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|  Contributed photo.
Coffee drinkers likely won’t mistake a cup of the local Mt.
Hood Roasters brew with that of the national chain Starbucks. But hundreds of
visitors dropped by the Rhododendron roasters on Saturday, Dec. 28 for some
Starbuck – without the ‘s.’
Katee Sackhoff, Oregon native and star of television and
film with credits including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Star Wars: The
Clone Wars,” “Riddick,” “Don’t Knock Twice” and especially for her performance
as Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace in “Battlestar Galactica,” dropped in to
learn the skills of a barista.
Sackhoff, who spent many summers in her youth at her
parent’s cabin in Rhododendron, loves coffee and noted that because her
Battlestar Galactica character’s name is so close to the coffee chain’s name,
her fans sometimes associate the two.
“They always will, which is a beautiful thing and I love
it,” she told The Mountain Times.
Sackhoff’s adventure at Mt. Hood Roasters will be the
subject of an episode on her YouTube Channel, with its second season starting
at the end of March. When discussing potential topics with her producing
partner, Robin Gadsby, coffee seemed like a natural choice, especially since
Sackhoff didn’t know how to make a latte despite drinking a half dozen each
week.
“We wanted to learn about the process: where coffee comes
from, roasting the beans, making a good cup of coffee,” she said. “And we
wanted to do it in a place that was cold. There’s nothing better than a warm
cup of coffee on a cold day.”
Gadsby found out about Mt. Hood Roasters, and the choice
seemed to cement itself when they walked through Portland International Airport
and saw bags of Roasters coffee for sale.
Sackhoff, who remembered building pools as a child in the
Zigzag River with her brother to play in and learned to ski when she was just
two years old, arrived on Friday, Dec. 27 for training.
The biggest lesson she learned had to do with everything
needed to pour a shot of espresso.
“It has everything to do with the packing of beans, the
quality of beans and the pace of water that goes through it,” said Sackhoff,
who didn’t start enjoying coffee until she became an actor and needed it to
stay up. “It’s not about muscle, it’s about technique.”
The next day, people started showing up early to get some
java from “Starbuck.” One order particularly stood out for the budding barista,
which included seven shots of espresso and 15 pumps of syrup over ice.
“The only thought that went through my head was that this
person must also drink Mountain Dew,” Sackhoff said. “Nobody can handle that
much caffeine and sugar.”
The number of fans who came out left a big impression on
Sackhoff, who can also be seen this month in a Valentine’s Day episode of “The
Flash” on CW and later this year in “Another Life” on Netflix.
“It never ceases to amaze me that not only am I blessed to
be able to do what I love for a career, but that people are so supportive and
so welcoming to me in their lives,” she said. “Mt. Hood Roasters was truly a
very special experience for me. The staff was top notch and every single person
I met was fantastic.”
And the good buzz doesn’t stop there, as Mt. Hood Roasters
owner Rick Applegate noted that Sackhoff roasted a batch of coffee that will be
featured in special packages as “Katee’s Galactic Blend.” Sackhoff signed all
32 bags of the coffee, which will be donated to various nonprofits to be used
as a fundraiser, including at schools in the Oregon Trail School District.
Applegate added that he, his staff and his wife, Jiyeon,
truly enjoyed their two days with Sackhoff.
“It was totally cool,” he said. “It was like Jiyeon and I
were working with our sister. It was insanely chill. She was just incredibly
kind and down to earth.”
Sackhoff added that in addition to enjoying her experience
back on the Mountain, she learned another valuable lesson.
“The coffee I was drinking (before) is not good coffee, even
if I thought it was,” she said.
Episodes from her first season can also be found at
YouTube.com.
Mark your calendars for custom label auctions
Upcoming fundraisers that will include the custom label
coffee, “Katee’s Galactic Blend,” signed by Katee Sackhoff include:
– March 14 at the Welches Elementary School Carnival Silent
Auction.
– April 3 at the Tucker Maxon School for the Deaf Annual
Fundraiser.
– April 11 at the Oregon Trail Academy Annual Fundraiser.
– April 17 at the Kelso Elementary School Annual Fundraiser.
– May 1 at the Firwood Elementary School Carnival and
Auction.
– May 14 at the Friends of the Childrien annual
“Friendraiser.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire celebrates its finest at banquet posted on 01/31/2020
Members of all parts of the Hoodland Fire District (HFD),
including career staff, volunteers, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
and the support group, gathered for the annual awards banquet on Saturday, Jan.
25 at the Mount Hood Oregon Resort, celebrating the district’s best of 2019.
Jaden Markham, a student firefighter from Gresham, took home
the Firefighter of the Year award for exemplifying the mission and values of
the district.
“Every minute that he can he just puts forth 100 percent of
his effort into the fire district,” said Lieutenant/Paramedic Scott Kline, who
emceed the event with Battalion Chief Pat McAbery.
Markham noted his passion for firefighting runs in his
family, with his father serving as a firefighter in Gresham. Markham first
became a cadet with the Gresham Fire Department and has ascended to the role of
captain with that program.
He started volunteering with the HFD in 2017 and was
accepted into the district’s student program in 2018. Markham is pursuing a
career as a firefighter and is currently in school studying to get his
paramedic certification.
Markham noted the award will keep him pushing to continue to
be a strong contributor.
“It just shows that all the effort and time and hard work,
even on the days I feel that I’m not doing a good job or I’m just kind of
tired, it makes me want to push more,” he said. “It just gives me that
incentive to do my best and learn more every day.”
Markham added that one recent call was an “eye opener” for
him, as he got to work on the pump at the scene of a fire for the first time.
“I got to see a different side of the job, instead of just
being a firefighter actually being an engineer,” he said, explaining that the
engine carried 1,000 gallons of water and he needed to use math to help
determine the hydraulic pressures and control the water flow.
“I just realized that there’s more to learn in the fire
service than what I know now, and I will always be learning throughout my
career,” he added.
Gary Brandt, a support volunteer who performs various duties
including running medical calls, vehicle maintenance and administrative work,
landed three awards: Support Volunteer of the Year, the Above and Beyond Award
and the Emergency Responder of the Year.
“He does a lot of different things,” Kline said. “He always
seems to say ‘yes’ and with no hesitation.”
“He just seems to always be available to go out on EMS calls
no matter what time of night,” he added.
Dontae Blake earned a Civilian Commendation for providing
assistance at the scene of a serious motor vehicle accident where he worked to
free the victim of a burning vehicle and cared for the occupant.
Elizabeth Niemeyer earned an award from her work with the
Support Group, Nora Gambee won an award from her work with CERT and all members
of CERT were honored with the Chief’s Award.
Years in Service honorees were Tyler Myers, Kelli Ewing, Ben
Hardy, Brian Henrichs and Andi Figini for five years of service, and McAbery
and Kline for 35 years of service.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
Ravenous after burning somewhere in the neighborhood of 400
calories an hour skiing or snowboarding on Mount Hood? Portland burger chain
Killer Burger has dispatched its latest addition, a 29-foot-long, 16,000-pound
food truck to Rhododendron for the winter in hopes of satisfying winter sports
enthusiasts’ appetites on their way to and from the slopes.
“We’re excited to be part of the mountain, part of the ski
season,” said John Hickmon, operations manager for the food truck. “We’re very
happy with the turnout of skiers and snowboarders.”
The mobile food truck opened for winter operations in
Rhododendron on Nov. 6 in the Mt. Hood Village Market parking lot. The truck
offers Killer Burger’s full menu of 100 percent natural beef burgers,
made-to-order, with every burger order including bacon and fries. The truck is
open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.
“We’re basically a brick-and-mortar running out of a truck,”
Hickmon said about the food truck. The truck can hold up to 500 burgers at a
time. No burgers are “hot-held”, with each order requiring a five to
fifteen-minute cook time to assure the freshest product.
The menu features ten signature burgers, all made with
locally raised Northwest beef from Fulton Provisions. Specialty burgers include
the “Bender,” served with bacon, spicy BBQ, crispy jalapeño and cheddar, and
the “Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon,” burger topped with bacon, peanut butter sauce
and pickles.
The truck offers kid-friendly options including a kids’
burger and a grilled cheese sandwich, both served with fries and the choice of
a soda or juice box.
Customers can also customize their order to their preference
with a vegan patty, gluten-free bun or by “bombing it” with a house spicy
secret sauce.
Hickmon stated the biggest challenge the business faces in
Rhododendron is the weather during the winter months.
“I’m proud of the crew dealing with the elements
day-to-day,” Hickmon said. “It’s great to have such a killer crew.”
The truck is scheduled to remain in the Mount Hood area
through April when it will resume mobile operations catering events throughout
the region.
“Everyone seems really stoked that we’re here. We’ve
definitely got some support from the locals,” Hickmon said, adding that there
is potential for establishing a brick-and-mortar location in the Mount Hood
area in the future.
The truck began operations as the 13th Killer Burger operation
in January 2019. The Killer Burger franchise was founded in 2010 in Portland.
More information about the Killer Burger truck and franchise
are available online at www.killerburger.com.
The truck is available to rent during the remainder of the
year for birthdays, weddings, business buyouts and other events.
For information about event rentals contact event
coordinator Lauren Hickmon at lhickmon.wescor@killerburger.com or by phone at
503-502-4928.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Master Recycler program returns to Clackamas County posted on 01/31/2020
Lauren Norris, Program Manager for the Master Recycler
Program administered by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and
Sustainability, noted that more than 1,800 people have learned about recycling
processes, composting, alternatives to hazardous household products, thoughtful
consumption and green building.
“People come for different reasons, but also to bring
resources and ideas and knowledge to projects they want to get done in their
own communities,” Norris said.
This spring, the regional program will return to Clackamas
County, with limited spots available for participants to enjoy a hands-on
opportunity to learn about recycling and waste reduction. The spring session
will start Wednesday, April 1, and run for eight consecutive Wednesdays, at
Clackamas County’s Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon
City. There will also be two half-day field trips on Saturdays.
Norris noted in addition to recycling, the program also
focuses on repairing and resource sharing, including how “repair fairs” and
“libraries of things” are helping minimize the impact on what people buy.
“Most libraries in Clackamas County have a ‘library of
things,’” she said.
Norris also noted the program, which started in 1991 with a
nonprofit in Seattle and then spread to Oregon State University, is evolving,
including a complete overhaul of the course handbook four years ago to include
a look at materials management and the full life cycle of materials. That can
help with decisions about where changes can be made to make bigger impacts.
“It really is an exciting, new document they receive on the
first day,” Norris said.
The course is a blend of presentations by professionals in
the field, peer group discussion and project development. Participants agree to
attend all classes and field trips and, after completing the course, put their
skills to work to help others conserve natural resources by volunteering 30
hours of public outreach.
Master Recyclers work at information booths at community
events, provide presentations in the community, work on original projects and
inspire their neighbors and co-workers.
A $50 fee covers course materials and limited scholarships
are available.
Registration closes at noon, Wednesday, March 4. For more
details and to apply, visit www.masterrecycler.org.
The regional Master Recycler Program is sponsored by Metro,
the City of Portland, Clackamas County, Washington County, the Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality and Recycling Advocates.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Sandy resident offers free workouts for every age and every body posted on 01/31/2020
When Sandy resident Amanda Klaumann set out to start a
healthy exercise routine more than a decade ago, she was too intimidated to
join a gym. Klaumann said she struggled to find a group fitness option she was
comfortable with in the community and found the fees for local gym memberships
out of her budget.
After what she describes as a “long journey with weight
loss,” Klaumann lost 120 pounds through diet and a home exercise routine.
Through her personal experience she saw the need for accessible group fitness
classes in Sandy for community members that cannot afford gym memberships but
could benefit from the community and structure of a group fitness routine.
In response, Klaumann began instructing two free fitness
classes each week at the Living Way Fellowship Church, 39300 Dubarko Road in
Sandy in December. Classes are open to all ages and fitness levels and are held
at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
“I want to give other people the opportunity to have what I
didn’t have,” Klaumann said. “I want to create a place where everyone who wants
to exercise can. It’s fitness for everybody and every body.”
No membership or sign up is required for the classes.
Klaumann noted that the Living Way Fellowship's pastor Paul Stone allows her to
use the church’s building free of charge, which enables her to offer the
classes for free to the community.
Klaumann said the initial community response has been
positive with several regular participants. The classes are open to every age
group, and attendance has ranged from ages 16 to 72.
“We can all teach each other,” Klaumann said about the
community focus of her classes.
Monday night classes are “Cardio night,” and include the
ReFit dance-fitness program, which utilizes a combination of music, movement
and toning elements.
ReFit is a fitness brand based in Waco, Texas that uses a
“value based” approach to its’ dance-fitness program. Its website states the
program is a “fitness ministry, fitness outreach or simply fitness with
purpose.” Klaumann described her classes as non-denominational and focused on
fostering a sense of community as well as the concept that wellness
includes more than just physical fitness.
On Thursday nights Klaumann leads “Rev + Flow” classes which
focus on developing balance, flexibility and endurance. These classes involve
high-intensity, low-impact and low-weight exercises designed to be accessible
and beneficial for all ages and fitness levels.
Klaumann stated she intends for her classes to be welcoming
to all community members looking for a way to begin a fitness routine.
“There’s no products, no membership and no angle,” she said,
adding that donations will be accepted and will go right back to supporting
community programs.
“If they have a beating heart, (community members) can come
get over that hurdle and start exercising,” Klaumann said, encouraging those
looking for a way to begin a healthy fitness routine.
For more information about the free fitness classes contact
Amanda Klaumann by email at amanda@refitrev.com. More information, including
special events are detailed on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/RevolutionFive0Three/.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
|  Travis Nodurft
Travis Nodurft will sometimes see videos about kids arguing
what character they are from “Wing It,” Clackamas Repertory Theater’s recurring
interactive children’s show he developed six years ago. Kids even show up to
the latest installments of the show dressed up as their favorite character,
sometimes landing them up on stage (as one girl who dressed up as Buzz,
Nodurft’s character, can attest to).
“These are real characters in our lives,” Nodurft said,
noting how some kids have grown up going to the shows (now numbering 30).
Buzz, Luna, Rita, Jazz and the gang will be back on stage
this month, capping a three-part series about a spider, Ocho, at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8. Each show (six per year) is a fresh creation, sometimes based
on known stories and sometimes based on whatever set is currently on the stage
at Clackamas Community College (CCC).
“We wing it,” said Nodurft, a middle school teacher in
Oregon City who was trained as a clown at Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Clown College and toured with the Red Unit of the Circus. “We’re going to take
whatever we have and use it.”
The first script he came up with, a story based on the
classic story of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” still hasn’t seen the stage. That
first show, on Oct. 4, 2014, used a different story based on “Little Red Riding
Hood” in order to introduce the characters, a crew of winged creatures that
present a problem before getting everyone’s help to solve it (while also
enjoying some dancing, singing and fun).
Nodurft, a graduate of CCC, added he may use that first
script if “Wing It” ever ends its run, but don’t count on that to happen any
time soon.
“Honestly, it is probably one of the greatest things I do,”
he said. “This is truly one of the things I love more than anything. We’re not
going anywhere soon.”
Nodurft noted that each character is developed for kids to
get a solid understanding of them and connect with them, not just be part of a
storyline. The performers include professional actors found on other stages
throughout Portland, some of which have participated in every one of the
performances.
“We’re just a family up there,” Nodurft said. “I feel so
fortunate that we can still do this together.”
Nodurft cited two challenges in creating the performances,
including that the schedules of the performers can be tough to juggle around.
And each year, the Christmas show can be a challenge, as it tends to pull in a
slightly different crowd who might expect a different theatrical experience.
He also keeps things fun and interesting for adults, with
1980s and 1990s references, including “Kite Man,” noting that a colleague of
his came to a recent show and laughed so hard it led to crying.
“That’s what I want,” Nodurft said, adding that he loves for
kids to enjoy the magic of the stage. “And I just want everybody to know that live
theater is one of the most amazing opportunities to talk about real problems.”
CRT’s “Wing It” series of interactive children’s shows will
offer a performance at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Niemeyer Center on
the Oregon City campus of Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in
Oregon City. The show includes singing, dancing and a talent show for kids,
offering a chance to go up on stage. Admission is $5 at the door with no
reserved seating. Future performances include April 4 and June 13. For more
information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
First February weekend offers two shows
Sandy Actors Theatre presents “Making God Laugh,” by Sean
Grennan, about a family’s adventures over the course of 30 years of holidays,
through Sunday, Feb. 2, at 17433 Meinig Ave. (behind Ace Hardware). Show times
are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $18
general admission, $15 for students and seniors and $13 for children under 12
(reservations are recommended). Active duty military in uniform are free. For
more information, or to make reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit
sandyactorstheatre.org.
The Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company (NNB) will offer “In Front
of the Philco: A Night of Radio Plays,” featuring several famous radio plays,
including “The Shadow,” “The Bickersons” and a few old radio spots and jingles.
The evening will feature live sound effects, raffles, games and more.
“In Front of the Philco: A Night of Radio Plays” will run
through Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and seniors, and $11 for
teachers and law enforcement. For more information, or to make reservations,
call 503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Rhody celebrates 100 years posted on 01/31/2020
(MT) – It was a packed house at the Still Creek Inn on
Saturday, Jan. 25 as the community celebrated the centennial anniversary of the
Rhododendron Post Office. The crowd enjoyed a menu of speakers, covering the
history of the community from the indigenous people through more recent events,
including stories of postal deliveries in the harshest snows.
“The Rhododendron post office is thriving and it's because
of this community and all of the support on the Mountain,” said Brenda Cauley
Manley, the Welches Postmaster, at the event.
Dignitaries including the Clackamas County Commissioners and
State Representative Anna Williams were on hand, with proclamations celebrating
the event by the Commissioners, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S.
Representative Earl Blumenauer.
“For 100 years and counting, the Rhododendron Post Office
has connected the Oregonians it serves with family, friends, and loved ones –
both across Oregon and many miles away,” Merkley’s proclamation read, in part.
“With every newspaper delivered and each product shipped, this office has been
instrumental in keeping your community informed, helping local businesses
access larger markets, and giving residents access to critical goods.”
A second celebration is also expected to take place on
Saturday, Aug. 8, in concert with the annual Steiner Cabin Tour.
|
|  By Renee Lamoreaux
Steve Graeper, President of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO), first came to Rhododendron in 1953, the year of
his birth. His family bought a Steiner cabin (built in 1932) in the community
in 1942, and it’s been in the family ever since.
“Rhododendron has been in my blood my entire 66 years,”
Graeper said, noting his summers were spent on the mountain.
This month, Graeper and the whole community will celebrate
the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Postal Service commissioning the Rhododendron
Post Office, 11 years after the unincorporated community of Rhododendron first
formed as Rowe (named for Portland Mayor Henry S. Rowe). The centennial
celebration will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Still Creek
Inn, 73365 E. Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron. Renee Lamoreaux created a special
postmark cancellation for the event.
Out of its humble beginnings, Rhododendron became a thriving
community of homes and summer cabins, then saw the construction of Hwy. 26 and
its impact as drivers sped through or stop only to put chains on their tires
during winter weather.
Graeper noted a number of moments that helped define the
community, including some not for the positive, such as the flood of 1964, the
widening of the highway, the closing of Gadwoods Market and the liquor store
moving to Welches. But he also has an eye to the future, with the CPO’s Rhody
Rising subcommittee, which formed in 2016 and hopes to spur redevelopment of
the community into more of a destination.
“The vision for the future is that maybe we can redevelop
that sense of community that Rhododendron once had,” Graeper said. “There was a
little village atmosphere in Rhododendron. Right now we don't have that village
atmosphere anymore.”
Among the possibilities that the Rhody Rising subcommittee
is looking into for the community are a sign to identify Rhododendron and
welcome visitors; sidewalks on both sides of Hwy. 26; pedestrian safety
islands; street lighting; bike paths; and parks and paths leading to the Zigzag
River and on the north side of the “Swinging Bridge.”
“It’s the future that I’m looking at,” Graeper said. “What
is Rhododendron going to look like 10, 20, 30 years from now. But it’s not my
vision; it’s a community vision.”
The group also developed a logo in 2018 as part of a
contest, which appears on t-shirts and hats to help raise funds. The t-shirts
will be available for sale at the Jan. 25 celebration, which will also include
presentations on the history of the community and the post office,
refreshments, cake and sheets of stamps with the Rhododendron logo, postcards
and envelopes for sale.
A second celebration is also expected to take place on
Saturday, Aug. 8, in concert with the annual Steiner Cabin Tour, which will
feature 12 cabins along a 2.5-mile loop in Rhododendron this year. Graeper
hopes to have different vendors and organizations stationed throughout the
loop, offering food and information on the community.
The Rhododendron CPO will also hold a business meeting at
10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Mt. Hood RV Village Resort, 65000 E. Hwy.
26 in Welches. Agenda items including the Centennial Celebration and a follow
up on the Zigzag Integrated Resource Project, consisting of two timber harvests
in the Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF) expected to take place in 2020.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County seeks comments on proposed rental regulations posted on 01/01/2020
After several months of development process involving County
Board of Commissioners deliberation and public opinion gathering, draft
regulations for short-term rentals (STR) in unincorporated Clackamas County are
available for public review and comment. The county will be seeking comment
until the Thursday, Jan. 9 deadline.
“I have received a lot of comments throughout the whole
process and expect to continue to do so,” said Clackamas County Senior Planner
Martha Fritzie.
The draft proposal requires STR owners to register with the
county and pay a fee to cover the costs of administration and enforcement of
the regulations. The county estimates the fee will be between $800 and $900 for
a two-year registration.
Public comments will be shared with the commissioners as
they consider amendments and approval of the regulations later in the month. If
approved, the new regulations are expected to become effective July 1, 2020.
In addition to a registration fee, STR owners will be required
to provide the county information about their rental property including
location, contact information for complaints, an affidavit of compliance with
safety standards, proof of liability insurance, a site plan and dwelling floor
plan. Owners will be required to provide proof that all county fees and taxes
have been paid, including registration with the county’s Transient Lodging Tax
program.
Betsy LaBarge, president of Mt Hood Vacation Rentals, cited
compliance with the lodging tax program as an element of the regulations
crucial to fostering tourism in the region.
“Tourism is everything for Mount Hood’s economy,” LaBarge
said. “Without it we’d be sleepy communities with less going on.”
The regulations also address issues of community nuisance
voiced by the public regarding STRs.
Maximum overnight occupancy for rentals will be restricted
to two people per sleeping area plus two additional people, with no more than
15 people on premise. One off-street parking spot is required for every two
sleeping areas to limit street congestion. Outdoor garbage containers will be
required to be covered, with weekly scheduled pick-up. Rentals will be required
to post quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in accordance with current county
ordinances.
Building and fire safety requirements will be enforced by
proposed regulations including mandatory smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,
emergency escape routes, fire extinguishers and other code issues.
“Pretty much everything (the regulations require) we already
do as a best business practice,” LaBarge said about the regulations’ impact on
the 32 rental properties she currently manages. “We don’t want to be a bad
neighbor.”
Draft regulations will only apply to rentals outside of city
limits in unincorporated Clackamas County. Fritzie stated a significant
addition to the regulations implemented by the board of commissioners during
the last policy meeting will require that STRs inside the Portland metropolitan
urban growth boundary be the owner’s primary residence or located on the same
lot as the owner's primary residence.
Enforcement of the regulations will be carried out by the
sheriff’s office or county code enforcement depending on the issue.
Noncompliance with STR regulations will result in enforcement consequences
including inspections, citations and fines, as well as potential revocation of
registration.
Draft regulations are available for public review and
comment online at www.clackamas.us/planning/str.
Data from the survey will be presented to the commissioners
as they prepare for a Jan. 14 policy session to prepare STR amendments. This
policy session will be followed by a Jan. 30 board of commissioners public
hearing for the reading of the proposed amendments.
More information is available by contacting senior planner
Martha Fritzie at mfritzie@clackamas.us or by phone at 503-742-4529.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Search for Deputy Fire Chief restarts posted on 01/01/2020
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) will restart its search for
a Deputy Fire Chief after only two candidates submitted applications for the
position in the initial search. The district needed at least five applicants to
continue with the hiring process.
HFD Fire Chief John Ingrao noted the timing of the first
search, which ran from Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 through Friday, Nov. 29, 2019,
coincided with the beginning of the busy holiday season. He added that the
search opened at that time because of the support the community showed in the
May 2019 levy to fund the Deputy Chief position, which was approved by voters,
by a margin of 69.6 percent to 30.4 percent.
“It was paramount to do due diligence and to get the process
started,” said Ingrao, who hopes to retire with the idea that the new Deputy
Chief would then become the new Fire Chief.
The new search will open on Monday, Jan. 6 and run through
Friday, Feb. 28, a total of eight weeks. Ingrao added that this time will be no
set minimum number of applicants to move on to a review stage.
“In essence, if we have the same two people apply, we can
review the applications,” he said. “It gives us a much broader ability to get
applicants for the process.”
Ingrao added that a change in the Public Employees
Retirement System (PERS) will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2020 after the passage
of Oregon Senate Bill 1049, allowing retired employees a chance to work full
time while also receiving a pension. He noted that could allow a wider pool of
candidates to apply for the position.
In addition, the new search will also relax residency
requirements for the new Deputy Chief, allowing the successful candidate to
reside within 20 minutes the district instead of needing to reside in-district.
Ingrao noted this was done due to the shortage of housing opportunities on the
Mountain.
After the application process, candidates are expected to be
brought in for an interview process that will include interviews in front of
two panels (administrative and fire service) and a physical agility test. The
top three candidates from the interviews will move on to another interview with
Ingrao. The final candidate is also expected to pass various other tests,
including medical, physical and psychological, as well as a background check.
The Deputy Chief position will result in 24-hour command
coverage for the district and allow for faster response when multiple calls
occur.
Applications are available through the district’s website at
www.hoodlandfire.us, can also be picked up in person at the district’s main
station, 69634 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches, or can be requested at 503-622-3256 or
carol@hoodlandfire.org.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 and will not
be accepted electronically.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Wildwood development moves forward posted on 01/01/2020
Mountain residents and visitors have a limited window to
submit comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding the potential
development of the Wildwood Recreation Area, with the deadline set for Wednesday,
Jan. 15. The comment period opened on Dec. 2, 2019 following the completion of
the Wildwood Recreation Area Management Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
“We really ask people for substantive comments,” said Dan
Davis, BLM’s Northwest Oregon District Outdoor Recreation Planner. “Let us know
why you don’t like it, let us know if it will impact wildlife.”
The potential development, which could include recreation vehicle
and full hook-up campsites, cabins, yurts, outdoor kitchen areas,
administrative offices, restrooms and shower facility, bus stop, a playground,
picnic areas, a dog park and a dump station, got started in 2016 with a public
meeting to discuss the possibilities. The BLM completed an economic analysis
and a draft Recreation Area Management Plan in November 2017 and plans included
a possible comment period that winter.
But Davis noted that due to staffing turnover and the merger
of two BLM districts, the project sat with engineers for a while as they went
through all the aspects to be sure the numbers lined up.
The EA analyzes three action alternatives, including the
Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.
Davis noted that after the comment period, the BLM is
expected to review the comments, taking between two weeks and a month to do so.
After addressing the substantive comments, the proposed project could be signed
and released as the final document.
Davis added that any work at Wildwood would not be expected
to take place in 2020, with contracts and funding likely lined up the year
before work would begin.
“It’s really hard to speculate what appropriations are going
to be year to year,” Davis said.
Approximately 50,000 visitors come to Wildwood each year,
but the area, which was first developed in 1963, was built to accommodate up to
375,000 visitors. Davis noted that 99 percent of the fees go back to the site,
unless the money can’t be spent there.
The EA and unsigned FONSI, including maps, are available for
public review online at ePlanning project webpage: https://go.usa.gov/xmBUH.
Please send written comments on the EA to John Huston, Field Manager, Cascades
Field Office, BLM Northwest Oregon District, 1717 Fabry Road SE, Salem, Oregon,
97306. Comments may also be sent via email to
blm_or_no_publiccomments_nepa@blm.gov, or submitted via the ePlanning project
webpage under the “Documents” section on the left side of the webpage.
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will
be available for public review, but individual respondents may request
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from
public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must
state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made
available for inspection in their entirety.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mt. Hood Yarn and Wool a crafty addition posted on 01/01/2020
Mt. Hood Yarn and Wool presented an exciting new option for
mountain crafters with the shop’s grand opening on Dec. 5. Jen Andersen’s
decidedly modern store is filled floor to ceiling with colorful and unique
hand-dyed yarns, wool and gifts from local artists around the pacific
northwest.
“(It’s) not your grandmother’s knit shop, but she sure is
welcome,” Andersen announces on the shop’s Facebook page.
Mt. Hood Yarn and Wool is located at 24403 East Welches
Road, Suite 104 between the U.S. Post Office and Pub 26. Andersen intends for
the shop to become a comfortable place for crafters to gather and work on
projects while enjoying a glass of wine or beverage at the shop’s knit bar, or
a sweet from Seattle Chocolate Company.
“I’m super excited about how many good, crafty people there
are on the mountain,” Andersen said. “I want (my shop) to be part of the
community, where people are able to share and create.”
Andersen’s appreciation for knitting began at a young age by
observing the knitted sweaters her grandmother made. She began knitting 18
years ago after the birth of her son and has been spinning for 12 years.
In 2005 she began producing hand-dyed, spun and knit yarn
and wool under the label “Hanks in the Hood knits” (HITH). She sold HITH yarn
and wool wholesale to shops and online through Etsy as a work-at-home mother.
Andersen has resided in Rhododendron for 15 years and wanted
to have a shop that offered her HITH wares to the local community as well.
“What’s unique in a sense is that all the yarn is hand-dyed
on the mountain,” Andersen said.
In addition to HITH knits the store stocks hand-made goods
by Get Spun, Wy'East Woolens, Knitted Wit, TSD Bags and Seattle Chocolate
Company, as well as regional pottery and goods bearing the shop’s cheerful
logo.
Andersen intends to offer classes at the shop in 2020 and
plans on hosting spin-ins and other community events.
“People have already come in and knit,” Andersen said. “It’s
been a great response.”
Mt. Hood Yarn and Wool is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with
hours varying seasonally. More information about the shop is available online
at www.mthoodyarnandwool.com. The shop can be contacted through the website or
by phone at 503-676-4492.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Scoping period opens for timber harvest posted on 01/01/2020
The official scoping period opened for the Zigzag Integrated
Resource Project, consisting of two timber harvests in the Mount Hood National
Forest (MHNF) scheduled to take place in 2020, was expected to begin in the
first or second week of January, according to Zigzag Ranger District Ranger
Bill Westbrook.
Westbrook noted that he received requests for the scoping
period to be extended, including one from the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization, citing concerns over winter access to the locations where the
harvests will take place. But he added that while he was considering extending
the scoping period to 60 days, it was most likely this opportunity for public
comments would last 30 days.
However, the scoping period is just one opportunity for the
public to offer comments, and there will be others as the process moves
forward.
“We do want to hear any concerns; input from the public is
ongoing,” Westbrook said. “We just have to continue to work through the
process. As we receive info we can incorporate it into the documents.”
The two harvests are slated for the Mud Creek Loop area and
the Horseshoe area up Lolo Pass, which will help fulfil a quota of 35 million
board feet for the 2020 fiscal year in the MHNF. The last sales in the area
date to the early 1990s, thanks to much of the acreage in the forest designated
as wilderness or recreation areas, or as part of the Bull Run watershed.
Two other areas were considered, USFS land around Government
Camp and the Linney Creek Area.
All four areas contain tree stands that were previously
managed, such as old clearcuts or stands planted after fires. Linney Creek area
was dropped because the trees aren’t ready for harvest, while Government Camp
will be considered in a separate effort with an eye towards fire mitigation.
Westbrook expects more information and an electronic-based
storyboard on the project to be available through the MHNF website,
https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Michael Junker
For foodies craving heaping helpings of comfort classics
that give a serious nod to nostalgia, Michael Junker is the chef for you.
Growing up in Sandy and as a graduate of Sandy High School, Junker has
"come home" as the new chef at Mallards at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort.
"Everyone will enjoy the variety of menu items as well
as quality and presentation," Junker said. "My vision is to make this
the destination meal that you will never forget and beg for more, and I won't
quit until I can make that happen."
The new menu is a gastronomic gallery of delights, including
smoked brisket, a Thursday night special, seared bratwurst, Stanford ribs,
bone-in/bone out wings, halibut fish and chips and a large assortment of
burgers, including a black bean vegetarian burger, all served with fries or
salad. A notable variety of sandwiches, salads, soups and an impressive
selection of rice bowls are also featured, along with an all-new happy hour
menu with pub favorites like tacos, nachos, sliders and quesadillas to tickle
your taste buds.
Children's culinary favorites such as chicken bites, mac ‘n'
cheese, grilled cheese, burgers and pizza are offered for those 12 and under.
And those hankering for tasty tacos can head on over to
Mallards for Taco Tuesdays. Away from the bustle of a busy restaurant kitchen,
Junker's favorite dish to cook at home are tacos. He explained that everyone
who knows him, knows he is all about tacos.
Junker's inspiration to cook started as a child when
visiting his grandparents, Don and Sally Junker. His grandfather would take him
to the batting cages, while his grandmother prepared dinner.
"I can remember the smell of that house when we would
walk in and I would instantly go to the kitchen and watch and want to help her
cook," Junker said.
He added that cooking was his "place of peace,"
and he received nothing but positive feedback and encouragement and knew this
was the career path he was meant to follow.
"Love what you do and you don't work a day in my
life," he said.
"I spent the past 10 years living in many places in the
South, such as Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Arizona," Junker said.
"This is where I picked up a lot of knowledge and real passion for this
career."
But Junker attributes his time under Chef Don at the Arizona
Downs horse racing track in Prescott Valley as the person who took him under
his wing and turned Junker into the chef he is today.
"It was a sink or swim mentality with him which made me
learn a lot in a short period of time," Junker said.
Junker loves working at the resort, citing the views and the
beauty of the mountain he gets to see every day, and in his spare time, he
plays country music, fishes, spends time with his family and friends and his
two dogs Bane and Gizmo.
"I have some of the best cooks, servers and bartenders
on my staff that I can say I am very proud to have part of my team,"
Junker said. "I urge y'all to come out and enjoy the new menus as well as
all our new daily events. I take much pride in what we are doing to make
Altitude and Mallards Pub the destination dining experience on the mountain. I
look forward to seeing and meeting everyone."
Mallards is located at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, 68010
East Fairway Ave. in Welches. For more information, visit mthood-resort.com or
call 503-622-3101.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
The Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s (NNB) December offering
of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told! (And Then Some!),” by Michael Carleton,
James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez, has some of the tales one might expect,
from Charlie Brown to “The Christmas Carol.”
But Kelly Lazenby, the show’s director, noted that there are
some surprising Christmas traditions that are also included, including one from
Holland where bad children are put into a bag and brought by ship to Spain.
“It just looked fun,” Lazenby said about why the play was
selected.
Lazenby added that the show, running from Friday, Dec. 6
through Sunday, Dec. 22, is similar to “The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare (Abridged)” in that a few actors perform a large number of stories.
In this play, three actors (along with a choir of children) perform 18 stories
in approximately 80 minutes (with one intermission).
Lazenby noted that the audience should expect some
interaction and they are also encouraged to wear an “ugly sweater,” with a vote
on which one is the best example.
NNB presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told! (And Then
Some!)” from Friday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 22, at the Boring Grange,
27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for
students and seniors and $10 for youth.
For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
‘Wing It’ takes on ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
Clackamas Repertory Theatre’s (CRT) interactive children’s
show, “Wing It,” offers its take on the classic holiday movie “It’s a Wonderful
Life” with “It’s a Wonderful Wing It,” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and
Saturday, Dec. 14. The show will feature guest artist Jayson Shanafelt as Marco
the fruit fly, with Travis Nodurft as Buzz Buzz, Heather Ovalle as Rita, Jayne
Stevens as Roxy, Jennifer Whitten as Luna and Chris Wilcox as The Captain.
The production features songs, dance and audience participation.
Nodurft, a teacher at Ogden Middle School in Oregon City and a professionally
trained clown, created the “Wing It” interactive series.
CRT presents “It’s a Wonderful Wing It” at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon
City campus of Clackamas Community College, 19600 MolallaAvenue in Oregon City.
Admission is $5 at the door (cash or check) with no reserved seating.
For more information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
Future “Wing It” performances will be held on Feb. 8, 2020,
April 4, 2020 and June 13, 2020.
Upcoming auditions
NNB will hold auditions for two future productions from 2-4
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the Boring
Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. The two productions will be a staged
reading of “In Front of the Philco: A Night of Radio Plays,” with performances
running from Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 through Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, and “Weekend
Comedy,” a full-length show running from Friday, March 6, 2020 through Sunday,
March 22, 2020.
Performers need not come to both audition dates and
auditions will consist of cold readings from the scripts. Headshots and resumes
are welcome, but not required.
Available parts for the staged reading, NNB’s annual
fundraiser which will feature old radio plays such as “The Bickersons,” “The
Shadow” and “Dragnet,” are for adult men and women of any age.
There will be four rehearsals prior to the weekend
performances.
Available parts for “Weekend Comedy” are for two men and two
women, ages 20-30s and 40-50s. Rehearsals for the production will take place on
weeknights.
For more information, contact Kelly Lazenby at 503-593-1295
or info@nnbtheater.com.
Sandy Actors Theatre will also hold auditions for “Vanya and
Sonia and Marsh and Spike,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 11, 2020
and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, January 12, 2020, at the theater, 17433 Meinig
Ave. (behind Ace Hardware).
Rehearsals for the production start on Monday, Feb. 3, with
the show running from Friday, March 13 through Sunday, April 5, 2020.
Available roles include Marsha, a woman in her 50s; Spike, a
man in his 20s; and Nina, a woman in her early 20s.
For more information, email Steve Morrow at
steve@sandyactorstheatre.org or Sharon Rindt at
sharonrindt@sandyactorstheatre.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Zigzag District timber harvest planned for 2020 posted on 12/01/2019
The Zigzag Ranger District will hold an open house from 6-8
p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 to offer the public a chance to learn about the Zigzag
Integrated Resource Project, consisting of two timber harvests expected to take
place in 2020. The open house, held at the district’s ranger station at 70220
E. Hwy. 26 in Zigzag, will not feature a formal presentation but will include
specialists from the district to answer questions.
“It’s in our back yard,” said Bill Westbrook, Zigzag
District Ranger. “It’s important for the public to be fully appraised of what
we’re doing.”
A scoping period, when the public can submit comments about
the project, is expected to take place after the new year and last
approximately 30 days.
Todd Reinwald, Forest Soils and Water Program Manager for
the Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF), presented preliminary information about
the project, which would include harvests in the Mud Creek Loop area and the
Horseshoe area up Lolo Pass, at the Saturday, Nov. 16 Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO) meeting.
Reinwald, who has lived on the Mountain for 27 years and has
worked for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) off and on for 20 years, noted that
Pacific Northwest forests are given an annual amount of timber to sell every
year, with the MHNF (comprised of four ranger districts) amount set at 35
million board feet for the 2020 fiscal year. He added that under the previous
two administrations the amount was 30 million board feet, while the amount is
projected to rise to 40 million.
Reinwald noted that the Zigzag Ranger District isn’t
typically a big timber producer, with the last sales in the area dating to the
early 1990s, and that it is thanks to most of the acreage in the forest
designated as wilderness or recreation areas, or as part of the Bull Run
watershed.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done timber management in
the Zigzag Ranger District,” Reinwald said.
Two other areas were considered, USFS land around Government
Camp and the Linney Creek Area, with the motivation to find places to get the
volume needed while also finding other benefits, such as road management,
watershed restoration and recreational. All four areas contain tree stands that
were previously managed, such as old clearcuts or stands planted after fires.
“They’re in various stages of development,” Reinwald said.
Reinwald added that the Linney Creek area was dropped
because the trees aren’t ready for harvest, while Government Camp will be
considered in a separate effort with an eye towards fire mitigation.
“There’s a lot of concern about dead and down timber,” he
said.
The project is expected to include different types of
harvesting, including pre-commercial thinning in some areas where saplings can
benefit from less competition, thinning, variable-density thinning (spacing
determined by the largest tree in a specific area), “skips (small patches left
with no thinning) and “gaps” (a clear-cut area of approximately two acres).
Reinwald noted that thinning stands will create more
horizontal and vertical differentiation where monocultures now exist, thanks to
an area being clear cut all at once and then replanted at the same time.
“It’s all even age,” he said. “As a stand develops (after
thinning) a second cohort will grow up underneath, creating vertical density.
In time you’ll have a multi-layered stand.”
Reinwald added that a certain amount of the revenue from the
project is expected to be retained by the MHNF, which will use the funds for
projects in the areas where the timber was harvested. Potential projects
include road decommissioning and rehabilitation.
The CPO is expected to submit a letter that requests more
revenue from the timber sales be used for other projects in other areas of the
forest through a different sales mechanism called “stewardship sales” and also
request the scoping period should be extended due to the winter weather.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Program seeing results in preventing youth suicide posted on 12/01/2019
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has seen a promising
response in preventing youth suicide through its three-year partnership with
SafeOregon, an anonymous school safety tip program.
SafeOregon reported a 79 percent increase in the number of
potential suicide threats reported by students between June of 2018 and 2019.
This is an increase from the number of tips received during the first 18 months
of the program. Tips are submitted anonymously by students on the SafeOregon
website, by email, app, text or phone call.
“These tips have truly saved the lives of many students,”
said Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts.
Clackamas County has the highest suicide rates in the
tri-county region, with young residents being particularly at-risk according to
county officials. Sheriff Roberts cites suicide as the second leading cause of
death nationally for young people ages 10-24 and sees the problem as an urgent
concern at the local level due to suicide rates in the county and throughout
Oregon being higher than the national average.
“It’s a significant public health issue,” said Galli Murray,
Clackamas County Suicide Prevention Coordinator.
The sheriff stated the issue has a statistically greater
potential to impact communities in the Mount Hood area and other rural parts of
the county.
“Suicide rates are higher nationally in rural areas,”
Roberts said. “There are less services and more chance for isolation.”
Murray added that in addition to a lack of resources,
increased access to firearms and a stigma against seeking help as factors that
increase rates in rural communities. She urged people to speak out and assist
at-risk individuals to prevent suicide in the county.
Sheriff Roberts suggested students have a “check-in”
conversation if they encounter at-risk behavior from a fellow student.
“They could be that lifeline, that takes care of their
fellow student and makes that difficult call,” Roberts said.
“Part of the problem is we haven’t been intentional about
having conversations about youth suicide,” Murray added. “People don’t
understand the signals that indicate a person is at risk.”
Murray stated that across the county schools have
implemented suicide intervention and prevention programs to address the
increasing rates of youth suicide. At the community level Murray noted the
Coalition for Suicide Prevention encourages outreach and communication to
eliminate gaps in suicide prevention.
Sheriff Roberts added the sheriff’s office is taking a
multidisciplinary approach to address county suicide rates and has incorporated
a team of clinicians in a behavioral health unit focused on individuals
experiencing mental health crisis.
The CDC reports that more than half of the people who die by
suicide do not have a known mental health condition.
Clackamas County Behavioral Health’s website details the
warning signs for suicide as:
– Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
– Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching
online or buying a gun.
– Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
– Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
– Talking about being a burden to others.
– Increasing their use of alcohol or drugs.
– Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
– Sleeping too little or too much.
– Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
– Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
– Displaying extreme mood swings.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Holiday Block Party offers produce and crafts posted on 12/01/2019
Based on the success of a Harvest Market held in late
October, Lauren Carusona will offer a Holiday Block Party from noon to 8:30
p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in the Hoodland Shopping Center, including indoor vendors
offering a range of produce and crafts. The event will be hosted by Mountain
Mel’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar & Shop, offering two indoor locations for local
shoppers to stock up on holiday essentials.
“It was pretty cold for the Harvest Market we did, we
realized it was going to be colder,” said Carusona, the Market Manager for the
Hoodland Farmers Market held on Sundays during the summer.
Vendors at the event will operate in two shifts, the first
from noon to 4 p.m. and the second from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Carusona expects some of
the vendors from the farmers market in attendance, offering produce, preserves,
locally raised pork and more, alongside handmade crafts.
“We’ll have lots of different variety; a little different
and more unique,” Carusona said, adding she expects approximately 30 vendors to
be on hand. “It’s kind of an extension of the summer market with a little more
crafts.”
She added that some businesses in the immediate area will
offer specials and that people can float back and forth between the stores and
the market, while those in attendance can also expect a plump and jolly visitor
spreading holiday cheer.
Carusona noted the Block Party evolved from a holiday market
last year at Camp Arrah Wanna, which was held after she received numerous
requests for the event.
“They’re speaking to us, so let's listen,” Carusona said.
She added that the vendors are local and that the demand for
market and block party show that people are valuing local shopping options for
their food and gifts, particularly those made on Mount Hood.
“It’s all super local people,” Carusona said. “I think
people are starting to value and do that more. We’re happy to provide that.”
She added that if the event proves to be as popular as she
thinks, there is potential to hold more events during the winter.
“We’ve talked about it, (we’re) going to base it off how
this one goes,” Carusona said.
Vendors expected at Cooper’s Wine Bar during the Holiday
Block Party include Chicken Coop Botanicals (noon to 4 p.m.), La Fountain
Herbal (4:30-8:30 p.m.), Copper Goddess Designs (noon to 8:30 p.m.) and Jerry
Cave Jewelry (noon to 8:30 p.m.).
Vendors expected at Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods during
the Holiday Block Party from noon to 4 p.m. include Hood Soaps, Brown Bottle
Farm, Hood Hills Farm, Frances Waddell Art, Harrington Family , Designs by Viki
and Sugar Maple Swine.
Vendors expected at Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods during
the Holiday Block Party from 4:30-8:30 p.m. include Sometimes Sewing, Golden
Wander, Creative Tensions and Hoss Soss.
Vendors expected at Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods during
the Holiday Block Party from noon to 8:30 p.m. include Seams Like Sunshine, Eco
Chick, 4 Hearts Kombucha, Alleyways Handmade and Wyeast Woman.
For more information, find “Hoodland Farmers' Market” on
Facebook.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Tips to keep safe during the winter posted on 12/01/2019
(MT) – Even though the wildfire season is over and winter is
imminent, the threat of fire remains – home heating fires. And winter also
brings risks when people are out, including challenging conditions on local
roads and Hwy. 26
“As locals we have a front-row seat to the dangers of living
in a bustling tourist and ski community,” noted Hoodland Community Emergency
Response Team member Sally Chester.
Tips for the home
– Purchase and/or stock up on non-perishable foods, two
gallons of water per day per person, extra batteries, flashlights, and an
emergency radio.
– Change batteries in smoke/carbon monoxide alarms, keep
fire extinguishers easily accessible.
– Keep children and pets, and all flammable items at least
3-feet away from heaters, pellet, wood stoves and fireplaces.
– Turn off/extinguish alternate heat sources, blow out
candles when leaving the room or going to bed. Never leave alternate heat
sources unattended.
– Wrap pipes and spigots, leave cabinet doors open for heat
circulation when temperature drops to 26 F, and drip taps during power outage.
Never use the stove/oven as a heat source, never use a BBQ, hibachi, etc.,
without proper ventilation and never inside or near a heat source.
– Test portable generators prior to use; add fuel only when
generator is off.
– Have your furnace and chimney inspected.
– Have an escape plan, and practice using it monthly.
Tips for your vehicle
– Have a go-kit with emergency radio, blanket, coat, boots,
gloves, hat, water, non-perishable food, whistle, cell phone charger,
flashlight, extra batteries, blanket and tarp.
– Keep kitty litter or sand and a small shovel to help with
traction.
– Keep fuel level at 3/4, check tire tread and carry and
know how to use tire chains.
– Check antifreeze level and carry an ice scraper.
– Check heating/defrost system, battery, lights (hazard,
head and tail) and wipers for proper functioning.
– To prevent ice from forming on windows mix three-parts
white vinegar with one-part water together in a spray bottle, spray windows
before a forecasted ice/snow event.
– To remove formed ice from windows, mix two-parts 70
percent alcohol with one-part water together in a spray bottle and spray
directly to windows, door locks, etc.
Tips for yourself
– Keep a go-kit, include extra medications, clothing,
important papers with policy and contact numbers, spare glasses and special
dietary needs.
– Consider mobility issues and special needs.
– Know the difference between frostbite and hypothermia. If
someone’s body temperature is below 95 F, get medical attention immediately.
– Dress in layers and always protect hands, head and feet.
– Remember to include your pets in all of your emergency
preparedness plans.
Call 503-622 3463 in the Hoodland Fire District before
burning yard debris.
Sign up for Clackamas County Public Alert Notifications:
www.clackamas.us/dm/publicalerts
|
| Artisan’s market returns posted on 12/01/2019
Heidi Flanders, Recreation Director for the Mt. Hood Village
RV Resort, hopes that December’s Mt. Hood Artisan’s Market can offer local
artists a safe environment to show off their creativity and even serve as a
launching pad for something more.
“We want to be the start up place,” Flanders said, adding
that the event keeps vendor fees low.
“Even if you never thought (about selling your art), give it
a try,” she said. “We just want people who didn’t think they could get into
selling art or craft to try it out.”
The event, held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in
the Evergreen Room at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 E. Hwy. 26 in
Welches, will also have more to show off than locally handcrafted jewelry,
pottery and other art.
The event space just reopened in October following a remodel
project that includes new French doors, floors, bathroom upgrades and much
more.
“It’s beautiful,” Flanders said. “I’m super excited to show
it off to the vendors and to the community.”
Flanders added that sometime in early 2020 she hopes to hold
an open house for the space, seeing it as a good option for weddings and other events.
In the meantime, the Mt. Hood Artisan’s Market will enjoy
the new amenities.
The Market, which started in the summer of 2018 and had a
holiday version last year, is expected to include a couple new jewelry makers
this year, along with photography, wood carvings and more.
For more information, email
Heidi_Flanders@equitylifestyle.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
On Friday, Nov. 8, students at Welches Middle School took to
the stage to tell the story of how rock is eroded in a river and turns into
pebbles. The performance was not conveyed through acting or even any words, but
through drums.
As part of the Right Brain Initiative, Korekara Taiko, a
Japanese drumming group based in Portland, spent two weeks at the Welches
Schools, leading students in drumming lessons that centered on the values of
cooperation, perseverance and respect. Each week culminated in a performance
created by the students.
“Those drums just fill the room with sound,” said Welches
Schools Principal Kendra Payne. “It’s really super awesome.”
Payne noted this is the sixth year the school has offered
arts through the Right Brain Initiative, an arts integration program to help
students link learning from one area to others, and the second time the
drumming group has visited the schools.
In other years, the program brought different arts into the
schools, including students performing Shakespeare, creating comics and making
a mural of Mount Hood out of recycled objects.
Payne added that the core values that are part of the
drumming program mirror those of the school and adding it to the fall schedule
starts the year off on the right foot to build momentum in these areas.
“They really made those explicit links between the art form
of drumming and the core values,” she said, noting that teachers and the
artists were able to make connections between the values and daily occurrences,
such as playground conflicts.
Michelle Fuji, taiko artist and co-director of Unit Souzou,
the performance group associated with Korekara Taiko, said that they focus on
encouraging students at each school to create their own voice.
“The joy and excitement that they get from hearing the drum
is pretty special every time,” Fuji said. “It’s always remarkable to see how
far they can express themselves through the drums.”
Fuji was also the Korekara Taiko instructor to visit Welches
the first time, but during that year, she only worked with younger students in
kindergarten through third grades.
This time, all students from the middle and elementary
schools got to participate.
“It was really different; it was great,” she said. “Because
all the students were involved, we could really show the level of expression.”
Payne echoed that sentiment, noting that it was valuable to
have all the students share the same experience, while adding that the older
students could explore more complicated and nuanced patterns.
“I think drumming is especially powerful for kids because
it's a whole-body activity,” Payne said. “Every single part of them was
involved in making music.”
The program was made possible due to the support from the
school’s Rainbow Run in addition to support by the Starseed Foundation and the
Paul and Sally McCracken Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Project map
Mount Hood area residents and visitors can expect traffic
congestion and delays on Hwy. 26 during the late spring and summer of 2020 as a
result of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) construction projects.
“(The planned projects) are for safety and maintenance. We
want to assure no further deterioration of the roadways,” said April
DeLeon-Galloway, ODOT community affairs coordinator.
ODOT warned that travelers will encounter temporary lane
closures along two stretches of the highway, with traffic controlled by
flaggers and a pilot car during the construction, and began a public awareness
campaign for three projects slated for the Mount Hood area next year at the
Sept. 21 Rhododendron Community Planning Organization meeting.
The construction involves paving east of Sandy from Weber
Road to East Cherryville Drive (mile post 30.4 –32.5) and between Zigzag and
Rhododendron from East Lolo Pass Road to East Arlie Mitchell Road (mile post
41.6 - 44.1). ODOT also plans to upgrade signs from Timberline Highway on Hwy.
26 to Sherwood Campground on Route 35 (mile post 54.2-70.2.)
DeLeon-Galloway stated that design for the projects is
underway. She added that there is no construction schedule at this time. Work
is expected to begin in late spring or early summer 2020 and conclude in early
fall.
DeLeon-Galloway added
“the most complex” of the three projects will involve repaving both directions
of the 2.1-mile section of Hwy. 26 east of Sandy beginning at Weber Road.
“If you drive this
section you see a good deal of repairs,” DeLeon-Galloway said. “It’s definitely
time to get this one fixed before it deteriorates further and requires full
reconstruction.”
The construction will remove and replace two to four inches
of asphalt in the area, replace 10,000 feet of guardrail, upgrade 8,000 feet of
median cable barrier and replace signs, striping and rumble strips.
ODOT noted that drivers can expect daytime work on the
project with potential lane closures reducing Hwy. 26 to one lane. A pilot car
will be used to guide traffic through the construction zone. The work may also
be scheduled for nighttime if needed.
The ODOT website lists the total project cost for this
section of repairs as $4,336,912.
Construction will occur concurrently on a 2.5-mile stretch
of Hwy. 26 between Zigzag and Rhododendron. Both directions of the highway will
be repaved, and rumble strips will be replaced.
Daytime work, lane closures and flaggers are expected for
this portion of repairs. Work crews will construct temporary pedestrian access
routes during the repaving work.
The cost of this project is listed at $2.8 million dollars.
“The largest, but simplest project will be upgrading 26
existing signs along Hwy. 26 and Oregon Route 35,” DeLeon-Galloway said.
The guidance and warning signs will be replaced with more
durable materials and steel supports.
“The signs will be taller and more durable,” ODOT spokesman
Don Hamilton said.
This upgrade will prevent the possibility of the signs being
covered by snow or damaged by plowing during the winter.
Minimal delays are expected during the project. The cost for
the sign replacement is listed as $500,000.
ODOT is currently seeking to address community concerns
regarding traffic enforcement during the construction.
“We’ll do our best to coordinate with local law enforcement,”
DeLeon-Galloway said.
The construction schedules will be updated regularly on the
ODOT project website.
“The public can sign up for alerts,” Hamilton added about
efforts to keep the community informed of scheduling and delays related to the
construction.
For more information visit the ODOT project page at
www.oregon.gov. April DeLeon-Galloway, OOOT community affairs coordinator, can
be contacted by email at ApriI.M.Oeleon@odot.state.or.us or phone at
503-731-3117.
Community members are invited to sign up for a newsletter to
get updates for ODOT Mount Hood projects at https:lltinyurl.com/MtHoodProjects.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire opens Deputy Chief search posted on 11/01/2019
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) officially opened the
search for a Deputy Fire Chief with a job posting in trade publications and
elsewhere on Friday, Nov. 1. Interested candidates have until Friday, Nov. 29
to submit an application packet.
HFD Fire Chief John Ingrao noted that the job listing will
be at a national level, as the district searches for a qualified candidate who
will most likely take over as the next chief when Ingrao retires.
“We want to spread a fairly wide net,” Ingrao said.
Ingrao added that the top 12 or 13 candidates will be
brought in for an interview process, likely during the second or third week in
December, that will include interviews in front of two panels (administrative
and fire service) and a physical agility test. The top three candidates from
the interviews will move on to another interview with Ingrao. Ingrao expects to
give a recommendation to the district’s board of directors at the Tuesday, Jan.
14, 2020 board meeting.
The final candidate is also expected to pass various other
tests, including medical, physical and psychological, as well as a background
check, with the potential to start on the job on Feb. 1, 2020.
Ingrao noted that he sees the district as an attractive
place for candidates due to the strong community and a smaller fire department
that can be “nimble” and effect change quickly.
“Large departments have to go through a myriad of steps,” he
said, adding that community support, such as from the district’s Community
Emergency Response Team, helps with implementing new programs. “I think that’s
an attractive point.”
The new position is made possible thanks to the district’s
voters, who approved a five-year levy to fund the position in the May 21
election earlier this year. The Deputy Chief position will result in 24-hour
command coverage for the district and allow for faster response when multiple
calls occur.
The salary range for the position is posted between $116,000
to $124,775, depending on qualifications and experience.
Ingrao noted that while he hopes to retire, with the new
Deputy Chief likely taking over at that time, he will step aside only when the
board is comfortable with it and the timing of the transition makes sense.
Until that time, he’s also looking forward to the additional support at the
command level.
“It’ll be a breath of fresh air to have a second in
command,” Ingrao said.
The candidate will be given a six-month probationary period,
“just to make sure there’s a fit,” Ingrao added.
Applications are available through the district’s website at
www.hoodlandfire.us, can also be picked up in person at the district’s main
station, 69634 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches, or can be requested at 503-622-3256 or
carol@hoodlandfire.org. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 and will
not be accepted electronically.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Restaurant hit twice by burglars posted on 11/01/2019
Tom Anderson, owner of the Rendezvous Bar & Grill in
Welches, noted his establishment had never been broken into in the 25 years
he’s operated it. That streak ended suddenly in the early morning hours of
Friday, Oct. 11 when he got a call in the middle of the night that burglars had
attempted to steal a safe.
Nothing was taken during that incident, when a single person
was captured on camera, and Anderson secured the doors, anticipating a better
fix. But he thinks that same person came back with help early on Tuesday, Oct.
15, when two people broke in again and this time were able to remove the
restaurant’s safe.
“They were only in the building, I’ll say, under a minute
that time,” Anderson said, adding that the alarm notified him of the intrusion
and he watched a live feed of the security camera on his computer as the heist
took place. “This is just becoming too prevalent.”
According to a police report by the Clackamas County
Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), surveillance cameras recorded footage of two males
wearing white hoodies who broke in through the north doors to gain entry, then
enter the restaurant and remove the safe, which contained $838.35 cents from
business, $120 in petty cash and up to eight credit cards left by previous
customers.
In addition to the loss of money and the damages, the
experience has cost Anderson his peace of mind and sleep.
“It just leads to an insecurity and I’d say general trust
issues with everyone,” he said. “(I) look at everybody with a different eye,
whether its rightful or not.”
Anderson added that a neighboring business had recently been
broken into, yielding clear images of someone trying to obscure a camera in
that building, while noting other businesses that have been hit in recent
memory, including Mt. Hood Bicycle. He said that police coverage on the
Mountain can be limited and response times aren’t always reliable, but also
credited the efforts of the CCSO.
“The sheriff's office has been amazingly accommodating,” he
said. “I’m surprised how much effort they’ve put into it.”
If you have any information about the break-in, please call
the CCSO tip line at 503-723-4949.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| ‘Drive with a Cop’ puts teens behind the wheel posted on 11/01/2019
The Portland International Raceway was filled with the
sounds of revving engines and squealing brakes on the sunny Saturday morning of
Oct. 5.
Instead of sportscars racing neck-in-neck around the track,
teen drivers from Clackamas County, accompanied by county deputies trained as
driving instructors, navigated a driving course designed to show real-world
dangers encountered behind the wheel.
The raceway, located at 1940 North Victory Blvd. in
Portland, played host to the fifth annual Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
(CCSO) “Drive with a Cop” program. 70 teen drivers and 34 parents participated
in the event, designed to teach safe driving techniques and educate young
drivers about the dangers of speed, impaired and distracted driving.
“A lot of life-saving (driving) skills are not being
instructed,” Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said. “We’re here to help
save lives on the road.”
The sheriff cited motor vehicle crashes as the number one
cause of teen deaths nationwide.
Roberts added that young drivers in the Mount Hood
communities face additional dangers from winter weather, including safely
putting on chains along the highway and also from encountering wildlife while
driving in rural areas.
“If a deer runs right in front of the car (the driver) might
just have to hit it to avoid attempting a radical correction,” Roberts said.
“The (young drivers) have to be able to make that decision.”
This year’s program included hands-on driving training, a
crash reconstruction presentation and an opportunity to wear “impaired goggles”
that simulated driving under the influence of intoxicants. Young drivers also
had the opportunity to hear the stories of guest speakers impacted by the loss
of family members in teen driving crashes.
Leading causes of teen accidents include distracted driving
and following too closely. The driving training course allowed the
inexperienced drivers to conduct a full emergency stop under the supervision of
the deputies to experience the time and distance necessary to avoid a
collision.
Roberts stated that the teen drivers’ time with the deputies
was not only a chance to build safe driving skills but also an opportunity to
form a positive relationship with the law enforcement officers.
During the event, Les Schwab gave a demonstration of safe
techniques for changing a tire and putting on chains while on the roadside.
Representatives from the company instructed young drivers of safe vehicle
maintenance practices, such as maintaining adequate tire tread, tire pressure
and proper alignment to prevent tire failure or other related accidents.
The “Drive with a Cop” program was sponsored by the Oregon
Department of Transportation, the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon
Impact, Les Schwab and Swift Transportation. For more information about the
program contact Clackamas County sheriff's office Event Coordinator Kim Lippert
by email at klippert@clackamas.us or by phone at 971-413-1762.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
|  Edward Peters
Earlier this year, Rhody resident Edward Peters had an idea
to share his garage space with his grandson, also named Edward Peters, who
enjoys drawing and creating art. But the elder Peters also wondered if the plan
would go the way of the idea to build a treehouse, which hadn’t yet come to
fruition.
The duo stuck to it and made it happen though, turning the
old firehouse building he rents in Brightwood as an art gallery, and opening it
to visitors during select weekends over the past two months to show some of his
grandson’s creations.
“It was a little scary,” the grandfather said. “Thinking
there could be people who are harsh and critical, (but) it hasn’t been that
way. Yesterday a group of boys, teens, came in and were real supportive. A lot
of good things to say.
“He was giddy, kicking his feet up,” he added about his
grandson.
Edward, the 10-year-old artist, is in the fifth grade at
Cascadia Montessori School in Vancouver, Wash. and gets a lot of his
inspiration for his art from cartoons and video games, including Sonic the
Hedgehog, Pokémon and even Hanna Barbera. The walls of the garage now hold a
large number of his works, but Edward has sketchbooks with numerous other works
still being worked on, as well as a couple of commissioned pieces from visitors
who have stopped by the gallery.
“I do a lot of things at the same time,” the young artist
said. “Sometimes when I’m kind of annoyed by a lot of things and school gets
difficult, I get home and have all these cool character things in my mind and
sketch them out on paper.”
He noted he’s considering becoming an architect or artist
when he grows up, while he also spends time writing comic books, creating Lego
minifigures and updating his Instagram page and YouTube channel (fastgamer101
on both platforms).
The garage, located at 63053 E. Brightwood Bridge Road, was
built in 1952 and the older Peters, a retired experimental aircraft parts
manufacturer, noted that it previously housed a firetruck and then was
converted into an auto shop. Now, he modifies bikes there when it’s not serving
as an art gallery, and one of his creations was to make a fully electric bike.
The pair hope to keep the gallery going in the future.
“We’ve been thinking about this for two or three years at
this point I’m just amazed that we were able to do it,” said Edward, the
artist. “It hasn’t been too busy, but I still had a great time doing it.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Chris Thiessen
Chris Thiessen’s childhood bike, a yellow Schwinn Stingray
she rode everywhere in the early 1970s, sat unused in her mother’s shed for
years after she graduated to her 10-speed. After approximately 20 years in that
shed, her mother cleaned it out and when Thiessen told her husband, Tim, about
it, he got the idea to fix it up for their kids to enjoy.
Tim picked it up, took it apart and put it in a box,
dreaming of powder coating it and putting it back together. The bike, in the
box, ended up in their garage and when the family later moved, the box relocating
to the new garage.
“It sat there,” Chris said. “We didn’t give it a second
thought. Kids got bikes and life went on.”
But life dealt the Thiessen family a sudden shock this year,
as Tim passed away from an undetected heart ailment at the age of 53. The bike
resurfaced this summer, when Chris and her daughter, Sydney, started going
through their garage and found the dust-covered box that housed the numerous
pieces.
As she considered what to do with it, she shared the story
with Tam Everard, a Zig Zag Village resident who works with Chris at Providence
Medical Group. Chris, who lives in Clackamas, asked if Everard knew anybody who
could put the bike back together, and Everard could oblige. A recent entrant
into mountain biking, Everard had her neighbor, and owner of Mt. Hood Bicycle,
George Wilson build a bike for her, figuring this would be a project right in
his wheelhouse.
Wilson got the boxes with pieces and went to work cleaning,
powder coating and restoring the bike over three months. As a special touch, he
added a decal on the seat’s down tube reading, “Yours always, Tabasco Tim,”
Tim’s nickname due to his love of the spicy sauce.
The Stingray, fully reassembled, became the featured bike in
Wilson’s store, with customers coming in and happily recounting their childhood
bikes.
“It brought back a lot of stories,” said Wilson, noting he
had a similar bike growing up. “It was a fun project; I really enjoyed it.”
Last month, Chris and Sydney came up to the Mountain to pick
up the bike.
“I started crying; it was gorgeous,” Chris said. “Everything
is as original as could be. It was in much better shape than I remember.
“I know that my husband would have been crying like a baby
to see that bike in person fully restored,” she added. “He fell in love and
wanted it for the kids.”
Everard noted that Chris posted the story on her Facebook
page, eliciting more stories from people remembering their childhood, while
also becoming a joyful topic at the hospital where they work.
“It’s just been funny listening to everybody get excited
about telling stories about their first bike,” said Everard, who would also
like to write a children’s book centered on the story of the bike. “It brings
out the little kid in everybody, it just brings out so much joy.”
The bike no longer sits in a shed or in the garage. Chris
keeps it inside her house, where people can come over and see it. And while her
kids are a little old to take it out for a ride, she’s hopeful that someday her
grandkids will.
“It will carry on through the generations,” she said. “I
feel blessed. In a year where my life has been turned upside down … it's such a
gift to have a bright spot. My husband wanted it for our kids. I feel like we
helped complete his dream for that bike to be restored.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Workshop takes the mystery out of septic systems posted on 11/01/2019
If you own a home with a septic system and have ever
wondered how it works or the best ways to maintain it, the Clackamas Soil and
Water Conservation District offers a workshop, “Know Your Septic System – Check
It, Fix It, Maintain It!”
The free event will include information on signs of septic
system failure and regulations regarding repairs or replacements.
The workshop will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14,
at the Boring-Damascus Grange Hall, 27861 SE Grange Street in Boring.
Proper care and maintenance of septic systems can help keep
homeowners and their neighbors healthy and protect drinking water and our
environment.
For homeowners, proper care can also prevent costly repairs
or replacement of systems, protect property values, and conserve water.
Check out these useful SepticSmart tips:
– Protect It and Inspect It: In general, homeowners should
have their system inspected every three years by a licensed contractor and have
their tank pumped when necessary, generally every three to five years.
– Think at the Sink: Avoid pouring fats, grease, and solids
down the drain, which can clog a system’s pipes and drainfield.
– Don’t Overload the Commode: Ask guests to only to put
things in the drain or toilet that belong there. For example, coffee grounds,
dental floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products,
cigarette butts and cat litter can all clog and potentially damage septic
systems.
– Don’t Strain Your Drain: Be water efficient and spread out
water use. Consider fixing plumbing leaks, installing faucet aerators and
water-efficient products and spread out laundry and dishwasher loads throughout
the day. Too much water at once can overload a septic system if it hasn’t been
pumped recently.
– Shield Your Field: Remind guests not to park or drive on
your system’s drainfield. A vehicle’s weight could damage buried pipes or
disrupt underground flow.
Attendees who have drinking water wells on their property
will have the opportunity to bring a sample of their well water for nitrate
screening.
For information on sample collection, go to the septic
system article on our website https://conservationdistrict.org.
Space is limited and attendees can reserve a seat by calling
503-210-6000 or emailing tguttridge@conservationdistrict.org.
“Know Your Septic System – Check It, Fix It, Maintain It!”
is sponsored by Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Clackamas River
Water Providers, Clackamas County and Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality.
By Lisa Kilders/MT
Lisa Kilders is the Education and Outreach Program Manager
for the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District.
|
|  Contributed photo.
When Bill Westbrook, Zigzag District Ranger for the Mt. Hood
National Forest, walks along a stretch of the Salmon River to gauge its health,
it’s notable how far the area has come in a short time.
Just three years ago, that same terrain featured bare soil,
without dead fall or vegetation, causing the nutrient cycle to collapse.
But thanks to a Forest Order issued in 2016 that prohibited
camping and fires outside of developed campgrounds for three miles along the
Salmon River, the reversal of that damage is already evident. Old campsites
were restocked with trees and shrubs, new plants can be seen growing, while
enough forest litter and duff (shed leaves, etc.) have accumulated that even
some of the hardened surfaces are sprouting forest vegetation.
“It’s a much more enjoyable hike to take your family up
there,” Westbrook said. “It’s kind of our community trail up here for a lot of
people to go on a day hike and just get out.”
Dispersed recreation includes a variety of activities
outside of the developed campgrounds and other areas (where bathrooms, tables,
trash service and fire rings are typically available), and include hiking,
target shooting, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and camping in the forest’s
more rustic locations. These activities, which are legal and allowed (unless
prohibited by a Forest Order), make up the majority of summertime visitor use
on the forest.
But those activities, if done irresponsibly, can harm the
landscape and ruin the outdoor experience of others when people don’t take
responsibility for packing out their trash, properly managing human waste and
choosing an appropriate campsite (it is illegal to live in a National Forest,
destroy vegetation or to leave trash and human waste where it damages natural areas
and creates a hazard for the public and wildlife, while many areas along
riverbanks on the Mount Hood National Forest are also listed as endangered or
sensitive fish species habitat).
Westbrook noted that dispersed recreation is a “great
aspect” of the forest, but that “we just want people to do it appropriately,”
he said.
The efforts to reverse the damage along the Salmon River and
elsewhere in the forest have included cleaning and dismantling the abandoned
illegal campsites and supervising several re-vegetation projects along the
banks of the river, while also increasing enforcement and spreading information
through local businesses. A number of agencies and organizations have
participated in the efforts, including interns from Oregon State University,
forest staff and volunteers, who worked throughout the summer of 2017 to clean
up and naturalize over 40 sites along the river and West Leg Road and Old Maid
Flats. They encountered “camping villages,” where illegal campers had erected
walls and awnings, along with water systems and walkways.
Other groups who have helped with the efforts include
Clackamas County Dump Stoppers (who pick up illegal dump sites), Tread Lightly
(who developed markers, graphics, electronic materials and more as part of a
social media campaign), the Sandy River Watershed Council, Vive NW, the
National Forest Foundation, fifth grade students from the Oregon Trail Academy,
Ant Farm, Wilderness Volunteers and more. Meanwhile, as part of the increased
emphasis on dispersed recreation, recreation staffing was doubled from 2018
levels for the 2019 season, resulting in more visitor contacts, increased
public education and more trash being removed from the forest.
“We’ve seen a lot of successes,” Westbrook said. “We go into
camps now and they’re a lot cleaner, folks are moving around more (and) they’re
paying more attention to human waste.”
This winter, Westbrook noted that an environmental
assessment will be done with an eye to make the closure in the Salmon River
area a permanent one, adding that the area is so sensitive that it takes a
higher level of management. He also noted that the Forest Service hopes to
provide additional restroom facilities at areas with higher use, and he hopes
that visitors will take their own initiative and be responsible for their
dispersed activities.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Chamber welcomes new president posted on 10/01/2019
Mike Miskowicz got right to work volunteering in the
community after he and his wife Lyn began residing full-time in Rhododendron in
2017 in a Steiner cabin they have owned for more than 15 years.
Now, Miskowicz will serve as the new president of the Mt.
Hood Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, after being named to the
position at the Sept. 3, 2019 chamber meeting.
Three other new board officers were also announced at the
meeting.
“You’ve got to be involved to expect change,” Miskowicz said
about his belief in the importance of civic participation.
Miskowicz assumed the responsibility of chamber president in
addition to his current roles as co-chair of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO) and member of the board of the Rhododendron Water
Association (RWA).
He has been involved in the community as a volunteer for the
REVEL marathon, as well as this year’s Huckleberry Marathon, and is an advocate
for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Miskowicz began volunteering at the community level in 2014 by
serving as the vice-chair of his homeowner’s association while living in
Minneapolis, Minn.
He described his involvement in community organizations in
the Mount Hood area as a “natural transition” due to the influence of his
neighbor Steve Graeper, Chair of the Rhododendron CPO. Miskowicz became
involved with the CPO after meeting Graeper and quickly became vice-chair,
while attending Chamber meetings on behalf of the CPO during the summer of
2018.
He was encouraged by Coni Scott, former vice president of
marketing for the Chamber, to run for president in July. Voting by incumbent
board members took place in August. Miskowicz and other new board officers
began their terms in September 2019.
“They’ve been very supportive,” Miskowicz said of the
established board members, including former board president Jeri McMahan during
his transition. “(The board) has a good team concept.”
McMahan will continue to offer her expertise and experience
as an associate director of the board.
“Our new board brings new energy and great enthusiasm,”
McMahan wrote in an email to the Mountain Times. “I hope to see chamber
membership continue to grow and promote the business community.”
Miskowicz noted the upcoming goals for the Chamber include
increasing membership of local businesses and making efforts to unify the
businesses in the community.
The organization will also pursue the return of “The Bite of
Mt. Hood,” an annual food and drink festival held in April that features local
restaurants. Miskowicz described this as part of a strategy to incorporate
event-based efforts to promote local businesses.
His other expectations of his new role as president include
a concerted effort by the Chamber to bring businesses together to focus on
mutual areas of concern and interest.
Miskowicz describes these goals as ways of “teaching (local
businesses) to work together,” to promote commerce in the region.
Miskowicz will serve as the president until September 2021.
Other new board members are Vice President of Marketing
Brittany Allen, Secretary Barb Bresseon and Project Officer Steve Carlson.
The Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce meets on the first
Tuesday of every month at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in
Welches, and can be contacted by phone at 503-622-3017 or by email at
mthoodareachamber@gmail.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| ‘C’ is for more than just ‘cookie’ posted on 10/01/2019
For on-the-go people during the hectic holiday season, those
cherished cookies loved by your family and friends may take a back burner.
But it doesn't need to be that way, even if you are too busy
to make fresh cookies yourself. Neighborhood Missions annual fundraiser for
pre-ordering your cookies is currently underway, running from Tuesday, Oct. 1
through Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Myke Jagow, who has spearheaded the Neighborhood Missions
cookie fundraiser for the past five years, explained her flair for baking and
wanting to lend a hand.
"I have a gift for baking," Jagow said. "This
project provides money for those who need just some help; be it gas, help with
rent, wood, etc. when the month is too long for their paychecks."
Cookies are available in five mouthwatering flavors: choose
from chocolate chip oatmeal, old fashion ginger molasses, peanut butter crunch,
triple chocolate or white chocolate and cranberry oatmeal.
A special request can also be made if your favorite is not
among this list.
Each batch sold is made fresh for specific orders. The cost
for a batch of approximately 60 cookies, which are baked, double-wrapped and
labeled for your freezer and delivered, is $29. Or, if preferred, the cookies
are ready to serve in a box or on a platter. Perfect for your holiday party or
family get-together when serious cookie munchers are present.
100 percent of all money collected from the cookie sales are
gifted to Neighborhood Missions who assists those in need or who find
themselves in economic difficulties with food, firewood, utility and rent
payments, repairs, transportation, medicines and more.
In 2014, the first year of the cookie fundraiser, Jagow
handed over approximately $945, and last year an impressive figure of $1,251
was raised.
Jagow's initial grocery list for the cookies is impressive:
50 pounds of flour, 40 pounds of white sugar, 31 pounds of brown sugar, 34
pounds of oats, a whopping 74 pounds of chocolate chips, 12 pounds of plums, 10
pounds of raisins, 45 pounds of butter and 15 dozen eggs. If orders warrant,
the list grows.
Jagow receives some assistance from volunteers to help fill
orders for the cookies, and those that have helped in previous years are
usually Hoodland Lutheran Church members.
To order your cookies or for more information, call
503-622-5558, or e-mail Myke Jagow at ncaofo@hotmail.com.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Arrah Wanna pushes forward with renovations posted on 10/01/2019
The sounds of top hits from prior decades will provide a
fitting accompaniment to Camp Arrah Wanna’s “The Generations of Promise”
Banquet and Auction held at the camp’s historic lodge on Saturday, Oct. 12. All
proceeds of the evening will provide funding for an ongoing campaign to
renovate the camp’s facilities and ensure the continuation of the camp’s more
than 78-year tradition of providing a place of respite and development for
generations of campers.
“The goal (of the fundraiser) is improving the facilities
for the next 75 years of use,” said Laura Young, executive director of the
camp. “It should be a really fun night.”
She noted the evening will offer community members and
donors a fun-filled night in the camp’s facilities including dinner, an open
bar, live and silent auctions, raffles, games and a live band. She added the
event was an opportunity for people to learn more about the camp’s history and
future impact while enjoying a meal prepared by the camp’s food service staff.
Tickets for the event are $60 per person and include dinner
and two drink tickets. Doors to the banquet open at 4:30 p.m., with the bar
opening at 5 p.m. and dinner served at 6 p.m. Entertainment and auctions will
occur throughout the evening.
The auction will include items such as vacation packages to
regional resorts, artwork, locally produced woodworking, massage gift
certificates, surf lessons in Lincoln City and gift baskets donated by
community businesses. The camp is auctioning off a pool party to be hosted at
their facilities in 2020 as well as VIP lodging on the campgrounds. For sports
fans, a variety of Portland Trail Blazer memorabilia will be available at the
auction, including a ball autographed by the 2018-19 roster.
The non-profit camp, conference and event center was
established at its current location by The American Baptist Churches of Oregon
as a nonprofit camping ministry in 1941. The camp describes its ongoing goal as
“providing a beautiful, peaceful and safe environment where people can
experience the transforming power of love and find support through positive
relationships and activities.”
The camp has completed phase one of the restoration process
which involved modernizing the second floor of the historic lodge and hiring a
full-time Program and Marketing Director. Funds raised by the banquet and
auction will be used to improve staff housing, continue renovation of the main
lodge and update Judson Lodge, including making the restrooms ADA accessible.
“We’re constantly trying to figure out how to make the
facilities more accessible,” said Young, adding that the camp hosts many groups
with disabilities.
Young stated the camp hopes to host 150 guests at the
banquet and auction.
Camp Arrah Wanna is located at 24075 East Arrah Wanna
Boulevard in Welches. Tickets to the
event can be purchased online at www.camparrahwanna.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Dental clinic returns in Sandy, offering free services posted on 10/01/2019
Tami Beaty had seen the impact that dental clinics in large
cities could make after she and her husband were part of some.
So last year they started one in Sandy, offering free dental
work on a first-come, first serve basis. And the clinic will return this year,
scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at the Sandy Seventh-Day
Adventist Church, 18575 SE Langensand Road.
“Our church has just really been a strong force, trying to
reach people in our community with their health needs,” said Beaty, noting that
they have taken part in the past with Compassion Sandy, a one-day health
clinic.
The dental clinic’s offerings will include exams, digital
dental x-rays, extractions, fillings, cleanings and more, although no services
are guaranteed.
Beaty expects to have eight dentists, five dental hygienists
and a “good number” of dental assistants on hand in the hopes to serve more
than 100 people.
There are no requirements for patients, and Beaty noted that
last year she saw people come from Albany and Vancouver, Wash. as part of the
86 people who came to the clinic.
“For our first year, I thought that was pretty good,” she
said.
Beaty encourages people who want to take advantage of the
services to get there early, noting that she has seen people line up for
clinics as early as 4 a.m. to be sure and get a spot, adding that she feels for
the people who need to do so.
“It hurts your heart to see people go to these means to get
care,” Beaty said. “It’s a good thing we can help them.”
Next year, Beaty hopes to add the opportunity for people to
get crowns.
She also noted that the church has other health-related
offerings, including “Diabetes Undone” and a depression and anxiety seminar run
by her husband.
“We’re just really excited to be helping,” Beaty said.
Visit sandyadventistchurch.org for more info.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Christopher Marley.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) welcomes
the exhibit "Exquisite Creatures" for its Oregon debut, running from
Oct. 5 through Feb. 17, 2020.
"Exquisite Creatures opens the door to a variety of
complex topics by highlighting nature's inherent beauty and design," said
Nancy Stueber, OMSI president and CEO in a press release to The Mountain Times.
"This exhibit is a stunning and insightful way to show that art, science
and nature are very much linked together and does a great job at making those
topics accessible to audiences of all ages."
Exquisite indeed, this awe-inspiring exhibition showcases
the amazing gifts of world-renowned artist, naturalist and New York Times
bestselling author Christopher Marley, who has made it his lifelong passion to
reveal the obscure beauty in nature and preserve specimens of insects and other
life as three dimensional art. Guests to the exhibit will experience the
ancient connection between art, nature and science, where Marley taps the
natural world as his medium.
Marley explained he was born with a passion for
"monsters," so reptiles were his earliest and most natural love.
"I spent the majority of my childhood outside looking
for snakes and lizards and raised a number of different species into
adulthood," Marley said in an e-mail to The Mountain Times.
"Thankfully my parents were very tolerant of my reptilian pursuits."
When traveling and living in Asia and South America, Marley
developed his passion for insects. As a young man, Marley had pursued a career
in fashion while studying art and design, and it was on a fabric sourcing trip
in Bangkok that he found himself exploring a night market, coming across a
group of disabled locals selling cheap frames crammed with the "craziest
beetles I'd ever seen." Marley was enthralled with being able to examine
the huge insects up close.
Later, while working in Cape Town, South Africa, Marley was
really moved by how conscientious residents were about incorporating the
natural world into their designs and homes. After returning to Los Angeles,
Marley was determined to create a living space for himself that was an homage
to nature.
Marley possesses one single beetle from the Mount Hood area
in his entire exhibit of thousands of specimens, caught by his son, which is
included in the largest insect mosaic he has ever made.
"There is so much beauty all around the Northwest, but
as my area of expertise has historically been the tropics, I am only now really
starting to discover some of the beauty in my own back yard and am absolutely
loving it," Marley said. "The rock hounding and fossil collecting
here is particularly wonderful."
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, and growing up as a
self-described “OMSI kid,” Marley portrayed his field trips in grade school as
absolute highlights, and no trip to the zoo was ever complete without also
spending hours across the parking lot in OMSI.
Although Marley has been exhibiting all over the world in
over 500 galleries and special exhibits for two decades now, he said he had
very few opportunities to do so in Oregon.
"To be able to finally come home and exhibit in the
very place where my love affair with nature and science began is absolutely
thrilling," Marley said. "I'm so looking forward to it."
All of the organisms used in Marley's work are either
reclaimed (in the case of vertebrates) or sustainably obtained (in the case of
insects), using a worldwide network of people and institutions that share his
passion for nature, and frequently offers an alternative to ranching or farming
for often impoverished people with few options for sustenance other than
working the land.
OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland,
503-797-4000.
Information available online regarding exhibit hours and
admission prices can be found at the museum’s website, Omsi.edu.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Expanded Mt. Hood Express routes prove their worth posted on 10/01/2019
Two additional runs for the Mt. Hood Express bus service
have seen good results since they started in April. Muna Rustam, Transit
Program Administrator for the City of Sandy, noted that the two runs totaled
278 passenger rides in April, followed by 294 in May and 400 in June.
“We expected that there would be this need,” Rustam said. “A
lot of workers heading up to Timberline needed the midday service.”
That midday service leaves Sandy’s Operation Center at 11:15
a.m., reaching Timberline Lodge at 12:30 p.m. and then heading back. The other
additional run, part of the Villages Shuttle route, leaves the Operations
Center at 6:45 p.m. and includes a stop at Sandy High School before reaching
its terminus in Rhododendron at 7:25 p.m. and then returning.
The additions were made possible by a new state employee tax
that was passed in 2017, which dedicated the money to enhance current service
or start new service. The Mt. Hood Express conducted a survey to learn what
times would be the highest priorities for ridership.
Rustam noted that adding the stop at the high school is also
a benefit to the riders.
“That (Villages Shuttle) run makes an extra stop at Sandy
High School, so if there are events students want to get to or get home from,
they can utilize that,” she said. “So many people needed to get into town and
get back in the evening. We definitely knew it would be utilized.”
Rustam added that the tax collected goes into the community
where it was drawn from to help fund things on a local level. She also noted
that a transit master plan that will encompass all of Clackamas County is in
the works, with the goal of promoting connections between cities, possibly
putting a regional hub on the mountain to make other connections, such as to
the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River, while the Mt. Hood Express is expected
to receive two new busses in the near future.
“The mountain route is pretty rough on the buses,” Rustam
said. “They have a shorter lifespan than most busses would.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Proposed park.
Representatives from the Hoodland Women’s Club (HWC) kicked
off a two-month community polling process at the Tuesday, Aug. 6 Mt. Hood Area
Chamber of Commerce meeting as part of the grass roots initiative to form a new
Hoodland Community Park District for the funding of a new park in Welches.
Regina Lythgoe, HWC committee co-chair for Hoodland Park
District, noted the park district would be funded with property tax dollars
from residents in the district as well as grants. She stated the current
estimated tax rate would be between $0.49 and $0.54 per $1,000 of assessed
property value, with an estimated annual assessment of $150-165 on a $300,000
home. The tax base would create an estimated annual budget between $480,000 and
$520,000.
“It could be the jewel of the community,” Lythgoe said. “It
will be built for the safety of children and community to go outside and
recreate.”
This presentation was the first of several the HWC is
holding around the mountain through September to discuss potential plans for
the park and to take a poll of public sentiment regarding the proposed tax
district.
“Formation of the park district requires an initial
expenditure of considerable time and money,” the HWC explained in information
accompanying the poll. “The HWC is
willing to take on this task, however, we want to be certain this is deemed to
be a worthy cause and one that will be supported by local residents.”
The potential park tax district will use the same district
lines as the Oregon Trail School District 46.
The park was first proposed when Clackamas County offered to
gift the deeds to three parcels of property on Salmon River Road in Welches for
the formation of a community park. The
parcels include the former site of the Dorman Center across from Welches
Elementary School and the current community garden space. The county can only
deed land to a government or a public entity such as a park district.
The HWC has secured a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from
the county for a deed transfer for the three parcels upon the establishment of
a funded park district with a governing board in the November 2020 elections.
If the district is not established the county will sell the property to the
highest bidder.
The HWC consulted with the Mackenzie Group, a regional
design firm that created a park design proposal to conduct a feasibility study
and determine costs for initial development and long-term maintenance of a park
in the community.
Some features of the proposed park include a pavilion,
amphitheater, skate park, dog park, play area, expanded community gardens, and
walking path with an accessible inner loop. The park would also require
restrooms, lighting, parking with shuttle drop-off, benches, kiosks and bike
racks.
The Mackenzie Group’s proposal noted, “Using a comparative
analysis, the park design could cost between $3 million and $5 million in
today’s construction market.” The proposal cited excavation, grading and the
skate park being major cost leaders.
“We’ll be frugal with
the tax money,” Lythgoe said. She added
the park will be managed by a board of locally elected members and will create
jobs in the community.
If enough of the community shows favorable interest in the
park a petition will be circulated to get the park district, the tax base for
the district and nominated board members on the ballot for November 2020.
Lythgoe said the petition will need support from 750 voters
in the proposed district and the HWC will need to submit the petitions to the
county clerk’s office by March 2020 to get it on the ballot.
The HWC will be presenting the park proposal at the
Rhododendron CPO meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, in the public
meeting room of the Hoodland Fire Station, 69634 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches.
For more information regarding the Hoodland Community Park
District visit www.2020parkvision.org. The HWC welcomes courteous public input
both positive and negative by email at hoodlandparkdistrict@gmail.com,
www.hoodlandwomensclub.org or www.2020parkvision.org.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| ‘All Mountain Cleanup’ aims to give Mount Hood a fresh start posted on 08/31/2019
One of the mountain’s biggest volunteer stewardship events
just got bigger. This year’s Timberline to Troutdale cleanup series will gather
in Government Camp and spread out across Mt. Hood on Saturday, Sept. 21,
marking the first All Mountain Cleanup.
The new vision: to clean up the whole mountain, all at one
time, building a lasting practice for the entire year.
“Garbage, unfortunately, doesn’t respect watershed
boundaries and accumulates downhill and downstream,” said Jocelyn Gary,
director of the Mount Hood Institute. “Those of us who go to Mount Hood for
recreation, exploration and solace need to contribute to its stewardship.”
“Rivers on both sides of the mountain flow to the Columbia
and then the Pacific,” added Steve Wise, Executive Director of the Sandy River
Watershed Council (SRWC). “It’s great to have all the resorts working together
to remove contaminants at the headwaters.”
The All Mountain Cleanup, held on Saturday, Sept. 21, is
paired with the popular Lower Sandy River Floating Cleanup on Saturday, Sept.
14.
With more than 100 volunteers regularly joining past
cleanups at Timberline, organizers are recruiting for up to 300 participants
this year on Sept. 21. Volunteers will meet at Summit Ski Area at 9 a.m. for
refreshments before shuttling or carpooling to Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline or
SkiBowl. Volunteers may also choose to stay at Summit and help clean up the
Village of Government Camp. This year’s cleanup also has added an exciting
component, partnering with Northwest Trail Alliance, to lead a mountain bike
ride down the Timberline to Town Trail to remove trash there as well. The event
concludes with a large group photo at 1:30 p.m. and an after party at the
Ratskeller, 88335 Government Camp Loop in Government Camp, hosted by 10 Barrel
Brewing.
Past cleanups have hauled as much as four tons of trash out
of the canyon and slopes at Timberline. Glaciers there serve as the headwaters
to the Salmon River providing key spawning grounds for wild fish.
The terrain is varied from steep and uneven, to flat and
easy; all ability levels and ages welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to bring
sturdy footwear, work gloves, a water bottle/coffee mug and appropriate
clothing for mountain weather. Carpool options have been set with Get There
Oregon at: https://getthere.rideamigos.com/#/events/5d601d932d3bff236657a39b.
Or take a ride with Portland’s favorite shuttle to Mount Hood; GREEN DREAM BUS.
The downriver floating cleanup will gather at Lewis and
Clark State Park near Troutdale at 9 a.m. Saturday Sept. 14, then shuttle
volunteers to Dabney State Park to board rafts and float the lower river. No
previous rafting experience is necessary, and personal floatation devices,
paddles and other gear are provided free of charge.
“This is a great entry level opportunity for folks to get
out on the water for a gentle float, and also contribute to a cleaner Sandy
River,” Wise said. “The more we learn about the effects of plastics and other
trash on fish, birds and other aquatic life, the more important it is to get
the trash out of our rivers.”
Volunteers who want to participate in the floating
cleanup can register at
www.solveoregon.org. Volunteers may bring their own floatation or can reserve
one of the limited raft seats at www.eventbrite.com.
The City of Troutdale continues its sponsorship of the Lower
Sandy River Cleanup, guided by Stout Creek Outfitters. SRWC is also partnering
with Vive NW this year to make outdoor stewardship more accessible to diverse
audiences and encourages Spanish speakers of all levels to attend.
Both the Float and the All Mountain events are part of the
SOLVE Fall Beach and River Cleanups and are free and open to the public. Additional partners and donors include: Timberline, Summit Ski Area, Mt Hood Meadows
Resort, SkiBowl, the Mt. Hood Institute, USDA Mt. Hood National Forest Zigzag
District, Village of Government Camp, Portland Mountain Rescue, Northwest Trail
Alliance, Timberline Mountain Guides, Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, Vive NW, The
Mountain Shop, GREEN DREAM BUS, TREW, Oregon State Parks, SRWC, Voodoo Donuts,
Mt. Hood Coffee Roasters, Sisters Coffee, New Season and 10 Barrel Brewing.
Please register to participate at www.solveoregon.org or
contact mthoodinstitute@gmail.com or sara@sandyriver.org for more information.
By Sara Ennis/MT
|
| County unveils short-term rental regulations posted on 08/31/2019
Clackamas County Planning Division presented a draft of
potential regulations for Short-Term Rentals (STRs) on Aug. 6 to the Board of
County Commissioners (BCC). The draft allows the controversial STRs in any
legal, permanent dwelling in unincorporated Clackamas County, while STRs will
be registered with the county, with properties that are rented for less than 30
days a year to be exempt from the registration. Proposed registration would be
valid for two years and the fee for the registration will be established by the
BCC.
“Currently the county has no regulations that are specific
to STRs, and the county’s zoning code is silent on the question of whether
short term rental of dwelling units is permitted,” said Jennifer Hughes,
Clackamas County Planning Director during the meeting. “The goal of this
project is to answer that question one way or the other, and if we’re going to
allow them then to regulate them through a registration process.”
The Planning Division defines STRs as “a short-term rental,
or vacation rental, is a dwelling unit, or portion of a dwelling unit, that is
rented to any person or entity for a period of up to 30 consecutive nights.”
The county planning division conducted a public outreach
program, including public meetings and surveys throughout the months of March
and June. On June 11 the BCC requested
the planning division proceed with a first draft of regulations in the county
code in order to allow and regulate STRs following a review of the public polls
and input.
The regulations limit maximum overnight occupancy for STRs
in the county to two persons per bedroom/sleeping area plus two additional
persons with an exemption for children under two years of age. Maximum
occupancy for the rental properties is not to exceed 15 people total.
Off-street parking is required for the STRs with one space required per 2
sleeping areas with a minimum of one space. Properties can be listed with a
reduced maximum occupancy if parking is limited.
The proposed regulations also cover mandatory safety
elements needed for the STRs. Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide
detectors are required to be installed and maintained in all sleeping areas and
in the kitchen. Two working fire extinguishers are required per rental
property.
Other regulations include pool and hot tub barriers and are
required if applicable, all sleeping areas must have emergency escapes that are
clearly accessible, all exterior building exits must be clear and useable for
the renters, electrical wiring is required to be covered, fireplaces and flues
must be maintained in accordance with recognized standards and are to be
inspected and cleaned on a regular basis and wall outlets, switches and
junction boxes are required to have appropriate covers in place.
The proposed regulations also prohibit the use of outdoor
fire pits from June 15 through Sept. 15 at STRs, plus any additional “no burn”
times, as determined by the Fire Marshal.
Occupants of the STRs are required to abide by the County’s
current noise control ordinance and observe quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
the following day. A notice must be posted on the premises that identifies the
quiet hours.
“I’d like to make certain that on the noise ordinance end of
things consequences are fairly significant,” said commissioner Ken Humberston
during the Aug. 6 meeting.
Under the proposed regulations STRs are required to maintain
weekly garbage pickup service during any week the rental property is occupied.
All garbage receptacles must be covered.
The regulations require that property owner contact
information be posted on the interior of the dwelling for the renter and on the
exterior for neighbors.
According to the Planning Division, if the board chooses to
move forward with a program to register and enforce regulation of STRs, there
will potentially be a need for additional staffing and funding for the
departments involved with the implementation and enforcement of the new regulations.
The amount of additional staffing will be determined by the extent of the new
regulations, how often the STR registrations must be renewed and the level of
enforcement established.
The Planning and Zoning Division plans to schedule a final
policy session in September to discuss registration fees and the administration
of the program, including which departments will review and issue registrations
as well as enforce the regulations.
The county will also seek public comments about the draft
regulations over the next couple of months. There will be public hearings with
the BCC before the board takes any final action on new regulations.
The draft regulations and additional information regarding
STRs are available online at www.clackamas.us/planning/str. The Clackamas
County Planning and Zoning Division can be reached by phone at 503-742-4500.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Whistle Stop on track with new owners posted on 08/31/2019
Marc Accuardi and Darren Wiese were familiar with the
Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, both having spent time in their youth on the
Mountain, and more recently, enjoying breakfast there during the past 12 years.
And when they found out that the local eatery was going to close down last Jan.
1, they took a look into it, decided it had some good potential, bought the business
and took over on July 1.
“We make a very balanced team,” Accuardi said, noting that
he has 45 years in the restaurant business, while Wiese had a career in the
beverage industry.
The friends and business partners have a vision to “elevate
the game,” with some of the first improvements to the menu including switching
to 100 percent grass-fed beef and Grand Central sesame buns, with sauces and
gravy made from scratch, and a Shrimp Louie salad that has had truck drivers
coming back for seconds. Wiese has upgraded the bar, with better well liquor
and the addition of other liquors not found nearby, including Sazerac Rye and
Jim Beam Black Label, all of which have already been noticed by the customers.
Meanwhile, they also have plans for more improvements,
including upgrades to the kitchen and the outdoor patio area, all while
cultivating a menu that has dishes that aren’t found elsewhere on the Mountain.
“We want to have our own niche here,” Wiese said, adding
they will have a very “thoughtful approach” and keep prices reasonable for the
local residents.
The owners also praised the staff they inherited, including
Kaye Lessor, the bartender of 13 years that first let them know the restaurant
might close, and Victor Ruis-Munez and Bill King, the cooks.
“We want to see them prosper,” Accuardi said. “Victor and
Bill have really taught me a ton about the breakfast trade. It’s a blast, I’m
having a ball in here.”
Meanwhile, they also hope to see more success in the trivia
night (every Tuesday) and karaoke nights (Friday and Saturday). One recent
karaoke night, a couple big groups came in and Accuardi described the
atmosphere as like a roadhouse, with everyone in the restaurant joining in on
the fun.
“It’s been successful and fun so far; we’re pretty blessed
with it,” Wiese said. “We’re feeling fortunate to have something in the
community and have a home for everybody.”
The Whistle Stop Bar & Grill is located at 66674 E. Hwy.
26 in Welches. For more information, call 503-622-3440 or find the restaurant
on Facebook.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Eric Kallio
Local guitar player Eric Kallio refers to his songwriting as
a product of glass, wood and steel. These raw materials represent his approach
to writing music with guitars that are played with a glass slide, a steel bar
and a standard flat-pick.
On his second album “Life Force,” Kallio, a resident of
Government Camp where he has managed the Reed College ski cabin since 2010,
expands his approach to include a wider array of instrumentation as he
contemplates themes taken from the natural world and his experiences in
wilderness. The album will be released Sept. 2, 2019.
“The last ten years
of my life have been experienced on Mount Hood,” Kallio said about the
mountain’s impact on his desire to explore the natural world through his
songwriting. “(These songs) are from my experiences in the outdoors and the
beauty and complexity of nature.”
Kallio is originally from northern Virginia and began
playing six-string guitar in 1991. At a young age he began developing his
playing style from a mixture of folk, blues, country, Americana, jazz and roots
reggae influences.
In 2012 Kallio shifted the focus of his guitar playing to
traditional slide guitar techniques and began incorporating square-neck and
round-neck resonator guitars along with his dreadnought guitar. He found new
creative possibilities playing these instruments with slides which allow him to
mimic the subtle phrasings of the human voice.
Kallio released his first solo acoustic album in 2016
entitled "Glass Wood & Steel." The album was the result of a
quick week-long session with a producer with arrangements limited to
performances on his three guitars.
For his second album Kallio decided to take on the
production role himself with assistance from his brother Adam Kallio. This
decision came from a desire to incorporate other musicians and experiment with
song arrangements.
“Life Force” was recorded over a year-and-a-half by Kallio
at his home and in Portland.
“(The second album) is like a painting made over a long
period of time as opposed to a quick attack,” Kallio said. “I appreciated not
being on the clock and having more mental space.”
The album features Kallio’s cousin Kip Jones on violin,
Portland flute-maker Kyle Neidig on flute, djembe and percussion, and Portland
musician Matt Brewster on cajón and percussion. Kallio also picks up the bass
and additional percussion on several songs as the musicians establish intricate
polyrhythmic grooves.
Instrumentals such as the title-track “Life Force” and
“Tributary” showcase slide playing in Appalachia-tinged tributes to the natural
world. Kallio adds vocals and additional backing to “Fire Season,” “Rain” and
“Snow” as he reflects on the influence of these natural processes. On “Warrior”
and “We Love,” layered percussion and pulsing bass add a reggae-influenced
groove to the album.
Kallio will be appearing at the Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545
E. Hwy. 26 in Zigzag, on Saturday, Sept. 28 and at the Ranger Station, 4260 SE
Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland, Friday, Sept. 13 to perform the new album. He will
be performing both shows as a duo with Matt Brewster on percussion.
Fans of the Grateful Dead can watch Kallio perform songs
from the band’s catalog with Fingers & Chilly at the Timberline Labor Day
Mountain Music Festival’s tribute at noon, Monday, Sept. 2 at the Timberline
Lodge Amphitheater.
More information about the upcoming album release and
performances can be found online at www.erickallio.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Eric Kallio Mountain songwriter examines natural processes on second album posted on 08/31/2019
Local guitar player Eric Kallio refers to his songwriting as
a product of glass, wood and steel. These raw materials represent his approach
to writing music with guitars that are played with a glass slide, a steel bar
and a standard flat-pick.
On his second album “Life Force,” Kallio, a resident of
Government Camp where he has managed the Reed College ski cabin since 2010,
expands his approach to include a wider array of instrumentation as he
contemplates themes taken from the natural world and his experiences in
wilderness. The album will be released Sept. 2, 2019.
“The last ten years
of my life have been experienced on Mount Hood,” Kallio said about the
mountain’s impact on his desire to explore the natural world through his
songwriting. “(These songs) are from my experiences in the outdoors and the
beauty and complexity of nature.”
Kallio is originally from northern Virginia and began
playing six-string guitar in 1991. At a young age he began developing his
playing style from a mixture of folk, blues, country, Americana, jazz and roots
reggae influences.
In 2012 Kallio shifted the focus of his guitar playing to
traditional slide guitar techniques and began incorporating square-neck and
round-neck resonator guitars along with his dreadnought guitar. He found new
creative possibilities playing these instruments with slides which allow him to
mimic the subtle phrasings of the human voice.
Kallio released his first solo acoustic album in 2016
entitled "Glass Wood & Steel." The album was the result of a
quick week-long session with a producer with arrangements limited to
performances on his three guitars.
For his second album Kallio decided to take on the
production role himself with assistance from his brother Adam Kallio. This
decision came from a desire to incorporate other musicians and experiment with
song arrangements.
“Life Force” was recorded over a year-and-a-half by Kallio
at his home and in Portland.
“(The second album) is like a painting made over a long
period of time as opposed to a quick attack,” Kallio said. “I appreciated not
being on the clock and having more mental space.”
The album features Kallio’s cousin Kip Jones on violin,
Portland flute-maker Kyle Neidig on flute, djembe and percussion, and Portland
musician Matt Brewster on cajón and percussion. Kallio also picks up the bass
and additional percussion on several songs as the musicians establish intricate
polyrhythmic grooves.
Instrumentals such as the title-track “Life Force” and
“Tributary” showcase slide playing in Appalachia-tinged tributes to the natural
world. Kallio adds vocals and additional backing to “Fire Season,” “Rain” and
“Snow” as he reflects on the influence of these natural processes. On “Warrior”
and “We Love,” layered percussion and pulsing bass add a reggae-influenced
groove to the album.
Kallio will be appearing at the Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545
E. Hwy. 26 in Zigzag, on Saturday, Sept. 28 and at the Ranger Station, 4260 SE
Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland, Friday, Sept. 13 to perform the new album. He will
be performing both shows as a duo with Matt Brewster on percussion.
Fans of the Grateful Dead can watch Kallio perform songs
from the band’s catalog with Fingers & Chilly at the Timberline Labor Day
Mountain Music Festival’s tribute at noon, Monday, Sept. 2 at the Timberline
Lodge Amphitheater.
More information about the upcoming album release and
performances can be found online at www.erickallio.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Dean De Benedictis
Dean De Benedictis made it to the summit of Mount Hood on
Sunday, Jun 16, on his fifth attempt. But his journey to the top was far from
typical, as he carried more than 80 pounds of music and recording equipment as
part of the Summit Music Project, his vision to reach the summit of every
Cascadian volcano to create live ambient electronic music.
“I’m trying to be a good artist as well as do wild things
artistically,” said De Benedictis, who is based in Los Angeles. “I have moments
where I really revel in it and feel liberated.”
De Benedictis got his inspiration for the project after
seeing the Academy-award-winning film “Man on Wire” in 2009, when he asked
himself what in his art is truly extreme and about what risks he was taking in
his music. While the original vision of the project included performing and
filming music at all significant locations in the American west, he narrowed
his focus, noting that the Cascade volcanoes offer a completely panoramic view
at their summits and that ambient music can be played there while still
maintaining a dramatic quality.
At first, he thought he could complete the project in a
couple years, although that notion was “probably one of the silliest things
that has ever passed through the hemispheres of my mind” and that most of the
initial summit attempts failed. The first two successes were reaching the
summits of Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, where he learned valuable lessons
while getting lost and about the amount of weight he was carrying (not to
mention one time forgetting cords that he needed for recording).
“I learned the hard way, in those early years, that these
mountains demand far more attention and effort and sacrifice,” noted De
Benedictis, a life-long recording artist who has also ventured into filmmaking,
acting and more.
In his past attempts on Mount Hood, De Benedictis had never
made it higher than the Hogsback, finding himself either too weak or too far
behind in the day to make the final push. This past June, he had the strength
to keep going, but quickly discovered that the route to the top would not be
easy.
“It was very steep and icy, with no footholds other than
crampon technique to depend on, and nowhere to sit or even rest my calve
muscles, which were now burning,” he wrote in an email to the Mountain Times.
“But rather than panic and cry for help, which I knew wouldn’t do much good, I
decided to take notice of the few climbers who were walking up this thing like
it was a day in the park. A couple of them walked right past me, as though they
were looking for a spot to have a picnic.”
De Benedictis gathered himself, pushed on and reached the
summit in tears.
“To say the experience was cathartic would be an
understatement, it was practically transformative,” he noted.
The conditions at the summit were too windy and cold for a
performance, so De Benedictis set up a little bit down and out of the wind. He
had three pieces of music to play, but he was unable to play everything he
planned and he noted the emotions of the journey to the summit made an impact
on the performance.
His last piece was performed live on Facebook, and then he
packed up for the descent.
De Benedictis took the Old Chute route down, noting it was a
less dramatic climb than the one going up, but added that he didn’t enjoy the
performance and he may consider giving it another attempt.
DeBenedictis has also played at the summit of Mount Whitney,
and he also hopes to reach the top of Mount Shasta this year (with a possible
attempt at the end of last month). He also plans to complete a full-length
documentary on his project in the future.
“I wanted to show how inseparable my art is from my life,”
De Benedictis noted. “I just wanted to show the world how moved and inspired I
myself am to be alive, and in essence this was my way of doing that. This
project was my own primal scream of sorts, a way of standing in front of the
vastness and the abyss and exclaiming to the universe as gracefully and
sentimentally as possible that I was here, and that this was my impression of it.”
For more information about his project, including links to
videos and music samples, visit www.deandebenedictis.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mountain resident escapes house fire with dog posted on 08/31/2019
On Sunday, Aug. 11, Paul Cadd escaped from his house as it
burned with only his phone, wallet, the t-shirt on his back and his dog,
Maggie, according to his nephew, Brandon. Brandon added that the house was a
100 percent loss.
“Healthwise, both are doing fine,” Brandon said about his
uncle and the dog, noting that Paul is in search of short-term and long-term
housing solutions.
Brandon added that the vision is to eventually rebuild on
the site.
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) got the call on that day at
approximately 6:15 a.m. about the Welches house being fully engulfed in flames.
According to a press release, responders could see a large
column of smoke in the vicinity as they were in route, and Fire Chief John
Ingrao upgraded the call to a second alarm to ensure adequate resources.
When the responders reached the scene, 50 percent of the
house was engulfed in flames with a 26-foot travel trailer and a car directly adjacent
to the house starting to catch fire.
Firefighters immediately began aggressive fire attack
methods as additional resources arrived on scene, but due to the rural location
and limited fire hydrants, water had to be shuttled to the scene by multiple water
tenders, necessitating the temporary closing of Elk Park Road.
Firefighters battled the fire for approximately four hours
and were able to keep the fire contained to the one house and damage to the
travel trailer and car. One firefighter received a minor injury.
HFD was assisted on the call by Sandy Fire District,
Estacada Fire District and Clackamas Fire District.
HFD Fire Marshall Scott Kline noted that as of Monday, Aug.
26, no cause of the fire had been determined, but he expected the investigation
to be completed in the near future.
In response to the tragedy, a spaghetti dinner and auction
will be held to offer community support and as a fundraiser from 3-7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Mount Hood Lions Club, at the corner of E. Hwy. 26
and Woodsey Way in Welches. The cost is $12 per plate.
In preparation for the event, anyone who is interested in
donating auction items can contact Judi Sandsness at
pineconesixgreen@frontier.com or Brandon Cadd at bc.woodworks@yahoo.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Benjamin Simpson.
On July 20, as the country celebrated the 50-year
anniversary of the first human landing on the moon, wilderness steward Mike
Mathews spent the day beyond the wilderness boundary of the Paradise Park trail
from Timberline Lodge. Mathews’ mission was to monitor trail usage and instruct
visitors of policies that embody the “leave no trace” ethos of the 1964
Wilderness Act, enacted five years before man’s first steps on the lunar
surface.
“Wilderness value is determined by people enjoying and using
it,” said Mathews.
Mathews greeted visitors from foreign states and countries
as he continued his 18th year of service as an interpretative agent in the
wilderness areas of Mount Hood. The volunteer-based wilderness steward program
was established in 1999 as a key component of the Wilderness Protection Plan,
first implemented to address an increase in recreational usage of lands
protected by the 1964 Wilderness Act and to preserve wilderness values in the
Mount Hood, Salmon-Huckleberry, Hatfield and Badger wildernesses.
The stewardship program’s roots stem from environmental
impact surveys conducted by the U.S Forest Service that suggested recreational
access in these areas needed to be limited to a fee-based permit system or
monitored and instructed by a volunteer-based steward program to avoid further
degradation of existing wilderness areas. The program keeps access to the
wilderness areas open to the public without the need for permit-based access.
“We’re all visitors,” Mathews said about his mission to
inform hikers of low-impact recreational practices in wilderness zones.
Stewards patrol the trail systems and campsites and educate
guests of environmentally beneficial practices to implement while in wilderness
areas. Topics include garbage, human and animal waste disposal, fire prevention
and additional “rampant wear” caused by traffic outside of designated camp and
trail sites.
The stewards monitor trail usage to ensure that visitors
complete day-use permits for the wilderness areas. Additionally, Mathews noted
that 90 percent of the fees from the Northwest Forest Pass returns to the
district in which the pass was issued.
These fees are assigned to provide resources, including
trail and campsite maintenance and public restrooms, to trail systems according
to usage patterns monitored by the permits.
“We’ve got to keep the trails happy,” Mathews stated. “It’s
citizenship.”
The stewards greet 6,000 people annually and hike a combined
2,000 miles of trail as a group each year.
Stewards also check for campfires left smoldering overnight
to prevent forest fires, provide first aid for hikers suffering from
heatstroke, hypothermia and other injuries, and act as liaisons with the forest
service and other authorities in case of illegal acts in the public wilderness.
The main goal of the program is to educate the public of potential
environmental impact and restore damaged wilderness areas.
“We’re here to tell people how special these places are and
how careful we have to be,” said wilderness steward Janet Tschanz, who has been
involved with the program since its inception.
Tschanz noted that over her twenty years with the program
she believes the stewards have made an impact preventing camping close to
rivers and lakes in the wilderness.
“When hikers camp too close they damage the water,” Tschanz
said, citing Burnt and Mirror Lake as sites impacted by recreational use.
Both stewards noted that continued public involvement and
enthusiasm for the wilderness stewardship program is integral for future
sustainable public recreation in the Mount Hood wilderness areas.
“Without (the steward program), life on the mountain would
be much different,” Tschanz said. “We’d probably have to buy permits to access
the wilderness.”
The 20 years of volunteer effort has allowed the forest
service to keep recreational access to wilderness areas around the mountain
open to the public.
“We could always use more people,” Mathews said. “The more
people volunteering the better.”
Training is required to participate as a wilderness steward.
All volunteers must undergo job hazard analysis safety training, radio use
training and instruction on managing public encounters. First-aid training is
also offered to participants.
More information about the program, including an application
for participation is a available online at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/workingtogether/volunteering. The public
is invited to email questions and applications to: norynerobinson@gmail.com.
The Mount hood wilderness stewards can be followed on Instagram at
@mthoodwildernessstewards.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Food drive aims to bag more donations this year posted on 08/01/2019
Hood View Gardens’ food drive last year ended with more than
250 pounds of food and $300 in donations, benefitting Neighborhood Missions, a
community outreach program sponsored by Hoodland Lutheran Church that provides
food, wood and financial assistance for heating, medicine, utilities, gas
vouchers and transportation for those in the community in need. And while those
results were celebrated by Hood View Gardens’ co-owner Dennis Nash, he’s raised
the goal to this year’s drive to 350 pounds of food.
“We had a good turnout last year,” Nash said. “We’re hoping
this year our goal will be met.”
The drive will start on Thursday, Aug. 1 and run through
Sunday, Aug. 18. People bring in three cans or jars of high-protein food items
such as salmon, chicken, beef or turkey, peanut butter, pinto or black beans,
lentils, chili, oats or quinoa to receive a 20 percent discount off their
entire purchase, or three items of pasta, canned corn, green beans, peas,
canned fruit, rice, toiletry items or a package of individual snack items for kids
and receive a discount of 10 percent off their purchase at Hood View Gardens.
All items must be in new and unopened containers, while cans
need to be free of dents and cannot be expired or near expiration date. This
year, the store will allow customers who bring in food donations to combine
other discounts with their donation discount.
Neighborhood Missions covers an area approximately from
Alder Creek to Government Camp. The food pantry is stocked with donated food
that is available to anyone in need.
Hood View Gardens is located at 46870 Hwy. 26 in Sandy.
Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesdays through Saturdays, and
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays (closed Mondays). For more information visit
Hoodviewgardensllc.com or search for “Hood View Gardens” on Facebook.
For more information on Neighborhood Missions, visit
http://hoodlandlutheranchurch.org/neighborhoodmissions or call 503-622-9213.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Runners in the Huckleberry Half
When Brady Mordhorst considered the prospect of taking over
as the Race Director of the Huckleberry Half Marathon he ran the course, set
within the natural beauty of Mount Hood on the Salmon River Road, Fairway Ave.
and Welches Road. After that, he was sold.
“Everything looks different when you’re in your shoes on the
road, as opposed to in a car,” said Mordhorst, who noted he was familiar with
the area from golfing at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. “As soon as I ran the
course, I knew it was something special.”
The race, held this year on Saturday, Aug. 17, is
independently operated and got its start in 2013, although one year since then
it was not held. Three options are available; the half marathon, a
ten-kilometer route and a five-kilometer route.
Mordhorst, who has a career organizing events and directs
the race with his wife, noted the marathon relies on a large number of
volunteers from the Mountain and Sandy, including up to 60 total people who
take part in the race day.
“It’s a big undertaking,” he said.
With that in mind, Mordhorst added he’s put a lot of effort
into getting the community involved, including giving local nonprofits a chance
to earn some money by providing volunteers for the event.
“It’s exciting to see this run produce fruit for the local
community,” he said.
Mordhorst also noted that racers can take advantage of a
hotel package, where staying at one of a number of affiliated lodging providers
allows a $20 registration for any distance (registration fees after Aug. 1 for
the race are $60 for the five-kilometer, $73 for the ten-kilometer and $79 for
the half marathon). The race will be capped at 600 racers.
Mordhorst reported that early returns have 50 rooms booked,
which also means that a number of people will visit the Mountain as friends and
family also often make the trip. He expects approximately 800 people to be at
the event, with more than 60 percent of the runners travelling from more than
60 miles away.
“People are using it as a weekend getaway,” Mordhorst said.
The race is sponsored by Cole Pritchard of Country Financial
in Sandy and is also supported by a grant from Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory.
“It’s really fun when local businesses latch on to something
like this,” Mordhorst said.
For more information or to register, visit
www.huckleberryhalfmarathon.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Luncheon kicks off Mountain High Exhibit at Timberline Lodge posted on 08/01/2019
Rick Schaffer, stepson and protege to famed photographer Ray
Atkeson, noted that among the lessons he learned under Atkeson was
organization. And that skill will come in handy as Schaffer whittles down a
select number of photographs that will be part of the 22nd Mountain High
Exhibit, opening this month and running through the end of the year at
Timberline Lodge.
“You’re going to want a balance of imagery,” Shaffer said
about the process. “Some that are obviously very well-known images, some not as
well known.”
Schaffer will also offer a midday lecture from 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 as part of a luncheon at the Lodge, featuring a catered
lunch with wine and champagne. Proceeds from the event will support the Friends
of Timberline (FOT), a volunteer-based nonprofit that supports preservation,
conservation and community outreach programs at the Lodge, which is owned by
the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and operated by special use permittee RLK and
Company. Schaffer’s remarks will focus on Atkeson's photography, his history
and will highlight a few of the stunning vistas he captured in the Pacific
Northwest and beyond.
Schaffer inherited Atkeson’s archives, including
approximately 40,000 sheets of black and white negative film, up to 20,000
prints (color and black and white) and 250,000 pieces of color film. In
addition to the selected pieces on display, Schaffer plans on showing more
images during his lecture.
The photos in the exhibit will likely include a range of
images featuring Timberline Lodge, including construction images, some of the
interior, snow photos and more. Schaffer noted that Atkeson, a commercial and
freelance photographer who joined the Mazamas Club in 1929 and reached the
summit of Mount Hood 16 times, was such a regular at the Lodge that he was
described as a “barometer.”
“If they saw Ray’s car in the parking lot at sunrise, they
knew it was going to be a good day,” Schaffer said.
The Mountain High Exhibit is held every other year and has
celebrated other aspects of the Lodge’s art, including woodcarvings and
metalwork.
FOT President Lynda O’Neill, who has taken part in the
selection process of the photographs for the Atkeson exhibit, noted she has
particularly enjoyed the ones of the Lodge being built, which offers a chance
to compare how things have changed (or not) since then.
“It’s really interesting to see the lodge at that date and
also how it’s been kept up,” she said. “It’s a living museum.”
“Ray was an icon at the mountain,” O’Neill added. “He is
world-known for his images. Timberline is just one of the beautiful spots he
would shoot, but being around the people, sports and the Lodge made it one of
his favorites.”
Free Lodge tours will be given by USFS volunteers before and
after the Aug. 25 luncheon at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Tickets for the luncheon are $75 and can be purchased online
at https://atributetorayatkeson.eventbrite.com. For more information about FOT,
visit www.friendsoftimberline.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Every dog has its day; assistance dogs on Aug. 10 posted on 08/01/2019
Dogs are often considered to be man's best friend, and for a
peek into the life of some remarkable assistance dogs and their trainers, make
a date from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, on the front plaza of OMSI,
1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland, and celebrate International Assistance Dog
Week. This free event features assistance and rescue dogs and their trainers
from Autism Service Dogs of America (ASDA), Paws Assisting Veterans, Summit
Assistance Dogs (SAD), The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs and more
organizations.
Assistance dogs are highly trained to aid and help transform
the lives of individuals with a disability in many ways by serving as their
companion, aide, helper, best friend and loyal member of the family. During
their training the dogs learn unique tasks to assist their human partners,
often allowing that individual to increase their everyday activities and
independence they might not otherwise be able to enjoy. They also provide a
devoted, loving companionship and a sense of security. Assistance dogs may be
trained to help the blind or vision impaired, deaf or hearing impaired, persons
with mobility or psychiatric issues, and there are also dogs that are trained
to locate lost and missing persons.
ASDA provides specially trained service dogs to autistic
persons. A service dog accompanying an autistic child to school often provides
a calming presence by assisting with activities and changing locations and can
frequently minimize or eliminate emotional outbursts. Due to the presence of a
service dog accompanying an autistic child, it will make a family feel more
secure out in the community and will often increase opportunities for an
autistic child to develop social language skills with others.
SAD are specially trained for people with mobility issues by
opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, retrieving dropped items
and helping with many tasks to assist with daily living. Their dogs are also
trained to meet specific needs of an individual.
For more information, visit www.omsi.org.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Second theft a deflating event for Mt. Hood Bicycle owner posted on 08/01/2019
Mt. Hood Bicycle has once again sparked the attention of
brazen thieves by experiencing yet another smash and grab. Located in the
Hoodland Shopping Center in Welches, the bicycle shop suffered its second
break-in in just four months in the early morning hours of July 16. Open for
business since the beginning of 2018, Mt. Hood Bicycle has built its inventory
from scratch and its supply of upscale bicycles and accessories has proved
tempting for scroungers eager to lay their hands on the expensive gear.
George Wilson, proprietor of Mt Hood Bicycle, expressed his
dismay at the lack of police services on the Mountain during the nighttime
hours, leaving residents and businesses defenseless against increased crime in
the area.
"After experiencing my second break-in in four months,
I'm feeling a bit powerless in my efforts to combat these events," Wilson
said. "While I have the thief on camera, he had a bandana over his face,
while wearing a hoody and black leather gloves. What is really troubling is this
guy returned three times in fifteen minutes, all the while knowing there would
be no deterrent and no witnesses between the hours of 2 a.m. - 6 a.m."
The video, which was shared on Facebook, shows the thief
hauling his spoils through the vandalized window and also prying open the cash
drawer. He escaped with two bicycles, an orange and sage green Niner/Jet RDO
priced at $4,200, and a metallic blue, medium-sized full suspension
electric-assisted bicycle valued at $3,750. More than eight hundred dollars was
stolen from the cash drawer.
Mt. Hood Glass completed repairing the broken glass before a
Clackamas County Deputy showed up to take an incident report, according to
Wilson. "We simply do not have adequate police coverage to battle these
increased break-ins. Each time these thieves are successful, they become more
emboldened," Wilson added.
Wilson explained he has insurance, but another incident
would most certainly result in the cancelation of his policy, without which he
would be unable to continue doing business. In addition to the on-site cameras,
a beefed-up security alarm system has since been added.
"Let's keep looking out for each other," Wilson
said. “Please don't let these thieves continue to steal and vandalize
unopposed.”
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire's Support Group makes impact on community posted on 08/01/2019
When the Hood to Coast relay takes to Hwy. 26 on Friday,
Aug. 23, approximately 12,600 runners and another 3,600 volunteers will pass
through the Mountain community. To keep them safe, dozens of safety personnel,
from the Oregon State Police to the Hoodland Fire District (HFD), will be on
hand - and to keep those safety personnel going, the HFD’s Support Group will
keep them fed, serving steaks, salads, fruit and more.
“Everybody has their own niche and their own thing they do,”
said Gretchen McAbery, the group’s Team Leader, noting that members of the
organization typically eschew recognition or attention. “We provide lunch for
them, have a place to sit down, relax, revitalize during the event.”
The Support Group started in 2001 with the original goal to
cook meals for the firefighters returning from long calls when they are cold or
hot, tired and hungry, at times in the middle of the night. Their duties have
since evolved into promoting socializing and team building in the department
and all meal support, including special events such as training company
graduation, the eclipse of 2017 and Hood to Coast (now for their third year).
“It is very fulfilling to be able to offer delicious meals
to our first responders after all they do to protect and serve our community,”
McAbery added. “Our reputation has expanded to now receiving calls from the
Sheriff's department asking if we are available to provide meals during local
search and rescue incidents.”
“While the ‘visible’ presence that the community sees of
Hoodland Fire is the Firefighters – their efforts are matched by the behind the
scenes work of community volunteers who take care of the needs of the district
firefighting members day or night, in good weather and bad providing critical
support on emergency scenes of hydration and food,” noted HFD Chief John Ingrao
in an email to the Mountain Times. “They are the unsung heroes of the District
and they directly impact the quality of life and protection of the community
with their assistance.”
Membership to the support group is open to people who live
or work in the district and are 18 or older (although teens age 14 and older
can also join if they have a current member as a sponsor and are approved by
the leader and the Fire Chief).
The group generally meets on the first Monday of every month
at 6 p.m. at the main station, 69634 Hwy. 26 in Welches (applications for
membership are available at the station).
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  George Perry
Rhododendron’s Ernie Carlson noted that the sport of lawn
bowls has been around since at least the 1600s and can be found in any country
that was ever part of the British Empire; including the United States. The
sport has a shorter history on the Mountain, with a club that plays at the Mt.
Hood Oregon Resort since 2005, but Carlson hopes to get things rolling, spread
the word and get more people involved.
“It’s been a popular sport throughout history,” Carlson
said.
A passerby might confuse lawn bowls with bocce ball (but
hopefully won’t mention that to those playing lawn bowls), as the two have a
number of similarities: both have a target ball, called a “jack,” and players
try to place their bowls (or balls in bocce) close to the jack in order to
score points. Among the more notable differences is that the bowls in lawn
bowls have a built-in bias that make them curve.
“The fun part of the game is to find out where the heck to
aim,” Carlson said. “That’s the uniqueness of the sport. You cannot aim at your
target, you aim three to eight feet away.”
He noted the local club (which is not formally organized
with officers) first came together thanks to a get-together idea by members of
the garden club, when about a dozen people showed up without even knowing the
rules.
“We had a lot of fun, then we went home and had a barbeque
and said let’s do it again,” Carlson said.
A few years later, the group started bowling twice a week,
and the sport took a hold of Carlson, who is now a certified coach and lawn
bowls instructor, a national umpire, spent five years on the national
organization, Bowls USA, and is president of the organization’s northwest
division.
The group gets together every Tuesday and Friday in summer
at 10:30 a.m. (weather permitting), sharing some of the terrain with croquet
players.
Carlson added that the sport is perfect for anyone who
doesn’t want to put stress on their body.
“That’s a big selling point,” he said. “If you can do a
deep-knee bend, you can play. But you get a lot of walking in. If your doctor
says do more walking, play lawn bowls.”
Carlson also plays at the King City Club twice a week and
also enjoyed a successful winter season in Arizona, including second place
finishes in men’s singles at the Palm Creek Club and fourth place in men’s
doubles.
He hopes to sponsor and hold a tournament locally this year,
noting that he could assemble a team and they would find out how good they
really are, while he also would like to see it gain traction with the Olympics.
“If we could get it to be an Olympic sport, suddenly it
would have an attraction to people,” Carlson said.
But for anyone on the Mountain who’s interested, the bar to
entry is not high. There’s no need to dress up and flip flops are welcome (or
bare feet).
Carlson has extra equipment and is happy to offer a lesson
to anybody who wants one.
“We would love to have more people,” he said, noting he is
also very interested in getting some younger Mountain residents interested. “If
they think it’s fun, they can show up and meet everybody and bowl with us. If
they don’t like it, that’s fine. It’s not for everyone.”
For more information, call Ernie Carlson at 503-622-3573 or
email at ecarlson6@frontier.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Larry Berteau
Larry Lee Berteau
1943-2019
Larry Berteau passed away on June 14 in Saint-Brieuc,
France. He was 76 and had led a full and adventurous life.
Larry and his wife, Frances, moved to The Mountain in 2008
having bought The Mountain Times newspaper, which became Larry's passion and
remained so until the day he passed away. Writing was in Larry's blood, having
earned his spurs as an AP journalist as a young man.
Larry embraced his years on the Mountain and he made many
great friends there. He was very impressed with the local community spirit, and
the way neighbors and friends always seemed to rally around during times of
need. The Mountain way of life became a niche for him.
His varied career, apart from his time in the newspaper
business, included being an apprentice mortician, croupier, grocery clerk,
bartender and a film maker/producer/director in San Francisco where he owned
his own company.
Throughout his life, he had an excellent backhand on the
tennis court, 5-wood approach on the links at the Oak Knoll golf course in
Ashland and an overhead cast at Hyatt lake that the local rainbow trout found
irresistible.
Following his heart and his adventurous spirit, Larry and
Frances, along with their dog and two cats, moved to Mael Carhaix, France in
2015. He was determined to live in France again, as he had as a young man
serving in the Air Force in Chateauroux. It was always his inspiration that one
should enjoy life to the fullest and have adventures before it was too late in
life to do so. He loved France and the slower way of life – the hearty
"bonjours" from locals when walking down the street and the fact that
an excellent boulangerie was always within walking distance.
Larry was a devoted sports fan, the San Francisco Giants
first and foremost. He was also an avid Portland Trail Blazers fan and was
incredibly proud of his team with their deep run into the playoffs. As a
graduate of the University of Oregon, Ducks football and basketball would also
religiously grace the television screen on weekends with an emphatic “Ohhh”
echoing from the couch.
With Larry's Irish heritage on his mother's side of the family,
the gift of talking always came easily for him. Larry was truly larger than
life and he could fill a room with funny stories and anecdotes. While living in
Ashland and as the editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings, he would cover
basketball and football games with a local radio production company. While on
the air, he never ran out of things to say and high school teams had their
games covered with immense gusto. A touchdown, described by Larry on the radio,
may just as easily have been a Superbowl moment. He truly had, as the Irish
call it, the gift of gab.
As a father, Larry was very proud of his son, Geoff. In
Ashland, Larry was appointed as a coach during the Little League years, and in
high school he spent many chlorine-filled hours poolside watching swim meets
and water polo games. He said that years later whenever he went into a pool and
smelled the chlorine, it brought back happy memories.
Later on, Larry loved listening to the birds and watching
the spring fledglings take flight, gazing at the flowers in the garden and
fretting about his tomato plants in the greenhouse. He also took great pleasure
in getting on his tractor and mowing the paddock, where one day he was
determined to accommodate two donkeys, or perhaps a pitch and putt course. His wife
managed to talk him out of that. He enjoyed a good game of Scrabble, was a
formidable opponent, and read constantly, usually with his cat purring
contentedly on his lap.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Berteau, of Mael
Carhaix, France; son Geoff Berteau, of southern Oregon and Thailand; sister
Marcia Berteau of Medford; a niece, nephews and dear friends. He is preceded in
death by his parents, Eddie and Martilla Berteau, and his sister Ginger
Dugdale.
The Pompes Funèbres Cadiou-Garandel-Chauvel of Mael Carhaix
was in charge of the arrangements.
Larry's courage and fortitude throughout his lengthy illness
has been an inspiration to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed, but his
spirit in The Mountain Times newspaper will linger on – as well as in our
hearts.
Any memorial contributions should please be directed to the
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.
|
| Grant approval bolsters ‘Rhody Rising’ development goals posted on 07/01/2019
Clackamas County’s application to the state for
Rhododendron’s Transportation and Growth Management Quick Response Grant was
approved for the full $45,000 requested. The grant is the latest success in
Rhododendron’s “Rhody Rising” campaign to foster development and revitalization
in the community that serves as the gateway to Mount Hood.
The grant money will be utilized to establish guidelines
incorporating bike lanes and sidewalks into future development in the
community.
“By improving Rhododendron with traffic combing devices,
we’ll give drivers clues that this is a community; I’d better slow down,” said
Steven Graeper, Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (CPO) President.
Graeper added the development plan will have a dual focus on
safety and beautification.
“We’ll ultimately make (Rhododendron) more appealing to
developers,” he said.
2019-2020 funds for the grant await appropriation by the
state legislature and approval from the governor at the beginning of July.
Clackamas County, with the assistance from the “Rhody
Rising” committee of the CPO, has begun to develop a draft statement of work to
aid in the selection of an engineering consultant to guide the design process
once funding is approved.
The grant is managed by the Oregon Department of
Transportation with funding from the Department of Land Conservation and
Development (DLCD).
The proposed development will adhere to guidelines specified
by the DLCD and will be presented to the department by July 15. The grant
stipulates that a development consultant will be hired by August 12.
“We’re moving forward, it’s just a slow and tedious
process,” Graeper stated about the intended development. “It took Government
Camp 20 years to come up with a plan for their sidewalks. If we don’t start the
process now it’ll never happen.”
Graeper added that the CPO will seek more citizen input once
the engineering consultant is hired in August.
The Rhododendron CPO can be contacted by phone at
503-939-5220 or online at https://www.facebook.com/RhodyRising/.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Buck Ambulance.
Denise O’Halloran, a paramedic currently teaching American
Heart Association courses at Portland's Cascade Training Center, had the idea
in 2012 to put together a documentary about the first female paramedics in the
area. But when she started interviewing those early pioneers, she realized that
there was a bigger story to tell, not just about those women who broke into the
field, but how Portland and its privatized ambulance service was on the cutting
edge of emergency medical services and the evolution of the industry.
“We had no idea that’s where the project was going at that
time,” O’Halloran said. “One of the things we were struck by was how
freewheeling Portland was.”
With the help of Mountain resident Pat McAbery, owner of
Sight and Sound Services in Welches, “The Rose City Experiment,” captures the
transition from men in cars that would simply bring a person to a hospital to
both men and women utilizing advanced life saving techniques in the field.
The pair interviewed nine subjects for more than 18 hours to
come up with the documentary, which clocks in at 54 minutes and is available to
rent or buy on Amazon (Prime membership is not required). The film is done in
chapter format, which focus on aspects of the evolution of ambulance service,
the challenges of breaking in as a woman, the different vehicles used, the
lessons learned following the 1978 crash of a DC-8 airplane in Gresham and
more.
The documentary premiered last fall at the Kennedy School in
Portland, with approximately 250 people in attendance. O’Halloran noted that
those people who were part of the story are not the type that would typically
promote their accomplishments, but they were grateful for the documentary
getting done.
“I think these folks never dreamed this story would be
told,” said O’Halloran, who started her career at Alpine Ambulance in Sandy.
“One said it was the retirement party they never had. It was a delightful,
amazing experience”
Notable moments in the documentary include the first cardiac
save in the country, when a patient was revived after going into cardiac arrest
(credited to a Portland area team on Dec. 23, 1969), reviving the owner of Buck
Ambulance, Ben Buck, in February 1970 and reviving Portland’s mayor, Terry
Schrunk.
McAbery, who is also a firefighter/paramedic for the Gresham
Fire Department, got an early start into the industry, as he would tag along
with his mother on private calls on the Mountain at the age of seven. And he
noted that while the life-long responders enjoyed the documentary, spectators
who did not have a background in the industry were also sucked in.
“I think it is a story that you don’t have to know EMS
(Emergency Medical Services) to understand,” McAbery said.
O’Halloran added that the documentary helps show the wherewithal
and can-do attitude that some of the “cowboy” doctors had to help create the
system we now enjoy.
“It’s not just an EMS story, it’s an Oregon story,” she
said.
A trailer for the documentary is available at https://youtu.be/3YEe12V-o1E
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Start your engines! Breakfast is back at Kiwanis Cruise-in posted on 07/01/2019
The scent of fresh pancakes will return to the 62nd annual
Kiwanis Cruise-in after a year without the community-pleasing brunch due to a
relocation of the long-running car show.
The event, formerly the Fly-in Cruise-In, is the Sandy
Kiwanis club’s biggest fundraising event of the year. The Cruise-In will be
held rain or shine, Sunday, July 21 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hull Park and Retreat
Center for the Blind and Low Vision, 43233 SE Oral Hull Park Road, Sandy.
“All the proceeds stay in the community,” club president
Mike Pickett said. He added the club helps support 12 nonprofits in the Sandy
community. Proceeds from the Cruise-In help fund five $1,000 scholarships for
graduating seniors.
“The response is fantastic, the community really looks
forward to it,” Pickett said about the car show and breakfast. The event is the
last car show in Sandy with an estimated 250 to 300 cars competing in 27
categories. The event is open to the public and free to spectators.
There is a $15 registration fee per car and dash plaques are
given out to the first 200 registrants. Plaques and trophies are sponsored by
local Sandy businesses with awards for 27 classes of vehicles, Kiwanis President’s
Choice and an Over-all Show Winner picked by a five-member committee.
Classes of cars range from classic cars from the 30s and 40s
to motorcycles, muscle cars, trucks and the eclectic barn-find category.
Pickett stated there will be an antique flat-bed semi logging truck at the
show.
The pancake breakfast is $8 per adult and offers pancakes,
scrambled eggs and ham. Breakfast will be served until noon with a snack shack
serving additional offerings until one.
The event will return to Oral Hull park with some proceeds
of the show going to benefit the Oral Hull Foundation. The Cruise-in was
relocated to the park after the Fly-in airplane portion of the show was
discontinued in 2018 due to insurance issues.
Pickett stated the move allowed the club to reexamine and
improve the car show.
“We asked, how do we do this to make it even better, and I
think we did,” Pickett said about the new location’s benefit to a local
charity.
More information about the Kiwanis Cruise-in, including a
pre-registration form, is available online at
http://www.sandykiwanis.org/flyIn.html.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Frosty treats and balloons to benefit Doernbecher posted on 07/01/2019
Each July, yellow balloons cover the walls and windows of
Rhododendron’s Dairy Queen franchise. These Miracle Treat Balloons are sold by
the franchise through July 25 with all balloon sales benefiting Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital.
“It’s a passion project,” said Angela Harrell, franchise
owner. Angela and her husband Zack purchased the Rhododendron Dairy Queen in
2018 and are third generation owners of the business. “We’re trying to do what
we can to make (the fundraiser) a big deal.”
In 2018 the Rhododendron Dairy Queen was a silver level
fundraiser, raising between $2,500 and $3,499 for the children’s hospital. The
store was one of the top five franchises in the Pacific Northwest region in
donations that year. This year Harrell stated their goal is to become a gold
level fundraiser, with hopes of raising more than $3,500 in donations.
Community members are invited to visit the store on Miracle
Treat Day, July 25 when one dollar of each Blizzard ice cream treat sold at the
franchise is donated to the hospital. Customers receive two $1 coupons good at
any Dairy Queen in Oregon for their charitable contribution when a balloon is
purchased.
On July 24, the Harrells and franchise employees will visit
Doernbecher and hand out free Blizzards to hospital employees, patients and
patient’s families. Last year they
handed out 1,400 free Blizzards at the hospital.
“It’s been close to my heart since I was young,” Harrell
said about her ongoing involvement with the fundraiser. “Our little mountain
community does some big things.”
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mountain Music Festival aims to bring out the Deadheads posted on 07/01/2019
Jon Tullis, Director of Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge,
noted the preparations for the annual Labor Day Mountain Music Festival were a
little different this year. He got together with the four acts that will
perform at the lodge, and curated the playlist, which will present the roots
and evolution of the music of the Grateful Dead.
“We’ll have a little fun and let our hair down a little bit
more,” Tullis said, noting the Mountain has a lot of “Deadheads.” “It should be
great.”
Music for the festival, dubbed “Steal Your Mountain, A
Tribute to the Grateful Dead,” starts at the lodge at noon, Monday, Sept. 2,
and admission is free. A number of groups will have outreach tables, including
the Friends of Timberline, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Oregon
Bluegrass Association, while visitors can enjoy food and beverages from
Timberline Lodge and bring their own instruments to jam with the Taborgrass
Players on the “pickin’ patio.”
The first band will be Fingers & Chilly with Eric
Kallio, celebrating the folk roots of the Dead, with such songs as “Shady
Grove” and “Deep Elem Blues.” Tullis noted the act will be “folksy Americana”
and feature some early American songs the Dead covered.
The Columbians will follow at 1:15 p.m. and keep things
acoustic, playing songs including “Midnight Moonlight” and “Hobo Song.”
At 2:45 p.m., U.S. Cadenza will take the stage, turning to
electric instruments. The band opened for the Dead at Portland’s Masonic Temple
in 1967, and Tullis noted they have some of the “blusier stuff” on their song
list, including “Big Railroad Blues” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning.”
The headliner, taking the stage at 4:30 p.m. and playing
while the sun sets, is the Garcia Birthday Band, who will offer some Grateful
Dead favorites, especially from the 1971-72 era.
“They’re more than a tribute band, they have their own
following,” Tullis said, adding that the event will be family friendly.
Sponsors for the event include Mt. Hood Brewing Co. and
Farmer Brothers. For more information, visit www.timberlinelodge.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County considers regulating short-term rentals posted on 06/01/2019
More than one hundred local residents attended a May 18
Clackamas County Planning Division public meeting and voiced, at times, sharply
divided opinions on allowing and regulating short-term rental property (STR) in
unincorporated Clackamas County. The meeting was hosted by the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in Welches.
In addition to potentially regulating properties used as
STRs, the county planning commission is considering whether to allow them
throughout unincorporated Clackamas County or limit the usage to the Mount Hood
resort areas.
“It’s a problem going on in our community. We’re here to
listen,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas.
At the meeting Clackamas County Planning Manager Jennifer
Hughes stated that current county zoning code does not allow or disallow STRs.
She added that the county was considering implementing regulations of STRs
because of an increase in properties being used in this manner, fueled by the
growth of internet-based rental platforms. Hughes said that while the STRs
provide additional income to property owners and bolster tourism in the region,
there are concerns about their impacts on neighbors.
Some of the impacts on surrounding neighbors cited by both
the county and community members in attendance included noise, litter,
adherence to garbage pick-up schedules with bins, on-street parking and rental
occupants disregarding posted speed limits in communities.
Community members also listed examples of serious safety and
environmental concerns, such as lack of access for emergency vehicles due to
clogged on-street parking and occupants disregarding burn bans and other fire
code issues.
Opinions expressed by local citizens in attendance impacted
negatively by STRs varied from calling for a complete ban of these rentals, to
implementing regulations with violations punished by a series of fines.
Concerned STR owners called for restraint from the county and urged that
regulation not punish responsible rental operators.
Many STR owners stated that their properties were only
affordable due to the rental income.
“The money that I make is what allows me to live here, to
pay my property taxes. Without the supplemental income I’d be on the rolls of
the homeless up here,” said Dale Peters, a retired Welches resident who has
lived in the community for twenty years.
Others in attendance pointed to the positive impact STRs
have on the community by fostering tourism and promoting local business.
“By shutting us down the community will be impacted,” said
Alicia Fiorito, operator of two vacation cabins in Rhododendron. She stated she
constantly promotes local restaurants and businesses through her rentals and
only utilizes local businesses for the maintenance and repair of her
properties.
Hughes stated the county realizes that rental use has been
around in the region for decades and that there are neighborhoods and
condominiums specifically developed as resort/vacation rental properties. She
noted there would be no new tax from the initiative and instead suggested a fee
paid by STR operators to cover the cost of administering and sustaining the new
program.
Many in attendance called for the county to simply improve
the enforcement of existing ordinance regarding noise, fire code violations and
illegal parking instead of creating a broader regulatory framework.
“I don’t see these as specific issues (to STRs),” Welches
resident Hilari Kolstad said. She cited the counties lack of enforcement of
similar noise and fire code violations on her neighboring non-rental properties
as being a problem she is struggling to address. “Maybe it’s easier to have the
short-term people gone then deal with the long-term nuisance.”
The meeting was the second in a series of seven public meetings
being held across the county in May and June to present information about the
issue and seek public input.
More information regarding the proposed ban and/or
regulation of STRs is available online at www.clackamas.us/planning/str.
Clackamas County encourages public participation in an online survey available
on the site. For more information or to comment contact Senior County Planner
Martha Fritzie at 503-742-4529 or at mfritzie@clackamas.us.
County representatives will also discuss STRs at the Mt. Hood
Area Chamber of Commerce meeting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the Mt. Hood
Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Restoration work to remove sections of levees to begin in June posted on 06/01/2019
The Sandy River Watershed Council (SRWC) is preparing to
break ground on a major habitat restoration project, located just downstream of
the confluence of the Sandy and Salmon Rivers.
Restoration project actions will remove sections of levees
built in the wake of historic 1964 floods, unlocking access to salmon habitat
that has been hidden behind the levees for 55 years. Allowing the Sandy river
to flow into the reconnected side channels and adding large log jams will both
enhance habitat for fish and help disperse river energy during future floods.
“The floodplain where the Sandy and Salmon Rivers meet is
one of the largest undeveloped areas remaining along the upper Sandy,” said
Steve Wise, Sandy River Watershed Council Executive Director. “This area is a
top priority in basin-wide restoration plans. Putting these side channels and
floodplain areas back in reach for fish connects another link in the chain of
healthy habitats that are boosting wild fish populations since Marmot dam was
removed.”
The Sandy River supports populations of Chinook, Coho and
steelhead that are listed threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Because
of its free-flowing condition since dam removals began in 2007, the Sandy
represents a wild salmon stronghold, and is a key to state and federal recovery
strategies for wild fish in the Lower Columbia River.
The largest flood on record occurred in 1964, destroying
roads, bridges and more than 150 homes across the upper Sandy. After the
“Christmas flood” event, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built levees in an
effort to return the river to its former channel and hold it in place. Despite
these efforts intense floods occurred again in 1996 and 2011, with high flow
events in several other years that caused erosion and damage to homes, sewer
systems and roads.
While 1964 actions were intended to contain flooding, levees
concentrate the river’s energy and erosion. Opening the levee allows the river
to spread out during high water events and disperse river energy. It also
provides refuge for young fish, who need to hide during severe floods, and can
help reduce potential erosion and damage to roads, bridges, homes and other
infrastructure.
“This is a crucial effort to enhance community resiliency
and habitat for listed wild Salmon and Steelhead in the Sandy River,” said Rick
Gruen, Manager of Clackamas County Parks and Forests. “The Parks and Forest
Department owns land within the project area and is partnering with the Sandy
River Basin Watershed Council and others on this very important and critical
floodplain reconnection effort.”
Preparation for project construction and levee removal will
begin in June. Major work along the floodplain will occur mainly between July
15 and September, a period when impacts are least likely on migrating wild
salmon and steelhead. Replanting with native trees and plants will occur in
late fall and winter.
Trails along the Sandy off Barlow Road may be temporarily
closed during the restoration work. Project partners will replant impacted
areas with native plants once log jams and re-connected channels are in place.
Monitoring will measure how often water fills the restored channels, whether
vegetation is recovering and potentially whether fish are using the new
habitat. With previous experience as a guide, project partners anticipate that
allowing the Sandy and its fish access to the floodplain will help the Sandy’s
salmon populations.
"The restoration projects we've completed on the Salmon
River are very similar, and those have delivered dramatic, positive results for
wild salmon and steelhead," said Bruce Zoellick, Bureau of Land Management
fish biologist. "The side channels this project will re-connect, and the
log jams it will build, give wild fish access to habitat that they need. It's
another major step toward restoring wild fish productivity in the Sandy.”
The Sandy-Salmon Floodplain Reconnection has drawn support
from local, state and national sources. Funders include the Oregon Watershed
Enhancement Board, Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Portland
Water Bureau Habitat Fund, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
National Coastal Resilience Fund.
NFWF, in partnership with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, launched the NCRF in 2018 to support on-the-ground
projects that engage communities and reduce their vulnerability to growing
risks from coastal storms, sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, wildfires, drought
and extreme weather through strengthening natural ecosystems that also benefit
fish and wildlife.
The Sandy Floodplain Reconnection is one of 35 projects
nationwide that received National Coastal Resilience Fund grants.
By Kara Caselas/MT
|
| Artwork, produce and more available on summer weekends posted on 06/01/2019
Following the successes from last year, two local markets
will return for a second go-around, filling weekends this summer with local
produce, art, music and much more. The Mt. Hood Artisan Market opened last
month, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on every other Saturday
through Aug. 31 in the courtyard at the Mt. Hood Village and RV Resort, 65000
E. Hwy. 26 in Welches, while the Hoodland Farmers Market will take place from
1-4 p.m. every Sunday starting June 2 and running through Sept. 29.
“As long as we stick with it, it’s got the potential to grow
into something,” said Warren Bates, one of the organizers of the Artisan
Market.
Bates noted that last summer’s success was mirrored in a
holiday version held last December (which he also anticipates returning this
year). This summer’s offerings will include jewelry, wood carvings, pottery,
handcrafted yard games, art and more, while the Dragonfly Cafe offers visitors
a chance to grab a bite to eat.
Bates added that the market keeps costs for vendors to a
minimum and he’d like to bring more food options to try and increase the
visitors.
“That always brings them,” he said.
Lauren Carusona, Market Manager for the Hoodland Farmers
Market, noted many of the same vendors will return this year, offering fresh produce,
meat and eggs, handmade jewelry, soaps, herbal products and more. This year’s
market will highlight education, with locals and vendors offering classes on
topics such as preserving food, digestion and more, while there will be more
music also offered this summer, including Well Rounded Edges on Sunday, June 2.
“We’re really trying to be more about focus on education,
supporting the community,” she said.
Carusona also noted the market’s structure has changed,
becoming a non-profit organization with board members. One board member will
write a weekly newsletter offering updates on the market, which people can sign
up for via Facebook or at the market.
“It’s more of a community-based and team-based thing,” she
said.
Carusona added that sustainability and low waste will be
highlighted at the market, with no single-use plastic items used and vendors
encouraged to foster reusable containers, such as jars that customers can come
back with to refill.
The market will offer reusable tote bags featuring a new logo,
while the site will also serve as a location to drop off for Amazon packaging.
For more information about the Mt. Hood Artisan Market,
email bateswarren1@gmail.com or Heidi_flanders@equitylifestyle.com. More
information about the Hoodland Farmers Market can be found on the market’s
Facebook page (search for Hoodland Farmers Market).
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Earth Works holds grand opening in June posted on 06/01/2019
The federal Farm Bill of 2018 sewed the seeds for the
legalization of products from industrial hemp to be made available to the
general public.
The product is known as cannabidiol (CBD), and is the second
most prevalent of the active ingredients found in cannabis, also known as
marijuana.
Earth Works, a new Mountain business venture, will have its
grand opening Saturday, June 22, in the Hoodland Center of Welches, next door
to Mogul Mountain Pizza. Regular hours will ensue from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Tuesday through Saturday.
Devin Houston is the Earth Works owner, while Michael and
Cheryl Budd along with John Conley are investors in the business. Michael and
Cheryl Budd also own and operate The Mt. Hood Cannabis Company in Rhododendron.
“Two years ago, Cheryl and I purchased The Mt. Hood Cannabis
Company and brought our family to the Mount Hood area,” Michael Budd wrote in
an email to The Mountain Times. “Our children moved here last summer and we
have made the Mountain our home. We love the people here and feel lucky to be a
part of the future of this growing and progressive community.”
CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is
derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant,
Michael added.
“While CBD is a component of marijuana (one of hundreds), by
itself it does not cause a ‘high.’”
“In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse
or dependence potential,” according to a report from the World Health
Organization (WHO). “To date, there is no evidence of public health related
problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
The WHO pointed to the benefits of CBD citing the strongest
scientific evidence of its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest
childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut
syndrome, which typically do not respond to antiseizure medications. In other
studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures and in some cases was
able to stop them altogether. Further, CBD is commonly used to reduce anxiety
and for patients who suffer through the misery of insomnia, studies suggest
that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep.
With the current opioid crisis, a study by the European
Journal of Pain showed, using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could
help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis.
There remains opposition to the use of CBDs, focusing on the
lack of clinical trials – although now that the Farm Bill has become law more
clinical trials are taking place.
“We may be relying on anecdotal evidence of the effect of
CBD,” Michael Budd wrote, “but we know the downsides of the cost and addictive
properties of the current pharmaceutical solutions.”
One of the first clinical studies of CBD’s effect on opioid
addiction has been completed by the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study
included 42 adults who had a recent history of opioid use. After being
administered CBD, those given CBD had a two-to-three-fold reduction in cravings
relative to the placebo group.
“This is an extremely significant paper. We need to utilize
every possible treatment in helping people with chronic pain to find other ways
to manage their symptoms and in people with opiate addiction to find relief,”
said Dr. Julie Holland, a psychiatrist in New York and former assistant
professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine.
Earth Works will carry a full line of CBD products,
including tinctures, topical lotions, salves and edibles. All the company’s products
are derived from industrial hemp. At the June 22 opening, Earth Works will have
food and drinks provided by its neighbor, Mogul Mountain Pizza.
There will be speakers throughout the day discussing CBDs,
current clinical studies, and uses and product demonstrations. The event is
open to the public.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| New Mountain business is a stitch sublime posted on 06/01/2019
Welches seamstress Anne Balmer’s light-filled home studio is
full of items that stir the imagination. Photos of painstakingly restored
Persian rugs and pre-Columbian textiles, colorfully sewn children’s dress-up
costumes and intricately stitched Victorian-era reproductions bare proof of her
long career in textile design, theatrical costuming and textile conservation.
Anne’s Sewing Service is Balmer’s latest undertaking,
utilizing her thirty-plus years of professional experience to provide custom
alterations, made-to-order home décor, children’s wear and gifts for members of
the Mount Hood communities.
Balmer was born in England and taught to sew by her mother,
a custom dressmaker. She went on to study textile design and honed her sewing
chops working in the costume shop at San Jose Repertory Theatre in California.
“When you work in a costume shop you’ve got to toe the line.
The show must go on,” Balmer said about the skills she learned working for the
theater.
Annual visits to England led her to study Victorian-era
historical garments and eventually create the White Swan collection, a
mail-order company featuring Victorian nightgowns and lingerie.
Balmer went on to work in textile restoration for over a
decade in California, restoring and mounting archeological textiles from around
the world, including Pre-Columbian funereal textiles from Peru and Chile,
Flemish tapestries and Persian rugs.
After her career in restoration, Balmer started her own
custom sewing business, which she hopes to continue on the mountain following
her move to the Welches community 18 months ago.
Her sewing service specializes in home décor, including
custom curtains and window treatments, slipcovers, pillows and cushion covers,
bedding and canopies. She also provides alterations, hemming, tailoring and
made-to-order garments.
Balmer recently utilized her experience with textile conservation
restoring a quilt for a customer in Oregon. Her sewing service also currently
offers technical support and expertise hanging textiles and tapestries for home
display.
The focal point of Balmer’s current studio are two
elaborately beaded, princess dress-up gowns intended for her neighbors’ young
daughters. Balmer explained that sewing princess and fairy dress-up costumes
are one of her favorite activities and she delights in creating clothes for
children to wear with imagination.
Her sewing service offers consultation appointments and
gives estimates for all services. Balmer emphasized her desire to work with her
customers and her understanding that “nobody likes surprises” for unexpected
expenses.
Anne Balmer, and Anne’s Sewing Service, can be reached to
arrange an estimate or discuss a project by email at annekbal@gmail.com or by
telephone at 831-234-5740.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Chalk contest to raise awareness of what goes down the drain posted on 06/01/2019
Sandy artist Becky Hawley has spent years honing her skills
as a painter, creating works in oils, acrylics and watercolors. And with the
Sandy Arts Commission and the City of Sandy kicking off a chalk art contest in
July, Hawley gave that medium a try by putting the contest’s logo near the
fountain across from city hall.
“I found doing the logo on the sidewalk was a learning
experience for me,” she said. “I enjoyed doing the art and also learned using
the chalk as a tool on the rough concrete was completely different than trying
to do chalk work on paper.”
Other area artists can also get the chance to try their hand
at it through the contest, featuring the theme “Only Rain Down the Drain.”
Organizers started the event to help spread the message that whatever goes down
the street drains can have a dramatic impact on the area’s water. Some of the
potentially hazardous materials that do find their way down drains include
paint, pesticides, cleaning products, car fluids, dog feces and more.
“I can’t believe how many people don’t know the water drains
into (Tickle) Creek,” said Hawley, a member of the Sandy Arts Commission.
The contest is open to all ages and all artistic levels,
with age categories for grade school kids (grades 3-5), middle school (grades
6-9), high school (grades 10-12) and adults (ages 18 and older). Artist’s
applications are due by Friday, June 21, including a drawing on paper that, if
selected, will be recreated in chalk on Sandy’s sidewalks on the weekend of
July 6 and 7. The grand prize is $150 with other prizes and awards for each category.
Hawley noted that families and neighbors are encouraged to
come out and see the different creations and vote for a “People’s Choice”
award. She added that they plan to do the contest again next year with a
similar theme and will hopefully continue with different themes beyond that.
“We would really like to see the art continue in a somewhat
educational vein,” Hawley said. “It’s just going to be fun to do.”
For more information, or to submit an application (please
include your name, age, grade, email and phone number), email
chalkart@cityofsandy.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The Saldivar family
Mountain family from Mexico shares their journeys to
citizenship
30 years ago last month, Maria Saldivar, her husband Pablo
and their four children arrived in Welches after leaving their home in
Zacatecas, Mexico. The parents made the choice to immigrate to the U.S.,
seeking a better life for their children, and Pablo considered the Mount Hood
area to be the most beautiful in the Pacific Northwest, settling their choice
of destination.
“He saw what everybody else here sees; it’s a perfect place
to raise a family,” said their daughter, Maria De Los Angeles Burke, who arrived
to the Mountain when she was five.
Upon their arrival, the family saw snow for the first time,
prompting them to think it was Christmas, Burke recalled.
Pablo had a work permit, offering him legal status in the
U.S., but the rest of the family did not. Their initial hope was to live here
and travel back to Mexico when time and finances allowed to visit their family
back home.
“It turned out to be a little harder than that,” Maria said.
As they each endeavored to find their own path to U.S.
citizenship, challenges and changes within the system still impact their lives
three decades later.
The family first arrived with the understanding that Pablo’s
employer would offer an opportunity for legal status for the entire family, but
that promise was not fulfilled. And it became even harder as the years went by.
After 9/11, the country saw widespread securitization and immigration
enforcement increased. Detention and deportation rates rose while opportunities
for legal immigration were curtailed.
For the Saldivar family, the choice was to stay in the U.S.
undocumented and not return to Mexico to their family or go back and leave
behind their life in America. Burke added that it’s important to understand the
sacrifices her parents made for them.
“My mother left everything she knew (in Mexico),” Burke
said. “She left her parents there and couldn’t go see them. They passed and she
wasn’t able to say goodbye. If they left (the U.S.), they would not be able to
come back.”
“I don’t think it was easy for her to make that decision,”
she added. “My kids have never experienced hardship, and (it’s important) just
for them to know the sacrifices of their grandparents.”
Burke, now 35, noted that when her family arrived to the
Mountain, there were many challenges for them all. It was particularly
difficult for her at school, where her parents were unable to communicate with
her teachers. Some teachers wanted to help, she noted, but others seemed to see
her as a “lost cause.”
The challenges continued in high school, where Burke didn’t
feel accepted and she eventually modified her middle name to make it easier for
native English speakers to pronounce.
“I felt rejected and incomplete,” she noted.
Burke moved to Idaho after high school, where she worked in
a chain of retail stores and rose up the ladder to become a traveling manager,
spending time in five northwest locations. But after she confided in her
employer about her legal status as an undocumented worker, she saw a
significant reduction in wages, prompting her to return to Oregon and enroll in
Mount Hood Community College.
As laws grew stricter after her return, Burke was unable to
renew her driver’s license and a path to citizenship seemed elusive. Even when
she fell in love with a fellow Mountain resident and got married in 2007, the
process was long, complicated, time consuming and expensive, including needing
to go back to Mexico for an unknown stretch of time.
In 2011, Burke received a work permit, offering the chance
to work without fear of deportation or exploitation and in 2013 she became a
legal permanent resident with a green card. This past March, Burke interviewed
at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Portland and became
a citizen.
Burke spent months studying for the test with her four
children and husband, noting that there were questions they struggled with, but
in the end, she discovered she did not feel “completed” by that piece of paper,
as she had previously thought she would be.
“I am no different now, than I was before I become a
citizen,” Burke noted. “I am still Maria De Los Angeles Burke. I am a loving
and devoted parent. I own and manage a successful vacation rental. I help
manage my husband’s logging and firewood business. I have helped make some real
positive changes in this community, and I did it all without this piece of
paper.”
Vanessa Saldivar was a one-month old infant when she arrived
with her family and grew up on the Mountain unaware of her immigration
situation. She excelled in school, crediting her older sister, Maria, for
instilling a love of learning in her early on.
“I have vivid memories of playing school with my sister,
only she was very serious,” Vanessa noted. “She didn’t want me to go through
the same challenges she went through in school.”
Vanessa was recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar and as
graduation approached she received generous scholarship offers from
universities across the country. When it came time to accept an offer, the 2006
valedictorian of Sandy High School (as a 17-year-old graduating a year early),
discovered she didn’t have legal status and could not accept any.
“I was shattered,” said Vanessa, now 30.
To pursue her dream of furthering her education, she
enrolled at Mount Hood Community College, where she wasn’t asked to prove her
legal status. Vanessa added that it was hard for some of her peers to
understand why she didn’t accept the scholarships she was offered.
“It didn’t add up, but they didn’t know about my legal
status,” she said. “They didn’t really know me.”
In 2012, Vanessa received temporary protection from
deportation and the ability to apply for a social security number through the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She continued her
education, including earning a Master’s degree in Migration Studies from the
University of San Francisco last May, and has worked in immigration law for the
past eight years.
Vanessa has also received national recognition for her work
and was featured in the New York Times Magazine in 2015 for her work helping
Central American refugees.
Yet her own immigration journey is still not over. Vanessa
intends to pursue citizenship but after seeing her sister go through it,
acknowledges how emotionally complicated it could also be for her.
“I imagine it will be a lot to process.” she said. “It has
been difficult to reconcile the reality that the place where you have lived
your entire life (America), the place that you call home doesn’t fully acknowledge
and accept you.”
She added that she considers Welches home and may even
return to the Mountain to raise children, but reflecting on her family’s
journey, she admits that she often wonders whether the community will love and
accept her as she has loved this community after they know the truth. “It can
be lonely, feeling like people don’t really know us,” Vanessa said. “I don’t
think I’ve ever felt truly seen by my community and I do worry that some people
on the Mountain wouldn’t understand the sacrifices my parents made for us.”
“It would be amazing to receive that understanding and
support though,” she added.
The family arrived on the Mountain with two boys, who were
not interviewed for this story and will not be named to respect their privacy. The
youngest is now a legal permanent resident and is waiting to gain full
citizenship.
However, the oldest boy struggled as a six-year-old upon
arriving as one of the only non-white children in the classroom and lacking
support. The struggles continued throughout adolescence and young adulthood,
and he was deported more than five years ago, leaving behind a U.S. citizen
wife and three young sons.
“He was a very good father and loved his kids very much,”
Vanessa said, “I think he still hasn’t come to terms with it fully, and as the
close-knit family that we are, I don’t think we have either.”
A fifth child, Christina, was born after the family arrived
to the Mountain, granting her full citizenship from birth. Now in college and
studying to be a social worker, she only recently discovered the complex
challenges her family have been dealing with since they arrived on the
Mountain.
“As I was exploring my family’s story through my social work
lens, I wanted to look into how being an immigrant family shaped all of our
identities differently,” said Christina, 23. “Growing up with a different
status as my siblings was something that I did not understand, but knew was a
privilege they did not share. I want to use their experiences as a platform to
advocate for other families like mine. Sometimes I struggle to navigate between
the spaces of being American and Mexican. I am very proud of being both, but
often feel I am not enough of either, especially now.”
Christina is a familiar face on the Mountain, working at
various businesses and staying active in the community, but she notes that
people may not realize that Latino immigrant workers are all around us.
“We are not the only Latinos here,” Burke added, noting
she’d like to see the community fully embrace the different culture. “There are
so many other families and they have their own stories. I would love to see
their stories told as well.”
They also see the challenges the immigrant community faces
in the country today, with an administration that “systematically and strategically
dehumanizes” them, as Vanessa pointed out.
“I think it’s such important work to bring people’s humanity
to light and to try to bring community together,” she said, adding there is a
level of vulnerability in sharing their family’s story. “We are nervous, but we
believe it is an important time to authentically connect our community. We have
hope that it will do good.”
As for Maria, the decision to leave her home in Mexico and
move her family to the Mountain to find a better life has worked out for the
best, despite the challenges they have faced over the years.
“I believe it’s a good thing,” she said. “I feel it’s worth
it. I see my kids, they are successful and happy. I see my grandkids growing. I
see my kids, they are good. I feel good.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| La familia Saldívar Ellas vuelan con sus propias alas posted on 05/01/2019
Familia Mexicana de la montaña comparte su viaje hacia la
ciudadanía
Hace 30 años, María Saldívar, su esposo Pablo y sus cuatro
hijos dejaron su comunidad en Zacatecas, México y llegaron a Welches. Habiéndose
animado a inmigrar a los Estados Unidos en busca en una mejor vida para sus
hijos, la familia se dirigió hacia la Montaña Hood, que Pablo consideró el área
más hermosa del Noroeste Pacífico.
“El vio lo que todo el mundo aquí ve; es un lugar perfecto
para criar una familia,” comenta su hija, María de los Angeles Burke, quien
llegó a la Montaña a los cinco años.
Al llegar, recuerda Burke, la familia vio por primera vez la
nieve. Creyeron que ya era la navidad.
Pablo contaba con una visa de trabajo que le otorgaba el
permiso de radicar en los Estados Unidos, pero no fue así para su familia. Al
principio, tenían la esperanza de vivir aquí y visitar a sus familiares en
México cuando el tiempo y las finanzas lo permitieran.
Dice María que “resultó más complicado.”
Cada quien tuvo que luchar por encontrar su propio camino
hacia la ciudadanía americana. Los retos y los cambios del sistema migratorio
aún marcan sus vidas tres décadas después.
La familia llegó aquí porque el empleador de Pablo se había
comprometido a arreglar la residencia legal de todos, pero la promesa quedó sin
cumplir. Todo se volvía más difícil con el paso de los años. Después del 11 de
septiembre se endurecieron las leyes migratorias en el país. La cantidad de
detenidos y deportados se incrementó y se recortaron las oportunidades para la
inmigración legal.
Los Saldívar tuvieron que elegir: quedarse en los Estados
Unidos sin papeles y no volver a México, o regresar a su país natal, dando la
espalda a su vida aquí. Agrega Burke que es importante apreciar los sacrificios
que hicieron sus papás por sus hijos.
“Mi mamá dejó todo lo que conocía (en México),” dice Burke.
“Dejó a sus papás sin poder volverlos a ver. Cuando fallecieron, no pudo
despedirse de ellos. Pues si hubieran ido, no habrían podido regresar a los
Estados Unidos.”
“No creo que haya sido una decisión muy fácil para ella,”
agrega. “Mis hijos nunca han experimentado dificultades y es importante que
entiendan los sacrificios que hicieron sus abuelitos.”
Ahora con 35 años de edad, Burke comenta que al llegar a la
Montaña la familia se vio ante muchos desafíos. La escuela era particularmente
difícil, pues sus papás no podían comunicarse con los maestros. Aunque recuerda
que algunos maestros trataban de ayudarle, otros consideraban que era una “causa
perdida.”
Las dificultades le siguieron en la secundaria, en donde
Burke nunca llegó a sentirse aceptada. Incluso modificó su segundo nombre para
que fuera más fácil de pronunciar en inglés.
“Me sentía rechazada e incompleta,” dice.
Después de egresarse de la secundaria, Burke se fue a vivir
en Idaho, donde encontró trabajo en el punto de venta de una empresa regional.
Pronto ascendió, llegando a ser gerente itinerante con un alcance de cinco
locaciones en el noroeste. Pero cuando le dijo a su jefe que no tenía papeles,
se redujo significativamente su sueldo. Así que decidió regresar a Oregón para
tomar clases en el colegio comunitario de Mount Hood.
Al endurecerse las leyes después de su regreso a Oregón,
Burke no pudo renovar su licencia de conducir. El camino a la ciudadanía
parecía cada vez más lejano. Aun cuando se enamoró y se casó con un residente
de Mountain en 2007, el proceso seguía siendo largo, complicado, engorroso y
caro. Y además, tuvo que regresar a México a esperar durante un tiempo
indefinido.
En 2011, Burke recibió un permiso de trabajo, lo que le
permitió trabajar sin miedo de ser deportada o explotada. En 2013, se volvió
residente permanente. Y en marzo, realizó su entrevista en la Oficina de
Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos, y ahora ya es ciudadana.
Burke pasó meses preparándose para el examen de ciudadanía
con la ayuda de su esposo y sus cuatro hijos. Dice que había preguntas
difíciles, pero a fin de cuentas descubrió que la constancia de ciudadanía no
le hacía sentirse tan “completa” como había anticipado.
“No soy distinta ahora con la ciudadanía,” comenta. “Sigo siendo María de los Ángeles Burke. Soy la
misma mamá cariñosa y dedicada. Soy una exitosa propietaria y gerente de una casa
de vacaciones y ayudo con el negocio de tala y leña de mi esposo. He hecho contribuciones
positivas a la comunidad. Y todo lo hice sin este papelito.”
Vanessa Saldívar tenía apenas un mes cuando su familia llegó
a la Montaña. Creció sin saber de su condición migratoria. Era buena
estudiante, gracias a que su hermana mayor María le inculco un amor al estudio.
“Recuerdo muy bien cómo jugábamos escuela, mi hermana y yo,
sólo que era algo muy serio para ella,” dice Vanessa. “No quiso que yo pasara
por los mismos desafíos que ella tuvo que pasar en la escuela.”
Por sus logros académicos, Vanessa fue reconocida como
Becario Hispano Nacional y al graduarse en 2006 se le ofrecieron becas de
varias universidades a través del país. Pero a la hora de aceptar la beca, la mejor
estudiante de su generación (hasta terminó la secundaria a los 17 años, un ano
temprano) descubrió que no podía, pues no tenía documentos.
“Me destrozó,” dice Vanessa, quien ahora tiene 30 años.
Para seguir su sueño de la educación, asistió a clases en el
Colegio Comunitario de Mount Hood, donde no tenía que probar su condición
migratoria. Vanessa dice que muchos de sus compañeros no entendían por qué no aceptó
las becas.
“No tenía sentido, porque no sabían de mi situación legal,”
dice. “En realidad, no me conocían.”
En 2012, por medio de DACA se le otorgaron protección
temporal de la deportación y el permiso de solicitar un número de seguro
social. Continuó con sus estudios, llegando a terminar la Maestría en Estudios
Migratorios en la Universidad de San Francisco en mayo del año pasado. Hace
ocho años que trabaja en el área de derecho migratorio.
El trabajo de Vanessa también ha sido reconocido a nivel
nacional. En 2015, la revista del New York Times publicó un artículo sobre su
apoyo a los refugiados centroamericanos.
Sin embargo, su propio camino de la inmigración aún no
termina. Vanessa quiere hacerse ciudadana, pero después de ver las experiencias
de su hermana, reconoce que el proceso podría resultar emocionalmente
complicado para ella también.
“Me imagino que será difícil asimilarlo todo,” dice. “Ha
sido difícil reconciliar la realidad de que el lugar donde has vivido toda tu
vida, el lugar que tú consideras como tu hogar, no te reconoce ni te acepta enteramente.”
Para ella, añade, Welches es su hogar y quizás vuelva a la
Montaña para criar sus hijos. Pero, pensando en el camino de su familia,
reconoce que a veces se pregunta si la comunidad le acogerá con el mismo cariño
que ella siente por la comunidad cuando se sepa la verdad de su situación
legal. “Hay un sentimiento de soledad cuando la gente no te conoce de verdad,”
dice Vanessa. “Creo que mi comunidad nunca me ha visto de verdad y me preocupa
pensar que algunas personas de la Montaña podrían no entender los sacrificios
que mis papás hicieron por nosotros.”
Sin embargo, dice, “sería maravilloso sentir su comprensión
y apoyo.”
La familia llegó a la Montaña con dos hijos varones también.
No los entrevistamos para esta historia y no mencionamos sus nombres en respeto
a su privacidad. El menor ya es un residente permanente en espera de la ciudadanía.
El hijo mayor, al llegar aquí a los seis años, sufrió por
ser el único no blanco de su salón y por carecer de apoyos. Siendo ya
adolescente y adulto, las dificultades siguieron y hace más de cinco año fue
deportado, dejando atrás a su esposa, quien es ciudadana, y sus tres hijos
chiquitos.
“El fue muy buen padre y quiso mucho a sus hijos,” dice
Vanessa. “Creo que todavía no lo asimila totalmente, y siendo una familia muy
unida, nosotros tampoco.
Christina, la más chica, nació después de la llegada de la familia
a la Montaña, por lo que siempre ha sido ciudadana. No fue sino ahora está
estudiando en la universidad la carrera de trabajo social que descubrió los
retos complicados que su familia ha atravesado desde su llegada a la Montaña.
“Mientras ya exploraba la historia de mi familia desde la
perspectiva del trabajo social, quería entender cómo el hecho de ser una
familia inmigrante ha marcado de maneras distintas nuestras identidades,” dice
Christina de 23 años. “Yo no entendía lo que significaba crecer con una
condición legal distinta a la de mis hermanos, pero sabía que era un privilegio
que ellos no tenían. Quiero usar sus experiencias como una plataforma para
abogar por otras familias como la mía. Tengo que luchar por navegar los
espacios de ser tanto americana como mexicana, y a veces no me siento
totalmente ni una ni otra cosa, sobre todo ahora.”
Christina es una persona conocida en la Montaña por su
trabajo en varias empresas y sus actividades en la comunidad. Pero comenta que
la gente quizás no se dé cuenta de que los trabajadores inmigrantes
latinoamericanos están por todos lados.
“Nosotros no somos los únicos latinos aquí.” Agrega Burke
que le gustaría ver que la comunidad apreciara las distintas culturas. “Hay
tantas familias más y cada una tiene su propia historia. Me encantaría ver que
sus historias también se cuenten.”
También ven los retos que enfrenta la comunidad migrante
actualmente en el país, con un gobierno que “sistemática y estratégicamente los
deshumaniza,” señala Vanessa.
“Creo que es una labor muy importante realzar la humanidad
de la gente y unir la comunidad,” dice, agregando que compartir la historia de
familia implica cierta vulnerabilidad. “Estamos nerviosos, pero creemos que ya
un momento importante para conectarnos de manera auténtica con nuestra
comunidad. Esperamos que algo bueno pueda resultar.”
En cuanto a María, la decisión de dejar su casa en México y
traer a su familia a la Montaña en busca de una mejor vida ha valido la pena, a
pesar de todos las dificultades que han experimentado en estos años.
“Creo que ha sido para bien,” dice. “Siento que ha valido la
pena. Veo a mis hijos, exitosos y contentos. Veo crecer a mis nietos. Veo a mis hijos, les va bien. Me siento
bien.”
Por Garth Guibord y traducido por Vanessa Saldívar/MT
|
| Federal and state climate legislation buoyed by ski resorts posted on 05/01/2019
The Oregon ski industry provides an estimated 6,772 jobs and
more than $194.4 million in personal income annually, according to statistics
released by Mount Hood Meadows in February 2018. Much like the $20
billion-a-year national snow sports industry, the local Mountain economy faces
the potential impact of climate change.
Timberline, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Summit, Cooper Spur and Mt.
Hood Meadows ski areas issued a joint statement of support for current carbon
emission reduction legislation on Feb. 20, 2019. The local ski area operators
came out in support of S. 3791/H.R. 763,
the Federal Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act and Oregon House Bill
2020, the Oregon Climate Action Program.
“We’re particularly vulnerable to climate change,” said
Timberline’s Director of Public Affairs and Planning, Jon Tullis, about the
winter sports industry in the Mount Hood area.
The annual amount of snow in the west has seen a reduction
of 41 percent on average since the early 1980s, with an average decrease of 34
days of snow season, according to new research published in the journal
Geophysical Research Letters in December 2018. Low snow seasons impact local
economies including ski resorts, restaurants and hotels, according to nonprofit
Protect Our Winter’s recently released 2018 economic report.
“For the ski operators on Mt. Hood, climate change could
mean shorter seasons, or no season at all,” said Representative Anna Williams,
House District 52. “That has broad implications for our larger mountain
community. Fewer tourist dollars hurt small business owners and the individuals
they employ,”
The ski area operators stated in a letter to state and
federal representatives, “The ski areas of Mt. Hood have been leaders in the
snow sports industry, and in our community, for early adoption of sustainable
business practices and advocacy for public policies that effectively address
reduction of carbon emissions.” They urged elected officials at both the state
and federal levels support the respective climate solutions legislation during
the current legislative session.
“We feel it’s our responsibility,” said Tullis. “It’s rare
for us to wade into politics but (we) wanted to speak on this issue.”
He added Timberline has taken a “strong stand” with the
National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) on climate change initiatives in the
past.
The Federal Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act has
bipartisan support and was reintroduced to the 116th United States Congress on
January 24. The act proposes a market-based approach to meeting emissions
reduction targets by charging a fee for carbon usage, while providing citizens
with a dividend.
The bill is currently in review by the Committee on Ways and
Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. It has received statements of support from major environmental
organizations, business and faith-based groups.
After the bill has
been debated and revised by committees it must pass votes in the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate before being signed into law by the
President.
At the state level, Oregon House Bill 2020 was reintroduced
to the 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly Feb. 4. The bill proposes the state
sets a limit, or cap, on greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2021. The cap
would be steadily reduced until carbon emissions are 80 percent below 1990 levels
by 2050. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Joint Committee on Carbon
Reduction. Oregon legislators have until the end of June to pass this bill into
law this session.
“Though there is still work to be done to refine the Climate
Action Program, I believe it could have a positive impact on our entire state,
allowing us to invest in the kind of 21st century economy that moves Oregon
forward,” Rep. Williams said about the current status of the bill.
A series of public hearings were held across the state in
February to present HB 2020 and address concerns about increased cost for
businesses and consumers due to higher fuel and energy costs.
“When asked how we felt about the potential increase to our
operating costs as the result of the passage of these bills, we proudly
responded that we are aware it costs more to do the right thing and we are
willing to pay the price,” said Heidi Logosz, sustainability manager and
executive administrator for Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort.
“We know that if we don’t pay now, we’ll definitely be paying later.”
More information about the progress of HB 2020 can be found
online at https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/HB2020.
Information regarding the federal bill S. 3791/H.R. 763 can be found at
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/763.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Many county students not vaccinated against preventable diseases posted on 05/01/2019
The debate of whether or not to vaccinate, and the crisis
that accompanies it, has shot into Clackamas County.
County public health officials announced in mid-April that
despite vaccines being one of the safest and most effective health
interventions, the resulting preventable diseases are on the rise.
“For over fifty years, immunizations have saved more than a
billion lives and prevented countless illnesses and disabilities in the United
States,” said Dr. Sarah Present, Clackamas County Health Officer.
“Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough, are
still a threat that continue to infect U.S. children, resulting in
hospitalizations and deaths every year.”
A Public Health Impact report released in April cited a
growing trend of delaying vaccinations, or exempting from them entirely, has
contributed to increases in vaccine-preventable outbreaks in the U.S. The
report also points to the lack of access to health care services being a
significant issue.
The vaccination coverage numbers in Clackamas County are
alarming. Of county kindergartners, 9.1 percent, or 397 total, have at least
one non-medical exemption, a figure that is higher than both the national and
state rates. Of K-12 students, 6.2 percent, or 3,820 total, have one or more
non-medical exemptions. County students K-12 have 3.4 percent, 2,124 total, who
are completely unvaccinated.
The U.S. is headed to surpass the record number of measles
since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. The total number of new
cases reached 626 in late April, the highest number in five years. Twenty-two
states have reported cases of measles, including Oregon.
The reasons for the decline in vaccinations are complex and
likely driven by a mix of scientific, socioeconomic, sociocultural and
political factors, according to county health officials.
“Vaccines are not just about individual choices,” said
Richard Swift, Director of Clackamas County’s Health, Housing and Human
Services Department. “They are about our connection and responsibility to
others. Declining vaccine coverage has introduced a number of harmful
infectious diseases back into our communities and is threatening lives.”
More information is available on the health division’s
website at www.clackamas.us/publichealth.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Mountain business taps into the beverage market with MapleAqua posted on 05/01/2019
Stephen Ferruzza’s idea for his latest creation, the
MapleAqua line of beverages, began when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
He took Chaga mushroom, combined it with maple sap and set it on the wood stove
to create a delicious black tea that is loaded in antioxidants.
When he added carbonation to the drink, an alternative to
energy drinks, sodas and more was born: MapleAqua, a sweet and bubbly beverage
now growing in popularity.
“The maple sap gives it a really nice flavor,” said
Ferruzza, known on the Mountain for his Rhododendron pizzeria, Al Forno
Ferruzza.
“We created MapleAqua to honor the flavors of the forest and
as an alternative to alcohol or sugary soft drinks,” he added. “It is intended
for relaxing and nurturing the body and spirit while providing vital energy on
the cellular level.”
Ferruzza noted that the endeavor started on a small scale,
but even after doubling production twice, the business is growing and he
recently added clients in Canada. The drink, licensed through the Oregon
Department of Agriculture, features a concentrate made in Rhododendron and the
final product produced back east, where the Ferruzza family also owns a farm
used to harvest the tree sap.
“The Rhody shop is a key to the whole deal,” Ferruzza said.
“That’s where our processing facility is.”
Two varieties are now available, ginseng and yerba matte,
with more flavors in the works. The drink also contains CBD, the
non-psychoactive substance in cannabis that has been used to treat various
ailments.
“It’s kind of a hot item right now,” Ferruzza said of CBD,
noting it is legal in all 50 states and safe for everyone to drink.
Ferruzza also added that the season to make the beverage is
limited to when they can tap their maple trees, but they currently have enough
to supply stores in Oregon, his two pizza parlors (including one in Portland
opening in June) and some stores back in New York. He plans on tapping more
trees on his family’s farm to increase production, with all tapping done in a
sustainable way, including using the smallest spouts available.
He noted that sports enthusiasts, including bicyclists, are
discovering the drink’s ability to help rehydrate, while seeing hikers, skiers
and other mountain visitors enjoying MapleAqua after a day out.
“It’s something everyone can enjoy, young or old,” he said.
And he has found other uses by turning the maple sap and
Chaga combination into a granulated sugar, perfect for adding to coffee,
signature cocktails, desserts and more at his restaurants.
Finally, Ferruzza also noted a new addition to the
Rhododendron location: a kids play area with a cotton candy machine featuring
(you guessed it) Chaga maple cotton candy.
“It’s a really unique product,” he said.
For more information, including area stores that carry
MapleAqua, visit MapleAqua.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| ‘Spring Fling’ benefits local nonprofit preschool posted on 05/01/2019
As spring arrives and new growth appears on the mountain, a
local nonprofit preschool and daycare in Welches prepares to raise funds for
its young students with a spring dinner and fundraising event.
The Mount Hood Learning Center (MHLC) is hosting its second
annual spring fundraising event from 5-9 pm on May 11, at Camp Arrah Wanna,
located at 24075 East Arrah Wanna Boulevard, Welches. The event includes a
“Spring Fling” dinner featuring food donated by local restaurants, as well as a
plant sale and a silent and oral auction of goods and services donated by local
businesses.
“We are one of the rare programs that offers a four-hour
daily preschool program, which helps children better prepare for their school
years,” MHLC representative Alicia Sperr said in an email. “Most of our
preschool students transfer to kindergarten as top of their class in academics
and readiness for school.”
MHLC was started in 2012 by a group of local mothers that
saw the need for a preschool and childcare in the Welches community. The MHLC
mission statement details the center’s commitment to “create a safe, nurturing
and developmentally appropriate environment in which children will develop
school readiness skills, but will also foster a passion for learning through a
hands-on program here in the Welches Community.”
MHLC is managed by a board of directors and an onsite main
director, Heather Purnick.
The program is operated in space leased from Welches
Elementary School but is not affiliated with the Oregon Trail School District.
The program currently serves approximately 100 children,
including the childcare program, and is funded by tuition and donations.
“Donations help to keep the tuition affordable for parents
so that more children may attend and receive care,” Sperr noted about the
center’s funding.
The “Spring Fling” dinner and auction is MHLC’s main yearly
fundraiser with all proceeds benefiting the center. There is no admission for
the event, but there is a cost for food, drinks and auction items.
The plant sale features landscape trees and shrubs donated
by local nurseries. All items in the silent and oral auction are donated,
including gift certificates to local restaurants, dinner cruises and condo
packages at destination resort areas, such as Collins Lake Resort.
The fundraiser also includes a 50/50 raffle and passes to
family fun adventures. The center is hoping to raise $15,000 at this year’s
event.
“We look forward to seeing the community support at our
event again this year,” Sperr said. She stated that each year has seen an
increase in local residents attending the center’s community activities.
More information about MHLC and the upcoming fundraiser are
available online at www.mthoodlc.com, on the MHLC Facebook events page, by
phone at 503-668-3868 or by email at Mthoodlc@gmail.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
(MT) – Mountain residents can obtain firewood cutting
permits for the Mt. Hood National Forest at the Zigzag Ranger District, 70220
Hwy. 26.
The permits sell for $10 per cord with a minimum charge of
$20 per permit. Residents may harvest up to 6 cords per household.
The U.S. Forest Service advises gatherers that some roads
may be inaccessible due to lingering winter conditions including fallen trees,
rock slides and snow accumulation.
Firewood availability may change from week to week depending
on supply and access and cutters are advised to refer to the current firewood
information sheet posted at the ranger district office and on the firewood web
page. Anyone cutting firewood must have in their possession a valid permit with
current firewood tags, a Mt. Hood Firewood Map and a current information sheet.
To maintain that Mount Hood has a sustainable firewood
program, gatherers need to adhere to the following guidelines: do not fall
standing trees, dead or alive; carry saws equipped with a .023-inch or smaller
mesh spark arrestor; a long-handled shovel with an 8-inch round point blade;
and a pressurized chemical fire extinguisher 8 ounces or larger.
Also, it is advised to call the local district office
(503-622-3191) for up-to-date conditions before going into the forest.
The Zigzag Ranger District is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(closed noon to 1 p.m.), Monday through Friday.
|
|  Stev Ominski
For Mountain residents the discovery of Stev Ominski’s art
could be contributed to his Siamese cats, Lewis and Clark. Except the true
discovery of Ominski’s work has gone far beyond.
The Rhododendron resident’s recent work titled “Age’s End”
depicts the classic view up the Columbia River Gorge during a Missoula Ice Age
flood which occurred some 20,000 years ago. This work – 24 inches high, 48
inches wide, rendered by acrylic on canvas – attracted the attention of the
Oregon Historical Society (OHS).
“The collections manager (from OHS), Nicole Yasuhara, contacted
me out of the blue and asked if they might use “Age’s End” to represent the Ice
Age floods in Oregon for their new permanent exhibit Experience Oregon (which
is) now open,” Ominski told The Mountain Times. “Of course, I was both pleased
and honored to have been selected by OHS. They purchased a digital file and
some limited use rights.”
The recent discovery element didn’t end there. Shortly after
that recognition Ominski was contacted by a graphic designer (Steve Johnston)
who was working with a group at the State Capitol installing an exhibit on the
roof of the dome and they thought Ominski’s depiction of the Ice Age
floodwaters slamming into Beacon Rock would fit in nicely with the exhibit.
“The Inundation of Beacon Rock” in the Columbia River Gorge
is now a part of the east-facing interpretive panel on the capitol’s dome roof.
“I’ve been working on this suite of Ice Age floods imagery
for over 25 years with the help and input from my friends and colleagues in the
geologic community,” he said.
The result has been that these works have been exhibited in
selected natural history museums and venues as well as used in lectures by
educators and newspapers and magazines and field guides, before the recent
local discoveries.
“It’s been an ongoing career commitment,” Ominski added.
Also appearing on Page 1 – “The Rowena Incident” – features
Ominski feigning a pending mammoth trampling. The mammoth size is in stride
with the subject matter, as the piece is 9.5 feet by 10 feet and is part of a
permanent collection at The Discovery Center in The Dalles. The “Incident” is
an acrylic on canvas with the selfie photo shot on a tripod with timer.
“I’m 12 years older now,” Ominski said of the enormous
canvas. “But I look much the same … with a bit longer, grayer hair in my beard
– the shaggy badger look.”
Ominski, 67, is primarily self-taught, and began his
professional career in the fine arts in 1970 working initially on landscapes
and subjects from the natural world.
His studio is open to free tours in Timberline Rim. Make
your own discovery of Ominski’s art by contacting him at stev@stevominski.com.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Sandy to close pool at end of May posted on 04/01/2019
Following a presentation by architecture firm Opsis on
Monday, March 11 and further discussion on Monday, March 18, the Sandy City
Council voted to temporarily close the Olin Bignall Aquatic Center on Friday,
May 31.
Sandy City Manager Jordan Wheeler told the Mountain Times
that the city needs to refine the vision for the pool, which is part of a
larger Sandy Community Campus idea that could cost as much as $70 million.
“It’s important for the public to know that the council
values the pool and sees it as a value for the public,” Wheeler said. “We’re
just now continuing on the path of talking about the Community Campus and what
the public’s vision and plan is for that campus.”
Wheeler, who became the City Manager in January, noted that
the city has seen some turnover on the council, including the mayor, and that
one of the goals established at a retreat in January was to develop a plan for
the Community Campus. But with the pool requiring approximately $350,000 per
year from the city’s general fund to keep it operating and the city seeing
other funding challenges, including PERS, police staffing and much needed
wastewater upgrades, closing the pool helps relieve the budget burden.
“That’s money that’s hard to come by,” Wheeler said. “These
are things the council had to weigh.”
The city will look into how to make improvements to the pool
while also examining sources of funding for its operations, including forming a
possible special taxing district. Wheeler noted that if the city does pursue a
special district or general obligation bond, it could appear on the ballot in
2020.
Wheeler added that the two council meetings where the fate
of the pool was discussed were both well attended and that the city’s residents
are “passionate” about the pool. And while the councilors considered keeping
the pool open until September, the estimated cost, approximately $80,000
according to Wheeler, factored heavily in the decision.
The final vote to close the pool was 6-1, with councilor Jan
Lee casting the dissenting vote. There is no date set for the closure to end.
An agreement between the city and the Oregon Trail School
District (OTSD) for the use of the pool by the district in exchange for waiving
fees for the city’s use of district facilities ended on Feb. 17. The city
estimated the fee for the district to use the pool, if it were to remain open,
at approximately $11,000. OTSD Communications Director Julia Monteith noted in
an email to the Mountain Times that the Athletics Director is looking into
alternatives for the district’s water sports teams, including possibly using
facilities at Mount Hood Community College.
Wheeler noted that the city will tackle a new budget in the
coming months and will have to consider ways to pay for a new wastewater
treatment plan and a gap in the public safety budget, including new fees for
those areas.
“That’s something that’s in the minds of the council as they
consider operations of a pool,” Wheeler said. “The council has to make some
choices now, maintaining level of service or reduce service to balance the
budget.”
Wheeler added that other options to help pay for the
wastewater could include grants or the state legislature. For more information
on the city’s current budget, read Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam’s column on page 7
of this edition. For more information on the pool, visit https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/projects/
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Jayce Dempsey
Jayce and Teal Dempsey knew they wanted to build their
window and roof cleaning business with a focus on providing service to the
local community when they moved their family to Brightwood in 2018.
Jayce’s grandfather was from Sandy and had formerly served
as sheriff in the community for more than ten years, so the move to the Mount
Hood region from Michigan felt like a homecoming to the young couple.
Their family business, Mt. Squeegee, was started in the
summer of 2018 and is a fully licensed, insured and bonded cleaning company
that offers a variety of window and home exterior cleaning services.
“We’re going to be here in ten years when our kids graduate.
We’re trying to build long-term relationships,” Jayce said. “Our base is Boring
to Timberline Lodge.”
The couple built their business plan with their family in
mind and don’t intend to expand to a fleet of trucks.
“We like being a smaller company,” Dempsey said.
Mt. Squeegee provides window cleaning, gutter cleaning and
moss removal services with a focus on transparency and accountability to their
customers.
They offer before-and-after photography for gutter cleaning services
to provide proof the job was properly completed.
Copies of the company’s insurance are provided to all
customers and Dempsey utilizes “soft washing,” a detergent-based moss removal
system to avoid damaging property or voiding roof or siding warranties. Harness
and fall protection systems are used to assure safe work practices.
“We try to eliminate any uncomfortable element for
customers,” Dempsey said. “We pride ourselves for being an established, insured
business… not an uninsured, doing it on the weekend operation.”
Dempsey offers free estimates with on-the-spot quotes. The
business focuses on residential properties but also offers services for
commercial properties.
“I know we’re not the most experienced but feel we’re the
most passionate. We really care about what we do,” said Dempsey about the ethos
of the young company.
Jayce Dempsey and Mt. Squeegee can be reached by phone at
503-407-4549 or by email at jayce@mtsqueegee.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| New wine shop adds European wines and more to Mountain table posted on 04/01/2019
It’s official. You are now free to cancel that long-awaited
wine tour of Europe.
And there’s a bonus. Tax Day just got less taxing.
Cooper’s Wine Bar & Shop opens April 15 in the Hoodland
Shopping Center, next door to McKenzie Dental.
Shannon and John Thompson dipped into the wine business in
New York, working as servers, the building of a tasting room and the
agricultural side. But got serious with a more recent tour of the wine regions
of France and Germany.
“We will also source from some smaller regions such as
Georgia, Lebanon and Slovakia, for example, and we have been researching some more
great obscure wines,” Shannon Thompson told The Mountain Times. “Of course, we
will be featuring many great Pacific Northwest and West Coast wines.”
Shannon added that Cooper’s will also have two beers on tap
from new local brewers along with a good collection of European beers – stuff
you can’t get locally.
“We will also provide a small menu of charcuterie, cheeses
and accompaniments,” she said.
The immediate goal of the wife-husband team is to bring
community together and provide a wine experience to the local community, and
“to reach further out and bring in surrounding communities to enjoy wine along
with other events such as first read of the season for playhouses, poetry
night, book clubs and a place for locals to just gather in a quiet cozy atmosphere.”
Minor renovations to the space were required with the
biggest project being the wine bar. John also built wine storage and wine
displays. The shop will be designed to provide intimate space and cozy seating.
“We will also have a wine cellar for special tasting,”
Shannon said. “This will be the room where our wine will be stored (and
include) a big farmhouse table for special tasting and private events.”
The name was derived from the Thompson’s beloved dog,
Cooper, who died last year and was raised from a pup to 16 years. The Thompson
twins said they should name the bar after Cooper.
“I said that doesn’t make sense,” Shannon said. Then John
countered: “Actually it does. A cooper is a barrel maker.”
In that sense, Cooper was born again.
April 15 is a soft opening for the wine bar with a gala
planned for some time in May.
Cooper’s will operate Thursday through Monday, noon to 6
p.m. Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday.
“But the weekend (hours) are not a hard close,” Shannon
said. “If we are busy, we will stay open. We are very excited for this new
adventure and hope that the community will enjoy exploring wines of the world
with us. We look forward to sharing a glass.”
And think of all the travel costs that will be avoided.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Rhody takes steps toward becoming a FIREWISE community posted on 04/01/2019
At the March 16 Rhododendron Community Planning Organization
(CPO) meeting, Hoodland Fire Chief John Ingrao offered a stark comparison of
wildfire threats to wildland-urban interface communities such as Rhododendron
and efforts these communities can take to lessen the severity of the inevitable
fires.
“Rhododendron is no different unfortunately than Paradise,
California,” he said, referencing the California town almost completely
destroyed by a 2018 wildfire.
The CPO motioned to begin the process of becoming a FIREWISE
certified community at the meeting, held at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in
Welches.
Steve Graeper, CPO Board President has begun the process of
contacting the state to begin the FIREWISE assessment for Rhododendron. The
community will join Zig Zag, Government Camp and Timberline Rim Division 5 as
FIREWISE certified communities in the Mount Hood region.
FIREWISE is a program of the National Fire Protection
Association that performs fire risk assessments for communities and helps
residents work together to reduce risks and prevent losses in the case of
wildfire. The program provides grants to help establish 30-foot home ignition
defense zones around properties and aids home owners in educating themselves on
ways to protect their homes.
“Besides for medical responses, FIREWISE is the most
critical thing we have to deal with up here,” Ingrao said.
He stated that as an interface community, Rhododendron faces
greater threat from wildfires by being surrounded by forests in all directions,
with the Bull Run watershed to the north, Oregon Department of Forestry and
Bureau of Land Management land to the south and U.S. Forest Service land to the
east.
“It’s a ‘when’ not an ‘if’ that a fire is going to happen up
here,” said Jeremy Goers, assistant fire management officer for Mount Hood
National Forest. “The more work you do on your home and your structure the
higher the likelihood that we can save it.”
FIREWISE grants aid in the removal of debris, flammable
vegetation and materials from 30-foot parameters around structures. This
includes overhanging limbs and dense undergrowth as well as cutting and
removing dry grass and weeds.
Home owners are advised to prevent embers from entering
homes by covering exterior vents with fine mesh and preventing combustible
material from gathering near structures attached to the home like garages or
decks.
U.S. Forest Service ranger Bill Westbrook urged people to
keep roofs and gutters clean of debris to prevent embers from smoldering and to
keep spark arrestors on chimneys and chainsaws. “80 percent of our fires here
are human caused,” Westbrook said.
FIREWISE instructs community members to maintain clearly
marked emergency responder access to properties. Driveways should be at least
12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access
and adequate turn around. The program also aids in the development of a
community disaster and evacuation plan.
“It’s you helping us,” said Ingrao about the community
participating in the FIREWISE program.
In the case of a widespread wildfire, firefighters will
access properties to see if they have defensible parameters and are safe to
protect. Goers stated that they will drop black rocks in the drives of houses
that aren’t timely to save.
“We lost a lot of firefighters in California protecting
people’s homes,” said Goers. “It’s a shame.” He added they will have to pick
and choose considering safety and time.
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District will
be holding a “Keep your home and property safe from wildfire” workshop at the
Hoodland Fire station, 69634 Hwy. 26, Welches on April 4th from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. Pre-registration is required. Contact Clackamas Soil and Water
Conservation District at 503-210-6000 or by email at
tguttridge@conservationdistrict.org to reserve a seat.
More information about the FIREWISE program is available
online at www.firewise.org.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| A colossal cup of coffee for a considerable cause posted on 04/01/2019
It’s April, so it must be Welches Wildcat Coffee month.
Nine years ago, Cheryl Gundersen came to Mt. Hood Roasters
Company and proposed a coffee fundraiser for the Welches elementary and middle
schools. Roasters proprietor Rick Applegate embraced the idea and the
fundraiser was born.
Over the years more than $25,000 have been raised for the
local schools by the community purchasing Wildcat coffee from the school
children.
“This year we hope to bring that number to the $30,000
plateau,” Applegate wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “To do this we
need to sell 1,000 bags of coffee that will earn the school $4,500. If they
meet that goal, Mt. Hood Roasters will donate an additional $500 to make the
grand total $5,000.”
Sales incentives for the students are focused on community
activities. Every child that sells one bag of coffee gets a prize, and the bounty
increases with bigger sales. Prizes include hot chocolate and latte from
Roasters, ice cream from Rhododendron Dairy Queen or Sandy Baskin Robbins,
passes to Wippersnappers Kids Play Place, tickets to Mt. Hood Theater, all the
way to a one-year family pass to the Oregon Zoo or OMSI. (A full list of prizes
appears in the Mt. Hood Roasters ad on Page 32.)
“The fundraiser leaves the proceeds here in the community by
raising money for the school, buying incentives from local companies, and
creates work for local employees who manufacture and package the products,”
Applegate wrote. “(And) finally, it is a quality product that is custom
packaged for the school.”
Residents are urged to contact a Welches student to make the
goal a reality and provide funding for needed school resources. This year the
fundraiser is focusing on purchasing more computers for the classrooms.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  ‘Boots and Cane,’ by Sherry Ludwig
Beth Verheyden, an art teacher with a studio in Boring, has
been a part in the Lake Oswego Reads Artist Exhibition events and saw an
opportunity to bring something similar to Sandy.
And last year, Verheyden put the challenge forward to her
students: read “This Road We Traveled,” by Jane Kirkpatrick, and create a piece
of art inspired by it.
This month, the results will be on display with a show at
the Sandy Public Library, 38980 Proctor Blvd. in Sandy, on Friday, April 12,
which will include an appearance by the authors and the opportunity for
visitors to get a book signed.
“It’s been one of my greatest challenges and greatest
rewards as an artist,” Verheyden said about the process of creating art from a
book she’s read.
The book offers the story of Tabitha (Tabby) Brown and her
family’s journey in 1845 over the Oregon Trail from Missouri. Tabby became the
founder of Pacific University in Forest Grove and was also named as the “Mother
of Oregon” by the Oregon Legislature.
Approximately half of Verheyden’s students took up the
challenge, resulting in 25 original paintings that will be on exhibit at the
AntFarm Cafe in Sandy, 39140 Proctor Blvd. from April 12-29.
Welches artist Steve Ludeman, a student of Verheyden’s,
noted the book was based on the journals and other writings of Brown, and that
it came across more as a modern tome.
“The book is very contemporary,” he said. “Even though it
talks about early pioneers on the trail, (it’s) centered around a real person.
This Tabitha Brown is quite a character.”
Ludeman added that the book is a timely one as it deals with
women in leadership roles, a theme currently in the news.
The author presentation and book signing, which will also
include Stafford Hazelett, author of “Wagons to the Willamette” and descendant
of Tabby Brown, will take place between 4-5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12 at the
library, while the artists’ reception and another book sale and signing will be
held after, from 6-8 p.m. at the AntFarm Cafe, which will include catering by
AntFarm and live music by Michael Swanson on Oboe and David Blanchard on guitar.
Verheyden noted that her students are very excited for the
event and that it could be the start of a regular program in Sandy similar to
the one in Lake Oswego.
“It’s been so positive and good for (my students),” she
said. “I think that the community is ready for it. The Ant Farm is so
supportive of the arts, the library is so supportive of the arts.”
All works of art will be for sale, with part of the proceeds
benefiting AntFarm’s youth programs.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Museum design
If you want to read every issue of Ski Magazine, Skiing
Magazine or Snowboarder Magazine, you don’t have to go far. Every issue of
those periodicals is part of the collection of the Mount Hood Cultural Center
and Museum - and that’s not to mention skis from every era and corner of the
world, photos from the biggest moments on Mount Hood and so much more.
And while many of these treasures now reside tucked away in
the building’s basement, the museum hopes to make them more visible with an
expansion project that will nearly double the current space. To fund the
project, the museum has kicked off its Capital Campaign for Museum Expansion,
with hopes to raise $20 million dollars and a plan to complete three phases over
approximately 10 years.
“We’re excited,” said the museum’s curator, Lloyd Musser.
“We think we’ll be a continuing benefit to the whole community, not just
Government Camp.”
Musser noted the museum, which started 20 years ago, is in a
healthy position, being debt-free and attracting approximately 25,000 visitors
per year. It also has a financial reserve and started an endowment with a
bequest from an estate.
But the building no longer has space for its archives, needs
an expanded meeting space and can increase its visibility with an entrance
closer to the street.
“This became the community center; town meetings regularly
fill up to capacity,” Musser said. “It’s time (to expand).”
Phase 1 of the project would include the expansion of the
museum’s “Clubhouse Gallery,” archives and deck. Musser noted this phase would
be a “small chunk to bite off” as they get started with finding funding and it
would offer some storage space to help hold collections during later phases.
“The deck is important in summer time for overflow parties
and receptions,” he said.
Phase 2 would include expansions to the east and west wings,
increasing exhibit space and improving the research library on the East Wing.
This phase would also include reworking the museum’s roof line to alleviate
ongoing damage from heavy snow on the current roof’s complicated layout.
Musser added that a new roofline could open the possibility
for solar panels, although more research was needed to understand if this type
of installation would be appropriate with the winter snow.
Phase 3 would include the creation of a new second-story
event hall with a view of Mount Hood, which could be used for private parties,
traveling exhibits and community meetings and would also feature an attached
catering kitchen, while also expanding the gift shop and lobby on the first
floor. The final phase would also include plazas on both sides of the museum,
possibly featuring a food cart area, space for bikes, native plants and public
art, with a space for a possible future Steiner Cabin exhibit (not included in
the budget for the expansion).
Musser noted this last phase would help with some of the
current building’s greatest limitations, including the cramped entryway, very
limited space in the gift shop and the lack of visibility from the street. And
while the event hall, with a capacity of approximately 200 people, would do
wonders for the events such as the Social History Happy Hours that happen on
the last Friday of each month and have trouble fitting all the participants, it
would also serve as a perfect space for travelling and special exhibits.
“You can get travel exhibits from the Smithsonian,” Musser
said. “We’d like to do more of them, but we don’t have space (now).”
Musser noted that the museum will seek out a large portion
of the fundraising efforts from grants, but that they will also need to raise
20 percent of the total from donors.
Donors can already receive a fused glass sculpture for a
$1,000 contribution, with more ideas for different levels of support, such as
an honor plaque and possibly doing an inscribed brick campaign for Phase 3.
Musser expects to visit local groups to discuss the project and even visiting
house parties where he can encourage interested individuals to help.
In the meantime, the collection that inhabits almost every
shelf and corner of the current building keeps growing, as people offer
artifacts from Mount Hood’s history to the museum.
“I’m still amazed at what comes through the door every
week,” Musser said.
For more information, visit mthoodmuseum.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mount Hood Village RV Resort ends community access to facilities posted on 03/01/2019
For almost 35 years Mount Hood Village RV Resort allowed
local residents to purchase day-use or month passes for access to the indoor
and outdoor pool, sauna and gym facilities at the resort. This long-standing
tradition was brought to an end in the middle of January, leaving some locals,
in the words of community member Janet Lemke, feeling “devastated” and
struggling to maintain therapeutic exercise routines while missing the sense of
community the facilities provided in the region.
Welches resident Uma Chodron has been swimming at the RV
resort for 12 years. She stated that she is retired, lives on a fixed income
and used the facilities as a form of physical therapy to deal with pain from
hip surgeries and issues with her spine.
“A lot of the older swimmers used the pool for exercise and
therapy,” Chodron said. Now she drives an additional 15 miles each direction to
Sandy to swim at an increased cost and is finding herself exercising less due
to the distance. “It’s a trek compared to what it was,” she said about her new
routine.
Susie Anderson, local business owner of the Rendezvous Grill
in Welches, has had an even longer experience utilizing the facilities at the
RV resort.
“I’m very sad. I’ve been going there for over 30 years,”
Anderson said. She added the closure was “literally an overnight thing,”
announced with the posting of a sign and left many locals feeling mistreated.
“As a business owner and a member of the community I know
it’s always good to take care of the community,” Anderson stated about the
abrupt end of access to the RV resort.
Welches resident Janet Lemke has also relied on swimming at
the RV resort as physical therapy for a back injury that resulted in surgery
eight years ago.
“I met a lot of people in the community there … I miss my
friends,” Lemke said. She described the community use of the facilities as
varying from toddler swim classes to elderly aerobics classes and lap swimmers.
“I feel so hurt and betrayed,” she added. “Why would they do that to people in
the community?”
In response to inquiries about ending community access Mount
Hood Village RV Resort offered a statement to the Mountain Times in an email:
“As our newly expanded Mount Hood Village RV Resort has become an increasingly
popular destination, we made the decision to reserve the resort amenities for
guests staying on property. Our focus is ensuring that guests of Mount Hood
Village continue to receive the best possible experience.”
The Mount Hood Village RV Resort is operated as an Encore RV
resort and Thousand Trails RV campground, both of which are part of the Equity
LifeStyle family of resort communities. Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a
corporation based out of Chicago that brands itself as “the leading operator of
manufactured home communities, RV resorts and campgrounds in North America.”
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mount Hood Village RV Resort ends community access to facilities posted on 03/01/2019
For almost 35 years Mount Hood Village RV Resort allowed
local residents to purchase day-use or month passes for access to the indoor
and outdoor pool, sauna and gym facilities at the resort. This long-standing
tradition was brought to an end in the middle of January, leaving some locals,
in the words of community member Janet Lemke, feeling “devastated” and
struggling to maintain therapeutic exercise routines while missing the sense of
community the facilities provided in the region.
Welches resident Uma Chodron has been swimming at the RV
resort for 12 years. She stated that she is retired, lives on a fixed income
and used the facilities as a form of physical therapy to deal with pain from
hip surgeries and issues with her spine.
“A lot of the older swimmers used the pool for exercise and
therapy,” Chodron said. Now she drives an additional 15 miles each direction to
Sandy to swim at an increased cost and is finding herself exercising less due
to the distance. “It’s a trek compared to what it was,” she said about her new
routine.
Susie Anderson, local business owner of the Rendezvous Grill
in Welches, has had an even longer experience utilizing the facilities at the
RV resort.
“I’m very sad. I’ve been going there for over 30 years,”
Anderson said. She added the closure was “literally an overnight thing,”
announced with the posting of a sign and left many locals feeling mistreated.
“As a business owner and a member of the community I know
it’s always good to take care of the community,” Anderson stated about the
abrupt end of access to the RV resort.
Welches resident Janet Lemke has also relied on swimming at
the RV resort as physical therapy for a back injury that resulted in surgery
eight years ago.
“I met a lot of people in the community there … I miss my
friends,” Lemke said. She described the community use of the facilities as
varying from toddler swim classes to elderly aerobics classes and lap swimmers.
“I feel so hurt and betrayed,” she added. “Why would they do that to people in
the community?”
In response to inquiries about ending community access Mount
Hood Village RV Resort offered a statement to the Mountain Times in an email:
“As our newly expanded Mount Hood Village RV Resort has become an increasingly
popular destination, we made the decision to reserve the resort amenities for
guests staying on property. Our focus is ensuring that guests of Mount Hood
Village continue to receive the best possible experience.”
The Mount Hood Village RV Resort is operated as an Encore RV
resort and Thousand Trails RV campground, both of which are part of the Equity
LifeStyle family of resort communities. Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a
corporation based out of Chicago that brands itself as “the leading operator of
manufactured home communities, RV resorts and campgrounds in North America.”
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Fire district seeks funds for Deputy Chief with levy posted on 03/01/2019
In a unanimous decision during a February meeting, the board
of directors of the Hoodland Fire District approved putting a Local Option Levy
on the May ballot to fund a Deputy Chief position. The district has lacked an
officer in that position since John Ingrao took over as Chief after Mic Eby’s
retirement at the end of 2016.
Chief Ingrao, who served as the Deputy Chief under Eby,
noted several benefits to adding a Deputy Chief, including always having three
paramedics on duty and having a second command officer to ensure proper
coverage in the district.
“It’s an issue, there’s no department that only has one
chief, except for small rural ones,” Ingrao said, adding that he would like to
retire next year. “To me, it is a matter of succession planning (and) resources
to go on multiple calls.”
The levy, set to last for five years, would have a rate of
25 cents per thousand on property in the district, resulting in a charge of
approximately $38 on a house with a valuation of $150,000. Ingrao acknowledged
that nobody wants higher taxes, but the district is unable to add the position
with the current finances.
“It’s just a healthy thing for an organization and there’s
no other way for us to get to it with the budget,” he said.
Ingrao added that after he became Chief, it was decided that
the district should go to 24-hour staffing (before then, paid staff covered the
district for 12 hours per day, leaving a hole in advanced life support
coverage). To reach that level, the Deputy Chief position was left vacant; a
plan that was intended to last for 18 months but has now stretched past two
years.
To gauge the feasibility of a levy being passed by voters,
the board hired Campbell DeLong Resources, Inc., which conducted phone polling
in January this year. 152 voters answered a variety of questions, with the
analysis revealing 70 of those polled as likely to vote for the levy “if the
election were held today,” based on their initial reaction.
82 percent of the respondents categorized themselves as
people who “always vote,” and the same percentage have lived in the area served
by the HFD for more than 10 years. The average age of respondents was 67. 56
percent of the voters polled reported contact by themselves or a family member
with the HFD in the past year.
71 percent of the voters polled noted the HFD offered
“excellent service,” while 61 percent saw the district as being efficient with
tax money.
Should the levy be approved by voters in the May election,
Ingrao noted the position is unlikely to be filled from within due to the
number of classes and certifications required.
Ingrao added that it has been more than 20 years since the
district asked the community to approve a levy.
Ingrao plans on presenting the levy to local service
agencies, faith-based groups and other organizations in the coming months.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Mirror Lake Trailhead
The US Forest Service (USFS) was expected to release the
Mount Hood Annual Report for 2018 at the end of February, offering a look at
all that transpired on the Mount Hood National Forest last year. Laura Pramuk,
Public Affairs Officer for the (USFS), noted one of the aspects the report
highlighted was all the progress that has been made in fish restoration.
“That’s been a real testament to our commitment to fish
restoration on the Mount Hood National Forest,” she said, adding that a number
of program partners, including the Freshwater Trust, the Clackamas River Basin
and the Sandy River Watershed Council have been involved throughout. “That’s
been a real accomplishment for the forest.”
Specific projects highlighted in the report include:
– the completion of the Zigzag water system improvement
project to connect the Zigzag Ranger Station to a municipal water supply (Rhododendron
Water).
– replacing two undersized culverts with a bridge on the
upper Marco Creek to benefit native resident fish and aquatic organisms, and
minimize the potential for a primary arterial road to washout.
– decommissioning of seven miles of roads decommissioned in
lower Collawash and Oak Grove Fork, and the Middle Clackamas River watersheds
that crossed or paralleled stream corridors, and were located on large,
unstable earthflow landforms. Decommissioned roads were re-planted with native
seedlings and grass seed.
– the Ant Farm crew, consisting of youth from Sandy,
assisted the Zigzag Trail Crew in the Sandy River Basin, including work on
Mirror Lake Trail, Little Zigzag Falls Trail and rehabilitation activities in
the Salmon River Corridor and Old Maid Flats where inappropriate or illegal dispersed
camping and dumping often occurs.
– trained 60 volunteers with Trailkeepers of Oregon for the
first Trail Skills college volunteer training event held on the Zigzag Ranger
District.
– relocated the Mirror Lake Trailhead and added 1.4 miles of
accessible trail. The new trailhead project provides a more sustainable and
safe alternative to roadside parking. The project also improved drainage and
parking improvements at Skibowl, and included improvements to the intersection
of Glacier View and Hwy. 26.
– trail Crew, volunteers and partners maintained 406 miles
of trail.
– replaced the Buttercup ski lift at Mt Hood Meadows. The
new lift is a SkyTrac fixed grip quad which doubles capacity and will run 30
percent faster than the old Buttercup, thanks to a conveyor that beginners step
on that matches their speed to the lift chair.
– in the first year of the multi-year Upper Sandy Watershed
Restoration Action Plan, The Freshwater Trust, Bureau of Land Management and
USFS teamed up to restore all non-Wilderness instream reaches of Lost Creek and
fully restored Cast Creek in 2018. The partners placed 945 logs and whole trees
to construct 70 wood jams and reconnected 5,639 feet of historic floodplain
side channels.
– in the “Marco Reach” of the West Fork Hood River, a large
wood placement project was completed in collaboration with the Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and Weyerhaeuser Columbia
Timberlands. Approximately 60 trees were hand-tipped and 180 alders hand-felled
into a 0.7-mile reach of the river to create log jam structures just upstream
of Marco Creek.
– the USFS partnered with Portland General Electric to
replace an undersized and failing culvert with an open-bottom arch, benefitting
resident native fish and aquatic organisms, and mitigating the potential for a
major failure of Forest Service Road 45, offering access to tens of thousands
of acres.
– the 2018 fire season was below average in the number of
ignitions and acres burned. In all, 54 ignitions for 89 acres occurred on the
MHNF. Fifty-two fires were human caused with the remainder started by
lightning. Resources from the MHNF supported neighboring cooperators and
National Forests including Oregon Department of Forestry, the Columbia River
Gorge National Scenic Area, Willamette National Forest, and the Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS), in addition to many fires in the Pacific
Northwest and the Western United States.
Meanwhile, Pramuk shared that 2019 includes a few notable
projects, including replacing a culvert on the 2612 Road (Still Creek Road)
during the summer. This culvert is located near Mile Post 7 on a tributary to
Still Creek and is the final project of the Watershed Restoration Action Plan
for Still Creek.
The MHNF and Sandy River Basin Partners acquired grants of
nearly $2.2 million dollars that resulted in significant improvements in
habitat quality, water quality and ecosystem function in Still Creek. From 2012
through 2019, in-stream restoration actions impacted more than eight miles of
the Still Creek main channel and an estimated 185 acres of floodplain habitat.
2019 will also see a new electrical system improvement
project at Timberline Lodge to address the cleaning and maintenance of
electrical service equipment, replacement of obsolete equipment and creating a
current set of schematics for the electrical systems. The project will include
the historic lodge and the newer day lodge.
The contract has not been awarded yet but could begin this
summer or fall, and it may cause minor disruptions to visitor services at the
lodge. The current electrical system is out of date and improvements are needed
to bring the lodge’s system up to current code.
“There's a lot of enthusiasm on the forest because we are
making some substantive progress on long standing projects,” Pramuk said.
“(But) there’s always more work to do.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Haro bike
It didn’t take long for Mt. Hood Bicycle to gain the
attention of scroungers looking for a score.
Located in the Hoodland Shopping Center, the bicycle shop
held its grand opening less than a year ago, featuring bicycle sales, parts,
accessories and repairs. But proprietor George Wilson was initiated to another
all-too-often Mountain event when, in the wee hours of Feb. 21, his shop was
vandalized.
“I received a phone call (that morning) at 6:30 a.m. letting
me know the shop had been broken into,” Wilson said. “I immediately called the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), got dressed, drove to the shop,
expecting to have been cleaned out.”
But, to Wilson’s eye, the culprit had something specific in
mind. He stepped through the broken glass left from the remains of a glass
entry door and determined it was a “quick job.”
“The (expletive deleted) who did it just wanted the Haro
full-suspension e-Bike,” Wilson said. “Nothing else was stolen. There is some
irony however, as the idiot didn’t realize there was a battery charger that
went with the bike.”
Wilson added that the charger is still sitting on the shelf
if the (same expletive) wants to come and get it. “I’ll be waiting.”
It should be noted, Wilson said, that the stolen bicycle was
a large frame size, had been upgraded with Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR tires, and
grips changed to match the neon yellow striping, making it fairly easy to be
identified.
“There aren’t that many 2018 Haro Shift i/o e-Bikes to be
found in the Pacific Northwest,” Wilson said. “It should stand out.”
CCSO was on the scene by 7:30 a.m., according to Wilson, and
Mt. Hood Glass from Gresham arrived even sooner.
“I must say I am thoroughly impressed with Mt. Hood Glass,”
Wilson said. “One guy came and cleaned up the glass, measured the door, called
in the dimensions to the warehouse in Boring, they cut it right away and sent
two other guys to install the glass … They damn near had the job finished
before the sheriffs arrived.”
Wilson’s insurance deductible is $1,000, so the loss is
considerable. Cameras have since been installed to enhance the security of the
site beyond the alarm system.
Subsequently, Wilson has sent the information out via
Facebook and has reached more than 1,500 people.
“Hopefully, I find it before there has been too much
damage,” he said.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Incomplete picture on state of federal lands following shutdown posted on 03/01/2019
While Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California
reportedly experienced damage that could be felt for decades, if not hundreds
of years, during the record 35-day government shutdown in January, the federal
lands on Mount Hood seem to have avoided a similar fate.
Jennifer Velez, Public Affairs Officer for the Northwest
Oregon District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), noted that the main
problem they encountered after the shutdown was trash. Recreation staff
conducted assessments of all recreation sites when they returned to work, and
Velez noted that it took approximately 30 hours to clean up the trash.
“Thanks to any visitors on BLM who picked up trash or served
as stewards to public lands,” Velez said. “A huge thank you. We know that made
a difference.”
The Northwest Oregon District has approximately 250
permanent employees, Velez added, noting that some were considered “essential”
and did continue to work during the shutdown, including law enforcement. She
added that they do have standard operating procedures they go through in the
event of a shutdown, but they find out about it at the same time as the general
public.
The fate of the Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF), however,
was unclear as representatives from the MHNF declined to comment on what, if
any, damage was reported, the total number of employees, the number of
employees who worked during the shutdown or any steps the MHNF takes in the event
of a shutdown.
Laura Pramuk, Public Affairs Officer for the US Forest
Service (USFS), referred the Mountain Times to online documents, including
Field Operational Updates for each state that were last updated in late
January, and a blog post by Chief Vicki Christiansen titled “Resume, Recover,
Rest” and addressing the USFS employees. Neither addressed the questions
submitted by the Mountain Times.
Pramuk added that law enforcement staff worked during the
furlough, but that the Washington office wouldn’t answer specific questions.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  "The Villain of Virtue"
“The Villain of Virtue” had its premiere at the Nutz-n-Boltz
Theater Company (NNB) in 2013. The melodrama, co-written by husband and wife
duo and NNB founders Justin and Kelly Lazenby, will be restaged this month at
the theater, with an eye towards publishing the piece.
Justin, who directs the restaging, noted that he and Kelly
got to work last year on refining the play and that they are using the
rehearsal process to keep adding to it.
“Kelly and I, when we wrote it, had ideas of whose
characters were; then throw in the wildcard of an actor who hasn’t seen it,
doesn’t know the character, not part of process and they come up with fun new
ideas for the characters and the show itself,” he said.
The play is set in the Middle Ages in the Village of Virtue,
whose inhabitants suffer from the plague and high taxes. At the center of the
story is Chastity, a dim-witted damsel in distress, and her bucket, named Jill.
Justin noted that Heather King, the actor who plays
Chastity, has added a lot of funny moments by giving Jill a personality.
He added that the cast is made up of a variety of performers
who have been in previous NNB shows, making it a fun experience as they hone
the final script.
“This show is very much a big group of friends who have all
worked together and all get along great,” Justin said,
NNB presents “The Villain of Virtue,” March 1-24, at the
Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and seniors,
and $11 for teachers and law enforcement. For more information, or to make
reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Comedy in Sandy
The first thing people ask director Erin Bass about the
Sandy Actors Theatre’s (SAT) production of “Fuddy Meers” is what the name
means. But they’re not likely to get a solid answer.
“I hate to spoil the surprise,” Bass said.
The comedy, written by David Lindsay-Abaire, offers the
story of Claire, a woman who has a rare form of amnesia that erases her memory
every time she goes to sleep. When she wakes up every morning, she remembers
nothing, so her upbeat husband has come up with a daily routine to provide her
with what she needs to know.
But things are thrown for a loop when a limping and lisping
man surprises her, and things get even odder as she is taken to a house where
she meets a stroke victim who may be her mother. The twists and turns of the
plot bring Claire closer to revealing her past life and what she has forgotten.
“It’s eccentricities and realism of its oddball characters really
attracted me to the story,” Bass said, noting she first read the script about
10 years ago and that the author’s writings have a wide range, from his first
play, “Rabbit Hole,” to the Broadway musical “Shrek” (based on the animated
movie). “He has an innate ability to bring utter pandemonium to the stage. He
has a very creative mind; it shows through in his writing.”
Bass added that the play includes some mature situations and
language, so she would not recommend it for children 12 years old or younger,
and that there are also some loud noises in it. But it is a theatrical
adventure that will surprise people.
“Sit back, buckle up and get ready for a really fun and zany
ride,” Bass said.
SAT presents “Fuddy
Meers” from Friday, March 22 through Sunday, April 14, at 17433 Meinig Ave.
(behind Ace Hardware). Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, veterans and
students and $13 for children (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call
503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
‘Art’ continues at Sandy’s Wolfpack Theater
Yasmina Reza’s play, “Art,” offers the story of a work of
art and how it impacts the dynamics between Serg, who purchased the painting,
Marc, who says what he thinks, and Ivan, who aims to please his friends. Their
conversation moves from analysis of the painting to their own lives, as their
bonds are put to the test.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Art,” by Yasmina Reza and
translated by Christopher Hampton, through Sunday, March 10, at 39570 Pioneer
Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on
Sunday.
Tickets are $18 for general admission and $15 for students
and seniors. Law enforcement, firefighters and veterans have free admission
with valid ID.
For more information, visit www.wolfpacktheater.com or call
541-772-2667.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| New online complaint form offers help with speeding problem posted on 02/01/2019
Through the windows of the Still Creek Inn, restaurateur
Brigette Romeo sees the traffic speeding on Hwy. 26 as they zip through
Rhododendron. Romeo, a Brightwood resident, noted the problem usually starts at
around 6:30 a.m. on the weekends with the arrival of skiers and snowboarders,
and then is repeated in the afternoon when they come down from the resorts.
“For people to cross the highway or turn, you’re taking your
life in your hands,” she said.
The issue of speeding and aggressive drivers is well known,
including to Sergeant Brian Jensen of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
(CCSO).
“This used to be called Blood alley, that was a legitimate
nickname,” said Jensen, who has been in the CCSO since 1998.
Now, area residents will have another outlet through which
they can try to help solve the problem, with a new online complaint form to
flag traffic issues at https://web3.clackamas.us/up/forms/trafficcomplaint.jsp
or searching online for “Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office traffic complaint.”
Jensen noted that with the new system, the CCSO will be able
to track the entries, which will lead to a stronger police presence in the
areas that get more complaints.
“There’s going to be a response,” he said. “It’s going to be
documented and addressed. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Jensen added that the CCSO has a dedicated traffic team
featuring four deputies and a sergeant to cover the county (approximately
400,000 people). The team has done specific missions in the past and targeted a
certain area for a day, and Jensen noted that is a possibility for the
Mountain.
He added that the CCSO may get some grant money that would
add a focus in the Hwy. 26 corridor, but it is unknown when that might start.
Otherwise, increasing the police presence on the Mountain
beyond that may need funding from an enhanced service district, as suggested at
a recent community meeting.
But Romeo didn’t think that would be likely, considering the
response at that meeting.
“Everybody just about had a heart attack in the room,” she
said.
Romeo also noted that the traffic problems extend beyond
speeders, citing large trucks that park on the side of the road as another
issue she experiences while working in Rhododendron.
Senior Trooper Michael Reel of the Oregon State Police (OSP)
noted they have one officer assigned to Government Camp and that traffic safety
is the number one concern. OSP officers spend most of the time on state
highways in the area, but that area stretches from the east side of Gresham
to the west side of the Warm Springs reservation.
“It’s a lot of highway for one trooper to cover,” said Reel,
a 15-year veteran of the OSP.
Reel added that from his point of view, speeders have been
fairly consistent in how much they go over the speed limit, with only a couple
times per year exceeding 100 MPH. He did note that he has recently noted an
uptick of speeders who are local to the mountain.
“I don’t’ know what that’s attributed to,” he said.
Jensen stressed that all drivers are responsible for their
own speed, and despite how many times people have offered the excuse that they
are going the same speed as others or driving with “the flow of traffic,” it is
not a valid one.
“You’re responsible to obey the law,” he said.
Jensen added that the new online complaint form is the best
way for Mountain residents to try and help solve the problem and that it will
be easier to justify an increased police presence if they have a large number
of complaints.
“I want people to not give up on us, to know that we are
aware that there is a problem that we are doing what we can; it’s important to
our office,” Jensen said. “The safety of the people up here is important to us.
They are our neighbors and they are our citizens, we want to do everything we
can to ensure their safety.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County seeks statewide policy for flood hazards posted on 02/01/2019
Jan. 16 marked the eight-year anniversary of the 2011
flooding in the upper Sandy River Basin that washed out a section of Lolo Pass
Road, undercut the Zig Zag River bridge, swept away three homes and left a
swath of property damage with over 150 residents stranded by the rampaging
waters.
During a Jan. 19 Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization (CPO) Meeting held at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Jay Wilson,
resilience coordinator for Clackamas County Disaster Management, discussed
continued flood risks in the area.
“The Sandy (Basin) is just as capable and dangerous to
property in the future,” Wilson said, citing the historic flooding in 1964 that
destroyed 155 dwellings and the more recent 2011 event. “We need to have a
policy that gives us a framework to prepare for an event like this fairly.”
Wilson detailed county plans to request policy development
at the state level regarding Channel Migration Zones (CMZ) and their impact on
public safety and importance for healthy river habitats across the state. CMZ
are areas where river channels migrate laterally over time due to natural
processes of flooding and erosion. This natural movement of the river
throughout the floodplain provides a crucial breeding ground for endangered
salmon.
It also provides the potential for highly erosive flooding
with risk to property. CMZ are not currently mapped by FEMA for flood insurance
purposes or regulated for development in Oregon.
Wilson described an increase in flood hazard in the
community due to new development in the CMZ, a continued risk to existing
infrastructure and the need to protect critical salmon habitat as reasons the
county is proposing a statewide CMZ policy. The county seeks a policy that
provides a legal basis for counties to make local land use regulations to limit
flood hazards and protect habitat.
“Current land use policies are allowing people to build in
areas we know are dangerous,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Jim Bernard
during the meeting. “We don’t have a policy in place to address this.”
Bernard, who was joined by fellow Commissioner Ken
Humberston, noted that Oregon disclosure laws are some of the most limited in
the country in terms of making property buyers aware of potential hazards.
“We feel like we should let people know of the potential
(flooding),” he added.
Bernard discussed a letter written by the board of
commissioners to Oregon Solutions, an organization that helps local communities
develop policy on the state level, asking for the development of an Oregon CMZ
policy group. The group will be comprised of state and federal agencies with
Clackamas County as lead sponsor and will draft proposed legislation allowing
local jurisdictions to regulate development in areas known for flooding and
severe erosion.
“Advisory maps are out there. They just haven’t been
officially adopted on a regulatory level,” Bernard said.
Maps of the CMZ hazard zones on the upper Sandy River were
published in 2015 by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
(DOGAMI) using hydrologic surveys conducted with light detecting and ranging
(LiDAR) technology.
“These surveys give scientific basis for informing
policies,” Wilson said. He added they provided a guide for regulatory overlay
on a mapped level.
Wilson stated that with county oversight of a state
certified CMZ hazard area there would be restrictions to new and existing
development, direction for bank protection and habitat conservation.
“Standards will be higher and more stringent rather than
just the existing approach,” he added. “We’re trying to think about the next 50
years … to insure a balance between natural systems and property protection.”
The Rhododendron CPO meeting marked the beginning of the
county’s public engagement regarding the proposed statewide CMZ hazard policy.
Wilson will present more information about the issue at the upcoming Mount Hood
Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, at the Mt. Hood RV
Village Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
Additional information about the CMZ and flood hazard is
available online at www.clackamas.us/dm/flooding.html.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Crab Feed finds new home, same great taste posted on 02/01/2019
The Hoodland Women’s Club’s (HWC) annual Crab Feed will move
a little bit down the road, this year held at the Mt. Hood Lion’s Club, but the
delicious Dungeness will remain the same.
And even though the crab season got a late start this year,
organizer Brigette Romeo anticipates a good haul of the crustaceans for the
event (the 10th annual), adding that they have never run out of crab for the
participants.
“We’ve done okay there,” she said.
The event, which is capped at approximately 125 people,
offers a no-host bar, raffle baskets and dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday,
March 2. Tickets are $25 per person and can be bought at the Welches branch of
the Clackamas County Bank, Welches Mountain Building Supply and the Welches
Liquor Store.
Busy Bee Catering caters the event (including making clam
chowder, garlic bread, desserts and more), which serves as a way for the HWC to
thank the community.
“It’s not a money maker for us,” Romeo said, adding that the
guest list typically includes the County Commissioners. “(It’s a) way to get community
together.”
The Mt. Hood Lions Club is located at the intersection of
Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way in Welches.
For more information, call 503-622-4618.
By Garth Guibord/MT
Crab Facts
From the South Coast Oregon Directory
Dungeness crab was reportedly named after a small fishing
village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington state.
They have been harvested commercially along the Pacific
Coast since the late 1880s.
Abundance of these highly prized crustaceans fluctuates.
Total coastwide production ranges from 35-55 million lbs.
annually.
|
|  James Todd
When Suzi Cloutier moved sight unseen from Rhode Island to a
rental farm in Dairy Creek, she was at a low point in her life. She was not
expecting to meet a soul in even worse condition, a blind and starving mule
named Zebediah abandoned on the property.
“I wasn’t too interested in being on this planet and he
wasn’t too interested in leaving and we kind of saved each other,” Cloutier
said about her fortunate introduction to Zeb the mule in 1997.
Zeb had fallen into neglect and was on the verge of
starvation when Cloutier arrived in Dairy Creek. Through a slow process of
rehabilitation, Cloutier nursed the blind mule back to health while discovering
that compassion and selfless acts of service helped her deal with her own
personal demons and heal herself.
Now more than 20 years and 54 rescued horses and mules
later, Zeb’s Wish exists as testimony to the lesson of compassion Cloutier
learned caring for the abandoned mule.
Zeb’s Wish became a 501c3 nonprofit equine sanctuary in 2013
and exists solely on private donations at its location in Sandy. The
organization’s mission is “to rescue and rehabilitate special needs equines,
conduct equine assisted learning and therapeutic activities and heal humans and
equines alike.”
On Cloutier’s farm, a passionate and dedicated staff nurses
her rescued herd back to health with integrated healthcare, a mixture of
traditional and homeopathic veterinary care involving natural hoof care, Reiki
energy work, chiropractic and massage therapy.
“I realized they’re my people,” Cloutier said about her herd
throughout the years.
Traditional equine sanctuaries focus on young rideable
animals that can be rehabilitated for adoption and human use. Zeb’s Wish
focuses on animals that cannot be used in a traditional sense, many of which
will require care until the end of their lives.
“It doesn’t make them any less valuable,” Cloutier said.
“It takes a lot of hands to make it happen,” she added about
the sanctuary’s work, noting the organization has seven active volunteers
providing care to the animals, six foster homes that rehabilitate neglected
animals and five board members overseeing the organization.
“We have an amazing community of people volunteering,”
Cloutier said. “We all come into this sanctuary as an act of service.”
Cindy Stevens fosters equines for Zeb’s Wish on her farm in
Beaver Creek. She has fostered two mares for the organization and is currently
fostering two ponies.
“No doubt they both would have died this winter if Zeb’s
hadn’t stepped in,” Stevens said about the ponies. She described them as
“walking skeletons” at the time of their rescue, but have since managed to put
on weight and are expected to resolve health issues such as rain rot by the
spring.
The practices Stevens uses to nurse horses back to help were
established by the University of California Davis refeeding program. She
described the program as the contemporary standard for feeding malnourished
equines.
“A lot of people don’t realize the resources available,”
Stevens said.
Zeb’s Wish is one of several organizations with resources
available to help people provide for the health and nourishment of their
animals.
“When you’re courageous enough to ask for help you can keep
your animals from starving,” Stevens said. “We’re here to help people to
succeed in keeping their animals because that’s the ultimate goal.”
Zeb’s Wish also exists to help humans find healing through
their interaction with the herd on the farm. Victoria Kress is a board member
and Reiki practitioner that teaches animal Reiki at the sanctuary.
Kress describes animal Reiki as a practice of meditation and
energy work that encourages a connection with the animals and fosters a sense
of comfort in both humans and animals.
Kress had been teaching this technique at the sanctuary for
the past five years with classes offered three or four times a year. A level
one class, offered for those with no prior experience with Reiki, will be held
March 30 and 31. Level two and three courses will be held later in the year
with the level three course serving as a Reiki teacher training class in the
fall.
“It’s been quite a journey … one I’ve been fortunate to be
part of,” Kress said.
Zeb’s Wish offers equine assisted learning programs, school
field trips, service learning classes, retreats and monthly volunteer
opportunities for community members interested in healing or being healed.
The sanctuary also hosts clinics including the upcoming
“Natural Horse and Mulemanship” with trainer Marta Johann March 17.
Volunteer opportunities or other visits can be arranged by
contacting the organization by email at zebswish@gmail.com.
More information about the sanctuary is available online at
zebswish.org and events are posted on the Zeb’s Wish Facebook page.
Zeb the mule died after years of loving care from Cloutier
at the age of 50.
His inspiration lives on, and Albert the mule was recently
rehabilitated and adopted thanks to the efforts of Zeb’s Wish.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| It is easy being green with the Master Recycling program posted on 02/01/2019
When Dawn Loomis took the Master Recycler class 10 years
ago, she realized that recycling is just one step in the effort to help keep
things green, but that reducing and reusing are also part of the equation.
“It was awesome,” Loomis said of the class. “I learned so
much more than I thought I ever would.”
The course will be offered in Oregon City, starting on
Wednesday, April 3. Registration for the course ends on Wednesday, March 6.
The eight-week class will meet once a week in the evening
and twice on Saturdays for field trips, offering a hands-on opportunity for
participants to learn about recycling and waste reduction. Those in the class
will also commit to volunteering for 30 hours of public outreach, such as
working at information booths, providing community presentations and working on
projects.
The program started in 1991 with a nonprofit in Seattle, and
then spread to Oregon State University. Today, it is offered by Metro, City of
Portland, Clackamas County, Washington County, the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality and Recycling Advocates, and approximately 1,700 people
have taken the course, providing approximately 58,000 hours of service.
Lauren Norris, Master Recycler Program Manager, noted the
class has grown so popular that they have had to turn people away, with more
than 100 people applying for one of 30 spots for the Multnomah County class.
“I think that people are very interested in sustainability,”
Norris said.
Norris added that when the program began, people were really
concerned with there being not enough space in landfills. Now, the focus is
more on conserving natural resources and protecting the climate, examining the
full lifecycle of materials and not just looking at avoiding landfills.
The course will cover materials that are recyclable and also
how the markets for recyclable materials work. 25 different presenters, from
local governments to private professionals, will share their knowledge, while
field trips will include recycling facilities for a look into how the sorting
and baling processes work.
Stacy Luddington, Sustainability Analyst for Clackamas
County and also a Master Recycler, noted that understanding why one thing can
be recycled but others cannot becomes clearer through the course, such as how
plastic bags can tangle machines at the facilities.
“When people know the why, it tends to stick,” she said.
Luddington also noted that Master Recyclers aren’t limited
to recycling but also help spread the word about using less toxic cleaners,
wasting less food and doing Repair Fairs, where some things can be fixed and
reused rather than thrown away.
In the 10 years since Loomis took the course, she has done
activities including a waste audit at her son’s school, applied for several
grants, done collection events on the Mountain and more.
She encouraged anyone interested on the Mountain to
participate, noting more hands would be welcome in the recycle/reuse/reduce
efforts.
“We need some local, energetic people to get on board,”
Loomis said.
The course will be run for eight consecutive Wednesdays,
starting on April 3, at Clackamas County’s Development Services Building, 150
Beavercreek Road, in Oregon City. There is a $50 fee to cover course materials,
but scholarships are available. For more information, visit
www.masterrecycler.org/. Registration closes at noon Wednesday, March 6.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Consensus on ODFW Wolf Plan fails posted on 02/01/2019
Despite conservation groups having withdrawn from the
meetings, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is finalizing a revised
Wolf Conservation and Management Plan to be presented to the state wildlife
commission next month.
Five meetings were held from August 2018 to January 2019
attended by stakeholders representing ranching, hunting and wolf conservation
but no consensus was attained on several issues including the number of
livestock depredations that would lead to lethal removal of wolves.
Last month, four conservation groups withdrew from the
meetings.
“We were disappointed these groups left the discussion and
we did not have the full stakeholder group present at the final meeting,” said
Derek Broman, ODFW carnivore coordinator. “Since the drafting of the original
2005 plan, stakeholders remain very passionate so consensus is challenging to
achieve.”
The meetings were convened by Gov. Kate Brown, but the
conservation groups notified her and state wildlife commission they were
withdrawing, citing a flawed process for updating the state’s wolf plan and
lobbying by wildlife managers wanting to make it easier for the state to kill
wolves.
Oregon’s wolf population has reached 124 according to ODFW’s
report of April 2018. Most of these wolves occupy areas in the eastern part of
Oregon, but two packs are currently known to inhabit the western Cascades.
“Poll after poll has shown that Oregonians support wolf
recovery and believe that conflicts with livestock should be avoided through
nonlethal approaches,” said Sean Stevens, executive director of Oregon Wild,
one of the four conservation groups involved in the meetings. “And yet ODFW
continues to insist on a plan that makes it ever-easier to kill wolves without
any enforceable standards.”
Nick Cady, legal director of Cascadia Wildlands, cited the return
of wolves to the Pacific Northwest as an incredible wildlife success story that
all Oregonians should be celebrating.
“Instead of assisting this recovery, our state government is
fixated upon killing the species at the behest of the commercial livestock
industry,” Cady said. “There are between 100 and 200 wolves in the state total.
This is absurd.”
Prior to talks breaking down, the groups were able to find
consensus on wolf collaring priorities, the desire to increase the use of
nonlethal techniques and funding enhanced population modeling.
In practice, ODFW has denied more lethal removal requests
for wolves than it has approved.
But the impasse continues with conservation groups – Oregon
Wild, Cascadia Wildlands, Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of
Wildlife – continuing to believe ODFW discourages neutral oversight and
guidance to encourage meaningful discussion and collaborative brainstorming.
The wolf management plan will be presented to the governor
March 15.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Middle School gets technology upgrades posted on 02/01/2019
Winter break at Welches Middle School (WMS) meant time to
work, as the Oregon Trail School District (OTSD) installed technology upgrades,
including new interactive and short throw projectors, larger screens, teacher
iPads, wireless keyboards, docking stations and central speaker systems with
microphones.
“I think the ability to do a lot of different learning
activities has just expanded with the tools,” Principal Kendra Payne said,
adding that the school had to have some other upgrades, such as wiring, to
accommodate the new technology.
Payne noted that the technology will help improve the
classroom experience, as teachers will be able to move around more and help
engage all students, with better screens for displaying material and amplified
voices to bring everyone into a conversation.
“I feel like accessibility, in those ways, have been pretty
big,” she said.
The district also installed similar technology at Boring
Middle School (BMS), following the move of Cedar Ridge Middle School into the
Pioneer Building, which needed technology upgrades as part of that transition.
Scott Coleman, OTSD Director of Technology, noted the upgrades at BMS and WMS
totaled approximately $70,000, with the equipment paid for at the end of the
last school year and the install done in-house.
“It’s a better learning environment for the kids,” Coleman
said, noting that studies have been done that indicate a measurable difference
for kid’s attention levels at the back of classrooms that include improved
audio equipment. “It’s one fewer barrier for them.”
Coleman added that the upgrades put the schools at the
“front of the middle of the pack” when comparing to other middle schools, but
that the district looks for things that are “tried and tested” before choosing
to invest in them.
Payne noted that the school also received a $5,000 donation
from the Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization for new Chromebooks,
replacing ones that were bought six years ago. She added that these improvements
come on the heels of adopting new computer-based science curriculum at the
middle school last year.
“We’ve had quite a bit of good tech upgrades over the past
two years,” Payne said.
By Garth Guibord/MT
Parent Teacher Corner
(Information provided by Welches PTCO.)
The 2018-19 Welches Spirit Wear is here! Order forms will be
going home soon and due back to the school by Friday, Feb. 22. Make sure to
look for those order forms, you won’t want to miss out on this year’s designs,
both created by two of our very own Welches students.
The Annual ABC Auction is just around the corner. Don’t
forget to save the date on your calendar for Saturday, March 16. If you are
interested in helping with auction donations or volunteering to help the
Auction Committee, please email the WTPCO at welchesptco@gmail.com
|
|  File photo by Fran Berteau
The fates of the Sandy and Salmon rivers, along with the
life force of wild salmon, have merged into one.
The Sandy River Watershed Council (SRWC) hooked a $1 million
award in November, and that, combined with an already secured $1 million forms
a two-year project that will mitigate flood risk and improve fish habitat along
the area where the two wild rivers meet.
“The beauty of this project is that the steps to restoring
habitat for wild salmon are also the best path to reduce flood risk for nearby
homes, roads and other essential community infrastructure,” said Steve Wise,
executive director of SRWC.
Despite levees built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
where the Salmon River flows into the Sandy, intense floods and channel
migration ensued in the following years up to 2017.
Following the flood events, science determined that levees
are powerless to hold back rivers, and also have unintended consequences.
Levees cut off fish from key floodplain habitat and simply disperse the river’s
energy in major floods.
The work – which will launch in the spring of 2019,
spearheaded by the SRWC – will restore floodplains across 418 acres along
1-mile of floodplain at the confluence of the Sandy and Salmon rivers.
Parts of levees will be removed allowing the rivers to
access currently isolated channels, and log jams will be added to disperse
river energy with the added benefit of providing hidden refuge and feeding
areas for migrating salmon and steelhead.
The twin rivers are a salmon stronghold, a place where fish
populations have rebounded since the removal of the Marmot Dam in 2007.
“Climate change is bringing more frequent and intense storm
events in our region,” Wise said. “Extreme high-water events are part of the
new normal under climate change, but restoring the floodplain can reduce the
risk of negative impacts.”
In addition to the award from the National Coastal
Resilience Fund, SRWC has received funding from the Clackamas Soil and Water
Conservation District, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Portland
Water Bureau.
The SRWC will be reaching out to the community soon to raise
awareness about the project, communicate the benefits to the community, answer
questions, and hear the community concerns.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Chamber honors local hero and volunteer groups posted on 01/01/2019
Two weeks after a female jogger suffered a severe heart
attack while running a marathon on Mount Hood, she was able to attend her son’s
wedding thanks to the heroic efforts of Rhododendron citizen Lynn Miskowicz.
The Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a festive
breakfast on Dec. 4, 2018 to present an award honoring community member
Miskowicz for her role in saving the life of the woman during the REVEL Mount
Hood marathon and applaud local volunteer organizations for their work in the
community.
The seventh annual breakfast was held at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort where the Clackamas County Commissioners attended and served food to the
honored guests.
“We feel volunteers need to be encouraged and recognized,”
said chamber vice president Coni Scott after the event. “It’s important to
acknowledge the contributions these organizations make in the community.”
Hoodland Fire District Fire Chief John Ingrao presented a
plaque to Miskowicz acknowledging her heroic life-saving actions.
Miskowicz was volunteering at the REVEL marathon on July 28,
a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, when a woman suffered a heart attack while
running near the Barlow Trail hydration station. Miskowicz was on the scene
when the woman fell, called 911 and performed CPR for 22 minutes before a
Clackamas County Deputy arrived with a defibrillator and resuscitated the
woman.
“This was a special award. She saved a woman’s life,” Scott
said.
Miskowicz has worked in health care for 30 years and began
her career as a registered respiratory therapist at Providence Saint Vincent.
She first got her CPR card in high school and has kept it active for 30 years.
“It’s a great honor,” Miskowicz said about the recognition,
but credited her years of training for preparing her. “I hope this makes more
people go out and learn CPR and have the basic knowledge to use if they are in
a similar situation.”
Clackamas County Commissioner Jim Bernard introduced the 30
community volunteer organizations being recognized by the breakfast. The
organizations then thanked all the community member volunteers who made their
work possible.
“It’s a positive event and everyone enjoys coming,” Scott
said.
The annual breakfast was sponsored by Clackamas County Bank
and was also made possible by the support of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort and 40
donations from 16 local organizations.
The volunteer organizations honored at the breakfast were
Antfarm, Boy Scouts of America, Clackamas Dogs Foundation, Clackamas Women’s
Services, Friends of Hoodland Library, Friends of Timberline, Hoodland C.E.R.T.
Community Emergency Response Team, Hoodland Community Christmas Basket, Hoodland
Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Hoodland Fire District Volunteer Support,
Hoodland Rural Fire Protection District #74, Hoodland Senior Center, Hoodland
Women’s Club, Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, Mt. Hood Golf Club, Mt.
Hood Hospice, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Club, Mt. Hood Learning Center, Mt. Hood Lions
Club, Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Neighborhood Missions, Oral Hull Foundation for
the Blind, Inc., Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (RCPO), Sandy
Community Action Center, Sandy Historical Society, Inc. & Museum, Spook
Alley, The Villages of Mt. Hood Community Partnership Program Grant (CPP),
Trillium Trails Garden Club, U.S. Forest Service and the Welches Schools.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Chamber honors local hero and volunteer groups posted on 01/01/2019
Two weeks after a female jogger suffered a severe heart
attack while running a marathon on Mount Hood, she was able to attend her son’s
wedding thanks to the heroic efforts of Rhododendron citizen Lynn Miskowicz.
The Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a festive
breakfast on Dec. 4, 2018 to present an award honoring community member
Miskowicz for her role in saving the life of the woman during the REVEL Mount
Hood marathon and applaud local volunteer organizations for their work in the
community.
The seventh annual breakfast was held at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort where the Clackamas County Commissioners attended and served food to the
honored guests.
“We feel volunteers need to be encouraged and recognized,”
said chamber vice president Coni Scott after the event. “It’s important to
acknowledge the contributions these organizations make in the community.”
Hoodland Fire District Fire Chief John Ingrao presented a
plaque to Miskowicz acknowledging her heroic life-saving actions.
Miskowicz was volunteering at the REVEL marathon on July 28,
a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, when a woman suffered a heart attack while
running near the Barlow Trail hydration station. Miskowicz was on the scene
when the woman fell, called 911 and performed CPR for 22 minutes before a
Clackamas County Deputy arrived with a defibrillator and resuscitated the
woman.
“This was a special award. She saved a woman’s life,” Scott
said.
Miskowicz has worked in health care for 30 years and began
her career as a registered respiratory therapist at Providence Saint Vincent.
She first got her CPR card in high school and has kept it active for 30 years.
“It’s a great honor,” Miskowicz said about the recognition,
but credited her years of training for preparing her. “I hope this makes more
people go out and learn CPR and have the basic knowledge to use if they are in
a similar situation.”
Clackamas County Commissioner Jim Bernard introduced the 30
community volunteer organizations being recognized by the breakfast. The
organizations then thanked all the community member volunteers who made their
work possible.
“It’s a positive event and everyone enjoys coming,” Scott
said.
The annual breakfast was sponsored by Clackamas County Bank
and was also made possible by the support of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort and 40
donations from 16 local organizations.
The volunteer organizations honored at the breakfast were
Antfarm, Boy Scouts of America, Clackamas Dogs Foundation, Clackamas Women’s
Services, Friends of Hoodland Library, Friends of Timberline, Hoodland C.E.R.T.
Community Emergency Response Team, Hoodland Community Christmas Basket, Hoodland
Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Hoodland Fire District Volunteer Support,
Hoodland Rural Fire Protection District #74, Hoodland Senior Center, Hoodland
Women’s Club, Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, Mt. Hood Golf Club, Mt.
Hood Hospice, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Club, Mt. Hood Learning Center, Mt. Hood Lions
Club, Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Neighborhood Missions, Oral Hull Foundation for
the Blind, Inc., Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (RCPO), Sandy
Community Action Center, Sandy Historical Society, Inc. & Museum, Spook
Alley, The Villages of Mt. Hood Community Partnership Program Grant (CPP),
Trillium Trails Garden Club, U.S. Forest Service and the Welches Schools.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Jordan Wheeler starts as Sandy’s new City Manager posted on 01/01/2019
Jordan Wheeler heard a lot about the City of Sandy since
2013, when former Sandy City Manager Scott Lazenby took the same job for the
City of Lake Oswego, where Wheeler has worked as the Deputy City Manager for
the past 10 years.
This month, Wheeler took over Lazenby’s old job in Sandy,
ascending to the City Manager position following the retirement of Kim
Yamashita.
“I feel like I’ve heard so many stories and so many good
things about Sandy,” Wheeler said, noting Lazenby encouraged him to apply for
the position.
Wheeler was one of three candidates interviewed by the Sandy
City Council during the search for Yamashita’s successor. Yamashita noted that
Wheeler’s experience and personality made him stand out above the others.
“The way he presented himself to the council was open (and)
above board,” she said, adding that he has experience working with the various
“players” in Clackamas County. “(He) seemed like a good fit.”
Wheeler noted that the City of Sandy’s reputation as being
innovative and having a “pioneer spirit,” including with SandyNet (the city’s
internet service provider) and transit, attracted him to the job. He added the
combination of the city’s size, setting, location in relationship to the Metro
area and access to nature and amenities were also draws.
“I can see why people want to move there and live there,”
said Wheeler, who earned a graduate degree in Public Administration from
Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from
University of Washington.
Wheeler noted the challenges he faces in his new job include
the funding for the city’s community campus and wastewater issues, while also
tackling traffic problems. But he said he looks forward to working on master
plans and with the community to help shape the city’s future.
He added that he sees opportunities to grow tourism, develop
the downtown to serve both the tourists and city’s residents, and also managing
Sandy’s growth without putting too much of a burden on infrastructure.
Lazenby sees Wheeler as an excellent fit for the job, noting
that Wheeler has been “in the middle” of some of the tough issues with Lake
Oswego. Lazenby went through a similar transition when he arrived in Sandy in
1992 from a larger city in Arizona and thinks that it will be a smooth
changeover for Wheeler.
“The budget’s smaller, but the same issues we face in cities
are pretty much the same everywhere,” Lazenby said.
Yamashita, whose final day on the job was Dec. 31, helmed
the city since January 2017 after serving as its police chief for the seven
years prior, and noted the city’s advancements in technology and improving the
collaboration amongst department heads as highlights of her tenure.
“I think we forged a really good team and all our oars are
in the water moving in the right direction together,” she said.
Before fully retiring, Yamashita will serve as the Interim
Police Chief of the City of Gladstone until approximately next June, with an
eye on moving to Idaho after.
For more information about the City of Sandy, visit www.ci.sandy.or.us.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Holistic health at Essence of Grace posted on 01/01/2019
Sharon Salzmann had been working in the healing arts for
over a decade when, through a personal attempt to resolve chronic health
issues, she discovered the neuromodulation technique (NMT), a form of
“informational medicine” that works to identify and correct the informational
source of illness that causes an internal interruption of the body’s healing
systems.
“It (NMT) was so much quicker and delivered the results I
needed,” Salzmann said, “I just have never turned back.”
Essence of Grace is her new alternative health practice
located at 24403 E. Welches Road, Suite 105, Welches. There, Salzmann focuses
on addressing health issues such as allergies, auto-immune conditions and
chronic pain, as well as negative behavioral or life patterns through NMT.
Salzmann is a native Oregonian who attended Sandy High
School and has lived in the Mount Hood area for the past three years. She
discovered NMT while living in Hermiston where she was working as a
practitioner of quantum biofeedback therapy, a device-based energy balancing
treatment for imbalances of the body, mind and spirit.
In 2015 she completed all three levels of training available
in NMT, which was developed in 2002 by Dr. Leslie Feinberg in Hermiston. The
Feinberg method utilizes muscle response testing, a structured physical
evaluation to determine the source of an ailment across an array of physical,
mental and spiritual issues.
NMT works to identify negative health impacts such as
trauma, toxins, infection and stressors including emotional, physical, chemical,
malnutrition and other challenges. NMT practitioners include nutritional
support, diet and exercise as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that
focuses on achieving a mind-body balance and promote healing.
Salzmann began her practice after completing the training
and opened her office April 1, 2018. She hopes to be a resource for people in
the Mount Hood area and a complement to the array of alternative healing
methods already available in the community.
“I think NMT can benefit anyone. Just a few sessions can
help you move in a positive direction in health, career, a relationship or life
in general,” Salzmann said, describing the technique as very efficient and
providing quick results.
Salzmann is also a certified spiritual healing coach. She stated
she does not take a denominational approach and focuses on how health is
impacted by the balance of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a
client.
Sessions are available by appointment. A typical session is
one hour and is $80 per session. Salzmann stated she does work on a sliding
scale and will provide services at a lower rate to customers with health
concerns and limited resources.
“I have a passion for helping people be in life, in
happiness,” she said.
Salzmann also offers Skype sessions for those unable to
travel to her office and plans to begin offering a group-based personal growth
session in January 2019.
Appointments can be made by phone or email.
Essence of Grace and Sharon Salzmann can be contacted by
phone at 503-319-3171 or by email at sharonsalzmann@yahoo.com.
More information about Salzmann is available at
essenceofgrace.net and additional information about NMT can be found at www.nmt.md.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  HFD's Engine 353
For Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Lieutenant Andy Figini, the
concept of defendable space – the area around a home or structure that is
cleared from debris and other paths for fire to travel – was driven home during
the 12 days he spent at California’s Camp Fire in November.
One well-prepared structure in particular, a ranch and
outbuildings that had a gravel driveway and no litter or debris around it,
illustrated what a difference it can make.
“That was the difference between a house that became a
foundation and a house that was still standing,” said Figini, a four-year
veteran of the HFD. “That was one of the houses that stayed standing.”
Figini and two other HFD firefighters, Senior
Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Myers and Volunteer Dawson Kooch, helped in the
efforts battling the Camp Fire, a 153,336-acre fire that destroyed nearly
14,000 residences and nearly 5,000 other buildings, while killing 86 people.
Figini and Myers, both of whom have been part of previous conflagrations in
Oregon, noted the Camp Fire was unlike what they have experienced here, where
dry grass makes fires move fast.
“These were trees and big wooded areas that just were gone,”
Figini said. “That is not something we get in Oregon very often. I don’t think
it can be compared to anything I’ve ever gone to before.”
In addition, the Camp Fire burned through populated areas,
with Myers describing some of the towns impacted as equivalent to Gresham.
“It was tough seeing all the people affected,” he said, adding
that it was “pretty incredible” to see the human response to the destruction,
including donations and how people connected.
The HFD crew, including a rig, worked on a fire line to make
sure the fire didn’t jump containment. A shift would last 24 hours straight,
with the following 24 hours off, a difference from large events in Oregon where
firefighters work 12 hours on and then 12 hours off. Myers, who has been with
the HFD for five years, also noted he learned about how a large response to a
mass incident works in California.
Figini noted that he’ll take some lessons from the
experience, including increased awareness of fire fuels, an expanded
situational awareness of where he goes to fight fires and about always thinking
about what they would do if the fire did continue to spread.
“We all had some good experience getting out there, putting
the stuff we’ve been training on and using it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Figini did note two positives that came out of
such a devastating fire. The first has to do with the final map of the area
impacted by the fire. At the bottom, he noted, lies a notch of unburnt terrain,
where the HFD crew and other Oregon teams did a back burn and stopped the fire.
“I like to think that maybe we had a good hand in stopping
that part of the fire,” he said.
The second positive happened on the outskirts of Paradise, a
town of 26,000 that was mostly destroyed by the fire. While performing building
searches, Figini noted he heard a scream and he then discovered a goat
entangled in some orange construction netting. The firefighters were able to
free the animal, which then followed them around for the next 90 minutes.
“It was a pretty nice goat,” Figini said. “That was a good
positive highlight of our day.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Rhody Water an ‘Outstanding Performer’ posted on 01/01/2019
(The cowboy rises
from the card table, saunters over to the bar, knocks some dust from his chaps,
sets a well-worn boot on the foot rail, leans in to the bartender, fixes him
with his steely gray eyes, and says: “Yep, Steve. Believe I’ll have another
a’them waters o’yers.”)
Around the Rhododendron Water Association (RWA), that
scenario might not be that far-fetched.
The RWA, not unaccustomed to attracting accolades, added one
more to its trophy case in November. The Oregon Health Authority bestowed the
coveted “Outstanding Performer” citation for a water system that has
demonstrated exceptional water treatment techniques, record keeping, stayed on
schedule with all testing criteria, and was found to not have any reporting
violations in the last three years.
Fewer than 10 percent of the 3,395 water systems in Oregon
have received this outstanding designation.
“This award means a great deal to the association and the
Board of Directors who make the hard decisions for the association,” said
Steven Graeper, association president. “But most of all, the credit goes to the
association water master, David Jacob. Without David’s skill and expertise in
running water systems, RWA never would have achieved this milestone.”
Capturing the award brings with it the reduction of system
surveys from every three years to once every five years, spreading the $2,700
cost of the survey over a longer time period.
Other water systems on the Mountain that have received the
“Outstanding Performer” award include Salmon Valley Water, Alder Creek Barlow
Water and Government Camp Water.
It’s our understanding that Steve’s Water Bar is open 24/7.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| New owners of Giddy Up Taxi ready to get up to speed posted on 01/01/2019
Last August, Danielle Wauer started to help out running
Giddy Up Taxi, but things got off to a difficult start.
“Boy, I did not know what I was getting into,” Wauer said.
“After a while, I got a system down and I just keep improving it.”
Now, that system is all hers and her husband’s, as they
purchased the taxi company and fully took over operations on Nov. 6. And the
pair has some plans in place to keep improving things, with an eye to keep up
with Uber and Lyft, two ride-sharing companies.
“We’re really turning it into more of a business,” Wauer
said, noting that they will add credit card capabilities, printed receipts for
work and medical trips, water bottles, cell phone chargers, improved interior
lighting, the option of texting in for a ride and even new vehicles in the
future for the fleet.
The company, with a total of six drivers, offers several
transportation options, including local fares, rides to the airport, wedding
shuttles, wine and concert tours and more.
“We get super super busy with (wedding shuttles),” Wauer
said. “Pretty much our whole summer is booked.”
She added that they also make the local mountain community a
priority, including adding a punch card for local rides that offers $10 off a
ride after six rides. And Wauer also noted they plan to build relationships
with mountain businesses and possibly create a brochure highlighting the area’s
offerings to offer customers.
“We’re really aiming to take care of the local people first
and foremost,” said Wauer, who moved to the mountain with her husband a little
more than a year ago. “The business has been such a blessing to us; it really
came at a time of great need. It really just came and rescued us.”
Giddy Up Taxi can be reached at 503-622-0398 or online at
giddyuptaxi.com. The business can also be found on Facebook and Yelp.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Ribbon cutting.
Rian Windsheimer, Region 1 Manager for the Oregon Department
of Transportation (ODOT), had a succinct description for the old Mirror Lake
Trailhead, located on a curve on Hwy. 26 just west of Government Camp.
“Mirror Lake is a treasure, parking over there was not,” he
said at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 9 at the new location of the
Mirror Lake Trailhead, at the west end of the Skibowl parking lot.
The new trailhead, with a budget of approximately $5.65
million, features a plaza with an informational kiosk, benches, picnic tables,
bike racks, 51 parking spaces and restrooms, with a 1.16-mile trail connecting
it to the old Mirror Lake trail.
The new trail offers landings for wheelchairs and 10
bridges, nine of which were flown in by helicopter during a 105-minute stretch
of the project.
Mark Engler, West Zone Recreation Program Manager for the
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Mt. Hood National Forest, was also not a fan,
dubbing the old location as, “malfunction junction.”
The trailhead, drawing scores of visitors to hike to the
picturesque Mirror Lake with a view of Mount Hood, often saw hikers dangerously
parking their cars on both sides of the highway, leading to “parking chaos,”
and was addressed in the joint project by the USFS, ODOT and Western Federal
Lands (WFL).
“Now it feels good to be here, doesn’t it,” Engler said to
the crowd at the ceremony.
Engler noted the USFS faces the challenge of original
infrastructure that has reached its lifespan and is now deteriorating. But the
agency is also committed to restoring and sustaining the premiere recreational
experiences for visitors, while working with a range of stakeholders, including
the community and other organizations.
“One example is Mirror Lake trailhead,” he said. “We know
how highly valued outdoor recreation is on Mount Hood.”
The project was made possible by a grant from the Federal
Lands Access Program, established to improve transportation facilities that
provide access to, are adjacent to or are located within Federal lands, and it
included improvements to the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Glacier View Road.
The new trailhead and trail feature aspects taken directly
from the immediate surroundings, including plant seeds and cuttings grown for
two years and resulting in 3,374 native plants re-planted or installed. In
addition, 387 trees that were removed were used in fish habitat restoration
projects, while more than half the rock in the wall at the plaza came from the
site.
“The idea is really to reuse the stuff we already had,” said
Knud Martin, Construction Manager for WFL.
Martin added that in more than 17,400 hours of work during
the life of the project, there were no injuries, in spite of 9,900 cars
travelling on Hwy. 26 every day.
Those in attendance at the Nov. 9 ceremony had a positive
impression, including Mike Mathews, a volunteer wilderness steward with the
USFS who hadn’t been on the trail in four years due to how crowded it could
become. He set out to return to Mirror Lake after the ceremony and to check out
the drainage work on the new trail.
“It looks really nice and they’ve done a really nice job,”
Mathews said.
Engler noted that users should treat the area with respect,
packing out all that they pack in, be prepared for changing conditions and
bringing back fond memories. And maybe enjoying the fact that they no longer
have to park at “malfunction junction.”
“I feel really good driving by that old trailhead,” Engler
said, noting the old trailhead had been replanted and asphalt had been removed.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The winning design.
Haley Montana, the winner of the Hoodland Senior Center
(HSC) logo redesign contest, was so inspired by the center’s civic outreach
that she created and submitted seven separate designs to the competition, which
ended Oct. 31.
“I cannot believe how she captured the senior center in
every single one,” said HSC director Ella Vogel about Montana’s abundance of
contributions.
Montana is a Brightwood resident who has lived in the Mount
Hood area for five years since her retirement from Kaiser Permanente. She
studied art in high school and stated she always has fun creating art and
entering competitions on the side.
Montana recently entered Rhododendron’s “Rhody Rising” logo
contest and placed sixth among the finalists. She was asked to enter the HSC
logo contest and toured the center to gain a better perspective on their role
in the community.
“I wanted to see their facilities and see what they were
doing,” Montana said. “What a great effort they put out for such a small
staff.”
During her tour she noticed the HSC’s focus on
transportation services in the community.
Her winning design features the HSC’s bus in front of Mount
Hood with a wheelchair and examples of the center’s services including a spoon
and fork symbolizing the meal delivery program.
“A lot of people couldn’t live out here without the center,”
Montana said.
In addition to the design ideas, Montana donated several
works of her own art, a selection of animals painted on carefully selected
river rocks, to the center to sell at the Mount Hood Oregon Resort Holiday
Artisan Fair held Nov. 24-25.
“This lady puts so much detail into everything she does,”
Vogel said about Montana’s contributions.
The new logo will be used for the senior center’s
newsletter. Vogel added it will also be incorporated into a future website and
a Facebook page although the center does not currently maintain an internet
presence. The HSC is currently displaying all seven of Montana’s logo designs
and plans on making them a permanent display.
“I can’t think of any other decoration I’d rather have; it’s
just so perfect,” Vogel said.
The prize for the contest was a Mount Hood coverlet crafted
by the HSC. Montana is currently working on a large-scale poster for the
Friends of the Hoodland Library highlighting their organization.
The HSC can be reached by phone at 503-622-3331 or by email
at hoodlandseniors@frontier.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Community rallies to make Christmas joyous for all posted on 12/01/2018
Each year since 1987, the Mountain community has come
together in the spirit of the holidays for the Hoodland Community Christmas
Basket Program to make sure that nobody goes without food or gifts for
Christmas. Carol Norgard, who has been a part of the efforts for years, noted
that in the past couple years, the numbers of hats and gloves has increased
through the efforts of the Hoodland Library and others. Those donations make a
big difference for some in the community that often don’t get a focus for the
toy drive: teens.
“I think every child that was on our list got a hat,”
Norgard said.
Efforts by businesses and organizations across the Mountain
are now in full swing to make this Christmas a happy one for everyone,
including the traditional Lions Club Christmas Toy Drive and Dinner, starting
at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, giving trees and locations where donations can be
dropped off. Norgard noted that last year, a bicycle (valued at more than $100)
was donated, but she added that toy donations should be kept under $25 to help
spread the wealth.
Norgard also noted that gift cards are not recommended.
Applications for food baskets and submission of giving tree
ideas are available at the Hoodland Fire District Main Station, 69634 Hwy. 26
in Welches, and can be dropped off at the Clackamas County Bank, the Welches
School, the Welches Library, Welches Mountain Building Supply and the Adventist
Medical Clinic.
Norgard added that organizers take four days at the Lions
Club to sort the food, create the boxes and then have people pick them up.
Baskets will be distributed to the community by Saturday, Dec. 22.
Christmas Dinner details
The Lions Club Christmas Toy Drive and Dinner will feature
roast beef and ham, veggies, salad and more, doors opening at 6 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 1, at the corner of Woodsey Way and Hwy. 26 in Welches. Please bring a
new, unwrapped toy, and if possible, a donation of nonperishable food. Advance
purchase tickets are $12 and available from any Lions Club member, at Welches
Mountain Building Supply, the Barlow Trail Roadhouse, Thriftway, Coffee
Brewsters, Mt. Hood Roasters and Govy General.
Christmas baskets
Donation drop off locations are at: Hoodland Branch of
Clackamas County Bank, Welches Mountain Building Supply, Coffee Brewsters,
Brightwood Tavern, McKenzie Dental, the Hoodland Adventist Medical Clinic, Govy
General and Mt. Hood Foods.
The Hoodland Senior Center can help with applications, while
the Welches School also sends out information packets and accepts applications.
The Hoodland Library accepts hats, gloves and scarves, while
the Hoodland Thriftway offers $10 food bags to benefit the basket program.
Giving Tree
Those who turn in applications by Dec. 5 can request a
specific gift for their child (up to $25). The requests are given a code and
“tags” are sent out to various locations, including the Welches School, Welches
Mountain Building Supply and the Hoodland Branch of the Clackamas County Bank.
For more information, call 503-622-4111 or 503-936-1896.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
Jessica Thomason, who recently acquired the New Moon Salon
(formerly Salon Christa), laughed when asked about the new name.
“What more could you want for your hair than new and
positive changes,” she said.
Thomason noted the salon, located at 67211 East Hwy. 26 in
Welches, marks a new endeavor as her first ownership role after working as a
stylist for 21 years. The “new moon” represents all forms of new and positive
change, and serves as the inspiration for the new moniker.
“I’m so excited. It’s been a whirlwind,” Thomason said about
purchasing the salon.
Thomason has lived in the Timberline Rim community for five
years, where she is a member of the Homeowner’s Association Board. Thomason has
clients in the community and plans to continue providing service for existing
clients of Salon Christa.
“Having Christa’s blessing is wonderful,” said Thomason
about the transition of her assuming ownership in November. “We have mutual
respect for each other. She didn’t want to leave her business to just anybody.”
Thomason hopes to bring new techniques to the Mountain she
learned during her years styling hair at Hickox Studio and Appel Nouveau Salon
in Portland. She plans to increase the salon’s availability with four
additional employees, while adding a second chair in the new year.
The salon will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins
are encouraged, and Thomason urges people to schedule an appointment or drop by
if they need to get “dolled up” in December for the holidays.
The New Moon Salon can be contacted at 503-740-6891.
By Benjamin Simpson
|
|  Regina and Dave Lythgoe
“A big change for me,” said Merit Properties owner Dave
Lythgoe. “I realized yesterday it was not my responsibility to change the
flowers in the flower boxes.”
Merit Properties has been a fixture on the Mountain since
1984, with Dave and Regina Lythgoe at the helm. But as of the first of
November, Keller Williams, a world-wide realty company with a Portland office,
has purchased Merit Properties.
“The new office will be known as the Merit Properties
Group,” said Leann Harris, CEO of Keller Williams Realty Portland Central. “All
the existing agents will remain to provide the real estate services and local
expertise to which their clients are accustomed … Merit Properties Group still
‘Knows the Mountain,’” she said, referring to the Merit signature slogan.
Keller Williams boasts more than 190,000 agents nationwide and more than 330
agents in Oregon.
“The last 35 years have been a great experience for me,”
Lythgoe said. “We’ve logged over 10,000 real estate transactions and made many
new lifelong friends.”
Lythgoe added that the resources available to the agents
will help them reach a network of hundreds of thousands of Keller Williams
agents. Merit’s listed properties will have a larger audience and buyers will
still have the same local agents to take care of their real estate needs. “Now
the agents will be supercharged with more up-to-date training and more
capabilities to find buyers and sellers,” he said.
The history of Merit Properties has spurred many companies
to come courting over the years as it does an amazing business for an
unaffiliated office. Despite that, Lythgoe said his motivation to sell was
never that high in past years.
“My asking price was too high to be serious,” he said.
Three years ago, Lythgoe was approached by Keller Williams
but again he was not overly motivated. This year Harris made contact again
saying they had renewed interest in purchasing. The deal was struck.
Keller Williams has modern technology available to agents
and clients such as the KW Real Estate app., Lythgoe added. Their commission
and profit-sharing programs are superior to most other companies.
“My staff and I have shared the experiences of weddings,
births, deaths and many laughs along the journey,” Lythgoe said. “I thank them
immensely for their support and loyalty. Now, it’s on to a new chapter in the life
of Merit Properties.”
And someone new will be charged with tending the flower
boxes.
New broker joins Merit
Kayla Keyser has been added to the staff of Merit Properties
Group.
“Kayla will be working for buyers and sellers on the
Mountain and surrounding communities, as well as the Sandy, Gresham and
Portland Metro area,” Harris said. “Kayla lives on the Mountain and is
well-versed in these areas. She comes to Merit with a long background in
customer service and sales.”
With the addition of Keyser, Merit Properties Group now has
nine brokers offering real estate services to the area from the office in
Hoodland Park Plaza.
Keyser can be reached at 920-857-6597 or
Kayla@mthoodhomesandcabins.com
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Get your car and home ready for winter posted on 12/01/2018
Lieutenant Phil Burks of the Hoodland Fire District (HFD)
noted that one winter, temperatures hovered around 20 below zero for a couple
weeks, putting people and their vehicles to the test.
“That was brutal,” Burks said. “We don’t get that cold most
often. It’s hard on everything.”
With this winter’s chill now on the horizon, Burks and
Senior Firefighter Evan Jarvis offered some good tips to be prepared for the
cold, snow and ice.
The first tip: check your tires and try putting chains on
them now, well ahead of when you may need to use them. Burks noted that winter
rated tires will have a snowflake embossed on the side, offering more grip in
the snow.
He recommended putting chains on in a parking lot with good
lighting as a practice run, while adding that cars with front wheel drive
should have the chains on the front tires. And make sure that the number
matches the tire, as not all chains fit all tires.
“When you’re running winter tires, because of the higher
tread, sometimes the chains won’t fit,” Burks said.
He added that windshield wiper fluid can freeze in the
winter, unless it is rated for the cold weather, and to make the switch before
it becomes a problem.
“It’s easy to forget,” he said, noting that windshield
wipers might need replacing after the hot summer and radiator fluid should also
be checked.
Mountain drivers and visitors should also be prepared by
carrying flares (traditional flares can go bad, electronic ones are also
available), blankets, hats, gloves, water, food, traction aids (such as kitty
litter) and any medication that might be needed if people get stranded. And a
small tarp comes in handy to use while putting on those chains.
Jarvis added that drivers should drive slower in slippery
conditions and leave more room between themselves and other cars. And even if
the road is clear, patches of black ice can form in shadowed areas and other
places, causing dangerous situations for cars going too fast.
“Go slow,” Jarvis said. “That's the one thing we find, is
that people are going way too fast.”
Burks also noted that drivers are required to slow down or
move over if a vehicle is on the side of the road.
“That’ll help keep everybody safer,” he said, adding that
drivers who fail to perform this duty could be subject to a ticket.
Jarvis added that drivers who are heading for a longer trip
should be sure to start with a full tank of gas, while owners of small cars
should check to see if their vehicle has tow points. If not, keys that can
screw into a bumper can be purchased to help pull a vehicle out of the snow if
needed.
Anybody going outside should keep an eye on the weather and
dress in layers, while travelers should also keep in mind that if conditions
warrant, they can always turn around and go back instead of continuing on in a
dangerous situation.
Meanwhile, Jarvis added that people can prepare for winter
at home by having a 72-hour kit, including enough food, water, pet food and
medication in case no assistance is available for a few days during a storm.
Keeping extra wood handy for a wood stove is also recommended, as people may
need to cook food without electricity.
For more information on driving conditions, visit the Oregon
Department of Transportation’s website, tripcheck.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Fireworks.
Mt. Hood Skibowl offers several special holiday events to
make this a special time on the Mountain.
Santa Claus and Frosty kick off the festivities when they
visit the Skibowl Tube Hill from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 15 and 22.
The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Government Camp follows
up on Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join the village community
for holiday cheer, singing, hot beverages and treats provided by the
Huckleberry Inn. Later that night, the Holiday Fireworks at Skibowl East – by
the Multorpor Lodge – will light up the sky starting about 8:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve, the resort will be open for riding and skiing
until 4 p.m. and will operate for day and night skiing and riding on Christmas
Day.
The 31st New Year’s Eve celebration kicks off at 10:30 p.m.
with a DJ and Beer Garden in the base area of the Skibowl west side. The
traditional torchlight parade down the Lower Bowl precedes the biggest
fireworks display on the Mountain at midnight while riding and skiing continues
until 2 a.m.
Additionally, Mt. Hood Outfitters, the leading rental and
guide service in the Mt. Hood National Forest can set up for cross-country
skiing, snowshoe treks, and guided snowmobiling adventures. The guide service
is also taking reservations for the holiday horse-drawn sleigh and carriage
rides around Government Camp. www.mthoodoutfitters.com.
By Monica Cory/MT
|
|  Snow tubers.
While winter enthusiasts await winter’s arrival and the news
of opening day at local resorts, snow tubers can get the jump on the season at
the Skibowl Snow Tube Park which is set to open Nov. 23.
Skibowl has invested in an all-weather snowmaking system
that allows for making snow at significantly warmer temperatures than
traditional equipment.
“This is a state-of-the-art system that will allow us to
meet key dates and holiday periods when Mother Nature isn’t always cooperating
in the early part of the season,” said Mike Quinn, Vice President and General
Manager at Skibowl. “We are so excited to get this winter season started and
intend to start making snow as soon as the temps begin to cool off.”
Skibowl’s Snow Tube and Adventure Park features Mount Hood’s
only conveyor assisted tubing hills. The park’s other activities for kids
includes: an indoor play zone; kiddie snowmobiles; tube carousel; and Frosty’s
Playland where even the smallest snow lovers can play safely in the snow.
On weekends, Friday through Sunday and holiday nights, snow
tubers can enjoy the energy of LED, laser and black lights along with popular
party music during cosmic tubing sessions.
The Snow Tube and Adventure Park will also be open daily
during the winter break in December. For operating hours and tickets visit
Skibowl.com or call 503-222-BOWL.
By Monica Cory/MT
|
| New Artisans Market arrives on Mountain in time for holidays posted on 11/01/2018
Inspired by his brother’s artwork, Warren Bates made a few
prints and was able to display them at the store at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort.
And based on the reaction to them, Bates took things a step further this summer
by helping to organize six shows at the resort, featuring various types of arts
and crafts.
Bates noted that despite no advertising for the shows, they
were successful and everyone was able to sell a few things. Next month, the
show will take another leap forward with the Mt. Hood Village Holiday Artisan
Market, a larger gathering of creative artists and vendors, from 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the RV Resort, 65000 Hwy.
26 in Welches.
“It almost feels like a Saturday market,” Bates said of the
summer’s offerings. “There’s a lot of artists up here on the mountain.”
The holiday market will include arts and crafts such as
jewelry, pottery, fine art, essential oils, soap and more, offering a chance
for area residents to get an early start to their holiday shopping, while also
showcasing the creativity of the artists on the mountain.
Bates also has plans to bring back the summer market next
year, expanding to eight dates while keeping costs down for vendors and
bringing more local artists on board.
If you are an artist or vendor that wants to participate in
the Mt. Hood Village Holiday Artisan Market please contact Warren Bates at
503-867-0677 or email bateswarren1@gmail.com, or email
mounthoodvillage@equitylifestyle.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County reveals plans for timber sale in Brightwood posted on 11/01/2018
The Clackamas County Forest and Timber Management Program
detailed a plan to harvest timber on a 117-acre tract of county land during a
public meeting on Oct. 18 at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort.
The proposed site, named Boomer II after the native mountain
beaver, is located one mile north of Hwy. 26 in Brightwood. A public tour of
the county land was held on Oct. 20 to allow interested parties to observe the
potential harvest area.
The Oct. 18 meeting was led by Clackamas County Forester
Andrew Dobmeier. He was joined by members of the Clackamas County Forest
Advisory Board and the Parks Advisory Board in answering questions and
addressing concerns from the public regarding the proposed logging operation.
“Our focus is on protection of our soil, protection of our
waters and maintaining a good planting site,” said Dobmeier during a
conversation about the county’s approach to the harvest.
The meeting was attended by 15 community members, many of
them Brightwood residents wary of further logging in the area after a
contentious logging operation on private property in 2017 above the Timberline
Rim neighborhood.
Local resident Bill Simonds, owner of Welches Mountain
Building Supply and the closest neighbor to the proposed county site, detailed
community complaints about the prior private logging operation but expressed
optimism regarding the county’s plan for Boomer II site adjacent his property.
“I feel 100 percent better about this operation,” said
Simonds while touring the site. “These guys care about the property and want to
do it right.”
Other community members toured the county land to gain
insight into the proposed logging’s impact on the watershed, including a
section of Spring Creek in the southeastern portion of the tract.
“Our concern is sediment; What kind of erosion is being
created,” said Gerald Murphy, member of the Sandy River Watershed Council and
the Clackamas County Planning Commission. Murphy sought to conduct turbidity
testing at the creek to monitor for an increase in sediment load during the
operation. The county plan includes a 20-foot buffer established along the
creek to prevent impact.
“This is Oregon. This is what we do,” said Murphy about the
timber sale. “We just want it done right.”
Other issues raised during the tour included the visual
impact of the site on the community.
“It’s kind of a concern when you pull into Brightwod, is it going
to be right there?” asked Murphy.
The county foresters conducted line of sight measurements
and described Boomer II as only visible along Hwy. 26 for a couple of seconds
in the distant background.
The Boomer II site has been previously harvested and is
currently forested with Douglas fir, hemlock, cedar, alder, maple and
cottonwood, varying in age from 40 to 80 years due to fire and harvesting.
Net proceeds from the harvest of approximately 2,051
thousand board feet (MBF) of timber on 75 acres of the site will fund Clackamas
County park and forest operations. The sale includes 1,500 MBF Douglas-fir, 200
MBF hemlock, 30 MBF cedar and 300 MBF hardwoods.
Dobmeier detailed the county’s plan to actively manage each
portion of the harvest and sale to get the best return for the community and
avoid recent issues with logging in Brightwood.
He stated the county intends to hire an Oregon logging
company that is a member of the Associated Oregon Loggers and follows
sustainable harvesting practice guidelines, as well as oversee the operation to
assure minimal impact on the site and BLM roads.
“If you don’t do what we want, you’re out,” Dobmeier said
about the county’s expectations for the logging companies bidding on the
contract.
The county will begin bidding logging companies in November
with the harvest scheduled to begin in January 2019 and end by June 30, 2019.
The logging company is expected to follow Sustained Forest
Initiative practices and adhere to all Oregon Forest Practice Act rules. Other
criteria for obtaining the contract include price, references, equipment and a
timeline that is less disruptive to the community.
An estimated six to 12 loads of logs will be harvested on
average a day, dependent on the operator and the portion of the site being used.
Access to the site is through Mt. Hood Rock Products, and logging hours will be
limited to the quarry’s hours of operation from 6:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The
county also intends to market the timber to mills themselves to bring in more
value for the harvest.
“We want to go to
market our own way,” said Dobmeier about his intention to select certain timber
for potential sale at a higher value as power poles, or in the case of select
maple with figuring, to mills interested in producing for woodworkers.
He explained this as a different approach than a 2015 county
sale to Columbia Vista Corporation, a mill that bought timber on stump and
harvested solely for Douglas-fir while selling the other lumber as pulp. He
stated the county hopes to increase the value of the sale by bringing to market
all available resources and assuring active oversight of the environmental and
community impact of the entire process.
The county intends to replant the site with Douglas-fir,
Western Red Cedar and Western Red Pine. Western Hemlock is expected to seed
naturally. Dobmeier discussed then managing the site with pre-commercial
thinning on an established 50 to 60-year rotation as opposed to a 35 to 40-year
harvest cycle.
“We’re here for the long run. We want to do it the right way,”
said Dobmeier.
For more information contact County Forester Andrew Dobmeier
at adobmeier@clackamas.us or visit www.clackamas.us/forests.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
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| Mountain residents raise concerns over increase in crime posted on 11/01/2018
Approximately 120 Mount Hood community members gathered at a
Sept. 25 meeting to discuss the increase in property crime, concerns about the
proper agency to contact to report a code violation or criminal activity and
other crime related issues with representatives from the Clackamas County
Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police.
The meeting was held at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in
response to growing property crime increases over recent months.
The meeting was attended by Oregon State Representative Jeff
Helfrich, Clackamas County Commissioners Sonya Fischer, Ken Humberston and Paul
Savas, Oregon State Police representative Sr. Trooper Reel and Community
Service Officer Sara McClurg of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
“Property crimes have been elevated the last three to six
months,” officer McClurg said during a follow-up phone conversation. She stated
there has been a growth of the homeless population in the region and an
increase of issues with squatters and associated criminal activity.
“We are currently pursuing a significant arrest,” McClurg
said about the recent increase in property crimes. “We’re very hopeful that
some of this will decrease.”
Brigette Romeo, manager of the Still Creek Inn in
Rhododendron, said there was widespread concern among attendees over recent
break-ins, car thefts and other property crimes. She added that there was
public concern expressed at the meeting over which agency to contact when
reporting criminal activity, code violations or wildlife encountered on property.
Officer McClurg said she is compiling a follow-up resource
page of what agency people should contact to report specific violations or
criminal activities. She added that it can be confusing as to what agency to
contact when reporting squatting or other activity on state or federal lands.
Community members also expressed concerns with sheriff
department response times at the meeting.
Officer McClurg noted that the department operates in a
large district and response time varies depending on the number of deputies
working and the severity of the incidence.
“Property crimes take a back seat to life and limb,” McClurg
said. She added that a severe incident such as a traffic fatality can require
most available department resources.
Both McClurg and commissioner Humberston cited the growing
increase in mental health problems as an issue taxing county resources.
“It plagues us just like it does every other community,”
said commissioner Humberston. “I’ve been doing ride-alongs (with county
sheriffs)
and one common comment is the increase in mental health
problems with very little resources to deal with them.”
Humberston stated the sheriff’s department is exploring the
possibility of a livability project that would increase access to a variety of
social services to address some of the mental health issues being encountered
in more rural areas in the county. He added the county has significantly more
needs than resources when addressing the scope of these problems.
“I encourage people to be alert and aware,” said Humberston,
encouraging citizens to report suspicious activity in their community. “It does
help reducing the overall crime problem.”
McClurg stated that the meeting provided insight into issues
of concern in the community. “There was a lot of passion in the room, some good
input and some issues we definitely want to address.”
Community service officer Sarah McClurg can be contacted at
saramcc@clackamas.us and more information about sheriff department resources
can be found at https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff. The Clackamas County Board of
Commissioners can be reached by email at bcc@clackamas.us.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
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| Neighborhood Missions starts fall Harvest Festival posted on 11/01/2018
For the past few years, Neighborhood Missions (NM) held its
annual fundraiser in the spring, but observant mountain residents may have
noted its absence this year. That’s because the organization, which provides
assistance to area residence in need of food, firewood and means to pay for
utilities and more, will now hold a Harvest Festival in the fall instead.
NM’s Chair, Steve Carlson, noted the move was in part due to
a number of similar fundraisers by other nonprofits in the spring. The Harvest
Festival will feature a craft sale, bake sale and silent auction, offering
ample opportunities for some early holiday shopping, plus an appearance by
Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“We are welcoming families to bring their kids, it might be
an opportunity for a picture they can use for Christmas greetings,” Carlson
said.
The festival, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at
the Lions Club, at the corner of Woodsey Way and Hwy. 26 in Welches, will also
offer a spaghetti dinner at 4 p.m., featuring all the fixings, for $10 for
adults, $4 for children ages 4-12 and kids 3 and under are free. Beer and wine
will also be available for purchase. The silent auction will last throughout
the afternoon, while Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Carlson noted the silent auction will include a variety of
items, including several gift certificates to area restaurants and other
businesses, while a number of people and groups will be on hand offering
crafts, such as Christmas tree ornaments and cloth pumpkins.
He added that the event is the organization’s sole
fundraiser for the year. Tickets are available at the door. For more
information, call 503-564-9062.
Carlson also noted that NM’s first monthly free food market
held in September was a big success, with approximately 50 households (totaling
105 people) served. The market, part of a partnership with the Oregon Food Bank
(OFB), is held from 9-10 a.m. on the last Monday of each month in the parking
lot behind the Hoodland Senior Center, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches. The next two
markets will be Nov. 26 and Dec. 31.
OFB will bring food to the location, including dry goods and
in-season produce, and it will be available to everyone, as there are no
criteria or prerequisites to qualify. Participants will only be asked for their
zip code and the number of people in their household, and they are encouraged
to bring bags or boxes.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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| Govy CPO rallies to find funds for fire fuel cleanup posted on 11/01/2018
A yearly cleanup of fire fuels around Government Camp has
gone through a number of iterations throughout the years, including prisoners
from the Salem Women’s Correctional Center coming in last fall to do it. But
due to a lack of funding, Nick Rinard, Chair of the Government Camp Community Planning
Organization (CPO), noted that this year’s cleanup almost didn’t happen.
However, thanks to some last-minute fundraising and support,
including $1,000 from the REVEL Race Series and Simon’s Tree Service willing to
do the work for the limited budget, and the community’s fire fuels, totaling 22
brush piles, got chipped last month.
“We’re very grateful for (Simon),” Rinard said, noting that
area home owners were putting in the work to clear brush away from their
properties.
Rinard hopes to build upon the work next year, and in light
of that, one community member started a Gofundme account to help raise money
(https://www.gofundme.com/government-camp-fire-prevention), which received an
anonymous donation of $5,000.
“They’re grateful the CPO is leading this effort,” Rinard
said of the donor, adding that there has been a shift in the community
regarding fire danger. “I think the forest fires the last two years were kind
of a wakeup call for people.”
Rinard also noted that in the past, only “a trickle” of homeowners
would participate in clearing fire fuels from their properties, but he sees
momentum building with this recent effort.
He added that the topic of fire fuels is an ongoing one at
CPO meetings, including such aspects as defensible space and ladder fuels. The
next CPO meeting will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Mt. Hood Cultural
Center & Museum, 88900 Government Camp Loop in Government Camp.
Scott Kline, Fire Marshall for the Hoodland Fire District
(HFD), noted that some steps homeowners can take to reduce fire fuels around their properties including removing
tree limbs over the roof line and close to a house (up to one-third of the tree
height on smaller trees, keeping woodpiles at least 30 feet from a house and
removing dead and dying plants next to a house.
The HFD lifted burning restrictions on Friday, Oct. 26, but
burning is still regulated by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
based on air conditions. Up to date burn information is available on the HFD
Burn Information Line at 503-622-3463.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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|  'Proof'
Colin Murray, Sandy High School (SHS) theater teacher,
received a recommendation for “No, No, Nanette” as a musical that would be good
for a production, as it had a good number of roles for the talented young women
at the school. He took the plunge, and in the early going had a realization
about what the show would demand, due to the amount of dancing involved.
“You forget how much time and effort goes into dancing,”
Murray said.
But with the help of choreographer Sandy Shaner, the
production is on point, offering the story of Jimmy Smith, a publishing
millionaire, his frugal wife and their adopted daughter, Nanette. All three
wind up in Atlantic City, where the threat of scandals put marriages at risk
and comical entanglements ensue.
“It’s very much that kind of musical comedy of the 1920s
feel; there’s a lot of mistaken intentions,” Murray said. “In the end,
everybody ends up with who they should end up with and its happy. If there’s a
message, it’s probably that it’s when people really love each other, love will
win out in the end, even if there’s road bumps along the way.”
Murray added that while much of the younger crowd will not
likely be familiar with the music, veteran theatergoers and music fans will
probably know a few, especially since they were used in variety shows on
television during the 1950s and 60s, including “I Want to Be Happy” and “Tea
for Two.”
He described the songs as “ear worms,” noting the audience
will come out of the theater humming them.
“I think they’re very catchy,” Murray said, adding that it
is “exuberant music” similar to George Gershwin.
He also noted the musical includes a couple of numbers that
include tap dancing, a style of dance that most of his students had no prior
experience with. But he’s looking forward to the performers getting the unique
thrill of tap dancing in front of an audience.
“It’s such a percussive and rhythmic form, it affects
audience in a way that most music and dance doesn’t,” Murray said.
Sandy High School Drama presents “No, No, Nanette,” by
Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy. Tickets are $5 for
adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. For more information, call
503-668-8011, ext. 7313.
Proof rescheduled at Wolfpack Theater
Wolfpack Theater’s production of David Auburn’s “Proof,”
scheduled for a production run last month, got pushed back into November when a
member of the cast had a mental health crisis following the opening weekend.
The show’s director, Howard Bickle, addressed the topic on
the theater’s Facebook page.
“We pray for healing and are beyond grateful that he is
still with us,” Bickle wrote. “He is a brave, talented, and beautiful
individual.”
The show, about a troubled young woman in the aftermath of
the death of her brilliant father, will now run from Thursday, Nov. 8 through
Sunday, Dec. 2. The theater will also donate 10 percent of sales from the run
of the show to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Multnomah.
Bickle described the play as a “psychological mystery” that
poses the question of what does somebody do when their friends and family don’t
believe them.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Proof” from Thursday, Nov. 8
through Sunday, Dec. 2, at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for general
admission and $15 for students and seniors.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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|  "Woman in Black."
Ian Leiner, director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s
(NNB) October production of “Woman in Black," by Stephen Mallatratt and based on
Susan Hill’s book, notes that while the show doesn’t have a giant monster or
haunted house, he hopes it will give the audience something to think about.
“My goal is to make people go home and before they turn on
the light they get a little creeped out,” Leiner said.
And while October is known for the spooky holiday at the
month’s end, area theaters will offer a variety of shows for theater goers.
NNB’s endeavor offers the story of a lawyer who hires an
actor to help in the recounting of the story of a woman in black, a specter
that haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally
killed. Leiner noted the show is all about atmosphere, and even with it’s
frightening nature, there are some lighter moments and it’s not about startling
the audience.
“It’s not a jump scare thing,” he said, adding that it would
be appropriate for all ages.
The production features two long-time veterans of NNB shows,
Scott Caster and Justin Lazenby.
“I needed two people with really good chemistry, they work
well off of each other,” said Leiner, who has performed in numerous area
theaters and is making his directorial debut.
NNB presents “Woman in Black” from through Oct. 14 at the
Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12
for children and seniors, and $11 for teachers and law enforcement.
For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Wolfpack Theater has ‘Proof’
Howard Bickle, Artistic Director of the Wolfpack Theater and
director of this month’s production of “Proof,” by David Auburn, described the
play as a “psychological mystery” about a troubled young woman in the aftermath
of the death of her brilliant father. Bickle added that it poses the question
of what does somebody do when their friends and family don’t believe them.
“Sometimes you need actual proof at times to build a foundation
of trust,” he said. “There’s just so many different layers. It’s pretty
complex; I really love the complex plays.”
And despite the serious topic, Bickle noted there is a lot
of comedy in it, which he feels was left out when the play was made into a
movie featuring Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The show features three actors who have each performed in at
least two past productions with the Wolfpack. Bickle noted that continuing to
work with dynamic performers that have built a trust makes for a better
process.
“There’s just kind of an ease because we have so much trust
between the four of us,” he said, also noting that he believes the audience
will walk away thinking about the power of love and trust in relationships.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Proof” from Thursday, Oct.
11 through Sunday, Nov. 4, at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8
p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for
general admission and $15 for students and seniors. Law enforcement, firefighters
and veterans have free admission with valid ID. For more information, visit
www.wolfpacktheater.com or call 541-722-2667.
Sandy Actors Theatre brings the October laughs
Sandy Actors Theatre’s (SAT) production of “Over the River
and Through the Woods,” by Joe DiPietro, started as a reading by a group of
people one Saturday. The show’s director, Jim Lamproe, noted that after they
were done, they all said it was worthy of a full production.
The comedy offers the story of Nick, a single
Italian-American in New Jersey. Now that his parents have moved to Florida,
Nick takes an offer for his dream job in Seattle, but his grandparents aren’t
so thrilled, and they scheme to keep him from going.
“It’s an interesting story, because what it’s telling you is
that family is important and sometimes we lose sight of that,” said Lamproe,
who is directing his first production. “Nick is more focused on career and
promotion, (he) doesn’t see value of grandparents.”
Lamproe added that he sees the same thing happening today,
with families coming as a lower priority, while previous generations often held
family first. He added that by the end, it really drives home the point for
people to cherish what they have.
SAT presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” from
Friday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 18, at 17433 Meinig Ave. (behind Ace
Hardware). Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on
Sundays. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for students and seniors and $13
for children under 12 (reservations are recommended). For more information, or
reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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| NOAA El Nińo watch signals a possibility of a temperate winter posted on 10/01/2018
Although the fall colors have begun in the Mount Hood
region, winter is already predicted to arrive later and to be warmer and drier
then the past two years.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
winter weather outlook for 2018-19 predicts a 70 percent chance of El Niño
conditions developing this winter, resulting in higher-than-average
temperatures with lower-than-average precipitation in the Pacific Northwest.
The scientists at NOAA use global weather patterns as well as the development
of El Niño or La Niña conditions to make their seasonal forecasts.
“It’s kind of (looks like) what we expect with an El Niño
winter, a mild winter,” said David Bright, meteorologist with the National
Weather Service in Portland.
El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El
Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. The ENSO cycle is a scientific study of
the temperature fluctuations between atmospheric and ocean temperatures in the
central Pacific.
Of these two phases, La Niña is considered to be the cold
phase of the ENSO cycle, and El Niño is considered to be the warmer phase.
Bright stated that tropical water temperatures are currently
a degree higher in the central Pacific, which is in the weak to moderate range
for El Niño conditions.
In the Pacific Northwest there is a 50 to 55 percent El Niño
prediction from September through December, with above-average temperatures and
below-average precipitation.
This suggests the possibility of a slow start to winter
conditions in the Northwest with drier conditions in the fall.
In mid to late winter, January through March there is a 70
percent El Niño prediction with above-average temperatures predicted and
equal-to-average chances of precipitation after the new year.
“Precipitation signals are weaker with El Niño conditions,”
Bright said. He added it was hard to predict if the condition would impact the
amount of precipitation on the mountain, but that the winter would be milder
overall. “Let’s hope we fill the reservoirs and get some snow on the ground for
recreation.”
“Both 2016-17 and 2017-18 were La Niña, which tends to be a
cooler, wetter winter,” Bright added. “We’re looking at a milder winter.”
As recently as 2017-18 the Northwest received higher levels
of precipitation then the initial NOAA forecast.
Current information about the ENSO El Niño Watch can be
found online at https://www.climate.gov/enso.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Local vacation rental company signs on to regional website posted on 10/01/2018
The launch of a new vacation rental website experience –
NorthwestStays.com – has attracted a local professional to its association.
NorthwestStays was created to unite regional vacation rental
managers under the single mission of increasing awareness and tourism specific
to the vacation rental industry throughout the Pacific Northwest, California,
Hawaii and British Columbia.
“Travel and tourism are booming and yet the market is more
diverse and challenging than ever, particularly for individual property managers,”
said Dan Eby, president of Northwest Vacation Rentals which has launched the
new website. “It’s our job as property managers to find new and innovative ways
to showcase properties and support the industry as a whole.”
Betsy LaBarge, president and CEO of Mt. Hood Vacation
Rentals, attended a few conferences in Seattle and was attracted to the members
representing smaller boutique companies in the Northwest – a group which grew
into the association that would better represent its members.
“I joined the association this year and a benefit of
membership is to have the privilege and opportunity to list our vacation
rentals at NorthwestStays.com.,” LaBarge wrote in an email to The Mountain
Times. “The main goal is to showcase the best property managers with the best
vacation rentals in the Pacific Northwest to the traveling public and to offer
them a way to find vacation rentals in several areas that they can have
confidence in knowing they will be clean and well-maintained and the visitor
will be treated well.”
LaBarge added that the cherry on top is that visitors will
pay less through the new site than by using other resources like HomeAway or
Airbnb which add service fees, or Booking.com where the rates may be increased by
the property manager to cover the 15 percent commission that is charged.
Besides being cost effective, the website allows visitors to
explore and compare multiple websites in one place and click over to learn more
information or to book directly via member websites.
The association requires unique qualities in its members.
“The company must be professional and represent high quality
homes that are clean and safe,” LaBarge said. “The company also needs to engage
in ethical and legal business practices.”
Besides Mt. Hood Vacation Rentals, the Mountain community is
also represented in the association by All Seasons Property Management.
By Larry Berteau/MT
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|  The cougar.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) ended its
operation to capture a cougar that killed Diana Bober, 55, a Gresham woman
hiking on the Hunchback Trail, after all available evidence indicated a cougar
captured and later destroyed on Friday, Sept. 14 was responsible for the
attack.
“It is highly probable that the cougar that killed Diana is
the one that we killed last week,” said Derek Broman, ODFW carnivore
coordinator, in a press release dated Friday, Sept. 21.
Bober had not been seen or heard from since Wednesday, Aug.
29 and had been reported as missing to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on
Friday, Sept. 7. Her body was found off the Hunchback Trail on Monday, Sept.
10, and it was determined that her injuries were consistent with a cougar
attack.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our sympathy goes out to
Diana’s family and friends,” said Brian Wolfer, ODFW watershed manager
Bober’s death was the first verified fatal attack by a wild
cougar in Oregon and initiated a search that included multiple agencies and the
closure of more than 21,000 acres in the Mount Hood National Forest around the
attack site.
The cougar killed was detected on a trail camera set near
the site where the attack occurred, and during the week following its capture,
no other cougars were detected in the area or on a network of 31 cameras set on
trails, wildlife corridors, saddles and other areas where cougars are likely to
travel in a 35-square mile area around the attack site. The cougar was a
female, but not lactating.
Kendra Payne, Principal at the Welches Schools (located
close to the trail where the attack occurred), said that parents of students
received a note explaining that students and staff would not be able to access
unfenced areas of the school’s campus, including fields and nature trails
during the search for the cougar. The school features six-foot security fencing
surrounding the school’s perimeter and playground area and Payne added that
additional fencing around the school’s upper fields is expected to be added in
the coming months.
After the cougar was killed, it was taken to a lab in
Ashland dedicated to wildlife forensics, but due to contamination at the attack
site, no relevant DNA from the scene was available for comparison.
“We could not get the DNA evidence we had hoped to obtain in
this case,” Broman said. “However, all the evidence available shows we have the
right cougar.”
Broman noted it was impossible to determine the motivation
for the attack and that there were no signs the animal was unhealthy, including
that a rabies test was negative. He added that cougar attacks are extremely
rare in the western United States.
“We hope the ending of these operations brings some closure
for Diana’s family,” Broman said. “All of us extend our deepest sympathies to
the Bober family.”
The U.S. Forest Service reopened the area closed during the
cougar capture effort on Monday, Sept. 24.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Jiyeon, Leanna and Rick.
When customers drop in to Mt. Hood Roasters in Rhododendron,
they’re likely to have their steaming java delight served up by Leanna Little.
After all, she’s been there for five years.
But don’t be deceived. There’s more to Leanna than a great
cup of coffee. To wit:
Her ideas and efforts have helped Mt. Hood Roasters recycle
225 cubic feet of plastics, metal and paper; recycle more than one thousand
glass bottles; recycle roughly half a ton of cardboard; switched the company
from 5-pound plastic to 5-pound paper with corn-based PLA liners resulting in
the removal of an additional 300 pounds of plastic from the supply chain.
And this year, Leanna is pushing the company to stop using
non-compostable cups, lids and straws. This will remove more than a ton of
non-compostable refuse from the earth.
World Cleanup Day was celebrated last month, and it was
fitting that Leanna’s efforts were recognized at Roasters where she was
rewarded with a 3-day, 2-night stay in the Herman Melville Room at the Sylvia
Beach Hotel in Newport, a bonus check of $100, and a copy of Moby Dick that was
signed by the friends, families and guests in attendance.
“I am honored, humbled and overwhelmed,” Leanna said. “I
hope that one day everyone cares as much as I do for the home that we all
share.”
Among the guests was Susan Mead, secretary of Recycling
Advocates of Oregon.
“As a loyal customer of Mt. Hood Roasters … I was thrilled
to attend the ceremony to recognize Leanna Little’s recycling efforts on behalf
of your company,” Mead said. “Thank you Mt. Hood Roasters for your
contributions towards a greener planet earth.”
Roasters owner Jiyeon Applegate added that her home country
of South Korea is one of the top four world leaders in recycling.
“Less than half of the waste output is sent to the
landfill,” she said. “I want my company … to achieve the same success. Leanna
is one of the main people helping us get to that goal.”
Jiyeon’s husband and owner of Roasters, Rick Applegate,
reflected on the company’s commitment to being an industry leader in
sustainable business practices.
“Leanna is helping us lead that charge,” he said. “We want
to put pressure on other coffee shops and food service businesses to follow our
example. Our sustainability motto this year is ‘No plastics – No gimmicks.’
It’s not about cute marketing ideas, it’s about changing decades of old habits
and just committing to removing and reducing plastics from our inventory.
Permanently.”
Drop in and pay homage to the paper straw, and notice the
celebratory passing of plastic.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Senior Center to escape the mountain’s shadow in new logo posted on 10/01/2018
Mount Hood towers above its surrounding communities, and its
name and iconic visage are commonly incorporated into the names and logos of
local businesses and organizations. This frequent usage can make it hard for
individual groups to differentiate themselves.
Oct. 1 marks the half way point for entry in a two-month
logo redesign contest being held by the Hoodland Senior Center (HSC), in an
attempt to escape the long shadow of the mountain and find a new symbol of the
ethos the center stands for.
“We want something that better represents the center,” said
Ella Vogel, director of the HSC, about the logo contest.
The senior center, located at 65000 E Hwy. 26 in Welches, is
a nonprofit organization that provides resources, performs outreach and serves
as a social outlet for isolated members of the senior population in the Mount
Hood communities.
Vogel stated the current logo, a circular emblem featuring
Mount Hood surrounded by colorful rings, doesn’t distinguish the nonprofit from
other organizations in the region that use the mountain as part of their
symbol.
The contest began Sept. 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Entries
can be mailed, emailed or presented at the center. The contest is open to the
public.
Vogel said that by opening the design process to the
community, the HSC hopes to find another representation that symbolizes their
place and service in the region.
The winning entry will be awarded with the choice of a
Timberline or a Mount Hood coverlet from the center.
“They’re one of our most popular items,” Vogel said. The
coverlets are sold by the center and retail for $60.
The entries will be judged by an eight-member HSC board
panel, and the winner and runner-up will be announced in the Mountain Times.
The new logo will be used for the senior center’s
newsletter. The HSC does have a website and Facebook page although neither are
active. Vogel stated the new logo would be incorporated into both if they were
returned to active status.
The HSC can be reached by phone at (503) 622-3331 or by
email at hoodlandseniors@frontier.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Family Fright Night returns to Timberline posted on 10/01/2018
While Timberline Lodge famously played a role as the
Overlook Hotel in the classic movie, “The Shining,” Timberline’s Director of
Marketing & PR, John Burton, noted that there aren’t any ghost stories or
the like surrounding its history.
But that won’t stop the lodge from hosting the annual Family
Fright Night, an event featuring Halloween activities starting at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27.
“It’s the alternative to a typical house-to-house
experience,” Burton said. “You come up to the Lodge and get it all.”
That includes many free activities such as scavenger hunt,
trick or treating, candied apples, decorating cookies, a pumpkin contest, a
costume contest, ghost stories for children, other stories for teens and adults
and a special late-night screening of “The Shining.”
Zombie laser tag, with time slots for hotel guests only and
for the public, will also be available for $10 per person.
The event has been going on for years, Burton noted, adding
that many participants go to all ends for it.
“Parents get into it, they dress up,” he said. “You can be
walking around the halls and there’s people in costumes everywhere. It’s good,
clean, Halloween fun.”
For more information, visit www.timberlinelodge.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  A helicoptor moves wood.
For nearly a decade, members of the Sandy River Basin
Partners (SRBP) have built log structures, placed boulders, replanted native
species and reconnected channels in efforts to return degraded river habitats
to breeding grounds for endangered salmon and steelhead in the Mount Hood
region.
“We’re trying to reset the clock where we can,” said Greg
Wanner, supervisory fish biologist for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). “We’re
trying to get back to historic conditions.”
The projects have achieved recent success with work on Still
Creek, resulting in the creek being officially declared on a trajectory to
being restored, according to Jeff Fisher, habitat monitoring coordinator for
the Freshwater Trust (FWT). The FWT and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
also completed a significant project at the Wildwood Recreation Area on the
Salmon River this August.
“We are confident from extensive monitoring that we have put
back what we need to in the river to restore the habitat,” said Fisher. The FWT
reports a 350 percent increase in winter steelhead on the river between 1998
and 2016.
During the course of the projects, the FTW placed 196 large
wood structures on the two waterways and more than 3,000 pieces of large wood.
In 1964, the Army Corps of Engineers straightened sections
of the Salmon River and removed large wood and rocks from the floodplain in
response to a historic flood. This attempt to reduce flooding instead
unnaturally enlarged the water flow and increased the likelihood of flooding.
The engineering efforts also decreased habitat diversity, and as a result,
native fish populations.
“In the past we thought we could engineer our way out of
problems. Now we think of how we can work with nature and not fight her,” said
Wanner about the current efforts to return the bodies of water to their natural
state.
The placement of large wood creates deep pools, returns
stream complexity and provides refuge and spawning habitat. Restoration efforts
aim to reconnect the rivers and streams to their historic floodplains and
create side channels for spawning.
“Since we started in 2012 we’ve been seeing Coho Salmon
smolts increase (in Still Creek),” said Wanner. “There are areas of Still Creek
that haven’t seen water in 50 years that we now have salmon spawning in.”
Almost all work completed on the Salmon River has been done
on BLM land. Wood provided by the BLM and USFS have allowed the projects to be
completed at a fraction of the cost.
“It’s a six-mile stretch that we’ve been able to accomplish
a huge amount,” stated Fisher.
Restoration efforts will continue in the region with
projects on Lost and Cast creeks underway this summer.
SRBP work at Lost Creek is scheduled for completion in 2019.
“(We’ve) just made incredible progress restoring habitat
working with our partners,” said Jennifer Velez, BLM spokeswoman.
The 12 members of the SRBP include: Association of Northwest
Steelheaders, Bureau of Land Management, City of Portland Water Bureau,
Clackamas County Department of Transportation and Development, East Multnomah
County Soil and Water Conservation District, National Marine Fisheries Service,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Freshwater Trust, Sandy River Basin
Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
U.S. Forest Service.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Sandy’s pool upgrades a taste of things to come posted on 09/01/2018
As a steady stream of customers flowed through the doors at
the Sandy Aquatic Center on a weekday morning in August, Sandy Community
Services Director Tanya Richardson was hesitant to say that numbers of users
were up over previous years. She noted it was “hard to determine,” but that
lessons had more students (including up to 200 during the summer) and that open
recreation time had been busy.
But with visions of a Sandy Community Campus, including a
new recreation pool and parks improvements to the property the city acquired
from the Oregon Trail School District, the work and progress already undertaken
is notable. Since Richardson took her position in March 2017, the facility’s
upgrades include replacement of bleacher seating, ADA bathrooms, safety
upgrades, designated areas for parties, family changing areas, painting, a new
front desk area and even an inflatable course for the pool.
These are the first steps for the city as it looks toward
the loftier goal of a Community Campus, a projected $74 million project that
will take many years to complete, all while improving the current facility
after years of disrepair and deferred maintenance and installing programming
that will (at some point) offer sustainability.
“It’s an art, to be able to program and understand what
people need and what they want,” said Kim Yamashita, Sandy City Manager, about
Richardson’s work. “As we move forward and improve (the pool), it’s just going
to get better.”
Richardson came to Sandy after undertaking a similar project
in Virginia, where she had three years to get that pool to pay for itself but
accomplished the goal in six months.
“The community obviously needed it and we filled the need,”
Richardson said. “We’d like to see something like that in Sandy.”
Yamashita, who sees the campus project as a way to provide a
destination for visitors, noted that the lack of space is the biggest obstacle
for making the current pool financially successful. The current operations are
being supplemented by the city’s general funds, while upgrades to the pool’s
HVAC and plumbing will close the facility for up to a year starting in the fall
of 2019 as part of the first phase of construction of the Community Campus.
Phase 2 of the project will include construction of a new
indoor recreation pool, including slides and other features, in front of the
current pool building, while Phase 3 will offer improvements to the surrounding
park areas. Yamashita noted that the city currently has funding for Phase 1,
which will leave the current pool facility “operationally efficient.”
To help pay for the campus, Yamashita sought feedback from
city residents on funding options (including a utility fee of up to $8 and a
bond) during the Mountain Festival, adding that just one person opposed a bond.
“We might explore that option as well,” Yamashita said,
adding that the city will meet with local organizations and hold open houses to
get more feedback. “We have a lot of research to do before we launch that.”
Yamashita noted that a fee structure at the new facility
would include discounts for Sandy residents with the opportunity for those
outside the city to buy a discount card at the same rate of the utility fee to
gain the same discount.
The full scope of the project will also see the demolition
of the front building at the former Cedar Ridge Middle School, while the city’s
Information Technology Department has moved into the bottom of the rear
building. Yamashita noted the city is currently out of storage space and part
of that rear building could serve as storage, and eventually she envisions an
event space, with a patio for catered events, overlooking an amphitheater with
seating for approximately 700 people.
“We’re just exploring all of those options and funding for
those,” Yamashita said, adding that another option would be to move City Hall
to that building and use the current City Hall building for a library annex. “I
appreciate the community’s patience and support while we work through this huge
undertaking.”
The city will hold two open houses for community input: from
9-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, both at the Sandy
Library community room, 38980 Proctor Blvd. in Sandy.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mountain inhabitants honored at cross-cultural celebration posted on 09/01/2018
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will host an all-day
ceremony Sept. 22 to celebrate the history of their ancestors, the earliest
inhabitants of Mount Hood.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience the
traditional culture of the Warm Springs, Paiutes and Wasco tribes at the eighth
annual Confederated Tribal Celebration at Skibowl’s west side. The event
celebrates the travels to the huckleberry fields near Mirror Lake for a late
summer harvest. Some rode, but many walked from their homelands in the lower
valleys to gather the food of the forests.
“This land is culturally significant to the members of the
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and we are honored to celebrate their
heritage here each September,” said Kirk Hanna, owner of Mt. Hood Skibowl.
Eight years ago, Hanna established a permanent cultural
exhibit for the tribes in what was once the Outback Lodge at Skibowl. The
building was rededicated as the Wiwnu Wash (translates as huckleberry patches)
Mt. Hood Tribal Center.
“What Kirk has done for our tribes is enormous,” said Delson
Suppah, coordinator of the tribal celebration. “He has given us the opportunity
to tell the truth about this land.”
Suppah traveled to the slopes at Skibowl as a child.
“It touches me when I think about my mother, grandmother and
aunts walking up the hills to pick wild huckleberries, carrying baskets while
we kids ran and played around,” he said. “By hosting this annual celebration,
Kirk is acknowledging that all citizens need to honor and understand the true
history of the first inhabitants of this land. People will get to learn about
the history of our tribal elders.”
The ceremony kicks off with the arrival of a dozen tribal
members on horseback in full ceremonial regalia of handmade buckskin, beads and
feathers. The riders will leave Skibowl East at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at Skibowl
West for the 10 a.m. opening ceremonies.
Following the symbolic arrival, the day’s events will
include comments from tribal elders about the history of the area. There will
be a Living Village, tribal dancing and drumming, a salmon bake and tribal arts
and crafts venders from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 100 tribal members will
participate in the celebration.
A cultural exchange will take place whereby coaches from
Interscholastic Mountain Bike teams will provide riding lessons to Warm Springs
students. Skibowl has a 30-year history operating the premier mountain bike
parks on Mount Hood. After, bike team members will join in the tribal dances.
The noon meal features salmon on sticks, corn on the cob,
baked potato, salad and fry bread. Cost of the meal is $25 for adults and $10
for children 12 and under, and can be purchased on site.
Schedule of Events
8 a.m. – Living Village (Tee Pee) and setup
9:30 a.m. – Riders leave Eastside for Westside
10 a.m. – Wa Shut, prayers and welcome from Kirk Hanna
11 a.m. – Ladies from Cultural Heritage in Wiwnu Wash share
culture and tradition with guests
Noon – Salmon Bake
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Dance exhibition/drummers;
Interscholastic Mt. Bike Racing coaches offer biking lessons; Bike team
participates in dancing
5 p.m. – Closing Ceremony
By Monica Cory/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
Premier Mount Hood snowsports camps High Cascade Snowboard
Camp (HCSC) and Windells Ski and Skateboard Camps and Academy have long been
leading destinations for professional-level ski and snowboard instruction, with
a historic rivalry that has given way to a partnership in the face of
industrywide declines and challenges over the past half-decade.
Mount Hood is the only year-round ski area in North America,
drawing skiers and snowboarders of all levels to its summer slopes.
“In 2017 the biggest Canadian camp, the Camp of Champions,
went bankrupt,” said Kevin English, academy president and CEO of the We are
Camp, LLC partnership. “We’re the last year-round ski and snowboard camps in
North America. We see ourselves really flying the flag.”
The camps formed a 50-50 partnership in 2014, and this
summer found the programs further consolidated, sharing the Windells’ campus
off Hwy. 26 in Welches for both camps’ youth attendees.
The partnership was described by English as a response to a
decline in attendance beginning in 2012, with both camps being below capacity
for subsequent years.
Data from the Snowsports Industry of America shows
participation in skiing and snowboarding peaking in 2011 with 11.5 million
skiers and 8.2 million snowboarders before declining by 20 percent and seven
percent respectively over the following five years.
English also cited a decline in youth sports participation,
increased specialization in sports at a younger age and a smaller youth
demographic as challenges the camps face.
“We’re trying to have
a set of best-in-class camps on the same facilities,” said English, describing
the company’s approach to the changing market.
HCSC focuses on snowboarding exclusively while Windells’
offers ski and skateboard instruction. English added that We are Camp, LLC
looks to develop the skate program into its’ own distinct entity on the shared
campus in a further attempt to separate the camps as industry leaders in their
respective categories.
This year the camps sold out of all five ski and snowboard
sessions and also two skateboard sessions.
“I didn’t hear much complaining that everyone was riding
together,” said English. “The energy was up. It was all in one location.”
HCSC campers staying at the Welches facility have access to
the acclaimed skate park on campus as well as the trampolines, foam pits and
other training facilities. Both camps benefit from shared use of the terrain
parks on the mountain, the private lifts and access to professional skiers and
snowboarders.
The camps maintain close ties with U.S. Olympic National
teams, who use the camps’ world-renowned parks on Palmer Glacier for their
training programs. They also feature professional riders, including former X
Games and Olympic medalists, during different sessions each year.
“The number one thing in camp is the people,” English said
about this summer’s turnout. “Getting the number of people up was amazing. It
really gets the energy up.”
The camps host between 1,000 and 1,400 guests annually and
are working to build out facilities on their shared campus and further develop
the skateboard program.
“These are camps we want people to send their grandkids to.
We consider ourselves in the young part of our legacy,” said English.
HCSC can be contacted on the internet at
www.highcascade.com, and Windells Academy and Camps can be contacted at
www.windells.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Contributed photo. Partnership yields fruit for rival camps posted on 09/01/2018
Premier Mount Hood snowsports camps High Cascade Snowboard
Camp (HCSC) and Windells Ski and Skateboard Camps and Academy have long been
leading destinations for professional-level ski and snowboard instruction, with
a historic rivalry that has given way to a partnership in the face of
industrywide declines and challenges over the past half-decade.
Mount Hood is the only year-round ski area in North America,
drawing skiers and snowboarders of all levels to its summer slopes.
“In 2017 the biggest Canadian camp, the Camp of Champions,
went bankrupt,” said Kevin English, academy president and CEO of the We are
Camp, LLC partnership. “We’re the last year-round ski and snowboard camps in
North America. We see ourselves really flying the flag.”
The camps formed a 50-50 partnership in 2014, and this
summer found the programs further consolidated, sharing the Windells’ campus
off Hwy. 26 in Welches for both camps’ youth attendees.
The partnership was described by English as a response to a
decline in attendance beginning in 2012, with both camps being below capacity
for subsequent years.
Data from the Snowsports Industry of America shows
participation in skiing and snowboarding peaking in 2011 with 11.5 million
skiers and 8.2 million snowboarders before declining by 20 percent and seven
percent respectively over the following five years.
English also cited a decline in youth sports participation,
increased specialization in sports at a younger age and a smaller youth
demographic as challenges the camps face.
“We’re trying to have
a set of best-in-class camps on the same facilities,” said English, describing
the company’s approach to the changing market.
HCSC focuses on snowboarding exclusively while Windells’
offers ski and skateboard instruction. English added that We are Camp, LLC
looks to develop the skate program into its’ own distinct entity on the shared
campus in a further attempt to separate the camps as industry leaders in their
respective categories.
This year the camps sold out of all five ski and snowboard
sessions and also two skateboard sessions.
“I didn’t hear much complaining that everyone was riding
together,” said English. “The energy was up. It was all in one location.”
HCSC campers staying at the Welches facility have access to
the acclaimed skate park on campus as well as the trampolines, foam pits and
other training facilities. Both camps benefit from shared use of the terrain
parks on the mountain, the private lifts and access to professional skiers and
snowboarders.
The camps maintain close ties with U.S. Olympic National
teams, who use the camps’ world-renowned parks on Palmer Glacier for their
training programs. They also feature professional riders, including former X
Games and Olympic medalists, during different sessions each year.
“The number one thing in camp is the people,” English said
about this summer’s turnout. “Getting the number of people up was amazing. It
really gets the energy up.”
The camps host between 1,000 and 1,400 guests annually and
are working to build out facilities on their shared campus and further develop
the skateboard program.
“These are camps we want people to send their grandkids to.
We consider ourselves in the young part of our legacy,” said English.
HCSC can be contacted on the internet at
www.highcascade.com, and Windells Academy and Camps can be contacted at
www.windells.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Local aid group to hold monthly food market posted on 09/01/2018
Steve Carlson, Chair of Neighborhood Missions (NM), noted
that a goal of the organization – which has aided area residents in need of
food, firewood and means to pay for utilities, rent, prescriptions and more for
more than 20 years – is to be more broadly based in the community. The
organization has functioned through the Hoodland Lutheran Church and will now
also partner with the Oregon Food Bank (OFB) to provide a monthly free food
market. The free food market will take place from 9-10 a.m. on the last Monday
of each month, starting with Monday, Sept. 24, in the parking lot behind the
Hoodland Senior Center, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
“We’re excited about this,” Carlson said, noting OFB
contacted the organization last winter about the prospect of becoming a partner
agency. “We’re also excited about a new partnership with Senior Center.”
OFB will bring food to the location, including dry goods and
in-season produce, and it will be available to everyone, as there are no
criteria or prerequisites to qualify. Participants will only be asked for their
zip code and the number of people in their household, and they are encouraged
to bring bags or boxes to transport the food to their home. Carlson added that
NM will continue with its usual food distributions, which consist of people in
need calling in to leave a message about their needs and a delivery will be
arranged. The phone number is 503-622-9213.
“We will continue doing that, which will really be
supplemental for some people,” he said.
For more information, email hoodlandlutheranchurch@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Clackamas County rolls out new emergency notification system posted on 09/01/2018
Clackamas County Disaster Management Outreach and Technology
Coordinator Jamie Poole remembered in 2011 when the Clackamas County Emergency
Notification System pushed out messages to Mountain residents during the Dollar
Lake Fire. But that system, which can notify area residents with important
information about disasters and other events, became obsolete on Sept. 1, with
the implementation of an upgraded system, #ClackCo Public Alerts, and Mountain
residents are highly encouraged to sign up to receive messages via text, phone
and email.
“We want as many people to register as quickly as possible,”
Poole said, adding that the county had just monitored a three-alarm brush fire
in Eagle Creek in case evacuations were needed.
“It’s not Big Brother,” added Hoodland Fire Chief John
Ingrao, noting that messages will be limited to critical information about
events including flooding, fires and other emergency responses. “Its use is an
automated form to get critical info out in a timely manner.”
Those who enrolled in the old system will not be carried
over and will need to reenroll at www.clackamas.us/publicalerts.
Important messages that could be relayed include notices to
evacuate, shelter-in-place, shelter locations and other extremely important
information. The county will not use any registered #ClackCo Public Alerts
contact information for anything other than these emergency notifications.
Poole recommended that each family member create their own
account to receive messages, while users can set a priority list for what
device receives the messages first (once acknowledged, messages will not be
sent to other devices). Users can also edit their information, while the system
is location based (so users who frequent one address on the mountain, including
part-time residents, should also enroll).
More information can be found at www.clackamas.us/dm. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Ripcord at CRT
David Smith-English, Artistic Director of Clackamas
Repertory Theatre (CRT), noted that the staff at the theater are reading plays
“all the time,” in a constant search for what ones to do next. And when he first
read David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Ripcord,” it stood out immediately.
“I was struck by the fact that here is a play that has two
terrific roles for two women in their 70s,” Smith-English said. “I thought,
wow, you just don’t see that very often. Especially something that is funny.
It’s sharp and it’s pretty sophisticated.”
CRT first performed the play as a staged reading and now
brings back the two lead women, Anita Sorel and Randi Douglass, the director,
Smith-English, and two other actors for a full production, opening this month.
Smith-English noted that the two main characters, Marilyn
and Abby, are pitted against each other in a contest. The pair share a room in
the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, but Abby’s desire to get rid of
Marilyn leads to a bet that escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship.
Smith-English added that there is a benefit to having so
many people who worked on the stage reading come back for the full production.
“These guys are a little bit familiar with one another and
of course with the play itself,” he said. “Things tend to percolate a little
bit and grow over time. When this cast comes in, they feel ready to go.”
Smith-English noted the show is about relationships,
including how your past has brought you to where you are today and how people
can continue to grow. And he noted how Lindsay-Abaire brings Marilyn and Abby
along a journey that draws them together.
“In the process, some warmth develops between them,”
Smith-English said. “It’s a really nice growth process.”
CRT’s production of “Ripcord” runs from Thursday, Sept. 6
through Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon City campus of
Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in Oregon City. Show times
are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. For
more information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
Cast returns in Sandy, too
Actor and director James Bass has one rule for his work: he
swore he would never direct and act in the same show. But it is said that rules
are made to be broken, and Bass followed suit, taking the helm of the Sandy
Actors Theatre’s (SAT) September production of “Bill W. and Dr. Bob;” a
production that reunites the cast from seven years ago.
“The director needs to be an advocate for the audience,”
Bass said, noting that the director of the earlier production, Jim Wilhite,
will play an advisory role this time. “But this is a cast that I trust, all
people that are talented, professional, amazingly good hearts. If I was going
to break that rule, this was the only group of people I would do that for.”
The play, written by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey, offers
the story of the two men who pioneered Alcoholics Anonymous and their wives,
who founded Al Anon. The story is a meaningful one for Bass, now 11 years
sober.
“It’s always amazing to me in retelling this story that it
reminds me of what is necessary,” Bass said, noting how difficult it can be to
quit alcohol. “The providence that created a program that works for some
people.”
He added that the first time SAT mounted the show, it was
such a hit that they had to turn away hundreds of people. Bass credited it as
not being preachy or a puff piece about the program, but offering a personal
and real story about the founders.
“It’s really a very well written script,” he said. “It truly
is a wonderful retelling.”
SAT presents “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” from Friday, Sept. 7
through Sunday, Sept. 30, at 17433 Meinig Ave. (behind Ace Hardware). Show
times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets
are $18 general admission, $15 for students and seniors and $13 for children
under 12 (reservations are recommended). For more information, or to make
reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Dan Taylor and his Steiner cabin
Henry Steiner didn’t imagine his cabins would last
generations. Constructed around Mount Hood during the first half of the 20th
century by the German master craftsman and his family, the cabins were intended
as vacation homes for Portlanders that would last for 20 or 30 years before
succumbing to the elements.
“(They) didn’t think the cabins would be there … they were
trying to send people home with a paycheck,” said log cabin builder Mark
Fritch, relaying his conversations with Henry’s son, John Steiner, about the
construction of the acclaimed cabins, many of which were crafted during the
hardships of the Great Depression. Fritch formed a friendship with John during
John’s later years and works to repair and maintain the family-built cabins.
Nestled on the banks of Henry Creek in Rhododendron, two
Steiner cabins have recently seen dramatic restoration. One cabin has been
thoroughly modernized as a contemporary family retreat while maintaining the
classic details of Steiner craftsmanship. The other is in the midst of a lengthy
renovation to return the cabin to its 1935 condition.
Both cabins will be part of the 14th annual Steiner Cabin
Tour on Saturday, Aug. 11. The tour is conducted by the Mt. Hood Cultural
Center and Museum and is currently sold out.
Fritch said that John Steiner described to him how the
scarcity of the era had led the family to employ resourceful building methods
that utilized available materials in the surrounding land, with little thought
of creating a lasting historic impact. Now the nearly hundred-year-old
structures are praised for their artistic and skilled construction, have been
recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and stand as iconic
examples of the Oregon Rustic Style architectural movement.
Two thoughtful restorations
Dan Taylor fell in love with Steiner cabins during college
in the seventies while staying at his friend Dan Kavanaugh’s family cabin. The
two school friends ran power to an old outbuilding on the property they
nicknamed “The Natural High” and used it as a summer hangout for their
adventures on the mountain.
Years later when the opportunity to purchase a 1932 Steiner
cabin down the street from his friend’s place came up, Taylor jumped on the
opportunity, purchasing the cabin with his brother and sister. The vacation home
came with a quirky midcentury remodel with orange shag carpet, lime green vinyl
flooring and a stove with only three working burners. It served as a happy
family get away for many years.
After years of family use and with children growing up and
going off to school, Dan and his wife Mary Kay found themselves the sole owners
of the cabin. They embarked on an extensive restoration to modernize the cabin
while retaining the original Steiner character with the aid of Fritch and
Portland designer Rhoda Divers.
The rehabilitation involved plumbing and electrical updates
and hefty structural repairs, including replacing rotting support logs in a
corner of the house. The Steiner cabins were constructed without foundations
and frequently develop rot in the sill logs on the ground level.
“We tried to match and maintain the integrity of the
original look,” Taylor said while describing the intensive process of sanding
and staining replacements to match the existing logs after 80 years of exposure
to the elements.
The Taylors pulled up the carpets and vinyl flooring in the
kitchen to reveal beautiful fir floors and stained the wood interior of the
cabin to create a warm and inviting living space. Foundation rot in the kitchen
posed another challenge and required enlisting a mill to source wood to match
the old fir planks and cut new flooring.
They discovered masonry constructed by John Steiner behind a
hearth added years after original construction. They also restored the original
windows, maintaining the signature Steiner red frames.
Other elements of the cabin have been brought into the
modern era, including opening up the living space with a kitchen island with
granite countertops, replacing the old three-burner stove, restructuring of the
bathrooms and adding space-efficient cabinetry to the mudroom. The rear deck
has been expanded to flow down to the creek and add additional room for
congregating in concurrence with Henry Steiner’s intention that the stream
would be a focal point for cabin life.
The end result is a home the family loves that maintains the
comforting elements of a classic log cabin while adding modern elegance and
convenience.
“It’s a cozy, fun home … it’s very enjoyable,” said Taylor
about the finished cabin.
Further downstream lies George and Binnur Jutras’s 1935
Steiner cabin, also undergoing major rehabilitation. George discovered the
cabin while on a mountaineering trip to climb Mount Hood and is determined to
return the cabin to its historic state for use as a base camp for his climbing
trips and explorations of the region.
The Jutras’s cabin had not been heavily altered by previous
owners and was in close to original condition when the family acquired it,
although in need of major repair.
“It’s not just a log cabin … it’s a lot of history
involved,” George said while describing his approach to the restoration. “I
want to bring it back to the condition it was in after the last nail was
driven.”
George is also working with Fritch to address structural
issues the cabin faces. Two large firs towered over a corner of the cabin when
purchased, and their roots caused the cabin to tilt at a precipitous angle.
“If you put a ball on one end it would roll to the other,”
Jutras said about the extent of shifting that had occurred to the cabin.
The firs were laboriously excavated and removed before the
cabin was leveled and placed on a new foundation. The foundation repairs
revealed that the sill logs, as well as some vertical logs in the kitchen, were
plagued with rot and had to be replaced.
The roof has been returned to cedar shake, while the Jutras
family sourced materials from a dilapidated Steiner cabin on Hwy. 26 to replace
five rotted-out windows with originals and provide replacement planks for the
kitchen floor.
The cabin features many notable Steiner design elements
including a sunburst gable, a snow-bent log bannister, doorknobs and curtain
rods fashioned from gnarled tree roots and bay windows in a kitchen alcove
opening onto the creek. It contains signature masonry work by John Steiner, who
used basaltic fieldstone to construct the fireplace.
The cabin had slowly settled over the past 80 years, causing
the fireplace to tilt and eventually split and crack along the back. While
leveling and reconstructing the cabin, Fritch discovered large scorch marks on
the logs in the wall behind the fireplace. “It was two or three large fires
away from burning down,” Fritch stated.
With these issues resolved, the cabin is well on its way to
returning to its original state. The Jutras have even procured a 1934 stove
refurbished to use propane and a retrofitted 1930 refrigerator to painstakingly
recreate the detail of the era.
“I want to make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time,”
George said about his family’s project of transforming the historic Steiner
cabin. By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Anna Wilson.
While Lauren Carusona initially thought of the idea of a
Hoodland Farmers' Market a couple years ago, she didn’t take action until this
past June, when she got the ball rolling in short order to open the market on
Sunday July 1. That work included finding vendors, insurance, zoning and more,
but the payoff was impressive as people packed in at the Rendezvous Center for
the inaugural market.
“I was just like overwhelmed with gratitude,” Carusona said,
noting she wanted to bring “real food” up to the mountain so people didn’t have
to travel far for it. “I was almost kind of like shocked, it was a little
surreal for me. It went from an idea and to a real thing. It was really
special.”
Carusona, who has lived on the mountain for 10 years and is
a nutritional therapist, noted that vendors will change, but there are
approximately eight spots where people can buy local produce, soap, jewelry and
more. She hopes to expand offerings in the future and potentially bring in some
live music, but doesn’t plan on bringing hot food vendors so that patrons can
support the restaurants in the center.
Carusona added that she wants to bring awareness to the
community on the importance of eating healthy and connecting with food instead
of getting it from a package. She sees the market as a way to bring people back
to the ways we ate before food was processed and created by big companies.
Next year, Carusona wants to make preparations a little less
hectic and get started planning the market in February, with a May opening.
“It’s just kind of a learning experience,” she said. “It’s
great it’s been so successful, it’s really humbling.”
The Hoodland Farmers' Market is open from 1-4 p.m. every
Sunday through the end of September, at the Rendezvous Center, Hwy. 26 and E.
Greenwood Drive in Welches. For more information, find “Hoodland Farmers'
Market” on Facebook. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Oregon kids count on us, so they should be ‘counted’ posted on 08/01/2018
The looming danger of a census undercount in 2020 would
present a serious threat to Oregon children.
Already, 12 percent of Oregon kids under five years old are
at risk of being missed in the census as federal programs that support child
well-being are in jeopardy, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book released
June 28 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Oregon ranks 30th in the nation in overall child well-being.
While Oregon continues to lead the majority of states in children’s health care
coverage, improvements in education have lagged with Oregon ranking 48th in the
nation in high school education. Additionally, Oregon is far behind much of the
country in enrolling young children in early education programs.
“Systemic barriers and inequities both past and present have
left us with an uneven playing field,” said Tonia Hunt, executive director of
Children First for Oregon. “Deep disparities … persist for children of color,
low-income children, children in immigrant families and children in rural
communities.”
An improperly funded census will only contribute to these
disparities.
“We can achieve an inclusive survey by building and
strengthening strategic community partnerships, spreading awareness, and
removing questions related to citizenship status in order to safeguard the
efficacy of the 2020 census,” Miranda Rabuck, communications director of
Children First for Oregon wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “It isn’t
too late to conduct a census that provides proper funding, representation, and
programs that support the healthy development of kids.”
Census outreach efforts face daunting challenges, with
children in underserved communities most at risk of being undercounted. These
same children also stand to suffer the most in the event that vital programs
face reductions in funding.
“More than $2 billion in federal funds are allocated each
year to programs in Oregon such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program and Head Start using census-derived data,” Hunt said. “An inaccurate
census could put these funds – and the essential resources they provide for
communities – at risk.”
This data should prompt urgency from policymakers and
communities to do right by our kids, Hunt added. “Children lack political power
and representation. It’s up to all of us to ensure all kids are counted and
considered national and state priorities.” By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Dragonfly spreads its wings with second location posted on 08/01/2018
Rori Klingbeil opened her first establishment, the Dragonfly
Café and Bakery in Welches, five years ago and credits her mother with starting
her baking. Klingbeil noted it was her mother’s dream to open a bakery with her
but that she passed away before the café was opened.
Now, her mother’s dream has inspired her to go forward with
now her second undertaking in the Welches community, the Dragonfly Bakery,
located in the space formerly occupied by the Hazelnut House Bakery at 24525 E.
Welches Road.
“The restaurant runs well because of the love … I love this
mountain,” Klingbeil said, adding that she hopes to continue to grow and expand
her business, including the possibility of opening an additional ice cream
store. “One (business) is a lot to handle but the community needs and wants
it.”
The Dragonfly Bakery opened on July 21 to positive local
response and quickly sold out of all baked goods on their first day.
Klingbeil’s master baker Belinda Torres produces a wide
variety of baked goods including red velvet bars, bear claws, coffee cake,
cinnamon rolls, seasonal berry tarts and scones as well as fresh breads. The
bakery will offer a rotating array of pies and gourmet five-layer cakes to
order. Prices for baked goods range from $2 to $35.
The menu also includes a small array of gluten-free baked
goods and Klingbeil plans to increase the line of options as the bakery grows.
She also intends to expand menu offerings to include soup
and fresh bread in the upcoming months.
Beverage options include Mt. Hood Roasters coffee, fruit
juices and chocolate milk.
The cozy space offers 14 seats in the bakery and additional
outside seating. It will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Dragonfly Bakery can be contacted by phone at
503-622-2400 or online at www.dragonflymounthood.com. By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Hood View Gardens holds food drive posted on 08/01/2018
Dennis Nash, one of the co-owners of Hood View Gardens,
noted that some of the customers that walk through his door may need help from
Neighborhood Missions.
The community outreach program sponsored by Hoodland
Lutheran Church provides food, wood, and financial assistance for heating,
medicine, utilities, gas vouchers and transportation for those in the community
in need.
And to help them, Hood View Gardens will hold a canned food
drive to benefit the Neighborhood Missions food pantry from Tuesday, Aug. 7
through Sunday, Aug. 19.
“What better way to help the community,” Nash said, adding
that he didn’t know about Neighborhood Missions until this summer.
For the drive, people can bring in three cans or jars of
high-protein food items such as canned tuna, salmon, chicken, beef or turkey,
peanut butter, pinto or black beans, lentils, chili, oats or quinoa and receive
a 20 percent discount off their entire purchase, or bring in three items of
pasta, canned corn, green beans, peas, rice or toiletry items and receive a
discount of 10 percent off their total purchase. All items must be in new and
unopened containers, and cans need to be free of dents and cannot be expired or
near expiration date. Discounts cannot be combined with other discounts.
Nash noted that if the response is strong, the event could
be recurring each year.
Hood View Gardens is located at 46870 Hwy. 26 in Sandy.
Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. on Sunday (closed Monday). For more information visit
Hoodviewgardensllc.com or search for “Hood View Gardens” on Facebook. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| PGE requests variance for communication tower posted on 08/01/2018
Portland General Electric (PGE) submitted a variance
request, dated June 13, to build a 150-foot tall, three-legged communications
tower at 69050 Hwy. 26 (near the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way) on
4.54 acres of property owned by the company that already features a substation.
PGE also plans on installing a 12-foot by 18-foot pre-fabricated equipment
enclosure and above ground communication equipment, surrounded by an 8-foot tall
chain linked fence.
The variance is required because the tower is closer than
150 feet from the property lines (the required setback is equal to the tower
height) and because towers are capped at 100 feet. The property is zoned as
Hoodland Residential, which allows for communication facilities and towers.
In a letter PGE wrote to Clackamas County Land use, signed
by Julie Goodrich from Property Services and dated May 22, the company noted
that demand for electricity has caused the electrical grid to grow and requires
electrical system upgrades.
“This requires upgrades to the communication system between
the base station, vehicle mobile units, hand-held portable radios, dispatch and
other appurtenances to allow installation, repair, and maintenance of the electrical
system infrastructure,” noted the letter. “The proposed upgraded communication
equipment is a direct response to increased local demand for electricity and
would accommodate and benefit future development in the community.”
The letter also added that the tower needs to be 150-feet
tall for the antennas to be above obstructions and provide sufficiently large
radio coverage. No colocation on the tower would occur due to interference.
The application was presented before the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO) at its meeting on Saturday, July 21. The
property’s location falls outside the organization’s area, but it presented the
application for informational purposes and because the Mount Hood Corridor
Community Planning Organization is inactive.
At the meeting, the CPO unanimously approved a motion to
write a letter to the county in support of the application.
The county sent notice of the application, dated Monday,
July 9, to property owners within 750 feet of the property. Comments were due
within 20 days of this notice to be sure they were considered prior to a
decision. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| PGE requests variance for communication tower posted on 08/01/2018
Portland General Electric (PGE) submitted a variance
request, dated June 13, to build a 150-foot tall, three-legged communications
tower at 69050 Hwy. 26 (near the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way) on
4.54 acres of property owned by the company that already features a substation.
PGE also plans on installing a 12-foot by 18-foot pre-fabricated equipment
enclosure and above ground communication equipment, surrounded by an 8-foot tall
chain linked fence.
The variance is required because the tower is closer than
150 feet from the property lines (the required setback is equal to the tower
height) and because towers are capped at 100 feet. The property is zoned as
Hoodland Residential, which allows for communication facilities and towers.
In a letter PGE wrote to Clackamas County Land use, signed
by Julie Goodrich from Property Services and dated May 22, the company noted
that demand for electricity has caused the electrical grid to grow and requires
electrical system upgrades.
“This requires upgrades to the communication system between
the base station, vehicle mobile units, hand-held portable radios, dispatch and
other appurtenances to allow installation, repair, and maintenance of the electrical
system infrastructure,” noted the letter. “The proposed upgraded communication
equipment is a direct response to increased local demand for electricity and
would accommodate and benefit future development in the community.”
The letter also added that the tower needs to be 150-feet
tall for the antennas to be above obstructions and provide sufficiently large
radio coverage. No colocation on the tower would occur due to interference.
The application was presented before the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO) at its meeting on Saturday, July 21. The
property’s location falls outside the organization’s area, but it presented the
application for informational purposes and because the Mount Hood Corridor
Community Planning Organization is inactive.
At the meeting, the CPO unanimously approved a motion to
write a letter to the county in support of the application.
The county sent notice of the application, dated Monday,
July 9, to property owners within 750 feet of the property. Comments were due
within 20 days of this notice to be sure they were considered prior to a
decision. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| ‘Bear in mind’ – steps we can take to avoid conflicts with bears posted on 08/01/2018
For many forest dwelling communities, it’s common knowledge
that we share the woods with animals of all shapes and sizes. Some of these critters,
like songbirds, we welcome to our homes with open arms offering food and well
wishes. Other animals, particularly those with sharp teeth and claws, are less
welcome because they can harm pets, property or even people.
Black bears, with their keen sense of smell, are
particularly susceptible to the draw of an uncleaned barbeque grill, an
unlocked dumpster, a dangling bird feeder or a half-eaten bowl of pet food on
the back porch. Bears are extremely vulnerable to the dangerous habit of
associating human communities and food opportunities. Once a bear gains access
to human food or garbage and becomes “habituated” it can lose its natural fear
of humans which can lead to a variety of safety problems for both people and
bears. Sadly, because bears habituated to human food sources are known to
repeat these behaviors, they cannot be relocated and must often be euthanized
to protect public safety. This means that Oregon’s black bears need our help to
keep themselves, as well as our own communities, safe.
Oregon is home to an estimated 30,000 black bears, many of
which live in the northwest part of the state. With so many bears and people
trying to occupy the same space, conflicts are inevitable. Specifically, the
area along highway 26 between Sandy and Government Camp requires the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife to respond to a high volume of human-bear
related conflicts. On a regular basis, citizens in these areas report bears
raiding garbage cans, damaging property and coming too close for comfort to humans.
Several factors may be contributing to this “hot spot” of encounters including
numerous bears in the area, a growing human population, and a constant flux of
recreationists and vacationers.
The good news is that these human-bear conflicts can be avoided.
By following a few simple guidelines, our communities can be safer places for
both people and bears. Here are a few recommendations on how we can help:
– NEVER feed bears.
– Clean and secure garbage cans and barbeques, take garbage
with you when leaving your vacation home or rental, and wait to place garbage
cans on the street until the morning of pickup.
– Feed pets indoors and minimize bird feeding when bears are
active between spring and fall.
– Remove fallen fruit and other attractants and encourage
neighbors to do the same.
Bear-proofing your yard and neighborhood has been proven to
reduce potentially dangerous encounters and together we can keep Oregon bears
wild!
For more information on how to live with black bears visit
www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp
Kurt Licence/MT
(Kurt Licence is a wildlife biologist with the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife based at ODFW’s regional office in Clackamas.)
|
|  Nattali Rize and her band
Douglas Carnie, owner of NWWRF LLC and operator of the
Northwest World Reggae Festival, is happy the event has landed on Mount Hood.
In its 14th year overall and its second on the Mountain, Carnie noted that the
festival’s focus is on “conscious” music with a positive message and creating a
family friendly environment.
“We want to be the festival that people can come out to get
a high-quality show and bring their kids,” Carnie said, noting the event does
not include a beer garden or sales of alcohol. “Sometimes it seems like we have
more kids than adults.”
The festival, with gates opening at 9 a.m. Friday July 27
and running through Sunday, July 29, offers 20 acts, with bands originating
from Africa and England to the Pacific Northwest, including names like Tuff
Lion and Zili Misik. Carnie described the music as Roots Reggae and the
festival avoids “dance hall” music.
The event started in Eugene, where it continued for
approximately 10 years before coding changed and the search for a new venue
began. Carnie first served as a production manager but took the reins of the
event and switched it to an LLC a few years ago and now co-produces the event
with Megan Stolle.
Last year marked the first year on Mount Hood and Carnie
noted that interest has picked up with this year’s event around the corner.
“We’re definitely getting a lot more (interest),” he said,
adding that they have a long-term agreement with the landowner. “We really like
this site; we’re not going any place.”
Carnie expects approximately 1,500 people to attend this
year. He added that the event is also geared to be sustainable for the
environment, with organic food booths, biodiesel generators, a tree planted for
every ticket sold and other sustainable practices.
Carnie also noted the event includes larger camping spaces
and a bigger venue this time around.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Friday, July 27 and the event ends on 8
p.m. Sunday, July 29, at 58800 E Marmot Road in Sandy. Camping is available
(including car and RV camping), with tickets starting at $30, children 14 and
under are free and youth 15-17 with an adult are half price. Parking is $10.
For more information, visit www.nwwrf.com or find the
festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorthWestWorldReggaeFestival. Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The main lodge
A groundbreaking celebration at Camp Arrah Wanna revealed a
campground from a bygone era; historic lodges in need of major structural
renovations and facilities and lodgings whose rustic accommodations and
outdated bathrooms seem to offer more of an experience “roughing it” than the
general “glamping” amenities that are found in many contemporary getaways.
The groundbreaking for the renovation of the upstairs lodge
quarters marked the beginning of an ambitious $3.6 million “Generations of
Promise” fundraising campaign to update the main lodges, overhaul the
campgrounds and add additional staff to handle daily operations.
The small, mostly senior aged crowd gathered for the June 2
ceremony of the renovation campaign at the main lodge were eager to share the
importance of the camp throughout all stages of their lives and their hopes of
finding a way to make the camp maintain relevance to younger generations as
well as meet the changing expectations for retreat facilities both religious
and secular.
Camp Arrah Wanna was established by The American Baptist
Churches (ABC) of Oregon as a nonprofit camping ministry.
The camp was originally located along the South Santiam
River in the region that is currently Cascadia State Park.
Seth Young, former camp director, moved the camp to its
current location in 1941, and his family has been deeply involved with running
the camp for three generations. “A lot of lives have been changed up here,”
Seth said during a luncheon for the groundbreaking. “I hope it stays a beacon
for God,” he added when discussing the plans for the camp’s future.
His granddaughter, Laura Young Burch is the current camp
executive director and is organizing the revitalization campaign with her
father Paul Young. Paul detailed their plan to make the grounds more adult and
group friendly, as well as efforts to support the local community by providing
firewood and serving as a shelter during floods or power outages.
He explained that 75 to 90 percent of camp guests in recent
years were not affiliated with the ABC and added that funding for the camp was
always difficult. His father Seth said fewer young ABC churchgoers were
attending the camp currently then in prior years.
The first phase in updates to attract renewed interest in
the camp is a $1.7 million, five-year plan that begins with renovating main
lodge guest quarters, performing extensive foundation repair to the main lodge
and overhauling the dining hall. The plan includes transforming a secondary 55
person sleeping capacity lodge by remodeling bathrooms, updating bedrooms and
improving interior meeting spaces.
The second phase of the plan involves creating year-round
staff housing, conference style facilities and adding additional staffing and
operations support.
At the time of the groundbreaking $652,00 had been pledged
toward the campaign from individuals and a grant.
Camp Arrah Wanna is located at 24075 East Arrah Wanna
Boulevard.
The camp can be contacted by phone at 503-622-3189 and via
email at info@camparrahwanna.org. Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Pesticide collections continue to rise posted on 07/02/2018
The seemingly impossible task of removing dangerous chemicals
from our environment has been taken up by the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality (ODEQ). And the results have been impressive.
In June, a pesticide collection in Clackamas County
collected 19,500 pounds of old, unusable, or restricted pesticides, according
to Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Program Manager Lisa Kilders.
“Surprisingly, the quantities collected at these events
remain steady,” Kilders wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “Since 2007,
the total quantity of pesticides collected at events held in Clackamas County
equals 151,915 pounds. That is just slightly less than 76 tons.”
Agricultural, commercial, and institutional pesticide users
took advantage of the opportunity to get rid of their chemicals at no cost to
them.
Without the ODEQ event, many pesticides would remain,
creating the possibility of spreading chemicals into the environment. Kilders
pointed out that these chemicals exist for many reasons, such as some land
owners inherited old pesticides when a farming operation closed down, while
others discovered stores of chemicals when they purchased a business or
property. Also, with the passage of time, some chemicals have become restricted
or expire and can no longer be applied.
The free event allows farmers the chance to responsibly get
rid of old pesticides instead of mixing them and needlessly spraying them
somewhere just to get rid of the product.
The pesticide collection events, held across Oregon, are
funded generally from grants, as was the case with the June event in Molalla.
The event is successful because of partners working together. The city of
Molalla opened Bolander Field, outreach and advertising were provided by the
Clackamas and Marion Soil and Water Conservation Districts. ODEQ handled
disposal funds and coordinated with Clean Harbors, the disposal company.
Protecting water quality is a team effort, Kilders noted. Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  REVEL Big Cottonwood
Up to 3,000 people, runners and those who support them, are
expected to be on Mount Hood on Saturday, July 28 for the inaugural REVEL Mt.
Hood marathon and half marathon. And while they will all get to experience the
joy of running in the scenic beauty that surrounds Mount Hood, a number will
also be vying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Cydney Westgate, Vice President of Business Development for
the REVEL Race Series, noted that the races they organize are downhill affairs
(the Mt. Hood marathon will go from Timberline Lodge to the Rainbow Trout Farm,
while the half marathon will start on Lolo Pass and go to the Rainbow Trout
Farm), offering faster race times and allowing more qualifiers to the Boston
Marathon. Westgate estimated that many racers can shave off up to five minutes in
a REVEL race.
“A lot of people think (qualifying for the Boston Marathon
is) not going to happen,” Westgate said, adding that some racers run other
marathons many times without being fast enough. “That downhill part is really
an edge.”
Westgate noted that in the REVEL Rockies race held last
month, approximately 29 percent of the field of about 2,000 racers qualified.
The Mt. Hood Marathon will start at an elevation of 5,620 feet and drop to 862
feet, a difference of 4,758 feet, while the half marathon will see a drop of
897 feet.
The first race in the REVEL series, Big Cottonwood in Utah,
is now in its seventh year, while there are also races in Southern California,
Las Vegas, Tucson and Denver. Westgate noted the group has been working on
adding the Mount Hood race since last year, looking to capitalize on holding
the race an atypical and beautiful location while also offering a fast course.
“They really wanted to get people out in the really
beautiful national parks,” Westgate said. “I can’t think of a more beautiful
place than the Pacific northwest.”
The race will also offer an opportunity for nonprofits in
the community to capitalize, as local organizations can staff one of several
milepost stations (handing out water and helping runners) throughout the course
to earn some money. Coni Scott, Volunteer Coordinator for the event, noted that
while the race will help nonprofits in this way, it will also help area
businesses as well with a number of people staying overnight and eating in
restaurants.
“It’s going to bring business to us,” Scott said, adding
that people can also volunteer for a discount to be in a future REVEL race or
just out of the kindness of their hearts.
Westgate described the community response as “phenomenal,”
noting that the race will require approximately 300 volunteers from
organizations including Ant Farm, the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization and more, and the event is family friendly.
“It’s great because REVEL really takes pride in giving back
to the community as well,” she said. “We take pride in leaving things cleaner
than we found it and really growing with the community.”
The event, which could be a yearly event on Mount Hood, is
open to the public, but there will be no parking at the finish line or on
Sylvan Drive during the event.
Parking and shuttles will be available at Sandy High School,
37400 Bell Street in Sandy.
Registration for the event will be open until Friday, July
27. The first wave of racers will begin at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 28.
For more information, visit www.runrevel.com. Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Senior Center named Super Heart Hero posted on 07/02/2018
Ella Vogel, director of the Hoodland Senior Center, accepted
an award for the center’s efforts to assist isolated seniors at the May 24
Clackamas County Board of County Commissioner’s Business Meeting.
Each May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Clackamas
County. For the past three years the Clackamas Behavioral Health Division
(CBHD) has recognized local individuals and organizations with Super Heart Hero
awards for their contributions toward promoting good mental health in the
community.
This year’s awareness month focused on older adults and
issues of loneliness that result in greater mental and physical health
problems.
Vogel accepted the Super Heart Partner Award, which
recognizes organizations that implement innovative behavioral health programs
that positively affect the emotional well-being of the community.
“Something important for people to realize is that it’s not
just professionals, we need our community working with people to reduce the
stigma of mental health challenges,” said Nina Danielsen, CBHD health promotion
coordinator.
Danielsen described the center’s efforts to combat
loneliness and isolation in the senior population. “They have done remarkable
work out there,” she added.
During her presentation at the commissioner’s meeting, CBHD
Director Mary Rumbaugh defined loneliness as “that feeling of being alone that
makes you feel sad or isolated,” and described it as “a powerful indicator of
mental and physical health issues.”
According to CBHD data from 2015 to 2017 people 55 and older
account for 33 percent of all suicides in Clackamas County.
The center helps seniors in the Hoodland area by providing
access to the Clackamas County Meals on Wheels program, assistance with rides
to doctor’s appointments and other activities, aid with clothing and shelter
and by providing both a place to socialize as well as a link to the community.
“We’re helping people in need who don’t have any other
outlet,” said the senior center’s assistant to the director Leita Bibler. She
listed a variety of issues older people without family, friends or a means of
self-transportation encounter. “Sometimes it’s just knowing the right
resources.”
Bibler added that the senior center is a nonprofit
organization that provides its’ community outreach through volunteers.
During the ceremony Rumbaugh presented the Super Heart Hero
award to Vogel and praised the center, saying “They love their jobs because
they love the community they serve. They are the unsung heroes.”
After all the awards were presented commissioner’s board
Chair Jim Bernard expressed gratitude to all recipients on behalf of the board.
“It’s a big county and a lot of people need help and service. We could never do
it without folks like you.”
Hoodland Senior Center is located at 65000 Hwy. 26 in
Welches and can be reached by phone at 503-622-3331 and on the internet at
http://www.mthood.info/hoodlandseniors. Benjamin Simpson/MT |
| Lineup announced for Timberline Mountain Music Festival posted on 07/02/2018
Tradition continues this Labor Day, Sept. 3, with the
Timberline Mountain Music Festival at the historic lodge’s outdoor
amphitheater.
“We have again teamed up with the Boyd Coffee Company and
the Mt. Hood Brewing Company to host the 2018 Timberline Mountain Music
Festival,” Timberline’s Jon Tullis wrote in an email. “Admission is free. You
won’t want to miss it.”
Food and beverages will be served on the back “pickin’
patio” and attendees are invited to bring their own instruments to join in the
jams led by the Taborgrass Players. There will also be outreach tables staffed
by The Friends of Timberline, The Pacific Crest Trail Association, The Oregon
Bluegrass Association and the U.S. Forest Service.
No dogs or picnic lunches are permitted. Musical
performances run from 12:30 p.m. to sunset, rain or shine.
This year’s lineup includes:
Mountain Honey, at 12:30 p.m. A local favorite, their sweet
and golden acoustic music inspired by traditional bluegrass, features driving
banjo and high lonesome harmonies. The group is made up by Linda Leavitt
(vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dee Johnson (vocals, bass), Greg Stone (vocals,
guitar) and Mike Stahlman (vocals, banjo).
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, at 1:15 p.m. The popular
Portland folk duo have shared the stage with such folk luminaries as Pete
Seeger and Tom Paxton. Their wholesome sound and entertaining performance
features Kate’s award-winning songwriting, lovely harmonies, Steve’s dry humor,
and their occasional forays into today’s ever-popular sound of the ukulele.
The Talbott Brothers, at 2:30 p.m. This dynamic duo has captured
an enthusiastic audience with their harmonies, catchy melodies and fresh
indie-folk sound. Nick and Tyler Talbott call Portland home, but are most often
touring nationwide and are a popular draw on the summer festival circuit.
The Caleb Klauder Country Band, at 4 p.m. Another huge act
from Oregon, the festival for years has received requests to bring this man to
the festival. A founding member of the popular 90s band Calobo, and today’s
widely celebrated Foghorn Stringband, Caleb’s band captures the timeless sound
of classic country music and western swing.
Claire Lynch at 5:30 p.m. She will get you on your way home
feeling like you are walking on air after such a great day of music. Claire
Lynch, this year’s headliner, is an IBMA award winner (including female
vocalist of the year) and a three-time Grammy nominee, the most recent
nomination coming in 2017. She has been long praised as a creative force in
acoustic music and is an exceptional songwriter and intensely soulful singer.
Her excellent band and distinctive voice resonate with power, strength, and
stage presence. Band members include Bryan McDowell (vocals, fiddle), Jim Hurst
(bluegrass guitar), and Mark Schatz (bass). Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Lineup announced for Timberline Mountain Music Festival posted on 07/02/2018
Tradition continues this Labor Day, Sept. 3, with the
Timberline Mountain Music Festival at the historic lodge’s outdoor
amphitheater.
“We have again teamed up with the Boyd Coffee Company and
the Mt. Hood Brewing Company to host the 2018 Timberline Mountain Music
Festival,” Timberline’s Jon Tullis wrote in an email. “Admission is free. You
won’t want to miss it.”
Food and beverages will be served on the back “pickin’
patio” and attendees are invited to bring their own instruments to join in the
jams led by the Taborgrass Players. There will also be outreach tables staffed
by The Friends of Timberline, The Pacific Crest Trail Association, The Oregon
Bluegrass Association and the U.S. Forest Service.
No dogs or picnic lunches are permitted. Musical
performances run from 12:30 p.m. to sunset, rain or shine.
This year’s lineup includes:
Mountain Honey, at 12:30 p.m. A local favorite, their sweet
and golden acoustic music inspired by traditional bluegrass, features driving
banjo and high lonesome harmonies. The group is made up by Linda Leavitt
(vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dee Johnson (vocals, bass), Greg Stone (vocals,
guitar) and Mike Stahlman (vocals, banjo).
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, at 1:15 p.m. The popular
Portland folk duo have shared the stage with such folk luminaries as Pete
Seeger and Tom Paxton. Their wholesome sound and entertaining performance
features Kate’s award-winning songwriting, lovely harmonies, Steve’s dry humor,
and their occasional forays into today’s ever-popular sound of the ukulele.
The Talbott Brothers, at 2:30 p.m. This dynamic duo has captured
an enthusiastic audience with their harmonies, catchy melodies and fresh
indie-folk sound. Nick and Tyler Talbott call Portland home, but are most often
touring nationwide and are a popular draw on the summer festival circuit.
The Caleb Klauder Country Band, at 4 p.m. Another huge act
from Oregon, the festival for years has received requests to bring this man to
the festival. A founding member of the popular 90s band Calobo, and today’s
widely celebrated Foghorn Stringband, Caleb’s band captures the timeless sound
of classic country music and western swing.
Claire Lynch at 5:30 p.m. She will get you on your way home
feeling like you are walking on air after such a great day of music. Claire
Lynch, this year’s headliner, is an IBMA award winner (including female
vocalist of the year) and a three-time Grammy nominee, the most recent
nomination coming in 2017. She has been long praised as a creative force in
acoustic music and is an exceptional songwriter and intensely soulful singer.
Her excellent band and distinctive voice resonate with power, strength, and
stage presence. Band members include Bryan McDowell (vocals, fiddle), Jim Hurst
(bluegrass guitar), and Mark Schatz (bass). Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Rhody dispensary has new ownership posted on 07/02/2018
Michael Budd and his wife, Cheryl, were in Oregon last year
in search of finding the right marijuana business to acquire.
The pair rented a car and drove around the state, but
couldn’t find anything.
Fate intervened, however, as the pair missed their flight
back home to Indiana and in the extra day they were here, got a call about the
Mt. Hood Rec Center in Rhododendron as a possible match.
Budd drove up to the mountain, met the staff and made a deal
that afternoon to purchase the business. He and his wife caught the next flight
back home, bought an RV and drove back to the Mountain to run the dispensary,
now named the Mt. Hood Cannabis Company.
“About the only mistake I made was I didn’t realize Oregon
didn’t have sales tax,” Budd said, noting that he could have saved money on the
RV purchase. “I was very lucky. It’s a wonderful business, our customers are
wonderful (and) I have a great staff.”
Budd, who had an advertising agency in Indiana, noted that
they’ve basically stayed out of running the business since they took over last
December, focusing on marketing, community engagement and augmenting what the
staff does without changing what they do really well. That includes one
employee who was named “Budtender of the Month” recently by Oregon Leaf.
Budd has found about half the business comes from locals and
half from tourists and the dispensary offers a range of products that appeal to
all of them.
“We try to keep a real wide selection of moderately priced
products for our local customers,” Budd said, adding that revenues are derived
equally from edibles, concentrates and flower. “We provide a discount for all
local residents all the time.”
Budd is also looking to expand offerings, with the addition
of six green-friendly tiny houses that will offer tourists a chance to tour a
working farm and enjoy a cannabis-infused meal.
The first tiny house is already on site, while Budd hopes to
sell five more to investors and split the revenue with them.
The Mount Hood Cannabis Company is open from 10 a.m. to 9
p.m., seven days a week, at 73410 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron. For more information,
call 503-622-4272 or visit www.mthoodrec.com. A store menu is available at
www.leafly.com. Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Laurie Crabb's design.
Zigzag resident Laurie Crabb almost didn’t submit an entry
for the logo contest spearheaded by the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization’s (CPO) Rhody Rising subcommittee.
She noted that it was only about 10 days before the March
deadline that she learned about it in The Mountain Times.
“It ended up being kind of an 11th hour effort, literally
delivering artwork to the meeting for first judging round,” Crabb said. “I had
just finished it the night before.”
At the CPO’s May 19 meeting, Crabb’s design stood alone as
the winner of the contest, the one logo selected from the 45 entries originally
submitted.
She added that there were a lot of good entries, including
ones she voted for during the first round of voting in March.
“I was very pleasantly surprised,” Crabb said. “It’s very
pleasing that my work was able to stand up in that field.”
Crabb, who has lived on the mountain for 15 years and has
worked at the Rendezvous Bar and Grill for the past 10 years, has always been
into drawing, painting and sculpting, and she also received a bachelor's degree
in illustration from Pacific Northwest College of Art. She noted that while she
doesn’t do a log of graphic design, she found the contest a challenge because
there was no input from a client, as typically might happen when creating a
logo.
To create her design, Crabb selected some of the visually
iconic elements of the area, including Mount Hood with the alpenglow, the
forest and the rhododendron flower, then sketched out a concept and narrowed it
down.
As the winner, Crabb received four vouchers for Mt. Hood
Adventure, a ski rental package at Otto’s Ski Shop in Sandy, a gift certificate
for $25 at the Skyway Bar and Grill, a gift certificate for 18 holes and a cart
for two at the Mount Hood Oregon Resort and $500 cash.
Four finalists made it to the May 19 meeting, and while
Steve Graeper, CPO President, didn’t release the final voting tally, he noted
that a total of 30 votes were cast by the CPO constituents and that Crabb’s
logo “won handily.”
“I’m very pleased with how the contest went,” he said. “Any
one of those logos would have been a great logo. We really appreciate the work
that everyone did.”
Graeper expects to get some mock-ups done for a t-shirt and
a mug with the logo on them for the next CPO meeting. If all goes well, he
added that there could be items featuring the logo for sale during the annual
Steiner Cabin tour this August.
Crabb noted that she’s looking forward to seeing the logo on
items and that it should lend itself well to being printed.
The Rhody Rising subcommittee will hold a community input
meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, in the Trees Room at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort, 68010 East Fairway Ave. in Welches. Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Climber’s family sues County for negligence and wrongful death posted on 06/02/2018
John Jenkins, 32, of Seattle, was the 106th recorded
climbing death on Mount Hood, and the first in nearly two years.
He fell from the Hogsback ridge May 7, 2017, skidded
approximately 600 feet and was later pronounced dead at a Portland hospital, as
reported in The Mountain Times in the June 2017 issue.
One year hence, Clackamas County, Clackamas County Sheriff
and Clackamas 911 have been named as defendants in a lawsuit involving the
climber’s death.
“First and foremost, the county wants to extend condolences
to the Jenkins family,” County Public Information Officer Tim Heider wrote in a
May 15 county press release. “Climbing the wilderness area of Mount Hood is an
inherently dangerous activity that sometimes results in the loss of life. When
all the facts are presented, the county is confident they will show that the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and our C-COM 911 Department responded
appropriately to this tragic accident.”
The Jenkins family suit claims that the death could have
been avoided, saying the rescue helicopter arrived too late. The suit seeks $5
million in noneconomic damages and $5 million for loss of future income, plus
costs and disbursements in an amount to be determined, citing the rescue was a
case of negligence and wrongful death.
The lawsuit, filed by Portland attorney Jane Paulson in
Circuit Court, states that “Clackamas County 911 transferred the call to CCSO.
Connie Haider from the CCSO did not call for help and told the caller to
contact Timberline ski patrol despite being told the climber was a climber, not
a skier and was outside the ski area.”
The first call came in at 11:26 a.m. of the climbing
accident, according to information The Mountain Times received from the CCSO.
According to the lawsuit, “at approximately 10:48 a.m. a
call was received by Clackamas County 911 reporting the fall and Clackamas
County 911 transferred the call to CCSO. Connie Haider from the CCSO did not
call for help and told the caller to contact Timberline ski patrol. At 11:25
a.m. a call was placed by Timberline Ski Patrol to Clackamas County 911 (which)
transferred the call to CCSO. At 11:37 a.m. Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR)
asked Timberline Ski Patrol to request a helicopter. At 12:11 p.m. PMR told
CCSO that a helicopter was needed. At 12:29 Oregon Emergency Management called
Oregon National Guard to request a helicopter. At 3:11 p.m. the helicopter
arrived at the scene. As the helicopter arrived and attempted to secure
plaintiff into a basket and lift him to the helicopter, he stopped breathing
and lost his pulse.”
The lawsuit continues, claiming defendant Clackamas County
was negligent in one or more of the following particulars: (a) in failing
timely request of a helicopter to the fall site; (b) in failing to tell the
climbers and rescuers to do a ground rescue; and (c) in routing the calls on
the mountain about plaintiff’s rescue to improperly trained community services
officer.
“The county is very proud of the fine work of the women and
men who are involved in search and rescue efforts,” Heider wrote. “They risk
their lives to save the lives of others.”
As this litigation is pending, county officials will not be
conducting media interviews around this issue, according to the press release.
Climber rescue
On Saturday, May 26, rescue units plucked another injured
climber from Mount Hood.
Volunteer rescue climbers from Portland Mountain Rescue made
contact with 35-year-old Joshua Hawk near Hogsback Ridge. Rescuers verified
that the climber was in serious but stable condition.
But it took nearly 10 hours to deliver Hawk to a waiting
helicopter at Timberline Lodge due to high winds that reached 50 knots,
delaying helicopter access to the area. He was subsequently transported to a
Portland hospital. As of Tuesday, May 29, Hawk remained in serious condition. Larry Berteau/MT |
| Chuckwagon Breakfast celebrates its 60th anniversary posted on 06/02/2018
A limerick composed by Mt. Hood Lions Club member Jim
Espenel to celebrate the 60th annual Chuckwagon Breakfast, held later this
month, begins, ““There once was a Lion from the Hood, who often was up to
no-good.”
The Lions Club hopes to get up to a lot of good raising
money for their community projects by making a lot of bacon and eggs during the
June 30 and July 1 event, a major fundraising event for the club.
The brunch will take place at their clubhouse located at
Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way in Welches.
The annual occurrence is customarily held as close to the
Fourth of July as possible and will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. the weekend
before the holiday.
“It’s a very traditional breakfast,” said club member David
Buoy. “We’ve been doing the same thing for three or four decades; it hasn’t
changed.”
The meal includes eggs to order, pancakes, bacon and
sausage, with coffee and juice and is all-you-can-eat.
“It’s kind of a mountain tradition,” Buoy added, “a lot of
people know about it.”
The club expects to serve between 350 and 500 breakfasts
each day.
“We try to have the smell of bacon wafting over to the
neighboring (Saint John in the Woods) Catholic church by the time mass gets
out,” Buoy said, laughing, “and hopefully get a mention from the pulpit.”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the breakfast, first
held in 1958 in the old mule barn at Camp Zigzag on East Lolo Pass road.
Club president-elect Milt Fox II recalled washing dishes as
a child at the first event and stated that the funds from the breakfasts have
allowed the club to give out thousands of shots and immunizations to the
community over the years.
The breakfast was originally started by the club’s health
committee to fund health projects and has shifted to providing financing for
other club projects as healthcare became more readily accessible in the region.
“Everything we do we try to put back to the community,” Fox
said, describing the club’s goals of providing resources for the Mount Hood
area.
Proceeds from the breakfast are used to offer scholarships
awarded each year at Sandy High School, support the “Reading is Fundamental”
program at Welches Elementary School, provide health screenings for glaucoma
and cataracts and sponsor local Boy and Cub Scouts Pack 173.
While discussing the upcoming breakfast, Fox said he “hopes
for good weather and a good crowd,” to support the club’s community outreach
programs. “It’s our longest continuous fundraising event.”
Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door for adults, $4 for
children 10 and younger and will be available at Welches Mountain Hardware,
Clackamas County Bank and Mountain Roasters Coffee throughout June. There will
be a daily raffle at the breakfast with donated local items. Additional support
for the breakfast is provided by the Hoodland Thriftway and Boy and Cub Scouts
Pack 173.
For additional information regarding the Chuckwagon
Breakfast contact the Mt. Hood Lions Club at 503-622-4111. Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Lodge director garners Travel Oregon award posted on 06/02/2018
To the uninitiated, it should be noted that Jon Tullis is
the director of public affairs at Timberline Lodge.
To those who have been keeping up on things, Tullis is also
a Forest Service liaison, special events coordinator, spokesman for the lodge,
governmental affairs manager, and an all-around advocate for the National
Historic Landmark Timberline Lodge for more than three decades, as the Oregon
Tourism Commission (aka: Travel Oregon), recently reminded us.
And April 30, at the 2018 Oregon Governor’s Conference on
Tourism in Bend, Tullis was presented with the Gene Leo Memorial Sustainable
Tourism Award for his outstanding contribution for a tourism-related activity
focused on Oregon’s natural beauty.
“This was extra special for me because the recognition came
from such a great group of people, my friends and colleagues in the tourism
industry. We’ve worked together for thirty years.” Tullis said. “This
particular award is also meaningful because I had the honor of working with
Gene Leo many years ago when Timberline’s Golden Rose Ski Classic was a part of
the Portland Rose Festival.”
The Gene Leo Award was established in 1994 to honor Leo’s
work and contributions to Oregon tourism as director of the Oregon Zoo,
Portland Rose Festival and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association.
Award recipients are outstanding professionals who
demonstrate perseverance and dedication to the state. “They go the extra mile,”
the commission wrote in a press release.
Tullis has also served on the Oregon Heritage Commission,
Ski Oregon, the Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association, Travel Oregon’s
Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council and is a member of the Outdoor Recreation
Initiative Leadership Team.
Fittingly, Tullis turned to the towering presence of Mount
Hood and the iconic lodge. “When all is said and done, I wouldn’t have gotten
this award if it weren’t for the crown jewel of the mountain – Timberline
Lodge.” Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Hoodland Library book sale aim to quench reading thirst posted on 06/02/2018
With warmer days arriving, the end of the school year in
sight and the start of vacation season rapidly approaching, summer reading
returns as an activity to enjoy whether soaking up sun at a beach destination
or keeping cool in the long, light-filled evenings.
For those in the Mount Hood region still searching for that
perfect page turner, the Friends of the Hoodland Library are conducting a book
sale June 22, 23, 29 and 30, at the Hoodland Library, located at 24525 East
Welches Road in Welches.
The sale will take place from noon to 4 p.m. daily in the
community room of the library, and all proceeds will benefit the library and
its community programming. All books available at the sale are donated by
members of the Friends of the Library.
“They’re a valuable resource for the library,” library
assistant Dianne Downey said, describing the organization’s fundraising
activities. “It’s basically how we base our programming.”
Proceeds from prior sales along with individual donations
have helped the library purchase a projector for the community room, a rug for
the children’s room and chairs for computer internet stations, as well as funding
children’s and adult programs.
Upcoming children’s programs include activities such as
summer reading, Lego building and an art program offered during the summer
months. Offerings for adults include beginner ukulele lessons, summer reading
and a wellness program conducted by a certified health coach.
The support of the Friends has also allowed the library to
previously host guest speakers, including regional authors Jane Kirkpatrick and
Brian Doyle. The library plans to continue to host speakers during the fall
months.
“The more funding they can provide, the more resources we
can provide the community,” Downey said, regarding the group’s support of the
library. She added that the library hopes to increase programming to reach more
of the public and address additional community interests.
Downey encourages the public to get involved and join the
organization, and that applications are available at the library and there is
no fee to join.
The book sale was previously a two-day sale. This year the
sale has been extended to two weekends in an attempt to include people that
could not attend due to scheduling. The sale will remain available during the
week to further increase public access.
For additional information regarding the book sale or
library programming contact the Hoodland Library at 503-622-3460 or visit the
library website at www.ci.sandy.or.us/hoodland-library. Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Public help sought in 2015 Trillium Lake homicide of Gresham man posted on 06/02/2018
A 2015 homicide at Trillium Lake remains unsolved.
On Sept. 24, 2015, Frank Wilson, 68, of Gresham, was found
dead in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Trillium Lake recreation area.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that Wilson died of a gunshot
wound to the chest and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators believe that Wilson was killed while sitting
in the driver’s seat of his pickup sometime on the evening of Sept. 23.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, a group of bicyclists riding in
the area came across a white Ford F-150 pickup with the truck’s owner deceased
inside. The group immediately called 911.
Wilson was a longtime businessman who owned and operated
Clackamas Tire and Brake.
Investigators are seeking any information from the public to
help solve the case. Anyone who had contact with Wilson between Monday, Sept.
21, 2015 and Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 is encouraged to share that information
by contacting Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Detective Terway or leave a tip
via the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, or the CrimeStoppers of Oregon Tip Line.
Investigators also believe that someone may have
inadvertently altered the crime scene prior to police arrival and would like to
hear from that person or persons.
Wilson was actively trying to not be located, according to
authorities. He had been engaging in behavior described as uncharacteristic and
distant.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500
for information reported to CrimeStoppers that leads to an arrest in any
unsolved homicide or other felony crime, and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Information learned from social media sites should be shared
as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect. Those links can be
shared through CrimeStoppers.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line is
503-7232-4949 or online at web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon’s anonymous tip line is
www.p3tips.com/823. Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Public help sought in 2015 Trillium Lake homicide of Gresham man posted on 06/02/2018
A 2015 homicide at Trillium Lake remains unsolved.
On Sept. 24, 2015, Frank Wilson, 68, of Gresham, was found
dead in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Trillium Lake recreation area.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that Wilson died of a gunshot
wound to the chest and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators believe that Wilson was killed while sitting
in the driver’s seat of his pickup sometime on the evening of Sept. 23.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, a group of bicyclists riding in
the area came across a white Ford F-150 pickup with the truck’s owner deceased
inside. The group immediately called 911.
Wilson was a longtime businessman who owned and operated
Clackamas Tire and Brake.
Investigators are seeking any information from the public to
help solve the case. Anyone who had contact with Wilson between Monday, Sept.
21, 2015 and Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 is encouraged to share that information
by contacting Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Detective Terway or leave a tip
via the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, or the CrimeStoppers of Oregon Tip Line.
Investigators also believe that someone may have
inadvertently altered the crime scene prior to police arrival and would like to
hear from that person or persons.
Wilson was actively trying to not be located, according to
authorities. He had been engaging in behavior described as uncharacteristic and
distant.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500
for information reported to CrimeStoppers that leads to an arrest in any
unsolved homicide or other felony crime, and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Information learned from social media sites should be shared
as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect. Those links can be
shared through CrimeStoppers.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line is
503-7232-4949 or online at web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon’s anonymous tip line is
www.p3tips.com/823. Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Party on the Patio returns at the Zigzag Inn posted on 06/02/2018
The annual Party on the Patio began after Randy Proctor
passed in 2006 as a way to honor his memory.
First held as a fundraiser for Relay for Life, the event
shifted gears to benefit Mt. Hood Hospice, and since the beginning, Party on
the Patio has raised more than $220,000 for the two organizations, according to
Cathy Stuchlik, Proctor’s sister and President of Clackamas County Bank.
The event, which raised $22,304 last year, features live
music by The Substitutes, a silent auction and drawing from 5-10 p.m. Saturday,
June 30, at the Zigzag Inn, 70162 E. Hwy. 26. Tickets are $10 for adults and
children 12 and under are free, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn
chairs.
Auction items will include original artwork, garden art and
lodging gift certificates, while the raffle winner will receive a Green
Mountain smoker grill and a $500 gift certificate to White’s Country Meats.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20, and no need to be present to win.
Stuchlik noted that she sees so many of the same people
coming back each year, while also adding that people share stories about her
brother.
“We have fun,” she said. “Every year it just gets better.” Garth Guibord/MT |
|  A biker at Deer Valley Resort
The
Timberline Bike Park lawsuit, brought by several environmental groups in 2012,
has been dismissed and lift-assisted mountain biking has gained traction.
“Timberline
is very pleased with the Court’s decision and is excited to move forward,” said
Steve Kruse, general
manager of mountain operations at Timberline. “This ruling (U.S. District
Court) confirms the U.S.
Forest Service evaluation and approval of a bike park at Timberline meets Mt.
Hood National Forest Plan
objectives and falls within our permit parameters. This is a good, environmentally
sound project.”
Not
everyone agreed. Plaintiffs against the bike park included Sierra Club, Friends
of Mount Hood, BARK, Mazamas,
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs and the Northwest Environmental Defense
Center, as reported
in The Mountain Times in 2012. The group’s legal team of Craig Law Center said
at the time “Our clients care deeply about Mount Hood and the unique portal to
public land on the mountain’s southern flanks that Timberline provides.”
In
the court’s ruling on March 31, District Court Judge Ann Aiken’s findings
concluded that the U.S. Forest Service
has followed all applicable federal environmental laws. In her opinion, the
complaints and suits filed
by the Portland-based nonprofit groups failed to raise substantive objections
to the project on either ecological
or procedural grounds.
The
decision authorizes the development of a managed, lift assisted, downhill-only
mountain bike trail system and skills park within the southern portion of the
Timberline ski area permit boundary. The trail system includes 17 miles of trail
and will be located within the terrain serviced by the Jeff Flood express lift.
“Timberline is the people’s choice,” Kruse wrote
in a press release. “As stewards of Mt. Hood, Timberline remains committed to
providing quality public recreation within the capabilities of the ecosystem.
The Mt. Hood National Forest Plan objectives include managing ski areas to
provide a diversity of winter and summer recreation activities that emphasize
the forest setting. Considering this and the strong growth and popularity of
mountain biking, Timberline remains committed to this modest and carefully designed
project to bring high quality, lift assisted mountain biking to Mt. Hood as an
additional summer activity.
George
Wilson, who recently opened his full-service Mt. Hood Bicycle shop in Welches, sees
the Timberline project as another positive step forward in the burgeoning
business of mountain biking and the opportunities it provides the local community.
“Timberline
Lodge, with its skills park, will draw consistent cycling traffic from as far as
Seattle,” he said. “We have always endorsed the efforts of Timberline Lodge to
develop a mountain skills park and have congratulated
them for their patience and perseverance in bringing this project to fruition.”
Wilson
added, “Get ready Mt. Hood. The cyclists are coming. Ride on and stay strong.”
Gravity
Logic, a world leader in sustainable bike park planning and design, has been working
with Timberline since the project’s inception and will continue to play an
important advisory role.
Construction
is set for this summer and will include a skills park, trail system, natural features,
built features and jump lines, plus a full-service bike shop for repairs,
rental and sales, as well as existing Timberline
food and beverage concessions.
“If
you’re half as excited as we are, you’ve already jumped out of your chair and
onto your bike,” Director of Marketing and Public Relations John Burton said. “We
have diligently been working towards the Timberline Bike Park project and look forward
to bringing it to Mount Hood soon.”
Larry
Berteau/MT |
| May primary election to set stage for November posted on 05/07/2018
This
month’s primary election will set the stage for November’s general election as
voters will determine who will move on to represent each party on the ballot.
But
one race in Clackamas County could be determined this month if the winner receives
50 percent plus one in the vote.
Three
candidates vie for Position 2 for the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners
(BCC), and if one does receive the 50 percent plus one, that person will be
elected and no further vote necessary. If no one receives 50 percent plus one,
the top two vote getters will move on to the November ballot.
Candidates
for Position 2 on the BCC include Louise Lopes, a home-based business owner and
former Clackamas County
Parks Advisory Board member; incumbent Paul Savas, a small business owner; and
Peter Winter, a construction project manager with no prior government experience.
There
are also three candidates for County Clerk, including incumbent Sherry Hall,
who has held the position since
2003; Sherry Healy, a small business owner and current chair of the Election
Integrity Caucus; and Pamela White,
a development and communications director who has served as a school board
member. In this race, if a candidate receives 50 percent plus one, that
candidate will move on as the only one listed in November, while the top two
vote getters will move on if nobody surpasses 50 percent plus one.
Sonya
Fischer was the only candidate to file for Position 5 on the BCC, while Brian
T. Nava is the only candidate for County Treasurer. A potential race within the
Democrat party for the Oregon House District 52 (HD52) nomination lost a
candidate when Aurora del Val announced on Wednesday, April 11 on a Facebook page
that she will support her opponent, Anna K. Williams, and asked her supporters to
do the same. del Val cited concerns about fundraising in the message, while
adding she had no regrets about running in the race.
“Flipping
the district is most important to me, and in these past several months, I
learned that Anna and I share the same values and sensibilities for our region
and Oregon,” del Val wrote. “She understands that we need to bridge divides and
focus on the common good.”
However,
del Val will still appear on the ballot, as the deadline for candidates to
withdraw from the primary election was March 9.
As
the presumed winner, Williams would take on Jeff Helfrich in the November
election, as he will run unopposed this
May as the Republican candidate.
Helfrich
was appointed to the position last November. Both the Democrat and Republican candidates
for the State
Senate District 26 (SD26), Chrissy Reitz and incumbent Chuck Thomsen,
respectively, will run unopposed in the May primary. No Independent Party candidates
filed for the HD52 or SD26 positions.
The
Democratic Party of Oregon and Oregon Republican Party primaries will be
limited to voters registered with their party, while the Independent Party of
Oregon primary is open to voters who are not members of any party for the May
2018 election.
Candidates Forum info:
The
Hoodland Area Candidates Forum will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5, in the Trees
Room at The Resort at The
Mountain. The forum will be moderated by Mr. John Erickson, CEO of JAE
Consulting & Recruiting. Mr Erickson is also Chairman of the Board for the
Tourism Development Council of Clackamas County and a previous General Manager for
The Resort at The Mountain.
Election Deadline:
8 p.m. Tuesday, May 15: To find an official drop site, or for other
questions, call the Clackamas County Elections Division at 503-655-8510. Garth Guibord/MT |
|  New Logo
The
Resort at the Mountain, the upscale golf and spa resort in Welches, will be
renamed the Mount Hood Oregon Resort
June 1. “The first thing people ask about the resort at trade shows is, ‘What
mountain?’” the resort’s general manager Tami Kay Galvin said, explaining
ownership’s desire to rebrand the property in a manner that clarified the
location.
Galvin
noted that they hoped by linking the resort to the beauty of the of visitors would
journey to enjoy the facilities.
“We’ve
had people come up and tell us, ‘We’ve been skiing for 20 years and didn’t even
know you were here,’” said Jenny Kunzman, resort catering manager. “We’re
really trying to increase tourism in the area.”
Kunzman
cited the growing number of resorts on other mountains in the region,
especially in Bend, as further cause
for linking the resort directly to its Mount Hood locale. The resort is
currently owned by Stanford Oregon Hotel LLC. Stanford purchased the resort in January
2016.
The
Stanford Hotel group has holdings in Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Asia.
The
name change was planned for April 1 but was rescheduled to provide more time to
change signage and produce new nametags and uniforms. The website has not currently
been updated to reflect the impending name change.
The
property has undergone several name changes and owners since 1883, when Samuel
Welch and his son Billy opened the first resort on the location, a campground for
travelers and vacationers.
Over
the years, the site has been known as Old Welches Inn Bed & Breakfast,
Bowman’s Resort and the Rippling River
Resort.
In 1928, Mt
Hood Golf Course was opened as Oregon's first golf resort across from the
original bed-and-breakfast. Ed and
Janice Hopper bought the resort in 1989 and gave it the current title, The
Resort at The Mountain. This iteration has seen four owners since the Hoppers
sold the property in 2007.
Current
ownership is planning an open house Thursday, June 14 at Mallards Pub at the
resort to celebrate the launch of the new name. Benjamin Simpson/MT |
|  Johnson
Former
HD 52 State Representative Mark Johnson, having been asked to step down from
the post he acquired last October as chief executive officer of Oregon Business
and Industry (OBI), has resigned from
the lobbying group amid allegations of racially insensitive remarks he directed
at a former colleague in
the Legislature. Johnson, a Hood River Republican, left the Oregon House to
take the OBI job after serving from 2011 to 2017.
The
allegation stemmed from a former employee of the lobbying firm OBI, Joel Fischer,
who told The Oregonian that Johnson had referred to Portland Democrat State
Representative Diego Hernandez, “and his chain migration homeboys from the hood.”
The
Oregonian broke the story in April after having it corroborated by two other
OBI employees present during the remarks.
“It
is shocking (to) be accused of insensitivity on equity I care about,” Johnson
told The Oregonian. “I apologize to Rep. Diego Hernandez for any insensitive
comments I may have made.”
Johnson
went further in a statement to The Mountain Times.
“I
have no recollection of making the alleged comments,” Johnson said. “I don’t
know the context or the setting where they allegedly occurred. The quote as it
has appeared in the media does not reflect how I typically talk or words that I
routinely use.”
In
his defense, Johnson pointed to his public service in support of the Hispanic community,
citing his work on
controversial measures like tuition equity which allows undocumented students
to be able to access post-secondary education by paying in-state tuition rather
than out-of-state tuition, plus supporting undocumented
residents to obtain drivers cards so they could buy insurance and obtain a
driver’s license.
“The
comments are attributed to me by a former employee (of OBI) and two unnamed
sources,” Johnson said.
“The story originated in a complaint brought by the former employee. I think
that is all clear in The Oregonian story. The (OBI) board had subsequently
completed an investigation with current staff and did not find evidence to
substantiate the claims … But I have no recollection of having made them.
“It’s
been a real shocker for me and my family.”
Due
to the situation, Johnson has also resigned from the Hood River School Board.
The
OBI board learned of Johnson’s comments at its April 10 meeting and reached a
unanimous decision to ask for Johnson’s resignation, according to OBI Chairman
Scott Parrish. Larry Berteau/MT |
|  A banner created by students at the Welches Schools
When
the Welches Schools held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Week during the third
week of April, the numbers were already impressive. Fifty-two volunteers who log
into a computer system set up to track their time had tallied 1,974 hours of
work since the beginning of the school year, and the volunteer with the most
hours logging 420 hours.
No
doubt there was an abundance of appreciation. “It’s just a time for all of us
to remember all the help we get from the outside community and give our thanks to
those dedicated volunteers,” said Kendra Payne, principal of the Welches
Schools. The week features a variety of ways the school offers up its thanks,
including decorations, thank you notes and banners created by students, treat
bags and culminating in a pot luck lunch on Friday, April 20.
“There’s
usually a pretty good spread,” Payne said, noting that the school counts some talented
cooks throughout the staff.
The
volunteers perform a variety of roles at the school throughout the year, from going
on field trips to helping in
the classroom, but Payne noted that there are other volunteers that aren’t even
included in the tracking system.
They
include members of the Hoodland Women’s Club, who come in every month to help
with a popcorn party for the
class with the best attendance, and the hours that the Welches Parent Teacher
Community Organization puts in outside
of normal school hours.
“We’ve
always had a really very supportive community in terms of volunteering and fundraising
support,” Payne said.
“I do feel like we’ve seen an uptick in volunteerism. I think part of that is
due to we have some really strong parent volunteer coordinators.” Payne noted
that in the past three years the school moved to an online volunteer system, eliminating
a paper packet prospective volunteers needed to fill out and reducing the time for
background checks from two weeks to approximately two days.
Meanwhile,
volunteer coordinators for the middle and elementary schools help match skills
that volunteers can offer with needs at the school and communicate upcoming needs.
“It’s really helped kind of streamline the system,” Payne said. Community members interested in
volunteering can find more information and the volunteer application on the Oregon
Trail School District’s website, at www.http://oregontrailschools. com/parents/forms/. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  The Philadelphia
Sandy
High School (SHS) senior Arianna Cioffi has been involved with the school’s
theatrical productions since her
freshman year, including jumping into the role of Caliban in William
Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” with just two weeks of rehearsal time. And while
Shakespeare may seem like a different language, Cioffi has a role in the
upcoming SHS production that gives Shakespeare a run for his money.
Cioffi
is Don in “The Universal Language,” one of six one-act plays written by David
Ives, collectively called, “All
In the Timing.” In “The Universal
Language,” Don is the creator and teacher of Unamunda, a wild comic language.
“It’s
really confusing because you’ve got all kinds of words in here,” said Cioffi , 18.
“It’s kind of like gibberish. The audience has no idea what he’s saying.”
“This is a lot different than Shakespeare,”
she added, noting how much she has to use her face, hands and body to help
communicate in Unamunda. Cioffi also plays the role of the waitress in “The
Philadelphia,” alongside junior Harley
Reed, 17. In it, Reed plays Allen Chase, a laidback New Yorker who meets up
with his friend who has fallen
into "a Philadelphia," a Twilight Zone-like state in which he cannot
get anything he asks for.
This
is Reed’s first production at SHS after taking some classes, and he noted that
the stage experience is different than
the classroom one because there isn’t as much time to ramp up to the demands of
the play.
“It’s
kind of challenging,” said Reed, who also plays the baker in “Philip Glass Buys
a Loaf of Bread.” “This is what it feels like when you rehearse, you have to be
on top of it.”
Junior
Peyton Noreen, 17, plays the role of
Swift in the play “Words, Words, Words,” about three monkeys writing
on typewriters until they come up with “Hamlet.” Noreen noted that while each one act is very
different, the collection
of plays does have a common thread.
“The
theme for a show is definitely human interaction, just different scenarios that
seem crazy or outlandish,” she said. “The idea of realism comes from
unrealism.” Sandy High School Drama presents “All In the Timing,” by David
Ives, at 7:30 p.m. May 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. For more information,
call 503-668-8011, ext. 7313.
“The Nerd” comes to Boring
Justin
Lazenby, director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s production of Larry
Shue’s “The Nerd,” notes that audience members are likely going to relate with the
comedy’s main character, Willum Cubbert. Cubbert is an aspiring architect and
veteran who gets the chance to meet the man who saved his life in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, that
man turns out to be tactless and obnoxious.“In the horrible house guest, (the
audience) will see aspects of a person that they met at some point in their
life that they had to deal with,” said Lazenby, who will also play the role
of Warnock Waldgrave, Cubbert’s boss who is over for dinner when the nerd
arrives and starts to mess things up.
“(It’s)
probably not as bad as they will see on stage, but everybody can relate to it. We
find ourselves in a position where
we can’t just tell them off, we can’t just shout at them.”
Lazenby,
who has performed in the show previously, described it as a “good, solid belly
laugh comedy” as the audience
gets to watch Cubbert squirm and try to get out of the mess.
“You
walk away smiling,” he said.
NNB
presents “The Nerd,” by Larry Shue, from May 18 to June 3 at the Boring Grange,
27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children, seniors
and students and $11 for teachers and law enforcement. For more information, or
to make reservations, call 503-593-1295
or visit nnbtheater.com. Garth Guibord/MT |
| All in the family posted on 05/07/2018
When Kevin
Franks first became a volunteer firefighter with the Hoodland Fire District (HFD), his
son Jonathan kept a keen eye on his father. Kevin would get a call on his pager
and head out, while Jonathan ran to the iPad to follow along with the call on an
app.
The elder
Franks, who was inspired to become a firefighter after seeing how helpful the
firefighters were when responding to calls regarding his ailing father, has won
the HFD’s Firefighter of the Year Award, Above and Beyond Award and a top
responder since he completed the volunteer academy in 2013.
And now
the younger Franks, who was inspired by his father’s entry into firefighting, has
followed in his footsteps, as part of HFD’s 2018 academy. “I wish that I had
the focus that he does,” Kevin said.
“I still
don’t know what I want to do when I grow up,” he added as a joke. Jonathan
started his journey to become a firefighter in the district’s Explorers
Program, and by helping his dad clean the Brightwood station, participating in
joint training exercises between the volunteers and the explorers, working on “burn
to learn” events and when Jonathan could go on certain calls as an observer, including
with his dad.
“It’s
really awesome to see him working, and I get to learn a lot from him,” said Jonathan,
17. Jonathan will also graduate from Sandy High School this summer and then
join the Jefferson
County fire student program.
The
Explorer Program is open to young people from sixth grade through high school, offering
an entry point for those interested in firefighting. HFD Battalion Chief Linn Norgard
serves as the Explorers Guide and noted that while the program limits some of
what the students can do, they get to learn most of what firefighters learn,
with a focus on support. “I’ve lost count how many of our explorers have gone
on to be firefighters,” Norgard said,
adding that two current members of the paid staff, Evan Jarvis and Tyler Myers, started in
the Explorers Program.
Norgard
noted that Jonathan stood out due to “his willingness to do just about anything.”
Jonathan
added that the shift from Explorers to the volunteer training academy means
more heavy lifting, using more tools and expanding the range of skills. “It’s
been a pretty big leap,” he said.
Kevin
noted that aspects of the volunteer academy has changed even in the few years since
he was a part of it, with new and better techniques for things like advancing hoses
and forcing entry into a building.
“The
department has really embraced that,” he said, adding that those recruits who
were also part of the Explorers Program had a “leg up.”
Meanwhile,
Kevin’s wife, Krista, also contributes to the district as a member of the
support group. “I think once you get involved, it’s a family thing,” Kevin
said. “No matter how much you
put into this, you always get much more out of it. It’s our community, it’s our neighborhood.” Garth Guibord/MT |
| Final Four - Rhody logo contest posted on 05/07/2018
A
contest to select a logo for the community of Rhododendron is down to a final
four following a meeting by the “Matrix Committee,” comprised of the
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization’s (CPO) Rhody Rising subcommittee,
Will Frank of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance and local artist Sue Allen.
The group met on Monday, April 23 to narrow down a field of six that had been
selected out of 45 initial logo entries.
“We’ve
got four great logos,” said Steve Graeper, Rhododendron CPO president. “I am tickled
at the diversity of the designs.”
The Matrix, a scorecard where committee members assigned points in three
categories for each of the six entries,
was utilized to expand thinking and focus attention beyond a popular vote to
determine the four entries that would
move on to the final selection, to be held at the CPO’s Saturday, May 19
meeting at The Resort at The Mountain, starting at 10:30 a.m. The three
categories covered ease of production (how the design would work for both large
and small-scale uses), cost of reproduction (potential expenses associated with
reproducing the image) and
visual acuity (how the design represents the vision of the Rhododendron
community). A fourth category included
a score reflecting the popular vote by the CPO’s members.
The
CPO had initially planned to select three entries for the final decision, but a
tie for the third-place logo resulted in
the selection of four designs. The four artists behind the logos, Mark
Schumaker, Cheryl Budd, Laurie Crabb and
Renee Lamoreaux, all of whom hail from the mountain community.
“They’re
all distinctly different,” Allen said about the final logos. The four designs
will be on display in various locations, including at the Rhododendron Post
Office, through social media and in the Mountain Times prior to the meeting on
May 19. Members of the CPO, comprised of residents, property owners and
business owners within the CPO's boundaries, will determine through a popular
vote which logo is the winner. The winning selection may also go on through
some final changes, such as adjusting colors or adding a notation for the
starting year of the Rhododendron community.
The
winning entry will win a prize package that will include: $500, golf and a cart
for two at The Resort At The Mountain, two lift certificates at Skibowl, a gift
certificate to Skyway Bar & Grill and cross-country ski rental from Otto's
Ski Shop in Sandy. Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Six possible logos.
Steve Graeper, President of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO), would have been pleased with 10 submissions for
the group’s logo contest. So when 45 entries came in for the Saturday, March 17
meeting where the top six were selected by the CPO’s membership, Graeper was
enthused, to say the least.
“We are blown away by the number of entries we received,”
Graeper said.
The CPO plans to use the winning logo on a potential
community gateway sign, as well as t-shirts, hoodies, hats and other
merchandise as part of the fundraising for its Rhody Rising effort, a plan to
revitalize the community of Rhododendron.
A total of 78 votes were cast by the 28 CPO members in
attendance (each member received three tickets to vote with), according to
Graeper. The top five were to be selected to move on to the next round, but a
tie for fifth place lead to a sixth potential logo to move on.
Graper did not release vote totals, but the artists behind
the six entries were Haley Montana, Mark Schumaker, Cheryl Budd, Laurie Crabb
and Renee Lamoreaux, who had two designs selected.
David Lythgoe was impressed with the talent on display and
noted that making his selections was tough.
“I think they’re amazing,” he said, noting that he was drawn
to one that shared elements with a logo used by Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory,
which would be good for hats and shirts. “I’ve always liked that look. And
there’s one over here that had that.”
Rod Brewick noted that many of the designs were very
representative of Rhododendron, including images of the namesake flower and
Mount Hood, while he liked the images that included a frontier element in them.
“I’m just kind of anxious to see which one becomes the
logo,” he said. “Hopefully it's one of the ones I voted on.”
The six designs will now move on to the CPO’s “Decision
Making Matrix,” a scorecard filled out by the group’s Rhody Rising subcommittee
and two members of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance. The scorecard, used to
“expand thinking beyond a simple popular vote,” ranks each finalist from one to
six in four categories: popularity, ease of production, cost of reproduction
and visual acuity.
Scores from each member will be added together and the top
three will appear at the Rhododendron Post Office and in the Mountain Times
before a final vote at the CPO’s May meeting.
The winning entry will win a prize package that will
include: golf and cart for two at The Resort at The Mountain, two lift tickets
at SkiBowl, a gift certificate to Skyway Bar & Grill and Cross Country Ski
Rental from Otto’s Ski Shop in Sandy.Winning prizes include: 18 holes of golf
and11 cart from The Resort at the Mountain; $25 gift certificate from the
Skyway Bar & Grill; cross country/snowboard/or snowshoe rental from Otto’s
in Sandy; and lift tickets for two for tubing or skiing at Skibowl.
The winner will also receive a $500 cash prize, and Graeper
noted at the meeting that this part of the prize would be funded by donations
and an anonymous $250 matching donation, but no money had come in to be
matched. That’s when Mike Budd, owner of the Mt. Hood Cannabis Co., stepped up
and pitched in $250 to make the prize whole.
“I want to support my community,” Budd said. “I’m here to
see all this move forward.”
The May CPO meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May
19, at The Resort at The Mountain, 68010 Fairway Ave. in Welches.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Salmon Valley Water awaits PUC decision on sale to PDX co. posted on 04/01/2018
The Salmon Valley Water Company is being sold to Northwest
Natural Gas Company’s wholly owned subsidiary NW Natural Water Company, of
Portland, according to a customer notice published March 5, 2018.
The companies entered into the transaction Dec. 18, 2017,
and the transaction will close and the sale will be effective following
regulatory approval by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon, no sooner than
60 days from the date of this notice (May 5, 2018).
Salmon Valley is selling to NW Natural Water as the owner
believes it is in the best interest of the community, its customers and its
stockholder.
“The entire company will be sold … and will continue to
exist as Salmon Valley after the sale, with the same employees, billing
platform, and customer service representatives,” it was written in the customer
notice release. “NW Natural Water and Salmon Valley expect that the transaction
will be seamless, and customers will not be harmed by the transaction.”
Salmon Valley’s district north border is the Salmon River
east of Farragut St. and just north of Hwy. 26 west of Farragut. The eastern
border is Mt. Hood National Forest boundary to Salmon River Road and the “Y” of
Welches Road. The southern border is the Salmon River and the approximate
western border is the west side of Arrah Wanna Blvd.
At present, water provided by Salmon Valley (SVWC) is only
subject to two forms of treatment:
AquaMag which is a blended phosphate solution that is added
to the water to keep any iron in the water in solution. This helps to prevent
scaling in the pipes of both the customers and SVWC. AquaMag is only added to
the system during the summer months when SVWC has to bring its fourth well into
production to meet summer demands. That well (Routledge Road well) has an iron
concentration of up to 2.2 parts per million, and
sodium based bleach when repairs are made to the water
system to ensure that nothing enters the system during the repairs. The bleach
is added to sanitize the system.
For more information about the filing or to follow the
regulatory process of the commission’s review check the commission’s website at
www.puc.state.or.us.
Salmon Valley Water Company contact information is Attn:
Michael Bowman, PO Box 205, Welches 97067, 505-622-4083 or email
thesvwco@frontier.com.
NW Natural Gas contact information: Melissa Moore, 220 NW
Second Avenue, Portland 97209, 503-226-4211, or email
Melissa.Moore@nwnatural.com. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Kohler and Comanche.
In the shadow of Mount Hood, Boring resident Sarah Kohler
recently put her wild mustang Comanche through his paces at Milo McIver State
Park in preparation for the 2018 Mustang Adoption Challenge.
“I’ve had animals around my whole life, and I love taking an
animal that needs training, that needs help … and fixing them up and seeing
them go where people can enjoy them,” Sarah said, describing her involvement in
the program.
As part of the challenge Sarah had 98 days to train and
gentle the four-year-old mustang (less
than 60 days out of the wild) before showcasing her horsemanship skills at the
Northwest Horse Fair and Expo, held March 22-25 in Albany. A live horse auction
followed the award ceremony and placed the trained animals in adoptive homes.
Sarah, a 23-year old criminal justice major at Mt. Hood
Community College is studying to become a police officer. She takes time from
her busy schedule to spend one to two hours daily training her horses for
competition.
“You have to want to do this ... there’s a lot of time and
effort,” Sarah said about the training process.
She previously worked as a trainer on the Warm Springs
Indian Reservation and volunteers as a trainer for Oregon Animal Rescue, a
nonprofit organization based in Boring.
Sarah first started riding horses around the age of three
and was exposed to horse training by her mother. Her mother encouraged her to
enter her first competition at the age of 17.
This year is her third time entering in the competition,
which was founded by the Teens and Oregon Mustangs organization in 2009. She
participated twice as a teenager in 2010 and 2013, and came in first place at
the 2016 Washington Mustang Madness.
Teens and Oregon Mustangs co-founder Erica Fitzgerald
described the program’s goals of fostering the trainer’s growth in
horsemanship, facilitating adoption of the heavily overpopulated wild mustangs
and allowing the public access to the gentled horses.
“We try to give the general public a chance to own a piece
of American history,” she said.
Sarah does an “outstanding job representing our program,”
Erica added, describing Sarah’s efforts preparing the horses for adoption by
training them to be handled by the public.
“350 horses later we’ve made a tiny dent,” said Fitzgerald,
noting the program’s 100 percent adoption record.
40 horses were auctioned off as a result of the
organization’s efforts this year.
The trainers and horses compete and are scored in four
categories; body conditioning, showmanship, in-hand trail and riding. Trainers
are assigned horses randomly at the beginning of the competition.
“I was lucky to get a pretty one; that helps,” Sarah
laughed, describing the 15.2 hand, red dun mustang gelding she named Comanche
in recognition of the horse that was the sole surviving member of the U.S
Calvary after the Battle of the Little Bighorn. “He’s got a kind heart, a lot
of personality and I really enjoy working with him,” she added.
Sarah and Comanche placed third in the body conditioning
portion of the competition and third in the showmanship category. Overall, they
came in fourth place in their division in the 2018 Mustang Adoption Challenge.
Comanche was auctioned off for $5,400 and was the second highest bidding horse
in the competition.
“Comanche did great, everybody loved him,” Sarah said after
the event. “He got an awesome home; that’s the ultimate goal.”
Sarah plans on continuing to compete in the wild mustang
training challenges. She is heading to Burns in April to pick up two horses to
train for the 2018 Washington Mustang Madness in July. She is also
participating in the Oregon Rescue Challenge, June 29-30, in Powell Butte to
aid in the adoption of abused and neglected horses.
She plans on taking the next two mustangs to Welches and the
surrounding region to train once the weather permits.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Court rules in favor of Feds in Hwy. 26 lawsuit posted on 04/01/2018
A decade ago, the Federal Highway Administration bulldozed a
path through sacred Native American sites along Hwy. 26 in the Mountain
community.
The project was defined as a widening of the highway.
A stone altar, campground, medicinal plants used for religious
rituals and ancient burial grounds were destroyed along the way. Members of the
Cascade and Klickitat tribes in Oregon alerted officials to the sacred nature
of the sites, but the government paid no attention.
Last month, a federal judge ruled that the government is
free to bulldoze sacred Native American burial grounds and destroy sacred
artifacts, according to the Becket law firm which is representing the tribes.
“For centuries Native Americans have endured the destruction
of sacred places by the federal government and it’s heartbreaking that the
court would say this completely preventable destruction was okay,” said Carol
Logan, member of the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde. “All we want is the
return of our artifacts, the rededication of the area for our ancestors, and
the promise that we can continue to worship as our tribes have done for
centuries.”
The court’s ruling in Slockish v. U.S. Federal Highway
Administration cites the religious freedom rights of Native Americans cannot be
used to protect their artifacts and sacred sites.
Tribal members were seeking justice under the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. But the magistrate judge’s opinion stated
“Even where the government’s actions would virtually destroy a group’s ability
to practice their religion the Constitution simply does not provide a principle
that could justify upholding (their) legal claims.”
“The federal government has repeatedly shown a callous
disregard for Native American religious beliefs,” said Stephanie Barclay,
counsel for the non-profit, public-interest law firm of Becket. “For these
tribes, this burial ground was their church. Our religious freedom laws
wouldn’t allow the government to destroy other churches with impunity, and it shouldn’t
be any different for Native Americans.”
Plaintiffs in the case are Wilbur Slockish and Johnny
Jackson, hereditary chiefs of the Klickitat and Cascade tribes, and Carol Logan
is an enrolled member of the Grand Ronde tribe.
They are joined in the lawsuit by Cascade Geographic Society
and the Mount Hood Sacred Lands Preservation Alliance.
Tribal members plan to appeal the ruling. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Red Cross steps in after Mt. Hood Village fire posted on 04/01/2018
Through the light snow, the homey scent of wood fire drifts
from metal chimneys protruding from manufactured homes in a quiet community in
Welches. The comforting aroma belies the risk of fire, and on March 5 a wood
stove caused a home fire that left two adults and six children in need of Red
Cross disaster assistance.
The Hoodland Fire Department received the call for the fire
at approximately 10:30 a.m. March 5. The fire occurred in a manufactured home
in the Hood Course Acres mobile home park in the 25200 block of East Welches
Road in Mt. Hood Village.
A representative for the fire department reported that the
fire was caused by a wood stove that was installed without proper clearance.
The fire caused damage to an exterior wall and damaged electrical wiring that
had to be removed from the dwelling.
Lieutenant Phil Burks of the Hoodland Fire Department
described the incidence as a minor fire. He stated the lack of power left the
mobile home temporarily uninhabitable.
“It probably cost more in the long run,” said Lieutenant
Eric Macy of the Hoodland Fire Department, referencing the improperly installed
wood stove. He cited the costs of displacing the family and the damage to the
property.
The Red Cross responded to the home fire disaster and helped
eight people impacted by the fire address immediate needs, such as temporary shelter,
food, clothing and health and mental health services.
A Red Cross representative, Amelia Holmes, explained that
the Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington (the Cascades Region) helps an
average of three families affected by disasters every day.
The Red Cross works to connect victims of home fire
disasters with local aid providers, such as Goodwill for clothing, and regional
health care providers for health and mental health services.
“It’s not just that we respond… we try to make sure people
are prepared,” Holmes added, referencing the Home Fire Campaign, the
preparedness side of Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services.
Residents throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington can get
free smoke alarms installed in their home year-round by contacting the Red
Cross at 503-528-5283, making an appointment at
www.redcross.org/CascadesHomeFire, or emailing preparedness@redcross.org.
Hoodland Fire responded to six building fires in 2017, and
10 chimney or flue fires that remained confined to the chimney during the same
year. Fires accounted for 3.78 percent of the incidences the department
responded to during the last calendar year. By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Molly Izer.
The conditions were stormy and the competition fierce last
month in the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (OISRA) finals at
Mount Bachelor.
The Sandy High boys and girls ski teams, having placed
second and third respectively in Mt. Hood League competition, took on the
state’s best and were rewarded with a combined ninth place finish by the boys,
and 15th for the girls in a field of more than 100 racers.
SHS head coach Josh Kanable, and assistant coaches Alex
Kanable and Quency Fahlgren, emphasize balancing the competitive nature of ski
racing with the ultimate goal of creating lasting community.
“There is something truly beautiful about sharing a
chairlift ride with a friend,” Josh Kanable said. “The connections that
athletes create on those cold snowy nights help to shape the community of our
mountain. Skiing should not be a selfish experience. It is meant to be shared.”
The boys team was paced by junior London Madrid who finished
25th combined (slalom and giant slalom) overall, having skied to 25th in the
slalom and 24th in the giant slalom. Freshman Alex Rogers issued warnings of
things to come by capturing 36th combined after posting 33rd in the slalom and
55th in the giant slalom.
Junior Gabe Smith was the boys top finisher with a 16th
place in the grand slalom but suffered a DQ in the slalom.
On the distaff side, the graduation of three seniors proved
less of a loss with the strong performances of freshmen Mikayla Wood and Molly
Izer.
“Both of these young ladies have made incredible
improvements despite the challenging snow year we have had,” Kanable said.
“Many people assume that a racing background is a prerequisite to joining the
Sandy ski team, but all we need are athletes who are committed to improvement.
Time on snow seems to do the rest.”
Izer finished 36th in the slalom and 79th in the grand
slalom, for a combined overall of 46th out of 97 hopefuls. Wood was an
alternate in the slalom and placed 82nd in the GS. Julia Engler placed 49th
overall with 53rd in slalom and 72nd in GS. Sacheen Lampert nabbed 54th place
overall with 58th in slalom and 81st in GS.
Leagues across the state include the local Mt. Hood League,
Blue Mountain League in eastern Oregon, Three Rivers and Metro Leagues around
Portland, and the Southern Oregon League around Mount Ashland. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Thermal imaging photo.
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Battalion Chief Pat McAbery
offered an example of when a drone helped a public agency at the top of his
head: the Bureau of Land Management had a fire running toward a station last
year and used a drone to spot when the fire jumped a road, helping them stop it
before losing any infrastructure. And in the HFD, the possibilities are also
easy to identify: aerial reconnaissance of fires, floods, trail rescues,
hazardous materials incidents and more; offering real time information
performed with safety in mind.
And now, thanks to a donation from FLIR International, the
district has a multi-role drone with infrared state-of-the-art technology and
three thermal imaging cameras at its disposal.
“It is a growing trend in the industry,” McAbery said,
adding that there are likely a number of scenarios where a drone will be useful
that he can’t even think of now. “It’s an amazingly capable machine.”
McAbery is a certified commercial drone pilot by the Federal
Aviation Administration and noted the district is hoping to train up to five
members, both career staff and volunteers, to be operators. The drone pilots will
need training in numerous areas, including being able to read charts on
airspace (although there is no airspace restrictions in the district, there
could be when firefighters are deployed to incidents outside the district) and
getting familiar with the controls, as directing a drone left or right would
depend on its orientation in relation to the operator.
The drone is an Inspire 1, a mid-sized one made by DJI, with
the camera donated by FLIR. The drone is also set up to be dual operated, with
one pilot and another firefighter able to run the camera.
“If this proves to be really good for us, the new ones have
sensors so they don’t run into things, get signals that an airplane is coming
by,” McAbery said, adding that the district purchased a couple of inexpensive
drones for people to train on.
McAbery noted that when operating the drone, it needs to be
in the pilot’s line of sight the entire time and cannot exceed 400 feet in
altitude.
“It’s a short distance thing,” he said. “We will come to a
scene, take it out of its box and operate it from there.”
“I think these are incredible assets to our communities and
keeps Hoodland Fire on the cutting edge of public safety,” added HFD Chief John
Ingrao in an email to the Mountain Times. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Aurora del Val
“I’ve watched with dismay as President Trump has exacerbated
racial tensions and fueled anti-immigrant sentiment, and I believe that Oregon
has the chance to make clear that we will not fall for the politics of division
and fear,” Aurora del Val explained in a press release announcing her candidacy
for state representative in House District 52 – which includes the Hoodland
community.
“Now is not the time for sitting on the sidelines,” she
added. “I am running … to stand up and take the most active part I can in our
democracy. I value justice for all. I value decency. I trust that Oregon voters
do as well.”
The Cascade Locks resident first dipped her toes into
political pools in 2016 when she led the bipartisan campaign to protect water
supplies from Nestle’s attempt to export millions of gallons a year of bottled
water from the Columbia River. The grassroots campaign attracted local farmers,
conservationists and native Americans and the ballot measure scored a stunning
69 percent victory.
“What that campaign taught me is that even if we are
outspent, we can take on special interests and win as long as we’re willing to
talk to our neighbors and stay focused on the public good,” she said.
del Val was born to a working-class family, raised in a
farming community by a father who served in two wars and a mother who processed
vegetables in the packing industry. As a college educator, she taught English
and was Department Chair at Portland Community College. She championed the
raising of capital for improvements at Mt. Hood Community College.
del Val is the current President of Hood River’s Rockford
Grange and has a deep appreciation for the important role farms and orchards in
District 52 play in Oregon’s agricultural economy and local communities alike.
The Democrat candidate will hold a Kick-Off (meet Aurora)
event from 6 to 8 p.m., March 2, at the Ant Farm in Sandy, followed by a
meeting from 9 to 10:30 a.m., March 3, at the Still Creek Inn.
“The Oregon Legislature will have the opportunity to show
that Oregon values our seniors, that we do not believe people should have the
emergency room as their only health care option, or that the interests of
corporations should be elevated above the interests of people,” del Val said.
The HD 52 seat is on the ballot following the resignation
last November of Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), and the subsequent selection
of Jeff Helfrich by the district Republican committee to assume the interim
seat.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Vector Control looks to take a bite out of bugs this summer posted on 03/01/2018
Two representatives from the Clackamas County Vector Control
District (CCVC), Interim Executive Director Josh Jacobson and office manager
Theresa Micallef, detailed methods used to monitor and control mosquito
populations on the mountain at the Tuesday, Feb. 6 meeting of the Mt. Hood Area
Chamber of Commerce, held at the Mount Hood Village RV Resort. They also
informed citizens of ways to reduce exposure to potential mosquito borne
illnesses such as West Nile and Zika viruses.
“We’re trying to have the minimum impact on people, property
and the environment,” Jacobson said, describing an approach called integrated
pest management, “while protecting citizens from mosquitoes.”
CCVC was established as a special district in 1964 to
control mosquito and fly populations that act as vectors, or carriers, of
pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and harmful protozoans.
Jacobson explained that limiting breeding grounds is an
essential aspect of control in which community members can play an important
role. Mosquitoes breed in any containers that hold still or stagnant water such
as bird baths, gutters and downspouts, tires, planters, rain barrels and
ditches.
Unmaintained backyard pools are cited as leading breeding
grounds in the area.
CCVC also reduces mosquito populations by providing any
citizen with a contained body of water on their property with free Gambusia
affinis, commonly known as mosquito fish. These minnows primarily feed on
mosquito larvae. This method can also help minimize the use of pesticides.
They advised community members to avoid exposure to mosquito
borne illness by limiting contact when mosquitoes are most active, during
sunrise, sunset and early evening. Jacobson recommended covering up with long
sleeves, long pants, socks and closed shoes when around mosquitoes and using
repellent containing DEET when necessary.
The West Nile virus is the primary mosquito borne illness of
concern for the CCVC. The virus produces flu-like symptoms in most cases but
can result in more severe complications for susceptible populations, including
those with compromised immune systems, the elderly and children.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported West Nile virus
in six Oregon counties in 2017, while no occurrences of West Nile virus were
reported in the Mount Hood area in 2017 according to the study. CCVC traps
mosquitoes in the region and tests potential vector species for the virus.
CCVC also watches for Zika virus, which was reported in the
continental United States in 2016. OHA reported that neither of the two species
of mosquitoes known to transmit the virus (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus)
has been detected in Oregon, while Jacobson confirmed that these species have
not been discovered in the area by mosquito population monitoring.
Mosquito populations in the region increase steadily through
the spring months before peaking in July and August and decreasing in the fall,
according to CCVC monitoring data. As
locals and tourists enjoy Mount Hood’s myriad summer offerings, controlling
populations is a shared concern.
Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce President Coni Scott
described the Feb. 6 meeting as well attended and reported a high level of
interest from local community and business members.
Additional information about methods mountain area residents
can use to prevent and limit their exposure to mosquitoes and mosquito borne
illnesses is available on the Clackamas County Vector Control website at
www.fightthebites.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes a new president posted on 03/01/2018
For the first time in about 10 years, the Mt. Hood Area
Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new president. At the Tuesday, March 6
meeting, Coni Scott’s tenure as the organization’s president will end, with
Jeri McMahan taking on the role.
McMahan noted that there are “big shoes to fill” and that
she hopes to continue the momentum built up over the past decade.
“We have a good board; it’s a volunteer position and I
always believe it’s the board, it’s the group that runs it,” she said. “It’s
not one person.”
McMahan headed the Hoodland Senior Center for 28 years and
served as a board member for the Welches Schools prior to school district
consolidation. She also serves with Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural
Affairs, a community partnership program.
“This woman is extremely qualified, I’m excited,” Scott
said.
McMahan added that she hopes to engage with the chamber’s
members to get more ideas on improving tourism and getting people to stay on
the mountain to help area businesses. But she also doesn’t see a need to make
any changes with the group.
“I think the chamber its well organized right now, I think
my idea right now is to keep going with the way we have things organized right
now,” McMahan said. “I don’t see anything that’s broken that we need to fix
right now.”
Scott, who will be the chamber’s vice president, noted that
she’s most proud of all the people that worked hard to make the chamber a
success during her tenure as president.
“If I’m going to be proud of anything, I’m going to be proud
of our family of friends up here,” she said. “I did nothing by myself. The
volunteers and the number of people we had from everywhere was amazing.”
Accomplishments during the past 10 years for the chamber
include a yearly breakfast honoring area volunteers, television commercials,
various brochures and more.
But one event Scott played a role in starting up, The Bite
of Mt. Hood, will not be back this year. Both Scott and McMahan cited the
amount of work and the numbers of volunteers needed to put the event on as the
biggest reason for not bringing it back this spring.
“We’re going out on a high note right now, and I think
that’s the way to do it instead of watch something fizzle out,” McMahan said.
“Hopefully, if we bring it back again, people will be out there waiting for
it.”
Scott noted that while she is sad the event will not happen,
she is proud of how the profits from The Bite were used to support other
organizations in the community, including the school and the Boy Scouts.
“The community gave, and I hope they know we gave back to
them, as well,” she said. “That’s really important, as far as I’m concerned.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Portland man falls to his death on Hood posted on 03/01/2018
The stark beauty of Mount Hood, once again, unveiled its
other side.
The 11,240-foot peak claimed the life of Miha Sumi, 35, of
Portland, when the climber reportedly slipped on the ice and failed to
self-arrest, falling more than 700 feet from the Hogsback area on the south
face of the mountain.
Sumi’s injuries reportedly included bruising around the
ears, significant bleeding, loss of sensation and fading vital signs. Other
climbers reached Sumi – including his climbing partner Chatchay Thongthap who
made the initial 911 call – and administered CPR for approximately 1 1/2 hours.
An hour later an Oregon Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter arrived and
hoisted the fallen climber into the helicopter and transported him to Legacy
Emanuel Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
The Feb. 13 rescue mission was complicated when for several
hours officials could not determine how many people remained on the mountain
when the weather turned warm and conditions worsened. Despite the clear skies,
falling rocks and ice hampered rescue efforts while NOAA was forecasting
significant snowfall that night.
Rescuers were racing against the clock.
Besides Sumi and those assisting him, there were stranded
climbers sheltering in place on Hogsback awaiting the rescue teams. These
climbers reportedly had mid-level experience and were well-equipped with
appropriate climbing gear, including ice axes, crampons, helmets and other
safety gear.
Members of the RAT team, Portland Mountain Rescue and the
304th Air Force Rescue Squadron headed up the mountain, assisted by snowcats
transporting other rescuers to the top of the Palmer lift for deployment and
were prepped to transport recovered climbers back to Timberline Lodge.
Rope lines were put down to assist the other stranded
climbers to safely descend the mountain. One of the climbers, Kimberly
Anderson, 32, of Beaverton was unable to move. She was later secured in a sled
and was transported to safety.
Matt Zovrtink and Dan Parks were the other climbers that
required assistance.
“Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Miha
Sumi,” Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said in a press release. “Thanks
to all the search groups for their tremendous work on this complex
search-and-rescue mission. Every SAR mission is a team effort requiring help and
careful coordination from teams dedicated first-response partners and
volunteers.”
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Portland Mountain
Rescue, American Medical Response Reach & Treat Team, 304th Air Rescue
Squad, Hood River Crag Rats, Navy personnel from Whidbey Island, Oregon
Emergency Management and Mountain Wave.
Mount Hood is the second most climbed mountain in the world.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Macbeth.
Mistaken identities, murder most foul, a masquerade ball and
a coven of witches; Thursday, Feb. 15 was not the typical evening at Welches
Middle School. That night, seventh and eighth grade students offered
performances of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Macbeth” as
the culmination of a two-week artist in residence program that was part of the
Right Brain Initiative.
“I was so proud of them,” said Kendra Payne, the school’s
principal. “It was just really amazing to see them take it so seriously and be
so excited about it and work so hard.”
For the program, which utilizes arts integration to help
students link learning from one area to others, a guest artist helped seventh
graders work on “Much Ado About Nothing,” a comedy about love and mistaken
identity, and eighth graders with “Macbeth,” a tragedy about the rise of
Macbeth to become the King of Scotland before his misdeeds lead to his fall.
Eighth grader Inanna Vognild had some acting experience from
a summer camp she went to a couple years ago, but faced the challenge of
playing both MacDuff and Lady Macbeth in the tragedy.
“I learned that it’s a lot harder than it actually seems,
but it can pay off in the end, because it’s fun putting on the performance,”
she said, noting that she had some familiarity with the play prior to working
on it. “I was a bit nervous that I might end up missing a cue or something, but
after the play a lot of people came up and said I did a good job.”
Seventh grader Sydney Brewster played Beatrice in “Much Ado
About Nothing,” her first theatrical endeavor, and faced the traditional
butterflies when the performance date arrived.
“I was nervous at first, then I started to get into it more
and it became more comfortable,” Brewster said.
Abel Castaneda played a variety of roles in the
seventh-grade show, including Benedict, Leonato and Claudio, but was ready for
the show thanks to practicing with his sister at home.
“I was pretty nervous and I think I did pretty good,” he
said.
This was the third full year that the school participated in
the Right Brain Initiative, and Payne noted this year’s program helped give
students a way to show a different side of themselves. She added that some kids
who have shown signs of disengagement and apathy in the classroom were able to
come out of their shell during their theatrical studies.
“That’s what we always want, to see the kids get engaged and
excited about learning,” Payne said, adding that this was the first time that
performing arts has been done at the Welches Schools “in a long time.”
The middle school will have a unit on Shakespeare later this
year, and Payne believes the performances will help students get a jump start
and be eager learners when it arrives.
“I think they’re going to be much more engaged with it and
have a deeper understanding of it because of the work they’re doing now,” she
said, adding that the elementary students also worked on Shakespeare plays but
did not have a final performance.
Parents of the seventh and eighth graders came away
impressed.
“I thought the kids looked like they were having a lot of
fun doing it,” said Hans Vognild, Inanna’s father, adding that the evening had
a positive feeling from the community support. “I think they did a really good
job, especially considering they only had two weeks to prepare.”
“I think they did amazing and a lot of them tried to buy
into their characters,” said Lidia Vento, Castaneda’s mother. “I was very proud
of them.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Karin Hoffman.
Karin Hoffman has made a full transition in her career since
her first child arrived three years ago, but one aspect has remained constant:
the bathroom.
Hoffman worked for A Touch of Class Cleaning before her
family expanded, when cleaning the bathroom (among other rooms) was just part
of the job. Now, Hoffman is a mother of two, and to help make some money while
being at home, she works as an acrylic painter and the most convenient place to
create her works is the lavatory.
“Having a three-year-old and a one-year-old, I have to be on
call all of the time,” Hoffman said. “Being there, I can be central, the kids
can come in and I can drop what I’m doing at a moment’s notice.”
Hoffman started working as an artist just last April, but she’s
already enjoyed some quick successes: two pieces were selected for a
beautification process in Beaverton, Cat’s Moon Coffee in Boring offers her
work on t-shirts and mugs, Wippersnappers in Sandy hired her for a mural in
their expanded play space and her work is currently showing at the Estacada
Library through April. After that, her work will be shown at the Sunnyside
Health & Wellness Center in Happy Valley May 11 through the Clackamas
County Arts Alliance (CCAA).
“It’s been pretty exciting,” said Hoffman, a Sandy resident.
“It’s really an honor.”
Hoffman noted that she is mainly self-taught, but that she
does have some artists in the family, including her grandmother on her mom’s
side and an uncle. She described her style as “pop realism,” taking a pop style
but trending towards realistic things, and she prefers to work with bright,
vivid colors.
“It definitely makes you feel happy and glad that your
artwork is touching people,” Hoffman said. “It’s nice when you find people who
are drawn to your style.”
Suzi Anderson, Programs Coordinator for the CCAA, noted that
Hoffman’s art received very high marks.
“It was so colorful and bright and cheery, that the
selection committee thought it would bring a lot of peace and joy to our
exhibit galleries,” she said.
The CCAA places artwork from county artists in 18 galleries
in 11 venues throughout Clackamas County, including public buildings, libraries,
hospitals, a bank and health centers, while running a number of programs that promote
art and culture. Anderson added that about half the artists in the exhibit
program are first-timers.
“We feel like it's a win-win-win situation: for the artists
to show work, for the public to have access of different varieties and it
beautifies their surroundings, as well,” she said.
Hoffman, who has also been hired to create commission
pieces, noted that her success has so far paid the art bills and provided some
profit on top.
“When I do get to reflect, which isn’t often, I do feel very
blessed and privileged that I’ve gotten to do this,” she said. “So far it
really has been going well, I’ve been thrilled to see that it’s something I can
continue to do. It’s been a thrilling ride.”
Prints of Hoffman’s work and more information are available
at Etsy.com/shop/BlissBrush, Facebook.com/BlissBrush,Instagram.com/BlissBrush
and www.blissbrush.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Sam Leninger
The welcome sight of crocus and daffodils will soon herald
the coming of spring. But lurking in the wings will be the loathsome invaders.
Joining the unsavory species such as policeman’s helmet,
Scotch broom, knotweed, ragwort, hawkweed – all of which have been exposed in
previous issues of The Mountain Times – comes another invasive, the lesser
celandine.
Don’t be fooled by its pretty presentation. It dresses up in
bright and shiny yellow flowers that hover on 6 to 8-inch stems over a sea of
glossy heart-shaped green leaves.
“Folks are starting to get anxious to start working in their
yards,” said Lisa Kilders, education and outreach program manager for the
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District. “We think this is a good
time to catch their attention about a particularly aggressive invasive weed.
Lesser celandine can take over not only our yards, but also invades natural
areas.”
The plant only blooms for a few weeks in late winter or
early spring and then its flowers and leaves quickly wither away, Kilders
added. “During this critical period, it can prevent growth of native and
ornamental plants in gardens and natural areas by shading and secreting
growth-suppressing chemicals into the soil. These adaptations allow it to
out-compete more desirable plants, reducing diversity and aesthetics in your
garden. It does best in damp, disturbed areas, but is competitive in many
locations.”
Lesser celandine is also toxic to most mammals, including
humans and livestock.
Removing lesser celandine
To get rid of this weed, carefully dig them up and dispose
of them as trash. Be careful to not lose track of its finger-like bulbs that
easily separate and establish new plants. For large infestations, herbicides
with active ingredients of glyphosate and triclopyr are effective when applied
soon after the plant starts flowering. It is critically important to apply
according to the label instructions and to only in allowed settings.
You will also benefit from establishing and promoting
competing vegetation.
Find additional invasive species information at
weedwise.conservationdistrict.org. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Photo by Sam Leninger Lesser celandine can be more, and not in a good way posted on 03/01/2018
The welcome sight of crocus and daffodils will soon herald
the coming of spring. But lurking in the wings will be the loathsome invaders.
Joining the unsavory species such as policeman’s helmet,
Scotch broom, knotweed, ragwort, hawkweed – all of which have been exposed in
previous issues of The Mountain Times – comes another invasive, the lesser
celandine.
Don’t be fooled by its pretty presentation. It dresses up in
bright and shiny yellow flowers that hover on 6 to 8-inch stems over a sea of
glossy heart-shaped green leaves.
“Folks are starting to get anxious to start working in their
yards,” said Lisa Kilders, education and outreach program manager for the
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District. “We think this is a good
time to catch their attention about a particularly aggressive invasive weed.
Lesser celandine can take over not only our yards, but also invades natural
areas.”
The plant only blooms for a few weeks in late winter or
early spring and then its flowers and leaves quickly wither away, Kilders
added. “During this critical period, it can prevent growth of native and
ornamental plants in gardens and natural areas by shading and secreting
growth-suppressing chemicals into the soil. These adaptations allow it to
out-compete more desirable plants, reducing diversity and aesthetics in your
garden. It does best in damp, disturbed areas, but is competitive in many
locations.”
Lesser celandine is also toxic to most mammals, including
humans and livestock.
Removing lesser celandine
To get rid of this weed, carefully dig them up and dispose
of them as trash. Be careful to not lose track of its finger-like bulbs that
easily separate and establish new plants. For large infestations, herbicides
with active ingredients of glyphosate and triclopyr are effective when applied
soon after the plant starts flowering. It is critically important to apply
according to the label instructions and to only in allowed settings.
You will also benefit from establishing and promoting
competing vegetation.
Find additional invasive species information at
weedwise.conservationdistrict.org. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Drone photo by Daryl Moistner.
A 55-acre swath has been logged at the nexus of Birdie Lane
and Welches Road.
The property was purchased in September 2017 by Chilton
Logging Inc. of Woodland, Wash., and the logging operation began in early
October, with the work finished in November.
The property is zoned Mountain Recreational Resort by
Clackamas County which clears the way for different recreational and
residential uses.
Craig Chilton, owner of the logging and development company,
reached out to the community in a telephone interview with The Mountain Times.
“We want to work with the community,” Chilton said. “We want
to be nice, fit in as much as possible.”
In the beginning, Chilton indicated in an email that first
and foremost (regarding the purchase) was the fact that it was a great piece of
timberland.
“As we progressed from purchase to harvest, the development
potential of the property began to stand out – particularly once the trees were
harvested,” Chilton wrote. “The land has so much potential: gently sloped, near
to the highway and the neighboring resort and golf course. It’s a very unique
property … which presents us with a lot of options moving forward.”
Chilton added that he is still researching how best to
develop the property. “We try to look at all our options. Everything from
developing the property ourselves, selling it to another party to develop, or
working with one of the established resorts already on the mountain to create a
recreational community … our options are fairly wide open. Whatever we do we
want it to be a quality development. Something the people in this area can be
proud of.”
David Lythgoe, owner of Merit Properties in Welches, gave
The Mountain Times his view of the operation.
“For loggers, I think they did a good job,” Lythgoe wrote in
an email. “They did not totally clear cut which they could have done. I wish
they had left a few more evergreen trees. It now looks open to maple,
cottonwood and alder re-forestation.”
Chilton indicated the single biggest obstacle has (and will
be) codes and regulations.
“This isn’t to say that we are out to avoid regulations, or
do work in violation of state and local regulators,” he wrote. “We work and
respect those rules. The concern is that many land use laws regulate to the
lowest common denominator. We pride ourselves in the quality of our
developments, but a lot of time, energy and money is spent essentially proving
to agencies that you aren’t out to make a quick buck and damage other property
owners. In the end, it raises the cost of development unnecessarily for
everyone – from the developer right on down to the homeowner.”
Chilton Logging Inc. has been family owned and operated for
five generations. Craig Chilton acquired the company from his father in 1990,
and in 2000 launched a custom home construction division.
“It was shortly after launching the custom home division
that we realized the opportunity that lay between forestry management and
homebuilding: land development,” Chilton wrote. “It was a logical connection,
and it allowed us to create quality developments for the placement of custom
homes – from forestland to neighborhoods.”
The company has grown over the years, and now employs
approximately 85 people.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Chief John Ingrao (left) and Dana Waldron
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) celebrated another year of
service at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 27, at The Resort at The
Mountain. The yearly event offers a chance for the district to present awards
and enjoy dinner, live music by Bob Voll and the Too Loose Band and an evening
of entertainment for all the district’s members, including volunteers, the
board of directors, support groups, lifetime members, retirees and the paid
staff.
HFD Chief John Ingrao noted the event ties together the
members of the district that don’t often get the chance to mingle.
“I think (it's special) because we have so many different
skill sets and areas of responsibility, and we work in conjunction but not all
together,” Ingrao said. “We’re thanking each other and having a celebration.”
The Fire Fighter of the Year award went to Dana Waldron, who
has volunteered with the district for two years. Ingrao noted that Waldron’s
selection was unanimous, including all paid staff and duty officers, and that
he is exceedingly skilled and always wants to be helping.
“He’s just consistently striving to do better and because of
that it brings everybody else up with him,” Ingrao said. “He just exemplifies
that volunteer spirit.”
Waldron noted that he joined the district after a loss in
his family and that winning the award is “humbling.”
“I don’t see myself as doing that much more than anybody
else,” Waldron said. “I love my Hoodland Fire District and I hope I can serve
it for a long time to come.”
Matt Garcia earned the Rookie of the Year award, while
Melinda Caldwell took home the EMS Responder of the Year award and Tom Nelson
won the Support Volunteer of the Year. Years in Service Awards winners included
Cody Anderson (five years); Evan Jarvis, Joe Schwab and Eric Macy (ten years
each); and Linn and Carol Norgard (35 years each).
New awards were also given out this year, including Above
and Beyond awards, for both combat personnel and support staff, and the Chief’s
Award, for the person who transcends all the other awards and is there every
possible moment when needed. Kevin Frank won the Above and Beyond (Combat)
award, Sally Chester and Debra Sinz took home the Above and Beyond (Support)
award and James Jarvis received the Chief’s Award.
“We weren’t capturing all of the extra work and effort that
people have done,” Ingrao said. “There's so many doing so much stuff, we kind
of forget about it. They’re going above and beyond.”
The district also honored the Support Group/CERT and the
Lions Club with Nominated Awards for their work on the Great American Eclipse
last year. Lieutenant/EMT-1 Phil Burks noted the eclipse was unprecedented and
the time and effort put in for it was over multiple days. The two groups helped
to serve more than 650 meals to members of various public safety organizations
during all hours of the day and night during the event.
“We called on the district to do a lot and the district
answered in all ways very well, and exceeded the expectations of everyone,”
Burks said. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| The Hoodland Senior Center celebrates 40 years on the mountain posted on 02/01/2018
40 years ago this month, 65 people, including Clackamas
County Commissioner Stan Skoko, celebrated the opening of the Hoodland Senior
Center, Information & Referral Center at the Lions Club. On Wednesday, Feb.
28, the Senior Center will celebrate four decades of serving seniors from Alder
Creek to Government Camp at its current location, 65000 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches.
The celebration will take place from 1-3 p.m.
Ella Vogel, the center’s director, noted that all their
efforts are supported by volunteers.
“They’ve been the backbone of this organization from the beginning,”
she said.
The group first formed in November 1976, devised by Reva Cox
as the Hoodland Senior Citizens, and held the first potluck luncheon at the
Lions Club on Feb. 8, 1977. 32 people came to the first meeting, followed by 52
at the second, with potluck luncheons becoming a monthly event.
“That’s what I found amazing, it was established by potluck
luncheons and just volunteers,” said Vogel, who has been combing through the
organization’s history in the recent months.
The center runs a variety of programs, including classes on
topics such as knitting and better bone health, offers trips to a wide range of
activities including Spirit Mountain Casino, OMSI and restaurants, counsels
seniors on Medicare and also operates the local Meals On Wheels program. Vogel,
one of two part-time employees, notes that the organization operates solely on
donations and stressed the importance of the volunteers, including the Meals On
Wheels drivers (Bob Boertien, Julie Bailey, Mary Imel McIntosh, Connie Mahlum,
Judy Simon, Susan Stindt and Barbara Vangelder), who delivered 2,785 meals, and
bus drivers (Doug Burk, Bob Fletcher, Ed Grenfell, David Marshall and Mark
Smith), who drove 4,571 miles and 1,401 one-way trips during the 2016-17 fiscal
year.
Vogel hopes to make a list of volunteers throughout the
years and also create a “wall of memories,” featuring photos of them.
“There's nothing more than I‘d like to show them how much we
appreciate them,” Vogel said.
Vogel noted that one recent addition to the center has made
a difference – a shed that stores medical equipment, including wheelchairs and
walkers. Wheelchairs are offered at $1 a day (no charge for walkers), giving
seniors on the mountain an affordable option that is nearby.
And as for future programs, Vogel hopes to potentially add a
farmer’s market in the center’s parking lot sometime. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Help with water bills available through RWA posted on 02/01/2018
The Rhododendron Water Association (RWA) has put into place
for its water customers a Ratepayer Assistance Program (RAP).
The RAP provides any member of the association having difficulty
paying their water dues to confidentially apply for financial assistance.
Funding will come from donations of RWA customers who wish
to contribute to the program and other community donations or assistance
programs. Only funds donated for the RAP will be used.
“The RWA Board is relying on the generosity of the Hoodland
community and other RWA members to help fund the program,” RWA President Steve
Graeper wrote in a press release. “The amount of assistance available will be
solely dependent on the funds available through donation. A committee of three
RWA board members will administer the program, review applications and
determine eligibility and the amount of assistance for each applicant.”
The committee will accept applications through March 1 dues
payment deadline.
“RWA sincerely hopes that the community will generously
respond with donations when they realize the benefit of helping out neighbors
who may find it difficult to make ends meet not only helps the recipient, but
the entire Hoodland economy as well,” Graeper wrote. “To my knowledge, this is
a first of a kind program offered for water users on the Mountain.”
Applications can be submitted through RWA by calling
503-622-5000, email at rhododendron.water@gmail.com or on the website at rhodywater.com.
Donations may be sent to RWA, PO Box 163, Rhododendron, Oregon, or call
503-622-3000 to donate by credit card.
Logo Contest
The Rhododendron CPO is sponsoring a logo contest with a
10:30 a.m., March 17 deadline for submissions in order to be displayed that day
at the Rhododendron CPO meeting.
“We would prefer as finished (a product) as possible … All
entries will be displayed and the more finished an entry is the better chance
it has to be voted among the top three (winners),” Graeper wrote to Will Frank
of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance who is helping get the word out.
Preference for submissions will be a logo with something
tangible to display such as a poster board display or 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper
would also work, Graeper added. Presentation will help sell the work.
The logo will be used for numerous CPO displays, including
T-shirts, coffee cups, etc.
Winning prizes include: 18 holes of golf and cart from The
Resort at the Mountain; $25 gift certificate from the Skyway Bar & Grill;
cross country/snowboard/or snowshoe rental from Otto’s in Sandy; and lift
tickets for two for tubing or skiing at Skibowl. More prizes may be offered as
businesses continue to donate. The contest is open to anyone.
Submissions should be mailed to Rhododendron CPO, PO Box 33,
Rhododendron, Oregon 97049.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Welches students take on Great Kindness Challenge posted on 02/01/2018
The Welches Schools took kindness to heart last month with
the Great Kindness Challenge, a week dedicated to focusing on kindness
featuring daily themes and a checklist of kind acts students tried to
accomplish. The WILL Club (Welches Intermediate Leadership Liaison) took part
in picking the daily themes, and fifth grader Bailey Sheehan was especially
kind to the theme of “Roundup for Kindness,” voting twice for it.
“That one sounds really cool,” said Sheehan, 11, about the
chance for students to dress up in cowboy and cowgirl gear.
The week consisted of: “Team Up for Kindness,” dressing in
favorite sports team outfit, on Monday; “Tied Together with Kindness,”
featuring scarves and ties, on Tuesday; “Kindness Rocks,” with rock star
apparel on Wednesday; “Roundup for Kindness” on Thursday; and “Dreaming of
Kindness,” dressing in pajamas, on Friday.
This was not the first venture into kindness for the school,
as they worked on compliments and showing kindness last school year, but it
took on a greater focus this year with the Great Kindness Challenge, a program
run by the nonprofit organization Kids for Peace. Welches Schools Principal
Kendra Payne noted that by registering with the organization, they had access
to tools, curriculum and activities to better organize their efforts.
“We believe that educating the whole child is crucial, so
teaching social (and) emotional skills is part of our role,” Payne wrote in an
email to the Mountain Times. “We wanted to bring Kindness to the forefront
because it helps students in all aspects of life.”
The students also noted why kindness to others is a virtue
worth practicing.
“It’s important to be kind because if you're not kind, then
not a lot of people are going to like you,” said Kadence Gilman, 10, a fifth
grader. “If we just had a lot of mean people in the world, the world would be
different.”
“I think kindness is important because kindness will get you
a long way in life and makes things a lot easier,” Sheehan added.
They also saw how they already acted kindly and helped
others out.
“My sister asked me to make food,” said Nestor Gallardo, 10,
a fifth grader, adding that he also says nice things to other people and holds
the door open for others.
“When my dad needs help around the house, I help out,”
Gilman said, adding that she also cleans her room on a daily basis.
Students also received paper links for each entry on the
checklist they completed, with each link then put together to make a chain.
“What we hope is all of our small acts together will grow
into a really big chain of kindness that will carry over to the rest of the
year,” Payne told the students at a kick off assembly on Friday, Jan. 19.
“We’re going to work together to grow small links into chain in classroom, then
take all classroom chains and link them together for a school chain.”
Payne also noted to the Mountain Times how the focus on
kindness can help model examples of the behavior for a wide range of ages,
including middle school students helping the younger students.
“Our 5th graders act as peer helpers at recess to model
kindness and help talk through conflict resolution with younger students,” she
wrote. “Sometimes it's more effective for kids to learn from kids, especially
when it comes to peer interactions.” By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Two wolves.
(MT) – Two wolves have been spotted on the White River Area
and Mt. Hood National Forest and have also been observed on the Warm Springs
Indian Reservation, according to a report from the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife (ODFW).
The sighting is the first-time multiple wolves have been
documented in the northern portion of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains since they
started returning to Oregon in the 2000s.
A lone wolf was observed in the White River Area in December
2013, and a wolf from the Imnaha park roamed the area on his way to Klamath
County. Later in 2015, one wolf was documented in Wasco County.
Wolves in Wasco County and anywhere west of Hwys. 395-78-95
are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, so U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is the lead management agency.
ODFW will provide additional information about Oregon’s wolf
population in March, after the agency completes its annual winter surveys and
minimum population count.
|
|  2017 Bar Theatre
The Clackamas Repertory Theatre announced its 2018 summer
season last month, a slate that includes a reimagined production of Jane
Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” the musical “Annie” and the return of a play
that CRT offered previously as a staged reading, “Ripcord.” And while all three
feature stories surrounding strong women, CRT Assistant Managing Director Jayne
Stevens noted that the theater did not set out to make that this year’s theme.
“When we pick the shows, it kind of just happens
organically,” Stevens said. “But we were drawn to these plays for a reason.”
Things kick off with “Sense and Sensibility,” by Kate
Hamill, adapted from Austen’s novel and directed by Karlyn Love, who directed a
CRT production of “A Christmas Carol.” In this adaptation, running from June 28
through July 22, ten actors play all the roles on a sparse set and Stevens
noted that the ensemble piece should work well in the theater’s space.
“We’re so thrust out there in the audience, it’s nice for
them to see plays like that,” she said.
The classic musical, “Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, music by
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, follows from Aug. 2-26. Stevens,
who will direct the show along with Wesley Robert Hanson, noted that she played
the titular role when she was 12 and when she was asked which musical she’d
like to do, the answer was easy.
“It stuck with me,” Stevens said. “It’s a perfect fit for
the season.”
The third show of the 2018 season will be “Ripcord,” by
David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by David Smith-English, from Sept. 6-30.
Stevens noted that the theater has done a couple of shows by the playwright
already and did this one as a staged reading last year.
Thanks to the strong audience response at that reading, the
show is back, along with the two women who were in the lead roles for the
reading, Randi Douglas as Abby and Anita Sorel as Marilyn.
The summer season will also offer two concerts, with
Susannah Mars and Merideth Kaye Clark singing the hits of Barbra Streisand and
Judy Garland at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 15, and “Portland Sings!” featuring local
artists singing Broadway hits at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.
Stevens noted that last year’s “Portland Sings!” concert
packed the house, prompting the theater to do it again this year.
“We never had that big of a response,” she said.
Children’s Theater and Staged Readings
Luckily for theatergoers, CRT’s calendar features some
offerings that are a little sooner, including the latest in the theater’s
interactive children’s shows, “Wing It, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. The
series, developed and directed by Travis Nodurft, a CRT company member,
professional clown and Oregon City sixth-grade teacher, is created for children
two to ten years of age, but it’s fun for all ages.
“Wing It” includes singing, dancing and a talent show for
kids, offering a chance to go up on stage. Admission is $5 at the door with no
reserved seating. Future “Wing It” performances include April 21, June 16 and
Sept. 29.
CRT will also offer staged readings, kicking things off with
“Red Speedo,” by Lucas Hnath, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. The playwright is also
known for “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” which picks up 15 years after the action
concludes in Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, “A Doll’s House.” A Broadway
production of Hnath’s play earned eight 2017 Tony Award nominations.
“Red Speedo” offers the story of a professional swimmer
trying to go to the Olympics and deals with the pressures coming from different
angles and how the swimmer responds to them.
“There’s a really great relationship between the Olympic
swimmer and his brother, who’s bailed him out on several occasions,” Stevens
said. “It’s pretty interesting to see the demise of it.”
CRT will also offer another reading by Hnath, “The
Christians,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25.
Meanwhile, CRT will continue its “Bar Theatre” series with a
reading of Jeffery Hatcher’s “Mrs. Mannerly” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday March 4, at
Trail Distilling, 21553 S Hwy. 213 in Oregon City, and a reading of Christian
O’Reilly’s “Chapatti” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Portland Cider Company,
8925 SE Jannsen Road in Clackamas.
Tickets to the “Bar Theatre” events include one custom CRT
cocktail or beverage.
All performances take place at the Niemeyer Center on the
Oregon City campus of Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in
Oregon City, unless noted. For more information, including ticketing
information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047 (tickets for the “Wing
It” series are only available at the door).
Sandy show continues
The Sandy Actors Theatre’s production of “Rose Colored Glass,”
by Sue Bigelow and Janice Goldberg, continues through Sunday, Feb. 18, at 39181
Proctor Blvd. (behind Ace Hardware).
The play is set in 1938 in a Chicago alley shared by a bar
and a delicatessen, and told in a series of flashbacks by a young girl at the
time. The distrustful widows who run the businesses eventually become friends
as they try to bring one’s nephew into the country and away from the horrors of
Nazi Germany at the time.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $18 general admission and $15 for students and
seniors (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call
503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| 2017 Bar Theatre The Scene on Stage: CRT announces new season, and more posted on 02/01/2018
The Clackamas Repertory Theatre announced its 2018 summer
season last month, a slate that includes a reimagined production of Jane
Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” the musical “Annie” and the return of a play
that CRT offered previously as a staged reading, “Ripcord.” And while all three
feature stories surrounding strong women, CRT Assistant Managing Director Jayne
Stevens noted that the theater did not set out to make that this year’s theme.
“When we pick the shows, it kind of just happens
organically,” Stevens said. “But we were drawn to these plays for a reason.”
Things kick off with “Sense and Sensibility,” by Kate
Hamill, adapted from Austen’s novel and directed by Karlyn Love, who directed a
CRT production of “A Christmas Carol.” In this adaptation, running from June 28
through July 22, ten actors play all the roles on a sparse set and Stevens
noted that the ensemble piece should work well in the theater’s space.
“We’re so thrust out there in the audience, it’s nice for
them to see plays like that,” she said.
The classic musical, “Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, music by
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, follows from Aug. 2-26. Stevens,
who will direct the show along with Wesley Robert Hanson, noted that she played
the titular role when she was 12 and when she was asked which musical she’d
like to do, the answer was easy.
“It stuck with me,” Stevens said. “It’s a perfect fit for
the season.”
The third show of the 2018 season will be “Ripcord,” by
David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by David Smith-English, from Sept. 6-30.
Stevens noted that the theater has done a couple of shows by the playwright
already and did this one as a staged reading last year.
Thanks to the strong audience response at that reading, the
show is back, along with the two women who were in the lead roles for the
reading, Randi Douglas as Abby and Anita Sorel as Marilyn.
The summer season will also offer two concerts, with
Susannah Mars and Merideth Kaye Clark singing the hits of Barbra Streisand and
Judy Garland at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 15, and “Portland Sings!” featuring local
artists singing Broadway hits at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.
Stevens noted that last year’s “Portland Sings!” concert
packed the house, prompting the theater to do it again this year.
“We never had that big of a response,” she said.
Children’s Theater and Staged Readings
Luckily for theatergoers, CRT’s calendar features some
offerings that are a little sooner, including the latest in the theater’s
interactive children’s shows, “Wing It, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. The
series, developed and directed by Travis Nodurft, a CRT company member,
professional clown and Oregon City sixth-grade teacher, is created for children
two to ten years of age, but it’s fun for all ages.
“Wing It” includes singing, dancing and a talent show for
kids, offering a chance to go up on stage. Admission is $5 at the door with no
reserved seating. Future “Wing It” performances include April 21, June 16 and
Sept. 29.
CRT will also offer staged readings, kicking things off with
“Red Speedo,” by Lucas Hnath, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. The playwright is also
known for “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” which picks up 15 years after the action
concludes in Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, “A Doll’s House.” A Broadway
production of Hnath’s play earned eight 2017 Tony Award nominations.
“Red Speedo” offers the story of a professional swimmer
trying to go to the Olympics and deals with the pressures coming from different
angles and how the swimmer responds to them.
“There’s a really great relationship between the Olympic
swimmer and his brother, who’s bailed him out on several occasions,” Stevens
said. “It’s pretty interesting to see the demise of it.”
CRT will also offer another reading by Hnath, “The
Christians,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25.
Meanwhile, CRT will continue its “Bar Theatre” series with a
reading of Jeffery Hatcher’s “Mrs. Mannerly” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday March 4, at
Trail Distilling, 21553 S Hwy. 213 in Oregon City, and a reading of Christian
O’Reilly’s “Chapatti” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Portland Cider Company,
8925 SE Jannsen Road in Clackamas.
Tickets to the “Bar Theatre” events include one custom CRT
cocktail or beverage.
All performances take place at the Niemeyer Center on the
Oregon City campus of Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in
Oregon City, unless noted. For more information, including ticketing
information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047 (tickets for the “Wing
It” series are only available at the door).
Sandy show continues
The Sandy Actors Theatre’s production of “Rose Colored Glass,”
by Sue Bigelow and Janice Goldberg, continues through Sunday, Feb. 18, at 39181
Proctor Blvd. (behind Ace Hardware).
The play is set in 1938 in a Chicago alley shared by a bar
and a delicatessen, and told in a series of flashbacks by a young girl at the
time. The distrustful widows who run the businesses eventually become friends
as they try to bring one’s nephew into the country and away from the horrors of
Nazi Germany at the time.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $18 general admission and $15 for students and
seniors (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call
503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Teacup Lake
Steve Gutmann grew up skiing on Mount Hood, with a family
cabin in Government Camp serving as their base of operations since the late
1970s. But when Gutmann came back to the northwest in the 1990s after going to
college, the cash-strapped graduate discovered that downhill skiing wasn’t an
affordable hobby.
That’s when Gutmann took to Nordic skiing and heading to
Teacup Lake Nordic ski area on Mount Hood one mile north of the Mt. Hood
Meadows turnoff on Hwy. 35.
“Teacup is definitely our go to,” Gutmann said. “It’s just a
fantastic place. I think of it as a family friendly place; it’s just a very
warm and welcoming place for everybody.”
The area is operated by the Teacup Lake Nordic Club through
a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service. The volunteer organization
utilizes membership fees, trail fees and donations to maintain 20 kilometers of
trails, along with a day use cabin and sheltered restrooms.
Paul Blackburn, President of the Teacup Nordic Volunteer
Board, noted that the beginning of the area is “shrouded in the mists of time,”
but that it dates back about 40 years ago. The area is home to three annual
events: hosting a high school race (on Saturday, Jan. 6 this year), a Tea Party
featuring free lessons on Sunday, Jan. 7 and the Teacup Classic, offering three
levels of racing (15k, 5k and a 2k kids course) and open to all skill levels,
on Sunday, Jan. 21.
Blackburn also touted the expanded parking lot (which does
require a SnoPark permit), but added that even when the parking lot looks full,
there’s more than enough room on the trails.
“Even in this modern era, when it’s just so crowded on the
lifts, there might be a lot of people in the parking lot at Teacup, once you
get five minutes in you’ve got the forest to yourself,” he said. “There’s a lot
of room for everybody, that’s the best thing about it.”
The group also runs youth programs, including a junior
development team that has sent skiers to the national championships, and winter
sessions for grade schoolers that include playing soccer and frisbee on skis.
Gutmann noted his daughter is part of the Nordic ski team,
adding that he decided not to tell his kids about downhill skiing when they
were young.
He added that the atmosphere is extremely friendly, where
you can ask other skiers about tips and ways to improve and they’re happy to
help.
“It’s just that kind of a place,” Gutman said. “It feels
like something out of a different time. I think it’s wonderful.”
Dogs and snowshoes are not allowed at Teacup Lake Nordic Ski
area. Trail grooming occurs every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The
warming hut is typically open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on grooming days
Skiers can pay by the day ($10) or buy a membership ($75 per
year for individuals, $40 per year for high school and full-time college
students). By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| CPO’s logo contest next phase in ‘Rhody Rising’ effort posted on 01/02/2018
There are a number of iconic aspects of the community of
Rhododendron, including the swinging bridge (rededicated last September),
Steiner Cabins, the Daughters of the American Revolution garden, the tollgate
and so much more that can be found while enjoying the woods or exploring the
rich history of the area. The Rhododendron Community Planning Organization
(CPO) wants to capture the spirit of the community in a new logo, offering area
artists the chance to submit their designs as part of a contest.
“There’s a lot of artistic people on the mountain; let’s
turn this over to some people who have artistic talent and let them go at it,”
said Steve Graeper, CPO President. “We want to make this a community effort and
involve as many community people as we can.”
The logo will ultimately appear on t-shirts, hoodies, hats
and other merchandise as part of the fundraising for the CPO’s Rhody Rising
effort, a plan to revitalize the community of Rhododendron. Graeper added that
there is also a possibility that the logo could also be used on a community
gateway sign, welcoming visitors to Rhododendron.
The first settlers arrived at the community by way of the
Barlow Trail, due to a wide spot in the road right after tollgate number five,
Graeper noted. Settlers would then decide to take the north or south route to
Brightwood, but would even stay for up to a week. In the 20th century, the
community was home to an opulent hotel built by Henry Rowe, where people from
Portland would come to visit.
Graeper stressed that the contest is open to logos of any
variety and there are no parameters for what the design should be.
“We don’t want to plant any seeds in anybody’s mind,” he
said. “There might be some ideas out there that we haven’t thought of. What
does Rhododendron mean to you and what image can capture that.”
Graeper added that the merchandise generated with the new
logo will help the CPO try to reach a goal of raising $10,000 to help with the
Rhody Rising effort. The CPO is currently approximately $4,000 away.
“We’re showing potential grant funders that the community is
behind this Rhody Rising effort,” he said, adding that they are looking into
using local businesses for producing the merchandise and that the merchandise
could potentially hit the shelves at local stores as early as next summer.
All design entries will be presented for public view at the
March 18, 2018 CPO meeting, and the CPO selection committee will seek community
input on all the entries before selecting the top three for submission to the
CPO membership for a vote.
The winning entry will win a prize package that will
include: golf and cart for two at The Resort at The Mountain, two lift tickets
at SkiBowl, a gift certificate to Skyway Bar & Grill and Cross Country Ski
Rental from Otto’s Ski Shop in Sandy.
The contest is open to all. Please submit design ideas to
Rhododendron CPO, P.O. Box 33, Rhododendron, OR 97049. All entries must be
received by March 15, 2018.
For more information on the Rhody Rising effort, search for
“Rhody Rising” on Facebook. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hwy. 26 land purchase opens opportunities for Mtn. community posted on 01/02/2018
A local general contractor has purchased four lots on Hwy.
26, and the land acquisition affords many possibilities for the future.
Kip O’Connor, owner of Big Mountain Company – excavation and
timber frame business – has obtained four lots that run from the electric
vehicle station to the Lions Club parking lot, from the south side of the
highway to the north side of the access road to Welches School.
The property is 300 feet wide and is made up of 75-foot wide
and 110-foot deep lots with shared access to Hwy. 26.
“It is currently going through the permit processes with
ODOT and preliminary applications with the county” O’Connor told The Mountain
Times. “It is zoned rural tourist commercial, and can have multiple buildings
and businesses on the same property.”
The county is currently considering allowing 8,000 square
feet for primary use and less for accessory uses. The Oregon Trail School
District has verbally agreed to limited access at the Welches School side of
the property.
O’Connor plans to move his contracting business to the site
and that portion of the property will feature timber frame homes or cabins from
locally harvested salvaged or blown-down trees to make timbers, wide plank
flooring, siding and firewood. An equipment rental business is also under
consideration.
But that will only encompass two of the four lots.
“I would like to sell, build to suit, or lease the other
lots,” O’Connor said. “Ultimately, I have always looked at those lots as a
great opportunity for the Mountain community. Rural tourist commercial property
availability is very rare.
As the property is open ground, the options are many.
“It is located near the school and the county took away the
option of the Dorman Center years ago,” he said. “Some type of children’s day
care facility would be great.”
O’Connor added that with the close proximity to the Hoodland
Fire Station, and the Life Flight landing location being virtually on-site, the
viability of an urgent care facility is another possibility.
“While I really was inspired to expand my contracting
business by getting more exposure on the highway, truly, I would like to see
something happen on the other lots that benefits our community in a healthy and
sustainable way,” he said.
A pharmacy and community center are other considerations
being mulled by the contractor. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  George Wilson.
Two back surgeries can get your attention, and can also lead
to a dramatic change in lifestyle.
And two wheels and a pair of pedals can inspire a new
business adventure in the Mountain community.
George Wilson’s Mt. Hood Bicycle shop opens its doors,
softly, this month (mid-January) in the Hoodland Plaza with a scheduled grand
opening set for March.
“I have been a passionate cyclist for over twenty years,”
Wilson told The Mountain Times. (And after the back surgeries) “I found cycling
to be a great form of aerobic exercise to keep the weight off, but it was also
very therapeutic mentally. I gradually learned more about riding technique and
form to improve performance, and after realizing positive results I was
hooked.”
He began doing his own mechanical maintenance, enrolled in
formal classes at the United Bicycle Institute in Portland, and that led to his
new business adventure.
“I felt the timing was right to provide a full-service
bicycle shop for local and visiting riders,” he said. “Mt. Hood Bicycle will be
the only full-service bicycle shop between Sandy and Hood River.”
As in any business, location was key. Wilson chose the
end-space at Hoodland Plaza primarily because the shopping center attracts
50,000 visitors per month. Plus, the new shop is located across Welches Road
from the Mt. Hood Express stop where riders load their bikes onto bike trailers
for transportation to Timberline and Skibowl to access the single-track
mountain bike runs back to Rhododendron and Welches.
“Our new location is approximately eight miles from the
Sandy Ridge Bike Park in Brightwood, which has become an international
destination for mountain bikers,” Wilson said. “The Mt. Hood National Forest is
the nearest place for a full-on mountain biking experience anywhere in the
area. We are conveniently located to service the needs of local cyclists, as
well as our cycling visitors no matter which cycling discipline they are into.”
Wilson has secured distributorship rights from Trek
Bicycles, Fox Suspension, Shimano and Sram components. The shop will focus on
service and repair, as well as retail sales of bikes, components and
accessories.
And as the calendar inches toward spring, the shop will
provide a bike wash station for cyclists.
The conversion of the space was extensive and Wilson gave a
nod to the work of Justin Shenkel (owner of Charlies Paint and Design in
Vancouver) and Kyle Sullivan (Igloo Printing and Design) for the logos and
stenciling.
“Finally, I can’t express my appreciation for my friend and
Mt Hood Bicycle certified mechanic Kevin ‘K-Mack’ McCarthy, for his
contribution and carpentry skills,” Wilson said. “These are all local residents
capable of providing professional services to our local community.”
And Mt. Hood Bicycle now rolls out its own professional
services for Mountain residents and beyond.
For more information, visit www.mthoodbicycle.com. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Jeff Helfrich named to Mark Johnson’s vacated seat posted on 01/02/2018
With a choice of three nominated candidates, the
commissioners of Clackamas, Hood River and Multnomah counties selected Jeff
Helfrich of Hood River to fill the vacated Oregon House of Representatives slot
of Mark Johnson.
The pick was confirmed at a Nov. 29 meeting of the
commissioners.
Helfrich was confirmed by unanimous vote over candidates
Stan Pulliam of Sandy and Erick Haynie of Hood River.
Finalists were selected by the State Republican Party in
early November.
Johnson (R-Hood River) announced his retirement Nov. 6 from
the state legislature after being selected as president and CEO of Oregon
Business & Industries, a lobbying firm of Oregon Business Association and
Associated Oregon Industries.
“Moving on from serving House District 52 and taking the
position at OBI is an easier transition for me knowing that someone like Jeff
will fill the remainder of my term,” wrote Johnson in an email to the Mountain
Times. “He is highly qualified and I'm confident he can do a wonderful job
serving the diverse communities of the district. I'll do all I can to help him
be successful completing this term and to be successful when he runs for
re-election.”
Helfrich spent more than 25 years in law enforcement and
continues as a patrol deputy in Multnomah County. He also was a member of the
Cascade Locks Planning Commission and the Cascade Locks City Council. He served
in the Air Force during the Gulf War.
Helfrich was sworn in Dec. 6 in Salem. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Paula Walker opens Welches law office posted on 01/02/2018
Paula Walker had a slogan through her years as a project
management process consultant: she didn’t want to make a better living, she
wanted to make living better. Now, Walker will bring that attitude to her new
venture, the Confluence Law Center in Welches offering estate planning, wills
and trusts as its primary focus.
“I was really drawn to do something for people, for society,
for nature, all of that,” Walker said. “Law seemed like a way that I could have
a more immediate effect.”
Walker, who came to the mountain in her teens and has lived
here since, noted that her past work should serve her well in her newest
endeavor, including experience in contracts, staffing and vendors, plus working
with everything from governments and nonprofits to corporations both large and
small. She added that her skill set helps bridge the gap between things that
are highly technical, like the law, and something more amorphous, such as
broader goals for estate planning.
“I bring a long history of work in the business world in
numerous capacities,” she said. “This is a position that a lot of people don’t
have the knowledge of and need help with, especially with estate planning.”
Walker also noted that the process of estate planning is a
partnership, where the trusts and wills she helps craft will put into effect
the particular goals and objectives of each client, including their businesses,
any organizations they want to support and conferring healthcare and financial
decisions.
Walker added that she has a keen interest in the environment
and appreciates the natural beauty of the Mount Hood area.
“The Welches area is just so gorgeous,” she said.
The Confluence Law Center will celebrate with an open house
from 3-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at 62441 E. Welches Road (in the Salmon River
Professional Center). Regular business hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday, with appointments scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Complimentary consultations are available.
For more information, visit confluencelawcenter.com or call
503-616-3113. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  "Rose Colored Glass"
Sandy resident Megan Grassl noted that while she has lived
in Sandy her whole life, she had never been to the Sandy Actors Theatre (SAT)
until after college. And that happened thanks to her mother, who submitted her
name at the theater’s booth at the Sandy Mountain Festival, leading to her
taking on the job of stage manager in the 2015 production of “Artichoke.”
This month, SAT will open “Rose Colored Glass,” by Sue
Bigelow and Janice Goldberg, serving as Grassl’s directorial debut.
The play is set in 1938 in a Chicago alley shared by a bar
and a delicatessen, as told in a series of flashbacks by a young girl at the
time. The distrustful widows who run the businesses eventually become friends
as they try to bring one’s nephew into the country and away from the horrors of
Nazi Germany at the time.
Grassl sees parallels between the apathy in America to join
the war efforts at the time to life today, particularly with attitudes towards
people of different religions and cultures.
“I hope they walk away thinking about what they see in terms
of what is going on now,” said Grassl, a graduate of Sandy High School and
Oregon State University. “Too often, people tend to forget about what happened
in the past, and the past is so important to learn.”
She added that while the show is not a “feel good piece,”
it’s also not one full of crying or anger over the world.
“It’s more like everyday life,” Grassl said, adding that at
that point in time, reports about the war were far and few between, with the
prevailing notion in America being to remain out of it. “And yet, Hitler was
shaking up the world.”
SAT presents “Rose Colored Glass” from Friday, Jan. 26
through Sunday, Feb. 18, at 39181 Proctor Blvd. (behind Ace Hardware). Show
times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets
are $18 general admission and $15 for students and seniors (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit
sandyactorstheatre.org.
Comedy continues at Wolfpack
Howard Bickle, founder of Sandy’s Wolf Pack Theater, wanted
to put a smile on the faces of his audience members for the holiday season. By
all accounts, his production of A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia” has hit the mark.
“It just means the world to me to do that,” he said.
The comedy offers the story of a couple, Greg and Kate, who
move to Manhattan and ends up taking in a dog Greg finds in the park.
Unfortunately, the dog, named Sylvia, threatens to come between the two, but
also offers the chance for the two to learn about what it takes to compromise.
In this play, Sylvia is portrayed by a human actor, and was
played by Sarah Jessica Parker in the Off-Broadway debut in 1995. For the Wolf
Pack Theater, Melissa Jean Swenson takes on the canine character.
“Every actor has their own unique skill set, and hers is a
wonderfully truthful performance, even playing a dog,” Bickle said. “It’s just
such a cute show.”
He added that he has enjoyed the early productions of his
fledgling theater, with a focus on doing smaller shows of around four or five
actors.
“It’s really highlighting the ensemble aspect of the
theater,” Bickle said.
Bickle added that they are dedicating the show to Gurney,
who passed away last June.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Sylvia” through Sunday, Jan.
7, at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through
Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for general admission and $15
for students and seniors. Free admission is offered for law enforcement,
firefighters and veterans. For more information, visit www.wolfpacktheater.com
or call 541-722-2667.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The Woodlands Reservoir.
Construction is underway on a Capital Improvement program
featuring three major projects in Rhododendron.
The Rhododendron Water Association (RWA) was awarded a
$650,000 low interest loan – a rate of 1.72 percent over 30 years – due to the
pursuit by the RWA board of directors of sustainable infrastructure programs
and the desire to reliably deliver water to its customers, according to Steve
Graeper, president of RWA.
The project funding was secured through the State Drinking
Water Program revolving loan fund managed by Oregon Business Development
Department and the Federal Infrastructure Finance Authority.
“Our contractors are staying in local lodging, patronizing
local eateries, shopping at local stores,” Graeper said through a press
release. “We are using local rock products and haulers for more than 100 yards
of rock and material. We are using local material suppliers and local labor and
paying prevailing wage, which is more than the standard wage.”
Also, RWA has been granted a 30 percent principal
forgiveness rate as a result of meeting certain qualifications for household
income and demographics.
“That debt forgiveness is effectively reducing the debt owed
to just under $455,000,” Graeper said.
Also, the infrastructure improvements will not add a
substantial rate increase for customers beyond the normal 1.5 percent annual
rate increase that is imposed on rate payers every other year, Graeper added.
The projects include:
Installing a new $175,000 “Slow Sand” filtration system at
the RWA Headworks, which will substantially lower overhead costs by reducing
the need to routinely replace the very costly ($18,000/year) cartridge filters
currently used to filter out Giardia and Cryptosporidia. Slow Sand filtration is a tested and proven
method of water filtration and is currently used by many municipalities
throughout the world and in Oregon including the Cities of Corbett and Salem.
Installing a second and 30 percent larger water storage
reservoir to help supply water to our 361+ RWA water connections. RWA currently
only has a 100,000-gallon Redwood water storage tank at the headworks. That
Redwood reservoir is nearing the end of its useful life and does not have the
capacity to supply water to the system for any longer than 24 hours in cases
where the filtration plant goes off line due to power failure or other
unforeseen circumstances. The new concrete 130,000-gallon water storage
reservoir, at a cost of nearly $400,000, will be located in the Woodlands area
and will have the capability of supplying water to the entire RWA system should
a catastrophic failure occur at the treatment plant, like what happened in 2009
when a tree fall completely destroyed the treatment plant. In addition, the new
reservoir will be equipped with a hydro-turbine electric generator that will
generate enough power to make the pumps at the new reservoir “Carbon Neutral.”
In other words, the hydro-turbine will produce electric energy, which will be
sold back to PGE at a rate equal to the power consumed by the pumps, to pump
enough water uphill to supply all RWA customers.
The third project is a $75,000 project to complete the
metering of all customers served by RWA. One requirement for loan qualification
by the DWP is that the system needs to be 100 percent metered. RWA has been in
a 10-year program to meter all users to help pinpoint leaks throughout the
system. With some service lines being over 75 years old, staying on top of
leaks is of paramount concern. By monitoring water consumption via meters since
2009, RWA has effectively reduced its finished water loss from over 85 GPM
(gallons per minute) to under 30GPM. By installing the last 40+ meters on the
system, RWA hopes to get the leak rate to below 10GPM. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Mountain steps up for community Christmas baskets posted on 12/01/2017
The push is on to make sure this holiday season is a happy
one for all mountain families, as a slew of local groups gather non-perishable
food and new, unwrapped toys for the community Christmas basket program. Carol
Norgard, who is coordinating the Mt. Hood Lions Club’s Christmas Toy and Food
Drive Dinner, noted that the baskets help approximately 100 families, totaling
approximately 400 people, each year.
“Everything we get goes back to the community,” Norgard
said, noting that other groups involved with the program include the Welches
Schools and the Hoodland Fire District (HFD). “We have a really good community
group up here, in general.”
Norgard noted that the program also started including food
for dogs and cats about three years ago, and that there are no questions asked
to those who apply for a box.
“It definitely makes me feel good that we’re helping a group
of people that need help over a season where at least they know they have food
for Christmas time and when school is out,” she said, adding that the gifts
that are included make a big difference for many people who wouldn’t be able to
afford them otherwise. “That’s a killer for them, when it comes to their
children.”
The Lion’s Club dinner will offer beef, ham and all the
trimmings, with tickets priced at $15 at the door and $12 pre-sale at the
Barlow Trail Roadhouse, Welches Building Supply and the Welches branch of
Clackamas County Bank. The event starts with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner
at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Lions Club, 24730 E. Woodsey Way.
Norgard added that donations will still be accepted after
the dinner and for anyone interested in doing so to call the HFD main station
at 503-622-3256 and ask for Carol or Kelli.
Welches Schools Principal Kendra Payne noted that the school
both benefits from and contributes to the program, with applications for
baskets going out to all families.
The school’s ambassadors hold a food drive that features a
friendly competition between each classroom and grade level for who can bring
in the most food. The school’s food drive starts the week after Thanksgiving
break and goes until the winter break, with all donations picked up by the HFD
and go directly to the food baskets.
Sign up sheets for Hoodland Community Christmas Basket
program are available at the Welches School, Clackamas County Bank’s Hoodland
branch, Welches Mountain Building Supply, the Welches Library and the Hoodland
Fire District’s main station. Giving trees, offering area residents to get a
present for a child, are also available at those locations, as well as McKenzie
Dental.
Robert Kelly of McKenzie Dental noted that the business has
been participating in the program for three years.
“Everyone at McKenzie Dental participates to do our part to
help out in the community,” he wrote in an email to the Mountain Times. “We
focus on children in our area and have the help of Alison Bradley, Carol
Norgard, and Hoodland fire department.”
Pick up for the baskets will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec 22
or 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Mt. Hood Lions Club. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Local man charged with sexual abuse posted on 12/01/2017
Mountain resident John David Bowe, 48, was arrested Oct. 25
by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Child Abuse Team, in conjunction with
the U.S. Marshal’s Office in Pomona, Calif.
According to authorities, Bowe has been a registered sex
offender in California since March 2002.
Bowe is now being held in the San Bernardino County Jail on
two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree; two counts of sodomy in the first degree; one count of
luring a minor; and one count of online sexual corruption of a child. He is
awaiting extradition to Oregon.
Bowe was arrested as part of an investigation that alleged
he had sexually assaulted a 13-year-old female in Sandy, in the early morning
hours of Oct. 16.
Detectives were alerted to Bowe after they were notified he
had frequented locations where children gather. He is believed to have had
contact with multiple families with minor children, according to the sheriff’s
office.
Bowe was known in the Mountain community having partnered in
a sandwich shop on Hwy. 26 a short distance east of Alder Creek, and more
recently he operated a barbecue stand in the parking area in front of Thriftway
in the Hoodland Shopping Center in Welches.
County Sheriff’s Office detectives are searching for
additional victims and ask anyone who had contact with Bowe while children were
present to let investigators know. The Sheriff’s Office Tip Line is
503-723-4949, or online email address is
https://web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp. Please reference CCSO Case No.
17-27368. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| The Business End: More kidding around at Wippersnappers posted on 12/01/2017
Two years ago, on the day after Thanksgiving, Wippersnappers
opened its doors as the new kids play place in Sandy. And as they celebrated
their anniversary last month, the business welcomed an expansion that added
approximately 2,200 square feet of fun for young ones, bringing the total to
approximately 6,600 square feet.
“The response from the community has been awesome,” said
Wippersnappers owner, Hans Wipper, about the first two years of the business,
while noting that the clientele stretches from Government Camp to Oregon City.
“They’re coming from everywhere and we’ve had a real positive feedback.”
The expansion became a possibility when the space next to
Wippersnappers became available, and Wipper noted that they had to either jump
on the opportunity or lose it.
“We need it, there have been several times we’ve had a
waiting list to get in,” he said. “The extra space will be well received, I
think.”
Included in the new space will be a second party room,
another bathroom, two obstacle courses/bounce houses and a new location for the
wiggle carts. The spot where the carts used to be will feature six more tables
and 24 more chairs.
“We’ll have a lot more additional seating for those big
days,” Wipper said.
He added that the new space will be geared toward the upper
age range for kids who go there, with a minimum height of 40 inches for the
inflatable obstacle courses.
Wipper noted the new space will be closed from Monday to
Wednesday, to allow younger kids to visit “without temptation,” but that it
will be open during the Christmas break.
Wippersnappers is located at 16542 SE 362nd Drive in Sandy.
For more information, call 503-668-7221, visit www.wippersnappers.com or find
them on Facebook. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Mirror Lake Trailhead project wraps for winter posted on 12/01/2017
Work wrapped up during the early part of November on the
Mirror Lake Trailhead relocation project, which will create a new parking area
and a trail connection for the popular recreation spot on the mountain.
The venture is a partnership between the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Zigzag
Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service.
Knud Martin, Project Engineer for the FHWA, noted the
project was delayed earlier in the year due to hazardous fire conditions, but
work is still expected to be complete by the end of October 2018. He added that
when the project starts up again a lot of “ground disturbing activities” will
be forthcoming.
Work is tentatively expected to resume on April 14, 2018,
but Martin noted that will depend heavily on this winter’s snowpack and how
much snow remains next April.
“Some years that’s no problem, other years it’s a problem,”
he said.
The project will move the parking lot for the trailhead from
the sharp curve on Hwy. 26 west of Government Camp to the parking lot at
Skibowl.
“This project is focused on getting congestion out and a
safe place to enter the trail system, a place to park and use bathroom,” Martin
said. “This is an enormous safety improvement.”
He added that it is also important for people to be patient
and safe when utilizing the trail during construction, such as finding a safe
place to park rather than entering the construction zone.
For more information and updated trail status, visit
https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/or/mirror-lake/. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Opportunities abound with Hoodland Fire District posted on 12/01/2017
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Lieutenant/Paramedic Andy
Figini sees a lot more opportunity now for the district’s volunteers than in
the past, thanks to having paid staff on duty 24 hours a day. Now, since paid
staff is always around and respond to calls, volunteers have that chance to go
with them.
“We’re here, so if you’re here with us, you’re going to go,”
Figini said.
That’s good news for anyone who wants to sign on, as the
district is now accepting applications for the 2018 training company.
Applications are due to the district’s main station, 69634 E. Hwy. 26 in
Welches, on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Figini also noted more opportunities for volunteers to
select a specific track, or focus, they’d like to pursue, such as focusing on
being a firefighter (including medical and fire combat), a driver track or
other options.
“We want anybody who can participate to participate,” Figini
said. “You can go down any track you want to go down.”
The academy will meet up to three times per week and on some
weekends, and applicants must be at least 18 years old with a valid Oregon
Drivers License, have no criminal background, be able to pass the drug test,
pass the physical agility test and pass the background search.
Figini notes that the district seeks people who are
established in their careers and would like to serve as community responders
and those who are looking at a possible career as a firefighter and want to get
experience, training and certification for a future job. He added that it’s
helpful to have some people from both groups, while adding that a number of
volunteers have been hired by other fire districts after serving in the HFD.
Figini added that volunteers will also get the opportunity
to work a shift with the paid staff, performing daily tasks such as rig checks
while eating and working out as part of the crew.
“You come in, you are part of the shift,” he said. “It
allows us to get more done in a day. Shifts are great, I like doing shifts.”
Figini also noted that there are other ways to get involved
in the district besides volunteering, including the district’s support group,
which provides meals for firefighters when there is a fire, and the HEART team,
which offers training for community disasters.
“We have different levels of participation, we’ll find a
place for almost anybody,” he said.
Applications for the HFD volunteer academy may be picked up at
the main station. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  "Come On, Jeeves."
Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s Artistic Director Kelly
Lazenby first encountered the play “Come On, Jeeves” in college. But she
concedes that perhaps she did not fully appreciate the humor in it.
Now, after years of honing her theatrical craft, she will
direct a production of the play by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton.
“I have become a little bit more sophisticated,” Lazenby
said, noting that in college she didn’t know that Monty Python and Blackadder
were funny. “It’s a very particular type of comedy. It’s very droll.”
“Come On, Jeeves” offers the character that Wodehouse made
famous: Jeeves, a “gentleman’s gentleman” and a resourceful and intelligent valet
who gets his young and foppish employer out of jams with women, the law and
more. In the play, Jeeves is on loan from his traditional employer, Wooster, to
an earl who is in trouble with gambling debts, including possibly having to
sell off his house, but doesn’t want his fiancé or family to find out.
Enter Jeeves, who has a plan to make it all better.
Lazenby noted that while Wodehouse productions are often
done in England, they are not as frequent in America, but that anyone who is a
fan of “Downton Abbey” or “Doc Martin” would enjoy the show.
She described it as a “frothy, take your brain out, enjoy
the holiday season, not have to worry about anything” show that is appropriate
for everyone.
“It’s slapstick - not quite seltzer in the face - but
almost,” she said.
NNB presents “Come On, Jeeves,” by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy
Bolton, from Dec. 1-17 at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays (note:
there is no matinee on Sunday, Dec. 3, but there will be one at 3 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 2). For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Children’s theater with a holiday twist
Clackamas Repertory Theatre will offer its interactive show
for kids, “Wing It Holiday Magic,” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and Saturday,
Dec. 9, at the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon City campus of Clackamas Community
College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in Oregon City.
The “Wing It” series is for children between the ages of two
and 10, and invites audience members to join the forest friends as they solve
another of life’s mysteries, and have some fun along the way.
Each performance will also include a visit by a very special
guest from the North Pole. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. For
more information, call 503-594-6047 or visit ClackamsRep.org.
SAT production continues
The Sandy Actors Theatre (SAT) production of “Heroes,” by
Gerald Sibleyras and translated by Tom Stoppard, continues through Sunday, Dec.
3. The comedy, set in August, 1959, centers on three men in a home for retired
military men located somewhere in France, and a plot they devise to make an
escape. SAT is located at 39181 Proctor Blvd. (behind Ace Hardware).
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for students and
seniors and $13 for children under 12 (reservations are recommended). For more
information, or to make reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit
sandyactorstheatre.org.
December auditions
SAT will hold auditions for the January production of “Rose
Colored Glass,” by Susan Bigelow and Janice Goldberg and directed by Megan
Grassl, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at 39181 Proctor Blvd. (behind Ace
Hardware). Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The auditions will consist
of cold readings from the script and no experience is necessary. SAT is also
recruiting for crew positions. The play offers the story of two mistrustful
widows and a 13-year-old granddaughter who is deteremined to make them friends.
For more information, visit sandyactorstheatre.org. or email lexy@sandyactorstheatre.org.
NNB will hold auditions for the March production of
“Everybody Loves Opal,” by John Patrick, from 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 and
from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street
in Boring. Resumes and headshots are welcome, but not necessary. The auditions
will consist of cold readings from the script. The comedy offers the story of
Opal Kronkie, a middle-aged recluse, who lives in a tumbledown mansion at the
edge of the municipal dump, and includes a cast of four men and two women. For
more information, visit nnbtheater.com or call 503-593-1295. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Art and more will be on sale.
Approximately five years ago, the last Wine and Arts Fair
took place at The Resort at The Mountain. But this November, The Resort brings
back a re-envisioned version, called the Holiday Artisan Fair, on Saturday,
Nov. 25.
Sales Manager Christine Magnuson noted the focus for the
event will be on artists and holiday shopping, with a large range of mountain
artists and some mountain-based businesses having booths.
There will also be food and drinks available for purchase.
“The new owners want to bring back some old community events
they had long ago, and this is the start of that,” Magnuson said. “I think it’s
going to be a lot of fun.”
The family friendly event will have free admission, and the
list of area artists participating include watercolorist Steve Ludeman, screen
prints by Sue Allen, photography by Gary Randall, jewelry by Becky Semler, bath
and body products by S. A. Plunkett Naturals and a variety of different pieces
by the artists from Mt. Hood Art Online.
“In years past, this event was an anticipated tradition;
celebrating fall with friends and neighbors, enjoying fine wine and art, and
getting a start on holiday shopping,” wrote Caryn Tilton, artist and owner of
Mt. Hood Art Online, in an email. “Speaking for all of the Mt. Hood Art Online
artists, we are grateful to Christine and the resort for bringing this
opportunity back to the mountain.”
Magnuson noted that one focus of the event is keeping things
local.
“I really love that nearly all of the vendors are from The Mt.
Hood Community and Gresham, this event will be a great way to directly support
our neighbors,” Magnuson noted. “It really is just a great way to start off the
holiday season for us.”
Allen said that she participated in a number of the old Wine
and Art Fairs, enjoying the small format where artists could get to know each
other. She sees the new incarnation as a way of sharing local talent with the
community and visitors, and offering a chance for people to get unique gifts
for the holidays.
“Giving a gift of locally created art gives support to a
local, and also gives a more personal meaning to the gift itself,” Allen wrote
in an email.
The Holiday Artisan Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25, in the Cascade Ballroom at The Resort at The Mountain, 68010
E. Fairway Ave. in Welches. Admission is free. For more information, call
503-622-3101.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Johnson leaves post at HD 52 posted on 11/01/2017
Often times, with dedication comes opportunity.
State Representative Mark Johnson, after seven years serving
as House District 52 congressman, is heading in a new direction.
Johnson’s resignation from the Oregon House will take place
this month, after which he will become the CEO of the Oregon Business and
Industry Association.
“It’s not a position that I sought after but one that came
my way because of my successes in Salem and reputation for being an effective
legislator,” Johnson told The Mountain Times. “It will be a huge challenge but
is an opportunity that I am excited to take on.”
Resigning his seat as state representative for HD 52 is not
something Johnson takes lightly.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time in this role and will miss the
wonderful people and communities that I have gotten to know,” he said. “It’s meant
a great deal to me to have an opportunity to regularly communicate with the
folks on the Mountain through my monthly piece in the Times. I think it’s been
a win-win for all.”
A replacement process will ensue in November for the balance
of the term.
Mark Johnson’s departing column appears in the "Columnists" link in the web edition of The Mountain Times.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Target shooting ban still possible for Miller Quarry posted on 11/01/2017
A ban on target shooting at Miller Quarry is still a
possibility, according to John Huston, Cascades Field Manager for the Bureau of
Land Management’s (BLM) Northwest Oregon District.
The effort has been complicated, however, by Secretarial
Order 3356, signed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in September,
which in part seeks to increase access to public lands for hunting, shooting
and fishing on land run by the BLM and other agencies.
A community effort, spearheaded by Mt. Hood RV Village
resident Warren Bates, began last fall when issues with target shooters at the
quarry, including noise, safety risks and pollution, were raised at a series of
meetings. At a Dec. 21, 2016 meeting, BLM Cascades Outdoor Recreation Planner
Zach Jarrett noted the agency finished a new Resource Management Plan in August
2016, which included designating the quarry as a recreation management area and
opening the door to closing it for target shooting within the year.
Huston noted the Oregon State Office of the BLM is now
preparing a briefing paper to be presented to congress, but they want to be
careful and do it right.
“It’s still moving forward, it’s just at a higher level,”
Huston said, adding there is no timeline for the paper.
Bates noted that he is “hopeful,” but is also not getting
ahead of himself.
“I’m not going to hold my breath,” he said. “When you get
into this government bureaucracy stuff, it’s a whole new world, in my opinion.”
Bates added that in the meantime, gun noise has “slowed down
immensely” at the quarry.
“Why, I don’t know,” he said. “But it’s not near as bad as
it was at the height of it. I think we quelled some of it just by letting
people know that we will close it.”
Other project updates
The BLM has also completed an economic analysis and a draft
Recreation Area Management Plan for potential development of the Wildwood
Recreation Site, according to Jennifer Velez, Public Affairs Officer for BLM’s
Eugene and Salem Districts. Velez added that the hope is to release the plan by
“late winter,” followed by an official comment period.
The plan will include at least two development alternatives
for the site, including a “no action” option. Development options include
possibly adding campsites, yurts, cabins and RV sites. That could help the site
increase the number of visitors utilizing the area each year, currently at
approximately 50,000, a fraction of the 375,000 it was built to accommodate.
Meanwhile, the trailhead at the Sandy Ridge Trail System has
reopened, although approximately half of the parking lot remains inaccessible
due to contractors continued work at the site. Work is expected to continue
through the winter.
“We’re really looking forward to when the main recreation
season kicks off next spring for mountain bikers to really enjoy the
improvements they’ll find out there,” Velez said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Hans Wipper.
September 29 was the last day at Skibowl for Hans
Wipper. The resort’s marketing director
said leaving the post after 28 years was one of the hardest decisions he has
ever made.
“I am sad to be leaving an incredible group of people and
working on the mountain I love,” Wipper told The Mountain Times. “I can’t thank
Skibowl enough for all the opportunities, knowledge and friendship that it has
provided over the years, and I will miss working with some wonderful people. I
am looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially my
daughter, and getting to enjoy the holidays for the first time in a long time.”
As Wipper looks back over the nearly three decades on the
job, it is difficult to pick out a single moment that stands out. However, he
was able to cull the events of a few winters ago when a group would hit the
Upper Bowl every Sunday night and end the evening in the Warming Hut to music
and beers – followed by a final run to the bottom.
“That, and many memories like it were what made it such a
special place to work and play,” he said. “Oh, and any powder day that I got to
sneak on first chair.”
He will miss working with people that have become family
over the years, pointing out that the ski industry is a relatively small group
of people, leading to many friends.
“I hope to continue to keep in touch with them and stay
involved in the industry in some capacity,” he said. “I will miss being on the
mountain every day … Sunrises on a cold, crisp January morning with a few white
clouds against a deep blue sky and the trees buried in snow, is one of the most
special, serene and spectacular moments you can experience. I encourage
everyone to try it once.”
Wipper’s retirement from Skibowl will be short-lived, as he
now turns his attention to a bunch of Wippersnappers.
Two years ago, he and his wife Tiffany started
Wippersnappers Kids Play Place in Sandy, and its success has caused the family
to focus more on it.
“The wonderful people of our Mountain community have been
very supportive to us and we are very thankful for this opportunity to give all
the kids a fun, dry, family place to play,” he said. “Oh, and we have great
pizza, espresso, beer and wine as well.”
Wipper added that recently, they were able to rent the space
next to them and are working on expanding, adding another party room, bathroom
and more seating.
Meanwhile, at Skibowl, Sam White takes over as the new
marketing director. He can be contacted by email at sam@go.skibowl.com. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Sandy to take over Cedar Ridge campus posted on 11/01/2017
Students from Cedar Ridge Middle School in Sandy are
expected to move to their new campus at the Pioneer Building following the
Thanksgiving break this month. That will allow the City of Sandy to take full
possession of the CRMS building in early December or January and proceed in
earnest with the goal of creating a recreation hub.
Sandy City Manager Kim Yamashita noted that the city will
begin some stakeholder meetings toward the end of November, while Opsis
Architecture will perform a detailed analysis of the facilities to determine
what can be kept or repurposed.
“We want to spend the time and money doing this evaluation
to ensure we are using money wisely and having the lowest impact on the
environment as possible,” Yamashita noted.
Opsis, who is under contract with the city to devise a
master plan for the facility for March 2018, will also help to determine how to
do the project in phases and what aspects, such as the pool or a community
center, to prioritize first.
“We have limited funds initially, and I want to get the most
bang out of the buck,” Yamashita said, noting that the community is intent on
keeping the pool operational as much as possible. “At some point, we may look
at temporary closure to do work, remodel or reconstruction. Right now we just
don’t know what it’s going to take, so we need these experts to come in and go
over it.”
Initial stakeholder meetings are expected to take place with
various groups, including the Friends of the Sandy Pool, senior programs and
Maverick Aquatics, while public open houses or forums are expected at a later
date.
“It’s very exciting,” Yamashita said. “It’s also, with the
amount of staff we have; it’s going to be a challenge.”
“We want to make sure that when all of this stuff is
happening, we maintain current service and minimize negative impacts as much as
we can,” she added.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Vocal rehearsal.
Sandy High School’s (SHS) new drama teacher and director,
Colin Murray, spent about six weeks last school year getting acquainted with
the students and the department. This year, for the school’s first production
and the first show under his direction, Murray wanted something happy and
family friendly. Enter Gilbert and Sullivan’s, “The Pirates of Penzance.”
“It’s such an upbeat, fun fantastical story,” Murray said.
“The students have been doing a fantastic job tackling complex music.”
Murray, who graduated from Sandy High School in the 1990s,
worked on the show once before as a designer for the Gresham High School
production in 2004. But thanks to the capabilities of SHS’s theater and the
different student population he’s casting from, Murray noted this production is
very different.
“It’s been fun and interesting to design it again and tackle
it again,” he said, noting that in this production he cast the police force
entirely as women. “We have a lot of great, comical actresses here.”
Seniors Dagan Godfrey and Charlie Andrade, both 17, play the
romantic leads, Frederic and Mabel, respectively. The two veterans of the SHS
stage noted that the story is all over the place, with the main story
concerning Frederic being an apprentice on a pirate ship, which he can’t leave
until he turns 21. Unfortunately, he was born on a leap year day.
“It’s really stupid goofy and I love it,” Godfrey said.
Andrade, who will attend Willamette University next fall and
intends to study choir and performance, noted that she was impressed at the
talented students that came out to audition for the production, both as actors
and musicians.
“We have a lot of talent, I was surprised at how many people
came from beyond (the acting program),” she said. “I’m really excited to see
how it pulls together on stage.
Murray noted that he’s been impressed with the school’s
facilities, which are an upgrade over the theater space at the former high
school, the Pioneer Building, but that he also had a level of familiarity with
the new space thanks to student teaching with former drama teacher Chris Harris
during the new high school’s first year being open.
“It’s so fantastic to have this space that is so multi
functional and big,” said Murray, who received his BA from Willamette
University and his MFA in Directing from the University of Portland. “It gives
room to grow.”
“It’s been a really fantastic experience so far,” Murray
added. “I’ve never worked so hard in my life. Teaching all day, then doing
rehearsal, work parties on Saturdays.”
Sandy High School Drama presents “The Pirates of Penzance,”
book and lyrics by William Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan, at 7 p.m.
Nov. 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy.
Festival seating will be available, no reservations, and
tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. For more
information, call 503-668-8011, ext. 7313.
Sandy offers gentle comedy
Tobias Andersen, director of the Sandy Actors Theatre’s
November production of “Heroes,” notes that while the play’s author, Gerald
Sibleyras, may not be a household name, the person who translated it may
possibly be the “greatest living playwright.” That would be Tom Stoppard, whose
writings include the movie “Shakespeare in Love” and plays such as “Arcadia”
and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.”
“It’s his translation that I think has given it a sly
humor,” Andersen said.
Set in August, 1959, the comedy centers on three men in a
home for retired military men located somewhere in France, and a plot they
devise to make an escape. Andersen noted the show is not a slapstick-type
comedy with slamming doors, but something more subtle.
“It’s a very gentle comedy, and very human; you really
understand these guys when it’s over,” he said. “The humor comes out in that
they’re just not capable of doing it (escaping), but they’re totally oblivious
to the situation.”
Andersen previously performed in another production of the
show at the Coho Theater in Portland, but noted that every actor brings
different experiences to each role and that a benefit of watching live theater
is seeing the different interpretations.
“It’s already markedly different (from the production he
acted in), which is one of the joys of theater,” Andersen said.
SAT presents “Heroes,” by Gerald Sibleyras and translated by
Tom Stoppard, from Friday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Dec. 3, at 39181 Proctor
Blvd. (behind Ace Hardware). Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays,
and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for students and
seniors and $13 for children under 12 (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call
503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Welches Schools run drills to prepare for possible intruder posted on 11/01/2017
For Welches Schools Principal Kendra Payne and her staff,
the security improvements on the school’s campus, including a single point of
entry, camera system, key swipe access and locked vestibule, makes a difference
every single day when it comes to feeling safe. The features, added thanks to
the bond that built the new high school, allow the staff to grant access in and
out of the building and be able to monitor who is coming in.
Even with the strong security, the school and the Oregon
Trail School District are not taking safety lightly, highlighted by the annual
“Run, Hide, Fight” training held last month, instructing students on how to
react to an event that threatens their safety at the school.
Payne noted that the training has been in response to the
Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.
“That really caused a lot of districts all over the county
to rethink their approach to school safety,” Payne said.
In the years before Sandy Hook, Payne noted, the traditional
school lockdown would call for teachers to lock doors and close the blinds,
with everyone in the classroom hiding in a corner.
“It was very much hide until you’re either safe or until
you’re told to come out,” she said. “There was a lack of empowerment that comes
with that message.”
Payne, staff members and district administrators have worked
together on the new philosophy, which includes a partnership with the Sandy
Police Department, and includes elements from the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security. The philosophy’s message is: run when it is safe to run; hide where
it is safe to hide and fight if you have no other options.
All teachers at the school have participated in training,
including figuring out how things would work in their classroom, such as
positioning furniture to block pathways and how fighting might look at
different grade levels.
Payne noted that previously, the school and Sandy PD staged
a drill including an officer playing the role of an intruder in order to work
on techniques for safely taking a person down.
But the primary goal is to keep students safe, prioritizing
their reactions in order, as long as it is safe: run, hide and fight.
Payne added that a lot of the training is discussion based,
with keeping things appropriate for the age and grade of the student, ranging
from something that is not overwhelming or scary for those in kindergarten to a
more nuanced and deeper discussion with eighth graders.
Last month’s drill included a simulation of a lockdown,
including an alert message, and informing parents of the drill to share
training videos and share ways to talk with children about school safety and
security.
For more information, visit
http://oregontrailschools.com/parents/student-safety/
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
The old Dorman Center has stood on shaky ground for a long
time.
But it finally fell to the county’s wrecking ball in
September.
Deemed no longer safe more than five years ago, the Hoodland
Women’s Club (HWC) rallied to the Dorman cause and began the difficult task of
fundraising in order to replace it with a community center, starting a journey
that ended up in an economic and political cul-de-sac.
Barbara Saldivar presented the idea at an HWC meeting, and
along with Kay Baker took up the task of grant writing to secure funds to hire
a project manager.
The club tapped Diane Lokting, who spearheaded the
eventually fruitless fundraising effort and told The Mountain Times, at that
time, what it had meant to her.
“I was proud to be the project manager for the Hoodland
Women’s Club,” Lokting said. “Through this work I came into contact with many
amazing people – first and foremost the women whose vision to bring a community
center to Hoodland was a dream of over a decade.
“The demise of the project is very sad.”
Despite attracting many foundations, the fundraising effort
came up short.
But the HWC wasn’t ready to give up.
The club joined forces with the Villages at Mt. Hood with a
new idea for the four-acre plot propped up by a community garden: this time, a
community park.
HWC member Regina Lythgoe launched the project with an
appeal during a Villages board meeting.
“We don’t have places to push our grandchildren on swings,”
she said, and the idea took wings.
The Villages solicited the creativity of the Mountain’s Ben
Bliesner, Josh Frazier and Jason Johnson and the trio created a mesmerizing CAD
of what the new park could look like. It included a skate park, public shelter,
five picnic shelters, a BMX track, playground, an improved community garden and
a park-and-ride area.
With Clackamas County Director of Business and Community
Services Gary Barth on board, the next step, once again, was fundraising. Barth
said the county was willing to lease the property for $1 a year – the county
owns the property – but it was up to the village to figure out the funding mechanism.
But the second bell tolled. The Villages at Mt. Hood was
disbanded by the county for reasons that strained credulity.
The question now, is there a third time? The Dorman Center
is gone. But the lot remains, yawning, waiting.
One thing is certain. Never take the HWC lightly. As has
been reported in previous stories in The Mountain Times, they don’t sit around
knitting and drinking tea. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  Kayakers prepare to enter the Sandy River.
For the past 20 years, the Sandy River Basin Watershed
Council (SRBWC) has worked to improve fish habitat, water quality and more in
the Sandy River basin, with projects including reconnecting historical
floodplains and side channels back to the river system, distributing fish
carcasses to bring more nutrients to the ecosystem and playing a role in the
removal of the Marmot and Little Sandy Dams in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The
group will celebrate the two decades of stream improvements, plus the 10th
anniversary of the removal of the Marmot Dam, from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19,
at the Riverview Restaurant, 29311 SE Stark Street in Troutdale.
Steve Wise, SRBCW’s Executive Director, noted that the
group’s aim is for the Sandy River basin to be an anchor habitat for the lower
Columbia River, and that the early indications are that their work is paying
off.
“We’re going to be a salmon stronghold for the Columbia,”
Wise said. “If people stay with us, we can do it.”
Wise will deliver “The State of the Sandy” at the event,
including statistics on how the basin has changed in particular over the past
decade, or what amounts to 2.5 generations of salmon. He noted that there are
increases in wild fish, particularly with spring Chinook and wild steelhead,
with numbers in the past decade substantially higher than in the previous one.
“From that, we take great encouragement,” Wise said. “It’s
too early to declare victory, but we can definitely declare progress.”
The numbers for Coho and fall Chinook are not quite as
positive, partly due to the accuracy of the numbers due to the water conditions
at that time of year. But Wise also stressed that removing the two dams were
only part of the puzzle to help raise the numbers of salmon in the basin.
“Dam removal was a great leap forward for the river, but
that alone wouldn’t be enough to restore wild fish,” he said, citing the other
types of projects the group has been a part of since then, such as planting
native vegetation and removing invasive species. “The trick is that rivers are
complicated and fish biology is complicated.”
Wise noted that one big factor in improving the basin has
been the willingness of the community to help, including landowners who own
property next to a river. He cited an example of a floodplain restoration
project upstream of Brightwood, where the community members of Timberline Rim
stepped up to provide $20,000 to the effort.
“They contributed cash to planning and building of side
channel restoration because they felt responsible and saw it was worth the
community getting together,” Wise said. “The willingness of the community is a
huge asset and a critical piece of the future of the Sandy.”
Wise added that when decision was made to remove the two
dams, it was a “radical notion,” but since then, thousands of other dams have
been removed throughout the country, including a number of larger ones.
“We’ve proven that not only can you do it, but it’s a
productive and essential step for watersheds,” he said.
Wise noted that in the coming years, the council plans on
performing more restoration efforts, including additional areas in the upper
Sandy River and areas that have been shown to be more productive habitat for
fish than originally thought, including Beaver Creek and Kelly Creek in the
lower Sandy.
He also added that keeping people aware of the importance of
salmon habitat will play a key role moving forward, particularly with the
numbers of recreational visitors increasing to enjoy biking, skiing, paddling
and more.
“That’s going to be important in the long run; people will
keep coming,” Wise said. “The Sandy is a regionally significant natural
resource.”
“We’ve got a really strong running start on the restoration
side of things; having a free flowing river is a tremendous advantage,” he
added. “It will take more than one decade to recover from the impacts of a
century.”
The SRBWC celebration and The State of the Sandy will
include appetizers and desserts, including coffee, tea, juices and a cash bar.
There will also be a silent auction, including art and tickets to the Portland
Thorns. The event is sponsored by Portland General Electric’s Habitat Fund,
Metro and the Port of Portland. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15
for students, and can be purchased at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sandyversary-tickets-36497845037.
For more information, visit http://sandyriver.org/.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Welches Schools assessment scores rebound last year posted on 10/02/2017
The Oregon Department of Education released the 2016-17
state assessment results in September, with the Oregon Trail School District
(OTSD) above state averages of percentage of students meeting state academic
standards in English Language Arts (ELA), math and science in all grade levels.
After lower scores in ELA and math in the 2015-16 school
year, the Welches Schools rebounded to post similar scores in both areas to the
2014-15 school year.
Welches Elementary School saw a small increase in its
science score, from 77.1 to 79.2, while the middle school experienced a small
decrease, from 82.4 to 78.9.
Welches Schools Principal Kendra Payne wrote in an email
that the differences in scores each year is normal, while drawing conclusions
from those changes is not necessarily an effective practice.
“Test results for each year are a snapshot of what
individual groups of students know and can do during the testing timeframe, so
some fluctuation can be expected,” she noted. “Comparing results from year to
year is essentially comparing the abilities of different groups of kids, and
can be misleading.”
Welches Elementary came in above the state average for ELA
for 2016-17, while the middle school came in below the state average. Both
schools were slightly above the state average in math, with the elementary
school slightly above in science and the middle school above the state average
in science by nearly 14 percentage points.
The district utilizes other methods to assess student
achievement, including interim assessments (including written, verbal,
observation and web-based) by teachers. These assessments offer teachers
immediate feedback on any gaps in learning and allow them the opportunity to
adjust teaching strategies to improve student outcomes.
Payne noted that the state results align with the district
results.
“We are seeing increased use of problem solving and critical
thinking strategies by students in the classroom, which are reflected in state
assessment results,” she wrote.
Payne added that the Oregon Trail School District has
received a grant for its elementary schools to be trained in RTI, a proven
method of identifying students in need of academic support and developing
effective supports for them, as a way to improve student achievement.
“The work we started last year in using iReady, an interim
assessment system, has also assisted us in identifying students who need more
support and customizing the type of support they need,” she wrote.
“We are actively engaging students in their learning, making
sure they develop the skills and habits to be lifelong learners while building
a foundation of basic content knowledge and skills,” Superintendent Aaron Bayer
added in a press release. “We are proud of our team of teachers, counselors,
and support staff for their unwavering commitment to every student who walks
through our doors.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Vets get a lift up at county Stand Down posted on 10/02/2017
(MT) – Hundreds of homeless veterans will be provided with a
broad range of necessities at the East County Veterans Stand Down.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday,
Oct. 21 at The Chapel, 27132 Stark Street in Troutdale.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. and a free lunch will be
provided from noon to 2 p.m.
The Stand Down will provide access for vets to food,
clothing, medical, legal and mental health assistance, job counseling and
referral, and companionship.
Vets are encouraged to bring along their four-legged friends
for wellness exams, vaccines, toenail trims and ear cleaning by Banfield Pet
Hospital.
For homeless veterans on the Mountain, bus passes are
available at the Hoodland Library. Those needing a ride are encouraged to
contact Eileen at 503-753-2179.
Last year’s Stand Down served 189 veterans, 11 received
haircuts, six received dental care, 45 got legal advice, and 34 pets – mainly
dogs – received veterinary care.
Thirty-five service providers were on hand and 225
volunteers gave their time to the extraordinary event.
The first Stand Down was held in San Diego in 1988, and the
popularity of the event grew steadily to 190 events being held each year
throughout the country.
Volunteers can sign up for the Stand Down by email to:
stand_down@thechapelonline.org. |
|  Photo by Pat McAbery
Two crews from the Hoodland Fire District (HFD), each
featuring a brush unit with two firefighters, helped fight the Eagle Creek Fire
last month, as part of a Clackamas County task force. HFD was one of a number
of districts mobilized statewide to help battle the blaze, and HFD Chief John
Ingrao noted the two crews worked nights and were assigned to various areas
during their assignments, including performing structural protection and
suppressing the fire from moving quickly.
Ingrao noted the fire offered some challenges, including its
size, the steepness of terrain, heavy smoke and falling debris.
“We’re trained to fight wild land fires, and it was just a
different location with the urban interface being the critical priority,”
Ingrao said.
Ingrao added that the HFD’s proximity to the fire meant that
he was briefed every morning and evening on the fire.
“We were very well in tune to the dynamics that were going
on,” he said.
Mountain resident Pat McAbery, a firefighter with the
Gresham Fire Department, also spent a week on the Eagle Creek fire after
spending a week at the Chetco Bar Fire near Brookings. As part of his duties in
providing structural protection, McAbery spent time near the Eagle Creek fish
hatchery, including working on sprinkler systems used to protect a bridge and later
protected a house in Warrendale next to one that had been lost.
McAbery added that the fire was much different than some of
the other wildfires he’s battled, such as ones near The Dalles and Warm
Springs, which are typically grass fires that run fast and then go out, calling
the Eagle Creek Fire an “eye opener” for firefighters who are used to quick
events.
He noted that while the fire was extremely destructive, not
all was lost in the blaze and the landscape is not completely charred.
“There’s a lot of stuff that’s burned up, but there’s an
amazing amount that’s not,” he said, noting that about half of the big trees
remain. The gorge will be forever different, but it’s not destroyed. There are
places that are totally gone and places that are totally not gone. It will
recover.”
Ingrao said that the HFD is fortunate to enjoy fairly moist
conditions in general, but that if different conditions lined up, especially
with a suspicious ignition source, an event like the Eagle Creek Fire could
happen anywhere.
“I firmly believe we are just lucky and fortunate, because
it could have happened here,” he said.
The district did not see an increase of medical calls for
respiratory problems during the Eagle Creek Fire, but did get a number of calls
from people who smelled smoke and thought there was a fire nearby. Ingrao noted
that the district responded to all of them, and found it was smoke drifting
over from the Columbia Gorge.
The district did see an uptick of old campfires reigniting
in dispersed camping areas toward the end of August, likely ones that were put
out but not drowned out.
Ingrao added that some fires may have been smoldering for
months and that it takes a lot to fully extinguish a campfire.
“You really have to pour water on it, smother it, stir it,
because it doesn’t get into the essence of the embers,” he said. “They can be
very deep seated.”
Ingrao encouraged people to visit the website
www.firewise.org to learn more about steps to help protect their homes from
fire, including everything from various types of construction materials to
different vegetation that can suppress flames.
District to hold open house
The HFD will hold its annual Open House from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the main fire station, 69634 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
The event will feature demonstrations, including auto
extrication, and partner organizations such as the Red Cross.
For more information, visit the HFD’s Facebook page. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| ODOT sign project impacted by dry conditions, may be delayed posted on 10/02/2017
Construction on the Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT)’s RealTime sign project on Mount Hood was suspended for part of
September due to fire danger on the Mount Hood National Forest, potentially
delaying completion of the project until next spring.
The signs will offer up to the minute traffic information
and advisories, including road conditions and travel times between
destinations.
“That put us behind schedule, we don't know how much at this
point,” said Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs.
The fire restrictions were lifted in late September, but not
before losing approximately four weeks of work time. The project had originally
been slated to be complete in November, and if crews will have to finish the
job in the spring, they will have to wait for the snow and ice to melt before
resuming work.
Dinwiddie noted that with work resuming, travelers can
expect to see paving the highway’s shoulders, installing guard rails and sign
installation in the early part of October. The work is expected to necessitate
single lane closures, with delays up to ten minutes, at times.
Once the project is complete, the signs are expected to be
operational sooner than initially thought. According to Dinwiddie, ODOT will
utilize software from the RealTime signs on Hwy. 217, with some fine tuning, to
reduce the lag time before they start working.
For more information on the RealTime sign project, visit
TripCheck.com/realtime.
Eagle Creek Fire impact
Dinwiddie added that Hwy. 26 experienced “noticeable
congestion” in September during the period of time that Interstate 84 was
closed due to the Eagle Creek Fire, although no firm numbers were available at
press time. SR 14 in Washington was closed to semi-trucks at that time, with
the remaining options for getting around the closures as Hwy. 26 or routes to
the south.
Dinwiddie said that landslides are expected to impact
Interstate 84 this winter and that any future closures of the interstate could
impact traffic on Hwy. 26 in the coming months. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Comedy show gets laughs at the Lodge posted on 10/02/2017
Slap your knees. Toss your head back. Wipe away the tears of
hilarity. Let go.
The time has come to laugh away an entire weekend.
Timberline Comedy Weekend is back, and the historic lodge
has lined up six comedians to tickle your fancy and funny bone. The weekend of
Oct. 13 and 14 is the date, and tickets are now available.
The shows run from 8 to 10 p.m. both nights, but space will
be limited so grabbing tickets online is the only guarantee of getting a seat.
They may not be available at the door.
The Timberline stage will feature Andrew Norelli, Josh Sneed
and Kristin Key on Friday night, the 13th; and Dwight Slade, Lachlan Patterson
and Ahmed Bharoocha on Saturday, the 14th. Alex Falcone will be master of
ceremonies.
Andrew Norelli is a veteran of late night shows having
appeared on Letterman, Ferguson, Kimmel, plus Comedy Central and Comics Unleashed.
In 2008, Josh Sneed finished second out of 100 of Comedy
Central’s top comedians in the annual Stand-up Showdown competition, and
released an album called “Unacceptable,” which iTunes selected as one of the
top 10 comedy albums released.
Kristin Key is best known for being a season favorite on
NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” season 4. Dwight Slade’s career took him through
the famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles to Portland in the 1980s. “Why should I
live in LA when I can be just as miserable and unknown in Portland,” he said.
Lachlan Patterson recently finished runner-up on NBC’s Last
Comic Standing.
Ahmed Bharoocha currently performs regularly at LA’s top
clubs including The Comedy Store, The Improv and the Laugh Factory.
Alex Falcone will be the MC, and is a comedian and writer
from Portland.
To make a reservation call 503-272-3251 or book online at
timberlinelodge.com/comedy. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  The updated bridge.
It cost more than expected, but that’s often the case when
history is on the line.
The Rhododendron Swinging Bridge, sorely in need of repair
after more than half a century of service, got the repairs it required, and
will be honored by a rededication ceremony to be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept.
16, on the site of the old swinger.
According to Doug McLain, project manager from Clackamas
County, the repairs were originally estimated to be about $150,000. But after
work was completed in April, the cost ranged closer to $200,000.
Most of the material is new, as only the metal
superstructures at the north and south and the wire rope used for suspension
remain from the original construction.
“Everything else is new material,” Steve Graeper, president
of the Rhododendron CPO, wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “The metal
was repainted and all the metal suspension rods were replaced. The wood decking
and support structures were all replaced and the hand railing (and) sidewalls
were lowered to allow for better viewing of the river while keeping with safety
standards.”
The bridge enjoys iconic status in Rhododendron and serves
to unite the community as it sways above the Zigzag River. It was built by the
county to provide a crossing for pedestrians following the flood of 1964
isolated many residents from Rhododendron.
“I hope that the community recognizes its importance and
elects to make the north end of the bridge an area that is a welcoming entrance
to Rhododendron,” Graeper wrote.
The rededication ceremony will include all five Clackamas
County commissioners including Chair Jim Bernard, Paul Savas, Martha Schrader,
Ken Humberston and Sonya Fischer. The bridge’s history will be shared by
Richard Dopp, the original designer of the bridge.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Mountain traffic falls short of fears for Great American Eclipse posted on 09/07/2017
The potential traffic gridlock and delays on Mount Hood
surrounding the days of the Great American Eclipse never came to pass last
month, although traffic in other areas of the state did see dramatic increases,
according to Kimberly Dinwiddie, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
Community Affairs. She noted that eastbound traffic on the mountain was up by
30 percent on Sunday, Aug. 20 (the day before the eclipse) compared to the same
day in 2016, while eastbound traffic on the Friday and Saturday before actually
decreased compared to the prior year.
“Things went much better than expected,” Dinwiddie said.
She added that traffic around Timothy Lake saw the most
delays in the hours after the eclipse, particularly as traffic tried to merge
from Skyline Road to Hwy. 26 and the vehicles returning from the Madras area.
“Once people got further down the mountain, traffic really
thinned out,” Dinwiddie said. “We credit the travelers who made decisions to
arrive early, stay put and leave late.”
Dinwiddie added that elsewhere in the state, travelers did
not fare as well. On Wednesday, Aug. 16, Prineville experienced a 15-mile
backup, while on the Monday of the eclipse, travel between Hwy. 217 and the
Wilsonville area took approximately 30 minutes when it normally would have
taken approximately nine minutes. She noted that there were also reports of
travel from Salem to Portland taking three hours (three times the normal travel
time), and that some travelers needed six hours to get out of Madras after the
eclipse.
“We’re very fortunate that we didn’t see that on Mount
Hood,” Dinwiddie said, adding that the coast saw “normal summer congestion”
around the eclipse.
The Oregon National Guard was brought in on Saturday, Aug.
19 to assist the Hoodland Fire District (HFD), including providing logistical
support, routing traffic and
distribution of handouts. The HFD also implemented the use of two BMW adventure
sport motorcycles staffed with a Paramedic and EMT to respond to emergency
incidents, to provide advanced medical care and scene management ahead of
larger fire engines.
Dinwiddie added that work on the RealTime sign project on
Hwy. 26 will include minor shoulder closures in September, but the project is
still expected to be complete by the end of the year. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Lions Club Chili Cook-off returns to help Learning Center posted on 09/07/2017
In the last two years, there have been some fun and
different entries into the Mount Hood Lions Club’s annual Chili Cook-off, with
ingredients ranging from the traditional to not-so-traditional, such as rabbit
and mole. Last year, Hoodland Fire District’s Scott Kline took home both the
judge’s and people’s choice awards with his chili that featured flank steak smoked
for eight hours.
“It’s really interesting, I love tasting them all,” David
Buoy, Lions Club member and third Vice President, said.
This year will be the third for the event, from 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Lions Club, 24730 E. Woodsey Way in Welches,
but it also offers so much more than delicious chili. Event goers will also
have the opportunity to buy plants donated by area nurseries and peruse classic
cars, all while raising money to support theMount Hood Learning Center. In the past
two years, the event has raised approximately $3,000 for scholarships for local
children to attend the preschool.
“We are beyond thankful to the Lions Club to be able to
offer something like this to help out our program and the community,” Alicia
Sperr, president of the MHLC, said, noting the center helps prepare more than
30 children each year for school. “We’ve been very fortunate to receive some
great benefits to give back to the kids in the community.”
Buoy noted that he hopes this year’s event is successful
enough to provide three scholarships.
This year’s event features a new voting method, with the
people’s choice award (voted by event goers) going to the best submission from
a non-profit/organization and the judge’s choice (voted by three judges
unaffiliated with the Lions Club) going to the best submission from an area
restaurant. Buoy also noted that some classic cars will be on hand this year,
including a Model A, two Packards and a Jaguar.
Chili tasting begins at 11 a.m., and tickets cost $5 for
presale or $6 at the door. Tickets will be available at Clackamas County Bank,
Welches Mountain Hardware or by calling 503 422-1117. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Courtney Minnehan (left) and Collin McDonald.
It seems like an improbable journey. Artistic, for sure. But
possible, not likely.
Courtney Minnehan is an art teacher in New Hampshire. She
owns her own art company, Island Roots Designs, that she started in high school
on Martha’s Vineyard.
Collin McDonald just graduated high school in Boise, Idaho.
He is headed to Boise State University this fall to pursue his education in the
arts – focusing on comic design and concept art.
Then there’s Perrin Stronach, a bartender at Charlie’s
Mountain View in Government Camp, and Andrew Loaiza, the camp director for High
Cascade Snowboard Camp.
If you’re thinking that in some way they all collided in
Government Camp, you’d be right, and also, possibly, prescient.
It all started with the Charlie’s bartender.
“Perrin saw the opportunity for a mural when High Cascade
Snowboard Camp (HCSC) built their annual skate park in the parking lot across
from Charlie’s, exposing a giant blank wall,” Minnehan wrote in an email to The
Mountain Times.
“When I arrived in town, Perrin explained to me how incredible
it would be if I could paint Mount Hood on that empty space across the street.”
Charlie’s view of Mount Hood was taken away with the
building of the Government Camp General Store in 2006.
Minnehan was taken with the idea. She talked to Loaiza of
HCSC to get approval, and having secured the OK, she talked McDonald into
joining her on the project.
“It took Collin and I three days to paint it, about fourteen
hours in total,” Minnehan wrote. “In those three days, we had so many people
stop and compliment us on our work. We even had a crowd of people, including
Charlie Jr., watching us paint all day from the bar inside of Charlie’s.”
Minnehan knew when she asked to paint the mural that it was
only going to be up for a month or so until the camp was done.
After seeing how much the community enjoyed looking at it,
that month didn’t seen long enough to Minnehan.
She asked Charlie Jr. if he’d like to hold onto the mural so
they could keep the view.
“With the approval of Charlie and the help of Perrin and a
few HCSC employees, the mural will be moved to Charlie’s backyard,” Minnehan
wrote. “So, when you are playing a round of horseshoes, you can enjoy the
beautiful view of Mount Hood.”
Minnehan will return to the East Coast to her teaching
position and continue to supply art to six shops in the area, but she has plans
to expand to stores in Oregon in the near future.
And McDonald will pursue his dreams of comic design stardom
and concept art.
But in the meantime, their artistic endeavor in Government
Camp precedes them.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Local artists on display at Fall Art Show posted on 09/07/2017
The Rendezvous Grill and Mt. Hood Art Online have already
teamed up to showcase artwork by local artists on the restaurant’s walls. On
Sunday, Sept. 24, more art and the artists behind them will be on hand as part
of the Fall Art Show and Wine Tasting, also featuring free wine tastings and
hors d'oeuvres.
“It’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” said Caryn
Tilton, who started Mt. Hood Art Online, a website where mountain artists can
gain greater exposure and connecting artists, patrons and collectors, two years
ago. “We’re hoping for nice weather so we can put things out on the patio.”
Tilton noted that the show will include a range of works,
including oil paintings, water colors and mixed media, with artwork also
available for purchase. A number of artists are also expected to be on hand to
discuss their art.
“For the artists, it’s an opportunity to share their art and
perhaps sell something,” Tilton said.
Tilton added that if the event is well attended, she hopes
to bring it back, perhaps on an annual or biannual basis.
The Fall Art Show and Wine Tasting will be held from 2-6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Rendezvous Grill, 67149 Hwy. 26 in Welches. For more
information, visit www.MtHoodArtOnline.com.
An artful season
The Wy’East Artisans Guild will present its latest art show,
“Off Balance,” featuring works inspired by the Sandy Actors Theatre’s (SAT)
production of, “How the Other Half Lives,” from Friday, Sept. 1 through Sunday,
Oct. 1, at SAT, 39181 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy.
The featured artist for this show is JoAnne Rohweder, who
draws her inspiration from her surroundings. For this show, she painted an
unintentional protest, contrasting our modern city and nature. She will also be
displaying her art all September at the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce, 38979
Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy.
The public is also invited to an artists’ reception at 6:45
p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, at SAT, for a viewing of the art with artists’ comments
followed by a dress-rehearsal performance of the SAT production. Seating at the
reception is on a first-come basis and donations will be accepted to benefit
the Guild’s non-profit public programs.
The Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO) will hold the 2017
Fall Show, with an artists reception from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the
Visual Arts Gallery, Building 19, on the campus of Mount Hood Community
College, 26000 SE Stark Street in Gresham. The show, featuring the theme
“Columbia River Colors,” runs from Saturday, Oct. 7 through Thursday, Oct. 26.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on weekends and holidays, and
parking is free.
Approximately 300 paintings were submitted for the show,
with only 80 selected by the show’s juror, Paul Jackson, a contemporary
watercolorist. All of the participating artists are from Oregon and all
original paintings in the show will be for sale.
For more information, visit
www.watercolorsocietyoforegon.com By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Jolynne Milone at Koya Kitchen.
Jolynne Milone has traveled the world, often in unexpected
ways. She noted her first time abroad, she planned to be gone for a month, but
ended up being gone for 18 months, journeying to India, then Kashmir, Pakistan,
Bhutan, Thailand and more.
“The world’s a big place with very delicious food,” Milone
said.
And those fantastic flavors she has discovered during her
travel experiences are now available on the mountain, at Milone’s Koya Kitchen,
offering dishes such as fried rice, ramen, udon, sushi and a rotating curry.
The restaurant, located at 67886 Hwy. 26 in Welches, opened in March and has
already built a solid fan base.
Milone’s culinary adventures belie her upbringing, when she
was not exposed to a wide range of dishes.
“My parents weren’t very experimental with food, we always
ate a lot of casserole,” she said.
Milone tries to keep things as original and classic as
possible for her recipes, cooking things from scratch, including broths, while
the noodles are made from raw dough from Japan.
She noted that for her curries, the different parts of India
lended itself to different flavors of curry.
“You understand how the food and people change with
topography,” Milone said.
Milone ended up on the mountain a little more than five
years ago, when she was looking for a place to land after being in Japan for
the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. A friend offered her a place to stay, so she
got on a plane and came to Mount Hood.
“I just love the mountain, so I stayed,” she said. “You’ve
kind of got to make yourself a job up here if you want to stay.”
Milone has worked in several capacities in the restaurant
industry for more than 20 years, including bartending, serving, managing and
the front of house. But she added she’s learned a little bit about the efforts
that go on in the kitchen since she’s opened her restaurant.
“I have a whole new appreciation for the people who cook in
the kitchens up here, its hard work,” Milone said. “I take really good care of
my cooks.”
She has created a relaxed atmosphere inside, with old movies
and mountaineering videos playing in the background, and she hopes to bring
that atmosphere outside by working in the garden and building a pagoda with a
fire pit.
“I want to make a good space for people to come and just
retreat,” Milone said, adding that she would like to add hammocks outside for
outdoor movies at some point. “People come in all day long and they tell me the
space feels good and they’re relaxed and the food tastes good.”
For more information, including the menu, search for “Koya
Kitchen” on Facebook or call (503) 564-9345. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Wheeler's latest book cover.
There are zombies among us, and Brightwood author Harlan
Wheeler has creeped forward to help us out.
His new book “A Zombie Guide to Self-Help” has been released
by Beachwood Publishing Company and streaked to No. 3 on Amazon.com is less
than a week.
Wheeler, a three-time bestselling author, gets to the heart
of finding a way through the maze and haze of modern society with his new book.
“Even when you think you have a deep sense of clarity, the
chaotic world around us can be smoggy, suffocating and confusing, and this book
is a great reminder that we need to pay attention in ways we’ve never really
had to in the past,” Wheeler said. “It all comes down to this: don’t let the
ghouls steal your dreams.”
“We are living in a
world of zombies and we forget what it means to live an authentic, happy and
amazing life,” said writer, editor and coach Dawn Zigzag Montefusco. “This book
inspires people to get rid of their bad habits … and instantaneously experience
a better life. And, the book is fun and funny, while also being poignant. It
really cuts to the chase as to things one needs to change in life.”
Wheeler has written five books of non-fiction and is a
self-proclaimed inspirational troublemaker and poet. He has a large following
on Facebook (the warrior of inspiration). You can find him on Amazon and at his
website www.harlanwheeler.com. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  Photo courtesy of NASA
When the moon blocks out the sun during the solar eclipse on
Monday, Aug. 21, a narrow band of Oregon will lie in the area of totality where
viewers can experience a complete eclipse. And with Oregon as the first state to
experience totality, an influx of visitors – perhaps as many as one million –
are expected to flock to the Beaver state and travel to a location within that
totality.
Madras and other areas in eastern Oregon will offer prime
locations for eclipse viewers, and traffic on Hwy. 26 around the event is
expected to dramatically increase. Kimberly Dinwiddie, Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) Community Affairs, likened it to traffic usually reserved
for winter break, when it can take up to three hours to travel between
Government Camp and Sandy.
“In the days surrounding the eclipse, we can expect the same
type of congestion and that’s what we’re preparing for,” Dinwiddie said, adding
that ODOT is expecting much higher traffic in four areas within the path of
totality: the Oregon coast, Salem, Madras and other areas in eastern Oregon.
Dinwiddie’s message to the mountain community, echoed by a
multitude of other government agencies, is clear: be prepared. Don’t travel if
you don’t have to (consider biking or walking as alternatives), stock up on
essentials (groceries, prescriptions, gas, etc.), let visitors know ahead of
time what to expect and make sure that emergency services can get through. And
if you do travel, take food and water, plan for bathroom breaks and leave ample
time to arrive at your destination.
“Bottom line: arrive early, stay put and leave late,”
Dinwiddie said, adding that ODOT will make sure there are no lane closures on
Hwy. 26 for its RealTime sign project around the eclipse. “We want everybody to
have a good time.”
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Chief John Ingrao noted that
the district will be “heavily staffed” around the time of the eclipse, adding
that the timing of the event provides increased danger during fire season. He
noted that the district is working with other agencies, including the Clackamas
County Emergency Management, to prepare for responding to emergencies.
“The planets are aligned for this to be a very bad thing,”
Ingrao said, adding that the annual Hood to Coast marathon will occur only days
after the eclipse. “The philosophy is to hit things with as many pieces of
equipment as possible to keep it small.”
Ingrao added that mountain residents can lessen their risk
by reducing their exposure, including making sure vehicles are in good working
order before finding yourself in gridlock, which could start as early as
Thursday, Aug. 17 and stretch into Wednesday, Aug. 23.
“The common wisdom is to be prepared and take care of
yourself,” he said, noting that the Mount Hood area could experience increased
traffic on forest roads as viewers seek out alternative locations at higher
elevations to get good views of the eclipse. “There could be a significant
amount of people causing delays.”
Jim Todd, Director of Space Science Education at the Oregon
Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), noted that some part of the world
experiences the totality of an eclipse once every year or two, it’s just a
matter of being at the right place at the right time.
The last totality that occurred in Oregon was in February,
1979, and before that was in 1918.
Todd stressed that weather will make a huge difference for
viewers, and if people are lucky, they will be able to see a myriad of heavenly
bodies, including bright stars, bright planets and even a shooting star as part
of the Perseid Meteor Shower.
“You’re looking at the moon’s shadow over you,” Todd said.
“Everybody will remember for the rest of their lives. It’s a very exciting
event, it’s an incredible event.
Todd added that the state will not experience another
totality for 154 years (while there will be approximately 25 partial eclipses
able to be seen in Oregon in the next 50 years and an annular eclipse, when the
moon appears smaller as it blocks out the sun, in 2023).
“It’s rare in terms of location, as far as Oregon goes,”
Todd said. “It’s really been a fever pitch. Everywhere we go, we talk about it
every day. It’s in our backyard.”
“It’s beyond anybody’s imagination the large volume of
people coming,” he added.
The next total eclipse will occur on July 2, 2019, with the
area of totality passing through Argentina.
Todd stressed that everyone viewing the eclipse should wear
proper eyewear to protect their eyes, such as ISO certified solar viewing
glasses. Sunglasses, he warned, will not work and eye damage to the optic
nerves in the back of the eye can occur in as few as ten seconds, even if no
pain is felt
“You cannot fix it, it’s permanent,” Todd said.
Todd also suggested keeping pets inside, adding that
viewers, “don’t want to waste your two minutes chasing your pet down.” And he
noted that from what he’s heard, anybody seeking out a spot in the area of
totality can “expect company.”
“Without question, every corner of land seems to be taken,”
he said.
For more information on the eclipse, visit
https://www.space.com/33797-total-solar-eclipse-2017-guide.html By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Eclipse 2017: Legend says a giant frog is heading toward the sun posted on 07/31/2017
Be thankful you live in modern times. The solar eclipse carried
ominous overtones in ancient cultures – omens of death and destruction.
Chinese legend has it that failing to predict a solar
eclipse put the emperor in danger. Thus, in 2134 BC, astrologers Hsi and Ho
were put to death for such oversight.
In Vietnam, it was once true that a solar eclipse was due to
a giant frog devouring the sun.
The Norse accused wolves of eating the sun.
In China, a dragon dined on the sun.
Hindu mythology has it that Rahu was beheaded by the gods
for drinking the gods’ nectar. His head flew off and eclipsed the sun.
Koreans believed dogs stole the sun.
The Pomo Indians of the Pacific Northwest believed a bear
got in a fight with the sun and took a bite out of it. The Pomo name for a
solar eclipse is “Sun got bit by a bear.”
In some parts of the world, eclipses are still seen as evil
omens. Some cultures have pregnant women and young children to stay indoors,
believing them to be in danger during a solar eclipse. In India, today, some
people fast during an eclipse as they believe food cooked at that time will be
poisonous.
But then the Italians come to the solar eclipse rescue. They
believe that flowers planted during an eclipse grow brighter and more colorful
than those planted at any other time.
Fortunately for those who lived in fear during ancient
times, most calendar years have but two solar eclipses. The most that can occur
in the same year is five. According to NASA, only about 25 years in the past
5,000 have had five solar eclipses. The last time was in 1935. The next time
will be in 2206.
Babylonians and Chinese were able to predict solar eclipses
as early as 2500 BC. Thus, the very fact that we know one is on the way to the
Mountain community is no great feat.
And just to be completely safe, if you live anywhere near
water, keep an eye on the frogs. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  Carl Solomon
Jon Tullis, Director of Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge,
described the annual Mountain Music Festival as a time when, “Timberline lets
its hair down a little bit.” This year’s event brings in folk, bluegrass and
Celtic musicians from near and far, starting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 4
at the iconic lodge’s amphitheatre, with music going until sunset.
“There’s some real high energy bluegrass to good country,
folk and great vocals,” Tullis said. “It’s going to be a great show.”
The lineup features local musician Carl Solomon, a Portland
singer-songwriter who performs in the storyteller tradition, Lindsay Lou &
The Flatbellys, The Way Down Wanderers, The Railsplitters and We Banjo 3, a
“Celtgrass” band featuring banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin.
Tullis noted this year’s lineup offer some youthful energy,
with bands that are playing at festivals all over the country, including two
(We Banjo 3 and Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys) who will head to the Sisters
Folk Festival after their gig near the top of Mount Hood.
“I think it’s a good complimentary lineup,” Tullis said,
adding that the routes bands take during their summer tours often plays a role
into who is available to play at Timberline.
The festival, which is free and open to the public, will
also feature the “Pickin’ Patio,” where festival goers can bring their own
instruments, and the chance for different organizations to do some outreach,
including the Friends of Timberline, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and
Filson, a clothing maker who more than 100 years ago had the first contract
with the U.S. Forest Service to make their uniforms.
Tullis noted he likes to feature a local musician at the
festival, such as Solomon, who was selected to be a performer at the Portland
International Airport and who also organized the Portland chapter of Soldiers
Songs and Voices, a nonprofit that provides veterans and their families with
free instruments and songwriting workshops as a form of post-conflict care.
Solomon is familiar with Timberline Lodge, even playing at
the Ram’s Head Bar last December, and is looking forward to returning to the
landmark for the festival.
“It’s an amazing piece of art,” he said. “The first time I
saw it we went up to do some skiing, and it just took my breath away. It’s just
an honor to have a chance to play there and have that kind of view.”
Solomon noted he plans on playing both new material and at
least one song from his first CD, plus one that tells the story of his first
job out of college as a carnival barker.
“It taught me to rhyme on my feet,” Solomon said of the job.
“Basically you’re just supposed to continue to talk and have a cadence and a
rhyme and a sense to your voice. That actually has proven to be a very helpful
background.”
Tullis framed the event as a party for the mountain, and
festival goers should be ready to enjoy themselves and have a good time.
“I like to tell people to bring their dancing shoes, I think
people will be on their feet,” he said.
Music will take place rain or shine, but no dogs or picnic
lunches. For more information, call 503-272-3134.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Tansy Ragwort
There’s a killer loose on the Mountain. His name is Ragwort.
That’s Tansy Ragwort to you, pal.
The invasive weed tansy ragwort has a long and deadly
history in the Pacific Northwest. It is believed to have been brought here in
the early 20th Century through ballast water from ships.
This noxious plant is dangerous to humans and livestock due
to a poisonous alkaloid in its tissue which causes liver damage when ingested,
according to Lisa Kilders, education and outreach program manager for the
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District.
“Horses and cows are especially susceptible to this
poisonous weed with death occurring after consuming 3 to 8 percent of body
weight,” Kilders wrote in a press release to The Mountain Times. “Humans can
also be harmed from tansy ragwort by consuming the plant, consuming livestock
suffering from liver damage … by consuming animal products such as milk (made
from liver damaged cows), and honey (made with tansy ragwort nectar).”
Ragwort is an especially familiar sight in rural
communities. It prefers a cool, wet climate, well-drained soils and full to
partial sun.
“You can see patches of tansy in pastures, fields,
grasslands, vacant land, waste places, horse trails, roadsides, rangeland,
riparian areas, and clear cuts,” Kilders wrote.
Tansy ragwort is a biennial, taking two years to complete
its lifecycle. In its first year, it appears as a ground-hugging rosette,
transitioning in its second year up to six feet in height. It blooms in late
spring and early summer with yellow flowers. The stems are green, sometimes
with a reddish tinge, and the leaves are dark green and ruffled.
Control methods
Rosettes should be dug up, removing the root. Because it is toxic,
wear gloves and protective clothing. Pulled plants should be bagged and placed
in the municipal waste.
Mowing is not a good control method. While it may prevent
the plant from immediately producing seeds, it also stimulates additional
growth.
Insects have been introduced – most notably the Cinnabar
moth – to help control the invader. The caterpillars of the moth feed on the
flowering ragwort during the summer.
For information on how to control the tansy ragwort with chemical
controls, contact the WeedWise program at 503-210-6000.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Gourmet meat company opens location in Sandy posted on 07/31/2017
(MT) - General Manager Dale Rasmussen, a life-long Sandy resident,
has swung open the doors of his local meat shop.
Timberline Meat, located at 38525 Proctor Blvd, in Sandy, is
a family owned business that promises the finest in high quality meats.
“Timberline Meat was created to fulfill the growing desire
of people in the area for wholesome, high quality meat from local ranchers who
use humane and responsible livestock practices,” Rasmussen said. “Supported by
our local USDA inspected processing facility, we are experts at providing
skilled, crafted cuts of meat using the best possible industry standards.”
Timberline Meat products include locally produced beef, pork
and poultry. In addition, the Sandy shop will offer an assortment of locally
produced sauces, condiments, rubs and spices.
Timberline Meat’s history goes back to 1977 with P&C
Meat, prior to being purchased by Sandy businessman Bob Nippert in the mid-90s.
The firm has since been operated under the name U.S. Meat and Restaurant Supply
providing custom meat under daily USDA inspection to restaurants and hotels in
the Portland metro area.
For more information about Timberline Meat email to
dale.rasmussen@timberlinemeat.com. |
| Hoodland Lutheran starts Tuesday services with new format posted on 07/31/2017
Pastor Don Voeks started leading the congregation at the
Hoodland Lutheran Church more than three years ago and through the years has
heard from people in the community who can’t make the Sunday morning service,
but would like to be able to. Starting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, Voeks and the church
will offer a new service, featuring different music and a new format designed
to draw in some of the younger mountain population who are busy during weekends
with work.
“I really do like the idea of doing new and different
things,” Voeks said. “It challenges me to find new ways to present the gospel
and hopefully it challenges the people who are part to think in new ways also.
This is really a service designed for those people who work on Sunday, but
would like to come to a worship service.”
For the new service, at 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday at the church
(59151 Hwy. 26 in Brightwood), Voeks noted the pews will be arranged
differently from the traditional straight lines focused at the altar. Instead,
they will be set in a circle with Voeks offering a short introduction to a
sermon and opening it up to a larger discussion among church goers, rather than
a standard lecture.
“Hopefully that will encourage some interaction between
people,” Voeks said, describing the service as “more casual” than most church
services. “I would hope to get some discussion about what other people think
about it.”
The music will have a different vibe, too, with Tim Carlisle
offering some older styles of church music with a jazz clip.
“He is much more improvisational, so we’re looking forward
to him having more free reign,” Voeks said. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to
experiment more and do some different things.”
Voeks added that attendees will also have the opportunity to
help shape the new service, including moving it to a different time slot, if
needed. And he hopes that the new service will offer attendees a chance to
enlighten and enrich each other, rather than just Voeks taking the lead.
“None of us has the truth,” Voeks said, noting he hopes to
think deeper about his own spirituality as a result of the added service. “We
need to be open and able to listen to each other and hear how each other
responds to Jesus and the gospel.
“That’s my real point and what I really hope to have
happen.”
Hoodland Lutheran Church holds a regular service at 10:30
a.m. every Sunday.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Photo by Travis Nodurft
The audience at Clackamas Repertory Theatre’s (CRT) August
production of “The Melody Lingers On” is sure to recognize some of the featured
music written by Irving Berlin, even if they didn’t realize he’s behind the
tune. Berlin wrote more than 1,500 songs in his life, with some of the more
popular including “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz”
and songs for the musical “Annie Get Your Gun,” including “No Business Like
Show Business.”
“It’s one of those
shows that I think people are going to be dancing out of the theater,” said the
director, David Smith-English, noting the show includes 46 of Berlin’s songs.
The production also offers some stories of the man behind
all the music, with some pithy dialogue between songs about Berlin and the
significant moments of his life. Smith-English added he wasn’t too familiar
with Berlin until he saw a one man show at Portland Center Stage last year,
which featured some of the same stories presented in “The Melody Lingers On.”
“The show kind of works through Irving Berlin’s life and
gives you insights into where these songs came from, why he was writing them
and what was happening in his life that was so personal,” Smith-English said.
Berlin arrived in America when he was five years old after
his family fled Eastern Europe and the persecution of Jews at the time. He grew
up in Brooklyn, but never had any formal training despite his success in the
music industry. He served as an entertainer for troops during both World War I
and World War II and displayed a strong sense of patriotism that Smith-English
appreciates.
“In my sense of thinking, it’s the finest kind of
patriotism, because he loved what the country gave him, the opportunity it gave
him,” he said. “He loved the people; he wanted to bring people together. He
wasn’t beating people up, but bringing together.”
Smith-English noted that Berlin was concerned about
religious persecution and racism, adding that Berlin brought the first black
woman to a Broadway stage with Ethel Waters singing in “Suppertime” about a
wife who had just learned her husband had been lynched.
“It’s a pretty moving piece,” Smith-English said. “These are
some of the things that are revealed in the show as you go along. He is
remarkable.”
The show features five men and five women who are some
renowned singers, including Mont Chris Hubbard, Susannah Mars, Merideth Kaye
Clark, LaRhonda Steele and Don Kenneth Mason, choreography by Wesley “Angel”
Hanson and a six-piece band directed by Lars Campbell.
“I think it’s a show that people are really going to enjoy,”
Smith-English said.
CRT presents “Irving Berlin’s The Melody Lingers On,”
directed by David Smith-English, from Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 27,
at the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon City campus of Clackamas Community
College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in Oregon City. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are from
$20-$36. For more information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
Sandy Summer Sounds and Starlight Cinema continues a summer
of free entertainment with a final performance for the Sunday Sounds at 6:30
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Theater in the Woods in Sandy’s Meinig Park, 17670
Meinig Avenue, featuring the Talbott Brothers, an alternative folk-rock duo.
Meanwhile, Wednesday Sounds kick off with the Sandy Hops
& Blues Festival from 5:30-9:30 Wednesday, Aug. 2 at the Dale Nichols Main
Stage in Meinig Park. The event features Hillstomp, an American punk blues duo,
and Too Slim and the Taildraggers, a “whiskey” blues band, and the audience can
bring a picnic or purchase food from Busy Bee Catering and Red Shed.
Wednesday Sounds will continue each week in August, with
concerts from 6:30-8:30 p.m. featuring country/folk music from Kory Quinn &
The Quinntessentials on Aug. 9, funk/soul/rock guitar player Scott Pemberton on
Aug. 16, choral pop by Uplifting on Aug. 23 and Latin band Pura Vida Orquestra
on Aug. 30.
The Starlight Cinema will offer family friendly movies at
the Dale Nichols Main Stage every Saturday in August, starting at dusk.
Audience members can bring a blanket or some lawn chairs. Movies include
“Moana” on Aug. 5, “Lego Batman” on Aug. 12, “Pete’s Dragon” on Aug. 19 and “A
Dog’s Purpose” on Aug. 26.
In case of rain, concerts will move to the Sandy Community
Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd., while festivals and movies will go on as planned
(bring a raincoat or an umbrella).
For more information on Sandy Summer Sounds and Starlight
Cinema, visit http://www.ci.sandy.or.us/Sandy-Summer-Sounds-Starlight-Cinema/ By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Tony DeMicoli
Tony DeMicoli’s foray into the music industry started by
picking up a hitchhiker, but the seed for his career and how he went about his
business was planted much earlier.
DeMicoli grew up in Brooklyn and spent many years as a young
man kicking around New York, including having a friend who lived above
Dangerfield’s, Rodney Dangerfield’s club. DeMicoli would pop in and noticed
that Dangerfield, who had not found his fame yet, always remembered people and
greeted them.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this was a way to run a club,’” DeMicoli
said, adding that in those days he got to see Jefferson Airplane and other 60s
bands at the Fillmore East. “I like the club scene. I like seeing people enjoying
life.”
DeMicoli ended up in Jewel, where he made stained glass, and
on one trip to Cannon Beach he picked up a hitchhiker, Richard Vidan, who had
an idea for a club in Portland. That chance encounter landed DeMicoli the job
of manager at the Long Goodbye in 1978; the start of two decades in helping
foster the musical scene in Portland including his clubs Luis La Bamba and Club
Key Largo.
This month, DeMicoli will be honored at a one-night
celebration, called “Rockin’ for Tony,” featuring three of the bands he helped
bring to the music scene, Quarterflash, Nu Shooz and Jon Koonce & The Lost
Cause, on Sunday, July 16, at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland.
Marc Baker, one of the event’s organizers, met DeMicoli at
the Long Goodbye and started to make a connection while he was running the
college radio station at Oregon State University and getting invited to Luis La
Bamba’s to see the bands DeMicoli booked there, including The Ramones, Echo and
the Bunnymen, Bow Wow Wow and more.
“That was the place, that was Mecca back in the day,” Baker
said. “He was kind of the top of the pyramid. There were other places, but
there was only one La Bamba Club and that’s where all the cool bands were
playing.”
Baker later managed the band The Crazy Eights, which
frequently played at Club Key Largo, and he noted that DeMicoli was known for
being an upstanding club manager.
“What Tony offered was the space and the freedom,” Baker
said. “When you worked with Tony, a handshake was good and his word was good.
He always supported artists and you knew you weren’t going to get worked. The
list of people running clubs that you could say that about was a pretty short
list.”
Baker added that the music scene in Portland in the 80s was
much different than today, with hangouts such as record stores and music clubs
that were prevalent then, now are almost gone. Back then, original local bands
found a foothold in clubs like DeMicoli’s, along with bringing other
established musicians to the area, including Cheryl Crow’s first Portland gig
and John Lee Hooker.
“I just feel so lucky as a native Portlander to have been a
part of that, on the outside and then on the inside,” Baker said.
Baker and Terry Currier, owner and operator of Portland’s
Music Millennium record store, figured it was time to honor some of the people
who made contributions to the music scene and landed on a tribute concert for
DeMicoli, bringing back three of the bands from his time at Club Key Largo.
“Those are really three great examples of people Tony
supported,” Baker said. “Three 80s acts that scored major record contracts that
played on Tony’s stage.”
Currier, who started in record retail in 1972, met DeMicoli
during his time at the Luis La Bamba Club. He noted that DeMicoli brought in a
wide range of musical acts to perform, from older blues legends like Buddy Guy
to the American soul band The Neville Brothers, while also offering regular
gigs, such as a weekend every month.
“It was a different time and space,” Currier said. “Back
then, club owners welcomed back artists to play on a regular basis on the local
side. Today, there’s not very many clubs that have recurring acts playing in
the same month.”
And when it came time to figure out the bands that would
play at the tribute, it wasn’t a challenge.
“They just said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Currier said. “Tony had
been very instrumental in giving them a platform for getting their music out to
the public in this town when they most needed it.”
DeMicoli, who moved to the mountain for 17 years after he
sold Club Key Largo, noted he’s grateful for the event, as too often these
types of things occur after losing an influential person.
“So many great people have passed on and then they do a
tribute for them,” DeMicoli said. “It’s kind of nice to feel that when you’re
still alive and when you can really enjoy it.”
And DeMicoli continues to be involved in the music industry
today with Blues Cruises at the Portland Blues Festival, the McMenamin’s
Edgefield concert series, the Bite of Oregon, the Rose Festival and now booking
bands at The Resort at The Mountain’s Mallards Restaurant on Saturday nights,
proving that his passion for music has not faded.
“I loved seeing and promoting new bands,” DeMicoli said.
Baker warned, however, that for those who want to experience
the music of DeMicoli’s clubs better mark Sunday, July 16 on their calendar.
““It’s just going to be a big love fest of great memories
and good times and amazing stories,” Baker said. “Chop chop lollipop, you
snooze you lose.”
Doors open at 6 p.m., with a 7 p.m. show, for “Rockin’ for
Tony” on Sunday, July 16, at the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside Street in
Portland. The event is for ages 21 and older and tickets are available for $20.
For more information or tickets, visit
www.crystalballroompdx.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Chef Jason Hornor
How Jason Hornor ever got out of Hooker’s Hamburgers must be
one of those stories from which legends are made.
The Skyway Bar & Grill chef, having migrated to Oregon
from Texas in 2000, grew up cooking, and Hooker’s was just one stop along the
way.
“I was a latch key kid,” Hornor told The Mountain Times in
an email. “I learned to experiment with food at an early age. We would always
whip up some kind of creation after school. And cooking meat is in my blood.”
Seems Hornor’s grandfather had a “slew of barbecue joints”
in Texas until the day he died. What followed was Hornor’s working in all kinds
of restaurants – a pizza place, a Mexican place, an IHOP – including cavorting
as manager of Hooker’s Hamburgers.
“I knew this was what I was going to do after I quit cooking
for a while to have a VW restoration business,” he said. “That didn’t work out so
perfect. I really missed cooking. I could not afford to cook expensive food for
me and my friends so I accepted my fate and dove back in.”
That dive was the Mountain community’s gain. Hornor has
plied his trade at The Skyway for what is now his 10th anniversary year. And
despite his love of cooking meat, he is arguably most famous for his mac and
cheese.
“Mac and cheese is a classic roadhouse/BBQ/southern side
dish,” he said. “And every time I’ve ordered it at a BBQ place it looked so
good until they spoon it up – all mushy noodles and grease.”
But Hornor’s Skyway mac and cheese is unique. “My secrets
are: cool the noodles al dente, don’t over, or under, thicken the sauce, fill
the bowl with noodles and space enough for the sauce, don’t put too much bread
crumb, and cook it until it is perfectly bubbly and brown.”
Sounds easy.
But there’s more to it than that.
To wit, recently Hornor’s mac and cheese was recognized by
Portland Monthly magazine and received the following laudatory comments from
its culinary writer:
“Let’s be honest,” he wrote. “Restaurant mac rarely lives up
to the dish lodged in our memory banks. It’s too soggy, too bland, and lacks
that processed-salt shock hardwired into our brains since grade school. That
is, unless you’re hunkered over a dish of molten noodledom at Skyway Bar and
Grill … This is the mac you’ve been looking for. Chef Jason Hornor’s
deceptively humble casserole tastes more fundamentally mac-y than other macs,
plump pasta shellacked in sticky sauce, deeply cheesy and laced with chili
fire, crowned with toasty shards and a corona of frizzles. It’s awesome.”
There will be a pause in the story to allow your trip to The
Skyway.
OK, we’re back.
Hornor didn’t stop with mac and cheese. Next came barbecue.
“That was Tom’s (owner Tom Baker) idea,” Hornor said. “He
asked how I felt about it, and if we could make a smoker out of the junk on the
property, and that was it. I told him my grandfather was a barbecue genius and
that set the ball in motion. I think barbecue is the perfect thing to have
roadside on the way to the Mountain.”
Then came the grits. (This writer’s personal favorite)
“Grits are inspired by the classic cheese grits from the
south,” he said. “Everybody has had polenta cakes grilled or seared but I
wanted that crunch. So we experimented for a while with the method. At first
they just exploded, but we finally figured it out.”
Hornor cited his staff as the real secret of his and The
Skyway’s success.
“It really is a team effort around here,” he said. “From my
beautiful wife to Joe King my kitchen manager, to every one of our staff
members – everyone has got a hand in making us a success.”
So what’s next? Be on the lookout for wood fire cooking,
Hornor added.
But after all of this, we still have to wonder what it must
have been like at Hooker’s Hamburger joint. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Hwy. 26 sign project to impact weekday traffic posted on 06/30/2017
Legacy Contracting, the contractor for the Oregon Department
of Transportation’s (ODOT) RealTime sign project on Hwy. 26, is expected to
continue work through July, including drilling, installing electric conduit and
pouring cement pads for the sign supports.
The electronic signs will offer up to the minute traffic
information and advisories, including road conditions and travel times between
destinations.
Lane and shoulder closures are expected to take place for
the work, and while the contractor is allowed to work Monday through Saturday
each week, Legacy has kept to a Monday through Thursday schedule.
Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs, noted the
custom-made signs could be installed sometime in August, but the signs will not
be fully functional until a later date as ODOT will need to test the software.
“Compared to the project that we had over the past three
summers, this one is much more minimal as far as impacting travelers,”
Dinwiddie said. “I think everybody up there deserves a break from all the
construction. We really appreciate the patience and understanding of all the
community members up there.”
For more information, visit
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/Pages/MtHoodSigns.aspx By Garth Guibord/MT |
| ‘A Line of Sight’ wheels through Welches posted on 06/30/2017
(MT) – Chris Mairs, 60, flashed through Welches June 20,
putting the pedal down on one leg of his 3,653-mile cross-country trek.
Mairs, a tech entrepreneur from England, has set a goal of
raising $144,000 for sight-restoring eye surgeries worldwide. He is
legitimately inspired. He lost his sight at the age of 18 to a rare
degenerative eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa.
Mairs rides behind his co-rider who steers and pedals.
The ride began June 18 in Astoria and the plan is to raise
funds for 60 eye surgeries each day, over the span of 60 days, and averaging 60
miles per day. The $144,000 will restore sight to 3,600 men, women and children
suffering from impaired vision. The ride will wind up August 7 in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire.
The campaign is dubbed “A Line of Sight” and is sponsored by
SEE International, a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that provides
medical, surgical, and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons
with the primary objective of restoring sight to disadvantaged blind
individuals.
For more information on the venture, or to donate, visit
www.alineofsight.org.uk. |
| Sandy Summer Sounds returns in July posted on 06/30/2017
Katie Murphy, coordinator for the Sandy Summer Sounds,
booked the band 3 Leg Torso for the event a few years ago and there was a buzz
around town afterwards. Word had it that the band, an eclectic synthesis of
chamber music, tango, klezmer, Latin, and Roma (Gypsy) music, was the best of
that summer and there were many people who missed out.
For those that did miss it, the band is back for this year’s
event, headlining the festivities on Sunday, July 30 as one of the Sunday
Sounds.
“Hopefully they’ll make it out this time,” Murphy said of
the people who missed Three Leg Torso last time. “It’s an experience you have
to be there to get.”
The evening is one of a series for the Sandy Summer Sounds,
offering Sunday acoustic concerts at the Theater in the Woods and Wednesday
concerts at the Dale Nichols Main Stage, both in Sandy’s Meinig Park, 17670
Meinig Avenue. The events are free, with bench seating available for the Sunday
performances (chairs are also welcome) and food and beverages available at the
Wednesday concerts (concert goers can also bring their own picnic).
The events kick off on Sunday, July 16 with Wine in the
Woods, from 4:30-8:30 p.m., featuring Blue Orchid at 5 p.m. and the Junebugs at
7 p.m. Jackalope Saints take to the stage at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23,
followed by the 6:30 p.m. performance by 3 Leg Torso on July 30.
Murphy noted that Blue Orchid features Gideon Freudmann, a
cellist who has played the event before.
“He’s just so top notch, it’ll be a lot of fun,” she said.
The Starlight Cinema will also begin this month, with
concerts and movies continuing into August. The first movie will be “Sing” on
Saturday, July 29 at dusk in Meinig Park. Moviegoers can bring a blanket or
some lawn chairs and enjoy the movie outdoors.
For a full list of concerts and movies, see the Mountain
Guide on page 24 of this issue.
For more information on Sandy Summer Sounds and Starlight
Cinema, visit http://www.ci.sandy.or.us/Sandy-Summer-Sounds-Starlight-Cinema/
In case of rain:
All concerts will move to the Sandy Community Center,
located at 38348 Pioneer Blvd.
Festivals, and movies will go on, so bring a rain coat or an
umbrella! By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Fire district to welcome four new volunteers to its ranks posted on 06/30/2017
Near the end of July, four more dedicated individuals are
expected to graduate from the Hoodland Fire District’s volunteer academy and
join the ranks of the nearly 40 volunteer firefighters serving the district.
Andy Figini, who became the district’s Training Coordinator
this year, notes that this year’s academy was brought up a notch with an
adjusted schedule that allowed for more training. The new program included
online classes that candidates would complete away from the station, allowing
them to focus on drills and hands.
“We’re giving people more opportunity to train and to be
proficient in their skills,” said Figini, a firefighter/paramedic for the
district who spent 10 years as a volunteer with the Gladstone Fire District,
adding that the goal was to spend less time in a classroom watching PowerPoint
presentations. “That’s really how we learn our skills, by going out there and
actually using the tools.”
In past years, the district would hold drills every
Wednesday, but this year added a drill every shift, increasing the drill
opportunities for members of the academy fivefold. This year’s academy was also
a joint effort with the Molalla Fire District, featuring the majority of
classes at Molalla.
Figini sees the newest additions to the volunteer ranks as
solid firefighters who have made them known to the rest of the district.
“I think that they’re all pretty active, hoping they
continue to be active throughout their career,” he said. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Policeman’s helmet weed Smackdown this month posted on 06/30/2017
(MT) – The Sandy River Basin Watershed Council (SRBWC) and
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) are back, partnering for
a fifth consecutive year to reduce the spread of a deceptively enticing garden
escapee: policeman’s helmet – and local residents can help. This streamside invader grows up to ten feet tall, producing
white to purple flowers atop reddish stems throughout the summer. Exploding
pods disperse the thousands of seeds per plant up to 15 feet, aiding its spread
and sending seeds downstream. Where it takes hold, policeman’s helmet can dominate other
native forest plants, degrading critical river habitat. As an annual, it leaves the banks bare in winter and
vulnerable to erosion, impairing water quality for endangered salmon and other
stream residents. Consequently, policeman’s helmet is designated as a class B
noxious weed and as a particularly high priority for removal in the upper Sandy
and Salmon River Basins, where controlling it is still possible. Thanks to lottery dollars channeled through the Oregon State
Weed Board and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grants, SRBWC is replanting
native vegetation in some of the areas previously treated for policeman’s
helmet. Following weed removal with native planting helps to secure areas from
becoming re-infested. SRBWC and CSWCD are focused on the Salmon River and upper
Sandy as the upstream source of the weed’s spread, with help from youth and
volunteers. Mt. Hood Community College’s Project Youth Employability and
Support Services (YESS), University of Utah alternative spring break and Sandy
High School (SHS) planted three sites: a section of the golf course at the
Resort at the Mountain, the Salmon-Sandy River confluence and a site along the
side channel at Wildwood. Contrary to their own common sense, 14 Sandy High
School volunteers came out in the torrential rain on a March Saturday morning,
to plant native vegetation and restore habitat. “It was very impressive that these high school students not
only showed up, but to see how motivated they were as the rain fell ever
harder, plowing knee deep into mud to get these plants in the ground,” said
Sara Ennis, SRBWC Stewardship Coordinator,. SHS biology teacher, Jeremy McGee, said of his students:
“These students have been studying environmental science all year and are super
motivated to put their knowledge into action to benefit their local
community." To further prove their dedication, SHS students joined SRBWC
to kick off the treatment season with a spontaneous policeman’s helmet
weed-pull at Wildwood in early May. Policeman’s helmet is very easy and even fun to pull. Just
ask the students who declined visiting Wildwood’s beaver lodge in favor of
pulling. “I get it, pulling policeman’s helmet is fun and can be
addictive,” Ennis said. Interested parties
may try their hand at the SRBWC Policeman’s Helmet Weed Pull event from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the Wildwood Recreation Site, 65670 Hwy. 26 in
Welches. The parking fee will be waived and participants should head straight
down the drive toward the salmon river shelter and look for a volunteer
registration table at the beginning of the circular parking lot For more information,
visit sandyriver.org, email sara@sandyriver.org or call 971-325-4224.
Working with local residents is also key to Weed Smackdown
victory. Property owners within 20 meters of the Salmon River or an infected
area are encouraged to contact Sarah Hamilton with the CCSWCD at 503-210-6015
or shamilton@conservationdistrict.org to participate in the Weedwise program. Participation
is free and completely voluntary. |
|  Learn how to fish at Trillium Lake.
If parents are casting about for summer activities for their
children, the Zigzag Ranger District is tipping the scale in the direction of
Trillium Lake.
The district will host its annual Free Youth Fishing Clinic
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 24 at Trillium Lake, located off Hwy. 26 three
miles east of Government Camp.
“This is a great event for the whole family, and an
opportunity for kids to not only have fun fishing but to also learn about the
aquatic environment and to be in the outdoors,” Darcy Saiget, fish biologist
for the Mount Hood National Forest, wrote in a press release.
The clinic is free and intended for kids 12 and younger, but
young adults and parents are also welcome. The children will have the
opportunity to fish with an expert angler, learn catch and release techniques,
and to learn how to cast.
Children should bring lunch, warm clothing, a rod and reel
if possible, and a cooler to bring home their catch of the day. Limited
quantities of rods and reels along with bait will be provided. Children 12 and
under must be accompanied by an adult, and licenses are required for anyone 13
years and older. Licenses are not available at the event.
Two area clinics were held in May and were deemed a success.
“Forest Service staff are thrilled with how many returning
participants we had from past years and impressed by the participants positive
attitudes and fishing skills,” forest service fisheries technician Cate Dillion
wrote in an email to The Mountain Times.
Local clinic sponsors include Skyway Bar and Grill, Mt. Hood
Skibowl, Welches Mountain Supply and Rhododendron Dairy Queen.
The event is held in cooperation with the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| May election returns four to school board posted on 06/02/2017
Randy Carmony and Kurt McKnight defeated their opponents to
retain their positions on the Oregon Trail School District’s (OTSD) board of
directors in the May election, while three others won uncontested races.
Vote totals through Thursday, May 25 showed McKnight
defeating Travis Brewster for the Zone 3 (Welches) position by a vote of 2,507
(70 percent) to 1,097 (30 percent), while Carmony won his race for the Zone 7
(At Large) position with 1,657 (46 percent) votes, compared to 1,297 for Scott
Stuart (36 percent) and 621 for Paul Elmore (17 percent).
“It is an honor to be reelected to serve another term on the
OTSD board,” Carmony wrote in an email to the Mountain Times. “I take pride in
ensuring the district provides the best learning opportunities for all of the
students in the district and preparing today's youth for their future following
school.”
McKnight noted that he will work to support the district’s
theme, “Children Thrive Here,” while adding that there is work to be done to
continue improving student outcomes.
“I look forward to continuing the efforts to reposition our
career and technical education offerings to better serve the students and
business in our community,” McKnight wrote in an email to the Mountain Times.
“Being part of a fiscally sound district is something I am very proud of and
will continue to help be the best stewards of our tax dollars. At a time when
most districts are making cuts and growing class sizes we at OTSD are growing
our offerings and staffing from K-12.”
Robert Lee won the Zone 5 (Cottrell/Bull Run), held by
retiring board chair Terry Lenchitsky, with 2,517 votes; Marie Teune won the
Zone 2 (Boring) with 2,650 votes and Marjan Salveter won the Zone 1 (North
Sandy) with 2,646 votes. The Zone 2 position is a two-year term, while all
others are four-year terms.
The Oregon School Boards Association noted that according to
a survey they conducted, 1,018 individuals ran for school board positions
throughout the state, the highest number since 2009. The number of candidates
is up from the 817 that ran for school board positions in May, 2015, but this
year’s election also saw 68.5 percent of races with just one candidate and
another six percent with no candidates.
In other local election news, three positions on the
Hoodland Fire District’s board were determined: Ron Partlow was elected to
Position 3, Darcy Lais was elected to Position 4 and Cliff Fortune was elected
to Position 5. All three races were uncontested and all three positions are
four-year terms.
Measure 26-190, a general obligation bond for Mt. Hood
Community College, was defeated in Clackamas County by a vote of 3,757 against
and 2,740 for the measure, and defeated by an overall vote of 21,108 against to
17,084 for the measure.
Countywide, 55,355 of 271,779 (20.37 percent) registered
voters voted in last month’s election. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Howard Bickle, Jr.
Howard Bickle, Jr.’s theatrical journey started in Sandy.
His earliest endeavors came at Sandy High School, where his interest was fueled
when Chris Harris became the drama teacher.
“I can’t say enough about how important these high school
teachers are; (Chris Harris) inspired his students to play and create,” said
Bickle, who now lives in Welches. “The last time I felt like throwing up before
audition was in high school.”
After graduating in 1986, Bickle launched into his career,
studying at the United States International University in San Diego (which
Bickle described as the “college version of Fame”) and the University of
Minnesota before working in theaters as an actor and director, including the
Guthrie in Minneapolis and the La Jolla Playhouse.
And now his journey brings him back to where it all started,
with Bickle returning to his roots and his family, including 15 nieces and
nephews. This month, his latest theatrical endeavor, the Wolf Pack Theater in
Sandy, will offer its inaugural production, “Chapter Two,” by Neil Simon.
Bickle sees potential for the new theater in the area, as he
reflected on the number of years he spent in Ashland and witnessed firsthand
the effect seven theater venues can have on a community. He also noted that he
doesn’t see the new theater as competing with established theaters in the area,
including Sandy Actors Theatre and Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company in Boring, but
that more theaters can help support each other, particularly by fostering the
artistic community of actors, directors, designers and more.
“More theater is actually better for the existing theaters,”
he said.
Bickle plans on utilizing the people he’s met through the
years, including graduates of SHS who have gone on to successful theatrical
careers, Broadway professionals and other actors based around Portland who have
appeared on television shows such as “Grimm” and “Leverage.”
The theater, located at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. on the east end
of Sandy’s business district, is the smallest house Bickle has worked in, with
a capacity of 49 seats. He noted that the intimate space is more like a film or
TV studio, and the actors will have to take that into account for their
performances.
“Here, honesty in the performances is so important,” Bickle
said. “There is no hiding anywhere.”
He chose “Chapter Two” because of the parallels to his own
life, as the show deals with the loss of a loved one. In the play, George
Schneider, a recent widower, starts dating but ends up with bad matches until
he finds the Jennie Malone.
“I immediately identify with it,” Bickle said. “If we’re
focusing on honesty, the best art needs vulnerability and personal
connections.”
Bickle, who is directing and playing the role of George,
noted the play has the expected comedy and precision timing that Neil Simon is
known for, but it also has some sensitive and dramatic moments along with “very
relatable characters.”
“He’s much deeper than I had anticipated,” he said. “I think
that’s what people will recognize with this show.”
Bickle is also utilizing his large family as a resource for
the show, including his brother, Jason, serving as the master carpenter, his
dad as the house manager and his mom as a seamstress.
And while Bickle is still honing the upcoming season for his
fledgling theater, he hopes to include “Sylvia,” by A.R. Gurney and “The Weir,”
by Conor McPherson.
And with all the support he’s received so far, Bickle has a
good feeling about the latest chapter in his theatrical, and life’s, journey.
“We’ve got the right energy, so to speak, to make it work,”
he said.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Chapter Two,” by Neil Simon,
from Thursday, June 1 through Sunday, July 2, at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy.
Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets
are $18 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors. For more
information, visit www.wolfpacktheater.com or call 541-722-2667. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Whey better, barNONE posted on 06/02/2017
Corrine Konell was told a couple years ago following
extensive food allergy testing that she likely could end up with an auto-immune
disease later in life.
She was allergic to gluten and highly intolerant to cow
dairy products.
Changes were necessary.
“Being a very on-the-go person while trying to stay fit and
eat right is difficult as it is, but even more so when you can’t have just the
normal stuff,” Konell wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “So, fueled by a
frustration to ‘break out of the typical herd’ I got to work on creating a
protein bar unlike any other.”
Turned out, it was a goat herd. It seems that goat whey has
considerably less lactose than cow dairy, and less allergenic.
Konell went to work (the process has taken two years) on
creating a protein bar unlike any other because “I was simply unable to find
any clean/nutrient-dense snack or quick food product that was actually
sustainable, and that I could have.”
After rigorous kitchen trial and error, clearing the
difficult hurdles required by the FDA, and obtaining a trademark, Konell came
up with a new marketable protein bar she dubbed, appropriately: barNONE.
At the moment, there are no goat farms in Oregon large
enough to fill the new business needs, or are certified for what the FDA
requires. Presently, the goat whey comes from a large farm in Wisconsin and is
certified 100 percent grass-fed. But this source will change.
“I plan to get goats of my own next year, when our farm is
set up,” she wrote.
Konell’s talents go beyond creating a new protein bar. She’s
become a quick study in the marketing business as well.
“My scheme this early on has been on social media outlets
and farmers’ markets … including the Nike Campus markets,” she wrote. “Our main
focus right now is getting out there in the local communities so we can gain
exposure, build relationships, and help customers become familiar with our
brand.”
The barNONE protein bar is currently in small cafes, local
gyms, nutritional shops, markets “and starting next month will be in New Seasons
Markets throughout the Portland area,” she noted.
In the near future, marketing of the bar will include
sporting events, ad campaigns, newsletters, expos and blogs.
And a kickstarter campaign looms to garner financial backing
on a global basis.
The barNONE protein bar has come at a cost, however.
Konell will be leaving her longtime post at McKenzie Dental
in Welches this month.
She admitted to being “very sad to leave the dental office,
but on to new adventures.”
“All of the good, NONE of the bad” Konell’s website
trumpets, and the site can be found at: www.barNONEprotein.com. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Skyway holds fundraiser in honor of lost friend, Josh Wuerth posted on 06/02/2017
Just one year ago, the Skyway Bar and Grill lost a good
friend in Josh Wuerth, a local musician who often played there in his numerous
bands.
After his death, the staff was left trying to figure out how
to make sense of it, and their resulting tribute will be a fundraiser this
month to benefit the Welches School music program.
“He was a really humble guy, so he might be a little
embarrassed by it,” said Jason Hornor, the chef and general manager at Skyway,
adding that Josh would be “really proud at the same time. We just want to
celebrate his life and his impact on us.”
The event, “Music: It’s Wuerth It,” will be at 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 8, at the restaurant, 71545 Hwy. 26 in Zigzag, featuring
auctions, raffles and music by Keegan Smith & The Fam, Acoustic Minds and
the Steelhead Stalkers, Fingers & Chilly. Admission is $10 and includes two
raffle tickets.
Hornor noted that Josh played with each of the bands on the
bill for the fundraiser, while also working in the music industry doing sound
and lights, and of course, always playing music.
“He played music all day every day,” said Hornor, who knew
Josh for 10 years. “He played a mean guitar.”
Tracie Anderson, owner of the Skyway with her husband, Tom
Baker, noted that Wuerth had numerous talents, including gardening, golfing,
skiing, glass blowing and also helped build the pergola and mountainscape fence
at the restaurant.
“Anything he did, he was really good at it; he was so cool,”
said Anderson, adding that he was the “best food critic” and whenever he told
them something about their food, they took it to heart.
Hornor added that it is fitting that the event benefits the
music program, as Josh taught kids how to play the guitar, some of whom have
gone on to play the open mic night at Skyway.
“Josh was always really excited about sharing his talent
with younger kids,” Hornor said.
For more information, email Tracie at
SkywayZigzag@gmail.com. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Mountain resident’s design selected autism walk posted on 06/02/2017
When participants of the Autism Society of Oregon’s annual
walk hit the pavement on Sunday, April 30 at Oaks Park in Portland, they were
clad in a t-shirt to commemorate the event; one that was designed by Brightwood
resident Haley Montana.
Montana’s designs have graced the event t-shirt twice now,
part of a contest held each year for the event. This year was the first year
that Montana, who raised her autistic grandson, attended the walk.
“It was pretty amazing, they do a great job,” she said,
adding that they had a number of different spaces to provide what different
kids need. “They covered it all.”
Montana, who has lived on the mountain for two years, noted
it was fun to see her design being worn by thousands of people, adding that
she’d like to see some designs by younger people get selected.
For her design, she started by making an anagram from the
phrase, “autism spectrum,” turning it into “capture’s summit,” and then making
the ‘a’ into a mountain.
The design was selected from a number of submissions by a
vote of all the volunteers involved with the event.
“The design really spoke to many of volunteers for its
beautiful imagery as well as the notion that autism is a mountain for many
people to climb: difficult but not insurmountable,” wrote Tobi Rates, Executive
Director for the Autism Society of Oregon in an email to the Mountain Times.
Montana noted that her grandson, Vince, is now 22 and living
on his own for nearly two years in a group setting where his medication can be
monitored and he is ensured a hot meal each day.
She and her partner had to split their days while raising
him to make sure that one was always around for him, including staying at
school while he was there.
“It’s like God prepares you for this special kid,” Montana
said. “He’s been a blessing to us, more than anything.”
“I love that he thinks way beyond the outside of the box,”
she added. “I can embrace that, that he can think differently about things.” By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Constance Murray, 11, ponders a LEGO sculpture.
In Ben Stiller’s 2006 movie, “Night at the Museum,” a curse
makes the exhibits come to life, making for one mischievous evening.
Fortunately, for 49 students from Welches School, the night
of Wednesday, May 17 wasn’t quite so dramatic when they trekked into Portland
to spend a night at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).
That’s not to say that there weren’t some disruptions.
“It was rough, it was very rough, a lot of people were
snoring,” said Malakai Roches, 11, a fifth grader, who then added, “I actually
feel well rested.”
The school used to go on the field trip on a yearly basis,
noted fourth/fifth grade teacher Sharon Nobel, but stopped in 2011. But at the
urging of fifth grade teacher Kalee Adams, fourth and fifth graders, along with
Nobel, Adams and parent chaperones, broke out their sleeping bags and set up
camp among OMSI’s exhibits in the science hall.
“I wanted to sleep at OMSI, who doesn’t want to experience
that?” Adams said.
Students enjoyed an evening of dinner, a planetarium
showing, a trip through the LEGO exhibit, “The Art of the Brick,” and lessons
on a variety of subjects, including black bears, erosion, pollution, earthquakes
and tsunamis. Four total schools and approximately 250 students took part in
the event, which OMSI offers throughout the winter and spring.
“They do a good job of keeping the kids engaged,” Nobel
said. “It’s fun to see the kids in a different light, out of the classroom.
They get to see us differently, bed head and all.”
Fifth grader Chloe Sperr, 10, noted her favorite activity
was learning about the black bears, during which they had to collect poker
chips to secure food, water and a safe place to hibernate.
“That was kind of fun,” she said.
Fifth grader Elliott Chesla, 11, said that while the group
got access to everything, she most enjoyed the tour of the submarine and the
planetarium show. And a (mostly) good night of rest.
“I slept pretty good, but we didn’t fall asleep until like
one o’clock in the morning,” said Chesla, adding that they got up at 6:50 a.m.
“And I’m not tired one bit.” By Garth Guibord/MT |
| A Paradise on Pedals posted on 05/02/2017
The Mt. Hood Bicycle/Pedestrian Coalition (MHBPC) is rolling
down the road in its collaboration with the Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind
to develop a tandem cycling program to introduce blind and low vision
participants to the art and skill of cycling.
The goal is to launch a full-scale training program at Oral
Hull Park in Sandy by the summer of 2018.
The vision is limitless for the farsighted program.
“We are looking for cyclists who may be interested in
becoming a tandem captain,” said George Wilson, director of the MHBPC. “Plans
are to develop a beginner and intermediate cycling program to include fully
supported single-day and multi-day rides.”Wilson also noted that riders wishing
to pedal beyond these programmed rides, that the coalition and the foundation
are working with the Oregon Bike Racing Association to sanction a racing series
for participants at the Portland International Raceway next year.
But the program tour doesn’t end there. Work is already
underway with the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) which already
has an established tandem cycling program.
On April 18, the WSSB launched its first pedaling bonanza,
according to lead captain Steve Rosvold. He was joined by local Mountain
resident and captain Terre Tomey, who buzzed through the nine-mile course for
the first time.
It should be noted that Wilson was unable to participate due
to having “tweaked my back.” He promises to make a comeback.
Regarding the WSSB ride, “Fifteen seasoned stokers and eight
(mostly rookie) WSSB captains, safely pedaled to Winter Park in Vancouver,”
Rosvold said. “We got to know one another and climbed through the historic
reserve on our return trip.”
Rosvold pointed out that almost all of the stokers were
stricken with “half ride syndrome” – an affliction that occurs when there
aren’t enough captains to pilot the full stockade of stokers.
While the WSSB is focusing on shorter distance excursions,
the local coalition-Hull group is looking forward to next year’s goal of
developing a program to introduce blind and low vision stokers to the art and
skills of advanced cycling techniques.
“Participants of our program will be introduced to longer
single-day rides, as well as multi-day rides that include overnight camping and
lodging,” Wilson said. “Participants will be introduced to basic and advanced
riding techniques, basic bicycle maintenance, and endurance racing.”
As a cycling bonus, Wilson noted that the coalition-Hull
program is connecting with the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) to
offer riders to test their advanced skills in sanctioned tandem racing series
during the OBRA weekly racing series at Portland International Raceway.
“We hope to encourage participants from across the United
States, as well as riders from abroad,” Wilson said.
Currently there are more male and female stokers than tandem
captains, both with the WSSB program and the Oral Hull program. Experienced
cyclists should contact George Wilson through the Mt. Hood Bicycle/Pedestrian
Coalition at mthoodbicycle.com, or phone at 503-622-0672.
New members may have the opportunity to watch Wilson return
to action following his rehab session. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  The first haircut.
The mountain welcomes new hair salon
Rae O’Grady, who opened her new salon, Summit 26 Hair Design,
on Tuesday, April 25, will always remember who her first client was; her
five-year-old granddaughter, Allison.
“I am super excited,” O’Grady said. “My family has been very
supportive in my decision to open a shop.”
O’Grady, who moved to Rhododendron last May, is no stranger
to working magic on hair. She attended cosmetology school in 2000, and spent 17
years cutting, coloring and caring for do’s, including having a shop years ago.
She noted that she loves the relationships she builds with
her clients, which included one of her first clients ever that became her best
friend. For approximately six years, the friend would travel to Oregon from
Idaho (or sometimes bring O’Grady to Idaho) just to have O’Grady do her hair.
Her salon will offer everything from cuts and colors to
men’s, women’s and children’s haircuts, and hair products for sale, 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday (and evenings by appointment). O’Grady
noted that her philosophy includes that people shouldn’t be afraid of trying a new
color, because she knows how to make it work no matter what.
“I love all the challenges and the creativity involved with
hair color,” she said. “I think the most important thing of hair color is
there’s nothing you can’t fix.”
O’Grady noted that work on the shop started about a month
before opening, with work going down to the sheetrock to build the salon up
from scratch with everything new.
She added that she’s excited for all the foot traffic at the
location and that her niece came up with the name as homage to being so close
to Mount Hood.
“It just clicked and I love it,” O’Grady said. “I think it’s
a great little place. I am so excited; it’s been a long haul.”
A grand opening celebration will be held from 10-11 a.m. on
Saturday, May 6, with snacks, juice, coffee and a drawing to win a free
haircut. She will also offer a May special of $10 off a haircut and color.
Summit 26 Hair Design is located at 68216 Hwy. 26 in the
Thriftway shopping center. For more information, visit
www.Summit26hairdesign.com or find it on Facebook by searching for Summit 26
Hair Design.
‘Sandlandia’ food cart court ready to serve
Brightwood’s Jerry Carlson has been around business most of
his life, starting off as a freshman in high school and working for the family
car business in Sandy, working up from cleaning the floors and toilets to
serving as the new car manager and putting together advertising.
But Carlson noted that the hours required to work at the
dealership meant he missed out on a lot, which lead him to get involved with
commercial property.
His latest endeavor is “Sandlandia,” a food cart court in
Sandy that will have space for 10 food carts, plus a few parking spaces, picnic
tables and facilities.
“I want to make it nice, I want it to be fun,” Carlson said,
adding that the name was a spinoff of the television show “Portlandia.”
Carlson noted that the property where the court is located
has been in his family for years, with a number of restaurants utilizing the
small building that was previously there. He put it up for sale, but started
thinking of alternatives to selling it and that’s when his idea struck.
“I kind of want to be on the (food cart) wave,” Carlson
said.
Now two years into his project, Carlson expected to have
carts open in late April, with carts open for breakfast and as late as they can
stay open until, including offerings such as fresh seafood, sliders, gyros,
macaroni and cheese, crepes and fish and chips.
He plans on making sure that the main dishes offered by the
carts do not overlap and that customers can enjoy a range of different foods.
Carlson added that he never went to a food cart court prior
to embarking on this endeavor, but he did visit one in Happy Valley, where he
picked up some good pointers on how to run Sandlandia.
“Those guys are paying huge money for spaces,” he said.
“That many carts, they’re competing to make money. It’s not what I wanted.”
Carlson noted that he went “above and beyond” to keep
expenses down so that carts could succeed at the location, which he sees as a
perfect spot for local residents and motorists travelling through to ski, hike
and more on Mount Hood.
“Now you can stop on your way, grab something to eat,
everybody’s got their spot they can run to,” he said. “I think it’s just going
to be awesome for everybody driving by. There’s food here that’ll be good for
them.”
Sandlandia is located at 38440 Pioneer Blvd. For more
information, visit www.Sandlandia.net. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Students work on the mural.
Christian Barrios, an artist who works in various mediums
including marquetry (wood), murals, recycled materials and more, grew up in
Mexico City, where he was first introduced to art by painting ceramics his
grandfather made. Today he helps bring art into classrooms all around Portland
through the Right Brain Initiative, an arts integration to help students link
learning from one area to others, and he still appreciates how the young
artists approach things and visualize their work.
“That’s why I like to work with kids, they have their own
idea of work,” Barrios said.
Barrios came to the Welches Schools to lead students in creating
a mural of Mount Hood, utilizing a variety of techniques and recycled materials
for the final product. At first, Barrios introduced students to his favorite
arts and lead them in a one-line drawing, like those of Pablo Picasso. From
there, each student created a painting of their own with simple lines, which
Barrios took parts of and created a larger picture of Mount Hood.
That image was then projected on wood, with students
transferring the image over with chalk. From there, Barrios planned on lightening
it up, gluing on a variety of painted bottle caps and finishing it with a layer
of epoxy. The mural is expected to be hung in the school’s gym.
Barrios noted that the project allows for a discussion on
ecosystems and nature, particularly how to take care of it and the importance
of recycling.
Second grader Olin Taylor offered another valuable lesson he
learned during the project regarding the number of artists involved.
“That you might need to make a team effort to make it good,”
said Taylor, 8. “I think it’s a very interesting piece, I’m curious to see how
it works out.”
Taylor’s classmate, Addy Kolibaba, already thought the mural
was coming along, despite that there were still work left to be done.
“I just like all of the colors and everything,” said
Kolibaba, 8.
Their teacher, Dan Winans, noted that the project comes at a
good time during the school year, helping to break up the routine and offering
something fresh.
He also noted that Barrios has lead the students in other
activities that help them get thinking in other ways, including having groups
of students get up and perform a sentence and creating tableaus.
“It’s invigorating,” said Winans, who has been teaching at
Welches for 19 years.
Barrios noted that one of the biggest lessons with the
project is when students get to realize that they can create art, whether it’s
the one-line drawing or a mural of Mount Hood that will be on the gym wall for
years to come. And for second grader Autumn Haney, that message has already
gotten through.
“Don’t give up on yourself, especially when you’re not good
at it, so you get more out of life,” said Haney, 8.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Rhody CPO boundary burgeons posted on 05/02/2017
(MT) – The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners (BCC)
cast a unanimous vote to accept a staff report approving the expansion of the
Rhododendron CPO boundaries that the CPO had requested.
The approval, which came at a March 18 meeting, marked the
culmination of an effort to expand the boundaries that was initiated in 2007.
“This is a red-letter day for the Rhododendron CPO Board who
has worked tirelessly with Clackamas County to get the boundary to be more
representative of the community they serve,” Rhody CPO President Steven Graeper
said. “My congratulations extend to the entire RCPO Board and my sincerest
thanks to county staff and the BCC.”
The result of the effort expands the Rhody CPO boundaries
east to Road 39 – also known as Kiwanis Camp Road – and west to Lolo Pass Road
to include the north and south compounds of the Zigzag Ranger Station.
The new boundary will: address inclusion and greater
representation of the residents; resolve issues caused by the physical gap
between the Government Camp CPO and the Forest Service cabins; formalize the
historical perspective that Rhododendron is the center for planning and development
for the Rhododendron community and all those impacted should be included; and
consolidate all properties served by Lady Creek Water System and Rhododendron
Water Association into one boundary area.
Combining the two water systems will qualify the CPO for
low-income funding, according to Graeper. |
| ODOT expected to start sign work in May posted on 05/02/2017
Kimberly Dinwiddie, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
Community Affairs, noted that work is expected to begin by mid May on the
RealTime signs project, with work wrapping on the infrastructure by December.
The project will add 13 variable message signs, including ten major sign
structures, six cameras and more than 20 sensors on Hwy. 26 and Hwy. 35 that
will offer up to the minute traffic information and advisories, including road
conditions and travel times between destinations.
The process for locating the signs and sensors including
utility companies and the U.S. Forest Service, with priorities including access
to power, locations that allowed drivers to make informed decisions and making
sure no protected scenic views were impacted.
The total cost for the project is approximately $4.5
million.
The signs are not expected to be activated immediately after
work is complete, as testing will be needed to make sure sensors are working
properly.
Dinwiddie added that ODOT performed survey work in April,
needing to move and melt snow to make sure everything would go in the correct
location.
ODOT activated a similar system around the interchange
between OR 217 and Hwy. 26 in July 2014 and found that after a year the number
of crashes decreased by 20.8 percent while average delay times decreased by ten
percent.
For more information, and simulations, visit
https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/Pages/MtHoodSigns.aspx. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Jake introduces himself.
Joe Schwab, a Senior Firefighter/Paramedic at the Hoodland
Fire District (HFD), notes that most people in the community probably don’t
know the names of the district’s firefighters. However, there is one member of
the district that is instantly recognizable and easy to remember: the
four-year-old purebred Dalmatian, Jake the Firedog.
“There’s a face on the fire district even if it’s spotted
and wants to lick you,” said Schwab, Jake’s handler and caretaker.
Jake arrived at the district four years ago when he was just
nine weeks old, sometime after the district responded to a house fire where
responders had to use an oxygen mask designed for a human to save a dog’s life.
Schwab, who has been with the district for 10 years, and Jake now help raise
money to provide oxygen masks designed for animals to smaller fire districts in
the state.
HFD has such masks on all of its response vehicles, and
thanks to Jake and Schwab, more than 230 sets of masks have been given to other
districts.
“I never thought it would get this big,” said Schwab, who
noted they have raised more than $23,000 so far. “He’s exceeded every
expectation.”
The pair raises money through the Emma Zen Foundation, a
nonprofit organization, and Schwab notes that while the HFD has not had to use
an animal oxygen mask yet, other districts that have received their donations
have, including the Pendleton Fire Department using one to save a lizard.
Jake’s role in the district goes well beyond the oxygen
masks, too, as he serves as a way to get conversations started, break down the
barriers and spread fire prevention lessons.
“It’s amazing how many conversations that dog has gotten me
into,” Schwab said.
Jake also assists with station tours, demonstrates how to
wear the pet oxygen masks, performs other demonstrations (although Schwab said
Jake needs to get more consistency on the “stop, drop and roll” drill) and also
serving as a calming influence on the staff, as Schwab noted that Jake will
seek out anyone who’s stressed and “hole up with them for a while.” Jake has
also been a boon for interacting with people living with disabilities, as
Schwab noted, including children at the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp.
“He doesn’t care about wheelchairs or disabilities,” Schwab
said. “He’s just a dog and they’re a kid. That’s been a real cool thing.”
Schwab also hopes to bring Jake to the Welches School to
help kids with reading, noting that dogs don’t try and correct kids when they
make a mistake in pronunciation.
“Dogs don’t do that to you,” he said. “You can sit and read
at your own pace.”
Schwab noted that he’s always wanted a Dalmatian, which have
historically been associated with the fire service, including protecting horses
and equipment in the early years. He added that while Dalmatians in general
aren’t ideal for this kind of work, fire dogs like Jake have been specially
bred to have a good disposition.
“It’s hard to find a dog that’s willing to socialize with
100 people,” Schwab said. “Jake is ideal for that, his disposition is perfect.”
For more information, visit www.emmazen.com.
Donations for Jake’s team should be noted as for “Team 02
Oregon.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| The old ‘swinger’ gets a facelift posted on 04/01/2017
It was the year when Dr. Martin Luther King led the march
from Selma to Montgomery; the year of the Watts riots; the year when the first
mini skirt fluttered down a street in London; and the year the Gateway Arch was
completed in St. Louis.
Fittingly, at least in a St. Louis sense, 1965 was also the
year the Swinging Bridge arched across the Zigzag River as a temporary crossing
to allow access to Rhododendron in the wake of the 1964 flood.
Over the years, the iconic crossing suffered the advance of
years, when wood decay presented a hazard to the community.
In 2015, Clackamas County Roads and Bridges scraped up
$150,000 to rebuild the old swinger.
According to Doug McLain, of county bridge maintenance, the
rebuilding of the Swinging Bridge will take place the entire month of April,
with work commencing April 3. During that time the bridge will be closed to the
public.
“We are replacing everything other than the towers, the main
cables, and the anchor system,” McLain wrote in an email. “All of those
components will be cleaned and have a new protective coating applied to them.”
New construction includes:
- The wood will be replaced using Douglas fir, and will look
like the natural wood due to the use of a wood preservative;
- The handrail system will be green, vinyl coated wire mesh;
- The top of the handrail system will be lowered to 43 inches;
- And new wind bracing rods, brackets and hangers will be
installed below the deck.
“What we need from the community at this time … is a secure
area to park equipment and materials during the work period,” McLain wrote.
McLain can be reached at 503-780-3194 or
dougmcl@co.clackamas.or.us. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  Tony Starlight.
Allen Bixby, owner and operator of The Shack restaurant in
Welches, noted two reasons for participating in the annual culinary mountain
celebration, the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce’s The Bite of Mt. Hood.
The first is to just see everyone in the community come out
and have fun, while the second is to share some of their best creations for a
low price.
“The event is a ton of fun,” Bixby said. “It’s fun seeing
the community relax and enjoy themselves for a good reason.”
Bixby noted The Shack, one of ten local eateries that will
participate and present small plates of food, will offer up its Shack slider,
made from half bacon and half ground beef, along with another slider variety
and cookies.
“Who doesn’t like bacon?” Bixby asked.
The Bite, held at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at The Resort at
The Mountain, 68010 E. Fairway Ave. in Welches, will also include entertainment
by Tony Starlight, a silent auction and a live auction. Admission is $5, and
auction items are expected to include gift certificates, nursery stock, artwork
and more. Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jim Bernard will
be the Master of Ceremony.
Mathias Engblom, Executive Chef at the Rendezvous Grill,
will be cooking up creations for The Bite for the third year, and plans on
offering creamy tomato basil soup and a beet tartare (which looks like the beef
version), and possibly adding beer to tiramisu to make a “beer-amisu.”
“I always enjoy it,” Engblom said. “I like to try new things and test them out on
the public.”
Chamber President Coni Scott described the gathering, now in
its eighth year, as a “family reunion,” where the mountain community can get together
for a good time. She noted that this year’s event will offer some new twists,
including screens for information on area businesses and a non-profit booth
selling bottled water and coffee, with proceeds going to the Welches School’s
Outdoor School.
Lidia Vento, vice president of the Welches Parent Teacher
Community Organization, noted that the funds will help the school’s sixth
graders spend three days and two nights, transportation and meals for the
Outdoor School program. The total cost for all the students is $9,200, or $256
per student, while the booth at The Bite will be run by sixth grade students
and their parents.
“We are thankful that Mt Hood Chamber is allowing us to
participate in this year’s event,” Vento wrote in an email.
As in past years, The Bite will also auction off cases of
food to benefit the food pantry for Neighborhood Missions of the Hoodland
Lutheran Church. And Scott added that after the event, the Chamber will donate
the 17 table centerpieces, created by florist Chelle Mansella, to senior
citizens in the area.
Each year, a local artist is also honored at The Bite, with
this year’s artist being Patty Henninger, who creates papier-mâché pieces
including sculptures and Christmas items. Henniger, a mountain resident for 45
years, previously sold her works in a Chicago gallery but now offers them
online through Facebook (look for “Paper Patty”).
Henninger, who also works in watercolors and painted
birdhouses that were auctioned off last year, noted she’s enjoyed The Bite in
the past as a participant.
“I thought it was fun thing for people to do,” she said.
Scott added that the Chamber uses the proceeds from the
event to advertise the mountain to other communities, such as last year when
the organization used $15,000 to air ads in markets including the Oregon coast,
Eugene, Medford, Sisters and Bend. Scott noted that the campaign made more than
one million impressions over a three month period.
“That’s what it’s all about, bringing people to our
mountain,” she said.
But Scott also added that the success of the event can be
credited to everyone who works on The Bite, including approximately 60
volunteers, and the people who come out to support it.
“The community is so responsive to it,” Scott said. “The
success belongs to the community and the volunteers.”
For more information, visit www.thebiteofmthood.com. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| New Commissioners show at CPO meeting posted on 04/01/2017
“The makeup of commissioners is probably the best I’ve seen
in years.”
That was the takeaway from Rhododendron CPO President Steve
Graeper at the CPO meeting held March 18 at The Resort in Welches.
The CPO session attracted an official crowd of 47 – those
who signed in – but it was considered to be a larger group than that.
Besides the discussing of CPO business, newly elected
Clackamas County Commissioner Ken Humberston, and newly appointed interim
Commissioner Sonya Fischer took their initial bows on the Mountain, doubtlessly
prompting Graeper’s praise for the makeup and shakeup of the Board of Commissioners
(BCC).
Humberston was impressed by the turnout of local residents
and saw it as a sign of solidarity within the community.
“When a community is well-organized and efficiently led, and
comes united before the commissioners, things will get done,” Humberston said.
He also noted that he plans to be a more visual presence on
the Mountain and invited anyone to contact him with their concerns. He said he
had toured some of the Mountain’s problem areas and is looking forward to doing
what he can to help the community resolve them.
Fischer acknowledged her understanding of the workings of
the BCC was limited and that there was much to learn, but said she is excited
by the challenge.
Fischer noted that she “has a heart for giving a voice” to
those who feel they are not being heard, and that is something she will address
as a commissioner.
In other business, the CPO:
Discussed the proposed boundary changes and it was pointed
out that it will bring two water associations into one boundary and will aid
the CPO in qualifying for low-income funding;
The next step in the boundary issue is the staff
recommendations to the BCC along with public testimony at a date yet to be
determined;
The Rhody Rising project continues as a work in progress and
is still in the conceptual stages, but there is a strong feeling of optimism
that Rhododendron can once again be a vibrant community; and
The steering committee for Rhody Rising was announced.
By Peggy Wallace and Larry Berteau/MT |
|  Students at rehearsal.
Sandy High School Drama’s spring production of the American
classic, “Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder, has a unique director at the helm.
Senior Riley McCord, 18, will be the first student to direct a full production
in recent memory, while also taking on the role of the Stage Manager in the
show.
For his classmates and contemporaries, it’s a bit of a shift
from having a teacher leading the way, but they are fully behind McCord and the
production, offering the story of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs, and
life and death in the small, fictional village of Grover’s Corners.
“It’s a lot of creative freedom and I feel open telling
Riley my ideas,” said Charlie Andrade, 16, a junior who plays Mrs. Gibbs. “This
show is more of a group production more than a director production. What I like
is the unity.”
“It’s a different relationship,” added Bruce Dhone, 18, a
senior who plays George, adding that they can build off each other and it’s
more constructive.
McCord, who had his choice of plays and noted that he didn’t
like “Our Town” at first before warming up to it, is taking the responsibility
in stride.
“It feels both like an honor and a huge pressure,” he said.
“I really want to make a good show and show my peers at school what a student
can do.”
Most of the students were not familiar with the play, which
won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for drama, but that they have come to enjoy it and
its message of appreciating life in the moment.
“I think it’s really important that people see the menial
values in life as well as the greater ones,” Andrade said. “Even the littlest
moments count.”
“I can see why it’s called a classic,” Dhone added. “You can
fit it to anything; you can just draw out so many emotions with it.”
The students have also found it to be a good change from
some of the lighter fare that they have worked on in the past.
“Were just so used to the comedy shows,” said junior Dagan Godfrey,
17, who plays Mr. Webb. “You really have to put yourself to it when you’re
trying to act serious. You have to have a good time while acting serious; it’s
something new.”
McCord, who plans on studying theater in college and
pursuing it as a career, noted he’s learned a lot during the rehearsal process
so far, from technical elements such as lighting and the set, to growing as an
actor and a director.
He also wants the audience to walk away and enjoy the life
around them.
“I hope they’re thinking about the small things in life,”
McCord said. “The big take away on this show is go home and appreciate family,
appreciate the stars, if we get any here in Sandy.”
Sandy High School Drama presents “Our Town,” by Thornton
Wilder, at 7 p.m. April 27, 28 and 29, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.
For more information, call 503-668-8011, ext. 7313. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  The remains of the picnic shelter.
Trackers Earth, a Sandy and Portland based organization that
runs outdoor programming, has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading
to the arrests and convictions of the vandals who burned down a picnic shelter
at the Roslyn Lake Campground on Nov. 11, 2016. Tony Deis, founder of the
organization, noted that there are no current leads with the case, which is
being lead by the Oregon State Police.
Deis noted that the organization has been utilizing the site
for more than three years, first renting it and then buying it as part of 90
acres, including a campground and the former Bull Run Elementary School
building. He noted the picnic shelter was well utilized by the organization and
by numerous families for many years before.
“It was an awesome gathering space,” Deis said. “Also just
the historical part of it, you could feel its history when you’re in there.”
Deis noted that the property’s neighbors have been
supportive and trying to keep an eye out, while the organization plans on
trying to rebuild the structure at some point.
“With good planning and the community behind us, we can make
it happen,” he said.
The organization also hopes to renovate the school to use
for classes and community events and is expected to utilize part of its 90
acres to start a local Community Supported Agriculture program.
For more information, visit trackerspdx.com. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| David Jacobs named Water Operator of the Year posted on 04/01/2017
Often times his work can be taken for granted. Each turn of
a faucet, every welcome spray from a shower head, the necessity of a toilet
flush, all these can be directly linked to the diligence of David Jacobs.
But he no longer operates in the background. He has been
unmasked.
Jacob was named the Water Operator of the Year by the Oregon
Association of Water Utilities at the annual conference in March at Sunriver
for his work for 12 water operations in the Mountain community.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” Jacob wrote in an email to The
Mountain Times. “I had a few clues.”
Rhododendron Water Association President Steve Graeper had
asked Jacob to sit at his table at the conference. This table was normally
reserved for officials of the organization.
“I happened to glance at the table holding the awards and
from a distance I could see the shape of name,” Jacob wrote. “I looked at Steve
and he tried to look innocent.”
Not only does Jacob conduct water operations for multiple
systems, he also owns his own water system – Brightwood Water Works.
“David Jacob, in any single capacity of the many jobs he is
responsible for, would be deserving of System Operator of the Year,” Graeper
wrote in an email. “The fact that he serves so many systems, and serves them
well, speaks volumes as the (his) qualifications.”
Jacob’s work has proved to be a major contributor to making
sure the Mountain community is recognized as having the best tasting water in
Oregon.
Jacob was nominated for the award by the Rhododendron Water
Association, and he stayed with the flow while accepting his honors.
“I guess it was a feather in my cap and in the waters
systems I operate,” he wrote. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Timmy Robison assembles a tire swing. Architecture project brings professional into classroom posted on 03/01/2017
David Hernandez, a fifth grader at Welches Elementary
School, and his group took to the internet to come up with ideas for their
architecture project, which entailed designing playground equipment and
creating a model of it. The group decided on a boat, featuring slides, a
tunnel, bouncy chairs, a climbing wall, barrels, a steering wheel and more.
“I’ve just seen boats with slides and rock climbing walls on
the side, but some stuff we have now I’ve never seen,” said Hernandez, 10.
The project is part of the Architecture Foundation of
Oregon’s Architects in Schools program, pairing architects and design
professionals with classroom teachers. For the project at Welches, students in
fifth and third grade classes were put together in small groups, also offering the
opportunity for different age groups to interact.
Third grader Adam Pintado, 9, was in the same group with
Hernandez, and noted it was a benefit to work with a more advanced student.
“The older kids are smarter, so they’ll know what to do,”
Pintado said.
Hernandez also found benefits in working with some younger
students.
“Their imagination has other things and other ideas,” he
said. “They come up with good ideas.”
The group including fifth grader Jeb Payne and third grader
Bradley Nelson came up with some ideas that would be welcome in most living
rooms, not just on the playground. Their tree house includes a flat screen TV,
soundproofing, a kitchen, a couch and candy, in addition to more traditional
features such as a rock climbing wall, a slide and “a bouncy thing.”
“We all had different ideas,” said Payne, 10. “We all wanted
something different so it was hard to figure out what we could do.”
After students came up with their designs, approval was
needed from Mechanical Engineer Roger Arnold, Jr. from the Portland engineering
firm Glumac, including an official stamp, before construction of the model
could begin.
“It’s actually kind of good because we get this awesome
stamp,” said Nelson, 8.
Fifth grader Olivia Daniels noted her group researched
playground ideas in books, and landed on including a tire swing in order to
have it last longer in the mountain weather. She added that the group did end
up coming to the same conclusion, despite the potential for disagreement.
“Sometimes, if someone else has an idea, things can get
squiggly, like messed up, where someone doesn’t like something,” said Daniels,
10. “The funny thing is, when we were doing it, we all wanted to do a tire
swing and a bench swing.”
Ellie Garmon, a third grader who worked with Daniels, added
that the tire swing would be a good change from the others at the school’s
playground.
“We already have a ton of swings,” said Garmon, 8.
Fifth grade teacher Kalee Adams noted that the hands-on
project offers an introduction to a career that uses a variety of skills,
including math, art and science. She added that students from both grades were
excited to work on the project and that the lessons they learned were evident
elsewhere in their studies.
“I've noticed students use vocabulary learned from Roger, or
this program, while independently reading, or researching for their expository
essays,” Adams wrote in an email. “The connections across our curriculum have
started to present itself. It's truly exciting to witness as a teacher.”
Arnold said that when he first presented to the students, he
connected his career in engineering to playing with Lego blocks as a child.
He’s completed a myriad of projects, including an airport in Las Vegas, Nev.
and a movie theater outside Washington, D.C., and connected his work now to
what inspired him in his youth.
“The concept being, if you can build it in Legos, you can
build it in real life,” Arnold said. “Legos are great because you can make your
imagination wander and build whatever you want out of it.”
This is Arnold’s first endeavor with the Architects in
Schools program, which he sees as a good way to introduce kids to the field at
an early age, particularly those groups that are currently underrepresented.
“There’s not enough women or minorities in engineering,” he
said. “This is the opportunity to affect that change, when kids are young and
passionate about something new, that there are role models out there that can
get them to an engineering career.” March 17 update: a special reception presenting the design projects will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at the Hoodland Library, 24525 Welches Road, and is open to the general public. The projects will be on display at the library from Wednesday, March 22 through Monday, April 3. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Rhody water reservoir on tap posted on 03/01/2017
For many Mountain residents, the issue of an available water
supply is assured.
And if you’re looking for a source of this assurance, look
no further than the Rhododendron Water Association (RWA).
Currently, the association’s only water storage reservoir is
a 100,000-gallon redwood tank along Henry Creek built in the 1980s. And it was
only a few years ago when a giant Douglas fir toppled onto the tank sending the
RWA members scrambling for water.
To guard against such natural disasters in the future, the
RWA is in the permitting process of building a second reservoir. It will be a
130,000-gallon concrete structure on property off Hofeldt Road in the Woodlands
area.
“We acquired the property in August 2016,” Steve Graeper,
president of the RWA, wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “The second
reservoir will greatly enhance our ability to provide water to our customers
during high turbidity events, natural disasters, or during times when we take
the current reservoir off-line for cleaning.”
Graeper added that “the new reservoir will be equipped with
a power generating turbine to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. We
should be able to generate enough power to offset any power needed to run the
booster pumps that will occasionally be needed to send water uphill into our
distribution system.”
Most of the time the system is gravity fed from the
reservoir at the treatment plant. But, when water is needed to supply the system
from the lower Woodlands reservoir, the pumps will be needed.
The power turbine will generate most of the electricity
needed to operate the pumps. When the pumps are not being used, the generator
will send power back into the PGE power grid, resulting in an offset to RWA’s
electric bill.
Graeper noted that at the same time RWA is installing the
Woodlands reservoir, the association will also be installing a slow-sand
filtration system at the treatment plant.
“Currently, we are using very expensive cartridge filters to
filter our surface water source of any contaminants, (like) giardia and
cryptosporidia,” Graeper wrote. By implementing the slow-sand filtration, RWA
could save $10,000 to $12,000 per year in cartridge replacement costs.”
The capital improvement budget for both projects is
$650,000. RWA has been granted a low interest loan at 1.72 percent from the
State Drinking Water Revolving Loan fund and Federal Infrastructure Finance
Authority, according to Graeper.
If the Rhododendron CPO’s boundary expansion (see January story: http://tinyurl.com/hesltag) is successful,
Rhododendron could qualify for a partial principal loan forgiveness and or
grants that could significantly reduce the loan principal for the expansion by
10 to 50 percent.
“However, regardless if the boundary expansion is approved
or not, RWA is moving forward with the capital improvement projects,” Graeper
added. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| ODOT making further improvements to Hwy. 26 this spring posted on 03/01/2017
The Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) “U.S. 26
Mt. Hood Highway Safety and Preservation Project” officially ended last
October, but further cleanup will be needed in April after paving work did not
pass the final inspection. Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs, noted
the contractor who performed the work, Oregon Mainline Paving, has been
directed to grind out and repave two stretches of Hwy. 26: one 300-foot stretch
in the eastbound left lane near the truck ramp and a few locations in the westbound
travel lanes between the ramp and Government Camp.
“We apologize that we have to come out and redo this work,
however it’s important to the people who paid for this work … that we have the
contractor do this work right,” Dinwiddie said, adding that the work (which
will be weather dependant) will likely be performed during the day with lane
closures and flaggers, but not require delays like in the past summers. “This
time of year, we see spring snow, so we’re going to be planning around weather
in this case.”
ODOT also selected the contractor for the RealTime signs
project, Legacy Contracting from Stayton, Ore., which will install electronic
signs that offer up to the minute traffic information and advisories, including
road conditions and travel times between destinations. Some preliminary work on
the signs was included in the safety project, but work this year is not
expected to start until May or June.
Installation of the signs will likely include shoulder
closures and intermittent lane closures.
“It’s going to be pretty low key,” Dinwiddie said.
Dinwiddie added that ODOT has plans to place more signage
and reflective poles around the center barrier that was installed as part of
the safety project to warn drivers. Signage is expected to be installed this
spring, and it will include a flashing light to be visible at night and during
snowy conditions.
Dinwiddie also noted that ODOT is also trying to figure out
a heating system for the new signage. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Al Christie on Mount Hood
Al Christie has some stories.
There’s the one about when he backpacked around Crater Lake
on skis. And the time he was nine years old when the family rented a cabin late
at night and ended up buying the place next door.
And the one about hitting the road for 45 days, spending
every night but one camping in National Parks (the one night was in a motel,
where he could get a shower). And another about when he got to ski on some bike
trails by the Deschutes River with four fresh inches of snow, thanks to getting
his work done quickly.
“I was lucky,” Christie said. “That was a really nice day.”
Christie grew up in New York State and frequented the
Adirondack Mountains before moving to Oregon in 1964, where he raised his
children and worked servicing restaurant equipment until he retired in 2000.
Two years ago, his brother died, and while Christie was going through four
albums of family photos, including some that went back to the early 1900s, he
realized some of the people in them were likely relatives, but he wasn’t sure.
The realization led Christie to decide that he didn’t want
his stories to be lost, and he landed on starting a website, OutdoorTracks.com
to share them and as a platform for others to share their own.
“That was an experience that I think had something to do
with this idea,” Christie said. “The idea of, at first, having a lifetime of
outdoor stories and wanting to write them up for my grandkids.
“So it wouldn’t happen to them what happened to me when I’m
gone,” he added. “There will be some stories behind the pictures.”
Christie has already written approximately 18 of his own
stories, with photographs, for the site, which also features 10 stories by
other contributors. He noted that he does review submissions before posting,
but has found that people have responded positively to the site, while
approaching it with a variety of motivations.
“They all think it’s a great idea,” said Christie, who has
been doing some work hauling things for people since retiring. “Some, like me,
are thinking of their kids and grandkids. Others are young people just wanting
to share experiences.”
Christie noted that for anyone who is interested in sharing
their stories, he encourages them to try submitting to the site while not
worrying about small things like typos. The act of sharing the stories is the
important part.
“I don’t want them to get bogged down on that sort of thing,
I want them to write it like they’re telling it around a campfire,” he said.
“There are people that have a lot of outdoor experiences that make good
stories, but they think they can’t write. Just put that on paper and we’ll take
it from there.”
The endeavor has also already lead to two discoveries. The
first was the Altai Hok Ski, skis that feature a climbing skin on the bottom
and are a ski and snowshoe hybrid.
“It’s the greatest ski experience that I’ve ever had,” said
Christie, who now offers the skis for sale through his site. “I like to get off
the trail. Now even cross country skiing is getting crowded.”
The second is that not only will sharing his stories on the
site be a lifetime project, but he’s also finding out that despite his time in
the Northwest, there are corners he hasn’t been – and stories yet to be told.
“I’m discovering and exploring some trails that I’ve never
even been on before,” Christie said.
To read Christie’s stories and others, visit
OutdoorTracks.com. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Sandy High School thespians head to state posted on 03/01/2017
Riley McCord, an 18-year-old senior at Sandy High School
(SHS), noted that the group he performed a scene from “Dames at Sea” with at
the Feb. 4 Oregon Thespians Regional Acting Competition had some anxiety before
taking the stage in front of the judges. But they didn’t let that stand in
their way.
“We all went on stage with a lot of charisma, and I think
that won the crowd,” McCord said. “It showed in our faces and our actions.”
It showed in their scores, too, propelling them to the state
festival, to be held April 6-8 at the Salem Conference Center and Elsinore
Theatre in Salem. The six students, part of 25 SHS sent to the regional
competition, have already got a start on polishing up their performances in anticipation
of the next round.
“We know it’ll go by pretty fast,” said McCord, who has gone
to the state competition three times before.
Sophomore Seriah Vulgas, 15, added the group’s success at
the regional competition stemmed from some all-day rehearsals, but that she’s
also already feeling the nerves for the Salem performance.
“I’ve never done something like this before,” she said. “I
think we’re just going to continue to work on perfecting it.”
Most of the cast is also preparing for the high school’s spring
production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by McCord and set to open
later in April, but sophomore Gina Hillstrom noted that because the competition
group already put in so much work, working on their scene shouldn’t cause a
conflict.
“I think it’ll be pretty easy to handle,” said Hillstrom,
15. “It’ll definitely take some balancing and time management, but it’ll
happen.”
McCord and Began Godfrey, a 17-year-old junior, will also
head to the state competition for their duo dramatic scene from “Only Kidding,”
by Jim Geoghan.
“We’ve got a lot going on,” McCord said. “Hopefully we’ll be
competitive at state.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Tyler Myers
The newest member of the Hoodland Fire District’s (HFD)
career staff, Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Myers, is also an old hand at the
station and in the community. Myers, 21, grew up on the mountain.
As Myers described, when he was in high school he needed to
find some direction. His father was a HFD volunteer, so Myers joined the
district’s Explorers program, designed to give youth an opportunity to see what
the fire service is all about.
“I came in and just instantly fell in love with it,” said
Myers, a 2013 graduate of Sandy High School, adding that he then knew he wanted
to pursue it as a career.
On Jan. 16 of this year, that became a reality as he
officially joined the paid staff in the district.
“It’s kind of surreal – two years ago I was volunteering,
working alongside paid guys,” Myers said. “Now I’m one of them.”
In addition to his time spent as a volunteer with the HFD,
he also participated in a program at the Estacada Rural Fire District for about
two years. When his paramedic classes began to make his schedule more complex,
Myers stopped with Estacada, but maintained his volunteer status with the HFD.
He said that he appreciates the work because it’s not the
typical “nine to five” job and that the coworkers become a family away from
home. Myers also added he’s very familiar with the district, including
challenges such as snowy weather and incidents on the mountain that are not
seen with fire districts located in higher population areas.
HFD Chief John Ingrao noted Myers was one of 19 people who
applied for the position, adding that Myers is a “real professional.”
“He has always been an outstanding mature person (way beyond
his years),” Ingrao wrote in an email. “He is one of those individuals that
brings enjoyment to all those he interacts with.”
Myers added that he has a couple friends who have just
started similar student programs that he began right out of high school.
“Straight out of high school I hit the ground running, I
took as many classes as I could,” he said. “It feels great to be at the light
at the end of the tunnel. It just feels great to look up in the middle of the
day and realize I’m getting paid to do what I love.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Fischer tapped for BCC open seat posted on 03/01/2017
Surviving a cavalry charge of 78 candidates, Sonya Fischer
has emerged as the unanimous choice to be Clackamas County Commissioner,
Position 5.
The appointed position became available when Jim Bernard –
the former Position 5 commissioner – was elected Chair in the November 8
election and took his new position in January.
The field of 78 hopefuls who applied for the vacancy was
trimmed to eight and all received interviews before the Board of County
Commissioners (BCC) January 8.
The first of February the BCC announced three finalists from
which Fischer was chosen on Feb. 7. She lives in Lake Oswego.
Fischer is an attorney with the law firm of Fischer Family
Law.
She is a former legislative director for the Oregon
Department of Human Services. She holds a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School,
a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University, and a
Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Warner Pacific College.
Fischer will complete the remaining term of Position 5 which
runs through December 2018.
The final three candidates included Jody Carson and Jenni
Tan.
Carson is a director with Healthinsight Oregon. She formerly
served as a member of the West Linn City Council and has an extensive record of
government and community service.
Tan is an officer with Children First For Oregon, a
non-profit organization that advocates for children’s well-being. She formerly
served on the West Linn City Council. By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  'Rhody Rising' possibilities.
If you want to keep the present look of Rhododendron in
mind, it would be a good idea to take some mental snapshots soon.
The effort has been dubbed “Rhody Rising,” and the plan was
hatched at a Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (CPO) meeting in
October last year. In the New Year, it has fled the nest.
“The idea is to make the Mountain community of Rhododendron
a safer, more economically vibrant, and a more appealing community to stop,
shop and stay,” CPO President Steve Graeper wrote in an email. “I think
Rhododendron can once again return to the vibrant community it once was. As a
matter of fact, I believe we can be even better.”
The ambitious goals of the project include: a sign to
identify Rhododendron and welcome visitors; sidewalks on both sides of Hwy. 26;
pedestrian safety islands; street lighting; bike paths; and parks and paths
leading to the Zigzag River and on the north side of the “Swinging Bridge.”
At a subsequent CPO meeting in November, Mark Seder, of
Seder Architecture and Urban Design, made a presentation that included artist
renderings of the type of redesign that was possible. (See graphic this page)
“Our work in 57 Oregon cities has ranged from some of our
most rural, and even isolated, to downtown Portland,” Seder said. “Rhododendron
is a tremendous opportunity to realize positive, community supported
improvements and further establishment as a thriving town center.”
In the October meeting a vote was taken by the membership
unanimously supporting the effort to revitalize Rhododendron. The wing flap
drew the attention of some members of the business community.
“As a business owner, I’m really interested in the beautification
of our area,” said Brigette Romeo, owner of the Still Creek Inn in Rhody. “It
needs some love to get it blooming again. It is going to take all property
owners, business owners, and local residents to come together and create a new
vision.”
Rick Applegate, proprietor of Mt. Hood Roasters in Rhody,
noted that there has been more investment in Rhododendron in the last couple
years than in the previous couple of decades.
“With Mercury Development, Ski Bowl, Mountainology, Al Forno
Ferruza and Mt. Hood Rec recently purchasing properties and developing
businesses, I see Rhododendron on the verge of an economic renaissance,”
Applegate said. “Mt. Hood Roasters invested in Rhododendron 10 years ago. It
has been a struggle because Rhody is so undervalued by some business leaders.
This will not be the case in five years thanks to the hard work of our local
CPO, and investors that have recognized Rhododendron’s potential.
“I see a much more cohesive business community in
Rhododendron that will be focused on ensuring this community has the resources
it needs.”
Investment is key, as the CPO has reached out to the
community for financial support as well as brought aboard a grant writer.
“In order for us to be eligible for any grant funding, which
will help finance this effort, we need to show potential grant funders that we,
as a community, are supportive of this effort,” Graeper said.
Early indications are positive. Seder’s initial invoice was
for $2,596.63, but the architect made an in-kind donation of $1,300 making the
CPO responsible for the other $1,300. As of Jan. 22, the CPO had already raised
$3,880.
Others who wish to donate can mail checks to Rhododendron
CPO, PO Box 33, Rhododendron 97049, and indicate the funds are for “Rhody
Rising.” Donations are tax deductible as the CPO is a 501(c)3 and the ID number
is 93-1286631.
At the January CPO meeting, the motion to continue with the
Rhody Rising dream passed unanimously.
With the support of the majority of the community, Rhody has
wings. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| School district changes calendar following snow days posted on 02/01/2017
By the middle of January, the Welches Schools, and schools
throughout the Oregon Trail School District (OTSD), had been closed for 13 days
due to winter weather and icy conditions, plus two days with late starts. And
while snow days are often a welcome respite for students from a typical school
day, the sheer number of them has some kids longing to go back and their
parents wondering about the impact on their education.
“The problem is, they’ve set the standard,” said Nicole
Stenson, mother of a kindergartener and a third grader, about closing schools
due to even a threat of bad road conditions. “Which seems to me like a really
flawed strategy. It seems to me like when everybody’s going to work,
something’s amiss.”
In response to the lost days of school, the OTSD board of
directors approved changes to the school calendar at a Thursday, Jan. 26 board
meeting. The changes include extending the end of school to Friday, June 9 for
Sandy High School (SHS) seniors and to Friday, June 16 for students in grades kindergarten
through 11 (a change of two days); the elimination of early release days
beginning Wednesday, March 1 (providing 13 more hours of instructional time);
and adding 21 minutes per day to the beginning of school at Sandy High School,
starting Tuesday, Jan. 31 (the start time will now be 7:24 a.m.).
Julia Monteith, OTSD Communications Director, noted the
changes came down to the number of instructional hours mandated by the state.
“We always go above and beyond those hours and we had a
little bit of a cushion,” she said.
Graduation for SHS will not be affected by the calendar
changes. Morning bus schedules for the high school on the mountain will be
approximately 10 minutes earlier for routes 1, 2, 4 and 5. The changes are
expected to be updated on the district’s website, oregontrailschools.com.
Alicia Schnadig, a mother of three (a fourth grader, second
grader and preschooler), expressed her concern that the inconsistent school
schedule could have an impact on the state testing later this year.
“I feel like they’re missing out on a lot of their education
right now,” she said. “I’m worried about them, because they’re still going to
have to do all the state testing that’s required of them.”
Schnadig noted that her family has good tires and four-wheel
drive, allowing them to get out during snow days, including going sledding,
cross country skiing and snowboarding.
“We’ve done all kinds of stuff,” she said. “But they’re
definitely bored and want to go back. You can only go sledding so many times.”
Schnadig also noted that while she stays at home with her
children, the snow days offer challenges for parents who need to work, adding
that she knows people who have had to pay for childcare because their kids
didn’t go to school.
Stenson, who also stays home with her children, would like
to see better snow routes for buses, while adding that she believes parents
could figure out a way to carpool when the weather turns bad to get students
in.
“We’re a small community here,” she said. “We will pull
together and get our kids to school.”
Stenson added that her family filled the snow days with
skiing, sledding and some indoor activities, such as Minecraft. But she also
noticed that her youngest child is suffering from the lack of school.
“His reading has definitely regressed,” Stenson said. “That
was kind of disappointing.”
Patty Chesla, a mother of a fifth grader, works for the
Gresham-Barlow School District, and noted she had resources to help her
daughter continue her studies. Unfortunately, her daughter had a broken arm,
eliminating sledding and skiing as snow day activities.
Chesla added that while she understands that some parents
wouldn’t want the school year extended and summer vacation diminished, she
would prefer to have the days missed tacked on to the end of the calendar.
“People have plane tickets, I totally get both sides,” she
said. “I just don’t want my child cheated on her education.”
Principal Kendra Payne shares these concerns, as she has two
children at the school, a fifth grader and a third grader. She noted that while
they’ve been busy playing outside, playing games inside, watching movies and
tending to firewood (along with some reading and math), she knew the snow days
that helped extend the winter break will mean students and staff will have to
start over with the routines and structures of the school day.
“We’re going to have to hit the ground running when we come
back,” Payne said, adding that she also knows that some students might have
even lacked access to full meals during snow days. “Rebuilding back the
schedules can take time.”
But she also expressed her confidence in the school staff to
make up for the lost instruction time, even if they have to do things a bit
differently.
“We have a great staff, they’re hard working and ready to
get back,” Payne said. “(They always) come up with good solutions during times
like this.” By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Vacant BCC slot expected to be filled this month posted on 02/01/2017
The empty seat on the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
attracted 78 candidates for the open position – a spot made available following
the Nov. 8, 2016 election when then-Chair John Ludlow was defeated.
Recruitment closed Jan. 3, and the four members of the BCC
went to work immediately to narrow the field to eight candidates, announced
Jan. 18.
“The quality of the candidate pool was very impressive, and
we truly thank all those who showed an interest in this important position,”
newly elected BCC Chair Jim Bernard said. “I, like my fellow commissioners,
look forward to these interviews and making a selection in the best interest of
our residents as soon as possible.”
The interviews took place Jan. 25, with each candidate being
provided two questions in advance – one related to the most significant
challenge facing the county, and another concerning how candidates would
represent county residents outside of their immediate communities.
That last question will be important to the Mountain
community. Presently, there are no board members residing in any rural
community, and that includes the eight candidates vying for the open seat.
The final decision will be made Feb. 1, according to Tim
Heider, County Public Affairs Manager.
Those nominated candidates are:
Eleanore Hunter, Oak Grove, manager with Hunter Financial,
Inc. and co-manager of USA Financial, and currently serves on the Oak Grove
Community Council.
Scott Bruun, West Linn, Chief Operating Officer of Hubbell
Communication and a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives.
Jody Carson, West Linn, manager with HealthInsight Oregon,
and former member of the West Linn City Council.
Sonya Fischer, Lake Oswego, attorney with Fischer Family
Law, and former Legislative Director for the Oregon Department of Human
Services.
Charles Gallia, Oregon City, senior policy advisor with the
Oregon Health Authority.
Jon Gustafson, Lake Oswego, co-owner of Beals Design Build,
a real estate broker, and former member of the Lake Oswego City Council.
Carol Pauli, Oregon City, owner/operator of Midway Historic
Public House, and a former member of the Oregon City City Council.
Jenni Tan, West Linn, officer with Children First For
Oregon, and former member of the West Linn City Council. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Melinda Revere (front) holds her award. Hoodland Fire District caps off 2016 with awards banquet posted on 02/01/2017
Mountain resident and Hoodland Fire District Firefighter
Melinda Revere has a lot to keep track of every day. Besides her duties with
the district (including training and responding to calls), she’s a mother of
four and works in Portland.
On Saturday, Jan. 28, the HFD honored Revere for her
dedication as the Firefighter of the Year at the district’s 2016 awards
banquet.
“It feels really good, I wasn’t expecting it though,” Revere
said. “(There are) a lot of great people and I’ve learned a ton. I just try and
go to as much as I can.”
Fire Chief John Ingrao noted that Revere “exemplifies what
we do and what we are,” adding that the number of responses she participated in
was one of the top number in the district, while also ranking near the top in
participating in training. Ingrao said that she “stood out to everybody” who
voted for the award, scoring almost a unanimous decision by the voters, who
included the career paid staff, volunteer officers and volunteer senior
firefighters.
“At night she’s coming in, and sometimes staying up all
night on calls and then going to work,” said Ingrao, who noted she’s also attending
school to become an Emergency Medical Technician. “(She’s) very dedicated.”
Revere, who has been with the district for three years,
added she enjoys serving the community.
“It feels good, it’s good to know that you’re able to be
there for somebody when they’re having a bad time,” she said.
Dana Waldron took home the Rookie of the Year award and
Susan Mikolasy, who often is the sole responder covering Government Camp,
received the EMS of the Year.
The district also honored two retirees, former Fire Chief
Mic Eby, who served the district for a total of 38 years, and Shirley Dueber,
who was on the board of directors for 28 years between 1983 and 2015. Current
board member Cliff Fortune, who served with Dueber for 20 years, noted that she
was a big part of what the district has accomplished over that time, including
the financial reserves it enjoys today.
Eby and his wife, Linda, who helped start the district’s
support group, received a quilt from the support group and a custom made sign
from the district.
“We all are so grateful for everything you have done,”
Amanda Schmitt said before presenting them with the sign.
Years of Service
award winners were: Kevin Frank, Taylor Kopecky, Tom Nelson, Pat Tritico and
Brandon Guerrero for three years; Kaarin Powell and Tony Hadeed for five years;
Richard Powell for 10 years; Nick Miller for 15 years; James Lucas for 20
years; and Jim Jarvis for 30 years.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  AntFarm's Sandy cafe.
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, AntFarm, the nonprofit with Brightwood
roots and now based in Sandy, will celebrate four years of giving and helping
through its Sandy cafe and bakery with more giving by offering up their
victuals for whatever patrons can afford.
Travis Roundy, a Brightwood resident who has served in a
variety of roles with AntFarm since 2012, said that he’s enjoyed seeing the
organization evolve through the years, including the cafe ranking as one of the
top rated restaurants in Sandy, while also serving as a meeting space for a
wide range of groups.
“It’s really cool to see where we’ve gotten to now,” said
Roundy, AntFarm’s manager. “It’s creating all this new awareness.”
He added that 2017 should see even more growth for the
entire organization, including adding classes, workshops and events at the
cafe, including “Lunch and Learn” lectures led by community members, completion
of more beds and development of workshops at the organization’s Learning
Garden, and continued growth of YouthCore, which provides paid employment and
skill-building opportunities for youth with a focus on conservation, and
CommunityConnect, which offers assistance to local senior citizens with home
management tasks such as splitting and stacking wood, raking yards, cleaning
gutters and gardening.
Roundy noted that many homeowners who have enlisted the
AntFarm for projects have noted how reliable the young workers are.
“We’re going to show up on time every time and we’re going
to have all the tools,” he added.
The group has also seen success with two trailers (one at the Hoodland Thriftway shopping center and
one in Sandy) that serve as receptacles for people to donate cans and bottles.
Roundy noted that proceeds from those have covered a portion of the
organization’s insurance, and he hopes that the level of participation
continues when the deposit on cans and bottles rises to 10 cents later this
year.
“If people continue to do it in the way that they have been,
it’s going to be a total game changer,” he said. “It will be a huge thing for
us.”
The AntFarm Cafe and Bakery is located at 39140 Proctor
Blvd. in Sandy. For more information, visit antfarmyouthservices.com.
More AntFarm events in February:
Friday, Feb. 3 – AntFarm will celebrate First Friday with
the City of Sandy and host its Soup Night from 5-8 p.m. at AntFarm Indoors
(39140 Proctor Blvd). February Featured Artist opening display in the Cultural
Arts Center.
Thursday, Feb. 9 – Featured Artist presentation for the
community.
Sunday, Feb. 12 – Starting this date, AntFarm will be open
seven days a week.
Friday, Feb. 17 – AntFarm Third Friday: Tribella (A local
belly dancing troupe) will perform with a local band in the evening. The Café
will be open for drinks and pastries. Time TBA.
Saturday, Feb. 18 – Paint Night: From 5-10 p.m. come join
members of the community for chocolate, dessert, coffee, tea and a fun night of
painting. Please contact AntFarm at 503-668-9955 to sign up.
Sunday, Feb. 19 – Wy'east Live Costume Drawing 5-10 p.m.
Please contact AntFarm to sign up.
Monday, Feb. 20 – AntFarm Outdoor Adventure will be going
out on a Snowshoe/Sledding trip to White River Canyon. Stop by AntFarm Indoors
or call in to the office to sign up. Limited number of snowshoes and sleds are
available. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Merit Properties welcomes broker number nine posted on 02/01/2017
After 20 years of management and operations, plus nearly
four decades in the seat of a big rig, Brian Vieira made a tight right career
turn.
Vieira has joined Merit Properties Inc. as a new broker,
bringing the Merit staff to nine.
Last year Vieira found himself “available for new
opportunities” and turned his attention to obtaining a broker’s license – a
feat that culminated in passing both exams in December.
Vieira met with Merit owner David Lythgoe in late summer
last year to discuss possibly joining his firm.
“I liked him immediately,” Vieira said. “I’m thankful to
Dave for taking me under his wing as it were, and getting me started. My father
owned a real estate company when I was growing up, so I suppose it’s always
been in the blood. Helping others has always made me happy so this too was a
motivator to get my license.”
Lythgoe noted that all Merit brokers live, work, and play on
the Mountain when commenting on bringing Vieira aboard. “Brian will be working
with buyers and sellers here, as well as Sandy, Gresham, Portland and suburbs
east of Portland.”
Phyllis Vieira, Brian’s wife of 35 years, also works on the
Mountain.
“Now we both have that great commute,” Vieira said. “I look
forward to helping my neighbors as well as those that would like to join our
little community finding that just-right home or property.”
Vieira can be reached at 925-464-3930 or email at
brian@mountainmanproperties.com.
Merit Properties office is located at Hoodland Park Plaza
next to Thriftway. For more information, principal broker David Lythgoe can be
reached at 503-622-3141. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Rhododendron dispensary focused on the local scene posted on 02/01/2017
After more than three years of working to open, the Mt. Hood
Rec Center, a marijuana dispensary in Rhododendron, opened its doors on Sept. 9
last year.
Sara Pool, the dispensary manager, noted that the first
months were buoyed by local support before the ski resorts opened and tourists
came to the mountain.
“They have been such a resounding positive influence, I’ve
never seen anything like it,” said Pool, who has experience managing four other
dispensaries in the past five years. “We’re just trying to keep them coming
back for more. Business is building, hoping to maintain that growth.”
But as Pool noted, the business is focused on building the
local ties as its philosophy, including creating an environment that encourages
repeat customers, responding to feedback and suggestions on what people would
like to see, keeping prices low and utilizing local grow operations and vendors
for marijuana and accessories. And beyond that, Pool added that the hope is
that the business can help spur growth in the Rhododendron community.
“We want this town to be a stopping point, not a passing
point,” she said, adding that she’s been involved with the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization. “We’re just really trying to tap into our local
community and what they have to offer.”
The shop offers a wide range of products, including
marijuana flowers, cartridges, tinctures, pipes and “grab-n-go” items geared
toward outdoor enthusiasts, including collapsible bongs. And as new products
are introduced (such as beverages); Pool notes the dispensary will get them in
stock.
But the store will also emphasize education, including how
marijuana impacts the body, how to best prepare for using it (such as hydrating
and taking care with edibles) and helping people who use the drug for medicinal
purposes.
“We get incredibly scientific, as much as we can, so people
are aware as possible,” Pool said. “The more you know about just regular
biology and physiology, it just ties in.
“What we focus on is anything that’s going to help anybody
from cancer to fibromyalgia,” she added.
Pool noted that the idea for the dispensary started about
four years ago, with the owners, including developer Randy Rapaport, purchasing
the property approximately three and a half years ago. She added that Clackamas
County put a hold on their building permits as part of a moratorium on
medicinal marijuana licenses, delaying work on the business, but they were able
to work with the county to get things rolling again.
The Mt. Hood Rec Center is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
and is located at 73410 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron. For more information, call
503-622-4272, email info@mthoodrec.com or visit www.mthoodrec.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  SkiBowl's tubing hill
Hans Wipper has seen a lot of snow fall on Mount Hood
through the years through his work at SkiBowl since 1988. And last month’s
bonanza of snow ranks pretty high and allowed SkiBowl to open on Dec. 7 and
open its outback terrain shortly after, the earliest Wipper can remember since
1994.
“It’s like the best opening conditions in 15 years, it’s
amazing,” said Wipper, SkiBowl’s spokesman. “It’s a great start to the year.”
As of Monday, Dec. 26, SkiBowl had enjoyed 113 inches of
snow so far this season, with snow depth of up to 54 inches. Wipper added that
everything at the resort is open, including tubing (now featuring a second conveyor
lift), while the newly installed snowmaking pipes at the SkiBowl west area have
not been the most necessary addition this winter.
“Luckily this year we didn’t need it,” he said, adding that
the Oregon Department of Transportation has done a “great job” clearing the
roads and allowing eager skiers and snowboarders to get to the mountain.
Closer to the peak of Mount Hood, John Burton, Timberline
Lodge’s Director of Marketing, noted that while the snowfall numbers are good,
they are in line with the numbers of the past 60 years.
“This is what it’s supposed to do,” Burton said. “We’re very
grateful for the current snow event, it’s making for some unbelievable
conditions. The snow quality is outstanding.”
As of Monday, Dec. 26, Timberline had enjoyed a total
snowfall of 235 inches (calculated since Sept. 1) and a base depth at the lodge
of 96 inches. Burton sees the ski industry across the country as enjoying a
good winter, while he noted the conditions and the type of snow on the mountain
as a driving force behind the early success of the season.
“It’s because the product is so good right now,” he said.
“There’s lots of snow and the quality of snow is great.”
Burton noted the resort’s Y’Bar was remodeled and now
features a new kitchen and new layout, including a glass garage door facing
south that can be opened when the weather cooperates.
“The goal was to create a premiere après bar type pub
environment on the mountain (with) great food and served in a timely manner,”
Burton said. “I think we pulled that off.”
Burton added that the resort is also offering “cat” skiing
on the Palmer Snowfield during the weekends, when skiers and snowboarders can
catch a ride to the top of the snowfield in a Snowcat, included in the price of
a lift ticket.
Down at the base of the mountain, Tom Butler of Mountain
Sports reported that business is “super busy,” and even joked how it was nice
to get a rainy and windy day to do a little catch-up work.
“This great early snow got everybody fired up,” Butler said.
“It’s been all we can do to keep up with the action.”
Butler added that the early snows have everybody in a good
mood, and even when customers have to wait in line, they are happy. He also
noted that mountain residents get to enjoy the snow at lower levels, going to
their secret sledding or snowshoe locations where the masses don’t go.
He also added three words of hope as winter rolls on: “Keep
it coming.”
The Skyway’s Tracie Anderson said that business has been
busy, while adding that the only slow times are when the road conditions make
for difficult travel.
“The general vibe or feeling is that people are real
excited,” Anderson said, noting that skiers and snowboarders returning from a
day of recreation are enjoying the restaurant’s fireplace. “It’s the best early
snowfall in many years. People are just in a really good mood.” By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Miller Quarry
Mountain residents concerned with the safety and noise
issues from target shooters at Miller Quarry may have a long term solution in
the near future, according to Zach Jarrett, Cascades Outdoor Recreation Planner
for the Oregon Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Jarrett was one of several BLM representatives on hand at a
follow up meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the Mt. Hood RV Village, and noted
that the BLM finished a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) last August, which
included designating the quarry as a recreation management area and opening the
door to closing it for target shooting within the year.
“It’s a pretty powerful planning tool,” Jarrett said, noting
the plan helps decide what visitor activities are provided, how they are
managed and how they are protected. “Literally the ink is just drying on that
plan.”
The BLM had been operating under an RMP that was completed
in 1995, but the process for the new plan began three years ago. Jarrett noted
the plan gives a land use allocation to every acre the BLM manages, which in
turn identifies the activities that are allowed.
Approximately 2.5 million acres in western Oregon were
defined, with approximately one-half million acres designated as a recreation
management area. Jarrett added that the BLM received thousands of comments
during the three-year process.
“The good news is that we went through a very very public
outreach process,” he said, noting the most time consuming part of the process
is complete.
The RMP will now be reviewed in Washington, D.C., and while
there is no defined timeline for it to be approved, Jarrett said he’s seen it
happen as quickly as two months and as long as eight months.
“There’s a lot of competing uses on that area,” Jarrett
said, adding that the quarry is not closed to target shooting yet. “Some of
those that are happening here are not compatible.”
The December meeting was on the heels of another held on
Oct. 26, which was organized by Warren Bates, a resident at the Mt. Hood RV
Village, due to mounting concerns over safety and noise concerns with the
target shooting.
In response to that meeting, Belle Verbics, BLM Natural
Resources Staff Administrator, noted that law enforcement patrols were
increased (with participating agencies including the BLM, Clackamas County
Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service) to three or four times per week.
Verbics noted that the officers observed hikers, anglers and
target shooters, but did not notice anything illegal.
The quarry’s ownership is split between the BLM and a
private landowner, with target shooters using banks in both areas as backstops,
with spent casings, trash and bullet riddled electronics and other refuse used
as targets strewn about. Chris Papen, BLM’s Acting Field Manager for the
Cascades Field Office, noted the different owners, including other entities who
own other adjacent lots, makes management complicated.
“It’s a jigsaw puzzle ownership; that’s the way a lot of
land in this basin is,” he said.
Verbics added that the BLM is expected to continue with the
presence of its law enforcement at the site, but that due to the season, it may
not be as intensive moving forward.
After the meeting, Bates expressed his gratitude to the BLM
for their response and the potential closure of the site to target shooters.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Rhody CPO seeks bigger space posted on 12/30/2016
Years in the making, the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization (CPO) has moved forward to the final process of a boundary
expansion effort.
A public meeting is set for 1 p.m., Jan. 21, at the Hoodland
Fire Station, 69634 Hwy. 26, where public testimony will be heard regarding the
boundary expansion after which the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will take
up the issue and make a final determination.
The expansion is not modest in nature.
The current CPO boundary is a 1-square-mile section, which
extends at the west end of Rhododendron, from approximately the Zigzag River
bridge on Hwy. 26 east to about Belle Lake Road, according the Rhody CPO
President Steve Graeper. The north-south boundary extends about ½ mile on
either side of Hwy. 26.
“The current boundary excludes most of the Forest Service
cabins to the east, and along Road 19, and excludes the Woodlands and Faubion
neighborhoods,” Graeper added.
The new boundary would extend from the eastern edge of Lolo
Pass Road up to Kiwanis Camp Road (FS 29) with the northern border being
approximately the summit of Zigzag Mountain and the southern border the summit
of Hunchback Mountain.
“The purpose of the boundary expansion is to unify the
represented area and allow for greater participation in the CPO process,”
Graeper said.
The CPO, which formed in the 1970s as the Rhododendron
Neighborhood Association, has offered input on land use issues within its
boundaries to county officials. Since 2006, when the organization revamped its
bylaws and changed its name to the current moniker, the CPO has also served as
a communication outlet between the county and residents and been involved with
a variety of community-sponsored programs (for an in-depth look at the history
of the CPO and its presence in the community, please read Graeper’s commentary
on page 7 of this month’s paper).
The expansion comes at a time when the BCC has dissolved the
Villages at Mt. Hood – and refusing to recognize its elected directors – and
the Mt. Hood Corridor CPO has been idle since 2011 when its directors were hit
with a SLAPP suit.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  John Ingrao
The Hoodland Fire District’s board of directors hired John
Ingrao as the new chief last month, following the retirement of Chief Mic Eby.
Ingrao has been with the district since December 2011, when he was hired as the
deputy chief.
“It’s quite the zenith of my career,” said Ingrao, who has
lived in the community for 28 years. “I think I’m now well versed at (how the
district works), I think I can help the community continue what we have.”
One of Ingrao’s first initiatives is to start 24-hour
coverage with paid staff, which he expects to happen at the start of the New
Year after the hiring of a Firefighter Paramedic. To help facilitate that,
Ingrao will not fill the deputy chief position for approximately 18 months, as
he will continue to perform the duties of that role.
“It’s going to be difficult for me,” said Ingrao, who worked
for the Clackamas Fire District for 21 years before coming to Hoodland. “Even a
small department has a lot of administrative stuff.”
Ingrao stressed that his first priority as the chief is
public safety, and he created a Leader’s Intent, an internal document laying
out his vision, in his first days on the job to reflect that.
“Safety is always number one; I drive that in everything I
do,” he said. “That’s kind of how I envision my position as the chief.”
Ingrao noted that the district’s board also finished
strategic goals for future planning last month, with the remodeling of the
Government Camp fire station and upgrading the main station in Welches joining
24-hour coverage as three points of emphasis. He added that volunteer retention
will also be a priority, with job sharing volunteers with other agencies as a
possibility in the future.
Ingrao added that the district is currently getting material
costs for the Government Camp station, but that he believes the permit process
and planning with Clackamas County could begin in the New Year. The project, he
noted, is not very complicated and the work could begin as early as spring and
wrap up this coming summer.
“That is a very well-built structure,” Ingrao said. “(We
could be) inhibited by weather, but most work is internal. We’re very
optimistic.”
Ingrao, who was the first on the scene at the Golden Poles
fire in 2015, noted that the district offers some unique challenges, with
mutual aid from other fire districts often very far away. But he noted he has
learned a lot since he joined the district and also crediting learning under
Eby.
“The biggest thing was, I had this wealth of information that
I gleaned from the chief,” Ingrao said.
He also added that the staff and volunteers make the
district an efficient organization, with everyone working hard on various tasks
and projects when not on calls.
“My employees are my greatest resource and my greatest
asset, and that includes all volunteers that take time off from home,” Ingrao
said. “The people are what drives an agency and we are very lucky here to have
great people.”
Volunteer firefighter applications due Jan. 6 for Hoodland
Fire Department
Applications for the Hoodland Fire District’s volunteer
firefighter training academy are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at the main
station, 69634 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches.
Applicants must live or work in the district, be 18 years of
age or older, have a valid Oregon Driver’s license, be able to pass a
background check, pass the physical agility test and pass an interview.
Fire Chief John Ingrao noted the district had received 10
applications as of mid-December, with another seven applications outstanding.
The training academy will begin in January and last for five
months.
Applications are available at the main station between 8
a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information, call 503-622-3256. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Rebel & Rye staff
The tasty offerings at Rebel & Rye Public House arose
out of a mutual distaste for corporate America.
Nate Wiesner, Danny Casteel and Kelly Jones are the owners
of the new restaurant across from the Hoodland Shopping Center. And, according
to Jones, they share a group vision in their new venture.
“The ‘Rebel’ in the name comes from our combined employment
history in corporate America and our strong distaste for it,” Jones said. “We
were always told to look a certain way, act a certain way, basically never
allowed to be ourselves. The primary drive for opening our own place was to
create an environment where we could be who we wanted to be and allow our team
the same.”
The rest of the name came from a far less pointed
bureaucratic slant.
“The ‘Rye’ represents our love for rye whiskey,” Jones said,
before adding: “Plus, it sounds cool.”
Jones, of Brightwood, brings 12 years of experience in
property and financial management, and will oversee financials, payroll and
human resources. Wiesner, of Happy Valley, has more than 10 years of experience
in the hospitality, food and beverage industry and will serve as the executive
chef. Casteel, of Brightwood, also brings 10 years-plus of experience in the
industry and will be the front-of-house manager.
Dakota Mingus will add to the kitchen expertise in the role
of assistant head chef.
The menu is dotted with the influence of international
dishes that Jones describes as “gastropub.” Rebel & Rye has a full bar
specializing in local craft beers and ciders, and true to its name, features more
than 25 different whiskeys.
The menu is a gastronomic gallery of global delights.
Dinners include such items as: 12-ounce ribeye with blackened shallots; pork
cheek tacos; Hawaiian teriyaki chicken; Cubano sandwich on a grilled baguette;
crab mac and cheese; and the list goes on.
Breakfast does not take a back of the restaurant seat to the
dinner menu. The morning fare includes: chicken fried steak and waffles with
chorizo gravy; Cajun creole stack with blackened shrimp on hash browns; Dutch
baby euro-style pancakes; and a bad breakfast burrito.
“We pride ourselves in the diversity of our menu,” Jones
said. “You can come one night, have a burger, and in the same week have some
pad Thai, or jambalaya, or a quinoa bowl.”
The House has plans for live music events – already Tony
Smiley will appear Jan. 6, and the John Bunzow Trio with Bobby Cole and Ted
Swenson will sit in Jan. 13 – trivia nights, karaoke, movie showings and comedy
nights.
The Rebel & Rye Public House is located at 24371 Welches
Road, and operating hours are 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight
Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday. By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Winter weather leads to multiple days off at Welches Schools posted on 12/30/2016
Kendra Payne, Principal of the Welches Schools, noted that
when winter weather hits the Oregon Trail School District, things get going
pretty early to determine if school will be cancelled, delayed or kept open for
the day. It starts when the district’s director of transportation, who Payne
added lives in the Welches area, starts to gauge the conditions of the roads as
early as 3 a.m.
“There’s a lot of layers to the process, but it also really
boils down to a simple thing: are the roads safe enough to drive on and will
the students be safe getting to school,” Payne said.
That process was frequently used in December, with the
Welches Schools racking up one late start and five days cancelled (giving
students an early start to their winter break).
Payne noted that a number of roads on the mountain are
closely watched, including Lolo Pass, Barlow Trail Road and Welches Road, while
other problematic roads in the district also get more attention, including Hwy.
211, McCabe Road and Tickle Creek Road.
“Hwy. 26 is usually in really good shape,” Payne added. “The
Oregon Department of Transportation takes really good care of it. It’s the side
roads that end up being more problematic for us.”
The Director of Transportation and Superintendent take the
information on the roads and what the weather forecast is to then come to a
decision.
Payne noted that snow can be manageable for keeping school
open, but when things ice over (as they did at times in December) it becomes
clear that a full closure is needed. In addition, the Welches Schools have
flexible closure protocol, allowing for the middle and elementary schools to be
closed or have a late start even if the rest of the district remains open.
“It’s recognized that Welches is at a different elevation,”
Payne said. “For the most part I think it works really smoothly.”
The only problem when the Welches Schools are closed or open
late, she noted, is for high school students. In that case, the bus typically
stops at the Hoodland Thriftway, while Payne noted that teachers at the high
school are also flexible in that case.
And while a snow day maybe a welcome respite for students,
the snow days in December may be twice as nice as Payne doesn’t believe the
days will be added to the end of the school calendar this summer. She noted
that while there is a formula for the number of instructional minutes students
must receive in a school year, there should be enough days remaining to meet
that requirement.
“It’s not out of the question that we might have to add days
back, because it’s early,” Payne said. “At this point, I don’t believe we are
going to be adding days on.”
The snow days also caused a number of school events to be
cancelled, some of which will be rescheduled, but some not, including a holiday
concert (will be a spring concert), a middle school dance, two basketball games
(not likely to be rescheduled), a high school band concert and a field trip to
the Portland Art Museum (likely to be rescheduled).
“It was really intense,” Payne said, adding how thankful she
was to the community for its understanding and flexibility. “It really has to
start with student safety, we don’t want anyone on unsafe roads.”
For more information and detailed snow route information,
visit http://oregontrailschools.com and click on “Transportation.” By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Kim Yamashita
The Sandy City Council selected Sandy Police Chief Kim
Yamashita as the city’s interim city manager, with the departure of City
Manager Seth Atkinson set for Monday, Jan. 9. Yamashita has already started
working with Atkinson to get up to speed on city projects.
Sandy Mayor Bill King noted that Yamashita, one of two
candidates for the interim position, has had experience in very tough
situations and been able to keep her cool, while noting her ability to work
with others.
“Her people skills really set her apart,” King said.
Yamashita joined the city’s police department as the chief
in 2010, and she sees the job as an opportunity to serve the city in a
different capacity while gaining some new life experience.
“I think stretching and growth is always important and good
for you,” said Yamashita, who noted she wouldn’t have offered herself as a
candidate if she didn’t think she could do a good job.
King noted that the council will hire an outside firm to
lead the search for a new city manager, and it will be the same firm that was
used to lead the search for police chief when Yamashita was hired for that
position.
“We’re going to lean on them and see if they can strike gold
for us twice,” King said.
Yamashita expressed interest in taking on the position
permanently after a career spanning 24 years in law enforcement.
“I’m really proud of being a police officer,” Yamashita
said. “I think it would be a good way to leave on a high note and in good
hands.”
King noted that the council owes it to the city’s residents
to do a thorough search and end up with the right person for the position,
while adding that Yamashita should be a contender.
“I expect her to be a strong candidate for the permanent
position as well,” he said.
Yamashita noted that the city is at a critical juncture,
starting work on a new branding strategy that will help create the “face of
Sandy” for the next 15 years, while a number of projects are currently in
different stages, including the purchase of the Cedar Ridge Middle School from
the Oregon Trail School District to turn it into a recreation hub.
“We’ve got a long way to go on that project,” said
Yamashita, who noted the importance of community involvement in that process.
While Yamashita serves as the interim city manager, Sergeant
Ernie Roberts will take over as the interim police chief. Yamashita noted that
Roberts is versed in her vision of the police department and that she has
“every confidence” in him.
“I’m thankful for the council for the trust they’re
displaying in me,” Yamashita added. “(Roberts and I) both decided to just make
the most of it, have fun with it and learn from it. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Mic Eby
Ten years ago this month, the Hoodland Fire District’s (HFD)
board of directors named Mic Eby (serving as the acting fire chief) the
district’s fire chief, shortly after three members survived a recall vote. This
December will be Eby’s last month on the job, after he agreed to a request by
the current board to retire.
“It’s a good thing,” Eby told The Mountain Times, noting
that there is an opportunity now for the current board, which four out of five
members were not on the board when Eby was hired, to hire a chief. “They need
to build their own chief. They need somebody who they can call their own.”
Eby, whose contract expires in June 2017 and had discussed
retiring at that time, noted that when he took the job in 2006 the district was
at a controversial time, with disputes between staff and volunteers.
“We had some pretty bad times together,” said Eby, 66, who
has served the district for more than 30 years.
He added that the board at the time came up with a list of
goals to bring stability to the district and reestablish it as a good part of
the community.
“I believe I have accomplished it,” Eby said.
Eby noted that his vision included building the district up
from the inside, with improved training and better equipment, but to also not
go to the community and ask for a tax increase. And he credited the support
from his staff as a big reason to his successes.
“It really made my job a whole lot easier,” Eby said. “I had
people around me that made me look good.”
Cliff Fortune, chair of the board and the lone member who
was on the board when Eby was hired, described Eby as a “strong leader in the
community,” always attending meetings and functions as the “face of the
department” and credited him for bringing the district back from the deep
divisions and getting people on the same page.
“I wish Mic all the best in retirement; I think he’s done a
fantastic job,” Fortune said. “He’s got a lot of respect throughout Oregon fire
service.”
Fortune noted that no action was taken to start the process
for finding a new chief at the November board meeting and the board is likely
going to address it at the December meeting. He added that Deputy Chief John
Ingrao could take over as the chief on Jan. 1, 2017.
“He’d be the logical choice,” Fortune said.
The new chief will have a number of issues to deal with,
including a potential rebuild of the main fire station in Welches, renovating
the Government Camp fire station and a push to add 24-hour coverage (a new
staff member is expected to be hired by January to help provide that coverage).
“The new chief’s going to have his hands full,” Eby said.
Eby added that while he doesn’t know what he’s going to do
in retirement, he intends to continue his service with the district as a
volunteer at the Brightwood station. And after years of covering shifts during
holidays, he plans on doing something he hasn’t done in nearly 20 years - spend
Christmas with his wife.
“I’ve missed a lot by being fire chief,” Eby said. “I take
responsibility very serious. There’s fantastic people out there and they
deserve the best.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| George Wilson ponders alternatives to BCC posted on 12/01/2016
In testimony before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC),
Villages at Mt. Hood Chair George Wilson insisted the Mountain community was
being ignored, and that he was considering other ways to attain representation
for local residents.
“The disconnect between the BCC and village residents
continues,” Wilson told The Mountain Times. “The BCC only has interest in our
villages when there is timber to harvest to raise funds for Oregon City,
Milwaukie and Wilsonville projects. The BCC does not care about our villages,
or our residents.”
According to Wilson, the BCC public meeting held Nov. 23 in
Oregon City underlined the disconnect when it determined – once again – to
alter the county codes to remove all power previously held by the Villages board
of directors.
Wilson maintains that the BCC’s decision to alter the
Villages bylaws is directed at him, despite Commissioner Martha Schrader saying
it was “not personal or political.”
“This is personal,”
Wilson said, addressing the BCC. “I have been vilified and defamed by this
board. Not one (Villages) issue has been addressed by the BCC. You have not
listened. I know what I say here will be ignored. I have talked to a law firm
about a defamation suit (against the BCC). I am not going away.”
BCC Chair John Ludlow, having been voted out of the chair
position in the Nov. 8 election, responded to Wilson admitting it was threats
like these that precipitated the changes (in the bylaws).
“Spewing stuff like that, I’ve heard it before,” Ludlow
said. “And you can take that to your attorney.”
“I don’t need your permission,” Wilson said, exhausting his
time allotment.
The BCC concluded that by amending the county code, it could
now remove any board member or dissolve the board entirely when it decided to
do so, or, more precisely, whenever it feels it to be in the best interests of
the community.
With Commissioner Paul Savas as the only dissenting vote,
the motion carried by a solid 4-1 vote.
“What is the best interests of the Villages or Hamlets?”
Savas asked. “How will we know? It is being perceived that we are being heavy
handed. These (changes in bylaws) are nuclear. It’s a big hammer. It will
discourage public involvement.”
Savas’ concerns fell on deaf ears.
Frustrated with the BCC’s position regarding the Mountain
community, Wilson, besides deciding to pursue personal legal action, has turned
his attention to alternatives, including:
- Begin educating residents of the pros and cons of
incorporation;
- Exploring a class action lawsuit against the unlawful
invalidation and handling of the December 2015 Town Hall elections;
- Campaign hard to ensure misguided and misdirected
commissioners John Ludlow and Jim Bernard are not reelected to the BCC; and
- Forming special districts for particular projects.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
| Community effort targets gun issues at Miller Quarry posted on 12/01/2016
For Warren Bates, living at the Mt. Hood RV Village should
be idyllic, with its quiet, forested setting. But all too often, the sound of
gunfire and explosives echo through the community, travelling down from Miller
Quarry, land held by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“You cannot believe the noise in the summertime,” Bates
said, noting how it goes from early in the morning until after dark.
And while the winter season should bring a downturn in the
amount of gunfire, Bates noted that the weekend before Thanksgiving, two large
explosions were set off at night, likely people detonating tannerite, an
explosive that is legal to possess but not permitted on federal land.
Bates has started an effort to try and improve the
situation, holding a community meeting with four representatives from BLM on
Oct. 26 featuring approximately 40 community members, with a follow up meeting
likely to take place in December or early January. The issues, he notes, go
beyond noise, with contamination of the quarry due to gun residue, litter and
refuse used as targets and the safety of people in the area, both nearby
residents and other users of the land, also priorities.
“Anybody could get hit with a bullet,” Bates said, adding
that bullet holes have been found in a car and a carport at the Village in the
past. “When you add all these things in, the simplest thing to do is to close
down the range. It’s way too close to populated areas.”
Chris Papen, BLM’s Acting Field Manager for the Cascades
Field Office, attended the Oct. 26 meeting and acknowledged the problem, but
noted that finding a solution is a “long road.” Target shooting on federal land
is legal, and Papen noted that with a lack of places for people to shoot guns,
Miller Quarry is a logical destination.
Papen noted that the BLM also has safety concerns at the
site, with contractors working near the quarry last year performing restoration
work on the Salmon River, not to mention anglers, hikers and other outdoor
enthusiasts trying to enjoy the area.
“This really came to rise with us with just the safety of
the public and our own employees working down by the river,” said Papen, who
has worked with the BLM for 27 years.
He added that the BLM added a “flip” sign near the entrance
to the quarry warning potential target shooters of BLM contractors working in
the area, which helped during the week this summer, but also noted that it’s
“not working in there” now.
There are restrictions on shooting on federal land,
including at least a quarter mile from a residence or recreational area and no
shooting from public roads, while shooting etiquette dictates a safe backstop
and for shooters to know their target.
“We expect people to uphold not just federal laws, but state
and local policies,” Papen added.
Terry Bennett, the host at the Douglas Ridge Rifle Club in
Eagle Creek, told the Mountain Times that the Miller Quarry has a bad
reputation with club members, including people shooting in different
directions, waving gun barrels “all over the place” and shooting up old
refrigerators and other garbage.
“It’s scary up there,” said Bennett, who has been host for
eight years but has not been to the quarry himself. “They just don’t feel
safe.”
Bennett noted that the problem is not limited to the quarry,
as he participated in a cleanup effort on U.S. Forest Service land last year in
an area decimated by target shooters, including trees shot in half.
“That’s as bad as I’ve ever seen,” Bennett said. “You could
see where they’d been standing, and they were shooting off the mountain.
“The thing is, there’s no regulation,” he added. “Common
sense isn’t common.”
Bennett noted that the club, which opened in 1969 and
features a variety of shooting areas on 130 acres, is “tight on safety,” and
offers a variety of safety classes open to non-members, including public
“site-in” days, youth training and ladies nights. He added that as a child, he
sometimes shot at gravel pits, but that the unwritten rule was to “take home
more than you brought.”
Papen credited Bates and the community for the self-started
movement to address the issues, noting that the BLM will put an emphasis on the
area with its law enforcement officers.
“The key is we want to work with them and we want to listen
to them,” he said. “We’re certainly in it for the long run.”
Bates and other members of the community now keep a log of
gunfire they hear from the quarry, including dates and times. But Bates also
hopes to see limits on the types of guns allowed at the quarry and target
shooting limited to certain hours of the day.
He added that he believes the gun noise has a negative
impact on business at the Village, including seeing diminished rentals.
“In the larger sense, it’s BLM’s responsibility,” Bates
said. “If they're going to have the gun range, it has to be monitored.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Caryn Tilton at The Rendezvous
Mountain resident Caryn Tilton retired five years ago, or
really semi-retired as she kept a few clients and weaned herself from work. But
as part of retirement, Tilton was finally able to pursue her interest in
learning how to paint watercolors.
In a class about watercolors, Tilton was a businesswoman
surrounded by artists and realized they could use a little help when it came to
marketing and computers. So one year ago, Tilton started a website,
MtHoodArtOnline.com, to help local artists market their works. 12 months later,
16 artists are on board and Tilton hopes more will soon follow.
“It seems to have really filled a need in the area,” Tilton
said. “It’s taken hold over the past year.”
The website offers a featured artist each month, with an
opportunity for all the artists to post photos of their work and biographical
information in their own gallery. Visitors can also purchase art through the
site, while the site also advertises art classes, promotes art events and
offers a quarterly newsletter.
Tilton has also brought works by the artists to local
businesses, including The Rendezvous, while she also started a greeting card
program, where retail customers, wholesale customers and fundraisers can
request customized cards to fit any occasion or select from the many website
options available.
Beth Verheyden, a Boring resident and watercolor painter who
has taught art for 25 years, noted that many artists need some outside help to
effectively market their works.
“I think that we as artists, we’re not our best salesmen,”
Verheyden said. “Some of us are a little more business-minded than others, some
of us just like to paint. I am my own worst salesman. I love to talk other
people up, I love to listen. I think this is a really wonderful tool for people
who fall into that category.”
Pam Smithsted, an oil painter, met Tilton through a meeting
of the Wy’east Artisans Guild and saw it as a perfect way to get an online
presence for her art, and she hopes it continues to grow.
“We want people to know they should apply,” Smithsted said.
Tilton noted she hopes to double the number of artists in
the coming year, while increasing the presence of the online newsletter.
The website, touted as by artists and for artists, has a
volunteer steering committee to guide the venture, including leading the
process of adding new artists.
During the month of December, all proceeds from the sales of
gift tags will be donated to the Hoodland Women’s Club. For more information,
visit MtHoodOnline.com. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Sandy City Manager resigns posted on 12/01/2016
City Manager Seth Atkinson tendered his resignation last
month, following three years at Sandy City Hall.
Atkinson noted he accepted a job offer in a small town in
Utah and will be leaving to take that job in mid-January.
“It’s just been such a wonderful experience working with
council and staff here,” said Atkinson, who studied finance and economics and
earned a masters degree at Utah State University and served as a budget analyst
for the city of Park City, Utah before coming to Sandy as the finance director.
“We really feel we’re part of the same team.”
Atkinson noted a number of accomplishments over his tenure
as both finance director and city manager, including the recent sale agreement
between the city and the Oregon Trail School District for the Cedar Ridge
Middle School campus with an eye toward turning it into a recreation hub for
the city and the upgraded library.
“I’ve just enjoyed my time here so much,” Atkinson said,
noting the move is based on his family’s needs. “This has been a real
bittersweet decision. I would want to stay, if I could.”
The city council will recruit an interim city manager from
internal options, with an interview process likely to take place on Monday,
Dec. 5. Atkinson noted that process will allow the interim city manager to
shadow him during his last days on the job and will give the council more time
for a recruitment process for a permanent replacement, if they want.
Sandy Mayor Bill King noted Atkinson did a good job for the
city and grew in his role as city manager.
“He’s done a great job; if I could change his mind, I
would,” King said. “I understand why he’s doing it, I just wish he wasn’t.”
The city will also lose another employee as Nancy Enabnit,
Director of Community Services, will retire after 30 years at the end of
February, 2017. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Shakeup at BCC; Mark Johnson keeps seat posted on 12/01/2016
The bitterly contested November election spurred Oregon and
County voters to cast their ballots. Nearly three-fourths (74 percent) of
eligible voters showed up countywide, topped only by the 77 percent turnout
statewide. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) election results
promised to have an impact on Mountain residents. With the relentless attack
from the Board regarding the county’s dissolution of the Villages at Mt. Hood –
an incursion led by then-Chair John Ludlow and Commissioner Tootie Smith –
voters appeared to get the message, or at least send one. Ludlow was defeated in the race for the chair’s position by
Commissioner Jim Bernard (53 percent to 47 percent) and Ludlow was relegated to
take a back seat on the Board. Smith was sent packing by Ken Humberston’s run after
Position 4, with Smith suffering a 51 percent to 49 percent defeat. The new makeup of the BCC includes: Chair Bernard, and
commissioners Humberston, Paul Savas, Martha Schrader and Ludlow. House District 52 incumbent Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River)
held off an effort by Democrat Mark Reynolds, returning to Salem with a 55
percent to 44 percent win. Johnson’s margin was considerably wider within
Clackamas County, 61 percent to 39 percent. Federal results Hillary Clinton fared better at the county and state level
than she did on a national scale. Clinton topped President-elect Donald Trump
50 to 43 percent countywide, and 50 to 39 percent statewide. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D) coasted over Republican rival Mark
Callahan 54 to 37 percent and 56 to 33 percent, countywide and statewide
respectively. U.S. Representative contests that local residents
participated in included Democrat victories by incumbents Earl Blumenauer and
Kurt Schrader over David Walker and Colm Willis. Blumenauer’s win raised
eyebrows locally as he lost to Walker countywide 48 to 47 percent, but romped
statewide 72 to 20 percent. State results Incumbent Democrat Kate Brown was returned as Oregon’s
governor, eking out a narrow statewide victory by 50 to 43 percent, despite
Clackamas County voters disagreeing by backing Bud Pierce’s bid 48 to 47
percent. Republican Dennis Richardson unseated incumbent Bard Avakian
in the Secretary of State race, 53 to 39 percent countywide and 47 to 43
percent statewide. Local results The City of Sandy will have the same look as before with the
mayor and three city councilors keeping their posts while running unopposed.
Bill King is mayor, John Hamblin, Donald Hollis and Olga Gerberg will return in
Positions 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Measure 3-510 passed by a 75 percent to 25 percent margin
levying a 3 percent tax on marijuana sales. Measure 3-509, proposing a 6-cent per gallon fuel tax failed
by a 63 to 37 percent margin. And the city of Sandy will continue prohibiting marijuana
sales with a vote of 56 to 44 percent. Just in case, another measure that would
have authorized a tax on marijuana should the other measure permit sales, was
approved by 79 percent to 21 percent.
By Larry Berteau/MT |
| The Lions (Club) Pride posted on 12/01/2016
As the Lions Club International celebrates its centennial,
the local chapter focused in on helping youth this year and utilized proceeds
from its annual Chili Cookoff to fund scholarships at the Mt. Hood Learning
Center.
David Buoy noted this year they were able to fund two
scholarships (at $880 each), after funding three last year, when the Lions
started the scholarship program.
“We just kind of identified there’s not really much for
daycare,” said Buoy, the third vice president of the local chapter, noting that
many parents on the mountain have to travel to Gresham or farther for work.
“Sometimes that money makes a big difference to a working family.”
Alicia Sperr, president of the non-profit board that runs
the Learning Center, noted that the center has been a huge success since it
started three years ago. The number of children going there has more than
doubled, and the scholarships go to families that would not have otherwise been
able to afford sending their children there.
“We feel that’s a pretty big deal in the community and we
appreciate their contribution,” Sperr said.
Buoy noted that the club, which has other programs targeting
youth such as Reading is Fundamental at the Welches School and college
scholarships for mountain students graduating Sandy High School, likes to keep
the money generated by events in the community.
“People up here on the mountain have been very very
generous,” he said, adding that the entries for the Chili Cookoff have gotten
more competitive. “We try to spread it around with a focus on the young folks.”
The Lions Club is currently holding a toy drive starting at
6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Lions Club building on Woodsey Way and Hwy. 26.
Please bring a new, unwrapped toy. Tickets are $12 at the
door and $10 presale at the Barlow Trail Roadhouse, Welches Mountain Building
Supply and the Clackamas County Bank.
The Mt. Hood Learning Center still has spaces available for
children.
For more information, email mthoodlc@gmail.com or call
503-668-3868. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  The county commissioners’ seats went unoccupied at the meeting.
Analysis The Mountain’s opposition to the Board of County
Commissioners (BCC) grew exponentially throughout October.
While the BCC continued its attack against the Villages at
Mt. Hood Board of Directors – more specifically its Chairman, George Wilson –
the community rallied behind the Villages at an emergency Town Hall meeting
Oct. 11 at The Resort.
The Town Hall, held in defiance of the BCC which had
previously dissolved, then put on hiatus, then again dissolved the Villages
Board, voted unanimously to oppose the BCC’s latest proposal to amend a county
ordinance, allowing the BCC to independently and arbitrarily remove an elected
representative of a Village or Hamlet. The only thing missing from the
amendment was mentioning Wilson by name.
“This is absolutely absurd,” Wilson said. “It is an outright
deviation from our democratic process.”
The unanimous vote to oppose the BCC action came in a raise
of hands of 71 attendees at the Town Hall.
The Town Hall setting was a statement in itself. There were
six seats set up at the dais – one for each commissioner (John Ludlow, Tootie
Smith, Jim Bernard, Martha Schrader and Paul Savas), plus a chair for HD 52
State Representative Mark Johnson (R-Hood River). All six had been invited.
Savas replied that he had a conflict and would not be able to attend. The other
commissioners deigned not to reply. As usual when there’s a pressing issue on the
Mountain, Johnson showed up.
“I had other commitments tonight,” Johnson said. “But this
is a lot more fun.”
Wilson ticked off many complaints that the community fosters
regarding the BCC beyond arbitrarily scuttling of the Villages Board,
including:
This is the same governing body to harvest and sell our
surrounding timber, with no proceeds coming back to our communities;
The same governing body that wants us to support increased
taxes for road maintenance and repair, with no monies budgeted for any or OUR
county roads;
The same governing body which due to its own neglect, failed
to adhere to FEMA reporting requirements over three years, causing all National
Flood Insurance Plan policy holders on the Mountain to lose their plan
discounts and suffer rate hikes.
“I could go on,” Wilson added. “But I hope residents begin
to see a pattern before it’s too late.”
Christine Roth, the former liaison between the BCC and the
Villages Board, knows the county’s players well.
“Costs incurred by Clackamas County for settlements or
additional unnecessary spending resulting from actions taken by Chair John
Ludlow and Commissioner Tootie Smith as of August 2016 total more than $3
million in taxpayer monies,” Roth writes in her site at www.fixourcounty.org.
At the Town Hall, Rep. Johnson indicated he would be willing
to put the Mountain’s concerns about the BCC to other legislative colleagues
who may have some influence.
He added that the BCC’s actions smacked of “taxation without
representation.”
Other local residents weighed in at the public affair.
Kip O’Connor: “If there’s something they (BCC) don’t like,
they just move the goal posts.”
Gary Randall: “They (BCC) only see tax revenue and a bunch
of ignorant people.”
Rick Applegate (the original Chair of the Board): “I make
the motion to not dissolve the Board.”
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The BCC has announced a public hearing for 10 a.m., Nov. 9,
in the BCC hearing room in Oregon City, to review and discuss the amendments to
the County Code that would place the Villages Board under the complete control
of the BCC, rendering the Villages Board useless.
The public is invited to attend and have their voices heard.
Wilson will be at the meeting.
“You don’t get to change the rules in the middle of the game
because you don’t like the way the game is being played,” Wilson said. “I can
only say that if county commissioners continue to ignore the will of our
community, they must be challenged in court, and forced to abide by the rules
and original bylaws they agreed to when the board was formed.
“No matter how long it takes, this issue must be presented
to the Oregon State Attorney General’s Office.” By Larry Berteau/MT |
|  Jack Fletcher tells his story at Emmanuel Hospital
Jack Fletcher walked on to the stage on Monday, Oct. 24 at
Legacy Emmanuel Hospital. That feat alone could be seen as a miracle, but then
Fletcher, 20, shares his story – a speech he gives up to six times a month.
“And I got to tell you - I shouldn’t be here today,”
Fletcher told the audience at one point.
Fletcher grew up in southwestern Washington, the son of the
high school’s rugby coach and an avid snowboarder, who got involved with the
local fire cadet program at Clark County Fire & Rescue when he was 16 at
Prairie High School.
Fletcher frequented Mount Hood, heading up ten times or so
each winter to go snowboarding.
“Love that mountain, man, love it,” Fletcher told the
Mountain Times during an interview.
Fletcher landed a fire scholarship at Crook County Fire
& Rescue in Prineville for the summer of 2014, right before heading to
nearby Central Oregon Community College that fall. In July that year, Fletcher
got a text from his grandmother about some cousins coming from the east coast
for a visit and he made up his mind - head back home and surprise his family for
the visit.
That day, July 30, 2014, fate intervened.
Just after 3:30 p.m., the Hoodland Fire District responded
to a head-on collision on Hwy. 26, near milepost 40. The accident featured a
Ford F-150 travelling approximately 80 miles per hour, veering off to the
opposite side of the highway before turning back into traffic and striking
Fletcher’s Subaru Outback on the passenger’s side.
Fletcher was trapped in his car, unresponsive. The driver of
the truck, who was driving under the influence at the time, was conscious with
no obvious injuries and would later be released from the hospital. But
Fletcher’s fight had just begun.
He required a trip on a Life Flight helicopter to the Oregon
Health & Science University hospital, odds stacked against him and arriving
in a coma with numerous injuries, including a broken arm, an injury to his
right hand requiring amputations, traumatic brain injury and damage to his face
that shattered most of the bones and caused blindness in his right eye. The
hours ticked by as the initial critical periods elapsed, offering some hope to
his family, and then Fletcher awoke five days later.
“For a while I didn’t remember Prineville,” said Fletcher,
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