Hermiston Oregon: A Good Place to Live
Hermiston is one of those places where you can combine country living with sophisticated urban activities. Martha Stewart would probably call Hermiston “a good thing”, or maybe she would say it more like the locals do; “its just a good place to live”. The cost of living is reasonable, even low compared to many other areas. It’s a good place to live, work and retire. There are beautiful assisted living facilities with private apartments and recreational activities.
Community pride is often mentioned when talking about living in small towns, and Hermiston has that pride in the schools and sports teams that make community pride vibrant in town. For a demonstration of that pride mosey up Main Street to the East Side Market. The proprietor is a fierce Bulldogs fan and the boys (working men) who gather in the morning for coffee and donuts in the market’s social space discuss the plays from previous night’s games with insight, passion and humor.
Small town spirit means different things to different people; but to me the spirit of a small town can be mean, standoffish, carefree, caring, or convivial. Any number of personality types can define the small town spirit. To define Hermiston’s spirit takes a bit of looking back at how the people in town reacted to the events of the past few years. From personal tragedies’ like cancer, house fires, economic hardships, loss of loved ones to major national disasters like the September 11 terror attacks and the dual hits of the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita the people in this town respond with giving, nurturing, teams of volunteers and helpers and the collecting of funds, and blood drives. Our National Guard unit proudly serves this area and this nation and has just returned from the front in the war on terror. I think these things are the basis of our small town spirit but only the beginning. Following that very solid foundation is the festival spirit that hosts the Umatilla County Fair every year in August, the Cinco de Mayo Festival in May, and annual treks to Portland by the Mayor for a Watermelon seed spitting contest with Portland’s Mayor to celebrate our famous watermelons. There are parades, the December festival of lights, live nativity scenes at area churches, crowds of laughing school children, a few fights, the requisite taverns, and family restaurants. I would say the small town spirit here is healthy, rollicking, nurturing and growing.
What exactly is it like to actually live in Hermiston? Let me offer some vignettes that illustrate several aspects of Hermiston life.
1. On a hot Saturday after noon Bob and Kathy and their three little boys gathered coats and hats and raided the spare change jar on Bobs side of the dresser and headed north on highway 395 to Race City auto racing track on the north edge of the city. Trailers with bright race cars were pulling through the parking lot when they arrived and as they headed to the ticket booth the racing cars headed for the track gate. Bob shouted and waved at a neighbor who was racing that day. Inside the fence behind the bleachers the boys headed for the burger stand and Kathy got a large coke. It was still hot as blazes but friends and neighbors, used to the heat, ignored that fact. They gathered in small groups and discussed the upcoming events, the progress on the road repair to the south of town and the water level in Cold Springs Reservoir. The boys joined several other rowdy kids and raced among the parents and out to choose seats near the fence in the bleachers. The cars roared, the crowd roared, the loud speakers cranked up and began to play “Who let the Dogs Out?” Bob and Kathy found their favorite place below the announcers box and watched the kids high five friends just arriving from Boardman, a town some miles west on the freeway. As the races got under way the kids joined their parents and as the sun went down and the wind picked up the coats went on. Late in the evening Bob handed the car keys to Kathy with a little lopsided grin and a wink then headed to the onsite bar for a beer with some buddies and watched the next event through the big front windows overlooking the track. To contact Race City Race Track: 81236 N Highway 395 – (541) 564-8674
2. On a bitterly cold winter night one December the stove in Francisco and Maria’s house over heated and burned the kitchen of their trailer to char. The Hermiston Fire and Rescue trucks arrived on the scene so fast they were able to save the rest of the trailer, an almost miraculous feat. Emergency Medical personnel checked the children and determined that they were okâÂ?¦.scared sillyâÂ?¦.but ok. Neighbors took the family in for the night. At work the next day the supervisor called Francisco in to the office and wrote him out a check “to help out”. The co-workers gathered kitchen equipment, tables, and chairs and food items at the place of work. In two days the family was in another house with everything they needed to make a truly great Christmas celebration full of joy and gratitude. Hermiston Fire and Emergency Services District, 330 S. First, Hermiston, Oregon 97838 (541) 567-8822 http://www.hfes.us/ (The names are changed but the facts are true)
3. A bright spring morning and I am restless and eager to plant flowers. I walk over to the Bi-Mart store and look at the bedding plants, then I go on over to the Pendleton Grain Growers Store, I examine garden tools, seeds, some strange new perennial plant in their seasonal nursery and discuss the possibility of another killing frost. The consensus is that only newcomers and fools predict the weather in HermistonâÂ?¦..but it is pretty early in the season. I sigh and wander on home chatting with neighbors along the way; everybody is out preparing flower beds and garden spots. Bi Mart 200 S 1st Pl – (541) 567-6493 and Pendleton Grain Growers, Inc. ~ Hermiston Facility 200 S. First Hermiston, Oregon
97838 1-541-567-5591 …
4. Fourth of July; my husband and I take canvas folding chairs out and join the neighboring families just as dark approaches. We are deep in a spirited discussion of the probable site of an old irrigation canal that used to run through this block when the first fireworks explodes with a searing bright light and a cannon like boom that rocks the town. Susie at five and me at fifty five squeal and duck with the same tone and intensity and every one laughs
5. August, the parade that marks the beginning of county fair week winds through town. The sidewalks here are no different than sidewalks in Portland or New York, on parade day they are the living room of the city and every member of the extended family is here for the fun. The folks on the floats toss candy, the kids tear through the crowds, bands, marchers and horses, horses, horses�..what can I say�.you have to see it to believe it.
6. The Umatilla County Fairground is smack in the middle of Hermiston, right beside the Post office and features big name entertainment every night for a week in August. The Farm City Rodeo held in conjunction with the fair attracts national champion rodeo riders, ropers and clowns. This event is worth the trip from anywhere just to absorb the ambiance of the celebration. Contact: Umatilla County Fair 515 W. Orchard PO Box 94 Hermiston, OR 97838 www.umatillacountyfair.com
While Hermiston does not have the ultra sophisticated activities of a big city, it does have a small but healthy cultural awareness. Wine and Cheese cotillions are an annual event; there are book clubs, theatre, and musical events throughout the year. Hermiston High School has a new auditorium that is first class (It rivals any auditorium on the west coast for accessibility, acoustics, class and beauty) and hosts events for the community with invited musicians and plays from world wide.
Hermiston is a hub pretty generally equidistant to the major metropolitan areas of Portland, Spokane, Boise, Seattle, and Bend. Because of the location at the conjunction of major freeways and the historical Highway 395 which runs from Mexico to Canada, Hermiston is a transportation hub that hosts five local truck stops, trucking companies and inter-line trucking facilities. The Hinkle train yard is just South of town. The Columbia River is just north of town. When Products go east from the Washington and Oregon areas it has a high probability of being transported through the Hermiston area on the River system, the Rail system or the Freeway system.
Area Recreation is pretty much outdoors oriented but there is a roller skating rink, a busy bowling alley, the court club, and other fitness clubs (with indoor swimming pool, sauna and exercise rooms, handball, racquetball, weightlifting, aerobics or whatever fitness programs you choose), as well as the martial arts training facility on North First Street.
Outdoor activities are fishing, hunting, camping, bird-watching, (snowmobiling, skiing, sledding and snow tubing in nearby mountains), boating, swimming, fishing and wind surfing on the Columbia River, Farm City Pro Rodeo, little league, soccer, hiking, biking, and picnicking.
There are an astounding 74 acres of city parks in Hermiston with horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, lighted tennis courts, jogging paths, basketball courts, soccer fields, state of the art swimming complex, baseball diamonds, play structures, barbecue and picnic areas. There are two golf courses within ten minutes of downtown Hermiston.
A close in state park is the famous Hat Rock State Park which has a boat launching ramp, picnic areas, and geese and ducks to feed. Next to it is a privately owned R.V park and convenience store.
To contact the park call;
(541) 567-5032
or write to;
Hat Rock State Park,
Rt. 3, Box 3783,
Hermiston, Ore. 97838
Hermiston Library is a relatively new modern building with a progressive program of out reach to seniors (with a book van) and programs to encourage very young children to read. There is a bank of computers along one wall and many periodicals covering topics from country living to international business to recreation.
Health Care in Hermiston is comprehensive and constantly updating and improving. The Good Shepherd Hospital information found at www.gshealth.org will acquaint you with the main provider in Hermiston. The Hospital and connected clinics have all the latest equipment and professional dedicated staff. The Hospital is rated a level three trauma care center and has the connections to transport by ambulance, medi-vac helicopter or plane to larger facilities in Tri-Cities, Portland, Spokane, or Seattle. There are also two very efficient Urgent Care Clinics in town along with a long list of doctors, chiropractors, dentists, orthodontists, ophthalmologists and optometrists.
Shopping includes several classy florist shops, Hermiston Pharmacy (which is a full service pharmacy with a soda fountain, an astounding array of gifts and decorative glass objects’ de art, cards and knick-knacks, Rite Aid Pharmacy, the ubiquitous Wal-Mart, Safeway, Super One grocery, Bi-Mart, several Auto parts and accessory stores, Ace Hardware, a couple of lumber stores, irrigation supply stores, a brand new Home DepotâÂ?¦âÂ?¦..andâÂ?¦.well, you get the picture, if you want it. you can probably find it in Hermiston. If you can’t find it here, the Tri Cities Washington is a major Metropolitan area approximately 40 miles north where you can find it.
The nearest large airport is about 35 miles away in Pasco, Washington; for information on the services available contact :
Port of Pasco, 3601 N 20th Avenue
Pasco, Washington U.S.A. 99301
Phone: (509) 547-6352, Fax: (509) 547-9040
Terminal Hours: 3:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
http://www.portofpasco.org/aphome.htm
(Airport Identifier: PSC)
I told only half the story, and like the presents on your birthday there is more under the paper. So come on over to Hermiston and look around. It’s a good place to live.
