A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2018
COMMUNITY
BRIEFS
Summer choir
warms up with free
concert
FILE PHOTO
Hermiston city councilors Doug Primmer and Jackie Myers, and mayor David Drotzmann man the serving line while dishing
up a treat for Sylvia Smith, far right, during the 2016 National Night Out ice cream social block party in Hermiston.
National Night Out
encourages community
Hermiston kicks off
celebration with
treasure hunt
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
An annual event estab-
lished to enhance cit-
izen-law
enforcement
relationships and foster
neighborhood camaraderie
is coming up next week.
Simply put, Capt. Tra-
vis Eynon of the Hermis-
ton Police Department calls
National Night Out a “com-
munity-building campaign.”
The idea is to encour-
age people to get to know
their neighbors. In its 35th
year, the goal of National
Night Out is to create safer
communities while send-
ing a message to criminals
that neighborhoods are part-
nering with police in crime
prevention activities. This
is Hermiston’s 20th year of
participating.
“National Night Out
helps in people coming
together as a community,”
said Tim Miears, HPD
training
officer/evidence
custodian.
Community
members
are encouraged to organize
neighborhood block parties,
a barbecue or other activi-
ties that assist in fostering
relationships with neigh-
bors. During National Night
Out, which is Tuesday, Aug.
7, Eynon said available offi-
cers will stop by gather-
ings and mingle with those
in attendance. In addition,
leading up to the event,
Hermiston invites resi-
dents to put their detective
skills to work in search of a
golden medallion.
FILE PHOTO
Eldon Marcum, Umatilla County Fire District 1 assistant volunteer chief, flips hamburgers
while cooking at the 2017 National Night Out party in Stanfield.
“Every community does
something a little bit dif-
ferent to celebrate,” Eynon
said. “In Hermiston, we like
to spread the fun over sev-
eral days by incorporating a
community treasure hunt.”
Miears hid a special
medallion, which is about
3 inches in diameter and is
attached to a red, white and
blue ribbon, somewhere
on public property within
Hermiston. The person who
finds it will be treated to an
ice cream social block party
by the city of Hermiston
during Tuesday’s National
Night Out festivities.
Rules for the contest
were published in Tuesday’s
East Oregonian, along with
the first clue. Additional
clues can be found daily in
Echo & Stanfield
The communities of Echo and Stan-
field will celebrate National Night Out on
Tuesday, Aug. 14.
Since Aug. 7 is the first day of the
Umatilla County Fair, Laurie Nelsen of
the Echo Public Library said it seemed to
make more sense to wait a week to cele-
brate National Night Out.
With the Stanfield Police Department
providing services in both Echo and Stan-
field, most of the activities are the same.
Also, local businesses have donated items
to be used as door prizes and raffle draw-
ings in both Echo and Stanfield.
“It’s a great time to get to know your
neighbors and meet police officers in the
community,” she said.
In its 12th year of celebrating National
Night Out, Echo will host its community
event from 6-8 p.m. at the Echo Masonic
Lodge and George Park. Resuming the
event in 2017 after a 13-year hiatus, Stan-
the EO until the medallion
is found. In addition, the
Hermiston Herald is provid-
ing a bonus clue.
People who are organiz-
ing a neighborhood party
are encouraged to provide
details to the Hermiston
Police Department. In addi-
tion, if you find the golden
medallion, you must imme-
diately contact Miears at
tmiears@hermiston.or.us
or 541-667-5112 (leave a
message).
Bonus Clue:
How can you be sure if
you’re on the right track?
Take the advice of Nor-
worth and Tilzer.
You’ll start there and in
the end be back.
field will hold this year’s event from 7-9
p.m. at Bard Park. Stanfield’s evening will
close with an outdoor movie showing of
“Paddington 2.”
Each event will feature a free barbecue
meal of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and
drinks. Kids are encouraged to bring their
bike and helmet and get ready to pedal
away during the Bicycle Rodeo. Prizes
will be presented to participants. Also,
other games will be available.
Also, leading up to both events, peo-
ple are encouraged to nominate a local cit-
izen in their community to be recognized
as the Neighbor of the Year. For both com-
munities, nominations can be submitted
through city hall or the police department.
In addition, Stanfield residents can down-
load a form at www.cityofstanfield.com.
For questions or to volunteer to help
with Echo’s event, call police chief Bryon
Zumwalt at 541-449-3245 or city hall at
541-376-8411. For Stanfield residents,
call Zumwalt.
The Hermiston Sum-
mer Choir has been
rehearsing for several
weeks and is set to per-
form a concert.
Presented by Inland
Northwest Musicians and
Hermiston Parks & Rec-
reation, the free perfor-
mance is Wednesday, Aug.
1 at 8 p.m. at the Herm-
iston Community Cen-
ter, 415 S. Highway 395.
(Note: the concert was
originally scheduled for
Aug. 5).
Under the direction of
R. Lee Friese, the choir
features both teen and
adult musicians. The pro-
gram includes “Singin’ in
the Rain,” which is often
referred to as the great-
est movie musical of all
time, “Happy Together”
recorded by The Turtles
and “The Rainbow Con-
nection” from “The Mup-
pet Movie.”
For more information,
contact 541-667-5018 or
inwm@machmedia.net.
Little library
encourages reading
Several groups are
working to turn the page
on illiteracy by provid-
ing free access to books in
Echo.
Altrusa International
of Hermiston, the Echo
Kiwanis and H&P Cafe
are teaming up to celebrate
the unveiling of Books for
Kids in Echo, which is a
free little lending library.
Ice cream will be served
and mayor Jeanie Hamp-
ton will speak Saturday at
2 p.m. at the little library
outside the cafe, 231 W.
Main St., Echo.
The Girl Scouts of
Oregon and Southwest
Washington gathered and
donated the first batch
of books for the project.
People are invited to take
a book to read and are
invited to donate a book
for others to enjoy. There
is no cost, said Laurie
Nelsen of the Echo Public
Library.
“I think that’s pretty
cool,” she said.
In addition, to fur-
ther encourage literacy
and reading, H&P Cafe
is offering a free cupcake
or ice cream cone to kids
who read or trade books
between Saturday’s little
library unveiling and the
first day of school (Aug.
27). The Little Library
will be stationed outside
the cafe.
For more information,
call 541-376-8411.
Guitar duo strums
Latin sound
STAFF PHOTO BY
TAMMY MALGESINI
The Hermiston resident who
finds this golden medallion,
which is hidden somewhere
on public property in
Hermiston, will win a
National Night Out ice cream
social block party Tuesday,
Aug. 7.
An acoustic guitar duo
featuring Jesse Campos
and Lance Smith will per-
form during the upcoming
Music in the Parks.
Blue Mountain Spanish
Sound, who have released
two albums, play origi-
nal classical guitar music
with Latin influences.
According to Jason Val-
entine of “Good Morning
Northwest,” the duo have
the “Fastest fingers in the
Northwest”.
The free performance
is Monday, Aug. 6 at 7
p.m. at Boardman Marina
Park. In case of inclement
weather, the performance
will be held at the SAGE
Center.
People are encouraged
to bring a blanket or lawn
chair. In addition, those
attending are welcome to
bring a picnic and bever-
ages to enjoy while lis-
tening to the music. Also,
food and beverages are
available for purchase
from the Boardman Little
League.
Music in the Parks
alternates each Monday
through Aug. 13 between
Irrigon and Boardman
marina parks. For more
information,
contact
Jackie McCauley at util-
ity.clerk@cityofboard-
man.com, 541-720-1289
or 541-481-9252. For
more about the musicians,
visit www.bluemtspanish-
sound.com.
Driving course
cruises into
Hermiston
Motorists can receive
a refresher on the rules of
the road and learn more
about defensive driving
skills during an upcom-
ing AARP Driver’s Safety
class.
While the course is
geared for those who are
age 50 or older, any driver
can attend the class. The
course meets Thursday,
Aug. 16 from 8:45 a.m.
to 4 p.m. at the Hermis-
ton Public Library, 235
E. Gladys Ave. People are
responsible for their own
lunch during a provided
break.
The cost is $15 for
AARP members or $20
for non-members. Upon
successful
completion,
drivers may receive a dis-
count on their insurance.
To pre-register, call Lou
Bisson at 541-989-8141.
Training provides
Mental Health First
Aid
A training that is
designed to give peo-
ple proper tools to inter-
act with students that may
be experiencing mental
health or substance use
problems is being offered
in Eastern Oregon.
Local sessions of Youth
Mental Health First Aid
Training are offered Mon-
day, Aug. 13 in Boardman
and Thursday, Aug. 16 in
Pendleton
The training is offered
by The Eastern Oregon
Healthy Living Alliance,
in coordination with Inter-
Mountain Education Ser-
vice District and Greater
Oregon Behavioral Health
Inc. Participants will learn
a five-step action plan that
guides them through the
process of reaching out
and offering appropriate
support.
For more information,
including the time and
location of the trainings,
contact John Adams at
jadams@gobhi.net or 541-
219-0907. To learn more
about Mental Health First
Aid USA, visit www.men-
talhealthfirstaid.org.
. Local support
throughout the year
1-800-733-2773
70615