A6 RECORDS/COMMUNITY East Oregonian COMMUNITY BRIEFING Children’s museum celebrates with block party PENDLETON — The Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon is gearing up for its 25-year anniversary. The museum, which reopened June 1 after a 444-day closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is ready to celebrate. A block party is planned Friday, Aug. 20, 4:30- 6:30 p.m. at 400 S. Main St., Pendleton. The Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon began in 1996 with a goal of providing kids of all ages with opportu- nities for educational exploration and development through interactive exhibits and play. The nonprofit organization also has a museum store featuring fun and engaging items. For more information, visit www.cmeo.org or search Facebook and Instagram. For questions, call 541-276-1066. STEAM Academy visits Umatilla Saturday Market UMATILLA — Craft and artisan booths, food and other vendors are featured as the Umatilla Saturday Market continues through Sept. 18 The events, which run Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., are held at Victory Square Park next to Umatilla City Hall on Sixth Street. In addition to booths, each week there are free giveaways and special activities. The upcom- ing markets include: • Aug. 21: The Umatilla STEAM Academy will be on hand from 9 a.m. to noon. Children are encouraged to come out and learn about educational fun. • Aug. 28: Enjoy free drop-in bingo games from 10 a.m. to noon. Prizes include gift cards to local businesses, chil- dren’s toys, cooking items and deep clean vacuums. For more information or to inquire about vendor space, contact hannah@umatilla-city.org, 541-922-3226 or visit www.umatilla-city.org/parksrec. A messenger of joy PUBLIC SAFETY MONDAY, AUG. 16 11:00 a.m. — Pendleton police responded to a report of an assault on Southwest Court Avenue. 11:39 a.m. — The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a burglary at the Umatilla County Road Department on Stanfield Meadows Road, Stanfield. 12:59 p.m. — Pendleton police responded to a report of a burglary on the 500 block of Southwest Eighth Street. 1:27 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on Walla Walla River Road, Milton-Freewater. 6:06 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on Southwest Birch Street, Pilot Rock. TUESDAY, AUG. 17 10:47 a.m. — Pendleton police responded to a report of a burglary on the 900 block of Southeast Second Street, Pendleton. 11:27 a.m. — The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a burglary on Northeast Nichols Lane, Hermiston. 12:49 p.m. — Pendleton police responded to a report of an assault on the 600 block of Southwest Tutuilla Road. 2:08 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on South Highway 395, Hermiston. 2:44 p.m. — A domestic disturbance occurred on Elizabeth Drive, Stanfield. 3:12 p.m. — The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a burglary on Locust Street, Umatilla. ARRESTS, CITATIONS Aug. 17 1:58 p.m. — Hermiston police arrested Alan James Griffin, 42, for third-degree escape, violating a stalking order and violating probation. LOTTERY Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 Megabucks 19-21-36-39-45-48 Estimated jackpot: $1.8 million Lucky Lines 03-05-10-16-18-24-27-31 Estimated jackpot: $60,000 Win for Life 03-16-44-74 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 5-9-6-6 4 p.m.: 3-2-4-5 7 p.m.: 3-4-5-7 10 p.m.: 9-6-6-6 Thursday, August 19, 2021 Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 Mega Millions 03-06-16-38-56 Mega Ball: 24 Megaplier: 3 Estimated jackpot: $242 million Lucky Lines 02-06-11-14-20-21-28-32 Estimated jackpot: $61,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 5-9-3-6 4 p.m.: 7-4-5-8 7 p.m.: 3-2-7-0 10 p.m.: 7-9-1-0 SARAH HAUG LIGHT OF UNIT Y H e died. When talking about my father’s death 10 years ago this week, I tend to say this truth flat out, which can be startling to people accustomed to hear- ing he passed on or he’s no longer with us. My father is still with us, however. Just as God is. In the Baha’i Faith, someone who dies isn’t gone. They have simply abandoned the physical garment and ascended to the spiritual world. It’s an uplifting message, but not one we often think of as uplifting. That’s a shame, because death isn’t something to fear. It means moving on to the world for which this world has been a training ground. To consider that after the death of the body the spirit perishes is like imagining that a bird in a cage will be destroyed if the cage is broken, though the bird has nothing to fear from the destruction of the cage. Our body is like the cage, and the spirit is like the bird. What the spiritual world is like or holds for us isn’t something we can under- stand, any more than a child in the womb can understand the world outside. While it’s very real, it’s hidden behind a veil. We can’t touch it. We can sense it: in prayer, in nature, in a baby’s smile and any time we love another person. George Lucas in “Star Wars” called that invisible power the Force, but we might as well call it love. Like God, it’s in every- thing, touches everything, binds us together and tran- scends the change from life to death. We can’t quantify it, hard as we try, though we can see its results. Prior to becoming a Baha’i, I didn’t feel that my culture dealt with death in a particularly healthy way — and possibly endeavored never to deal with it beyond the necessary minimum. We held funerals and gave lip service to death being part of life, but people died somewhere else: in nurs- ing homes or in hospitals, having spent their last days — or maybe years — sepa- rated from their loved ones. Death was spoken of in low voices and seen almost as the deceased’s fault, as if by living a physically pure life, it could be put off almost indefinitely. I’m going to give a pitch for hospice here, which allowed both my parents to die at home, with family beside them. My sister was with my father in that last moment, and I was holding my mother’s hand when her soul was released from its cage and flew away. I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom? ——— Sarah Haug is a member of the Baha’i Faith and has called Pendleton home since 2002. You can find her most days walking on the river- walk with her husband, Dan. WINNERS PLAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File The Al Kader Shriners-Hermiston Desert Shrine Club re- ceived the Best Motorized award during the Aug. 7, 2021, Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off Parade in Hermiston. Umatilla County Fair announces parade winners DRAWINGS EVERY 3O MINUTES FRIDAYS–SATURDAYS, 8–11pm | SUNDAYS, 3–10pm HERMISTON — The Best of Show for the Umatilla County Fair Parade went to the Greater Hermiston City- Fest with Andrew Palau. The entry was highlighting the upcoming faith-based event, planned for Saturday, Aug. 28, at Butte Park in Hermiston. Other entries recognized during the Aug. 7 parade included: Best Theme (Ready, Set, Show!: Hermiston Drug & Gift; Best Float: Atkinson Staffing; Best Equestrian: Happy Canyon Princesses; Best Motorized: Desert Shrine Club; Best Royalty: Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days; Best Dance: Steppin’ Country Dance Club; Best Bands & Music: Main Street Cowboys & Pendleton Side Saddlers; and Best Non-Float: Happy Canyon Directors. On Sundays when you swipe at any both days of the week! ENTRIES On Thursdays and Sundays! ENTRIES Downtown Hermiston offers slice of Melon Fest HERMISTON — Melon Fest returns to downtown Hermiston this weekend with live entertainment, chil- dren’s games, a water slide, a photo booth, face painting and vendor booths, including food, produce and crafts. Also, free watermelon will be available while supplies last. The inaugural event, held in 2019, was created to encour- age people to hang out in Hermiston’s downtown area. A joint effort of the Hermiston Downtown District and the city of Hermiston, it was a way to highlight the city’s festi- val street. Melon Fest 2021 is Saturday, Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live entertainment includes Frazer Wambeke & Luke Basile. In addition, the Gems Cheer Royals will perform. Grab your best melon garb and enter the Watermelon Costume Contest at 10 a.m. Prize money will be awarded to the top three places, including $300, $200 and $100. The Splash and Dash Bathtub Races get revved up at 11 a.m. There is a $5 entry fee for three-person teams — with the winning team taking home $300. And a seed-spitting contest is at noon. For more information about Melon Fest 2021, search www.facebook.com/Hermistondowntown. A link to regis- ter for the bathtub races is available via www.hermiston. or.us/parksrec or www.facebook.com/hermistonrec. For questions, call 541-667-5018. Auction features collectible tractors HERMISTON — Tony and DeAnn Amstad of Hermis- ton have amassed a mighty collection of John Deere collect- ible tractors, which will be auctioned off Saturday, Aug. 21, at noon by Booker Auction Company. It will be held at the Amstad Farm, 79480 Canal Road, Hermiston. The auction will feature more than 100 rare and collect- ible John Deere tractors, Caterpillar tractors and a few select classic automobiles. In addition, a band will play in the afternoon, and food and beverages will be available. The auction preview is Aug. 20 from 9 a.m to 6 p.m and Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. The collection also will be available for online preview on Aug. 20. For more infor- mation, visit www.bookerauction.com. — EO Media Group It’s a GO for BINGO! For session dates and information visit wildhorseresort.com. DISCOUNTS - REWARDS - AND MORE! Club Wild members 55+ receive special off ers and discounts on Tuesdays! Play a FREE game, save on food, hotel, and MORE! 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