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.
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