The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday January 4, 197& THREE
vr
wilh Justine Wruthrrford
Happy 1979. Although we have already reached the
fourth day I am still a few days behind time so this is
mainly a New Year's column.
The first day of a new year is the occasion for almost
universal celebration. All through the Oriental world it is a
big day for parties and for gift giving as the huge
non-Christian populations do not recognize Christmas.
Although the date of the changing of the year has varied,
it has been since very early times marked by special
ceremonies. It is interesting to note that in ancient Egypt the
new year began about the middle of June which was the time
when the Nile River usually overflowed its banks.
Only since 1500, when the Gregorian calendar was
adopted, has January 1 been generally recognized as New
Year's Day.
In the modern U.S., this day has become a day at home.
Families loaf in front of the TV watching the Pasadena
parade or other community observances and a series of
super, season-end college football games and various
year-end reviews.
In many homes the Christmas decorations are taken
down and tucked into boxes and storage places. Some
persons need the day to recover from New Year's Eve
partying. Some education-oriented persons return to a
college campus that day to become set for winter semester
which is soon beginning. Some persons get set to return to
public school schedules.
I was glad no to be traveling this last frigid weekend.
How great it was to stay right here and to be a guest at two
lovely dinners. After church on Dec. 31, Ida Farra had
invited five other widows to share her delicious cooking and
cozy home. The piece-de-resistance was a menu item
completely new to all of her guests a substantial bowl of
blue-lavender mashed potatoes. Delia McCurdy asked Ida if
she used huckleberries to achieve the coloring.
We were assured the color was natural. Ida produced a
blue-fleshed, home-grown raw potato which she cut in two for
us skeptics. Let me assure you readers who may not yet have
eaten blue potatoes that they taste as good as, or maybe a bit
better than, my old favorite, the white, Irish variety. Ruth
Nutting, Ilia Albert and Delsie Reid also agreed especially
when the blue potatoes are presented with Ida's tasty meat
and gravy and many other good dishes.
On Monday afternoon Grandma Great, Irene Swanson,
included me along with the families of two of her four
children at a lucious dinner in her attractive duplex. Irene so
kindly understands how I enjoy three-generation socializing
and miss my own children and grandchildren on a holiday.
My small contribution to the Swanson and Turner
conversation was about my belated introduction to blue
potatoes. I thought maybe farmers Ken Turner and Jim
Swanson might really get going on the production of the
blue-blooded item. It could be such a novelty in our
potato-growing county. I can see it as a possible feature at
the Blue Bucket restaurant. It might start a big fashion. Just
now I can't think of other blue food items can you?
Before Irene's dinner, pup Tip and I walked around the
east side of our cool, quiet town. We observed Betty and
Larry Mills taking down the hundreds of colored lights and
the Christmas figures from their yard. We strolled through
the new Don Cole house being built between Emile Groshen's
and the Mill's. It looks like a splendid arrangement. I was
fascinated with its central, spacious, round conversation
well. The home surely has a lovely location and the Coles'
planning takes advantage of the interesting view.
As we came down from the east hill I noted a lot of smoke
coming from the tall stack of the Junior High building,
indicating that the faithful custodian was checking out and
heating up the old building anticipating its use on Tuesday. I
often eyeball that high smoke stack because I watched as my
husband Bill put it into position early this decade.
With additional holiday time for reading, perhaps you
perused the January issue of "Oregon" magazine and found
on page 26 an article by John Snell on "Paddle-mania" telling
of the world series ping pong contest in Heppner. Here are
excerpts which grabbed my attention:
"Heppner, a two-tavern town of 2000 located about 50
miles south of the Columbia River in north central Oregon, is
not exactly an athletic mecca. After all, the last major sports
figure from Heppner was Rodney Cole, the man who
outdistanced the field in the County Spitting Championship
this summer.
"Actually, Heppner owes its moment of stardom to a
case of international racism. The professional title match
was originally scheduled to take place in South Africa. These
plans were scratched when world-wide dissatisfaction with
South Africa's racial policies and the fear of terrorism
convinced the organizers to change locale.
"We certainly have no unrest here,' Jackie Jensen,
Manager of the Heppner Elks Lodge told his pal Windsor
Olson, who hales from Seattle and is president of the
Cont. on page 12
Linda Kay Sieler weds Joseph Kenny
in St. Patrick's Church ceremony
Linda Kay Sieler and Joseph
Patrick Kenny were married
Nov. 23, at St. Patrick's
Catholic Church in Heppner,
with Rev. John O'Brien offic
iating. The bride's parents are
Harry Sieler of Sandy and
Mrs. Lorene Johnson of Port
land. The groom is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. William Kenny
of Heppner.
The bride, given in
marriage by her father, wore
a lace trimmed sheer organza
gown with a semi-cathedral
length train. Her finger-tip
veil, designed and made by
her mother, featured a head
piece of pearl beading and
irridescents.
Sandra Milton from
Gresham was her maid of
honor, and Sandi Sieler was
bridesmaid for her sister. The
attendants' floor length
dresses were pink crepe with
blue and burgandy flowers.
Jim Kenny, Heppner, was
best man and Kelwayne
Haguewood, also from Hep
pner was the usher William
Kenny, father of the groom
sang "Mother, At Your Feet
We're Kneeling" accompan
ied by Bill Kenny who also
played the wedding march on
the organ.
For the reception in the
Parish Hall, Lanita Locey,
aunt of the bride cut the
wedding cake. Mary Fleck
poured punch, and Jan Shear
man served coffee.
, ... -K
;,' 70)
U
V
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Carol Johnson marries
Kelly Grossmiiier in Reno
Carol Johnson, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Johnson
of Portland and Kelly Gross
miller, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Betty Clayton of Milwaukie
and Donald Grossmiiier of
Eugene, were married Dec
ember 26 in Reno, Nevada.
Kelly was a former resident
of Echo and Pendleton and
graduated from Pendleton
High School. Carol is a sister
to Mrs. Dale Withers, a
resident of Pendleton. Kelly at
the present time owns his own
gravel dump truck and is
working with his father in
Grossmiiier Excavation Co.
Carol is employed as a dental
assistant in Elmira.
Kelly and Carol make their
home in Junction City.
Heppner AAUW meets Saturday
Mr. and Mrs Joseph Kenny
The bride attended Mt. Hood
Community College at
Gresham for one year, and
Eastern Oregon State College
at LaGrande for two years.
She has been working part
time for three years at
Vanport Manufacturing Co. in
Boring.
The groom went to E.O.S.C.
for three years, and is
presently employed by Kinzua
Corporation, Heppner.
After a honeymoon trip to
Reno, Nevada the couple will
live near Heppner.
The Heppner Branch of the
American Association of Uni
versity Women will hold its
Hospital
Notes
Patients in Pioneer Memor
ial Hospital this past week are
Iva Booker, Don Gilliam and
Vernon Gilman, all of Hep
pner. Admitted and later dis
charged the past week were
Linda Jones, Lexington, and
James Campbell, Condon.
January meeting at West of
Willow beginning at 11 a.m.,
Saturday, January 6.
An American Library
Association Film "The Speak
er," which has attracted
considerable controversy will
be shown before the no-host
luncheon.
Anyone who would like to
view the film is cordially
invited to join the Branch
members.
A
The United
Methodist Church
welcomes everyone to join us
in worship of God each
Sunday morning.
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
(Nursery Available)
Batik, music on program
for Christian Women
"Bookworm Bargains" is
the theme for a Jan. 8 meeting
of the Heppner Christian
Women's Club, to be held at
6:45 p.m. in the West of Willow
Restaurant.
Special feature of the Mon
day night meeting will be a
demonstration on picture book
batik by Jamalee Curnutt.
Music will be provided by
Virginia Whitaker. Guest
speaker will be Marie Hughes
of Pendleton.
The Jan. 8 meeting will also
include a salad bar.
Reservations may be made
by contacting Charlotte Botts
at 676-5089. Baby sitting
service is available by calling
Joyce Hughes at 676-8412 or
Mary Nikander at 676-5571.
Next week is last chance for
BMCC division registration
Next week will be the last
posible time to enroll in winter
term evening division classes
sponsored by Blue Mountain
Community College.
If space is available, enroll
ment may be completed by
attending the desired local
class and completing the
necessary forms. Evening
division classes for the new
term started this week.
Son born to Joneses
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth
LeRoy Jones, Lexington, are
the parents of a son, Kenneth
Christopher, 5 lbs., 122 oz.,
born Dec. 31. He joins a
brother, Michael, at home.
Grandparents are Mr. and
Mrs. Charles C. Jones, Lex
ington and Mr. and Mrs.
Charles H. Starks, Heppner.
Great-grandmother is Mrs.
Florence McMillan, Lexington.
Further information on en
rollment procedures may be
obtained by contacting Nancy
Brownfield, BMCC's field co
ordinator, at 676-5039.
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