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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2017)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 5, 2017 A View from the Hill By Doris Brosnan Three times recently the timing of some events and circumstances have resulted in good fortune for the Willow Creek Ter- race, which the Community views as positive portents for life on the Hill. On March 27, the po- sition of head cook was filled after several months of searching. Melissa Wol- ford worked at the Terrace in the past but moved from the area. When she vis- ited in Heppner last month and happened to get in touch with manager George Nairns, she did not know about the open position, but she happened to mention to Nairns her then-current work as a cook in a facil- ity, and the rest is history. Melissa has moved back to Heppner, she says she has a passion for cooking, and her interest in being a team player with the Staff and Residents has been imme- diately apparent. The timing of a dona- tion in memory of Bob Jepsen and the building active gardeners will be contributing fresh produce to the Terrace menus. And today, the reading and sharing of the Gazette- Times returns to the Ter- race, after several months of its being missed. A “homegrown girl” recently returned to Heppner, after having lived elsewhere for over fifty years, and Sandra (Jones) Blake has spent some time with the odds and ends of moving and set- tling into a new home. Now, however, Sandra is eager to become more involved with her new neighbors. Through the years, Sandra has fulfilled a desire to work as a volunteer for many organizations and seems to have a calling to minister in a variety of ways to individuals. She learned that the Terrace has had no shared reading of the Gazette and was eager to offer her services. Her warmth and her sense of humor will be welcome at the Terrace. She has noted that anyone who would like to share this service with WCT resident Barbra Struthers and administrator George Nairns are both looking forward to working garden produce. -Contributed photo expertise of Dave Fowler’s TSA members at Heppner High School have resulted in what will soon be a raised garden bed accessible to all Residents, with or without walkers or canes. When the weather broke from the long winter chill, the students were able to begin construction a week ago and only have the fencing wire and a gate to add to the construction. Then, by coincidence, Erin Heide- man called last week to ask if her horticulture students in Ione could work on a project at the Terrace and was pleased to learn of the need for top soil, fertilizer and plantings. The addi- tional coincidence was the inquiry by the Bedortha family about a donation they could make in memory of their mother, Betty. They will be adding pavers to the center of the U-shaped construction and creating some movable, overhead planters for the cultivation of strawberries. Soon, the her on an occasional basis is encouraged to contact George Nairns at 676-0004. Other news from the Hill includes the moving in of a new Resident on March 27: Ray Harper is new to the area, having moved from the other side of the mountains. Ray is now closer to his son, Terry, and family. The Community is happy to welcome Ray, eager to explain some of the opportunities the Terrace offers, and they are eager to do the same again if and when another new neighbor moves into the one avail- able apartment. The Staff at WCT is pleased with the newly- rearranged “med room” and administrative office spac- es. Separating the two has resulted in more space for both and created the ability for the manager to handle administrative business and hold confidential meetings without interruptions. The Staff recently wit- nessed a demonstration NOW HIRING DRIVERS of a new, technologically improved “Nurse Call Sys- tem” and now have the improved communication system at the top of their wish list. The new system for alerting caregivers to a Resident’s need of any sort would offer features that improve communication between caregivers, make responses more time ef- ficient, and offer better im- mediate coverage through the use of individual pen- dants worn on the wrists or on necklaces. With a price tag of about $40,000 the system may not become a reality for some time. But reality at the Ter- race has seen eight Resi- dents attending the St. Pat- rick’s drama produced by Fr. Gerry Condon—which they said they enjoyed very much—and five Resi- dents braving the inclement weather to attend the Great Green Parade on St. Pat’s Day. Reality has seen the outside spiffing-up that Jerry Baker does and the plantings of seeds in starter pots for later transfer to the beds and planters. And very real on April 1 were the sight and sounds of the March Madness semi-final basketball game between the University of Oregon and North Carolina. Many Residents watched the game in their rooms and didn’t bother to turn off their TV sets when they went to dinner, where they watched the sun-room TV while they ate, before re- turning for the nail-biting finish and Oregon’s loss by one point. The situation was definitely one of facility- wide stereo sound. (How fortunate for new neighbor Harper, who was able to answer one of Gladys Van Winkle’s first questions with, “Yes, I am a Ducks fan!”) April will continue to bring along some fun days and some interesting con- versations around the morn- ing discussion groups. No rainbow sighted on Find-a- Rainbow Day (April 3), but the same dry weather made 4-H club sews up library project Sew Fantastic 4-H Club members sewed and filled 45 colorful beanbags for the Oregon Trail Library District to use for preschool story time as a community service project. Pictured from L-R: Katie Spivey, Sage Jensen, Harley Anderson, Aubri Rodriguez, Lynn Williams, Grace Ogden and Hannah Palmer. Girls not pictured who also sewed beanbags: Grace Smith, Kylie Boor and Madison Orem. -Contributed photo Walking Day (today) entic- ing to several Residents. International Beaver Day (April 7) may create some discussion of incidents with our State Animal and may- be of OSU. Garden Week and Library Week occur the ninth through the 15 th , and hopes are high for a usable and pets are sure to bring out some fond memories at discussion on Pet Day (11 th ). The Easter-egg hunt (16 th ) will follow a special Easter breakfast and reward finders with a variety of treats in the plastic eggs. Dinner will feature an Eas- ter ham, of course. The Doris Brosnan inspects Willow Creek Terrace’s new raised garden bed. Brosnan, a retired board member, has worked to bring this project to WCT. -Contributed photo garden and for small plants ready for setting out. It will also be a reminder that the Terrace Community appre- ciates so greatly the shar- ing of books from the city library and the rotation of books that the library staff takes care of. Siblings’ ears might burn on Siblings Day (10 th ), 17 th will be a multi-topic day because Daffy Duck was born on that day in 1937, Haiku poetry will be featured and shared, and Patriots’ Day will surely focus on the meaning of the word “patriot.” Look-alike Day (18 th ) is an opportunity to share stories of knowing LAURITSEN RETIRES -Continued from PAGE ONE ner in crime and wife, Pat. couple was married in June lives, and helped many oth- ers,” says Allstott. “We will miss him.” In fact, the hospital wasn’t going to waste the services of a skilled EMT, and Lauritsen was also on ambulance duty during his time with the health district. He worked his way up through the ranks of EMT training, eventually becom- ing a paramedic around 1995. He was Morrow county’s only paramedic for several years, he says, until Tina Davidson also achieved paramedic status. He also served as emer- gency medical services co- ordinator for several years, until Rusty Estes took over that role, “whenever that was,” Lauritsen says. After several years go- ing solo, Lauritsen met part- She was living and working of 2009. Both enjoy hiking, in the Tri-Cities, but they and have spent many vaca- tions traveling and taking photos—many of which now grace the halls of Pio- neer Memorial Clinic and Pioneer Memorial Hospital. “We like to hike,” says Pat Lauritsen, which may be an understatement for a couple that has tackled the likes of Peru’s Machu Pichu. “We just take pictures when we travel. We’ll try to keep it local,” Carl Lau- ritsen says of their future Aside from his official roles, plans, “but we’ll see.” health district staff will also In fact, the Lauritsens miss Carl Lauritsen’s quirky say they’re leaving soon to sense of humor, on display in take a loop through Utah, this photo from his retirement party last Thursday. -Photo by Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, including a stop in Carmelo Di Salvo Waco, TX to do some “ce- met through the online dat- lebrity chasing” as they try ing service eHarmony. The to spot Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. LADIES NIGHT WHEN: Thursday, April at 6:00 pm SERVING: 6, 2016 BBQ Pork Ribs, macaroni salad, broccoli coleslaw, garlic bread and fruit cobbler. - THREE or hearing about “persons who look just like you!” More planting should be successful if completed on Earth Day (22 nd ), which is also a day that celebrates the Jelly Bean. During the week of the 23 rd -29 th the Terrace Com- munity will be especially mindful of the many peo- ple who share their time, talents and/or treasures with them—such a gift, such a necessity in their life. Reminiscences of First Kisses should cause some blushes and some smiles on the 26 th . And the month will end with discussions about Bugs Bunny, born in 1938, and Willie Nelson, born in 1933. Of course, some foods have their featured days this month—cordon bleu, peach cobbler, cherry cheesecake, pigs-in-a-blanket, blueberry pie—so the Residents know what specialty they will be having on those five days. The Residents and Staff view the many positives of this month with eagerness and hope that the better spring weather is here to stay for a while. “Then, who knows,” says Lauritsen. “Visiting friends, picking up a dog or two….” As for dogs, the Lau- ritsens say their retirement plans also include building a dog agility course on a couple of lots they bought behind their home, a project Pat thought up, “for fun and for exercise.” Lauritsen says he’s re- tiring now because, “I’m ready. It’s renewal time for paramedics,” he quips, though he admits that he has some back pain that might have helped his decision. With more than three decades of history at the hospital on the hill, he says the thing he will miss is, “The people. Harassing ‘em. Trying to make ‘em laugh. Seeing if I can get ‘em to not take life so seri- ous.” Don’t Be Surprised! Before picking up a shovel, pick up the telephone ... Electric, water sewer, natural gas, telephone and cable television lines often are buried underground .. One wrong move can cause you and your neighbors to be cut off from vital services - or cause death or injury to you, from an elec- tric shock or an explosion. At least two business days before you plan to dig, call your states one-call center, or your local utilities. Affected utility companies will come out and use color-coded paint to mark the loca- tion of underground utilities .. Calling ahead not only is common sense. In some states, it is the law? COLUMBIA BASIN ELECTRIC CO-OP