April 14Open house begins with food and entertainment

JOHN DAY – Grant Union High School is holding an Open House from 6:30-8:30 p.m., starting off with a hamburger feed in the cafeteria from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at the high school.

The Grant Union Band and Choir will perform music. The hamburger feed is free, but donations are appreciated.

Student performances and projects will be on display and staff will be present. Report cards can be picked up in the new gym foyer.

April 16Recital performed at Methodist church

JOHN DAY – Prairie City mezzo-soprano, Janine Goodwin and Veneta pianist, Keyte Hladky, will present a free recital at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, in the sanctuary of the John Day United Methodist Church.

For more information, call Janine Goodwin at (541) 820-4331.

April 16Cant Ranch history offered to the public

KIMBERLY – A one-hour program on the history of the James Cant Ranch Historic District will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, on the front porch of the Cant Ranch History Museum, located on Highway 19, two miles north of the intersection with Highway 26.

The program is free. Participants should wear good walking shoes and suitable outdoor clothing.

For more information, call (541) 987-2333.

April 17Gospel quartet offers musical ministry

JOHN DAY – A gospel quartet called the ” Joint Heirs” will present a concert at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, at the Church of The Nazarene in John Day. The admission is free, but they will be accepting offerings.

April 19Mt. Vernon Mayor speaks on family ties

JOHN DAY – The Grant County Genealogy Society will feature Dennis Bradley of Mt. Vernon, as their speaker at their no-host lunch at noon on Tuesday, April 19, at The Outpost restaurant in John Day.

Mr. Bradley works for the state park service and is mayor of Mt. Vernon and has followed some of his grandfather’s footprints in politics.

Banquet served for summer camp funds

Grant County Young Life will be hosting their annual fund-raising banquet at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 22, at the John Day Senior Center.

Admission is free for a ham dinner with all the fixings, served by local high school students raising money for summer camp. There will be about 30 Grant County high school students that will be going to Young Life Camp held in Malibu, British Columbia in June of this year.

Donations will be accepted.

For more information, call (541) 575-2414.

April 22Sacred music from handbells and piano

MT. VERNON – A free handbells and piano concert of sacred music will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 22, at Mt. Vernon Community Presbyterian Church.

Phyllis Tincher, from Nampa Idaho, will play the handbells. Sean Rogers from Boise, Idaho, will play the piano. The concert is part of the music ministry of Ms. Tincher, Mr. Rogers, the First United Presbyterian Church of Nampa and the First Presbyterian Church of Boise. It is sponsored by the two Idaho churches. This year is at least the second for this ministry.

Funds raised for Young Life Camp

PRAIRIE CITY – A bake sale and yard sale combined will be held from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, at the Teen Center (145 West Front Street) in Prairie City.

Proceeds will go to help send the members to Young Life Camp.

April 23Prizes, music, food served at free barbecue

JOHN DAY – Valley View Assisted Living, 112 Valley View Drive, John Day, is having a free community barbecue at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23. Door prizes will be given and music provided.

For more information, call (541) 575-3533.

Dancing to Contra beat

MT. VERNON – The next Contra Dance is coming up starting off with a potluck at 6:30 p. m. and the dancing at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23.

The dance will be held at Mt. Vernon Community Hall, featuring the Scatter Creek Band from Ellensburg, Wash.

Tickets are $5 individual or $10 per family.

Youth mentoring wins at Monte Carlo night

PRAIRIE CITY – Bet’n on Kids Monte Carlo night is April 23, and is sponsored by Families First of Grant County. Gaming tables will be open from 7-10 p.m. and tickets are $25 per person. This fund-raiser held at the Oxbow Ranch Bed & Breakfast, (on Strawberry Creek Road in Prairie City) helps support the youth mentoring and parent education programs.

Ticket prices include $500 in play money, Food by Elaine, two glasses of wine and the chance to win six different prizes valued at $100 or more.

For more information , call (541) 575-1006. Limited to 100 patrons.

Cowkids playday planned in barn

JOHN DAY – There will be a Cowkids playday starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, in the Heritage Barn at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Sign-ups are at 9:30 a.m. Ribbons will be given through fourth place. The fee is $2 per event, for ages 18 years and under.

For more information, call (541) 421-3700.

Painted Hills offer good chance for photos

KIMBERLY – Enjoy a guided back-country hike through the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds. Beginning at 11 a.m., on Saturday, April 23, participants should meet at the picnic area of the monument’s Painted Hills Unit, ten miles east of Monument. The program will last for about five hours and cover several miles.

A professional photographer will be present for guidance in photography skills. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing for any type of weather and bring water, a trail lunch, camera and plenty of film. There is no fee, but reservations are needed. For more information to make a reservation, call (541) 462-3961.

April 24Blue Basin hike offers fossil history of area

KIMBERLY – The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument will offer a two-hour hike into the Blue Basin fossil beds. It will feature the geological landscape and fossil history of the basin. The hiking begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 24, at the Blue Basin trailhead, located three miles north of the Sheep Rock Unit visitor center along State Route 19.

Admission is free and participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes.

For more information, call (541) 987-2333.

April 29Benefit auction and dinner planned

MT. VERNON – There will be a benefit auction and spaghetti dinner given for Phyllis Propeck, to help raise funds for her medical costs. The dinner will be served from 5-6:30 p.m. and the auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Both events will take place at the Mt. Vernon Grange Hall.

To donate auction items call, Peggy Clark at (541) 421-3880.

April 30Musical trio performs at Straight Street

JOHN DAY – The musical trio “Heritage” from Bend, will perform from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 at Straight Street Coffeehouse, 139 N.E. Dayton Street, John Day.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

For more information, call (541) 575-5541.

April 30Light popular music featured at concert

JOHN DAY -The Juniper Singers will present a program of popular vocal music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in John Day.

The music for this program comes primarily from music popular in the 50s and 60s. A special Laugh-In segment will also be featured.

In addition to the singing, the concert will feature a solo by Ed Heiple on trumpet. A special preview concert is being planned for 3 p.m. April 24 in Long Creek at the school gym. Admission is by donation.

May 1EMT dinner supports volunteers

MONUMENT – The 2nd Annual Monument EMT’s May Day Dinner will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. May 1 at the Monument Senior Center. Prime rib is on the menu. Reservations required.

May 6Spaghetti feed buys gear for Boy Scouts

JOHN DAY -Troop 898 and the John Day Elks Lodge-1824, are sponsoring a spaghetti feed from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at the John Day Elk’s Lodge. The proceeds will help send the Boy Scouts of Troop 898 to camp and also purchase camping gear.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors, children 12 years and younger $3 and family tickets are $18. Tickets may be bought from any Boy Scout or purchased at the door.

For more information, call Sherri Dowdy at (541) 575-0207.

May 7Tunes, tacos and talent, all rolled into one

SENECA – The Seneca School Spring Concert and PTA Taco Feed and Talent Show will be on Saturday, May 7. The taco feed starts at 5:30, with show starting at 7 p.m.

ClassesCANYON CITY – Managing Difficult Behaviors, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. May 3; Overview for Child Care Division, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 4; all classes will be held at the Guernsey Building, 120 Washington Street in Canyon City. For more information call (541) 575-0210.

JOHN DAY – The basics of diebetic care will be covered in a series of five weekly classes, held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Blue Mountain Hospital. They are scheduled on April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16, and May 23.

These classes are free. For more information, call Sarah Russ, PT, at (541) 575-4157.