LOCAL
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2019
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
Hermiston teachers walk in — not out — for education funding
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
Hermiston
High
School’s colors are purple
and gold, but last Wednes-
day the stands at Kennison
Field were full of red.
Teachers from across the
Hermiston School District
rallied together at 7 a.m.
for a “walk-in” instead of a
walk-out as teachers across
the state used May 8 to push
legislators for more invest-
ment in education. They
held signs encouraging law-
makers to “fully fund Ore-
gon schools” and wore
matching red T-shirts as
part of a broader “Red for
Ed” movement.
“We’re not here to push
for raises and other union
demands, we’re here to
ask legislators to invest in
our students,” said Delfi no
Osorio Garcia, the Herm-
iston Teachers Association
president.
On Wednesday, Oso-
rio Garcia addressed the
crowd of teachers, classi-
fi ed staff, administrators
and school board mem-
bers, wishing them a happy
Teacher Appreciation Week
and thanking them for their
service to students in the
district.
Staff photo by Jade McDowell
Hermiston School District teachers gathered before school on Wednesday, May 8, to show their support for increased education
funding.
“You are valued and
appreciated,” he said.
He said Oregon’s aver-
age class sizes are some of
the largest in the nation, and
schools need more fund-
ing from the state to ade-
quately address the needs
of students, particularly
those who come from back-
grounds of abuse, neglect or
other trauma.
“We need more nurses,
more counselors, more
librarians, more art, more
music, more P.E. and more
support for students with
behavioral problems,” he
said.
Superintendent
Tricia
Mooney also took the fl oor,
thanking everyone present
for “taking a stand against
inadequate funding for
education.”
The walk-in was orga-
nized in response to plans
in other school districts
for teachers to walk off
the job. Local teachers had
previously stated that they
wanted to participate in the
effort to raise awareness of
the need for more education
funding, but did not want to
add more days to the school
year for students.
Mooney thanked the
teachers for understanding
that their students needed
them in the classroom.
“You guys are amaz-
ing and I couldn’t be more
proud,” she said.
As teachers around the
state took action to sup-
port more education fund-
ing, House Bill 3427 was
stalled in the state Senate as
Republican senators staged
a walk-out of their own.
All of the chamber’s
Republican caucus were
absent for most of last week
to prevent the Senate from
having the necessary quo-
rum to vote for HB 3427,
which would raise approxi-
mately $2 billion per bien-
nium for education through
a 0.57% tax on businesses
on sales inside the state
of Oregon exceeding $1
million.
Hermiston Art Festival blooms with creativity
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
With spring in the air, the
Hermiston Art Festival is creating
fresh excitement in the downtown
business district.
For more than a dozen years,
local art enthusiasts have hosted
an annual festival in Hermiston.
With the lack of a 2018-19 Desert
Arts Council season, a new part-
nership developed with the Herm-
iston Downtown District to pres-
ent the Hermiston Art Festival,
said Mary Corp, event co-chair.
“This is an opportunity to show
off the arts and our downtown,”
Corp said.
Judy Pederson, Hermiston
Downtown District president and
festival co-chair, said the event
supports and encourages peo-
ple’s creative spirits, while further
building a sense of community.
She’s thrilled about the opportu-
nity to show off improvements
and beautifi cation efforts in the
downtown district.
“Hermiston’s Main Street area
may be small in comparison to
other cities but it has heart and
believes in being a welcoming
place to everyone,” Pederson said.
An indoor/outdoor event, the
Hermiston Art Festival is Sat-
urday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. Professional artists from
across the region will display and
sell their work in hosting down-
town businesses and along Herm-
iston’s festival street.
Admission is free to attend the
festival. Special classes in paint-
ing (separate sessions for chil-
dren and adults), fl oral design and
cookie decorating are available
for fees ranging from $15-$30.
Corp said the caliber of work
Contributed photo by Adam Sims
The work of local photographer Adam Sims, including “Night at Monument Valley,” is featured during the Hermiston Art Festival May 18 in downtown
Hermiston.
and bronze awards and a people’s
choice award, which all include
cash prizes.
Also, Hermiston High School
art students will showcase their
creations at several businesses.
With 40 pieces of work, Corp said
that’s a strong show for Nikki
Cimmiyotti’s students. Five prizes
of $20 each will be awarded to
student artists.
Festival
entertainment
includes the HHS choir, Majazzty
(10 a.m.); BBPD — Brad and BC
Power Duo (10:45 a.m.); Jonna
Kopta, vocalist/keyboards (noon);
Zumba by Joy with audience par-
ticipation (1 p.m.); Cory Cooley
& Eric Jepsen, singing favorite
tunes with harmony (1:45 p.m.).
Referring to it as an art form,
Corp said including music as part
of the festival provides a fuller
experience. The diverse offerings,
she said, draws more people in.
“For us painters, you get to see
the fi nished product,” Corp said.
File photo
Several youths participate in
an art activity during a 2015 art
festival in Hermiston. Re-branded
as the Hermiston Art Festival, this
year’s event is Saturday, May 18 in
downtown Hermiston.
Contributed photo
A variety of mediums are featured
— including metal jewelry by Diana
Hayden of Hermiston — during the
Hermiston Art Festival. Artwork
will be on display and for sale May
18 in Main Street businesses and
Hermiston’s festival street.
in the juried show is superior,
including many new faces to the
festival. Featured artists include
Corp, Jan Beitel, Daniel Bren-
nan, Laura Gable, Diana Hayden,
Stella Hickey, Kate Kopaczewski,
Leah Lutz, Pat Quigley, Samantha
Sautter, Pam Sharp, Adam Sims
and Justin Stark. Mediums rep-
resented include paintings, fabric
art, jewelry, drawings, metal art
and wet plate photography. Art-
ists are competing for gold, silver
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Stacy is a veteran banker with
25 years experience. Raised in
Boardman, she’s proud to call
Eastern Oregon home. As an active
member of our local community,
you’ll find her volunteering with
the Hermiston Sports Boosters, the
Blue Mountain Golf Tournament
and the King and Queen’s Golf
Tournament. Find out how Stacy
can support your success.
“With musicians, you get to expe-
rience the sound. It adds energy.”
And, BBPD epitomizes energy.
Featuring a pair of former band
teachers — Brad Rozema and
BC Clarity — Corp calls them a
“dynamic duo.”
Playing with force and artistry,
the seasoned musicians also jug-
gle multiple instruments, includ-
ing saxophones, fl ute, trom-
bone, trumpet, fl ugelhorn, guitar,
piano and various percussion
instruments. Clarity carries the
load on vocals, while Rozema
harmonizes.
“We play everything from Dix-
ieland jazz to pop tunes,” Clarity
said. “We play a variety that no
one else can match.”
For more information about
the festival, call Corp at 541-720-
3859 or visit www.facebook.com/
Hermistondowntown. To pre-reg-
ister for classes, stop by Lucky
Endz Gifts, 239 E. Main St., or
call Pederson at 541-289-1112.
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