SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
COMMUNITY
Learning to ride
iCan Bike program
helps people with
disabilities balance
on two wheels
BY SEAN HART
HERMISTON HERALD
After several days of prac-
tice through the iCan Bike
program, a teenager with
autism rode a bicycle on her
own.
Krista Cliff, 16, Umatilla,
was one of about 25 people
with disabilities who par-
ticipated in the weeklong
training program that uses
specially designed bikes to
gradually teach the funda-
mentals of balancing and rid-
ing on two wheels.
FDWFK \RX:LWK WKH UROOHUV
they’re able to feel a little bit
of imbalance, but, as they
progress, they learn the bal-
Her mother, Sandi Cliff,
ance they need to get closer
said she has two daughters
WRULGLQJRQWZRZKHHOV´
with special needs, and both
:KHQ WKH SDUWLFLSDQWV
have learned to ride through
have learned to balance,
the program, which has been
Bataillon said they progress
offered in Hermiston for four
to regular-wheeled bicycle
years. She said both enjoyed
with a single handlebar be-
the program last year, and
hind the seat that someone
Krista wanted to come back
else can hold to help stabi-
again this year.
lize the rider if needed.
“I was looking forward to
³:H XVH WKH PRGL¿HG
SEAN HART PHOTO
coming again to help her get
equipment to start them ear-
PRUHFRQ¿GHQFHRQWKHELNH´ Krista Cliff, 16, who has autism, rides a bike at the iCan Bike
ly on in the week, and the ul-
Sandi Cliff said Thursday. program Thursday at Armand Larive Middle School with the
timate goal is to have them
“They didn’t want to take off help of Karen Timmons, from left, Abbi Feltner, Mindy Barron
riding on two wheels by the
on their own, so having the and Autumn Wiley. Feltner travels to host weeklong camps at
HQGRIWKHZHHN´KHVDLG
training and the bikes was various locations, and the others are local volunteers.
He said about 80 percent
helpful. The special bikes re-
of the participants learn to
DOO\PDNHDGLIIHUHQFH´
help people learn to balance experience.
ride a bike, and Cassie An-
Pete Bataillon, a staff better than by using train-
“The roller bikes allow derson, a Hermiston teach-
member from the nonprof- ing wheels. The bikes have for the riders to feel on er who volunteered to help
it organization iCan Shine, rollers that touch the ground WKHLU RZQ´ KH VDLG ³:LWK with program, said she has
which provides the bike on both sides of the back training wheels, you can seen many people succeed.
program throughout the wheel, he said, but they can rock from one side to the She said about 20 people
United States and Canada, be adjusted to provide less other side, and there’s al- participated in the camp last
VDLG WKH PRGL¿HG ELF\FOHV support for a more realistic ways something there to year, and many more volun-
teered to help.
“For the participants, it’s
learning how to do some-
thing new. It’s physical
¿WQHVV ,W¶V YHU\ HPSRZHU-
LQJ´VKHVDLG³7KHVHFRQG
important group that bene-
¿WV IURP WKLV LV WKHUH DUH D
lot of high school kids who
are volunteers, so they’re
learning to care. They’re
learning to meet the needs
of people that are different
than themselves. They’re
learning work skills and
EXLOGLQJUHODWLRQVKLSV´
9ROXQWHHU$XWXPQ:LOH\
15, Hermiston, said she saw
many participants learn to
ride.
³7KH ¿UVW FRXSOH GD\V
we had a lot of kids that
were scared, and then
throughout the couple days,
they were on their bikes and
ORYLQJLW´VKHVDLG³,WKLQN
it’s an awesome idea. This is
P\¿UVWWLPHYROXQWHHULQJ
DQG , ORYH LW , ZRXOG GH¿-
QLWHO\GRLWDJDLQ´
Highland street resurfacing project to begin next month
Roadwork to take
place from S.W.
11th to S.E. 8th
One of Hermiston’s major
east-west corridors is slated
for a resurfacing project to be-
gin in mid-July and conclude
by the end of the month. The
project will affect 19 blocks
on Highland Avenue, from
Southwest 11th Street on the
west side of town to South-
east Eighth Street on the east
side of town.
The project will be a
³FDSHVHDO´ZKLFKLQYROYHV
placing a chip seal, to be
followed up two weeks lat-
er by a type II slurry seal,
according to a city press
release. A cape seal is a
major preventative mainte-
nance procedure and is ide-
al for streets that call for a
smoother texture than a chip
seal because it combines the
durability of a chip seal with
the smoothness of a slurry
seal on top. Although the
¿QLVKHG SURGXFW ZLOO ZRUN
well for pedestrians and bi-
cyclists, with a slightly tex-
tured surface, there will be a
rougher surface than usual
during the time between the
two phases, according to the
press release. Pedestrians
and bicyclists should use
caution during this phase of
construction.
“This project will great-
ly improve the long-term
viability of Highland Ave-
nue at an affordable price,
because we’re proactively
maintaining it before ma-
MRUSUREOHPVVWDUWWRDULVH´
Street Department Superin-
tendent Ron Sivey said.
Although there will be
VRPHWUDI¿FLPSDFWVDVDUH-
sult of the project, the work
has been scheduled for July
to minimize the impacts to
classes and events at Herm-
iston High School, as well
as the Umatilla County
Fair.
Book club.
EO MEDIA GROUP GRAPHIC
The city of Hermiston is slated to begin a street resurfacing
project on Highland Avenue beginning next month. The graph-
ic shows which parts of Highland will be under construction.
Tonia Mulcare
Auto
Health
Home
Life
Tonia Mulcare
Family Insurance Agent
541/289-3300 • 800/225-2521
The Stratton Agency
Hermiston/Pendleton • stratton-insurance.com
Spaghetti Feed & Raffle
Fundraiser for
Doug Marquardt
Sunday, June 28 th
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Eagles Lodge
$8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 12 & under
Family $25.00
Need volunteers to help with dinner and
donations for the Raffle or food items.
Contact Stacey Beaver
541-969-7110
BREASTFEEDING CLASSES
One night class covers breastfeeding benefits, pumping
and much more. Come to this FREE class taught by a
certified lactation consultant, and learn techniques
that make for a successful experience.
Free, but please pre-register.
July 1 & August 5
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
GSMC Conference Center 3 & 4
BABYSITTING BASICS 101
For babysitters ages 10-15. Learn childcare
techniques, children's developmental ages
and what to expect, basic first aid and infant
and child CPR.
July 11 • 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
GSMC Conference Room
$30 - includes lunch & all class materials.
Must pre-register & pre-pay.
HEALTHY FRIDAYS
Free health screenings: blood pressure
checks, weigh ins, body mass index,
cholesterol and glucose.
Second Friday of every month
July 10 & Aug 14
2:00 - 4:00 pm
GSMC Education Department
Everything takes on a whole new
meaning when you become a parent.
With locations throughout Washington and
Oregon, Mirasol Family Health Center serves
hundreds of young families each year. We
are now accepting new patients.
Mirasol Family Health Center
enjoyparenthood.org
For information or to
register for a class,
call (541) 667-3509
or email
healthinfo@gshealth.org