The council will meet on Tuesday,
March 16, to consider the ordinances that will
allow electric scooters on streets and on the
riverwalk.
ets for the younger danc-
ers. In addition, the kids
wore hats and scarves that
looked appropriate with their
costumes, Sneden-Carlson
said.
While most of the filming
was planned on the expan-
sive museum grounds,
Sneden-Carlson knew addi-
tional changes needed to be
made. Dropping the “Clara’s
Magical Journey” part of the
show, she began working in
some local history.
She approached several
downtown Pendleton busi-
nesses for filming a few
pieces that couldn’t be
done outside in the winter
elements. The idea received
applause from the production
crew.
“We enjoyed work-
ing with all the dancers,
and our favorite part was
capturing all the differ-
ent parts at different loca-
tions around town,” Hill
said.
The dancers, too, enjoyed
the process. Madison said
being filmed while danc-
ing was new and different,
especially the up close shots.
Despite multiple challenges,
she said it was a fun expe-
rience.
“It taught me to relax
deeper into the journey
instead of asking myself
what the end goal was,”
Mahaffy added. “It taught
me how important it is to
mourn the things we miss
but to not sit in that feel-
ing; as Julie says, ‘When a
door closes, we look for a
window.’”
an Oregonian/Oregon-
live database.
including Clatsop, Crook,
“We cer tainly don’t
Gilliam, Grant, Harney, want to celebrate the
H o o d R i ve r, L a k e , numbers where they’re
Lincoln, Morrow, Sher- at with a big old festi-
man, Wallowa, Wasco and val where we all get
Wheeler.
together maskless,
U m a t i l l a C o u n t y, right?” Morrow County
however, did not see its C o m m i s s i o n e r J i m
stat us change, though Doher ty said. “Take it
cases have continued to to hear t, star t breath-
decline on average. The ing, and star t looking
county will remain at around and understand
high risk until the metrics that, look, the needle
are reassessed in two is mov i ng a nd we’re
weeks.
moving the needle
a nd t he r e i s a
The change for
Mor row allows
tomorrow.”
Doherty said he
indoor social
is especially hope-
gatherings at
ful that the change
a ma x i mu m of
will help the coun-
10 people f rom
t y ’s H i s p a n i c
as many as four
Doherty
community, who
separate house-
holds. As many
have d ispropor-
as 12 people can also tionately impacted by the
gather outdoors, with no pandemic, at one point
mentioned cap on house- accou nting for nearly
holds, according to state 60% of t he cou nt y’s
guidelines.
repor ted cases despite
The change expands m a k i n g u p a p p r ox i -
i n d o o r a n d o u t d o o r mately 38% of its popu-
capacity for restaurants lation.
and extends closing hours
“T hey’re t he back-
to midnight. Indoor and bone of Morrow County,”
outdoor recreation and Doherty said, adding that
facilities, entertainment Hispanic residents make
establishments and reli- up a large portion of the
gious gatherings can all cou nt y’s ag r icu lt u r al
expand capacity.
workforce, which drives
“ My big ge s t ho p e the county’s economy
is that it gives people but has oftentimes placed
hop e,” Li nd say said , workers at a greater risk
“and that they’ve seen of contracting the virus.
some of the good actions
“In that family, they’ve
they’ve taken working got to be really feeling a
and that it will drive us weight coming off their
into the last stage, which shoulders,” Doherty said.
is the vaccination, and
Doherty said county
that they’ll get the vacci- businesses will be among
nation and that we’ll get those that benefit most
back to our lives.”
f rom the change. He
Lindsay added that, in added that with recent
light of the change, she developments from the
remains concerned that CDC, saying that vacci-
the shift in risk category nated people can begin
will cause the county to gathering indoors without
“let our guard down and social distancing and mask
start having larger gath- wearing, all signs are show-
erings and it will spread ing that things are moving
again and we’ll have the in a positive direction.
“I think it’s a product
numbers increase and go
of a lot of folks who have
backwards.”
Since the pandemic given up an awful lot,”
b ega n la st ye a r, t he Doherty said.
Media Sales
Professional
EO Media Group is looking to hire a full-time Media Sales Professional to work
in NE Oregon. Do you have the drive and determination to succeed? Would
you like to take your sales career to the next level in a fast-paced multi-media
sales environment? If so, please read on!
This exciting position is commissioned with guaranteed income. We offer
excellent benefits including insurance, paid time off (PTO), a 401(k)-
retirement plan, a Roth IRA, and expense reimbursement. If this sounds like
the right business development opportunity for you, apply today!
ABOUT EO MEDIA GROUP
EO Media Group is a family-owned Oregon media company with deep roots in
the Pacific Northwest. Our NE properties are located in Pendleton, Hermiston, La
Grande, Baker City, John Day and Enterprise, Oregon. Our newspapers, websites
and magazines provide credible, fair, and timely reporting about the people and
issues impacting the communities we serve as well as a comprehensive suite of
marketing solutions for local businesses.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MEDIA SALES PROFESSIONAL
As a Media Sales Professional, you play a crucial role in the success of our clients,
community and company by assisting local businesses in achieving success through
advertising in our diverse suite of products, including everything from the daily
newspaper to our digital services and beyond. The primary focus of your position is
territory development — use your interpersonal skills to build business relationships
with key decision-makers as you help them get the most out of their advertising
dollars.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR A MEDIA SALES PROFESSIONAL
• Business development and contract negotiation skills
• Two years of sales experience
Proven success in media or digital sales and a degree
in marketing are highly desirable but multiple factors
will be taken into consideration. Do you have
excellent communication skills? Are you organized
and goal-oriented? Can you work independently
with the support of a solid team behind you? Do
you thrive in a CRM-driven environment? Are you
known for following through consistently? Do you
have outstanding proposal and presentation skills?
If so, you might just be perfect for this Media Sales
Professional position!
While COVID-19 restrictions are in place, this position
will work from home after initial training. In our offices,
we practice social distancing and masks are required.
After COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, you will have
the opportunity to join teammates at one of our
offices and frequently see customers in person.
eo
o
eomediagroup.com
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
A group of four Bird e-scooters sits parked
along East Main Street in Hermiston on
Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Bird, which
recently began operations in Hermiston, is
looking to expand to Pendleton.
group
READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?
www.eomediagroup.com/careers