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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2016)
COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 What’s the perfect gift for the woman that gave you life? W LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vote Lindsay for Morrow County Judge We are writing this letter in support of Melissa Lindsay for Morrow County Judge. Melissa is the right choice for this position; she has a lot of passion and energy for mak- ing good things happen in Morrow County and will do a great job in working with the other commissioners to repre- sent the county well. We have known Melis- sa personally for years, she comes from a family of Long- time Morrow County resi- dents and wants to do her part in helping Morrow County continue to grow. Melissa is someone that you can count on to help get things done. We have worked with her on a professional capacity as well, whether it was when she helped us to get a loan for our home or working on commit- tees, clubs or coordinating events. Please join us in voting for Melissa Lindsay for Morrow County Judge. JIM AND BECKY KINDLE HEPPNER Stanfield not losing identity with new fire district formation I have been a volunteer firefighter for 43 years and on the board of directors for 36 years in Stanfield. I can tell you that the forming of the Umatilla County Fire Dis- trict #1 is not a takeover of the Stanfield Fire District by Hermiston Fire and Emergen- cy Services. The idea to join both departments together was started in conversation by the chiefs of both depart- ments. HFES will not be able to continue to provide the area with the level of service that has come to be expected and Stanfield’s number of volun- teers is slowly dwindling to all-time lows. With the reformation the new district would have a new tax base that would al- low tor the growth of the department to keep up with the growth of the area. This would be done by hiring new personnel that would start Station 2 (Diagonal Road) with a 24/7 response crew. This would make quicker response time on the east, north, and southeast parts (Stanfield area) and relieve the in-town responses to manageable numbers. With- out it HFES continues to see record number of calls and in some instances sees a de- lay in response because of multiple calls at one time. With a yes vote on the ref- ormation, supplementing the low number of volunteers in Stanfield would be huge for fire response in our areas. The same time we get dispatched for a fire, so would on-du- ty crews from the Hermiston area. Most of the time when we get a call there might only be one or two of us in dis- trict to respond and having all these resources tied together as one would enhance that greatly. The only other option if you don’t agree with this is come on down and become a volunteer on your local fire departments — even Herm- iston could use more volun- teers. As far as people thinking we are losing “our” fire de- partment, that is simply not true. We will still have a 4th of July celebration and all the other things the fire depart- ment does in the public and will have more help doing it. The Stanfield equipment is going to remain in the Stan- field station with a different name (Umatilla County Fire District #1), serving the Stan- field area, or something to that effect. Please vote yes on all bal- lot measures associated with this reformation and increase the value of our local emer- gency services. hat will you be giving your mom for Mother’s Day? Or, if you are the mother of one or more adult sons, what do you hope to receive for Mother’s Day? I am looking for gift ideas I can borrow — or steal. Gift giving is not one of my better attributes. I never know what to give for gifts for birthdays and holi- days, especially for Mother’s Day. How do you choose a thoughtful, Gary meaningful sym- L. West bol of affection for SHADES OF GRAY someone you care greatly about? I had a girlfriend once who was good at choosing gifts. I know the mechanics of how she did it. She would pick up hints, even when I wasn’t trying to hint at anything. We were just talking, and she would make note of things and file them away for later use. I have never mastered that skill. I need overt hints, di- rection on what sort of thing a friend or family member would like as a gift. But the best gifts aren’t nec- essarily found in “gift stores” or the seasonal promotional aisles at local or chain stores. Maybe I just don’t pay enough attention to those little moments in conversations where people share things about their likes and their interests. Or maybe my mental filing system is just a mangled mess. ELDON MARCUM, ASSISTANT CHIEF AND BOARD VICE CHAIRMAN, STANFIELD FIRE DISTRICT BOARD Support new ire district We have been residents of the Hermiston area since 1975. Over the years I’ve not only seen the excellent work and dedication of the local emergency services but have been the recipient of their re- sponse and emergency care in both fire and medical situa- tions. They are asking voters to allow them to form a new fire district that will allow them to increase their tax rate a to- tal of 55 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. As the cost of doing business rises this in- crease in revenue is necessary to keep up with personnel and equipment needs. The facts are available on the website at www.hermistonfire.org. The new district will help meet future equipment costs and add needed personnel to staff the station on Diagonal Road 24-hours a day. To make this happen we must vote to dissolve the existing fire dis- trict and to form and fund the new district, Umatilla County Fire District #1. I’m voting YES on both and asking you to do the same. BRYAN & LOU ANN WOLFE HERMISTON Whatever the case, when gift-giving time comes along, I never seem to be able to come up with ideas for appropriate, let alone great, gifts. Besides, just how does an adult son go about choosing a gift that says: “Thanks for all the sacrifices you made over my lifetime, and for all the things you continue to do for me?” Like looking in on my cat while I am out of town on busi- ness for a few days. I feel ill-equipped to show my love and appreciation. Per- haps that is not uncommon. But I have reached an age where increasingly more of my peers have lost a parent and do not have their mother or father to celebrate with this Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. And it seems I should do a better job of trying. Happy Mother’s Day, to my mom, to my daughter’s mom, to the mother of my daughter’s mother. Happy Mother’s Day to my aunts, to my daughter’s aunts. Happiest of Mother’s Days to all of the women who give so selflessly to their chil- dren and are so deserving of the most precious jewels. May you know the love that we, your fal- lible children, struggle to show and share, not just on Mother’s Day but every day. Gary L. West is editor of the Hermiston Herald and Herm- iston editor for the East Ore- gonian. Reach him at gwest@ hermistonherald.com or follow him on Twitter @GaryLWest or on Facebook at www.facebook. com/journalist.glwest. I Love You Mom! Many years ago on this date you became a mother. How fi tting it is I get to thank you for that - and the years since - on Mother's Day! I love you, Your Daughter N Nancy Storms To a Wonderful Mom! Who enjoys power shopping, the mother/ daughter weekends (need to do more), and an occasional cup of tea to talk about stuff. I love you to the moon & back plus infi nity. Love, Your awesome daughter Dana Happy Mother's Day Nana Love you- Brad, Marcy y & Family • Walk-ins Welcome • Coloring and Cutting • Women, Men and children 26 SE Emigrant Ave., Pendleton OR. www.facebook.com/fusionsalonpendleton Megan (owner/stylist)541-240-0518 • Jessica (stylist)(509) 301-7981 • Chelsey- (stylist) (541) 720-3762 My Garden Over Floweth 509-778-3341 Fresh cut flowers, arrangements & hanging baskets. h ank you for all you do! Love Gracie and Parker Pat Smart Yvonne Bunker Mom to the world you might just be one person, but to me you are the world. Happy Mother's Day Love Kelly To my dearest Mom! You have been my best friend, my confi dent and my Mom. To a special Mom on a special day! Love you! To the b best t mom out there... We love you always! From all your kiddos! Happy y M Mother's ot Day Grandma. I love you very much! -Carrie Faye Hamman Wishing you a very special Mother's Day, may your day be fi lled with happiness! Love Ric Mother's Day Special 11-2 pm Sunday May 8th Choice of grilled salmon or prime rib, salad bar, baby red mashed potatoes, green beans & dessert Only $24.95 Regular menu served from 4:30-Close 1619 N. First St. Hermiston, OR • 541-289-7838 Put a smile on the heart with the power of flowers. • • • • Fresh l owers Plants Floral arrangements Weddings • • • • Funeral designs Extensive git line Git baskets Candles Mon-Sat: 8 am-6 pm • Sun:12 am-5 pm 541-567-4305 • 1725 N. 1st, HERMISTON www.cottagefl owersonline.com Specializing Specializing in in Family, Family, Graduation Graduation & & Maternity M Maternity Photography Photography M in in Umatilla Umatilla County County 541-620-4100 541-620-4100 w www.memoriesmadebyjammie.com www.memoriesmadebyjammie.com w Styling Arena & Gift Boutique 175 W Hermiston Ave Hermiston, OR, 97838 541-567-6242 We are a full service salon, SHOPPORTUNITY SALE! HUGE DISCOUNTS! EVERYTHING 20-40% OFF or MORE! Saturday, May 7th and Sunday, May 8th, 9am-4pm We do not accept debit or credit cards. 541-938-0111 • 815 South Main, Milton-Freewater Shangri-la-boutique-oregon.com of ering all the latest services for your hair, nails, and skin! We have a state-of-the art Mystic Spray Tan Booth that gives you an instant and accurate bronze glow, with 100% privacy! In our boutique we also provide the latest women's fashion, accessories, candles, home decor and more! Tuesday-Friday: 10am-7pm Saturday: 9am-2pm 215 SW 10th Street Penleton 541.276.6432