FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 27, 2002
O f f The W att...
B y M c r ty n R o b in s o n
Among other reasons, some senior citizens may chose to live in
assisted living facilities because they, too, are electronically challenged.
It used to be that with a screwdriver, a pair o f pliers and a hairpin, 1
could fix anything from a rusty gate hinge to a broken bridle rein.
Modem gadgets function at the push of a button. They light up
and produce gurgling noises and loud beeps that signal the end of
cycles. Nowhere in an instruction booklet does it say that a computer
can belch smoke and die without a whimper soon after the warranty
has expired. The problem, it appears, is that this operator is not PC.
compatible.
That same day the television decided to take a brief nap without
so much as a tiny bleep. When 1 opted to run errands a gremlin had
left a rearview mirror light turned on that caused the car battery to
also play dead. Unwilling to tempt fate, 1 ignored the vacuum cleaner
only to have the broom handle come off
At snack time (which is all the time) 1 cautiously peered in the
refrigerator in search o f salad material. While munching on those win
ter veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower, the cost seems rather
high. It could be that these California crops are grown on sacred
ground that may soon sprout condominiums or become wildlife hab
itat. (Gotta have somewhere for those urban coyotes and cougars to
roam.)
1 didn't meet any rich vegetable growers on my visit to that pro
ductive area last fall. But 1 do prefer foods grown in the U.S. to those
imported ones such as pesticide peppers or Mexican jumping beans
Recently I read where increased acreages of U.S. vineyards have
created a glut of wine grapes. Growers left acres of grapes un-har-
vested, while grocery store prices on eating grapes remain high. A
boost in wine consumption may come from the latest research that
recommends increased consumption of alcoholic beverages for the
blood-thinning and cholesterol-lowering properties of ethanol in alco
hol to ward off Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. And I thought
the best use o f ethanol was as a gasoline substitute. There are choic
es when it comes to tanking up.
The paradox is that excessive alcohol consumption can be toxic
to the brain contributing to dementia, it says. So whether you’re driv
en to drink or not, eventually that gray matter is going to dissolve into
mush anyway.
Now if you’ve visited California, the land of fruit and nuts, you
know that plums (the politically correct name for prunes) is a major
crop. However the USDA is paying plum growers to destroy some
20,000 acres of trees because of a glut on the market. Also the USDA
mad scientists are trying to invent new ways to utilize plums and test
ing these products on unsuspecting school children.
Prune burgers, a mixture of ground beef (imported no doubt) and
four percent prune puree, ought to be tested on slow-moving seniors.
However the article says that there’s too little of the fruit in these
burgers to have the laxative effect for which prunes are known. More
over they claim that the fifth and sixth graders gave thumbs up to
those prune burgers, along with sweet potato pancakes and a raisin
and tomato barbecue dip for chicken nuggets. Since chickens don't
have nuggets, I wonder what other substitutes they gave these poor
kids who balked at eating the broccoli or asparagus guacamole con
coctions.
Since the USDA is looking for ways to get rid of these surplus
crops, why don't they feed these experimental delicacies to Taliban
detainees, since taxpayers are footing the cost of that food. The three
meals a day provided to these rebels is far more nutritious than mea
ger handouts of moldy bread or wormy rice given to American prison
ers during WW II. Food for thought expands minds not waistlines.
Holly Rebekah Lodge elects officers Willow Valley Service Club to meet
Lexington Holly Rebekah Lodge elected new officers for 2002-
2003 on Feb. 21. Elected were Dorothy Jackson as Noble Grand,
Marilyn Allison as vice Grand, Luella Taylor as secretary and Marlene
Gray as treasurer.
Also selected by the men’s branch of the IOOF were Wilber
Jackson as Noble Grand, Clarence Buchanan as vice Grand, Lyle
Peck as secretary and Cecil Jones as treasurer.
A bake-less fund raiser is planned in the near future to benefit
Dave Matheny. Donations will also be accepted from the public.
In keeping with tradition - February being the men’s month to
provide refreshments - cake, cookies and ice cream were served to
those present.
The monthly card party at the IOOF Hall will be held Saturday,
March 2, at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $3. This month’s proceeds will be donated
to the IOOF Friendship Fund, which is used to provide emergency
assistance such as rent, medications, etc., for members of the order.
The card party is open to the public and everyone is invited for an
evening of fun and refreshments.
Karen's Korner
Items o f Health
-
By K a re n M a ssh o ff
Tobacco Prevention
It has been a very interesting month that has taken me on the
road. Much o f this activity has been to visit industries and businesses
throughout the county regarding the new smoke-free workplace law,
and to deliver information and resources.
1 am heartened by the positive responses to complying with the
law and the graciousness of the folks I have met during my visits.
There were those individuals who were choosing this opportunity to
quit smoking and those who wanted specific information on cessation
from chew tobacco.
Another part of my travels included taking advantage of trainings
offered by the state that included updates on the physical effects of
environmental tobacco smoke and “The Science of Nicotine Addic
tion.” This topic was by Davis Gonzales who is a researcher at Ore
gon Health Sciences University. Another speaker was James Repace
who has a very interesting website: www.repace.com regarding in
formation on secondhand smoke.
We have heard for many years about smoking and lung cancer;
increasingly however, medical science is learning more of the specif
ics of how active smoking and secondhand smoke affect the heart. To
begin with, smoking decreases “good” cholesterol (HDL); raises “bad”
cholesterol (LDL); constricts arteries; and raises blood carbon mon
oxide levels, which increases the risk of injury to the arterial wall
lining. These are considerations for all of us to note because, as you
know, they just do not happen all at once. It is a process that can begin
when we are children. Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of
heart disease by about 30 percent.
I will continue to add information from these trainings in future
columns, plus continue to research and comment on the tobacco in
dustry’s promotion for “safer cigarettes.” In the meantime, if you have
comments, concerns, questions, contact me at these numbers: 676-
5421,48l-2112or 922-4103.
Boardman Chamber Holds General
Membership Meeting
The Boardman Chamber of
Commerce will hold its monthly
general luncheon meeting on
Wednesday, March 20, at the Port
of Morrow's Riverfront Center,
R iverfront Room at 12 p.m.
Everybody is invited to attend the
You’ll Have To Get
Used To A Few Things
When you open
an account with
us you’re going to
have to get used to
a few things...
m eeting, members and non
members.
G uest speakers include
Gilbert Ontiveros, Days Creek
Postmaster. Ontiveros has held
several positions in the postal
service, including a long-time bulk
mail clerk. He will be explaining
the “ins” and “outs” of the bulk
mailing process, including the
proper way for area businesses
to fill out their permits.
Lunch will tie catered by the
R iverfront Hotel and Lodge
Restaurant. The cost is $7, to be
paid at the door. Call the
Chamber by Monday, March 18,
if you plan to attend, 541-481-
3014. R eservations are very
important to insure the proper
count for lunch.
Hospice in Heppner, available library services, and a business
meeting highlight the Willow Valley Service Club’s meetings in March,
held from 12-1 p.m., at John’s Other Place, Main Street, Heppner.
On Thursday, March 7, the club-at-large will conduct business.
Thursday, March 14, Molly Rhea, Pioneer Memorial Home Health
Agency director discusses an upcoming new health care option,
“Hospice in Heppner." A native of Heppner, Rhea was a staff R.N. at
Pioneer Memorial Hospital until 1986 when she moved into her current
position.
Barb Orwick, branch manager, Oregon Trail Library, Heppner,
will speak on current up-dates and library services on Thursday, March
21. Orwick came to Heppner in 1979; left; then returned in 1989. She
has been in her current position at the library since June 2001, and
was full-time and part-time March-June, 2001. Prior to that, she was
a teacher at Heppner Elementary School, full-time the last three years
and part-time as a Title 1 teacher for nine years, prior.
As a service, WVSC continues to collect personal care items to
be donated to the Domestic Violence Center in Hermiston.
Anyone interested in joining WVSC may attend any no-host
luncheon as listed above.
Chamber Chatter SchooI Calendar
By Claudia Hughes
Chamber Executive Director
Welcome to new Chamber
m em ber Brenda Sherrell, o f
Sherrell Insurance Agency. Stop
in to say “h ello ” between
Klamath First and The Shoe Box.
Also joining Chamber is Kay
Fowler of Hair Expressions. Not
only can you find Kay doing hair,
you will see her all over town as
she puts in hours as the new St.
P a t’s A uction co-chair. The
auction keeps the celebration
going so that many organizations
benefit financially each year.
Auction proceeds go toward the
Saturday night Lads and Lassies
Teen Dance, partial funding of
The Trail Band, all other
entertainm ent,
buttons,
advertising, parade, stationery,
brochures, and the list goes on.
New and renewing Chamber
o f Com m erce m em bers are
reminded to get their 2002 dues
in for inclusion on the Chamber
w ebsite and in the business
directory. Chamber looks forward
to partnering with you to promote
business in Heppner.
If you were out and about on
Main Street last week, you saw
an energetic quartet composed of
Bob Jepsen, Ralph Walker, Ed
Struthers and John Edmundson
taking down the sham rock
banners and putting up
courthouse centennial banners.
Soon to be added will be the
traditional Irish family flags,
which the Hollomon family now
hangs. As the hundreds of
volunteers are well aware, the
wearing o’ the green is just a few
weeks away and preparations are
under way. “Tis a great group ye
be!”
Next week will be the
monthly business meeting at
Chamber where all entities report,
com m unity concerns are
addressed and open discussion
takes place. Rem em ber, the
Chamber currently meets at noon
at John’s Other Place.
Thought for the week: “If a
man alone in the woods speaks,
and no woman is there to hear, is
he still wrong?”
We Print Envelopes
Heppner Gazette-Times
Like being called by your
name, instead of your
account number.
Then youTl have to get
used to not having to wait
forever to get a simple yes or
no on a loan. We make our
decisions locally.
It’s a lot to ask,
but you’ll get used to it.
Heppner
Elementary
School
Friday, March 1-no school;
M onday, March 4-site
council, 6:30 p.m., parent club,
7:30 p.m.;
W ednesday, March 6-
advisory committee at Heppner
High School, 7 p.m., end o f
magazine sale;
e
Friday, March 8-no school;
Monday, March 11-school
district board meeting at lone
High School, 7:30 p.m.;
Friday, March 15-no school;
Tuesday, March 19-student
body assembly, 2 p.m.;
Thursday, March 21-end of
third nine weeks;
Friday, March 22-no school;
M onday through Friday,
March 25-29-spring vacation.
Heppner High
School
Friday and Saturday, March
1-2-state basketball tournament;
Monday, March 4-senior
parent meeting in the library, 6
p.m.;
Tuesday, March 5-junior high
and high school basketball awards,
7 p.m.;
W ednesday, M arch 6-
advisory meeting in the library, 7
p.m.;
Monday, March 11-school
district board meeting at lone
High School, 7:30 p.m.;
Wednesday, March 13-site
council meeting in the library, 6
p.m.;
Thursday, March 14-JV
»
baseball at Pilot Rock, 4 p.m.;
Friday, M arch 15-track,
Umatilla Icebreaker at 2 p.m.,
varsity baseball, M ac-Hi at
Milton-Freewater, 3:30 p.m.;
Saturday, March 16-softball,
Mac-Hi at Heppner, 1 p.m. (two
games);
M onday, M arch 18-JV
baseball, M ac-Hi at M ilton-
Freewater, 3:30 p.m.;
Tuesday, March 19-softball at
LaGrande, 2 p.m. (two games),
varsity baseball. Riverside at
Heppner, 3:30 p.m.;
Thursday, March 21-end of
third nine weeks;
Friday, March 22-softball,
Mac-Hi at Milton-Freewater, 3
p.m. (two games), track, Cherry
Festival Invitational at The Dalles,
4 p.m.;
Saturday, March 23-varsity
baseball, Alsea at Dufur, 11 a.m.
(two games);
M onday through Friday,
March 25-29-spring break;
Saturday, March 30-varsity
baseball at Colfax, WA., 11 a.m.
(two games).
Tt» TK&ttei
1
C U S TO M H E A D S E R V IC E
Complete Auto Repair
Hometown Com m unity Service
Bank of
Eastern Oregon
H O M E T O W N C O M M U N I T Y SPIRIT
HOMETOWN COMMUNITY PRIDE
Ifo« "Dnu*...
Member
FDIC
Computer Diagnostics
Parts & Engines
plus Installation
m t
S T A fjß
BATTERIE*
ERIESÈ
Kk con Udee caic ail
cfoui <xutò*iotuAC teeeU
1140 N Main. Hwy 395
Stanfield • 449-1276