COMMUNITY/RECORDS
Saturday, December 11, 2021
East Oregonian
A7
East Oregonian, File
Frankie Lezama/Contributed Photo
Volunteer Ginger Haley sorts through presents for girls for Christmas Express on Dec. 17, 2018, at Agape House in Hermiston.
In its 53rd year, the Hermiston Police Department and Umatilla County Fire Department No. 1 are accepting new, unwrapped
toys for children up to age 11 through Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021.
The Nativity scene glows during the Santa Drive on Dec. 9,
2017, in Boardman. SECO Pallets organizes the event, which
in its sixth year is Dec. 23, 2021.
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Christmas Express
is chugging along
HERMISTON — There still is
time to climb aboard the Christmas
Express — the Hermiston Police
Department and Umatilla County
Fire Department No. 1 are accept-
ing toy donations for the 53rd annual
holiday project.
People are encouraged to donate
a new toy for children up to age 11.
The deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Take unwrapped toys to the Bob
Shannon Safety Center, 320 S. First
St., Hermiston.
Boardman hosts
meet and greet
BOARDMAN — A meet-and-
greet will introduce local citizens
to the top candidates for deputy city
manager in Boardman.
The public can attend the free
reception Wednesday, Dec. 15,
5:30-7 p.m. in the Wells Spring
Room at the Port of Morrow’s
Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive,
Boardman. Light refreshments will
be served.
For more information, call
Boardman City Hall at 541-481-
9252.
Webinar offers help to
‘Sandwich Generation’
PENDLETON — A free webi-
nar on caregiving in the “Sand-
wich Generation,” a term referring
to those who are caring for both
their children and their parents, is
offered by McKay Creek Estates,
Pendleton.
Caregivers who find themselves
struggling to find a balance are
invited to participate in the virtual
event Wednesday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.
While there is no charge, people
can RSVP via www.PrestigeCan-
Help.com. The website also offers
additional resources for caregiv-
ers.
For millions of Americans with
aging parents and growing children,
the demands of caring for both the
older and younger generations can
be overwhelming. It often requires
more than just time; the demands
are physical, mental and emotional.
The webinar is hosted by Christy
Yates, author of “Building a Legacy
of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich
Generation.” She will discuss vari-
ous hurdles that are common in
caring for an aging loved one, while
offering strategies to overcome diffi-
culties.
For questions, call 541-276-1987.
SAGE Center collects
holiday food donations
MORROW COUNTY — The
SAGE Center in Boardman is part-
nering with Morrow County FFA
Chapters for a holiday canned food
drive. All donations will be distrib-
uted to food pantries throughout
Morrow County.
People are invited to donate
nonperishable food items by
dropping them off by Wednes-
day, Dec. 15 at the SAGE Center.
It is open Monday through Friday,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 101 Olson
Road, Boardman.
Each item can count as a vote for
your favorite school’s Christmas
tree. Also, everyone who donates
will be entered into the Boardman
Chamber of Commerce‘s holiday
drawing. For more information, call
541-481-7243.
It’s selfie time
with the Grinch
UMATILLA — The Grinch
is on the loose in Umatilla and is
trying to wreak havoc on the holi-
day season. Find a mugshot of the
dastardly character in each of the
12 city-owned parks for a chance to
win prizes.
To enter, take a selfie with the
mugshot and post it to the city of
Umatilla’s Facebook event page
(Grinch Parks Scavenger Hunt!)
with the hashtag #UmatillaGrinch,
or stop by Umatilla City Hall, 700
Sixth St.
A list of Umatilla’s parks can be
found at www.umatilla-city.org.
Follow the city’s Facebook page for
some helpful hints while you hunt
down the mean one, Mr. Grinch.
For questions, contact Esmeralda
Perches, development and recreation
manager, at 541-922-3226 or esmer-
alda@umatilla-city.org.
SECO elves gearing up
for annual Santa Drive
BOARDMAN — Santa Drive is
returning as SECO Pallets is hosting
the sixth annual event.
The SECO family will deliver
Santa Claus in a custom pallet sled
Thursday, Dec. 23, 5 p.m., in Board-
man. The popular holiday event
features gifts from Santa (while
supplies last), photos with Saint
Nick and more.
Area businesses interested in
decorating a vehicle for the event
are encouraged to contact SECO via
541-303-3221, secopallets@gmail.
com or by visiting www.facebook.
com/secopallets.
—EO Media Group
Holidays can be tough for those who grieve
COURTS
mid-1970s. Her husband died just two years
ago and this is an especially trying time for
her and her adult son and daughter. His birth-
day will be remembered on Dec. 14 as the
family gathers together for a special occasion
in his memory.
The holidays can be especially tough for
those who grieve. That’s why it’s important
to know that there are opportunities for us to
remember, talk about and celebrate those we
love who have predeceased us.
First Presbyterian Church of Pendleton,
201 SW Dorion Ave., will host a “Blue Christ-
mas” event on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m.
This will be a reflective service with readings,
prayers and lighting of candles to remem-
ber those whose lives we miss. My co-pas-
tor at First Christian Church, Karyn Dix,
has worked with others from First Presbyte-
rian Church, Peace Lutheran Church and the
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer to make
arrangements for the service.
Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 19, Pendleton
First Christian Church, 215 N Main St., will
host a weekly grief support group that will be
The following criminal sentences
have been imposed in Umatilla County
Circuit Court:
Michael Christopher Reyes, 33, an
inmate at Eastern Oregon Correctional
Institution, was convicted of charges
from 2017 for assaulting a public safety
officer, a Class C felony, and fourth-de-
gree assault, a Class A misdemeanor;
sentenced to 42 months in Oregon Dept
of Corrections and a $200 fine.
Jessica Mercedes Larson, 30, of Herm-
iston, pleaded guilty to a felony charge
from 2017 of possession of oxycodone;
sentenced to 18 months probation, 80
hours of community service and $200 in
fines.
Antonio Jose Miguel, 30, of Herm-
iston, was convicted of misdemeanor
charges from 2020 of driving under the
influence of intoxicants and reckless
driving; sentenced to a one-year driver’s
license suspension.
There were no criminal sentences
during the last week in Morrow County
Circuit Court.
MARC
MULLINS
MARC’S REMARKS
This time of year is challenging for people
who have experienced the death of loved ones.
My wife and I are among those who under-
stand grief — especially around the holidays.
My mother, who died in 2015, would have
turned 96 years of age on Dec. 12 if she were
still alive today. Thoughts and remembrances
of her will remain with me for as long as I live.
My mother-in-law died this past Oct. 7 at the
age of 87 years. I officiated at two services
in celebration of her life shortly thereafter.
This is an especially challenging time for my
wife and her family, as we missed her moth-
er’s presence this past Thanksgiving and most
certainly will miss her at Christmastime.
Earlier today, I received a phone call from
a friend who I met in the Philippines when we
both were Rotary Exchange Students in the
open to all who wish to gather with others for
assistance in their process of grieving. This
group will meet each Sunday at 3 p.m. in the
fellowship hall on the first floor of the church
building.
There is another group in Pendleton that
offers grief support for children and families.
The objective of Cason’s Place (1416 S.E.
Court Ave.) is to provide a caring and accept-
ing environment that greatly enriches the
healing process. Cason’s Place is a safe place
for children and their families to cope with the
death of a loved one and share their grief with
others who have had a comparable loss. You
can learn more about Cason’s Place by visiting
its website at www.casonsplace.org.
I am grateful that there are opportunities
such as these in Pendleton where love, care,
hope and peace can be found at a time when
the sting of death is so prevalent for many who
grieve the absence of loved family members
and friends.
———
Marc Mullins is co-pastor of the First
Christian Church of Pendleton.
Community celebrated as Boardman tree lighted
By ERICK PETERSON
East Oregonian
BOARDMAN — The Christ-
mas lights display at the SAGE
Center at the Port of Morrow in
Boardman run until the end of the
year.
The community gathered
Dec. 4 at the center for the light-
ing of the Boardman Christmas
tree. Preschool students sang
and danced to an adoring crowd,
and the event included a visit
from Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus
cookies and hot cocoa from the
Mid-Columbia Bus Company.
Ariel Lissman, owner of The
Learning Adventure, led the 15
children, who were from her
school, in their performance. She
said it was a warm-up for a Christ-
mas presentation that will take
place later in the month for their
families, also at the SAGE Center.
Locals talked about their
enjoyment of the event, their
pleasure that they could gather as
a community, even on a cold, dark
December night.
The event had a good turn-
out, according to Kelsey
Salata, Boardman Chamber of
Commerce member and events
director. She credited the chil-
dren, refreshments and Santa
for much of the attendance, but
mentioned also the SAGE Center
light show for attracting people.
The light show runs nightly
seven days a week. Music accom-
Sentences
Lawsuits
The following lawsuits have been
filed in Umatilla County Circuit Court
(interest, court costs and fees not listed):
Larry E. Jenkins of Milton-Free-
water vs. Ramiro Andrade Anbriz of
Milton-Freewater, for $50,000 but less
than $1 million for past and future medical
costs, lost wages and expenses and past
and future pain and suffering.
Progressive Universal Insurance
Company vs.Gilbert Anthony Lucio, for
$16,823.22
There were no lawsuits of note in
Morrow County Circuit Court.
Divorces
Divorce decrees were signed in
Umatilla County Courts for:
Nicole Miracle and Patrick W. Miracle,
both of Hermiston.
Marriages
Tammy Malgesini/East Oregonian, File
The light festival at the SAGE Center in Boardman is on display nightly through the end of December
and is free.
panies the light show, and it can
be heard on 88.3 FM or on the
center’s outdoor speakers.
Torrie Griggs, SAGE Center
manager, said she also was
pleased with the event’s turn-
out. She said that community
gatherings like this create unity.
These days, they are especially
important, she said, as people
have struggled many months
through the pandemic.
Marriage licenses have been regis-
tered in Umatilla County for:
Spencer Allen Craig, 27, of Hermiston,
and Whitney Brooke Gillen, 24, ofPasco.
Lilian Maria Melendez, 23, and
Gerardo Tellez, 28, both of Boardman.
Nicole Katherine Bell, 23, and Ian
Arnold Ray Macgregor, 23, of Hermiston.
Caitlin Elizabeth Clough, 23, and
Gabriel Paul Blochlinger, 20, both of
Pasco.
Keala Hope Vanhorn, 20, of Hermis-
ton, and Justin Keith Terry, 32, of Pend-
leton.
Ellissa Lee Durning, 24, and Bradly
Jay Lewis Chatfield, 25, both of Pilot
Rock.
Jason Alexander Walsh, 19, and
Lyndsey Nadine Smith, 27, both of
Milton-Freewater.
Eric William Gabriel, 55, and Shauna
Leigh Nosler, 51, both of Pendleton.