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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2019)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, October 2, 2019 A3 Contributed photo Workers from Hicks Brothers Wood Floors pull up damaged areas of the Grant Union Junior-Senior High School gym. Repairs were expected to be completed by Sept. 27, and ready for the Grant Union Dig Pink Rally volleyball matches Oct. 5 after a week of curing time. Contributed photo Five-year-old Graham of Grant County, left, and his family received a painting through Portrait Connection at an art show Sept. 6 at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. Elaine Eisenbraun, Portrait Connection executive director, holds the painting created by her daughter Kristen Eisenbraun of South Carolina. Portrait Connection touches two local children and their families ing member of the nonprofit with her mom, Elaine. Mt. Vernon artist Patricia Ross painted a girl named Jas- mine of Baker County. The nonprofit Portrait Connection, founded by There were about 70 people attending to support the Elaine Eisenbraun of Long Creek, has warmed many families. hearts with a unique mission, and now “Each family had a different reac- tion to seeing the unveiling,” Elaine said. two Grant County families have also “Some people cried, some gasped in joy- been touched. Artists are paired through the non- ous surprise.” profit with children between the ages of One highlight included a young girl 1 and 18 who are enduring serious health who raised her hands overhead and challenges. The portraits are shared with screamed with delight. the youths’ families during an art show, “She was like a teen at a Beatles con- cert,” Elaine said. “As she was wheeled unveiling paintings the families can take away in her wheelchair she called out, home after a few weeks on display. Eleven Eastern Oregon families, ‘I’m the winner, I’m the winner!’ with a along with friends and artists, attended giant smile on her face. Truly, her portrait an art unveiling Sept. 6 at Houk Hall helped her to feel special. Her family, too, at Eastern Oregon University in La was in awe at their gift.” Contributed photo Grande. Since Elaine started the nonprofit in The meeting included a young girl Cammie and Ethan Haney of 2017, a total of 60 portraits have been and boy from Grant County who were John Day and their daughter completed by several different artists who Julia enjoy the portrait that local work from photographs of the children. given portraits. Five-year-old Julia received a portrait artist Kim Randleas painted for It was some of the “finest art” they’ve them through the nonprofit presented to date, Elaine said. painted by Kim Randleas of John Day. Julia attended the meeting with her par- Portrait Connection. An art “All the families were thrilled with show was held Sept. 6 at Eastern their portraits,” she said. “The families ents Ethan and Cammie Haney. Cammie said she was “completely Oregon University in La Grande have both been through harrowing jour- where portraits were unveiled neys and both (Grant County) children speechless” during the unveiling. “The whole room was reduced to tears,” for 11 Eastern Oregon families. have faced imminently life-threatening she said. situations.” Randleas painted an endearing expression She added, “I think the portraits will offer of Julia, capturing a mischievous smile. a calm, warm and healing environment in both homes.” The 5-year-old blew her portrait a kiss. So far, Portrait Connection has held art shows in Bend, It was the “No. 1 best reaction to a painting ... ever,” Arizona, New York and South Carolina. Randleas said. Elaine said their next unveiling will be in October in Five-year-old Graham, also a Grant County resident, Minneapolis, Minnesota. had his portrait painted by Kristen Eisenbraun of South For more information on the nonprofit, visit portraitcon- Carolina, who is a former Long Creek resident and a found- nection.org. By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Ta ke Ai Grant Union gym floor replacement underway By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Flooring replace- ment work at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School gym in John Day is just about complete. The entire floor was dam- aged when a rain storm came through last summer while seismic upgrade work was underway on the gym and other areas of the building. A declaration of an emer- gency for the Grant Union gym floor was on the Sept. 18 Grant School District 3 school board meeting agenda. Grant Union Principal Ryan Gerry said the decla- ration was made to expedite the bidding process. Workers from Hicks Brothers Wood Floors of Meridian, Idaho, replaced the damaged areas and, last week, were painting the lines and adding a new finish. “We anticipate the repairs to be done by Friday, Sept. 27,” Superintendent Bret Uptmor said last week. “The finish will need to cure for a week.” He said they’ll be “work- ing with insurance to deter- mine the next step.” Gerry said they look for- ward to having their gym back in use. “We are excited that our floor will be ready for play for the remainder of the vol- leyball season,” he said. The first official contest in the gym will be the Grant Union volleyball Dig Pink Rally on Saturday, Oct. 5, to raise breast cancer aware- ness and benefit Blue Moun- tain Hospital District’s mam- mogram program. The Grant Union Pros- pectors host the Enterprise Outlaws and Pilot Rock Rockets for the matches starting at 2 p.m. that day, including junior varsity and varsity games. Contributed photo Hicks Brothers Wood Floors of Meridian, Idaho, work on replacing the Grant Union gym floor. Photo provided by Grant School District 3 Superintendent Bret Uptmor. � Fresh Produce m � Complete Meat Department � Cold Beverages � Snack Foods � Fried Chicken � FREE Popcorn HUFFMAN’S SELECT M A R K E T S Downtown Prairie City 541-820-3588 Two Great Locations Near Your Hunting Units Bates State Park Make sure your animals are prepared this hunting season. New in stock! Bear Mtn. Bricks & Pellets C HECK OUT OUR GREAT SELECTION OF QUALITY FEEDS INCLUDING 31 RV or tent sites with electric, flushing toilets, shower, water & hiking P AYBACK , E QUIS H ORSE F EED & P RO P AC D OG F OOD . MT. VERNON, OREGON 2 miles East of Mt. Vernon • 541-932-4453 G IBCO A G & I NDUSTRIAL 312 N Canyon City Blvd., Canyon City • 541-575-2050 Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, closed Sun.
