Dance party supports Day of Dance event

BAKER CITY — Crossroads Carnegie Art Center is planning a 1980s dance party fundraiser on Saturday, March 9, to support a Day of Dance event, which will happen in September at Geiser-Pollman Park.

The fundraiser runs from 6-9 p.m. at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Tickets at the door are $25 for couples or $15 for singles.

The evening features a DJ playing 1980s rock and pop, as well as costume contests, raffle drawings and a 50/50 drawing.

Crossroads hosted the first Day of Dance in 2022 in conjunction with National Dance Day and welcomed a diverse set of local and regional dance groups representing China, Laos, Indonesia and many more.

This year’s Day of Dance is set for Sept. 21.

Irish Dance Idaho and Boise Traditional Chinese Dancers have already confirmed their attendance, and updates will be posted on Crossroads’ social media pages and crossroads-arts.org.

Monthly dance happening Feb. 24 in La Grande

LA GRANDE — The BlueMountaineers monthly dance is Saturday, Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m. at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St. Admission is $5 or free for ages 12 and younger.

The evening includes a finger food potluck.

Fun at the Pendleton library

PENDLETON — The Pendleton Public Library, 502 SW Dorion Ave., has special events planned this month.

Ages 12 and older are invited to build a terrarium on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. Learn how to make two kinds of terrariums with plants that are (fairly) hard to kill.

A Bluey Party is planned for Saturday, Feb. 24, starting at 11 a.m. Join a scavenger hunt, a read-aloud and Bluey activities.

On Feb. 29, ages 8 to 12 can check out the STEAM Games programming made possible with funding from an Amazon Web Services grant. Children will learn by creating and playing in group STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art and math). This activity starts at 4:30 p.m.

Weekly activities at the library continue with story time on Thursdays at 10:15 a.m., and a toddler playdate on Fridays at 10:15 p.m. For library updates, visit pendleton.or.us/library.

Leslie Mendelson plays Churchill Feb. 25

BAKER CITY — Leslie Mendelson has recorded a duet with The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir and opened shows for The Who twice at Madison Square Garden, and this weekend she’s coming to Baker City.

Her newest album, “After the Party,” comes out in May 2024. She’ll start releasing singles in March, but she’ll give audiences a preview of the music when she plays at Churchill School on Sunday, Feb. 25.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance at churchillbaker.com or $22 at the door.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Mendelson has toured in the UK and plays multiple circuits around the United States. To learn more and hear samples of her music, visit www.lesliemendelson.com.

Teen drawing class at the Hermiston library

HERMISTON — The Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., will have a “character illustration for teens” session on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m. Attendees can learn how to draw faces, figures and clothing “with creative flair.”

Also, adults are invited to play bingo on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6-7 p.m.

The library also offers preschool story time every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., and a kids craft on Saturdays at 11 a.m.

Big Read events continue

EASTERN OREGON — Fishtrap’s Big Read program is in full swing with the featured book “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” by Ross Gay.

Events are planned every week until the finale and keynote address by Gay on Tuesday, March 12, at the OK Theatre in Enterprise.

Here’s a look at the upcoming events. For a full list, visit fishtrap.org/tbr2024.

Fridays, Feb. 23-March 22:

• “Gratitude, Joy and Delight: A Journaling Workshop” with Shannon McNerney, 10-11:30 a.m. at Fishtrap. Registration is $10 per week or $40 for all five sessions.

Feb. 24:

• Poetry workshop with Amelia Diaz Ettinger, 1 p.m. at Cook Memorial Library, 2006 Fourth St. in La Grande. Ettinger is a poet and writer. She was born in Mexico and raised in Puerto Rico. Her work delves into themes of identity, migration, and cultural fusion.

Feb. 28:

• Big Read book discussion, 1-2 p.m., Wallowa Public Library, 201 E. First St.

Feb. 29:

• Eastern Oregon University faculty poetry reading, 7 p.m., EOU Library reading room. Features EOU English Department faculty including James Benton, Jessica Holmes, Sheri Rysdam, Ryan Scariano and Mike Sell. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

‘Freaky Friday’ shows continue

PENDLETON — The ultimate story of a switch continues this month with College Community Theater’s winter show “Freaky Friday” presented at the Bob Clapp Theatre on the campus of Blue Mountain Community College.

The musical features Cheryl Carlson as the mother and Jenna Welch as the daughter who miraculously swap lives after a fervent wish.

Shows are at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22, 23, 24, 29 and March 1 and 2; matinee shows begin at 2 p.m. on Feb. 25 and March 3.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and $13 for students.

Buy tickets and see the full cast list at collegecommunitytheatre.com.

Ye Olde Pizza Shoppe serves fun

HERMISTON — Ye Olde Pizza Shoppe is slinging more than Italian pies at 845 N. First St.

Prepare to match wits with family and friends during Trivia Night at YOPS on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

The activity begins at 6 p.m.

Also, get tuned up for Singo at YOPS for a fun spin on the classic game of bingo. It is Monday, Feb. 26, also at 6 p.m.

There is no cover charge.

For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/3EnlUGY or call 541-567-9066.

ACE presents teaching artist Aaron Akers

LA GRANDE — On Feb. 25, teaching artist Aaron Akers will show students how to create beautiful landscapes and seascapes using oil paints, stretched and primed canvas, and a unique set of brushes in a class at Art Center East, 1006 Penn Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a one-hour break).

No painting experience is necessary. Participants will learn color mixing on a palette, color mixing and blending on canvas, and an array of additional techniques.

Akers will discuss how he got started in this medium and will teach the tools and techniques necessary to paint the sky, clouds, mountains, trees, water, snow, and other beauties of nature. All supplies are included.

Akers has a style of painting in line with the styles of Bill Alexander and Bob Ross.

He has been teaching as a Brandon Thomas Certified Instructor for 1½ years in the McMinnville, area, where he has taught through the Back Door Studio. His artwork is displayed in Italy, Spain, Canada, Baltimore, and at various locations in Oregon.

Class cost is $55 for ACE members and $65 for nonmembers. Youth scholarships are available.

Register in person at ACE Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., call 541-624-2800 or visit artcentereast.org.

Win reading material in Hermiston

HERMISTON — “B” is for bingo — and books.

If you like both, the Hermiston Public Library has just the event for you — Adult Bingo for Books. The free event is Thursday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m. at the library, 235 E. Gladys Ave.

Check it out and you might win some new reading materials just in time for spring. For more information, call 541-567-2882.

Power House sets table for ‘film feast’

WALLA WALLA — A night of culinary creations paired with food-themed short flicks is featured during February Restaurant Month in Walla Walla.

The February Film Feast is Saturday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m. at the Power House Theatre, 111 N. Sixth Ave. The culinary celebration is a partnership between the theater, Walla Walla Movie Crush, Visit Walla Walla and the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center. The films, curated by Warren Etheredge, start at 7 p.m.

The evening includes local wines, hearty appetizers and other delicious snacks. Reserved seats are $55. For tickets, visit www.phtww.org or call 509-529-6500.

Book signing for ‘Meatquake and Big Ernie’

LA GRANDE — John Milbert has had quite a few adventures in his 75 years, and now he’s preserved some of those tales in a book titled “Meatquake and Big Ernie.”

At 401 pages, “Meatquake and Big Ernie” is a compilation of true stories, from an encounter with a rattlesnake to outrunning a derailing locomotive to hitchhiking in an ice storm.

The stories encompass many places he’s lived, including the North Bend area and Eastern Oregon — La Grande, Baker City, and working the steel gang in Huntington and more.

Milbert will have a reading and book signing on Saturday, Feb. 24, 3-5 p.m. at Jax Dog bookstore, 1305 Adams Ave. in La Grande.

Ag & Home Expo plows into second year

HERMISTON — After harvesting the inaugural event in 2023, Farm City Ag & Home Expo is returning for a second year. Admission is free.

The event kicks off Friday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1701 E. Airport Road. It highlights the agriculture community, farmers, ranchers and youths. It includes a course on nutrition and showmanship on sheep, goats and hogs presented by Northwest Farm Supply and Purina.

The expo’s Family Day is Saturday, Feb. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with demonstrations, entertainment and kid-friendly fun. Activities include a pet adoption event (9-11 a.m.), a hay bale toss (10 a.m. to noon) and dancing horse performances (noon to 3 p.m.).

In addition, both days feature a variety of product/service booths and food/beverage vendors. Also, Blue Mountain Community College will present drone demonstrations Friday at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit bit.ly/499kYDY. For questions, contact Angel Aguilar at the Hermiston Herald via 541-564-4531 or aaguilar@hermistonherald.com.

Mt. Vernon plans spring kick off

MT. VERNON — The City of Mt. Vernon is planning a “Celebrate Good Neighbors” spring kick off event on Saturday, March 9. In partnership with the Grant County Senior Advisory Council, which is honoring the Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Department with an award, the evening will include bingo, dinner and music.

The gathering starts at 4 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Community Center, 640 Ingle St. Chefs from the John Day Senior Center will serve pot roast and mashed potatoes or baked chicken and rice, along with salad, side dishes and dessert. Tickets are $10 and available at bit.ly/CGN_Dinner.

Music will be provided by the James Gang and Snaffle Bit will have a no-host bar until 9 p.m.

All Grant County firefighters eat for free. For information, contact City Hall at 541-932-4688.

Women’s event planned for March 9

BAKER CITY — A women’s event hosted by Rural Christian Women — Eastern Oregon is planned for Saturday, March 9, at the Baker City Nazarene Church, 1250 Hughes Lane, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Keynote speakers will be Dee Sarton and her daughter Brie, hosts of “A Home That Heals” podcast.

This event is free and includes worship music, inspirational messages, refreshments and fellowship. An RSVP is encouraged but not required. To register, visit the Facebook page “Rural Christian Women — Eastern Oregon.” Childcare is available — sign up online or call 541-523-3533.

This gathering is sponsored by local area churches, KTSY and Baker City MOMco.