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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2015)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 FROM THE EDITOR Decades of memories À oZered iQ fair JroXQds But for me, it was often the ¿UVWRSSRUWXQLW\WRVHHIULHQGV from school who I hadn’t seen GARY L WEST SHADES OF GRAY in months. I lived out in the country, as did many of them, and many of them worked on family farms over the summer. It’s almost time for the So, between the distances in- Umatilla County Fair and I volved and people’s summer am excited to be back home obligations, summer was of- again for the fair and Farm- ten an isolating time of year in City Pro Rodeo. those years before I had a car I have not been home for or a driver’s license. the fair and rodeo for many But each August, I always years, so it is particularly poi- knew everyone would make gnant to be back for the 100th time to spend some time at anniversary edition of the fair the fair. and for the last fair and rodeo My mom often volun- to be held at the fairgrounds teered to work in one of the in the middle of town. commercial exhibit booths, Fair time was always my so I helped her in the booth favorite time of year in my in exchange for a ride to town youth. After I grew up, went and admission to the fair. away to school and ventured Traipsing around the fair- IXUWKHU D¿HOG DV SDUW RI P\ grounds provided a way to early journalism career, I got renew school friendships and to experience other fairs in exhibit a little adolescent in- other counties in Oregon and dependence. Some years, I California, but it was never was captivated by the mid- quite the same experience. way games, there was a brief The other fairs, including fascination with some of the the Oregon State Fair in Sa- carnival rides and as my in- lem, just didn’t seem as good terest in photography grew, somehow. there was interest in the photo and art exhibits. Mostly, though, fair time meant time with friends af- ter a summer absence that seemed painfully long. It was, in many ways, one of the last hurrahs of each summer. The reason no other fair has been able to live up to this fair in my mind is because the Umatilla County Fair was woven into the fabric of my memories as part of the tapes- try of annual ritual. This year feels a little like VXPPHUVRIP\\RXWK¿OOHG with anticipation for the fair. Who will I see? What sto- ries will we share? I’ve been home for a few months now and have had the opportunity to see many old friends and I am looking forward to see- ing more familiar faces in a familiar place one last time, before the fair moves to its new home. I am also looking forward to meeting new peo- ple who I have not yet had the opportunity to talk with. I’ll be spending some time in the Hermiston Herald/East Arguably, some of these Oregonian booth along with other fairs were better by one coworkers. Come by and see or more subjective measures. us and chat for a bit. Many were bigger, had big- Share your fair and rodeo ger name entertainers and photos using the hashtags featured more exhibits. Big- #UmatillaCountyFair or ger did not necessarily make #FarmCityProRodeo on them better. I couldn’t put my Facebook and Twitter and ¿QJHU RQ ZK\ WKRXJK EXW , show the world what makes WKLQN,¿QDOO\¿JXUHGLWRXW the 100th anniversary fair and Those days spent at the ¿QDO URGHR LQ WKH GRZQWRZQ Umatilla County Fair weren’t arena special for you. We just about the elephant ear may use some of the photos confections or midway games in the Aug. 19 edition of the or trinkets collected at the Hermiston Herald. various commercial booths. It In the meantime, I’ll see was about a time in life that you at the fair. can never be recaptured. Gary L. West is editor of the In my teens, fair time was Hermiston Herald and Hermis- ¿OOHGZLWKDQWLFLSDWLRQ,WZDV ton editor for the East Orego- something I looked forward nian. Reach him at gwest@ to all summer, as did many hermistonherald.com or follow of my peers. Some were in him on Twitter @GaryLWest or groups like 4-H and entered on Facebook at www.facebook. items to be judged in the fair. com/journalist.glwest. The reason no other fair has been able to live up to this fair in my mind is because the Umatilla County Fair was woven into the fabric of my memories as part of the tapestry of annual ritual. DISCOVER THE HERMISTON DOWNTOWN DISTRICT JOIN US THURSDAY AUGUST 6 4:30-7:00PM Check out Downtown and join in the fun! Refreshments, Passport Bonus, Discounts Stop in the following businesses and enjoy the hospitality! Pick up a passport and get it marked at four or more businesses, then turn it in to enter a drawing! • Alexander Daniel Jewelry Works • Bloomz • Andee’s Boutique • Defining Details • Goss Jewelers • Hale’s Restaurant • Hermiston Drug • Indulge • Rescrub • Lucky Endz Gifts • Mailing Made Easy • Nookie’s Restaurant & Hermiston Brewing Co. • The Pheasant Cafe & Lounge • C&R Mercantile Co. • Country Gourmet & BBQ T PASSPOR In support of our downtown Hermiston Merchants! THANK YOU TO THE SUPPORTING MERCHANTS! ton s i m r e H o t n Downtow District American Printing, Banner Bank, Home Town Mortgage Group, Kay C ’ s Art & Collectibles, Premier Physical Therapy, East Oregonian, Hermiston Herald Melisa Webb NMLS #311680 Kim Arbogast NMLS #230847 Samantha Webb Loan officer NMLS #1210610 505 E. Main St., Suite A Hermiston, OR 541-564-5900 NMLS #471758-1850 hermistonhomeloans.com MAILING MADE EASY... • Home Decor • Jewelry • Wine • Candles 541-567-3733 158 E. Main St., Hermiston Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/indulgehomedecor @ M A IL O FFICE PLUS Your Downtown Mailbox & Business Center 2.00 OFF any $ 5.00 m in. FAX $ 541-567-6351, Fax: 541-567-7672 242 E. Main Street, Hermiston (Back Entrance on Hurlburt Avenue) ALEXANDER DANIEL JEWELRY WORKS Family Owned Independent Jeweler ~ Laser Welder ~ Eyeglass Frame Repair ~ Custom Designs & Restyling ~ Original & Custom Design ~ Free Cleaning & Inspections ~ All Repairs Done in House ~ 10 YEARS IN HERMISTON • 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE 245 E. Main St., Ste C, Hermiston • Phone: 541-289-5001 Hours: Tues-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm • Se Habla Español • adjewelryworks.com SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES Supporting Our Local Businesses 211 S.E. Byers, Pendleton 541-966-0800 541-567-6211 www.eastoregonian.com 541-564-4530 800-522-0255 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR www.hermistonherald.com 25 % off 20% off Home Decor (seasonal) DENIM Andee’s Boutique 243-A East Main Street, Hermiston (541) 567-5618 Discover Your Downtown! Gifts • Cosmetics Perfumes • Cards Old Fashion Soda Fountain G oss Fa m ily JEW ELER S Your L oc al Jew eler Gift wrapping always a courtesy H ERMISTON D RUG & G IFT “Where Old Friends Meet.” 114 E. Main St. • Hermiston • 541-567-3072 Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm • Sat 8am-3pm • Closed Sun Kay C's Art & Collectibles 167 E. Main St., Hermiston • 541-289-1800 Estate liquidation service with the 'best cash payout'. We will either buy out your estate or conduct a sale for you. We guarantee you the HIGHEST $$ return over any other liquidator. "We guarantee it." Paying highest cash amount for gold jewelry, silver dollars, coins and silverware. We pay CA $ H! 20% off All Jew elry & Jew elry Repa ir Phone: 541-786-8413 215 E. M a in St., Ste. A H erm iston, OR 97838 Hours: M onda y-Frida y 9:30 a .m . - 5:30 p.m . Sa turda y 10:00 a .m . - 4:00 p.m . Think Local - Shop Downtown Hermiston