Polk County Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 16, 2017 9A
Eclipse: prepare for your experience
With the solar eclipse on
the horizon, it’s time to get
prepared by stocking up on
glasses, food, water, gas and
patience.
“The number of people
expected in Oregon for the
Aug. 21 eclipse, especially in
the path of totality, will real-
ly stretch our resources and
infrastructures,” said Glen-
da Hyde, a family and com-
munity health educator with
Oregon State University Ex-
tension Service. “There
could be double or triple the
population in some areas.”
Predictions may fall short,
but people should be ready
for large crowds, possibly
gridlocked traffic, and runs
on grocery stores and gas
stations. To help, Extension
prepared a Solar Eclipse
Preparedness webpage and
a flyer called Solar Eclipse:
Be Responsible, Resourceful
and Resilient, which was co-
authored by Hyde.
In case stores close or run
out of essentials, start now
to stock up on food for a
week, concentrating on
canned and boxed goods,
including shelf-stable milk
alternatives. Frozen food is
an option, too, but if power
goes out temporarily keep
the freezer closed. It’s im-
McCaw — 60th
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
portant to plan for healthy
meals rather than just high-
fat, high-sugar snacks.
“Part of being resilient is
eating healthy,” she said.
“And don’t eat the same
thing over and over. You can
get through with red beans
and rice in an emergency,
but your nutrition will be
lacking.”
For tips on food and
water storage and meal
planning options, refer to
Food Storage for Emergen-
cies and Water Storage for
Emergencies online.
If you do nothing else,
don’t skimp on the special
glasses needed for viewing
the eclipse.
“It’s essential to wear
eclipse glasses whether
you’re in the path of totality
or on the fringe,” Hyde said.
“It’s not a myth that staring
into the sun can cause per-
manent eye damage.”
To avoid getting counter-
feits, look for ISO 12312-2
stamped on the glasses, she
HTTPS://FLIC.KR/P/WFXJAU
Many stores have special eclipse-viewing glasses that
block harmful light. Regular sunglasses will not protect
eyes from permanent damage. Look for the IS0 12312-2
international standard on eclipse glasses (https://eclipse
2017.nasa.gov/safety).
said, as well as one of the
following companies certi-
fied by NASA: Rainbow
Symphony, American Paper
Optics, Thousand Oaks Op-
tical, TSE 17, and Baader
Planetarium.
Fire hazard will be ex-
tremely high so don’t park
or drive on dry grass. Water
plants and lawn near the
house and clean up debris
to create a defensible space
around homes. Don’t use
open flame or start camp-
fires.
Hyde also recommends:
Withdraw cash as ATMs
may not work or be deplet-
ed.
Fill up the gas tank and
keep it filled
Have water on hand for
three days — a gallon per
person per day is a good
goal.
If traveling, even for short
distances, keep some water,
food and a first aid kit in the
car. A backpack will come in
handy if you have to walk
somewhere.
Don’t forget pets when
stocking up on food.
Keep a week’s worth of
medications on hand.
Cellphone towers may
become overwhelmed.
Make sure you can locate
family members with alter-
native methods.
“Planning and preparing
will give you alternatives for
situations that may arise,”
Hyde said. “Try not to stress
out. Take a deep breath,
relax and enjoy this special
event.”
MI TOWN
It was wonderful to see
so many people enjoying
the Polk County Fair last
week — and there was in-
deed something for every-
one to enjoy. Kids of all
ages enjoyed corn dogs and
lemonade and good times
at our favorite summertime
event. Seeing the young
people involved in 4-H and
FFA gives everyone a good
and positive feeling about
what’s good in our world.
Unfortunately, the six-o’-
clock news rarely showcas-
es stories about these teens,
and focuses more on sensa-
tional stories of all the bad
things that happen daily in
the cities and small com-
munities alike. Even in MI
Town, it’s not all sunshine
and flowers — but seeing
the accomplishments of
many of our young citizens,
I’m optimistic that our fu-
ture is in very good hands.
—
ANNIVERSARY
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
The summer concerts in
Main Street Park in Mon-
mouth just keep getting
better and better — and
what could be more fun on
a summer evening than
packing a picnic supper
and spending a great time
with friends and family, lis-
tening to a variety of excel-
lent entertainers. Tonight
we’ll enjoy a good time lis-
tening to Root Jack, featur-
ing rock music. Time is
passing quickly and these
special summertime events
will soon be over for anoth-
er year. Thanks to everyone
who has worked so hard to
make Wednesday evenings
so special for everyone in
MI Town.
—
We’re in the middle of
August now and it seems
like summer is flying by
more quickly every year.
Stores are featuring back-
to-school clothes and
shoes, and there are dis-
plays of pens and note-
books and paper every-
where you turn. Families
are enjoying these last pre-
cious days of summertime
when the regular routines
begin all too soon.
—
It’s almost time to check
the schedule for Western
Oregon University football
games — a sure sign that
fall is just around the cor-
ner. The team members are
busy with daily practices on
campus now, and everyone
is looking forward to a suc-
cessful year. As much as I
love summertime, there’s
something pretty special
about spending a Saturday
afternoon in McArthur Sta-
dium and catching the en-
thusiasm of college football
— right in our own back-
yard. It’s a good thing to
support our local university
sports program, and I
promise you’ll have a great
time while you’re there.
—
A great deal of construc-
tion, including major re-
modeling projects, is un-
derway at all of our local
schools, including several
buildings on the WOU cam-
pus. With students and
many staff members on va-
cation, summertime offers
the best opportunity for
this to get done. Custodial
and maintenance staff can
take advantage of this time
of year to get classrooms
and other buildings in good
shape for the beginning of
school in September.
ECLIPSE
2017
Early
Deadlines!
Our office will be closed
Monday, August 21
for the Total Solar Eclipse.
Deadlines:
Community Events . . .Thursday Noon
Legals . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday Noon
Display Ads . . . . . . . . .Thursday 2 pm
Letters to Editor . . . . . . .Friday 10 am
Classified Display . . . . .Friday 11 am
Classified Line Ads . . . . .Friday Noon
INSIDE
This Week’s
Itemizer- Observer
147 SE Court St., Dallas
503-623-2373
www.polkio.com
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday Noon
Itemizer-Observer
147 SE Court Street, Dallas, Oregon 97338
503-623-2373 • FAX 503-623-2395
Darrell and
Blanche (Faxon)
McCaw will cele-
brate 60 years of
marriage on Aug.
16.
The couple was
married at the
Church on the Hill
in Toledo. They
lived in various
areas of Lincoln
County and settled
in Dallas in the
early 1960s.
Darrell worked
for River Bend Sand & Gravel in Salem as a truck mechan-
ic and retired in 2001.
Blanche was a stay-at-home mom, raising their four
children, Ruth Holcomb (1958-2001), Lyle, of Eagle Point,
Laurie (Eastridge), of Monroe, and Melinda (Cutler), of
Falls City. They have nine grandchildren and four great-
grandchildren.
They enjoy many activities with their church, friends
and family. They keep active with water aerobics, bowling
and traveling around Oregon. Blanche spends many
hours hand quilting many placements and quilts. Darrel
has an extensive collection of sand from all over the world
that many friends and family members have given him.
Their children are hosting an open house on Aug. 27 at
the Dallas Church, 450 SE Washington St., from 2 to 5
p.m. Family and friends are welcome to come celebrate
this milestone with Darrell and Blanche.
WEDDING
Peters — Horn
Mack Peters, 25, of
Tualatin, formerly of
Boise, Idaho, and
Jasmine M. Horn, 31,
of Tualatin, formerly
of Dallas, were mar-
ried on June 24.
The groom’s par-
ents are Jon and Sam
Peters, of Boise.
The bride’s moth-
er is Billie Rowe, of
Salem.
Mack Peters is a
research assistant at
Oregon Health & Sci-
ence University. He
is a 2010 graduate of Borah High School, Boise. Mack
went on foreign exchange to Quito, Ecuador, in 2012. He
graduated from the University of Idaho in 2014 with a
Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Arts in
Spanish.
Jasmine Peters is a transportation dispatcher for
Salem-Keizer Public Schools. She is a 2004 graduate from
Dallas High School. Jasmine went on foreign exchange to
Kisogawa, Japan, in 2003. She graduated from the Savan-
nah College of Art and Design in 2009 with a Bachelor of
Fine Arts in film and television.
The couple met while filleting salmon for Leader Creek
Fisheries in Alaska during the summer of 2014.
The wedding and reception were held at Silver Falls
State Park. It was officiated by the groom’s brother, Josh
Peters. The bride was given away by her grandfather, Bob
Senter, of Whitebird, Idaho.
The best man was Spencer Marrow. Groomsmen were
Robert Senter and Randy Miles.
The matron of honor was Jessica Segal. Bridesmaids
were Rachel Peters and Erica Felton.
Jasmine has taken Mack’s last name, and they continue
to reside in Tualatin, Oregon. The couple will have their
honeymoon in Ecuador this December.