“ASTORIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS took to the streets to raise funds for their AUGUST RAFTING TRIP to the Deschutes River,” TERESA GILLIKIN wrote in an e-mail to the Ear. “The deal is, for the work they do, Astoria businesses chip in for part of their trip fees.”

“Power washing windows at Columbia Travel were freshman DEWAYNE HARKLESS and sophomore PATRICK O’SHAY,” Teresa said. “These young men were very helpful with filling me in on why they were working so hard.”

“Working just as hard, painting for the Liberty Theater, were freshmen CODY FOX and CHRISTIAN GRAMSON, junior EUGENE PARK and senior TAYLA McGINIS. They were helping to remodel what will be a temporary workspace/office while the Liberty Theater’s upstairs space is being repaired. Eventually, what the students were painting will be used as dressing rooms for Liberty performers. Aside from painting and window washing, I was told there were approximately 70 other students hard at work, giving Astoria businesses a great head start to their May 2 Street Cleaning.”

ROSEMARY BAKER-MONAGHAN, executive director for the Liberty Theater, told Teresa she is “very grateful for what these students are doing. They’ve finished more than half of the Liberty’s remodeling project.”