A12 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015
COMMUNITY
I’m not Scrooge, four presents are plenty
I
A decade old red Toyota
’ve
always
loved
the holiday season.
Corona, we affectionately
called it Little Beep Beep
However, I don’t know
after the Randy Newman
if I’m just jaded, but it
song, ³Short 3eople.´ I ¿g-
seems society has turned
ured my mom didn’t need
Christmas into a big gift
it because my pops drove
grab. Honestly, I’m no
Scrooge — ask any of my Tammy
her around the majority of
friends. I love to give.
Malgesini time.
I wondered how they
Of course, like any kid, INSIDE MY
would present it to me.
I enjoyed getting Christmas SHOES
Would they put a big bow
presents. Although, I admit
requesting a big ticket item one on the car or would they give me a
new key chain? Maybe, I thought,
year.
As a freshman in college I they’d make it even more fun
asked my parents for a car. I real- by doing a nesting box package
ly thought they were gonna give with each box opened revealing
me the keys to my mom’s car. a slightly smaller box until I got
down to the key.
Nope, it was none of those
things.
They gave me a wooden car
Christmas ornament.
Recently I’ve seen something
Àoating around the Internet called
the 4 Gift Christmas Challenge.
Some kids might be appalled
with only getting four gifts. But
if you think about it, that’s one
more than the gold, frankincense
and myrrh the wise men brought
when Jesus was born.
The 4 Gift Christmas Chal-
lenge encourages parents to limit
gift-giving to four items for their
children:
1. Something they want
2. Something they need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read
Looking back, my parents
could have wrapped the 4 Gift
Christmas Challenge all into one
with handing over the keys to Lit-
tle Beep Beep. Seriously, I want-
ed it and needed it — remember
I was a college student without
wheels. Driving gloves would
have covered something to wear.
And something to read, well the
driver’s manual would suf¿cient-
ly take care of that.
And, just in case my husband
needs some shopping ideas this
year:
Want: A Derek Jeter commem-
orative baseball;
Need: A box of black Pilot G-2
07 gel pens;
Wear: Altra Lone Peak trail
shoes;
Read: “Trail of the Coeur
d’Alenes 8nof¿cial Guidebook:
Rail-Trail & Community Guide”
by Estar Holmes (the 2015 ver-
sion).
Tammy Malgesini is the com-
munity editor. Her column, Inside
my Shoes, includes general mus-
ings about life. Contact her at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com
or 541-564-4539.
IN BRIEF
Unique performance Health clinic accepts
winter clothes
set at Walla Walla
Columbia River Com-
museum
munity Health Services
FILE PHOTO
Al Sells leads the way as motorcyclists participate in a past Echo Toy Run to deliver toys from
downtown Echo to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.
Toy Run kick starts
holiday season giving
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
The thundering sound of
motorcycles will ¿ll the air
between Echo and Herm-
iston during the upcoming
Echo Toy Run.
A group of enthusiastic
bikers, led by Al Sells, will
rev up holiday spirit as they
gather Saturday, Dec. 5 in
downtown Echo. Bearing
stuffed animals, children’s
games and toys, the riders
will depart from the small
town at noon to ride the 12
miles to Good Shepherd
Medical Center.
The event, which is in its
12th year, provides toys for
young patients at the hospi-
tal, including those visiting
the emergency room.
“It’s the one good thing
I do every year,” Sells said
with a laugh.
The idea for the toy run
started when former owners
of the Echo Saloon wanted
to help brighten the spirits
of hospital-bound children.
Donning his black leathers
and a Santa hat Sells, who
straddles his 2004 Harley
Wide Glide, has carried on
the tradition in coordinating
the yearly event.
Nick Bejarano, the new
marketing and communica-
tion director at Good Shep-
herd, said the effort goes
beyond merely giving chil-
dren gifts.
“It’s a great way to boost
their spirits and make them
a little happier and health-
ier, because that’s tied to-
gether,” he said.
Regardless of the weath-
er, Sells is committed to
helping kids. He wants to
ensure kids that are hos-
pitalized or end up in the
emergency room during
the holidays have a merry
Christmas.
organize this for the kids in
our community,” he said.
In addition to distribut-
ing toys at the hospital, Be-
jarano said items are shared
with the Hermiston Police
Department and Hermis-
ton Fire & Emergency Ser-
vices.
“When we have extras,
we give them to the police
department and ¿re de-
partment so they can pass
out toys,” Bejarano said.
“So the toys go beyond
our doors as well, which is
nice.”
Anyone wishing to do-
nate a gift who can’t attend
the Echo Toy Run can take
them to the administrative
of¿ces at Good Shepherd
Medical Center, 610 N.W.
11th St., Hermiston. For
more information, call Sells
at 541-571-1820 or Bejara-
no at 541-667-3460.
Rain, snow, sleet or hail,
Sells said he’ll continue to
lead the pack as long as bik-
ers still come out to support
the event. In addition to the
immediate area, partici-
pants have come from John
Day, the Tri-Cities and Ya-
kima, he said.
Upwards of 140 mo-
torcyclists have partici-
pated when the weather is
good. Twenty-seven bikers
braved freezing tempera-
tures and two inches of
snow to participate during
the 2007 event, Sells said.
In case of inclement
weather or for those who
don’t ride motorcycles,
passenger vehicles are in-
vited to take up the tail of
the procession between
Echo and Hermiston.
Bejarano is impressed
with the commitment of
Sells and other area bikers.
“I think it’s awesome to
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A holiday event fea-
tures a musical adaption of
“‘Twas the Night Before
Christmas” at the Kirkman
House Museum.
The intimate setting in
the 1880s Victorian Ital-
ianate home, along with
the unique musical perfor-
mance provides a holiday
celebration from yester-
year.
Cellist Sally Sing-
er Tuttle, Celtic harper
Noah Brenner and Mon-
ica Griffin Hunter, a so-
prano opera singer will
share season’s greetings
during two shows. An
hors d’oeuvres and wine
show is Saturday, Dec.
5 with a social time at
6:45 p.m. and the perfor-
mance at 7:30 p.m. in the
museum’s parlor, 214 N.
Colville St., Walla Wal-
la. Tickets are $45 each.
The regular matinée
show, which is $20, is
Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.,
with
To purchase tickets,
visit www.kirkmanhouse-
museum.org. For more
information, contact 509-
529-4373 or khm@kirk-
manhousemuseum.org.
is hosting a winter appar-
el drive to provide warm
clothes for those in need.
People are asked to
drop off new or gen-
tly used coats, sweaters,
gloves and hats at 450 Ta-
tone St., Boardman.
For more information,
call 541-481-7212, exten-
sion 214.
American Legion
announces flag
program
American Legion Post
No. 37 is promoting its
Àag program.
People are invited to
purchase an American Àag
to be displayed at Desert
Lawn Memorial Cemetery
in Irrigon. The Àags are in
appreciation of friends or
loved ones who have pro-
vided dedicated service to
Business
Health
Farm
Life
Casino Night
benefits Irrigon
chamber
Texas hold ’em and
blackjack, along with a
silent auction, door prizes
and live music are featured
during a Casino Night
fundraiser.
Hosted by the Irrigon
Chamber of Commerce,
the event is Saturday,
Dec. 5 from 6-10 p.m. at
Sub Zero Restaurant &
Lounge, 100 W. Highway
730, Irrigon.
For more information,
contact Phyllis Daniel-
son at 541-922-3857 or
irrigonchamber@irrigon-
chamber.com.
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