A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Hermiston chamber
unveils its new digs
CORK & BARREL
Tammy Malgesini/East Oregonian
Val Hoxie, Hermiston Chamber of Commerce executive assis-
tant, poses Monday, Oct., 11, 2021, in front of a large canvas
mural that features many aspects of the Hermiston area. The
chamber invites the public to an open house Oct. 15, 2021,
at the new chamber offi ce, 630 S. Highway 395, Hermiston.
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
People gather Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, on Festival Street in Hermiston for the Hermiston Downtown District’s Cork & Barrel
wine tasting event.
Hermiston woman, loved ones mark 100 years of life
“I love this town,”
centenarian says.
By ERICK PETERSON
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Herm-
iston resident Irene Miller
and many of her loved ones
celebrated, Saturday, Oct. 9,
as Miller neared her 100th
birthday. She who would turn
100 two days later, enjoyed a
party Saturday at the Harken-
rider Senior Activity Center,
Hermiston.
In addition to partying
with her family, who trav-
elled from locations as far as
Colorado, she friendly pass-
ersby also wished her well.
Miller greeted friends for a
“drive-by celebration,” in
which people drove past the
senior center, stop briefl y and
then shouted out a greeting
to the new centenarian. This
was done to limit potential
COVID-19 exposure.
At the party, Miller’s
loved ones boasted of her
health and strong mental
capacities.
“I keep telling people I’m
an S.O.S — slower, older and
smarter,” Miller said.
She said she has two
secrets to good living: a sense
of humor and a positive atti-
tude.
Miller said she had been
looking forward to her 100th
birthday for about 10 years.
It meant a great deal to her,
she said, to be in the company
of her three daughters, their
husbands, their children and
grandchildren. Short a couple
of close family members,
who were not able to be at the
party because of a COVID-19
scare, there were more than
20 attendees.
“I love this town,” she
said, because Hermiston is a
good place to raise children.
It also has given her many
opportunities to be active.
At the party, she spoke of her
involvement in the hospital
auxiliary, the parent-teacher
association and the First
Methodist Church. She also
was a leader in her daughter’s
groups — Camp Fire Girls,
Bluebirds and 4-H — when
they were children.
While Miller listed a few
of her accomplishments
and community work, other
partygoers mentioned her
other activities. She, along
Irene Miller and family members pose for a photo at her birthday party, Saturday, Oct. 9,
2021, at the Harkenrider Senior Activity Center, Hermiston.
Erick Peterson/East Oregonian
Irene Miller, of Hermiston, waves at a passerby to her 100th
birthday party Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.
with her family, sponsored
two foreign students. Also,
she donated 23 gallons of
blood, worked for Habitat for
Humanity and was president
of the senior center board.
She even helped to create the
Harkenrider Senior Activity
Center, people said.
She remains active, as
she enjoys playing cards
and bingo with friends, chil-
dren, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. She
also embroiders, crochets and
knits, creating hundreds of
items that remain treasured
objects.
“She is so full of love, and
joyfulness and laughter,” said
Judy Lovins, one of Miller’s
three daughters. “We love her
so much.”
“I love her deeply,” said
Edna Jean “Tara” Miller,
another of Miller’s daughters.
“She’s such an inspiration,
just in terms of her sharp
mind, her soul, her kindness,
her sense of humor and her
service.”
The “baby” of the three
daughters, Kathy Crowley,
complimented her mother
for being “always there” for
her and all of her family and
friends.”
“I enjoy her humor, her
love and her beauty,” Crow-
ley said. Her mother has
taught her how to be positive,
driven and sportsmanlike.
They are not alone in
loving Miller, according to
the trio of daughters. They
said this celebration would
have included 150 more
people if not for COVID-19.
At Miller’s last big birthday
smash, two years ago, visi-
tors packed the senior center.
As a social person, Miller
has loved these large gather-
ings. She also loves going to
Seattle Mariner games and
traveling, things she has not
been able to do lately. But
she has, been able to keep
active with some of her favor-
ite things, as she still meets
friends for cards.
Ruth Ford, who often
plays cards with Miller, was
one of the people who drove
past the senior center to off er
birthday greetings. They
have known each other 40
years.
“She’s not like a 100-year-
old,” Ford said, as Miller
keeps score and shuff les
when they play pinochle and
canasta. The centenarian
even frequently wins these
games.
Miller’s loved ones said
they are looking forward to
her next birthday party.
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Even
while wearing masks
Monday morning, Oct. 11,
you could see the excitement
on the faces of Val Hoxie,
the Hermiston Chamber of
Commerce executive assis-
tant, and Kris Bennett, board
of directors chair. Anticipat-
ing an upcoming open house,
the two women were putting
finishing touches on the
chamber’s new offi ce space.
Everyone is invited to drop
in Friday, Oct. 15, between
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 630 S. High-
way 395, Hermiston.
Hoxie, who has been
with the chamber since
July 30, moved to Hermis-
ton in October 2020. After
Kristina Olivas, the cham-
ber’s chief executive offi-
cer since March, recently
returned to her previous
employer, Hoxie has been
busy moving forward with
chamber programs and
planning for the transition to
the newly remodeled space
at the former Pioneer Title
building. And she couldn’t
be more excited.
“This community is so
welcoming,” Hoxie said.
“I’ve truly fallen in love with
it.”
Following Olivas’ depar-
ture, the chamber board
immediately launched a
search for her replacement.
Bennett said the board will
make an announcement and
introduce its new executive
at 4:30 p.m. during the open
house.
For nearly two decades,
the chamber had been housed
in the Hermiston Commu-
nity Center. However, in
January 2018, the city of
Hermiston ended its contract
with the chamber and moved
its parks and recreation
program into the center.
Several months after
moving its office to the
Cornerstone Plaza, the cham-
ber received a $1 million
allocation from the state
to build a new workforce
development center. After
purchasing property on
South Highway 395 across
from New Hope Commu-
nity Church and draft-
ing plans for the project, a
fundraising drive has been
delayed because of the global
pandemic.
Although those plans are
on hold, the chamber still
wanted to move forward
with providing workforce
development and have meet-
ing space available for its
membership. The former
Pioneer Title building off ers
that — plus, Hoxie and
Bennett said the location’s
visibility is very appealing.
“In just the few weeks that
we’ve been here, we have a
lot more walk-in traffic,”
Hoxie said. “And the phone
is ringing off the hook.”
Entering the building,
people are immediately
greeted with a large mural-
type canvas created by Lisa
Peppard of Artful Virgo. The
colorful piece features vari-
ous logos and designs that
depict all things Hermiston
and beyond.
Bennett, who owns
KRISanthemums, is espe-
cially excited about the
opportunity to help other
local businesses thrive —
whether it’s through off er-
ing resources and training or
space and networking.
“It’s for the commu-
nity, that’s why we’re here,”
she said “We want to make
things easier for businesses.”
———
Contact communit y
writer Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4532.
COMMUNITY BRIEF
Heppner chamber hosts luncheon
HEPPNER — Larry Lutcher with the Oregon State
University Extension Offi ce will serve as the guest speaker
during the quarterly luncheon of the Heppner Chamber of
Commerce.
The no-host event is Thursday, Oct. 21, noon at the
Morrow County Museum, 444 N. Main St., Heppner.
Catered by Gateway Cafe, the teriyaki chicken bowl meal
costs $10 per person. Those planning to attend need to
RSVP by Monday, Oct. 18, via 541-676-5536 or heppner-
chamber@gmail.com.
— EO Media Group
GOLD SPONSORS
Community Bank
SILVER SPONSORS
Alive and Well PPP
CHI St. Anthony Hospital
Corteva Agriscience
Desire For Healing Inc
Hill Meat Company
Northeast Oregon Water Association
OSU Extension Service- Umatilla County
RE/MAX Cornerstone
Rick’s Car Wash
Tum-A-Lum Lumber
Western Radiator
BRONZE SPONSORS
A & G Property Management & Maintenance
Blue Mountain Community College
Coldwell Banker Whitney & Associates, Inc,
Davita Blue Mountain Kidney Center
DuPont Pioneer HiBred Research Center
Jeremy J Larson DMD LLC
Kelly Lumber Supply Inc
Kiks Golf Center
Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co.
Kopacz Nursery & Florist
Landmark Tax Services
McEntire Dental
Mid Columbia Bus Co
NW Metal Fabricators Inc
Rob Merriman Plumbing & Heating Inc
The RBH Group LLC
The Saddle Restaurant and Lounge
Willowbrook Terrace
OTHER SPONSORS
Barhyte Specialty Foods
Umatilla Electric Cooperative
CMG Financial
Duchek Construction
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
Hermiston Public Library
Hodgen Distributing
Pendleton KOA
Starvation Ridge Farming, LLC
Sun Terrace Hermiston
Want to see you name here? Call 541-276-2211