REGION
Saturday, April 17, 2021
A3
East Oregonian
StoryWalk combines exercise, literacy in Umatilla
Grant from
University of
Pittsburgh helps
fund project
By JADE MCDOWELL
East Oregonian
UMATILLA — Story
time for Umatilla children
now comes with a dose of
Vitamin D.
Families were out enjoy-
ing the sunshine on Wednes-
day, April 14, during the
grand opening of Umatilla’s
StoryWalk. The new instal-
lation features metal stands
spaced about 200 feet apart
along the trail from Hash
Park to Kiwanis Park in
McNary. Each stand contains
a large replica of a page from
a children’s picture book,
allowing children to read the
story while going for a walk.
Sierra Dugan took her
three children to the grand
opening, and her daughter
Elina Dugan, who will turn 4
in a couple of weeks, studied
each plaque as they walked.
“She loves outdoors and
reading, so this is perfect,”
Sierra said.
She said she liked that the
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Amelia Schell-Murphy, 3, points to a sign along the StoryWalk in McNary as Amber Dixon
reads the sign to her on the fi rst day of Umatilla’s StoryWalk on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
trail was wide and paved,
making it easy for toddlers to
walk on, or to push a stroller
along.
“I like that you kind of go
at your own pace,” she said.
A mber Dixon, who
brought her 3-year-old grand-
daughter along, watched
as she ran up to each page
eagerly, waiting for Dixon to
read it to her. Dixon said she
lives nearby, and will prob-
ably visit the new feature
often.
The Umatilla Public
Library plans to swap out
the book on a monthly basis.
This month’s book is “I Can
Save the Earth” by Alison
Inches.
Bella Oloendorff , 10, said
she had fun reading the book
as she walked, and plans to
come back every time there
is a new one.
“It taught you how to recy-
cle and turn off the lights,”
she said, describing the book.
At the end of the trail,
participants were given
their choice of free books to
choose from, a snack and an
opportunity to make a bird
feeder out of pine cones,
peanut butter and bird seed.
Since “I Can Save the
Earth” was shorter than some
books that will be featured,
the last few plaques featured
information about Citizen
Science Month, celebrated
in April. Citizen science
refers to public participa-
tion in gathering scientifi c
data, such as precipitation
monitoring for the National
Weather Service. It encour-
aged people to download
the iNaturalist app, which
helps people from all over
the world upload photos and
information about plant and
animal species in their neigh-
borhood.
A Citizen Science grant
from the University of Pitts-
burgh helped fund the Story-
Walk project, according
to City Finance Director
Melissa Ince. Children who
participated in the grand
opening received free books
at the end of the trail, but
starting with the next book
featured, at the end of each
story will be a Q code that
people can scan with their
smartphone to receive a free
physical copy of the book
featured that month.
Ince said a few other
communities in the area,
including Stanfi eld, recently
installed StoryWalks of their
own, so libraries will be able
to exchange books with each
other in addition to adding
their own.
To participate in the
StoryWalk, start with the
fi rst plaque at the entrance
of Hash Park, 440 Pendleton
Ave. in Umatilla, and follow
the trail west to Kiwanis
Park.
LOCAL BRIEFING
County residents
up for state board,
commission
SALEM — Gov. Kate
Brown submitted a list of
state board and commission
appointments to the Oregon
Senate for confi rmation and
three Umatilla County resi-
dents are up for consider-
ation.
Kristin Williams, an
Athena librar ian, was
appointed to a four-year
term on the state library
board. Jennifer Currin, a
Pendleton attorney, was
reappointed to a four-year
term on the Oregon Liquor
Control Commission, and
John Scanlan, a Pendleton
teacher, was appointed to
the Public Employees Retire-
ment Board.
“State board and commis-
sion members bring a
diverse set of backgrounds
and life experiences to
address the wide range of
issues currently facing state
government,” Brown said
in a press release. “Their
contributions help lead to
policies and strategies that
better enable us to serve and
represent all Oregonians,
especially as we continue
to mitigate ongoing crises. I
appreciate the willingness of
all these nominees to serve
our great state and help make
Oregon better for all those
who call it home.”
T h e S e n a t e Ru le s
Committee is scheduled to
consider the nominations the
week of May 10.
Helix School
District has new
superintendent
HELIX — The Helix
School District School
Board hired a new super-
intendent and principal
on Wednesday, April 14,
according to a press release.
Brad Bixler, the Human
Resources Director and
Communications Special-
ist for the school district in
North Bend,
Oregon, was
approved for
the position
at an April
14 school
board meet-
ing, the
Bixler
press release
said.
Bixler’s contract with the
district begins on July 1, but
he said he hopes to “begin
connecting with staff and
the community prior to July
1.”
Bi xler is a for mer
employee of school districts
throughout Eastern Oregon,
working as a teacher, tech-
nology specialist, assistant
principal, principal and
human resources director
across Umatilla and Morrow
County for 26 years, the
press release said.
“ We a re c on f ide nt
Brad will be a long-term,
community-involved, dedi-
cated Superintendent/Prin-
cipal,” said Todd Thorne,
chair man of the Helix
School Board. “His diverse
experience in large and
small schools and school
districts across the coun-
try provides unique value.
His equity-based thinking,
creative forward-think-
ing approach and ability to
listen and collaborate with
all stakeholders will serve
the district well as we navi-
gate our path forward.”
Bixler said he’s “look-
ing forward to serving the
students, staff and commu-
nity for the 2021-22 school
year.”
— EO Media Group
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