COMMUNITY
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Inland Musicians
spring into
weekend concerts
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Superintendent Armand Larive to retire
Free performances
feature string orchestra
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY WRITER
It’s been more than
a year since the Inland
Northwest Musicians have
presented a concert. And
R. Lee Friese, music direc-
tor/conductor, is looking
forward to the opportunity
to perform.
“What we do with
presenting music is it
enhances and enriches
people’s lives … some-
thing we can all use right
now,” he said. “By the
same token, we want to
follow the guidelines.”
The Inland Northwest
String Orchestra, which
includes 18 musicians, has
been tuning up its instru-
ments for a pair of con-
certs this weekend. The
ensemble will present
“Spring String Orchestra”
on Saturday at the Stan-
fi eld Baptist Church, 310
E. Wheeler Ave., and on
Sunday at the Pendleton
Adventist Church, 1401
S.W. Goodwin Place. Both
concerts begin at 4 p.m.
There is no admission
charge but donations are
gladly accepted.
Friese said one of the
organization’s ensembles
was preparing for a May
2020 performance when
Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-
home executive order was
issued — forcing musi-
cians to put away their
instruments and rest their
voices.
As the 2020 holiday
season was approaching,
the group’s spirits were
raised with the possibil-
ity of fi nally presenting a
concert. However, their
hopes were dashed when
an increase in COVID-19
cases resulted in a “two-
week freeze,” which was
immediately
followed
by restrictions on indoor
gatherings continuing into
the new year.
“We had four rehearsals
and then the county was
declared ‘extreme risk’
so we were shut down,”
Friese said. “So, here we
are again.”
During
the
week-
end performances, Friese
said the musicians will be
wearing masks. In addi-
tion, audience members
are asked to observe safety
protocols, including wear-
ing masks.
The sanctuaries at
both venues, Friese said,
allows for adequate spac-
ing for social distanc-
ing with those living out-
side people’s immediate
households.
The program includes
“Suite for Strings” by
John Rutter, which fea-
tures a collection of
four folk songs: “A-rov-
ing,” “I Have a Bonnet
Trimmed with Blue,” “O
Waly Waly” and “Dashing
Away with the Smooth-
ing Iron.” Other pieces
include “Brook Green
Suite” by Gustav Holst,
“Bases Loaded” by Car-
Lukes Photos/Contributed Photo,
File
Under the direction of R. Lee
Friese, the Inland Northwest
Musicians String Orchestra
will present a pair of concerts
this weekend in Hermiston
and Pendleton.
rie Lane Gruselle, “Blue-
Fire Fiddler” by Soon Hee
Newbold, “Shenandoah”
arranged by Erik Morales,
“Humoresque” by Antonin
Dvorak, and “Folk Tune
and Fiddle Dance” by
Percy E. Fletcher.
“Our last live per-
formance was in Feb-
ruary 2020, so this is a
very exciting and diffi -
cult re-entry into the live
performance world amid
a pandemic,” said Karen
Baxter, program manager.
Friese said while some
of the organization’s mem-
bership maintained con-
tact throughout the past
year, many typically only
connect as a concert nears.
The board of directors, he
said, sent periodic emails
to provide updates for the
musicians.
The nonprofi t organi-
zation also was busy with
fundraising eff orts. In
addition to applying for
grants, Friese said they
were able to access some
programs designed to help
organizations impacted by
the global pandemic.
Baxter
said
they
focused on diversifying
their fundraising eff orts.
They utilized the creativ-
ity of members and dona-
tions from others to serve
as vendors at area bazaars,
including one held out-
doors this past winter
when the mercury dipped
down to 25 degrees.
Friese said the pub-
lic can provide fi nancial
support in several ways,
including “…attending a
fundraising event or com-
ing to a concert and shar-
ing in the spirit of event
and if they choose to make
a donation, they can do
that.”
Founded in 1999, Inland
Northwest Musicians fea-
tures several ensembles,
including a full symphony
orchestra, a chorale and a
youth/preparatory orches-
tra. A classical music
organization, they travel
throughout the region to
provide free music to rural
audiences.
For more informa-
tion, contact 541-289-
4696, inwm@machmedia.
net or visit www.inland-
northwestmusicians.com
or
www.facebook.com/
InlandNorthwestMusi-
cians.
Hermiston Herald, File
VFW member Helen McCracken, left, pins a poppy on Hermiston Mayor Frank Harkenrider with VFW and American Legion
member Aileen Ware, right, to kick off the organization’s annual poppy sale.
25 YEARS AGO
May 21, 1996
Anthony Cole picked up the
M-16 and took aim at a target next to
a tree. The weapon was almost equal
in length to the elementary school
student. Pulling the trigger back,
Anthony blasted off fi ve rounds of
blanks in the blink of an eye.
“Whoa,” said Anthony.
Saturday was Armed Forces Day
and the Umatilla Army Chemical
Depot held an open house. People
came out to look around some mili-
tary vehicles, take a tour of the depot
and learn more about its purpose.
An M-16 shooting range was set
up. Under the watchful eye of depot
security guard Rick Risinger, visi-
tors shot off blanks out of the auto-
matic weapon.
2) The countdown is on for the
fi rst day of construction of a commu-
nity-built playground at the Hermis-
ton Butte.
Despite being a little short on
fundraising and volunteers, Funland
Community Playground coordina-
tors say they expect the project to be
completed on schedule.
Construction is slated to be com-
pleted by June 9.
Hermiston Herald, File
Hermiston High School students examine photos of a wreck involving a drunken
driver during an educational program in 1996.
Carolyn Bozeman checks
her weapon before fi ring
blanks at the shooting
range at the Umatilla
Army Chemical Depot at
an open house in 1996.
50 YEARS AGO
May 20, 1971
Superintendent Armand O. Lar-
ive of Hermiston School District 8R
has decided to retire July 1, School
Board Chairman Marvin Lemmon
announced at the Monday night
meeting of the board.
Larive, absent because of illness,
sent word that if his health permits
he will return to his duties before the
retirement date. He will be retiring
one year early at 64.
Lemmon expressed appreciation
for Larive’s service as superinten-
dent, which began here in July 1948
after six years of service as super-
intendent of Wallowa schools. Dr.
Wendell Ford, vice chairman of the
board, said it will be a sad thing for
the district to lose such a leader.
Larive, who suff ered a heart
attack fi ve years ago, is reported not
to have had another one. He became
ill about three weeks ago but is now
at home and is said to be improving.
75 YEARS AGO
May 23, 1946
Forty-two seniors will receive
diplomas tonight at the commence-
ment exercises at the high school
auditorium, having completed their
Hermiston Herald, File
high school education with suffi cient
credits. Miss Lucy Hollomon is vale-
dictorian and Miss Betty Jean Hart-
sook has been named salutatorian.
David Pierson has the highest grades
of any boy in the class.
In this year’s class, 27 graduates
are girls and 15 are boys.
2) Eighteen students and two fac-
ulty members from the school of
agriculture at Oregon State College
were guests Saturday at the Umatilla
branch experiment station to observe
the agricultural practices there.
The Farm Crops club members
and their advisors, Dr. D.D. Hill,
head of the farm crops department,
and Dr. R.E. Fore, professor of farm
crops development, were on a four-
day tour of the important agricultural
areas of Eastern Oregon.
100 YEARS AGO
May 20, 1921
Last Saturday, Mr. T. Hall’s house
caught fi re and fl ames covered the
roof before the alarm was given. The
house would have been completely
burned but for the quick work of the
fi re department. Within three min-
utes from the time the alarm was
given, water was on the fi re and the
fl ames were quickly extinguished.
The house was not insured. Mr. Hall
has begun to rebuild his house and
will soon have it completed.
2) The Commencement season
is at hand and the Hermiston High
School graduates a class of seven
girls and two boys this year. These
are the fi rst boys to graduate from
the school since 1918.
The commencement festivities
began last Friday when the junior
class gave the annual reception to the
seniors, the details of which will be
found in another column. Miss Dor-
othy Briggs entertained the members
of the class at the faculty at a din-
ner party at the home of her parents
Tuesday evening. On Friday, May
29, the class night exercises will take
place in the school auditorium, when
the class history will be reviewed,
the prophecy given by “Old Man
Warriner,” the fi nal will of the class
read, and a chalk talk by the class
artist along with songs and stunts
will vary the program.
BY THE WAY
Sen. Merkley to hold town hall on Wednesday, May 19
Sen. Jeff Merkley will hold a remote town hall for
Umatilla County residents on Wednesday, May 19.
Merkley will provide updates on his work in Wash-
ington, D.C., and take questions and suggestions from
participants who can chime into the town hall via com-
puter, mobile device or telephone, according to a press
release.
The town hall will start at 4 p.m. Attendees can join
a Zoom chat through computer, smartphone or tablet,
the press release said.
They can also call in to the meeting by dialing
669-254-5252. The meeting ID for the call is 161
984 8513#, the participant ID is # and the passcode is
48529251#.
• • •
Results for the Tuesday, May 18, election can be
found online at www.hermistonherald.com, in next
week’s Hermiston Herald and in Thursday’s East
Oregonian.
The Hermiston Herald must print by 5 p.m. on
Tuesdays to accommodate the schedule for all of the
other newspapers printed by the same press, while
election results in Oregon, including Umatilla and
Morrow counties, are not posted until after the ballot
drop-off deadline at 8 p.m.
• • •
Morrow County Sheriff ’s Offi ce is reminding
drivers they will be conducting extra enforcement
during the national “Click it or ticket” campaign from
May 24 to June 6.
The sheriff ’s offi ce and other law enforcement agen-
cies will be on the lookout for drivers and passengers
not wearing seatbelts, and writing tickets.
According to the National Highway Traffi c Safety
Administration, there were 9,466 people killed in
traffi c crashes who were not wearing their seatbelts in
2019, with about 60% of victims of traffi c fatalities
that took place at night not wearing a seatbelt.
“We want the act of buckling up to become auto-
matic to all drivers and passengers,” Undersheriff
John Bowles said in a statement. “It’s not just a safe
thing to do — it’s the law. ... We see the results of not
wearing a seatbelt all the time. We see the loss of life.
So often, it could be prevented.”
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu
for Thursday, May 20, is baked fi sh, coleslaw, veggies
and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, May 25, is Swiss
steak, potato wedges, salad and dessert.
For a Meals on Wheels delivery in Hermiston, call
541-567-3582 before 10 a.m. to place an order.
To pick up a meal from the center at 255 N.E. Sec-
ond St., call the same number before 11 a.m. Meals are
$4 and can be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
The Boardman Senior Center is now providing
meal delivery. Meals are $4 paid upon delivery. Call
541-481-3257 to order.