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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 29, 2020)
BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 Maxwell Market sees slower season Vendors follow social distancing guidelines and booths are set along the walls, 6 feet apart By NADA SEWIDAN STAFF WRITER Business at the Maxwell Market has been slow this summer compared to previ- ous years, according to sev- eral vendors. They attributed the slow- down in business to the pan- demic. The market included its usual live music, produce vendors, bakery, food trucks and more on Thursday, July 23, but this year’s market features added safety mea- sures to protect vendors and customers. Booths and tables were spread 6 feet apart and lined against the wall. Floor mark- ers indicated where peo- ple could stand with safe distancing. A few booths were also set up directly in front of the pavilion. People attending the market were asked to wear a face cov- ering prior to entering the event space and before inter- acting with vendors. Jackie Kerns, a vendor for Way of Life Farms, said that week in particular had been slow compared to past markets in the season. “It hasn’t been as busy as it’s usually been,” she said. “People are slowly trickling in and out, but last week, it was a lot faster. There were a lot more people coming in.” Kerns said it’s hard to hear people through the mask and the distance, and she needs to raise her voice IF YOU GO The next market is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at Maxwell Pavil- ion, 145 N. First Place in Hermiston. a lot to be able to commu- nicate. In regards to busi- ness, Kerns said they did not make as much money as they normally would have this time in the season. “We’ve haven’t made as much today as we’ve usu- ally made,” she said. “Hope- fully, next week it picks up more.” Teresa Engbretson, a fl o- ral vendor for My Garden Overfl oweth, has attended the market as a vendor on and off for four years and said this has been a slow season business-wise. She said she doesn’t think a lot of people know that the mar- ket is open for the season. In terms of people wear- ing masks and maintaining 6 feet of distance, she said everyone is doing well on that end. Lucy Alvarez, who makes Mama Lucy’s Salsa, agreed with other vendors about the slower pace. “With this pandemic people don’t want to come out,” she said. “It’s been different.” The market normally runs from 4-8 p.m. each Thursday at the Maxwell Pavilion, 145 N. First Place in Hermiston. The market has been canceled for Thurs- day, July 30, but organizers plan to reopen it on Thurs- day, Aug. 6. Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Shoppers wander the booths at the Maxwell Market on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Signs encourage social distancing at the Maxwell Market in Hermiston on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Workplace outbreaks include Hermiston nursing homes By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Umatilla County Public Health continues to report deaths at Hermiston nursing homes after an outbreak at Regency Hermiston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The county has reported six deaths of people with COVID-19 that took place at Regency Hermiston, and on July 28 reported a death at Guardian Angel Homes in Hermiston. Regency Hermiston had 37 cases linked to it as of the Oregon Health Authori- ty’s July 22 weekly COVID- 19 report. The state will release an updated report of outbreaks at worksites and congregate care facilities on Wednesday, July 29. The number in the report includes all cases and deaths of residents, staff and close contacts of residents or staff who appear to have con- tracted the virus from them. David Bake of Regency Hermiston said in an email that the facility had been working hard since March to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 through vari- Staff photo by Jade McDowell Regency Hermiston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has been linked to 37 COVID-19 cases, according to a weekly report published by the Oregon Health Authority on July 22, 2020. ous measures, such as tem- perature checks and regular testing of staff and residents. He said their thoughts and prayers were with those who tested positive and their families. After their fi rst posi- tive test on July 8, he said, they worked with the health department to complete test- ing on residents, and are in the process of fi nalizing the remainder of the staff testing. Employees who tested positive or are show- ing symptoms are quar- antining at home, and test results have been commu- nicated with families of the residents. Bake said Regency Hermiston will continue to follow Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention guidelines. “We will continue to work with both Oregon Health Authority and Department of Health offi cials to take the appropriate steps to pro- tect our residents and staff members, and to meet this extraordinary challenge in a compassionate and under- standing way,” he said. “We want to thank each and every member of the community that have con- nected with us and given support. We want to thank every staff member at Regency Hermiston for their amazing and true dedica- tion and caring for our resi- dents every day despite their own concerns and family responsibilities.” On July 28, the county announced three new deaths and 47 new confi rmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the county’s totals up to 1,704 confi rmed cases, 103 pre- sumptive cases, 13 hospital- izations and 19 deaths. The county lists 1,479 cases as inactive. According to OHA, Uma- tilla County’s 17th COVID- 19 death was an 84-year- old woman with underlying health conditions who tested positive July 22 and died July 25 at Guardian Angel Homes in Hermiston. The county’s 18th death was an 87-year-old woman with underlying health con- ditions who tested posi- tive July 16 and died July 27 at Regency Hermiston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The 19th death was a 94-year-old woman who tested positive July 22 and died July 28 at Regency in Hermiston. Her death marked the sixth death of a COVID-19 positive patient the county has announced at Regency. Also included in OHA’s weekly report are work- place outbreaks of COVID- 19 where at least fi ve cases have been linked to a site that has 30 or more employ- ees. Workplaces remain on the list until they have gone 30 days without a new case linked to them, either through an employee or close contact. Eastern Oregon Correc- tional Institution remains on the list. Superintendent Ron Miles provided up-to-date information on Wednesday, July 22, stating by email that there are 33 positive cases at EOCI, including fi ve staff, and 48 adults in cus- tody who have tested nega- tive. Fifty-three tests at the institution are still pending results, and approximately 700 inmates are in quaran- tine status. Other Umatilla and Mor- row county worksites listed in the July 22 report are: • Lamb Weston, Herm- iston, 142 cases Trucking, • Medelez Hermiston, 38 cases • Columbia River Pro- cessing (Tillamook), Boardman, 30 cases Foods, • Shearer’s Hermiston, 27 cases • Walmart Distribution Center, Hermiston, 23 cases Staffi ng, • Atkinson Hermiston, 19 cases • Good Shepherd Medi- cal Center, Hermiston, 15 cases • Oregon Potato Com- pany, Boardman, 12 cases • JM Eagle, Umatilla, 10 cases • Walmart store, Herm- iston, 10 cases • Two Rivers Correc- tional Institution, Uma- tilla, 8 cases Homes, • Marlette Hermiston, 6 cases Nutrient cycling conference accepting abstracts HERMISTON HERALD A free, virtual Regional Nutrient Cycling Soil Health and Food Safety Conference will take place in the Pacifi c Northwest on Oct. 27-29. The conference is accept- ing abstracts now through Sept. 18. It will be targeted toward growers, extension centers, irrigation districts, environmental organiza- tions, agronomists and oth- ers with an interest in soil health. Opportunities for continuing education cred- its are expected, according to a fl yer for the event. According to the bro- chure, the conference will include virtual tours of farms, and discussions on topics, including debunking the myths of manure, tech- nologies for capture and recycling of manure phos- phorus and solids; carbon sequestering and storage, predicting nitrogen miner- alization in organic farm- ing systems; safe use of compost/manure for vege- table crops, economics, and nutrient cycling in grazing systems; irrigation manage- ment and food safety. Funding is provided by Western SARE, and the conference is being orga- nized by the United States Department of Agriculture and western universities, including Oregon State University. Ray Quin, an agronomist at the Hermis- ton Agricultural Research and Extension Center, is one of the organizers and presenters. For more information, or to submit an abstract or reg- ister, visit extension.wsu. edu/pmwncfsc. HOME MAINTENANCE CENTER 541-567-7534 Blue Mountain 225 100% Douglas Fir $ Brown Bag Pellets per ton $ White Bags Fir-Pine Mix per ton 195 The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. eomediagroup.com Come enjoy some delicious homestyle cooking and friendly service! TN20 Wood Stove $ • Burgers • Wraps • Salads • Sandwiches • Smoked Baby Back Ribs • Prime Rib & More! 1,299 • 18” max logs • 55,000 BTU ALL STOVES ARE 2020 CERTIFIED 149 E. Main St., Hermiston • 541-567-3022 Hours: Tues & Wed 7am-10pm • Thurs-Sat 7am-12am Sun 7am-9pm • Closed Monday
