COMMUNITY
Saturday, October 2, 2021
‘Eminent Oregonians’
shares important stories
Three years after Applegate and his brother,
Lindsay, each lost sons on the Oregon Trail’s
SALEM — Pulitzer Prize winning jour- Columbia River route, he helped pioneer
nalist Nicholas Kristof sings praises for an alternate southern route, later called the
“Eminent Oregonians,” a soon-to-be released Applegate Trail. A representative of Oregon’s
book about the lives and contributions of three pioneer government, Applegate voiced strong
Oregonians who “helped
opposition to slavery during
create modern Oregon.”
the 1857 Constitutional
Characterized as a publi-
Convention in Salem.
cation “inspired by Lytton
Forrester, president and
Strachey’s ‘Eminent Victo-
CEO of EO Media Group,
rians,’ the authors describe
which owns the East
three Oregonians who were
Oregonian, former editor/
often at odds with their
publisher of The Daily
moments in history.” In the
Astorian and a former U.S.
book’s promotional materi-
Senate page, writes about
als, Richard A. Baker, U.S.
Richard Lewis Neuberger
Senate historian emeritus,
(1912-60). As an 8-year-old,
said Oregon authors Jane
Forrester remembers being
Kirkpatrick, R. Gregory
fascinated by Neuberger,
Nokes and Steve Forrester
who visited his family’s
each present well-sourced
home in Pendleton — his
and insightful commentary.
father and Neuberger met
After a career as a mental
while writing at The Orego-
health and early childhood
nian. Serving on the Oregon
specialist for 17 years, Kirk-
Steve Forrester/EO Media Group House of Representatives
patrick, an award-winning “Eminent Oregonians” ex- and later the U.S. Senate,
author has written more plores the lives and contribu- Neuberger co-authored The
than three dozen fiction and tions of three Oregonians who Wilderness Act.
nonfiction books — many helped create modern Oregon.
Kerry Tymchuk, Oregon
based on the lives of histor-
Historical Society executive
ical women, writes about
director, said three talented
Abigail Scott Duniway (1834-1915). The lead Oregon authors share remarkable stories about
character in Kirkpatrick’s September 2020 three iconic Oregon figures. He encouraged
historical fiction release “Something Worth history buffs to pick up a copy.
Doing” centered around Duniway, an early
For more information or to order the
women’s rights advocate, newspaper editor book, visit www.eomediagroup.com/books/
and writer.
eminent_oregonians.
Nokes, a former journalist and foreign
———
correspondent who has authored several books
Contact community writer Tammy
about Oregon’s history, shares about the trail- Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
blazing efforts of Jesse Applegate (1811-88). com or 541-564-4532.
East Oregonian
Anti-abortion event links faith community
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HER MISTON
—
Described as a peaceful
event that bears witness to
beliefs in the sanctity of life,
Deanna Leonard said the
annual Life Chain is Sunday,
Oct. 3, in Hermiston. Tiffany
LeGore, who has organized
the Pendleton Life Chain in
recent years, said she was
unable to coordinate the
2021 event.
“It’s not a protest,” Leon-
ard said. “We’re Christians
praying and giving a personal
witness of our beliefs.”
To participate, meet at
2 p.m. in the parking lot
behind Banner Bank, 101 E.
Main St., Hermiston. After
briefing participants, includ-
ing passing out signs, Leon-
ard said the group will spread
out along North First Street
(Highway 395) near Gladys
and Hermiston avenues.
K risti Smalley, who
attends Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church in Hermis-
ton, learned about the event
from Leonard a handful of
years ago. The regent of the
Catholic Daughters of the
Americas Court No. 1692,
Smalley had been provid-
ing financial support to
anti-abortion causes but felt
compelled to do something
more.
“I wanted to do something
physical to hopefully help
people realize how precious
life is from conception to
natural death,” she said.
Sometimes, Smalley
said, people aren’t aware
of available options and
resources when faced with
an unplanned pregnancy. She
shared about engaging in a
conversation with an expect-
ant mother while taking a
walk in her neighborhood.
The young woman, Smalley
said, was feeling pressure
from her boyfriend to have
an abortion.
“It was heart-wrenching
to witness her anguish,” she
said.
Held the first Sunday in
October, the nationwide
event is in its 34th year.
According to the national
organization’s website, the
effort encourages the faith
community to link together
to lead the nation in prayer
for the unborn.
Leonard, who has orga-
nized the Hermiston event
for around 17 years, said a
silent and prayerful approach
is a non-confrontational way
to share her anti-abortion
beliefs. Leonard and Smalley
said they don’t endorse using
graphic photos or harsh
verbiage on signs. Smalley
called it “a distraction,”
which takes the focus off
the positive message they’re
trying to convey.
“We’re hoping to plant a
seed,” Leonard added.
For more information,
visit www.LifeChain.org or
call Leonard at 541-571-3592.
———
Contact community writer
Tammy Malgesini at tmalge-
sini@eastoregonian.com or
541-564-4532.
East Oregonian
A7
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Drive Away
Hunger accepts
food donations
CORVALLIS — Oregon
FFA and Les Schwab Tires
Center are are teaming up
for its Drive Away Hunger
initiative.
With the need to help
fight hunger greater than
ever, the project partners
urge people to drop off
nonperishable food items
at any Oregon Les Schwab
Tire Center, Wilco or
Grange Co-op locations.
Donations will be accepted
through Oct. 31.
In a press release from
Christa Carlon, Oregon
FFA Foundation’s stew-
ardship officer, the special
partnership allows FFA
members to live out their
motto of “learning to do,
doing to learn, earning to
live and living to serve.”
During the past eight
years, Drive Away Hunger
has raised nearly three
million meals for those in
need.
For more infor ma-
tion about the initiative,
email Carlon at christa@
oregonffa.com, search
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
OregonFFA or visit www.
lesschwab.com/drive-away-
hunger.
Multi-family yard
sale helps support
Altrusa projects
HERMISTON — A
multi-family yard sale will
serve as a fundraiser for
Altrusa International of
Hermiston.
Find treasures and help
support projects in the
community and beyond.
The event is Saturday, Oct.
Nancy Lauck/Contributed Photo
Linda Monroe and Dawn Long of Altrusa International of
Hermiston prepare and package soups to assist in feeding
those in need through Desert Rose Ministries. The service
club is hosting a fundraising yard sale Saturday, Oct. 2,
2021, in Hermiston.
2, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2225
N.W. Geer Road, Herm-
iston. Proceeds will fund
the club’s service projects,
including books for Little
Free Libraries, college
scholarships, the Open
Table meal program and
utility expenses for The
Arc of Umatilla County
and Domestic Violence
Services.
Altrusa clubs are active
in service in an effort to
create better communi-
ties. The name “Altrusa”
is derived from combining
altruism and USA. For more
information about the local
group, contact hermiston-
altrusa@gmail.com, visit
districttwelve.altrusa.org
or search Facebook.
— EO Media Group