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Shelton-Mason County Journal
I
.I
Hernandez provides
leadership to teens
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@rnasoncounty.com
On Nov. 21, Sgt. Major Dan
Hernandez, naval science in-
structor at Oakland Bay Ju-
nior High School, learned that
he had received an honor from
his peers.
Last month, he was named
Navy Junior Reserve Officer
Training Corps (NJROTC)
Instructor of the Year for the
organization's Area 13, which
includes
Washington,
Idaho, Ore-
gon, Northern
California,
Nevada, Mon-
tana, Wyo-
ming, Utah,
Colorado,
North Da-
Dan kota, South
Hernandez Dakota, Alas-
ka, Hawaii,
Guam and
Japan.
"It was a total surprise to
me because I didn't know it
was coming," he said. "It took
the wind out of my sails. I dug
my toe into the linoleum and
blushed." time, he found that he enjoyed
Hernandez joined the Ma- teaching.
rine Corps at age 17 on Dec. Hernandez also helped write
23, 1968, and was quickly sent correspondence courses for Ma-
through his training to prepare fines out of the Marine Bar-
to go to war. racks in Washington, D.C.
"Before I could blink, have "That was a different side of
... regrets or buyer's remorse, teaching," he said.
I found myself in Vietnam," he Before retiring from the Ma-
said. rine Corps, Hernandez became
Hernandez spent 31 years certified through both the Navy
in the Marine Corps, during and the Marines to teach naval
which he did three tours of science courses in high school.
duty as a drill instructor, the After teaching naval sci-
first on a dare. ence to freshmen at Oakland
"My friend said, 'I don't Bay Junior High School for 12
think you can do it,'" he said. years, Hernandez, 61, said he
While Hernandez said he still finds teaching rewarding.
didn't know whether instruct-
ing was right for him at the See Instructor on page B-6
HELPING SHELTER FAMILIES HAVE CHRISTMAS
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
Terresa Morris is the program coordinator at Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services in Shelton,
which is seeking individuals, businesses and organizations to 'adopt' shelter families for Christmas.
Donations sought
for Adopt-A-
Family program
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon(~asoncounty.com
tually came courtesy of local individu-
als, businesses and groups that made
donations of gifts and money through
the nonprofit organization's Adopt-A-
Family program.
The mother fights tears when she
recalls last Christmas' "awesome
blessing."
"It made me
amazed with the fact "They come in
that people who you
don't know would
shop for your family
Escaping domestic violence, a moth- and give you a Christ-
er and her three young children last mas," she said.
Christmas found themselves residents Last Christmas, 36
of the shelter operated by Turning families were adopted
Pointe Domestic Violence Services in for the holiday, said
Shelton. Turning Pointe pro-
The mother had no money for pres- gram coordinator Ter-
ents for her 9-year-old daughter or her resa Morris. All are
sons ages 5 and 7, nor did she expect survivors of domestic violence.
anY gift. Many are Mason County families,
% didn't have anything to provide and some are from out of the area
(for) Christmas," said the woman, who and state, forced to flee far from their
asked to remain anonymous, homes, she said. They left behind jobs
But on Christmas morning, the gifts and schools.
included a pottery wheel for her daugh- "They come in with nothing, and
ter and remote-controlled cars for the we have to help them rebuild," Morris
boys. The kids were told the presents said.
came from Santa Claus, but they ac- Sponsors who adopt a family will re-
with nothing,
and we have
to help them
rebuild."
ceive a list identifying each family mem-
ber's age and sex, as well as needed food
items, clothing sizes, and a "want" and
a "need." Anyone who wishes to partici-
pate can contact Morris at 426-1216, or
go to Turningpointe.org and fill out a
short form to be matched with an ap-
propriate family.
Participants don't
need to adopt an en-
tire family. They can
also donate individu-
al gifts, or items such
as grocery store gift
cards. All donations
are tax deductible.
Along with indi-
vidual donations, the
program received
large donations from
businesses such as
Hood Canal Communications and
Curves, she said.
If all the families in the shelter are
adopted, additional donations will be
made available to other clients, she said.
As for the family adopted last
Christmas, the mother is attending
school and working at a job. She said
she hopes to adopt a needy shelter
family next Christmas.
Thursday, Dec.
Shopping for
local trees
has benefits
"erve wracking. Judy and I had
our computer hacked. Our So-
badog account was, we think,
hacked while we were in New Jer-
sey. So, when I went to write this arti-
cle, there was no email in our Sobadog
account. We understand the hacker
changed our password and got in and
wouldn't let us back in -- scary. We
tried for two days to get this fixed,
and just as I was getting ready for
plan B, we were able to get it working.
Now onto better things: We went
shopping for a Christmas tree Thurs-
day. Several places on the island sell
trees -- you can see their signs right
after you cross the bridge. We bought
a 10-foot noble fir for a great price and
didn't have to drive
into town. Plus, they
cut it down right
there, so this tree is
as fresh as you can
get. Shopping local
has its benefits.
Now for the finale:
the 2012 Person of
By MIKE the Year for Harst-
ine Island. I've used
CALLAGHAN the notes from the
speakers who intro-
duced the Citizens of the Year and
I will do the same for this person.
Again, thanks to Bill Burrows for
sending me these. We've had introduc-
tions to Billie Fish, Judy Moore and
Joye Robinson. The Person of the Year
guidelines include several factors that
would qualify an individual, including
participating in many island activi-
ties, making continuing contributions
and providing service and personal
efforts to benefit others. This year's
Person of the Year meets and exceeds
each of these factors. This is a person
who has been very active within the
community club, including being a
board member, helping out with club
meetings and special events, contrib-
uting time and effort to help maintain
the hall, and just keeping an eye on
the hall and its operations. As the
community club transitioned into its
status as a nonprofit corporation, the
financial issues became more complex.
In addition, the receipt and manage-
ment of the Chase donation to the
women's club added to this complex-
ity. Our Person of the Year took on
the responsibilities to manage these
complexities.
In the summer you might find our
honoree zigzagging around Jarrell's
Cove often with a youngster on board.
During the winter, our honoree might
be found in a workshop restoring a
boat. Regardless, if someone needed
help, our person would likely drop
those activities and respond to the
call.
It is my privilege to present this
year's Person of the Year award to
Jim Irving. Congratulations Jim!
Christmas play scheduled
This is short notice, but the theater
club will be putting on a free Christ-
mas play. It is called "The Reform of
Benjamin Scrimp." The play is a take-
off on the story, "A Christmas Carol."
There will be three performances at
the community hall on Dec. 7, 8 and
9. The curtains will open at 7 p.m.
on Dec. 7 and 8. Then, there will be
a matinee performance at 3 p.m. on
Sunday. The play will be a comedy
and will feature some 18 children and
only two old grouchy adults. There
will also be a second short play put
on by the children and it is called
"Christmas Count Down."
From the opening strains of"Adeste
Fideles" to the closing notes of"Joy
to the World," Harstine Island Com-
munity Choir's festive Christmas con-
certs are one of the highlights of the
season. Vibrant American hymns and
timeless carols serve as the center-
piece for this year's Christmas musi-
cal celebration. Add in a few energetic
Wassail and West Gallery songs of
England -- why there's even a song
written by Henry VIII -- and the re-
sult is a holiday kaleidoscope of sound
that transports the listener
See Harstine on page B-6
6, 2012 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page B-1
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