A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019
BRIEFS
File photo
Participants recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the steps of Hermiston City Hall during the 2018
Martin Luther King Jr. Day March in Hermiston. This year’s event is Monday, Jan. 21.
MLK event encourages
positive change
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
John Carbage doesn’t
hold back when asked what
needs to change in the world
today.
“We have kind of moved
away from the church and
the teachings of the gospel
to more of a worldly state,”
he said. “We need for the
nation as a whole to be more
Christ-like.”
Carbage, president of the
Hermiston Cultural Aware-
ness Club, hopes to bring
people together during the
upcoming Martin Luther
King Jr. March. The event
also features music and spe-
cial speakers.
Carbage
is
excited
about having Isaac Butts
and John Witherspoon of
Wake Up Nation on hand
for the event. The march is
Monday, Jan. 21 — Mar-
tin Luther King Jr. Day
— beginning at 11 a.m. at
the First United Method-
ist Church, 191 E. Gladys
Ave., Hermiston. The group
will take a short walk to
Main Street that will end up
in front of Hermiston City
Hall with a few words from
city manager Byron Smith.
Carbage is especially hope-
ful that members of younger
generations will attend.
“Our young people
are our future,” Carbage
said. “And there are quite
a few young people that
need some guidance and
direction.”
The gathering will then
enter the Methodist church,
where the program is being
presented by Wake Up
Nation. Carbage describes
the Kennewick-based group
as a spiritual movement.
“They are trying to wake
up the nation to get closer
to Christ, to pray and give
thanks more,” he said.
Witherspoon will per-
form a couple of rap songs,
including gospel rap. Butts
will share reflections about
King’s life and how he
found success with his
movement because he was
close to Christ.
The hope of the Herm-
iston Cultural Awareness
Club is to bring people of
different cultures together.
“We need to build a pos-
itive community,” said Vir-
ginia Rome-Garcia, a mem-
ber of the club. “We need
to make a difference in
our community by being
involved.”
The event, Carbage said,
offers people a chance to
visit with others and learn
more about our nation’s his-
tory, King and his legacy.
A social activist and
civil rights leader, King
received the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1964. Also a pastor
and author, he was assas-
sinated in 1968 on the bal-
cony of a motel in Mem-
phis, Tennessee.
“The march a good way
to meet people you may
not normally meet, fellow-
ship with or talk to,” Car-
bage said. “Also, if we don’t
remember our history, we
are doomed to repeat it.”
Also, Carbage invites
people to attend club meet-
ings, which are held the sec-
ond Saturday of each month
at 2 p.m. at Starbuck’s, 1235
N. First St., Hermiston. For
more information, call Car-
bage at 541-701-7073.
Rec department
offers family fun
Bouncy houses, a bungee run, inflatable
jousting, ping pong, Mario Kart and more
are featured during Family Friday Night.
The event is Friday from 4-7 p.m. at
the Hermiston Community Center, 415 S.
Highway 395. The cost is $7 per person.
Concessions are available (cash only).
Due to limited space, pre-registration is
urged. For more information or to register,
call 541-667-5018 or visit www.hermiston.
or.us/parks-recreation/home.
Any license issued after March 1 —
except new dogs obtained after that date
— will be assessed a $10 per month pen-
alty. New dogs must be licensed within two
weeks of obtaining them and puppies must
be licensed within two weeks of turning six
months old.
Country Animal Hospital will hold
a Rabies Shot Clinic on Saturday, Jan.
26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Masonic
Lodge, 20 S. Dupont St. The cost is $20.
No credit or debit cards are accepted.
For more information, call 541-376-
8411 or visit www.echo-oregon.com.
Altrusa seeks young
citizen nominations
Domestic Violence
Services seeks help
Altrusa International of Hermiston is
looking for a young person to recognize
as the Outstanding Young Citizen at the
Hermiston Distinguished Citizens Awards
Banquet.
The nominee should be under 21 years
old and have performed outstanding com-
munity service. He or she should demon-
strate commitment, personal responsibility,
positive attitude, leadership and a caring
attitude toward others. For a nomination
form, contact a member of Altrusa or email
hermistonaltrusa@gmail.com. The nomi-
nation form is due by Friday, Feb. 1.
The recipient will be recognized during
the event, which is Wednesday, Feb. 20 at
6 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Cen-
ter, 415 S. Highway 395.
People looking for volunteer opportu-
nities might consider Domestic Violence
Services. Assistance is needed with light
housekeeping in the offices, yard beautifi-
cation, repair projects, assisting with chil-
dren’s activities, leading a supply drive or
helping with outreach or with the crisis
line. Free training is available.
Domestic Violence Services has served
Umatilla and Morrow counties for more
than 40 years. In addition to shelters in
Hermiston and Pendleton, it maintains a
24-hour crisis line (800-833-1161) and pro-
vides support services and advocacy activ-
ities for victims of domestic violence or
sexual assault. There are offices in Herm-
iston, Boardman, Pendleton, Milton-Free-
water and Heppner.
For information, contact volunteer@
dvs-or.org, 541-276-3322 or visit www.
dvs-or.org.
Agape House sets
parking lot sale
Furniture, knick-knacks and clothing
are available for purchase during a parking
lot sale at Agape House.
Find bargains and help support East-
ern Oregon Mission programs and out-
reach. The event is Saturday from 8:30-
11:30 a.m. at 500 Harper Road, Hermiston.
Winter apparel is free, you name the price
for knick-knacks and furniture is priced as
marked. In case of inclement weather, the
sale will be indoors. Donations for the sale
will be accepted through Friday.
Eastern Oregon Mission through Agape
House and Martha’s House, serves indi-
viduals and families in need. For informa-
tion, to volunteer or make donations, call
541-567-8774.
Register Fido in Echo
The city of Echo is reminding its res-
idents that they must obtain 2019 dog
licenses by Thursday, Feb. 28.
License fees are $5 per year for spayed
or neutered dogs or $15 for unaltered dogs.
Proof of a current rabies shot is required.
Tax help available in
February
The AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide pro-
gram provides free tax assistance and
preparation beginning in February and run-
ning through early April.
The assistance provided through Tax
Aide is available to people with low to
moderate income, not just adults over 50.
Volunteers are trained and IRS-certi-
fied. Check the website for current infor-
mation and what to bring when going to a
Tax-Aide site. There are no appointments;
people are encouraged to arrive early to get
on the list. The current schedule include:
•Hermiston Public Library, 235 E.
Gladys Ave. Tuesdays and Thursdays
(Feb. 5 through April 11) from 8:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. (last day closes at noon).
•Boardman Senior Center, 100 Tatone
St. Wednesdays (Feb. 6 through April 10)
from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For information, visit www.aarpfoun-
dation.org/taxhelp or call 1-888-227-7669.
COMING FEBRUARY 13
Conference pursues personal
encounters with God
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
A faith-based conference
with the theme of “Cover the
Earth” features live music,
inspirational speakers and
top-notch performances.
“It talks about the idea
to cover the earth with the
presence of God,” said Rev.
Terry Haight of the Herm-
iston Assembly of God
Church. “Pursuit is the idea
of going after God.”
In its seventh year, Pur-
suit kicks off Friday, Jan 18
at 7 p.m. at the Assembly of
God Church, 730 E. Hurl-
burt Ave., Hermiston. There
is no admission charge. It
continues with sessions Sat-
urday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m.,
2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Also, the
church is hosting Pursuit
Sunday during its regular
worship time Sunday, Jan.
20 at 10:30 a.m.
Haight invites every-
one to attend, regardless of
their level of faith or reli-
gious affiliation. In addition,
he challenges people to pur-
sue God.
“There’s more to it than
just checking into a church,”
Haight said. “There’s a real
encounter we can have with
God.”
The
special
guests
include Jeremy Johnson of
Fearless Church LA, Becky
Johnson of the Jesus Cul-
ture Church in Sacramento
and Matt Molt, lead pas-
tor of New Vintage Church
in the Tri-Cities. Each of
the speakers, Haight said,
address challenges that
people are facing. In addi-
tion, they will share about
the importance of a per-
sonal connection with Jesus
Christ.
“We talk about salvation
and eternity because every-
one will live for eternity —
Exclusively in the
Wednesday East Oregonian
and Hermiston Herald
Contributed photo
Audience members raise their hands in praise during Pursuit
2018. This year’s faith-based conference is Jan. 18-20 at the
Hermiston Assembly of God Church.
Contributed photo
Pursuit, a faith-based conference, features contemporary
music, motivational speakers and top-notch performances.
The Jan. 18-20 event is at the Assembly of God Church in
Hermiston.
it’s just a matter of where,”
Haight said. “It’s more than
just going to church. It’s a
relationship with God.”
Haight said while the ini-
tial focus of the conference
was geared for the youths
and young adults, its open to
everyone.
“It’s for ages 0 to 99,”
Haight said. “The music is
going to be more contempo-
rary but the speaking is kind
of middle of the road — it
will speak to all ages.”
Also, there are still vol-
unteer opportunities avail-
able to help with the confer-
ence. People are needed to
do everything from hospital-
ity and greeting to clean-up,
food preparation and secu-
rity. Those interested are
invited to a volunteer’s
meeting Thursday, Jan. 17 at
7 p.m. at the church.
For more information,
visit www.pursuitconf.com,
www.facebook.com/pursuit-
conf or call 541-567-5831.
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