A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018
COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
Deadline looms for young citizen
nominations
STAFF PHOTO BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Students in Kendra Scott’s ABLE Classroom at Rocky Heights Elementary School create
nautical-themed decorations Tuesday for the Hermiston Education Foundation’s Beach &
Beef Fundraiser. The event is coming up Saturday at the Hermiston Community Center.
Education foundation
fundraiser cruises for cash
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
Students in Kendra
Scott’s ABLE Classroom
were busy with a special art
project Tuesday morning at
Rocky Heights Elementary
School.
The kindergarten through
third graders were creating
nautical-themed decorations
for the Hermiston Education
Foundation’s annual Beach
& Beef Fundraiser.
“Wow, it’s beautiful,”
one young student said as he
held up his drawing for oth-
ers to see.
The
community
is
invited to “Come Sail Away
With Us” as the nonprofit
foundation raises money
to help enhance the educa-
tional experience of students
throughout the Hermiston
School District. Proceeds
are used to award grants to
staff for projects or equip-
ment that fall outside the
district’s budget. Also, a
scholarship program started
this past spring provided
$2,500 scholarships to six
graduating seniors.
“They are creating oppor-
tunities that we wouldn’t
be able to do without their
support,” said Lori Mills,
Sandstone Middle School
principal.
In its ninth year, the fund-
raiser features a cruise ship
theme. Be sure to grab a
boarding pass for Satur-
day’s event at the Herm-
iston Community Center,
415 S. Highway 395. The
doors open at 5 p.m., offer-
ing guests a chance to bid
on silent auction items and
mingle. The all-you-can-eat
crab and steak kabobs din-
ner starts at 5:45 p.m. The
live auction kicks off at 7
p.m. Also, there will be a
no-host bar.
Although
it’s
not
required, foundation trea-
surer Tori Espinosa said
people are invited to have
fun and be creative in dress-
ing up for the event. Live
entertainment will be pro-
vided by the high school
jazz band. In addition, all
hands will be on deck as stu-
dent groups assist with serv-
ing, acting as auction run-
ners and other tasks.
Foundation funds
student opportunities
Since 2003, the education
foundation has disbursed
$300,000 in grants that help
support such activities as
field trips, providing items
for drama performances and
purchasing musical instru-
ments, technology equip-
ment or other supplies for
special projects.
Rob Doherty, science
teacher and Armand Larive
Television advisor at Armand
Larive Middle School, has
requested numerous grants
over the years. In addition
to equipment for the ALTV
program, he’s received fund-
ing for registration fees for
the Student Television Net-
work Convention in 2016
in Atlanta and 2017 in
Anaheim.
Attending the confer-
ences, Doherty said, includes
workshops with industry
professionals and competi-
tions with top students from
across the United States. An
honorable mention in the
Anchor Team contest during
the 2017 event has inspired
students, Doherty said.
“I have found that the stu-
dents who make the com-
mitment to work hard and
prepare for the convention
come back with a higher
level of confidence in them-
selves,” he said. “When I see
what the students bring back
home with them, the feeling
is exhilarating.”
While student fundraising
helps, Doherty said it’s insuf-
ficient for the trips. Receiv-
ing a grant for registration
fees, he said, removed the
financial burden from fam-
ilies — ensuring that each
student who had signed up
could attend.
Foundation board mem-
bers and district educators
credit community members
for reaching into their wal-
lets to provide additional
support to the schools. Mills
said some programs or proj-
ects come up after the district
budget has been approved.
Community support through
the education foundation,
she said, enables them to
take advantage of those
situations.
“We’re in a community
that is very supporting of
education,” said Karen Sher-
man, HEF grant commit-
tee facilitator. “They want
to see our kids have as many
opportunities as they can.”
Jerad Farley, Rocky
Heights principal and a
member of the HEF board,
agreed, saying the commu-
nity recognizes that they
are good stewards of money
received.
“We’re not just sitting on
a big pile of cash,” he said.
“As quickly as it’s coming
in, it’s going out to provide
opportunities for students
in the Hermiston School
District.”
Tickets for the fundraiser
are $35 each. They are avail-
able at the district office, 305
S.W. 11th St.; the Hermis-
ton Chamber of Commerce,
1055 S. Highway 395, Suite
111; and at www.squareup.
com/store/hef. If available,
tickets will be sold at the
door.
ships with his new neighbors is the topic
of a book club discussion in Stanfield.
The public is invited to discuss “A Man
Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman during
the upcoming Book Talk. The gathering is
Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Stanfield
Public Library, 180 W. Coe Ave. Treats
will be served.
A New York Times bestseller, the story
unfolds after the neighbors crash into
the curmudgeon’s mailbox. It leads to a
heart-warming and comical tale of crazy
cats, unexpected friendship and the art of
backing up a U-Haul.
Multiple copies of the book are avail-
able at the library. For more information,
call 541-449-1254.
Altrusa International of Hermiston is
seeking nominations for young people
that are under the age of 21 who demon-
strate commitment, personal responsibil-
ity and a positive attitude.
The person selected will be recognized
as the outstanding young citizen during
the upcoming Distinguished Citizens
Awards Banquet in Hermiston. The youth,
along with two guests, are invited to join
the Altrusans for the banquet, which is
Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Herm-
iston Community Center.
Nomination forms are available at the
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce (1055
S. Highway 395, Suite 111), local schools
and churches. They are due by Monday,
Feb. 5.
For more information, contact Altrusa
at hermistonaltrusa@gmail.com. For
more about the awards banquet, visit
www.hermistonchamber.com or call
541-567-6151.
Town hall features senior planning
All area veterans and seniors are invited
to attend a Town Hall meeting, which
included representatives from Legal Aid
Services of Oregon.
The free gathering will feature infor-
mation about wills, trusts, estate planning,
bankruptcy and referrals to attorneys who
can assist with specific needs. The meet-
ing is Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Irri-
gon branch of the Oregon Trail Library
District, 490 N.E. Main St. To arrange for
transportation, call 1-844-676-5667.
For more information or to RSVP,
call Morrow County Veterans Services at
541-922-6420.
Gathering encourages sharing gospel
What if we followed God with perse-
verance instead of insecurity?
That is the focus of a faith-based gath-
ering of women in Texas that is being
live-streamed across the globe. Women
are gathering in churches, homes and
community centers to participate in the
event. In Hermiston, New Hope Com-
munity Church is coordinating IF: Gath-
ering Hermiston to participate in a pro-
gram that includes a large gathering and
then break-out groups to facilitate deeper
conversations.
IF: Gathering Hermiston is Friday,
Feb. 9 from 5-9 p.m. at New Hope Com-
munity Church, 1350 S. Highway 395. It
continues Saturday, Feb. 10 from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. in 30 host locations. A sug-
gested donation of $1 for the registration
is requested to offset costs for the live-
stream. Childcare for kids through age 5
is available by donation.
The focus is on Paul’s letters to Timo-
thy as he reminded him of the power and
responsibility of sharing the gospel. The
gathering will also serve as a celebration
and encouragement to share about God’s
work.
To register, visit https://register.
ifgathering.com/event/ifhermiston. For
more information, contact Heather Beal
at if.hermiston@gmail.com or search
Facebook.
Good Shepherd offers babysitting
class
Youths interested in learning general
childcare techniques are invited to attend
Babysitting Basics 101.
Participants will learn about children’s
developmental stages, basic first aid and
infant/child CPR. The next class is offered
Saturday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
Good Shepherd Medical Center, 610 N.W.
11th St., Hermiston. Open to ages 10-15,
the fee is $40, which includes lunch and
all class materials.
Those who plan to attend need to pay
and register in advance. The class also will
be offered April 7 and May 5.
For more information or to register,
call 541-667-3509.
Special service features singing hymns
Food, fun and fellowship are featured
during an upcoming special service.
The Hymnspiration is Sunday from
4:30-5:30 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church
193 E. Main St., Hermiston. Everyone is
invited to show up and sing old hymns.
For more information, contact Chris
Finley at johnchris_1@msn.com or
541-571-2516.
Book Talk features ‘A Man Called Ove’
A feel-good story about a cranky old
man who gets a crash course in relation-
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Dave Hughes, left, of Agape House accepts a check from representatives of the Columbia
Basin Board of Realtors, including Donn Walls, president Linda Andreason, Shirley Parsons,
Heidi Carver, Sherie Britt, Debbie Brandt, Mike Boylan, Stephanie Hughes, Dean Kegler, Tracy
Hunter and Maggie Rodriguez.
Realtors donate to Agape House
During the Christmas
party of the Columbia Basin
Board of Realtors, people
dug deep to help support
Agape House.
Affiliate members of the
Realtors board brought table
centerpieces that were auc-
tioned, with proceeds of
$1,017 donated to Agape
House.
Representatives from the
board — including president
Linda Andreason, Mike Boy-
lan, Debbie Brandt, Sherie
Britt, Heidi Carver, Steph-
anie Hughes,Tracy Hunter,
Dean Kegler, Shirley Par-
sons, Maggie Rodriguez and
Donn Walls — presented
the checks to Dave Hughes,
Agape House executive
director, during the board’s
Jan. 17 general membership
meeting.
Agape House provides
assistance to people in need
in Hermiston and the sur-
rounding area. For more
information, including ways
to support the nonprofit
organization, call Hughes at
541-567-8774.
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