INSIDE SPORTS
TWO BULLDOGS GRAB ALL-STATE HONORS
Hermiston
Herald
ld
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016
HermistonHerald.com
$1.00
INSIDE
THIS WEEK IN
HISTORY
A LOOK BACK AT EVENTS
LEADING UP TO THE CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY IN YEARS PAST.
PAGE A2
DANCING
DIGNITARIES
THE LINEUP OF LOCAL CELEBRI-
TIES HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR
THE NEXT ‘DANCING’ EVENT.
PAGE A3
WINTER BLUES?
PERFORMERS OFFER CURE
FOR CABIN FEVER.
PAGE 4A
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
espite tempera-
tures dipping
into single dig-
its and below,
the Hermiston
Conference Cen-
ter spread warmth and
holiday cheer during Satur-
day’s Pancakes with Santa.
New to town, Karen and
Russell Seaton enjoyed the
opportunity to spend time
with others in the communi-
ty. The couple, who moved
to Hermiston from Eugene
this past summer, said it was
a great family event.
Presented by Hermiston
Parks & Recreation, Pan-
cakes with Santa, which pre-
sold 150 tickets, is in its sec-
ond year. Doug Barak, past
president of the Hermiston
Noon Kiwanis Club, said the
service group is always look-
ing for opportunities to serve
kids in the community. More
than a dozen Kiwanians took
a break from selling Christ-
mas trees outside the confer-
ence center to help coordi-
nate activities.
“It’s a fun event and cre-
ates some great memories,”
Barak said.
The Seatons agreed. They
especially liked the focus
on kids and families being
together. Reserved tables of
eight were arranged around
the room. Key Club mem-
bers — a student-run service
program sponsored by the
Kiwanis — from Hermiston
and Umatilla high schools
offered coffee and orange
juice, and cleared tables to
make space for kids to enjoy
craft activities.
GETTING
THE STORY
TAMMY MALGESINI IS
AN ALL-WEATHER
JOURNALISTIC WARRIOR.
PAGE A6
BRIEFLY
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Erya Blankenship, 4, gestures and makes faces to get Vanessa Ambriz and Kellie Zepeda to smile
while her mother, Xiaofeng Chen, takes a photo Saturday during Pancakes with Santa at the Hermiston
Conference Center.
Community
Fellowship
Dinner
In the spirit of giv-
ing, the public is in-
vited to a free holiday
meal on Christmas
Day.
The last Communi-
ty Fellowship Dinner
of the season is Sun-
day from 12:30-3:30
p.m. at the Hermiston
Senior Center, 435 W.
Orchard Ave., located
on the former Umatilla
County Fairgrounds. In
addition to the on-site
meal, delivery service
and to-go meals can
See CHEER, A14
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Justin, 5, and Ryan, 10, wait while their mother, Tiffany Rettkowski,
says goodbye to friends Saturday during Pancakes with Santa at the
Hermiston Conference Center.
See DINNER, A14
Hermiston
chamber
seeks award
nominations
The 47th Annual Dis-
tinguished Citizens Awards
Banquet is just around the
corner in Hermiston.
The Hermiston Chamber
of Commerce is accepting
nominations for man and
woman of the year, Commu-
nity Service Merit and Fire
Service awards. The nomi-
nations are due by Monday,
Jan. 2. Nomination and crite-
ria forms are available at the
chamber offi ce, 415 S. High-
way 395, or at www.hermis-
tonchamber.com.
Others awards that will
be presented include the Al-
trusan Outstanding Young
Citizen Award, Hermiston
School District educators and
administrator of the year; and
the Hermiston Rotary Club
will present the business of
the year.
The banquet is Wednes-
day, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the
Hermiston Conference Cen-
ter. Tickets are $30 per person
and can be ordered at www.
hermistonchamber.com or by
calling 541-567-6151.
Snow days push back Hermiston graduation, last day of school
Hermiston High School’s
2017 graduation date will be
moved back a week in order to
accommodate snow days.
Commencement ceremonies
will now be on June 10 instead
of June 3, giving Hermiston
School District room to make
up day for snow days Friday,
Dec. 9, Thursday, Dec. 15, and
Friday, Dec. 16, and for up to
two additional days as needed.
If no more school days are
canceled due to inclement
weather, students’ last day will
be Friday, June 9, and teachers’
last day will be Monday, June
10.
According to a news release,
seniors would not meet state
standards for the “instructional
hour minimum” before gradua-
tion without the added days.
“We understand that chang-
ing the graduation date and ex-
tending the school year is chal-
lenging for everyone involved,”
Superintendent Fred Maiocco
said in a statement. “However,
we believe this decision is in
the best interest of our entire
community. We remain hopeful
that with six months advance
notifi cation everyone will be
able to respond fl exibly to this
diffi cult situation.”
The district did not leave
any room for make-up days in
the 2016-2017 calendar and the
Oregon Department of Educa-
tion no longer gives an allow-
ance for inclement weather in
meeting minimum instructional
hour requirements for students.
STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST
Snow covers the base of the Hermiston butte on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Snowfall so far in
December has led Hermiston School District to cancel three days of school and push back
graduation by a week in June.