A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
Our Community
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Santa bikers rev up holiday cheer
IN BRIEF
American Legion
meets monthly in
Hermiston
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
Although his 2004 Har-
ley Wide Glide has a few
more scratches, Al Sells
will rev up its engine for the
13th annual Echo Toy Run.
Sells, who crashed his
trusty bike three days after
the 2015 event, is ready
to ride again this year —
bringing good cheer to kids
at Good Shepherd Medical
Center.
Area bikers are invit-
ed to bring an unwrapped
toy and meet Saturday,
Dec. 3, in downtown Echo.
Veterans from all eras
and members of Amer-
ican Legion Post 37 are
encouraged to attend its
monthly meetings.
They meet the fi rst
Monday of each month
at 7 a.m. at the Herm-
iston VFW Hall, 45 W.
Cherry Ave.
Chartered by Congress
in 1919, the American Le-
gion provides service to
veterans, current military
personnel and the com-
munities in which they
reside. The nonprofi t or-
ganization is committed
to advocating patriotism,
mentoring youth and
supporting worthwhile
community
programs,
including American Le-
gion Baseball and college
scholarships.
For more about the
organization, call Bob
Daniel 541-571-8227 or
visit www.legion.org.
Kickstands up at noon, as
the bikers will cruise into
Hermiston on their way to
deliver toys to the hospital.
The leather-clad group will
be greeted by a hospital
administrator and treated
to coffee, hot chocolate or
hot apple cider, said Nick
Bejarano, director of mar-
keting and communications
at Good Shepherd.
The effort of area bikers
in making a difference in
the lives of kids in the com-
munity lasts well beyond
the holiday season. In addi-
tion to distributing gifts to
youngsters in the hospital
during the holiday season,
toys are available for hospi-
tal staff to give to children
throughout the year, as well
as donating some to the
Hermiston Police Depart-
ment’s Christmas Express.
Bejarano is impressed
with Sells’ effort to celebrate
the season with his biker
buddies while giving back to
others at the same time.
“I think it’s an amazing
initiative,” Bejarano said.
“They genuinely care about
people in the community and
want to make a difference.”
The idea for the toy run
started when former owners
of the Echo Saloon wanted
to help brighten the spirits
of children who were in the
hospital during the holiday
season. Sells has carried
on the tradition and coordi-
nates the yearly event.
More than just a bunch
of bikers out for a ride,
Sells said it provides an
opportunity to give back to
the community.
“I think it makes people
feel good,” he said. “It’s
the greatest day of the year.
I get to visit with all my
friends.”
In case Mother Nature
brings bad weather or for
those who don’t ride mo-
torcycles, passenger vehi-
cles are invited to join the
end of the caravan between
Echo and Hermiston.
Anyone wishing to do-
nate a gift who can’t attend
the Echo Toy Run can take
them to the administrative
offi 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.
Tree festival kicks off Christmas season
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
What has become the
unoffi cial kick-off to the
holiday season, the Hermis-
ton Festival of Trees is just
around the corner.
A Whimsical Christmas
features wine tasting, a no-
host bar, dinner and a silent
and live auction. People can
bid on a dozen large trees,
which come with a bounty
of gifts, as well as 12 small
trees and 12 themed bas-
kets. Also, a silent auction
includes 13 wreaths and
10 stockings. The event is
at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3,
beginning at the Hermiston
Conference Center, 415 S.
Highway 395. Tickets are
$35 each.
“It’s become sort of the
marquee event for the hol-
iday,” said John Spomer of
the Hermiston Breakfast
Kiwanis Club. “We almost
have to turn people away.”
The Family Day offers a
variety of activities and the
trees remain for viewing.
Pendleton gym
open for people
with special needs
Gymnasium activi-
ties are available free of
charge for people with
special needs and their
family or caregivers
The Special Needs
Open Gym runs from
October through May.
It’s open each Sunday
from noon to 1:30 p.m.
at the Pendleton Recre-
ation Center, 510 S.W.
Dorion Ave.
For more informa-
tion, visit www.pendle-
tonparksandrec.com or
call 541-276-8100.
A fundraiser for the Sorop-
timist International of the
Greater Hermiston, there is
a suggested donation of $5
per family. However, Sally
Peatow, president-elect, said
no one will be turned away.
The Family Day is Sun-
day, Dec. 4, from noon to 4
p.m., also at the conference
center. The Soroptimists
took over coordinating the
event a handful of years
ago. Peatow said it helps
in bringing attention to the
club, which works to im-
prove the lives of women
and girls. Money raised
from the event helps fund
scholarships for women in
need. In addition, it’s just a
fun holiday event, she said.
Kids can participate in
everything from decorat-
ing cookies and making
ornaments and spin art to
mini-manicures and tattoos
to having photos taken with
Santa. Also, stage entertain-
ment helps set the holiday
mood.
“Kids can make things
they can give to grandma,”
Peatow said. “Also, it’s an
opportunity for the com-
munity to enjoy the holiday
season together as a family.”
Money raised from the
gala event is split between the
Kiwanis club and the Good
Shepherd Community Health
Foundation. Both organiza-
tions give back to the com-
munity through, programs,
donations and scholarships.
Among the themes of
the majestically decorated
trees are “A Merry Muggle
Christmas,” “Winter Won-
derland” and “Starry Star-
ry Night.” Basket themes
include “Sweet Treats,” “A
Holiday Feast,” “Chute 8”
and “Cabin Christmas.”
“I think some people
have a lot of fun,” Spomer
said. “It gives them a chance
to be creative.”
In addition to the auc-
tion, there is a raffl e tree.
Tickets for it are $10 each.
Money raised from it will
go to a city of Hermiston art
enhancement project at the
old Hermiston Union High
School arch, which is locat-
ed at 199 E. Ridgeway Ave.
Tickets for the auction/
dinner can be purchased at
the Hermiston Conference
Center. Those unable to buy
tickets are welcome to come
for the auction to bid on
items. For more information,
visit www.facebook.com/
hermistonfestivaloftrees.
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 110 ● NUMBER 46
Gary L. West | Editor • gwest@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4532
Tammy Malgesini | Community Editor • tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4539
Jade McDowell | Reporter • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536
Jeanne Jewett | Multi-Media consultant • jjewett@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531
Shannon Paxton | Offi ce coordinator • spaxton@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4530
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
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