A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017
COMMUNITY
FILE PHOTO
Santa waves after touching down in an air ambulance
during a past holiday season. The jolly old elf will arrive via
Life Flight Network helicopter Saturday at the McNary Fire
Station in Umatilla.
Santa flies into Umatilla
A Life Flight Network
helicopter is making an
emergency landing this
weekend.
The air ambulance ser-
vice is delivering Santa
Claus to the McNary Fire
Station. The public is
invited to greet St. Nick
and have their pictures
taken Saturday at 10 a.m.
at Fire Station No. 2, 303
Willamette Ave., Umatilla.
While at the fire station,
be sure to step inside for
shopping at Santa’s Work-
shop. In addition, the Uma-
tilla Volunteer Firefight-
er’s Association is selling
Christmas trees.
Money raised helps sup-
port Umatilla’s Christmas
basket program. For more
information, call 541-922-
3718 or visit www.face-
book.com/umatillavfa.
Hymnspiration sings favorites
The public is invited to get into the spirit of the sea-
son by singing old-fashioned Christmas carols during a
special singing service.
The Hymnspiration is Sunday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
at Victory Baptist Church 193 E Main St. Hermiston.
The gathering features food, fun and fellowship.
For more information, contact Chris Finley at
johnchris_1@msn.com or 541-571-2516.
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Al Sells leads the pack during a past Echo Toy Run. The group meets Saturday in downtown Echo to deliver toys to Good
Shepherd Medical Center for the 14th annual event.
Bikers make deliveries for Santa
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
The deafening roar of
motorcycle engines will
rumble in downtown Echo
this weekend as participants
gear up for the Echo Toy
Run.
Organizer Al Sells hopes
people will pick up a few toys
or gifts for the 14th annual
event. Anyone who wants to
participate is invited to bring
a new unwrapped toy.
The group will gather
Saturday morning on Echo’s
Main Street. Kickstands are
up at noon for the ride into
Hermiston to deliver toys
to Good Shepherd Medical
Center.
A 2004 Harley Wide
Glide serves as Santa’s
sleigh for Sells. The Hermis-
ton man has been busy giv-
ing it a tune up in prepara-
tion for the annual run. In
addition to leading the pack,
Sells always straps a stuffed
animal to the front of his
bike.
“I’ve always taken teddy
bears to the runs,” he said.
“They are good for a boy or
a girl.”
Sells said last year’s
event attracted about 100
participants. Even during
years when Mother Nature
hasn’t cooperated, he said a
number of participants are
still eager and excited to
make the special delivery.
Neither rain, snow, sleet or
hail, Sells said, will prevent
Santa’s leather-clad ambas-
sadors from completing their
journey.
The former owners of
the Echo Saloon started the
event to help brighten the
spirits of sick kids during the
holiday season. Sells contin-
ues to coordinate the annual
tradition as a way to give
back to the community.
“It seems like everyone
enjoys it,” he said. “And I
enjoy getting to see every-
one before Christmas.”
As the effort has revved
up, it has expanded well
beyond the holiday season.
Nick Bejarano, director of
marketing and communica-
tions at Good Shepherd, said
hospital staff can give toys
to children throughout the
year. The gifts often help in
reducing anxiety during hos-
pital visits.
Those who don’t ride a
motorcycle can bring toys
prior to the noon departure
or take up the rear of the
pack as the group rides into
Hermiston. Also, toys can be
dropped off at the hospital
administrative offices, 610
N.W. 11th St.
For more information,
call Sells at 541-571-1820 or
Bejarano at 541-667-3460.
fines (up to $10). No dented
or outdated cans. Dona-
tions will be picked up
Dec. 8-9 for the Umatilla
Fire Department’s Christ-
mas Basket program. For
more information, call
541-922-5704.
• Holiday Library Fine
Forgiveness at the Stan-
field Public Library, 180
W. Coe Ave. From Dec.
1-15, patrons can bring in
their library card and make
a donation of bath tissue or
non-perishable food items to
have late charges forgiven.
Donations will be given to
the Stanfield Food Bank for
distribution. For more infor-
mation, call 541-449-1254.
IN BRIEF
Journey presents
biblical story of
Christmas
A bustling outdoor vil-
lage offers the sights,
sounds and smells of bibli-
cal times.
The story of Jesus’ birth
and beyond is portrayed
during interactive tours pre-
sented during Journey to
Bethlehem. The free 20-30
minute guided tours are Fri-
day through Sunday from
5-8:30 p.m. behind the
Hermiston Seventh-day
Adventist Church, 855 W.
Highland Ave. While wait-
ing for their tour to start,
people are invited to wait in
the warmth of the sanctuary
and listen to music. After-
wards, people can enjoy
cookies and refreshments.
In its 10th year, 100 cos-
tumed characters participate
in Journey to Bethlehem.
In addition, live animals
help provide an authentic
experience.
For more informa-
tion, call 541-567-8241 or
541-289-3022.
Talent show to make
a splash
The Hermiston High
School swim team is seek-
ing participants for its
annual talent show.
A team fundraiser, the
auditions are Thursday Dec.
7 and Tuesday Dec. 12 from
6:30-8 p.m. in the school’s
main commons, 600 S. First
St. People of all ages and
all talents are welcome to
try out.
In its eighth year, it’s
the only team fundraiser,
which helps pay for trans-
portation to practices at the
Blue Mountain Commu-
nity College pool. The tal-
ent show is Saturday, Jan.
6 in the high school audito-
rium. During the intermis-
sion, there will be a bake
sale and a raffle for an iPad
and numerous gift cards.
For more information
about the auditions or show,
contact Lynne Hamblin at
541-571-5691 or lynne.
hamblin@hermiston.k12.
or.us.
Irrigon drama
students present
Jekyll & Hyde
A evening of theater
entertainment and dinner is
being presented by the Irri-
gon High School drama
club.
“The Strange Case of
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
will be staged Friday and
Saturday at 6:30 pm in
the high school’s cafeto-
rium, 315 S.E. Wyoming
St. Tickets are $5 each.
The price includes a meal
of chicken strips and steak
fries, which will be served
at intermission.
Based on the novel by
Robert Louis Stevenson,
the play features the story
of the brilliant scientist who
unleashes his inner demons
after partaking of a formula
he concocted. A re-telling
of the classic tale, the adap-
tation by playwright Jeffrey
Hatcher, is said to be hipper,
more intense and includes
well-timed humor. In addi-
tion to the lead cast mem-
bers, the script includes
characters who speak to
Jekyll as the voices in his
head.
For more informa-
tion, contact linda.pedro@
morrow.k12.or.us or
541-922-5551.
Local libraries offer
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